SUMO: regulating the regulator

Post-translational modifiers of the SUMO (Small Ubiquitin-related Modifier) family have emerged as key regulators of protein function and fate. While the past few years have seen an enormous increase in knowledge on SUMO enzymes, substrates, and consequences of modification, regulation of SUMO conjugation is far from being understood. This brief review will provide an overview on recent advances concerning (i) the interplay between sumoylation and other post-translational modifications at the level of individual targets and (ii) global regulation of SUMO conjugation and deconjugation.