Regulating tumor suppressor genes: post-translational modifications

• Published in: Signal transduction and targeted therapy Vol. 5; no. 1; p. 90
• Main Authors: Chen, Ling, Liu, Shuang, Tao, Yongguang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 10.06.2020; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/337/176; 631/80/509; Cancer; Cancer Research; Carcinogenesis - genetics; Cell Biology; Cell cycle; Genes, Tumor Suppressor; Humans; Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neoplasms - genetics; Neoplasms - pathology; Oncology; Pathology; Protein Processing, Post-Translational - genetics; PTEN Phosphohydrolase - genetics; Retina; Retinoblastoma; Retinoblastoma Protein - genetics; Review; Review Article; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - genetics
• ISSN: 2059-3635; 2095-9907; 2059-3635
• DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-0196-9

Tumor suppressor genes cooperate with each other in tumors. Three important tumor suppressor proteins, retinoblastoma (Rb), p53, phosphatase, and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) are functionally associated and they regulated by post-translational modification (PTMs) as well. PTMs include phosphorylation, SUMOylation, acetylation, and other novel modifications becoming growing appreciated. Because most of PTMs are reversible, normal cells use them as a switch to control the state of cells being the resting or proliferating, and PTMs also involve in cell survival and cell cycle, which may lead to abnormal proliferation and tumorigenesis. Although a lot of studies focus on the importance of each kind of PTM, further discoveries shows that tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) form a complex “network” by the interaction of modification. Recently, there are several promising strategies for TSGs for they change more frequently than carcinogenic genes in cancers. We here review the necessity, characteristics, and mechanisms of each kind of post-translational modification on Rb, p53, PTEN, and its influence on the precise and selective function. We also discuss the current antitumoral therapies of Rb, p53 and PTEN as predictive, prognostic, and therapeutic target in cancer.