Growth factor signaling regulates elongation of RNA polymerase I transcription in mammals via UBF phosphorylation and r-chromatin remodeling

The Nucleolus: A Central Hub for Ribosome Biogenesis and Cellular Regulatory Signals

The nucleolus is the most prominent nuclear domain in eukaryotic cells, primarily responsible for ribosome biogenesis. It synthesizes and processes precursor ribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA) into mature rRNAs, assembling the 40S and 60S ribosomal subunits, which later form the 80S ribosome-the essential molecular machine for protein synthesis. Beyond ribosome production, the nucleolus lacks a delimiting membrane, allowing it to rapidly regulate cellular homeostasis by sequestering key stress response factors. This adaptability enables dynamic changes in size, number, and protein composition in response to cellular stress and signaling. Recent research highlights the nucleolus as a critical regulator of chemoresistance. Given its central role in cell survival and stress adaptation, the nucleolus has become an attractive therapeutic target, particularly in cancer treatment. A deeper understanding of nucleolar metabolism could pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies against various human diseases.

UBTF facilitates acute myeloid leukemia development and immune escape via PD-L1 regulation

UBTF has been implicated in the development of multiple cancers, yet its specific biological function in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains unclear. This study utilized expression profiles and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) databases, with UBTF expression data obtained from the GEPIA database. Analysis via the R software package CIBERSORT explored immune cell infiltration levels under different UBTF expression levels. LASSO Cox analysis with optimized penalty parameters identified genes associated with survival outcomes, leading to the construction of a prognostic risk model using multivariate Cox regression analysis. Prognostic significance was evaluated and validated through Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Experimental validation using stable AML cell lines with UBTF overexpression or knockdown, transcriptome sequencing, and a CD8+ T cell killing assay were performed. Ultimately, in vivo experimental validation was conducted. Results revealed that UBTF is overexpressed in AML compared to normal tissues and correlates with poor clinical prognosis. UBTF overexpression is associated with increased expression of PD-L1 (CD274) and immune cell infiltration, suggesting its role in promoting AML progression via PD-L1 (CD274)-mediated immune evasion. These findings highlight UBTF as a potential prognostic biomarker and a novel therapeutic target for tumor immunotherapy in AML.

Exercise-specific adaptations in human skeletal muscle: Molecular mechanisms of making muscles fit and mighty

The mechanisms leading to a predominantly hypertrophied phenotype versus a predominantly oxidative phenotype, the hallmarks of resistance training (RT) or aerobic training (AT), respectively, are being unraveled. In humans, exposure of naïve persons to either AT or RT results in their skeletal muscle exhibiting generic 'exercise stress-related' signaling, transcription, and translation responses. However, with increasing engagement in AT or RT, the responses become refined, and the phenotype typically associated with each form of exercise emerges. Here, we review some of the mechanisms underpinning the adaptations of how muscles become, through AT, 'fit' and RT, 'mighty.' Much of our understanding of molecular exercise physiology has arisen from targeted analysis of post-translational modifications and measures of protein synthesis. Phosphorylation of specific residue sites has been a dominant focus, with canonical signaling pathways (AMPK and mTOR) studied extensively in the context of AT and RT, respectively. These alone, along with protein synthesis, have only begun to elucidate key differences in AT and RT signaling. Still, key yet uncharacterized differences exist in signaling and regulation of protein synthesis that drive unique adaptation to AT and RT. Omic studies are required to better understand the divergent relationship between exercise and phenotypic outcomes of training.

Hmo1: A versatile member of the high mobility group box family of chromosomal architecture proteins

Eukaryotic chromatin consisting of nucleosomes connected by linker DNA is organized into higher order structures, which is facilitated by linker histone H1. Formation of chromatin compacts and protects the genome, but also hinders DNA transactions. Cells have evolved mechanisms to modify/remodel chromatin resulting in chromatin states suitable for genome functions. The high mobility group box (HMGB) proteins are non-histone chromatin architectural factors characterized by one or more HMGB motifs that bind DNA in a sequence nonspecific fashion. They play a major role in chromatin dynamics. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast hereafter) HMGB protein Hmo1 contains two HMGB motifs. However, unlike a canonical HMGB protein that has an acidic C-terminus, Hmo1 ends with a lysine rich, basic, C-terminus, resembling linker histone H1. Hmo1 exhibits characteristics of both HMGB proteins and linker histones in its multiple functions. For instance, Hmo1 promotes transcription by RNA polymerases I and II like canonical HMGB proteins but makes chromatin more compact/stable like linker histones. Recent studies have demonstrated that Hmo1 destabilizes/disrupts nucleosome similarly as other HMGB proteins in vitro and acts to maintain a common topological architecture of genes in yeast genome. This minireview reviews the functions of Hmo1 and the underlying mechanisms, highlighting recent discoveries.

Polymerase I as a Target for Treating Neurodegenerative Disorders

Polymerase I (Pol I) is at the epicenter of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis. Pol I is a target for the treatment of cancer. Given the many cellular commonalities between cancer and neurodegeneration (i.e., different faces of the same coin), it seems rational to consider targeting Pol I or, more generally, rRNA synthesis for the treatment of disorders associated with the death of terminally differentiated neurons. Principally, ribosomes synthesize proteins, and, accordingly, Pol I can be considered the starting point for protein synthesis. Given that cellular accumulation of abnormal proteins such as α-synuclein and tau is an essential feature of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson disease and fronto-temporal dementia, reduction of protein production is now considered a viable target for treatment of these and closely related neurodegenerative disorders. Abnormalities in polymerase I activity and rRNA production may also be associated with nuclear and nucleolar stress, DNA damage, and childhood-onset neuronal death, as is the case for the UBTF E210K neuroregression syndrome. Moreover, restraining the activity of Pol I may be a viable strategy to slow aging. Before starting down the road of Pol I inhibition for treating non-cancerous disorders of the nervous system, many questions must be answered. First, how much Pol I inhibition can neurons tolerate, and for how long? Should inhibition of Pol I be continuous or pulsed? Will cells compensate for Pol I inhibition by upregulating the number of active rDNAs? At present, we have no effective and safe disease modulatory treatments for Alzheimer disease, α-synucleinopathies, or tauopathies, and novel therapeutic targets and approaches must be explored.

Persistence of UBTF tandem duplications in remission in acute myeloid leukaemia

UBTF tandem duplications are recurrent in adult and paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia and have been reported to be associated with a poor prognosis. Co-mutations in WT1 and FLT3 are common while morphological dysplasia is frequent. The role of UBTF-TDs in leukemogenesis is yet to be elucidated; however they have been proposed as early initiating events, making them attractive for assessment of MRD and a potential therapeutic target. We present two cases where the UBTF-TD was observed in remission and discuss the implications of these findings in the clinicobiological understanding of this emerging entity.

Synthesis of the ribosomal RNA precursor in human cells: mechanisms, factors and regulation

The ribosomal RNA precursor (pre-rRNA) comprises three of the four ribosomal RNAs and is synthesized by RNA polymerase (Pol) I. Here, we describe the mechanisms of Pol I transcription in human cells with a focus on recent insights gained from structure-function analyses. The comparison of Pol I-specific structural and functional features with those of other Pols and with the excessively studied yeast system distinguishes organism-specific from general traits. We explain the organization of the genomic rDNA loci in human cells, describe the Pol I transcription cycle regarding structural changes in the enzyme and the roles of human Pol I subunits, and depict human rDNA transcription factors and their function on a mechanistic level. We disentangle information gained by direct investigation from what had apparently been deduced from studies of the yeast enzymes. Finally, we provide information about how Pol I mutations may contribute to developmental diseases, and why Pol I is a target for new cancer treatment strategies, since increased rRNA synthesis was correlated with rapidly expanding cell populations.

Navigating the ERK1/2 MAPK Cascade

The RAS-ERK pathway is a fundamental signaling cascade crucial for many biological processes including proliferation, cell cycle control, growth, and survival; common across all cell types. Notably, ERK1/2 are implicated in specific processes in a context-dependent manner as in stem cells and pancreatic β-cells. Alterations in the different components of this cascade result in dysregulation of the effector kinases ERK1/2 which communicate with hundreds of substrates. Aberrant activation of the pathway contributes to a range of disorders, including cancer. This review provides an overview of the structure, activation, regulation, and mutational frequency of the different tiers of the cascade; with a particular focus on ERK1/2. We highlight the importance of scaffold proteins that contribute to kinase localization and coordinate interaction dynamics of the kinases with substrates, activators, and inhibitors. Additionally, we explore innovative therapeutic approaches emphasizing promising avenues in this field.

Transcription factor UBF depletion in mouse cells results in downregulation of both downstream and upstream elements of the rRNA transcription network

Transcription/processing of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) precursor, as part of ribosome biosynthesis, is intensively studied and characterized in eukaryotic cells. Here, we constructed shRNA-based mouse cell lines partially silenced for the Upstream Binding Factor UBF, the master regulator of rRNA transcription and organizer of open rDNA chromatin. Full Ubf silencing in vivo is not viable, and these new tools allow further characterization of rRNA transcription and its coordination with cellular signaling. shUBF cells display cell cycle G1 delay and reduced 47S rRNA precursor and 28S rRNA at baseline and serum-challenged conditions. Growth-related mTOR signaling is downregulated with the fractions of active phospho-S6 Kinase and pEIF4E translation initiation factor reduced, similar to phosphorylated cell cycle regulator retinoblastoma, pRB, positive regulator of UBF availability/rRNA transcription. Additionally, we find transcription-competent pUBF (Ser484) severely restricted and its interacting initiation factor RRN3 reduced and responsive to extracellular cues. Furthermore, fractional UBF occupancy on the rDNA unit is decreased in shUBF, and expression of major factors involved in different aspects of rRNA transcription is severely downregulated by UBF depletion. Finally, we observe reduced RNA Pol1 occupancy over rDNA promoter sequences and identified unexpected regulation of RNA Pol1 expression, relative to serum availability and under UBF silencing, suggesting that regulation of rRNA transcription may not be restricted to modulation of Pol1 promoter binding/elongation rate. Overall, this work reveals that UBF depletion has a critical downstream and upstream impact on the whole network orchestrating rRNA transcription in mammalian cells.

Polymer brush inspired by ribosomal RNA transcription

Pre-ribosomal RNAs are synthesized during the transcription by RNA polymerase I molecules localized at the surfaces of a nucleolus subcompartment. Inspired by the ribosomal RNA transcription, we here develop a scaling theory of a brush of polymers, where monomers are added to their grafted ends in the steady state. Our theory predicts that monomers newly added to the polymers stay at the vicinity of the surface due to the slow dynamics of the polymers and thus the polymer volume fraction increases with increasing the polymerization rate. The excluded volume interaction between polymers and reactant monomers suppresses the diffusion of reactant monomers and thus decreases the polymerization rate. The extent of the suppression of monomer diffusion increases with increasing the polymerization rate because the diffusion length decreases, rather than the condensation of polymers due to their slow dynamics.

Dhx33 promotes B-cell growth and proliferation by controlling activation-induced rRNA upregulation

Upon recognition of foreign antigens, naïve B cells undergo rapid activation, growth, and proliferation. How B-cell growth and proliferation are coupled with activation remains poorly understood. Combining CRISPR/Cas9-mediated functional analysis and mouse genetics approaches, we found that Dhx33, an activation-induced RNA helicase, plays a critical role in coupling B-cell activation with growth and proliferation. Mutant mice with B-cell-specific deletion of Dhx33 exhibited impaired B-cell development, germinal center reactions, plasma cell differentiation, and antibody production. Dhx33-deficient B cells appeared normal in the steady state and early stage of activation but were retarded in growth and proliferation. Mechanistically, Dhx33 played an indispensable role in activation-induced upregulation of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) transcription. In the absence of Dhx33, activated B cells were compromised in their ability to ramp up 47S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) production and ribosome biogenesis, resulting in nucleolar stress, p53 accumulation, and cellular death. Our findings demonstrate an essential role for Dhx33 in coupling B-cell activation with growth and proliferation and suggest that Dhx33 inhibition is a potential therapy for lymphoma and antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases.

TFIIB-related factor 1 is a nucleolar protein that promotes RNA polymerase I-directed transcription and tumour cell growth

Eukaryotic RNA polymerase I (Pol I) products play fundamental roles in ribosomal assembly, protein synthesis, metabolism and cell growth. Abnormal expression of both Pol I transcription-related factors and Pol I products causes a range of diseases, including ribosomopathies and cancers. However, the factors and mechanisms governing Pol I-dependent transcription remain to be elucidated. Here, we report that transcription factor IIB-related factor 1 (BRF1), a subunit of transcription factor IIIB required for RNA polymerase III (Pol III)-mediated transcription, is a nucleolar protein and modulates Pol I-mediated transcription. We showed that BRF1 can be localized to the nucleolus in several human cell types. BRF1 expression correlates positively with Pol I product levels and tumour cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Pol III transcription inhibition assays confirmed that BRF1 modulates Pol I-directed transcription in an independent manner rather than through a Pol III product-to-45S pre-rRNA feedback mode. Mechanistically, BRF1 binds to the Pol I transcription machinery components and can be recruited to the rDNA promoter along with them. Additionally, alteration of BRF1 expression affects the recruitment of Pol I transcription machinery components to the rDNA promoter and the expression of TBP and TAF1A. These findings indicate that BRF1 modulates Pol I-directed transcription by controlling the expression of selective factor 1 subunits. In summary, we identified a novel role of BRF1 in Pol I-directed transcription, suggesting that BRF1 can independently regulate both Pol I- and Pol III-mediated transcription and act as a key coordinator of Pol I and Pol III.

Rate of transcription elongation and sequence-specific pausing by RNA polymerase I directly influence rRNA processing

One of the first steps in ribosome biogenesis is transcription of the ribosomal DNA by RNA polymerase I (Pol I). Processing of the resultant rRNA begins cotranscriptionally, and perturbation of Pol I transcription elongation results in defective rRNA processing. Mechanistic insight regarding the link between transcription elongation and ribosome assembly is lacking because of limited in vivo methods to assay Pol I transcription. Here, we use native elongating transcript sequencing (NET-Seq) with a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae containing a point mutation in Pol I, rpa190-F1205H, which results in impaired rRNA processing and ribosome assembly. We previously demonstrated that this mutation caused a mild reduction in the transcription elongation rate of Pol I in vitro; however, transcription elongation by the mutant has not been characterized in vivo. Here, our findings demonstrate that the mutant Pol I has an increased pause propensity during processive transcription elongation both in vitro and in vivo. NET-Seq reveals that rpa190-F1205H Pol I displays alternative pause site preferences in vivo. Specifically, the mutant is sensitized to A/G residues in the RNA:DNA hybrid and at the last incorporated nucleotide position. Furthermore, both NET-Seq and EM analysis of Miller chromatin spreads reveal pileups of rpa190-F1205H Pol I throughout the ribosomal DNA, particularly at the 5' end of the 35S gene. This combination of in vitro and in vivo analyses of a Pol I mutant provides novel insights into Pol I elongation properties and indicates how these properties are crucial for efficient cotranscriptional rRNA processing and ribosome assembly.

