Blocking TRIM47-mediated HNF4α degradation suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression

Previous studies have highlighted the downregulation of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha (HNF4α) as a critical event in the pathogenesis of HCC. However, the mechanism of its degradation in HCC remains unclear. Tripartite motif 47 (TRIM47), a typical E3 ubiquitin ligase of the TRIM family, has been implicated in various tumors, yet its specific role in HCC progression is not fully elucidated. In this study, HNF4α was identified as a potential target of TRIM47 by using co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) combined with mass spectrometry analysis. TRIM47 facilitates the degradation of HNF4α by mediating K48-linked ubiquitination at lysine 470. Abrogation of HNF4α ubiquitination attenuated the promoting effect of TRIM47 on HCC malignancy. Molecular docking studies and Co-IP experiments revealed that K342, W349, and E353 of HNF4α, along with K534 and K600 of TRIM47, are crucial for their interaction. A small molecule, CZ-2401, was selected as a potent inhibitor of the TRIM47-HNF4α interaction through virtual screening and pharmacological activity validation. CZ-2401 effectively stabilizes HNF4α protein in HCC cells and ameliorates TRIM47-driven HCC progression in vivo. Taken together, our research elucidates that targeting TRIM47-HNF4α interaction is a potential therapeutic strategy for HCC, and identifies CZ-2401 as a potent inhibitor of HNF4α degradation and a promising candidate for HCC therapy.