title: Dynamic SUMO modification regulates mitotic chromosome assembly and cell cycle progression in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: The small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO), initially characterized as a suppressor of a mutation in the gene encoding the centromeric protein MIF2, is involved in many aspects of cell cycle regulation. The dynamics of conjugation and deconjugation and the role of SUMO during the cell cycle remain unexplored. Here we used Caenorhabditis elegans to establish the contribution of SUMO to a timely and accurate cell division. Chromatin-associated SUMO conjugates increase during metaphase but decrease rapidly during anaphase. Accumulation of SUMO conjugates on the metaphase plate and proper chromosome alignment depend on the SUMO E2 conjugating enzyme UBC-9 and SUMO E3 ligase PIAS(GEI-17). Deconjugation is achieved by the SUMO protease ULP-4 and is crucial for correct progression through the cell cycle. Moreover, ULP-4 is necessary for Aurora B(AIR-2) extraction from chromatin and relocation to the spindle mid-zone. Our results show that dynamic SUMO conjugation plays a role in cell cycle progression.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pelisch
authors.affiliation: Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
authors.forename: Remi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sonneville
authors.affiliation: Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pourkarimi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agostinho
authors.affiliation: Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
authors.forename: J Julian
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Blow
authors.affiliation: Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gartner
authors.affiliation: Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
authors.forename: Ronald T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Hay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008938:Mitosis; D025841:Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D025841:Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes