SET7/9 promotes multiple malignant processes in breast cancer development via RUNX2 activation and is negatively regulated by TRIM21

Cell Death Dis. 2020 Feb 26;11(2):151. doi: 10.1038/s41419-020-2350-2.

Abstract

Although the deregulation of lysine methyltransferase (su(var)-3-9, enhancer-of-zeste, trithorax) domain-containing protein 7/9 (SET7/9) has been identified in a variety of cancers, the potential role of SET7/9 and the molecular events in which it is involved in breast cancer remain obscure. Using the online Human Protein Atlas and GEO databases, the expression of SET7/9 was analyzed. Furthermore, we investigated the underlying mechanisms using chromatin immunoprecipitation-based deep sequencing (ChIP-seq) and quantitative ChIP assays. To explore the physiological role of SET7/9, functional analyses such as CCK-8, colony formation, and transwell assays were performed and a xenograft tumor model was generated with the human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. Mass spectrometry, co-immunoprecipitation, GST pull-down, and ubiquitination assays were used to explore the mechanisms of SET7/9 function in breast cancer. We evaluated the expression of SET7/9 in different breast cancer cohorts and found that higher expression indicated worse survival times in these public databases. We demonstrated positive effects of SET7/9 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via the activation of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2). We demonstrate that tripartite motif-containing protein 21 (TRIM21) physically associates with SET7/9 and functions as a major negative regulator upstream of SET7/9 through a proteasome-dependent mechanism and increased ubiquitination. Taken together, our data suggest that SET7/9 has a promoting role via the regulation of RUNX2, whereas TRIM21-mediated SET7/9 degradation acts as an anti-braking system in the progression of breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation / methods
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Ribonucleoproteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit
  • RUNX2 protein, human
  • Ribonucleoproteins
  • SS-A antigen
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • KMT5A protein, human
  • SETD7 protein, human