Telomerase regulates MYC-driven oncogenesis independent of its reverse transcriptase activity

J Clin Invest. 2015 May;125(5):2109-22. doi: 10.1172/JCI79134. Epub 2015 Apr 20.

Abstract

Constitutively active MYC and reactivated telomerase often coexist in cancers. While reactivation of telomerase is thought to be essential for replicative immortality, MYC, in conjunction with cofactors, confers several growth advantages to cancer cells. It is known that the reactivation of TERT, the catalytic subunit of telomerase, is limiting for reconstituting telomerase activity in tumors. However, while reactivation of TERT has been functionally linked to the acquisition of several "hallmarks of cancer" in tumors, the molecular mechanisms by which this occurs and whether these mechanisms are distinct from the role of telomerase on telomeres is not clear. Here, we demonstrated that first-generation TERT-null mice, unlike Terc-null mice, show delayed onset of MYC-induced lymphomagenesis. We further determined that TERT is a regulator of MYC stability in cancer. TERT stabilized MYC levels on chromatin, contributing to either activation or repression of its target genes. TERT regulated MYC ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, and this effect of TERT was independent of its reverse transcriptase activity and role in telomere elongation. Based on these data, we conclude that reactivation of TERT, a direct transcriptional MYC target in tumors, provides a feed-forward mechanism to potentiate MYC-dependent oncogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Feedback, Physiological
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Genes, myc
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / physiology
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Heterografts
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Proteins / physiology*
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Phosphorylation
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Protein Stability
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / physiology*
  • RNA / genetics
  • RNA / physiology
  • RNA Interference
  • Telomerase / deficiency
  • Telomerase / genetics
  • Telomerase / physiology*
  • Telomere Homeostasis / genetics
  • Time Factors
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • Myc protein, mouse
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • telomerase RNA
  • RNA
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
  • Telomerase
  • Tert protein, mouse

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE60224