lncRNA <i>BREA2</i> promotes metastasis by disrupting the WWP2-mediated ubiquitination of Notch1.

Abstract

Notch has been implicated in human cancers and is a putative therapeutic target. However, the regulation of Notch activation in the nucleus remains largely uncharacterized. Therefore, characterizing the detailed mechanisms governing Notch degradation will identify attractive strategies for treating Notch-activated cancers. Here, we report that the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) <i>BREA2</i> drives breast cancer metastasis by stabilizing the Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD1). Moreover, we reveal WW domain containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 2 (WWP2) as an E3 ligase for NICD1 at K1821 and a suppressor of breast cancer metastasis. Mechanistically, <i>BREA2</i> impairs WWP2-NICD1 complex formation and in turn stabilizes NICD1, leading to Notch signaling activation and lung metastasis. <i>BREA2</i> loss sensitizes breast cancer cells to inhibition of Notch signaling and suppresses the growth of breast cancer patient-derived xenograft tumors, highlighting its therapeutic potential in breast cancer. Taken together, these results reveal the lncRNA <i>BREA2</i> as a putative regulator of Notch signaling and an oncogenic player driving breast cancer metastasis.