The Dual Role of Deubiquitinating Enzymes: Protein Factories and Fubi Proteases

Scientists have discovered that two deubiquitinating enzymes, USP16 and USP36, can also act as proteases for the ubiquitin-like protein Fubi, providing molecular insights into this dual activity. The researchers characterized how these enzymes facilitate the Fubi-controlled maturation of a key protein in the ribosome, the cell's protein factory. This discovery expands our understanding of the mechanisms regulating cellular processes and provides new insights into the role of Fubi in immune signaling. The findings pave the way for better understanding the cellular role of Fubi as a post-translational modification.