DUB3 deubiquitinates and stabilizes NRF2 in chemotherapy resistance of colorectal cancer

Cell Death Differ. 2019 Nov;26(11):2300-2313. doi: 10.1038/s41418-019-0303-z. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Abstract

The transcription factor nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2) is one of the master regulators that control hundreds of genes containing antioxidant response elements (AREs). The NRF2-ARE pathway plays a complex role in colorectal cancer (CRC). NRF2 activity is known to be regulated by KEAP1-CUL3 E3 ligase-mediated ubiquitination, indicating the importance of deubiquitination regulation. However, the deubiquitinase (DUB) of NRF2 remains unknown. Here, by screening a DUB library, we identified DUB3 as a DUB that remarkably stabilized NRF2. Further experiments demonstrated that DUB3 promoted NRF2 stability and transcriptional activity by decreasing the K48-linked ubiquitination of NRF2. Coimmunoprecipitation studies revealed interactions between NRF2 and DUB3, as well as between KEAP1 and DUB3, indicating that NRF2, DUB3, and KEAP1 formed a large functional complex. Importantly, ectopic expression of DUB3 caused NRF2-dependent chemotherapy resistance in colon cancer cell lines. Thus, to the best of our knowledge, our findings are the first to identify DUB3 as a NRF2 DUB and may provide a new strategy against chemotherapy resistance in CRC and other NRF2-related diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Deubiquitinating Enzymes / metabolism*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / physiology*
  • Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • HCT116 Cells
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1 / metabolism
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / genetics
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / metabolism*
  • Paclitaxel / therapeutic use
  • Transcriptional Activation / genetics
  • Ubiquitination / physiology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • KEAP1 protein, human
  • Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2
  • NFE2L2 protein, human
  • Endopeptidases
  • USP17L2 protein, human
  • Deubiquitinating Enzymes
  • Paclitaxel