title: Stat1 and SUMO modification.
abstract: Many proteins are known to undergo small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) modification by an E1-, E2-, and E3-dependent ligation process. Recognition that protein inhibitor of activated signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) (PIAS) proteins are SUMO E3 ligases raised the possibility that STATs may also be regulated by SUMO modification. Consistent with this possibility, a SUMO-ylation consensus site (PsiKxE; Psi indicates hydrophobic residue, and x indicates any residue) was identified in Stat1 (ie, (702)IKTE(705)), but not in other STATs. Biochemical analysis confirmed that Stat1 K(703) could be SUMO modified in vitro. Mutation of this critical lysine (ie, Stat1(K703R)) yielded a protein that, when expressed in Stat1(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), exhibited enhanced DNA binding and nuclear retention. This was associated with modest changes in transcriptional and antiviral activity. However, mutation of the second critical residue in the SUMO consensus site, E(705) (ie, Stat1(E705A)), yielded a protein with wild-type DNA binding, nuclear retention, and transcriptional and antiviral activity. Similar observations were made when these mutants were expressed in primary Stat1(-/-) macrophages. These observations suggest that although Stat1 can uniquely be SUMO-ylated in vitro, this modification is unlikely to play an important role in regulating Stat1 activity in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Samita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: Ali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Yunus
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schindler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D025841:Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D025841:Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins; C494080:Stat1 protein, mouse; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D008239:Lysine