Ubiquitin hubs in oncogenic networks

Abstract

Ubiquitin is an important regulator of diverse biological functions including cell cycle progression, apoptosis, cell proliferation, and DNA damage responses. Crucial proteins involved in the control of such diverse functions are modified by ubiquitin and are frequently altered during oncogenesis. Here, we define such proteins as key-nodes regulated by ubiquitin, discuss examples of their oncogenic aberrations, and indicate how pharmacologic manipulation of such molecular hubs might improve anticancer therapy. Copyright © 2006 American Association for Cancer Research.