Specialized roles of the two mitotic cyclins in somatic cells: cyclin A as an activator of M phase-promoting factor

CDK-mediated phosphorylation of PNKP is required for end-processing of single-strand DNA gaps on Okazaki fragments and genome stability

Polynucleotide kinase phosphatase (PNKP) has enzymatic activities as 3'-phosphatase and 5'-kinase of DNA ends to promote DNA ligation and repair. Here, we show that cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) regulate the phosphorylation of threonine 118 (T118) in PNKP. This phosphorylation allows recruitment to the gapped DNA structure found in single-strand DNA (ssDNA) nicks and/or gaps between Okazaki fragments (OFs) during DNA replication. T118A (alanine)-substituted PNKP-expressing cells exhibited an accumulation of ssDNA gaps in S phase and accelerated replication fork progression. Furthermore, PNKP is involved in poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1)-dependent replication gap filling as part of a backup pathway in the absence of OFs ligation. Altogether, our data suggest that CDK-mediated PNKP phosphorylation at T118 is important for its recruitment to ssDNA gaps to proceed with OFs ligation and its backup repairs via the gap-filling pathway to maintain genome stability.

Cellular and Transcriptional Response of Human Astrocytes to Hybrid Protein Materials

Collagen is a major component of the tissue matrix, and soybean can regulate the tissue immune response. Both materials have been used to fabricate biomaterials for tissue repair. In this study, adult and fetal human astrocytes were grown in a soy protein isolate (SPI)-collagen hybrid gel or on the surface of a cross-linked SPI-collagen membrane. Hybrid materials reduced the cell proliferation rate compared to materials generated by collagen alone. However, the hybrid materials did not significantly change the cell motility compared to the control collagen material. RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis showed downregulated genes in the cell cycle pathway, including CCNA2, CCNB1, CCNB2, CCND1, CCND2, and CDK1, which may explain lower cell proliferation in the hybrid material. This study also revealed the downregulation of genes encoding extracellular matrix (ECM) components, including HSPG2, LUM, SDC2, COL4A1, COL4A5, COL4A6, and FN1, as well as genes encoding chemokines, including CCL2, CXCL1, CXCL2, CX3CL1, CXCL3, and LIF, for adult human astrocytes grown on the hybrid membrane compared with those grown on the control collagen membrane. The study explored the cellular and transcriptional responses of human astrocytes to the hybrid material and indicated a potential beneficial function of the material in the application of neural repair.

GSE1 links the HDAC1/CoREST co-repressor complex to DNA damage

Post-translational modifications of histones are important regulators of the DNA damage response (DDR). By using affinity purification mass spectrometry (AP-MS) we discovered that genetic suppressor element 1 (GSE1) forms a complex with the HDAC1/CoREST deacetylase/demethylase co-repressor complex. In-depth phosphorylome analysis revealed that loss of GSE1 results in impaired DDR, ATR signalling and γH2AX formation upon DNA damage induction. Altered profiles of ATR target serine-glutamine motifs (SQ) on DDR-related hallmark proteins point to a defect in DNA damage sensing. In addition, GSE1 knock-out cells show hampered DNA damage-induced phosphorylation on SQ motifs of regulators of histone post-translational modifications, suggesting altered histone modification. While loss of GSE1 does not affect the histone deacetylation activity of CoREST, GSE1 appears to be essential for binding of the deubiquitinase USP22 to CoREST and for the deubiquitination of H2B K120 in response to DNA damage. The combination of deacetylase, demethylase, and deubiquitinase activity makes the USP22-GSE1-CoREST subcomplex a multi-enzymatic eraser that seems to play an important role during DDR. Since GSE1 has been previously associated with cancer progression and survival our findings are potentially of high medical relevance.

Amniotic Membrane Restores Chronic Wound Features to Normal in a Keratinocyte TGF-β-Chronified Cell Model

Unsuccessful wound closure in chronic wounds can be linked to altered keratinocyte activation and their inability to re-epithelize. Suggested mechanisms driving this impairment involve unbalanced cytokine signaling. However, the molecular events leading to these aberrant responses are poorly understood. Among cytokines affecting keratinocyte responses, Transforming Growth Factor-β (TFG-β) is thought to have a great impact. In this study, we have used a previously characterized skin epidermal in vitro model, HaCaT cells continuously exposed to TGF-β1, to study the wound recovery capabilities of chronified/senescent keratinocytes. In this setting, chronified keratinocytes show decreased migration and reduced activation in response to injury. Amniotic membrane (AM) has been used successfully to manage unresponsive complicated wounds. In our in vitro setting, AM treatment of chronified keratinocytes re-enabled migration in the early stages of wound healing, also promoting proliferation at later stages. Interestingly, when checking the gene expression of markers known to be altered in TGF-β chronified cells and involved in cell cycle regulation, early migratory responses, senescence, and chronic inflammation, we discovered that AM treatment seemed to reset back to keratinocyte status. The analysis of the evolution of both the levels of keratinocyte activation marker cytokeratin 17 and the spatial-temporal expression pattern of the proliferation marker Ki-67 in human in vivo biopsy samples suggests that responses to AM recorded in TGF-β chronified HaCaT cells would be homologous to those of resident keratinocytes in chronic wounds. All these results provide further evidence that sustained TGF-β might play a key role in wound chronification and postulate the validity of our TGF-β chronified HaCaT in vitro model for the study of chronic wound physiology.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG cell-free supernatant as a novel anti-cancer adjuvant

BACKGROUND

Gut microbiota modulation has been demonstrated to be effective in protecting patients against detrimental effects of anti-cancer therapies, as well as to improve the efficacy of certain anti-cancer treatments. Among the most characterized probiotics, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is currently utilized in clinics to alleviate diarrhea, mucositis or intestinal damage which might be associated with several triggers, including Clostridium difficile infections, inflammatory gut diseases, antibiotic consumption, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Here, we investigate whether LGG cell-free supernatant (LGG-SN) might exert anti-proliferative activity toward colon cancer and metastatic melanoma cells. Moreover, we assess the potential adjuvant effect of LGG-SN in combination with anti-cancer drugs.

METHODS

LGG-SN alone or in combination with either 5-Fuorouracil and Irinotecan was used to treat human colon and human melanoma cancer cell lines. Dimethylimidazol-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay was employed to detect cellular viability. Trypan blue staining, anti-cleaved caspase-3 and anti-total versus anti-cleaved PARP western blots, and annexin V/propidium iodide flow cytometry analyses were used to assess cell death. Flow cytometry measurement of cellular DNA content (with propidium iodide staining) together with qPCR analysis of cyclins expression were used to assess cell cycle.

RESULTS

We demonstrate that LGG-SN is able to selectively reduce the viability of cancer cells in a concentration-dependent way. While LGG-SN does not exert any anti-proliferative activity on control fibroblasts. In cancer cells, the reduction in viability is not associated with apoptosis induction, but with a mitotic arrest in the G2/M phase of cell cycle. Additionally, LGG-SN sensitizes cancer cells to both 5-Fluorouracil and Irinotecan, thereby showing a positive synergistic action.

CONCLUSION

Overall, our results suggest that LGG-SN may contain one or more bioactive molecules with anti-cancer activity which sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. Thus, LGG could be proposed as an ideal candidate for ground-breaking integrated approaches to be employed in oncology, to reduce chemotherapy-related side effects and overcome resistance or relapse issues, thus ameliorating the therapeutic response in cancer patients.

Ampelopsin induces MDA-MB-231 cell cycle arrest through cyclin B1-mediated PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in vitro and in vivo

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women and it is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in the world. Ampelopsin (AMP) is a purified component from the root of Ampelopsis grossedentata. It is reported that AMP could significantly inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells. However, the antitumor mechanism against breast cancer has not yet been fully elucidated. The purpose of this work was to study the role of AMP against breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and to further investigate the underlying mechanism. PI3K/AKT/mTOR plays a very important role in tumor cell growth and proliferation and we hypothesize that AMP may inhibit this pathway. In the present work, the results showed that AMP could significantly inhibit the growth of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro and in vivo. In addition, treatment with AMP decreased the levels of PI3K, AKT and mTOR, as well as cyclin B1 expression, followed by p53/p21 pathway activation to arrest the cell cycle at G2/M. Moreover, it demonstrated a positive association between cyclin B1 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR levels. Importantly, this pathway was found to be regulated by cyclin B1 in MDA-MB-231 cells treated with AMP. Also, it was observed that cyclin B1 overexpression attenuated cell apoptosis and weakened the inhibitory effects of AMP on cell proliferation. Together, AMP could inhibit breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo, due to cell cycle arrest at G2/M by inactivating PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway regulated by cyclin B1.

Neospora caninum Infection Triggers S-phase Arrest and Alters Nuclear Characteristics in Primary Bovine Endothelial Host Cells

Neospora caninum represents a major cause of abortive disease in bovines and small ruminants worldwide. As a typical obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite, N. caninum needs to modulate its host cell for successful replication. In the current study, we focused on parasite-driven interference with host cell cycle progression. By performing DNA content-based cell cycle phase analyses in N. caninum-infected primary bovine umbilical vein endothelial cells (BUVEC), a parasite-driven S-phase arrest was detected at both 24 and 32 h p. i., being paralleled by fewer host cells experiencing the G0/G1 cell cycle phase. When analyzing S-subphases, proliferation cell nuclear antigen (per PCNA)-based experiments showed a reduced population of BUVEC in the late S-phase. Analyses on key molecules of cell cycle regulation documented a significant alteration of cyclin A2 and cyclin B1 abundance in N. caninum-infected host endothelial cells, thereby confirming irregularities in the S-phase and S-to-G2/M-phase transition. In line with cell cycle alterations, general nuclear parameters revealed smaller nuclear sizes and morphological abnormalities of BUVEC nuclei within the N. caninum-infected host cell layer. The latter observations were also confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by analyses of lamin B1 as a marker of nuclear lamina, which illustrated an inhomogeneous nuclear lamin B1 distribution, nuclear foldings, and invaginations, thereby reflecting nuclear misshaping. Interestingly, the latter finding applied to both non-infected and infected host cells within parasitized BUVEC layer. Additionally, actin detection indicated alterations in the perinuclear actin cap formation since typical nucleo-transversal filaments were consistently lacking in N. caninum-infected BUVEC, as also documented by significantly decreased actin-related intensities in the perinuclear region. These data indicate that N. caninum indeed alters host cell cycle progression and severely affects the host cell nuclear phenotype in primary bovine endothelial host cells. In summary, these findings add novel data on the complex N. caninum-specific modulation of host cell and nucleus, thereby demonstrating clear differences in cell cycle progression modulation driven by other closely related apicomplexans like Toxoplasma gondii and Besnotia besnoiti.

Alachlor breaks down intracellular calcium homeostasis and leads to cell cycle arrest through JNK/MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling mechanisms in bovine mammary gland epithelial cells

Alachlor is a widely used herbicide for the cultivation of various grains employed as food for cattle. The mechanisms leading to the toxic effects of alachlor on epithelial cells of the bovine mammary gland are not well known. Thus, this study was conducted to clarify the toxicological effects of alachlor on the immortalized epithelial cell line of the bovine mammary gland (MAC-T) cells. After treatment, many factors related to cell viability, proliferation, and cellular homeostasis were evaluated. Alachlor arrested cell cycle progression by blocking the expression of cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinases, and induced the breakdown of Ca²⁺ homeostasis. The cytosolic and mitochondrial levels of Ca²⁺ were also abnormally increased after the treatment of cells with alachlor, ultimately leading to the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential in MAC-T cells. The signaling cascade was found to be dysregulated by the abnormal phosphorylation of signaling molecules involved in PI3K/AKT (AKT, p70S6K, and S6) and MAPK/JNK (JNK and c-Jun) pathways. In these mechanisms, exposure to alachlor led to a reduction in the viability and proliferation of MAC-T cells. Altogether, the toxic effects of alachlor can lead to abnormal conditions in epithelial cells of the bovine mammary gland, which might hinder these cells from performing their main role, such as producing milk.

The Hippo Signaling Pathway in Cancer: A Cell Cycle Perspective

Simple Summary

Cancer is increasingly viewed as a cell cycle disease in that the dysregulation of the cell cycle machinery is a common feature in cancer. The Hippo signaling pathway consists of a core kinase cascade as well as extended regulators, which together control organ size and tissue homeostasis. The aberrant expression of cell cycle regulators and/or Hippo pathway components contributes to cancer development, and for this reason, we specifically focus on delineating the roles of the Hippo pathway in the cell cycle. Improving our understanding of the Hippo pathway from a cell cycle perspective could be used as a powerful weapon in the cancer battlefield.

Abstract

Cell cycle progression is an elaborate process that requires stringent control for normal cellular function. Defects in cell cycle control, however, contribute to genomic instability and have become a characteristic phenomenon in cancers. Over the years, advancement in the understanding of disrupted cell cycle regulation in tumors has led to the development of powerful anti-cancer drugs. Therefore, an in-depth exploration of cell cycle dysregulation in cancers could provide therapeutic avenues for cancer treatment. The Hippo pathway is an evolutionarily conserved regulator network that controls organ size, and its dysregulation is implicated in various types of cancers. Although the role of the Hippo pathway in oncogenesis has been widely investigated, its role in cell cycle regulation has not been comprehensively scrutinized. Here, we specifically focus on delineating the involvement of the Hippo pathway in cell cycle regulation. To that end, we first compare the structural as well as functional conservation of the core Hippo pathway in yeasts, flies, and mammals. Then, we detail the multi-faceted aspects in which the core components of the mammalian Hippo pathway and their regulators affect the cell cycle, particularly with regard to the regulation of E2F activity, the G1 tetraploidy checkpoint, DNA synthesis, DNA damage checkpoint, centrosome dynamics, and mitosis. Finally, we briefly discuss how a collective understanding of cell cycle regulation and the Hippo pathway could be weaponized in combating cancer.

Cyclin A2 localises in the cytoplasm at the S/G2 transition to activate PLK1

Cyclin A2 is a key regulator of the cell cycle, implicated both in DNA replication and mitotic entry. Cyclin A2 participates in feedback loops that activate mitotic kinases in G2 phase, but why active Cyclin A2-CDK2 during the S phase does not trigger mitotic kinase activation remains unclear. Here, we describe a change in localisation of Cyclin A2 from being only nuclear to both nuclear and cytoplasmic at the S/G2 border. We find that Cyclin A2-CDK2 can activate the mitotic kinase PLK1 through phosphorylation of Bora, and that only cytoplasmic Cyclin A2 interacts with Bora and PLK1. Expression of predominately cytoplasmic Cyclin A2 or phospho-mimicking PLK1 T210D can partially rescue a G2 arrest caused by Cyclin A2 depletion. Cytoplasmic presence of Cyclin A2 is restricted by p21, in particular after DNA damage. Cyclin A2 chromatin association during DNA replication and additional mechanisms contribute to Cyclin A2 localisation change in the G2 phase. We find no evidence that such mechanisms involve G2 feedback loops and suggest that cytoplasmic appearance of Cyclin A2 at the S/G2 transition functions as a trigger for mitotic kinase activation.

Cyclin A triggers Mitosis either via the Greatwall kinase pathway or Cyclin B

Two mitotic cyclin types, cyclin A and B, exist in higher eukaryotes, but their specialised functions in mitosis are incompletely understood. Using degron tags for rapid inducible protein removal, we analyse how acute depletion of these proteins affects mitosis. Loss of cyclin A in G2-phase prevents mitotic entry. Cells lacking cyclin B can enter mitosis and phosphorylate most mitotic proteins, because of parallel PP2A:B55 phosphatase inactivation by Greatwall kinase. The final barrier to mitotic establishment corresponds to nuclear envelope breakdown, which requires a decisive shift in the balance of cyclin-dependent kinase Cdk1 and PP2A:B55 activity. Beyond this point, cyclin B/Cdk1 is essential for phosphorylation of a distinct subset of mitotic Cdk1 substrates that are essential to complete cell division. Our results identify how cyclin A, cyclin B and Greatwall kinase coordinate mitotic progression by increasing levels of Cdk1-dependent substrate phosphorylation.

The G2-to-M transition from a phosphatase perspective: a new vision of the meiotic division

Cell division is orchestrated by the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of thousands of proteins. These post-translational modifications underlie the molecular cascades converging to the activation of the universal mitotic kinase, Cdk1, and entry into cell division. They also govern the structural events that sustain the mechanics of cell division. While the role of protein kinases in mitosis has been well documented by decades of investigations, little was known regarding the control of protein phosphatases until the recent years. However, the regulation of phosphatase activities is as essential as kinases in controlling the activation of Cdk1 to enter M-phase. The regulation and the function of phosphatases result from post-translational modifications but also from the combinatorial association between conserved catalytic subunits and regulatory subunits that drive their substrate specificity, their cellular localization and their activity. It now appears that sequential dephosphorylations orchestrated by a network of phosphatase activities trigger Cdk1 activation and then order the structural events necessary for the timely execution of cell division. This review discusses a series of recent works describing the important roles played by protein phosphatases for the proper regulation of meiotic division. Many breakthroughs in the field of cell cycle research came from studies on oocyte meiotic divisions. Indeed, the meiotic division shares most of the molecular regulators with mitosis. The natural arrests of oocytes in G2 and in M-phase, the giant size of these cells, the variety of model species allowing either biochemical or imaging as well as genetics approaches explain why the process of meiosis has served as an historical model to decipher signalling pathways involved in the G2-to-M transition. The review especially highlights how the phosphatase PP2A-B55δ critically orchestrates the timing of meiosis resumption in amphibian oocytes. By opposing the kinase PKA, PP2A-B55δ controls the release of the G2 arrest through the dephosphorylation of their substrate, Arpp19. Few hours later, the inhibition of PP2A-B55δ by Arpp19 releases its opposing kinase, Cdk1, and triggers M-phase. In coordination with a variety of phosphatases and kinases, the PP2A-B55δ/Arpp19 duo therefore emerges as the key effector of the G2-to-M transition.

Triggering mitosis

Entry into mitosis is triggered by the activation of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1). This simple reaction rapidly and irreversibly sets the cell up for division. Even though the core step in triggering mitosis is so simple, the regulation of this cellular switch is highly complex, involving a large number of interconnected signalling cascades. We do have a detailed knowledge of most of the components of this network, but only a poor understanding of how they work together to create a precise and robust system that ensures that mitosis is triggered at the right time and in an orderly fashion. In this review, we will give an overview of the literature that describes the Cdk1 activation network and then address questions relating to the systems biology of this switch. How is the timing of the trigger controlled? How is mitosis insulated from interphase? What determines the sequence of events, following the initial trigger of Cdk1 activation? Which elements ensure robustness in the timing and execution of the switch? How has this system been adapted to the high levels of replication stress in cancer cells?

The Developmental Phases of Zebrafish Myogenesis

The development and growth of vertebrate axial muscle have been studied for decades at both the descriptive and molecular level. The zebrafish has provided an attractive model system for investigating both muscle patterning and growth due to its simple axial musculature with spatially separated fibre types, which contrasts to complex muscle groups often deployed in amniotes. In recent years, new findings have reshaped previous concepts that define how final teleost muscle form is established and maintained. Here, we summarise recent findings in zebrafish embryonic myogenesis with a focus on fibre type specification, followed by an examination of the molecular mechanisms that control muscle growth with emphasis on the role of the dermomyotome-like external cell layer. We also consider these data sets in a comparative context to gain insight into the evolution of axial myogenic patterning systems within the vertebrate lineage.

Proton pump inhibitors promote the growth of androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cells through ErbB2, ERK1/2, PI3K/Akt, GSK-3β signaling and inhibition of cellular prostatic acid phosphatase

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancer in men. Although hormone-sensitive PCa responds to androgen-deprivation, there are no effective therapies for castration-resistant PCa. It has been recently suggested that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may increase the risk of certain cancers; however, association with PCa remains elusive. Here, we evaluated the tumorigenic activities of PPIs in vitro, in PCa cell lines and epithelial cells from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and in vivo, in PCa mice xenografts. PPIs increased survival and proliferation, and inhibited apoptosis in LNCaP cells. These effects were attenuated or absent in androgen-insensitive DU-145 and PC3 cells, respectively. Specifically, omeprazole (OME) promoted cell cycle progression, increased c-Myc expression, ErbB2 activity and PSA secretion. Furthermore, OME induced the phosphorylation of MAPK-ERK1/2, PI3K/Akt and GSK-3β, and blunted the expression and activity of cellular prostatic acid phosphatase. OME also increased survival, proliferation and PSA levels in BPH cells. In vivo, OME promoted tumor growth in mice bearing LNCaP xenografts. Our results indicate that PPIs display tumorigenic activities in PCa cells, suggesting that their long-term administration in patients should be carefully monitored.

A novel SWIM domain protein ZSWIM5 inhibits the malignant progression of non-small-cell lung cancer

Purpose

Zinc finger SWIM-type containing 5 (ZSWIM5) is a newly discovered protein, which contains a novel zinc-chelating domain SWIM (CxCxnCxH), and is predicted to interact with DNA or proteins. Currently, the knowledge of functions of ZSWIM5 remains limited. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the biological functions of ZSWIM5 and their mechanisms.

Patients and methods

We detected the expression of ZSWIM5 in samples from 139 cases of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and six cell lines using immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Moreover, we explored the biological functions of ZSWIM5 in lung cancer cells by siRNA interference and cDNA transfection of ZSWIM5.

Results

The results showed that compared with adjacent non-tumor lung tissues, ZSWIM5 expression was significantly decreased in NSCLC tissues (P=0.0199) and that the ZSWIM5-positive rate in non-tumor tissues (76.67%) was notably higher than that in NSCLC tissues (40.29%). ZSWIM5 expression in human normal bronchial epithelial cells was also much higher than that in lung cancer lines (P<0.001). ZSWIM5-negative expression was significantly related to TNM stage (P<0.001), lymph node metastasis (P=0.002), and poor prognosis (P<0.001) of NSCLC patients. MTT and colony formation assays showed that ZSWIM5 could inhibit the proliferation and colony formation abilities of lung cancer cells. Meanwhile, the results of transwell and wound healing assays showed that ZSWIM5 could suppress the invasion and migration of lung cancer cells. Further investigation revealed that ZSWIM5 could downregulate cyclin D1, cyclin E, cyclin A2, MMP2, and MMP9 expression, which affected the proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities of lung cancer cells.

Conclusion

ZSWIM5 could inhibit the malignant progression of NSCLC by affecting the expression of cyclins and MMPs.

Cyclin B2 can compensate for Cyclin B1 in oocyte meiosis I

Cyclin B1 and its interaction with CDK1 are thought to be critical for meiosis I progression in oocytes. However, using oocyte-specific conditional knockouts, Li et al. show that Cyclin B2 activity can compensate for Cyclin B1 to trigger meiosis resumption.

Mammalian oocytes are arrested at the prophase of the first meiotic division for months and even years, depending on species. Meiotic resumption of fully grown oocytes requires activation of M-phase–promoting factor (MPF), which is composed of Cyclin B1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1). It has long been believed that Cyclin B1 synthesis/accumulation and its interaction with CDK1 is a prerequisite for MPF activation in oocytes. In this study, we revealed that oocyte meiotic resumption occurred in the absence of Cyclin B1. Ccnb1-null oocytes resumed meiosis and extruded the first polar body. Without Cyclin B1, CDK1 could be activated by up-regulated Cyclin B2. Ccnb1 and Ccnb2 double knockout permanently arrested the oocytes at the prophase of the first meiotic division. Oocyte-specific Ccnb1-null female mice were infertile due to failed MPF activity elevation and thus premature interphase-like stage entry in the second meiotic division. These results have revealed a hidden compensatory mechanism between Cyclin B1 and Cyclin B2 in regulating MPF and oocyte meiotic resumption.

A unified view of spatio-temporal control of mitotic entry: Polo kinase as the key

The Polo kinase is an essential regulator of cell division. Its ability to regulate multiple events at distinct subcellular locations and times during mitosis is remarkable. In the last few years, a much clearer mechanistic understanding of the functions and regulation of Polo in cell division has emerged. In this regard, the importance of coupling changes in activity with changes in localization is striking, both for Polo itself and for its upstream regulators. This review brings together several new pieces of the puzzle that are gradually revealing how Polo is regulated, in space and time, to enable its functions in the early stages of mitosis in animal cells. As a result, a unified view of how mitotic entry is spatio-temporally regulated is emerging.

Downregulation of gasdermin D promotes gastric cancer proliferation by regulating cell cycle-related proteins

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between gasdermin D (GSDMD) and gastric cancer (GC) cell proliferation, and to determine whether the downregulated expression of GSDMD contributed to the tumorigenesis and proliferation of GC cells.

METHODS

GSDMD expressions in GC tissues and matched adjacent non-cancerous tissues were assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The effect of GSDMD on cell proliferation in vitro was assessed by the colony formation assay and cell viability assays. In vivo, xenografted tumors in nude mice were evaluated. The cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. In addition, the alterations of several cell cycle-related and cell signaling pathway proteins were analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTS

GSDMD expression was decreased in GC, and the decreased expression of GSDMD could markedly promote the proliferation of tumors in vivo and in vitro. The downregulation of GSDMD accelerated S/G₂ cell transition by activating extracellular signal regulated kinase, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathways and regulating cell cycle-related proteins in GC.

CONCLUSION

GSDMD may protect against cell proliferation of GC, and it may be used as a diagnostic and treatment strategy for GC.

HDAC inhibitor PAC-320 induces G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human prostate cancer

HDAC inhibitors (HDACis) have been demonstrated with profound antiproliferative activities in various tumor types. Previously, we screened several polyoxometalate HDACis based on our p21 luciferase promoter system and demonstrated that such HDACis have antitumor activity. Here, we further investigate the antitumor mechanism of PAC-320, a compound among the polyoxometalates, in human prostate cancer. We demonstrate that PAC-320 is a broad-spectrum HDACi and could inhibit growth of prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we find that PAC-320 induces cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and apoptosis. Mechanically, PAC-320 induced cell cycle arrest is associated with an increase of p21 and decrease of cyclin A and cyclin B1, while PAC-320 induced apoptosis is mediated through mitochondria apoptotic pathway and is closely associated with increase of BH3-only proteins Noxa and Hrk. Meanwhile, we demonstrate that p38 MAPK pathway is involved in PAC-320 induced antiproliferative activities in prostate cancer. Taken together, our data indicates that PAC-320 has potent prostate cancer inhibitory activity in vitro and in vivo, which is mediated by G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Drug-Free Approach To Study the Unusual Cell Cycle of Giardia intestinalis

Giardia intestinalis is a protozoan parasite that causes giardiasis, a form of severe and infectious diarrhea. Despite the importance of the cell cycle in the control of proliferation and differentiation during a giardia infection, it has been difficult to study this process due to the absence of a synchronization procedure that would not induce cellular damage resulting in artifacts. We utilized counterflow centrifugal elutriation (CCE), a size-based separation technique, to successfully obtain fractions of giardia cultures enriched in G₁, S, and G₂. Unlike drug-induced synchronization of giardia cultures, CCE did not induce double-stranded DNA damage or endoreplication. We observed increases in the appearance and size of the median body in the cells from elutriation fractions corresponding to the progression of the cell cycle from early G₁ to late G₂. Consequently, CCE could be used to examine the dynamics of the median body and other structures and organelles in the giardia cell cycle. For the cell cycle gene expression studies, the actin-related gene was identified by the program geNorm as the most suitable normalizer for reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis of the CCE samples. Ten of 11 suspected cell cycle-regulated genes in the CCE fractions have expression profiles in giardia that resemble those of higher eukaryotes. However, the RNA levels of these genes during the cell cycle differ less than 4-fold to 5-fold, which might indicate that large changes in gene expression are not required by giardia to regulate the cell cycle. IMPORTANCE Giardias are among the most commonly reported intestinal protozoa in the world, with infections seen in humans and over 40 species of animals. The life cycle of giardia alternates between the motile trophozoite and the infectious cyst. The regulation of the cell cycle controls the proliferation of giardia trophozoites during an active infection and contains the restriction point for the differentiation of trophozoite to cyst. Here, we developed counterflow centrifugal elutriation as a drug-free method to obtain fractions of giardia cultures enriched in cells from the G₁, S, and G₂ stages of the cell cycle. Analysis of these fractions showed that the cells do not show side effects associated with the drugs used for synchronization of giardia cultures. Therefore, counterflow centrifugal elutriation would advance studies on key regulatory events during the giardia cell cycle and identify potential drug targets to block giardia proliferation and transmission.

The novel protein C9orf116 promotes rat liver cell line BRL-3A proliferation

Our previous study has proved that the chromosome 9 open reading frame 116 (C9orf116) (NM_001106564.1) was significantly up-regulated in the proliferation phase of liver regeneration. To study its possible physiological function, we analyzed the effect of C9orf116 on BRL-3A cells via over-expression and interference technique. MTT results showed that the cell viability of the interference group was significantly lower than the control group at 48h after transfection (P<0.05), whereas it was significantly higher in the over-expression group (P<0.05). The flow cytometry results showed that C9orf116 knockdown or over-expression had little effect on BRL-3A cell apoptosis. However, the number of cells in division phase (G2/M) was significantly reduced in the interference group (P<0.05), but significantly increased in the over-expression group (P<0.01). Furthermore, the expressions of cell proliferation-related genes CCNA2, CCND1 and MYC both at mRNA and protein levels were down-regulated in the interference group and up-regulated in the over-expression group. Therefore, we concluded that C9orf116 may promote cell proliferation by modulating cell cycle transition and the expression of key genes CCNA2, CCND1 and MYC in BRL-3A cells.

NatB-mediated protein N-α-terminal acetylation is a potential therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma

The identification of new targets for systemic therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an urgent medical need. Recently, we showed that hNatB catalyzes the N-α-terminal acetylation of 15% of the human proteome and that this action is necessary for proper actin cytoskeleton structure and function. In tumors, cytoskeletal changes influence motility, invasion, survival, cell growth and tumor progression, making the cytoskeleton a very attractive antitumor target. Here, we show that hNatB subunits are upregulated in in over 59% HCC tumors compared to non-tumor tissue and that this upregulation is associated with microscopic vascular invasion. We found that hNatB silencing blocks proliferation and tumor formation in HCC cell lines in association with hampered DNA synthesis and impaired progression through the S and the G2/M phases. Growth inhibition is mediated by the degradation of two hNatB substrates, tropomyosin and CDK2, which occurs when these proteins lack N-α-terminal acetylation. In addition, hNatB inhibition disrupts the actin cytoskeleton, focal adhesions and tight/adherens junctions, abrogating two proliferative signaling pathways, Hippo/YAP and ERK1/2. Therefore, inhibition of NatB activity represents an interesting new approach to treating HCC by blocking cell proliferation and disrupting actin cytoskeleton function.

PLK1 Activation in Late G2 Sets Up Commitment to Mitosis

Commitment to mitosis must be tightly coordinated with DNA replication to preserve genome integrity. While we have previously established that the timely activation of CyclinB1-Cdk1 in late G2 triggers mitotic entry, the upstream regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report that Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is required for entry into mitosis during an unperturbed cell cycle and is rapidly activated shortly before CyclinB1-Cdk1. We determine that Plk1 associates with the Cdc25C1 phosphatase and induces its phosphorylation before mitotic entry. Plk1-dependent Cdc25C1 phosphosites are sufficient to promote mitotic entry, even when Plk1 activity is inhibited. Furthermore, we find that activation of Plk1 during G2 relies on CyclinA2-Cdk activity levels. Our findings thus elucidate a critical role for Plk1 in CyclinB1-Cdk1 activation and mitotic entry and outline how CyclinA2-Cdk, an S-promoting factor, poises cells for commitment to mitosis.

Andrographolide inhibits prostate cancer by targeting cell cycle regulators, CXCR3 and CXCR7 chemokine receptors

Despite state of the art cancer diagnostics and therapies offered in clinic, prostate cancer (PCa) remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Hence, more robust therapeutic/preventive regimes are required to combat this lethal disease. In the current study, we have tested the efficacy of Andrographolide (AG), a bioactive diterpenoid isolated from Andrographis paniculata, against PCa. This natural agent selectively affects PCa cell viability in a dose and time-dependent manner, without affecting primary prostate epithelial cells. Furthermore, AG showed differential effect on cell cycle phases in LNCaP, C4-2b and PC3 cells compared to retinoblastoma protein (RB(-/-)) and CDKN2A lacking DU-145 cells. G2/M transition was blocked in LNCaP, C4-2b and PC3 after AG treatment whereas DU-145 cells failed to transit G1/S phase. This difference was primarily due to differential activation of cell cycle regulators in these cell lines. Levels of cyclin A2 after AG treatment increased in all PCa cells line. Cyclin B1 levels increased in LNCaP and PC3, decreased in C4-2b and showed no difference in DU-145 cells after AG treatment. AG decreased cyclin E2 levels only in PC3 and DU-145 cells. It also altered Rb, H3, Wee1 and CDC2 phosphorylation in PCa cells. Intriguingly, AG reduced cell viability and the ability of PCa cells to migrate via modulating CXCL11 and CXCR3 and CXCR7 expression. The significant impact of AG on cellular and molecular processes involved in PCa progression suggests its potential use as a therapeutic and/or preventive agent for PCa.

Two Bistable Switches Govern M Phase Entry

The abrupt and irreversible transition from interphase to M phase is essential to separate DNA replication from chromosome segregation. This transition requires the switch-like phosphorylation of hundreds of proteins by the cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1):cyclin B (CycB) complex. Previous studies have ascribed these switch-like phosphorylations to the auto-activation of Cdk1:CycB through the removal of inhibitory phosphorylations on Cdk1-Tyr15 [1, 2]. The positive feedback in Cdk1 activation creates a bistable switch that makes mitotic commitment irreversible [2, 3, 4]. Here, we surprisingly find that Cdk1 auto-activation is dispensable for irreversible, switch-like mitotic entry due to a second mechanism, whereby Cdk1:CycB inhibits its counteracting phosphatase (PP2A:B55). We show that the PP2A:B55-inhibiting Greatwall (Gwl)-endosulfine (ENSA) pathway is both necessary and sufficient for switch-like phosphorylations of mitotic substrates. Using purified components of the Gwl-ENSA pathway in a reconstituted system, we found a sharp Cdk1 threshold for phosphorylation of a luminescent mitotic substrate. The Cdk1 threshold to induce mitotic phosphorylation is distinctly higher than the Cdk1 threshold required to maintain these phosphorylations—evidence for bistability. A combination of mathematical modeling and biochemical reconstitution show that the bistable behavior of the Gwl-ENSA pathway emerges from its mutual antagonism with PP2A:B55. Our results demonstrate that two interlinked bistable mechanisms provide a robust solution for irreversible and switch-like mitotic entry.

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Cdk1 auto-activation loop is dispensable for switch-like mitotic entry

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PP2A:B55 auto-regulation creates a bistable switch

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Two bistable switches provide a robust solution for mitotic entry

Anti-tumor activity of SL4 against breast cancer cells: induction of G2/M arrest through modulation of the MAPK-dependent p21 signaling pathway

SL4, a chalcone-based compound, has been shown to retard tumor invasion and angiogenesis by suppressing HIF1 activity and to induce apoptosis by promoting ROS release. Here, we report that SL4 is able to inhibit the proliferation of different types of breast cancer cell in vitro and in vivo by inducing G₂/M cell cycle arrest. Our results showed that SL4 exhibited strong anti-proliferative activity in several human breast cancer cell lines, with IC₅₀ values lower than 1.3 μM. Further studies indicated that SL4 induced G₂/M arrest in these cell lines. Mechanistically, SL4 reduces the expression of cyclin A2 and cdc25C and decreases the activity of the cdc2/cyclin B1 complex. Notably, SL4 treatment resulted in an obvious increase in p21 mRNA and protein levels through activation of MAPK signaling pathways, but not the TGF-β pathway. SP600125 and PD98059, specific inhibitors of JNK kinase and ERK kinase, significantly blocked the SL4-induced G₂/M phase arrest and upregulation of p21. Furthermore, SL4 suppressed the growth of established breast tumors in nude mice through upregulation of p21 and downregulation of cdc25C, and displayed a good safety profile. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the potential value of SL4 as a novel multi-target anti-tumor drug candidate.

Phosphorylation of CDC25A on SER283 in late S/G2 by CDK/cyclin complexes accelerates mitotic entry

The Cdc25A phosphatase is an essential activator of CDK-cyclin complexes at all steps of the eukaryotic cell cycle. The activity of Cdc25A is itself regulated in part by positive and negative feedback regulatory loops performed by its CDK-cyclin substrates that occur in G1 as well as during the G1/S and G2/M transitions. However, the regulation of Cdc25A during G2 phase progression before mitotic entry has not been intensively characterized. Here, we identify by mass spectrometry analysis a new phosphorylation event of Cdc25A on Serine283. Phospho-specific antibodies revealed that the phosphorylation of this residue appears in late S/G2 phase of an unperturbed cell cycle and is performed by CDK-cyclin complexes. Overexpression studies of wild-type and non-phosphorylatable mutant forms of Cdc25A indicated that Ser283 phosphorylation increases the G2/M-promoting activity of the phosphatase without impacting its stability or subcellular localization. Our results therefore identify a new positive regulatory loop between Cdc25A and its CDK-cyclin substrates which contributes to accelerate entry into mitosis through the regulation of Cdc25A activity in G2.

Bistability of mitotic entry and exit switches during open mitosis in mammalian cells

Mitotic entry and exit are switch-like transitions that are driven by the activation and inactivation of Cdk1 and mitotic cyclins. This simple on/off reaction turns out to be a complex interplay of various reversible reactions, feedback loops, and thresholds that involve both the direct regulators of Cdk1 and its counteracting phosphatases. In this review, we summarize the interplay of the major components of the system and discuss how they work together to generate robustness, bistability, and irreversibility. We propose that it may be beneficial to regard the entry and exit reactions as two separate reversible switches that are distinguished by differences in the state of phosphatase activity, mitotic proteolysis, and a dramatic rearrangement of cellular components after nuclear envelope breakdown, and discuss how the major Cdk1 activity thresholds could be determined for these transitions.

