Deleted In Liver Cancer Research Articles

Correlation of DLC1 gene methylation with oncogenic PIK3CA mutations in extramammary Paget's disease

AbstractExtramammary Paget's disease is a rare cutaneous malignant neoplasm. The genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying its pathology remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the expression levels, and mutation and methylation status of a common tumor suppressor gene, deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1), and an oncogene, PIK3CA, in tumor (n=132) and normal tissues (n=20) from unrelated patients. The presence of epigenetic and genetic lesions was then correlated to the patient pathology data to determine the potential role of these genes in extramammary Paget's disease etiology and progression. The DLC1 gene was found to be downregulated in 43 (33%) tumors, as compared with immunohistochemistry results from normal tissues. Methylation-sensitive, high-resolution melting analysis indicated that the DLC1 promoter was hypermethylated in 51 (39%) extramammary Paget's disease tumors. This hypermethylation was associated with significantly decreased DLC1 levels (P=0.011), and had a strong positive correlation with advanced age (P=0.002). PIK3CA mutations were detected by direct sequencing in 32 (24%) tumors, the majority of which were invasive. Furthermore, PIK3CA mutations significantly correlated with DLC1 hypermethylation. Thus, aberrant DLC1 methylation and PIK3CA mutations may have important roles in extramammary Paget's disease pathogenesis, and may represent potential molecular targets for therapy.

Solution Structure of the Phosphotyrosine Binding (PTB) Domain of Human Tensin2 Protein in Complex with Deleted in Liver Cancer 1 (DLC1) Peptide Reveals a Novel Peptide Binding Mode

The protein deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) interacts with the tensin family of focal adhesion proteins to play a role as a tumor suppressor in a wide spectrum of human cancers. This interaction has been proven to be crucial to the oncogenic inhibitory capacity and focal adhesion localization of DLC1. The phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain of tensin2 predominantly interacts with a novel site on DLC1, not the canonical NPXY motif. In this study, we characterized this interaction biochemically and determined the complex structure of tensin2 PTB domain with DLC1 peptide by NMR spectroscopy. Our HADDOCK-derived complex structure model elucidates the molecular mechanism by which tensin2 PTB domain recognizes DLC1 peptide and reveals a PTB-peptide binding mode that is unique in that peptide occupies the binding site opposite to the canonical NPXY motif interaction site with the peptide utilizing a non-canonical binding motif to bind in an extended conformation and that the N-terminal helix, which is unique to some Shc- and Dab-like PTB domains, is required for binding. Mutations of crucial residues defined for the PTB-DLC1 interaction affected the co-localization of DLC1 and tensin2 in cells and abolished DLC1-mediated growth suppression of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. This tensin2 PTB-DLC1 peptide complex with a novel binding mode extends the versatile binding repertoire of the PTB domains in mediating diverse cellular signaling pathways as well as provides a molecular and structural basis for better understanding the tumor-suppressive activity of DLC1 and tensin2.

Abstract 2141: cAMP/PKA signaling enhances activity of Deleted in Liver Cancer 1 (DLC1) tumor suppressor in suppressing liver cancer tumorigenesis

Abstract Deleted in Liver Cancer 1 (DLC1) which encodes a RhoGTPase-activating protein (RhoGAP) is a tumor suppressor frequently inactivated in a wide spectrum of human cancers. The RhoGAP activity has been shown to play a predominant role in the biological activities of DLC1. It has been shown that cells with silenced DLC1 exhibit increased active RhoA level. This finding provides evidence about the activation of RhoA as the consequence of deregulated DLC1 and points to the importance of RhoGAP activity in the biological activity of DLC1. In this regard, it is important to comprehend how RhoGAP activity of DLC1 is related. Here, we show that DLC1 was robustly phosphorylated by cyclic AMP (cAMP)/Protein kinase A (PKA) signaling in cells. Phosphorylation of DLC1 was enhanced by forskolin, a known activator of PKA while suppressed when H-89, an inhibitor of PKA was added. Direct phosphorylation of DLC1 by PKA was further confirmed by the in vitro kinase assay. Using specific phospho-DLC1 antibodies, PKA was shown to phosphorylate DLC1 at S431 and S549. Functional assays demonstrate that phosphorylation at S549 plays a critical role in provoking the inhibitory activity of DLC1 in suppressing growth and motility of Ras-transduced p53 null mouse hepatoblasts. When compared with the stable clone of wild-type DLC1, stable clone of DLC1 phosphomimetic mutant, S549D, displayed a largely reduced growth of subcutaneous and orthotopic liver implanted tumors and an enhanced apoptosis. The migration and invasion rates of S549D cells were also significantly inhibited. Furthermore, S549D expression abolished stress fiber formation but failed to alter filopodia protrusions. These functional effects exerted by S549D were ascribed to the enhanced RhoGAP activity against RhoA. To further investigate the mechanism through which the RhoGAP activity is enhanced, we found that DLC1 dimerized upon S549 phosphorylation. Our findings have revealed for the first time about the regulation of RhoGAP activity of DLC1 via dimerization. Our study suggests a molecular link between PKA and DLC1/Rho pathways and underscores the importance of S549 phosphorylation in the regulation of RhoGAP activity of DLC1. (This study was funded by the Small Project Funding Program, The University of Hong Kong 200907176125) Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2141. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2141

A Profile of Native Integration Sites Used by φC31 Integrase in the Bovine Genome

The Streptomyces phage φC31 integrase can efficiently target attB-bearing transgenes to endogenous pseudo attP sites within mammalian genomes. To better understand the activity of φC31 integrase in the bovine genome, DNA sequences of 44 integration events were analyzed, and 32 pseudo attP sites were identified. The majority of these sites share a sequence motif that contains inverted repeats and has similarities to wild-type attP site. Genomic DNA flanking these sites typically contained repetitive sequence elements, such as short and long interspersed repetitive elements. These sequence features indicate that DNA sequence recognition plays an important role in guiding φC31-mediated site-specific integration. In addition, BF27 integration hotspot sites were identified in the bovine genome, which accounted for 13.6% of all isolated integration events and mapped to an intron of the deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) gene. Also we found that the pseudo attP sites in the bovine genome had other features in common with those in the human genome. This study represents the first time that the sequence features of pseudo attP sites in the bovine genome were analyzed. We conclude that this site-specific integrase system has great potential for applied modifications of the bovine genome.

Correction for Cao et al., Differential regulation of the activity of deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) by tensins controls cell migration and transformation

Correction for Cao et al., Differential regulation of the activity of deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) by tensins controls cell migration and transformation

Differential regulation of the activity of deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) by tensins controls cell migration and transformation

The epithelial growth factor receptor plays an important role in cell migration and cancer metastasis, but the underlying molecular mechanism is not fully understood. We show here that differential regulation of the Ras-homology-GTPase-activating protein [corrected] (Rho-GAP) activity of deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) by tensin3 and COOH-terminal tensin-like protein (cten) controls EGF-driven cell migration and transformation. Tensin3 binds DLC1 through its actin-binding domain, a region that is missing in cten, and thereby releases an autoinhibitory interaction between the sterile alpha motif and Rho-GAP domains of DLC1. Consequently, tensin3, but not cten, promotes the activation of DLC1, which, in turn, leads to inactivation of RhoA and decreased cell migration. Depletion of endogenous tensin3, but not cten, augmented the formation of actin stress fibers and focal adhesions and enhanced cell motility. These effects were, however, ablated by an inhibitor of the Rho-associated protein kinase. Importantly, activation of DLC1 by tensin3 or its actin-binding domain drastically reduced the anchorage-independent growth of transformed cells. Our study therefore links dynamic regulation of tensin family members by EGF to Rho-GAP through DLC1 and suggests that the tensin-DLC1-RhoA signaling axis plays an important role in tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis, and may be explored for cancer intervention.

Silencing of DLC1 upregulates PAI-1 expression and reduces migration in normal prostate cells.

Deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) is a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) domain containing tumor suppressor that localizes to focal adhesions. In cancer cells, loss of DLC1 is known to enhance cancer cell migration. However, the role of DLC1 in normal cell migration has not been well studied. Here, we show that silencing of DLC1 (shDLC1) in normal prostate epithelial cells reduces cell migration in both Transwell and wound-healing assays. This migration defect is mainly due to upregulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1). Silencing of PAI-1 rescues the shDLC1-reduced migration phenotype. Reexpression of DLC1 suppresses PAI-1 and restores the migration defect as well. In contrast, DLC1-K714E (GAP inactive) mutant neither decreases the PAI-1 level nor rescues the shDLC1 migration defect. Interestingly, DLC1-Y442F (tensin-binding and focal adhesion-localizing defective) mutant is able to suppress PAI-1 expression but does not restore the migration defect. Furthermore, PAI-1 upregulation in shDLC1 cells is EGFR-MEK pathway dependent and is able to promote in vitro angiogenesis. Together, our results show that at least the following two new mechanisms are involved in DLC1-mediated normal cell migration: (i) DLC1 modulates the expression of PAI-1, which is a negative regulator for cell migration, in a GAP domain and EGFR-MEK-dependent manner and (ii) Independent of PAI-1, the interaction of DLC1 with tensin members positively regulates cell migration.

