The splicing factor U2AF65 stabilizes TRF1 protein by inhibiting its ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis

The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Fbxo4 Functions as a Tumor Suppressor: Its Biological Importance and Therapeutic Perspectives

Simple Summary

Fbxo4 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that requires the formation of a complex with S-phase kinase-associated protein 1 and Cullin1 to catalyze the ubiquitylation of its substrates. Moreover, Fbxo4 depends on the existence of posttranslational modifications and/or co-factor to be activated to perform its biological functions. The well-known Fbxo4 substrates have oncogenic or oncogene-like activities, for example, cyclin D1, Trf1/Pin2, p53, Fxr1, Mcl-1, ICAM-1, and PPARγ; therefore, Fbxo4 is defined as a tumor suppressor. Biologically, Fbxo4 regulates cell cycle progression, DNA damage response, tumor metabolism, cellular senescence, metastasis and tumor cells’ response to chemotherapeutic compounds. Clinicopathologically, the expression of Fbxo4 is associated with patients’ prognosis depending on different tumor types. Regarding to its complicated regulation, more in-depth studies are encouraged to dissect the detailed molecular mechanisms to facilitate developing new treatment through targeting Fbxo4.

Abstract

Fbxo4, also known as Fbx4, belongs to the F-box protein family with a conserved F-box domain. Fbxo4 can form a complex with S-phase kinase-associated protein 1 and Cullin1 to perform its biological functions. Several proteins are identified as Fbxo4 substrates, including cyclin D1, Trf1/Pin2, p53, Fxr1, Mcl-1, ICAM-1, and PPARγ. Those factors can regulate cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, survival/apoptosis, and migration/invasion, highlighting their oncogenic or oncogene-like activities. Therefore, Fbxo4 is defined as a tumor suppressor. The biological functions of Fbxo4 make it a potential candidate for developing new targeted therapies. This review summarizes the gene and protein structure of Fbxo4, the mechanisms of how its expression and activity are regulated, and its substrates, biological functions, and clinicopathological importance in human cancers.

Phylogenetic Analysis of the Plant U2 snRNP Auxiliary Factor Large Subunit A Gene Family in Response to Developmental Cues and Environmental Stimuli

In all organisms, splicing occurs through the formation of spliceosome complexes, and splicing auxiliary factors are essential during splicing. U2AF65 is a crucial splicing cofactor, and the two typical RNA-recognition motifs at its center recognize and bind the polypyrimidine sequence located between the intron branch site and the 3'-splice site. U2AF65A is a member of the U2AF65 gene family, with pivotal roles in diseases in mammals, specifically humans; however, few studies have investigated plant U2AF65A, and its specific functions are poorly understood. Therefore, in the present study, we systematically identified U2AF65A in plant species from algae to angiosperms. Based on 113 putative U2AF65A sequences from 33 plant species, phylogenetic analyses were performed, followed by basic bioinformatics, including the comparisons of gene structure, protein domains, promoter motifs, and gene expression levels. In addition, using rice as the model crop, we demonstrated that the OsU2AF65A protein is localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm, and it is involved in responses to various stresses, such as drought, high salinity, low temperature, and heavy metal exposure (e.g., cadmium). Using Arabidopsis thaliana and rice mutants, we demonstrated that U2AF65A is involved in the accumulation of plant biomass, growth of hypocotyl upon thermal stimulation, and reduction of tolerance of high temperature stress. These findings offer an overview of the U2AF65 gene family and its stress response functions, serving as the reference for further comprehensive functional studies of the essential specific splicing cofactor U2AF65A in the plant kingdom.

The Role of Ubiquitination and SUMOylation in Telomere Biology

Telomeres are a unique structure of DNA repeats covered by proteins at the ends of the chromosomes that protect the coding regions of the genome and function as a biological clock. They require a tight regulation of the factors covering and protecting their structure, as they are shortened with each cell division to limit the ability of cells to replicate uncontrollably. Additionally, they protect the chromosome ends from DNA damage responses and thereby, prevent genomic instability. Telomere dysfunction can lead to chromosomal abnormalities and cancer. Therefore, dysregulation of any of the factors that regulate the integrity of the telomeres will have implications to chromosomal stability, replicative lifespan and may lead to cell transformation. This review will cover the main factors participating in the normal function of the telomeres and how these are regulated by the ubiquitin and SUMO systems. Accumulating evidence indicate that the ubiquitin and SUMO pathways are significant regulators of the shelterin complex and other chromatin modifiers, which are important for telomere structure integrity. Furthermore, the crosstalk between these two pathways has been reported in telomeric DNA repair. A better understanding of the factors contributing to telomere biology, and how they are regulated, is important for the design of new strategies for cancer therapies and regenerative medicine.

RNA Binding Proteins and Genome Integrity

Genome integrity can be threatened by various endogenous or exogenous events. To counteract these stressors, the DNA damage response network contributes to the prevention and/or repair of genomic DNA damage and serves an essential function in cellular survival. DNA binding proteins are involved in this network. Recently, several RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that are recruited to DNA damage sites have been shown to be direct players in the prevention or repair of DNA damage. In addition, non-coding RNAs, themselves, are involved in the RNA-mediated DNA repair system. Furthermore, RNA modification such as m6A methylation might also contribute to the ultraviolet-responsive DNA damage response. Accumulating evidence suggests that RNA metabolism is more deeply involved in diverse cellular functions than previously expected, and is also intricately associated with the maintenance of genome integrity. In this review, we highlight the roles of RBPs in the maintenance of genome integrity.

Ubiquitination and SUMOylation in Telomere Maintenance and Dysfunction

Telomeres are essential nucleoprotein structures at linear chromosomes that maintain genome integrity by protecting chromosome ends from being recognized and processed as damaged DNA. In addition, they limit the cell’s proliferative capacity, as progressive loss of telomeric DNA during successive rounds of cell division eventually causes a state of telomere dysfunction that prevents further cell division. When telomeres become critically short, the cell elicits a DNA damage response resulting in senescence, apoptosis or genomic instability, thereby impacting on aging and tumorigenesis. Over the past years substantial progress has been made in understanding the role of post-translational modifications in telomere-related processes, including telomere maintenance, replication and dysfunction. This review will focus on recent findings that establish an essential role for ubiquitination and SUMOylation at telomeres.

Exon-centric regulation of ATM expression is population-dependent and amenable to antisense modification by pseudoexon targeting

ATM is an important cancer susceptibility gene that encodes a critical apical kinase of the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway. We show that a key nonsense-mediated RNA decay switch exon (NSE) in ATM is repressed by U2AF, PUF60 and hnRNPA1. The NSE activation was haplotype-specific and was most promoted by cytosine at rs609621 in the NSE 3' splice-site (3'ss), which is predominant in high cancer risk populations. NSE levels were deregulated in leukemias and were influenced by the identity of U2AF35 residue 34. We also identify splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) that exploit competition of adjacent pseudoexons to modulate NSE levels. The U2AF-regulated exon usage in the ATM signalling pathway was centred on the MRN/ATM-CHEK2-CDC25-cdc2/cyclin-B axis and preferentially involved transcripts implicated in cancer-associated gene fusions and chromosomal translocations. These results reveal important links between 3'ss control and ATM-dependent responses to double-strand DNA breaks, demonstrate functional plasticity of intronic variants and illustrate versatility of intronic SSOs that target pseudo-3'ss to modify gene expression.

Polo-like Kinase 1 (Plk1) Up-regulates Telomerase Activity by Affecting Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT) Stability

Maintenance of telomere is regulated by active telomerase complex, including telomerase holoenzyme and its associated proteins. The activity of telomerase is precisely controlled in cells, and its dysregulation is one of the hallmarks of cancer. The telomerase catalytic subunit human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) plays a central role for telomerase activity. In this study, we indentified that Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is a novel telomerase-associated protein. Plk1 can interact with hTERT independently of its kinase activity. More importantly, we found that Plk1 is associated with active telomerase complex. In addition, we demonstrated that knockdown of Plk1 caused the reduction of telomerase activity, whereas overexpression of Plk1 increased telomerase activity. Further analysis showed that overexpression of Plk1 led to a significant increase of hTERT protein by prolonging its half-life but did not affect the level of hTERT mRNA. Furthermore, we found that Plk1 enhanced the chromatin loading of hTERT and inhibited its ubiquitination. This implied that Plk1 affected hTERT stability by inhibiting its ubiquitin-mediated degradation. Collectively, these observations suggested that Plk1 is a positive modulator of telomerase by enhancing the stability of hTERT.

The interplay between DNA damage response and RNA processing: the unexpected role of splicing factors as gatekeepers of genome stability

Genome integrity is constantly threatened by endogenous and exogenous factors. However, its preservation is ensured by a network of pathways that prevent and/or repair the lesion, which constitute the DNA damage response (DDR). Expression of the key proteins involved in the DDR is controlled by numerous post-transcriptional mechanisms, among which pre-mRNA splicing stands out. Intriguingly, several splicing factors (SFs) have been recently shown to play direct functions in DNA damage prevention and repair, which go beyond their expected splicing activity. At the same time, evidence is emerging that DNA repair proteins (DRPs) can actively sustain the DDR by acting as post-transcriptional regulator of gene expression, in addition to their well-known role in the mechanisms of signaling and repair of the lesion. Herein, we will review these non-canonical functions of both SFs and DRPs, which suggest the existence of a tight interplay between splicing regulation and canonical DNA safeguard mechanisms ensuring genome stability.