Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39763034›Full record

ArticleClinical and translational medicine2025

EHMT2-mediated R-loop formation promotes the malignant progression of prostate cancer via activating Aurora B.

Yuyang Zhang, Mingqin Su, Yiming Chen, Li Cui, Wei Xia, Renfang Xu, Dong Xue, Xiansheng Zhang, Xingliang Feng

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical and translational medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Yuyang ZhangDepartment of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
Mingqin SuDepartment of Pathology, The Second People's Hospital of Hefei, Hefei Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
Yiming ChenDepartment of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Li CuiDepartment of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Wei XiaDepartment of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Renfang XuDepartment of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Dong XueDepartment of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Xiansheng ZhangDepartment of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
Xingliang FengDepartment of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.ORCID 0009-0005-4940-1950

Funding

Changzhou '14th Five-Year Plan' Top Talent High-Level Health Talents Training Project 2022260Changzhou Key Medical Discipline CZXK202209Changzhou Science & Technology Program CE20235059Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province BK20211064Youth Talent Science and Technology Project of the Changzhou Health Commission QN202109Youth Talent Science and Technology Project of the Changzhou Health Commission QN202110
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChromosomal instability (CIN), a hallmark of cancer, is commonly linked to poor prognosis in high-grade prostate cancer (PCa). Paradoxically, excessively high levels of CIN may impair cancer cell viability. Consequently, understanding how tumours adapt to CIN is critical for identifying novel therapeutic targets.

methodsBioinformatic analyses were conducted to identify genes overexpressed in PCa tissues using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GEO datasets. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry assays were applied to determine the expression levels of euchromatic histone lysine methyltransferase 2 (EHMT2), pT232-Aurora B and Cullin 3 (CUL3). The proliferation of cells was measured through CCK-8 tests, clonogenesis and subcutaneous xenografts of human PCa cells in BALB/c nude mice. Live cell imaging, immunofluorescence (IF) and flow cytometry were used to confirm the role of EHMT2 in PCa cell mitosis. Co-immunoprecipitation, Western blotting and IF assays further elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms.

resultsEHMT2 was highly expressed in metastatic PCa tissues exhibiting elevated CIN and was strongly associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with PCa. Silencing EHMT2 impaired cell division, inducing G2/M-phase arrest and mitotic catastrophe in PCa cells. Mechanistically, EHMT2 is indispensable to ensure the full activation of Aurora B through centromeric R-loop-driven ATR-CHK1 pathway, with EHMT2 protein expression peaking during the G2/M-phase. Moreover, CUL3 was identified as a binding partner of EHMT2, mediating its polyubiquitination and destabilising its protein levels.

conclusionsThis study reveals a CUL3-EHMT2-Aurora B regulatory axis that safeguards accurate chromosome segregation in PCa cells, supporting the potential therapeutic application of EHMT2 inhibitors. KEY POINTS: Euchromatic histone lysine methyltransferase 2 (EHMT2) is overexpressed in advanced prostate cancer, restraining catastrophic chromosomal instability (CIN) and enhancing cell fitness. EHMT2 functions via the centromeric R-loop-driven ATR-CHK1-Aurora B pathway to promote chromosomal stability. EHMT2 confers enzalutamide resistance via activating Aurora B. Cullin 3 (CUL3) promotes EHMT2 destabilisation via deubiquitination.

Indexed as

Aurora Kinase BHistone-Lysine N-MethyltransferaseProstatic NeoplasmsAnimalsCell Line, TumorDisease ProgressionHistocompatibility AntigensHumansMaleMiceMice, Inbred BALB CMice, NudeAURKB protein, humanAurora Kinase BEHMT2 protein, humanHistocompatibility AntigensHistone-Lysine N-MethyltransferaseAurora BCINCUL3EHMT2

Identifiers

PMID39763034
PMCPMC11705492

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.