UBE2T-mediated HP1α ubiquitination enhances nucleolar function and promotes the progression of IDH1/TP53-mutant glioma

Background: High-grade glioma is the most aggressive form of primary brain tumor, characterized by rapid progression and a grim prognosis. The presence of mutations in the IDH1 and TP53 is associated with a specific molecular phenotype in glioma, and their interaction is a potential target for therapy.

Methods: Our study utilized a combination of bioinformatics analysis, in vitro experiments, and in vivo tumor xenograft models to investigate the role of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBE2T in the malignant progression of IDH1/TP53 mutant glioma.

Results: We found that UBE2T is overexpressed in the context of TP53 mutations and is linked to enhanced glioma cell proliferation and stemness. Mechanistically, UBE2T was shown to degrade HP1α via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, leading to the release of suppressive effects of R-2-hydroxyglutarate (R-2HG) on nucleolar function and an increase in rDNA transcription. The therapeutic potential of targeting UBE2T is underscored by the discovery that APR-246, a mutant p53 reactivator, effectively suppresses UBE2T expression and reverses hyperactivity of nucleolar transcription.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that UBE2T plays a crucial role in the progression of IDH1/TP53 mutant astrocytoma and that targeting UBE2T with APR-246 could be a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with these mutations. Our study provides a foundation for further research into the role of UBE2T in glioma and the development of targeted therapies.