PUBLICATION

Direct Phosphorylation and Stabilization of MYC by Aurora B Kinase Promote T-cell Leukemogenesis

Authors
Jiang, J., Wang, J., Yue, M., Cai, X., Wang, T., Wu, C., Su, H., Wang, Y., Han, M., Zhang, Y., Zhu, X., Jiang, P., Li, P., Sun, Y., Xiao, W., Feng, H., Qing, G., Liu, H.
ID
ZDB-PUB-200213-8
Date
2020
Source
Cancer Cell   37: 200-215.e5 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Liu, Hudan, Wu, Chao
Keywords
Aurora B kinase, FBXW7, MYC, T-ALL, patient-derived xenograft, phosphorylation, protein stability, zebrafish T-ALL model
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Aurora Kinase A/genetics
  • Aurora Kinase A/immunology
  • Aurora Kinase B/immunology
  • Aurora Kinase B/metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7/immunology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Phosphorylation
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/drug therapy
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/immunology*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
  • T-Lymphocytes/drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes/immunology*
  • Transcriptional Activation/drug effects
  • Transcriptional Activation/immunology
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
32049046 Full text @ Cancer Cell
Abstract
Deregulation of MYC plays an essential role in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), yet the mechanisms underlying its deregulation remain elusive. Herein, we identify a molecular mechanism responsible for reciprocal activation between Aurora B kinase (AURKB) and MYC. AURKB directly phosphorylates MYC at serine 67, counteracting GSK3β-directed threonine 58 phosphorylation and subsequent FBXW7-mediated proteasomal degradation. Stabilized MYC, in concert with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia 1 (TAL1), directly activates AURKB transcription, constituting a positive feedforward loop that reinforces MYC-regulated oncogenic programs. Therefore, inhibitors of AURKB induce prominent MYC degradation concomitant with robust leukemia cell death. These findings reveal an AURKB-MYC regulatory circuit that underlies T cell leukemogenesis, and provide a rationale for therapeutic targeting of oncogenic MYC via AURKB inhibition.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping