The RB/E2F pathway controls expression of the cancer genomic DNA deaminase APOBEC3B

ABSTRACT: Mutations in cancer are due in part to DNA cytosine deamination by APOBEC3B (A3B). While low in healthy tissues, A3B expression and activity are elevated in tumors and further increase in metastases. However, molecular mechanisms responsible for A3B transcriptional regulation are poorly understood. Here, we address whether the RB/E2F pathway, which is often dysregulated in breast cancer, is a molecular trigger of A3B overexpression. First, an A3B promoter-driven luciferase reporter was used to demonstrate reporter activation by disruption of only one out of five predicted E2F binding sites. Second, A3B-luciferase reporter activation was also triggered by expressing the BK polyomavirus T-antigen, which inactivates RB and thereby alleviates repression of E2F regulated genes. Importantly, A3B-luciferase reporter induction by BK polyomavirus T-antigen could not be further increased by mutating the functional E2F binding site. Third, both CRISPR disruption and targeted base substitutions in the endogenous E2F binding site caused strong A3B upregulation and confirmed importance of this regulatory element. Fourth, proteomics experiments showed that members of the DREAM and PRC1.6-complexes including multiple E2F family members are able to bind to wild-type but not E2F mutant promoter sequences. Finally, a combination of genetic and biochemical studies implicated E2F4 and E2F6 in endogenous A3B gene repression. Altogether, our studies demonstrate that A3B expression is suppressed in normal cells by the RB/E2F axis and that viral or mutational disruption of this pathway causes overexpression of this DNA deaminase in cancer and contributes mutational fuel to tumor evolution.

INSTRUMENT(S): Q Exactive HF

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)

TISSUE(S): Breast, Cell Culture

DISEASE(S): Breast Cancer

SUBMITTER: Dennis Kappei  

LAB HEAD: Dennis Kappei

PROVIDER: PXD020473 | Pride | 2020-10-19

REPOSITORIES: Pride