Biophysical properties of AKAP95 protein condensates regulate splicing and tumorigenesis

Nat Cell Biol. 2020 Aug;22(8):960-972. doi: 10.1038/s41556-020-0550-8. Epub 2020 Jul 27.

Abstract

It remains unknown if biophysical or material properties of biomolecular condensates regulate cancer. Here we show that AKAP95, a nuclear protein that regulates transcription and RNA splicing, plays an important role in tumorigenesis by supporting cancer cell growth and suppressing oncogene-induced senescence. AKAP95 forms phase-separated and liquid-like condensates in vitro and in nucleus. Mutations of key residues to different amino acids perturb AKAP95 condensation in opposite directions. Importantly, the activity of AKAP95 in splice regulation is abolished by disruption of condensation, significantly impaired by hardening of condensates, and regained by substituting its condensation-mediating region with other condensation-mediating regions from irrelevant proteins. Moreover, the abilities of AKAP95 in regulating gene expression and supporting tumorigenesis require AKAP95 to form condensates with proper liquidity and dynamicity. These results link phase separation to tumorigenesis and uncover an important role of appropriate biophysical properties of protein condensates in gene regulation and cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins / chemistry
  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics*
  • Carcinogenesis / metabolism
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cellular Senescence / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Nuclear Proteins / chemistry
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology*
  • Phase Transition
  • RNA Splicing* / physiology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins
  • AKAP8 protein, human
  • Akap8 protein, mouse
  • Nuclear Proteins