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Published on: July 6, 2021
Ras/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling differentially regulate oncogenic ERG mediated transcription in prostate cells
Brady G Strittmatter1, Travis J Jerde2, Peter C Hollenhorst3
1Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America.
The TMPRSS2/ERG gene rearrangement drives prostate cancer by activating the ERG transcription factor. ERG promotes tumor formation and cell migration, with phosphorylation at serine 96 being crucial for its oncogenic function.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- The TMPRSS2/ERG gene fusion is present in 50% of prostate tumors, leading to the expression of the ERG transcription factor.
- ERG is normally silent in prostate cells, but its expression is linked to prostate tumorigenesis and luminal epithelial cell differentiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanism by which ERG expression synergizes with PI3K/AKT pathway activation in prostate cancer.
- To investigate the role of ERG phosphorylation at serine 96 (S96) in promoting cell migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
Main Methods:
- Utilized phosphomimetic ERG mutants (S96E) to study ERG function independent of AKT activation.
- Analyzed ERG phosphorylation, genomic binding (cistrome), and recruitment of ERK and EZH2.
- Assessed the impact of ERG on gene expression, cell migration, and clonogenic survival.
Main Results:
- ERG phosphorylation at S96 by Ras/ERK signaling is essential for promoting cell migration and EMT.
- A phosphomimetic S96E ERG mutant drove tumor formation and survival without AKT activation.
- S96E ERG altered ERG-mediated gene repression, EZH2 binding, and H3K27 methylation, without changing ERG's genomic binding.
- AKT activation modulated the ERG cistrome and promoted luminal cell fate genes.
Conclusions:
- ERG can drive prostate tumorigenesis independently of luminal cell fate programs, requiring only its transcriptional activation function.
- ERG's oncogenic functions are context-dependent, promoting either luminal differentiation or EMT based on AKT pathway status.
- Phosphorylation of ERG at S96 is a key mechanism for ERG-driven oncogenesis, particularly in the context of EMT.
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