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Taylor A, Gu Y, Chang ML, Yang W, Francisco S, Rowan S, Bejarano E, Pruitt S, Zhu L, Weiss G, Brennan L, Kantorow M, Whitcomb EA. Repurposing a Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 1 (CDK1) Mitotic Regulatory Network to Complete Terminal Differentiation in Lens Fiber Cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2023; 64:6. [PMID: 36734965 PMCID: PMC9907369 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.64.2.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose During lens fiber cell differentiation, organelles are removed in an ordered manner to ensure lens clarity. A critical step in this process is removal of the cell nucleus, but the mechanisms by which this occurs are unclear. In this study, we investigate the role of a cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) regulatory loop in controlling lens fiber cell denucleation (LFCD). Methods We examined lens differentiation histologically in two different vertebrate models. An embryonic chick lens culture system was used to test the role of CDK1, cell division cycle 25 (CDC25), WEE1, and PP2A in LFCD. Additionally, we used three mouse models that express high levels of the CDK inhibitor p27 to test whether increased p27 levels affect LFCD. Results Using chick lens organ cultures, small-molecule inhibitors of CDK1 and CDC25 inhibit LFCD, while inhibiting the CDK1 inhibitory kinase WEE1 potentiates LFCD. Additionally, treatment with an inhibitor of PP2A, which indirectly inhibits CDK1 activity, also increased LFCD. Three different mouse models that express increased levels of p27 through different mechanisms show impaired LFCD. Conclusions Here we define a conserved nonmitotic role for CDK1 and its upstream regulators in controlling LFCD. We find that CDK1 functionally interacts with WEE1, a nuclear kinase that inhibits CDK1 activity, and CDC25 activating phosphatases in cells where CDK1 activity must be exquisitely regulated to allow for LFCD. We also provide genetic evidence in multiple in vivo models that p27, a CDK1 inhibitor, inhibits lens growth and LFCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen Taylor
- Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Yumei Gu
- Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Min-Lee Chang
- Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Wenxin Yang
- Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Sarah Francisco
- Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Sheldon Rowan
- Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Eloy Bejarano
- Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Steven Pruitt
- Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, United States
| | - Liang Zhu
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, New York, United States
| | - Grant Weiss
- Department of Neuroscience Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Lisa Brennan
- Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, United States
| | - Marc Kantorow
- Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, United States
| | - Elizabeth A. Whitcomb
- Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have transformed treatment paradigms in multiple cancer types defined by homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) and have become the archetypal example of synthetic lethal targeting within the DNA damage response (DDR). Despite this success, primary and acquired resistance to PARP inhibition inevitability threaten the efficacy and durability of response to these drugs. Beyond PARP inhibitors, recent advances in large-scale functional genomic screens have led to the identification of a steadily growing list of genetic dependencies across the DDR landscape. This has led to a wide array of novel synthetic lethal targets and corresponding inhibitors, which hold promise to widen the application of DDR inhibitors beyond HRD and potentially address PARP inhibitor resistance. RECENT FINDINGS In this review, we describe key synthetic lethal interactions that have been identified across the DDR landscape, summarize the early phase clinical development of the most promising DDR inhibitors, and highlight relevant combinations of DDR inhibitors with chemotherapy and other novel cancer therapies, which are anticipated to make an impact in rationally selected patient populations. SUMMARY The DDR landscape holds multiple opportunities for synthetic lethal targeting with multiple novel DDR inhibitors being evaluated on early phase clinical trials. Key challenges remain in optimizing the therapeutic window of ATR and WEE1 inhibitors as monotherapy and in combination approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Y L Ngoi
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine
| | - Shannon N Westin
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Surgery
| | - Timothy A Yap
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine
- The Institute for Applied Cancer Science
- Khalifa Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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3
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Henning NJ, Boike L, Spradlin JN, Ward CC, Liu G, Zhang E, Belcher BP, Brittain SM, Hesse MJ, Dovala D, McGregor LM, Valdez Misiolek R, Plasschaert LW, Rowlands DJ, Wang F, Frank AO, Fuller D, Estes AR, Randal KL, Panidapu A, McKenna JM, Tallarico JA, Schirle M, Nomura DK. Deubiquitinase-targeting chimeras for targeted protein stabilization. Nat Chem Biol 2022; 18:412-421. [PMID: 35210618 PMCID: PMC10125259 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-022-00971-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Many diseases are driven by proteins that are aberrantly ubiquitinated and degraded. These diseases would be therapeutically benefited by targeted protein stabilization (TPS). Here we present deubiquitinase-targeting chimeras (DUBTACs), heterobifunctional small molecules consisting of a deubiquitinase recruiter linked to a protein-targeting ligand, to stabilize the levels of specific proteins degraded in a ubiquitin-dependent manner. Using chemoproteomic approaches, we discovered the covalent ligand EN523 that targets a non-catalytic allosteric cysteine C23 in the K48-ubiquitin-specific deubiquitinase OTUB1. We showed that a DUBTAC consisting of our EN523 OTUB1 recruiter linked to lumacaftor, a drug used to treat cystic fibrosis that binds ΔF508-cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), robustly stabilized ΔF508-CFTR protein levels, leading to improved chloride channel conductance in human cystic fibrosis bronchial epithelial cells. We also demonstrated stabilization of the tumor suppressor kinase WEE1 in hepatoma cells. Our study showcases covalent chemoproteomic approaches to develop new induced proximity-based therapeutic modalities and introduces the DUBTAC platform for TPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel J Henning
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Lydia Boike
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jessica N Spradlin
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Carl C Ward
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Gang Liu
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Erika Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Bridget P Belcher
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Scott M Brittain
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Matthew J Hesse
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Dustin Dovala
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Lynn M McGregor
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Feng Wang
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Andreas O Frank
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Fuller
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Abigail R Estes
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Katelyn L Randal
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Anoohya Panidapu
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey M McKenna
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - John A Tallarico
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Markus Schirle
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Daniel K Nomura
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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Li R, Chen J, Gao X, Jiang G. Transcription factor KLF2 enhances the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to cisplatin by suppressing kinase WEE1. Cancer Biol Ther 2021; 22:465-477. [PMID: 34486497 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2021.1949228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cisplatin is an effective chemotherapeutic agent in facilitating the inhibition of proliferation, migration, and invasion in cancerous cells. However, the detailed mechanism of the regulation by cisplatin of human breast cancer cells is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) transcription factor in cisplatin therapy for breast cancer. RT-qPCR was performed to quantify the expression of KLF2 and WEE1 in clinical tissue samples from breast cancer patients and in MDA-MB-231 cells. ChIP assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay were used to analyze the potential-binding sites of KLF2 and WEE1 promoter. Gain- or loss-of-function approaches were used to manipulate KLF2 and WEE1 in cisplatin-treated MDA-MB-231 cells, and the mechanism of KLF2 in breast cancer was evaluated both via CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, Transwell assay, and Western blot. Further validation of the KLF2 was performed on nude mouse models. Breast cancer tissues and cells showed a relative decline of KLF2 expression and abundant WEE1 expression. Cisplatin inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. Overexpression of KLF2 enhanced the inhibitory effect of cisplatin on the malignant characteristics of MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro. KLF2 targeted WEE1 and negatively regulated its expression, thus enhancing the sensitivity to cisplatin of breast cancer cells as well as tumor-bearing mice. Overall, these results suggest that KLF2 can potentially inhibit WEE1 expression and sensitize breast cancer cells to cisplatin, thus presenting a promising adjunct treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqing Li
- Department of Throat and Breast Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow P.R. China
| | - Jiejing Chen
- Department of Throat and Breast Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou P.R. China
| | - Xiaokang Gao
- Department of Throat and Breast Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou P.R. China
| | - Guoqin Jiang
- Department of Throat and Breast Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow P.R. China
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5
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Xing L, Lin L, Yu T, Li Y, Cho SF, Liu J, Wen K, Hsieh PA, Kinneer K, Munshi N, Anderson KC, Tai YT. A novel BCMA PBD-ADC with ATM/ATR/ WEE1 inhibitors or bortezomib induce synergistic lethality in multiple myeloma. Leukemia 2020; 34:2150-2162. [PMID: 32060401 PMCID: PMC7392808 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-020-0745-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
To target mechanisms critical for multiple myeloma (MM) plasma cell adaptations to genomic instabilities and further sustain MM cell killing, we here specifically trigger DNA damage response (DDR) in MM cells by a novel BCMA antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) delivering the DNA cross-linking PBD dimer tesirine, MEDI2228. MEDI2228, more effectively than its anti-tubulin MMAF-ADC homolog, induces cytotoxicity against MM cells regardless of drug resistance, BCMA levels, p53 status, and the protection conferred by bone marrow stromal cells and IL-6. Distinctly, prior to apoptosis, MEDI2228 activates DDRs in MM cells via phosphorylation of ATM/ATR kinases, CHK1/2, CDK1/2, and H2AX, associated with expression of DDR-related genes. Significantly, MEDI2228 synergizes with DDR inhibitors (DDRi s) targeting ATM/ATR/WEE1 checkpoints to induce MM cell lethality. Moreover, suboptimal doses of MEDI2228 and bortezomib (btz) synergistically trigger apoptosis of even drug-resistant MM cells partly via modulation of RAD51 and accumulation of impaired DNA. Such combination further induces superior in vivo efficacy than monotherapy via increased nuclear γH2AX-expressing foci, irreversible DNA damages, and tumor cell death, leading to significantly prolonged host survival. These results indicate leveraging MEDI2228 with DDRi s or btz as novel combination strategies, further supporting ongoing clinical development of MEDI2228 in patients with relapsed and refractory MM.
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Key Words
- multiple myeloma, mm
- b cell maturation antigen, bcma
- antibody drug conjugate, adc
- pyrrolobenzodiazepine, pbd
- monomethyl auristatin f, mmaf
- bortezomib, btz
- lenalidomide, len
- pomalidomide, pom
- bone marrow stromal cells, bmscs
- interleukin-6, il-6
- dna damage response, ddr
- double strand break, dsb
- ddr inhibitor, ddri
- dna repair
- ataxia-telangiesctasia mutated, atm
- atr, ataxia telangiectasia and rad3-related protein
- wee1
- drug resistance
- synthetic cytotoxicity
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijie Xing
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, PR China
| | - Liang Lin
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tengteng Yu
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yuyin Li
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- School of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Key Lab of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tianjin, 300457, PR China
| | - Shih-Feng Cho
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jiye Liu
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth Wen
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Phillip A Hsieh
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Nikhil Munshi
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth C Anderson
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Yu-Tzu Tai
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Yang L, Shen C, Pettit CJ, Li T, Hu AJ, Miller ED, Zhang J, Lin SH, Williams TM. Wee1 Kinase Inhibitor AZD1775 Effectively Sensitizes Esophageal Cancer to Radiotherapy. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 26:3740-3750. [PMID: 32220892 PMCID: PMC7367716 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-3373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Esophageal cancer is a deadly malignancy with a 5-year survival rate of only 5% to 20%, which has remained unchanged for decades. Esophageal cancer possesses a high frequency of TP53 mutations leading to dysfunctional G1 cell-cycle checkpoint, which likely makes esophageal cancer cells highly reliant upon G2-M checkpoint for adaptation to DNA replication stress and DNA damage after radiation. We aim to explore whether targeting Wee1 kinase to abolish G2-M checkpoint sensitizes esophageal cancer cells to radiotherapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Cell viability was assessed by cytotoxicity and colony-forming assays, cell-cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry, and mitotic catastrophe was assessed by immunofluorescence staining. Human esophageal cancer xenografts were generated to explore the radiosensitizing effect of AZD1775 in vivo. RESULTS The IC50 concentrations of AZD1775 on esophageal cancer cell lines were between 300 and 600 nmol/L. AZD1775 (100 nmol/L) as monotherapy did not alter the viability of esophageal cancer cells, but significantly radiosensitized esophageal cancer cells. AZD1775 significantly abrogated radiation-induced G2-M phase arrest and attenuation of p-CDK1-Y15. Moreover, AZD1775 increased radiation-induced mitotic catastrophe, which was accompanied by increased γH2AX levels, and subsequently reduced survival after radiation. Importantly, AZD1775 in combination with radiotherapy resulted in marked tumor regression of esophageal cancer tumor xenografts. CONCLUSIONS Abrogation of G2-M checkpoint by targeting Wee1 kinase with AZD1775 sensitizes esophageal cancer cells to radiotherapy in vitro and in mouse xenografts. Our findings suggest that inhibition of Wee1 by AZD1775 is an effective strategy for radiosensitization in esophageal cancer and warrants clinical testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Yang
- The Ohio State University Medical Center, Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Changxian Shen
- The Ohio State University Medical Center, Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Cory J Pettit
- The Ohio State University Medical Center, Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Tianyun Li
- The Ohio State University Medical Center, Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Andrew J Hu
- The Ohio State University Medical Center, Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Eric D Miller
- The Ohio State University Medical Center, Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Junran Zhang
- The Ohio State University Medical Center, Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Steven H Lin
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Terence M Williams
- The Ohio State University Medical Center, Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, Columbus, Ohio.
