title: Novel functions of thyroid hormone receptor mutants: beyond nucleus-initiated transcription.
abstract: Study of molecular actions of thyroid hormone receptor beta (TRbeta) mutants in vivo has been facilitated by creation of a mouse model (TRbetaPV mouse) that harbors a knockin mutant of TRbeta (denoted PV). PV, which was identified in a patient with resistance to thyroid hormone, has lost T3 binding activity and transcription capacity. The striking phenotype of thyroid cancer exhibited by TRbeta(PV/PV) mice has allowed the elucidation of novel oncogenic activity of a TRbeta mutant (PV) [PAS1] beyond nucleus-initiated transcription. PV was found to physically interact with the regulatory p85alpha subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in both the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments. This protein-protein interaction activates the PI3K signaling by increasing phosphorylation of AKT, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and p70(S6K). PV, via interaction with p85alpha, also activates the PI3K-integrin-linked kinase-matrix metalloproteinase-2 signaling pathway in the extra-nuclear compartment. The PV-mediated PI3K activation results in increased cell proliferation, motility, migration, and metastasis. In addition to affecting these membrane-initiated signaling events, PV affects the stability of the pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG) product. PTTG (also known as securin), a critical mitotic checkpoint protein, is physically associated with TRbeta or PV in vivo. Concomitant with T3-induced degradation of TRbeta, PTTG is degraded by the proteasome machinery, but no such degradation occurs when PTTG is associated with PV. The degradation of PTTG/TRbeta is activated by the direct interaction of the T3-bound TRbeta with the steroid receptor coactivator-3 (SRC-3) that recruits a proteasome activator (PA28gamma). PV that does not bind T3 cannot interact directly with SRC-3/PA28gamma to activate proteasome degradation, and the absence of degradation results in an aberrant accumulation of PTTG. The PV-induced failure of timely degradation of PTTG results in mitotic abnormalities. PV, via novel protein-protein interaction and transcription regulation, acts to antagonize the functions of wild-type TRs and contributes to the oncogenic functions of this mutation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA.
authors.forename: Fumihiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Furuya
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Sheue-yann
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone