title: Ubiquitin-like proteins and their roles in archaea.
abstract: This review highlights the finding that ubiquitin-like (Ubl) proteins of archaea (termed SAMPs) function not only as sulfur carriers but also as protein modifiers. UbaA (an E1 ubiquitin-activating enzyme homolog of archaea) is required for the SAMPs to be covalently attached to proteins. The SAMPs and UbaA are also needed to form sulfur-containing biomolecules (e.g., thiolated tRNA and molybdenum cofactor). These findings provide a new perspective on how Ubl proteins can serve as both sulfur carriers and protein modifiers in the absence of canonical E2 ubiquitin conjugating or E3 ubiquitin ligase enzyme homologs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0700, USA. jmaupin@ufl.edu
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Maupin-Furlow
mesh_terms: D001105:Archaea / Q000502:physiology*; D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism; D014452:Ubiquitins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D014452:Ubiquitins; D013455:Sulfur