SUMO2/3 conjugation is an endogenous neuroprotective mechanism

J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2011 Nov;31(11):2152-9. doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2011.112. Epub 2011 Aug 24.

Abstract

Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)2/3 but not SUMO1 conjugation is activated after transient cerebral ischemia. To investigate its function, we blocked neuronal SUMO2/3 translation through lentiviral microRNA delivery in primary cortical neurons. Viability was unaffected by SUMO2/3 silencing unless neurons were stressed by transient oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). Both 15 and 45 minutes of OGD were tolerated by control microRNA-expressing neurons but damaged >60% of neurons expressing SUMO2/3 microRNA. Damaging OGD (75 minutes) increased neuronal loss to 54% (control microRNA) and to 99% (SUMO2/3 microRNA). This suggests that activation of SUMO2/3 conjugation is an endogenous neuroprotective stress response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Hypoxia
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient / metabolism
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient / pathology
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient / prevention & control*
  • Lentivirus / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • MicroRNAs / administration & dosage
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / pharmacology
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Oxygen / metabolism
  • Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins / genetics
  • Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Sumoylation / drug effects
  • Sumoylation / genetics
  • Ubiquitins / genetics
  • Ubiquitins / metabolism*

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • SUMO2 protein, mouse
  • Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins
  • Sumo3 protein, mouse
  • Ubiquitins
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Glucose
  • Oxygen