The RhoA GTPase-Activating Protein DLC2 Modulates RhoA Activity and Hyperalgesia to Noxious Thermal and Inflammatory Stimuli

Deleted in liver cancer 2 (DLC2) is a novel Rho GTPase-activating protein that regulates RhoA activity. DLC2 is ubiquitously expressed in most tissues, including the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves, and is thought to be involved in actin cytoskeletal reorganization. Unlike DLC1-deficient mice, DLC2-deficient mice (DLC2^–/–) are viable and without gross anatomical abnormalities. Interestingly, DLC2^–/– mice exhibit hyperalgesia to noxious thermal stimuli and inflammation-inducing chemicals, such as formalin and acetic acid. There was no difference in the structure or morphology of cutaneous or sural nerves between DLC2^+/+ and DLC2^–/– mice. However, sensory nerve conduction velocity in DLC2^–/– mice was significantly higher than that in DLC2^+/+ mice, whereas motor nerve conduction velocity was not affected. After formalin injection, DLC2^–/– mice showed increased RhoA activity in the spinal cord and an increased number of phosphorylated ERK1/2-positive cells. The inflammatory hyperalgesia in DLC2^–/– mice appeared to be mediated through the activation of RhoA and ERK1/2. Taken together, DLC2 plays a key role in pain modulation during inflammation by suppressing the activation of RhoA and ERK to prevent an exaggerated pain response, and DLC2^–/– mice provide a valuable tool for further understanding the regulation of inflammatory pain.

The transcriptional coactivators megakaryoblastic leukemia 1/2 mediate the effects of loss of the tumor suppressor deleted in liver cancer 1

Deleted in Liver Cancer 1 (DLC1) is a tumor suppressor whose allele is lost in 50% of liver, breast, lung and 70% of colon cancers. Here, we show that the transcriptional coactivators Megakaryoblastic Leukemia 1 and 2 (MKL1/2) are constitutively localized to the nucleus in hepatocellular and mammary carcinoma cells that lack DLC1. Moreover, DLC1 loss and MKL1 nuclear localization correlate in primary human hepatocellular carcinoma. Nuclear accumulation of MKL1 in DLC1-deficient cancer cells is accomplished by activation of the RhoA/actin signaling pathway and concomitant impairment of MKL1 phosphorylation, which results in constitutive activation of MKL1/2 target genes. We provide evidence that MKL1/2 mediates cancerous transformation in DLC1-deficient hepatocellular and mammary carcinoma cells. Depletion of MKL1/2 suppresses cell migration, cell proliferation and anchorage-independent cell growth induced by DLC1 loss.

Detection and clinical significance of DLC1 gene methylation in serum DNA from colorectal cancer patients

Deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) is a new candidate tumor suppressor gene, whose down-regulation or even silence will result from promoter hypermethylation in various human cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study is toevaluate the diagnostic role of DLC1gene methylationin the serum DNA from CRC patients. This study enrolled 85 CRC patients and 45 patients with benign colorectal diseases. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) was used to determine the promoter methylation status of DLC1 gene in serum DNA. The combination of DLC1 methylation and conventional tumor markers was further analyzed. Hypermethylation of DLC1 was detected in 42.4% (36/85) of CRC serums, while seldom in the benign controls(8.9%, 4/45) (P<0.001). The aberrant DLC1 methylation in serum DNA was not associated with patients' clinicopathological features and elevated CEA/CA19-9 levels. Furthermore, the combinational analysis of CEA, CA19-9 and DLC1 methylation showed a higher sensitivity and no reduced diagnostic specificity than CEA and CA19-9 combination for CRC diagnosis. The serum DLC1 methylation may be a promising biomarker for the early detection of CRC, which will further increase the diagnostic efficiency in combination with CEA and CA19-9.

