Grant: Operating Grant

Many proteins in all eukaryotic cells are subject to modification by the SUMO peptide, in a process referred to as sumoylation. This modification plays important roles in regulating multiple cellular processes under normal conditions, but abnormal levels of sumoylation have been detected in many tumours. The cause and consequences of elevated sumoylation in cancer are not known. We previously determined that proteins found on actively expressed genes are heavily modified by SUMO. Towards comprehending how abnormal sumoylation might alter gene expression, as observed in cancer, this project aims to determine the effects of SUMO modifications on the specific functions of these proteins, as well as on gene expression as a whole. The results of our work will add significantly to our understanding of how cells regulate gene expression in normal conditions, while revealing the potential consequences of cancer-related abnormal sumoylation levels on gene regulation in tumours.