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Corella AN, Cabiliza Ordonio MVA, Coleman I, Lucas JM, Kaipainen A, Nguyen HM, Sondheim D, Brown LG, True LD, Lee JK, MacPherson D, Nghiem P, Gulati R, Morrissey C, Corey E, Nelson PS. Identification of Therapeutic Vulnerabilities in Small-cell Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 26:1667-1677. [PMID: 31806643 PMCID: PMC7124974 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-0775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Small-cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer (SCNPC) exhibits an aggressive clinical course and incidence rates seem to be increasing following resistance to potent androgen receptor (AR) antagonists. Currently, treatment options are limited and few model systems are available to identify new approaches for treatment. We sought to evaluate commonalities between SCNPC and other aggressive neuroendocrine carcinomas to identify therapeutic targets. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We generated whole transcriptome RNA-sequencing data from AR-active prostate cancers (ARPCs) and SCNPCs from tumors collected at rapid autopsy and two other neuroendocrine carcinomas, Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), and small-cell lung cancer. We performed cross-tumor comparisons to identify conserved patterns of expression of druggable targets. We tested inhibitors to highly upregulated drug targets in a panel of prostate cancer cell lines and in vivo patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. RESULTS We identified BCL2 as highly upregulated in SCNPC compared with ARPC. Inhibitors targeting BCL2 induced apoptotic cell death in SCNPC cell lines at nanomolar concentrations while ARPC cell lines were resistant. Treatment with the BCL2 inhibitor navitoclax leads to a reduction of growth of SCNPC PDX tumors in vivo, whereas ARPC PDX models were more resistant. We identified Wee1 as a second druggable target upregulated in SCNPC. Treatment with the combination of navitoclax and the Wee1 inhibitor AZD-1775 repressed the growth of SCNPC PDX resistant to single-agent BCL2 inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS The combination of BCL2 and Wee1 inhibition presents a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of SCNPC.
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MESH Headings
- Androgen Receptor Antagonists/pharmacology
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Apoptosis
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/genetics
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/pathology
- Carcinoma, Small Cell/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Small Cell/genetics
- Carcinoma, Small Cell/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Small Cell/pathology
- Cell Cycle Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Male
- Mice
- Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/drug therapy
- Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/genetics
- Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/metabolism
- Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/pathology
- Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/antagonists & inhibitors
- Signal Transduction
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra N Corella
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
- Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Ma Victoria Andrea Cabiliza Ordonio
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
- Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Ilsa Coleman
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
- Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Jared M Lucas
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
- Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Arja Kaipainen
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
- Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Holly M Nguyen
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Daniel Sondheim
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Lisha G Brown
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Lawrence D True
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - John K Lee
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
- Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - David MacPherson
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Paul Nghiem
- Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Dermatology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Roman Gulati
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Colm Morrissey
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Eva Corey
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
| | - Peter S Nelson
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington.
- Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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8
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Diab A, Kao M, Kehrli K, Kim HY, Sidorova J, Mendez E. Multiple Defects Sensitize p53-Deficient Head and Neck Cancer Cells to the WEE1 Kinase Inhibition. Mol Cancer Res 2019; 17:1115-1128. [PMID: 30679201 PMCID: PMC6497558 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-18-0860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The p53 gene is the most commonly mutated gene in solid tumors, but leveraging p53 status in therapy remains a challenge. Previously, we determined that p53 deficiency sensitizes head and neck cancer cells to AZD1775, a WEE1 kinase inhibitor, and translated our findings into a phase I clinical trial. Here, we investigate how p53 affects cellular responses to AZD1775 at the molecular level. We found that p53 modulates both replication stress and mitotic deregulation triggered by WEE1 inhibition. Without p53, slowing of replication forks due to replication stress is exacerbated. Abnormal, γH2AX-positive mitoses become more common and can proceed with damaged or underreplicated DNA. p53-deficient cells fail to properly recover from WEE1 inhibition and exhibit fewer 53BP1 nuclear bodies despite evidence of unresolved damage. A faulty G1-S checkpoint propagates this damage into the next division. Together, these deficiencies can intensify damages in each consecutive cell cycle in the drug. IMPLICATIONS: The data encourage the use of AZD1775 in combination with genotoxic modalities against p53-deficient head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Diab
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Michael Kao
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Keffy Kehrli
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Hee Yeon Kim
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Julia Sidorova
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
| | - Eduardo Mendez
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington
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9
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Koh SB, Wallez Y, Dunlop CR, Bernaldo de Quirós Fernández S, Bapiro TE, Richards FM, Jodrell DI. Mechanistic Distinctions between CHK1 and WEE1 Inhibition Guide the Scheduling of Triple Therapy with Gemcitabine. Cancer Res 2018; 78:3054-3066. [PMID: 29735549 PMCID: PMC5985963 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-3932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Combination of cytotoxic therapy with emerging DNA damage response inhibitors (DDRi) has been limited by tolerability issues. However, the goal of most combination trials has been to administer DDRi with standard-of-care doses of chemotherapy. We hypothesized that mechanism-guided treatment scheduling could reduce the incidence of dose-limiting toxicities and enable tolerable multitherapeutic regimens. Integrative analyses of mathematical modeling and single-cell assays distinguished the synergy kinetics of WEE1 inhibitor (WEE1i) from CHEK1 inhibitor (CHK1i) by potency, spatiotemporal perturbation, and mitotic effects when combined with gemcitabine. These divergent properties collectively supported a triple-agent strategy, whereby a pulse of gemcitabine and CHK1i followed by WEE1i durably suppressed tumor cell growth. In xenografts, CHK1i exaggerated replication stress without mitotic CDK hyperactivation, enriching a geminin-positive subpopulation and intratumoral gemcitabine metabolite. Without overt toxicity, addition of WEE1i to low-dose gemcitabine and CHK1i was most effective in tumor control compared with single and double agents. Overall, our work provides quantitative insights into the mechanisms of DDRi chemosensitization, leading to the rational development of a tolerable multitherapeutic regimen.Significance: Multiple lines of mechanistic insight regarding DNA damage response inhibitors rationally guide the preclinical development of a tolerable multitherapeutic regimen.Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/78/11/3054/F1.large.jpg Cancer Res; 78(11); 3054-66. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siang-Boon Koh