Regulation of RNA Polymerase I Stability and Function

RNA polymerase I is a highly processive enzyme with fast initiation and elongation rates. The structure of Pol I, with its in-built RNA cleavage ability and incorporation of subunits homologous to transcription factors, enables it to quickly and efficiently synthesize the enormous amount of rRNA required for ribosome biogenesis. Each step of Pol I transcription is carefully controlled. However, cancers have highjacked these control points to switch the enzyme, and its transcription, on permanently. While this provides an exceptional benefit to cancer cells, it also creates a potential cancer therapeutic vulnerability. We review the current research on the regulation of Pol I transcription, and we discuss chemical biology efforts to develop new targeted agents against this process. Lastly, we highlight challenges that have arisen from the introduction of agents with promiscuous mechanisms of action and provide examples of agents with specificity and selectivity against Pol I.

Nucleolus and Nucleolar Stress: From Cell Fate Decision to Disease Development

Besides the canonical function in ribosome biogenesis, there have been significant recent advances towards the fascinating roles of the nucleolus in stress response, cell destiny decision and disease progression. Nucleolar stress, an emerging concept describing aberrant nucleolar structure and function as a result of impaired rRNA synthesis and ribosome biogenesis under stress conditions, has been linked to a variety of signaling transductions, including but not limited to Mdm2-p53, NF-κB and HIF-1α pathways. Studies have uncovered that nucleolus is a stress sensor and signaling hub when cells encounter various stress conditions, such as nutrient deprivation, DNA damage and oxidative and thermal stress. Consequently, nucleolar stress plays a pivotal role in the determination of cell fate, such as apoptosis, senescence, autophagy and differentiation, in response to stress-induced damage. Nucleolar homeostasis has been involved in the pathogenesis of various chronic diseases, particularly tumorigenesis, neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic disorders. Mechanistic insights have revealed the indispensable role of nucleolus-initiated signaling in the progression of these diseases. Accordingly, the intervention of nucleolar stress may pave the path for developing novel therapies against these diseases. In this review, we systemically summarize recent findings linking the nucleolus to stress responses, signaling transduction and cell-fate decision, set the spotlight on the mechanisms by which nucleolar stress drives disease progression, and highlight the merit of the intervening nucleolus in disease treatment.

Ribosomopathies and cancer: pharmacological implications

INTRODUCTION

The ribosome is a ribonucleoprotein organelle responsible for protein synthesis, and its biogenesis is a highly coordinated process that involves many macromolecular components. Any acquired or inherited impairment in ribosome biogenesis or ribosomopathies is associated with the development of different cancers and rare genetic diseases. Interference with multiple steps of protein synthesis has been shown to promote tumor cell death.

AREAS COVERED

We discuss the current insights about impaired ribosome biogenesis and their secondary consequences on protein synthesis, transcriptional and translational responses, proteotoxic stress, and other metabolic pathways associated with cancer and rare diseases. Studies investigating the modulation of different therapeutic chemical entities targeting cancer in in vitro and in vivo models have also been detailed.

EXPERT OPINION

Despite the association between inherited mutations affecting ribosome biogenesis and cancer biology, the development of therapeutics targeting the essential cellular machinery has only started to emerge. New chemical entities should be designed to modulate different checkpoints (translating oncoproteins, dysregulation of specific ribosome-assembly machinery, ribosomal stress, and rewiring ribosomal functions). Although safe and effective therapies are lacking, consideration should also be given to using existing drugs alone or in combination for long-term safety, with known risks for feasibility in clinical trials and synergistic effects.

Treacle is Upregulated in Cancer and Correlates With Poor Prognosis

Treacle/TCOF1 is an adaptor protein specifically associated with nucleolar chromatin. In the nucleolus it stimulates ribosome biogenesis, thereby promoting growth and proliferation. A second role of Treacle has emerged as a coordinator of the nucleolar responses to DNA damage, where it facilitates nucleolar DNA repair and cellular survival after genotoxic insults. The involvement of Treacle in multiple fundamental processes such as growth, proliferation, and genome stability, which are tightly linked to cancer, raises the question of Treacle’s role in the development of this disease. On one hand, overexpression of Treacle could stimulate nucleolar transcription and ribosome biogenesis providing a growth advantage in cancer cells. On the other hand, the function of Treacle as a gatekeeper in response to nucleolar DNA damage could favor mutations that would impair its function. In this perspective, we analyze paired Treacle expression data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and correlate expression with patient survival in different cancer types. We also discuss other recently published observations of relevance to the role of Treacle in cancer. In light of these new observations, we propose possible roles of Treacle in carcinogenesis and discuss its potential as a therapeutic target.

Structural insights into nuclear transcription by eukaryotic DNA-dependent RNA polymerases

The eukaryotic transcription apparatus synthesizes a staggering diversity of RNA molecules. The labour of nuclear gene transcription is, therefore, divided among multiple DNA-dependent RNA polymerases. RNA polymerase I (Pol I) transcribes ribosomal RNA, Pol II synthesizes messenger RNAs and various non-coding RNAs (including long non-coding RNAs, microRNAs and small nuclear RNAs) and Pol III produces transfer RNAs and other short RNA molecules. Pol I, Pol II and Pol III are large, multisubunit protein complexes that associate with a multitude of additional factors to synthesize transcripts that largely differ in size, structure and abundance. The three transcription machineries share common characteristics, but differ widely in various aspects, such as numbers of RNA polymerase subunits, regulatory elements and accessory factors, which allows them to specialize in transcribing their specific RNAs. Common to the three RNA polymerases is that the transcription process consists of three major steps: transcription initiation, transcript elongation and transcription termination. In this Review, we outline the common principles and differences between the Pol I, Pol II and Pol III transcription machineries and discuss key structural and functional insights obtained into the three stages of their transcription processes.

Cell autonomous and non-autonomous consequences of deviations in translation machinery on organism growth and the connecting signalling pathways

Translation machinery is responsible for the production of cellular proteins; thus, cells devote the majority of their resources to ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis. Single-copy loss of function in the translation machinery components results in rare ribosomopathy disorders, such as Diamond-Blackfan anaemia in humans and similar developmental defects in various model organisms. Somatic copy number alterations of translation machinery components are also observed in specific tumours. The organism-wide response to haploinsufficient loss-of-function mutations in ribosomal proteins or translation machinery components is complex: variations in translation machinery lead to reduced ribosome biogenesis, protein translation and altered protein homeostasis and cellular signalling pathways. Cells are affected both autonomously and non-autonomously by changes in translation machinery or ribosome biogenesis through cell-cell interactions and secreted hormones. We first briefly introduce the model organisms where mutants or knockdowns of protein synthesis and ribosome biogenesis are characterized. Next, we specifically describe observations in Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster, where insufficient protein synthesis in a subset of cells triggers cell non-autonomous growth or apoptosis responses that affect nearby cells and tissues. We then cover the characterized signalling pathways that interact with ribosome biogenesis/protein synthesis machinery with an emphasis on their respective functions during organism development.

