title: A mechanism for inhibiting the SUMO pathway.
abstract: The SUMO pathway parallels the classical ubiquitinylation pathway with three discrete steps: activation involving the enzyme E1, conjugation involving the E2 enzyme UBC9, and substrate modification through the cooperative association of UBC9 and E3 ligases. We report here that the adenoviral protein Gam1 inhibits the SUMO pathway by interfering with the activity of E1 (SAE1/SAE2). In vivo, Gam1 expression leads to SAE1/SAE2 inactivation, both SAE1/SAE2 and UBC9 disappearance, and overall inhibition of protein sumoylation. This results in transcriptional activation of some promoters and is directly linked to inhibition of sumoylation of the transcriptional activators involved. Our results identify a mechanism for interfering with the SUMO pathway and with transcription that could have an impact in the design of novel pharmaceutical agents. They also point out once again to the extraordinary ability of eukaryotic viruses to interfere with the biology of host cells by targeting fundamental biochemical processes.
authors.affiliation: European Institute of Oncology, Department of Experimental Oncology, 20141 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boggio
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Ronald T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Hay
authors.forename: Giulio F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Draetta
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chiocca
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008025:Ligases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D025841:Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014452:Ubiquitins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D025841:Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014452:Ubiquitins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C065410:gam protein, Coliphage; D008156:Luciferases; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D008025:Ligases