Ubiquitin-specific protease 4 (USP4) targets TRAF2 and TRAF6 for deubiquitination and inhibits TNFα-induced cancer cell migration.
TRAF [TNF (tumour necrosis factor)-receptor-associated factor] 2 and 6 are essential adaptor proteins for the NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) signalling pathway, which play important roles in inflammation and immune response. Polyubiquitination of TRAF2 and TRAF6 is critical to their activities and functions in TNFα- and IL (interleukin)-1β-induced NF-κB activation. However, the regulation of TRAF2 and TRAF6 by deubiquitination remains incompletely understood. In the present study, we identified USP (ubiquitin-specific protease) 4 as a novel deubiquitinase targeting TRAF2 and TRAF6 for deubiquitination. We found that USP4 specifically interacts with TRAF2 and TRAF6, but not TRAF3. Moreover, USP4 associates with TRAF6 both in vitro and in vivo, independent of its deubiquitinase activity. The USP domain is responsible for USP4 to interact with TRAF6. Ectopic expression of USP4 inhibits the TRAF2- and TRAF6-stimulated NF-κB reporter gene and negatively regulates the TNFα-induced IκBα (inhibitor of NF-κBα) degradation and NF-κB activation. Knockdown of USP4 significantly increased TNFα-induced cytokine expression. Furthermore, we found that USP4 deubiquitinates both TRAF2 and TRAF6 in vivo and in vitro in a deubiquitinase activity-dependent manner. Importantly, the results of the present study showed that USP4 is a negative regulator of TNFα- and IL-1β-induced cancer cell migration. Taken together, the present study provides a novel insight into the regulation of the NF-κB signalling pathway and uncovers a previously unknown function of USP4 in cancer.
*Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
Ning
N
Xiao
Hui
H
Li
Jian
J
Luo
Rui
R
Wang
Haiquan
H
Chen
Jiquan
J
Chen
Ping
P
Wang
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011485:Protein Binding; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D047992:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048029:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000378:metabolism*; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D064570:Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases; D054875:Ubiquitination / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
D016328:NF-kappa B; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D047992:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 2; D048029:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C486203:USP4 protein, human; D025801:Ubiquitin; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D064570:Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases