Abstract 5591: ARID domain containing BAF subunits exhibit neomorphism: Have we identified the new Achilles heel in cancer
Authors: Sanjana Sarkar, Murali Dharan Bashyam
Journal: Cancer Research (2024)

Abstract The SWI/SNF chromatin remodeler utilizes energy of ATP hydrolysis to slide or evict nucleosomes or histones, respectively, thus enabling nuclear processes by driving an ‘open’ chromatin architecture. The mammalian SWI/SNF, also termed the BrG1/Brm associated factor (BAF) complex, is the major chromatin remodeler in ontogeny and adult life. Three major BAF complexes namely canonical (cBAF), polybromo (pBAF), and non-canonical (ncBAF) have been studied. BAF components, classified as a tumor suppressors, exhibit frequent mutations in cancers. Though, studies have evaluated functional roles of BAF subunits, very few attempted to study BAF mutations identified across cancer types. In our previous studies, we identified tumor specific mutations in the gene encoding ‘A-T rich interaction domain containing 1B’ (ARID1B), within its nuclear localization signal (NLS). NLS-inactivated ARID1B exhibited cytoplasmic localization and promoted tumorigenesis by activating the ERK and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. More recently, we detected inactivating mutations in the gene encoding ARID2, a component of the pBAF complex and an ARID1B paralogue. We now present detailed characterization of tumor-specific ARID2 truncations that were presumed to be inactivating in nature. One such truncation mutation viz. p.Ser989fsArg21*, identified in our previous study, is expected to yield an ARID2 protein truncating at amino acid position 1010 (as against the full length of 1835 amino acids). Scrutiny of The Cancer Genome Atlas cBioPortal and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia mutation data bases revealed several ARID2 mutations expected to truncate the protein around the 1010 position. Surprisingly, ectopic expression of truncated ARID2 forms promoted oncogenic function in both ARID2 proficient and deficient backgrounds, thus validating a neomorphic gain of function for the truncated protein. Fluorescence based intracellular localization assays revealed a surprising cytoplasmic localization of truncated ARID2. Further, we mapped the ARID2 NLS by in silico analysis followed by evaluation of several deletion constructs, to be located at 1488-1518 position; thus, explaining the cytoplasmic localization of ARID2 forms truncating around 1010 position. Further, truncated ARID2 was unable to bind other pBAF components and did not sequester other pBAF components to the cytoplasm, in both ARID2 proficient and deficient cells. Tandem Affinity Purification Mass-spectrometry revealed putative interaction partners for truncated ARID2; analysis is currently underway to reveal the mechanism of tumorigenic induction exhibited by truncated ARID2. Immunohistochemistry on colorectal and breast cancer tissue microarrays revealed ARID2 cytoplasmic localization in a significant fraction of samples. We have discovered a novel YIN-YANG function of BAF components expected to yield efficient therapeutic options in cancer. Citation Format: Sanjana Sarkar, Murali Dharan Bashyam. ARID domain containing BAF subunits exhibit neomorphism: Have we identified the new Achilles heel in cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 5591.