Loss of Fbxo45 in AT2 cells leads to insufficient histone supply and initiates lung adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Dysregulation of histone supply is implicated in various cancers, including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), although the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that knockout of Fbxo45 in mouse alveolar epithelial type 2 (AT2) cells leads to spontaneous LUAD. Our findings reveal that FBXO45 is a novel cell-cycle-regulated protein that is degraded upon phosphorylation by CDK1 during the S/G2 phase. During the S phase or DNA damage repair, FBXO45 binds to UPF1 and recruits the phosphatase PPP6C, thereby inhibiting UPF1 phosphorylation. This process is crucial for preventing the degradation of replication-dependent (RD) histone mRNAs and ensuring an adequate histone supply. In the absence of FBXO45, the impaired interaction between PPP6C and UPF1 results in sustained hyperphosphorylation of UPF1 throughout the cell cycle, leading to an insufficient histone supply, chromatin relaxation, genomic instability, and an increased rate of gene mutations, ultimately culminating in malignant transformation. Notably, analysis of clinical LUAD specimens confirms a positive correlation between the loss of FBXO45 and genomic instability, which is consistent with our findings in the mouse model. These results highlight the critical role of FBXO45 as a genomic guardian in coordinating histone supply and DNA replication, providing valuable insights into potential therapeutic targets and strategies for the treatment of LUAD.