Pro-oncogenic function of HIP-55/Drebrin-like (DBNL) through Ser269/Thr291-phospho-sensor motifs

Oncotarget. 2014 May 30;5(10):3197-209. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.1900.

Abstract

HIP-55 (HPK1-interacting protein of 55 kDa, also named DBNL, SH3P7, and mAbp1) is a multidomain adaptor protein that is critical for organ development and the immune response. Here, we report the coupling of HIP-55 to cell growth control through its 14-3-3-binding phospho-Ser/Thr-sensor sites. Using affinity chromatography, we found HIP-55 formed a complex with 14-3-3 proteins, revealing a new node in phospho-Ser/Thr-mediated signaling networks. In addition, we demonstrated that HIP-55 is required for proper cell growth control. Enforced HIP-55 expression promoted proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells while silencing of HIP-55 reversed these effects. Importantly, HIP-55 was found to be upregulated in lung cancer cell lines and in tumor tissues of lung cancer patients. Upregulated HIP-55 was required to promote the growth of tumors in a xenograft animal model. However, tumors with S269A/T291A-mutated HIP-55, which ablates 14-3-3 binding, exhibited significantly reduced sizes, supporting a vital role of the HIP-55/14-3-3 protein interaction node in transmitting oncogenic signals. Mechanistically, HIP-55-mediated tumorigenesis activity appears to be in part mediated by antagonizing the tumor suppressor function of HPK1. Thus, the HIP-55-mediated oncogenic pathway, through S269/T291, may be exploited for the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • 14-3-3 Proteins / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Cell Survival / physiology
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism*
  • Chromatography, Affinity
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Heterografts
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Phosphorylation
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Serine / metabolism
  • Threonine / metabolism
  • Transfection
  • src Homology Domains

Substances

  • 14-3-3 Proteins
  • DBNL protein, human
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Threonine
  • Serine