Elevated USP9X drives early-to-late-stage oral tumorigenesis via stabilisation of anti-apoptotic MCL-1 protein and impacts outcome in oral cancers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Overexpression of anti-apoptotic MCL-1 protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is linked to disease progression, therapy resistance and poor outcome. Despite its characteristic short half-life owing to ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation, oral tumours frequently show elevated MCL-1 protein expression. Hence, we investigated the role of deubiquitinase USP9X in stabilising MCL-1 protein and its contribution to oral tumorigenesis.

Methods

Expression of MCL-1 and USP9X was assessed by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry in oral cancer cell lines and tissues. The association between MCL-1 and USP9X was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence. Cell death assessment was performed by MTT, flow cytometry and clonogenic assays.

Results

SUBMITTER: Sulkshane P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8367974 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature