Dynamic regulation of HIF1Α stability by SUMO2/3 and SENP3 in the human placenta

IntroductionHypoxia-inducible factor 1A (HIF1A) stability is tightly regulated by hydroxylation and ubiquitination. Emerging evidence indicates that HIF1A is also controlled by the interplay between SUMO-specific ligases, which execute protein SUMOylation, and Sentrin/SUMO-specific proteases that de-SUMOylate target proteins. Given the significance of HIF1A in the human placenta, we investigated whether placental HIF1A is subject to SUMOylation in physiological and pathological conditions.MethodsPlacentae were obtained from normal and pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. Human choriocarcinoma JEG3 cells were maintained at either 21% or 3% oxygen or exposed to sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Cells were transfected with SUMO2/3 constructs with and without Mg132, a proteasome inhibitor. Expression, distribution and associations of SUMO/SENPs and HIF1A were evaluated by Western blotting, immunohistochemistry and co-immunoprecipitation.ResultsHIF1A-SUMO2/3 associations peaked at 9–10 weeks, while its deSUMOylation by SENP3 was greatest at 10–12 weeks. In E-PE, HIF1A deSUMOylation by SENP3 was significantly elevated, while HIF1A-SUMO2/3 associations remained constant. In vitro, overexpression of SUMO2/3 de-stabilized HIF1A in hypoxia, and abrogated HIF1A expression following Mg132 treatment in normoxia. Hypoxia and SNP treatments promoted SENP3 nuclear redistribution from nucleoli to the nucleoplasm where it associates with HIF1A.ConclusionDuring early placental development, SUMOylation events control HIF1A stability in an oxygen-dependent manner. In E-PE, enhanced deSUMOylation of HIF1A by SENP3 may in part contribute to increased HIF1A activity and stability found in this pathology.     

Enhanced SUMOylation and SENP-1 protein levels following oxygen and glucose deprivation in neurones

Here, we show that oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) causes increased small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-1 and SUMO-2/3 conjugation to substrate proteins in cultured hippocampal neurones. Surprisingly, the SUMO protease SENP-1, which removes SUMO from conjugated proteins, was also increased by OGD, suggesting that the neuronal response to OGD involves a complex interplay between SUMOylation and deSUMOylation. Importantly, decreasing global SUMOylation in cultured hippocampal neurones by overexpression of the catalytic domain of SENP-1 increased neuronal vulnerability to OGD-induced cell death. Taken together, these results suggest a neuroprotective role for neuronal SUMOylation after OGD.     

SUMO4 and its role in type 1 diabetes pathogenesis

Susceptibility to type 1 diabetes (T1D) is determined by interactions of multiple genes with unknown environmental factors. Despite the characterization of over 20 susceptibility regions for T1D, identification of specific genes in these regions is still a formidable challenge. In 2004, we first reported the cloning of a novel, small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) gene, SUMO4, in the IDDM5 interval on chromosome 6q25, and presented strong genetic and functional evidence suggesting that SUMO4 is a T1D susceptibility gene. Subsequent studies have consistently confirmed this association in multiple Asian populations despite controversial observations in Caucasians. In this review, we will update the genetic evidence supporting SUMO4 as a T1D susceptibility gene and discuss the possible explanations for the discrepant associations observed in Caucasians. We will then discuss the mechanisms through which SUMO4 contributes to the pathogenesis of T1D.     

