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Maalouf CA, Alberti A, Soutourina J. Mediator complex in transcription regulation and DNA repair: Relevance for human diseases. DNA Repair (Amst) 2024; 141:103714. [PMID: 38943827 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2024.103714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
The Mediator complex is an essential coregulator of RNA polymerase II transcription. More recent developments suggest Mediator functions as a link between transcription regulation, genome organisation and DNA repair mechanisms including nucleotide excision repair, base excision repair, and homologous recombination. Dysfunctions of these processes are frequently associated with human pathologies, and growing evidence shows Mediator involvement in cancers, neurological, metabolic and infectious diseases. The detailed deciphering of molecular mechanisms of Mediator functions, using interdisciplinary approaches in different biological models and considering all functions of this complex, will contribute to our understanding of relevant human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christelle A Maalouf
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette 91198, France
| | - Adriana Alberti
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette 91198, France
| | - Julie Soutourina
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette 91198, France.
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2
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Maji S, Waseem M, Sharma MK, Singh M, Singh A, Dwivedi N, Thakur P, Cooper DG, Bisht NC, Fassler JS, Subbarao N, Khurana JP, Bhavesh NS, Thakur JK. MediatorWeb: a protein-protein interaction network database for the RNA polymerase II Mediator complex. FEBS J 2024. [PMID: 38975839 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17225] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the Mediator complex is very tightly regulated and depends on different developmental and environmental cues. Here, we present an interactive platform for comparative analysis of the Mediator subunits from humans, baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and model plant Arabidopsis thaliana in a user-friendly web-interface database called MediatorWeb. MediatorWeb provides an interface to visualize and analyze the PPI network of Mediator subunits. The database facilitates downloading the untargeted and unweighted network of Mediator complex, its submodules, and individual Mediator subunits to better visualize the importance of individual Mediator subunits or their submodules. Further, MediatorWeb offers network visualization of the Mediator complex and interacting proteins that are functionally annotated. This feature provides clues to understand functions of Mediator subunits in different processes. In an additional tab, MediatorWeb provides quick access to secondary and tertiary structures, as well as residue-level contact information for Mediator subunits in each of the three model organisms. Another useful feature of MediatorWeb is detection of interologs based on orthologous analyses, which can provide clues to understand the functions of Mediator complex in less explored kingdoms. Thus, MediatorWeb and its features can help the user to understand the role of Mediator complex and its subunits in the transcription regulation of gene expression.
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Grants
- BT/PR40146/BTIS/137/4/2020 Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India
- BT/PR40169/BTIS/137/71/2023 Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India
- BT/HRD/MK-YRFP/50/27/2021 Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India
- BT/HRD/MK-YRFP/50/26/2021 Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India
- SERB, Government of India
- ICMR
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourobh Maji
- Plant Transcription Regulation, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India
- Transcription Regulation, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Mohd Waseem
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, India
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Maninder Singh
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Anamika Singh
- Plant Transcription Regulation, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Nidhi Dwivedi
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Pallabi Thakur
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, India
| | - David G Cooper
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Naveen C Bisht
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Naidu Subbarao
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Jitendra P Khurana
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India
| | - Neel Sarovar Bhavesh
- Transcription Regulation, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Jitendra Kumar Thakur
- Plant Transcription Regulation, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, India
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3
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Maia-Silva D, Cunniff PJ, Schier AC, Skopelitis D, Trousdell MC, Moresco P, Gao Y, Kechejian V, He XY, Sahin Y, Wan L, Alpsoy A, Liverpool J, Krainer AR, Egeblad M, Spector DL, Fearon DT, Dos Santos CO, Taatjes DJ, Vakoc CR. Interaction between MED12 and ΔNp63 activates basal identity in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Nat Genet 2024; 56:1377-1385. [PMID: 38886586 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01790-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The presence of basal lineage characteristics signifies hyperaggressive human adenocarcinomas of the breast, bladder and pancreas. However, the biochemical mechanisms that maintain this aberrant cell state are poorly understood. Here we performed marker-based genetic screens in search of factors needed to maintain basal identity in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This approach revealed MED12 as a powerful regulator of the basal cell state in this disease. Using biochemical reconstitution and epigenomics, we show that MED12 carries out this function by bridging the transcription factor ΔNp63, a known master regulator of the basal lineage, with the Mediator complex to activate lineage-specific enhancer elements. Consistent with this finding, the growth of basal-like PDAC is hypersensitive to MED12 loss when compared to PDAC cells lacking basal characteristics. Taken together, our genetic screens have revealed a biochemical interaction that sustains basal identity in human cancer, which could serve as a target for tumor lineage-directed therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Allison C Schier
