SummaryTRIB2 is a potent oncogene, elevated in a subset of human acute myeloid leukaemias (AML) with a mixed myeloid/lymphoid phenotype and NOTCH1 mutations. Although rare in AML, activating NOTCH1 mutations occur in 50% of all T cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemias (T-ALL). TRIB2 is a NOTCH1 target gene that functions in the degradation of key proteins and modulation of MAPK signalling pathways, implicated in haematopoietic cell survival and proliferation. This study showed that TRIB2 expression level is highest in the lymphoid compartment of normal haematopoietic cells, specifically in T cells. Analysis of TRIB2 expression across 16 different subtypes of human leukaemia demonstrated that TRIB2 expression was higher in ALL phenotypes versus all other phenotypes including AML, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). A T cell profile was distinguished by high TRIB2 expression in normal and malignant haematopoiesis. High TRIB2 expression was seen in T-ALL with normal karyotype and correlated with NOTCH signalling pathways. High TRIB2 expression correlated with NOTCH1/FBXW7 mutations in a paediatric T-ALL cohort, strongly linking NOTCH1 activation and high TRIB2 expression in paediatric T-ALL. The relationship between TRIB2 and T cell signalling pathways uniquely identifies leukaemia subtypes and will be useful in the advancement of our understanding of T cell and ALL biology.

Tribbles are members of the pseudokinase family of proteins, with no associated kinase activity detectable to date. As tribbles appear not to function as kinases, there has been debate surrounding their functional classification. Tribbles have been proposed to function as adaptor molecules facilitating degradation of their target proteins. Tribbles have also been proposed to mediate signalling changes to MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) cascades and also to function as decoy kinases interfering with the activity of known kinases. The present review discusses the functionally divergent roles of tribbles as molecular adaptors mediating degradation, changes to signalling cascades and action as decoy kinases.

C/EBPα (p42 and p30 isoforms) is commonly dysregulated in cancer via the action of oncogenes, and specifically in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) by mutation. Elevated TRIB2 leads to the degradation of C/EBPα p42, leaving p30 intact in AML. Whether this relationship is a cooperative event in AML transformation is not known and the molecular mechanism involved remains elusive.Using mouse genetics our data reveal that in the complete absence of C/EBPα TRIB2 was unable to induce AML. Only in the presence of C/EBPα p42 and p30 were TRIB2 and p30 able to cooperate to decrease the latency of disease. We demonstrate the molecular mechanism involved in degradation of C/EBPα p42 requires site-specific direct interaction between TRIB2 and C/EBPα p42 for the K48-specific ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of C/EBPα p42. This interaction and ubiquitination is dependent on a critical C-terminal lysine residue on C/EBPα. We show effective targeting of this pathway pharmacologically using proteasome inhibitors in TRIB2 positive AML cells. Together, our data show that excess p30 cooperated with TRIB2 only in the presence of p42 to accelerate AML and the direct interaction and degradation of C/EBPα p42 is required for TRIB2-mediated AML.

The pseudokinase TRIB2 is a potent acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) oncogene, capable of inducing transplantable AML with a relatively short latency in murine models. Functionally, the oncogencity of TRIB2 has been linked to its degradation of CCAAT/enhancer binding-protein-alpha (C/EBPα), a transcription factor necessary for regulation of haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and myeloid differentiation and is mutated in ∼10-15% of cytogenetically normal AMLs. Previously, we have demonstrated that elevated TRIB2 mRNA expression is associated with a small subset of C/EBPα dysregulated AML patients. However in our analysis of primary AML patient samples we reveal detectably high TRIB2 protein expression in a greater number of samples than predicted from mRNA studies compared to normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Here, using in vivo ubiquitination assays we determined that TRIB2 exerts its effect through K48 specific ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of C/EBPα. Peptide array analysis identified the specific amino acids involved in the direct binding of these two proteins. Site-directed mutagenesis of these amino acids demonstrated that the direct binding of TRIB2 and C/EBPα was required for TRIB2-mediated C/EBPα degradation. In order to determine if posttranslational modification of C/EBPα was a trigger for TRIB2-mediated binding and degradation, we assessed the phosphorylation of C/EBPα, often a modification involved in target substrate ubiquitination. We found that TRIB2 decreased the levels of phosphorylated Serine 21 (S21) C/EBPα through preferential binding to the phosphorylated form of S21 C/EBPα and mediating its K48 specific ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation. While TRIB2 retains the canonical amino acid motifs of a kinase and the ability to bind ATP, indicative of kinase activity, the absence of phosphorylated S21 C/EBPα in the presence of TRIB2 suggests that it does not have sufficient kinase activity to enable efficient phosphotransfer. The presence of TRIB2 further blocked the ability of mitogenic stimuli to phosphorylate S21 of C/EBPα. TRIB2 thus acts to perturb the regulation and function of C/EBPα phosphorylation ultimately leading to its degradation. We propose this contributes to the leukaemic phenotype of AML cells which include increased self-renewal and proliferation. Using clinically available inhibitors of the proteasomal degradation pathway we have investigated the targeted inhibition of the TRIB2 degradation function to induce cell death in AML cells. In TRIB2 overexpressing AML cell lines, and in AML patient samples identified to have elevated levels of TRIB2, we have demonstrated that elevated TRIB2 expressing samples are more sensitive than low TRIB2 expressing samples to cell death induced by proteasomal inhibition. Our data shows that in the presence of TRIB2 phosphorylated S21 C/EBPα is a trigger for its ubiquitin dependent degradation. We propose TRIB2 mediates is leukaemogenic effects in AML through direct protein-protein interaction, perturbation of phosphorylation signalling, resulting ultimately in proteasomal mediated degradation of its target C/EBPα. As C/EBPα plays a key role in both stem cell function and myeloid differentiation in AML, the targeted inhibition of TRIB2-mediated C/EBPα degradation may provide therapeutic avenues in AML. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The pseudokinase TRIB2 is a potent acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) oncogene, capable of inducing transplantable AML with a relatively short latency in murine models. Functionally, the oncogencity of TRIB2 has been linked to its degradation of CCAAT/enhancer binding-protein-alpha (C/EBPα), a transcription factor necessary for regulation of haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and myeloid differentiation and is mutated in ∼10-15% of cytogenetically normal AMLs. Previously, we have demonstrated that elevated TRIB2 mRNA expression is associated with a small subset of C/EBPα dysregulated AML patients. However in our analysis of primary AML patient samples we reveal detectably high TRIB2 protein expression in a greater number of samples than predicted from mRNA studies compared to normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Here, using in vivo ubiquitination assays we determined that TRIB2 exerts its effect through K48 specific ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of C/EBPα. Peptide array analysis identified the specific amino acids involved in the direct binding of these two proteins. Site-directed mutagenesis of these amino acids demonstrated that the direct binding of TRIB2 and C/EBPα was required for TRIB2-mediated C/EBPα degradation. In order to determine if posttranslational modification of C/EBPα was a trigger for TRIB2-mediated binding and degradation, we assessed the phosphorylation of C/EBPα, often a modification involved in target substrate ubiquitination. We found that TRIB2 decreased the levels of phosphorylated Serine 21 (S21) C/EBPα through preferential binding to the phosphorylated form of S21 C/EBPα and mediating its K48 specific ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation. While TRIB2 retains the canonical amino acid motifs of a kinase and the ability to bind ATP, indicative of kinase activity, the absence of phosphorylated S21 C/EBPα in the presence of TRIB2 suggests that it does not have sufficient kinase activity to enable efficient phosphotransfer. The presence of TRIB2 further blocked the ability of mitogenic stimuli to phosphorylate S21 of C/EBPα. TRIB2 thus acts to perturb the regulation and function of C/EBPα phosphorylation ultimately leading to its degradation. We propose this contributes to the leukaemic phenotype of AML cells which include increased self-renewal and proliferation. Using clinically available inhibitors of the proteasomal degradation pathway we have investigated the targeted inhibition of the TRIB2 degradation function to induce cell death in AML cells. In TRIB2 overexpressing AML cell lines, and in AML patient samples identified to have elevated levels of TRIB2, we have demonstrated that elevated TRIB2 expressing samples are more sensitive than low TRIB2 expressing samples to cell death induced by proteasomal inhibition. Our data shows that in the presence of TRIB2 phosphorylated S21 C/EBPα is a trigger for its ubiquitin dependent degradation. We propose TRIB2 mediates is leukaemogenic effects in AML through direct protein-protein interaction, perturbation of phosphorylation signalling, resulting ultimately in proteasomal mediated degradation of its target C/EBPα. As C/EBPα plays a key role in both stem cell function and myeloid differentiation in AML, the targeted inhibition of TRIB2-mediated C/EBPα degradation may provide therapeutic avenues in AML. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.