E3 ubiquitin ligases in signaling, disease, and therapeutics

Abstract

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a central regulator of protein turnover and signaling, with E3 ubiquitin ligases conferring substrate specificity and chain-type control. Recent advances have revealed new mechanistic classes of E3 ligases and expanded our understanding of their roles in disease, including cancer, neurodegeneration, and immune dysfunction. These insights have fueled the development of targeted protein degradation strategies that harness the UPS to eliminate disease-associated proteins. Approaches such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), molecular glues, and antibody-based degraders are broadening the druggable proteome. Despite this progress, key challenges remain, including limited E3 ligase diversity, difficulties in degrader delivery, and resistance mechanisms. This review outlines recent advances in E3 ligase biology and therapeutic degradation, emphasizing opportunities to expand and refine UPS-targeted interventions.

Keywords: E3 ubiquitin ligase; PROTAC; molecular glues; targeted protein degradation; ubiquitin; ubiquitin–proteasome system.