Endogenous interaction profiling identifies DDX5 as an oncogenic coactivator of transcription factor Fra-1

Oncogene. 2019 Jul;38(28):5725-5738. doi: 10.1038/s41388-019-0824-4. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

Abstract

Fra-1, a member of the activator protein 1 (AP-1) family, is overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and plays crucial roles in tumor growth. Here we report the identification of 118 proteins interacting with endogenous chromatin-bound Fra-1 in TNBC cells, highlighting DDX5 as the most enriched Fra-1-interacting protein. DDX5, a previously unrecognized protein in the Fra-1 transcriptional network, shows extensive overlap with Fra-1 cistrome and transcriptome that are highly associated with the TNBC cell growth. We provide evidence that DDX5 expression enhances Fra-1 transcriptional activity and potentiates Fra-1-driven cell proliferation. Furthermore, we show that the DDX5 target gene signature predicts poor clinical outcome in breast cancer patients. DDX5 protein level was higher in triple-negative basal-like tumors than in non-basal-like tumors, including luminal A, luminal B, and HER2-enriched subtypes. Collectively, by combining proteomic and genomic approaches we reveal a role for DDX5 as a regulatory protein of Fra-1 signaling and suggest DDX5 as a potential therapeutic target for TNBC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Proliferation
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Oncogenes*
  • Proteomics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • Trans-Activators
  • fos-related antigen 1
  • Ddx5 protein, human
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases