|http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/ A service of the U.S. National Library
of Medicine®| Genes in the UBA gene family provide instructions
for making proteins called ubiquitin-like modifier activating
enzymes. The enzymes, also called E1s, turn on (activate)
ubiquitin-like proteins. Ubiquitin-like proteins attach (bind)
to other proteins and can affect these proteins’ activity,
interactions with other proteins, and locations within the cell.
The activation of ubiquitin-like proteins influences a wide
range of body processes, from immune system responses to
prenatal development. The E1 enzymes activate ubiquitin-like
proteins in a process called the conjugation cascade. The
conjugation cascade begins when an E1 binds to a ubiquitin-like
protein, causing it to become active. In subsequent steps, the
activated protein is passed between many enzymes until it
reaches its target protein and can carry out its specific
function. Different E1s activate different ubiquitin-like
proteins. A particular UBA gene, UBA1, activates the