The SOCS box: a tale of destruction and degradation

Trends Biochem Sci. 2002 May;27(5):235-41. doi: 10.1016/s0968-0004(02)02085-6.

Abstract

Although initially identified in the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family of proteins, the C-terminal SOCS box has now been identified in more than 40 proteins in nine different families. Growing evidence suggests that the SOCS box, similar to the F-box, acts as a bridge between specific substrate-binding domains and the more generic proteins that comprise a large family of E3 ubiquitin protein ligases. In this way, SOCS proteins regulate protein turnover by targeting proteins for polyubiquitination and, therefore, for proteasome-mediated degradation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins*
  • Ligases / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Repressor Proteins*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cytokines
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • SOCS1 protein, human
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Ligases