The ubiquitin ligase HERC4 suppresses MafA transcriptional activity triggered by GSK3? in myeloma by atypical K63-linked polyubiquitination.

MafA and c-Maf are close members of the Maf transcription factor family and indicators of poor prognosis of multiple myeloma (MM). Our previous study finds that the ubiquitin ligase HERC4 induces c-Maf degradation but stabilizes MafA, and the mechanism is elusive. In the present study, we find that HERC4 interacts ...
with MafA and mediates its K63-linked polyubiquitination at K33. Moreover, HERC4 inhibits MafA phosphorylation and its transcriptional activity triggered by glycogen synthase kinase 3? (GSK3?). The K33R MafA variant prevents HERC4 from inhibiting MafA phosphorylation and increases MafA transcriptional activity. Further analyses reveal that MafA can also activate the STAT3 signaling, but it is suppressed by HERC4. Lastly, we demonstrate that lithium chloride, a GSK3? inhibitor, can upregulate HERC4 and synergizes dexamethasone, a typical anti-MM drug, in inhibiting MM cell proliferation and xenograft growth in nude mice. These findings thus highlight a novel regulation of MafA oncogenic activity in MM and provide the rationale by targeting HERC4/GSK3?/MafA for the treatment of MM.
Mesh Terms:
Animals, Cell Proliferation, Dexamethasone, Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta, Humans, Lithium Chloride, Maf Transcription Factors, Large, Mice, Mice, Nude, Multiple Myeloma, Phosphorylation, Polyubiquitin, STAT3 Transcription Factor, Ubiquitin, Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases, Ubiquitination, Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
J Biol Chem
Date: May. 01, 2023
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