UBA2
UBA2 (ubiquitin like modifier activating enzyme 2, also known as SAE2) is the catalytic subunit of the heterodimeric SUMO-activating enzyme. It acts as an E1 enzyme that activates SUMO proteins for protein sumoylation. Browse Assay Genie's current range of UBA2 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
UBA2 is one half of the SUMO E1 ligase. Together with SAE1 it forms a heterodimer that acts as the E1 enzyme for SUMO1, SUMO2, SUMO3 and probably SUMO4. The enzyme mediates ATP-dependent activation of the SUMO protein, then forms a thioester bond between the SUMO protein and a conserved active site cysteine residue on UBA2, also called SAE2. This is the first step in the sumoylation cascade.
Sumoylation is the posttranslational modification of proteins by the small protein SUMO. It regulates protein structure and intracellular localisation. The SAE1–UBA2 heterodimer was described as the SUMO-activating enzyme in work by Okuma and colleagues in 1999. UniProt records UBA2 in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus, consistent with a role in modifying proteins across cellular compartments.
The UBA2 gene encodes a protein that belongs to the ubiquitin-activating E1 family, and HGNC places it in the group of ubiquitin like modifier activating enzymes. Earlier names include SUMO1 activating enzyme subunit 2 and ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme 2, and the aliases FLJ13058 and HRIHFB2115 also appear in the literature. The mouse ortholog is Uba2. Researchers studying the UBA2 protein, whether by UBA2 antibody-based detection or by functional assay, usually do so in the context of SUMO pathway activity.
UBA2 carries the active site cysteine that forms a thioester with SUMO, making it central to studies of E1 activation.
As part of the SUMO-activating enzyme, UBA2 underlies sumoylation, which regulates protein structure and intracellular localisation.
UBA2 is found in the cytoplasm and nucleus, which makes it a useful subject for studying where SUMO activation occurs.
UBA2 belongs to the ubiquitin-activating E1 family, allowing comparison with other ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzymes.
UBA2 is the catalytic subunit of the SUMO E1 enzyme. With SAE1 it activates SUMO1, SUMO2 and SUMO3 (and probably SUMO4) in an ATP-dependent step, then forms a thioester bond between SUMO and its conserved active site cysteine. This starts the sumoylation cascade.
UBA2 is also called SAE2 and SUMO-activating enzyme subunit 2. Other aliases are FLJ13058 and HRIHFB2115. Previous names include SUMO1 activating enzyme subunit 2 and ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme 2. It pairs with SAE1 to form the functional heterodimer.
A mouse ortholog, Uba2, is recorded for the human gene. UBA2 belongs to the ubiquitin-activating E1 family, which is shared by the enzymes that activate ubiquitin and related modifiers. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other ubiquitin-activating E1 family enzymes and related ubiquitin-like modifier pathway targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q9UBT2; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.