The SCF-type E3 Ubiquitin Ligases as Cancer Targets

Curr Cancer Drug Targets. 2016;16(2):119-29. doi: 10.2174/1568009616666151112122231.

Abstract

The ubiquitin system controls protein stability and function. F-box proteins form SCF (SKP1-Cullin1-F-box protein)-type ubiquitin (E3) ligases to selectively target their substrates for degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Here, we review F-box proteins associated with cancer development. S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2) (also known as FBXL1) is often overexpressed in human cancers, and functions as an oncogenic E3 ligase to degrade tumor suppressor gene products. Moreover, F-box/WD repeat-containing protein 7 (FBXW7) (also known as Fbw7) is often mutated in human cancers and functions as a tumor suppressive E3 ligase targeting oncogenic proteins for degradation. SKP2 is a potential drug target for cancer therapy and FBXW7 is useful in determining patient diagnosis, prognosis, and drug sensitivity. In this review, we also discuss other F-box proteins involved in cancer-associated cellular processes such as cell cycle control, epigenetic regulation, epithelial mesenchymal transition, apoptosis/survival, drug resistance, and DNA-damage responses.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Discovery / methods*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • F-Box Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Protein Stability
  • Proteolysis
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • F-Box Proteins
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex