Efficient CRISPR/Cas9 mediated large insertions using long single-stranded oligonucleotide donors in C. elegans

Highly efficient generation of deletions, substitutions, and small insertions (up to ~ 150 bp) into the Caenorhabditis elegans genome by CRISPR/Cas9 has been facilitated by the use of single-stranded oligonucleotide donors as repair templates. However, insertion of larger sequences such as fluorescent markers and other functional domains remains challenging due to uncertainty of optimal performance between single-stranded or double-stranded repair templates and labor-intensive as well as inefficient protocols for their preparations. Here, we simplify the generation of long ssDNA as donors in CRISPR/Cas9. High yields of ssDNA can be rapidly generated using a standard PCR followed by a single enzymatic digest with lambda exonuclease. Comparison of long ssDNA donors obtained using this method to dsDNA demonstrates orders of magnitude increased insertion frequency for ssDNA donors. This can be leveraged to simultaneously generate multiple large insertions as well as successful edits without the use of selection or co-conversion (co-CRISPR) markers when necessary. Our approach complements the CRISPR/Cas9 toolkit for C. elegans to enable highly efficient insertion of longer sequences with a simple, standardized, and labor-minimal protocol.

Role of developmental pathways in disease

Developmental programs are tightly regulated networks of molecular and cellular signaling pathways that orchestrate the formation and organization of tissues and organs during organismal development. However, these programs can be disrupted or activated in an untimely manner, or in the wrong tissues, and this can lead to a host of diseases. This aberrant re-activation can occur due to a multitude of factors, including genetic mutations, environmental influences, or epigenetic modifications. Consequently, cells may undergo abnormal growth, differentiation, or migration, leading to structural abnormalities or functional impairments at the tissue or organismal level. This Subject Collection of The FEBS Journal on Developmental Pathways in Disease highlights 11 reviews and three research articles that cover a broad array of topics focused on the role of signaling pathways critical for normal development that are deregulated in human disease.

Regulation of the hypertonic stress response by the 3' mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation complex

Maintenance of osmotic homeostasis is one of the most aggressively defended homeostatic set points in physiology. One major mechanism of osmotic homeostasis involves the upregulation of proteins that catalyze the accumulation of solutes called organic osmolytes. To better understand how osmolyte accumulation proteins are regulated, we conducted a forward genetic screen in Caenorhabditis elegans for mutants with no induction of osmolyte biosynthesis gene expression (Nio mutants). The nio-3 mutant encoded a missense mutation in cpf-2/CstF64, while the nio-7 mutant encoded a missense mutation in symk-1/Symplekin. Both cpf-2 and symk-1 are nuclear components of the highly conserved 3' mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation complex. cpf-2 and symk-1 block the hypertonic induction of gpdh-1 and other osmotically induced mRNAs, suggesting they act at the transcriptional level. We generated a functional auxin-inducible degron (AID) allele for symk-1 and found that acute, post-developmental degradation in the intestine and hypodermis was sufficient to cause the Nio phenotype. symk-1 and cpf-2 exhibit genetic interactions that strongly suggest they function through alterations in 3' mRNA cleavage and/or alternative polyadenylation. Consistent with this hypothesis, we find that inhibition of several other components of the mRNA cleavage complex also cause a Nio phenotype. cpf-2 and symk-1 specifically affect the osmotic stress response since heat shock-induced upregulation of a hsp-16.2::GFP reporter is normal in these mutants. Our data suggest a model in which alternative polyadenylation of 1 or more mRNAs is essential to regulate the hypertonic stress response.

Alternative polyadenylation is a determinant of oncogenic Ras function

Alternative polyadenylation of mRNA has important but poorly understood roles in development and cancer. Activating mutations in the Ras oncogene are common drivers of many human cancers. From a screen for enhancers of activated Ras (let-60) in Caenorhabditis elegans, we identified cfim-1, a subunit of the alternative polyadenylation machinery. Ablation of cfim-1 increased penetrance of the multivulva phenotype in let-60/Ras gain-of-function (gf) mutants. Depletion of the human cfim-1 ortholog CFIm25/NUDT21 in cancer cells with KRAS mutations increased their migration and stimulated an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. CFIm25-depleted cells and cfim-1 mutants displayed biased placement of poly(A) tails to more proximal sites in many conserved transcripts. Functional analysis of these transcripts identified the multidrug resistance protein mrp-5/ABCC1 as a previously unidentified regulator of C. elegans vulva development and cell migration in human cells through alternative 3′UTR usage. Our observations demonstrate a conserved functional role for alternative polyadenylation in oncogenic Ras function.

Cell size homeostasis is maintained by CDK4-dependent activation of p38 MAPK

While molecules that promote the growth of animal cells have been identified, it remains unclear how such signals are orchestrated to determine a characteristic target size for different cell types. It is increasingly clear that cell size is determined by size checkpoints-mechanisms that restrict the cell cycle progression of cells that are smaller than their target size. Previously, we described a p38 MAPK-dependent cell size checkpoint mechanism whereby p38 is selectively activated and prevents cell cycle progression in cells that are smaller than a given target size. In this study, we show that the specific target size required for inactivation of p38 and transition through the cell cycle is determined by CDK4 activity. Our data suggest a model whereby p38 and CDK4 cooperate analogously to the function of a thermostat: while p38 senses irregularities in size, CDK4 corresponds to the thermostat dial that sets the target size.

Modeling human brain tumors in flies, worms, and zebrafish: From proof of principle to novel therapeutic targets

For decades, cell biologists and cancer researchers have taken advantage of non-murine species to increase our understanding of the molecular processes that drive normal cell and tissue development, and when perturbed, cause cancer. The advent of whole-genome sequencing has revealed the high genetic homology of these organisms to humans. Seminal studies in non-murine organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Danio rerio identified many of the signaling pathways involved in cancer. Studies in these organisms offer distinct advantages over mammalian cell or murine systems. Compared to murine models, these three species have shorter lifespans, are less resource intense, and are amenable to high-throughput drug and RNA interference screening to test a myriad of promising drugs against novel targets. In this review, we introduce species-specific breeding strategies, highlight the advantages of modeling brain tumors in each non-mammalian species, and underscore the successes attributed to scientific investigation using these models. We conclude with an optimistic proposal that discoveries in the fields of cancer research, and in particular neuro-oncology, may be expedited using these powerful screening tools and strategies.

CRISPR: development of a technology and its applications

CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) is a prokaryotic immune surveillance system that is used by bacteria to recognize genetic material of infectious organisms, such as phage viruses. Using CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins, this system cleaves foreign nucleic acid into fragments, thus defending the bacterium against the attacker. The 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to CRISPR-Cas pioneers Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna, who developed the CRISPR-Cas system to precisely edit genomic DNA. This technology has exploded at a breathtaking pace and is now used by almost every molecular biology laboratory around the world in a myriad of organisms. In this Virtual Issue, the FEBS Journal features articles reviewing the development of CRISPR/Cas9 technology and its applications to understand the functions of proteins in vivo.

Blocking Signalopathic Events to Treat Cerebral Cavernous Malformations

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are pathologies of the brain vasculature characterized by capillary-venous angiomas that result in recurrent cerebral hemorrhages. Familial forms are caused by a clonal loss of any of three CCM genes in endothelial cells, which causes the activation of a novel pathophysiological pathway involving mitogen-activated protein kinase and Krüppel-like transcription factor KLF2/4 signaling. Recent work has shown that cavernomas can undergo strong growth when CCM-deficient endothelial cells recruit wild-type neighbors through the secretion of cytokines. This suggests a treatment strategy based on targeting signalopathic events between CCM-deficient endothelial cells and their environment. Such approaches will have to consider recent evidence implicating 'third hits' from hypoxia-induced angiogenesis signaling or the microbiome in modulating the development of cerebral hemorrhages.

Interrogating the ccm-3 Gene Network

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are neurovascular lesions caused by mutations in one of three genes (CCM1-3). Loss of CCM3 causes the poorest prognosis, and little is known about how it regulates vascular integrity. The C. elegans ccm-3 gene regulates the development of biological tubes that resemble mammalian vasculature, and in a genome-wide reverse genetic screen, we identified more than 500 possible CCM-3 pathway genes. With a phenolog-like approach, we generated a human CCM signaling network and identified 29 genes in common, of which 14 are required for excretory canal extension and membrane integrity, similar to ccm-3. Notably, depletion of the MO25 ortholog mop-25.2 causes severe defects in tube integrity by preventing CCM-3 localization to apical membranes. Furthermore, loss of MO25 phenocopies CCM3 ablation by causing stress fiber formation in endothelial cells. This work deepens our understanding of how CCM3 regulates vascular integrity and may help identify therapeutic targets for treating CCM3 patients.

Systematic pharmacological screens uncover novel pathways involved in cerebral cavernous malformations

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are vascular lesions in the central nervous system causing strokes and seizures which currently can only be treated through neurosurgery. The disease arises through changes in the regulatory networks of endothelial cells that must be comprehensively understood to develop alternative, non-invasive pharmacological therapies. Here, we present the results of several unbiased small-molecule suppression screens in which we applied a total of 5,268 unique substances to CCM mutant worm, zebrafish, mouse, or human endothelial cells. We used a systems biology-based target prediction tool to integrate the results with the whole-transcriptome profile of zebrafish CCM2 mutants, revealing signaling pathways relevant to the disease and potential targets for small-molecule-based therapies. We found indirubin-3-monoxime to alleviate the lesion burden in murine preclinical models of CCM2 and CCM3 and suppress the loss-of-CCM phenotypes in human endothelial cells. Our multi-organism-based approach reveals new components of the CCM regulatory network and foreshadows novel small-molecule-based therapeutic applications for suppressing this devastating disease in patients.

A conserved CCM complex promotes apoptosis non-autonomously by regulating zinc homeostasis

Apoptotic death of cells damaged by genotoxic stress requires regulatory input from surrounding tissues. The C. elegans scaffold protein KRI-1, ortholog of mammalian KRIT1/CCM1, permits DNA damage-induced apoptosis of cells in the germline by an unknown cell non-autonomous mechanism. We reveal that KRI-1 exists in a complex with CCM-2 in the intestine to negatively regulate the ERK-5/MAPK pathway. This allows the KLF-3 transcription factor to facilitate expression of the SLC39 zinc transporter gene zipt-2.3, which functions to sequester zinc in the intestine. Ablation of KRI-1 results in reduced zinc sequestration in the intestine, inhibition of IR-induced MPK-1/ERK1 activation, and apoptosis in the germline. Zinc localization is also perturbed in the vasculature of krit1-/- zebrafish, and SLC39 zinc transporters are mis-expressed in Cerebral Cavernous Malformations (CCM) patient tissues. This study provides new insights into the regulation of apoptosis by cross-tissue communication, and suggests a link between zinc localization and CCM disease.

Comprehensive transcriptome analysis of cerebral cavernous malformation across multiple species and genotypes

The purpose of this study was to determine important genes, functions, and networks contributing to the pathobiology of cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) from transcriptomic analyses across 3 species and 2 disease genotypes. Sequencing of RNA from laser microdissected neurovascular units of 5 human surgically resected CCM lesions, mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells, Caenorhabditis elegans with induced Ccm gene loss, and their respective controls provided differentially expressed genes (DEGs). DEGs from mouse and C. elegans were annotated into human homologous genes. Cross-comparisons of DEGs between species and genotypes, as well as network and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analyses, were performed. Among hundreds of DEGs identified in each model, common genes and 1 GO term (GO:0051656, establishment of organelle localization) were commonly identified across the different species and genotypes. In addition, 24 GO functions were present in 4 of 5 models and were related to cell-to-cell adhesion, neutrophil-mediated immunity, ion transmembrane transporter activity, and responses to oxidative stress. We have provided a comprehensive transcriptome library of CCM disease across species and for the first time to our knowledge in Ccm1/Krit1 versus Ccm3/Pdcd10 genotypes. We have provided examples of how results can be used in hypothesis generation or mechanistic confirmatory studies.

Abstract SY28-01: Management of MAP kinase and apoptosis signaling thresholds by microRNAs

An important problem in cancer biology is concerned with how apoptotic thresholds are established. Defective regulation of apoptosis can cause resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and radiation therapy, which highlights the need to resensitize these tumors to therapy. The apoptosis pathway was first elucidated in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, and studies in this organism continue to uncover regulatory mechanisms that are also conserved in humans. By taking advantage of the powerful genetics, cell biology, and proteomics tools of C. elegans, we seek to understand how apoptotic signaling is fine-tuned in response to ionizing radiation (IR). Our work has uncovered a network of regulatory mechanisms, such as ubiquitin proteolysis and microRNAs, that control the levels of apoptotic proteins. I will discuss our recent efforts to understand how microRNA 35 (mir-35) antagonizes translation of the BH3-only protein EGL-1 and the Ras/MAPK effector NDK-1 in response to IR. EGL-1 is homologous to human PUMA and NDK-1 is the worm orthologue of human NME1 (NME/NM23 nucleoside diphosphate kinase 1), which has been shown to regulate MAPK signaling in both worms and human cells. mir-35 normally functions to buffer IR-induced apoptosis through its combinatorial effects on EGL-1 and NDK-1 translation. Ablation of mir-35, or mutations in the mir-35 binding sites in the 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) of egl-1 and ndk-1, increase the levels of these proteins and cause hypersensitivity to IR-induced apoptosis. By targeting both the core apoptosis pathway and the MAPK cascade, we propose that mir-35 plays a key role in fine-tuning apoptotic signaling in order to protect healthy cells and ensure a rapid response to DNA-damaging agents. Given the high conservation in the organization of these pathways from C. elegans to human, manipulating microRNAs might help resensitize tumors that have developed resistance to radiation and/or chemotherapy.

