1
|
Zhang X, Fawwal DV, Spangle JM, Corbett AH, Jones CY. Exploring the Molecular Underpinnings of Cancer-Causing Oncohistone Mutants Using Yeast as a Model. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1187. [PMID: 38132788 PMCID: PMC10744705 DOI: 10.3390/jof9121187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the molecular basis of cancer initiation and progression is critical in developing effective treatment strategies. Recently, mutations in genes encoding histone proteins that drive oncogenesis have been identified, converting these essential proteins into "oncohistones". Understanding how oncohistone mutants, which are commonly single missense mutations, subvert the normal function of histones to drive oncogenesis requires defining the functional consequences of such changes. Histones genes are present in multiple copies in the human genome with 15 genes encoding histone H3 isoforms, the histone for which the majority of oncohistone variants have been analyzed thus far. With so many wildtype histone proteins being expressed simultaneously within the oncohistone, it can be difficult to decipher the precise mechanistic consequences of the mutant protein. In contrast to humans, budding and fission yeast contain only two or three histone H3 genes, respectively. Furthermore, yeast histones share ~90% sequence identity with human H3 protein. Its genetic simplicity and evolutionary conservation make yeast an excellent model for characterizing oncohistones. The power of genetic approaches can also be exploited in yeast models to define cellular signaling pathways that could serve as actionable therapeutic targets. In this review, we focus on the value of yeast models to serve as a discovery tool that can provide mechanistic insights and inform subsequent translational studies in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinran Zhang
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (X.Z.); (D.V.F.); (A.H.C.)
| | - Dorelle V. Fawwal
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (X.Z.); (D.V.F.); (A.H.C.)
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
- Biochemistry, Cell & Developmental Biology Graduate Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jennifer M. Spangle
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Anita H. Corbett
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (X.Z.); (D.V.F.); (A.H.C.)
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Celina Y. Jones
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (X.Z.); (D.V.F.); (A.H.C.)
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lemon LD, Kannan S, Mo KW, Adams M, Choi HG, Gulka AOD, Withers ES, Nurelegne HT, Gomez V, Ambrocio RE, Tumminkatti R, Lee RS, Wan M, Fasken MB, Spangle JM, Corbett AH. A Saccharomyces cerevisiae model and screen to define the functional consequences of oncogenic histone missense mutations. G3 GENES|GENOMES|GENETICS 2022; 12:6585874. [PMID: 35567477 PMCID: PMC9258546 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Somatic missense mutations in histone genes turn these essential proteins into oncohistones, which can drive oncogenesis. Understanding how missense mutations alter histone function is challenging in mammals as mutations occur in a single histone gene. For example, described oncohistone mutations predominantly occur in the histone H3.3 gene, despite the human genome encoding 15 H3 genes. To understand how oncogenic histone missense mutations alter histone function, we leveraged the budding yeast model, which contains only 2 H3 genes, to explore the functional consequences of oncohistones H3K36M, H3G34W, H3G34L, H3G34R, and H3G34V. Analysis of cells that express each of these variants as the sole copy of H3 reveals that H3K36 mutants show different drug sensitivities compared to H3G34 mutants. This finding suggests that changes to proximal amino acids in the H3 N-terminal tail alter distinct biological pathways. We exploited the caffeine-sensitive growth of H3K36-mutant cells to perform a high copy suppressor screen. This screen identified genes linked to histone function and transcriptional regulation, including Esa1, a histone H4/H2A acetyltransferase; Tos4, a forkhead-associated domain-containing gene expression regulator; Pho92, an N6-methyladenosine RNA-binding protein; and Sgv1/Bur1, a cyclin-dependent kinase. We show that the Esa1 lysine acetyltransferase activity is critical for suppression of the caffeine-sensitive growth of H3K36R-mutant cells while the previously characterized binding interactions of Tos4 and Pho92 are not required for suppression. This screen identifies pathways that could be altered by oncohistone mutations and highlights the value of yeast genetics to identify pathways altered by such mutations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laramie D Lemon
- Department of Biology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Sneha Kannan
- Department of Biology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Kim Wai Mo
- Department of Biology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Miranda Adams
- Department of Biology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Haley G Choi
- Department of Biology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Alexander O D Gulka
- Department of Biology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Elise S Withers
- Department of Biology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | | | - Valeria Gomez
- Department of Biology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Reina E Ambrocio
- Department of Biology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Rhea Tumminkatti
- Department of Biology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Richard S Lee
- Department of Biology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Morris Wan
- Department of Biology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Milo B Fasken
- Department of Biology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jennifer M Spangle
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Anita H Corbett
- Department of Biology, Emory University , Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| |
Collapse
|