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yann Wallez
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Charles R Dunlop
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Tashinga E Bapiro
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Frances M Richards
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Duncan I Jodrell
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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10
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Francis AM, Alexander A, Liu Y, Vijayaraghavan S, Low KH, Yang D, Bui T, Somaiah N, Ravi V, Keyomarsi K, Hunt KK. CDK4/6 Inhibitors Sensitize Rb-positive Sarcoma Cells to Wee1 Kinase Inhibition through Reversible Cell-Cycle Arrest. Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 16:1751-1764. [PMID: 28619757 PMCID: PMC5975955 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Research into the biology of soft tissue sarcomas has uncovered very few effective treatment strategies that improve upon the current standard of care which usually involves surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Many patients with large (>5 cm), high-grade sarcomas develop recurrence, and at that point have limited treatment options available. One challenge is the heterogeneity of genetic drivers of sarcomas, and many of these are not validated targets. Even when such genes are tractable targets, the rarity of each subtype of sarcoma makes advances in research slow. Here we describe the development of a synergistic combination treatment strategy that may be applicable in both soft tissue sarcomas as well as sarcomas of bone that takes advantage of targeting the cell cycle. We show that Rb-positive cell lines treated with the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib reversibly arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, and upon drug removal cells progress through the cell cycle as expected within 6-24 hours. Using a long-term high-throughput assay that allows us to examine drugs in different sequences or concurrently, we found that palbociclib-induced cell-cycle arrest poises Rb-positive sarcoma cells (SK-LMS1 and HT-1080) to be more sensitive to agents that work preferentially in S-G2 phase such as doxorubicin and Wee1 kinase inhibitors (AZD1775). The synergy between palbociclib and AZD1775 was also validated in vivo using SK-LMS1 xenografts as well as Rb-positive patient-derived xenografts (PDX) developed from leiomyosarcoma patients. This work provides the necessary preclinical data in support of a clinical trial utilizing this treatment strategy. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(9); 1751-64. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh M Francis
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Angela Alexander
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Yanna Liu
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Smruthi Vijayaraghavan
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Kwang Hui Low
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Dong Yang
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Tuyen Bui
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Neeta Somaiah
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Vinod Ravi
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Khandan Keyomarsi
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
| | - Kelly K Hunt
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
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11
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Brown JS, O'Carrigan B, Jackson SP, Yap TA. Targeting DNA Repair in Cancer: Beyond PARP Inhibitors. Cancer Discov 2017; 7:20-37. [PMID: 28003236 PMCID: PMC5300099 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-16-0860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 411] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Germline aberrations in critical DNA-repair and DNA damage-response (DDR) genes cause cancer predisposition, whereas various tumors harbor somatic mutations causing defective DDR/DNA repair. The concept of synthetic lethality can be exploited in such malignancies, as exemplified by approval of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors for treating BRCA1/2-mutated ovarian cancers. Herein, we detail how cellular DDR processes engage various proteins that sense DNA damage, initiate signaling pathways to promote cell-cycle checkpoint activation, trigger apoptosis, and coordinate DNA repair. We focus on novel therapeutic strategies targeting promising DDR targets and discuss challenges of patient selection and the development of rational drug combinations. SIGNIFICANCE Various inhibitors of DDR components are in preclinical and clinical development. A thorough understanding of DDR pathway complexities must now be combined with strategies and lessons learned from the successful registration of PARP inhibitors in order to fully exploit the potential of DDR inhibitors and to ensure their long-term clinical success. Cancer Discov; 7(1); 20-37. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stephen P Jackson
- The Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy A Yap
- Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
- The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
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12
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Jhuraney A, Woods NT, Wright G, Rix L, Kinose F, Kroeger JL, Remily-Wood E, Cress WD, Koomen JM, Brantley SG, Gray JE, Haura EB, Rix U, Monteiro AN. PAXIP1 Potentiates the Combination of WEE1 Inhibitor AZD1775 and Platinum Agents in Lung Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2016; 15:1669-81. [PMID: 27196765 PMCID: PMC4936941 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-15-0182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2015] [Accepted: 04/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The DNA damage response (DDR) involves a complex network of signaling events mediated by modular protein domains such as the BRCA1 C-terminal (BRCT) domain. Thus, proteins that interact with BRCT domains and are a part of the DDR constitute potential targets for sensitization to DNA-damaging chemotherapy agents. We performed a pharmacologic screen to evaluate 17 kinases, identified in a BRCT-mediated interaction network as targets to enhance platinum-based chemotherapy in lung cancer. Inhibition of mitotic kinase WEE1 was found to have the most effective response in combination with platinum compounds in lung cancer cell lines. In the BRCT-mediated interaction network, WEE1 was found in complex with PAXIP1, a protein containing six BRCT domains involved in transcription and in the cellular response to DNA damage. We show that PAXIP1 BRCT domains regulate WEE1-mediated phosphorylation of CDK1. Furthermore, ectopic expression of PAXIP1 promotes enhanced caspase-3-mediated apoptosis in cells treated with WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775 (formerly, MK-1775) and cisplatin compared with cells treated with AZD1775 alone. Cell lines and patient-derived xenograft models expressing both PAXIP1 and WEE1 exhibited synergistic effects of AZD1775 and cisplatin. In summary, PAXIP1 is involved in sensitizing lung cancer cells to the WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775 in combination with platinum-based treatment. We propose that WEE1 and PAXIP1 levels may be used as mechanism-based biomarkers of response when WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775 is combined with DNA-damaging agents. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(7); 1669-81. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Jhuraney
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida. Cancer Biology PhD Program, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Nicholas T Woods
