Loss of function Cbl-c mutations in solid tumors

PLoS One. 2019 Jul 1;14(7):e0219143. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219143. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) signaling is essential for normal biological processes and disruption of this regulation can lead to tumor initiation and progression. Cbl proteins (Cbl, Cbl-b and Cbl-c) are a family of RING finger (RF) ubiquitin ligases that negatively regulate a variety of RTKs, including EGFR, MET, and RET. Recent studies have identified Cbl mutations associated with human myeloid neoplasias in approximately 5% of the cases. Cbl-c is the most recently identified human Cbl protein and is expressed exclusively in epithelial cells. We identified a novel cDNA that was isolated from a mouse mammary cancer from the C3(1) Large T Antigen transgenic model. This mutant cDNA encodes a protein that has a deletion in the RF domain of Cbl-c, thereby resembling known Cbl family mutations associated with myeoloid neoplasias. Genomic analysis of both parental and transgenic lines shows no evidence of germline mutation indicating that this mutation is likely a somatic mutation. The mutant protein enhances transformation of NIH 3T3 cells when expressed in combination with SV40 Large T antigen. Together these data are consistent with a second hit mutation. In overexpression studies, this mutant Cbl-c protein fails to mediate ubiquitination of activated EGFR and acts in a dominant negative fashion to prevent ubiquitination and downregulation of the activated EGFR by wild type Cbl proteins. Mechanistically, the mutant Cbl-c binds to the EGFR and prevents recruitment of the wild type Cbl protein. Furthermore, data mining reveals Cbl-c mutations associated with solid tumors in humans. Subsequent cell-based analysis demonstrates a similar loss of E3 function and dominant negative effects for one of these human mutations. These data suggest that like Cbl mutations in myeloid neoplasms, loss of Cbl-c function may contribute to the pathogenesis of solid tumors in murine models and in humans.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Viral, Tumor / genetics
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Female
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Loss of Function Mutation*
  • Male
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutant Proteins / chemistry
  • Mutant Proteins / genetics
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl / metabolism
  • RING Finger Domains / genetics
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Deletion
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral, Tumor
  • Mutant Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • CBLC protein, human
  • Cblc protein, mouse