Ubiquitin News and Research

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Ubiquitin is a small regulatory protein that has been found in almost all cells (''ubiquitously'') with nuclei (eukaryotes). It directs proteins to recycling and other functions.

Study decodes combinatorial p53 modification networks

A recent review highlights that p53 activity is orchestrated by a combinatorial network of post-translational modifications (PTMs), in which writers, erasers and reader proteins dynamically shape protein stability, DNA binding, subcellular localization, co-regulator assembly and transcriptional output.

12 Nov 2026

Study shows opposite synaptic mechanisms cause identical cognitive deficits

A research team led by Dr. SHENG Nengyin of the Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has reframed ZC4H2-associated rare disorder (ZARD)-a disorder marked by intellectual disability, developmental delays, muscle weakness, and other neurological or physical abnormalities-as a "disease spectrum" rather than a condition driven by a single mechanism.

5 Nov 2026

Light-activated molecular cages offer precise control over protein degradation

Researchers have created a molecular "cage" that keeps protein-degrading drug molecules inactive until they are exposed to low-energy red light.

30 Oct 2026

Blood biomarker test improves detection of hidden brain injuries

Clinician-scientists hope to expand the use of blood-based biomarker tests for traumatic brain injury (TBI) to improve identification and escalation of care for patients whose diagnosis otherwise might be missed.

23 Oct 2026

Tau modifications shape filament structures in neurodegenerative diseases

In neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, progressive neuronal damage is associated with the accumulation of abnormal tau filaments in the brain.

6 Oct 2026

Protein modification network plays vital role in cancer development

A review published in Genes & Diseases highlights the complex interplay between protein arginine methylation and ubiquitination, two forms of protein modification that can profoundly influence cancer development, progression and treatment response.

24 Sep 2026

Mitochondrial rewiring may explain why orthoflaviviruses harm humans but persist in mosquitoes

Orthoflaviviruses reshape mitochondrial structure, metabolism, redox signaling, and quality control differently across human and mosquito models, helping explain their contrasting infection outcomes. The review highlights mitochondrial pathways that may support acute cellular damage in vertebrates but persistent, non-lethal infection in mosquitoes, pointing to potential antiviral targets.

12 Aug 2026

Newly discovered protein pathway limits spinal cord injury damage

Spinal cord injury begins with immediate mechanical damage, but much of the lasting neurological loss develops during the secondary phase, when inflammation, oxidative stress and disrupted metabolism continue to injure surviving tissue.

10 Aug 2026

Two-gene interaction reveals metastatic risk in breast cancer

Why do some breast cancer patients face a much higher risk of distant metastasis, while others with seemingly similar disease experience far better outcomes?

7 Aug 2026

Weill Cornell Medicine receives DoD grant to target triple-negative breast cancer

Weill Cornell Medicine has received a $2.5 million, three-year grant from the Department of Defense (DoD) to develop therapies with fewer side effects for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat breast cancers.

16 Jul 2026

Tick-borne viruses show concerning potential for future pandemics

A study led by a University of California, Riverside biomedical scientist shows how a family of tick-borne viruses known as orthonairoviruses can evade immune defenses, offering important insights into emerging infectious disease threats and the potential pandemic risk posed by these viruses.

14 Jul 2026

Researchers uncover how emerging tick borne nairoviruses evade human immunity

Warmer temperatures bring out ticks that spread diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

14 Jul 2026

Researchers uncover hidden mechanism behind cancer-linked SPOP mutations

Mutations to the protein SPOP are widespread in cancer, yet many remain poorly understood. To address this gap, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists obtained structures of SPOP in both the presence and absence of these mutations.

13 Jul 2026

Dysregulation of immune regulator NF-κB drives major human diseases

NF‑κB controls genes involved in inflammation, immunity, cell survival, and proliferation. Triggered by cytokines (TNF‑α, IL‑1β), microbial products, or cellular stress, it translocates to the nucleus and induces pro‑inflammatory mediators.

13 Jul 2026

New viral library helps scientists study thousands of proteins

To prevent viruses from sickening or killing us - whether it's an individual case of hepatitis B or a COVID pandemic - it's crucial to understand how the proteins they make initiate changes in our bodies that allow them to flourish.

11 Jul 2026

Opposing protein pathways control skin regeneration and disease development

Two proteins with opposing functions orchestrate the development and maintenance of healthy skin, Stanford Medicine researchers have found.

25 Jun 2026

Skin barrier monitoring predicts necrosis after skin flap surgery

Random-pattern skin flaps (RPSFs) receive blood mainly from small subcutaneous vessels rather than a defined axial vessel, leaving them vulnerable to ischemia and hypoxia after surgery.

23 Jun 2026

Mutation in OTULIN gene causes rare childhood skin disease

An international team of researchers has identified a genetic cause for a rare inflammatory skin condition.

15 Jun 2026

New study frames altered protein modifications as cancer drivers

Cancer has often been explained through mutations in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or changes in ribonucleic acid (RNA), but these layers do not fully explain why tumors with similar genetic profiles can behave differently.

9 Jun 2026