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | | | - Philip Moresco
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Yuan Gao
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | | | - Xue-Yan He
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Yunus Sahin
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Ledong Wan
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Aktan Alpsoy
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Mikala Egeblad
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | - Dylan J Taatjes
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
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4
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Karimbayli J, Pellarin I, Belletti B, Baldassarre G. Insights into the structural and functional activities of forgotten Kinases: PCTAIREs CDKs. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:135. [PMID: 38951876 PMCID: PMC11218289 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02043-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
In cells, signal transduction heavily relies on the intricate regulation of protein kinases, which provide the fundamental framework for modulating most signaling pathways. Dysregulation of kinase activity has been implicated in numerous pathological conditions, particularly in cancer. The druggable nature of most kinases positions them into a focal point during the process of drug development. However, a significant challenge persists, as the role and biological function of nearly one third of human kinases remains largely unknown.Within this diverse landscape, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) emerge as an intriguing molecular subgroup. In human, this kinase family encompasses 21 members, involved in several key biological processes. Remarkably, 13 of these CDKs belong to the category of understudied kinases, and only 5 having undergone broad investigation to date. This knowledge gap underscores the pressing need to delve into the study of these kinases, starting with a comprehensive review of the less-explored ones.Here, we will focus on the PCTAIRE subfamily of CDKs, which includes CDK16, CDK17, and CDK18, arguably among the most understudied CDKs members. To contextualize PCTAIREs within the spectrum of human pathophysiology, we conducted an exhaustive review of the existing literature and examined available databases. This approach resulted in an articulate depiction of these PCTAIREs, encompassing their expression patterns, 3D configurations, mechanisms of activation, and potential functions in normal tissues and in cancer.We propose that this effort offers the possibility of identifying promising areas of future research that extend from basic research to potential clinical and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Karimbayli
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) of Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, Via Franco Gallini, Aviano, 33081, Italy
| | - Ilenia Pellarin
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) of Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, Via Franco Gallini, Aviano, 33081, Italy
| | - Barbara Belletti
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) of Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, Via Franco Gallini, Aviano, 33081, Italy
| | - Gustavo Baldassarre
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) of Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, Via Franco Gallini, Aviano, 33081, Italy.
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5
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Voutsadakis IA. Mediator kinase module proteins, genetic alterations and expression of super-enhancer regulated genes in colorectal cancer. Pharmacol Rep 2024; 76:535-556. [PMID: 38602606 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-024-00589-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic alterations are well characterized as contributors to the pathogenesis of cancers. Epigenetic abnormalities can lead to perturbations of the expression of genes in cancer cells without structural defects. Deregulation of proteins of the transcription machinery may result in perturbations of target genes. Mediator, a multiprotein component of the transcription machinery facilitates the function of RNA polymerase II, which transcribes most human genes. A part of the mediator with kinase activity, called the Mediator kinase module shows genetic alterations in a sub-set of colorectal cancers. METHODS Data from publicly available genomic series of colorectal cancer patients were examined to determine alterations of Mediator kinase module component genes, including MED12, MED12L, MED13, MED13L, CDK8, CDK19, and CCNC. The prevalence of alterations in genomically defined colorectal cancer sub-sets was also interrogated. The effect of Mediator kinase module member gene expression on colorectal cancer relapse-free survival was investigated. RESULTS Mutations in genes of the Mediator kinase module were present in a small percentage of colorectal cancers, ranging between 2 to 10% for MED12 and MED13 and alternative units MED12L and MED13L and below 2% for kinases CDK8 and CDK19 and cyclin C. Amplifications of the CDK8 gene were observed in 3% to 5% of colorectal cancers. The highest prevalence of mutations was observed in MSI cancers and the equivalent CMS1 group, with other genomic groups showing much lower frequency. An association of higher expression of MED12 with inferior relapse-free survival was observed. In contrast, higher expression of cyclin C was associated with improved survival. Colorectal cancer cell lines with CDK8 amplifications displayed sensitivity to several small molecule inhibitors of the KRAS/PI3K pathway but not to BET inhibitors. CONCLUSION The Mediator kinase module is deregulated in a sub-set of colorectal cancers with differences observed in genomically defined groups. These variations may result in differences in sensitivity to targeted therapies and may have to be taken into consideration as such therapies are developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis A Voutsadakis
- Algoma District Cancer Program, Sault Area Hospital, Sault Ste Marie, ON, P6B 0A8, Canada.
