Clear cell renal carcinoma essentially requires CDKL3 for oncogenesis

L Lanjing Ma (College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University) Z Zhongqiu Pang (College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University) H Haijiao Zhang (College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University) X Xueling Yang (College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University) S Shaoqin Zheng (College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University) Y Yi Chen W Weijie Ding (College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University) Q Qing Han X Xi Zhang L Liu Cao (Computational Biology Department, School of Computer Science) T Teng Fei (College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University) Q Qiang Wang D Daming Gao (State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences) A Aina He (Department of Oncology, the Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University) K Ke-Bang Hu (Department of Urology, The First Hospital of Jilin University) X Xuexin Li (Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University) R Ren Sheng (College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University)

Abstract

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the predominant human renal cancer with surging incidence and fatality lately. Hyperactivation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling are the common signatures in ccRCC. Herein, we employed spontaneous ccRCC model to demonstrate the indispensability of an underappreciated Ser/Thr kinase, CDKL3, in the initiation and progression of ccRCC. Ablation of CDKL3 does not affect normal kidney, but abrogates Akt-mTOR hyperactivity and thoroughly prevents the formation and growth of the HIF-agitated ccRCC in vivo. Remarkable clinical correlations also supported the oncogenic role of CDKL3. Mechanism-wise, cytosolic CDKL3 unexpectedly behaves as the adaptor to physically potentiate mTORC2-dependent Akt activation without functioning through kinase activity. And mTORC2 can phosphorylate and stabilize CDKL3 to form a positive feedback loop to sustain the cancer-favored Akt-mTOR overactivation. Together, we revealed the pathological importance and molecular mechanism of CDKL3-mediated Akt-mTOR axis in ccRCC initiation and progression.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 7
Published February 18, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (17)

L

Lanjing Ma

College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University

Z

Zhongqiu Pang

College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University

H

Haijiao Zhang

College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University

X

Xueling Yang

College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University

S

Shaoqin Zheng

College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University

Y

Yi Chen

W

Weijie Ding

College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University

Q

Qing Han

X

Xi Zhang

L

Liu Cao

Computational Biology Department, School of Computer Science

T

Teng Fei

College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University

Q

Qiang Wang

D

Daming Gao

State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

A

Aina He

Department of Oncology, the Sixth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University

K

Ke-Bang Hu

Department of Urology, The First Hospital of Jilin University

X

Xuexin Li

Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University

R

Ren Sheng

College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University