Chemical tools for studying conventional and non-conventional modes of ubiquitylation

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Our health and well-being are dependent on the correct functioning of the cells in our body. It is therefore imperative that we have a thorough understanding of the biochemical processes that take place within them. It is these processes that become faulty in certain diseases therefore being armed with the knowledge of their intricacies will place in a position where we can rationally develop new therapies that alleviate their symptoms of or even cure them.A cellular regulatory mechanism that affects all processes is known as protein ubiquitylation. Protein ubiquitylation involves the attachment of a small protein called ubiquitin to other proteins. This step is carried out by enzymes known as E3. Challenges with fully understanding protein ubiquitylation arise from a lack of research technologies that enable the activities of even a single E3 in a cell to be measured. Additionally, we now have strong knowledge about which proteins are tagged with ubiquitin but our ability to identify the E3 responsible is extremely difficult and new tools are urgently needed.We have recently developed some exciting and powerful technology that allows not only a single E3s activity in a cell to be measured, but the activity of tens of E3s to be measured simultaneously. This technology will revolutionise our ability to understand the roles of E3s and protein ubiquitylation in both normal and diseased cells.