It is becoming clear that a number of proteins regulating cellular mechanisms for homeostasis in all eukaryotes are controlled not only by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation but also by ubiquitination and deubiquitination. This includes most of oncoproteins and signaling components involved in receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-mediated signal transduction pathways. Like protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation regulated by kinases and phosphatases, respectively, protein ubiquitination and deubiquitination are very dynamic and are regulated by ubiquitin conjugating enzymes and deubiquitinating (DUB) enzymes. A number of deubiquitinating enzymes have been isolated even though little is known about their biological functions. This review concentrates on recent findings and new insights into DUB enzyme subfamily members in lymphocytes.
Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.