Proteolysis: anytime, any place, anywhere?
Proteolysis via the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a rapid and effective method of degrading a specific protein at a specific time, and in many cases a protein is degraded only in response to a particular cellular signal or event. However, an added dimension to the control of protein degradation is possible because the ubiquitin system can be spatially regulated. Controlling where a protein is degraded can enhance the specificity and timing of proteolysis, generate asymmetry and maintain sub-compartments even in the mitotic cell. Here, we discuss this aspect of the UPS.
Pines
Jonathon
J
Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK, Gurdon Institute & Department of Zoology, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK. jp103@cam.ac.uk
Lindon
Catherine
C
D000818:Animals; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D022081:Cell Surface Extensions / Q000378:metabolism; D022082:Cellular Structures / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015388:Organelles / Q000378:metabolism; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000378:metabolism; D043743:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes / Q000378:metabolism*
D011506:Proteins; D025801:Ubiquitin; D043743:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex