FAM188B enhances cell survival via interaction with USP7

Cell Death Dis. 2018 May 24;9(6):633. doi: 10.1038/s41419-018-0650-6.

Abstract

We have previously reported that FAM188B showed significant differential exon usage in cancers (NCBI GEO GSE30727), but the expression and function of FAM188B is not well characterized. In the present study, we explored the functions of FAM188B by a knockdown strategy, using siRNAs specific for FAM188B in colon cancer cell lines. FAM188B is a novel gene that encodes a protein that is evolutionarily conserved among mammals. Its mRNA has been found to be highly expressed in most solid tumors, including colorectal cancer. FAM188B knockdown induced cell growth inhibition due to an increase in apoptosis in colon cancer cell lines. Interestingly, siFAM188B treatment induced the upregulation and activation of p53, and consequently increased p53-regulated pro-apoptotic proteins, PUMA and BAX. Proteomic analysis of FAM188B immunocomplexes revealed p53 and USP7 as putative FAM188B-interacting proteins. Deletion of the putative USP7-binding motif in FAM188B reduced complex formation of FAM188B with USP7. It is noteworthy that FAM188B knockdown resulted in a decrease in overall ubiquitination in the p53 immunocomplexes, as well as p53 ubiquitination, because USP7 is involved in p53 deubiquitination. FAM188B knockdown inhibited both colony formation and anchorage-independent growth in vitro. In addition, FAM188B knockdown by siRNA reduced tumor growth in xenografted mice, with an increase in p53 proteins. Taken together, our data suggest that FAM188B is a putative oncogene that functions via interaction with USP7. Therefore, control of FAM188B could be a possible target to inhibit tumor growth.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics
  • Carcinogenesis / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Survival
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Silencing
  • Humans
  • Mice, Nude
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Stability
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7 / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases / physiology*
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • MINDY4 protein, human
  • USP7 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases