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VprBP targets Merlin to the Roc1-Cul4A-DDB1 E3 ligase complex for degradation

Oncogene volume 27, pages 4056–4064 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Inactivation of the neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) tumor suppressor gene function has been observed not only in familial schwannomas and other central nervous system tumors, but also in malignant tumors unrelated to the NF2 syndrome, indicating a broader role of NF2 in human tumorigenesis. The NF2-encoded protein Merlin is closely related to the Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin family of membrane/cytoskeleton linker proteins, and has been demonstrated to suppress tumor growth by inhibiting extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Rac1 activation. Interestingly, serum deprivation has been shown to regulate Merlin at the protein level, however, exactly how such condition affects Merlin remains elusive. In this study, we provide evidence to show that Merlin is regulated in a Roc1-Cullin4A-DDB1-dependent manner. Following serum stimulation, Merlin is recruited to the E3 ligase complex through a direct interaction with the WD40-containing adaptor protein VprBP. Loading of Merlin to the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex resulted in its polyubiquitination, and consequently its proteasome-mediated degradation. Consistently, VprBP depletion abolished the in vivo interaction of Merlin and Roc1-Cullin4A-DDB1, which resulted in Merlin stabilization and inhibited ERK and Rac activation. Together, our data revealed a novel regulatory mechanism for the tumor suppressor function of Merlin.

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Acknowledgements

We thank members of the Chen Laboratory for helpful discussions and technical support. We also thank Michael Huen and Jamie Wood for proofreading the paper. This work was supported by the DOD Era of Hope Scholar Award to JC (W81XWH-05-1-0470).

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  1. J Huang and J Chen: JH and JC designed experiments and interpreted the data; JH performed all experiments; JH and JC prepared the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    J Huang & J Chen

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Correspondence to J Chen.

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Huang, J., Chen, J. VprBP targets Merlin to the Roc1-Cul4A-DDB1 E3 ligase complex for degradation. Oncogene 27, 4056–4064 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2008.44

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