Ubiquitous ubiquitin: From bacteria to eukaryotes

Structure. 2024 Oct 3;32(10):1552-1554. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2024.09.002.

Abstract

In a recent issue of Nature, Chambers et al.1 combined bioinformatics, biochemistry, and X-ray crystallography to uncover the presence of a ubiquitin-like machinery in bacteria, which was believed to be unique to archaea and eukaryotes. This study highlights the prevalence of a ubiquitin-like system in bacteria that was later adopted by the eukaryotes for various purposes such as protein degradation.

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria* / chemistry
  • Bacteria* / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Eukaryota* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Ubiquitin* / chemistry
  • Ubiquitin* / metabolism

Substances

  • Ubiquitin
  • Bacterial Proteins