The E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM31 enhances the progression of esophageal cancer through the ubiquitination of BBOX1.

Abstract

Esophageal cancer, a prevalent malignant neoplasm affecting the digestive system, is characterized by a poor prognosis and high rates of mortality and morbidity. The tripartite motif containing 31 (TRIM31) gene has been implicated in a variety of human cancers. However, little is known about its phenotypic expression and mechanistic role in esophageal cancer progression. Our study revealed that TRIM31 is highly expressed in esophageal cancer. Loss-of-function analysis demonstrated that TRIM31 depletion inhibited esophageal cancer cell proliferation while suppressing tumor growth and promoting apoptosis in vivo. Furthermore, silencing TRIM31 significantly inhibited migration and invasion while modulating the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers. Mechanistically, gamma-butyrobetaine dioxygenase (BBOX1) is predicted to be a downstream gene of TRIM31 and is downregulated in esophageal cancers. TRIM31 enhances the proliferation, migration, and invasion of Eca109 cells through the ubiquitination of BBOX1. In conclusion, TRIM31 functions as an oncogene, suggesting its potential as a novel therapeutic target or prognostic biomarker for patients with esophageal cancer.