Sentrin/SUMO-specific proteases (SENPs) reversibly regulate the covalent modification of proteins by SUMO. SENP3 and 5 share considerable sequence homology and exhibit similar substrate specificity, as they are active against SUMO-2 and SUMO-3 but less so for SUMO-1. They are more closely related than to SENP1/2. This entry covers the N-terminal domain of SENP5, which contains a conserved region directly preceding the catalytic domain, which is shared with SENP3. This domain is responsible for the subcellular localisation [1]. SENP3 and 5 colocalise in the nucleolus and their depletion causes defects in ribosome biogenesis [2].

1: Characterization of a family of nucleolar SUMO-specific proteases with preference for SUMO-2 or SUMO-3. Gong L, Yeh ET; J Biol Chem. 2006;281:15869-15877. PMID:16608850

2: Nucleolar protein B23/nucleophosmin regulates the vertebrate SUMO pathway through SENP3 and SENP5 proteases. Yun C, Wang Y, Mukhopadhyay D, Backlund P, Kolli N, Yergey A, Wilkinson KD, Dasso M; J Cell Biol. 2008;183:589-595. PMID:19015314