Tribbles homolog 2 (Trib2) is a pseudokinase that induces acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in mice and is highly expressed in a subset of human AML. Trib2 has 3 distinct regions, a proline-rich N-terminus, a serine/threonine kinase homology domain, and a C-terminal constitutive photomorphogenesis 1 (COP1)-binding domain. We performed a structure-function analysis of Trib2 using in vitro and in vivo assays. The N-terminus was not required for
IntroductionTribbles (Trib) pseudokinases have recently emerged as important contributors to dysregulated signaling in malignant hematopoiesis. All 3 mammalian Trib homologs, Trib1, Trib2, and Trib3 (collectively termed "Trib1-3"), are associated with human malignancies. [1][2][3] Trib1 and Trib2 function as oncogenes in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and cooperate with homeobox gene 9 (HoxA9) to accelerate the onset of AML in murine AML models. 2,4 In particular, Trib2 is highly expressed in a specific subset of human AMLs that are associated with impaired CCAAT/ enhancer-binding protein-alpha (C/EBP-␣) function. 2 These AMLs express both myeloid and T-cell markers, and some contain activating Notch1 mutations. 5 As Trib2 is a direct transcriptional target of oncogenic Notch1, we hypothesize that the oncogenic Notch1 mutations are activating Trib2 expression in some of these tumors. 5 These biphenotypic AMLs respond poorly to current therapies, suggesting that new therapeutic strategies are needed. 6 Trib proteins interact with various signaling molecules and transcription factors, including activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), 7 p65, 8 C-terminal interacting protein (CtIP), 9 mitogenactivated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK), 10 protein kinase B (AKT), 11 and constitutive morphogenesis 1 (COP1). 12 We recently demonstrated that Trib2 binds to and facilitates the degradation of C/EBP-␣, and proposed that this process is a key feature of Trib2-induced AML. 2 Trib2 (also termed c5Fw, TRB-2, GS3955, TRB2, and AW319517) has 3 clearly distinguishable regions, including an N-terminal portion, a central serine/threonine kinase-like domain (KD), and a C-terminal region that contains a COP1-binding site. The Trib2 N-terminus is the most divergent region of mammalian Trib proteins and is characterized by a high serine and proline content. The C-terminus contains a DQxVPx motif that is shared by Trib1-3 and binds the E3 ligase, COP1. 12 Trib2 belongs to the pseudokinase family because it contains a central region that shares considerable homology with serine/ threonine kinases, but has deviations in the catalytic loop that are likely to eliminate catalytic activity. 13 Canonical kinases have an N-terminal lobe that binds adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a central hinge region, and a C-terminal lobe that binds substrates. 14 The N-terminal lobe contains an invariant lysine residue critical for ATP binding that is conserved in Trib2, but the highly conserved sequence, HRDLKPEN, in the C-terminal subdomain, which is critical for phosphate transfer in active kinases, is altered to LRD...