Downregulation of uridine-cytidine kinase like-1 decreases proliferation and enhances tumor susceptibility to lysis by apoptotic agents and natural killer cells

Natural killer (NK) cells target and kill tumor cells by direct anti-tumor cytotoxicity. NK lytic-associated molecule (NKLAM) is a protein involved in this cytolytic function. Acting as an E3 ubiquitin ligase, NKLAM binds to and ubiquitinates a novel protein, uridine-cytidine kinase like-1 (UCKL-1), targeting it for degradation. However, UCKL-1's function in tumor cell survival and NK cell cytotoxicity is unknown. UCKL-1's homology to uridine kinases and over expression in tumor cells suggests a role for UCKL-1 in tumor growth and/or survival. We propose that NKLAM and UCKL-1 interact in the tumor cell, where degradation of UCKL-1 leads to increased tumor cell apoptosis. Here we use RNA interference to downregulate UCKL-1 expression in K562 erythroleukemia cells. It was seen that downregulation of UCKL-1 initiated apoptosis and slowed the cell cycle, resulting in lower growth in the small interfering UCKL-1 RNA treated K562 cell culture. In addition, the chemotherapeutic agent staurosporine was seen to be more effective in inducing cell death by apoptosis in UCKL-1 depleted K562 cells compared with controls. We also found that UCKL-1 depleted K562 cells were more susceptible to NK mediated cytolysis than controls. These results indicate a role for UCKL-1 in tumor cell survival and suggest possible therapeutic potential of UCKL-1 inhibitors in cancer treatment.