title: SCFSkp2 complex targeted by Epstein-Barr virus essential nuclear antigen.
abstract: The stability of cell cycle checkpoint and regulatory proteins is controlled by the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation machinery. A critical regulator of cell cycle molecules is the E3 ubiquitin ligase SCFSkp2, known to facilitate the polyubiquitination and degradation of p27, E2F, and c-myc. SCFSkp2 is frequently deregulated in human cancers. In this study, we have revealed a novel link between the essential Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen EBNA3C and the SCFSkp2 complex, providing a mechanism for cell cycle regulation by EBV. EBNA3C associates with cyclin A/cdk2 complexes, disrupting the kinase inhibitor p27 and enhancing kinase activity. The recruitment of SCFSkp2 activity to cyclin A complexes by EBNA3C results in ubiquitination and SCFSkp2-dependent degradation of p27. This is the first report of a viral protein usurping the function of the SCFSkp2 cell cycle regulatory machinery to regulate p27 stability, establishing the foundation for a mechanism by which EBV regulates cyclin/cdk activity in human cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Abramson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, 201E Johnson Pavilion, 3610 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Jason S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Erle S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D019925:Cyclin A / Q000378:metabolism; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000502:physiology; D044786:S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000502:physiology; D014452:Ubiquitins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D019925:Cyclin A; C498774:EBNA-3C, epstein-barr virus; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; C479529:RBX1 protein, human; D044786:S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D014452:Ubiquitins; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex