Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. (2020) 35: 17-34. Progress in the Discovery of Small Molecule Modulators of DeSUMOylation Shiyao Chen, Duoling Dong, Weixiang Xin and Huchen Zhou* School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. *Correspondence:
[email protected] htps://doi.org/10.21775/cimb.035.017 Abstract protein–protein interactions, gene transcription, SUMOylation and DeSUMOylation are reversible genome integrity, and DNA replication and repair protein post-translational modifcation (PTM) (Wilkinson and Henley, 2010; Vierstra, 2012; processes involving small ubiquitin-like modifer Bailey et al., 2016). In 1995, Meluh and Koshland (SUMO) proteins. Tese processes have indis- (1995) identifed Smt3 in Saccharomyces cerevi- pensable roles in various cellular processes, such siae, which is the earliest report within this fled. as subcellular localization, gene transcription, and Two years later, based on the sequence similarity DNA replication and repair. Over the past decade, between ubiquitin and a new 11.5-kDa protein, increasing atention has been given to SUMO- ubiquitin/SMT3, the name SUMO was formally related pathways as potential therapeutic targets. proposed for the frst time (Mahajan et al., 1997). Te Sentrin/SUMO-specifc protease (SENP), Although SUMO modifcation is closely which is responsible for deSUMOylation, has related to the progression of various diseases, such been proposed as a potential therapeutic target as cancers and cardiac disorders, it has aroused in the treatment of cancers and cardiac disorders. increasing atention as a potential therapeutic target Unfortunately, no SENP inhibitor has yet reached in recent years, especially concerning the Sentrin/ clinical trials. In this review, we focus on advances SUMO-specifc protease (SENP), which is the key in the development of SENP inhibitors in the past regulator of deSUMOylation.