Initiation of the ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis in skeletal muscle is the crucial trigger of muscle wasting19, and muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx/atrogin-1) and muscle RING finger 1 (MuRF1), two E3 ubiquitin ligases, are frequently mentioned in different muscle atrophy models20,21. Here, UBB is linked to muscle atrophy.