Additional info: |
The Small Ubiquitin Like Modifier (SUMO) protein is similar in structure and function to ubiquitin. However, SUMO does not typically target proteins for degradation as does ubiqutin. SUMO is involved with the modification of a very diverse array of targets. Proteins involved with transcriptional regulation, DNA damage repair, genomic stability, nuclear transport, and histone modification are all subject to modification by SUMO. SUMO typically functions by covalently binding to a target protein, followed by regulation of protein:protein and protein:DNA interactions. The SUMO family of proteins is highly conserved from yeast to human. Invertebrates contain a single SUMO gene (Smt3 in yeast and smo-1 in C. elegans), with three members of SUMO being identified in vertebrates to date (SUMO-1, SUMO-2 and SUMO-3). |