Structure of a conjugating enzyme-ubiquitin thiolester intermediate reveals a novel role for the ubiquitin tail.
Hamilton, K.S., Ellison, M.J., Barber, K.R., Williams, R.S., Huzil, J.T., McKenna, S., Ptak, C., Glover, M., Shaw, G.S.(2001) Structure 9: 897-904
- PubMed: 11591345 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0969-2126(01)00657-8
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1FXT, 1FZY - PubMed Abstract: 
Ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s) are central enzymes involved in ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation. During this process, ubiquitin (Ub) and the E2 protein form an unstable E2-Ub thiolester intermediate prior to the transfer of ubiquitin to an E3-ligase protein and the labeling of a substrate for degradation. A series of complex interactions occur among the target substrate, ubiquitin, E2, and E3 in order to efficiently facilitate the transfer of the ubiquitin molecule. However, due to the inherent instability of the E2-Ub thiolester, the structural details of this complex intermediate are not known.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Biochemistry, The University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada.