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Exome sequencing identifies mutations in kelch-like 3 and cullin 3 as causes of a syndrome featuring high blood pressure and electrolyte abnormalities.

Using Xenopus egg extracts, the authors developed a mass spectrometry method (UBIMAX) to identify proteins ubiquitylated in response to defined DNA lesions. Highlighting UBIMAX’s versatility, they describe the ubiquitylation of the actin regulator Dbn1 in response to DNA double-strand breaks.

Santos et al found that the ubiquitin ligase adaptor Fbxo42 is a critical regulator of terminal Unfolded Protein Response signaling through its control of Ataxin-2 granules containing Xbp1 mRNA.

This study has developed the first small molecule NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE) inhibitor, which induces cancer cell death and exerts anti-tumour activity in preclinical mouse models. This work establishes NAE as an anti-cancer target and may lead to new anti-cancer therapeutics.

The most common protein modification in eukaryotes is N-terminal acetylation, but its functional impact has remained enigmatic. Here, the authors find that a key role for N-terminal acetylation is shielding proteins from ubiquitin ligase-mediated degradation, mediating motility and longevity.

A mass spectrometry-based approach globally identifies protein regulators of metabolism and reveals the role of LRRC58 in controlling cysteine catabolism.

Identification of molecules that induce novel interactions between proteins has been limited by the complexity of rationally designing interactions. The authors report a method to discover molecular glue-like “trimerizers” based on α-helically constrained peptides that can co-opt the surfaces of E3 ubiquitin ligases to bind therapeutically important proteins.

Timms, Mena et al. present a multiplex CRISPR screening platform capable of assigning E3 ligases to their substrates and degrons at scale.

Ubiquitination is a versatile modification system in eukaryotic cells. Here, the authors unveil that the ubiquitin ligase HUWE1 can modify drug-like small-molecule substrates, beyond proteins. This discovery may be harnessed to develop specific tool substrates or inhibitors of HECT-type ligases.

HIV-1 Vif antagonizes multiple human APOBEC3 cytidine deaminases for immune evasion. Here, the authors determine the structure of human APOBEC3H bound to HIV-1 Vif and E3 ubiquitin ligase, providing a mechanistic basis for the virus-host arms race.

Nie et al. describe a mechanism underlying the degradation of the histone methyltransferase NSD2 through the recruitment of FBXO22 E3 ligase, providing a chemical probe for NSD2 function study and targeted protein degradation.

Newly developed synthetic antibodies offer the means to be used as high-affinity, conformation-specific probes to capture dynamic repertoires of neddylated cullin–RING E3 ligase complexes. This allows nonenzymatic profiling of the diverse signaling networks that are based on these active complexes.

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor CR8 acts as a molecular glue compound by inducing the formation of a complex between CDK12–cyclin K and DDB1, which results in the ubiquitination and degradation of cyclin K.

The anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is a large E3 ligase that mediates ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis of cell cycle regulatory proteins; here the complete secondary structure architecture of human APC/C complexed with its coactivator CDH1 and substrate HSL1 is determined at 7.4 Å resolution, revealing allosteric changes induced by the coactivator that enhance affinity for UBCH10–ubiqutin.

A conserved mechanism for the regulation of replisome disassembly in eukaryotes is shown using cryo-electron microscopy, revealing a role for DNA in the preservation of replisome integrity.

N-terminal protein acetylation is required for plant viability. Here the authors show that reducing N-terminal acetylation by NatA leads to an increase in global protein turnover that is facilitated by absent masking of a novel N-degron

Recurrent mutations in SPOP-encoding a Cullin 3-based E3 ubiquitin ligase- in prostate cancer disrupt the recognition and degradation of ubiquitination substrates, including BET proteins. Consequently, stability of BET proteins is enhanced and this increases the resistance to BET inhibitors in SPOP-mutant prostate tumors. These results, together with those in Janouskova et al. and Zhang et al., uncover a novel non genetic mechanism of resistance to BET inhibition involving cancer type-specific mutations in SPOP, and support the evaluation of SPOP mutations to inform the administration of BET inhibitors in the clinic.

AMBRA1 is the main regulator of the degradation of D-type cyclins, and loss of AMBRA1 promotes cell proliferation and tumour growth, and reduces the sensitivity of cancer cells to inhibition of CDK4 and CDK6.

The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) safeguards chromosome segregation by regulating the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), allowing chromosomes to correctly attach to mitotic spindles. Here the authors reveal a role for Cullin–RING ubiquitin ligase complex 4 (CRL4) in regulating metaphase to anaphase transition via BUB3 degradation.

Allele-preferential transcription factor binding can influence pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma risk loci function. Here, the authors show allele-specific JunB and JunD binding at chr1p36.33 and propose a role for KLHL17 in protein homeostasis by mitigating inflammation.

