Dynamic SUMO modification regulates mitotic chromosome assembly and cell cycle progression in Caenorhabditis elegans

FEDERICO PELISCH; REMI SONNEVILLE; EHSAN POURKARIMI; ANA AGHOSTINO; J JULIAN BLOW; ANTON GARTNER; RON HAY

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS

Nature Publishing Group

Año: 2014

2041-1723

The small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO), initially characterized as a suppressor of a mutation in the gene encoding the centromeric protein MIF2, is involved in many aspects of cell cycle regulation. The dynamics of conjugation and deconjugation and the role of SUMO during the cell cycle remain unexplored. We used Caenorhabditis elegans to establish the contribution of SUMO to a timely and accurate cell division. SUMO conjugation increases during metaphase but decreases rapidly during anaphase. The accumulation of SUMO on the metaphase plate and proper chromosome alignment depends on the SUMO E2 conjugating enzyme UBC-9 and SUMO E3 ligase PIASGEI-17. Deconjugation is achieved by the SUMO protease ULP-4 and is crucial for correct progression through the cell cycle. Moreover, ULP-4 is necessary for Aurora BAIR-2 extraction from chromatin and relocation to the spindle mid-zone. Our results show that dynamic SUMO conjugation plays a role in cell cycle progression.