M2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase is a target of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase

Malignant transformation by H-ras results in aberrant regulation of ribonucleotide reductase gene expression by transforming growth factor-beta 1

Ribonucleotide reductase is a key rate-limiting and regulatory step in DNA synthesis and plays a crucial role in the coordination of DNA synthesis, DNA repair, and cell proliferation. The present study demonstrates a link between alterations in TGF-beta 1 regulation during malignant conversion and the expression of ribonucleotide reductase. H-ras-transformed mouse 10T1/2 cell lines exhibiting malignant potential were examined for possible TGF-beta 1-mediated alterations in ribonucleotide reductase expression. Selective induction of ribonucleotide reductase gene expression occurred, since only H-ras-transformed highly metastatic cells exhibited marked elevations in ribonucleotide reductase expression, whereas nontransformed normal 10T1/2 cells were unaffected by TGF-beta 1 treatment. These changes occurred without any detectable modifications in DNA synthesis rates, suggesting that these changes were regulated by a novel mechanism independent of the S-phase of the cell cycle. Furthermore, this TGF-beta 1-mediated regulation of ribonucleotide reductase expression was shown to occur through an autocrine mechanism. TGF-beta 1-modulated regulation of ribonucleotide reductase expression requires de novo protein synthesis and involves, at least in part, transcriptional and post-transcriptional events. Furthermore, evidence is presented to suggest a possible role for protein kinase C-mediated events, protein phosphatases, and G-protein-coupled events in the TGF-beta 1-mediated regulation of ribonucleotide reductase expression in H-ras-transformed malignant cells. TGF-beta 1 regulation of ribonucleotide reductase in highly malignant cells appears to be complex and multifaceted and constitutes an integral part of an altered growth regulatory program.

Ribonucleotide reductase gene expression during cyclic AMP-induced cell cycle arrest in T lymphocytes

In both 3T3 mouse fibroblasts and S49 mouse T lymphocytes the genes encoding both subunits of ribonucleotide reductase are expressed beginning in late G1 phase. In studies reported here, we compared the expression of the genes that code for the M1 and M2 subunits of ribonucleotide reductase in S49 cells, which are arrested in G1 phase by agents that increase cyclic AMP, with those from CEM human T lymphoma cells that are unaffected by exposure to dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP treatment results in a prompt steady diminution of M2 mRNA concentration to levels at or below that of elutriated G1 cell-cycle-specific populations in S49 cells, in contrast to CEM cell M2 mRNA, which is unchanged. M1 mRNA concentration decreases more slowly than M2 mRNA in S49 cells and marginally, if at all, in CEM cells. The time course of diminution of the M2 message concentration by dibutyryl cyclic AMP in S49 cells is similar to that obtained when cells are treated with actinomycin D and to the combination of the two agents. This suggests that cyclic AMP and actinomycin D may act similarly on ribonucleotide reductase gene expression. Furthermore, cycloheximide pretreatment diminishes the effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP, indicating that the effect might be mediated by a labile protein. Transcription runoff assays suggest a diminution of transcription rate for the M2 gene in S49 cells treated with dibutyryl cyclic AMP and a transient decline in the M1 transcription rate. These data suggest that dibutyryl cyclic AMP diminishes the transcription of ribonucleotide reductase genes in sensitive cells and that this and the short half-life of the M2 message are major factors in the disappearance of the M2 messenger RNA from dibutyryl cyclic AMP-treated cells although other mechanisms may also play a role. These events clearly precede any alteration in cell cycle distribution and thus they may contribute to G1 arrest.

Deoxyadenosine- and cyclic AMP-induced cell cycle arrest and cytotoxicity

We compared deoxyadenosine (AdR)- and cyclic AMP (cAMP)-induced cell cycle arrest and cytotoxicity in wild type and mutant S49 cells to determine whether they resulted from the same or different mechanisms. Cyclic AMP and deoxyadenosine are synergistic rather than additive in cytotoxicity assays, suggesting different mechanisms of toxicity. Although cyclic AMP causes cell death after 72 h, in concentrations sufficient to result in cell cycle arrest it is reversible with virtually no cytotoxicity for at least 24 h, whereas AdR-induced cell cycle arrest is lethal and irreversible. AdR-induced G1 cell cycle arrest results in diminished ribonucleotide reductase activity but the kinetics of this inhibition differ from cyclic AMP-induced cell cycle arrest. Cyclic AMP arrest and cytotoxicity depend on cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity, whereas AdR toxicity does not differ between cell lines with or without PKA activity. Furthermore, deoxycytidine prevents AdR cell cycle arrest and cytotoxicity but has no effect on cyclic AMP G1 arrest. Finally, comparison of cytofluorographic patterns of G1-arrested cells suggests that the AdR block is later in G1 than cyclic AMP-induced cell cycle arrest. In summary, these data show that while the mechanisms of cell cycle arrest and cytotoxicity of cyclic AMP and deoxyadenosine are uncertain, they do appear to involve different pathways.

Genomic sequences homologous to the protein kinase region of the bifunctional herpes simplex virus type 2 protein ICP10

The large subunit of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) ribonucleotide reductase (ICP10) consists of two functional domains. The amino (N)-terminal domain at residues 1-411 has serine/threonine-specific kinase activity (PK domain) and is encoded by a DNA fragment with transforming potential (15,17). The remaining region is required for ribonucleotide reductase activity (RR domain) (14, 15). Computer-assisted comparison of the ICP10 sequence to the EMBL database 21 has revealed sequences within the RR domain that are common to all RR1 proteins. Motifs homologous to the catalytic domains of all PKs were identified in the PK region (15). However, based on this database all other sequences were unique. Secondary structure analysis of the PK and RR junction region of ICP10 identified twist angle variations with helical periodicity characteristic of enhancer elements. Sequences homologous to a segment of the PK domain were amplified and cloned from human DNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), suggesting that the PK domain may have originated from a cellular gene.

