Small ubiquitin-like modifier-2 modification of retinoic acid receptor-alpha regulates its subcellular localization and transcriptional activity.

ABSTRACT: The retinoic acid receptor-alpha (Rara) gene is critical for germ cell development in the testis, as demonstrated by infertile Rara knockout male mice. The encoded protein for Rara (RARA) is expressed in both Sertoli cells and germ cells, but it is not always in the nucleus. Previously, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) was shown to increase the nuclear localization and transcriptional activity of RARA in Sertoli cells. Here, we identified a small ubiquitin-like modifier-2 (SUMO-2) modification as a novel posttranslational regulatory mechanism controlling the ATRA-dependent RARA subcellular localization and transcription. ATRA increased the SUMO-2 modification of RARA. In the presence of ATRA, lysine 166 (K166) and K171 of RARA were modified at a physiological concentration of SUMO-2, whereas

SUBMITTER: Zhu L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2795702 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature