The hallmark feature in cancer is uncontrolled cell-division and altered protein expression. Currently, cancer is one of the most detrimental diseases encountered by a large population across the globe. However, an absolute treatment strategy has still not been achieved by the researchers. Further, molecular mechanism and therapeutic to combat this lethal disease is a baffling issue. Molecular chaperones and ubiquitin proteasome system is mainly responsible for the maintenance of protein homeostasis and thus playing a crucial role in the cancer pathophysiology. Molecular chaperones are a superfamily of proteins which expressions are triggered under physiological, pharmacological and environmental insults and playing a protective role for cell survival. However, beyond a threshold of protection, molecular chaperones are unable to provide proper shape of non functional proteins that accumulate unwanted protein the cellular milieu. In order to get rid off these accumulated proteins ubiquitin proteasome system comes into action where an E3 ligase, specific enzymes of ubiquitination system, play a decisive role in the turnover of many essential regulatory proteins involved in cancer. It also mediates numerous functions, for instance, cell death, cell growth and DNA repair. Since, both molecular chaperones and E3 ligases have been involved in the progression of cancers it is necessary to understand and implement the role of these two molecules to use as diagnostic markers to treat cancer. Herein, we have comprehensively discussed the functional role of molecular chaperones, their differential protein expressions and a possible correction mechanism in cancer. Furthermore, comprehensive information has been documented regarding E3 ligases and their associated role in cancer that may be used as potential diagnostic biomarker for the treatment of various cancers.
The progression of cancer is so silent that it is hard to diagnose at the earlier stages, and it is an equally challenging task for the clinicians to treat this disease at early stage due to many unknown mechanisms with sites and tissues specificity issues. Cancer cells are immensely proliferatives, incursive, and metastatic in nature. The pathological hallmark in cancer is uncontrolled cellular proliferation and altered protein expression where hindrance in chaperoning machinery, and UPS is one of the major reasons. Molecular chaperones and ubiquitin E3 ligases are ubiquitous class of proteins that play an essential role in the conformational quality control of the proteins through interacting with various misfolded proteins, stabilizing and remodeling a wide range of non-native polypeptides [1,2]. Even though constitutively expressed under balanced growth conditions, many chaperones are upregulated upon exposure of heat shock or other insults that constitutively increases cellular protein level and for that reason, it is also known as stress or Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) [3]. Molecular chaperones act together on unfolded or partially folded protein subunits, for instance, nascent chains emerging from the ribosome and with extended chains being translocated across sub-cellular membranes [4]. In addition, some chaperones are non-specific, and they easily interact with a broad range of protein subunits, while others are restricted to specific targets. They often require ATP binding/hydrolysis for their proper functions [4]. Moreover, they also stabilize the non-native conformation for correct folding of protein subunits [5] and not associate with native proteins nor do they form part of the final folded structures. HSPs were first identified as a group of proteins, which are brought about by heat shock and other kind of sources, including physical and chemical stressors in a broad range of species [6]. The HSPs have been afterwards described as molecular chaperones, which share common property of altering the structures and interactions of other proteins [7].
Importantly, molecular chaperone directs that the HSPs frequently interact in a stoichiometric manner with their substrates and also require high intracellular levels of proteins [6]. This is the reason why HSP28, HSP40, HSP70 and HSP110 genes have developed a highly effective mechanism for their synthesis during stress with transcriptional activation, efficient messenger RNA (mRNA) stabilization and their preferential translation [8] and boosts to become dominantly expressed proteins under such stress scenario [9]. Heat shock factor (hsf) family is the main regulatory machineries for HSP gene transcription, which ensure proper transcriptional activation and equally steep switch-off mechanism after recovery [10]. The hsf gene family comprises heat shock transcription factor 1 (hsf1), acts as central co-ordinator of heat shock stress response. Besides this, heat shock transcription factor 2 (hsf2) and heat shock transcription factor 4 (hsf4) are also involved in stress response but less active with respect to hsf1 [11]. HSP transcription needs activated hsf1, which is itself over-expressed in cancer and play a crucial role in invasion and metastasis [12]. Further, the molecular mechanisms that connecting increased HSP and hsf1 expression to tumor development are not presently well understood. Since, HSPs are activated only under stress conditions in the normal cells; thus play a decisive role in both cellular homeostasis and the stress response [13]. To maintain the protein homeostasis, cells also encompass a large number of constitutively expressed HSPs which are present in a variety of multiprotein complexes together with many co-factors [8,14]. These HSPs comprise HSP10 and HSP60 multi complexes that direct protein folding; whereas, HSP70 and HSP90 containing complexes are implicated in both generic protein-folding pathways in specific connection with key regulatory proteins within the cell [15]. Most importantly, HSP90 plays a central role in forming complexes with a large number of transcription factors, cellular kinases and other molecules that in turn involved in the cell regulation process. Levels of the HSPs are raised in numerous tumor cells and HSP over-expression marks a poor prognosis in context with cell-survival and response to therapy in specific cancer types [16]. An elevated HSP expression in malignant cells plays a critical role in protection from spontaneous apoptosis associated with malignancy as well as apoptosis caused due to therapy. Further, this mechanism may underlie a highly complex role of HSPs in cancer development and reluctance to treatment [17].
Exposure of cells to stress condition, including oxidative stress, heat shock, heavy metals, inflammation, infection, tissue damage and mutant proteins associated with the genetic disease’s result into an inducible expression of HSPs that acts as molecular chaperones [18]. HSPs are commonly found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and play a pivotal role in the cellular processes [19]. Interestingly, mammalian HSPs are grouped into four major families according to their molecular mass, including HSP90, HSP70, HSP60 and small HSPs [20]. Under physiological stress such as hypoxia, HSPs palying an essential role in the cell protection [21]. Further, HSP27, HSP70 and HSP90 are considered as anti-apoptotic markers, since; they were able to bind to some pro-apoptotic molecules, including cytochrome c and Apaf [22]. In contrast, HSP10 and HSP60 were suggested as pro-apoptotic [23]. It was also revealed that HSP70 increases the tumorigenicity of cancer cells in rodent models and inhibits apoptosis [24] and therefore, increases the survival of cells exposed to a wide range of lethal stimuli. Molecular chaperones have also ubiquitin-dependent proteasome like activity; ensure that damaged and short-lived proteins are degraded efficiently, thereby restoring protein homeostasis and promoting cell-survival [25]. Nevertheless, the altered expression of molecular chaperones and E3 ligases has been noticed in various cancers, including breast, prostate, lungs, and gastric. On contrary, these machineries are also having an opposite effect since, in many instances, it has been involved in inhibiting disease progression. Therefore, this review underlies the potential role of molecular chaperones and well-known E3 ligases in cancer biology. Further, this review will also provide a promising therapeutic strategy for clinicians to design suitable drugs for treating cancers.
The term ‘chaperoning system’ is postulated in 2008 and notion behind this is consolidated protective machineries that have molecular chaperones, co-chaperones and co-factors of an organism [26]. Chaperonopathies is a pathological condition which comprises chaperones as etiological pathogenic factors while, chaperonotherapy is used as a medical term in which chaperones are used for the treatment of various diseases [27]. This scheme visualizes a physiological system integrated by chaperones, their functionally-related molecules and structures that are present in all tissues, organs and biological fluids. The ultimate fate of this physiological system is pivotal for the control and maintenance of protein homeostasis by correcting and providing functional conformation of proteins in all body fluids and tissues [27]. The chaperoning system also contributes their major input in some other processes, including, receptor assembly, antigen presentation and the formation of complexes with a variety of ligands and several other cellular functions [28]. Further, the term chaperonology, a scientific discipline has been identifiedwhich is dealing with the chaperoning system and includes the study of the genomic sequences of chaperone genes by virtue of applying chaperonomics concept. Chaperones are highly conserved proteins and assist other proteins for proper folding and re-folding [29]. Moreover, when the proteins are irreversibly misfolded, they are destined for degradation [30]. Additionally, these chaperone proteins are involved in regulating immune system, cell differentiation, cell-signaling, gene expression, DNA replication, apoptosis, cellular senescence and oncogenesis [31]. These chaperones are not present only in the tissues but also in fluids such as cell secretion products and have hormone-like activity because they act in locations other than those of their origin. A number of molecular chaperones are HSPs which including HSP110, HSP90, HSP70, HSP60 and so on. These proteins are induced under heat shock insult as well as by other physical and chemical stressors in a broad range of species [32]. Furthermore, these HSPs are encoded in genes that are inducible by stressors, but many others are not HSPs. These HSPs delineate their major input to protein homeostasis and also play other roles more or less unconnected to the maintenance of protein homeostasis. Earlier, HSP genes were categorized according to their molecular mass expressed in kilodalton (kDa) elaborated in table 1. However, recently guidelines for the nomenclature of the human HSP families have been changed. The main motto of this nomenclature system is based on gene symbols, which have been attributed or assigned by the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC) and are used as the primary identifiers such as entrez gene and ensemble database [45].
HSPS |
Associated Chaperones |
Molecular Weight (kDa) |
Functions |
References |
HSP40 |
dnaJ, Ydj1, Sis1, Hdj1 and Hdj2 |
35-54 |
Associated with protein folding and refolding along with HSP70/HSC70. It enhances the rate of Adenosine Triphosphatease (ATP) activity and substrate release |
[33,34] |
HSP60 |
groEL, HSP60, Cpn60 and HSP60 |
55-64 |
Helps in proper folding of proteins and also prevents aggregation of denatured proteins in vitro. It may also facilitate protein degradation by the help of proteolytic systems and involves in macrophage activation possibly through Toll-like receptor |
[35] |
HSP70 |
DnaK, Kar2, Ssc1, HSC70, HSP70, BIP
and Mhsp70 |
65-80 |
Assists in proper folding of proteins and also contribute their potential role in protein-trafficking. It has also potential anti-apoptotic like properties. Further, it has been found to be Involved in cell-cycle progression and proliferation |
[36,37] |
HSP90 |
HtpG, HSP83, HSP90 and GRP94 |
81-99 |
Involves in signal transduction process and also assists proper folding and maintenance of proteins in in vitro and crucial for cell-cycle control |
[38] |
HSP100 |
ClpA,B,C and HSP104 |
90 |
Assists in the resolubilization of heat-inactivated proteins from insoluble aggregates and also plays pivotal role in stress tolerance |
[35] |
Small HSPs |
lbp A and B, HSP27, A and B crystalline and HSP27 |
34 or less than 34 |
Helps in heat inactivation and suppression of proteins in in vitro. It has also potential anti-apoptotic like properties |
[39,40] |
CCT |
Hsp70 and TRiC |
55-63 |
Cytosolic molecular chaperone that is involved in Protein folding |
[41,42] |
HSP10 |
HSP60 |
10 |
Pivotal for protein folding along with HSP60 and modulation of immune system |
[43] |
HSP 27 |
HspB1 |
20-30 |
Helps in the refolding of denatured proteins and have anti-apoptotic like properties |
[44] |
Table 1: Heat shock proteins, associated chaperones and their functional significance.
Clinical presentation of a FMH depends, on the one hand, on the volume of the transfusion and, on the other hand, on the velocity with which it had occurred [5]. The prognosis also depends on the prompt diagnosis and intervention.
FMH can occur as an acute or chronic event. In the chronic presentation, the hemorrhage has been prolonged or repeated during pregnancy, anemia developed slowly, giving the fetus the opportunity to develop hemodynamic compensation. In this case, the diagnosis is often postnatal and these infants may manifest only pallor at birth with no other complications [5].
In opposition, in acute FMH, perinatal hypoxia and intrauterine death or severe anemia and hypoxia at birth can be present [5].
Neonatal anemia was the first manifestation of FMH in 35% of the reported cases. In severe ones, shock and circulatory failure may be present [6].
In our clinical report, it’s more likely to be a chronic transfusion given the rapid ability of the newborn to adapt to extra uterine life despite the hemoglobin value at birth. The absence of fetal movements noted by the mother was not due to the FMH but it was caused by the circular of the umbilical cord around the arms that made it impossible to the fetus to move.
Abdominal trauma and invasive techniques of prenatal diagnosis are related to FMH [1]. Physicians should consider alternative diagnosis to neonatal anemia such as isoimmune hemolytic anemia, congenital infections that result in bone marrow suppression (TORCH), sepsis, congenital erythrocyte defects and congenital hemoglobinopathies [6]. Clinical and laboratory evaluation of infection, Coombs test and viral serology should be performed.
In this case, the diagnosis of FMH was confirmed by the KB test. Pink fetal red blood cells are observed and counted in the mother’s peripheral blood smear because fetal hemoglobin is resistant to acid elution, leaving discolored maternal cells (patients with sickle cell anemia or hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin may lead to a false positive result and ABO incompatibility may produce a false negative result) [2].
Although the KB test is inexpensive and requires no special equipment, it lacks standardization and is imprecise [3]. Flow cytometry, based on the use of anti-fetal hemoglobin for detection of fetal cells with fetal hemoglobin, represents an improvement of KB test since is more specific and precise [7].
Although the prognosis of massive FMH is poor, it can be improved if physicians early recognize this condition. When the infant is near-term gestation, immediate cesarean delivery is indicated. If, on the other hand, the fetus is still preterm, in uterus transfusion can be considered and has been shown to be effective and improves the prognosis [6].
Long term outcome for infants affected by massive FMH is unfavorable with death or neurological dysfunction [6]. The prognosis is more directly related to initial hemoglobin value and clinical manifestations post-delivery than with the transfused volume of blood [8].
The case reported emerged from a pregnancy with no risk factors. Mother’s perception of decreased fetal movements, recognition of fetal distress on the CTG, immediate caesarean section and prompt hemodynamic and respiratory support to the newborn with early red blood cells transfusion contributed for this good outcome.
A lethal complication of chaperoning machinery is considered to be a morbid condition where molecular chaperone malfunction is an etiopathological issue, and fatal complications (chaperonopathies) may be categorized as familial or acquired. In familial complication, the abnormal function of a chaperone is due to gene mutation [46]. Further, familial complications comprising the diseases of nervous system such as motor neuropathies and ataxias, heart disease includes familial forms of dilated cardiomyopathies and other sporadic forms of congenital diseases. In acquired chaperonopathies mediated complications, the malfunction of a chaperone may be due to morbid post-translational modifications, including oxidation, glycation, phosphorylation and acetylation resulting into loss or gain of function. Among the acquired chaperonopathies mediated complications, diseases are basically related with aging and with dysregulation of the immune system [46]. These fatal conditions may happen in any age. However, genetic chaperonopathies have a fairly early onset, while acquired chaperonopathies become exposed in the elderly, occasionally in association with other diseases. It has also been revealed that few prominent groups of chaperone are represented by the ‘chaperonopathies by mistake’ in which a molecular chaperone may be normal, although takes part in a cascade which indulges disease progression rather than the disease reversal [47]. In such condition, the pathology can be manifested by two types of pathogenic cascades; first the pathway is usual and comprises the participation of one or more chaperones which develops into part of a morbid process; and second the cascade that includes chaperones is not part of a physiological process within the cell, although comes to be potent and functional in morbid cases. In both situations, the chaperones conduce to disease progression ‘by mistake’ [46]. In some occasions, autoimmune diseases can also be evoked by molecular chaperone acting as an auto-antigen ‘by mistake’ or due to molecular mimicry between human and bacterial HSP60 and other human proteins [48,49]. Interestingly, in some cases of neoplasms, chaperones can promote growth and proliferation of tumor cells [46]. Thus, molecular chaperone has both the beneficial and negative impact on the cells, as in normal condition it directs favourable impact on the cell, however, any mutation in its genes leads to morbid ambiance, which is also spelled as chaperonopathies which is a prominent notion as it directs to novel anti-cancer strategies.
HSP27
Small HSP, HSP27 acts in an ATP-independent manner and is spotted in the cytosol. It is activated in response to various stresses through transcriptional and post-translational modification, thereby playing numerous roles, including proper folding, maintaining cytoskeleton architecture, cell-differentiation, cell-migration and tumor progression [50-52]. Elevated levels of HSP27 relative to its normal level in non-transformed cells have been detected in numerous cancers, including endometrial, pancreatic, ovarian, breast, lung cancer and leukaemia [53]. However, aberrant expression of HSP27 in cancer is mainly linked with increased resistance to chemotherapy, aggressive tumor behaviour and poor prognosis [5]. HSP27 is activated in various stress conditions by virtue of both transcriptional activation and post-translational modification, especially through phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of HSP27 occurs at mainly three serine residues Ser15, Ser78, Ser82 and its phosphorylation are interceded by the p38 MAPK stress kinase pathway [54]. However, this phosphorylation is a reversible process that regulates the oligomerization of HSP27. Additionally, various phosphorylation frameworks of HSP27 have been found to be linked with the aggressiveness of different cancer types. A recent report has stated that, in HER2 positive breast cancer samples, there are two fold increased in phosphorylation of HSP27 at ser78 but not at ser15 and 82 compared to HER2 negative tumors [55,56]. Therefore, the precise role of HSP27 phosphorylation in the physiology of cancer further needs to be investigated.
HSP27 along with HSP70 also serves as an anti-apoptotic factor by binding and sequestering cytosolic cytochrome c and therefore, creates a blockade for APAF-1 assembly of the apoptosome complex [57-59]. Furthermore, the activation of ‘death’ receptors such as TNF and TNF receptor superfamily member 6 (FAS, CD95 and APO-1) propels the formation of a death inducing complex for the activation of pro-caspase-8 to activate caspases by inducing the release of cytochrome c [6,60]. The phosphorylation pattern of HSP27 in tumor cells has also appeared distinct and shown different characteristic features as compared to the phosphorylation pattern of HSP27 in untransformed cells. Subsequently, it has been proposed that the diversity of HSP27 phosphorylation isoforms can also signify the useful tumor markers. Moreover, when phosphorylated HSP27 interacts with Daxx protein, it interferes with the interaction between same protein Daxx and Fas thereby blocking the FAS-mediated apoptosis to prevent cell death [61,62].
HSP60
In particular, HSP60 along with its associated chaperonin HSP10 has been identified as an evolutionarily conserved stress response chaperone. It has also been ascertained by few in vitro based studies, where HSP60 has found to direct both pro-and anti-apoptotic roles. HSP60 in association with the co-chaperone HSP10 modulates caspase-3 activation by acting as a chaperone to advance the maintenance of pro-caspase-3, while it forms a stable complex with pro-caspase-3, thereby showing an anti-apoptotic effect [63]. Additionally, it also orchestrates a cytoprotective role through Inhibitors of Apoptosis (IAP) family, as well as inhibition of p53 cascade. Furthermore, elevated expression of both the HSP60 and HSP10 has been observed during prostate, colorectal, breast, leukaemias and exocervical carcinogenesis [64]. Recently, HSP60 has been reported to involve in ovarian cancer where, it has shown different prognosis and treatment response. Further, it is also having a pivotal role in malignant cell-survival [65].
HSP70
Like other HSPs, HSP70 is a molecular chaperone that activates in response to stress. It performs numerous roles under normal condition that include the transport and proper folding of proteins, assembly and dissociation of multi-protein complexes and also involve in degradation of denatured proteins [66]. Further, human cells comprise several HSP70 families based on their particular position in different organelles. This is stress-inducible HSP70 (HSP72 or HSPA1), the constitutively expressed heat shock cognate 70 (HSC70, HSP73 or HSPA8); Glucose regulated protein 78 (Grp78, HSPA5) and HSP70 (Mortalin/HSPA9, Grp75) which is found in nucleus, cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria respectively [67-71]. It has been well documented that HSP70 frequently localizes to the cell membrane in a variety of human tumors but not in the corresponding normal tissues. This activity is crucial for its therapeutic purposes against anti-tumor immunity since, membrane HSPs are the easily accessible targets for specific antibodies [72]. Similarly, HSP 27, HSP70 also performs anti-apoptotic like activity and can act at different key targets to perturb both the intrinsic and extrinsic signaling axis of apoptosis. Furthermore, it was also noticed to involve in caspase independent signaling where, it blocked signaling through inhibition of an Apoptosis-Inducing Factor (AIF) and therefore, mediate chromatin condensation and cathepsins release [73-76].
In cancer tissues, HSP70 is expressed at high levels, and their expression has been routinely linked with poor prognosis of tumors. The precise role of HSP70 in the cancer physiology is remains unsettled. Though, in cancer cells high expression of HSP70 is thought to provide a survival advantage due to its potential to stall apoptosis and senescence [77,78]. HSP70 also acts as the co-chaperone for HSP90 because of its role in the substrate-loading phase of the HSP90, which is important to the stability and function of multiple oncoproteins [79]. Further, elevated expression of HSP70 has also been correlated with therapeutic resistance while, the detailed mechanisms about resistance is still unknown. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that reduced activation of NF-κB, ERK and JNK pathways may be responsible for its therapeutic resistance [80]. Pharmacological inhibition of HSP90 has been found to provoke a compensatory activation of HSP70. This might be since HSP70 is a highly protective protein, which may strongly reduce the cell death effect induced by HSP90 inhibition. Consequently, the potential remedial advantage of regulating HSP70 activity has become striking, particularly dual therapy against both HSP70 and HSP90 [81-84]. It also acts as an inhibitor to progress towards G1 and S phase of the cell-cycle in human tumor cells and can be used as an attractive biomarker for cancers [85].
HSP90
HSP90 is a highly abundant and evolutionarily conserved protein present in the all eukaryotic cells. There are five HSP90 isoforms have been identified so far, which includes the two major cytoplasmic isoforms HPS90α and HPS90β, mitochondrial Tumor necrosis factor Receptor associated Protein 1 (TRAP1), endoplasmic reticulum localized Grp94 and membrane-associated HSP90N [86]. HSP90 was reported to be expressed in 92.9% of examined tumors; moreover, the invasive samples contain significantly higher levels of HSP90 than the superficial ones. It was also identified that VEGF stimulation caused HSP90 activation, thereby showing anti-apoptotic and survival promoting effects of VEGF [87]. HSP90 often interacts with a huge number of molecules responsible for the development/survival of cancer cells, allowing mutant proteins to gain function while, permitting cancer cells to tolerate the imbalanced signaling. It also plays numerous key roles in angiogenesis, tumor invasion, metastasis, cell regulation, forming complexes with a large number of cellular kinases, transcription factors and other molecules [88].
HSP90 is an imperative molecular-chaperone that modulates the stability and activity of numerous client proteins, for instance, HER2, BCL-ABL, SRC, EGFR, CRAF, AKT, BRAF, MET, VEGFR, FLT3, HIF-1α, androgen and estrogen receptor and telomerase. These proteins directly involve in malignancy and are essential for the transformed phenotype [89]. In fact, elevated expression of HSP90 has been observed in a variety of human malignancies, including lung, breast tumors and leukaemias. In the breast cancer, it was found to associate with various proteins critical in breast cancer progression, such as HER2 and c-SRC [50]. Moreover, it also stabilizes many oncogenic proteins in tumor cells. It can inhibit apoptosis through several interactions. For illustration, it can bind directly with Apaf-1 thereby blocking the assembly of apoptosome complex. However, anti-apoptotic action of HSP90 has been revealed by its association with proteins important for generating a survival signal in response to growth factor stimulators. For instance, HSP90 can bind with AKT1, an anti-apoptotic protein to prevent its inactivation and favoring cell-survival. Furthermore, over-expression of HSP90 has been implicated in resistance to senescence due to its pivotal role in telomerase stability [90,91].
HSP110
HSP110 is a component of the quite large multiprotein complex accompanied by the most common heat shock protein HSP70 [92]. HSP90 and HSP70 are particularly prominent regulators of the cellular proliferation, effective anti-apoptotic factors and are concerned in the cancer biology [93]. Molecular fundamental role of HSP110 in cancer cells is not yet fully inferred; nevertheless Hosaka et al., used small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated suppression of HSP110 protein expression for in vitro apoptosis induction in HCT116 colon cancer cells [94]. This siRNA-induced apoptosis was arbitrated through caspases, but not through the p53 tumor suppressor pathway, even though the HSP110 protein was bound to wild-type p53 protein in HCT116 cells. These results advocate that the constitutive over-expression of HSP110 in cancer cells is concerned in malignant transformation by protecting tumor cells from apoptosis [94]. HSP110 protein is over-expressed in various human tumors, including colon cancer cells, however, not in colorectal adenomas; therefore, proposing that over-expression of HSP110 is a late event in colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence [95]. Furthermore, it has been seen that higher levels of HSP110 gene expression were linked with metastatic disease in comparison to those in tumors of patients with localized disease. Moreover, higher frequency of HSP110 protein positivity in colorectal adenocarcinomas of advanced clinical stages, therefore, this is highlighting consequential upregulation of HSP110 gene expression in tumors compared to paired adjacent non-tumoral tissue and negative trend of HSP110 mRNA levels with overall survival of colorectal cancer patients [95].
HSP110 gene is a favourable molecular forecaster in Colorectal Cancer (CRC). Its association with common clinicopathological information may be the decisive for diagnosis of the lymph node metastatic mediated cancer prognosis, identifying more aggressive tumors and in predicting the clinical outcome thus, might facilitate clinical oncologists in designing more aggressive remedies for subgroups of patients with colorectal cancer [96]. Mutant form of HSP110 in colorectal cancer showing microsatellite instability caused from an aberrantly spliced mRNA and lacking the HSP110 substrate-binding domain. This mutant was expressed at variable levels in almost all microsatellite instability CRC cell lines. Mutated HSP110 weakened both the normal cellular localization of HSP110 and its interaction with other HSPs, thus, opposing the chaperone activity and anti-apoptotic function of HSP110 in a dominant-negative manner. An over-expression of this mutated form of HSP110 resulted in the sensitization of cells to anti-cancer agents such as oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil, which are usually medically advised in the adjuvant treatment of people with CRC. HSP110 may thus, establish a crucial determining factor for both prognosis and medication response in CRC [97]. The signaling axis where HSPs mainly trigger their potential role has been elaborating in figure 1. Despite the involvement of molecular chaperones in cancer, the pertinent role of UPS is also needed to be explored to understand its significance in cancer biology.
Figure 1: Pictorial representation of the common mechanism for the role of HSPs in various signaling targets.
Ubiquitin/Proteasome Pathway: A Central Player Of Protein Homeostasis Machineries
The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is a most important pathway for the targeted degradation of misfolded proteins and triggers an enzymatic cascade which encompasses ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, E2 and finally ubiquitin E3 ligase, responsible for a wide range of processes, including cell-cycle progression, control of gene expression, antigen presentation, DNA replication, proliferation and apoptosis. The ubiquitin is, firstly, activated by binding with E1 through a thioester bond formation between a cysteine residue at the active site of E1 and the C-terminus Glycine (G76) of ubiquitin. After activation of ubiquitin in an E1-ubiquitin complex is then transferred to conjugating enzyme E2 and finally ubiquitin is covalently attached to the target protein through a lipopeptide bond between the G76, and process is catalyzed by E3 ubiquitin ligase. Moreover, due to the involvement of multiple steps of reaction, ubiquitin at first covalently attached to substrates to form K48-linked polyubiquitinated conjugates that are rapidly recognized and degraded by the 26S proteasome systems. Several studies have also revealed that proteins can also be monoubiquitinated or polyubiquitinated through K63 linkage, leading to an altered protein profiling and sub-cellular localization, rather than degradation [98,99].
There are several types of malignancies, for example, breast, gastric, colon, renal and cervical cancer has been reported to be associated with altered UPS. Further, there are approximately thousand of E3 ligases in the human genome have been reported so far, that can be differentiated into three major groups based upon their domain structure and substrate recognition. The first group comprises N-end rule ubiquitin ligase that targets protein substrates allowing to destabilize N-terminal residues, including Arg, Lys, His (type, I) and Phe, Trp, Leu, Tyr and Ile (type II). The current example of protein degradation by the Ub-dependent N-end rule cascade is Drosophila inhibitor of apoptosis protein. The second type of E3 is HECT known as E6-associated protein, which function is related with oncoprotein E6, responsible for ubiquitin mediated degradation of p53. The third and largest type of E3 ligase is known as the RING family which carries a classic RING finger domain with a linear sequence of Cys-X-Cys-X-Cys-X-His-X-Cys/His-X-Cys-X-Cys-X-Cys, where X can be any amino acid. A RING finger domain attaches to two zinc atoms per molecule, where the first and third pairs of cysteine/histidine form the first binding site, and the second and fourth pairs of cysteine/histidine form the other binding site. Further, E3 ubiquitin ligases exist and proceed as a single peptide (such as Mdm2 and XIAP or as multiple component complexes, for instance, SCF). Through the covalent modification of a massive repertoire of cellular proteins with ubiquitin, E3 ligases control almost all aspects of eukaryotic cellular biological process and function. However, deregulated expression of E3 ligases leads to cancer progression, although over-expression of E3 ligases is associated with reduced pathogenesis of disease. Thus, E3 ligases which find out the specificity of protein substrates and themselves critical enzymes may provide potential cancer targets in addition to cancer biomarkers [100-104]. It also functions in tissue specific and targets specific manner with maximal therapeutic index with minimal toxicity and provides a potential cancer target in addition to cancer biomarkers [105]. This notion, therefore, makes E3 ligase a potential biomarker/forecaster for cancers.
CUL4A
Numerous E3 ligases could be oncogenes since frequent deregulation of E3 ligases have been identified in the progression of various cancers such as breast, prostate, gastric, colorectal cancer and their inhibition direct to growth arrest or trigger apoptosis. CUL4A is a potent E3 ligase having oncogenic properties and involves in a broad range of cellular processes, for instance, chromatin remodeling, cell-cycle progression, hematopoiesis, spermatogenesis, DNA repairs and DNA replication [106]. It is a scaffold protein of the SCF (Skp1/Cullin1/Rbx1/F-box protein) complex, which ubiquitinates a wide range of proteins crucial for signal transduction, cell-cycle progression and transcription [107]. Cullin1 is found to be involved in the prognosis of numerous phenotypes, including adrenocortical carcinoma and squamous-cell carcinoma, childhood medulloblastoma, primary malignant pleural mesotheliomas, hepatocellular carcinomas and human breast, prostate and gastric cancer [108]. Furthermore, their high expression is significantly associated with poorer overall survival and lymph node metastasis. CUL4A is also responsible for neoplastic transformation to the case of breast and ovarian cancers [106]. Moreover, it inhibits the p73 transcriptional activation, which is a structural and functional homologue of p53 and thus highlights its potential in promoting tumorigenesis. On the contrary, it has also been shown to target proto-oncogenic proteins, for instance; N- and C-Myc and c-Jun by employing TRCP4AP/TRUSS and COP1, respectively and lead to stop disease progression [109]. However, Korzeniewski et al., has reported that Cullin1 can also serve as a tumor suppressor by modulating PLK4 protein levels [110].
ARF-BP1
It is a HECT domain E3 ligase that is responsible for degradation of p53 via UPS. Moreover, it also mediates both the p53-dependent and p53-independent tumor suppressive functions of ARF. The ARF-BP1 gene is positioned at Xp11-13 and is found to associate with progression of numerous cancers, including breast and colorectal cancer. In contrast, RING Finger protein 11 (RNF11) is greatly expressed in breast cancer cells; however, their role in disease pathogenesis remains elusive [111]. Further, RNF11 interplays with multiple HECT-domain E3 ligase and Cul1 that provide a bridge to link some substrates to the HECT domain E3 ligase for ubiquitination.
EFP
Another E3 ligase EFP provokes proliferation of breast cancer through facilitating ubiquitin-mediated destruction of a tumor suppressor 14-3-3j in response to IFNs. It is also known as oestrogen-inducible E3 ligase that plays a key role in ubiquitination. Moreover, it is having a potential to modulate a switch from estrogen-dependent to estrogen independent growth of breast cancer. In nude mice, it was noticed that EFP over-expressed MCF-7 (estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells) gained the ability to form tumors [112,113]. Further, it has also been reported that expression of EFP in ER-positive breast cancer cells cause oestrogen mediated degradation of KLF5 (Krüppel-like Factor 5) and ATBF1 protein [112]. These proteins are involved in breast development, differentiation, cell proliferation and carcinogenesis process. Furthermore, using antisense oligonucleotides the EFP expression can be regulated in order to reduce tumor growth. The protein expression of EFP is drastically linked with reduced prognosis of breast cancer and therefore, provides a new potential biomarker and molecular target for various cancers, including, breast, prostate and ovarian cancer [114].
RNF115/BCA2
The BCA2 protein is a RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase, which gene is located at 1q21.1. BCA2 is found to be upregulated in Estrogen Receptor α (ERα)-positive breast cancer cells. Burger et al., have also reported the upregulated expression of BCA2 in invasive breast cancer along with negative lymph node metastasis, positive estrogen receptor and increased cell survival by using immunohistochemistry and tissue microarray. However, BCA2 functions can be modulated by adopting small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). In response to siRNAs two ERα-positive breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and T47D were used that shown reduced cell proliferation and increased protein levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21Waf/Cip1. This is highlighting that BCA2 is involved in proliferation activity through downregulation of p21 since; protein stability of p21 is negatively regulated by BCA2. Further, BCA2 directly interacts with p21 and provokes them for ubiquitination [115,116].
SKP2
Skp2 E3 ligase plays a decisive role in metabolism, cell-cycle progression, senescence, proliferation and metastasis. Moreover, the over-expression of Skp2 has been reported in numerous phenotypes such as melanoma, lymphomas, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, prostate, pancreatic and breast carcinomas. Skp2 gene is positioned at 5p13, a region found to be associated with amplification of breast cancer cell-lines and act as a potential biomarker for disease prognosis [117]. On the contrary, over-expression of Skp2 has also been associated with a poor prognosis of breast cancer and crucial for proteolytic degradation of p21CIP1, p27KIP1, FoxO1 and p130 by SCF E3 ligase [118]. Moreover, Skp2 inactivation can profoundly control cancer progression by activating a massive apoptosis and cellular senescence.
BTRC1
BTRC1 (h-TrcP1) E3 ligase is involved in progression of numerous tumors such as ovarian, mammary and uterine carcinomas. It has been reported that over-expression of BTRC1 prompts epithelial cell-proliferation and nuclear factor-nB activity and thereby resulting in severe outcomes. It also directs ubiquitin mediated degradation of InB, h-catenin, CDC25A, Emil1 and Smad4 protein. These proteins are involved in various signaling processes and thereby triggering downstream signaling of various transcription factors [119-121].
WWP1
WWP1 is an oncogene, HECT domain containing E3 ligase and located at 8q21. Over-expression of WWP1 is found to be involved in various tumors, including prostate and breast tumor [122]. Moreover, it also provides stability and negatively regulates Large Tumor Suppressor 1 (LATS1: Mst1/2, MOB1, Kibra, etc.) by promoting their degradation through polyubiquitination. Further, degradation of LATS1 is crucial in triggering WWP1-induced increased cell-proliferation in breast cancer cells. The LATS1 is a serine/threonine kinase and having tumor suppressor role which is found to be down-regulated in various human cancers. It has also been reported that WWP1 negatively controls cell migration to CXCL12 by limiting CXCR4 degradation that leads to promote breast cancer bone metastasis. Further, It also regulates the Transforming Growth Factor-h (TGF-h) activity by the ubiquitination of TGF-h receptor 1, Smad2 and Smad4 [123]. Additionally, WWP1 also acts as an E3 ligase for numerous transcription factors, such as KLF2 and KLF5 which are found to be associated with ovarian and breast cancers, respectively [124]. Surprisingly, it also plays a chief role in many other biological processes, for instance, regulation of sodium channels, viral budding and ligand-receptor trafficking [125]. Since these E3 ligases are involved in the disease symptoms of numerous cancers due to their oncogenic activity, there are many other E3 ligases have been reported, which is having therapeutic potential to target various cancers due to their tumor suppressor activity.
SIAH1
SIAH1 gene is located at 16q12.1 and was first recognized as a tumor suppressor candidate for human hepatocellular carcinomas. It is a RING finger E3 ligase and highly conserved among E3 ubiquitin ligases family, which is involved in tumor suppression and apoptosis [126]. It has been reported that SIAH1 directs the degradation of Kid (KIF22), a chromokinesin like DNA binding protein crucial for normal progression of mitosis and meiosis, transcriptional corepressor CtIP, transcriptional coactivator OBF-1 and cell fate regulator numb by ubiquitination. Additionally, it also induces h-catenin for proteolysis in response to p53 activation and may lead to p53-dependent cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis [127-129]. The ubiquitin ligase complex of SIAH1 gene contains SIAH1 interacting protein, F-box protein Ebi and Skp1 gene. Interestingly, SIAH2, an isoform of SIAH gene plays an important role in diverse signaling pathways and having high sequence similarity with SIAH1 but possess contrary roles in cancer, since SIAH1 more often acting as a tumor suppressor whereas, SIAH2 acts as a proto-oncogene [130].
BRCA1
A widely-known tumor suppressor gene and act as a hub protein for a wide range of cellular processes in order to maintain genomic stability. It contains a RING heterodimer with BARD1 to provide an ubiquitin E3 ligase function that is requisite for its tumor suppressor activity in numerous cancers, including breast and ovarian cancer. However, the function of the BRCA1 gene is often compromised by cancer-associated mutations. In case of breast cancer, BARD1 is mutated at their lower frequency and triggers BRCA1-independent and p53-dependent pro-apoptotic activity. Further, BRCA1 is also involved in homologous recombination and DNA repair in response to DNA damage. Moreover, the activity of these heterodimer can be antagonized by using CDK2 and improved by BRCC36 whose mRNA expression is often elevated in breast cancer. Additionally, this ligase is also responsible for ubiquitination of g-tubulin and RNA polymerase II (Rpb1) which is pivotal for genome stability [131-134].
CHFR and CUL-5
Similarly BRCA1, the CHFR gene also encodes a RING finger domain, possessing E3 ligase activity. It acts as a tumor suppressor gene which was noticed to play an imperative role in mitosis by targeting key mitotic proteins Plk and Aurora A for their ubiquitination. Further, Epigenetic inactivation of CHFR by methylation was found in numerous cancers, including gastric, breast, lung, liver and ovarian cancer [135,136]. In addition to CHFR, CUL-5 also possesses E3 ligase activity and located at 11q22-23. Cul-5 was shown to significantly attenuate cellular proliferation of the T-47D breast cancer cell-line [137]. It also regulates multiple molecular and cellular responses to HSP90 inhibition in human cancer cells.
FBXW7/CDC4
The FBXW7/CDC4 gene is spotted to 4q32 and found to be involved in ubiquitination of several oncoproteins such as cyclin E, c-Myc, c-Jun and Notch that is responsible for its tumor suppressor activity [138]. These oncoproteins are responsible for controlling cell-growth and cell-division. On the contrary, loss of functions of FBXW7/CDC4 due to genomic instability and cell-cycle progression has been reported in various cancers, including gastric and breast cancer [139-141]. Therefore, it can be used as a possible diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for various cancers in the future.