SUMO表达系统高效、可溶性表达重组鼠源IL-1β

目的:从LPS刺激过的小鼠胸腺细胞中克隆IL-1β基因,通过原核表达,获得具有生物活性的可溶性鼠源IL-1β蛋白,为深入研究和利用IL-1β基因奠定基础。方法:提取LPS刺激的小鼠胸腺细胞总RNA,反转录成cDNA,以此为模板,根据GenBank报道的mIL-1β序列设计引物,进行巢式PCR,得到成熟mIL-1β的编码序列基因,并插入到原核表达载体pHisSUMO ex-press中SUMO标签的下游,构建重组表达载体pHisSUMO express-mIL-1β。将该载体转化大肠杆菌Rosetta(DE3),IPTG诱导表达mIL-1β/SUMO融合蛋白,Ni-NTA Agarose纯化后,表达产物经SDS-PAGE和Western blot进行鉴定,用SUMO protease-1切去SUMO标签,经纯化并切去融合标签后获得成熟mIL-1β蛋白。用MTT方法检测目的蛋白对L929细胞的生物学活性。结果:DNA测序证明所克隆基因序列与GenBank报道的完全一致,SDS-PAGE分析表明融合蛋白的相对分子质量为37kD,切割后的成熟蛋白为17kD,与理论值相符。且蛋白表达量高,主要以可溶形式存在。Western blot证实该蛋白为mIL-1β。成熟蛋白纯化产物纯度超过95%以上,通过MTT的方法检测证明其具有使L929细胞增殖的作用,从而说明其具有生物学活性。结论:利用大肠杆菌表达系统可高效可溶性表达高纯度的具有生物活性的mIL-1β蛋白。     

Coxsackievirus B5 induced apoptosis of HeLa cells: Effects on p53 and SUMO

Coxsackievirus B5 (CVB5), a human enterovirus of the family Picornaviridae, is a frequent cause of acute and chronic human diseases. The pathogenesis of enteroviral infections is not completely understood, and the fate of the CVB5-infected cell has a pivotal role in this process. We have investigated the CVB5-induced apoptosis of HeLa cells and found that it happens by the intrinsic pathway by a mechanism dependent on the ubiquitin-proteasome system, associated with nuclear aggregation of p53. Striking redistribution of both SUMO and UBC9 was noted at 4 h post-infection, simultaneously with a reduction in the levels of the ubiquitin-ligase HDM2. Taken together, these results suggest that CVB5 infection of HeLa cells elicit the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis by MDM2 degradation and p53 activation, destabilizing protein sumoylation, by a mechanism that is dependent on a functional ubiquitin-proteasome system.     

蛋白质SUMO化和泛素化修饰的关系

泛素化和SUMO化是蛋白质翻译后修饰的重要方式,广泛参与调节蛋白质功能和细胞生命活动各个环节.多聚泛素化降解蛋白质,而SUMO化主要调节蛋白质的相互作用和定位等.在不同情况下,SUMO化和泛素化既可协同调节蛋白质功能,也可相互拮抗. 最近研究发现,某些底物的SUMO化能够激活体内一类新发现的SUMO依赖的泛素连接酶,启动泛素-蛋白酶体途径降解底物, 导致蛋白质SUMO化和泛素化的关系进一步精细化和复杂化.     

Protein SUMOylation modulates calcium influx and glutamate release from presynaptic terminals

Posttranslational modification by small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins is emerging as an important regulatory mechanism for neuronal function and dysfunction. Although multiple potential presynaptic SUMOylation substrate proteins have been proposed from sequence analysis the functional consequences of presynaptic SUMOylation have not been determined. Here we show that SUMOylation of presynaptic proteins modulates neurotransmitter release. Increasing protein SUMOylation by entrapping recombinant SUMO-1 in synaptosomes decreased glutamate release evoked by KCl whereas decreasing SUMOylation with the SUMO-specific protease SENP-1 enhanced KCl-evoked release. In contrast, SUMO increased and SENP-1 decreased synaptosomal glutamate release evoked by kainate stimulation. Consistent with these results, SENP-1 increased Ca²⁺ influx into synaptosomes evoked by KCl whereas it decreased kainate-induced Ca²⁺ influx. These results demonstrate that, in addition to postsynaptic effects, protein SUMOylation acts to modulate neurotransmitter release and thereby regulate synaptic function.     

SUMO修饰蛋白在肿瘤防治中的机制研究

类泛素蛋白SUMO对靶蛋白的修饰已被证明与癌症有着密切的关系。笔者介绍了SUMO生化反应过程及其靶蛋白的共同特点,以及SUMO对蛋白的修饰与肿瘤的关系的3座桥梁,并据此提出了治疗癌症的新途径。