Citation Format: W. Brent Derry. Management of MAP kinase and apoptosis signaling thresholds by microRNAs [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr SY28-01.

Your neighbours matter - non-autonomous control of apoptosis in development and disease

Traditionally, the regulation of apoptosis has been thought of as an autonomous process in which the dying cell dictates its own demise. However, emerging studies in genetically tractable multicellular organisms, such as Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila, have revealed that death is often a communal event. Here, we review the current literature on non-autonomous mechanisms governing apoptosis in multiple cellular contexts. The importance of the cellular community in dictating the funeral arrangements of apoptotic cells has profound implications in development and disease.

Proteome-wide dataset supporting the study of ancient metazoan macromolecular complexes

Our analysis examines the conservation of multiprotein complexes among metazoa through use of high resolution biochemical fractionation and precision mass spectrometry applied to soluble cell extracts from 5 representative model organisms Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, Mus musculus, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, and Homo sapiens. The interaction network obtained from the data was validated globally in 4 distant species (Xenopus laevis, Nematostella vectensis, Dictyostelium discoideum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and locally by targeted affinity-purification experiments. Here we provide details of our massive set of supporting biochemical fractionation data available via ProteomeXchange (PXD002319-PXD002328), PPIs via BioGRID (185267); and interaction network projections via (http://metazoa.med.utoronto.ca) made fully accessible to allow further exploration. The datasets here are related to the research article on metazoan macromolecular complexes in Nature [1].

Panorama of ancient metazoan macromolecular complexes

Macromolecular complexes are essential to conserved biological processes, but their prevalence across animals is unclear. By combining extensive biochemical fractionation with quantitative mass spectrometry, we directly examined the composition of soluble multiprotein complexes among diverse metazoan models. Using an integrative approach, we then generated a draft conservation map consisting of >1 million putative high-confidence co-complex interactions for species with fully sequenced genomes that encompasses functional modules present broadly across all extant animals. Clustering revealed a spectrum of conservation, ranging from ancient Eukaryal assemblies likely serving cellular housekeeping roles for at least 1 billion years, ancestral complexes that have accrued contemporary components, and rarer metazoan innovations linked to multicellularity. We validated these projections by independent co-fractionation experiments in evolutionarily distant species, by affinity-purification and by functional analyses. The comprehensiveness, centrality and modularity of these reconstructed interactomes reflect their fundamental mechanistic significance and adaptive value to animal cell systems.

CCM-3/STRIPAK promotes seamless tube extension through endocytic recycling

The mechanisms governing apical membrane assembly during biological tube development are poorly understood. Here, we show that extension of the C. elegans excretory canal requires cerebral cavernous malformation 3 (CCM-3), independent of the CCM1 orthologue KRI-1. Loss of ccm-3 causes canal truncations and aggregations of canaliculular vesicles, which form ectopic lumen (cysts). We show that CCM-3 localizes to the apical membrane, and in cooperation with GCK-1 and STRIPAK, promotes CDC-42 signalling, Golgi stability and endocytic recycling. We propose that endocytic recycling is mediated through the CDC-42-binding kinase MRCK-1, which interacts physically with CCM-3-STRIPAK. We further show canal membrane integrity to be dependent on the exocyst complex and the actin cytoskeleton. This work reveals novel in vivo roles of CCM-3·STRIPAK in regulating tube extension and membrane integrity through small GTPase signalling and vesicle dynamics, which may help explain the severity of CCM3 mutations in patients.

Analysis of apoptosis in Caenorhabditis elegans

The nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans has provided researchers with a wealth of information on the molecular mechanisms controlling programmed cell death (apoptosis). Its genetic tractability, optical clarity, and relatively short lifespan are key advantages for rapid assessment of apoptosis in vivo. The use of forward and reverse genetics methodology, coupled with in vivo imaging, has provided deep insights into how a multicellular organism orchestrates the self-destruction of specific cells during development and in response to exogenous stresses. Strains of C. elegans carrying mutations in the core elements of the apoptotic pathway, or in tissue-specific regulators of apoptosis, can be used for genetic analyses to reveal conserved mechanisms by which apoptosis is regulated in the somatic and reproductive (germline) tissue. Here we present an introduction to the study of apoptosis in C. elegans, including current techniques for visualization, analysis, and screening.

Immunostaining for markers of apoptosis in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline

The transparency of Caenorhabditis elegans makes it an ideal organism for visualizing proteins by immunofluorescence microscopy; however, the tough cuticle of worms and the egg shell surrounding embryos pose challenges in achieving effective fixation so that antibodies can diffuse into cells. In this protocol, we describe immunostaining of apoptosis-related proteins in the C. elegans adult germline using fluorescent reagents. Protein localization and abundance can be determined in various mutant backgrounds and under a variety of conditions, such as exposure to genotoxic stress. The number of antibodies specific to C. elegans proteins is quite limited compared with other organisms, but there is a growing list of immunological reagents directed against proteins in other organisms that cross-react with the homologous C. elegans proteins.

High-throughput RNAi screening for germline apoptosis genes in Caenorhabditis elegans

Among the greatest tools that Caenorhabditis elegans can provide researchers are the capabilities to perform high-throughput, genome-wide screens. Using bacterial RNAi libraries, which cover the majority (>85%) of the worm genome, genes can be rapidly and systematically evaluated for apoptosis phenotypes in the germline. Screens can be designed to directly assess the levels of apoptotic corpses under normal physiological conditions using transgenic strains expressing fluorescent reporters that mark apoptotic bodies. Vital dyes that are selectively retained in apoptotic cells, such as acridine orange (AO), can also be used to screen for genes that regulate germline apoptosis. Using these reagents, screens can be performed in wild-type worms or mutant backgrounds that suppress or enhance apoptosis phenotypes. This protocol describes methods for designing and carrying out high-throughput or targeted RNAi screens for germline apoptosis regulators.

Fluorescent visualization of germline apoptosis in living Caenorhabditis elegans

Visualization of apoptosis using fluorescent tools is quite straightforward in living Caenorhabditis elegans. Several transgenic lines are available that mark dying cells with fluorescent proteins, making it possible to quantify kinetics at various stages of the apoptotic process. Proteins required for the engulfment of cell corpses are particularly useful for detecting early apoptotic stages using this approach. For example, expression of the engulfment protein CED-1 fused to green fluorescent protein (CED-1::GFP) creates a halo around cells during early apoptosis, before their refractile morphology can be detected by differential interference contrast (DIC) optics. In addition, vital dyes such as acridine orange (AO) and SYTO-12 are selectively retained in apoptotic cells and can be used to visualize apoptosis in the germlines of living animals. It is also possible to use vital dyes in combination with transgenic strains expressing fluorescent markers of cell corpses to examine, in detail, multiple stages of apoptosis in vivo. Because of the high optical contrast of fluorescent reagents, apoptosis can be visualized even at low magnification, facilitating the use of screening platforms to identify apoptosis regulators. This protocol describes multiple uses of fluorescent reagents for visualization of germline apoptosis in living C. elegans, including AO staining, time-course studies using fluorescent proteins, and low-throughput screening of cell death genes using RNA interference (RNAi).

Visualizing apoptosis in embryos and the germline of Caenorhabditis elegans

Visualizing apoptosis in developing embryos or the germline of Caenorhabditis elegans is remarkably easy because of the transparency of the organism. The invariant pattern of cell division and programmed cell death during development makes it possible to quantify small but reproducible changes in apoptosis, which are easy to detect by light microscopy because of the refractile properties of dying cells. Although apoptotic death is easy to visualize and quantify in the germline of adult hermaphrodites, the pattern of cell death is variable, especially when triggered by stress. The most convenient method for visualization of apoptosis in vivo is light microscopy, which requires immobilizing live embryos or adult animals on slides. This protocol describes the basic methods for visualizing and analyzing apoptosis in living animals.

CEP-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans p53 homolog, mediates opposing longevity outcomes in mitochondrial electron transport chain mutants

Caenorhabditis elegans CEP-1 and its mammalian homolog p53 are critical for responding to diverse stress signals. In this study, we found that cep-1 inactivation suppressed the prolonged lifespan of electron transport chain (ETC) mutants, such as isp-1 and nuo-6, but rescued the shortened lifespan of other ETC mutants, such as mev-1 and gas-1. We compared the CEP-1-regulated transcriptional profiles of the long-lived isp-1 and the short-lived mev-1 mutants and, to our surprise, found that CEP-1 regulated largely similar sets of target genes in the two mutants despite exerting opposing effects on their longevity. Further analyses identified a small subset of CEP-1-regulated genes that displayed distinct expression changes between the isp-1 and mev-1 mutants. Interestingly, this small group of differentially regulated genes are enriched for the "aging" Gene Ontology term, consistent with the hypothesis that they might be particularly important for mediating the distinct longevity effects of CEP-1 in isp-1 and mev-1 mutants. We further focused on one of these differentially regulated genes, ftn-1, which encodes ferritin in C. elegans, and demonstrated that it specifically contributed to the extended lifespan of isp-1 mutant worms but did not affect the mev-1 mutant lifespan. We propose that CEP-1 responds to different mitochondrial ETC stress by mounting distinct compensatory responses accordingly to modulate animal physiology and longevity. Our findings provide insights into how mammalian p53 might respond to distinct mitochondrial stressors to influence cellular and organismal responses.

Methods for detection and analysis of apoptosis signaling in the C. elegans germline

This review assesses current and emerging methods for the detection, and analysis of apoptosis in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline. The nematode worm C. elegans is highly tractable to genetic manipulation, making it an excellent model for elucidating mechanisms of apoptosis signaling in a multicellular setting. Here we profile the most efficacious fluorescent tools to visualize and quantify germline apoptosis. We focus specifically on the application of fluorescent markers to screen by RNAi for genes and pathways that regulate germline apoptosis under normal conditions or in response to genotoxic stress. We also present the limitations of these methods, and suggest complimentary techniques in order that researchers new to the field can comprehensively assess apoptosis phenotypes in the C. elegans germline.

The TP53 signaling network in mammals and worms

The nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans has been an invaluable model organism for studying the molecular mechanisms that govern cell fate, from fundamental aspects of multicellular development to programmed cell death (apoptosis). The transparency of this organism permits visualization of cells in living animals at high resolution. The powerful genetics and functional genomics tools available in C. elegans allow for detailed analysis of gene function, including genes that are frequently deregulated in human diseases such as cancer. The TP53 protein is a critical suppressor of tumor formation in vertebrates, and the TP53 gene is mutated in over 50% of human cancers. TP53 suppresses malignancy by integrating a variety of cellular stresses that direct it to activate transcription of genes that help to repair the damage or trigger apoptotic death if the damage is beyond repair. The TP53 paralogs, TP63 and TP73, have distinct roles in development as well as overlapping functions with TP53 in apoptosis and repair, which complicates their analysis in vertebrates. C. elegans contains a single TP53 family member, cep-1, that shares properties of all three vertebrate genes and thus offers a simple system in which to study the biological functions of this important gene family. This review summarizes major advances in our understanding of the TP53 family using C. elegans as a model organism.

Noncanonical control of C. elegans germline apoptosis by the insulin/IGF-1 and Ras/MAPK signaling pathways

The insulin/IGF-1 pathway controls a number of physiological processes in the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans, including development, aging and stress response. We previously found that the Akt/PKB ortholog AKT-1 dampens the apoptotic response to genotoxic stress in the germline by negatively regulating the p53-like transcription factor CEP-1. Here, we report unexpected rearrangements to the insulin/IGF-1 pathway, whereby the insulin-like receptor DAF-2 and 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase PDK-1 oppose AKT-1 to promote DNA damage-induced apoptosis. While DNA damage does not affect phosphorylation at the PDK-1 site Thr350/Thr308 of AKT-1, it increased phosphorylation at Ser517/Ser473. Although ablation of daf-2 or pdk-1 completely suppressed akt-1-dependent apoptosis, the transcriptional activation of CEP-1 was unaffected, suggesting that daf-2 and pdk-1 act independently or downstream of cep-1 and akt-1. Ablation of the akt-1 paralog akt-2 or the downstream target of the insulin/IGF-1 pathway daf-16 (a FOXO transcription factor) restored sensitivity to damage-induced apoptosis in daf-2 and pdk-1 mutants. In addition, daf-2 and pdk-1 mutants have reduced levels of phospho-MPK-1/ERK in their germ cells, indicating that the insulin/IGF-1 pathway promotes Ras signaling in the germline. Ablation of the Ras effector gla-3, a negative regulator of mpk-1, restored sensitivity to apoptosis in daf-2 mutants, suggesting that gla-3 acts downstream of daf-2. In addition, the hypersensitivity of let-60/Ras gain-of-function mutants to damage-induced apoptosis was suppressed to wild-type levels by ablation of daf-2. Thus, insulin/IGF-1 signaling selectively engages AKT-2/DAF-16 to promote DNA damage-induced germ cell apoptosis downstream of CEP-1 through the Ras pathway.

Structure-function analysis of core STRIPAK Proteins: a signaling complex implicated in Golgi polarization

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are alterations in brain capillary architecture that can result in neurological deficits, seizures, or stroke. We recently demonstrated that CCM3, a protein mutated in familial CCMs, resides predominantly within the STRIPAK complex (striatin interacting phosphatase and kinase). Along with CCM3, STRIPAK contains the Ser/Thr phosphatase PP2A. The PP2A holoenzyme consists of a core catalytic subunit along with variable scaffolding and regulatory subunits. Within STRIPAK, striatin family members act as PP2A regulatory subunits. STRIPAK also contains all three members of a subfamily of Sterile 20 kinases called the GCKIII proteins (MST4, STK24, and STK25). Here, we report that striatins and CCM3 bridge the phosphatase and kinase components of STRIPAK and map the interacting regions on each protein. We show that striatins and CCM3 regulate the Golgi localization of MST4 in an opposite manner. Consistent with a previously described function for MST4 and CCM3 in Golgi positioning, depletion of CCM3 or striatins affects Golgi polarization, also in an opposite manner. We propose that STRIPAK regulates the balance between MST4 localization at the Golgi and in the cytosol to control Golgi positioning.

CCM3/PDCD10 heterodimerizes with germinal center kinase III (GCKIII) proteins using a mechanism analogous to CCM3 homodimerization

CCM3 mutations give rise to cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) of the vasculature through a mechanism that remains unclear. Interaction of CCM3 with the germinal center kinase III (GCKIII) subfamily of Sterile 20 protein kinases, MST4, STK24, and STK25, has been implicated in cardiovascular development in the zebrafish, raising the possibility that dysregulated GCKIII function may contribute to the etiology of CCM disease. Here, we show that the amino-terminal region of CCM3 is necessary and sufficient to bind directly to the C-terminal tail region of GCKIII proteins. This same region of CCM3 was shown previously to mediate homodimerization through the formation of an interdigitated α-helical domain. Sequence conservation and binding studies suggest that CCM3 may preferentially heterodimerize with GCKIII proteins through a manner structurally analogous to that employed for CCM3 homodimerization.

The EEL-1 ubiquitin ligase promotes DNA damage-induced germ cell apoptosis in C. elegans

E3 ubiquitin ligases target a growing number of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins, including tumour suppressor p53, caspases, and the Bcl-2 family. The core apoptosis pathway is well conserved between mammals and Caenorhabditis elegans, but the extent to which ubiquitin ligases regulate apoptotic cell death is not known. To investigate the role of E3 ligases in apoptosis, we inhibited 108 of the 165 predicted E3 ubiquitin ligase genes by RNA interference and quantified apoptosis in the C. elegans germline after genotoxic stress. From this screen, we identified the homologous to E6-associated protein C terminus-domain E3 ligase EEL-1 as a positive regulator of apoptosis. Intriguingly, the human homologue of EEL-1, Huwe1/ARF-BP1/Mule/HectH9, has been reported to possess both pro- and anti-apoptotic functions through its ability to stimulate Mcl-1 and p53 degradation, respectively. Here, we demonstrate that eel-1 is required to promote DNA damage-induced germ cell apoptosis, but does not have a role in physiological germ cell apoptosis or developmental apoptosis in somatic tissue. Furthermore, eel-1 acts in parallel to the p53-like gene cep-1 and intersects the core apoptosis pathway upstream of the Bcl-2/Mcl-1 orthologue ced-9. Although ee1-1 mutants exhibit hypersensitivity to genotoxic stress they do not appear to be defective in DNA repair, suggesting a distinct role for EEL-1 in promoting damage-induced apoptosis in the germline.

Cell-nonautonomous regulation of C. elegans germ cell death by kri-1

Programmed cell death (or apoptosis) is an evolutionarily conserved, genetically controlled suicide mechanism for cells that, when deregulated, can lead to developmental defects, cancers, and degenerative diseases [1, 2]. In C. elegans, DNA damage induces germ cell death by signaling through cep-1/p53, ultimately leading to the activation of CED-3/caspase [3–13]. It has been hypothesized that the major regulatory events controlling cell death occur by cell-autonomous mechanisms, that is, within the dying cell. In support of this, genetic studies in C. elegans have shown that the core apoptosis pathway genes ced-4/APAF-1 and ced-3/caspase are required in cells fated to die [9]. However, it is not known whether the upstream signals that activate apoptosis function in a cell-autonomous manner. Here we show that kri-1, an ortholog of KRIT1/CCM1, which is mutated in the human neurovascular disease cerebral cavernous malformation [14, 15], is required to activate DNA damage-dependent cell death independently of cep-1/p53. Interestingly, we find that kri-1 regulates cell death in a cell-nonautonomous manner, revealing a novel regulatory role for nondying cells in eliciting cell death in response to DNA damage.

The SCF FSN-1 ubiquitin ligase controls germline apoptosis through CEP-1/p53 in C. elegans

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans contains a single ancestral p53 family member, cep-1, which is required to activate apoptosis of germ cells in response to DNA damage. To understand how the cep-1/p53 pathway is regulated in response to genotoxic stress, we performed an RNA interference screen and identified the neddylation pathway and components of an SCF (Skp1/cullin/F-box) E3 ubiquitin ligase as negative regulators of cep-1-dependent germ cell apoptosis. Here, we show that the cullin gene cul-1, the Skp1-related gene skr-1, and the ring box genes rbx-1 and rpm-1 all negatively regulate cep-1-dependent germ cell apoptosis in response to the DNA-alkylating agent N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU). We also identified the F-box protein FSN-1, previously shown to form an SCF ligase that regulates synapse development, as a negative regulator of cep-1-dependent germline apoptosis. The hypersensitivity of fsn-1 mutants to ENU-induced germline apoptosis was completely suppressed by a cep-1 loss-of-function allele. We further provide evidence that the transcriptional activity, phosphorylation status, and levels of endogenous CEP-1 are higher in fsn-1 mutants compared with wild-type animals after ENU treatment. Our results uncover a novel role for the SCF(FSN-1) E3 ubiquitin ligase in the regulation of cep-1-dependent germ cell apoptosis.

Establishing a blueprint for CED-3-dependent killing through identification of multiple substrates for this protease

Genetic studies have established that the cysteine protease CED-3 plays a central role in coordinating programmed cell death in Caenorhabditis elegans. However, it remains unclear how CED-3 activation results in cell death because few substrates for this protease have been described. We have used a global proteomics approach to seek substrates for CED-3 and have identified 22 worm proteins that undergo CED-3-dependent proteolysis. Proteins that were found to be substrates for CED-3 included the cytoskeleton proteins actin, myosin light chain, and tubulin, as well as proteins involved in ATP synthesis, cellular metabolism, and chaperone function. We estimate that approximately 3% of the C. elegans proteome is susceptible to CED-3-dependent proteolysis. Notably, the endoplasmic reticulum chaperone calreticulin, which has been implicated in the recognition of apoptotic cells by phagocytes, was cleaved by CED-3 and was also cleaved by human caspases during apoptosis. Inhibitors of caspase activity blocked the appearance of calreticulin on the surface of apoptotic cells, suggesting a mechanism for the surface display of calreticulin during apoptosis. Further analysis of these substrates is likely to yield important insights into the mechanism of killing by CED-3 and its human caspase counterparts.

AKT-1 Regulates DNA-Damage-Induced Germline Apoptosis in C. elegans

The cellular response to genotoxic stress involves the integration of multiple prosurvival and proapoptotic signals that dictate whether a cell lives or dies. In mammals, AKT/PKB regulates cell survival by modulating the activity of several apoptotic proteins, including p53. In Caenorhabditis elegans, akt-1 and akt-2 regulate development in response to environmental cues by controlling the FOXO transcription factor daf-16, but the role of these genes in regulating p53-dependent apoptosis is not known. In this study, we show that akt-1 and akt-2 negatively regulate DNA-damage-induced apoptosis in the C. elegans germline. The antiapoptotic activity of akt-1 is independent of its target gene daf-16 but dependent on cep-1/p53. Although only akt-1 regulates the apoptotic activity of cep-1, both akt-1 and akt-2 modulate the intensity of the apoptotic response independently of the transcriptional activity of CEP-1. Finally, we show that AKT-1 regulates apoptosis but not cell-cycle progression downstream of the HUS-1/MRT-2 branch of the DNA damage checkpoint.

Regulation of developmental rate and germ cell proliferation in Caenorhabditis elegans by the p53 gene network

Caenorhabditis elegans CEP-1 activates germline apoptosis in response to genotoxic stress, similar to its mammalian counterpart, tumor suppressor p53. In mammals, there are three p53 family members (p53, p63, and p73) that activate and repress many distinct and overlapping sets of genes, revealing a complex transcriptional regulatory network. Because CEP-1 is the sole p53 family member in C. elegans, analysis of this network is greatly simplified in this organism. We found that CEP-1 functions during normal development in the absence of stress to repress many (331) genes and activate only a few (28) genes. In response to genotoxic stress, 1394 genes are activated and 942 are repressed, many of which contain p53-binding sites. Comparison of the CEP-1 transcriptional network with transcriptional targets of the human p53 family reveals considerable overlap between CEP-1-regulated genes and homologues regulated by human p63 and p53, suggesting a composite p53/p63 action for CEP-1. We found that phg-1, the C. elegans Gas1 (growth arrest-specific 1) homologue, is activated by CEP-1 and is a negative regulator of cell proliferation in the germline in response to genotoxic stress. Further, we find that CEP-1 and PHG-1 mediate the decreased developmental rate and embryonic viability of mutations in the clk-2/TEL2 gene, which regulates lifespan and checkpoint responses.

Structural differences in the DNA binding domains of human p53 and its C. elegans ortholog Cep-1

The DNA binding domains of human p53 and Cep-1, its C. elegans ortholog, recognize essentially identical DNA sequences despite poor sequence similarity. We solved the three-dimensional structure of the Cep-1 DNA binding domain in the absence of DNA and compared it to that of human p53. The two domains have similar overall folds. However, three loops, involved in DNA and Zn binding in human p53, contain small alpha helices in Cep-1. The alpha helix in loop L3 of Cep-1 orients the side chains of two conserved arginines toward DNA; in human p53, both arginines are mutation hotspots, but only one contacts DNA. The alpha helix in loop L1 of Cep-1 repositions the entire loop, making it unlikely for residues of this loop to contact bases in the major groove of DNA, as occurs in human p53. Thus, during evolution there have been considerable changes in the structure of the p53 DNA binding domain.

Resistance to microtubule-targeted cytotoxins in a K562 leukemia cell variant associated with altered tubulin expression and polymerization

A vinblastine resistant cell line, KCVB2, was established by co-selecting the parental erythroleukemic cell line K562 with step-wise increased concentrations of vinblastine (Velban) in the presence of the cyclosporin D analogue PSC 833 (2 microM), a potent modulator of the multidrug resistance phenotype. KCVB2 cells are 8-fold resistant to the selecting agent, vinblastine, but also exhibit significant resistance to other vinca alkaloids, including 14-fold resistance to vinorelbine, as well as 6-fold cross-resistance to paclitaxel. Doubling time and morphology were similar to the parental K562 cells. Rt-PCR analysis revealed no alterations in the expression of the mdr1 and MRP genes. Intracellular vinblastine accumulation was unchanged. Disruption of the mitotic spindles and multiple mitotic asters occurred in both cell lines but required higher concentrations of vinblastine in KCVB2 cells than in K562 cells. Significant differences were observed in the tubulin content of KCVB2 cells: reduction of total tubulin content, increased polymerized fraction of total tubulin, and overexpression of class III beta-tubulin which is expressed at very low levels in the parental K562 cells. K562 cells transfected with murine class III beta-tubulin did not display the resistance pattern observed in KCVB2 cells. Revertants of KCVB2 manifested reversion to parental drug sensitivity, an increase in total tubulin level, and a decrease in polymerized tubulin. In conclusion, the KCVB2 cell line displays a novel mechanism of resistance to both depolymerizing and stabilizing microtubule-targeted cytotoxins which does not involve altered cellular drug accumulation, but corresponds to alterations in the total tubulin content and polymerization status, and may involve an effect on microtubule dynamics.

Essential embryonic roles of the CKI-1 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor in cell-cycle exit and morphogenesis in C elegans

Following a phase of rapid proliferation, cells in developing embryos must decide when to cease division and then whether to survive and differentiate or instead undergo programmed death. In screens for genes that regulate embryonic patterning of the endoderm in Caenorhabditis elegans, we identified overlapping chromosomal deletions that define a gene required for these decisions. These deletions result in embryonic hyperplasia in multiple somatic tissues, excessive numbers of cell corpses, and profound defects in morphogenesis and differentiation. However, cell-cycle arrest of the germline is unaffected. Cell lineage analysis of these mutants revealed that cells that normally stop dividing earlier than their close relatives instead undergo an extra round of division. These deletions define a genomic region that includes cki-1 and cki-2, adjacent genes encoding members of the Cip/Kip family of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. cki-1 alone can rescue the cell proliferation, programmed cell death, and differentiation and morphogenesis defects observed in these mutants. In contrast, cki-2 is not capable of significantly rescuing these phenotypes. RNA interference of cki-1 leads to embryonic lethality with phenotypes similar to, or more severe than, the deletion mutants. cki-1 and -2 gene reporters show distinct expression patterns; while both are expressed at around the time that embryonic cells exit the cell cycle, cki-2 also shows marked expression starting early in embryogenesis, when rapid cell division occurs. Our findings demonstrate that cki-1 activity plays an essential role in embryonic cell cycle arrest, differentiation and morphogenesis, and suggest that it may be required to suppress programmed cell death or engulfment of cell corpses.

Caenorhabditis elegans p53: role in apoptosis, meiosis, and stress resistance

We have identified a homolog of the mammalian p53 tumor suppressor protein in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that is expressed ubiquitously in embryos. The gene encoding this protein, cep-1, promotes DNA damage-induced apoptosis and is required for normal meiotic chromosome segregation in the germ line. Moreover, although somatic apoptosis is unaffected, cep-1 mutants show hypersensitivity to hypoxia-induced lethality and decreased longevity in response to starvation-induced stress. Overexpression of CEP-1 promotes widespread caspase-independent cell death, demonstrating the critical importance of regulating p53 function at appropriate levels. These findings show that C. elegans p53 mediates multiple stress responses in the soma, and mediates apoptosis and meiotic chromosome segregation in the germ line.

Many genomic regions are required for normal embryonic programmed cell death in Caenorhabditis elegans

To identify genes involved in programmed cell death (PCD) in Caenorhabditis elegans, we screened a comprehensive set of chromosomal deficiencies for alterations in the pattern of PCD throughout embryonic development. From a set of 58 deficiencies, which collectively remove approximately 74% of the genome, four distinct classes were identified. In class I (20 deficiencies), no significant deviation from wild type in the temporal pattern of cell corpses was observed, indicating that much of the genome does not contain zygotic genes that perform conspicuous roles in embryonic PCD. The class II deficiencies (16 deficiencies defining at least 11 distinct genomic regions) led to no or fewer-than-normal cell corpses. Some of these cause premature cell division arrest, probably explaining the diminution in cell corpse number; however, others have little effect on cell proliferation, indicating that the reduced cell corpse number is not a direct result of premature embryonic arrest. In class III (18 deficiencies defining at least 16 unique regions), an excess of cell corpses was observed. The developmental stage at which the extra corpses were observed varied among the class III deficiencies, suggesting the existence of genes that perform temporal-specific functions in PCD. The four deficiencies in class IV (defining at least three unique regions), showed unusually large corpses that were, in some cases, attributable to extremely premature arrest in cell division without a concomitant block in PCD. Deficiencies in this last class suggest that the cell death program does not require normal embryonic cell proliferation to be activated and suggest that while some genes required for cell division might also be required for cell death, others are not. Most of the regions identified by these deficiencies do not contain previously identified zygotic cell death genes. There are, therefore, a substantial number of as yet unidentified genes required for normal PCD in C. elegans.

Low potency of taxol at microtubule minus ends: implications for its antimitotic and therapeutic mechanism

In many cells, low concentrations of Taxol potently block mitosis at the transition from metaphase to anaphase, with no change in microtubule polymer mass and no microtubule bundling. Mitotic block ultimately results in apoptotic cell death and appears to be the most potent antitumor mechanism of Taxol (M. A. Jordan et al., Cancer Res. 56: 816-825, 1996). Mitotic inhibition results, at least in part, from stabilization of growing and shortening dynamics, specifically at the plus ends of microtubules, by the binding of very few Taxol molecules to the microtubule surface (M. A. Jordan et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90: 9552-9556, 1993; W. B. Derry et al., Biochemistry, 34: 2203-2211, 1995). A number of actions of Taxol on mitotic spindle function may be due to its effects on microtubule dynamics at the minus ends of microtubules, effects that previously have not been described. Here, we determined the effects of Taxol on minus ends of purified microtubules at steady state. In contrast to the strong stabilizing effects on plus ends, substoichiometric ratios of Taxol bound to tubulin in microtubules did not affect growing, shortening, or dynamicity at minus ends. Thus, in blocked mitotic cells, Taxol can potently suppress dynamics at plus ends of spindle microtubules, whereas its impotence at minus ends permits continued microtubule depolymerization at the spindle poles. Differential effects of Taxol at opposite microtubule ends may explain Taxol's actions on spindle structure and function and its unique potent antitumor action.

Taxol differentially modulates the dynamics of microtubules assembled from unfractionated and purified beta-tubulin isotypes

Substoichiometric binding of taxol to tubulin in microtubules potently suppresses microtubule dynamics, which appears to be the most sensitive antiproliferative mechanism of taxol. To determine whether the beta-tubulin isotype composition of a microtubule can modulate sensitivity to taxol, we measured the effects of substoichiometric ratios of taxol bound to tubulin in microtubules on the dynamics of microtubules composed of purified alphabeta(II)-, alphabeta(III)-, or alphabeta(IV)-tubulin isotypes and compared the results with the effects of taxol on microtubules assembled from unfractionated tubulin. Substoichiometric ratios of bound taxol in microtubules assembled from purified beta-tubulin isotypes or unfractionated tubulin potently suppressed the shortening rates and the lengths shortened per shortening event. Correlation of the suppression of the shortening rate with the stoichiometry of bound taxol revealed that microtubules composed of purified alphabeta(II)-, alphabeta(III)-, and alphabeta(IV)-tubulin were, respectively, 1.6-, 7.4-, and 7.2-fold less sensitive to the effects of bound taxol than microtubules assembled from unfractionated tubulin. These results indicate that taxol differentially modulates microtubule dynamics depending upon the beta-tubulin isotype composition. The results are consistent with recent studies correlating taxol resistance in tumor cells with increased levels of beta(III0- and beta(IV)-tubulin expression and suggest that altered cellular expression of beta-tubulin isotypes can be an important mechanism by which tumor cells develop resistance to taxol.

Mitotic block induced in HeLa cells by low concentrations of paclitaxel (Taxol) results in abnormal mitotic exit and apoptotic cell death

Paclitaxel at low concentrations (10 nM for 20 h) induces approximately 90% mitotic block at the metaphase/anaphase transition in HeLa cells, apparently by suppressing dynamics of spindle microtubules (M. A. Jordan et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90: 9552-9556, 1993). It is not known, however, whether inhibition of mitosis by such low paclitaxel concentrations results in cell death. In the present work, we found that after removal of paclitaxel (10 nM-1 microM), blocked cells did not resume proliferation. Instead, cells exited mitosis abnormally within 24 h. They did not progress through anaphase or cytokinesis but entered an interphase-like state (chromatin decondensed, and an interphase-like microtubule array and nuclear membranes reformed). Many cells (> or = 55%) contained multiple nuclei. Additional DNA synthesis and polyploidy did not occur. DNA degradation into nucleosome-sized fragments characteristic of apoptosis began during drug incubation and increased after drug removal. Cells died within 48-72 h. Incubation with paclitaxel (10 nM for 20 h) resulted in high intracellular drug accumulation (8.3 microM) and little efflux after paclitaxel removal; intracellular retention of paclitaxel may contribute to its efficacy. The results support the hypothesis that the most potent chemotherapeutic mechanism of paclitaxel is kinetic stabilization of spindle microtubule dynamics.

Substoichiometric binding of taxol suppresses microtubule dynamics

We have measured the effects of taxol (10 nM to 1 microM) on the growing and shortening dynamics at the ends of individual bovine brain microtubules in vitro and have correlated the effects both with the stoichiometry of taxol binding to tubulin in microtubules and with the changes in the microtubule polymer mass. The results indicate that taxol suppresses microtubule dynamic instability differently depending upon the stoichiometry of taxol binding to the microtubules. At the lowest effective concentrations (< or = 100 nM), substoichiometric binding of taxol to tubulin in microtubules (between 0.001 and 0.01 mol of bound taxol/mol of tubulin in microtubules) potently and selectively suppresses the rate and extent of shortening at plus ends in association with some increase (28% to 60%) in the mass of microtubule polymer. At intermediate taxol concentrations (between 100 nM and 1 microM), the binding of additional taxol molecules to the microtubules (between 0.01 and 0.1 mol of taxol bound/mol of tubulin in microtubules) inhibits both growing and shortening events at both microtubule ends with no additional increase in microtubule polymer mass. At high taxol concentrations and high taxol binding stoichiometries (> or = 1 microM taxol and > or = 0.1 mol of taxol bound/mol of tubulin in microtubules), microtubule mass increases sharply and dynamics is almost completely suppressed. The data support the hypothesis that binding of a molecule of taxol to a tubulin subunit in microtubules induces a conformational change in that subunit that strongly reduces its ability to dissociate when the subunit becomes exposed at the microtubule end.

Synthesis and biological activity of novel thymidine derivatives of podophyllotoxin and 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin

We have synthesized a number of novel derivatives of podophyllotoxin (POD) and 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin (DMEP) in which the nucleoside thymidine has been conjugated at the C4 position. To investigate the structure-activity relationship among these compounds, the cross-resistance patterns of these derivatives towards a set of either POD-resistant (PodR) or VP16/VM26-resistant (VpmR) mutants of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were determined. These mutants exhibit highly specific cross-resistance patterns toward compounds that show either POD- or VP16/VM26-like activity. The observed cross-resistance patterns of the thymidine derivatives suggests that these compounds display POD-like activity in vivo and show no VP16/VM26-like activity. Further, treatment of Chinese hamster cells with these compounds caused a dose-dependent increase in the mitotic index similar to the patterns observed with POD and DMEP, supporting the data from the cross-resistance assay. Most thymidine derivatives exhibited much lower activity in comparison to POD or DMEP, suggesting that the thymidine moiety interferes with the interaction of these compounds with the receptor site on the tubulin molecule. One of these derivatives which was most active in the aforementioned assays was also found to be a competitive inhibitor of radiolabelled POD binding to purified bovine brain tubulin. All other compounds were insoluble at concentrations required to perform the competition assay. Molecular modelling studies provide valuable insight regarding the three-dimensional structural requirements that distinguish POD-like compounds from their VP16/VM26-like counterparts. There appears to be a very limited spatial and electrostatic requirement for the bulky glycosidic moiety at C4 which is essential for VP16/VM26-like activity.

Synthesis and biological activity of galactopyranoside derivatives of 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin showing VP-16 (etoposide)-like activity

To investigate the role of the glucoside moiety in the biological activity of VP-16 (etoposide; 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin-ethylidene-beta-D-glucoside) and VM-26 (teniposide; 4'-demethyl-epipodophyllotoxin-thenylidene-beta-D-glucoside), a number of acetal and ketal derivatives of 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin (DMEP)-beta-D-galactoside were synthesized. The compounds synthesized included acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde and acetone derivatives. In contrast to the glucose derivatives, where the acetal ring is trans to the pyranose ring, in galactose derivatives it is located in the cis position. The activities of the above compounds have been measured in two different biological assays, based on cross resistance towards mutants exhibiting specific resistance to VP-16/VM-26-like drugs and DNA-strand breaks as measured by the alkaline elution technique. All of the above compounds showed specific cross resistance to VpmR mutants (mutants resistant to VP-16 and VM-26) and caused a dose-dependent enhancement in DNA-strand breakage, providing evidence that they possessed the same kind of biological activity as VP-16 and VM-26. The relative activities of the DMEP-galactose derivatives have been compared with the corresponding DMEP-glucoside compounds. These studies reveal that, for the acetal and ketal derivatives with small R groups (acetaldehyde and acetone derivatives), the activities in the two series are comparable. However, for derivatives with larger, more hydrophobic R groups (2-thiophene or phenylacetaldehyde), the glucoside derivatives showed about 8-10-fold higher activity in comparison with the corresponding galactoside compounds.