Prof. Chuanmao Zhang published a paper in PNAS.
Barrier-to-autointegration factor (BAF), a highly conserved small protein in metazoans, plays multiple functions during the cell cycle; however, the regulation of BAF function is largely unclear. Here we find that the SUMOylation and de-SUMOylation cycle of BAF regulates these functions. We reveal that BAF is SUMOylated at K6, and that de-SUMOylation at this site is catalyzed by SENP1 and SENP2. SUMOylation of BAF regulates binding to lamin A/C, which is essential for nuclear retention of BAF. SUMOylation of BAF also regulates the interaction of BAF with nuclear DNA. De-SUMOylation facilitates cytoplasmic retention of BAF and loss of nuclear function. Non-SUMOylatable BAF is not efficiently retained in the nucleus, leading to structurally abnormal nuclear formation and DNA replication failure.
Original link: https://www.pnas.org/content/117/19/10378
