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Published on: December 30, 2025
BAG2 promotes tumorigenesis through enhancing mutant p53 protein levels and function
Xuetian Yue1, Yuhan Zhao1, Juan Liu1
1Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, United States.
The Bcl-2 associated athanogene (BAG) family protein BAG2 promotes tumor growth by stabilizing mutant p53 (mutp53). BAG2 inhibits the degradation of mutp53, enhancing its tumor-promoting gain-of-function activities.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Genetics
Background:
- The tumor suppressor p53 is frequently mutated in cancers, with mutant p53 (mutp53) often exhibiting gain-of-function (GOF) activities that promote tumorigenesis.
- High levels of mutp53 accumulation in tumors are critical for its GOF, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the Bcl-2 associated athanogene (BAG) family protein BAG2 in mutp53 accumulation and its contribution to tumorigenesis.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the interaction between BAG2 and mutp53.
- Examined the effect of BAG2 on mutp53 stability and degradation mediated by MDM2.
- Assessed the impact of BAG2 on tumor growth, metastasis, and chemoresistance in preclinical models.
Main Results:
- BAG2 directly binds to mutp53 and prevents its ubiquitination and degradation by MDM2.
- BAG2 overexpression leads to increased mutp53 accumulation and enhanced mutp53 GOF, promoting tumor growth, metastasis, and chemoresistance.
- BAG2 is frequently overexpressed in tumors and its overexpression correlates with poor patient prognosis and higher mutp53 levels.
Conclusions:
- BAG2 is a novel key regulator of mutp53 accumulation and GOF in tumors.
- BAG2 promotes tumorigenesis by stabilizing mutp53 and enhancing its oncogenic functions.
- BAG2 represents a potential therapeutic target for cancers harboring mutp53.
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