Interaction with Pyruvate Kinase M2 Destabilizes Tristetraprolin by Proteasome Degradation and Regulates Cell Proliferation in Breast Cancer

Sci Rep. 2016 Mar 1:6:22449. doi: 10.1038/srep22449.

Abstract

Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), which is predominantly expressed in most cancers, plays a key role in the Warburg effect. However, how PKM2 functions as a tumor supportive protein has not been fully elucidated. Here, we identified tristetraprolin (TTP), an AU-rich, element-binding protein that regulates mRNA stability, as a new binding partner of PKM2. Our data reveal that PKM2 suppresses TTP protein levels by promoting its phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and proteasome degradation, reducing its mRNA turnover ability and ultimately impairing cell viability in breast cancer cells. The p38/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway might be involved in PKM2-mediated TTP degradation, while treatment with the p38 inhibitor or siRNA abolished PKM2-induced TTP protein degradation. These findings demonstrate that PKM2-TTP association is crucial for regulating breast cancer cell proliferation and is therefore a potential therapeutic target in cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Female
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Pyruvate Kinase / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Thyroid Hormone-Binding Proteins
  • Thyroid Hormones / metabolism*
  • Tristetraprolin / metabolism*
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Thyroid Hormones
  • Tristetraprolin
  • Pyruvate Kinase
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex