YAP-dependent ubiquitination and degradation of β-catenin mediates inhibition of Wnt signalling induced by Physalin F in colorectal cancer

Cell Death Dis. 2018 May 22;9(6):591. doi: 10.1038/s41419-018-0645-3.

Abstract

Aberrant activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling is critical in the progression of human cancers, especially colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signalling is a significant potential target for CRC therapy. Here, we identified for the first time that Physalin F (PF), a steroid derivative isolated from Physalis angulate, acts as an antagonist of Wnt/β-catenin signalling. In vitro, PF decreased Wnt3a-induced TOPFlash reporter activity in HEK293T cells and promoted the formation of the β-catenin destruction complex. Importantly, PF also inhibited Wnt/β-catenin signalling and accelerated the degradation of β-catenin in CRC cells. However, PF did not affect the stabilization of Axin or the interaction of β-catenin with E-cadherin. Interestingly, we further found that PF promoted YAP binding to the β-catenin destruction complex, which facilitated the ubiquitination and degradation of β-catenin. Silencing and pharmacological inhibition of YAP reversed the formation of the β-catenin destruction complex induced by PF, implying that YAP binding to the β-catenin destruction complex was responsible for PF-mediated inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signalling. Furthermore, PF observably inhibited tumour growth by down-regulating β-catenin in tumour-bearing mice. Collectively, our findings indicated that PF inhibited Wnt/β-catenin signalling by accelerating the ubiquitination and degradation of β-catenin in a YAP-dependent manner and therefore PF could be a novel potential candidate for CRC therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Protein Stability / drug effects
  • Proteolysis / drug effects*
  • Secosteroids / chemistry
  • Secosteroids / pharmacology*
  • Transcription Factors
  • Ubiquitination*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / drug effects*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*
  • beta-Transducin Repeat-Containing Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Secosteroids
  • Transcription Factors
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins
  • YAP1 protein, human
  • beta Catenin
  • beta-Transducin Repeat-Containing Proteins
  • physalin F
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex