LKB1 catalytic activity contributes to estrogen receptor alpha signaling

Mol Biol Cell. 2009 Jun;20(11):2785-95. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e08-11-1138. Epub 2009 Apr 15.

Abstract

The tumor suppressor serine-threonine kinase LKB1 is mutated in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) and in epithelial cancers, including hormone-sensitive organs such as breast, ovaries, testes, and prostate. Clinical studies in breast cancer patients show low LKB1 expression is related to poor prognosis, whereas in PJS, the risk of breast cancer is similar to the risk from germline mutations in breast cancer (BRCA) 1/BRCA2. In this study, we investigate the role of LKB1 in estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) signaling. We demonstrate for the first time that LKB1 binds to ERalpha in the cell nucleus in which it is recruited to the promoter of ERalpha-responsive genes. Furthermore, LKB1 catalytic activity enhances ERalpha transactivation compared with LKB1 catalytically deficient mutants. The significance of our discovery is that we demonstrate for the first time a novel functional link between LKB1 and ERalpha. Our discovery places LKB1 in a coactivator role for ERalpha signaling, broadening the scientific scope of this tumor suppressor kinase and laying the groundwork for the use of LKB1 as a target for the development of new therapies against breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • Blotting, Western
  • Catalysis
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Estradiol / pharmacology
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / genetics
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Glutathione Transferase / genetics
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Luciferases / genetics
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Mutation
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Transfection
  • p300-CBP Transcription Factors / genetics
  • p300-CBP Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Estradiol
  • Luciferases
  • p300-CBP Transcription Factors
  • p300-CBP-associated factor
  • Glutathione Transferase
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • STK11 protein, human
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases