The SCFFBW7 ubiquitin ligase complex as a tumor suppressor in T cell leukemia

Recent studies have shown that activating mutations of NOTCH1 are responsible for the majority of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cases. Most of these mutations truncate its C-terminal domain, a region that is important for the NOTCH1 proteasome-mediated degradation. We report that the E3 ligase FBW7 targets NOTCH1 for ubiquitination and degradation. Our studies map in detail the amino acid degron sequence required for NOTCH1-FBW7 interaction. Furthermore, we identify inactivating Ill mutations in a large fraction of human T-ALL lines and primary leukemias. These mutations abrogate the binding of Ill not only to NOTCH1 but also to the two other characterized targets, c-Myc and cyclin E. The majority of the Ill mutations were present during relapse, and they were associated with NOTCH1 HD mutations. Interestingly, most of the T-ALL lines harboring Ill mutations were resistant to gamma-secretase inhibitor treatment and this resistance appeared to be related to the stabilization of the C-Myc protein. Our data suggest that FBW7 is a novel tumor suppressor in T cell leukemia, and implicate the loss of Ill function as a potential mechanism of drug resistance in T-ALL.