Overview:

SUMO2 and 3 are members of the SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) protein family which functions in a manner similar to ubiquitin. SUMO 3 is bound to target proteins as part of a post-translational modification system and modifies numerous cellular proteins and affect their metabolism and function. SUMO 2 and 3 are involved in a variety of cellular processes, such as nuclear transport, transcriptional regulation, apoptosis, and protein stability (1). SUMO3 predominantly detected in the cytoplasm (2). and SUMO2 is predominantly detected in nuclear bodies.

References:

1. Su, H.-L. et.al: Molecular features of human ubiquitin-like SUMO genes and their encoded proteins. Gene 296: 65-73, 2002.2. Kamitani, T. et.al: Characterization of a second member of the sentrin family of ubiquitin-like proteins. J. Biol. Chem. 273: 11349-11353, 1998.