Ubiquitin E3 ligase–target protein interface

The **E3 ligase–target protein interface** is the region where an **E3 ubiquitin ligase enzyme** physically interacts with a specific substrate protein to catalyze the transfer of ubiquitin, marking the substrate for degradation or functional modification[1][3][5][7]. This interface confers substrate specificity in the ubiquitination pathway, playing a central role in cellular protein turnover, signal transduction, cell cycle, and stress responses. Current drug discovery efforts, notably PROTAC and molecular glue technologies, focus on modulating this interface to induce selective degradation of disease-related proteins, presenting new opportunities and challenges in drug development[4][6][8].

Other names

E3 ligase–substrate interfaceE3–substrate binding surface

Induced ubiquitination and degradation of specific target proteins through recruitment to E3 ligases - Inhibition or modulation of E3–substrate recognition (blocking protein degradation pathways)