Accepts ubiquitin from the E1 complex and catalyzes its covalent attachment to other proteins (PubMed:20061386, PubMed:21229326). Specifically monoubiquitinates the N-terminus of various substrates, including ATXN3, MAPT/TAU, POLR2H/RPB8 and STUB1/CHIP, by recognizing backbone atoms of disordered N-termini (PubMed:23560854, PubMed:23696636, PubMed:25436519). Involved in degradation of misfolded chaperone substrates by mediating monoubiquitination of STUB1/CHIP, leading to recruitment of ATXN3 to monoubiquitinated STUB1/CHIP, and restriction of the length of ubiquitin chain attached to STUB1/CHIP substrates by ATXN3. After UV irradiation, but not after mitomycin-C (MMC) treatment, acts as a specific E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme for the Fanconi anemia complex by associating with E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase FANCL and catalyzing monoubiquitination of FANCD2, a key step in the DNA damage pathway (PubMed:19111657, PubMed:21229326). In vitro catalyzes ‘Lys-11’-linked polyubiquitination. UBE2W-catalyzed ubiquitination occurs also in the presence of inactive RING/U-box type E3s, i.e. lacking the active site cysteine residues to form thioester bonds with ubiquitin, or even in the absence of E3, albeit at a slower rate (PubMed:25436519).
