E6AP promotes prostate cancer by reducing p27 expression

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common cancer in men. Elevated levels of E3 ligase, E6-Associated Protein (E6AP) were previously linked to PC, consistent with increased protein expression in a subset of PC patients. In cancers, irregular E3 ligase activity drives proteasomal degradation of tumor suppressor proteins. Accordingly, E3 ligase inhibitors define a rational therapy to restore tumor suppression. The relevant tumor suppressors targeted by E6AP in PC are yet to be fully identified. In this study we show that p27, a key cell cycle regulator, is a target of E6AP in PC. Down regulation of E6AP increases p27 expression and enhances its nuclear accumulation in PC. We demonstrate that E6AP..