PYR-41 (50 μM) inhibits activity of ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1 by over 90%. PYR-41 could be a target for nucleophilic attack and potentially reacts with the active site cysteine of E1. PYR-41 efficiently blocks cyclin E degradation. PYR-41 decreases the level of E1fUb thioesters in cells with a IC50 of between 10 and 25 μM, and prevents proteasome inhibitor–induced accumulation of ubiquitylated proteins. PYR-41 increases total sumoylation in cells and in cell harboring temperature-sensitive E1. PYR-41 is able to inhibit both proteasome-dependent and proteasome-independent activities of ubiquitylation. PYR-41 (50 μM) attenuates 1 ng/mL IL-1α-mediated nuclear factor-κB activation by >60% through preventing the downstream ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation of IκBα. PYR-41 inhibits degradation of p53 and activates the transcriptional activity of p53, which enable its differentially killing transformed p53-expressing cells. [1] PYR-41 blocks ubiquitination reactions but paradoxically leads to the accumulation of high MW ubiquitinated proteins. PYR-41 also has equal or greater inhibitory activity against several deubiquitinases (DUBs) in intact cells and purified USP5 in vitro. PYR-41 also mediates cross-linking of specific protein kinases (Bcr-Abl, Jak2) to inhibit their signaling activity. [1]