Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant subtype of breast cancer that lacks reliable targets for diagnosis and therapy. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA)-encoded products hold promise for addressing this unmet need. By analyzing the reported ribosomal RNA sequencing data, combined with the TCGA, ORFfinder, SmProt databases, we identified CDKN2B-AS1, a TNBC-upregulated lncRNA encoding a 66-amino-acid peptide via CUG-initiated translation. CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and mass spectrometry confirmed endogenous expression of this peptide, designated 66CTG, in TNBC cells. Functionally independently of its host RNA, 66CTG promoted the proliferation of TNBC cells and the tumor growth of TNBC xenograft by stabilizing c-Myc protein and enhancing Cyclin D1 transcription. Immunohistochemistry of 89 clinical TNBC paraffin samples revealed positive correlations among 66CTG, c-Myc, and Cyclin D1 expression levels. Mechanistically, co-immunoprecipitation and ubiquitination assays revealed that 66CTG stabilized c-Myc by competitively interacting with FBW7 alpha, an E3 ligase responsible for recognizing 66CTG CPDS56/S60 motif which phosphorylated by GSK-3 beta during the late G1 phase. In conclusion, our findings suggest 66CTG has potential to be developed as a target for TNBC diagnosis and therapy. Furthermore, it unveils a regulatory axis wherein 66CTG stabilizes c-Myc by interacting with FBW7 alpha, offering a new mechanistic explanation for c-Myc overexpression in TNBC. Patients co-overexpressing 66CTG, c-Myc, and Cyclin D1 may benefit from therapies targeting this axis.
基金:
National Key Research and Development Program of
China (2023YFA1800500, 2023ZD0502200, SQ2023AAA030478, 2020YFA0112300);
National Natural Science Foundation of China (82203413, U2102203, 82430084,
82173014, 82472806); Biomedical Projects of Yunnan Key Science and Technology
Program (202302AA310046); Yunnan Fundamental Research Projects (Major project:
202501AS070023, 202201BC070002, General project: 202401AT070171,
202201AT070290); Yunnan Academician Expert Workstation (202505AF350058);
Yunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program (Yunling Shcolar); Yunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program, Joint Special Funds for the Department of Science and
Technology of Yunnan Province-Kunming Medical University (202401AY070001-026);The Innovative Research Team of Yunnan Province (202405AS350016).
第一作者机构:[1]Chinese Acad Sci, Kunming Inst Zool, Chinese Acad Sci & Yunnan Prov, Key Lab Anim Models & Human Dis Mech, Kunming, Peoples R China
共同第一作者:
通讯作者:
通讯机构:[2]Kunming Med Univ, Acad Biomed Engn, Yunnan Key Lab Breast Canc Precis Med, Kunming, Peoples R China[4]Kunming Med Univ, Affiliated Hosp 3, Yunan Key Lab Breast Canc Precis Med, Kunming, Peoples R China
推荐引用方式(GB/T 7714):
Liang Huichun,Li Fubing,Fang Huan,et al.A novel peptide 66CTG stabilizes Myc proto-oncogene protein to promote triple-negative breast cancer growth[J].SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY.2025,10(1):doi:10.1038/s41392-025-02298-5.
APA:
Liang, Huichun,Li, Fubing,Fang, Huan,Ren, Wenlong,Zhou, Zhongmei...&Chen, Ceshi.(2025).A novel peptide 66CTG stabilizes Myc proto-oncogene protein to promote triple-negative breast cancer growth.SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY,10,(1)
MLA:
Liang, Huichun,et al."A novel peptide 66CTG stabilizes Myc proto-oncogene protein to promote triple-negative breast cancer growth".SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY 10..1(2025)