The MAP3K13-TRIM25-FBXW7α axis affects c-Myc protein stability and tumor development

Cell Death Differ. 2020 Feb;27(2):420-433. doi: 10.1038/s41418-019-0363-0. Epub 2019 Jun 11.

Abstract

c-Myc (Myc) is a master transcription factor that is often deregulated and highly expressed by at least 50% of cancers. In many cases, Myc protein levels correlate with resistance to therapy and poor prognosis. However, effective direct inhibition of Myc by pharmacologic approaches has remained unachievable. Here, we identify MAP3K13 as a positive regulator of Myc to promote tumor development. Our findings show that MAP3K13 upregulation is predictive of poor outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Mechanistically, MAP3K13 phosphorylates the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM25 at Ser12 to decrease its polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. This newly stabilized TRIM25 then directly ubiquitinates Lys412 of FBXW7α, a core subunit of the SKP1-Cullin-F-box (SCF) ubiquitin ligase complex involved in Myc ubiquitination, thereby stabilizing Myc. Together, these results reveal a novel regulatory pathway that supervises Myc protein stability via the MAP3K13-TRIM25-FBXW7α signaling axis. In addition, they provide a potential therapeutic target in Myc over-expressing human cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Computational Biology
  • F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7 / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / metabolism*
  • Protein Stability
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Tripartite Motif Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*

Substances

  • F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7
  • FBXW7 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tripartite Motif Proteins
  • TRIM25 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases
  • MAP3K13 protein, human