Increased levels of ubiquitinated proteins are observed in failing hearts

A functional ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is critical for normal protein turnover and its role is to remove damaged or misfolded proteins via proteolysis of polyubiquitinated species. The accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins is a hallmark of proteasome dysfunction and is the most commonly used measure for assessing UPS function in human DCM and heart failure.  A consistent observation is that levels of polyubiquitinated proteins are increased in DCM/failing hearts compared with control hearts (find out more about this here). This is typically measured by semi-quantitative Western blot analysis using ubiquitin antibodies.

Key findings to date:

Further reading: The ubiquitin proteasome system in human cardiomyopathies and heart failure. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2013 May 15; 304(10): H1283–H1293. [PubMed]

Which tools do I need? Badrilla is pleased to offer new panel of reagents to facilitate the study of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in cardiac samples.