Cell Reports (Apr 2018)

ZRANB1 Is an EZH2 Deubiquitinase and a Potential Therapeutic Target in Breast Cancer

  • Peijing Zhang,
  • Zhenna Xiao,
  • Shouyu Wang,
  • Mutian Zhang,
  • Yongkun Wei,
  • Qinglei Hang,
  • Jongchan Kim,
  • Fan Yao,
  • Cristian Rodriguez-Aguayo,
  • Baochau N. Ton,
  • Minjung Lee,
  • Yumeng Wang,
  • Zhicheng Zhou,
  • Liyong Zeng,
  • Xiaoyu Hu,
  • Sarah E. Lawhon,
  • Ashley N. Siverly,
  • Xiaohua Su,
  • Jia Li,
  • Xiaoping Xie,
  • Xuhong Cheng,
  • Liang-Chiu Liu,
  • Hui-Wen Chang,
  • Shu-Fen Chiang,
  • Gabriel Lopez-Berestein,
  • Anil K. Sood,
  • Junjie Chen,
  • M. James You,
  • Shao-Cong Sun,
  • Han Liang,
  • Yun Huang,
  • Xianbin Yang,
  • Deqiang Sun,
  • Yutong Sun,
  • Mien-Chie Hung,
  • Li Ma

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23, no. 3
pp. 823 – 837

Abstract

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Summary: Although EZH2 enzymatic inhibitors have shown antitumor effects in EZH2-mutated lymphoma and ARID1A-mutated ovarian cancer, many cancers do not respond because EZH2 can promote cancer independently of its histone methyltransferase activity. Here we identify ZRANB1 as the EZH2 deubiquitinase. ZRANB1 binds, deubiquitinates, and stabilizes EZH2. Depletion of ZRANB1 in breast cancer cells results in EZH2 destabilization and growth inhibition. Systemic delivery of ZRANB1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) leads to marked antitumor and antimetastatic effects in preclinical models of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Intriguingly, a small-molecule inhibitor of ZRANB1 destabilizes EZH2 and inhibits the viability of TNBC cells. In patients with breast cancer, ZRANB1 levels correlate with EZH2 levels and poor survival. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential for targeting the EZH2 deubiquitinase ZRANB1. : Many cancer cells are sensitive to depletion of EZH2 but resistant to EZH2 inhibitors, due to EZH2’s enzyme-independent cancer-promoting function. Zhang et al. identify ZRANB1 as an EZH2 deubiquitinase and a potential anticancer target. Keywords: ZRANB1, EZH2, deubiquitinase, breast cancer