CTEN prolongs signaling by EGFR through reducing its ligand-induced degradation

Cancer Res. 2013 Aug 15;73(16):5266-76. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-12-4441. Epub 2013 Jun 17.

Abstract

Activation of EGF receptor (EGFR) triggers signaling pathways regulating various cellular events that contribute to tissue development and function. Aberrant activation of EGFR contributes to tumor progression as well as therapeutic resistance in patients with cancer. C-terminal tensin-like (CTEN; TNS4) is a focal adhesion molecule that is a member of the tensin family. Its expression is upregulated by EGF and elevated CTEN mediates EGF-induced cell migration. In the presence of CTEN, we found that EGF treatment elevated the level of EGFR protein but not mRNA. The extended half-life of activated EGFR sustained its signaling cascades. CTEN reduced ligand-induced EGFR degradation by binding to the E3 ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl and decreasing the ubiquitination of EGFR. The Src homology 2 domain of CTEN is not only required for binding to the phosphorylated tyrosine residue at codon 774 of c-Cbl, but is also essential for the tumorigenicity observed in the presence of CTEN. Public database analyses indicated that CTEN mRNA levels are elevated in breast, colon, lung, and pancreas cancers, but not correlated with EGFR mRNA levels in these cancers. In contrast, immunohistochemistry analyses of lung cancer specimens showed that CTEN and EGFR protein levels were positively associated, in support of our finding that CTEN regulates EGFR protein levels through a posttranslational mechanism. Overall, this work defines a function for CTEN in prolonging signaling from EGFR by reducing its ligand-induced degradation.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / pharmacology
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics*
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism*
  • HCT116 Cells
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Microfilament Proteins / genetics*
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs / drug effects
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs / genetics
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / drug effects
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / genetics
  • Proteolysis / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • Tensins
  • Tyrosine / genetics
  • Tyrosine / metabolism
  • Ubiquitination / drug effects
  • Ubiquitination / genetics
  • src Homology Domains / genetics

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • TNS4 protein, human
  • Tensins
  • Tyrosine
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • CBL protein, human