Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
11:36
In Vitro Ubiquitination and Deubiquitination Assays of Nucleosomal Histones
Published on: July 25, 2019
Balanced ubiquitination determines cellular responsiveness to extracellular stimuli
Akiko Mukai1, Miki Yamamoto-Hino, Masayuki Komada
1Research Group of Glycobiology and Glycotechnology, Mitsubishi-Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences, Minamiooya, Machida, Tokyo, 194-8511, Japan.
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS
|July 25, 2012
Summary
Cellular sensitivity to extracellular signals, like morphogens, is vital for cell responses. This review explores how ubiquitination of the Frizzled (Fz) receptor regulates cell surface presentation, impacting signal detection.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Cellular responses are initiated by ligand stimulation, with signal strength dictating outcomes like cell fate and migration.
- Morphogen gradients are critical in development, inducing specific cell fates based on concentration.
- While signal transduction and gene regulation are understood, receptor presentation's role in cellular sensitivity remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the regulatory mechanisms of receptor presentation at the cell surface.
- To elucidate the role of ubiquitination in controlling cellular sensitivity to extracellular signals.
- To highlight the importance of balanced ubiquitination and deubiquitination in Wingless (Wg)/Wnt signaling.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on receptor-ligand interactions and signal transduction.
- Analysis of research on ubiquitination and deubiquitination pathways.
- Focus on the Wingless (Wg)/Wnt signaling pathway and its receptor, Frizzled (Fz).
Main Results:
- Cellular sensitivity is modulated by receptor presentation, alongside ligand abundance and signal transduction.
- Balanced ubiquitination and deubiquitination of the Frizzled (Fz) receptor are key to regulating cellular sensitivity to Wingless (Wg)/Wnt.
- Ubiquitination critically influences receptor presentation at the cell surface.
Conclusions:
- Receptor presentation is a crucial, yet understudied, determinant of cellular sensitivity to extracellular signals.
- Ubiquitination of Frizzled (Fz) is a central mechanism controlling Wingless (Wg)/Wnt receptor presentation and signal detection.
- Understanding ubiquitination's role in receptor presentation offers insights into cellular responses to morphogen gradients.
Related Concept Videos
02:58Regulated Protein Degradation
It is vital to regulate the activity of enzymatic as well as non-enzymatic proteins inside the cell. This can be achieved either through creating a balance between their rate of synthesis and degradation or regulating the intrinsic activity of the protein. Both these regulation mechanisms play an essential role in the normal functioning of cells.
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...
02:04Covalently Linked Protein Regulators
Proteins can undergo many types of post-translational modifications, often in response to changes in their environment. These modifications play an important role in the function and stability of these proteins. Covalently linked molecules include functional groups, such as methyl, acetyl, and phosphate groups, and also small proteins, such as ubiquitin. There are around 200 different types of covalent regulators that have been identified.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
01:15Receptor Downregulation in MVBs
Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR activation may...
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR activation may...
01:22Diversity in Cell Signaling Responses
The physiological function of a cell and cellular communication are outcomes of a range of extrinsic signals, intracellular signaling pathways, and cellular responses. No two cell types express the same repertoire of signaling components. Receptors are highly selective for their cognate ligands, but once activated, they can alter multiple cellular processes such as DNA transcription, protein synthesis, and metabolic activity.
Graded and Abrupt Responses
Some signaling systems generate...
Graded and Abrupt Responses
Some signaling systems generate...
01:57Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts
Groups of proteins may form a complex where each protein in this complex has a different role in the overall execution of the complex’s function. Often some of the proteins in the complex can be replaced by a closely related variant to give a complex that contains many of the same components yet is functionally distinct.
The SCF ubiquitin ligase is a protein complex of five individual proteins. This complex attaches ubiquitin to other target proteins to mark them for degradation. In order to...
The SCF ubiquitin ligase is a protein complex of five individual proteins. This complex attaches ubiquitin to other target proteins to mark them for degradation. In order to...
01:13The Proteasome
Eukaryotic cells can degrade proteins through several pathways. One of the most important among these is the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. It helps the cell eliminate the misfolded, damaged, or unwarranted cytoplasmic proteins in a highly specific manner.
In this pathway, the target proteins are first tagged with small proteins called ubiquitin. This involves participation of a series of enzymes including— E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme), E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3 (ubiquitin...
In this pathway, the target proteins are first tagged with small proteins called ubiquitin. This involves participation of a series of enzymes including— E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme), E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3 (ubiquitin...