- Division of Clinical Sciences, Section of Internal Medicine, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, 750 Great Northern Road, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
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Nussbaum DP, Martz CA, Waters AM, Barrera A, Liu A, Rutter JC, Cerda-Smith CG, Stewart AE, Wu C, Cakir M, Levandowski CB, Kantrowitz DE, McCall SJ, Pierobon M, Petricoin EF, Joshua Smith J, Reddy TE, Der CJ, Taatjes DJ, Wood KC. Mediator kinase inhibition impedes transcriptional plasticity and prevents resistance to ERK/MAPK-targeted therapy in KRAS-mutant cancers. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:124. [PMID: 38822082 PMCID: PMC11143207 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00615-9] [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: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Acquired resistance remains a major challenge for therapies targeting oncogene activated pathways. KRAS is the most frequently mutated oncogene in human cancers, yet strategies targeting its downstream signaling kinases have failed to produce durable treatment responses. Here, we developed multiple models of acquired resistance to dual-mechanism ERK/MAPK inhibitors across KRAS-mutant pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers, and then probed the long-term events enabling survival against this class of drugs. These studies revealed that resistance emerges secondary to large-scale transcriptional adaptations that are diverse and cell line-specific. Transcriptional reprogramming extends beyond the well-established early response, and instead represents a dynamic, evolved process that is refined to attain a stably resistant phenotype. Mechanistic and translational studies reveal that resistance to dual-mechanism ERK/MAPK inhibition is broadly susceptible to manipulation of the epigenetic machinery, and that Mediator kinase, in particular, can be co-targeted at a bottleneck point to prevent diverse, cell line-specific resistance programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P Nussbaum
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Colin A Martz
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Andrew M Waters
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Alejandro Barrera
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Annie Liu
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Justine C Rutter
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Christian G Cerda-Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Amy E Stewart
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Chao Wu
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Colorectal Service, New York, NY, USA
| | - Merve Cakir
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - David E Kantrowitz
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Shannon J McCall
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mariaelena Pierobon
- George Mason University, Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Emanuel F Petricoin
- George Mason University, Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - J Joshua Smith
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Colorectal Service, New York, NY, USA
| | - Timothy E Reddy
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Channing J Der
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Dylan J Taatjes
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Kris C Wood
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
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Cozzolino K, Sanford L, Hunter S, Molison K, Erickson B, Jones T, Courvan MCS, Ajit D, Galbraith MD, Espinosa JM, Bentley DL, Allen MA, Dowell RD, Taatjes DJ. Mediator kinase inhibition suppresses hyperactive interferon signaling in Down syndrome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.07.05.547813. [PMID: 37461585 PMCID: PMC10349994 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.05.547813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Hyperactive interferon (IFN) signaling is a hallmark of Down syndrome (DS), a condition caused by trisomy 21 (T21); strategies that normalize IFN signaling could benefit this population. Mediator-associated kinases CDK8 and CDK19 drive inflammatory responses through incompletely understood mechanisms. Using sibling-matched cell lines with/without T21, we investigated Mediator kinase function in the context of hyperactive IFN in DS over a 45min - 24h timeframe. Activation of IFN-response genes was suppressed in cells treated with the CDK8/CDK19 inhibitor cortistatin A (CA), and this occurred through rapid suppression of IFN-responsive transcription factor activity. Moreover, we discovered that CDK8/CDK19 affect splicing, a novel means by which Mediator kinases control gene expression. To further probe Mediator kinase function, we completed cytokine screens and untargeted metabolomics experiments. Cytokines are master regulators of inflammatory responses; by screening 105 different cytokine proteins, we show that Mediator kinases help drive IFN-dependent cytokine responses at least in part through transcriptional regulation of cytokine genes and receptors. Metabolomics revealed that Mediator kinase inhibition altered core metabolic pathways, including broad up-regulation of anti-inflammatory lipid mediators, whose levels were elevated during hyperactive IFN signaling. A subset of these lipid mediators (e.g. oleamide, desmosterol) serve as ligands for nuclear receptors PPAR and LXR, and activation of these receptors occurred specifically during hyperactive IFN signaling in CA-treated cells, revealing a mechanistic link between Mediator kinase activity and nuclear receptor function. Collectively, our results identify new mechanisms by which CDK8/CDK19 regulate gene expression, and establish that Mediator kinase inhibition antagonizes IFN signaling through transcriptional, metabolic, and cytokine responses, with implications for DS and other chronic inflammatory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira Cozzolino
