Putative tumor suppressor EDD interacts with and up-regulates APC

Genes Cells. 2007 Dec;12(12):1339-45. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2443.2007.01138.x.

Abstract

Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), whose mutation causes colorectal cancers, is a key player in the Wnt signaling pathway. While the role of APC in inhibition of beta-catenin/LEF1-dependent activation of transformation-inducing genes has been intensively studied and well established, regulation of APC expression at the protein level is only partially understood. Here we report that APC is up-regulated by EDD, the mammalian orthologue of Drosophila melanogaster"hyperplastic discs" gene (hyd) that is considered to be a putative tumor suppressor. Screening of APC immunocomplexes by mass spectrometry identified EDD as a putative APC-interacting protein. Exogenously expressed and endogenous APC interacted with EDD in vivo. Indirect immunofluorescent analyses demonstrated that APC and EDD co-localized in the cytoplasm of the cell. Over-expression of EDD enhanced the protein expression level of APC and its binding partner Axin, resulting in inhibition of Wnt signaling downstream of beta-catenin. Conversely, siRNA knock-down of EDD down-regulated APC at the protein level without altering its mRNA level, causing enhanced protein expression of beta-catenin. Thus, through protein-protein interaction, EDD stabilizes APC and up-regulates APC's function to inhibit beta-catenin, suggesting that EDD could act as a colorectal tumor suppressor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / immunology*
  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / metabolism
  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / pathology
  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein / physiology*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Up-Regulation*
  • Wnt1 Protein / physiology
  • beta Catenin

Substances

  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Wnt1 Protein
  • beta Catenin
  • hyd protein, Drosophila
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases