Degradation of the tumor suppressor PML by Pin1 contributes to the cancer phenotype of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells

Mol Cell Biol. 2008 Feb;28(3):997-1006. doi: 10.1128/MCB.01848-07. Epub 2007 Nov 26.

Abstract

Promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) is an important regulator due to its role in numerous cellular processes including apoptosis, viral infection, senescence, DNA damage repair, and cell cycle regulation. Despite the role of PML in many cellular functions, little is known about the regulation of PML itself. We show that PML stability is regulated through interaction with the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase Pin1. This interaction is mediated through four serine-proline motifs in the C terminus of PML. Binding to Pin1 results in degradation of PML in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Furthermore, our data indicate that sumoylation of PML blocks the interaction, thus preventing degradation of PML by this pathway. Functionally, we show that in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line modulating levels of Pin1 affects steady-state levels of PML. Furthermore, degradation of PML due to Pin1 acts both to protect these cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced death and to increase the rate of proliferation. Taken together, our work defines a novel mechanism by which sumoylation of PML prevents Pin1-dependent degradation. This interaction likely occurs in numerous cell lines and may be a pathway for oncogenic transformation.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Breast Neoplasms / etiology
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Female
  • Humans
  • NIMA-Interacting Peptidylprolyl Isomerase
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Peptidylprolyl Isomerase / metabolism*
  • Phenotype
  • Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein
  • Protein Binding
  • Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • NIMA-Interacting Peptidylprolyl Isomerase
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein
  • Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • PML protein, human
  • PIN1 protein, human
  • Peptidylprolyl Isomerase