Anti-Ubiquitin antibody [1B4-UB]

Supplementary info

This supplementary information is collated from multiple sources and compiled automatically.

Activity summary

Ubiquitin is a small regulatory protein found in almost all tissues of eukaryotic organisms. It has a molecular weight of approximately 8.6 kilodaltons. It functions mechanically by attaching to proteins through a process called ubiquitination which involves the formation of an isopeptide bond. Ubiquitin molecules can form polyubiquitin chains through different lysine residues such as K48 and K63 that determine their function. These chains label substrate proteins for various fates including degradation. Ubiquitin is expressed ubiquitously in cells reflecting its essential role in maintaining protein homeostasis.

Biological function summary

The ubiquitin system plays a critical role in regulating protein turnover and quality control within cells. It is part of a larger complex known as the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) which is responsible for degrading proteins that need to be turned over. This process is essential for cell cycle control response to oxidative stress and DNA repair. Ubiquitin's role in tagging proteins for degradation or signaling allows cells to respond quickly to changes in their environment and maintain balance.

Pathways

Ubiquitin functions in several important biological pathways including the Wnt and NF-kB pathways. In the Wnt signaling pathway ubiquitination modulates the stability of key components thereby affecting the pathway's overall activity. In the NF-kB signaling pathway ubiquitin labels inhibitor proteins for degradation which releases and activates NF-kB. These pathways highlight ubiquitin's interaction with proteins such as beta-catenin in Wnt and IkB in NF-kB illustrating how it regulates diverse cellular processes.

Associated diseases and disorders

The dysfunction of the ubiquitin system is linked to neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. Ubiquitin-related defects in protein degradation can lead to the buildup of unwanted proteins contributing to conditions like Parkinson's disease. Connections with cancer are evident as ubiquitin controls cell cycle proteins and aberrant ubiquitination may drive tumor growth and progression. The protein p53 known to be controlled by ubiquitination plays a significant role in cancer related mechanisms when dysregulated. Understanding and targeting ubiquitin-related pathways may provide new therapeutic opportunities for treating these conditions.