Critical roles of LGN/GPSM2 phosphorylation by PBK/TOPK in cell division of breast cancer cells

Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 2010 Oct;49(10):861-72. doi: 10.1002/gcc.20795.

Abstract

To investigate the molecular mechanism of mammary carcinogenesis and identify novel molecular targets for breast cancer therapy, we analyzed genome-wide gene expression profiles of 81 clinical breast cancer samples. Here, we report the critical role of LGN/GPSM2 (Leu-Gly-Asn repeat-enriched protein/G-protein signaling modulator 2) in the growth of breast cancer cells. Semiquantitative RT-PCR and Northern blot analyses confirmed upregulation of LGN/GPSM2 in a large proportion of breast cancers. Immunocytochemical staining identified LGN/GPSM2 at the spindle in cells at metaphase, and at midzone and midbody in cytokinetic cells. Western blot analysis indicated the highest expression and the phosphorylated form of LGN/GPSM2 protein in G2/M phase. Treatment with small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting LGN/GPSM2 caused incompletion of cell division and resulted in significant growth suppression of breast cancer cells. We found that the 450th threonine (Thr450) of LGN/GPSM2 was phosphorylated by the serine/threonine kinase PBK/TOPK during mitosis. Overexpression of LGN/GPSM2-T450A in which Thr450 was substituted with alanine induced growth suppression and aberrant chromosomal segregation. These findings imply an important role of LGN/GPSM2 in cell division of breast cancer cells and suggest that the PBK/TOPK-LGN/GPSM2 pathway might be a promising molecular target for treatment of breast cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Northern
  • Blotting, Western
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Division / physiology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / physiology*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • Mitosis
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • GPSM2 protein, human
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • PDZ-binding kinase
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases