Extra-mitochondrial prosurvival BCL-2 proteins regulate gene transcription by inhibiting the SUFU tumour suppressor
Nature cell biology, 2017•nature.com
Direct interactions between pro-and anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family members form the basis of
cell death decision-making at the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM). Here we report that
three anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins (MCL-1, BCL-2 and BCL-XL) found untethered from the
OMM function as transcriptional regulators of a prosurvival and growth program. Anti-
apoptotic BCL-2 proteins engage a BCL-2 homology (BH) domain sequence found in SUFU
(suppressor of fused), a tumour suppressor and antagonist of the GLI DNA-binding proteins …
cell death decision-making at the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM). Here we report that
three anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins (MCL-1, BCL-2 and BCL-XL) found untethered from the
OMM function as transcriptional regulators of a prosurvival and growth program. Anti-
apoptotic BCL-2 proteins engage a BCL-2 homology (BH) domain sequence found in SUFU
(suppressor of fused), a tumour suppressor and antagonist of the GLI DNA-binding proteins …
Abstract
Direct interactions between pro- and anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family members form the basis of cell death decision-making at the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM). Here we report that three anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins (MCL-1, BCL-2 and BCL-XL) found untethered from the OMM function as transcriptional regulators of a prosurvival and growth program. Anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins engage a BCL-2 homology (BH) domain sequence found in SUFU (suppressor of fused), a tumour suppressor and antagonist of the GLI DNA-binding proteins. BCL-2 proteins directly promote SUFU turnover, inhibit SUFU–GLI interaction, and induce the expression of the GLI target genes BCL-2, MCL-1 and BCL-XL. Anti-apoptotic BCL-2 protein/SUFU feedforward signalling promotes cancer cell survival and growth, and can be disabled with BH3 mimetics—small molecules that target anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins. Our findings delineate a chemical strategy for countering drug resistance in GLI-associated tumours and reveal unanticipated functions for BCL-2 proteins as transcriptional regulators.
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