HER4 D-box sequences regulate mitotic progression and degradation of the nuclear HER4 cleavage product s80HER4.

Heregulin-mediated activation of HER4 initiates receptor cleavage (releasing an 80-kDa HER4 intracellular domain, s80(HER4), containing nuclear localization sequences) and results in G(2)-M delay by unknown signaling mechanisms. We report herein that s80(HER4) contains a functional cyclin B-like sequence known as a D-box, which targets proteins for degradation by anaphase-promoting complex (APC)/cyclosome, a multisubunit ubiquitin ligase. s80(HER4) ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation occurred during mitosis but not during S phase. Inhibition of an APC subunit (APC2) using short interfering RNA knockdown impaired s80(HER4) degradation. Mutation of the s80(HER4) D-box sequence stabilized s80(HER4) during mitosis, and s80(HER4)-dependent growth inhibition via G(2)-M delay was significantly greater with the D-box mutant. Polyomavirus middle T antigen-transformed HC11 cells expressing s80(HER4) resulted in smaller, less proliferative, more differentiated tumors in vivo than those expressing kinase-dead s80(HER4) or the empty vector. Cells expressing s80(HER4) with a disrupted D-box did not form tumors, instead forming differentiated ductal structures. These results suggest that cell cycle-dependent degradation of s80(HER4) limits its growth-inhibitory action, and stabilization of s80(HER4) enhances tumor suppression, thus providing a link between HER4-mediated growth inhibition and cell cycle control.