A New Potential Therapeutic Target for Cancer in Ubiquitin-Like Proteins-UBL3

Ubiquitin-like proteins (Ubls) are involved in a variety of biological processes through the modification of proteins. Dysregulation of Ubl modifications is associated with various diseases, especially cancer. Ubiquitin-like protein 3 (UBL3), a type of Ubl, was revealed to be a key factor in the process of small extracellular vesicle (sEV) protein sorting and major histocompatibility complex class II ubiquitination. A variety of sEV proteins that affects cancer properties has been found to interact with UBL3. An increasing number of studies has implied that UBL3 expression affects cancer cell growth and cancer prognosis. In this review, we provide an overview of the relationship between various Ubls and cancers. We mainly introduce UBL3 and its functions and summarize the current findings of UBL3 and examine its potential as a therapeutic target in cancers.

Automated summary

Ubiquitin-like proteins (Ubls) play a role in protein modification and are associated with various diseases, particularly cancer. Ubiquitin-like protein 3 (UBL3) has been identified as a key factor in small extracellular vesicle protein sorting and ubiquitination. Studies have shown that UBL3 expression affects cancer cell growth and prognosis. This review provides an overview of the relationship between Ubls and cancer, with a focus on UBL3 and its potential as a therapeutic target.