Foci of cyclin A2 interact with actin and RhoA in mitosis

Cyclin A2 is a key player in the regulation of the cell cycle. Its degradation in mid-mitosis depends primarily on the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), while autophagy also contributes. However, a fraction of cyclin A2 persists beyond metaphase. In this work, we focus on cyclin A2-rich foci detected in mitosis by high resolution imaging and analyse their movements. We demonstrate that cyclin A2 interacts with actin and RhoA during mitosis, and that cyclin A2 depletion induces a dramatic decrease in active RhoA in mitosis. Our data suggest cyclin A2 participation in RhoA activation in late mitosis.

Interphase APC/C-Cdc20 inhibition by cyclin A2-Cdk2 ensures efficient mitotic entry

Proper cell-cycle progression requires tight temporal control of the Anaphase Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C), a large ubiquitin ligase that is activated by one of two co-activators, Cdh1 or Cdc20. APC/C and Cdc20 are already present during interphase but APC/C-Cdc20 regulation during this window of the cell cycle, if any, is unknown. Here we show that cyclin A2-Cdk2 binds and phosphorylates Cdc20 in interphase and this inhibits APC/C-Cdc20 activity. Preventing Cdc20 phosphorylation results in pre-mature activation of the APC/C-Cdc20 and several substrates, including cyclin B1 and A2, are destabilized which lengthens G2 and slows mitotic entry. Expressing non-degradable cyclin A2 but not cyclin B1 restores mitotic entry in these cells. We have thus uncovered a novel positive feedback loop centred on cyclin A2-Cdk2 inhibition of interphase APC/C-Cdc20 to allow further cyclin A2 accumulation and mitotic entry.

Entry into mitosis: a solution to the decades-long enigma of MPF

Maturation or M phase-promoting factor (MPF) is the universal inducer of M phase common to eukaryotic cells. MPF was originally defined as a transferable activity that can induce the G2/M phase transition in recipient cells. Today, however, MPF is assumed to describe an activity that exhibits its effect in donor cells, and furthermore, MPF is consistently equated with the kinase cyclin B-Cdk1. In some conditions, however, MPF, as originally defined, is undetectable even though cyclin B-Cdk1 is fully active. For over three decades, this inconsistency has remained a long-standing puzzle. The enigma is now resolved through the elucidation that MPF, defined as an activity that exhibits its effect in recipient cells, consists of at least two separate kinases, cyclin B-Cdk1 and Greatwall (Gwl). Involvement of Gwl in MPF can be explained by its contribution to the autoregulatory activation of cyclin B-Cdk1 and by its stabilization of phosphorylations on cyclin B-Cdk1 substrates, both of which are essential when MPF induces the G2/M phase transition in recipient cells. To accomplish these tasks, Gwl helps cyclin B-Cdk1 by suppressing protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A)-B55 that counteracts cyclin B-Cdk1. MPF, as originally defined, is thus not synonymous with cyclin B-Cdk1, but is instead a system consisting of both cyclin B-Cdk1 that directs mitotic entry and Gwl that suppresses the anti-cyclin B-Cdk1 phosphatase. The current view that MPF is a synonym for cyclin B-Cdk1 in donor cells is thus imprecise; instead, MPF is best regarded as the entire pathway involved in the autoregulatory activation of cyclin B-Cdk1, with specifics depending on the experimental system.

Proteome Alterations of Hippocampal Cells Caused by Clostridium botulinum C3 Exoenzyme

C3bot from Clostridium botulinum is a bacterial mono-ADP-ribosylating enzyme, which transfers an ADP-ribose moiety onto the small GTPases Rho A/B/C. C3bot and the catalytic inactive mutant (C3E174Q) cause axonal and dendritic growth as well as branching in primary hippocampal neurons. In cultured murine hippocampal HT22 cells, protein abundances were analyzed in response to C3bot or C3E174Q treatment using a shotgun proteomics approach. Proteome analyses were performed at four time points over 6 days. More than 4000 protein groups were identified at each time point and quantified in triplicate analyses. On day one, 46 proteins showed an altered abundance, and after 6 days, more than 700 proteins responded to C3bot with an up- or down-regulation. In contrast, C3E174Q had no provable impact on protein abundance. Protein quantification was verified for several proteins by multiple reaction monitoring. Data analysis of altered proteins revealed different cellular processes that were affected by C3bot. They are particularly involved in mitochondrial and lysosomal processes, adhesion, carbohydrate and glucose metabolism, signal transduction, and nuclear proteins of translation and ribosome biogenesis. The results of this study gain novel insights into the function of C3bot in hippocampal cells.

Robustness of cell cycle control and flexible orders of signaling events

The highly robust control of cell cycles in eukaryotes enables cells to undergo strictly ordered G1/S/G2/M phases and respond adaptively to regulatory signals; however the nature of the robustness remains obscure. Specifically, it is unclear whether events of signaling should be strictly ordered and whether some events are more robust than others. To quantitatively address the two questions, we have developed a novel cell cycle model upon experimental observations. It contains positive and negative E2F proteins and two Cdk inhibitors, and is parameterized, for the first time, to generate not only oscillating protein concentrations but also periodic signaling events. Events and their orders reconstructed under varied conditions indicate that proteolysis of cyclins and Cdk complexes by APC and Skp2 occurs highly robustly in a strict order, but many other events are either dispensable or can occur in flexible orders. These results suggest that strictly ordered proteolytic events are essential for irreversible cell cycle progression and the robustness of cell cycles copes with flexible orders of signaling events, and unveil a new and important dimension to the robustness of cell cycle control in particular and to biological signaling in general.

G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest and Tumor Selective Apoptosis of Acute Leukemia Cells by a Promising Benzophenone Thiosemicarbazone Compound

Anti-mitotic therapies have been considered a hallmark in strategies against abnormally proliferating cells. Focusing on the extensively studied family of thiosemicarbazone (TSC) compounds, we have previously identified 4,4'-dimethoxybenzophenone thiosemicarbazone (T44Bf) as a promising pharmacological compound in a panel of human leukemia cell lines (HL60, U937, KG1a and Jurkat). Present findings indicate that T44Bf-mediated antiproliferative effects are associated with a reversible chronic mitotic arrest caused by defects in chromosome alignment, followed by induced programmed cell death. Furthermore, T44Bf selectively induces apoptosis in leukemia cell lines when compared to normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The underlying mechanism of action involves the activation of the mitochondria signaling pathway, with loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and sustained phosphorylation of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL as well as increased Bcl-2 (enhanced phosphorylated fraction) and pro-apoptotic protein Bad levels. In addition, ERK signaling pathway activation was found to be a requisite for T44Bf apoptotic activity. Our findings further describe a novel activity for a benzophenone thiosemicarbazone and propose T44Bf as a promising anti-mitotic prototype to develop chemotherapeutic agents to treat acute leukemia malignancies.

Cyclin A/Cdk2 regulates Cdh1 and claspin during late S/G2 phase of the cell cycle

Whereas many components regulating the progression from S phase through G2 phase into mitosis have been identified, the mechanism by which these components control this critical cell cycle progression is still not fully elucidated. Cyclin A/Cdk2 has been shown to regulate the timing of Cyclin B/Cdk1 activation and progression into mitosis although the mechanism by which this occurs is only poorly understood. Here we show that depletion of Cyclin A or inhibition of Cdk2 during late S/early G2 phase maintains the G2 phase arrest by reducing Cdh1 transcript and protein levels, thereby stabilizing Claspin and maintaining elevated levels of activated Chk1 which contributes to the G2 phase observed. Interestingly, the Cyclin A/Cdk2 regulated APC/C(Cdh1) activity is selective for only a subset of Cdh1 targets including Claspin. Thus, a normal role for Cyclin A/Cdk2 during early G2 phase is to increase the level of Cdh1 which destabilises Claspin which in turn down regulates Chk1 activation to allow progression into mitosis. This mechanism links S phase exit with G2 phase transit into mitosis, provides a novel insight into the roles of Cyclin A/Cdk2 in G2 phase progression, and identifies a novel role for APC/C(Cdh1) in late S/G2 phase cell cycle progression.

Histone Deacetylase 10 Regulates the Cell Cycle G2/M Phase Transition via a Novel Let-7-HMGA2-Cyclin A2 Pathway

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition leads to cell cycle arrest in G1 and G2, suggesting HDACs as therapeutic targets for cancer and diseases linked to abnormal cell growth and proliferation. Many HDACs are transcriptional repressors. Some may alter cell cycle progression by deacetylating histones and repressing transcription of key cell cycle regulatory genes. Here, we report that HDAC10 regulates the cell cycle via modulation of cyclin A2 expression, and cyclin A2 overexpression rescues HDAC10 knockdown-induced G2/M transition arrest. HDAC10 regulates cyclin A2 expression by deacetylating histones near the let-7 promoter, thereby repressing transcription. In HDAC10 knockdown cells, let-7f and microRNA 98 (miR-98) were upregulated and the let-7 family target, HMGA2, was downregulated. HMGA2 loss resulted in enrichment of the transcriptional repressor E4F at the cyclin A2 promoter. These findings support a role for HDACs in cell cycle regulation, reveal a novel mechanism of HDAC10 action, and extend the potential of HDACs as targets in diseases of cell cycle dysregulation.

NVP-BEZ235, a novel dual PI3K-mTOR inhibitor displays anti-glioma activity and reduces chemoresistance to temozolomide in human glioma cells

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most frequent and most aggressive brain tumor in adults. The introduction of temozolomide (TMZ) has advanced chemotherapy for malignant gliomas. However, a considerable number of GBM cases are refractory to TMZ, the need for more effective therapeutic options is overwhelming. Mounting evidence shows that endogenous AKT (protein kinase B) activity can be activated in response to clinically relevant concentrations of TMZ. AKT activation correlated with the increased tumorigenicity, invasiveness and stemness and overexpression of an active form of AKT increases glioma cell resistance to TMZ. Previous studies also show that TMZ contributes to glioma cell apoptosis by inhibiting mTOR signaling. Thus, we hypothesized that the dual PI3K-mTOR inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 may act as antitumor agent against gliomas and potentiate the cytotoxicity of TMZ. In the present study, we found that NVP-BEZ235 treatment of glioma cell lines led to G1 cell cycle arrest, and induced apoptosis. Combination treatment with both TMZ and NVP-BEZ235 resulted in synergistically inhibited glioma cell growth and induced apoptosis (combination index CI<1) in a subset of glioma cell lines, as shown in the increased levels of Bax, and active Caspase-3, and decreased level of Bcl-2. Furthermore, NVP-BEZ235 treatment reversed p-AKT levels enhanced by TMZ. Inhibition of mTOR (p70S6K) signaling with the combination of TMZ and NVP-BEZ235 can be augmented beyond that achieved using each agent individually. In vivo xenograft models in mice, the combinatorial treatment with TMZ and NVP-BEZ235 significantly reduced tumor growth rates and prolonged median survival of tumor-bearing mice. These findings exhibit that TMZ in combination with NVP-BEZ235 act synergistically to inhibit proliferation of glioma cells by down-regulating of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway, suggesting TMZ and NVP-BEZ235 combination therapy may be an option for GBM treatment.

ING5 is phosphorylated by CDK2 and controls cell proliferation independently of p53

Inhibitor of growth (ING) proteins have multiple functions in the control of cell proliferation, mainly by regulating processes associated with chromatin regulation and gene expression. ING5 has been described to regulate aspects of gene transcription and replication. Moreover deregulation of ING5 is observed in different tumors, potentially functioning as a tumor suppressor. Gene transcription in late G1 and in S phase and replication is regulated by cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) in complex with cyclin E or cyclin A. CDK2 complexes phosphorylate and regulate several substrate proteins relevant for overcoming the restriction point and promoting S phase. We have identified ING5 as a novel CDK2 substrate. ING5 is phosphorylated at a single site, threonine 152, by cyclin E/CDK2 and cyclin A/CDK2 in vitro. This site is also phosphorylated in cells in a cell cycle dependent manner, consistent with it being a CDK2 substrate. Furthermore overexpression of cyclin E/CDK2 stimulates while the CDK2 inhibitor p27^KIP1 represses phosphorylation at threonine 152. This site is located in a bipartite nuclear localization sequence but its phosphorylation was not sufficient to deregulate the subcellular localization of ING5. Although ING5 interacts with the tumor suppressor p53, we could not establish p53-dependent regulation of cell proliferation by ING5 and by phospho-site mutants. Instead we observed that the knockdown of ING5 resulted in a strong reduction of proliferation in different tumor cell lines, irrespective of the p53 status. This inhibition of proliferation was at least in part due to the induction of apoptosis. In summary we identified a phosphorylation site at threonine 152 of ING5 that is cell cycle regulated and we observed that ING5 is necessary for tumor cell proliferation, without any apparent dependency on the tumor suppressor p53.

Berberine inhibits the proliferation of human uterine leiomyoma cells

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether berberine (BBR), a naturally occurring plant-derived alkaloid, inhibits the proliferation of human uterine leiomyoma (UtLM) cells.

DESIGN

Laboratory research.

SETTING

Laboratory.

PATIENT(S)

UtLM and normal human uterine smooth muscle (UtSMC) cell lines.

INTERVENTION(S)

Treatment with [1] BBR (10, 20, and 50 μM), [2] BBR (20 and 50 μM) and/or 17β-estradiol (E2; 10 and 100 nM), and [3] BBR (20 and 50 μM) and/or progesterone (P4; 10 and 100 nM) for 24 or 72 hours.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and related genes expression were determined.

RESULT(S)

BBR inhibited UtLM cell proliferation by inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Cell cycle G2/M phase-related genes were altered by BBR treatment: the expression of cyclin A1, cyclin B1, and Cdk1 were down-regulated, while Cdk4, p21, and p53 were up-regulated. BBR-treated cells stained positively for annexin V and manifested increased BAX expression. E2- and P4-induced UtLM cell proliferation was blocked by BBR treatment. In marked contrast, even the highest concentration of BBR (50 μM) did not influence cell proliferation in UtSMC cells.

CONCLUSION(S)

BBR selectively inhibits cellular proliferation and blocks E2- and P4-induced cell proliferation in UtLM but not in normal UtSMC cells. In addition, BBR did not demonstrate cytotoxicity effects in normal human UtSMCs. Our results suggest BBR could be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of uterine leiomyoma.

PUL21a-Cyclin A2 interaction is required to protect human cytomegalovirus-infected cells from the deleterious consequences of mitotic entry

Entry into mitosis is accompanied by dramatic changes in cellular architecture, metabolism and gene expression. Many viruses have evolved cell cycle arrest strategies to prevent mitotic entry, presumably to ensure sustained, uninterrupted viral replication. Here we show for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) what happens if the viral cell cycle arrest mechanism is disabled and cells engaged in viral replication enter into unscheduled mitosis. We made use of an HCMV mutant that, due to a defective Cyclin A2 binding motif in its UL21a gene product (pUL21a), has lost its ability to down-regulate Cyclin A2 and, therefore, to arrest cells at the G1/S transition. Cyclin A2 up-regulation in infected cells not only triggered the onset of cellular DNA synthesis, but also promoted the accumulation and nuclear translocation of Cyclin B1-CDK1, premature chromatin condensation and mitotic entry. The infected cells were able to enter metaphase as shown by nuclear lamina disassembly and, often irregular, metaphase spindle formation. However, anaphase onset was blocked by the still intact anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) inhibitory function of pUL21a. Remarkably, the essential viral IE2, but not the related chromosome-associated IE1 protein, disappeared upon mitotic entry, suggesting an inherent instability of IE2 under mitotic conditions. Viral DNA synthesis was impaired in mitosis, as demonstrated by the abnormal morphology and strongly reduced BrdU incorporation rates of viral replication compartments. The prolonged metaphase arrest in infected cells coincided with precocious sister chromatid separation and progressive fragmentation of the chromosomal material. We conclude that the Cyclin A2-binding function of pUL21a contributes to the maintenance of a cell cycle state conducive for the completion of the HCMV replication cycle. Unscheduled mitotic entry during the course of the HCMV replication has fatal consequences, leading to abortive infection and cell death.

