Research in the Đikić group is centered around two major cellular quality control pathways: the ubiquitin system and autophagy. As such they provide protection against various human diseases and are involved in almost all cellular signaling processes. The group covers a wide range of expertise to reveal structure-function relationships. Recently, the Đikić Molecular Signaling Group revealed a novel ubiquitination mechanism induced by bacterial enzymes upon infection of human cells. In collaboration with colleagues at the Frankfurt Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, the group now aims to resolve additional atomic details of this serine ubiquitination. A second area of mutual interest is in remodeling of endoplasmic reticulum via a process known as ER-phagy. Until now, very little is known about the mechanisms facilitating membrane targeting, bending and shaping during this selective form of autophagy.