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The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) pervades the biology of eukaryotes. Because it depends on the activity of hundreds of different enzymes and protein-protein interactions, the UPS provides many opportunities for selective modulation of the pathway with small molecules. Here we discuss the principles that underlie the development of effective inhibitors or activators of the pathway. We emphasize insights from structural analysis and describe strategies for evaluating the selectivity of compounds.
Biotechnology is a central focus in efforts to provide sustainable solutions for the provision of fuels, chemicals and materials. On the basis of a recent open discussion, we summarize the development of this field, highlighting the distinct but complementary approaches provided by metabolic engineering and synthetic biology for the creation of efficient cell factories to convert biomass and other feedstocks to desired chemicals.
