MUC1-C activates EZH2 expression and function in human cancer cells

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 7;7(1):7481. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-07850-0.

Abstract

The EZH2 histone methyltransferase is a member of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) that is highly expressed in diverse human cancers and is associated with a poor prognosis. MUC1-C is an oncoprotein that is similarly overexpressed in carcinomas and has been linked to epigenetic regulation. A role for MUC1-C in regulating EZH2 and histone methylation is not known. Here, we demonstrate that targeting MUC1-C in diverse human carcinoma cells downregulates EZH2 and other PRC2 components. MUC1-C activates (i) the EZH2 promoter through induction of the pRB→E2F pathway, and (ii) an NF-κB p65 driven enhancer in exon 1. We also show that MUC1-C binds directly to the EZH2 CXC region adjacent to the catalytic SET domain and associates with EZH2 on the CDH1 and BRCA1 promoters. In concert with these results, targeting MUC1-C downregulates EZH2 function as evidenced by (i) global and promoter-specific decreases in H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3), and (ii) activation of tumor suppressor genes, including BRCA1. These findings highlight a previously unreported role for MUC1-C in activating EZH2 expression and function in cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • BRCA1 Protein / genetics
  • Binding Sites
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein / chemistry
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein / genetics*
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein / metabolism*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Methylation
  • Mucin-1 / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcriptional Activation*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • BRCA1 Protein
  • BRCA1 protein, human
  • CDH1 protein, human
  • Cadherins
  • Histones
  • MUC1 protein, human
  • Mucin-1
  • EZH2 protein, human
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein