Abstract
The retinoid acid-related orphan receptor α (RORα), a member of the orphan nuclear receptor superfamily, functions as an unknown ligand-dependent transcription factor. RORα was shown to regulate a broad array of physiological processes such as Purkinje cell development in the cerebellum, circadian rhythm, lipid and bone metabolism, inhibition of inflammation, and anti-apoptosis. The human RORα gene encodes at least four distinct isoforms (RORα1, -2, -3, -4), which differ only in their N-terminal domain (NTD). Two isoforms, RORα2 and 3, are not expressed in mice, whereas RORα1 and 4 are expressed both in mice and humans. In the present study, we identified the specific NTD of RORα2 that enhances prostate tumor progression and proliferation via lysine methylation-mediated recruitment of coactivator complex pontin/Tip60. Upregulation of the RORα2 isoform in prostate cancers putatively promotes tumor formation and progression. Furthermore, binding between coactivator complex and RORα2 is increased by lysine methylation of RORα2 because methylation permits subsequent interaction with binding partners. This methylation-dependent activation is performed by SET domain containing 7 (SETD7) methyltransferase, inducing the oncogenic potential of RORα2. Thus, post-translational lysine methylation of RORα2 modulates oncogenic function of RORα2 in prostate cancer. Exploration of the post-translational modifications of RORα2 provides new avenues for the development of tumor-suppressive therapeutic agents through modulating the human isoform-specific tumorigenic role of RORα2.