We are mainly focused on studying the mechanisms that regulate intracellular protein degradation. Particularly, we investigate the Pup-proteasome system, a bacterial protein tagging and degradation system, using Mycobacterium smegmatis as a model organism. Combining biochemical and microbial genetics approaches, we decipher the cellular networks that enable external stimuli to direct changes in the cellular concentration and activity levels of the Pup-proteasome system components..