The ubiquitin-proteasome system: A novel target for anticancer and anti-inflammatory drug research

The ubiquitin-proteasome system is responsible for the degradation of most intracellular proteins, including those that control cell cycle progression, apoptosis, signal transduction and the NF-kappa B transcriptional pathway. Aberrations in the ubiquitin-proteasome system underlie the pathogenesis of many human diseases, so both the ubiquitin-conjugating system and the 20S proteasome are important targets for drug discovery. This article presents a few of the most important examples of the small molecule inhibitors and modulators targeting the ubiquitin-proteasome system, their mode of action, and their potential therapeutic relevance in the treatment of cancer and inflammatory-related diseases.