Binding and phosphorylation of Par-4 by Akt is essential for cancer cell survival

Anindya Goswami, Ravshan Burikhanov, Aurelie De Thonel, Naoya Fujita, Mamta Goswami, Yanming Zhao, John E. Eriksson, Takashi Tsuruo, Vivek M. Rangnekar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

133 Scopus citations

Abstract

Activation of the PI3K-Akt pathway by loss of tumor suppressor PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) function, increased growth factor signaling, or oncogene expression renders cancer cells resistant to apoptotic signals and promotes tumor growth. Although Akt acts as a global survival signal, the molecular circuits of this pathway have not been completely established. We report that Akt physically binds to the pro-apoptotic protein Par-4 via the Par-4 leucine zipper domain and phosphorylates Par-4 to inhibit apoptosis. Suppression of Akt activation by the PI3K-inhibitor PTEN or LY294002, Akt expression by RNA-interference, or Akt function by dominant-negative Akt caused apoptosis in cancer cells. Apoptosis induced by inhibiting Akt was blocked by inhibition of Par-4 expression, but not by inhibition of other apoptosis agonists that are Akt substrates, suggesting that inhibition of the PI3K-Akt pathway leads to Par-4-dependent apoptosis. Thus, Par-4 is essential for PTEN-inducible apoptosis, and inactivation of Par-4 by Akt promotes cancer cell survival.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)33-44
Number of pages12
JournalMolecular Cell
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 7 2005

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was supported by National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute grants CA60872, CA105453, and CA84511 (to V.M.R.). We thank William R. Sellers (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) for thoughtful suggestions during the preparation of the manuscript.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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