Biosynthesis of Tumorigenic HER2 C-terminal Fragments by Alternative Initiation of Translation

Overview

Journal EMBO J

Specialties Biotechnology
Molecular Biology

Date 2006 Jun 24

PMID 16794579

Citations 90

Authors

Judit Anido

Maurizio Scaltriti

Joan Josep Bech Serra

Belen Santiago Josefat

Federico Rojo Todo

Jose Baselga

Joaquin Arribas

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The overactivation of the HERs, a family of tyrosine kinase receptors, leads to the development of cancer. Although the canonical view contemplates HER receptors restricted to the secretory and endocytic pathways, full-length HER1, HER2 and HER3 have been detected in the nucleoplasm. Furthermore, limited proteolysis of HER4 generates nuclear C-terminal fragments (CTFs). Using cells expressing a panel of deletion and point mutants, here we show that HER2 CTFs are generated by alternative initiation of translation from methionines located near the transmembrane domain of the full-length molecule. In vitro and in vivo, HER2 CTFs are found in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Expression of HER2 CTFs to levels similar to those found in human tumors induces the growth of breast cancer xenografts in nude mice. Tumors dependent on CTFs are sensitive to inhibitors of the kinase activity but do not respond to therapeutic antibodies against HER2. Thus, the kinase domain seems necessary for the activity of HER2 CTFs and the presence of these HER2 fragments could account for the resistance to treatment with antibodies.

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