SUMO, Ubiquitin, UBL proteins: Implications for human diseases-fifth international conference

The fifth international conference on SUMO, Ubiquitin, UBL Proteins: Implications for Human Diseases, held in Houston, included topics covering the latest advances and new targets in the field of protein modification. This conference report highlights selected presentations on the structural characterization of ubiquitination and SUMOylation machinery; the regulation of ubiquitination enzymes, including E3 ligases; the functions and mechanism of action of SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligases (STUbLs); the regulation of gene expression by SUMO; non-degradative functions of ubiquitin and SUMO in signal transduction; mechanisms and functions of ISG15 conjugation; the interaction of pathogens with host cell SUMOylation machinery; and stabilization of the Axin protein. Investigational drugs discussed include MLN-4924 (Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc).