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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 Aug 16.
Published in final edited form as: Mol Cell. 2018 Aug 2;71(3):409–418. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2018.07.027

Figure 1: Dynamic SUMO conjugation cycle and its multiple effects on nuclear structure and functions.

Figure 1:

A. Conjugation and deconjugation of SUMO (shown in 3D structure rendering) are outlined. SUMO forms a thioester bond with the heterodimeric E1 (Aos1/Uba2) in an ATP-dependent manner. SUMO is then transferred to the E2 (Ubc9), again forming a thioester bond. SUMO is conjugated to the lysine residue (K) on the substrate with the help of SUMO E3. Only a single SUMO conjugation is shown, but multiple SUMOs or SUMO chains can also be found on substrates. SUMO proteases cleave SUMO from the substrate.

B. A brief summary of major effects of sumoylation on nuclear structure and functions. Nuclear domains and chromosomal regions enriched with SUMO are indicated by Inline graphic. Sumoylation also regulates transcription and DNA lesion repair as indicated. Arrow: positive effects; lines: negative effects. Arrows pointing to the nuclear pore complex (NPC) and nuclear envelope indicate SUMO-mediated DNA movement toward these locations.