Loss of NDRG2 expression activates PI3K-AKT signalling via PTEN phosphorylation in ATLL and other cancers

  • Shingo Nakahata
  • , Tomonaga Ichikawa
  • , Phudit Maneesaay
  • , Yusuke Saito
  • , Kentaro Nagai
  • , Tomohiro Tamura
  • , Nawin Manachai
  • , Norio Yamakawa
  • , Makoto Hamasaki
  • , Issay Kitabayashi
  • , Yasuhito Arai
  • , Yae Kanai
  • , Tomohiko Taki
  • , Takaya Abe
  • , Hiroshi Kiyonari
  • , Kazuya Shimoda
  • , Koichi Ohshima
  • , Akira Horii
  • , Hiroshi Shima
  • , Masafumi Taniwaki
  • Ryoji Yamaguchi, Kazuhiro Morishita

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

143 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Constitutive phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT activation has a causal role in adult T-cell leukaemia-lymphoma (ATLL) and other cancers. ATLL cells do not harbour genetic alterations in PTEN and PI3KCA but express high levels of PTEN that is highly phosphorylated at its C-terminal tail. Here we report a mechanism for the N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2)-dependent regulation of PTEN phosphatase activity via the dephosphorylation of PTEN at the Ser380, Thr382 and Thr383 cluster within the C-terminal tail. We show that NDRG2 is a PTEN-binding protein that recruits protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) to PTEN. The expression of NDRG2 is frequently downregulated in ATLL, resulting in enhanced phosphorylation of PTEN at the Ser380/Thr382/Thr383 cluster and enhanced activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway. Given the high incidence of T-cell lymphoma and other cancers in NDRG2-deficient mice, PI3K-AKT activation via enhanced PTEN phosphorylation may be critical for the development of cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Article number3393
Pages (from-to)3393
Number of pages1
JournalNature communications
Volume5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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