USP7 is a SUMO deubiquitinase essential for DNA replication.

Post-translational modification of proteins by ubiquitin (Ub) and Ub-like modifiers regulates DNA replication. We have previously shown that chromatin around replisomes is rich in SUMO and poor in Ub, whereas mature chromatin exhibits an opposite pattern. How this SUMO-rich, Ub-poor environment is m...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Lecona, Emilio, Rodriguez-Acebes, Sara, Specks, Julia, Lopez-Contreras, Andres J, Ruppen, Isabel, Murga, Matilde, Muñoz, Javier, Mendez, Juan, Fernandez-Capetillo, Oscar
Format: article
Publication Date:2016
Country:España
Institution:Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Repository:Repisalud
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:repisalud.isciii.es:20.500.12105/17681
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/17681
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:DNA Replication
DNA Damage
DNA Repair
HCT116 Cells
HeLa Cells
Humans
Models, Molecular
Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins
Sumoylation
Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7
Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases
Ubiquitination
Description
Summary:Post-translational modification of proteins by ubiquitin (Ub) and Ub-like modifiers regulates DNA replication. We have previously shown that chromatin around replisomes is rich in SUMO and poor in Ub, whereas mature chromatin exhibits an opposite pattern. How this SUMO-rich, Ub-poor environment is maintained at sites of DNA replication in mammalian cells remains unexplored. Here we identify USP7 as a replisome-enriched SUMO deubiquitinase that is essential for DNA replication. By acting on SUMO and SUMOylated proteins, USP7 counteracts their ubiquitination. Inhibition or genetic deletion of USP7 leads to the accumulation of Ub on SUMOylated proteins, which are displaced away from replisomes. Our findings provide a model explaining the differential accumulation of SUMO and Ub at replication forks and identify an essential role of USP7 in DNA replication that should be considered in the development of USP7 inhibitors as anticancer agents.