Gene Copy Number and Post-Transductional Mechanisms Regulate TRAP1 Expression in Human Colorectal Carcinomas

oleh: Michele Pietrafesa, Francesca Maddalena, Luciana Possidente, Valentina Condelli, Pietro Zoppoli, Valeria Li Bergolis, Maria Grazia Rodriquenz, Michele Aieta, Giulia Vita, Franca Esposito, Matteo Landriscina

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2019-12-01

Deskripsi

Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Protein 1 (TRAP1) is a heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) molecular chaperone overexpressed in 60&#8722;70% human colorectal carcinomas (CRCs) and the co-upregulation of TRAP1 and associated 6-related proteins identifies metastatic CRCs with poor prognosis. Since the molecular mechanisms responsible for TRAP1 regulation are still unknown, the significance of <i>TRAP1</i> gene copy number (CN) and the role of post-transductional protein modifications were addressed. <i>TRAP1</i> gene aneuploidy accounted for 34.5% of cases in a cohort of 58 human CRCs and <i>TRAP1</i> CN correlated with its mRNA and protein expression, suggesting that transcriptional mechanisms are responsible for TRAP1 upregulation. Furthermore, the analysis of the National Cancer Institute&#8217;s Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium/The Cancer Genome Atlas (CPTAC/TCGA) CRC database showed that <i>TRAP1</i> polysomy significantly correlates with lymph node involvement. However, a subgroup of tumors showed TRAP1 protein levels independent from its CN. Of note, a direct correlation was observed between TRAP1 protein levels and the expression of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR), a denitrosylase involved in the regulation of protein S-nitrosylation. Furthermore, CRC cell lines exposed to hypoxia or dichloroacetate treatment showed the downregulation of TRAP1 upon GSNOR silencing and this resulted in increased TRAP1 mono/polyubiquitination. These data suggest that transcriptional and post-transductional mechanisms account for TRAP1 expression in human CRCs and GSNOR protects TRAP1 from S-nitrosylation and consequent proteasome degradation mostly in conditions of stress.