The PTEN and ATM axis controls the G1/S cell cycle checkpoint and tumorigenesis in HER2-positive breast cancer.

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ICR Authors

Authors

Bassi, C
Fortin, J
Snow, BE
Wakeham, A
Ho, J
Haight, J
You-Ten, A
Cianci, E
Buckler, L
Gorrini, C
Stambolic, V
Mak, TW

Document Type

Journal Article

Date

2021-05-31

Date Accepted

2021-04-23

Abstract

The tumor suppressor PTEN is disrupted in a large proportion of cancers, including in HER2-positive breast cancer, where its loss is associated with resistance to therapy. Upon genotoxic stress, ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is activated and phosphorylates PTEN on residue 398. To elucidate the physiological role of this molecular event, we generated and analyzed knock-in mice expressing a mutant form of PTEN that cannot be phosphorylated by ATM (PTEN-398A). This mutation accelerated tumorigenesis in a model of HER2-positive breast cancer. Mammary tumors in bi-transgenic mice carrying MMTV-neu and Pten398A were characterized by DNA damage accumulation but reduced apoptosis. Mechanistically, phosphorylation of PTEN at position 398 is essential for the proper activation of the S phase checkpoint controlled by the PI3K-p27Kip1-CDK2 axis. Moreover, we linked these defects to the impaired ability of the PTEN-398A protein to relocalize to the plasma membrane in response to genotoxic stress. Altogether, our results uncover a novel role for ATM-dependent PTEN phosphorylation in the control of genomic stability, cell cycle progression, and tumorigenesis.

Citation

Cell death and differentiation, 2021

Source Title

Publisher

SPRINGERNATURE

ISSN

1350-9047

eISSN

1476-5403

Research Team

Paediatric Solid Tumour Biology and Therapeutics
Paediatric Solid Tumour Biology and Therapeutics

Notes