Abstract
Ezrin-radixin-moesin-binding phosphoprotein 50 (EBP50) is a scaffold protein that is required for epithelial polarity. Knockout (KO) of membranous EBP50 (Me-EBP50) in ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) cells induced an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like phenotype, along with decreased proliferation, accelerated migration capability, and induction of cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties. Shotgun proteomics analysis of proteins that co-immunoprecipitated with EBP50 revealed that Me-EBP50 strongly interacts with myosin 9 (MYH9). Specific inhibition of MYH9 with blebbistatin phenocopied Me-EBP50 KO, and blebbistatin treatment potentiated the effects of Me-EBP50 KO. In OCCC cells from clinical samples, Me-EBP50 and MYH9 were co-localized at the apical plasma membrane. Patients with a combination of Me-EBP50-high and MYH9-high scores had the best prognosis for overall and progression-free survival. Our data suggest that Me-EBP50 has tumor-suppressive effects through the establishment and maintenance of epithelial polarization. By contrast, loss of Me-EBP50 expression induces EMT-like phenotypes, probably due to MYH9 dysfunction; this results in increased cell mobility and enhanced CSC-like properties, which in turn promote OCCC progression.