Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 E1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the UBE2E1 gene.

The modification of proteins with ubiquitin is an important cellular mechanism for targeting abnormal or short-lived proteins for degradation. Ubiquitination involves at least three classes of enzymes: ubiquitin-activating enzymes, or E1s, ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes, or E2s, and ubiquitin-protein ligases, or E3s. This gene encodes a member of the E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme family. Three alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq].
Function: Accepts ubiquitin from the E1 complex and catalyzes its covalent attachment to other proteins. Catalyzes the covalent attachment of ISG15 to other proteins. Mediates the selective degradation of short-lived and abnormal proteins. In vitro also catalyzes 'Lys-48'-linked polyubiquitination.