PUBLICATION

CSK-homologous kinase (CHK/MATK) is a potential colorectal cancer tumour suppressor gene epigenetically silenced by promoter methylation

Authors
Chüeh, A.C., Advani, G., Foroutan, M., Smith, J., Ng, N., Nandurkar, H., Lio, D.S., Zhu, H.J., Chong, Y.P., Verkade, H., Fujita, D.J., Bjorge, J., Basheer, F., Lim, J.P., Luk, I., Dhillon, A., Sakthianandeswaren, A., Mouradov, D., Sieber, O., Hollande, F., Mariadason, J.M., Cheng, H.C.
ID
ZDB-PUB-210327-4
Date
2021
Source
Oncogene   40(17): 3015-3029 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Verkade, Heather
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • CSK Tyrosine-Protein Kinase
  • Methylation
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • src-Family Kinases*
PubMed
33767439 Full text @ Oncogene
Abstract
Hyperactivation of SRC-family protein kinases (SFKs) contributes to the initiation and progression of human colorectal cancer (CRC). Since oncogenic mutations of SFK genes are rare in human CRC, we investigated if SFK hyperactivation is linked to dysregulation of their upstream inhibitors, C-terminal SRC kinase (CSK) and its homolog CSK-homologous kinase (CHK/MATK). We demonstrate that expression of CHK/MATK but not CSK was significantly downregulated in CRC cell lines and primary tumours compared to normal colonic tissue. Investigation of the mechanism by which CHK/MATK expression is down-regulated in CRC cells uncovered hypermethylation of the CHK/MATK promoter in CRC cell lines and primary tumours. Promoter methylation of CHK/MATK was also observed in several other tumour types. Consistent with epigenetic silencing of CHK/MATK, genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of DNA methyltransferases increased CHK/MATK mRNA expression in CHK/MATK-methylated colon cancer cell lines. SFKs were hyperactivated in CHK/MATK-methylated CRC cells despite expressing enzymatically active CSK, suggesting loss of CHK/MATK contributes to SFK hyperactivation. Re-expression of CHK/MATK in CRC cell lines led to reduction in SFK activity via a non-catalytic mechanism, a reduction in anchorage-independent growth, cell proliferation and migration in vitro, and a reduction in tumour growth and metastasis in a zebrafish embryo xenotransplantation model in vivo, collectively identifying CHK/MATK as a novel putative tumour suppressor gene in CRC. Furthermore, our discovery that CHK/MATK hypermethylation occurs in the majority of tumours warrants its further investigation as a diagnostic marker of CRC.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping