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F-box protein FBXL2 exerts human lung tumor suppressor-like activity by ubiquitin-mediated degradation of cyclin D3 resulting in cell cycle arrest

Oncogene volume 31, pages 2566–2579 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Dysregulated behavior of cell cycle proteins and their control by ubiquitin E3 ligases is an emerging theme in human lung cancer. Here, we identified and characterized the activity of a novel F-box protein, termed FBXL2, belonging to the SCF (Skip-Cullin1-F-box protein) E3 ligase family. Ectopically expressed FBXL2 triggered G2/M-phase arrest, induced chromosomal anomalies and increased apoptosis of transformed lung epithelia by mediating polyubiquitination and degradation of the mitotic regulator, cyclin D3. Unlike other F-box proteins that target phosphodegrons within substrates, FBXL2 uniquely recognizes a canonical calmodulin (CaM)-binding motif within cyclin D3 to facilitate its polyubiquitination. CaM bound and protected cyclin D3 from FBXL2 by direct intermolecular competition with the F-box protein for access within this motif. The chemotherapeutic agent vinorelbine increased apoptosis of human lung carcinoma cells by inducing FBXL2 expression and cyclin D3 degradation, an effect accentuated by CaM knockdown. Depletion of endogenous FBXL2 stabilized cyclin D3 levels, accelerated cancer cell growth and increased cell viability after vinorelbine treatment. Last, ectopic expression of FBXL2 significantly inhibited the growth and migration of tumorogenic cells and tumor formation in athymic nude mice. These observations implicate SCFFBXL2 as an indispensible regulator of mitosis that serves as a tumor suppressor.

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Acknowledgements

We thank AF Stewart for critical review of the manuscript and helpful suggestions. This material is based upon work supported, in part, by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development, Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development. This work was supported by a Merit Review Award from the US Department of Veterans Affairs and National Institutes of Health R01 grants HL096376, HL097376 and HL098174 (to RKM). The contents presented do not represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Acute Lung Injury Center of Excellence, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    B B Chen, J R Glasser, T A Coon & R K Mallampalli

  2. The Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    R K Mallampalli

  3. The Medical Specialty Service Line, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    R K Mallampalli

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Correspondence to R K Mallampalli.

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Chen, B., Glasser, J., Coon, T. et al. F-box protein FBXL2 exerts human lung tumor suppressor-like activity by ubiquitin-mediated degradation of cyclin D3 resulting in cell cycle arrest. Oncogene 31, 2566–2579 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2011.432

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