The important roles of protein SUMOylation in the occurrence and development of leukemia and clinical implications

Leukemia is a severe malignancy of the hematopoietic system, which is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation and dedifferentiation of immature hematopoietic precursor cells in the lymphatic system and bone marrow. Leukemia is caused by alterations of the genetic and epigenetic regulation of processes underlying hematologic malignancies, including SUMO modification (SUMOylation). Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins covalently or noncovalently conjugate and modify a large number of target proteins via lysine residues. SUMOylation is a small ubiquitin-like modification that is catalyzed by the SUMO-specific activating enzyme E1, the binding enzyme E2, and the ligating enzyme E3. SUMO is covalently linked to substrate proteins to regulate the cellular localization of target proteins and the interaction of target proteins with other biological macromolecules. SUMOylation has emerged as a critical regulatory mechanism for subcellular localization, protein stability, protein-protein interactions, and biological function and thus regulates normal life activities. If the SUMOylation process of proteins is affected, it will cause a cellular reaction and ultimately lead to various diseases, including leukemia. There is growing evidence showing that a large number of proteins are SUMOylated and that SUMOylated proteins play an important role in the occurrence and development of various types of leukemia. Targeting the SUMOylation of proteins alone or in combination with current treatments might provide powerful targeted therapeutic strategies for the clinical treatment of leukemia.