CBL-C Proteins

CBL-C, encoded by the CBL3 gene, is the smallest and least studied of the three CBL-family RING E3 ligases, alongside CBL and CBL-b. It retains the hallmark architecture: an N-terminal tyrosine kinase-binding (TKB) domain, a RING finger responsible for ubiquitin transfer with E2s such as UBE2L3 and UBE2D-family enzymes, and a proline-rich tail, although its linker region is shorter than those of CBL and CBL-b. CBL-C is expressed most strongly in kidney and epithelial tissues, and evidence suggests it dampens rather than drives receptor tyrosine kinase downregulation, potentially antagonizing CBL-b function. Recombinant CBL-C is used to study family-specific ligase activity and substrate selectivity.