The Axin1 scaffold protein promotes formation of a degradation complex for c-Myc

EMBO J. 2009 Mar 4;28(5):500-12. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2008.279. Epub 2009 Jan 8.

Abstract

Expression of the c-Myc proto-oncoprotein is tightly regulated in normal cells. Phosphorylation at two conserved residues, threonine58 (T58) and serine62 (S62), regulates c-Myc protein stability. In cancer cells, c-Myc can become aberrantly stabilized associated with altered T58 and S62 phosphorylation. A complex signalling cascade involving GSK3beta kinase, the Pin1 prolyl isomerase, and the PP2A-B56alpha phosphatase controls phosphorylation at these sites. We report here a novel role for the tumour suppressor scaffold protein Axin1 in facilitating the formation of a degradation complex for c-Myc containing GSK3beta, Pin1, and PP2A-B56alpha. Although knockdown of Axin1 decreases the association of c-Myc with these proteins, reduces T58 and enhances S62 phosphorylation, and increases c-Myc stability, acute expression of Axin1 reduces c-Myc levels and suppresses c-Myc transcriptional activity. Moreover, the regulation of c-Myc by Axin1 is impaired in several tested cancer cell lines with known stabilization of c-Myc or loss of Axin1. This study provides critical insight into the regulation of c-Myc expression, how this can be disrupted in three cancer types, and adds to our knowledge of the tumour suppressor activity of Axin1.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Axin Protein
  • Cell Line
  • E2F2 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Humans
  • NIMA-Interacting Peptidylprolyl Isomerase
  • Peptidylprolyl Isomerase / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Phosphatase 2 / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / physiology*
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • AXIN1 protein, human
  • Axin Protein
  • E2F2 Transcription Factor
  • E2F2 protein, human
  • MYC protein, human
  • NIMA-Interacting Peptidylprolyl Isomerase
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • GSK3B protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
  • Protein Phosphatase 2
  • PIN1 protein, human
  • Peptidylprolyl Isomerase