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Updated: Feb 22, 2026

SUMO-Binding Entities SUBEs as Tools for the Enrichment, Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of the SUMO Proteome in Liver Cancer
Published on: November 1, 2019
SUMO proteins: Guardians of immune system
Sabrina Adorisio1, Alessandra Fierabracci2, Isabella Muscari3
1Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazzale Severi, 06132, Perugia, Italy.
Abstract:
Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins belong to the ubiquitin-like family and act to change the function of target proteins through post-translational modifications. Through their interactions with innate immune pathways, SUMOs promote an efficient immune response to pathogenic challenge avoiding, at the same time, an excess of immune response that could lead to the development of autoimmune diseases. This report discusses the general functions of SUMO proteins; highlights SUMO involvement in the innate immune response through their role in NF-κB and interferon pathways; the involvement of SUMO proteins in autoimmune diseases; and reviews bacterial, viral, and parasitic interactions with SUMO pathways. In conclusion, we speculate that targeting SUMOs could represent a new therapeutic strategy against infections and autoimmunity.
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