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Cullin‐based ubiquitin ligases: Cul3–BTB complexes join the family
Author(s) -
Pintard Lionel,
Willems Andrew,
Peter Matthias
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1038/sj.emboj.7600186
Subject(s) - biology , cullin , ubiquitin , join (topology) , ubiquitin protein ligases , microbiology and biotechnology , ubiquitin ligase , genetics , computational biology , gene , combinatorics , mathematics
Cullin‐based E3 ligases target substrates for ubiquitin‐dependent degradation by the 26S proteasome. The SCF (Skp1–Cul1–F‐box) and ECS (ElonginC–Cul2–SOCS box) complexes are so far the best‐characterized cullin‐based ligases. Their atomic structure has been solved recently, and several substrates have been described in different organisms. In addition to Cul1 and Cul2, higher eucaryotic genomes encode for three other cullins: Cul3, Cul4, and Cul5. Recent results have shed light on the molecular composition and function of Cul3‐based E3 ligases. In these complexes, BTB‐domain‐containing proteins may bridge the cullin to the substrate in a single polypeptide, while Skp1/F‐box or ElonginC/SOCS heterodimers fulfill this function in the SCF and ECS complexes. BTB‐containing proteins are evolutionary conserved and involved in diverse biological processes, but their function has not previously been linked to ubiquitin‐dependent degradation. In this review, we present these new findings and compare the composition of Cul3‐based ligases to the well‐defined SCF and ECS ligases.