Thanks go to the team at Coventry University for hosting this in-person event and to all those who prepared and gave presentations during the day.
The AcylERATE team presented several talks at FASEB (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) 2026 including invited presentations from Amina Nigmatulin (Imperial College London) and Gemma MacDonald (Strathclyde).
He highlighted experimental and computational approaches for studying SUMO-dependent signalling, including tools for detecting SUMOylated proteins, predicting candidate SUMOylation sites, and identifying proteins that interact through SUMO-interacting motifs. He also discussed the expansion and diversification of SUMO proteases in plants, consistent with increasing complexity in SUMO-dependent regulation. A key example was the SUMOylation of ARF7, which regulates root hydropatterning by controlling auxin-response activity and recruitment of the Aux/IAA repressor IAA3, thereby helping position lateral root formation in response to local water availability. The SUMO proteases OTS1/2 are also relevant to this pathway. Ari also described newer work showing that reactive oxygen species/redox signalling can regulate IAA3/SHY2 multimerisation, linking water-stress responses to auxin signalling and lateral root development. Overall, the seminar emphasised how SUMO protease expression, localisation and activity help determine where and when SUMO-dependent regulatory events occur.
She highlighted the role of enzymes such as UBE2Q1, an E2 conjugating enzyme associated with ubiquitin transfer to serine and threonine residues rather than the more familiar lysine-linked modification. These reactions generate oxyester-linked ubiquitin species, which are chemically less stable and therefore more challenging to detect using standard approaches. The seminar emphasised how studying UBE2Q1, including through knockdown, is helping to reveal previously underappreciated forms of ubiquitin signalling and their potential importance in cellular regulation.
Maurine is one of the pioneers of the S-acylation field and the chair of our Strategic Advisory Board. Maurine delivered a fascinating historical perspective on S-acylation, highlighting how early biochemical discoveries have shaped the field as it stands today.
With many members of the sLoLa team new to the area, the discussion of early challenges and breakthroughs in identifying S-acylation and deacylation enzymes provided an excellent introduction to the landmark studies that defined the field.
Rocio completed her doctoral studies at the University of British Columbia, investigating the role of the S-acylating enzyme, ZDHHC9, in oligodendrocyte maturation, function, and neuronal development.
She will begin working on the AcylERATE project as a PDRA in the Tate Group in April 2026.
The event started with Dr Jen Whale, Aston University’s Strategic funding Manager, introducing the scheme followed by Prof Greaves’ talk on her experience of the sLoLa from idea to funded project. This was followed by a Q&A session, networking and a tour of the new AIME labs which are due to open in Spring 2026.
The BBSRC annual event brought together team members from all active sLoLa grants to: Network with each other; share best practices and lessons learned; and showcase roles and responsibilities.
Prof Greaves commented “The workshop was excellent. I found it really enjoyable and the networking opportunities were really useful. The main point was how quickly the scientific landscape is evolving….they emphasised the need to pivot and adapt as necessary “.
The BBSRC sLoLa project ‘AcylERATE’ held a kick off meeting in Glasgow on 26/27 January 2026.