PDZRN3 protects against apoptosis in myoblasts by maintaining cyclin A2 expression

PDZRN3 is a PDZ domain-containing RING-finger family protein that functions in various developmental processes. We previously showed that expression of PDZRN3 is induced together with that of MyoD during the early phase of skeletal muscle regeneration in vivo. We here show that PDZRN3 suppresses apoptosis and promotes proliferation in myoblasts in a manner dependent on cyclin A2. Depletion of PDZRN3 in mouse C2C12 myoblasts by RNA interference reduced the proportion of Ki-67-positive cells and the level of Akt phosphorylation, implicating PDZRN3 in regulation of both cell proliferation and apoptosis. Exposure of C2C12 cells as well as of C3H10T1/2 mesenchymal stem cells and NIH-3T3 fibroblasts to various inducers of apoptosis including serum deprivation resulted in a greater increase in the amount of cleaved caspase-3 in PDZRN3-depleted cells than in control cells. The abundance of cyclin A2 was reduced in PDZRN3-depleted C2C12 myoblasts, as was that of Mre11, which contributes to the repair of DNA damage. Overexpression of cyclin A2 restored the expression of Mre11 and Ki-67 as well as attenuated caspase-3 cleavage in PDZRN3-depleted cells deprived of serum. These results indicate that PDZRN3 suppresses apoptosis and promotes proliferation in myoblasts and other cell types by maintaining cyclin A2 expression.