Abstract

SUMOylation, a posttranslational modification process in which SUMO, the small ubiquitin-related modifier or small ubiquitin-like modifier, is added to the target proteins, plays an important role in regulating a variety of cellular processes including protein-protein interactions, subcellular localization, protein-DNA interactions and enzyme activity. This process adds another layer of control in eukaryote gene expression, and it regulates both transcriptional activation and repression. In the present review, we summarized the currently emerging information regarding the function of SUMOylation in ocular development and pathology.

Keywords: SUMOylation, gene expression, retina, lens, cornea, Pax-6, LEDGF, Nr2e3, Nrl, development, differentiation, signal transduction, ubiquitination, transcription, environmental stimuli, homeostasis, conjugated, proteeasome, sentrin-specific proteases, erythroleukemia, Histone deacetylase, rhodopsin, homeodomain genes, enhanceosome, mutations, neuroretina, rostral telencephalon, immunohistochemistry, neuroectoderm, pseudo-optic, autoimmunity