Identifying the Ubiquitin Ligase complex that regulates the NF1 tumor suppressor and Ras

Cancer Discov. 2013 Aug;3(8):880-93. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-13-0146. Epub 2013 May 9.

Abstract

The NF1 tumor suppressor protein neurofibromin is a negative regulator of Ras. Neurofibromin is dynamically regulated by the proteasome, and its degradation and reexpression are essential for maintaining appropriate levels of Ras-GTP. Like p53, NF1/neurofibromin can be inactivated in cancer by both mutations and excessive proteasomal destruction; however, little is known about the mechanisms that underlie this latter process. Here, we show that a Cullin 3 (Cul3)/kelch repeat and BTB domain-containing 7 complex controls both the regulated proteasomal degradation of neurofibromin and the pathogenic destabilization of neurofibromin in glioblastomas. Importantly, RNAi-mediated Cul3 ablation and a dominant-negative Cul3 directly stabilize neurofibromin, suppress Ras and extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and inhibit proliferation in an NF1-dependent manner. Moreover, in glioblastomas where neurofibromin is chronically destabilized, Cul3 inhibition restabilizes the protein and suppresses tumor development. Collectively, these studies show a previously unrecognized role for Cul3 in regulating Ras and provide a molecular framework that can be exploited to develop potential cancer therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cullin Proteins / metabolism
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • Glioblastoma / genetics
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Mice
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Neurofibromin 1 / genetics
  • Neurofibromin 1 / metabolism*
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / genetics
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Protein Stability
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination
  • ras Proteins / genetics
  • ras Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • CUL3 protein, human
  • Cullin Proteins
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • KBTBD7 protein, human
  • Neurofibromin 1
  • Trans-Activators
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • ras Proteins