The SUMO Pathway Promotes Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proneural Factor Activity via a Direct Effect on the Zn Finger Protein Senseless

Chen, A.; Powell, L. M.; Huang, Y. C.; Wang, P. Y.; Kemp, S. E.; Jarman, A. P.

Abstract

During development, proneural transcription factors of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family are required to commit cells to
a neural fate. In Drosophila neurogenesis, a key mechanism promoting sense organ precursor (SOP) fate is the synergy between
proneural factors and their coactivator Senseless in transcriptional activation of target genes. Here we present evidence that
posttranslational modification by SUMO enhances this synergy via an effect on Senseless protein. We show that Senseless is a
direct target for SUMO modification and that mutagenesis of a predicted SUMOylation motif in Senseless reduces Senseless/
proneural synergy both in vivo and in cell culture. We propose that SUMOylation of Senseless via lysine 509 promotes its synergy
with proneural proteins during transcriptional activation and hence regulates an important step in neurogenesis leading to
the formation and maturation of the SOPs.

Citation

Chen, A., Powell, L. M., Huang, Y. C., Wang, P. Y., Kemp, S. E., & Jarman, A. P. (2012). The SUMO Pathway Promotes Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proneural Factor Activity via a Direct Effect on the Zn Finger Protein Senseless. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 32(14), 2849-2860. https://doi.org/10.1128/mcb.06595-11

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 4, 2012
• Online Publication Date: May 14, 2012
• Publication Date: Jul 15, 2012
• Deposit Date: Feb 16, 2017
• Journal: Molecular and Cellular Biology
• Print ISSN: 0270-7306
• Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 14
• Pages: 2849-2860
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/mcb.06595-11
• Keywords: helix-loop-helix (bHLH), Drosophila neurogenesis, sense organ precursor (SOP), synergy,
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/685941