OTUD1 enhances gastric cancer aggressiveness by deubiquitinating EBV-encoded protein BALF1 to stabilize the apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is implicated in several cancers, including EBV-associated gastric Cancer (EBVaGC). This study focuses on EBV-encoded BALF1 (BamH1 A fragment leftward reading frame 1), a key Apoptosis regulator in EBV-related cancers, whose specific impact on EBVaGC was previously unknown. Our findings indicate that BALF1 overexpression in gastric Cancer cells significantly enhances their proliferation, migration, and resistance to chemotherapy-induced Apoptosis, confirming BALF1's oncogenic potential. A novel discovery is that BALF1 undergoes degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Through analysis of 69 deubiquitinating Enzymes (DUBs), ovarian tumor Protease (OTU) domain-containing protein 1 (OTUD1) emerged as a vital regulator for maintaining BALF1 protein stability. Furthermore, BALF1 was found to play a role in regulating the stability of the B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) protein, increasing its levels through deubiquitination. This mechanism reveals BALF1's multifaceted oncogenic role in gastric Cancer, as it contributes both directly and indirectly to Cancer progression, particularly by stabilizing Bcl-2, known for its anti-apoptotic characteristics. These insights significantly deepen our understanding of EBV's involvement in the pathogenesis of gastric Cancer. The elucidation of OTUD1's role in BALF1 regulation and its influence on Bcl-2 stabilization provide new avenues for therapeutic intervention in EBVaGC, bridging the gap between viral oncogenesis and cellular protein regulation and offering a more holistic view of gastric Cancer development under the influence of EBV.

BALF1; Bcl-2; Deubiquitinating enzyme; EBVaGC; OTUD1.