The ubiquitin-proteasome system: A master regulator of cell cycle progression

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a fundamental regulatory mechanism governing protein homeostasis via ubiquitin-mediated manner. In cell cycle progression, the UPS plays a pivotal role in regulating key cell cycle regulators, including cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors, and checkpoint proteins. Through the orchestrated actions of E3 ubiquitin ligases, such as the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) and Skp1-Cullin1-F-box (SCF) complexes, timely degradation of cell cycle proteins ensures proper cell cycle transitions, DNA replication, and mitotic fidelity. Dysregulation of UPS components has been implicated in various pathological conditions, including cancer, where aberrant stabilization or premature degradation of key cell cycle regulators disrupts normal cellular proliferation. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the UPS's role in cell cycle control, highlighting the molecular mechanisms of ubiquitination and degradation, key regulatory E3 ligases and deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), and the therapeutic potential of targeting the UPS in cell cycle-associated disorders.