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Lynn Sanford
- Dept. of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Samuel Hunter
- Dept. of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Kayla Molison
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Benjamin Erickson
- Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- UC-Denver RNA Bioscience Initiative
| | - Taylor Jones
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Meaghan C S Courvan
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Dept. of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Crnic Institute Boulder Branch
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Deepa Ajit
- Metabolon, Inc., Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Matthew D Galbraith
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Dept. of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Joaquin M Espinosa
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Dept. of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - David L Bentley
- Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- UC-Denver RNA Bioscience Initiative
| | - Mary A Allen
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Robin D Dowell
- Dept. of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Dylan J Taatjes
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
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DeHaro-Arbona FJ, Roussos C, Baloul S, Townson J, Gómez Lamarca MJ, Bray S. Dynamic modes of Notch transcription hubs conferring memory and stochastic activation revealed by live imaging the co-activator Mastermind. eLife 2024; 12:RP92083. [PMID: 38727722 PMCID: PMC11087053 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Developmental programming involves the accurate conversion of signalling levels and dynamics to transcriptional outputs. The transcriptional relay in the Notch pathway relies on nuclear complexes containing the co-activator Mastermind (Mam). By tracking these complexes in real time, we reveal that they promote the formation of a dynamic transcription hub in Notch ON nuclei which concentrates key factors including the Mediator CDK module. The composition of the hub is labile and persists after Notch withdrawal conferring a memory that enables rapid reformation. Surprisingly, only a third of Notch ON hubs progress to a state with nascent transcription, which correlates with polymerase II and core Mediator recruitment. This probability is increased by a second signal. The discovery that target-gene transcription is probabilistic has far-reaching implications because it implies that stochastic differences in Notch pathway output can arise downstream of receptor activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Javier DeHaro-Arbona
- Department of Physiology Development and Neuroscience, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Charalambos Roussos
- Department of Physiology Development and Neuroscience, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Sarah Baloul
- Department of Physiology Development and Neuroscience, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Townson
- Department of Physiology Development and Neuroscience, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - María J Gómez Lamarca
- Department of Physiology Development and Neuroscience, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocıo/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Departamento de Biologıa CelularSevilleSpain
| | - Sarah Bray
- Department of Physiology Development and Neuroscience, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
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Zhang S, Kim EJ, Huang J, Liu P, Donahue K, Wang Q, Wang Y, Mcilwain S, Xie L, Chen X, Li L, Xu W. NEAT1 repression by MED12 creates chemosensitivity in p53 wild-type breast cancer cells. FEBS J 2024; 291:1909-1924. [PMID: 38380720 PMCID: PMC11068489 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Breast cancer is often treated with chemotherapy. However, the development of chemoresistance results in treatment failure. Long non-coding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) has been shown to contribute to chemoresistance in breast cancer cells. In studying the transcriptional regulation of NEAT1 using multi-omics approaches, we showed that NEAT1 is up-regulated by 5-fluorouracil in breast cancer cells with wild-type cellular tumor antigen p53 but not in mutant-p53-expressing breast cancer cells. The regulation of NEAT1 involves mediator complex subunit 12 (MED12)-mediated repression of histone acetylation marks at the promoter region of NEAT1. Knockdown of MED12 but not coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1) induced histone acetylation at the NEAT1 promoter, leading to elevated NEAT1 mRNAs, resulting in a chemoresistant phenotype. The MED12-dependent regulation of NEAT1 differs between wild-type and mutant p53-expressing cells. MED12 depletion led to increased expression of NEAT1 in a wild-type p53 cell line, but decreased expression in a mutant p53 cell line. Chemoresistance caused by MED12 depletion can be partially rescued by NEAT1 knockdown in p53 wild-type cells. Collectively, our study reveals a novel mechanism of chemoresistance dependent on MED12 transcriptional regulation of NEAT1 in p53 wild-type breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengjie Zhang
