Zhou AY, Shen RR, Kim E, Lock YJ, Xu M, Chen ZJ, Hahn WC

IκB kinase ε (IKKε, IKBKE) is a key regulator of innate immunity and a breast cancer oncogene, amplified in ∼30% of breast cancers, that promotes malignant transformation through NF-κB activation. Here, we show that IKKε is modified and regulated by K63-linked polyubiquitination at lysine 30 and lysine 401. Tumor necrosis factor ...

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alpha and interleukin-1β stimulation induces IKKε K63-linked polyubiquitination over baseline levels in both macrophages and breast cancer cell lines, and this modification is essential for IKKε kinase activity, IKKε-mediated NF-κB activation, and IKKε-induced malignant transformation. Disruption of K63-linked ubiquitination of IKKε does not affect its overall structure but impairs the recruitment of canonical NF-κB proteins. A cIAP1/cIAP2/TRAF2 E3 ligase complex binds to and ubiquitinates IKKε. Altogether, these observations demonstrate that K63-linked polyubiquitination regulates IKKε activity in both inflammatory and oncogenic contexts and suggests an alternative approach to targeting this breast cancer oncogene.

Date: Feb. 27, 2013

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