scholarly journals WSB1 Regulates c-Myc Expression Through β-catenin Signaling and Forms a Feedforward Circuit Promoting the Development of Cancer

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaomeng Gao ◽  
Yanling Gong ◽  
Jieqiong You ◽  
Meng Yuan ◽  
Haiying Zhu ◽  
...  

AbstractThe dysregulation of transcription factors is widely associated with tumorigenesis. As the most well-defined transcription factor in multiple types of cancer, c-Myc can directly transform cells by transactivating various downstream genes. Given that there is no effective way to directly inhibit c-Myc, c-Myc targeting strategies based on its regulatory mechanism hold great potential for cancer therapy. In this study, we found that WSB1, a direct target gene of c-Myc, can positively regulate c-Myc expression, which forms a feedforward circuit promoting cancer development. Luciferase-based promoter activity assays and RNA sequencing results confirmed that WSB1 promoted c-Myc expression through the β-catenin pathway. Mechanistically, WSB1 affected β-catenin destruction complex-PPP2CA assembly and E3 ubiquitin ligase adaptor β-TRCP recruitment, which inhibited the ubiquitination of β-catenin and subsequently transactivated c-Myc. Of interest, the promoting effect of WSB1 on c-Myc was independent of its E3 ligase activity. Moreover, co-expression of WSB1 and c-Myc strongly enhanced the initiation and progression of tumours both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, our findings revealed a novel mechanism involved in tumorigenesis in which the WSB1/c-Myc feedforward circuit played an essential role, highlighting a potential c-Myc intervention strategy in cancer treatment.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xindie Zhou ◽  
Yi Zhang ◽  
Junjie Zhang ◽  
Zhicheng Yang ◽  
Haoyu Yang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: MiR-7 has been recognized as a promoting factor of osteoarthritis (OA), but the specific down-stream pathway of miR-7 still remains unknown. Further investigation of the molecular regulatory mechanism of miR-7 might help develop a novel therapeutic method for OA.Results: Here we revealed that Semaphorin 6D (SEMA6D) was a direct target gene of miR-7, of which presented a negatively regulatory relation in vitro and in vivo. Lucubration of SEMA6D suggested that SEMA6D is validated to promote the anabolic metabolism and reduce the catabolism of chondrocytes via inhibiting the activation of p38 pathway.Conclusions: Present research illustrated that SEMA6D is a negatively regulatory factor of miR-7 and a pivotal mediator of the catabolism and anabolism of chondrocytes. SEMA6D exerts its function via inhibiting the activation of p38 pathway.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5712
Author(s):  
Michał Tracz ◽  
Ireneusz Górniak ◽  
Andrzej Szczepaniak ◽  
Wojciech Białek

The SPL2 protein is an E3 ubiquitin ligase of unknown function. It is one of only three types of E3 ligases found in the outer membrane of plant chloroplasts. In this study, we show that the cytosolic fragment of SPL2 binds lanthanide ions, as evidenced by fluorescence measurements and circular dichroism spectroscopy. We also report that SPL2 undergoes conformational changes upon binding of both Ca2+ and La3+, as evidenced by its partial unfolding. However, these structural rearrangements do not interfere with SPL2 enzymatic activity, as the protein retains its ability to auto-ubiquitinate in vitro. The possible applications of lanthanide-based probes to identify protein interactions in vivo are also discussed. Taken together, the results of this study reveal that the SPL2 protein contains a lanthanide-binding site, showing for the first time that at least some E3 ubiquitin ligases are also capable of binding lanthanide ions.


Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Belizaire ◽  
Sebastian Hassan John Koochaki ◽  
Namrata D. Udeshi ◽  
Alexis Vedder ◽  
Lei Sun ◽  
...  

CBL encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase and signaling adaptor that regulates receptor and non-receptor tyrosine kinases. Recurrent CBL mutations occur in myeloid neoplasms, including 10-20% of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) cases, and selectively disrupt the protein's E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. CBL mutations have been associated with poor prognosis, but the oncogenic mechanisms and therapeutic implications of CBL mutations remain incompletely understood. We combined functional assays and global mass spectrometry to define the phosphoproteome, CBL interactome, and mechanism of signaling activation in a panel of cell lines expressing an allelic series of CBL mutations. Our analyses revealed that increased LYN activation and interaction with mutant CBL are key drivers of enhanced CBL phosphorylation, PIK3R1 recruitment, and downstream PI3K/AKT signaling in CBL-mutant cells. Signaling adaptor domains of CBL, including the tyrosine-kinase binding domain, proline-rich region, and C-terminal phosphotyrosine sites, were all required for the oncogenic function of CBL mutants. Genetic ablation or dasatinib-mediated inhibition of LYN reduced CBL phosphorylation, CBL-PIK3R1 interaction, and PI3K/AKT signaling. Furthermore, we demonstrated in vitro and in vivo antiproliferative efficacy of dasatinib in CBL-mutant cell lines and primary CMML. Overall, these mechanistic insights into the molecular function of CBL mutations provide rationale to explore the therapeutic potential of LYN inhibition in CBL-mutant myeloid malignancies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yangyang Li ◽  
Jia Xu ◽  
Jiale Zhang ◽  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Jian Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Glioma is considered one of the most common tumors and has a poor prognosis. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to be strongly linked to various human tumors including glioma. In this study, we investigated a new anticancer miRNA, miR-346, to determine the effects and mechanism of miR-346 and its downstream target gene NFIB on tumors. Methods Lentivirus transfection, real-time PCR, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, cell proliferation assays, and mouse experiments were used to examine the relationship between miR-346 and its regulation of NFIB in glioma cells. Results The expression of miR-346 was downregulated in glioma cells. Overexpression of miR-346 arrested the cell cycle of glioma cells and inhibited their proliferation in vitro and in vivo. NFIB was a direct target of miR-346, whose expression was reduced by the miRNA. Overexpression of NFIB reversed all tested functions of miR-346. Conclusion miR-346 inhibited the growth of glioma cells by targeting NFIB and may be a new prognostic and diagnostic biomarker for glioma.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olaia Martinez-Iglesias ◽  
Alba Casas-Pais ◽  
Raquel Castosa ◽  
Andrea Díaz-Díaz ◽  
Daniel Roca-Lema ◽  
...  