Nucleolar localization of the ErbB3 receptor as a new target in glioblastoma

Background

The nucleolus is a subnuclear, non-membrane bound domain that is the hub of ribosome biogenesis and a critical regulator of cell homeostasis. Rapid growth and division of cells in tumors are correlated with intensive nucleolar metabolism as a response to oncogenic factors overexpression. Several members of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) family, have been identified in the nucleus and nucleolus of many cancer cells, but their function in these compartments remains unexplored.

Results

We focused our research on the nucleolar function that a specific member of EGFR family, the ErbB3 receptor, plays in glioblastoma, a tumor without effective therapies. Here, Neuregulin 1 mediated proliferative stimuli, promotes ErbB3 relocalization from the nucleolus to the cytoplasm and increases pre-rRNA synthesis. Instead ErbB3 silencing or nucleolar stress reduce cell proliferation and affect cell cycle progression.

Conclusions

These data point to the existence of an ErbB3-mediated non canonical pathway that glioblastoma cells use to control ribosomes synthesis and cell proliferation. These results highlight the potential role for the nucleolar ErbB3 receptor, as a new target in glioblastoma.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12860-022-00411-y.

The RNA helicase Ddx21 controls Vegfc-driven developmental lymphangiogenesis by balancing endothelial cell ribosome biogenesis and p53 function

The development of a functional vasculature requires the coordinated control of cell fate, lineage differentiation and network growth. Cellular proliferation is spatiotemporally regulated in developing vessels, but how this is orchestrated in different lineages is unknown. Here, using a zebrafish genetic screen for lymphatic-deficient mutants, we uncover a mutant for the RNA helicase Ddx21. Ddx21 cell-autonomously regulates lymphatic vessel development. An established regulator of ribosomal RNA synthesis and ribosome biogenesis, Ddx21 is enriched in sprouting venous endothelial cells in response to Vegfc-Flt4 signalling. Ddx21 function is essential for Vegfc-Flt4-driven endothelial cell proliferation. In the absence of Ddx21, endothelial cells show reduced ribosome biogenesis, p53 and p21 upregulation and cell cycle arrest that blocks lymphangiogenesis. Thus, Ddx21 coordinates the lymphatic endothelial cell response to Vegfc-Flt4 signalling by balancing ribosome biogenesis and p53 function. This mechanism may be targetable in diseases of excessive lymphangiogenesis such as cancer metastasis or lymphatic malformation.

UBTF facilitates melanoma progression via modulating MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signalling pathways by promoting GIT1 transcription

Background

UBTF is an HMGB-box DNA binding protein and a necessary Pol I/Pol II basal transcription factor. It has been found that UBTF involves in carcinogenesis and progression of a few cancers. Nevertheless, the the biological function and potential molecular mechanism of UBTF in melanoma are still not clear and need to be clarified.

Methods

UBTF and GIT1 expressions in melanoma specimens and cell lines were examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. MTT and colony formation assays were used to investigate the effects of UBTF and GIT1 on melanoma cell proliferation. Cell cycle and apoptosis assays were detected by flow cytometry. Tumor formation assay was used to analyze the effect of UBTF on melanoma growth. Bioinformatics predicting, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-qRT-PCR and reporter gene assay were fulfilled for verifing GIT1 as UBTF targeting gene.

Results

Here we reported that UBTF mRNA and protein expressions were upregulated in primary melanoma specimens and cell lines. UBTF overexpression facilitated melanoma cell proliferation and cell cycle progression and restrained. Silencing UBTF suppressed cell multiplication, cell cycle progression and tumor growth, and promoted apoptosis. UBTF expression was positively related with GIT1 expression in human melanoma tissues. It was verified that UBTF promoted GIT1 transcription in melanoma cells through binding to the promoter region of GIT1. Furthermore, GIT1 overexpression promoted melanoma cell growth and suppressed apoptosis. Knockdown of GIT1 inhibited cell multiplication and induced apoptosis. Overexpression of GIT1 eliminated the effects of silencing UBTF on melanoma cells. Importantly, UBTF activated MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signalling pathways by upregulating GIT1 expression.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that UBTF promotes melanoma cell proliferation and cell cycle progression by promoting GIT1 transcription, thereby activating MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signalling pathways. The findings indicate that UBTF plays a crucial function in melanoma and may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of this disease.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02237-8.

Hypertranscription and replication stress in cancer

Replication stress results from obstacles to replication fork progression, including ongoing transcription, which can cause transcription-replication conflicts. Oncogenic signaling can promote global increases in transcription activity, also termed hypertranscription. Despite the widely accepted importance of oncogene-induced hypertranscription, its study remains neglected compared with other causes of replication stress and genomic instability in cancer. A growing number of recent studies are reporting that oncogenes, such as RAS, and targeted cancer treatments, such as bromodomain and extraterminal motif (BET) bromodomain inhibitors, increase global transcription, leading to R-loop accumulation, transcription-replication conflicts, and the activation of replication stress responses. Here we discuss our mechanistic understanding of hypertranscription-induced replication stress and the resulting cellular responses, in the context of oncogenes and targeted cancer therapies.

Antagonising Chromatin Remodelling Activities in the Regulation of Mammalian Ribosomal Transcription

Ribosomal transcription constitutes the major energy consuming process in cells and is regulated in response to proliferation, differentiation and metabolic conditions by several signalling pathways. These act on the transcription machinery but also on chromatin factors and ncRNA. The many ribosomal gene repeats are organised in a number of different chromatin states; active, poised, pseudosilent and repressed gene repeats. Some of these chromatin states are unique to the 47rRNA gene repeat and do not occur at other locations in the genome, such as the active state organised with the HMG protein UBF whereas other chromatin state are nucleosomal, harbouring both active and inactive histone marks. The number of repeats in a certain state varies on developmental stage and cell type; embryonic cells have more rRNA gene repeats organised in an open chromatin state, which is replaced by heterochromatin during differentiation, establishing different states depending on cell type. The 47S rRNA gene transcription is regulated in different ways depending on stimulus and chromatin state of individual gene repeats. This review will discuss the present knowledge about factors involved, such as chromatin remodelling factors NuRD, NoRC, CSB, B-WICH, histone modifying enzymes and histone chaperones, in altering gene expression and switching chromatin states in proliferation, differentiation, metabolic changes and stress responses.

Ras Isoforms from Lab Benches to Lives-What Are We Missing and How Far Are We?

The central protein in the oncogenic circuitry is the Ras GTPase that has been under intense scrutiny for the last four decades. From its discovery as a viral oncogene and its non-oncogenic contribution to crucial cellular functioning, an elaborate genetic, structural, and functional map of Ras is being created for its therapeutic targeting. Despite decades of research, there still exist lacunae in our understanding of Ras. The complexity of the Ras functioning is further exemplified by the fact that the three canonical Ras genes encode for four protein isoforms (H-Ras, K-Ras4A, K-Ras4B, and N-Ras). Contrary to the initial assessment that the H-, K-, and N-Ras isoforms are functionally similar, emerging data are uncovering crucial differences between them. These Ras isoforms exhibit not only cell-type and context-dependent functions but also activator and effector specificities on activation by the same receptor. Preferential localization of H-, K-, and N-Ras in different microdomains of the plasma membrane and cellular organelles like Golgi, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and endosome adds a new dimension to isoform-specific signaling and diverse functions. Herein, we review isoform-specific properties of Ras GTPase and highlight the importance of considering these towards generating effective isoform-specific therapies in the future.

RIOK2 phosphorylation by RSK promotes synthesis of the human small ribosomal subunit

Ribosome biogenesis lies at the nexus of various signaling pathways coordinating protein synthesis with cell growth and proliferation. This process is regulated by well-described transcriptional mechanisms, but a growing body of evidence indicates that other levels of regulation exist. Here we show that the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway stimulates post-transcriptional stages of human ribosome synthesis. We identify RIOK2, a pre-40S particle assembly factor, as a new target of the MAPK-activated kinase RSK. RIOK2 phosphorylation by RSK stimulates cytoplasmic maturation of late pre-40S particles, which is required for optimal protein synthesis and cell proliferation. RIOK2 phosphorylation facilitates its release from pre-40S particles and its nuclear re-import, prior to completion of small ribosomal subunits. Our results bring a detailed mechanistic link between the Ras/MAPK pathway and the maturation of human pre-40S particles, which opens a hitherto poorly explored area of ribosome biogenesis.

The chemotherapeutic agent CX-5461 irreversibly blocks RNA polymerase I initiation and promoter release to cause nucleolar disruption, DNA damage and cell inviability

In the search for drugs to effectively treat cancer, the last 10 years have seen a resurgence of interest in targeting ribosome biogenesis. CX-5461 is a potential inhibitor of ribosomal RNA synthesis that is now showing promise in phase I trials as a chemotherapeutic agent for a range of malignancies. Here, we show that CX-5461 irreversibly inhibits ribosomal RNA transcription by arresting RNA polymerase I (RPI/Pol1/PolR1) in a transcription initiation complex. CX-5461 does not achieve this by preventing formation of the pre-initiation complex nor does it affect the promoter recruitment of the SL1 TBP complex or the HMGB-box upstream binding factor (UBF/UBTF). CX-5461 also does not prevent the subsequent recruitment of the initiation-competent RPI–Rrn3 complex. Rather, CX-5461 blocks promoter release of RPI–Rrn3, which remains irreversibly locked in the pre-initiation complex even after extensive drug removal. Unexpectedly, this results in an unproductive mode of RPI recruitment that correlates with the onset of nucleolar stress, inhibition of DNA replication, genome-wide DNA damage and cellular senescence. Our data demonstrate that the cytotoxicity of CX-5461 is at least in part the result of an irreversible inhibition of RPI transcription initiation and hence are of direct relevance to the design of improved strategies of chemotherapy.

Che-1/AATF binds to RNA polymerase I machinery and sustains ribosomal RNA gene transcription

Originally identified as an RNA polymerase II interactor, Che-1/AATF (Che-1) has now been recognized as a multifunctional protein involved in cell-cycle regulation and cancer progression, as well as apoptosis inhibition and response to stress. This protein displays a peculiar nucleolar localization and it has recently been implicated in pre-rRNA processing and ribosome biogenesis. Here, we report the identification of a novel function of Che-1 in the regulation of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis, in both cancer and normal cells. We demonstrate that Che-1 interacts with RNA polymerase I and nucleolar upstream binding factor (UBF) and promotes RNA polymerase I-dependent transcription. Furthermore, this protein binds to the rRNA gene (rDNA) promoter and modulates its epigenetic state by contrasting the recruitment of HDAC1. Che-1 downregulation affects RNA polymerase I and UBF recruitment on rDNA and leads to reducing rDNA promoter activity and 47S pre-rRNA production. Interestingly, Che-1 depletion induces abnormal nucleolar morphology associated with re-distribution of nucleolar proteins. Finally, we show that upon DNA damage Che-1 re-localizes from rDNA to TP53 gene promoter to induce cell-cycle arrest. This previously uncharacterized function of Che-1 confirms the important role of this protein in the regulation of ribosome biogenesis, cellular proliferation and response to stress.

ERK signalling: a master regulator of cell behaviour, life and fate

The proteins extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and ERK2 are the downstream components of a phosphorelay pathway that conveys growth and mitogenic signals largely channelled by the small RAS GTPases. By phosphorylating widely diverse substrates, ERK proteins govern a variety of evolutionarily conserved cellular processes in metazoans, the dysregulation of which contributes to the cause of distinct human diseases. The mechanisms underlying the regulation of ERK1 and ERK2, their mode of action and their impact on the development and homeostasis of various organisms have been the focus of much attention for nearly three decades. In this Review, we discuss the current understanding of this important class of kinases. We begin with a brief overview of the structure, regulation, substrate recognition and subcellular localization of ERK1 and ERK2. We then systematically discuss how ERK signalling regulates six fundamental cellular processes in response to extracellular cues. These processes are cell proliferation, cell survival, cell growth, cell metabolism, cell migration and cell differentiation.

Targeting the RNA Polymerase I Transcription for Cancer Therapy Comes of Age

Transcription of the ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) that encode the three largest ribosomal RNAs (rRNA), is mediated by RNA Polymerase I (Pol I) and is a key regulatory step for ribosomal biogenesis. Although it has been reported over a century ago that the number and size of nucleoli, the site of ribosome biogenesis, are increased in cancer cells, the significance of this observation for cancer etiology was not understood. The realization that the increase in rRNA expression has an active role in cancer progression, not only through increased protein synthesis and thus proliferative capacity but also through control of cellular check points and chromatin structure, has opened up new therapeutic avenues for the treatment of cancer through direct targeting of Pol I transcription. In this review, we discuss the rational of targeting Pol I transcription for the treatment of cancer; review the current cancer therapeutics that target Pol I transcription and discuss the development of novel Pol I-specific inhibitors, their therapeutic potential, challenges and future prospects.

Resistance exercise with anti-inflammatory foods attenuates skeletal muscle atrophy induced by chronic inflammation

Chronic inflammation (CI) can contribute to muscle atrophy and sarcopenia. Resistance exercise (RE) promotes increased and/or maintenance of skeletal muscle mass, but the effects of RE in the presence of CI are unclear. In this study, we developed a novel animal model of CI-induced muscle atrophy and examined the effect of acute or chronic RE by electrical stimulation. CI was induced in young female Lewis rats by injection with peptidoglycan-polysaccharide (PG-PS). Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p70S6 kinase (p70S6K), 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1), Akt, and Forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) phosphorylation levels increased in gastrocnemius (Gas) muscle from normal rats subjected to acute RE. After acute RE in CI rats, increased levels of phosphorylated ERK, p70S6K, and 4E-BP1, but not Akt or FOXO1, were observed. Chronic RE significantly increased the Gas weight in the exercised limb relative to the nontrained opposing limb in CI rats. Dietary supplementation with anti-inflammatory agents, eicosapentaenoic/docosahexaenoic acid and α-lactalbumin attenuated CI-induced muscle atrophy in the untrained Gas and could promote RE-induced inhibition of atrophy in the trained Gas. In the trained leg, significant negative correlations ( r ≤ −0.80) were seen between Gas weights and CI indices, including proinflammatory cytokines and white blood cell count. These results indicated that the anabolic effects of RE are effective for preventing CI-induced muscle atrophy but are partially attenuated by inflammatory molecules. The findings also suggested that anti-inflammatory treatment together with RE is an effective intervention for muscle atrophy induced by CI. Taken together, we conclude that systemic inflammation levels are associated with skeletal muscle protein metabolism and plasticity.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study developed a novel chronic inflammation (CI) model rat demonstrating that resistance exercise (RE) induced activation of protein synthesis signaling pathways and mitigated skeletal muscle atrophy. These anabolic effects were partially abrogated likely through attenuation of Akt/Forkhead box O1 axis activity. The degree of skeletal muscle atrophy was related to inflammatory responses. Dietary supplementation with anti-inflammatory agents could enhance the anabolic effect of RE. Our findings provide insight for development of countermeasures for CI-related muscle atrophy, especially secondary sarcopenia.

LYAR potentiates rRNA synthesis by recruiting BRD2/4 and the MYST-type acetyltransferase KAT7 to rDNA

Activation of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis is pivotal during cell growth and proliferation, but its aberrant upregulation may promote tumorigenesis. Here, we demonstrate that the candidate oncoprotein, LYAR, enhances ribosomal DNA (rDNA) transcription. Our data reveal that LYAR binds the histone-associated protein BRD2 without involvement of acetyl-lysine-binding bromodomains and recruits BRD2 to the rDNA promoter and transcribed regions via association with upstream binding factor. We show that BRD2 is required for the recruitment of the MYST-type acetyltransferase KAT7 to rDNA loci, resulting in enhanced local acetylation of histone H4. In addition, LYAR binds a complex of BRD4 and KAT7, which is then recruited to rDNA independently of the BRD2-KAT7 complex to accelerate the local acetylation of both H4 and H3. BRD2 also helps recruit BRD4 to rDNA. By contrast, LYAR has no effect on rDNA methylation or the binding of RNA polymerase I subunits to rDNA. These data suggest that LYAR promotes the association of the BRD2-KAT7 and BRD4-KAT7 complexes with transcription-competent rDNA loci but not to transcriptionally silent rDNA loci, thereby increasing rRNA synthesis by altering the local acetylation status of histone H3 and H4.

African trypanosomes expressing multiple VSGs are rapidly eliminated by the host immune system

Many parasites escape the host immune system by undergoing antigenic variation, a process in which surface antigens are regularly shed and replaced by new ones. Trypanosoma brucei employs multiple sophisticated molecular mechanisms to ensure the expression of a homogeneous VSG coat. We generated a mutant parasite that expresses multiple distinct VSGs and studied the consequences of having a multi-VSG coat during an infection. We showed that expression of multiple VSGs makes the parasites more vulnerable to the immune response, which can now control the trypanosomes from the onset of the infection, allowing most mice to survive. In the future, trypanosome infections may be treated using drugs that generate parasites with multi-VSG coats.

Trypanosoma brucei parasites successfully evade the host immune system by periodically switching the dense coat of variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) at the cell surface. Each parasite expresses VSGs in a monoallelic fashion that is tightly regulated. The consequences of exposing multiple VSGs during an infection, in terms of antibody response and disease severity, remain unknown. In this study, we overexpressed a high-mobility group box protein, TDP1, which was sufficient to open the chromatin of silent VSG expression sites, to disrupt VSG monoallelic expression, and to generate viable and healthy parasites with a mixed VSG coat. Mice infected with these parasites mounted a multi-VSG antibody response, which rapidly reduced parasitemia. Consequently, we observed prolonged survival in which nearly 90% of the mice survived a 30-d period of infection with undetectable parasitemia. Immunodeficient RAG2 knock-out mice were unable to control infection with TDP1-overexpressing parasites, showing that the adaptive immune response is critical to reducing disease severity. This study shows that simultaneous exposure of multiple VSGs is highly detrimental to the parasite, even at the very early stages of infection, suggesting that drugs that disrupt VSG monoallelic expression could be used to treat trypanosomiasis.

Electron tomography reveals changes in spatial distribution of UBTF1 and UBTF2 isoforms within nucleolar components during rRNA synthesis inhibition

Upstream binding transcription factor (UBTF) is a co-regulator of RNA polymerase I by constituting an initiation complex on rRNA genes. UBTF plays a role in rDNA bending and its maintenance in "open" state. It exists as two splicing variants, UBTF1 and UBTF2, which cannot be discerned with antibodies raised against UBTF. We investigated the ultrastructural localization of each variant in cells synthesizing GFP-tagged UBTF1 or UBTF2 by using anti-GFP antibodies and pre-embedding nanogold strategy. Detailed 3D distribution of UBTF1 and 2 was also studied by electron tomography. In control cells, the two isoforms are very abundant within fibrillar centers, but their repartition strongly differs. Electron tomography shows that UBTF1 is disposed as fibrils that are folded in coils whereas UBTF2 is localized homogenously, preferentially at their cortical area. As UBTF is a useful marker to trace rDNA genes, we used these data to improve our previous model of 3D organization of active transcribing rDNA gene within fibrillar centers. Finally, when rRNA synthesis is inhibited during actinomycin D treatment or entry in mitosis, UBTF1 and UBTF2 show a similar distribution along extended 3D loop-like structures. Altogether these data suggest new roles for UBTF1 and UBTF2 isoforms in the organization of active and inactive rDNA genes.

Coordinated Control of rRNA Processing by RNA Polymerase I

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is co- and post-transcriptionally processed into active ribosomes. This process is dynamically regulated by direct covalent modifications of the polymerase that synthesizes the rRNA, RNA polymerase I (Pol I), and by interactions with cofactors that influence initiation, elongation, and termination activities of Pol I. The rate of transcription elongation by Pol I directly influences processing of nascent rRNA, and changes in Pol I transcription rate result in alternative rRNA processing events that lead to cellular signaling alterations and stress. It is clear that in divergent species, there exists robust organization of nascent rRNA processing events during transcription elongation. This review evaluates the current state of our understanding of the complex relationship between transcription elongation and rRNA processing.

Proteins and RNA sequences required for the transition of the t-Utp complex into the SSU processome

Ribosomes are synthesized by large ribonucleoprotein complexes cleaving and properly assembling highly structured rRNAs with ribosomal proteins. Transcription and processing of pre-rRNAs are linked by the transcription-Utp sub-complex (t-Utps), a sub-complex of the small subunit (SSU) processome and prompted the investigations for the requirements of t-Utp formation and transition into the SSU processome. The rDNA promoter, the first 44 nucleotides of the 5΄ETS, and active transcription by pol I were sufficient to recruit the t-Utps to the rDNA. Pol5, accessory factor, dissociated as t-Utps matured into the UtpA complex which permitted later recruitment of the UtpB, U3 snoRNP and the Mpp10 complex into the SSU processome. The t-Utp complex associated with short RNAs 121 and 138 nucleotides long transcribed from the 5΄ETS. These transcripts were not present when pol II transcribed the rDNA or in nondividing cells. Depletion of a t-Utp, but not of other SSU processome components led to decreased levels of the short transcripts. However, ectopic expression of the short transcripts slowed the growth of yeast with impaired rDNA transcription. These results provide insight into how transcription of the rRNA primes the assemble of t-Utp complex with the pre-rRNA into the UtpA complex and the later association of SSU processome components.

