Inhibition of cnot2 induces apoptosis via mid1ip1 in colorectal cancer cells by activating p53

CCR4-NOT transcription complex subunit 2 (CNOT2), a subunit of the CCR4-NOT complex, has been described in cancer progression. The CNOT complex plays an important role in multiple cellular functions. Recent studies in our laboratory showed that CNOT2 promotes breast cancer cell proliferation and angiogenesis. In addition, CNOT2 signals are critically related to apoptosis induced by atorvastatin in lung cancer cells. Furthermore, depletion of CNOT2 was shown to enhance the antitumor effect of midline 1 interacting protein 1 (MID1IP1) depletion, thus inhibiting c-Myc expression in liver cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanisms related to its oncogenic role remain unclear. Herein, for the first time, we report that CNOT2 inhibition can induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells by activating p53. Inhibition of CNOT2 markedly induced apoptosis in various cancer cells like that of the wild-type p53. Furthermore, inhibition of CNOT2 elongated p53’s half-life. Previously, our laboratory demonstrated that MID1IP1 promoted colocalization with c-Myc mediated by CNOT2. Interestingly, inhibition of CNOT2 cannot induce p53 expression without MID1IP1 or apoptosis in cancer cells. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that CNOT2 inhibition induces apoptosis through MID1IP1 by activating p53.