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Present Address: Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
| | - Eui-Jun Kim
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Junfeng Huang
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Kristine Donahue
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Qinchuan Wang
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Yidan Wang
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Sean Mcilwain
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Ling Xie
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Xian Chen
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Lingjun Li
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Wei Xu
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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10
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Li J, Hilimire TA, Liu Y, Wang L, Liang J, Gyorffy B, Sikirzhytski V, Ji H, Zhang L, Cheng C, Ding X, Kerr KR, Dowling CE, Chumanevich AA, Mack ZT, Schools GP, Lim CU, Ellis L, Zi X, Porter DC, Broude EV, McInnes C, Wilding G, Lilly MB, Roninson IB, Chen M. Mediator kinase inhibition reverses castration resistance of advanced prostate cancer. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e176709. [PMID: 38546787 DOI: 10.1172/jci176709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Mediator kinases CDK19 and CDK8, pleiotropic regulators of transcriptional reprogramming, are differentially regulated by androgen signaling, but both kinases are upregulated in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of CDK8 and CDK19 reverses the castration-resistant phenotype and restores the sensitivity of CRPC xenografts to androgen deprivation in vivo. Prolonged CDK8/19 inhibitor treatment combined with castration not only suppressed the growth of CRPC xenografts but also induced tumor regression and cures. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that Mediator kinase inhibition amplified and modulated the effects of castration on gene expression, disrupting CRPC adaptation to androgen deprivation. Mediator kinase inactivation in tumor cells also affected stromal gene expression, indicating that Mediator kinase activity in CRPC molded the tumor microenvironment. The combination of castration and Mediator kinase inhibition downregulated the MYC pathway, and Mediator kinase inhibition suppressed a MYC-driven CRPC tumor model even without castration. CDK8/19 inhibitors showed efficacy in patient-derived xenograft models of CRPC, and a gene signature of Mediator kinase activity correlated with tumor progression and overall survival in clinical samples of metastatic CRPC. These results indicate that Mediator kinases mediated androgen-independent in vivo growth of CRPC, supporting the development of CDK8/19 inhibitors for the treatment of this presently incurable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Thomas A Hilimire
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
- Senex Biotechnology Inc., Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Yueying Liu
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Lili Wang
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Jiaxin Liang
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Balazs Gyorffy
- Department of Bioinformatics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Biophysics, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Vitali Sikirzhytski
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Hao Ji
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Chen Cheng
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Xiaokai Ding
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Kendall R Kerr
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Charles E Dowling
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Alexander A Chumanevich
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Zachary T Mack
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Gary P Schools
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Chang-Uk Lim
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Leigh Ellis
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Walter Reed National Military Medical Center; Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc.; Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Xiaolin Zi
- Departments of Urology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | | | - Eugenia V Broude
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Campbell McInnes
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | | | - Michael B Lilly
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Igor B Roninson
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Mengqian Chen
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
- Senex Biotechnology Inc., Columbia, South Carolina, USA
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11
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Voutsadakis IA. Targeting super-enhancer activity for colorectal cancer therapy. Am J Transl Res 2024; 16:700-719. [PMID: 38586095 PMCID: PMC10994804 DOI: 10.62347/qkhb5897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
