c-Myc phosphorylation by PKCζ represses prostate tumorigenesis

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Apr 16;110(16):6418-23. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1221799110. Epub 2013 Apr 2.

Abstract

Studies showing reduced PKCζ expression or enzymatic activity in different types of human cancers support the clinical relevance of PKCζ as a tumor suppressor. However, the in vivo role of PKCζ and its mechanisms of action in prostate cancer remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that the genetic inactivation of PKCζ in mice results in invasive prostate carcinoma in vivo in the context of phosphatase and tensin homolog deficiency. Bioinformatic analysis of human prostate cancer gene-expression sets revealed increased c-Myc transcriptional activity in PKCζ-inactive cells, which correlated with increased cell growth, invasion, and metastasis. Interestingly, PKCζ knockdown or the overexpression of a kinase-inactive mutant resulted in enhanced cell proliferation and invasion in vitro through increased c-Myc mRNA and protein levels and decreased Ser-373 phosphorylation of c-Myc. Analysis of prostate cancer samples demonstrated increased expression and decreased phosphorylation of c-Myc at Ser-373 in PKCζ knockout tumors. In vivo xenograft studies revealed that c-Myc phosphorylation by PKCζ is a critical event in the control of metastasis. Collectively, these results establish PKCζ as an important tumor suppressor and regulator of c-Myc function in prostate cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism*
  • Computational Biology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / physiology*
  • Luciferases
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Microarray Analysis
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / physiopathology*
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Myc protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Luciferases
  • protein kinase C zeta
  • Protein Kinase C
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Pten protein, mouse