Regulation of mutant TERT by BRAF V600E/MAP kinase pathway through FOS/GABP in human cancer

Nat Commun. 2018 Feb 8;9(1):579. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03033-1.

Abstract

The unique oncogene duet of coexisting BRAF V600E and TERT promoter mutations are widely found to be a robust genetic background promoting human cancer aggressiveness, but the mechanism is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the BRAF V600E/MAP kinase pathway phosphorylates and activates FOS, which in turn acts as a transcription factor to bind and activate the GABPB promoter, increasing GABPB expression and driving formation of GABPA-GABPB complex; the latter selectively binds and activates mutant TERT promoter, upregulating TERT expression. Elevated TERT functions as a strong oncoprotein, robustly promoting aggressive behaviors of cancer cells and tumor development. We thus identify a molecular mechanism for the activation of mutant TERT by the BRAF V600E/MAP kinase pathway, in which FOS as a transcriptional factor of GABPB promoter plays a key role in functionally bridging the two oncogenes in cooperatively promoting oncogenesis, providing important cancer biological and clinical implications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colonic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • GA-Binding Protein Transcription Factor / genetics*
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics*
  • Mutation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics
  • Signal Transduction
  • Telomerase / genetics*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / genetics*

Substances

  • GA-Binding Protein Transcription Factor
  • MYC protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • BRAF protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • TERT protein, human
  • Telomerase