Defining UHRF1 Domains that Support Maintenance of Human Colon Cancer DNA Methylation and Oncogenic Properties

Xiangqian Kong, Jie Chen, Wenbing Xie, Stephen M. Brown, Yi Cai, Kaichun Wu, Daiming Fan, Yongzhan Nie, Srinivasan Yegnasubramanian, Rochelle L. Tiedemann, Yong Tao, Ray Whay Chiu Yen, Michael J. Topper, Cynthia A. Zahnow, Hariharan Easwaran, Scott B. Rothbart, Limin Xia, Stephen B. Baylin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

UHRF1 facilitates the establishment and maintenance of DNA methylation patterns in mammalian cells. The establishment domains are defined, including E3 ligase function, but the maintenance domains are poorly characterized. Here, we demonstrate that UHRF1 histone- and hemimethylated DNA binding functions, but not E3 ligase activity, maintain cancer-specific DNA methylation in human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Disrupting either chromatin reader activity reverses DNA hypermethylation, reactivates epigenetically silenced tumor suppressor genes (TSGs), and reduces CRC oncogenic properties. Moreover, an inverse correlation between high UHRF1 and low TSG expression tracks with CRC progression and reduced patient survival. Defining critical UHRF1 domain functions and its relationship with CRC prognosis suggests directions for, and value of, targeting this protein to develop therapeutic DNA demethylating agents.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)633-648.e7
JournalCancer cell
Volume35
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 15 2019

Keywords

  • UHRF1
  • colorectal cancer prognosis
  • domain functions
  • maintenance DNA methylation
  • next-generation DNA demethylating agents
  • oncogenic properties
  • tumor suppressor gene silencing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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