Proteomic profiling of VCP substrates links VCP to K6‐linked ubiquitylation and c‐Myc function VCP inhibition increases the cellular levels of ubiquitylated protein species. Total cell lysates from mock‐treated U2OS cells, cells treated with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 (10 μM, 6 h), or the VCP inhibitor NMS‐873 (5 μM, 6 h) were separated by SDS–PAGE. Proteins were detected by indicated antibodies. Schematic representation of the experimental strategy for quantitative analysis of ubiquitylation sites and proteins after chemical inhibition of VCP. “Light” labeled U2OS cells served as control, whereas “medium” and “heavy” labeled cells were treated with MG132 (10 μM, 6 h) and NMS‐873 (5 μM, 6 h) or CB‐5083 (0.5 μM, 6 h), respectively. Cells were lysed, and equal amounts of proteins extracted from three differentially labeled cell populations were pooled and digested in solution with trypsin. Ubiquitin remnant peptides were enriched using di‐glycine‐lysine‐specific antibodies and fractionated by micro‐SCX. For proteome analysis, proteins were separated by SDS–PAGE and digested in‐gel using trypsin. Peptide fractions were analyzed by LC‐MS/MS, and the raw data were processed using MaxQuant software. The bar graph shows the number of sites quantified in 1, 2, 3, or 4 ubiquitin remnant profiling replicate experiments. The line indicates the cumulative fraction of sites quantified in at least 1, 2, 3, or 4 replicate experiments. Quantitative reproducibility between the replicate experiments. The heat map shows the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient that was calculated to determine the experimental reproducibility of ubiquitylation sites quantified after VCP inhibition. The cumulative density plot shows the distribution of logarithmized SILAC ratios of quantified di‐glycine‐modified (e.g., ubiquitylated) peptides in ubiquitin remnant profiling experiments after VCP or proteasome inhibition. VCP inhibition increases the abundance of 16%, whereas proteasome inhibition 45% of quantified ubiquitylation sites. Inhibition of VCP and proteasome has a minor effect on protein levels. The density plot shows the distribution of logarithmized SILAC ratios of quantified protein groups after VCP or proteasome inhibition. Quantification of the free ubiquitin pool in cells treated with VCP inhibitor NMS‐873 or proteasome inhibitor MG132. Cells were treated with MG132 (10 μM) or NMS‐873 (5 μM) for different time points, and the free ubiquitin levels were quantified. The bar plots show the mean and SD calculated from three replicate experiments. The values were normalized to the DMSO‐treated control. Antibody against ubiquitin (P4D1) was used to detect free ubiquitin using Western blotting. IF THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY OR IS OWNED BY A THIRD PARTY, AS INDICATED IN THE CAPTION LINE, THEN FURTHER PERMISSION MAY BE NEEDED BEFORE ANY FURTHER USE. PLEASE CONTACT WILEY'S PERMISSIONS DEPARTMENT ON PERMISSIONS@WILEY.COM OR USE THE RIGHTSLINK SERVICE BY CLICKING ON THE 'REQUEST PERMISSIONS' LINK ACCOMPANYING THIS ARTICLE. WILEY OR AUTHOR OWNED IMAGES MAY BE USED FOR NON-COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, SUBJECT TO PROPER CITATION OF THE ARTICLE, AUTHOR, AND PUBLISHER. EMBO Rep, Volume: 19, Issue: 4, First published: 21 February 2018, DOI: (10.15252/embr.201744754)