Uncovering Enzyme-Specific Post-Translational Modifications: An Overview of Current Methods

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) govern a multitude of protein functions within the cell, surpassing the basic function(s) encoded directly within the amino acid sequence. Despite the historical discovery of PTMs dating back over a century, recent technological advancements have facilitated the rapid expansion of the known PTM landscape. However, the elucidation of enzyme-substrate relationships responsible for PTMs, particularly for those less studied, remains a challenging endeavor. This review provides an extensive overview of methods employed in the discovery of enzyme-specific substrates for PTM catalysis. Beginning with traditional experimental approaches rooted in chemistry, biochemistry and cell biology, this review progresses to recently developed computational strategies tailored for identifying enzyme-substrate interactions. The analysis reflects on the remarkable progress achieved in PTM research to date, underscoring the increasing role of computational and high-throughput techniques in expediting enzyme-substrate discovery. Furthermore, it highlights the potential of artificial intelligence to revolutionize PTM research and emphasizes the importance of unbiased high-throughput analysis in advancing our understanding of PTM networks. Ultimately, the review advocates for the integration of sophisticated computational strategies with experimental techniques to unravel the complex enzyme-substrate networks governing PTM-mediated cellular processes.