Impaired ribosome biogenesis: mechanisms and relevance to cancer and aging

The biosynthesis of ribosomes is a complex process that requires the coordinated action of many factors and a huge energy investment from the cell. Ribosomes are essential for protein production, and thus for cellular survival, growth and proliferation. Ribosome biogenesis is initiated in the nucleolus and includes: the synthesis and processing of ribosomal RNAs, assembly of ribosomal proteins, transport to the cytoplasm and association of ribosomal subunits. The disruption of ribosome biogenesis at various steps, with either increased or decreased expression of different ribosomal components, can promote cell cycle arrest, senescence or apoptosis. Additionally, interference with ribosomal biogenesis is often associated with cancer, aging and age-related degenerative diseases. Here, we review current knowledge on impaired ribosome biogenesis, discuss the main factors involved in stress responses under such circumstances and focus on examples with clinical relevance.

Nuclear ERK: Mechanism of Translocation, Substrates, and Role in Cancer

The extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK) are central signaling components that regulate stimulated cellular processes such as proliferation and differentiation. When dysregulated, these kinases participate in the induction and maintenance of various pathologies, primarily cancer. While ERK is localized in the cytoplasm of resting cells, many of its substrates are nuclear, and indeed, extracellular stimulation induces a rapid and robust nuclear translocation of ERK. Similarly to other signaling components that shuttle to the nucleus upon stimulation, ERK does not use the canonical importinα/β mechanism of nuclear translocation. Rather, it has its own unique nuclear translocation signal (NTS) that interacts with importin7 to allow stimulated shuttling via the nuclear pores. Prevention of the nuclear translocation inhibits proliferation of B-Raf- and N/K-Ras-transformed cancers. This effect is distinct from the one achieved by catalytic Raf and MEK inhibitors used clinically, as cells treated with the translocation inhibitors develop resistance much more slowly. In this review, we describe the mechanism of ERK translocation, present all its nuclear substrates, discuss its role in cancer and compare its translocation to the translocation of other signaling components. We also present proof of principle data for the use of nuclear ERK translocation as an anti-cancer target. It is likely that the prevention of nuclear ERK translocation will eventually serve as a way to combat Ras and Raf transformed cancers with less side-effects than the currently used drugs.

The chromatin landscape of the ribosomal RNA genes in mouse and human

The rRNA genes of mouse and human encode the three major RNAs of the ribosome and as such are essential for growth and development. These genes are present in high copy numbers and arranged as direct repeats at the Nucleolar Organizer Regions on multiple chromosomes. Not all the rRNA genes are transcriptionally active, but the molecular mechanisms that determine activity are complex and still poorly understood. Recent studies applying a novel Deconvolution Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (DChIP-Seq) technique in conjunction with conditional gene inactivation provide new insights into the structure of the active rRNA genes and question previous assumptions on the role of chromatin and histone modifications. We suggest an alternative model for the active rRNA gene chromatin and discuss how this structure is determined and maintained.

Mechanisms shaping the role of ERK1/2 in cellular senescence (Review)

Senescence is a result of cellular stress and is a potential mechanism for regulating cancer. As a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family, ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase) has an important role in delivering extracellular signals to the nucleus, and these signals regulate the cell cycle, cell proliferation and cell development. Previous studies demonstrated that ERK1/2 is closely associated with cell aging; however other previous studies suggested that ERK1/2 exerts an opposite effect on aging models and target proteins, even within the same cell model. Recent studies demonstrated that the effect of ERK1/2 on aging is likely associated with its target proteins and regulators, negative feedback loops, phosphorylated ERK1/2 factors and ERK1/2 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. The present review aims to examine the mechanism of ERK1/2 and discuss its role in cellular outcomes and novel drug development.

Translation Stress Regulates Ribosome Synthesis and Cell Proliferation

Ribosome and protein synthesis are major metabolic events that control cellular growth and proliferation. Impairment in ribosome biogenesis pathways and mRNA translation is associated with pathologies such as cancer and developmental disorders. Processes that control global protein synthesis are tightly regulated at different levels by numerous factors and linked with multiple cellular signaling pathways. Several of these merge on the growth promoting factor c-Myc, which induces ribosome biogenesis by stimulating Pol I, Pol II, and Pol III transcription. However, how cells sense and respond to mRNA translation stress is not well understood. It was more recently shown that mRNA translation stress activates c-Myc, through a specific induction of E2F1 synthesis via a PI3Kδ-dependent pathway. This review focuses on how this novel feedback pathway stimulates cellular growth and proliferation pathways to synchronize protein synthesis with ribosome biogenesis. It also describes for the first time the oncogenic activity of the mRNA, and not the encoded protein.

Transcriptional and Epigenetic Regulation by the Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 Pathway

Nutrient availability impacts health such that nutrient excess states can dysregulate epigenetic and transcriptional pathways to cause many diseases. Increasing evidence implicates aberrant regulation of nutrient signaling cascades as one means of communicating nutrient information to the epigenetic and transcriptional regulatory machinery. One such signaling cascade, the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), is conserved from yeast to man, and it is deregulated in diverse disease states. The catalytic subunit of the mTORC1 kinase complex (Tor1 or Tor2 in budding yeast and mTor in mammals) phosphorylates several downstream effectors regulating transcriptional and translational responses controlling growth and proliferation. Delineating mechanisms of cytoplasmic nutrient mTORC1 activation continues to be a major research focus. However, Tor kinases not only localize to the cytoplasm but also are found in the nucleus where they selectively bind and regulate genes controlling cellular metabolism and anabolism. The nuclear mTORC1 functions are now beginning to be defined, and they suggest that mTORC1 has a critical role in regulating the complex transcriptional activities required for ribosomal biogenesis. The mTORC1 pathway also interacts with epigenetic regulators required for modifying chromatin structure and function to control gene expression. Because altered nutrient states exert both individual and transgenerational phenotypic changes, mTORC1 signaling to chromatin effectors may have a significant role in mediating the effects of diet and nutrients on the epigenome. This article will discuss the recent inroads into the function of nuclear mTORC1 and its role in epigenetic and transcriptional regulation.

Extracellular-Regulated Kinases: Signaling From Ras to ERK Substrates to Control Biological Outcomes

The extracellular-regulated kinases ERK1 and ERK2 are evolutionarily conserved, ubiquitous serine-threonine kinases that are involved in regulating cellular signaling in both normal and pathological conditions. Their expression is critical for development and their hyperactivation is a major factor in cancer development and progression. Since their discovery as one of the major signaling mediators activated by mitogens and Ras mutation, we have learned much about their regulation, including their activation, binding partners and substrates. In this review I will discuss some of what has been discovered about the members of the Ras to ERK pathway, including regulation of their activation by growth factors and cell adhesion pathways. Looking downstream of ERK activation I will also highlight some of the many ERK substrates that have been discovered, including those involved in feedback regulation, cell migration and cell cycle progression through the control of transcription, pre-mRNA splicing and protein synthesis.

The identification of a novel role for BRCA1 in regulating RNA polymerase I transcription

The unrestrained proliferation of cancer cells requires a high level of ribosome biogenesis. The first stage of ribosome biogenesis is the transcription of the large ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs); the structural and functional components of the ribosome. Transcription of rRNA is carried out by RNA polymerase I (Pol-I) and its associated holoenzyme complex.Here we report that BRCA1, a nuclear phosphoprotein, and a known tumour suppressor involved in variety of cellular processes such as DNA damage response, transcriptional regulation, cell cycle control and ubiquitylation, is associated with rDNA repeats, in particular with the regulatory regions of the rRNA gene.We demonstrate that BRCA1 interacts directly with the basal Pol-I transcription factors; upstream binding factor (UBF), selectivity factor-1 (SL1) as well as interacting with RNA Pol-I itself. We show that in response to DNA damage, BRCA1 occupancy at the rDNA repeat is decreased and the observed BRCA1 interactions with the Pol-I transcription machinery are weakened.We propose, therefore, that there is a rDNA associated fraction of BRCA1 involved in DNA damage dependent regulation of Pol-I transcription, regulating the stability and formation of the Pol-I holoenzyme during initiation and/or elongation in response to DNA damage.

A recurrent de novo missense mutation in UBTF causes developmental neuroregression

UBTF (upstream binding transcription factor) exists as two isoforms; UBTF1 regulates rRNA transcription by RNA polymerase 1, whereas UBTF2 regulates mRNA transcription by RNA polymerase 2. Herein, we describe 4 patients with very similar patterns of neuroregression due to recurrent de novo mutations in UBTF (GRCh37/hg19, NC_000017.10: g.42290219C > T, NM_014233.3: c.628G > A) resulting in the same amino acid change in both UBTF1 and UBTF2 (p.Glu210Lys [p.E210K]). Disease onset in our cohort was at 2.5 to 3 years and characterized by slow progression of global motor, cognitive and behavioral dysfunction. Notable early features included hypotonia with a floppy gait, high-pitched dysarthria and hyperactivity. Later features included aphasia, dystonia, and spasticity. Speech and ambulatory ability were lost by the early teens. Magnetic resonance imaging showed progressive generalized cerebral atrophy (supratentorial > infratentorial) with involvement of both gray and white matter. Patient fibroblasts showed normal levels of UBTF transcripts, increased expression of pre-rRNA and 18S rRNA, nucleolar abnormalities, markedly increased numbers of DNA breaks, defective cell-cycle progression, and apoptosis. Expression of mutant human UBTF1 in Drosophila neurons was lethal. Although no loss-of-function variants are reported in the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) database and Ubtf-/- is early embryonic lethal in mice, Ubtf+/- mice displayed only mild motor and behavioral dysfunction in adulthood. Our data underscore the importance of including UBTF E210K in the differential diagnosis of neuroregression and suggest that mainly gain-of-function mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of the UBTF E210K neuroregression syndrome.

Amino acid-dependent signaling via S6K1 and MYC is essential for regulation of rDNA transcription

Dysregulation of RNA polymerase I (Pol I)-dependent ribosomal DNA (rDNA) transcription is a consistent feature of malignant transformation that can be targeted to treat cancer. Understanding how rDNA transcription is coupled to the availability of growth factors and nutrients will provide insight into how ribosome biogenesis is maintained in a tumour environment characterised by limiting nutrients. We demonstrate that modulation of rDNA transcription initiation, elongation and rRNA processing is an immediate, co-regulated response to altered amino acid abundance, dependent on both mTORC1 activation of S6K1 and MYC activity. Growth factors regulate rDNA transcription initiation while amino acids modulate growth factor-dependent rDNA transcription by primarily regulating S6K1-dependent rDNA transcription elongation and processing. Thus, we show for the first time amino acids regulate rRNA synthesis by a distinct, post-initiation mechanism, providing a novel model for integrated control of ribosome biogenesis that has implications for understanding how this process is dysregulated in cancer.

Metabolic Labeling in the Study of Mammalian Ribosomal RNA Synthesis

RNA metabolic labeling is a method of choice in the study of dynamic changes in the rate of gene transcription and RNA processing. It is particularly applicable to transcription of the ribosomal RNA genes and their processing products due to the very high levels of ribosomal RNA synthesis. Metabolic labeling can detect changes in ribosomal RNA transcription that occur within a few minutes as opposed to the still widely used RT-PCR or Northern blot procedures that measure RNA pool sizes and at best are able to detect changes occurring over several hours or several days. Here, we describe a metabolic labeling technique applicable to the measurement of ribosomal RNA synthesis and processing rates, as well as to the determination of RNA Polymerase I transcription elongation rates.

ING1 regulates rRNA levels by altering nucleolar chromatin structure and mTOR localization

Epigenetic, transcriptional and signaling processes in the nucleolus regulate rRNA transcription and cell growth. We report here that the tumor suppressor ING1b binds rDNA, regulates rDNA chromatin modifications and affects nucleolar localization of mTOR to modulate rRNA levels. ING1 represses rDNA transcription by recruiting HDAC1 to rDNA loci, increasing its association with the NoRC complex and deacetylating the histone H3K9 and H3K27 marks of active transcription. Loss of ING1 enhances nucleolar localization of phospho-mTOR and its association with Raptor and GβL, even during rapamycin treatment. ING1 inhibits rDNA transcription by inhibiting UBF activity and its interaction with mTOR. Regulation of rDNA heterochromatin and rRNA synthesis by ING1 is also apparent during normal cell growth and during cell stress. Moreover, this function was also important during PMA induced differentiation of THP1 cells, since knocking down ING1 affected the process by inhibiting rRNA transcriptional repression. These observations show that ING1 regulates the nucleolar epigenome and rDNA transcription suggesting that regulation of protein synthesis might serve as the basis for ING1 function as a type II tumor suppressor.

Integrated transcriptomic analysis of distance-related field cancerization in rectal cancer patients

Field cancerization (FC) occurs in various epithelial carcinomas, including colorectal cancer, which indicates that the molecular events in carcinogenesis might occur in normal tissues extending from tumors. However, the transcriptomic characteristics of FC in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain largely unexplored. To investigate the changes in gene expression associated with proximity to the tumor, we analyzed the global gene expression profiles of cancer tissues and histologically normal tissues taken at various distances from the tumor (1 cm, 5 cm and the proximal end of the resected sample) from 32 rectal cancer patients. Significantly differentially expressed genes related to the distance from the tumor were screened by linear mixed effects analysis using the lme4 package in R. The distance-related differentially expressed genes that were gradually up-regulated (n=302) or gradually down-regulated (n=568) from normal tissues to the tumor were used to construct protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. Three subnetworks among the gradually up-regulated genes and four subnetworks among the gradually down-regulated genes were identified using the MCODE plugin in the Cytoscape software program. The most significantly enriched Gene Ontology (GO) biological process terms were "ribosome biogenesis", "mRNA splicing via spliceosome", and "positive regulation of leukocyte migration" for the gradually up-regulated subnetworks and "cellular calcium ion homeostasis", "cell separation after cytokinesis", "cell junction assembly", and "fatty acid metabolic process" for the gradually down-regulated subnetworks. Combined with the previously constructed multistep carcinogenesis model used for the analysis, 50.59% of the genes in the subnetworks (43/85) displayed identical changes in expression from normal colon tissues to adenoma and colon cancer. We focused on the 7 genes associated with fatty acid metabolic processes in the distance-related down-regulated subnetwork. Survival analysis of patients in the CRC dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) revealed that higher expression of these 7 genes, especially CPT2, ACAA2 and ACADM, was associated with better prognosis (p = 0.034, p = 0.00058, p = 0.039, p = 0.04). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that CPT2 was an independent prognostic factor (p = 0.004131). Our results demonstrate that field cancerization occurs in CRC and affects gene expression in normal tissues extending from the tumor, which may provide new insights into CRC oncogenesis and patient progression.