SUMO1 Activating Enzyme Subunit 1 (SAE1) is a crucial component in the process of SUMOylation, a post-translational modification that involves the attachment of Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO) proteins to target proteins. This modification plays a significant role in various cellular processes, including nuclear-cytosolic transport, transcriptional regulation, apoptosis, and protein stability.
SAE1, along with SAE2, forms the heterodimeric enzyme complex known as the SUMO-activating enzyme (E1). This complex is responsible for the activation of SUMO proteins, a critical first step in the SUMOylation pathway. The activation process involves the ATP-dependent adenylation of the SUMO C-terminus, followed by the formation of a thioester bond between the SUMO and the catalytic cysteine of SAE2 .
SUMOylation is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis and responding to stress. It regulates various cellular functions by modifying the activity, stability, and localization of target proteins. In particular, SAE1 has been implicated in the regulation of transcription factors, DNA repair proteins, and other key regulatory proteins .
The dysregulation of SUMOylation, including the activity of SAE1, has been associated with several diseases, including cancer. For instance, in breast cancer, alterations in the SUMOylation pathway can influence tumor progression and metastasis . SAE1 has been identified as a potential biomarker for the prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), one of the most aggressive subtypes of breast cancer .
Given its pivotal role in SUMOylation, SAE1 is a target of interest for therapeutic interventions. Inhibitors of the SUMOylation pathway are being explored as potential treatments for cancers and other diseases characterized by aberrant SUMOylation . Additionally, recombinant SAE1 proteins are used in research to study the mechanisms of SUMOylation and to develop SUMOylation-based assays.