Parkin
Parkin is a RING-type E3 ligase, which is responsible for ubiquitination of misfolded proteins. However, mutations in parkin gene are found to be associated with numerous outcomes, such as Parkinson’s Disease (PD), mycobacterial infection and cancer. Parkin is also known as RING/HECT hybrid, which is found to be present on chromosome 6q25-q27, the region mainly associated with the prognosis of human breast, ovarian and lung cancer. In breast cell-lines the reduced expression of Parkin gene has been observed [142,143]. It was also noticed that in cell-proliferation parkin was shown to suppress tumourigenicity due to in vitro changes. Further, Pael receptor (Pael-R), aSp22 and p38/JTV1 were identified as the parkin substrates in brain cells, although; the targeted substrate in cancer cells remains unsettled [144].
CHIP/STUB1
CHIP/STUB1 is a U-box containing E3 ubiquitin ligase, plays an important role in preventing tumor progression through degradation of numerous oncogenic proteins, including Cyclin D1, Src-3, HIF-1α, NF-κB, c-Myc, MMP-2, VEGF, IL-8, ErbB2 and c-Myc. Its gene is found to be present at 16p13.3, the region associated with papillary carcinomas. Further, Loss of function of CHIP due to methylation has been involved in prognosis of human colorectal cancer. Not only that, in prostate cancer it was also involved in the mitotic process for proliferation. The over-expression of CHIP negatively regulates the sensitivity of TGF-h signaling by targeting Smads for their proteolysis and also promotes the degradative action of Parkin gene [145-147]. Despite these potential E3 ligases, there are numerous other E3 ligases are reported whose activity is needed for maintenance of cancer cells as well as for diagnosis purposes. These E3 ligases and their associated functions in different cancers have been illustrated in table 2.
S.No. |
E3 ligases |
Associated functions |
Principle phenotypes |
References |
1 |
AMFR/RNF45 |
AMFR plays a critical role in metastasis through ubiquitination of the metastasis suppressor KAI1 |
Prostate, liver and breast cancer |
[148] |
2 |
HACE1 |
Acts as tumor suppressor. Moreover, abnormal methylation and Rac 1 signaling make it oncogenic |
Wilms’ tumors, colorectal and breast cancer |
[149] |
3 |
PJA1/PRAJA |
It plays an important role in downregulation of TGF-β signaling via ubiquitination of the SMAD4 adaptor protein ELF |
Gastric cancer |
[150] |
4 |
Cbl-b |
Cbl-b along with TAM receptors regulate cancer metastasis via natural killer cells |
------- |
[151] |
5 |
UBE3A/ E6-AP |
It interacts with the E6 protein of the human papillomavirus types 16 and 18, and activates p53 for degradation |
Breast cancer |
[152] |
6 |
HUWE1/MULE |
It suppresses RAS-driven skin tumorigenesis in vivo by regulating c-MYC/MIZ1 stability |
Skin cancer |
[153] |
7 |
RFWD2/COP1 |
It ubiquitinates several proteins involved in the DNA damage response and apoptosis, including MTA1, p53 and FoxO1. Further, it also inactivates proto-oncogenes (ETV1, ETV4 and ETV5) |
Prostate cancer |
[154] |
8 |
RNF5 |
It involves in motility, stress response and regulates cancer progression through cytoskeleton alterations |
Breast cancer |
[155] |
9 |
RNF13 |
It contributes to a reduction in the colonization of metastatic tumor cells |
Lung and pancreatic cancer |
[156] |
10 |
FBXO11 |
It is associated with HIF-1α for its oncogenic effects. Further, it acts as a tumor suppressor and also to be a potential target for cancer therapy |
Gynecological cancer |
[157] |
11 |
SPOP |
It acts as tumor-suppressor and involved in signal-dependent proteolysis of the oncogenic co-activator SRC-3/AIB1 |
Liver and breast cancer |
[158] |
12 |
SMURF2 |
It promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in HPDE6c7 cells and its over-expression inhibits TGF-β-mediated EMT in the cells. Subsequently, it is also found to be involved with metastasis |
Pancreatic and breast cancer |
[159] |
13 |
RNF31 |
It stabilizes estrogen receptor α and modulates estrogen-stimulated cell proliferation |
Breast cancer |
[160] |
14 |
RNF43 |
RNF43 interacts with NEDL1 and modulates p53-mediated transcription |
Colorectal cancer |
[161] |
Table 2: Potential E3 ligases and their associated functionalities in cancers.
The main goal of cancer therapies relies on the researcher’s endowment to adjust actions to circumstances and has a clear projection pertaining to the aberrant mechanisms that ultimately determine the fate of the pathogenesis and henceforth degeneration through diverse processes. Despite gradual improvement in the field of cancer therapies, still the destined of such therapies hangs on morbid speculation and fragile anticipations. The diverse signaling axis offerings, an interesting opportunity to exploit in the pathology of cancers; furthermore, interrupting critical interactions of the pathways by using potential diagnostic marker such as, E3 ligases and molecular chaperones can solve the “targeted therapy crisis” problem in cancer biology. In doing so, HSPs are concerned with the pathogenesis and development of a range of human cancer types. They primarily participate in crucial mechanisms of tumor cells, including invasiveness, cell proliferation and neoangiogenesis, differentiation, metastasis, and immune system recognition. Since, HSPs are presently considered as biomarkers of carcinogenesis and their expression is correlated with the extent of differentiation and aggressiveness of certain tumors. Therefore, HSPs may also have been potential as forecasters of response to therapy. As well, their use as anti-cancer agents is growing, for instance, as inducers of anti-tumor immune responses. Importantly, E3 ligases have also shown the regulatory role in various cancers and lead to protect from a variety of cancers, conversely, it also acts as oncogenes. These E3 ligases have a significant role in motility, cytoskeleton alterations, cell growths, cell-death, DNA repairs and cell-cycle progression. This notion advocates new insights for anticancer therapy. Nevertheless, further research is needed in order to make drugs/compounds in cancer therapeutics a blatant reality.