Alterations of the interactome of Bcl-2 proteins in breast cancer at the transcriptional, mutational and structural level

PLoS Comput Biol. 2019 Dec 11;15(12):e1007485. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007485. eCollection 2019 Dec.

Abstract

Apoptosis is an essential defensive mechanism against tumorigenesis. Proteins of the B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family regulate programmed cell death by the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. In response to intracellular stress, the apoptotic balance is governed by interactions of three distinct subgroups of proteins; the activator/sensitizer BH3 (Bcl-2 homology 3)-only proteins, the pro-survival, and the pro-apoptotic executioner proteins. Changes in expression levels, stability, and functional impairment of pro-survival proteins can lead to an imbalance in tissue homeostasis. Their overexpression or hyperactivation can result in oncogenic effects. Pro-survival Bcl-2 family members carry out their function by binding the BH3 short linear motif of pro-apoptotic proteins in a modular way, creating a complex network of protein-protein interactions. Their dysfunction enables cancer cells to evade cell death. The critical role of Bcl-2 proteins in homeostasis and tumorigenesis, coupled with mounting insight in their structural properties, make them therapeutic targets of interest. A better understanding of gene expression, mutational profile, and molecular mechanisms of pro-survival Bcl-2 proteins in different cancer types, could help to clarify their role in cancer development and may guide advancement in drug discovery. Here, we shed light on the pro-survival Bcl-2 proteins in breast cancer using different bioinformatic approaches, linking -omics with structural data. We analyzed the changes in the expression of the Bcl-2 proteins and their BH3-containing interactors in breast cancer samples. We then studied, at the structural level, a selection of interactions, accounting for effects induced by mutations found in the breast cancer samples. We find two complexes between the up-regulated Bcl2A1 and two down-regulated BH3-only candidates (i.e., Hrk and Nr4a1) as targets associated with reduced apoptosis in breast cancer samples for future experimental validation. Furthermore, we predict L99R, M75R as damaging mutations altering protein stability, and Y120C as a possible allosteric mutation from an exposed surface to the BH3-binding site.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / chemistry
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / genetics
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism
  • BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein / chemistry
  • BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein / genetics
  • BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Computational Biology
  • Female
  • Genes, bcl-2*
  • Humans
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / chemistry
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / genetics
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mutation
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
  • Protein Interaction Maps
  • Protein Stability
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • BCL2-related protein A1
  • BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein
  • BID protein, human
  • HRK protein, human
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2

Grants and funding

EP's group has been supported by LEO foundation grant (LF17006); Carlsberg Foundation Distinguished Fellowship (CF18-0314); Danmarks Grundforskningsfond (DNRF125); DECI-PRACE 14th HPC Grant CancerBH3; ISCRA-CINECA HP10C8YXRK and HP10CBLBWO. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.