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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Assessing Cellular Target Engagement by SHP2 (PTPN11) Phosphatase Inhibitors
Published on: July 17, 2020
Identification of PP2A complexes and pathways involved in cell transformation
Anna A Sablina1, Melissa Hector, Nathalie Colpaert
1Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Anna.Sablina@cme.vib-kuleuven.be
Simian virus 40 oncoprotein hijacks protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) to transform cells. Suppressing specific PP2A subunits mimics this effect, revealing key pathways involved in cell transformation.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Simian virus 40 small t (SV40ST) oncoprotein interaction with protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is critical for human cell transformation.
- Specific PP2A complexes' roles in SV40-mediated cell transformation are not fully understood.
- Several PP2A subunits are implicated as tumor suppressor genes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify PP2A regulatory subunits and pathways involved in SV40ST-driven cell transformation.
- To elucidate how specific PP2A complexes influence oncogenic signaling pathways.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a comprehensive loss-of-function approach to suppress PP2A regulatory subunits.
- Investigated the impact of subunit suppression on human cell transformation.
- Analyzed the activation of c-Myc, Wnt, and PI3K/Akt pathways.
Main Results:
- Suppression of PP2A B56α, B56γ, and PR72/PR130 subunits replaced SV40ST's transforming activity.
- Manipulation of these PP2A complexes activated c-Myc, Wnt, and PI3K/Akt pathways.
- PTPA suppression disrupted PP2A complex assembly, activating the same oncogenic pathways.
Conclusions:
- Identified specific PP2A regulatory subunits (B56α, B56γ, PR72/PR130, PTPA) perturbed by SV40ST.
- Delineated the PP2A-controlled pathways (c-Myc, Wnt, PI3K/Akt) critical for human cell transformation.
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