DLC1 (deleted in liver cancer 1)

Review on DLC1 (deleted in liver cancer 1), with data on DNA, on the protein encoded, and where the gene is implicated.

Full activity of the deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) tumor suppressor depends on an LD-like motif that binds talin and focal adhesion kinase (FAK)

The deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) tumor suppressor gene, which is frequently inactivated in cancer, encodes a Rho-GAP (GTPase activating protein) focal adhesion protein whose negative regulation of Rho-GTPases is necessary but not sufficient for its full tumor suppressor activity. Here, we report that DLC1 forms a complex with two prooncogenic focal adhesion proteins, talin and the focal adhesion kinase (FAK). We identified an 8-aa sequence (residues 469LDDILYHV476) in DLC1 and designated it an LD-like motif, because it shares homology with the LD motifs of paxillin. This motif was necessary for DLC1 binding to talin and FAK, because a DLC1 mutant, from which six of the residues have been deleted, and another mutant carrying amino acid substitutions in three of the residues are deficient for binding both proteins and localization of DLC1 to focal adhesions. FAK binding was independent of talin and vice versa. In bioassays, both DLC1 mutants were less active than wild-type (WT) DLC1, although the ability of the mutants to negatively regulate overall Rho-GTP was not impaired. We conclude that the LD-like motif, which binds talin and FAK, is required for the full tumor suppressor activity of DLC1 and contributes to the association of DLC1 with focal adhesions.

Nuclear-Targeted Deleted in Liver Cancer 1 (DLC1) Is Less Efficient in Exerting Its Tumor Suppressive Activity Both In Vitro and In Vivo

BackgroundDeleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) serves as an important RhoGTPase activating protein (RhoGAP) protein that terminates active RhoA signaling in human cancers. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that the tumor suppressive activity of DLC1 depends not only on RhoGAP activity, but also relies on proper focal adhesion localization through its interaction with tensin family proteins. Recently, there are reports showing that DLC1 can also be found in the nucleus; however, the existence and the relative tumor suppressive activity of nuclear DLC1 have never been clearly addressed.Methodology and Principal FindingsWe herein provide new evidence that DLC1 protein, which predominantly associated with focal adhesions and localized in cytosol, dynamically shuttled between cytoplasm and nucleus. Treatment of cells with nuclear export blocker, Leptomycin B (LMB), retained DLC1 in the nucleus. To understand the nuclear entry of DLC1, we identified amino acids 600–700 of DLC1 as a novel region that is important for its nuclear localization. The tumor suppressive activity of nuclear DLC1 was directly assessed by employing a nuclear localization signal (NLS) fusion variant of DLC1 (NLS-DLC1) with preferential nuclear localization. In SMMC-7721 HCC cells, expression of NLS-DLC1 failed to suppress colony formation and actin stress fiber formation in vitro. The abrogated tumor suppressive activity of nuclear DLC1 was demonstrated for the first time in vivo by subcutaneously injecting p53−/− RasV12 hepatoblasts with stable NLS-DLC1 expression in nude mice. The injected hepatoblasts with NLS-DLC1 expression effectively formed tumors when compared with the non-nuclear targeted DLC1.Conclusions/SignificanceOur study identified a novel region responsible for the nuclear entry of DLC1 and demonstrated the functional difference of DLC1 in different cellular compartments both in vitro and in vivo.

Solution Structure of Tensin2 SH2 Domain and Its Phosphotyrosine-Independent Interaction with DLC-1

BackgroundSrc homology 2 (SH2) domain is a conserved module involved in various biological processes. Tensin family member was reported to be involved in tumor suppression by interacting with DLC-1 (deleted-in-liver-cancer-1) via its SH2 domain. We explore here the important questions that what the structure of tensin2 SH2 domain is, and how it binds to DLC-1, which might reveal a novel binding mode.Principal FindingsTensin2 SH2 domain adopts a conserved SH2 fold that mainly consists of five β-strands flanked by two α-helices. Most SH2 domains recognize phosphorylated ligands specifically. However, tensin2 SH2 domain was identified to interact with nonphosphorylated ligand (DLC-1) as well as phosphorylated ligand.ConclusionsWe determined the solution structure of tensin2 SH2 domain using NMR spectroscopy, and revealed the interactions between tensin2 SH2 domain and its ligands in a phosphotyrosine-independent manner.

