The polycomb protein Pc2 is a SUMO E3

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins form large multimeric complexes (PcG bodies) which are involved in the stable repression of gene expression. The human PcG protein, Pc2, has been shown to recruit the transcriptional corepressor, CtBP, to PcG bodies. We show that CtBP is sumoylated at a single lysine. In vitro, CtBP sumoylation minimally requires the SUMO E1 and E2 (Ubc9) and SUMO-1. However, Pc2 dramatically enhances CtBP sumoylation. In vivo, this is likely due to the ability of Pc2 to recruit both CtBP and Ubc9 to PcG bodies, thereby bringing together substrate and E2, and stimulating the transfer of SUMO to CtBP. These results demonstrate that Pc2 is a SUMO E3, and suggest that PcG bodies may be sumoylation centers.