Open AccessZEB1 and oncogenic Ras constitute a regulatory switch for stimulus‐dependent E‐cadherin downregulation
Author(s) -
Otake Shigeo,
Itoh Yuka,
Omata Chiho,
Saitoh Masao,
Miyazawa Keiji
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/cas.14701
Subject(s) - downregulation and upregulation , cdh1 , cadherin , kras , gene silencing , biology , cancer research , psychological repression , microbiology and biotechnology , epigenetics , cancer cell , cancer , gene , genetics , gene expression , cell , mutation
E‐cadherin, an epithelial cell–specific cell adhesion molecule, has both promoting and suppressing effects on tumor invasion and metastasis. It is often downregulated during cancer progression through gene deletion/mutation, transcriptional repression, or epigenetic silencing. We describe a novel regulatory switch to induce stimulus‐dependent downregulation of mRNA encoding E‐cadherin ( CDH1 mRNA) in KRAS ‐mutated cancer cells. The regulatory switch consists of ZEB1 and oncogenic K‐Ras, does not target the promoter region of CDH1 , and requires an external cue to temporally downregulate E‐cadherin expression. Its repressive effect is maintained as long as the external stimulus continues and is attenuated with cessation of the stimulus. Contextual external cues that turn this regulatory switch on include activation of protein kinase C or fibroblast growth factor signaling. The mode of action is distinct from that of EPCAM repression by ZEB1, which does not require an external cue. Thus, KRAS ‐mutated cancer cells acquire a novel mode of regulating E‐cadherin expression depending on ZEB1, which could contribute to phenotypic plasticity of cancer cells during malignant progression.