Catalysis of the reaction: E1 + ubiquitin + ATP--> E1-ubiquitin + AMP + PPi, where the E1-ubiquitin linkage is a thioester bond between the C-terminal glycine of Ub and a sulfhydryl side group of an E1 cysteine residue. This is the first step in a cascade of reactions in which ubiquitin is ultimately added to a protein substrate.
Comment:
The ubiquitin activating enzyme catalyzes a ligation reaction.
Synonyms:
related_synonym:
E1 ubiquitin-activating enzyme
xref:
EC:6.2.1.45; reactome:R-HSA-8852132 "Ub-Cys632-UBA1 adenylates ubiquitin in the cytosol"; reactome:R-HSA-8852133 "UBA1 conjugates ubiquitin to UBA1 in the cytosol"; reactome:R-HSA-8852134 "UBA1 adenylates ubiquitin in the cytosol"; reactome:R-HSA-8865050 "Ub-Cys625-UBA6 adenylates ubiquitin in the cytosol"; reactome:R-HSA-8865090 "UBA6 adenylates ubiquitin in the cytosol"; reactome:R-HSA-8865098 "UBA6 conjugates ubiquitin to UBA6 in the cytosol"