ITCH nuclear translocation and H1.2 polyubiquitination negatively regulate the DNA damage response

Nucleic Acids Res. 2019 Jan 25;47(2):824-842. doi: 10.1093/nar/gky1199.

Abstract

The downregulation of the DNA damage response (DDR) enables aggressive tumors to achieve uncontrolled proliferation against replication stress, but the mechanisms underlying this process in tumors are relatively complex. Here, we demonstrate a mechanism through which a distinct E3 ubiquitin ligase, ITCH, modulates DDR machinery in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We found that expression of a nuclear form of ITCH was significantly increased in human TNBC cell lines and tumor specimens. Phosphorylation of ITCH at Ser257 by AKT led to the nuclear localization of ITCH and ubiquitination of H1.2. The ITCH-mediated polyubiquitination of H1.2 suppressed RNF8/RNF168-dependent formation of 53BP1 foci, which plays important roles in DDR. Consistent with these findings, impaired ITCH nuclear translocation and H1.2 polyubiquitination sensitized cells to replication stress and limited cell growth and migration. AKT activation of ITCH-H1.2 axis may confer TNBC cells with a DDR repression to counteract the replication stress and increase cancer cell survivorship and growth potential.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus
  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • DNA Damage*
  • DNA Replication
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Female
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Histones / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Serine / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor p53-Binding Protein 1 / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / physiology
  • Ubiquitination*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Histones
  • RNF8 protein, human
  • Repressor Proteins
  • TP53BP1 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor p53-Binding Protein 1
  • Serine
  • ITCH protein, human
  • RNF168 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • AKT1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt