Activation of c-Abl kinase potentiates the anti-myeloma drug lenalidomide by promoting DDA1 protein recruitment to the CRL4 ubiquitin ligase

Abstract

Cullin-RING ligase 4 (CRL4), a complex of Cul4 and DDB1, regulates the cell cycle, DNA damage repair, and chromatin replication by targeting a variety of substrates for ubiquitination. CRL4 is also hijacked by viral proteins or thalidomide-derived compounds to degrade host restriction factors. Here we report that the c-Abl non-receptor kinase phosphorylates DDB1 at residue Tyr-316 to recruit a small regulatory protein, DDA1, leading to increased substrate ubiquitination. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of the Abl-DDB1-DDA1 axis decreases the ubiquitination of CRL4 substrates, including IKZF1 and IKZF3, in lenalidomide-treated multiple myeloma cells. Importantly, panobinostat, a recently approved anti-myeloma drug, and dexamethasone enhance lenalidomide-induced substrate degradation and cytotoxicity by activating c-Abl, therefore providing a mechanism underlying their combination with lenalidomide to treat multiple myeloma.