### NEDD8 Gene Overview

**Gene Symbol:** NEDD8  
**Location:** Cytosol and nucleoplasm  
**Function:** The NEDD8 gene encodes a ubiquitin-like protein that is crucial for various cellular processes, primarily through its neddylation activity, where it conjugates to specific target proteins, thereby modulating their function or marking them for degradation.

### 1. Associated Genes
In addition to the proteins mentioned in your provided summaries (like cullins and p53/TP53), NEDD8 is associated with several other genes/proteins, especially in the context of E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes. These include:

- **RING-family E3 ligases:** Such as RBX1 and RBX2, which are part of the cullin-RING ligase complexes to which NEDD8 attaches.
- **UBE1C and APPBP1:** These are involved in the activation of NEDD8.
- **UBE2M:** The E2 enzyme that plays a role in the neddylation process.

### 2. Aging and Age-Related Diseases
NEDD8 has been implicated in cellular processes that are critical for aging and age-related diseases. Some relevant insights include:

- **Cell Cycle Regulation:** Improper neddylation can disrupt cell cycle control, potentially leading to premature senescence or oncogenesis.
- **Neurodegenerative Diseases:** NEDD8 is noted as a biomarker in Parkinson's disease; its neddylation pathways may influence the degradation of proteins responsible for cellular stress responses and proteostasis, which are fundamental in aging and age-related neurodegeneration.
- **Cancer:** Malignant astrocytoma associations highlight that dysregulation in neddylation processes may contribute to tumorigenesis, particularly as mechanisms of cell growth and division become more aberrant with age.

### 3. Drug Interactions
While specific direct drug interactions with NEDD8 might not be thoroughly characterized, certain drugs and classes act on pathways where NEDD8 plays a role:

- **Proteasome Inhibitors:** Such as bortezomib or carfilzomib, interact with the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, where NEDD8-related activity may be altered or utilized.
- **Small Molecule Inhibitors:** Some experimental drugs targeting specific E3 ligases (often in cancer therapeutics) may indirectly affect neddylation pathways by altering the proteasome's function.

### 4. Pathways and Biological Processes 
NEDD8 is involved in several significant biological pathways, including:

- **Neddylation Pathway:** The core pathway where the NEDD8 protein is conjugated to target proteins, especially cullins.
- **Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway:** NEDD8 modulates this critical mechanism for protein degradation and turnover.
- **Cell Cycle Regulation:** By regulating the activity and stability of cyclins and cullin-RING ligase complexes, NEDD8 plays a vital role in the progression of the cell cycle.
- **Embryogenesis:** NEDD8’s function is crucial in early developmental processes by regulating proteins necessary for proper cellular function.

Understanding these associations and processes provides critical insights into how NEDD8 contributes to cellular function and its potential implications in health disorders, particularly those related to aging and cancer.