PGK1-coupled HSP90 stabilizes GSK3βexpression to regulate the stemness of breast cancer stem cells

Objective:Glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK3β)has been recognized as a suppressor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling,which is critical for the stemness maintenance of breast cancer stem cells.However,the regulatory mechanisms of GSK3βprotein expression remain elusive.Methods:Co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectral assays were performed to identify molecules binding to GSK3β,and to characterize the interactions of GSK3β,heat shock protein 90(Hsp90),and co-chaperones.The role of PGK1 in Hsp90 chaperoning GSK3βwas evaluated by constructing 293T cells stably expressing different domains/mutants of Hsp90α,and by performing a series of binding assays with bacterially purified proteins and clinical specimens.The influences of Hsp90 inhibitors on breast cancer stem cell stemness were investigated by Western blot and mammosphere formation assays.Results:We showed that GSK3βwas a client protein of Hsp90.Hsp90,which did not directly bind to GSK3β,interacted with phosphoglycerate kinase 1 via its C-terminal domain,thereby facilitating the binding of GSK3βto Hsp90.GSK3β-bound PGK1 interacted with Hsp90 in the“closed”conformation and stabilized GSK3βexpression in an Hsp90 activity-dependent manner.The Hsp90 inhibitor,17-AAG,rather than HDN-1,disrupted the interaction between Hsp90 and PGK1,and reduced GSK3βexpression,resulting in significantly reduced inhibition ofβ-catenin expression,to maintain the stemness of breast cancer stem cells.Conclusions:Our findings identified a novel regulatory mechanism of GSK3βexpression involving metabolic enzyme PGK1-coupled Hsp90,and highlighted the potential for more effective cancer treatment by selecting Hsp90 inhibitors that do not affect PGK1-regulated GSK3βexpression.

Imatinib blocks tyrosine phosphorylation of Smad4 and restores TGF-β growth-suppressive signaling in BCR-ABL1-positive leukemia

Loss of TGF-β-mediated growth suppression is a major contributor to the development of cancers,best exemplified by loss-offunction mutations in genes encoding components of the TGF-βsignaling pathway in colorectal and pancreatic cancers.Alternatively,gain-of-function oncogene mutations can also disrupt antiproliferative TGF-βsignaling.However,the molecular mechanisms underlying oncogene-induced modulation of TGF-βsignaling have not been extensively investigated.Here,we show that the oncogenic BCR-ABL1 of chronic myelogenous leukemia(CML)and the cellular ABL1 tyrosine kinases phosphorylate and inactivate Smad4 to block antiproliferative TGF-βsignaling.Mechanistically,phosphorylation of Smad4 at Tyr195,Tyr301,and Tyr322 in the linker region interferes with its binding to the transcription co-activator p300/CBP,thereby blocking the ability of Smad4 to activate the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase(CDK)inhibitors and induce cell cycle arrest.In contrast,the inhibition of BCR-ABL1 kinase with Imatinib prevented Smad4 tyrosine phosphorylation and re-sensitized CML cells to TGF-β-induced antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic responses.Furthermore,expression of phosphorylation-site-mutated Y195F/Y301F/Y322F mutant of Smad4 in Smad4-null CML cells enhanced antiproliferative responses to TGF-β,whereas the phosphorylation-mimicking Y195E/Y301E/Y322E mutant interfered with TGF-βsignaling and enhanced the in vivo growth of CML cells.These findings demonstrate the direct role of BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase in suppressing TGF-βsignaling in CML and explain how Imatinib-targeted therapy restored beneficial TGF-βanti-growth responses.