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Published on: June 7, 2019
ZDHHC5-mediated BRAF palmitoylation activates the MAPK pathway and drives cholangiocarcinoma progression
Chunxi Li1, Xiezong Hu1, Ziqiou Zhang1
1Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, State Key Laboratory of Immune Responses and Immunotherapy, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, China; Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Institute of Cancer Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, China.
Abstract:
Cholangiocarcinoma is a highly malignant tumor with an increasing incidence around the world. Discovery of novel molecular targets and effective therapies for cholangiocarcinoma are urgently needed. Palmitoylation is a reversible lipid modification mainly catalyzed by ZDHHC family palmitoyltransferases. However, its function and underlying mechanisms in cholangiocarcinoma remain poorly understood. Here, we found that protein palmitoylation levels and ZDHHC5 expression were upregulated in cholangiocarcinoma. Knockdown of ZDHHC5 inhibited the growth of cholangiocarcinoma. Mechanistically, ZDHHC5 modulates the activity of MAPK signaling pathway by regulating palmitoylation of BRAF at Cys194/195. Palmitoylation facilitates the membrane localization of BRAF and stabilizes BRAF protein. Either knockdown of ZDHHC5 or disruption of palmitoylation sites of BRAF inhibited ERK signaling. Furthermore, we found that cholangiocarcinoma cells expressing high levels of ZDHHC5 exhibited increased activities of MAPK signaling pathway and increased sensitivities to MAPK signaling pathway inhibitors. This study identifies a previously unknown ZDHHC5-BRAF-ERK axis that promotes the growth of cholangiocarcinoma and represents a potential crucial role in therapeutic.
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