Ets Related Gene and Smad3 Proteins Collaborate to Activate Transforming Growth Factor-Beta Mediated Signaling Pathway in ETS Related Gene-Positive Prostate Cancer Cells.
TGF-β/Smads signaling plays a significant role in the regulation of growth of normal and prostate cancer cells. Smad proteins function as important mediators of intracellular signal transduction of transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β). TGF-βsignaling pathway is known to regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and play a major role in some human diseases and cancers. Following their phosphorylation by TGF-βreceptor-I, Receptor-regulated Smads (including Smad2 and Smad3 proteins) form a heteromeric complex with co-Smad (Smad4) and then translocate into the nucleus where they bind and regulate the expression of target genes. ERG (Ets Related Gene) belongs to the ETS family of transcriptional factors. Chromosomal rearrangement of TMPRSS2 gene and ERG gene has been found in majority of prostate cancers. Over-expression of full length or truncated ERG proteins have been shown to associate with a higher rate of recurrent and unfavorable prognosis of prostate cancer. In order to understand how ERG oncoprotein regulates TGF-β/Smads signaling pathway, we have studied the effect of ERG on TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway. In this study, we demonstrate that ERG oncoprotein physically interacts with Smad3 protein and stabilizes phospho-Smad3 protein and thereby enhance TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway in prostate cells. Thus, ERG oncoprotein plays an important role in prostate tumorigenesis by using a novel mechanism to activate TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway.
Cancer Biology Program, Department of OB/GYN, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Grady Memorial Hospital, 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
Jinbo
J
Fang
Cancer Biology Program, Department of OB/GYN, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Grady Memorial Hospital, 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
Huali
H
Xu
Cancer Biology Program, Department of OB/GYN, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Grady Memorial Hospital, 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
Chunshu
C
Yang
Cancer Biology Program, Department of OB/GYN, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Grady Memorial Hospital, 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
Sharif
S
Morsalin
Cancer Biology Program, Department of OB/GYN, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Grady Memorial Hospital, 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
Shubhalaxmi
S
Kayarthodi
Cancer Biology Program, Department of OB/GYN, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Grady Memorial Hospital, 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
Kunchala
K
Rungsrisuriyachai
Cancer Biology Program, Department of OB/GYN, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Grady Memorial Hospital, 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA ; Department of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Grady Memorial Hospital, 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
Ujwala
U
Gunnal
Cancer Biology Program, Department of OB/GYN, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Grady Memorial Hospital, 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
Brittany
B
Mckenzie
Cancer Biology Program, Department of OB/GYN, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Grady Memorial Hospital, 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
Veena N
VN
Rao
Cancer Biology Program, Department of OB/GYN, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Grady Memorial Hospital, 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
E Shyam P
ES
Reddy
ERG; Phosphorylation; Prostate Cancer; Smad Protein; TGF-β