Cyclin A2 is a key regulator of the cell division cycle. Interactors of Cyclin A2 typically contain short sequence elements (RXL/Cy motifs) that bind with high affinity to a hydrophobic patch in the Cyclin A2 protein. Two types of RXL/Cy-containing factors are known: i) cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) substrates, which are processed by the CDK subunit that complexes to Cyclin A2, and ii) CDK inhibitors, which stably associate to Cyclin A2-CDK due to the lack of CDK phosphorylation sites. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has evolved a novel type of RXL/Cy-containing protein. Its UL21a gene product, a small and highly unstable protein, binds to Cyclin A2 via an RXL/Cy motif in its N-terminus, leading to efficient degradation of Cyclin A2 by the proteasome. Here, we show that this mechanism is not only essential for viral inhibition of cellular DNA synthesis, but also to prevent entry of infected cells into mitosis. Unscheduled mitotic entry is followed by aberrant spindle formation, metaphase arrest, precocious separation of sister chromatids, chromosomal fragmentation and cell death. Viral DNA replication and expression of the essential viral IE2 protein are abrogated in mitosis. Thus, pUL21a-Cyclin A2 interaction protects HCMV from a collapse of viral and cellular functions in mitosis.

A nontranscriptional role for Oct4 in the regulation of mitotic entry

Rapid progression through the cell cycle and a very short G1 phase are defining characteristics of embryonic stem cells. This distinct cell cycle is driven by a positive feedback loop involving Rb inactivation and reduced oscillations of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) activity. In this setting, we inquired how ES cells avoid the potentially deleterious consequences of premature mitotic entry. We found that the pluripotency transcription factor Oct4 (octamer-binding transcription factor 4) plays an unappreciated role in the ES cell cycle by forming a complex with cyclin-Cdk1 and inhibiting Cdk1 activation. Ectopic expression of Oct4 or a mutant lacking transcriptional activity recapitulated delayed mitotic entry in HeLa cells. Reduction of Oct4 levels in ES cells accelerated G2 progression, which led to increased chromosomal missegregation and apoptosis. Our data demonstrate an unexpected nontranscriptional function of Oct4 in the regulation of mitotic entry.

RUNX1 is essential for mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and myofibroblast differentiation

Myofibroblasts are a key cell type in wound repair, cardiovascular disease, and fibrosis and in the tumor-promoting microenvironment. The high accumulation of myofibroblasts in reactive stroma is predictive of the rate of cancer progression in many different tumors, yet the cell types of origin and the mechanisms that regulate proliferation and differentiation are unknown. We report here, for the first time to our knowledge, the characterization of normal human prostate-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and the TGF-β1-regulated pathways that modulate MSC proliferation and myofibroblast differentiation. Human prostate MSCs combined with prostate cancer cells expressing TGF-β1 resulted in commitment to myofibroblasts. TGF-β1-regulated runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) was required for cell cycle progression and proliferation of progenitors. RUNX1 also inhibited, yet did not block, differentiation. Knockdown of RUNX1 in prostate or bone marrow-derived MSCs resulted in cell cycle arrest, attenuated proliferation, and constitutive differentiation to myofibroblasts. These data show that RUNX1 is a key transcription factor for MSC proliferation and cell fate commitment in myofibroblast differentiation. This work also shows that the normal human prostate gland contains tissue-derived MSCs that exhibit multilineage differentiation similar to bone marrow-derived MSCs. Targeting RUNX1 pathways may represent a therapeutic approach to affect myofibroblast proliferation and biology in multiple disease states.

SKLB316, a novel small-molecule inhibitor of cell-cycle progression, induces G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis in vitro and inhibits tumor growth in vivo

Benzothiazole derivatives have received considerable attentions for their potencies in cancer therapy. In the present study, we reported that SKLB316, a novel synthesized benzothiazole derivative, exhibits activities to inhibit colorectal and pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo by inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In vitro, it exhibited significant anti-proliferative activities against human cancer cells derived from different histotypes including the colorectal cancer cell line HCT116 and pancreatic cancer cell line CFPAC-1. We chose these cell lines to study the possible anti-tumor mechanism because they are sensitive to SKLB316 treatment. Flow cytometry assays showed that SKLB316 could induce G2/M cell cycle arrest. Mechanistically, SKLB316 could decrease the activities of cdc2/cyclin B1 complex, including decreasing the synthesis of cyclin B1, cdc2 and cdc25c, while accumulating the levels of phosphorylated cdc2 (Tyr15) and checkpoint kinase 2. SKLB316 could also decrease the level of cyclin E and A2. Moreover, SKLB316 could induce cancer cell apoptosis, which was associated with activation of caspase 9, downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax. SKLB316 could also decrease the mitochondrial membrane potential and induce the generation of reactive oxygen species in cells. The results implied that SKLB316 may induce apoptosis via the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway. Moreover, SKLB316 could suppress the growth of established colorectal and pancreatic cancer tumors in nude mice without causing obvious side effects. TUNEL assays confirmed that SKLB316 could also induce tumor cell apoptosis in vivo. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the potential value of SKLB316 as a novel anti-tumor drug candidate.

A data-driven, mathematical model of mammalian cell cycle regulation

Few of >150 published cell cycle modeling efforts use significant levels of data for tuning and validation. This reflects the difficultly to generate correlated quantitative data, and it points out a critical uncertainty in modeling efforts. To develop a data-driven model of cell cycle regulation, we used contiguous, dynamic measurements over two time scales (minutes and hours) calculated from static multiparametric cytometry data. The approach provided expression profiles of cyclin A2, cyclin B1, and phospho-S10-histone H3. The model was built by integrating and modifying two previously published models such that the model outputs for cyclins A and B fit cyclin expression measurements and the activation of B cyclin/Cdk1 coincided with phosphorylation of histone H3. The model depends on Cdh1-regulated cyclin degradation during G1, regulation of B cyclin/Cdk1 activity by cyclin A/Cdk via Wee1, and transcriptional control of the mitotic cyclins that reflects some of the current literature. We introduced autocatalytic transcription of E2F, E2F regulated transcription of cyclin B, Cdc20/Cdh1 mediated E2F degradation, enhanced transcription of mitotic cyclins during late S/early G2 phase, and the sustained synthesis of cyclin B during mitosis. These features produced a model with good correlation between state variable output and real measurements. Since the method of data generation is extensible, this model can be continually modified based on new correlated, quantitative data.

Assessing kinetics from fixed cells reveals activation of the mitotic entry network at the S/G2 transition

During the cell cycle, DNA duplication in S phase must occur before a cell divides in mitosis. In the intervening G2 phase, mitotic inducers accumulate, which eventually leads to a switch-like rise in mitotic kinase activity that triggers mitotic entry. However, when and how activation of the signaling network that promotes the transition to mitosis occurs remains unclear. We have developed a system to reduce cell-cell variation and increase accuracy of fluorescence quantification in single cells. This allows us to use immunofluorescence of endogenous marker proteins to assess kinetics from fixed cells. We find that mitotic phosphorylations initially occur at the completion of S phase, showing that activation of the mitotic entry network does not depend on protein accumulation through G2. Our data show insights into how mitotic entry is linked to the completion of S phase and forms a quantitative resource for mathematical models of the human cell cycle.