Effect of cyclic AMP on the cell cycle regulation of ribonucleotide reductase M2 subunit messenger RNA concentrations in wild-type and mutant S49 T lymphoma cells

Ribonucleotide reductase activity in S49 T lymphoma cells is cell cycle regulated by de novo protein synthesis of the M2 subunit. There is maximal enzyme activity in S and G2/M phase with low activity and low concentrations of the M2 subunit in G1 phase. Pharmacologic concentrations of cyclic AMP arrest S49 cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. We investigated the effect of cyclic AMP on M2 messenger RNA concentrations using RNA from exponentially growing and elutriated, cell cycle-enriched populations. To discern whether cyclic AMP-induced G1 arrest was associated with low concentrations of M2-specific messenger RNA, we probed blots with a full-length cDNA for M2. Cell cycle variation in M2 messenger RNA concentrations was similar in wild-type, hydroxyurea-resistant cells with amplified M2 activity, and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase-deficient cell lines. All lines had low amounts of M2-specific mRNA in early G1, an increase at the late G1/early S phase interface, a decrease in mid S phase, and another increase in late S phase that continued through G2/M. These concentrations did not directly correlate with enzyme activity, suggesting other regulatory effects might participate in determining ribonucleotide reductase activity. Cyclic AMP exposure appeared to induce cell cycle arrest in early G1 with low M2-specific messenger RNA concentration. This effect reversed upon washout of the cyclic AMP and was dependent on functional cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). These results suggest that cyclic AMP arrests S49 mouse T lymphoma cells in early G1 prior to transcriptional activation of the M2 gene.

Two genes differentially regulated in the cell cycle and by DNA-damaging agents encode alternative regulatory subunits of ribonucleotide reductase

Ribonucleotide reductase activity is essential for progression through the cell cycle, catalyzing the rate-limiting step for the production of deoxyribonucleotides needed for DNA synthesis. The enzymatic activity of the enzyme fluctuates in the cell cycle with an activity maximum in S phase. We have identified and characterized two Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes encoding the regulatory subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, RNR1 and RNR3. They share approximately 80% amino acid identity with each other and 60% with the mammalian homolog, M1. Genetic disruption reveals that the RNR1 gene is essential for mitotic viability, whereas the RNR3 gene is not essential. A high-copy-number clone of RNR3 is able to suppress the lethality of rnr1 mutations. Analysis of mRNA levels in cell-cycle-synchronized cultures reveals that the RNR1 mRNA is tightly cell-cycle regulated, fluctuating 15- to 30-fold, and is coordinately regulated with the POL1 mRNA, being expressed in the late G1 and S phases of the cell cycle. Progression from the alpha-factor-induced G1 block to induction of RNR1 mRNA is blocked by cycloheximide, further defining the requirement for protein synthesis in the G1- to S-phase transition. Both RNR1 and RNR3 transcripts are inducible by treatments that damage DNA, such as 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide and methylmethanesulfonate, or block DNA replication, such as hydroxyurea. RNR1 is inducible 3- to 5-fold, and RNR3 is inducible greater than 100-fold. When MATa cells are arrested in G1 by alpha-factor, RNR1 and RNR3 mRNA is still inducible by DNA damage, indicating that the observed induction can occur outside of S phase. Inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase activity by hydroxyurea treatment results in arrest of the cell cycle in S phase as large budded, uninucleate cells. This specific cell-cycle arrest is independent of the RAD9 gene, defining a separate pathway for the coordination of DNA synthesis and cell-cycle progression.

The dose dependent effect of cyclic AMP on ribonucleotide reductase in mitogen stimulated mononuclear cells

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate arrests proliferating T lymphocytes in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Here we demonstrate that exogenous and endogenous elevations in cyclic AMP concentration result in diminished mitogen stimulation, cell cycle arrest, and decreased ribonucleotide reductase messenger RNA concentrations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. At lower concentrations (less than 1mM) of dibutyryl cyclic AMP that do not generate cell cycle arrest there is inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase activity without decreased messenger RNA concentration for the M2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase. However, at higher concentrations of dibutyryl cyclic AMP there is G1 cell cycle arrest and reduced M2 specific messenger RNA concentration. Thus, cyclic AMP inhibition of lymphocyte activation may occur by different mechanisms that are dose dependent.

Effects of cytosine arabinoside and hydroxyurea on the synthesis of deoxyribonucleotides and DNA replication in L1210 cells

Experiments were carried out in L1210 cells to examine the importance of 'substrate cycles' in regulating the intracellular levels of deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphate. L1210 cells were incubated with [14C]cytidine or [14C]adenosine in the presence and absence of hydroxyurea or cytosine arabinoside (araC). These incubations were carried out for either 30 or 120 min. Inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase by hydroxyurea resulted in the blockage of the flux of ribonucleotides to deoxyribonucleotides (greater than 90%) as expected. When DNA synthesis was inhibited with araC, there was a marked decrease in the incorporation of [14C]cytidine or [14C]adenosine into DNA as deoxyribonucleotides. However, there was not a corresponding increase in the deoxyribonucleotide levels in the acid-soluble fraction or deoxyribonucleosides in the culture medium. AraC treatment decreased the total formation of deoxyribonucleotides. These data indicate that L1210 cells do not regulate the intracellular pools of dNTPs via 'substrate cycles' which involve activation of phosphatases when DNA synthesis is blocked or activation of kinases when ribonucleotide reductase is inhibited.