E2 Enzymes

Ubiquitin (Ub) or ubiquitin-like proteins (UBLs) carboxyl termini are attached to other proteins, or in some cases lipids, generally through E1-E2-E3 multienzyme cascades. Ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s) are responsible for transferring Ub/UBLs to substrate proteins and often function with a single or limited number of E3 ligases, although in some cases no E3 is required. Members of the family of ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s) are characterized by the presence of a highly conserved ∼150 amino acid residues ubiquitin-conjugating catalytic (UBC) fold. The UBC domains are ~35% conserved among different family members and provide a binding platform for E1s, E3s, and the activated Ub/UBL. Within this domain, a catalytic cysteine is embedded that accepts the activated ATP-activated Ub/UBLs via a covalently thioester bond, prior to interaction with E3 ligases and subsequent substrate conjugation. The majority of Ub/UBLs use particular E2s for conjugation, but in some cases E2s are shared, such as between the ubiquitin and ISG15-conjugation pathways.