Ubiquitin-dependent degradation of MBD3 by TRIM59 promotes lung adenocarcinoma

Methyl-CpG binding domain protein 3 (MBD3) functions as a critical tumor suppressor in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), yet the ubiquitin-dependent mechanisms orchestrating its proteasomal turnover remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that MBD3 undergoes ubiquitination and identify tripartite motif-containing protein 59 (TRIM59) as the cognate E3 ligase. TRIM59 physically associates with the N-terminal MBD domain of MBD3 and catalyzes its polyubiquitination and degradation, and mass spectrometry mapping reveals that this process occurs primarily at lysine residues K41, K90, and K92. Functional characterization of the TRIM59-MBD3 axis in vivo reveals its role in derepressing heat shock transcription factors HSF1 and HSF2, thereby driving malignant proliferation and tumor progression. Tissue microarray immunohistochemistry reveals that TRIM59 is upregulated whereas MBD3 is downregulated in LUAD tissues, establishing an inverse expression pattern that supports oncogenesis. Our findings unveil an unappreciated layer of MBD3 regulation and identify the TRIM59-MBD3 ubiquitination cascade as a potential therapeutic vulnerability in LUAD.