RNF144A-VRK2-G3BP1 axis regulates stress granule assembly

Abstract Under the cellular stress, stress granules (SGs) help survival and proliferation of the cell. Unfortunately, the same SGs help unwanted cancer cells under stressful environment, including anti-cancer chemotherapy treatment. While SGs elevate the cancer cell’s resistance to chemotherapy, the...

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Main Authors: Sung Wook Kim, Jae Lee, Kyung Won Jo, Young-Hun Jeong, Won Sik Shin, Kyong-Tai Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-04-01
Series:Cell Death Discovery
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-025-02460-6
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author Sung Wook Kim
Jae Lee
Kyung Won Jo
Young-Hun Jeong
Won Sik Shin
Kyong-Tai Kim
author_facet Sung Wook Kim
Jae Lee
Kyung Won Jo
Young-Hun Jeong
Won Sik Shin
Kyong-Tai Kim
author_sort Sung Wook Kim
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Under the cellular stress, stress granules (SGs) help survival and proliferation of the cell. Unfortunately, the same SGs help unwanted cancer cells under stressful environment, including anti-cancer chemotherapy treatment. While SGs elevate the cancer cell’s resistance to chemotherapy, the mechanism behind the formation of SGs in cancer cell under chemotherapy treatment is still to be revealed. Here, we identified that the level of VRK2 and the phosphorylation of its novel substrate, G3BP1, are reduced when the cellular stress was increased by sodium arsenite (SA) or cisplatin treatment. We also demonstrated that the level of RNF144A is increased in response to the stress and further downregulates VRK2 through proteasomal degradation in various types of cancer cells. Furthermore, inhibition of SG formation by the overexpression of VRK2 sensitized the cells to the stress and chemotherapy. Together, our study establishes an RNF144A-VRK2-G3BP1 axis that regulates SG formation and suggest its potential usage in anti-cancer therapy.
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id doaj-art-599764c9151d4131b2cac4eef42896f2
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issn 2058-7716
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Nature Publishing Group
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series Cell Death Discovery
spelling doaj-art-599764c9151d4131b2cac4eef42896f22025-08-20T02:17:04ZengNature Publishing GroupCell Death Discovery2058-77162025-04-0111111310.1038/s41420-025-02460-6RNF144A-VRK2-G3BP1 axis regulates stress granule assemblySung Wook Kim0Jae Lee1Kyung Won Jo2Young-Hun Jeong3Won Sik Shin4Kyong-Tai Kim5Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and TechnologyHesed Bio CorporationDepartment of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and TechnologyGenerative Genomics Research Center, Global Green Research & Development Center, Handong Global UniversityAbstract Under the cellular stress, stress granules (SGs) help survival and proliferation of the cell. Unfortunately, the same SGs help unwanted cancer cells under stressful environment, including anti-cancer chemotherapy treatment. While SGs elevate the cancer cell’s resistance to chemotherapy, the mechanism behind the formation of SGs in cancer cell under chemotherapy treatment is still to be revealed. Here, we identified that the level of VRK2 and the phosphorylation of its novel substrate, G3BP1, are reduced when the cellular stress was increased by sodium arsenite (SA) or cisplatin treatment. We also demonstrated that the level of RNF144A is increased in response to the stress and further downregulates VRK2 through proteasomal degradation in various types of cancer cells. Furthermore, inhibition of SG formation by the overexpression of VRK2 sensitized the cells to the stress and chemotherapy. Together, our study establishes an RNF144A-VRK2-G3BP1 axis that regulates SG formation and suggest its potential usage in anti-cancer therapy.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-025-02460-6
spellingShingle Sung Wook Kim
Jae Lee
Kyung Won Jo
Young-Hun Jeong
Won Sik Shin
Kyong-Tai Kim
RNF144A-VRK2-G3BP1 axis regulates stress granule assembly
Cell Death Discovery
title RNF144A-VRK2-G3BP1 axis regulates stress granule assembly
title_full RNF144A-VRK2-G3BP1 axis regulates stress granule assembly
title_fullStr RNF144A-VRK2-G3BP1 axis regulates stress granule assembly
title_full_unstemmed RNF144A-VRK2-G3BP1 axis regulates stress granule assembly
title_short RNF144A-VRK2-G3BP1 axis regulates stress granule assembly
title_sort rnf144a vrk2 g3bp1 axis regulates stress granule assembly
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-025-02460-6
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