TRIM29 regulates the SETBP1/SET/PP2A axis via transcription factor VEZF1 to promote progression of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a common gynecological malignant tumor that seriously endangers the health of women worldwide. Tripartite motif containing 29 (TRIM29) is a TRIM family member that is frequently overexpressed in OC. However, the specific role of TRIM29 in OC remains obscure. To investigate the underlying molecular mechanism, a global proteomics analysis identified SET binding protein 1 (SETBP1) as a crucial target of TRIM29. Subsequently, the SETBP1/SET/Protein phosphatase 2 (PP2A) axis was confirmed to be required for the recovery of cancer stem cell (CSC)-like phenotype suppressed by TRIM29 knockdown. Mechanistically, TRIM29 facilitated SETBP1 transcriptional activation via the VEZF1 transcription factor. More importantly, TRIM29 promoted VEZF1 mRNA translation by recruiting RNA binding protein BICC1 to its 3 & PRIME;UTR. The clinical significance was established by the association of TRIM29 and SETBP1 expression with clinicopathological features in OC samples. The SETBP1/SET/PP2A axis driven by TRIM29 via transcription factor VEZF1 is at least one of the primary mechanisms underlying TRIM29 maintenance of the CSC-like characteristics in OC.