The essential clathrin adapter protein complex-2 is tumor suppressive specifically in vivo

Abstract The microenvironment is a rich source of new cancer targets. We thus used a targeted single-guide RNA library to screen a panel of human pancreatic cancer lines for genes uniquely affecting tumorigenesis. Here we show inactivation of the Adapter Protein complex-2 of clathrin-mediated endocy...

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Main Authors: Seth P. Zimmerman, Lili B. DeGraw, Christopher M. Counter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57521-2
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author Seth P. Zimmerman
Lili B. DeGraw
Christopher M. Counter
author_facet Seth P. Zimmerman
Lili B. DeGraw
Christopher M. Counter
author_sort Seth P. Zimmerman
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The microenvironment is a rich source of new cancer targets. We thus used a targeted single-guide RNA library to screen a panel of human pancreatic cancer lines for genes uniquely affecting tumorigenesis. Here we show inactivation of the Adapter Protein complex-2 of clathrin-mediated endocytosis reduces cell growth in vitro, but completely oppositely, promotes tumor growth in vivo. In culture, loss of the complex reduces transferrin endocytosis and iron import required for cell fitness. In tumors, alternative iron transport pathways allow pro-tumor effects of Adapter Protein complex-2 loss to manifest. In the most sensitive case, this is attributed to reprogramming the plasma membrane proteome, retaining integrins on the surface leading to Focal Adhesion Kinase phosphorylation and induction of proliferative signals. Adapter Protein complex-2 function in tumorigenesis is thus dependent upon the microenvironment, behaving as a common essential gene in culture via iron import, but as a tumor suppressor in tumors via integrin trafficking.
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spelling doaj-art-a83e900bb33649968c85dfdd293a0a4a2025-08-20T03:06:01ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-03-0116111810.1038/s41467-025-57521-2The essential clathrin adapter protein complex-2 is tumor suppressive specifically in vivoSeth P. Zimmerman0Lili B. DeGraw1Christopher M. Counter2Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical CenterDepartment of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical CenterDepartment of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical CenterAbstract The microenvironment is a rich source of new cancer targets. We thus used a targeted single-guide RNA library to screen a panel of human pancreatic cancer lines for genes uniquely affecting tumorigenesis. Here we show inactivation of the Adapter Protein complex-2 of clathrin-mediated endocytosis reduces cell growth in vitro, but completely oppositely, promotes tumor growth in vivo. In culture, loss of the complex reduces transferrin endocytosis and iron import required for cell fitness. In tumors, alternative iron transport pathways allow pro-tumor effects of Adapter Protein complex-2 loss to manifest. In the most sensitive case, this is attributed to reprogramming the plasma membrane proteome, retaining integrins on the surface leading to Focal Adhesion Kinase phosphorylation and induction of proliferative signals. Adapter Protein complex-2 function in tumorigenesis is thus dependent upon the microenvironment, behaving as a common essential gene in culture via iron import, but as a tumor suppressor in tumors via integrin trafficking.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57521-2
spellingShingle Seth P. Zimmerman
Lili B. DeGraw
Christopher M. Counter
The essential clathrin adapter protein complex-2 is tumor suppressive specifically in vivo
Nature Communications
title The essential clathrin adapter protein complex-2 is tumor suppressive specifically in vivo
title_full The essential clathrin adapter protein complex-2 is tumor suppressive specifically in vivo
title_fullStr The essential clathrin adapter protein complex-2 is tumor suppressive specifically in vivo
title_full_unstemmed The essential clathrin adapter protein complex-2 is tumor suppressive specifically in vivo
title_short The essential clathrin adapter protein complex-2 is tumor suppressive specifically in vivo
title_sort essential clathrin adapter protein complex 2 is tumor suppressive specifically in vivo
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57521-2
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