Cells in the human body must adapt their protein balance to certain situations, such as the availability of iron or an infection. These adaptations occur through a complex process in which proteins that are no longer needed or that are toxic are tagged for destruction by attaching a small protein called ubiquitin to them. This marking of a protein for destruction by tagging with ubiquitin is carried out by Cullin-RING Ligases, or “CRLs” for short. Therefore, CRLs can be considered as “destroyers” of specific protein molecules. Read More