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Gabriela Wright
- Department of Drug Discovery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Lily Rix
- Department of Drug Discovery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Fumi Kinose
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jodi L Kroeger
- Flow Cytometry Core, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Elizabeth Remily-Wood
- Molecular Oncology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - W Douglas Cress
- Molecular Oncology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - John M Koomen
- Molecular Oncology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Stephen G Brantley
- M2Gen, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jhanelle E Gray
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Eric B Haura
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Uwe Rix
- Department of Drug Discovery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
| | - Alvaro N Monteiro
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
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13
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Lescarbeau RS, Lei L, Bakken KK, Sims PA, Sarkaria JN, Canoll P, White FM. Quantitative Phosphoproteomics Reveals Wee1 Kinase as a Therapeutic Target in a Model of Proneural Glioblastoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2016; 15:1332-43. [PMID: 27196784 PMCID: PMC4893926 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-15-0692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain cancer. With a median survival of about a year, new approaches to treating this disease are necessary. To identify signaling molecules regulating GBM progression in a genetically engineered murine model of proneural GBM, we quantified phosphotyrosine-mediated signaling using mass spectrometry. Oncogenic signals, including phosphorylated ERK MAPK, PI3K, and PDGFR, were found to be increased in the murine tumors relative to brain. Phosphorylation of CDK1 pY15, associated with the G2 arrest checkpoint, was identified as the most differentially phosphorylated site, with a 14-fold increase in phosphorylation in the tumors. To assess the role of this checkpoint as a potential therapeutic target, syngeneic primary cell lines derived from these tumors were treated with MK-1775, an inhibitor of Wee1, the kinase responsible for CDK1 Y15 phosphorylation. MK-1775 treatment led to mitotic catastrophe, as defined by increased DNA damage and cell death by apoptosis. To assess the extensibility of targeting Wee1/CDK1 in GBM, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cell lines were also treated with MK-1775. Although the response was more heterogeneous, on-target Wee1 inhibition led to decreased CDK1 Y15 phosphorylation and increased DNA damage and apoptosis in each line. These results were also validated in vivo, where single-agent MK-1775 demonstrated an antitumor effect on a flank PDX tumor model, increasing mouse survival by 1.74-fold. This study highlights the ability of unbiased quantitative phosphoproteomics to reveal therapeutic targets in tumor models, and the potential for Wee1 inhibition as a treatment approach in preclinical models of GBM. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(6); 1332-43. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S Lescarbeau
- Department of Biological Engineering and David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Liang Lei
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Katrina K Bakken
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Peter A Sims
- Department of Systems Biology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Jann N Sarkaria
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Peter Canoll
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Forest M White
- Department of Biological Engineering and David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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14
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Abstract
In eukaryotes, the cyclin-dependent kinase Cdk1p (Cdc2p) plays a central role in entry into and progression through nuclear division during mitosis and meiosis. Cdk1p is activated during meiotic nuclear divisions by dephosphorylation of its tyrosine-15 residue. The phosphorylation status of this residue is largely determined by the Wee1p kinase and the Cdc25p phosphatase. In fission yeast, the forkhead-type transcription factor Mei4p is essential for entry into the first meiotic nuclear division. We recently identified cdc25+ as an essential target of Mei4p in the control of entry into meiosis I. Here, we show that wee1+ is another important target of Mei4p in the control of entry into meiosis I. Mei4p bound to the upstream region of wee1+ in vivo and in vitro and inhibited expression of wee1+, whereas Mei4p positively regulated expression of the adjacent pseudogene. Overexpression of Mei4p inhibited expression of wee1+ and induced that of the pseudogene. Conversely, deletion of Mei4p did not decrease expression of wee1+ but inhibited that of the pseudogene. In addition, deletion of Mei4p-binding regions delayed repression of wee1+ expression as well as induction of expression of the pseudogene. These results suggest that repression of wee1+ expression is primarily owing to Mei4p-mediated transcriptional interference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Murakami-Tonami
- a Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute ; Division of Molecular Oncology ; Nagoya , Japan
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15
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Magnussen GI, Emilsen E, Giller Fleten K, Engesæter B, Nähse-Kumpf V, Fjær R, Slipicevic A, Flørenes VA. Combined inhibition of the cell cycle related proteins Wee1 and Chk1/2 induces synergistic anti-cancer effect in melanoma. BMC Cancer 2015; 15:462. [PMID: 26054341 PMCID: PMC4460948 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-015-1474-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2014] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malignant melanoma has an increasing incidence rate and the metastatic disease is notoriously resistant to standard chemotherapy. Loss of cell cycle checkpoints is frequently found in many cancer types and makes the cells reliant on compensatory mechanisms to control progression. This feature may be exploited in therapy, and kinases involved in checkpoint regulation, such as Wee1 and Chk1/2, have thus become attractive therapeutic targets. METHODS In the present study we combined a Wee1 inhibitor (MK1775) with Chk1/2 inhibitor (AZD7762) in malignant melanoma cell lines grown in vitro (2D and 3D cultures) and in xenografts models. RESULTS Our in vitro studies showed that combined inhibition of Wee1 and Chk1/2 synergistically decreased viability and increased apoptosis (cleavage of caspase 3 and PARP), which may be explained by accumulation of DNA-damage (increased expression of γ-H2A.X)--and premature mitosis of S-phase cells. Compared to either inhibitor used as single agents, combined treatment reduced spheroid growth and led to greater tumour growth inhibition in melanoma xenografts. CONCLUSIONS These data provide a rationale for further evaluation of the combination of Wee1 and Chk1/2 inhibitors in malignant melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gry Irene Magnussen
- Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, Norwegian Radium Hospital, N-0310, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Elisabeth Emilsen
- Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, Norwegian Radium Hospital, N-0310, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Karianne Giller Fleten
- Department of Tumour Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Birgit Engesæter
- Department of Tumour Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Viola Nähse-Kumpf
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Roar Fjær
- Department of Medical Genetics, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Ana Slipicevic
- Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, Norwegian Radium Hospital, N-0310, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Vivi Ann Flørenes
- Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, Norwegian Radium Hospital, N-0310, Oslo, Norway.
