TRIM28 interacts with EZH2 and SWI/SNF to activate genes that promote mammosphere formation

Oncogene. 2017 May 25;36(21):2991-3001. doi: 10.1038/onc.2016.453. Epub 2017 Jan 9.

Abstract

Histone methyl transferase EZH2 (Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2) is generally associated with H3K27 methylation and gene silencing, as a member of the polycomb repressor 2 (PRC2) complex. Immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry of the EZH2-protein interactome in estrogen receptor positive, breast cancer-derived MCF7 cells revealed EZH2 interactions with subunits of chromatin remodeler SWI/SNF complex and TRIM28, which formed a complex with EZH2 distinct from PRC2. Unexpectedly, transcriptome profiling showed that EZH2 primarily activates, rather than represses, transcription in MCF7 cells and with TRIM28 co-regulates a set of genes associated with stem cell maintenance and poor survival of breast cancer patients. TRIM28 depletion repressed EZH2 recruitment to chromatin and expression of this gene set, in parallel with decreased CD44hi/CD24lo mammosphere formation. Mammosphere formation, inhibited by EZH2 depletion, was rescued by ectopic expression of EZH2 but not by TRIM28 expression or by EZH2 mutated at the region (pre-SET domain) of TRIM28 interaction. These results support PRC2-independent functions of EZH2 and TRIM28 in activation of gene expression that promotes mammary stem cell enrichment and maintenance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Adhesion / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / metabolism*
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Protein Binding
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Spheroids, Cellular / metabolism
  • Spheroids, Cellular / pathology
  • Spheroids, Cellular / physiology*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Tripartite Motif-Containing Protein 28
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • Repressor Proteins
  • SWI-SNF-B chromatin-remodeling complex
  • Transcription Factors
  • EZH2 protein, human
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • TRIM28 protein, human
  • Tripartite Motif-Containing Protein 28