Abstract 1227: Inhibition of the RSK2-ATF1 signaling axis by eriodictyol suppresses neoplastic cell transformation

Abstract

Abstract The ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (RSK2), a member of the p90RSK (RSK) family of proteins, is a widely expressed serine/threonine kinase and its activation enhances cell proliferation. Here we report that activating transcription factor 1(ATF1) is a novel substrate of RSK2 and the RSK2-ATF1 signaling axis plays an important role in neoplastic cell transformation. RSK2 phosphorylates ATF1 at Ser63 and enhances the transactivation and transcriptional activities of ATF1. Computational modeling, high-through put screening and in vitro pull down assays demonstrated that eriodictiol, a flavanone found in fruits, binds with the N-terminal kinase domain and linker region of RSK2 and inhibits RSK2 N-terminal kinase activity. In a cell culture system, eriodictyol treatment suppressed phosphorylation of ATF1, but did not affect phosphorylation of RSK, MEK1/2, ERK1/2, p38 or JNKs, indicating that eriodictyol specifically inhibits RSK2 signaling. Furthermore, eriodictyol inhibited RSK2-mediated ATF1 transactivation activity and cell transformation induced by tumor promoters in JB6 Cl41 mouse skin epidermal cells. In a foci formation assay, knockdown of RSK2 or ATF1 suppressed foci formation compared with RasG12V, RasG12V/RSK2, RasG12V/ATF1 and RasG12V/RSK2/ATF1 expressing cells. In addition, eriodictyol treatment showed the same effect as RSK2 knockdown in foci formation. Taken together, these results indicated that the RSK2-ATF1 signaling axis plays an important role in neoplastic cell transformation and eriodictyol is a new natural compound for selectively inhibiting RSK2 kinase activity. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1227.