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Updated: Oct 20, 2025

SUMO-Binding Entities SUBEs as Tools for the Enrichment, Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of the SUMO Proteome in Liver Cancer
08:29

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

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NSUN2 modified by SUMO-2/3 promotes gastric cancer progression and regulates mRNA m5C methylation

Yuanbo Hu1,2, Chenbin Chen1,2, Xinya Tong2

  • 1Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.

Cell Death & Disease
|September 10, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The RNA methyltransferase NSUN2 is upregulated in gastric cancer (GC), promoting tumor growth and metastasis. Its modification by SUMO-2/3 enhances its carcinogenic activity, offering potential new GC treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • The 5-methylcytosine (m5C) RNA methyltransferase NSUN2 is implicated in cancer progression.
  • Its specific role and modifications in gastric cancer (GC) remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the biological significance and regulatory mechanisms of NSUN2 in gastric cancer.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets for GC treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemistry analysis of NSUN2 expression in 403 GC tissues.
  • In vitro assays to assess the effects of NSUN2 on GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
  • Co-immunoprecipitation to study NSUN2-SUMO-2/3 interaction.
  • m5C bisulfite sequencing (Bis-seq) in NSUN2-deficient GC cells.

Main Results:

  • NSUN2 is upregulated in GC and predicts a poor prognosis.
  • NSUN2 overexpression enhances GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
  • Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-2/3 directly interacts with NSUN2, stabilizing it and promoting its nuclear transport, thereby enhancing its carcinogenic activity.
  • m5C-methylated genes, including potential targets PIK3R1 and PCYT1A, are involved in GC progression.

Conclusions:

  • NSUN2 plays a significant role in GC progression through promoting cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
  • SUMOylation of NSUN2 is a key mechanism regulating its function and localization in GC.
  • Targeting NSUN2 or its modification pathways may offer novel therapeutic strategies for gastric cancer.

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