What does E2 do in the ubiquitination process?

In the ubiquitination process, the E2 enzyme plays a crucial role in the conjugation phase, where it is responsible for transferring ubiquitin from the E1 enzyme to the target protein. Specifically, the E2 enzyme takes the activated ubiquitin molecule from the E1 enzyme and facilitates its transfer to the target protein that is to be tagged for degradation or other regulatory processes. This step is essential for the proper function of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, which regulates protein turnover and various cellular processes by marking proteins for degradation.

While E1 is responsible for activating ubiquitin, the E2 enzyme serves as the bridge between the E1 and the target protein, ensuring that ubiquitin is conjugated correctly. The remaining options relate to other aspects of the ubiquitination process but do not accurately describe the specific action of E2 in conjugation.