Inhibition of type I histone deacetylase increases resistance of checkpoint-deficient cells to genotoxic agents through mitotic delay

Mutation in histone deacetylase clr6 promotes the survival of S. pombe cds1 null mutant in response to hydroxyurea

Fission yeast Cds1 is responsible for the replication checkpoint activation and helps to protect replication fork collapse in response to hydroxyurea (HU). Here, we investigated the role of histone deacetylase in response to replication fork arrest and observed that in the presence of HU, the survival of cds1Δ cells was improved when the cells were simultaneously treated with histone deacetylase inhibitors. Furthermore, a mutation in the histone deacetylase gene, clr6, also suppresses the growth defect of cds1Δ cells in response to HU indicating a suppressive role of clr6-1 mutation in cds1 deletion background upon HU treatment. Interestingly, in response to HU, phosphorylation of Chk1 kinase and the number of Rad52YFP foci was reduced in cds1Δ clr6-1 double mutant as compared to cds1Δ single mutant indicating a decrease in the level of DNA damage in response to HU. Accordingly, the single-cell gel electrophoresis assay revealed a drastic reduction in the tail length of cds1Δ clr6-1 double mutant as compared to cds1Δ cells in the presence of HU suggesting the suppression of chromosomal defects in the double mutant. Taken together, we proposed that there could be transient suppression of fork collapse in cds1Δ clr6-1 double mutant upon HU treatment due to the delay in mitotic progression that leads to the facilitation of cell growth.

Histone H4 deacetylation facilitates 53BP1 DNA damage signaling and double-strand break repair

53BP1 and other DNA damage response (DDR) proteins form foci at double-strand breaks (DSBs) which promote their repair by nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). Focal accumulation of 53BP1 depends on the specific interaction of its tandem Tudor domain with dimethylated lysine 20 in histone H4 (H4K20me2). How 53BP1 foci dynamics are regulated is unclear since H4K20me2 is highly abundant, established largely in the absence of DNA damage, and uncertainty exists about the roles of candidate H4K20 methyltransferases in 53BP1 foci formation. Here, we show that 53BP1 foci assemble primarily on H4K20me2 established prior to DNA damage by the SETD8 and SUV420 methyltransferases rather than de novo H4K20 methylation mediated by MMSET/WHSC1. Moreover, we define a novel role for H4K16 acetylation in regulating 53BP1 foci dynamics. Concurrent acetylation at H4K16 antagonizes 53BP1 binding to extant H4K20me2 until DSBs elicit transient, localized H4 deacetylation that facilitates 53BP1 foci formation and NHEJ, and is associated with global repression of gene transcription. Our findings demonstrate that rapid induction of H4 deacetylation by DSBs affects multiple aspects of the DDR, and also suggest that antagonism of 53BP1 binding to H4K20me2 by H4K16 hyperacetylation may contribute to the efficacy of histone deacetylase inhibitors for cancer therapy.

Quantitative analysis of chromosome condensation in fission yeast

Chromosomes undergo extensive conformational rearrangements in preparation for their segregation during cell divisions. Insights into the molecular mechanisms behind this still poorly understood condensation process require the development of new approaches to quantitatively assess chromosome formation in vivo. In this study, we present a live-cell microscopy-based chromosome condensation assay in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. By automatically tracking the three-dimensional distance changes between fluorescently marked chromosome loci at high temporal and spatial resolution, we analyze chromosome condensation during mitosis and meiosis and deduct defined parameters to describe condensation dynamics. We demonstrate that this method can determine the contributions of condensin, topoisomerase II, and Aurora kinase to mitotic chromosome condensation. We furthermore show that the assay can identify proteins required for mitotic chromosome formation de novo by isolating mutants in condensin, DNA polymerase ε, and F-box DNA helicase I that are specifically defective in pro-/metaphase condensation. Thus, the chromosome condensation assay provides a direct and sensitive system for the discovery and characterization of components of the chromosome condensation machinery in a genetically tractable eukaryote.

Acute sensitization of colon cancer cells to inflammatory cytokines by prophase arrest

Understanding how colon cancer cells survive within the inflammatory milieu of a tumor, and developing approaches that increase their sensitivity to inflammatory cytokines, may ultimately lead to novel approaches for colon cancer therapy and prevention. Analysis of a number of chemopreventive and therapeutic agents reveal that HDAC inhibitors are particularly adept at sensitizing colon cancer cells TNF or TRAIL mediated apoptosis. In vivo data are consistent with an interaction between SAHA and TNF in inducing apoptosis, as AOM-induced colon tumors express elevated levels of TNF and are more sensitive to SAHA administration. Cell cycle analysis and time-lapse imaging indicated a close correspondence between SAHA-induced prophase arrest and TNF or TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Prophase arrest induced by the Aurora kinase inhibitor VX680 likewise sensitized cells to TNF and TRAIL, with siRNA analysis pointing to Aurora kinase A (and not Aurora kinase B) as being the relevant target for this sensitization. We propose that agents that promote prophase arrest may help sensitize cancer cells to TNF and other inflammatory cytokines. We also discuss how circumvention of an early mitotic checkpoint may facilitate cancer cell survival in the inflammatory micro-environment of the tumor.

Different expression systems for production of recombinant proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has become an attractive cell factory for production of commodity and speciality chemicals and proteins, such as industrial enzymes and pharmaceutical proteins. Here we evaluate most important expression factors for recombinant protein secretion: we chose two different proteins (insulin precursor (IP) and α-amylase), two different expression vectors (POTud plasmid and CPOTud plasmid) and two kinds of leader sequences (the glycosylated alpha factor leader and a synthetic leader with no glycosylation sites). We used IP and α-amylase as representatives of a simple protein and a multi-domain protein, as well as a non-glycosylated protein and a glycosylated protein, respectively. The genes coding for the two recombinant proteins were fused independently with two different leader sequences and were expressed using two different plasmid systems, resulting in eight different strains that were evaluated by batch fermentations. The secretion level (µmol/L) of IP was found to be higher than that of α-amylase for all expression systems and we also found larger variation in IP production for the different vectors. We also found that there is a change in protein production kinetics during the diauxic shift, that is, the IP was produced at higher rate during the glucose uptake phase, whereas amylase was produced at a higher rate in the ethanol uptake phase. For comparison, we also refer to data from another study, (Tyo et al. submitted) in which we used the p426GPD plasmid (standard vector using URA3 as marker gene and pGPD1 as expression promoter). For the IP there is more than 10-fold higher protein production with the CPOTud vector compared with the standard URA3-based vector, and this vector system therefore represent a valuable resource for future studies and optimization of recombinant protein production in yeast.

Hyperosmosis enhances radiation and hydroxyurea resistance of Schizosaccharomyces pombe checkpoint mutants through the spindle checkpoint and delayed cytokinesis

The DNA damage and stress response pathways interact to regulate cellular responses to genotoxins and environmental stresses. How these pathways interact in Schizosaccharomyces pombe is not well understood. We demonstrate that osmotic stress suppresses the DNA damage sensitivity of checkpoint mutants, and that this occurs through three distinct cell cycle delays. A delay in G2/M is dependent on Srk1. Progression through mitosis is halted by the Mad2-dependent spindle checkpoint. Finally, cytokinesis is impaired by modulating Cdc25 expression. These three delays, imposed by osmotic stress, together compensate for the loss of checkpoint signalling.