The Tiny Tag That Rules the Cell – Ubiquitin

Hidden within the complex machinery of our cells lies a small but mighty protein: ubiquitin. Just 76 amino acids long, ubiquitin acts like a molecular tag  attaching itself to other proteins to mark them for recycling, transport, repair, or even destruction.

What makes ubiquitin fascinating is its versatility. It doesn't just signal for protein degradation via the proteasome  it also regulates cell cycle progression, DNA repair, immune responses, and more. Malfunctions in the ubiquitin system are linked to cancer, neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, and viral infections.

In short, ubiquitin is a master regulator a tiny protein with massive control over cell life and death.