Cullin‐associated and neddylation‐dissociated 1 regulate reprogramming of lipid metabolism through SKP1‐Cullin‐1‐F‐box(FBXO11)‐mediated heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 ubiquitination and promote hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Enhanced de novo lipogenesis is essential for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Abnormally high cullin‐associated and neddylation‐dissociated 1 (CAND1) expression is associated with poor clinical prognosis in HCC. The SKP1‐Cullin‐1‐F‐box (SCF) complex consists of the SKP1, Cullin‐1 and F‐box proteins (FBPs) and performs multiple functions including adipogenesis. SCF complex was modulated by CAND1, but Whether and how the CAND1 promotes HCC by regulating SCF complex and lipogenesis are unknown. METHODS: HCC samples were used to analyze the correlations between CAND1 expression and clinicopathological characteristics such as survival and prognosis. The in vitro functions of CAND1, FBXO11 and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (hnRNPA2B1) were measured by cell proliferation, colony formation and migration assays. The in vivo functions were tested in multiple mouse liver cancer models including patient‐derived xenograft (PDX), cell line‐derived xenograft and AKT/NRASV12‐induced primary liver cancer models. Injections of adeno‐associated virus targeting CAND1 (AAV‐shCAND1) were performed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of targeting CAND1. RNA‐Seq and lipidomic assays followed by serial biochemical experiments including mass spectrometry, immunoprecipitation and GST pull‐down were performed to dissect the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: CAND1 promoted the expression of lipid synthesis genes by disrupting SCF complex assembly and lipid accumulation. Furthermore, we identified hnRNPA2B1 as a novel F‐box protein 11 (FBXO11)‐binding partner. FBXO11 directly bound to hnRNPA2B1 and promoted hnRNPA2B1 ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. Our evaluations of the therapeutic efficacy of AAV‐shCAND1 injections confirmed that targeting the CAND1‐SCF(FBXO11)‐hnRNPA2B1A signalling axis was therapeutically effective. CAND1 downregulation significantly reduced the tumour burden in a primary mouse liver cancer model and a PDX model. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight that CAND1 is associated with poor prognosis in HCC and regulates lipid metabolic reprogramming by dissociating the SCF complex. Targeting the CAND1‐SCF(FBXO11)‐hnRNPA2B1 axis may be a novel strategy for HCC treatment.