Priming phosphorylation of Chk2 by polo-like kinase 3 (Plk3) mediates its full activation by ATM and a downstream checkpoint in response to DNA damage

PLK3 promotes the proneural-mesenchymal transition in glioblastoma via transcriptional regulation of C5AR1

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidence suggests that polo-like kinase 3 (PLK3) plays an essential role in tumor cells and induces cell proliferation and may have implications for the prognosis of various cancers. We sought to define the role of PLK3-dependent proneural-mesenchymal transition (PMT) in the glioblastoma (GBM) therapy.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We analyzed the expression data for PLK3 by using the TCGA database. PLK3 expression in GBM cell lines was determined by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. PLK3 levels were modulated using Lentivirus infection, and the effects on symptoms, tumor volume, and survival in mice intracranial xenograft models were determined. Irradiation (IR) was performed to induce PMT. PLK3 expression was significantly elevated in mesenchymal subtype GBM and promoted tumor proliferation in GBM. Additionally enriched PLK3 expression could be associated with poor prognosis in GBM patients compared with those who have lower PLK3 expression. Mechanically, PLK3-dependent PMT induced radioresistance in GBM cells via transcriptional regulation of complement C5a receptor 1 (C5AR1). In therapeutic experiments conducted in vitro, targeting PLK3 by using small molecule inhibitor decreased tumor growth and radioresistance of GBM cells both in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

PLK3-C5AR1 axis induced PMT thus enhanced radioresistance in GBM and could become a novel potential therapeutic target for GBM.

Induction of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Mediated Cancer Cell-Selective Apoptosis in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells by a High-Affinity Benzimidazoisoquinoline

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a disease with a paucity of targeted treatment opportunities. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that is involved in a wide range of physiological processes, including the sensing of xenobiotics, immune function, development, and differentiation. Different small-molecule AhR ligands drive strikingly varied cellular and organismal responses. In certain cancers, AhR activation by select small molecules induces cell cycle arrest or apoptosis via activation of tumor-suppressive transcriptional programs. AhR is expressed in triple-negative breast cancers, presenting a tractable therapeutic opportunity. Here, we identify a novel ligand of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor that potently and selectively induces cell death in triple-negative breast cancer cells and TNBC stem cells via the AhR. Importantly, we found that this compound, Analog 523, exhibits minimal cytotoxicity against multiple normal human primary cells. Analog 523 represents a high-affinity AhR ligand with potential for future clinical translation as an anticancer agent.

Heat shock factor 5 establishes the male germ-line meiotic sex chromosome inactivation through regulation of Smarca4

Meiotic sex chromosome inactivation is an essential event in male germ cell development, which is directed by DNA damage response signaling independent of Xist RNA to silence the transcription activity of the sex chromosomes. However, the specific mechanism of establishment and maintenance of meiotic chromosome silencing is still unclear. Here we identify the HSF5 as a testicular specific protein and the expression of which was at the onset of meiosis pachytene stage to round sperm. When the function of the HSF5 was lost, meiosis sex chromosome remodeling and silencing fail, followed by activation of CHK2 checkpoint leads to germ cell apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that SMARCA4 in the linking the HSF5 to MSCI and uncover additional factors with meiotic sex chromosome remodeling. Together, our results demonstrate a requirement for HSF5 activity in spermatogenesis and suggest a role for the mammalian HSF5-SMARCA4 in programmed meiotic sex chromosome remodeling and silencing events that take place during meiosis.

A review of Plks: Thinking outside the (polo) box

The polo-like kinase (Plk) family is comprised of five different members (Plk1-5), each with their own distinct functions. Plk family members participate in pivotal cell division processes as well as in non-mitotic roles. Importantly, Plk expression has been correlated with various disease states, including cancer. Multiples therapies, which primarily target Plk1, are currently being investigated alone or in combination with other agents for clinical use in different cancers. As the role of Plks in disease progression becomes more prominent, it is important to outline their functions as cell cycle regulators and more. This review summarizes the structure and both mitotic and non-mitotic functions of each of the five Plk family members, sequentially. Additionally, the proposed mechanisms for how Plks contribute to tumorigenesis and the therapeutics currently under investigation are outlined.

dbPTM in 2022: an updated database for exploring regulatory networks and functional associations of protein post-translational modifications

Protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) play an important role in different cellular processes. In view of the importance of PTMs in cellular functions and the massive data accumulated by the rapid development of mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics, this paper presents an update of dbPTM with over 2 777 000 PTM substrate sites obtained from existing databases and manual curation of literature, of which more than 2 235 000 entries are experimentally verified. This update has manually curated over 42 new modification types that were not included in the previous version. Due to the increasing number of studies on the mechanism of PTMs in the past few years, a great deal of upstream regulatory proteins of PTM substrate sites have been revealed. The updated dbPTM thus collates regulatory information from databases and literature, and merges them into a protein-protein interaction network. To enhance the understanding of the association between PTMs and molecular functions/cellular processes, the functional annotations of PTMs are curated and integrated into the database. In addition, the existing PTM-related resources, including annotation databases and prediction tools are also renewed. Overall, in this update, we would like to provide users with the most abundant data and comprehensive annotations on PTMs of proteins. The updated dbPTM is now freely accessible at https://awi.cuhk.edu.cn/dbPTM/.

Modelling the Functions of Polo-Like Kinases in Mice and Their Applications as Cancer Targets with a Special Focus on Ovarian Cancer

Polo-like kinases (PLKs) belong to a five-membered family of highly conserved serine/threonine kinases (PLK1-5) that play differentiated and essential roles as key mitotic kinases and cell cycle regulators and with this in proliferation and cellular growth. Besides, evidence is accumulating for complex and vital non-mitotic functions of PLKs. Dysregulation of PLKs is widely associated with tumorigenesis and by this, PLKs have gained increasing significance as attractive targets in cancer with diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic potential. PLK1 has proved to have strong clinical relevance as it was found to be over-expressed in different cancer types and linked to poor patient prognosis. Targeting the diverse functions of PLKs (tumor suppressor, oncogenic) are currently at the center of numerous investigations in particular with the inhibition of PLK1 and PLK4, respectively in multiple cancer trials. Functions of PLKs and the effects of their inhibition have been extensively studied in cancer cell culture models but information is rare on how these drugs affect benign tissues and organs. As a step further towards clinical application as cancer targets, mouse models therefore play a central role. Modelling PLK function in animal models, e.g., by gene disruption or by treatment with small molecule PLK inhibitors offers promising possibilities to unveil the biological significance of PLKs in cancer maintenance and progression and give important information on PLKs' applicability as cancer targets. In this review we aim at summarizing the approaches of modelling PLK function in mice so far with a special glimpse on the significance of PLKs in ovarian cancer and of orthotopic cancer models used in this fatal malignancy.

Non-mitotic functions of polo-like kinases in cancer cells

Inhibitors of mitotic protein kinases are currently being developed as non-neurotoxic alternatives of microtubule-targeting agents (taxanes, vinca alkaloids) which provide a substantial survival benefit for patients afflicted with different types of solid tumors. Among the mitotic kinases, the cyclin-dependent kinases, the Aurora kinases, the kinesin spindle protein and Polo-like kinases (PLKs) have emerged as attractive targets of cancer therapeutics. The functions of mammalian PLK1-5 are traditionally linked to the regulation of the cell cycle and to the stress response. Especially the key role of PLK1 and PLK4 in cellular growth and proliferation, their overexpression in multiple types of human cancer and their druggability, make them appealing targets for cancer therapy. Inhibitors for PLK1 and PLK4 are currently being tested in multiple cancer trials. The clinical success of microtubule-targeting agents is attributed not solely to the induction of a mitotic arrest in cancer cells, but also to non-mitotic effects like targeting intracellular trafficking on microtubules. This raises the question whether new cancer targets like PLK1 and PLK4 regulate critical non-mitotic functions in tumor cells. In this article we summarize the important roles of PLK1-5 for the regulation of non-mitotic signaling. Due to these functions it is conceivable that inhibitors for PLK1 or PLK4 can target interphase cells, which underscores their attractive potential as cancer drug targets. Moreover, we also describe the contribution of the tumor-suppressors PLK2, PLK3 and PLK5 to cancer cell signaling outside of mitosis. These observations highlight the urgent need to develop highly specific ATP-competitive inhibitors for PLK4 and for PLK1 like the 3rd generation PLK-inhibitor Onvansertib to prevent the inhibition of tumor-suppressor PLKs in- and outside of mitosis. The remarkable feature of PLKs to encompass a unique druggable domain, the polo-box-domain (PBD) that can be found only in PLKs offers the opportunity for the development of inhibitors that target PLKs exclusively. Beyond the development of mono-specific ATP-competitive PLK inhibitors, the PBD as drug target will support the design of new drugs that eradicate cancer cells based on the mitotic and non-mitotic function of PLK1 and PLK4.

CHEK2 Germline Variants in Cancer Predisposition: Stalemate Rather than Checkmate

Germline alterations in many genes coding for proteins regulating DNA repair and DNA damage response (DDR) to DNA double-strand breaks (DDSB) have been recognized as pathogenic factors in hereditary cancer predisposition. The ATM-CHEK2-p53 axis has been documented as a backbone for DDR and hypothesized as a barrier against cancer initiation. However, although CHK2 kinase coded by the CHEK2 gene expedites the DDR signal, its function in activation of p53-dependent cell cycle arrest is dispensable. CHEK2 mutations rank among the most frequent germline alterations revealed by germline genetic testing for various hereditary cancer predispositions, but their interpretation is not trivial. From the perspective of interpretation of germline CHEK2 variants, we review the current knowledge related to the structure of the CHEK2 gene, the function of CHK2 kinase, and the clinical significance of CHEK2 germline mutations in patients with hereditary breast, prostate, kidney, thyroid, and colon cancers.

Phosphorylation of PLK3 Is Controlled by Protein Phosphatase 6

Polo-like kinases play essential roles in cell cycle control and mitosis. In contrast to other members of this kinase family, PLK3 has been reported to be activated upon cellular stress including DNA damage, hypoxia and osmotic stress. Here we knocked out PLK3 in human non-transformed RPE cells using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing. Surprisingly, we find that loss of PLK3 does not impair stabilization of HIF1α after hypoxia, phosphorylation of the c-Jun after osmotic stress and dynamics of DNA damage response after exposure to ionizing radiation. Similarly, RNAi-mediated depletion of PLK3 did not impair stress response in human transformed cell lines. Exposure of cells to various forms of stress also did not affect kinase activity of purified EGFP-PLK3. We conclude that PLK3 is largely dispensable for stress response in human cells. Using mass spectrometry, we identify protein phosphatase 6 as a new interacting partner of PLK3. Polo box domain of PLK3 mediates the interaction with the PP6 complex. Finally, we find that PLK3 is phosphorylated at Thr219 in the T-loop and that PP6 constantly dephosphorylates this residue. However, in contrast to PLK1, phosphorylation of Thr219 does not upregulate enzymatic activity of PLK3, suggesting that activation of both kinases is regulated by distinct mechanisms.

DNA damage response signaling pathways and targets for radiotherapy sensitization in cancer

Radiotherapy is one of the most common countermeasures for treating a wide range of tumors. However, the radioresistance of cancer cells is still a major limitation for radiotherapy applications. Efforts are continuously ongoing to explore sensitizing targets and develop radiosensitizers for improving the outcomes of radiotherapy. DNA double-strand breaks are the most lethal lesions induced by ionizing radiation and can trigger a series of cellular DNA damage responses (DDRs), including those helping cells recover from radiation injuries, such as the activation of DNA damage sensing and early transduction pathways, cell cycle arrest, and DNA repair. Obviously, these protective DDRs confer tumor radioresistance. Targeting DDR signaling pathways has become an attractive strategy for overcoming tumor radioresistance, and some important advances and breakthroughs have already been achieved in recent years. On the basis of comprehensively reviewing the DDR signal pathways, we provide an update on the novel and promising druggable targets emerging from DDR pathways that can be exploited for radiosensitization. We further discuss recent advances identified from preclinical studies, current clinical trials, and clinical application of chemical inhibitors targeting key DDR proteins, including DNA-PKcs (DNA-dependent protein kinase, catalytic subunit), ATM/ATR (ataxia–telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related), the MRN (MRE11-RAD50-NBS1) complex, the PARP (poly[ADP-ribose] polymerase) family, MDC1, Wee1, LIG4 (ligase IV), CDK1, BRCA1 (BRCA1 C terminal), CHK1, and HIF-1 (hypoxia-inducible factor-1). Challenges for ionizing radiation-induced signal transduction and targeted therapy are also discussed based on recent achievements in the biological field of radiotherapy.

Integrative analyses identify a DNA damage repair gene signature for prognosis prediction in lower grade gliomas

Background: The DNA damage repair (DDR) pathways play important roles for regulating cancer progression and therapeutic response. IDH mutations, well-known prognosis biomarkers for glioma, lead to hypermethylation of tumor cells and affect genes' expression. Whether IDH mutations affect glioma prognosis through influencing the expression of DDR genes remains unclear. Methods: A total of 272 DDR genes were selected for differential expression and survival analysis. The identified genes were then utilized to construct the prognosis predicting model. Results: PARPBP, PLK3, POLL and WEE1 were found differential expressed between IDH mutations carriers and wild-type carriers, and were associated with survival of low grade glioma (LGG) patients. The predicting algorithm can predicts the prognosis of LGG patients. Conclusion: IDH mutations may affect LGG prognosis through regulation of DDR pathways.

USP39 regulates DNA damage response and chemo-radiation resistance by deubiquitinating and stabilizing CHK2

The serine/threonine kinase, CHK2 (checkpoint kinase 2), is a key mediator in DNA damage response and a tumor suppressor, which is implicated in promoting cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and DNA repair. Accumulating evidence suggests that these functions are primarily exerted through phosphorylation downstream factors such as p53 and BRCA1. Recent studies have shown that ubiquitination is an important mode of regulation of CHK2. However, it remains largely unclear whether deubiquitinases participate in regulation of CHK2. Here, we report that a deubiquitinase, USP39, is a new regulator of CHK2. Mechanistically, USP39 deubiquitinates and stabilizes CHK2, which in turn enhances CHK2 stability. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA) mediated knockdown of USP39 led to deregulate CHK2, which resulted in compromising the DNA damage-induced G2/M checkpoint, decreasing apoptosis, and conferring cancer cells resistance to chemotherapy drugs and radiation treatment. Collectively, we identify USP39 as a novel regulator of CHK2 in the DNA damage response.

Polo-like kinases and acute leukemia

Acute leukemia is a common malignancy among children and adults worldwide and many patients suffer from chronic health issues using current therapeutic approaches. Therefore, there is a great need for the development of novel and more specific therapies with fewer side effects. The family of Polo-like kinases (Plks) is a group of five serine/threonine kinases that play an important role in cell cycle regulation and are critical targets for therapeutic invention. Plk1 and Plk4 are novel targets for cancer therapy as leukemic cells often express higher levels than normal cells. In contrast, Plk2 and Plk3 are considered to be tumor suppressors. Several small molecule inhibitors have been developed for targeting Plk1 inhibition. Despite reaching phase III clinical trials, one of the ATP-competitive Plk1 inhibitor, volasertib, did not induce an objective clinical response and even caused lethal side effects in some patients. In order to improve the specificity of the Plk1 inhibitors and reduce off-target side effects, novel RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapies have been developed. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of action of the Plk family members in acute leukemia, describe preclinical studies and clinical trials involving Plk-targeting drugs and discuss novel approaches in Plk targeting.

CHK2-mediated regulation of PARP1 in oxidative DNA damage response

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) is a DNA damage sensor, which upon activation, recruits downstream proteins by poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation). However, it remains largely unclear how PARP1 activity is regulated. Interestingly, the data obtained through this study revealed that PARP1 was co-immunoprecipitated with checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2), and the interaction was increased after oxidative DNA damage. Moreover, CHK2 depletion resulted in a reduction in overall PARylation. To further explore the functional relationship between PARP1 and CHK2, this study employed H₂O₂ to induce an oxidative DNA damage response in cells. Here, we showed that CHK2 and PARP1 interact in vitro and in vivo through the CHK2 SCD domain and the PARP1 BRCT domain. Furthermore, CHK2 stimulates the PARylation activity of PARP1 through CHK2-dependent phosphorylation. Consequently, the impaired repair associated with PARP1 depletion could be rescued by re-expression of wild-type PARP1 and the phospho-mimic but not the phospho-deficient mutant. Mechanistically, we showed that CHK2-dependent phosphorylation of PARP1 not only regulates its cellular localization but also promotes its catalytic activity and its interaction with XRCC1. These findings indicate that CHK2 exerts a multifaceted impact on PARP1 in response to oxidative stress to facilitate DNA repair and to maintain cell survival.

Maintaining Genome Stability in Defiance of Mitotic DNA Damage

The implementation of decisions affecting cell viability and proliferation is based on prompt detection of the issue to be addressed, formulation and transmission of a correct set of instructions and fidelity in the execution of orders. While the first and the last are purely mechanical processes relying on the faithful functioning of single proteins or macromolecular complexes (sensors and effectors), information is the real cue, with signal amplitude, duration, and frequency ultimately determining the type of response. The cellular response to DNA damage is no exception to the rule. In this review article we focus on DNA damage responses in G2 and Mitosis. First, we set the stage describing mitosis and the machineries in charge of assembling the apparatus responsible for chromosome alignment and segregation as well as the inputs that control its function (checkpoints). Next, we examine the type of issues that a cell approaching mitosis might face, presenting the impact of post-translational modifications (PTMs) on the correct and timely functioning of pathways correcting errors or damage before chromosome segregation. We conclude this essay with a perspective on the current status of mitotic signaling pathway inhibitors and their potential use in cancer therapy.

PTEN enhances G2/M arrest in etoposide-treated MCF‑7 cells through activation of the ATM pathway

As an effective tumor suppressor, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) has attracted the increased attention of scientists. Recent studies have shown that PTEN plays unique roles in the DNA damage response (DDR) and can interact with the Chk1 pathway. However, little is known about how PTEN contributes to DDR through the ATM-Chk2 pathway. It is well-known that etoposide induces G2/M arrest in a variety of cell lines, including MCF-7 cells. The DNA damage-induced G2/M arrest results from the activation of protein kinase ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), followed by the activation of Chk2 that subsequently inactivates CDC25C, resulting in G2/M arrest. In the present study, we assessed the contribution of PTEN to the etoposide-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest. PTEN was knocked down in MCF-7 cells by specific shRNA, and the effects of PTEN on the ATM-Chk2 pathway were investigated through various approaches. The results showed that knockdown of PTEN strongly antagonized ATM activation in response to etoposide treatment, and thereby reduced the phosphorylation level of ATM substrates, including H2AX, P53 and Chk2. Furthermore, depletion of PTEN reduced the etoposide-induced phosphorylation of CDC25C and strikingly compromised etoposide-induced G2/M arrest in the MCF-7 cells. Altogether, we demonstrated that PTEN plays a unique role in etoposide-induced G2/M arrest by facilitating the activation of the ATM pathway, and PTEN was required for the proper activation of checkpoints in response to DNA damage in MCF-7 cells.

The role of Plk3 in oncogenesis

The polo-like kinases (Plks) encompass a family of five serine/threonine protein kinases that play essential roles in many cellular processes involved in the control of the cell cycle, including entry into mitosis, DNA replication and the response to different types of stress. Plk1, which has been validated as a cancer target, came into the focus of many pharmaceutical companies for the development of small-molecule inhibitors as anticancer agents. Recently, FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has granted a breakthrough therapy designation to the Plk inhibitor BI 6727 (volasertib), which provided a survival benefit for patients suffering from acute myeloid leukemia. However, the various ATP-competitive inhibitors of Plk1 that are currently in clinical development also inhibit the activities of Plk2 and Plk3, which are considered as tumor suppressors. Plk3 contributes to the control and progression of the cell cycle while acting as a mediator of apoptosis and various types of cellular stress. The aberrant expression of Plk3 was found in different types of tumors. Recent progress has improved our understanding of Plk3 in regulating stress signaling and tumorigenesis. When using ATP-competitive Plk1 inhibitors, the biological roles of Plk1-related family members like Plk3 in cancer cells need to be considered carefully to improve treatment strategies against cancer.

Checkpoint Kinase 2 Negatively Regulates Androgen Sensitivity and Prostate Cancer Cell Growth

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, and curing metastatic disease remains a significant challenge. Nearly all patients with disseminated prostate cancer initially respond to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), but virtually all patients will relapse and develop incurable castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). A high-throughput RNAi screen to identify signaling pathways regulating prostate cancer cell growth led to our discovery that checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2) knockdown dramatically increased prostate cancer growth and hypersensitized cells to low androgen levels. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the effects of CHK2 were dependent on the downstream signaling proteins CDC25C and CDK1. Moreover, CHK2 depletion increased androgen receptor (AR) transcriptional activity on androgen-regulated genes, substantiating the finding that CHK2 affects prostate cancer proliferation, partly, through the AR. Remarkably, we further show that CHK2 is a novel AR-repressed gene, suggestive of a negative feedback loop between CHK2 and AR. In addition, we provide evidence that CHK2 physically associates with the AR and that cell-cycle inhibition increased this association. Finally, IHC analysis of CHK2 in prostate cancer patient samples demonstrated a decrease in CHK2 expression in high-grade tumors. In conclusion, we propose that CHK2 is a negative regulator of androgen sensitivity and prostate cancer growth, and that CHK2 signaling is lost during prostate cancer progression to castration resistance. Thus, perturbing CHK2 signaling may offer a new therapeutic approach for sensitizing CRPC to ADT and radiation.

Enrichment of nuclear S100A4 during G2/M in colorectal cancer cells: possible association with cyclin B1 and centrosomes

S100A4 promotes metastasis in several types of cancer, but the involved molecular mechanisms are still incompletely described. The protein is associated with a wide variety of biological functions and it locates to different subcellular compartments, including nuclei, cytoplasm and extracellular space. Nuclear expression of S100A4 has been associated with more advanced disease stage as well as poor outcome in colorectal cancer (CRC). The present study was initiated to investigate the nuclear function of S100A4 and thereby unravel potential biological mechanisms linking nuclear expression to a more aggressive phenotype. CRC cell lines show heterogeneity in nuclear S100A4 expression and preliminary experiments revealed cells in G2/M to have increased nuclear accumulation compared to G1 and S cells, respectively. Synchronization experiments validated nuclear S100A4 expression to be most prominent in the G2/M phase, but manipulating nuclear levels of S100A4 using lentiviral modified cells failed to induce changes in cell cycle distribution and proliferation. Proximity ligation assay did, however, demonstrate proximity between S100A4 and cyclin B1 in vitro, while confocal microscopy showed S100A4 to localize to areas corresponding to centrosomes in mitotic cells prior to chromosome segregation. This might indicate a novel and uncharacterized function of the metastasis-associated protein in CRC cells.

CHK2 kinase in the DNA damage response and beyond

The serine/threonine kinase CHK2 is a key component of the DNA damage response. In human cells, following genotoxic stress, CHK2 is activated and phosphorylates >20 proteins to induce the appropriate cellular response, which, depending on the extent of damage, the cell type, and other factors, could be cell cycle checkpoint activation, induction of apoptosis or senescence, DNA repair, or tolerance of the damage. Recently, CHK2 has also been found to have cellular functions independent of the presence of nuclear DNA lesions. In particular, CHK2 participates in several molecular processes involved in DNA structure modification and cell cycle progression. In this review, we discuss the activity of CHK2 in response to DNA damage and in the maintenance of the biological functions in unstressed cells. These activities are also considered in relation to a possible role of CHK2 in tumorigenesis and, as a consequence, as a target of cancer therapy.

Osmotic stress-induced phosphorylation of H2AX by polo-like kinase 3 affects cell cycle progression in human corneal epithelial cells

Increased concentrations of extracellular solutes affect cell function and fate by stimulating cellular responses, such as evoking MAPK cascades, altering cell cycle progression, and causing apoptosis. Our study results here demonstrate that hyperosmotic stress induced H2AX phosphorylation (γH2AX) by an unrevealed kinase cascade involving polo-like kinase 3 (Plk3) in human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells. We found that hyperosmotic stress induced DNA-double strand breaks and increased γH2AX in HCE cells. Phosphorylation of H2AX at serine 139 was catalyzed by hyperosmotic stress-induced activation of Plk3. Plk3 directly interacted with H2AX and was colocalized with γH2AX in the nuclei of hyperosmotic stress-induced cells. Suppression of Plk3 activity by overexpression of a kinase-silencing mutant or by knocking down Plk3 mRNA effectively reduced γH2AX in hyperosmotic stress-induced cells. This was consistent with results that show γH2AX was markedly suppressed in the Plk3(-/-) knock-out mouse corneal epithelial layer in response to hyperosmotic stimulation. The effect of hyperosmotic stress-activated Plk3 and increased γH2AX in cell cycle progression showed an accumulation of G2/M phase, altered population in G1 and S phases, and increased apoptosis. Our results for the first time reveal that hyperosmotic stress-activated Plk3 elicited γH2AX. This Plk3-mediated activation of γH2AX subsequently regulates the cell cycle progression and cell fate.

Polo-like kinases: structural variations lead to multiple functions

Members of the polo-like kinase (PLK) family are crucial regulators of cell cycle progression, centriole duplication, mitosis, cytokinesis and the DNA damage response. PLKs undergo major changes in abundance, activity, localization and structure at different stages of the cell cycle. They interact with other proteins in a tightly controlled spatiotemporal manner as part of a network that coordinates key cell cycle events. Their essential roles are highlighted by the fact that alterations in PLK function are associated with cancers and other diseases. Recent knowledge gained from PLK crystal structures, evolution and interacting molecules offers important insights into the mechanisms that underlie their regulation and activity, and suggests novel functions unrelated to cell cycle control for this family of kinases.

Effects of low doses of ionizing radiation exposures on stress-responsive gene expression in human embryonic stem cells

There is a great deal of uncertainty on how low (≤0.1 Gy) doses of ionizing radiation (IR) affect human cells, partly due to a lack of suitable experimental model systems for such studies. The uncertainties arising from low-dose IR human data undermine practical societal needs to predict health risks emerging from diagnostic medical tests’ radiation, natural background radiation, and environmental radiological accidents. To eliminate a variability associated with remarkable differences in radioresponses of hundreds of differentiated cell types, we established a novel, human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-based model to examine the radiobiological effects in human cells. Our aim is to comprehensively elucidate the gene expression changes in a panel of various hESC lines following low IR doses of 0.01; 0.05; 0.1 Gy; and, as a reference, relatively high dose of 1 Gy of IR. Here, we examined the dynamics of transcriptional changes of well-established IR-responsive set of genes, including CDKN1A, GADD45A, etc. at 2 and 16 h post-IR, representing “early” and “late” radioresponses of hESCs. Our findings suggest the temporal- and hESC line-dependence of stress gene radioresponses with no statistically significant evidence for a linear dose-response relationship within the lowest doses of IR exposures.

Mitotic Kinases and p53 Signaling

Mitosis is tightly regulated and any errors in this process often lead to aneuploidy, genomic instability, and tumorigenesis. Deregulation of mitotic kinases is significantly associated with improper cell division and aneuploidy. Because of their importance during mitosis and the relevance to cancer, mitotic kinase signaling has been extensively studied over the past few decades and, as a result, several mitotic kinase inhibitors have been developed. Despite promising preclinical results, targeting mitotic kinases for cancer therapy faces numerous challenges, including safety and patient selection issues. Therefore, there is an urgent need to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying mitotic kinase signaling and its interactive network. Increasing evidence suggests that tumor suppressor p53 functions at the center of the mitotic kinase signaling network. In response to mitotic spindle damage, multiple mitotic kinases phosphorylate p53 to either activate or deactivate p53-mediated signaling. p53 can also regulate the expression and function of mitotic kinases, suggesting the existence of a network of mutual regulation, which can be positive or negative, between mitotic kinases and p53 signaling. Therefore, deciphering this regulatory network will provide knowledge to overcome current limitations of targeting mitotic kinases and further improve the results of targeted therapy.

Bcl-xL phosphorylation at Ser49 by polo kinase 3 during cell cycle progression and checkpoints

Functional analysis of a Bcl-xL phosphorylation mutant series has revealed that cells expressing Bcl-xL(Ser49Ala) mutant are less stable at G2 checkpoint after DNA damage and enter cytokinesis more slowly after microtubule poisoning, than cells expressing wild-type Bcl-xL. These effects of Bcl-xL(Ser49Ala) mutant seem to be separable from Bcl-xL function in apoptosis. Bcl-xL(Ser49) phosphorylation is cell cycle-dependent. In synchronized cells, phospho-Bcl-xL(Ser49) appears during the S phase and G2, whereas it disappears rapidly in early mitosis during prometaphase, metaphase and early anaphase, and re-appears during telophase and cytokinesis. During DNA damage-induced G2 arrest, an important pool of phospho-Bcl-xL(Ser49) accumulates in centrosomes which act as essential decision centers for progression from G2 to mitosis. During telophase/cytokinesis, phospho-Bcl-xL(Ser49) is found with dynein motor protein. In a series of in vitro kinase assays, specific small interfering RNA and pharmacological inhibition experiments, polo kinase 3 (PLK3) was implicated in Bcl-xL(Ser49) phosphorylation. These data indicate that, during G2 checkpoint, phospho-Bcl-xL(Ser49) is another downstream target of PLK3, acting to stabilize G2 arrest. Bcl-xL phosphorylation at Ser49 also correlates with essential PLK3 activity and function, enabling cytokinesis and mitotic exit.

PLK1 as an oncology target: current status and future potential

The Polo-like kinases (PLKs) have been investigated as oncology targets for several years; however, only recently have potent inhibitors been described. Here, we report on progress in the clinical validation of the PLKs as antitumor drug targets as well as recent understanding gained regarding their synergistic roles in the context of other molecular defects occurring in tumors. Also relevant to the development of PLK inhibitors as therapeutics are the putative roles of other members of this family as tumor suppressors. The resulting potential drawbacks of non-isoform selective compounds are presented. As an alternative approach to achieving PLK1 specificity, we discuss prospects for developing small molecule inhibitors of the crucial regulatory and subcellular targeting domain containing the Polo-boxes.

Centrosomal Chk2 in DNA damage responses and cell cycle progression

Two major control systems regulate early stages of mitosis: activation of Cdk1 and anaphase control through assembly and disassembly of the mitotic spindle. In parallel to cell cycle progression, centrosomal duplication is regulated through proteins including Nek2. Recent studies suggest that centrosome-localized Chk1 forestalls premature activation of centrosomal Cdc25b and Cdk1 for mitotic entry, whereas Chk2 binds centrosomes and arrests mitosis only after activation by ATM and ATR in response to DNA damage. Here, we show that Chk2 centrosomal binding does not require DNA damage, but varies according to cell cycle progression. These and other data suggest a model in which binding of Chk2 to the centrosome at multiple cell cycle junctures controls co-localization of Chk2 with other cell cycle and centrosomal regulators.

Polo-like kinases and DNA damage checkpoint: beyond the traditional mitotic functions

Polo-like kinases (Plks) are a family of serine-threonine kinases that play a pivotal role in cell cycle progression and in cellular response to DNA damage. The Plks are highly conserved from yeast to mammals. There are five Plk family members (Plk1-5) in humans, of which Plk1, is the best characterized. The Plk1 isoform is being aggressively pursued as a target for cancer therapy, following observations that this protein is overexpressed in human tumors and is actively involved in malignant transformation. The roles of Plks in mitotic entry, spindle pole functions and cytokinesis are well established and have been the subject of several recent reviews. In this review, we discuss functions of Plks other than their classical roles in mitotic progression. When cells incur DNA damage, they activate checkpoint mechanisms that result in cell cycle arrest and allow time for repair. If the damage is extensive and cannot be repaired, cells will undergo cell death by apoptosis. If the damage is repaired, cells can resume cycling, as part of the process known as checkpoint recovery. If the damage is not repaired or incompletely repaired, cells can override the checkpoint and resume cycling with damaged DNA, a process called checkpoint adaptation. The Plks play a role in all three outcomes and their involvement in these processes will be the subject of this review.

Beyond ATM: the protein kinase landscape of the DNA damage response

The DNA of all organisms is constantly subjected to damaging agents, both exogenous and endogenous. One extremely harmful lesion is the double-strand break (DSB), which activates a massive signaling network - the DNA damage response (DDR). The chief activator of the DSB response is the ATM protein kinase, which phosphorylates numerous key players in its various branches. Recent phosphoproteomic screens have extended the scope of damage-induced phosphorylations beyond the direct ATM substrates. We review the evidence for the involvement of numerous other protein kinases in the DDR, obtained from documentation of specific pathways as well as high-throughput screens. The emerging picture of the protein phosphorylation landscape in the DDR broadens the current view on the role of this protein modification in the maintenance of genomic stability. Extensive cross-talk between many of these protein kinases forms an interlaced signaling network that spans numerous cellular processes. Versatile protein kinases in this network affect pathways that are different from those they have been identified with to date. The DDR appears to be one of the most extensive signaling responses to cellular stimuli.

Absence of polo-like kinase 3 in mice stabilizes Cdc25A after DNA damage but is not sufficient to produce tumors

The polo-like kinases (Plks1-5) are emerging as an important class of proteins involved in many facets of cell cycle regulation and response to DNA damage and stress. Here we show that Plk3 phosphorylates the key cell cycle protein phosphatase Cdc25A on two serine residues in its cyclinB/cdk1 docking domain and regulates its stability in response to DNA damage. We generated a Plk3 knock-out mouse and show that Cdc25A protein from Plk3-deficient cells is less susceptible to DNA damage-mediated degradation than cells with functional Plk3. We also show that absence of Plk3 correlates with loss of the G1/S cell cycle checkpoint. However, neither this compromised DNA damage checkpoint nor reduced susceptibility to proteasome-mediated degradation after DNA damage translated into a significant increase in tumor incidence in the Plk3-deficient mice.

Calcium- and integrin-binding protein 1 regulates endomitosis and its interaction with Polo-like kinase 3 is enhanced in endomitotic Dami cells

Endomitosis is a form of mitosis in which both karyokinesis and cytokinesis are interrupted and is a hallmark of megakaryocyte differentiation. Very little is known about how such a dramatic alteration of the cell cycle in a physiological setting is achieved. Thrombopoietin-induced signaling is essential for induction of endomitosis. Here we show that calcium- and integrin-binding protein 1 (CIB1), a known regulator of platelet integrin α_IIbβ₃ outside-in signaling, regulates endomitosis. We observed that CIB1 expression is increased in primary mouse megakaryocytes compared to mononuclear bone marrow cells as determined by Western blot analysis. Following PMA treatment of Dami cells, a megakaryoblastic cell line, we found that CIB1 protein expression increased concomitant with cell ploidy. Overexpression of CIB1 in Dami cells resulted in multilobated nuclei and led to increased time for a cell to complete cytokinesis as well as increased incidence of furrow regression as observed by time-lapse microscopy. Additionally, we found that surface expression of integrin α_IIbβ_3, an important megakaryocyte marker, was enhanced in CIB1 overexpressing cells as determined by flow cytometry. Furthermore, PMA treatment of CIB1 overexpressing cells led to increased ploidy compared to PMA treated control cells. Interestingly, expression of Polo-like kinase 3 (Plk3), an established CIB1-interacting protein and a key regulator of the mitotic process, decreased upon PMA treatment of Dami cells. Furthermore, PMA treatment augmented the interaction between CIB1 and Plk3, which depended on the duration of treatment. These data suggest that CIB1 is involved in regulating endomitosis, perhaps through its interaction with Plk3.

Chk2*1100delC Acts in synergy with the Ron receptor tyrosine kinase to accelerate mammary tumorigenesis in mice

The CHEK2 (Chk2 in mice) polymorphic variant, CHEK2*1100delC, leads to genomic instability and is associated with an increased risk for breast cancer. The Ron receptor tyrosine kinase is overexpressed in a large fraction of human breast cancers. Here, we asked whether the low penetrance Chk2*1100delC allele alters the tumorigenic efficacy of Ron in the development of mammary tumors in a mouse model. Our data demonstrate that Ron overexpression on a Chk2*1100delC background accelerates the development of mammary tumors, and shows that pathways mediated by a tyrosine kinase receptor and a regulator of the cell cycle can act to hasten tumorigenesis in vivo.

Polo-box domain: a versatile mediator of polo-like kinase function

Members of the polo subfamily of protein kinases have emerged as important regulators in diverse aspects of the cell cycle and cell proliferation. A large body of evidence suggests that a highly conserved polo-box domain (PBD) present in the C-terminal non-catalytic region of polo kinases plays a pivotal role in the function of these enzymes. Recent advances in our comprehension of the mechanisms underlying mammalian polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1)-dependent protein-protein interactions revealed that the PBD serves as an essential molecular mediator that brings the kinase domain of Plk1 into proximity with its substrates, mainly through phospho-dependent interactions with its target proteins. In this review, current understanding of the structure and functions of PBD, mode of PBD-dependent interactions and substrate phosphorylation, and other phospho-independent functions of PBD are discussed.

The novel mouse Polo-like kinase 5 responds to DNA damage and localizes in the nucleolus

Polo-like kinases (Plk1-4) are emerging as an important class of proteins involved in many aspects of cell cycle regulation and response to DNA damage. Here, we report the cloning of a fifth member of the polo-like kinase family named Plk5. DNA and protein sequence analyses show that Plk5 shares more similarities with Plk2 and Plk3 than with Plk1 and Plk4. Consistent with this observation, we show that mouse Plk5 is a DNA damage inducible gene. Mouse Plk5 protein localizes predominantly to the nucleolus, and deletion of a putative nucleolus localization signal (NoLS) within its N-terminal moiety disrupts its nucleolar localization. Ectopic expression of Plk5 leads to cell cycle arrest in G1, decreased DNA synthesis, and to apoptosis, a characteristic it shares with Plk3. Interestingly, in contrast to mouse Plk5 gene, the sequence of human Plk5 contains a stop codon that produces a truncated protein lacking part of the kinase domain.

Over expression of Plk1 does not induce cell division in rat cardiac myocytes in vitro

BACKGROUND

Mammalian cardiac myocytes withdraw from the cell cycle during post-natal development, resulting in a non-proliferating, fully differentiated adult phenotype that is unable to repair damage to the myocardium, such as occurs following a myocardial infarction. We and others previously have shown that forced expression of certain cell cycle molecules in adult cardiac myocytes can promote cell cycle progression and division in these cells. The mitotic serine/threonine kinase, Polo-like kinase-1 (Plk1), is known to phosphorylate and activate a number of mitotic targets, including Cdc2/Cyclin B1, and to promote cell division.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

The mammalian Plk family are all differentially regulated during the development of rat cardiac myocytes, with Plk1 showing the most dramatic decrease in both mRNA, protein and activity in the adult. We determined the potential of Plk1 to induce cell cycle progression and division in cultured rat cardiac myocytes. A persistent and progressive loss of Plk1 expression was observed during myocyte development that correlated with the withdrawal of adult rat cardiac myocytes from the cell cycle. Interestingly, when Plk1 was over-expressed in cardiac myocytes by adenovirus infection, it was not able to promote cell cycle progression, as determined by cell number and percent binucleation.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that, in contrast to Cdc2/Cyclin B1 over-expression, the forced expression of Plk1 in adult cardiac myocytes is not sufficient to induce cell division and myocardial repair.

Gene expression patterns in heterozygous Plk4 murine embryonic fibroblasts

Background

The polo-like kinases (Plks) are a group of serine/threonine kinases which have roles in many aspects of cellular function including the regulation of mitotic activity and cellular stress responses. This study focuses on Plk4, the most divergent member of the Plk family, which is necessary for proper cellular proliferation. More specifically, alterations in Plk4 levels cause significantly adverse mitotic defects including abnormal centrosome duplication and aberrant mitotic spindle formation. We sought to clarify the effect of reduced Plk4 levels on the cell by examining transcript profiles of Plk4 wild-type and heterozygous mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Subsequently, the levels of several key proteins involved in the DNA damage response were examined.

Results

143 genes were found to be significantly up-regulated in the heterozygous MEFs compared to their wild-type counterparts, while conversely, 9 genes were down-regulated. Numerous genes with increased transcript levels in heterozygous MEFs were identified to be involved in p53-dependent pathways. Furthermore, examination of the promoter regions of all up- and down-regulated genes revealed that the majority contained putative p53 responsive elements.

An analysis of transcript levels in MEFs after exposure to either ionizing or ultraviolet radiation revealed a significant change between wild type and heterozygous MEFS for Plk4 transcript levels upon only UV exposure. Furthermore, changes in protein levels of several important cell check-point and apoptosis regulators were examined, including p53, Chk1, Chk2, Cdc25C and p21. In heterozygous MEFs, p53, p21 and Chk2 protein levels were at significantly higher levels. Furthermore, p53 activity was increased 5 fold in the Plk4 heterozygous MEFs.

Conclusion

Global transcript profiles and levels of key proteins involved in cellular proliferation and DNA damage pathways were examined in wild-type and Plk4 heterozygous MEFs. It was determined that Plk4 haploinsufficiency leads to changes in the levels of RNA accumulation for a number of key cellular genes as well as changes in protein levels for several important cell cycle/DNA damage proteins. We propose a model in which reduced Plk4 levels invoke an increase in p53 levels that leads to the aforementioned changes in global transcription profiles.

Plk3 interacts with and specifically phosphorylates VRK1 in Ser342, a downstream target in a pathway that induces Golgi fragmentation

Golgi fragmentation is a process that is necessary to allow its redistribution into daughter cells during mitosis, a process controlled by serine-threonine kinases. This Golgi fragmentation is activated by MEK1 and Plk3. Plk3 is a kinase that is a downstream target in the Golgi fragmentation pathway induced by MEK1 or by nocodazole. In this work, we have identified that Plk3 and VRK1 are two consecutive steps in this signaling pathway. Plk3 interacts with VRK1, forming a stable complex detected by reciprocal immunoprecipitations and pull-down assays; VRK1 colocalizes with giantin in the Golgi apparatus, as Plk3 also does, forming clearly detectable granules. VRK1 does not phosphorylate Plk3, but Plk3 phosphorylates the C-terminal region of VRK1 in Ser342. VRK1 with substitutions in S342 is catalytically active but blocks Golgi fragmentation, indicating that its specific phosphorylation is necessary for this process. The induction of Golgi fragmentation by MEK1 and Plk3 can be inhibited by kinase-dead VRK1, the knockdown of VRK1 by siVRK1, kinase-dead Plk3, or PD98059, a MEK1 inhibitor. The Plk3-VRK1 kinase module might represent two consecutive steps of a signaling cascade that participates in the regulation of Golgi fragmentation.

Exploring the intramolecular phosphorylation sites in human Chk2

A comparative biochemical analysis was performed using recombinant human protein kinase Chk2 (checkpoint kinase 2) expressed in bacteria and insect cells. Dephosphorylated, inactive, recombinant human Chk2 could be reactivated in a concentration-dependent manner. Despite distinct time-dependent autophosphorylation kinetics by monitoring the phosphorylation of amino acid residues T68, S19, S33/35, T432, in Chk2 wildtype and Chk2 mutants (T68A, T68D and Q69E) they gave identical specific activities. However, upon gel filtration of Chk2 wildtype and the mutants, only Chk2 wildtype and the T68D mutant led to the formation of a 'pure' dimer; dephosphorylated wildtype Chk2 eluted as a monomer. Transfection of HEK293 cells with Chk2 wildtype and Chk2 mutants in the absence or presence of DNA damage showed significant T68 phosphorylation already in the absence of DNA damaging reagents. Upon DNA damage, phosphorylation of additional Chk2 sites was observed (S19, S33/35). A comparison of ATM+/+ and ATM-/- cells with respect to phosphorylation of residues T68, S19, S33/35 in the absence and presence of DNA damage showed in all cases phosphorylation of T68, although signal intensity was increased ca. three-fold after DNA damage. Mass spectrometric analyses of human recombinant Chk2 isolated from bacteria and insect cells showed distinct differences. The number of phosphorylated residues in human recombinant Chk2 isolated from bacteria was 16, whereas in the case of the recombinant human Chk2 from insect cells it was 8. Except for phosphorylated amino acid T378 which was not found in the Chk2 isolated from bacteria, all other phosphorylated residues identified in human Chk2 from insect cells were present also in Chk2 from bacteria.

Autophosphorylated residues involved in the regulation of human chk2 in vitro

Human checkpoint kinase 2 is a major actor in checkpoint activation through phosphorylation by ataxia telangiectasia mutated in response to DNA double-strand breaks. In the absence of de novo DNA damage, its autoactivation, reported in the event of increased Cds1/checkpoint kinase 2 (Chk2) expression, has been attributed to oligomerization. Here we report a study performed on autoactivated recombinant Chk2 proteins that aims to correlate kinase activity and phosphorylation status. Using a fluorescence-based technique to assay human checkpoint kinase 2 catalytic activity, slight differences in the ability to phosphorylate Cdc25C were observed, depending on the recombinant system used. Using mass spectrometry, the phosphorylation sites were mapped to identify sites potentially involved in the kinase activity. Five phosphorylated positions, at Ser120, Ser260, Thr225, Ser379 and Ser435, were found to be common to bacteria and insect cells expression systems. They were present in addition to the six known phosphorylation sites induced by ionizing radiation (Thr68, Thr432, Thr387, Ser516, Ser33/35 and Ser19) detected by immunoblotting. After phosphatase treatment, Chk2 regained activity via autorephosphorylation. The determination of the five common sites and ionizing-radiation-inducible positions as rephosphorylated confirms that they are potential positive regulators of Chk2 kinase activity. For Escherichia coli's most highly phosphorylated 6His-Chk2, 13 additional phosphorylation sites were assigned, including 7 novel sites on top of recently reported phosphorylation sites.

CHK2 kinase: cancer susceptibility and cancer therapy - two sides of the same coin?

In the past decade, CHK2 has emerged as an important multifunctional player in the DNA-damage response signalling pathway. Parallel studies of the human CHEK2 gene have also highlighted its role as a candidate multiorgan tumour susceptibility gene rather than a highly penetrant predisposition gene for Li-Fraumeni syndrome. As discussed here, our current understanding of CHK2 function in tumour cells, in both a biological and genetic context, suggests that targeted modulation of the active kinase or exploitation of its loss in tumours could prove to be effective anti-cancer strategies.

The breast cancer susceptibility allele CHEK2*1100delC promotes genomic instability in a knock-in mouse model

Allelic variants of CHEK2 contribute to an elevated risk for human breast cancer and possibly other cancer types. In particular, the CHEK2*1100delC polymorphic variant has been identified as a low-penetrance breast cancer susceptibility allele in breast cancer families with wild type BRCA1 and BRCA2. To better understand the molecular basis by which this allele increases risk for disease, we have generated a mouse in which the wild type CHEK2 (Chk2 in mouse) allele has been replaced with the 1100delC variant. Mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from these mice have an altered cell cycle profile in which a far greater proportion of cells are in S-phase and in G2 (4N) compared with wild type cells. The mutant cells show signs of spontaneous genomic instability as indicated by polyploidy and an increase in DNA double strand breaks.

The Wip1 phosphatase (PPM1D) antagonizes activation of the Chk2 tumour suppressor kinase

We previously demonstrated that type 2C protein phosphatases (PP2C) Ptc2 and Ptc3 are required for DNA checkpoint inactivation after DNA double-strand break repair or adaptation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, we show the conservation of this pathway in mammalian cells. In response to DNA damage, ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) phosphorylates the Chk2 tumour suppressor kinase at threonine 68 (Thr68), allowing Chk2 kinase dimerization and activation by autophosphorylations in the T-loop. The oncogenic protein Wip1, a PP2C phosphatase, binds Chk2 and dephosphorylates phospho-Thr68. Consequently, Wip1 opposes Chk2 activation by ATM after ionizing irradiation of cells. In HCT15 colorectal cancer cells corrected for functional Chk2 activity, Wip1 overexpression suppressed the contribution of Chk2 to the G2/M DNA damage checkpoint. These results indicate that Wip1 is one of the phosphatases regulating the activity of Chk2 in response to DNA damage.