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Life sciences · Journal article
Advanced Science · September 29, 2026
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Durable responses to current therapies remain limited in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), highlighting the need to identify regulators of malignant progression. By integrating multi-omics analyses, spatial transcriptomics, clinical specimens, and multiple models, we identified chromatin assembly factor 1B (CHAF1B) as a functional regulator of HCC phenotypes. Gain- and loss-of-function of CHAF1B altered proliferative, migratory, clonogenic, and tumorigenic phenotypes. LC-MS/MS, DIA proteomics, and cell-based assays revealed CHAF1B-associated lipogenic remodeling characterized by SREBP1C nuclear localization, lipogenic gene/protein induction, and lipid-droplet accumulation. Mechanistically, the WD40 repeat-containing region of CHAF1B contributed to its association with UHRF1 and SETDB1, supporting UHRF1-associated K63-linked ubiquitination and CRM1/exportin-1-dependent cytoplasmic redistribution of SETDB1. Conversely, CHAF1B depletion enhanced SETDB1 association with VHL and favored a predominantly K11-associated degradative ubiquitin state linked to proteasomal SETDB1 loss. SETDB1 redistribution and catalytic activity were associated with AKT T308-linked signaling. A focused CRISPR-based screen of deubiquitinases identified USP4 as an upstream regulator of CHAF1B protein homeostasis. USP4 depletion or Akebia saponin D (ASD) increased K48-linked ubiquitination of CHAF1B, reduced CHAF1B protein abundance, attenuated AKT T308-linked signaling, and suppressed malignant and lipogenic phenotypes. These findings reveal distinct ubiquitin-dependent states governing SETDB1 stability and identify USP4-dependent CHAF1B stabilization as an upstream regulatory node in HCC.