The requirement of the E3 ubiquitin-ligase Hakai for the ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of E-cadherin has been associated with enhanced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), tumour progression and carcinoma metastasis. To date, most of the reported EMT-related inhibitors were not developed for anti-EMT purposes, but indirectly affect EMT. On the other hand, E3 ubiquitin-ligase enzymes have recently emerged as promising therapeutic targets, as their specific inhibition would prevent wider side effects. Given this background, a virtual screening was performed to identify novel specific inhibitors of Hakai, targeted against its phosphotyrosine-binding pocket, where phosphorylated-E-cadherin specifically binds. We selected a candidate inhibitor, Hakin-1, which showed an important effect on Hakai-induced ubiquitination. Hakin-1 also inhibited carcinoma growth and tumour progression both in vitro, in colorectal cancer cell lines, and in vivo, in a tumour xenograft mouse model, without apparent systemic toxicity in mice. Our results show for the first time that a small molecule putatively targeting the E3 ubiquitin-ligase Hakai inhibits Hakai-dependent ubiquitination of E-cadherin, having an impact on the EMT process. This represents an important step forward in a future development of an effective therapeutic drug to prevent or inhibit carcinoma tumour progression.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Zhang ◽  
Xinwei Xu ◽  
Min Wang

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the levels and functions of miR-101-3p in neonatal sepsis (NS). Materials & methods: Quantitative real-time PCR was conducted to investigate the expression of miR-101-3p and the receiver operating characteristic curve was applied to manifest its diagnostic effects. Results: MiR-101-3p was increased in the NS patients and the dysregulation of miR-101-3p was associated with levels of procalcitonin, CRP, IL-8 and TNF-α. The combination of miR-101-3p and procalcitonin could function as a promising indicator in distinguishing NS patients. The silenced miR-101-3p reversed the increased levels of TNF-α and IL-8 caused by lipopolysaccharide in vitro. DUSP1 was identified as a direct target gene of miR-101-3p in NS. Conclusion: The abundance of miR-101-3p facilitated the inflammation in NS by targeting DUSP1.


2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 1319-1324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing Wang ◽  
Yifei Zhang ◽  
Seth S. Blair

The Drosophila protocadherin Fat controls organ size through the Hippo pathway, but the biochemical links to the Hippo pathway components are still poorly defined. We previously identified Dlish, an SH3 domain protein that physically interacts with Fat and the type XX myosin Dachs, and showed that Fat’s regulation of Dlish levels and activity helps limit Dachs-mediated inhibition of Hippo pathway activity. We here characterize a parallel growth control pathway downstream of Fat and Dlish. Using immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry to search for Dlish partners, we find that Dlish binds the FERM domain growth repressor Expanded (Ex); Dlish SH3 domains directly bind sites in the Ex C terminus. We further show that, in vivo, Dlish reduces the subapical accumulation of Ex, and that loss of Dlish blocks the destabilization of Ex caused by loss of Fat. Moreover, Dlish can bind the F-box E3 ubiquitin ligase Slimb and promote Slimb-mediated ubiquitination of Expanded in vitro. Both the in vitro and in vivo effects of Dlish on Ex require Slimb, strongly suggesting that Dlish destabilizes Ex by helping recruit Slimb-containing E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes to Ex.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanlin Ren ◽  
Dongyin Chen ◽  
Zurong Zhai ◽  
Junjie Chen ◽  
Aiping Li ◽  
...  

AbstractThe overexpression of HER2 is associated with a malignant proliferation of breast cancer. In this study, we developed a non-cytotoxic JWA gene activating compound 1 (JAC1) to inhibit the proliferation of HER2-positive breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo experimental models. JAC1 increased the ubiquitination of HER2 at the K716 site through the E3 ubiquitin ligase SMURF1 which was due to the decreased expression of NEDD4, the E3 ubiquitin ligase of SMURF1. In conclusion, JAC1 suppresses the proliferation of HER2-positive breast cancer cells through the JWA triggered HER2 ubiquitination signaling. JAC1 may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for HER2-positive breast cancer.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Liu ◽  
Yan Ding ◽  
Bing Sun ◽  
Qingxin Liu ◽  
Zizhang Zhou ◽  
...  

AbstractApoptosis is a strictly coordinated process to eliminate superfluous or damaged cells, and its deregulation leads to birth defects and various human diseases. The regulatory mechanism underlying apoptosis still remains incompletely understood. To identify novel components in apoptosis, we carry out a modifier screen and find that the Hh pathway aggravates Hid-induced apoptosis. In addition, we reveal that the Hh pathway triggers apoptosis through its transcriptional target gene rdx, which encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Rdx physically binds Diap1 to promote its K63-linked polyubiquitination, culminating in attenuating Diap1−Dronc interaction without affecting Diap1 stability. Taken together, our findings unexpectedly uncover the oncogenic Hh pathway is able to promote apoptosis through Ci-Rdx-Diap1 module, raising a concern to choose Hh pathway inhibitors as anti-tumor drugs.


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