RNF126-mediated ubiquitination of FSP1 affects its subcellular localization and ferroptosis

Oncogene. 2024 May;43(19):1463-1475. doi: 10.1038/s41388-024-02949-x. Epub 2024 Mar 21.

Abstract

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a prevalent malignant brain tumor among children, which can be classified into four primary molecular subgroups. Group 3 MB (G3-MB) is known to be highly aggressive and associated with a poor prognosis, necessitating the development of novel and effective therapeutic interventions. Ferroptosis, a regulated form of cell death induced by lipid peroxidation, has been identified as a natural tumor suppression mechanism in various cancers. Nevertheless, the potential role of ferroptosis in the treatment of G3-MB remains unexplored. In this study, we demonstrate that RNF126 acts as an anti-ferroptotic gene by interacting with ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1, also known as AIFM2) and ubiquitinating FSP1 at the 4KR-2 sites. Additionally, the deletion of RNF126 reduces the subcellular localization of FSP1 in the plasma membrane, resulting in an increase in the CoQ/CoQH2 ratio in G3-MB. The RNF126-FSP1-CoQ10 pathway plays a pivotal role in suppressing phospholipid peroxidation and ferroptosis both in vivo and in vitro. Clinically, RNF126 exhibited elevated expression in G3-MB and its overexpression was significantly associated with reduced patient survival. Our findings indicate that RNF126 regulates G3-MB sensitivity to ferroptosis by ubiquitinating FSP1, which provides new evidence for the potential G3-MB therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / genetics
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / genetics
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / pathology
  • Ferroptosis* / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mitochondrial Proteins*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases* / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases* / metabolism
  • Ubiquitination*

Substances

  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • ferroptosis suppressor protein 1, human
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins