Tamoxifen Modulates Protein Kinase C via Oxidative Stress in Estrogen Receptor-negative Breast Cancer Cells

Estrogen receptor α (ERα) is initially overexpressed in two-thirds of all breast cancers and is involved in its development and proliferation. We previously reported that the RanBP-type and C3HC4-type zinc finger containing 1 (RBCK1) interacts with the ERα promoter and that RBCK1 expression positively correlates with ERα levels, expression of ERα downstream target genes, and proliferation of breast cancer cells. Based on this, and that RBCK1 positively correlates with ERα expression in breast cancer samples, we propose RBCK1 as a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer acting as a modulator of ERα expression. To further explore this, the molecular mechanism by which RBCK1 regulates ERα expression has to be defined. Here, we show that ERα, RBCK1, and the RBCK1-interacting protein protein kinase C β 1 (PKCβI) co-occupy a previously identified ERα binding region in the proximal ERα promoter. We describe a number of mechanistic details of this complex including that RBCK1 recruitment to the ERα promoter B is facilitated by ERα, which in turn facilitates PKCβI recruitment and PKCβI-dependent histone modifications. Furthermore, ERα regulation of its own mRNA expression is facilitated by RBCK1 recruitment, suggesting an ERα coactivator function of RBCK1. The interaction between RBCK1 and ERα was dependent on the E3 ubiquitin ligase domain of RBCK1 and the activating function-1 domain of ERα. The ligand-binding function of ERα does not influence the interaction with RBCK1. In summary, our data provide insight into the molecular mechanism by which ERα expression is modulated in breast cancer cells.

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Inhibition of growth-factor-induced phosphorylation and activation of protein kinase B/Akt by atypical protein kinase C in breast cancer cells

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj3520475 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 352 (2) ◽

pp. 475-482 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Muling MAO ◽

Xianjun FANG ◽

Yiling LU ◽

Ruth LAPUSHIN ◽

Robert C. BAST ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Protein Kinase C ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Protein Kinase ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Protein Kinase B ◽

Akt Phosphorylation ◽

Kinase C ◽

Pkc Inhibitors

The protein kinase B/Akt serine/threonine kinase, located downstream of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3K), is a major regulator of cellular survival and proliferation. Atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) family members are activated by PI-3K and also contribute to cell proliferation, suggesting that Akt and aPKC might interact to activate signalling through the PI-3K cascade. Here we demonstrate that blocking PKC activity in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells increased the phosphorylation and activity of Akt. Functional PI-3K was required for the PKC inhibitors to increase Akt phosphorylation and activation, potentially owing to the activation of specific PKC isoforms by PI-3K. The concentration dependence of the action of the PKC inhibitors implicates aPKC in the inhibition of Akt phosphorylation and activity. In support of a role for aPKC in the regulation of Akt, Akt and PKCζ or PKCλ/ℓ were readily co-precipitated from the BT-549 breast cancer cell line. Furthermore, the overexpression of PKCζ inhibited growth-factor-induced increases in Akt phosphorylation and activity. Thus PKCζ associates physically with Akt and decreases Akt phosphorylation and enzyme activity. The effects of PKC on Akt were transmitted through the PI-3K cascade as indicated by changes in p70 s6 kinase (p70s6k) phosphorylation. Thus PKCζ, and potentially other PKC isoenzymes, regulate growth-factor-mediated Akt phosphorylation and activation, which is consistent with a generalized role for PKCζ in limiting growth factor signalling through the PI-3K/Akt pathway.

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