The role of a novel SUMO conjugation process on estrogen receptor function and gene transcription

最近，SUMO化的鉴定，即一种称为SUMO的小修饰蛋白与靶蛋白连接的过程，已成为一种调节基因表达的新机制。然而，SUMO化的功能性后果还没有得到很好的理解，我们的目标是更好地了解它在激素受体反应方面的作用。我们的实验室一直在研究响应激素雌激素的基因表达，以及它如何与雌激素受体相互作用，以介导其在基因水平上的生理效应。在这方面，我们发现雌激素受体可以进行广泛的蛋白质修饰，使它们能够响应各种细胞途径。我们最近发现这些修饰之一是SUMO化，提出了雌激素作用模式的新方面。本研究旨在表征受体SUMO化在激素反应和与基因表达相关的其他细胞途径中的重要性。这些研究将提高我们对蛋白质修饰在转录能力和细胞功能中的作用的理解，并带来新的机会。

Recently, the identification of SUMOylation, the process by which a small modifier protein called SUMO is attached to target proteins, has emerged as a novel mechanism that regulates gene expression. However, the functional consequences of SUMOylation are not very well understood and our goal is to better understand its role in terms of hormone receptors response.****Our laboratory has been studying gene expression in response to hormone estrogen and how it interacts with estrogen receptors to mediate its physiological effects at the gene level. In that respect, we have found that estrogen receptors can undergo extensive protein modifications, allowing them to respond to various cellular pathways.****We recently showed that one of these modifications was SUMOylation, raising novel aspects in estrogen mode of action. This study aims at characterizing how receptor SUMOylation is important in hormone response and other cellular pathways linked to gene expression. These studies will improve our understanding and bring new opportunities on the role of protein modifications on transcriptional competence and cellular functions.**