TMEM65 promotes gastric tumorigenesis by targeting YWHAZ to activate PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway and is a therapeutic target

Copy number alterations are crucial for the development of gastric cancer (GC). Here, we identified Transmembrane Protein 65 (TMEM65) amplification by genomic hybridization microarray to profile copy-number variations in GC. TMEM65 mRNA level was significantly up-regulated in GC compared to adjacent normal tissues, and was positively associated with TMEM65 amplification. High TMEM65 expression or DNA copy number predicts poor prognosis (P < 0.05) in GC. Furtherly, GC patients with TMEM65 amplification (n = 129) or overexpression (n = 78) significantly associated with shortened survival. Ectopic expression of TMEM65 significantly promoted cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and cell migration/invasion ability, but inhibited apoptosis (all P < 0.05). Conversely, silencing of TMEM65 in GC cells showed opposite abilities on cell function in vitro and suppressed tumor growth and lung metastasis in vivo (all P < 0.01). Moreover, TMEM65 depletion by VNP-encapsulated TMEM65-siRNA significantly suppressed tumor growth in subcutaneous xenograft model. Mechanistically, TMEM65 exerted oncogenic effects through activating PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway, as evidenced of increased expression of key regulators (p-Akt, p-GSK-3β, p-mTOR) by Western blot. YWHAZ (Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase/Tryptophan 5-Monooxygenase) was identified as a direct downstream effector of TMEM65. Direct binding of TMEM65 with YWHAZ in the cytoplasm inhibited ubiquitin-mediated degradation of YWHAZ. Moreover, oncogenic effect of TMEM65 was partly dependent on YWHAZ. In conclusion, TMEM65 promotes gastric tumorigenesis by activating PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling via cooperating with YWHAZ. TMEM65 overexpression may serve as an independent new biomarker and is a therapeutic target in GC.