Deleted in liver cancer protein family in human malignancies (Review)

The Deleted in Liver Cancer (DLC) protein family comprises proteins that exert their function mainly by the Rho GTPase-activating protein (GAP) domain and by regulation of the small GTPases. Since Rho GTPases are key factors in cell proliferation, polarity, cytoskeletal remodeling and migration, the aberrant function of their regulators may lead to cell transformation. One subgroup of these proteins is the DLC family. It was found that the first identified gene from this family, DLC1, is often lost in hepatocellular carcinoma and may be involved as a tumor suppressor in the liver. Subsequent studies evaluated the hypothesis that the DLC1 gene acts as a tumor suppressor, not only in liver cancer, but also in other types of cancer. Following DLC1, two other members of the DLC protein family, DLC2 and DLC3, were identified. However, limited published data are available concerning the role of these proteins in malignant transformation. This review focuses on the structure and the role of DLC1 and its relatives in physiological conditions and summarizes data published thus far regarding DLC function in the neoplastic process.

Abstract 4017: DLC1 and α-catenin protein interaction enhances DLC1 antioncogenic activity by stabilizing adherens junctions and suppressing NFκB signaling

Abstract Adherens junctions (AJs), which are cell-cell adhesion complexes closely associated with actin cytoskeleton, play an important role in maintaining epithelial tissue homeostasis. Both malignant transformation, and tumor progression to metastasis are often associated with major changes in cytoskeletal organization, the cell-cell adhesion, and aberrant adhesion-mediated signaling. The tumor suppressor gene DLC1 (Deleted in Liver Cancer 1) encodes a RhoGTPase activating protein (GAP) that acts as a negative regulator of the Rho family of small GTPases, which are implicated in cytoskeleton organization and regulation of AJs. A yeast two-hybrid screening identified α-catenin, a component of AJs, as a potential DLC1's binding partner. We relied on this finding and investigated the role of DLC1 in the regulation of AJs and in adhesion-mediated signaling. Using human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells we demonstrated that DLC1 interacted with α-catenin and associated with E-cadherin and β-catenin, both constitutive AJs proteins. Co-immunoprecipitation using various deletion constructs of DLC1 and of α-catenin established that the N-terminal (340-435 aa) of DLC1 interacted with the N-terminal (39-161 aa) of α-catenin. Immuno-fluorescence staining and western blot of cellular membrane and cytoplasmic fractions, demonstrated that binding of DLC1 to α-catenin recruited α-catenin to the plasma membrane and required DLC1 GAP activity. In contrast, the DLC1 GAP mutant (R718E) failed to produce the same effect. Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) analysis demonstrated that DLC1-α-catenin interaction increased the GFP-E-cadherin mobility at cell-cell junctions, whereas phalloidin staining showed intact actin cable formation around the cell periphery, resulting in the stabilization of AJs. The DLC1-α-catenin interaction is instrumental for a maximal oncosuppressive effects of DLC1 (i.e., by inhibiting proliferation and abolishing colony formation of prostate carcinoma cells); DLC1 mutant defective for α-catenin binding failed to reproduce such an effect. Loss of α-catenin is usually accompanied by an increase in the activation of NFkB, which is associated with increased cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis. We demonstrated that, by immobilizing NFkB to the AJ complex, DLC1-α-catenin interaction effectively inhibited NFkB phosphorylation and, therefore, its activation. Together, these results unravel a new mechanism through which DLC1 exerts its oncosuppressive function by stabilizing AJs and suppressing NFkB signaling. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4017. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4017

A survey of methylated candidate tumor suppressor genes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a rare malignancy with unique genetic, viral and environmental characteristic that distinguishes it from other head and neck carcinomas. The clinical management of NPC remains challenging largely due to the lack of early detection strategies for this tumor. In our study, we have sought to identify novel genes involved in the pathogenesis of NPC that might provide insight into this tumor's biology and could potentially be used as biomarkers. To identify these genes, we studied the epigenetics of NPC by characterizing a panel of methylation markers. Eighteen genes were evaluated by quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in cell lines as well as in tissue samples including 50 NPC tumors and 28 benign nasopharyngeal biopsies. Significance was evaluated using Fisher's exact test and quantitative values were optimized using cut off values derived from receiver-operator characteristic curves. The methylation status of AIM1, APC, CALCA, deleted in colorectal carcinomas (DCC), DLEC, deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1), estrogen receptor alpha (ESR), FHIT, KIF1A and PGP9.5 was significantly associated with NPC compared to controls. The sensitivity of the individual genes ranged from 26 to 66% and the specificity was above 92% for all genes except FHIT. The combination of PGP9.5, KIF1A and DLEC had a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 92%. Ectopic expression of DCC and DLC1 lead to decrease in colony formation and invasion properties. Our results indicate that methylation of novel biomarkers in NPC could be used to enhance early detection approaches. Additionally, our functional studies reveal previously unknown tumor suppressor roles in NPC.

