Abstract
In human cells, the DNA replication factor proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) can be conjugated to either the small ubiquitinlike modifier SUMO1 or SUMO2, but only SUMO2-conjugated PCNA is induced by transcription to facilitate resolution of transcription-replication conflict (TRC). To date, the SUMO E3 ligase that provides substrate specificity for SUMO2-PCNA conjugation in response to TRC remains unknown. Using a proteomic approach, we identified TRIM28 as the E3 ligase that catalyzes SUMO2-PCNA conjugation. In vitro, TRIM28, together with the RNA polymerase II (RNAPII)-interacting protein RECQ5, promotes SUMO2-PCNA conjugation but inhibits SUMO1-PCNA formation. This activity requires a PCNA-interacting protein (PIP) motif located within the bromodomain of TRIM28. In cells, TRIM28 interaction with PCNA on human chromatin is dependent on both transcription and RECQ5, and SUMO2-PCNA level correlates with TRIM28 expression. As a consequence, TRIM28 depletion led to RNAPII accumulation at TRC sites, and expression of a TRIM28 PIP mutant failed to suppress TRC-induced DNA breaks.