SUMOylation Negatively Regulates Angiogenesis by Targeting Endothelial NOTCH Signaling

The highly conserved NOTCH (neurogenic locus notch homolog protein) signaling pathway functions as a key cell-cell interaction mechanism controlling cell fate and tissue patterning, whereas its dysregulation is implicated in a variety of developmental disorders and cancers. The pivotal role of endothelial NOTCH in regulation of angiogenesis is widely appreciated; however, little is known about what controls its signal transduction. Our previous study indicated the potential role of post-translational SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) modification (SUMOylation) in vascular disorders.