Brenda Schulman
Research Department Molecular Machines and Signaling (MoMaS)
Structural Biology, Ubiquitin Proteasome System, Ubiquitin-like Protein
An important form of regulation is the modification of proteins and membranes by linking them to the small protein ubiquitin or structurally related ubiquitin-like proteins (UBLs). Ubiquitin and UBLs control timing, subcellular location, composition, conformation and activity of thousands of different proteins and macromolecules. In addition, defects in ubiquitin and UBL pathways are associated with numerous diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and viral infections. Brenda Schulman's Department “Molecular Machines and Signaling” has shown that hundreds of microscopic, dynamic, multiprotein molecular machines are transiently transformed into different conformations by specialized regulatory factors to control ubiquitin and UBLs in order to regulate virtually all aspects of cell biology.
A widespread mechanism regulating the functions of eukaryotic proteins involves post-translational modification by the small protein ubiquitin (UB) or structurally related ubiquitin-like proteins (UBLs).
more
Department News
Brenda is named as awardee of the Cross of Merit 1st Class of the Federal Republic of Germany. Congratulations, Brenda!
more
New Publication in
Nature Communications: The study revealed the cysteine-sensing E3 ligase that targets the metabolic enzyme CDO1 for degradation when cysteine is scarce. Disease-causing CDO1 mutations that escape this natural pathway can still be eliminated by a molecular glue degrader engaging a different protein surface. Great collaboration with Matthias Mann and Peter Murray and Gary Kleiger. Congratulations to all the authors, especially to co-first authors Gisele and Luca!
more
Several members of the department attended the Ubiquitin & Fiends Symposium 2026, organized by University of Vienna. Brenda gave a talk as an invited speaker. Congratulations to Jakob who won a Best Poster Prize.
more
A brilliantly presented and successful defense, congratulations Caro!
