Advanced Science (Jun 2024)

TSPYL1 as a Critical Regulator of TGFβ Signaling through Repression of TGFBR1 and TSPYL2

  • Huiqi Tan,
  • Mia Xinfang Miao,
  • Rylee Xu Luo,
  • Joan So,
  • Lei Peng,
  • Xiaoxuan Zhu,
  • Eva Hin Wa Leung,
  • Lina Zhu,
  • Kui Ming Chan,
  • Martin Cheung,
  • Siu Yuen Chan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202306486
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 21
pp. n/a – n/a

Abstract

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Abstract Nucleosome assembly proteins (NAPs) have been identified as histone chaperons. Testis‐Specific Protein, Y‐Encoded‐Like (TSPYL) is a newly arisen NAP family in mammals. TSPYL2 can be transcriptionally induced by DNA damage and TGFβ causing proliferation arrest. TSPYL1, another TSPYL family member, has been poorly characterized and is the only TSPYL family member known to be causal of a lethal recessive disease in humans. This study shows that TSPYL1 and TSPYL2 play an opposite role in TGFβ signaling. TSPYL1 partners with the transcription factor FOXA1 and histone methyltransferase EZH2, and at the same time represses TGFBR1 and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). Depletion of TSPYL1 increases TGFBR1 expression, upregulates TGFβ signaling, and elevates the protein stability of TSPYL2. Intriguingly, TSPYL2 forms part of the SMAD2/3/4 signal transduction complex upon stimulation by TGFβ to execute the transcriptional responses. Depletion of TSPYL2 rescues the EMT phenotype of TSPYL1 knockdown in A549 lung carcinoma cells. The data demonstrates the prime role of TSPYL2 in causing the dramatic defects in TSPYL1 deficiency. An intricate counter‐balancing role of TSPYL1 and TSPYL2 in regulating TGFβ signaling is also unraveled.

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