Divide and rule: The role of ubiquitination in inactivation of the ERK5-MAPK cascade

Recently, we revealed that ubiquitination of MEKK2 and MEKK3 by inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) directly disrupts MEK5/ERK5 interaction and subsequently attenuates ERK5 activation. In addition, loss of XIAP promotes human myogenic differentiation in an ERK5-dependent manner. These results reveal another layer of MAPK regulation and a novel role for XIAP in controlling myogenic differentiation.