Tripartite motif protein 32 facilitates cell growth and migration via degradation of Abl-interactor 2

TRIM31 interacts with p52(Shc) and inhibits Src-induced anchorage-independent growth

Tripartite motif-containing protein (TRIM) family proteins are involved in a broad range of biological processes and, consistently, their alterations result in diverse pathological conditions such as genetic diseases, viral infection and cancer development. In this study, we found that one of the TRIM family proteins, TRIM31, is highly expressed in the gastrointestinal tract and interacts with p52(Shc), one of the signal transducers. We also found by a binding assay that almost the whole region other than the RING domain is required for the binding to p52(Shc) but found by pulse-chase analysis that overexpression of TRIM31 does not affect the stability of p52(Shc). Moreover, we found that overexpression of TRIM31 suppresses anchorage-independent cell growth induced by the active form of c-Src. These results suggest that TRIM31 attenuates c-Src signaling via p52(Shc) under anchorage-independent growth conditions and is potentially associated with growth activity of cells in the gastrointestinal tract.

Ubiquitin-mediated control of oncogene and tumor suppressor gene products

Cellular levels of products from both oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in normal cells need to be critically regulated to avoid malignant transformation. These products are often controlled by the ubiquitin proteasome pathway, the specific degradation mechanism in the cell. E3 ubiquitin ligases polyubiquitylate their specific substrates by collaborating with E1 and E2, and then the modified substrates are degraded in the proteasome. Mdm2 targets p53 and retinoblastoma protein, two major tumor suppressor gene products, for ubiquitin-dependent degradation. SCF(Skp2) targets other tumor suppressor gene products and CDK inhibitors such as p130, Tob1, p27(Kip1), p57(Kip2), and p21(Cip1). Therefore, both E3 ligases act like oncogene products. In contrast, degradation of several oncogene products, such as Cyclin E, Notch, c-Myc, c-Jun, and c-Myb, are mediated by SCF(Fbw7). Fbw7 is often deleted or mutated in human cancers and acts like a tumor suppressor. As well as growth factor receptors and signal transduction regulators, DNA repair-related proteins are also regulated via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway mediated by their specific E3 ligases. The stabilization of oncogene products and enhanced degradation of tumor suppressor gene products or DNA repair proteins might be associated with carcinogenesis and malignant progression, due to defects or the abnormal expression of their E3 ligases.

The TRIM-NHL protein TRIM32 activates microRNAs and prevents self-renewal in mouse neural progenitors

In the mouse neocortex, neural progenitor cells generate both differentiating neurons and daughter cells that maintain progenitor fate. Here, we show that the TRIM-NHL protein TRIM32 regulates protein degradation and microRNA activity to control the balance between those two daughter cell types. In both horizontally and vertically dividing progenitors, TRIM32 becomes polarized in mitosis and is concentrated in one of the two daughter cells. TRIM32 overexpression induces neuronal differentiation while inhibition of TRIM32 causes both daughter cells to retain progenitor cell fate. TRIM32 ubiquitinates and degrades the transcription factor c-Myc but also binds Argonaute-1 and thereby increases the activity of specific microRNAs. We show that Let-7 is one of the TRIM32 targets and is required and sufficient for neuronal differentiation. TRIM32 is the mouse ortholog of Drosophila Brat and Mei-P26 and might be part of a protein family that regulates the balance between differentiation and proliferation in stem cell lineages.

TRIM36 interacts with the kinetochore protein CENP-H and delays cell cycle progression

The tripartite motif-containing protein (TRIM) family is defined by the presence of a common domain structure composed of a RING finger, a B-box, and a coiled-coil motif. TRIM family proteins are involved in a broad range of biological processes and, consistently, their alterations result in diverse pathological conditions such as genetic diseases, viral infection, and cancer development. In this study, we found by using yeast two-hybrid screening that TRIM36 has a ubiquitin ligase activity and interacts with centromere protein-H, one of the kinetochore proteins. We also found by immunofluorescence analysis that TRIM36 colocalizes with alpha-tubulin, one of the microtubule proteins. Moreover, we found that overexpression of TRIM36 decelerates the cell cycle and attenuates cell growth. These results indicate that TRIM36 is potentially associated with chromosome segregation and that an excess of TRIM36 may cause chromosomal instability.

Deficiency of the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM32 in mice leads to a myopathy with a neurogenic component

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2H (LGMD2H) and sarcotubular myopathy are hereditary skeletal muscle disorders caused by mutations in TRIM32. We previously identified TRIM32 as an E3 ubiquitin ligase that binds to myosin and ubiquitinates actin. To date four TRIM32 mutations have been linked to LGMD2H, all of which occur in the C-terminal NHL domains. Unexpectedly, a fifth mutation in the B-box of TRIM32 causes a completely different, multisystemic disorder, Bardet-Biedl syndrome type 11. It is not understood how allelic mutations in TRIM32 can create such diverse phenotypic outcomes. To generate a tool for elucidating the complex in vivo functions of TRIM32, we created the first murine Trim32 knock-out model (T32KO). Histological analysis of T32KO skeletal muscles revealed mild myopathic changes. Electron microscopy showed areas with Z-line streaming and a dilated sarcotubular system with vacuoles -- the latter being a prominent feature of sarcotubular myopathy. Therefore, our model replicates phenotypes of LGMD2H and sarcotubular myopathy. The level of Trim32 expression in normal mouse brain exceeds that observed in skeletal muscle by more than 100 times, as we demonstrated by real-time PCR. Intriguingly, analysis of T32KO neural tissue revealed a decreased concentration of neurofilaments and a reduction in myelinated motoraxon diameters. The axonal changes suggest a shift toward a slower motor unit type. Not surprisingly, T32KO soleus muscle expressed an elevated type I slow myosin isotype with a concomitant reduction in the type II fast myosin. These data suggest that muscular dystrophy due to TRIM32 mutations involves both neurogenic and myogenic characteristics.