EGFR phosphorylation of DCBLD2 recruits TRAF6 and stimulates AKT-promoted tumorigenesis

J Clin Invest. 2014 Sep;124(9):3741-56. doi: 10.1172/JCI73093. Epub 2014 Jul 25.

Abstract

Aberrant activation of EGFR in human cancers promotes tumorigenesis through stimulation of AKT signaling. Here, we determined that the discoidina neuropilin-like membrane protein DCBLD2 is upregulated in clinical specimens of glioblastomas and head and neck cancers (HNCs) and is required for EGFR-stimulated tumorigenesis. In multiple cancer cell lines, EGFR activated phosphorylation of tyrosine 750 (Y750) of DCBLD2, which is located within a recently identified binding motif for TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6). Consequently, phosphorylation of DCBLD2 Y750 recruited TRAF6, leading to increased TRAF6 E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and subsequent activation of AKT, thereby enhancing EGFR-driven tumorigenesis. Moreover, evaluation of patient samples of gliomas and HNCs revealed an association among EGFR activation, DCBLD2 phosphorylation, and poor prognoses. Together, our findings uncover a pathway in which DCBLD2 functions as a signal relay for oncogenic EGFR signaling to promote tumorigenesis and suggest DCBLD2 and TRAF6 as potential therapeutic targets for human cancers that are associated with EGFR activation.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Brain Neoplasms / etiology
  • Carcinogenesis*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • ErbB Receptors / physiology*
  • Glioma / etiology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / etiology
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / physiology*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 / metabolism*

Substances

  • DCBLD2 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt