FBXO42 facilitates Notch signaling activation and global chromatin relaxation by promoting K63-linked polyubiquitination of RBPJ

Dysregulation of the Notch-RBPJ signaling pathway has been found associated with various human diseases including cancers; however, precisely how this key signaling pathway is fine-tuned via its interactors and modifications is still largely unknown. In this study, using a proteomic approach, we identified FBXO42 as a novel RBPJ interactor. FBXO42 promotes RBPJ polyubiquitination on lysine (K) 175 via K63 linkage, which enhances the association of RBPJ with chromatin remodeling complexes and induces a global chromatin relaxation. Genetically depleting FBXO42 or pharmacologically targeting its E3 ligase activity attenuates the Notch signaling-related leukemia development in vivo. Taken together, our findings not only revealed FBXO42 as a critical regulator of the Notch pathway by modulating RBPJ-dependent global chromatin landscape changes, but also provide insights into the therapeutic intervention of the Notch pathway for leukemia treatment. Overall design: DNA binding capacity of transcription factor RBPJ was analyzed by Cut&tag-seq and chromatin status was analyzed by ATAC-seq.