Ubiquitin signalling: controlling the message of surface immune receptors

Abstract

Microbial attack is first detected by immune receptors located at the plasma membrane. Their activation triggers a plethora of signalling cascades that culminate in the immune response. Ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like protein modifiers play key roles in controlling signalling amplitude and intensity, as well as in buffering proteome imbalances caused by pathogen attack. Here I highlight some of the important advances in the field, which are starting to reveal an intertwined and complex signalling circuitry, which regulates cellular dynamics and protein degradation to maintain homeostasis.