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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

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Profiling Ubiquitin and Ubiquitin-like Dependent Post-translational Modifications and Identification of Significant Alterations
Published on: November 7, 2019
Emerging tools and methods to study cell signalling mediated by branched ubiquitin chains
Matthew R McFarland1, Yogesh Kulathu1
1MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, U.K.
Biochemical Society Transactions
|May 17, 2025
Summary
Branched ubiquitin chains, complex protein structures, are vital for cell signaling. Recent advances reveal their key roles in cellular processes, despite study challenges.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Branched ubiquitin chains are complex polyubiquitin structures with expanded signaling capacity.
- Their biological functions remain largely unknown due to complexity and study challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review strategies and technologies for studying branched ubiquitin chains.
- To highlight recent discoveries regarding their biological roles.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent technological innovations enabling branched chain identification.
- Analysis of studies identifying key molecular players and functions.
Main Results:
- Branched ubiquitin chains play essential roles in diverse cellular processes.
- Technological advancements have facilitated their study and functional characterization.
Conclusions:
- Understanding branched ubiquitin chains is crucial for deciphering the ubiquitin system.
- Continued technological innovation is needed to advance research in this field.
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Covalently 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.
Regulated 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...

