Targeting the interaction of AIMP2-DX2 with HSP70 suppresses cancer development.
Lim, S., Cho, H.Y., Kim, D.G., Roh, Y., Son, S.Y., Mushtaq, A.U., Kim, M., Bhattarai, D., Sivaraman, A., Lee, Y., Lee, J., Yang, W.S., Kim, H.K., Kim, M.H., Lee, K., Jeon, Y.H., Kim, S.(2020) Nat Chem Biol 16: 31-41
- PubMed: 31792442 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-019-0415-2
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
6JPV, 6K39 - PubMed Abstract: 
A tumorigenic factor, AIMP2 lacking exon 2 (AIMP2-DX2), is often upregulated in many cancers. However, how its cellular level is determined is not understood. Here, we report heat-shock protein HSP70 as a critical determinant for the level of AIMP2-DX2. Interaction of the two factors was identified by interactome analysis and structurally determined by X-ray crystallography and NMR analyses. HSP70 recognizes the amino (N)-terminal flexible region, as well as the glutathione S-transferase domain of AIMP2-DX2, via its substrate-binding domain, thus blocking the Siah1-dependent ubiquitination of AIMP2-DX2. AIMP2-DX2-induced cell transformation and cancer progression in vivo was further augmented by HSP70. A positive correlation between HSP70 and AIMP2-DX2 levels was shown in various lung cancer cell lines and patient tissues. Chemical intervention in the AIMP2-DX2-HSP70 interaction suppressed cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Thus, this work demonstrates the importance of the interaction between AIMP2-DX2 and HSP70 on tumor progression and its therapeutic potential against cancer.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Medicinal Bioconvergence Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.