Ubiquitin Conjugating Enzyme E2 M

UBE2M, known as UBC12 or SCRB1, is the dedicated conjugating enzyme of the NEDD8 pathway rather than a classical ubiquitin E2. It receives NEDD8 from the APPBP1-UBA3 activating enzyme and, with the cofactor DCN1 and the RING protein RBX1, transfers it onto cullin subunits of CRL ligases. This neddylation switches cullin-RING complexes into an active conformation, controlling turnover of hundreds of substrates including p27, cyclin E, and IkB. The pathway is a validated cancer target: the NEDD8-activating enzyme inhibitor pevonedistat (MLN4924) blocks UBE2M charging and has entered clinical trials. Recombinant UBE2M enables in vitro neddylation assays.