Aberrant Cytoplasmic Localization of N-CoR in Colorectal Tumors

Abstract

We have previously shown that IKKs are aberrantly activated in colon cancer cells leading to SMRT phosphorylation and its release from the chromatin. We now show that IKKalpha phosphorylates the homologous N-CoR corepressor in serines 2345 and 2348 creating a functional 14-3-3 binding domain (RK(p)S(2348)KSP). Moreover, we have analyzed the subcellular localization of N-CoR in 43 colorectal cancer samples and we have found that aberrant cytoplasmic distribution of N-CoR is a general trait of these tumors.