The E3 ligase UBR2 regulates cell death under caspase deficiency via Erk/MAPK pathway.

Escape from cell death is a key event in cancer establishment/progression. While apoptosis is often considered as the main cell death pathway, upon caspase inhibition, cell death is rather delayed than blocked leading to caspase-independent cell death (CICD). Although described for years, CICD's underlying mechanism remains to be identified.