One in eight women will suffer breast cancer during their lifetime. About 70% of breast cancer depends on the presence of estrogen to grow, and is classified as Estrogen Receptor (ER) positive and estrogen dependent. ER regulates the expression of many genes, among which is Cyclin D1. Our recently research reported that EglN2, an estrogen inducible gene, positively regulates Cyclin D1 and contributes to breast tumorigenesis. The regulation of Cyclin D1 by EglN2 is largely dependent on EglN2 prolyl hydroxylase activity. However, the mechanism underlying the regulation of Cyclin D1 by EglN2 remains largely unknown. In order to identify the potential EglN2 prolyl hydroxylase substrates that mediate this process, I performed in vitro hydroxylation screening for EglN2 substrates. FOXO3a was identified as a potential EglN2 target. I plan to validate FOXO3a as a novel EglN2 substrate (Aim 1) and examine whether FOXO3a mediates the effect of EglN2 on Cyclin D1, breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo (Aim 2). Lastly, I will systematically search for FOXO3a direct transcription targets in EglN2-mediated breast tumorigenesis (Aim 3). The proposed research will elucidate the mechanism by which EglN2 mediates breast tumorigenesis and the important role of FOXO3a in this process.

Public Health Relevance

Our ability to develop targeted therapies against breast cancer is heavily dependent on a more detailed understanding of the molecular mechanism of EglN2-related breast tumorigenesis through generation and examination of accurate in vitro and in vivo model systems. This proposal will study the role of FOXO3a as the missing link by which EglN2 regulates Cyclin D1 and breast tumorigenesis. Successful completion of this proposal will motivate the development of EglN2 specific inhibitors as a means to induce FOXO3a to treat cancers, including breast cancers.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Career Transition Award (K99)
Project #
5K99CA160351-02
Application #
8294708
Study Section
Subcommittee G - Education (NCI)
Program Officer
Schmidt, Michael K
Project Start
2011-07-01
Project End
2013-01-31
Budget Start
2012-07-01
Budget End
2013-01-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$135,216
Indirect Cost
$10,016
Name
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
076580745
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02215
Takada, Mamoru; Zhuang, Ming; Inuzuka, Hiroyuki et al. (2017) EglN2 contributes to triple negative breast tumorigenesis by functioning as a substrate for the FBW7 tumor suppressor. Oncotarget 8:6787-6795
Takada, Mamoru; Zhang, Weiguo; Suzuki, Aussie et al. (2017) FBW7 Loss Promotes Chromosomal Instability and Tumorigenesis via Cyclin E1/CDK2-Mediated Phosphorylation of CENP-A. Cancer Res 77:4881-4893
Zhang, Jing; Zheng, Xingnan; Zhang, Qing (2016) EglN2 positively regulates mitochondrial function in breast cancer. Mol Cell Oncol 3:e1120845
Zurlo, Giada; Guo, Jianping; Takada, Mamoru et al. (2016) New Insights into Protein Hydroxylation and Its Important Role in Human Diseases. Biochim Biophys Acta 1866:208-220
Zhang, Jing; Wang, Chengyang; Chen, Xi et al. (2015) EglN2 associates with the NRF1-PGC1? complex and controls mitochondrial function in breast cancer. EMBO J 34:2953-70
Zheng, Xingnan; Zhai, Bo; Koivunen, Peppi et al. (2014) Prolyl hydroxylation by EglN2 destabilizes FOXO3a by blocking its interaction with the USP9x deubiquitinase. Genes Dev 28:1429-44
Zhang, Qing; Gu, Jinming; Li, Lianjie et al. (2009) Control of cyclin D1 and breast tumorigenesis by the EglN2 prolyl hydroxylase. Cancer Cell 16:413-24