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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

In Vitro SUMOylation Assay to Study SUMO E3 Ligase Activity
Published on: January 29, 2018
Arsenic trioxide stimulates SUMO-2/3 modification leading to RNF4-dependent proteolytic targeting of PML
Stefan R Weisshaar1, Kirstin Keusekotten, Anke Krause
1Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Institute for Genetics, Zülpicher Strasse 47, 50674 Köln, Germany.
Abstract:
We have recently reported that poly-SUMO-2/3 conjugates are subject to a ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic control in human cells. Here we show that arsenic trioxide (ATO) increases SUMO-2/3 modification of promyelocytic leukemia (PML) leading to its subsequent ubiquitylation in vivo. The SUMO-binding ubiquitin ligase RNF4 mediates this modification and causes disruption of PML nuclear bodies upon treatment with ATO. Reconstitution of SUMO-dependent ubiquitylation of PML by RNF4 in vitro and in a yeast trans vivo system revealed a preference of RNF4 for chain forming SUMOs. Polysumoylation of PML in response to ATO thus leads to its recognition and ubiquitylation by RNF4.
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