In a very cool study we were able to collaborate on, Paola Sette in Fadila Bouamr’s lab used a DUb fusion technique to show that ubiquitin is actually necessary for ESCRT-dependent budding of retroviruses, such as HIV. In addition, it looks like its the viral Gag protein, and not an ESCRT component, that carries the physiologically relevant ubiquitin.

Well done Paola!