The F-box protein FBX4 targets PIN2/TRF1 for ubiquitin-mediated degradation and regulates telomere maintenance

J Biol Chem. 2006 Jan 13;281(2):759-68. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M509855200. Epub 2005 Nov 7.

Abstract

Pin2/TRF1 was identified previously as both a protein (TRF1) that binds to telomeric DNA repeats and as a protein (Pin2) that associates with the kinase NIMA and suppresses its mitosis inducing activity. Pin2/TRF1 negatively regulates telomere length and also plays a critical role in cell cycle checkpoint control. Pin2/TRF1 is down-regulated in many human cancers and may be degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, but components of the pathway involved in Pin2/TRF1 turnover have not been elucidated. By using the two-hybrid system, we recently identified Pin2/TRF1-interacting proteins, PinX1-4, and we demonstrated that PinX1 is a conserved telomerase inhibitor and a putative tumor suppressor. Here we report the characterization of PinX3. PinX3 was later found to be identical to Fbx4, a member of the F-box family of proteins, which function as substrate-specific adaptors of Cul1-based ubiquitin ligases. Fbx4 interacts with both Pin2 and TRF1 isoforms and promotes their ubiquitination in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, overexpression of Fbx4 reduces endogenous Pin2/TRF1 protein levels and causes progressive telomere elongation in human cells. In contrast, inhibition of Fbx4 by RNA interference stabilizes Pin2/TRF1 and promotes telomere shortening, thereby impairing cell growth. These results demonstrate that Fbx4 is a central regulator of Pin2/TRF1 protein abundance and that alterations in the stability of Pin2/TRF1 can have a dramatic impact on telomere length. Thus, Fbx4 may play a critical role in telomere maintenance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / chemistry
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation*
  • F-Box Proteins / metabolism*
  • F-Box Proteins / physiology*
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Mitosis
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Telomere / ultrastructure*
  • Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1 / metabolism*
  • Time Factors
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques
  • Ubiquitin / chemistry*
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism

Substances

  • F-Box Proteins
  • FBXO4 protein, human
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1
  • Ubiquitin
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • DNA
  • Glutathione Transferase