DORFIN: Proteins and Enzymes

Dorfin is an E3 ubiquitin ligase which mediates ubiquitination of cellular proteins. Dorfin contains two RING-finger motifs and an IBR (in between RING fingers) motif. Dorfin interacts with UBE2L3/UBCH7 and UBE2E2/UBCH8, but not other ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes. Dorfin is of interest in Parkinson's Disease, as it binds and ubiquitylates synphilin 1 (SNCAIP - interacts with alpha synuclein) in neurons. Furthermore, Dorfin expression is increased in Lewy bodies, the characteristic neuronal inclusions in Parkinson's diseased brains. In normal subjects, Dorfin is widely expressed at low levels with higher levels found in the heart and is ubiquitously expressed in the central nervous system. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding the same protein have been reported.