Tyrosine phosphorylation of transcriptional coactivator WW-domain binding protein 2 regulates estrogen receptor α function in breast cancer via the Wnt pathway

FASEB J. 2011 Sep;25(9):3004-18. doi: 10.1096/fj.10-169136. Epub 2011 Jun 3.

Abstract

WW-binding protein 2 (WBP2) has been demonstrated in different studies to be a tyrosine kinase substrate, to activate estrogen receptor α (ERα)/progesterone receptor (PR) transcription, and to play a role in breast cancer. However, the role of WBP2 tyrosine phosphorylation in regulating ERα function and breast cancer biology is unknown. Here, we established WBP2 as a tyrosine phosphorylation target of estrogen signaling via EGFR crosstalk. Using dominant-negative, constitutively active mutants, RNAi, and pharmacological studies, we demonstrated that phosphorylation of WBP2 at Tyr192 and Tyr231 could be regulated by c-Src and c-Yes kinases. We further showed that abrogating WBP2 phosphorylation impaired >60% of ERα reporter activity, putatively by blocking nuclear entry of WBP2 and its interaction with ERα. Compared to vector control, overexpression of WBP2 and its phospho-mimic mutant in MCF7 cells resulted in larger tumors in mice, induced loss of cell-cell adhesion, and enhanced cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, migration, and invasion in both estrogen-dependent and -independent manners, events of which could be substantially abolished by overexpression of the phosphorylation-defective mutant. Hormone independence of cells expressing WBP2 phospho-mimic mutant was associated with heightened ERα and Wnt reporter activities. Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor FH535 blocked phospho-WBP2-mediated cancer cell growth more pronouncedly than tamoxifen and fulvestrant, in part by reducing the expression of ERα. Wnt pathway is likely to be a critical component in WBP2-mediated breast cancer biology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / genetics
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / physiology
  • Genes, src
  • Humans
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-yes
  • Trans-Activators
  • Tyrosine / metabolism*
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Trans-Activators
  • Wbp2 protein, mouse
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Tyrosine
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-yes