SETD2 regulates the methylation of translation elongation factor eEF1A1 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

SET domain-containing protein 2 (SETD2) is commonly mutated in renal cell carcinoma. SETD2 methylates histone H3 as well as a growing list of non-histone proteins. To explore SETD2-dependent regulation of the kidney cancer proteome, we performed a systems-wide analysis of protein lysine-methylation and expression in wild type (WT) and SETD2-knock out (KO) kidney cells. We observed decreased lysine methylation of the translation elongation factor eEF1A1. EEF1AKMT2 and EEF1AKMT3 are known to methylate eEF1A1, and we show here that their expression is dependent on SET-domain function of SETD2. Globally, we observe differential expression of hundreds of proteins in WT versus SETD2-KO cells, including increased expression of many involved in protein translation. Finally, we observe decreased progression free survival and loss of EEF1AKMT2 gene expression in SETD2-mutated tumors. Overall, these data suggest that SETD2-mutated ccRCC, via loss of enzymetic function of the SET domain, displays dysregulation of protein translation as a potentially important component of the transformed phenotype.