OTUD1 enhances gastric cancer aggressiveness by deubiquitinating EBV-encoded protein BALF1 to stabilize the apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is implicated in several cancers, including EBV-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC). This study focuses on EBV-encoded BALF1 (BamH1 A fragment leftward reading frame 1), a key apoptosis regulator in EBV-related cancers, whose specific impact on EBVaGC was previously unknown. Our findings indicate that BALF1 overexpression in gastric cancer cells significantly enhances their proliferation, migration, and resistance to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis, confirming BALF1's oncogenic potential. A novel discovery is that BALF1 undergoes degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Through analysis of 69 deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), ovarian tumor protease (OTU) domain-containing protein 1 (OTUD1) emerged as a vital regulator for maintaining BALF1 protein stability. Furthermore, BALF1 was found to play a role in regulating the stability of the B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) protein, increasing its levels through deubiquitination. This mechanism reveals BALF1's multifaceted oncogenic role in gastric cancer, as it contributes both directly and indirectly to cancer progression, particularly by stabilizing Bcl-2, known for its anti-apoptotic characteristics. These insights significantly deepen our understanding of EBV's involvement in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer. The elucidation of OTUD1's role in BALF1 regulation and its influence on Bcl-2 stabilization provide new avenues for therapeutic intervention in EBVaGC, bridging the gap between viral oncogenesis and cellular protein regulation and offering a more holistic view of gastric cancer development under the influence of EBV. •EBVaGC is regarded as the most prevalent malignant tumor triggered by EBV infection.•While EBV-encoded BALF1 is crucial in EBVaGC, its specific function remains unclear.•OTUD1 was identified as BALF1's key deubiquitinase via screening of a DUBs library.•BALF1 acts to deubiquitinate Bcl-2, leading to stabilization of its protein levels.•Increased apoptosis blocker Bcl-2 may explain EBVaGC's heightened aggressiveness.