Depletion of kinectin1 (KTN1) provides a potential strategy for inhibiting tumorigenesis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) via reduction of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein levels. Yet, the underlying mechanisms of KTN1 remain obscure. In this study, we demonstrate that KTN1 knockdown induces EGFR degradation in cSCC cells by promoting the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and that this effect is tumor cell-specific. KTN1 knockdown increases the expression of CCDC40, PSMA1, and ADRM1 to mediate tumor suppressor functions in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, c-Myc directly binds to the promoter region of CCDC40 to trigger the CCDC40-ADRM1-UCH37 axis and promote EGFR deubiquitination. Furthermore, KTN1 depletion accelerates EGFR degradation by strengthening the competitive interaction between PSMA1 and ADRM1 to inhibit KTN1/ADRM1 interaction at residues Met1-Ala252. These results are supported by studies in mouse xenografts and human patient samples. Collectively, our findings provide novel mechanistic insight into KTN1 regulation of EGFR degradation in cSCC.
© 2021. The Author(s).