UBE2D2

Among the four UBE2D paralogs, UBE2D2 (UBCH5B) is a broadly expressed, core-only E2 whose sequence is nearly indistinguishable from UBE2D1, yet its cellular pairing repertoire is defined by distinct E3 partners. It is the physiological E2 for the p53 ligase MDM2, for Parkin in mitophagy, and for numerous SCF and Cbl-family complexes, feeding both degradative K48 and signaling-type ubiquitin chains. Ubiquitous expression and efficient thioester formation with UBA1 make recombinant UBE2D2 one of the most frequently used E2s in vitro, appearing in assays for ligase activity, chain-type specificity, and small-molecule modulation of ubiquitination.