CHFR functions as a ubiquitin ligase for HLTF to regulate its stability and functions

CHFR functions as a mitotic checkpoint by delaying entry into metaphase in response to mitotic stress. CHFR is frequently silenced by hypermethylation in human cancers, indicating that CHFR is a tumor suppressor. To further elucidate the role of CHFR in tumorigenesis, we studied the relationship between CHFR and a novel CHFR-interacting protein, HLTF, helicase-like transcription factor. Here we show that CHFR binds to and ubiquitinates HLTF, leading to its degradation. HLTF modulates basal expression of PAI-1 involved in regulation of cell migration. Consistently, overexpression of CHFR inhibits cell migration, resulting from reduced HLTF followed by decreased PAI-1 expression. HLTF expression is also higher in human breast cancer cells where CHFR is not expressed. Taken together, this is the first report identifying the regulatory mechanism of HLTF by CHFR, suggesting that CHFR-mediated downregulation of HLTF may help protect against cancer.