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16
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Aarts M, Bajrami I, Herrera-Abreu MT, Elliott R, Brough R, Ashworth A, Lord CJ, Turner NC. Functional Genetic Screen Identifies Increased Sensitivity to WEE1 Inhibition in Cells with Defects in Fanconi Anemia and HR Pathways. Mol Cancer Ther 2015; 14:865-76. [PMID: 25673822 PMCID: PMC6485454 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-14-0845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
WEE1 kinase regulates CDK1 and CDK2 activity to facilitate DNA replication during S-phase and to prevent unscheduled entry into mitosis. WEE1 inhibitors synergize with DNA-damaging agents that arrest cells in S-phase by triggering direct mitotic entry without completing DNA synthesis, resulting in catastrophic chromosome fragmentation and apoptosis. Here, we investigated how WEE1 inhibition could be best exploited for cancer therapy by performing a functional genetic screen to identify novel determinants of sensitivity to WEE1 inhibition. Inhibition of kinases that regulate CDK activity, CHK1 and MYT1, synergized with WEE1 inhibition through both increased replication stress and forced mitotic entry of S-phase cells. Loss of multiple components of the Fanconi anemia (FA) and homologous recombination (HR) pathways, in particular DNA helicases, sensitized to WEE1 inhibition. Silencing of FA/HR genes resulted in excessive replication stress and nucleotide depletion following WEE1 inhibition, which ultimately led to increased unscheduled mitotic entry. Our results suggest that cancers with defects in FA and HR pathways may be targeted by WEE1 inhibition, providing a basis for a novel synthetic lethal strategy for cancers harboring FA/HR defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke Aarts
- CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ilirjana Bajrami
- CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria T Herrera-Abreu
- CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Elliott
- CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Brough
- CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Ashworth
- CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J Lord
- CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas C Turner
- CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom. Breast Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
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17
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Caldwell JT, Edwards H, Buck SA, Ge Y, Taub JW. Targeting the wee1 kinase for treatment of pediatric Down syndrome acute myeloid leukemia. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014; 61:1767-73. [PMID: 24962331 PMCID: PMC4199830 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.25081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most Down syndrome children with acute myeloid leukemia (DS-AML) have an overall excellent prognosis, however, patients who suffer an induction failure or relapse, have an extremely poor prognosis. Hence, new therapies need to be developed for this subgroup of DS-AML patients. One new therapeutic approach is preventing cell cycle checkpoint activation by inhibiting the upstream kinase wee1 with the first-in-class inhibitor MK-1775 in combination with the standard genotoxic agent cytarabine (AraC). PROCEDURE Using the clinically relevant DS-AML cell lines CMK and CMY, as well as ex vivo primary DS-AML patient samples, the ability of MK-1775 to enhance the cytotoxicity of AraC was investigated with MTT assays. The mechanism by which MK-1775 enhanced AraC cytotoxicity was investigated in the cell lines using Western blots to probe CDK1 and H2AX phosphorylation and flow cytometry to determine apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, DNA damage, and aberrant mitotic entry. RESULTS MK-1775 alone had modest single-agent activity, however, MK-1775 was able to synergize with AraC in causing proliferation arrest in both cell lines and primary patient samples, and enhance AraC-induced apoptosis. MK-1775 was able to decrease inhibitory CDK1(Y15) phosphorylation at the relatively low concentration of 100 nM after only 4 hours. Furthermore, it was able to enhance DNA damage induced by AraC and partially abrogate cell cycle arrest. Importantly, the DNA damage enhancement appeared in early S-phase. CONCLUSIONS MK-1775 is able to enhance the cytotoxicity of AraC in DS-AML cells and presents a promising new treatment approach for DS-AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Timothy Caldwell
- MD/PhD Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan,Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Holly Edwards
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan,Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Steven A. Buck
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Yubin Ge
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan,Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan,Correspondence to: Yubin Ge, Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 110 East Warren Ave., Detroit, MI 48201.
| | - Jeffrey W. Taub
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan,Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan,Correspondence to: Jeffrey W. Taub, Children's Hospital of Michigan, 3901 Beaubien Blvd, Detroit, MI 48201,
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18
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Jung HW, Park I, Ghil S. Cannabinoid receptor activation inhibits cell cycle progression by modulating 14-3-3β. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2014; 19:347-60. [PMID: 25002257 PMCID: PMC6275927 DOI: 10.2478/s11658-014-0200-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoids display various pharmacological activities, including tumor regression, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the pharmacological effects of cannabinoids, we used a yeast two-hybrid system to screen a mouse brain cDNA library for proteins interacting with type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R). Using the intracellular loop 3 of CB1R as bait, we identified 14-3-3β as an interacting partner of CB1R and confirmed their interaction using affinity-binding assays. 14-3-3β has been reported to induce a cell cycle delay at the G2/M phase. We tested the effects of cannabinoids on cell cycle progression in HeLa cells synchronized using a double-thymidine block-and-release protocol and found an increase in the population of G2/M phase cells. We further found that CB1R activation augmented the interaction of 14-3-3β with Wee1 and Cdc25B, and promoted phosphorylation of Cdc2 at Tyr-15. These results suggest that cannabinoids induce cell cycle delay at the G2/M phase by activating 14-3-3β.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Won Jung
- Department of Life Science, Kyonggi University, Suwon, 443-760 Republic of Korea
| | - Inae Park
- Department of Life Science, Kyonggi University, Suwon, 443-760 Republic of Korea
| | - Sungho Ghil
- Department of Life Science, Kyonggi University, Suwon, 443-760 Republic of Korea
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Chen B, Duan L, Yin G, Tan J, Jiang X. Simultaneously expressed miR-424 and miR-381 synergistically suppress the proliferation and survival of renal cancer cells---Cdc2 activity is up-regulated by targeting WEE1. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2013; 68:825-33. [PMID: 23778472 PMCID: PMC3674285 DOI: 10.6061/clinics/2013(06)17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2012] [Accepted: 02/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES MiRNAs are intrinsic RNAs that interfere with protein translation. Few studies on the synergistic effects of miRNAs have been reported. Both miR-424 and miR-381 have been individually reported to be involved in carcinogenesis. They share a common putative target, WEE1, which is described as an inhibitor of G2/M progression. Here, we studied the synergistic effects of miR-424 and miR-381 on renal cancer cells. METHODS The viability of 786-O cells was analyzed after transfection with either a combination of miR-424 and miR-381 or each miRNA alone. We investigated cell cycle progression and apoptosis with flow cytometry. To confirm apoptosis and the abrogation of G2/M arrest, we determined the level of pHH3, which is an indicator of mitosis, and caspase-3/7 activity. The expression levels of WEE1, Cdc25, γH2AX, and Cdc2 were manipulated to investigate the roles of these proteins in the miRNA-induced anti-tumor effects. To verify that WEE1 was a direct target of both miR-424 and miR-381, we performed a dual luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS We showed that the combination of these miRNAs synergistically inhibited proliferation, abrogated G2/M arrest, and induced apoptosis. This combination led to Cdc2 activation through WEE1 inhibition. This regulation was more effective when cells were treated with both miRNAs than with either miRNA alone, indicating synergy between these miRNAs. WEE1 was verified to be a direct target of each miRNA according to the luciferase reporter assay. CONCLUSIONS These data clearly demonstrate that these two miRNAs might synergistically act as novel modulators of tumorigenesis by down-regulating WEE1 expression in renal cell cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binghai Chen
- Third Xiang-Ya Hospital of Central South University, Department of Urology, Changsha, Hunan/China
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Dissmeyer N, Weimer AK, De Veylder L, Novak B, Schnittger A. The regulatory network of cell-cycle progression is fundamentally different in plants versus yeast or metazoans. Plant Signal Behav 2010; 5:1613-8. [PMID: 21139435 PMCID: PMC3115114 DOI: 10.4161/psb.5.12.13969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2010] [Accepted: 10/18/2010] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Plant growth and proliferation control is coming into a global focus due to recent ecological and economical developments. Plants represent not only the largest food supply for mankind but also may serve as a global source of renewable energies. However, plant breeding has to accomplish a tremendous boost in yield to match the growing demand of a still rapidly increasing human population. Moreover, breeding has to adjust to changing environmental conditions, in particular increased drought. Regulation of cell-cycle control is a major determinant of plant growth and therefore an obvious target for plant breeding. Furthermore, cell-cycle control is also crucial for the DNA damage response, for instance upon irradiation. Thus, an in-depth understanding of plant cell-cycle regulation is of importance beyond a scientific point of view. The mere presence of many conserved core cell-cycle regulators, e.g. CDKs, cyclins, or CDK inhibitors, has formed the idea that the cell cycle in plants is exactly or at least very similarly controlled as in yeast or human cells. Here together with a recent publication we demonstrate that this dogma is not true and show that the control of entry into mitosis is fundamentally different in plants versus yeast or metazoans. Our findings build an important base for the understanding and ultimate modulation of plant growth not only during unperturbed but also under harsh environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Dissmeyer
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Phenotypic Plasticity; Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS; IBMP-CNRS; Unité Propre de Recherche 2357; Conventionné avec l'Université de Strasbourg; Strasbourg, France
| | - Annika K Weimer
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Phenotypic Plasticity; Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS; IBMP-CNRS; Unité Propre de Recherche 2357; Conventionné avec l'Université de Strasbourg; Strasbourg, France
| | - Lieven De Veylder
- Department of Plant Systems Biology; Vlaams Interuniversitair Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB); Universiteit Gent; Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Genetics; Universiteit Gent; Gent, Belgium
| | - Bela Novak
- Oxford Centre for Integrative Systems Biology; Department of Biochemistry; University of Oxford; Oxford UK
| | - Arp Schnittger
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Phenotypic Plasticity; Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS; IBMP-CNRS; Unité Propre de Recherche 2357; Conventionné avec l'Université de Strasbourg; Strasbourg, France
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Guzman JR, Fukuda S, Pelus LM. Inhibition of caspase-3 by Survivin prevents Wee1 Kinase degradation and promotes cell survival by maintaining phosphorylation of p34Cdc2. Gene Ther Mol Biol 2009; 13B:264-273. [PMID: 20428502 PMCID: PMC2859835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The anti-apoptotic protein Survivin and the cyclin-dependent kinase p34Cdc2 regulate cell cycle progression and apoptosis. p34Cdc2 activation is required for its pro-apoptotic activity and phosphorylation of p34Cdc2 at Tyrosine-15 (Tyr15) maintains p34Cdc2 in an inactive state. In BaF3 IL-3-dependent murine hematopoietic cells, over-expression of wild-type (wt)-Survivin increased Tyrosine phosphorylation of p34Cdc2, while over-expression of dominant-negative (dn) T34A-Survivin decreased Tyr15 phosphorylation. The increased phospho-Tyr15 levels associated with ectopic wt-Survivin directly correlated with enhanced BaF3 cell survival upon growth factor withdrawal, while conversely, low phospho-Tyr15 levels and decreased survival were seen in BaF3 cells expressing ectopic dn-Survivin. Tyrosine-15 phosphorylation of p34Cdc2 is mediated by the Wee1 Kinase, a known target of caspase-3. In BaF3 cells over-expressing wt-Survivin, 2-fold higher levels of Wee1 protein were detected compared to cells expressing vector or dn-Survivin. Treatment of control vector-transduced BaF3 cells with the selective caspase-3 inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO increased p34Cdc2-Tyr15 phosphorylation and Wee1 protein levels. In a similar fashion, over-expression of wt-Survivin maintained high levels of phospho-Tyr15-p34Cdc2 and Wee1 protein. Since Survivin requires Hsp90 for stability, we treated cells with the Hsp90 inhibitors AICAR and 17-AAG to further link Survivin to blocking p34Cdc2 activation. Treatment of BaF3 cells expressing ectopic wt-Survivin with AICAR or 17-AAG significantly reduced p34Cdc2-Tyr15 phosphorylation compared to vehicle-treated controls. These results suggest that Survivin protects the p34Cdc2-Tyr15-targeting kinase Wee1 from degradation by blocking caspase-3 activation leading to inhibition of the pro-apoptotic function of p34Cdc2 and enhanced cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Rivera Guzman
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology and the Walther Oncology Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202 USA
| | - Seiji Fukuda
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology and the Walther Oncology Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202 USA
| | - Louis M. Pelus
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology and the Walther Oncology Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202 USA
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Burrows AE, Sceurman BK, Kosinski ME, Richie CT, Sadler PL, Schumacher JM, Golden A. The C. elegans Myt1 ortholog is required for the proper timing of oocyte maturation. Development 2006; 133:697-709. [PMID: 16421191 PMCID: PMC1794222 DOI: 10.1242/dev.02241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Maturation promoting factor (MPF), a complex of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 and cyclin B, drives oocyte maturation in all animals. Mechanisms to block MPF activation in developing oocytes must exist to prevent precocious cell cycle progression prior to oocyte maturation and fertilization. This study sought to determine the developmental consequences of precociously activating MPF in oocytes prior to fertilization. Whereas depletion of Myt1 in Xenopus oocytes causes nuclear envelope breakdown in vitro, we found that depletion of the Myt1 ortholog WEE-1.3 in C. elegans hermaphrodites causes precocious oocyte maturation in vivo. Although such oocytes are ovulated, they are fertilization incompetent. We have also observed novel phenotypes in these precociously maturing oocytes, such as chromosome coalescence, aberrant meiotic spindle organization, and the expression of a meiosis II post-fertilization marker. Furthermore, co-depletion studies of CDK-1 and WEE-1.3 demonstrate that WEE-1.3 is dispensable in the absence of CDK-1, suggesting that CDK-1 is a major target of WEE-1.3 in C. elegans oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E Burrows
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 8 Center Drive, Building 8, Room 323, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Abstract
Many of the biochemical reactions of apoptotic cell death, including mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspase activation, can be reconstituted in cell-free extracts derived from Xenopus eggs. In addition, because caspase activation does not occur until the egg extract has been incubated for several hours on the bench, upstream signaling processes occurring before full apoptosis are rendered accessible to biochemical manipulation. We reported previously that the adaptor protein Crk is required for apoptotic signaling in egg extracts (Evans, E.K., W. Lu, S.L. Strum, B.J. Mayer, and S. Kornbluth. 1997. EMBO (Eur. Mol. Biol. Organ.) J. 16:230-241). Moreover, we demonstrated that removal of Crk Src homology (SH)2 or SH3 interactors from the extracts prevented apoptosis. We now report the finding that the relevant Crk SH2-interacting protein, important for apoptotic signaling in the extract, is the well-known cell cycle regulator, Wee1. We have demonstrated a specific interaction between tyrosine-phosphorylated Wee1 and the Crk SH2 domain and have shown that recombinant Wee1 can restore apoptosis to an extract depleted of SH2 interactors. Moreover, exogenous Wee1 accelerated apoptosis in egg extracts, and this acceleration was largely dependent on the presence of endogenous Crk protein. As other Cdk inhibitors, such as roscovitine and Myt1, did not act like Wee1 to accelerate apoptosis, we propose that Wee1-Crk complexes signal in a novel apoptotic pathway, which may be unrelated to Wee1's role as a cell cycle regulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse J. Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
| | - Erica K. Evans
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
| | - Monica Murakami
- National Cancer Institute–Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, Frederick Maryland 21702
| | - Mary B. Moyer
- Glaxo Wellcome, Inc., Structural Chemistry Department, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
| | - M. Arthur Moseley
- Glaxo Wellcome, Inc., Structural Chemistry Department, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
| | | | - Sally Kornbluth
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
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Nakajo N, Yoshitome S, Iwashita J, Iida M, Uto K, Ueno S, Okamoto K, Sagata N. Absence of Wee1 ensures the meiotic cell cycle in Xenopus oocytes. Genes Dev 2000; 14:328-38. [PMID: 10673504 PMCID: PMC316360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Meiotic cells undergo two successive divisions without an intervening S phase. However, the mechanism of S-phase omission between the two meiotic divisions is largely unknown. Here we show that Wee1, a universal mitotic inhibitor, is absent in immature (but not mature) Xenopus oocytes, being down-regulated specifically during oogenesis; this down-regulation is most likely due to a translational repression. Even the modest ectopic expression of Wee1 in immature (meiosis I) oocytes can induce interphase nucleus reformation and DNA replication just after meiosis I. Thus, the presence of Wee1 during meiosis I converts the meiotic cell cycle into a mitotic-like cell cycle having S phase. In contrast, Myt1, a Wee1-related kinase, is present and directly involved in G(2) arrest of immature oocytes, but its ectopic expression has little effect on the meiotic cell cycle. These results strongly indicate that the absence of Wee1 in meiosis I ensures the meiotic cell cycle in Xenopus oocytes. Based on these results and the data published previously in other organisms, we suggest that absence of Wee1 may be a well-conserved mechanism for omitting interphase or S phase between the two meiotic divisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Nakajo
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
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