SUMOylation and de-SUMOylation in response to DNA damage

To maintain genomic integrity, a cell must utilize multiple mechanisms to protect its DNA from the damage generated by environmental agents or DNA metabolism. SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) can regulate protein stability, protein cellular location, and protein-protein interactions. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the roles of SUMOylation and de-SUMOylation in DNA damage response (DDR) and DNA repair with a specific focus on the role of RPA SUMOylation in homologous recombination (HR).