EPS8L2 drives colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration via YBX1-dependent activation of G3BP2 transcription

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, characterized by molecular heterogeneity and limited therapeutic options. Here, we identified EPS8L2 as a novel driver of colorectal tumorigenesis. EPS8L2 is significantly upregulated in CRC tissues and n...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yimeng Duan, Peixian Li, Yanmei Yang, Guanghua Wu, Hao Xing, Hong Chen, Liangbo Zhao, Lei Liu, Xiao Sun, Shuiling Jin, Luyun He, Benyu Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-08-01
Series:Cell Death and Disease
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-025-07929-x
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849388890813628416
author Yimeng Duan
Peixian Li
Yanmei Yang
Guanghua Wu
Hao Xing
Hong Chen
Liangbo Zhao
Lei Liu
Xiao Sun
Shuiling Jin
Luyun He
Benyu Liu
author_facet Yimeng Duan
Peixian Li
Yanmei Yang
Guanghua Wu
Hao Xing
Hong Chen
Liangbo Zhao
Lei Liu
Xiao Sun
Shuiling Jin
Luyun He
Benyu Liu
author_sort Yimeng Duan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, characterized by molecular heterogeneity and limited therapeutic options. Here, we identified EPS8L2 as a novel driver of colorectal tumorigenesis. EPS8L2 is significantly upregulated in CRC tissues and negatively correlated with patients’ prognosis. Functionally, upregulation of EPS8L2 promotes proliferation and metastasis of CRC cells in vitro and in vivo, and vice versa. Similarly, EPS8L2 overexpression promotes patient-derived organoids growth. Mechanistically, EPS8L2 increases YBX1 phosphorylation by enhancing its interaction with phosphokinase S6K1. Phosphorylated YBX1 translocates into nucleus and initiates G3BP2 transcription, leading to activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. Moreover, knockout of Eps8l2 impairs CRC tumorigenesis in the AOM/DSS induced mouse model. In summary, we revealed a novel EPS8L2-YBX1-G3BP2 regulatory axis involved in CRC progression, which provides a new theoretical basis for tumor therapy.
format Article
id doaj-art-d09f8f5781d74774b772902e22e191c8
institution Kabale University
issn 2041-4889
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Publishing Group
record_format Article
series Cell Death and Disease
spelling doaj-art-d09f8f5781d74774b772902e22e191c82025-08-20T03:42:07ZengNature Publishing GroupCell Death and Disease2041-48892025-08-0116111610.1038/s41419-025-07929-xEPS8L2 drives colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration via YBX1-dependent activation of G3BP2 transcriptionYimeng Duan0Peixian Li1Yanmei Yang2Guanghua Wu3Hao Xing4Hong Chen5Liangbo Zhao6Lei Liu7Xiao Sun8Shuiling Jin9Luyun He10Benyu Liu11State Key Laboratory of Metabolic Dysregulation & Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Metabolic Dysregulation & Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Metabolic Dysregulation & Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Metabolic Dysregulation & Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Metabolic Dysregulation & Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Metabolic Dysregulation & Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Metabolic Dysregulation & Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Metabolic Dysregulation & Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Metabolic Dysregulation & Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou UniversityAbstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, characterized by molecular heterogeneity and limited therapeutic options. Here, we identified EPS8L2 as a novel driver of colorectal tumorigenesis. EPS8L2 is significantly upregulated in CRC tissues and negatively correlated with patients’ prognosis. Functionally, upregulation of EPS8L2 promotes proliferation and metastasis of CRC cells in vitro and in vivo, and vice versa. Similarly, EPS8L2 overexpression promotes patient-derived organoids growth. Mechanistically, EPS8L2 increases YBX1 phosphorylation by enhancing its interaction with phosphokinase S6K1. Phosphorylated YBX1 translocates into nucleus and initiates G3BP2 transcription, leading to activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. Moreover, knockout of Eps8l2 impairs CRC tumorigenesis in the AOM/DSS induced mouse model. In summary, we revealed a novel EPS8L2-YBX1-G3BP2 regulatory axis involved in CRC progression, which provides a new theoretical basis for tumor therapy.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-025-07929-x
spellingShingle Yimeng Duan
Peixian Li
Yanmei Yang
Guanghua Wu
Hao Xing
Hong Chen
Liangbo Zhao
Lei Liu
Xiao Sun
Shuiling Jin
Luyun He
Benyu Liu
EPS8L2 drives colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration via YBX1-dependent activation of G3BP2 transcription
Cell Death and Disease
title EPS8L2 drives colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration via YBX1-dependent activation of G3BP2 transcription
title_full EPS8L2 drives colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration via YBX1-dependent activation of G3BP2 transcription
title_fullStr EPS8L2 drives colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration via YBX1-dependent activation of G3BP2 transcription
title_full_unstemmed EPS8L2 drives colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration via YBX1-dependent activation of G3BP2 transcription
title_short EPS8L2 drives colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration via YBX1-dependent activation of G3BP2 transcription
title_sort eps8l2 drives colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration via ybx1 dependent activation of g3bp2 transcription
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-025-07929-x
work_keys_str_mv AT yimengduan eps8l2drivescolorectalcancercellproliferationandmigrationviaybx1dependentactivationofg3bp2transcription
AT peixianli eps8l2drivescolorectalcancercellproliferationandmigrationviaybx1dependentactivationofg3bp2transcription
AT yanmeiyang eps8l2drivescolorectalcancercellproliferationandmigrationviaybx1dependentactivationofg3bp2transcription
AT guanghuawu eps8l2drivescolorectalcancercellproliferationandmigrationviaybx1dependentactivationofg3bp2transcription
AT haoxing eps8l2drivescolorectalcancercellproliferationandmigrationviaybx1dependentactivationofg3bp2transcription
AT hongchen eps8l2drivescolorectalcancercellproliferationandmigrationviaybx1dependentactivationofg3bp2transcription
AT liangbozhao eps8l2drivescolorectalcancercellproliferationandmigrationviaybx1dependentactivationofg3bp2transcription
AT leiliu eps8l2drivescolorectalcancercellproliferationandmigrationviaybx1dependentactivationofg3bp2transcription
AT xiaosun eps8l2drivescolorectalcancercellproliferationandmigrationviaybx1dependentactivationofg3bp2transcription
AT shuilingjin eps8l2drivescolorectalcancercellproliferationandmigrationviaybx1dependentactivationofg3bp2transcription
AT luyunhe eps8l2drivescolorectalcancercellproliferationandmigrationviaybx1dependentactivationofg3bp2transcription
AT benyuliu eps8l2drivescolorectalcancercellproliferationandmigrationviaybx1dependentactivationofg3bp2transcription