Ras activity regulates cyclin E degradation by the Fbw7 pathway

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Jul 5;102(27):9649-54. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0503677102. Epub 2005 Jun 24.

Abstract

The Skp1-Cullin1 F-box protein-Fbw7 ubiquitin ligase regulates phosphorylation-dependent cyclin E degradation, and disruption of this pathway is associated with genetic instability and tumorigenesis. Fbw7 is a human tumor suppressor that is targeted for mutation in primary cancers. However, mechanisms other than mutation of Fbw7 may also disrupt cyclin E proteolysis in cancers. We show that oncogenic Ha-Ras activity regulates cyclin E degradation by the Fbw7 pathway. Activated Ras impairs Fbw7-driven cyclin E degradation, and, conversely, inhibition of normal Ras activity decreases cyclin E abundance. Moreover, activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway is the essential Ras function that inhibits cyclin E turnover, and activated Ha-Ras expression inhibits both the binding of cyclin E to Fbw7 and cyclin E ubiquitination. Last, we found that oncogenic Ras activity potentiates cyclin E-induced genetic instability but only when cyclin E is susceptible to degradation by Fbw7. Thus, we conclude that Ras activity regulates Fbw7-mediated cyclin E proteolysis and suggest that impaired cyclin E proteolysis is a mechanism through which Ras mutations promote tumorigenesis.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cyclin E / metabolism*
  • F-Box Proteins / metabolism*
  • F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Mice
  • Micronucleus Tests
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Phosphorylation
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cyclin E
  • F-Box Proteins
  • F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7
  • FBXW7 protein, human
  • Fbxw7 protein, mouse
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • HRAS protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)