TMEM9 promotes intestinal tumorigenesis through vacuolar-ATPase-activated Wnt/β-catenin signalling

YS Jung, S Jun, MJ Kim, SH Lee, HN Suh, EM Lien… - Nature cell …, 2018 - nature.com
YS Jung, S Jun, MJ Kim, SH Lee, HN Suh, EM Lien, HY Jung, S Lee, J Zhang, JI Yang, H Ji
Nature cell biology, 2018nature.com
Vesicular acidification and trafficking are associated with various cellular processes.
However, their pathologic relevance to cancer remains elusive. We identified
transmembrane protein 9 (TMEM9) as a vesicular acidification regulator. TMEM9 is highly
upregulated in colorectal cancer. Proteomic and biochemical analyses show that TMEM9
binds to and facilitates assembly of vacuolar-ATPase (v-ATPase), a vacuolar proton pump,
resulting in enhanced vesicular acidification and trafficking. TMEM9-v-ATPase …
Abstract
Vesicular acidification and trafficking are associated with various cellular processes. However, their pathologic relevance to cancer remains elusive. We identified transmembrane protein 9 (TMEM9) as a vesicular acidification regulator. TMEM9 is highly upregulated in colorectal cancer. Proteomic and biochemical analyses show that TMEM9 binds to and facilitates assembly of vacuolar-ATPase (v-ATPase), a vacuolar proton pump, resulting in enhanced vesicular acidification and trafficking. TMEM9-v-ATPase hyperactivates Wnt/β-catenin signalling via lysosomal degradation of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC). Moreover, TMEM9 transactivated by β-catenin functions as a positive feedback regulator of Wnt signalling in colorectal cancer. Genetic ablation of TMEM9 inhibits colorectal cancer cell proliferation in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo mouse models. Moreover, administration of v-ATPase inhibitors suppresses intestinal tumorigenesis of APC mouse models and human patient-derived xenografts. Our results reveal the unexpected roles of TMEM9-controlled vesicular acidification in hyperactivating Wnt/β-catenin signalling through APC degradation, and propose the blockade of TMEM9-v-ATPase as a viable option for colorectal cancer treatment.
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