TM4SF3 and AR: A Nuclear Complex that Stabilizes Both Proteins

Abstract

Transmembrane 4 superfamily 3 (TM4SF3) was identified as a novel androgen-regulated gene in prostate cancer (PCa) cells. Our data demonstrate that TM4SF3 exhibits androgen-induced repression of the mRNA but up-regulation of the protein. The androgen positive effect on the TM4SF3 protein is of significant interest in view of the procancer functions of both androgens and tetraspanin proteins. Androgen positively regulates TM4SF3 protein stability by inhibiting its proteasome-dependent degradation. This androgen stabilization of TM4SF3 is involved in promoting PCa cell invasion and migration of both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent PCa cells. Although confirming androgen up-regulation of the TM4SF3 protein, we observed that TM4SF3 is localized not only to the membrane, but also, surprisingly, the nuclei of PCa cells. This novel nuclear localization of TM4SF3 depends on androgen-induced nuclear localization of androgen receptor (AR) in both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent PCa cell lines. TM4SF3 interacts with AR both in PCa cell types and in vitro, strongly suggesting a direct interaction. This direct interaction is required for the stabilization of not only TM4SF3, but also remarkably AR, because down-regulation of TM4SF3 resulted in reduced AR protein levels. As expected of an important AR regulator, TM4SF3 regulates androgen-dependent gene expression in and proliferation of PCa cells. Importantly, a direct correlation between AR and TM4SF3 protein levels and nuclear colocalization were also observed in prostate tumors, strongly suggesting that the mutual stabilization resulting from the AR-TM4SF3 interaction is found in tumors and that this interaction is important in PCa biology.