23P Different profile of receptor tyrosine kinases expression in breast cancer molecular subtypes

Receptor degradation terminates signaling by activated receptor tyrosine kinases. Degradation of EGFR occurs in lysosomes and requires the switching of RAB5 for RAB7 on late endosomes to enable their fusion with the lysosome, but what controls this critical switching is poorly understood. We show that the tyrosine kinase FER alters PKCδ function by phosphorylating it on Y374, and that phospho-Y374-PKCδ prevents RAB5 release from nascent late endosomes, thereby inhibiting EGFR degradation and promoting the recycling of endosomal EGFR to the cell surface. The rapid association of phospho-Y374-PKCδ with EGFR-containing endosomes is diminished by PTPN14, which dephosphorylates phospho-Y374-PKCδ. In triple-negative breast cancer cells, the FER-dependent phosphorylation of PKCδ enhances EGFR signaling and promotes anchorage-independent cell growth. Importantly, increased Y374-PKCδ phosphorylation correlating with arrested late endosome maturation was identified in ∼25% of triple-negative breast cancer patients, suggesting that dysregulation of this pathway may contribute to their pathology.

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CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β: its role in breast cancer and associations with receptor tyrosine kinases

Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1462399409001033 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Cited By ~ 100

Author(s):

Cynthia A. Zahnow

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Tyrosine Kinases ◽

Leucine Zipper ◽

Cellular Proliferation ◽

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases ◽

Normal Growth ◽

Dominant Negative ◽

Protein Isoforms ◽

Post Translational Modification ◽

Intronless Gene

AbstractThe CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs) are a family of leucine-zipper transcription factors that regulate gene expression to control cellular proliferation, differentiation, inflammation and metabolism. Encoded by an intronless gene, C/EBPβ is expressed as several distinct protein isoforms (LAP1, LAP2, LIP) whose expression is regulated by the differential use of several in-frame translation start sites. LAP1 and LAP2 are transcriptional activators and are associated with differentiation, whereas LIP is frequently elevated in proliferative tissue and acts as a dominant-negative inhibitor of transcription. However, emerging evidence suggests that LIP can serve as a transcriptional activator in some cellular contexts, and that LAP1 and LAP2 might also have unique actions. The LIP:LAP ratio is crucial for the maintenance of normal growth and development, and increases in this ratio lead to aggressive forms of breast cancer. This review discusses the regulation of C/EBPβ activity by post-translational modification, the individual actions of LAP1, LAP2 and LIP, and the functions and downstream targets that are unique to each isoform. The role of the C/EBPβ isoforms in breast cancer is discussed and emphasis is placed on their interactions with receptor tyrosine kinases.

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