Ubiquitin-conjugating Enzyme E2S/UBE2S/EPF5 [MD388]

The ubiquitin pathway involves three sequential enzymatic steps that facilitate the conjugation of ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like molecules to specific protein substrates. UBE2S, also known as ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2S or EPF5, is a 222 amino acid protein that plays a critical role in the ubiquitin-proteasome system, which is essential for regulating protein degradation and maintaining cellular homeostasis. UBE2S is primarily located in the cytoplasm and nucleus, where UBE2S facilitates the transfer of ubiquitin to target proteins, marking them for degradation. Proper functioning of UBE2S is vital, as dysregulation can lead to the accumulation of damaged or misfolded proteins, contributing to various diseases, including cancer. Notably, UBE2S has been implicated in enhancing tumor cell proliferation and metastasis through interactions with the von Hippel-Lindau pathway, highlighting UBE2S as a potential therapeutic target in cancer treatment.