A rare variant in human fibroblast activation protein associated with ER stress, loss of enzymatic function and loss of cell surface localisation.
Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a focus of interest as a potential cancer therapy target. This membrane bound protease possesses the unique catalytic activity of hydrolysis of the post-proline bond two or more residues from the N-terminus of substrates. FAP is highly expressed in activated fibroblastic cells in tumours, arthritis and fibrosis. A rare, novel, human polymorphism, C1088T, encoding Ser363 to Leu, occurring in the sixth blade of the β propeller domain, was identified in a family. Both in primary human fibroblasts and in Ser363LeuFAP transfected cells, we showed that this single substitution ablates FAP dimerisation and causes loss of enzyme activity. Ser363LeuFAP was detectable only in endoplasmic reticulum (ER), in contrast to the distribution of wild-type FAP on the cell surface. The variant FAP showed decreased conformational antibody binding, consistent with an altered tertiary structure. Ser363LeuFAP expression was associated with upregulation of the ER chaperone BiP/GRP78, ER stress sensor ATF6, and the ER stress response target phospho-eIF2α, all indicators of ER stress. Proteasomal inhibition resulted in accumulation of Ser363LeuFAP, indicating the involvement of ER associated degradation (ERAD). Neither CHOP expression nor apoptosis was elevated, so ERAD is probably important for protecting Ser363LeuFAP expressing cells. These data on the first loss of function human FAP gene variant indicates that although the protein is vulnerable to an amino acid substitution in the β-propeller domain, inactive, unfolded FAP can be tolerated by cells.
Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Brenna
B
Osborne
Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Tsun-Wen
TW
Yao
Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Xin Maggie
XM
Wang
Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Yiqian
Y
Chen
Institute of Sciences, Department of Biotechnology, Cukurova University, Balcali, Adana 01330, Turkey.
L Damla
LD
Kotan
Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Naveed A
NA
Nadvi
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Orthopedics, Cukurova University, Balcali, Adana 01330, Turkey.
Mustafa
M
Herdem
Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Geoffrey W
GW
McCaughan
Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
John D
JD
Allen
Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Denise M T
DM
Yu
Institute of Sciences, Department of Biotechnology, Cukurova University, Balcali, Adana 01330, Turkey; Pediatric Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Cukurova University, Balcali, Adana 01330, Turkey.
A Kemal
AK
Topaloglu
Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: m.gorrell@centenary.usyd.edu.au.
Mark D
MD
Gorrell
D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D017209:Apoptosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D059327:Brachydactyly / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003638:Deafness / Q000235:genetics*; D004152:Dipeptidyl-Peptidases and Tripeptidyl-Peptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D010450:Endopeptidases; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; D059865:Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / Q000235:genetics*; D060746:Endoplasmic Reticulum-Associated Degradation / Q000235:genetics*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000235:genetics*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009056:Mouth Abnormalities / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013347:Subcellular Fractions; D014071:Tooth Abnormalities / Q000235:genetics*; D000099167:Fibroblast Activation Protein Alpha
D004152:Dipeptidyl-Peptidases and Tripeptidyl-Peptidases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; D018093:Gelatinases; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D000099167:Fibroblast Activation Protein Alpha; C000717247:HSPA5 protein, human
Dipeptidyl peptidase; Endoplasmic reticulum associated degradation; Endoplasmic reticulum stress; Fibroblast activation protein; Polymorphism; Unfolded protein response