A novel isoform of the 8p22 tumor suppressor gene DLC1 suppresses tumor growth and is frequently silenced in multiple common tumors

The critical 8p22 tumor suppressor deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) is frequently inactivated by aberrant CpG methylation and/or genetic deletion and implicated in tumorigeneses of multiple tumor types. Here, we report the identification and characterization of its new isoform, DLC1 isoform 4 (DLC1-i4). This novel isoform encodes an 1125-aa (amino acid) protein with distinct N-terminus as compared with other known DLC1 isoforms. Similar to other isoforms, DLC1-i4 is expressed ubiquitously in normal tissues and immortalized normal epithelial cells, suggesting a role as a major DLC1 transcript. However, differential expression of the four DLC1 isoforms is found in tumor cell lines: Isoform 1 (longest) and 3 (short thus probably nonfunctional) share a promoter and are silenced in almost all cancer and immortalized cell lines, whereas isoform 2 and 4 utilize different promoters and are frequently downregulated. DLC1-i4 is significantly downregulated in multiple carcinoma cell lines, including 2/4 nasopharyngeal, 8/16 (50%) esophageal, 4/16 (25%) gastric, 6/9 (67%) breast, 3/4 colorectal, 4/4 cervical and 2/8(25%) lung carcinoma cell lines. The functional DLC1-i4 promoter is within a CpG island and is activated by wild-type p53. CpG methylation of the DLC1-i4 promoter is associated with its silencing in tumor cells and was detected in 38-100% of multiple primary tumors. Treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine or genetic double knockout of DNMT1 and DNMT3B led to demethylation of the promoter and reactivation of its expression, indicating a predominantly epigenetic mechanism of silencing. Ectopic expression of DLC1-i4 in silenced tumor cells strongly inhibited their growth and colony formation. Thus, we identified a new isoform of DLC1 with tumor suppressive function. The differential expression of various DLC1 isoforms suggests interplay in modulating the complex activities of DLC1 during carcinogenesis.

The intracellular stability of DLC1 is regulated by the 26S proteasome in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Hep3B

Deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1), a tumor suppressor gene identified in a primary human hepatocellular carcinoma, encodes a Rho GTPase-activating protein (RhoGAP). Although DLC1 expression has been studied at the transcriptional level, little is known about its regulation at the protein level. Here we show that DLC1 is an unstable protein that is degraded by the 26S proteasome in human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B cells. In addition, five putative PEST motifs were identified in the N-terminus of DLC1. Unexpectedly, the N-terminus of DLC1 appeared to be stable. Furthermore, deletion of any one of the five PEST motifs except PEST2 decreased the stability of the N-terminus of DLC1, which suggests that the PEST motifs may play an unrevealed role in maintaining the stability of DLC1. These data indicated that the intracellular stability of DLC1 is regulated by the 26S proteasome via its PEST motifs.

The tumor suppressor protein DLC1 is regulated by PKD-mediated GAP domain phosphorylation

Deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) is a tumor suppressor protein that is frequently downregulated in various tumor types. DLC1 contains a Rho GTPase activating protein (GAP) domain that appears to be required for its tumor suppressive functions. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that regulate DLC1. By mass spectrometry we have mapped a novel phosphorylation site within the DLC1 GAP domain on serine 807. Using a phospho-S807-specific antibody, our results identify protein kinase D (PKD) to phosphorylate this site in DLC1 in intact cells. Although phosphorylation on serine 807 did not directly impact on in vitro GAP activity, a DLC1 serine-to-alanine exchange mutant inhibited colony formation more potently than the wild type protein. Our results thus show that PKD-mediated phosphorylation of DLC1 on serine 807 negatively regulates DLC1 cellular function.