APC/C activity is transiently inhibited to generate a pulse of glycolysis that is required for mammalian cell cycle entry.

Affinity purification–mass spectrometry elucidates protein interaction networks and co-complexes to build, to our knowledge, the largest experimentally derived human protein interaction network so far, termed BioPlex 2.0.

Artemisinin (ART) is a widely used antimalarial drug, but its mechanism of action is poorly understood. Here, Bridgford et al. show that ART kills parasites by a two-pronged mechanism, causing protein damage and compromising proteasome function, and that accumulation of proteasome substrates activates the ER stress response.

The cell cycle regulatory E3 ligase APC/C cooperates with UBE2C to prime substrates with ubiquitin and UBE2S to extend the ubiquitin chains. Careful analysis reveals that binding of the UBE2S to APC/C accelerates the rate-limiting step of APC/C–UBE2C.

Knoblich and colleagues use a library of Drosophila strains expressing inducible hairpin RNA interference constructs to study the Notch signalling pathway during external sensory organ development. They assign putative loss-of-function phenotypes to 21.2% of the protein-coding Drosophila genes, identify 6 new genes involved in asymmetric cell division and 23 novel genes regulating the Notch signalling pathway.

F-box proteins, which are the substrate-recognition subunits of SKP1–cullin 1–F-box protein (SCF) E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes, have pivotal roles in multiple cellular processes. This Review discusses how dysregulation of F-box protein-mediated proteolysis contributes to tumorigenesis.

Ikaros, Helios and Aiolos are transcription factors involved in lymphocyte development. Here the authors dissect the regulatory role of these Ikaros family members to understand their contribution to NK cell development and functions.

Three studies identify a transcription-coupled DNA–protein crosslink repair pathway that depends on the Cockayne syndrome proteins and the proteasome.

Degrons allow E3 ubiquitin ligases to identify their substrates, and thus have a central role in protein degradation by the ubiquitin–proteasome system. This Review discusses the latest insights into the mechanisms underlying degron function, the relevance of degrons in disease and how degrons can be harnessed for therapeutic protein degradation.

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) have important roles in ischaemic and inflammatory diseases and strategies aimed at therapeutically modulating hypoxia signalling pathways are gaining considerable attention. Here, Eltzschig and colleagues focus on a set of oxygen-sensing prolyl hydroxylases — which are responsible for marking HIFs for proteasomal degradation — and assess their emerging potential as therapeutic targets.

The replicative helicase CMG is targeted for removal or proteolysis by the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAIP. This study describes how the de-ubiquitylating enzyme USP37 protects genome stability by preventing premature TRAIP-dependent CMG unloading when replication stress impedes timely termination.

Here, using cryogenic electron microscopy and cryoDRGN, the authors delineate how the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome is reconfigurated to interact with its cognate E2s and thus polyubiquitinate its target. Unexpectedly, multiple ubiquitin moieties are shown to interact with the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome machinery, including its activator Cdh1.

This article reviews the current landscape of targeted protein degradation approaches and how they have parallels in biological processes. The authors also outline the ongoing clinical exploration of novel degraders and provide some perspectives on the directions the field might take.

Binding of the small molecule BI-3802 to the oncogenic transcription factor B cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) induces polymerization of BCL6, leading to its ubiquitination by SIAH1 and proteasomal degradation.

The phytohormone auxin is sensed by SCF^TIR1-AUX/IAA receptors leading to AUX/IAA repressor ubiquitylation and turnover. Here the authors show that IAA6 and IAA19 differ in their ubiquitylation and turnover dynamics, differentially contributing to auxin sensing and enabling discrimination of auxin concentrations.

The eukaryotic RNA Polymerase III transcribes tRNAs, some ribosomal and spliceosomal RNAs. Here, the authors resolve a cryo-EM structure of human RNA Polymerase III in its apo form and complemented it with crystal structures and SAXS analysis of RPC5, revealing insights into the molecular mechanisms of Pol III transcription.

Early positioning of the embryo nuclei is not well understood. Now, experiments show that the orientation of the mitotic spindle is controlled by topological interactions, which determine whether the nucleus remains inside the Drosophila embryo.

The use of a high-affinity VHL ligand allows the development of chimeric molecules that promote the association of ERRα or RIPK2 with the VHL E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, resulting in protein degradation.

The discovery that the anticancer activity of thalidomide and its analogues, such as lenalidomide, reflects drug-induced degradation of specific target proteins has heightened interest in novel ‘degrader’ drugs. Herein, the authors review the wide and expanding use of thalidomide analogues in the treatment of multiple cancers and outline how lessons learned from this experience, particularly with lenalidomide, can guide the clinical development of new targeted protein degradation platforms.