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Ubiquitylation in innate and adaptive immunity

Nature volume 458, pages 430–437 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Protein ubiquitylation has emerged as a key mechanism that regulates immune responses. Much like phosphorylation, ubiquitylation is a reversible covalent modification that regulates the stability, activity and localization of target proteins. As such, ubiquitylation regulates the development of the immune system and many phases of the immune response, including its initiation, propagation and termination. Recent work has shown that several ubiquitin ligases help to prevent the immune system from attacking self tissues. The dysfunction of several ubiquitin ligases has been linked to autoimmune diseases.

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Figure 1: Ubiquitin-mediated activation of NF-κB in the TLR and IL-1R pathways.
Figure 2: Ubiquitin coordinates NF-κB activation and apoptosis triggered by TNFR.
Figure 3: The expanding role of Lys 63 polyubiquitylation in innate and adaptive immunity.
Figure 4: Ubiquitin ligases in the prevention of autoimmunity.

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Acknowledgements

We apologize to the many authors whose publications are not cited directly because of space limitations. We thank J. Cabrera for graphic support. Research in our laboratory is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and by grants from the US National Institutes of Health and the Welch Foundation.

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  1. Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, 75390, Texas, USA

    Vijay G. Bhoj & Zhijian J. Chen

  2. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, 75390, Texas, USA

    Zhijian J. Chen

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Bhoj, V., Chen, Z. Ubiquitylation in innate and adaptive immunity. Nature 458, 430–437 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07959

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