Cancer Letters
Volume 316, Issue 2 , Pages 113-125, 28 March 2012

SUMOylation in carcinogenesis

  • Kira Bettermann

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Austria
    • ,
  • Martin Benesch

      Affiliations

    • Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Austria
    • ,
  • Serge Weis

      Affiliations

    • Laboratory of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, State Neuropsychiatric Hospital Wagner-Jauregg, Linz, Austria
    • ,
  • Johannes Haybaeck

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Austria
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Address: Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 25, A-8036 Graz, Austria. Tel.: +43 316 385 80594; fax: +43 316 384 329.

Received 8 June 2011; received in revised form 15 October 2011; accepted 26 October 2011. published online 06 December 2011.

Abstract 

SUMOylation is a post-translational modification characterized by covalent and reversible binding of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) to a target protein. In mammals, four different isoforms, termed SUMO-1, -2, -3 and -4 have been identified so far. SUMO proteins are critically involved in the modulation of nuclear organization and cell viability. Their expression is significantly increased in processes associated with carcinogenesis such as cell growth, differentiation, senescence, oxidative stress and apoptosis. Little is known about the role of SUMOylation in cancer development. Therefore the present review focuses on possible implications of SUMOylation in carcinogenesis highlighting its impact as an important regulatory cell cycle protein. Moreover, novel opportunities for therapeutic approaches are discussed. The differential expression levels, the target protein preferences and the function of the SUMO pathway in different cancer subtypes raises unexpected issues questioning our understanding of the implication of SUMO in carcinogenesis.

Keywords: SUMO, Cancer, Ubiquitin

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PII: S0304-3835(11)00653-7

doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2011.10.036

Cancer Letters
Volume 316, Issue 2 , Pages 113-125, 28 March 2012

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