Breaking the chains: structure and function of the deubiquitinases

Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2009 Aug;10(8):550-63. doi: 10.1038/nrm2731.

Abstract

Ubiquitylation is a reversible protein modification that is implicated in many cellular functions. Recently, much progress has been made in the characterization of a superfamily of isopeptidases that remove ubiquitin: the deubiquitinases (DUBs; also known as deubiquitylating or deubiquitinating enzymes). Far from being uniform in structure and function, these enzymes display a myriad of distinct mechanistic features. The small number (<100) of DUBs might at first suggest a low degree of selectivity; however, DUBs are subject to multiple layers of regulation that modulate both their activity and their specificity. Due to their wide-ranging involvement in key regulatory processes, these enzymes might provide new therapeutic targets.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocatalysis
  • Endopeptidases / chemistry*
  • Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Endopeptidases