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Post-translational modifications

C-degron mimicry confers E3 ligase selectivity

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 24, page 241 (2023)Cite this article

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E3 ubiquitin ligases are a part of the ubiquitin–proteasome system and act by transferring ubiquitin to substrate proteins, ultimately leading to their degradation. A subset of E3 ubiquitin ligases, termed ‘C-degron’ E3 ligases, recruit substrate proteins by recognition of C-terminal destabilizing motifs (C-degrons). These sequences are also found in other proteins, including ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like (UBL) proteins, that are not targeted for ubiquitylation, raising the question of how E3 ligases discriminate these from bona fide substrates. Scott et al. now show that C-degron mimicry by the C-terminus of the human E3 ligase CRL2KLHDC2 results in autoinhibition of the enzyme and promotes substrate selectivity.

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  1. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology http://www.nature.com/nrm/

    Lisa Heinke

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  1. Lisa Heinke
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Correspondence to Lisa Heinke.

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Heinke, L. C-degron mimicry confers E3 ligase selectivity. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 24, 241 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-023-00597-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-023-00597-9

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