Abstract

Krüppel-like factor 8 (KLF8) regulates critical gene transcription and cellular events associated with cancer. However, the role of KLF8 in cancer remains largely unknown. Here, we report a surprisingly novel role for KLF8 in DNA repair in breast cancer cells. Comet, clonogenic, and WST-1 assays showed that KLF8 expression is required for protecting human breast cancer cells from doxorubicin-induced DNA damage and cell death. Western blotting indicated that overexpression of ectopic KLF8 attenuated the levels of the DNA damage marker γH2A.X in doxorubicin-treated PARP-1+/+ but not PARP-1−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts, whereas the PARP-1-binding-defective KLF8 mutant failed to do so. Interestingly, in response to the DNA damage, KLF8 was phosphorylated by the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit and, subsequently, SUMOylated by SUMO E3 ligases protein inhibitors of activated STAT (PIASs), which depends upon the interaction of KLF8 with DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit, PIASs, and PARP-1 as well as their enzymatic activities. Lastly, we show evidence that KLF8 was recruited to the DNA damage site. These results suggest a novel role and mechanism for KLF8 in the regulation of DNA repair and therapeutic resistance in breast cancer cells.