SPSB3 targets SNAIL for degradation in GSK-3β phosphorylation-dependent manner and regulates metastasis

Oncogene. 2018 Feb 8;37(6):768-776. doi: 10.1038/onc.2017.370. Epub 2017 Oct 23.

Abstract

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process during which normal epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal characteristics. EMT has a critical role in various human diseases especially in cancer. EMT facilitates tumor initiation and progression by mediating cancer cell stemness and motility. Zinc finger transcription factor SNAIL is one of the most important initiators of EMT. Therefore, it is of great significance to understand the regulating mechanism of SNAIL. In this study, we carried out a luciferase-based genome-wide screening using small interfering RNA library against ~200 of E3 ligases and ubiquitin-related genes and identified SOCS box protein SPSB3 as a novel E3 ligase component that targets SNAIL into polyubiquitination and degradation in response to GSK-3β phosphorylation of SNAIL. Functionally, we observed that SPSB3 overexpression greatly inhibits tumor metastasis by regulating SNAIL degradation both in vitro and in vivo. The expression of SPSB3 and SNAIL are negatively correlated in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues, and low SPSB3 expression indicates lymph node metastasis. Moreover, high SPSB3 expression indicates good survivals in various kinds of cancer. Collectively, these findings suggest that SPSB3-mediated SNAIL degradation has a vital role in regulating EMT and cancer progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / secondary*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta / genetics
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Prognosis
  • Signal Transduction
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / genetics
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / metabolism*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Ubiquitination
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • SNAI1 protein, human
  • SPSB2 protein, human
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins
  • GSK3B protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta