BCOR-coupled H2A monoubiquitination represses a subset of androgen receptor target genes regulating prostate cancer proliferation

Oncogene. 2020 Mar;39(11):2391-2407. doi: 10.1038/s41388-020-1153-3. Epub 2020 Jan 10.

Abstract

We have identified BCL6 corepressor (BCOR) as a hormone-dependent interaction partner of androgen receptor (AR), a key transcription factor in the development of normal and cancerous prostate. BCOR is often mutated in cancers and hematological diseases and as a component of a non-canonical polycomb repressive complex 1 (ncPRC1.1) required for arranging many facets of cellular differentiation. However, its role in androgen signaling or prostate cancer cells remains unknown. Here, our genome-wide analyses reveal that BCOR is recruited in an androgen-dependent fashion to majority of AR-binding chromatin sites in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cells. Interestingly, depletion of BCOR has a significant effect on the expression of androgen-repressed genes linked to regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and development. At many of these genes, such as HOX genes, the depletion leads to a decrease in H2A K119 monoubiquitination and an increase in mRNA expression. Consistently, BCOR depletion impairs the proliferation and viability of CRPC cells, inducing their apoptosis. Collectively, our data indicate a key role for the BCOR-ncPRC1.1 complex in the corepression of an important subset of AR target genes and the regulation of prostate cancer cell proliferation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Androgens / pharmacology
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology
  • Chromatin / genetics
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Histones / genetics
  • Histones / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / genetics
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Androgen / genetics
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • AR protein, human
  • Androgens
  • BCOR protein, human
  • Chromatin
  • Histones
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1