The E3 ubiquitin ligase Itch in T cell activation, differentiation, and tolerance

Semin Immunol. 2007 Jun;19(3):197-205. doi: 10.1016/j.smim.2007.02.003. Epub 2007 Apr 11.

Abstract

Tagging a small molecule ubiquitin to a protein substrate, or protein ubiquitination, plays an important role in the immune responses. This process is catalyzed by a cascade of enzymatic reactions, with the E3 ubiquitin ligases being the critical enzymes that determine the specificity of substrate recognition. The E3 ligase Itch was identified from a mutant mouse which displays skin scratching and abnormal immune disorders. In the past few years, much progress has been made in our understanding of Itch-promoted protein ubiquitination, modulation of its ligase activity by upstream kinases, and the kinase-ligase interaction in T cell differentiation and tolerance induction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes / immunology
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / immunology*

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases