ERK Activation Globally Downregulates miRNAs through Phosphorylating Exportin-5

Hui Lung Sun, Ri Cui, Jian Kang Zhou, Kun yu Teng, Yung Hsuan Hsiao, Kotaro Nakanishi, Matteo Fassan, Zhenghua Luo, Guqin Shi, Esmerina Tili, Huban Kutay, Francesca Lovat, Caterina Vicentini, Han Li Huang, Shih Wei Wang, Taewan Kim, Nicola Zanesi, Young Jun Jeon, Tae Jin Lee, Jih Hwa GuhMien Chie Hung, Kalpana Ghoshal, Che Ming Teng, Yong Peng, Carlo M. Croce

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

100 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are mostly downregulated in cancer. However, the mechanism underlying this phenomenon and the precise consequence in tumorigenesis remain obscure. Here we show that ERK suppresses pre-miRNA export from the nucleus through phosphorylation of exportin-5 (XPO5) at T345/S416/S497. After phosphorylation by ERK, conformation of XPO5 is altered by prolyl isomerase Pin1, resulting in reduction of pre-miRNA loading. In liver cancer, the ERK-mediated XPO5 suppression reduces miR-122, increases microtubule dynamics, and results in tumor development and drug resistance. Analysis of clinical specimens further showed that XPO5 phosphorylation is associated with poor prognosis for liver cancer patients. Our study reveals a function of ERK in miRNA biogenesis and suggests that modulation of miRNA export has potential clinical implications.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)723-736
Number of pages14
JournalCancer Cell
Volume30
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 14 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • ERK
  • Exportin-5
  • Pin1
  • drug resistance
  • global downregulation
  • liver cancer
  • miR-122
  • miRNA
  • microtubule
  • nuclear export

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

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