Dephosphorylation of the proneural transcription factor ASCL1 re-engages a latent post-mitotic differentiation program in neuroblastoma

Abstract

Pediatric cancers often resemble trapped developmental intermediate states that fail to engage the normal differentiation program, typified by high-risk neuroblastoma arising from the developing sympathetic nervous system. Neuroblastoma cells resemble arrested neuroblasts trapped by a stable but aberrant epigenetic program controlled by sustained expression of a core transcriptional circuit of developmental regulators in conjunction with elevated MYCN or MYC (MYC). The transcription factor ASCL1 is a key master regulator in neuroblastoma and has oncogenic and tumor-suppressive activities in several other tumor types. Using functional mutational approaches, we find that preventing CDK-dependent phosphorylation of ASCL1 in neuroblastoma cells drives coordinated suppression of the MYC-driven core circuit supporting neuroblast identity and proliferation, while simultaneously activating an enduring gene program driving mitotic exit and neuronal differentiation. Implications: These findings indicate that targeting phosphorylation of ASCL1 may offer a new approach to development of differentiation therapies in neuroblastoma. Visual Overview: http://mcr.aacrjournals.org/content/molcanres/18/12/1759/F1.large.jpg.