RING finger ubiquitin protein ligases: implications for tumorigenesis, metastasis and for molecular targets in cancer

• Published in: Seminars in cancer biology Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 5 - 14
• Main Authors: Fang, Shengyun, Lorick, Kevin L., Jensen, Jane P., Weissman, Allan M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2003
• Subjects: Amino Acid Motifs; Autocrine motility factor receptor; BRCA1; BRCA1 Protein - genetics; BRCA1 Protein - metabolism; ERAD; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Ligases - genetics; Ligases - metabolism; Metastasis; Molecular target; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasms - genetics; Neoplasms - therapy; Proteasome; Protein Structure, Tertiary - genetics; Protein Structure, Tertiary - physiology; Receptors, Autocrine Motility Factor; Receptors, Cytokine - genetics; Receptors, Cytokine - metabolism; RING finger; Ubiquitin; Ubiquitin protein ligase; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; Ubiquitin; ERAD; Molecular target; Autocrine motility factor receptor; RING finger; Metastasis; BRCA1; E3; Ubiquitin protein ligase; Proteasome
• ISSN: 1044-579X; 1096-3650
• DOI: 10.1016/S1044-579X(02)00095-0

Covalent modification of proteins with ubiquitin regulates almost all aspects of eukaryotic cellular function. Ubiquitin protein ligases (E3s) play central regulatory roles in that they provide substrate specificity to this process and therefore, represent attractive molecular targets for disease therapy. We summarize recent advances in our understanding of RING finger and RING finger-related E3s with emphasis on BRCA1 and the tumor autocrine motility factor receptor (gp78), as well as discuss the potential for components of the ubiquitin pathway for proteasomal degradation as molecular targets.