In addition to genetic variants and copy number alterations, epigenetic deregulation of oncogenes and tumor suppressors is a major contributor in cancer development and propagation. Regulatory elements for gene transcription regulation can be found in promoters which are located in the vicinity of transcription start sites but also at a distance, in enhancer sites, brought to interact with proximal sites when occupied by enhancer protein complexes. These sites provide most of the specific regulatory sequences recognized by transcription factors. A sub-set of enhancers characterized by a longer structure and stronger activity, called super-enhancers, are critical for the expression of specific genes, usually associated with individual cell type identity and function. Super-enhancers show deregulation in cancer, which may have profound repercussions for cancer cell survival and response to therapy. Dysfunction of super-enhancers may result from multiple mechanisms that include changes in their sequence, alterations in the topological neighborhoods where they belong, and alterations in the proteins that mediate their function, such as transcription factors and epigenetic modifiers. These can become potential targets for therapeutic interventions. Genes that are targets of super-enhancers are cell and cancer type specific and could also be of interest for therapeutic targeting. In colorectal cancer, a super-enhancer regulated and over-expressed oncogene is MYC, under the influence of the WNT/β-catenin pathway. Identification and targeting of additional oncogenes regulated by super-enhancers in colorectal cancer may pave the way for combination therapies targeting the super-enhancer machinery and signal transduction pathways that regulate the specific transcription factors operative on them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis A Voutsadakis
- Algoma District Cancer Program, Sault Area HospitalSault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada
- Division of Clinical Sciences, Section of Internal Medicine, Northern Ontario School of MedicineSudbury, ON, Canada
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12
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Horvath RM, Brumme ZL, Sadowski I. Small molecule inhibitors of transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinases impose HIV-1 latency, presenting "block and lock" treatment strategies. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0107223. [PMID: 38319085 PMCID: PMC10923280 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01072-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Current antiretroviral therapy for HIV-1 infection does not represent a cure for infection as viral rebound inevitably occurs following discontinuation of treatment. The "block and lock" therapeutic strategy is intended to enforce proviral latency and durably suppress viremic reemergence in the absence of other intervention. The transcription-associated cyclin-dependent protein kinases (tCDKs) are required for expression from the 5´ HIV-1 long-terminal repeat, but the therapeutic potential of inhibiting these kinases for enforcing HIV-1 latency has not been characterized. Here, we expanded previous observations to directly compare the effect of highly selective small molecule inhibitors of CDK7 (YKL-5-124), CDK9 (LDC000067), and CDK8/19 (Senexin A), and found each of these prevented HIV-1 provirus expression at concentrations that did not cause cell toxicity. Inhibition of CDK7 caused cell cycle arrest, whereas CDK9 and CDK8/19 inhibitors did not, and could be continuously administered to establish proviral latency. Upon discontinuation of drug administration, HIV immediately rebounded in cells that had been treated with the CDK9 inhibitor, while proviral latency persisted for several days in cells that had been treated with CDK8/19 inhibitors. These results identify the mediator kinases CDK8/CDK19 as potential "block and lock" targets for therapeutic suppression of HIV-1 provirus expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley M. Horvath
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Molecular Epigenetics Group, LSI, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Zabrina L. Brumme
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ivan Sadowski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Molecular Epigenetics Group, LSI, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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13
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Crawford T, Siebler L, Sulkowska A, Nowack B, Jiang L, Pan Y, Lämke J, Kappel C, Bäurle I. The Mediator kinase module enhances polymerase activity to regulate transcriptional memory after heat stress in Arabidopsis. EMBO J 2024; 43:437-461. [PMID: 38228917 PMCID: PMC10897291 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-023-00024-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Plants are often exposed to recurring adverse environmental conditions in the wild. Acclimation to high temperatures entails transcriptional responses, which prime plants to better withstand subsequent stress events. Heat stress (HS)-induced transcriptional memory results in more efficient re-induction of transcription upon recurrence of heat stress. Here, we identified CDK8 and MED12, two subunits of the kinase module of the transcription co-regulator complex, Mediator, as promoters of heat stress memory and associated histone modifications in Arabidopsis. CDK8 is recruited to heat-stress memory genes by HEAT SHOCK TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR A2 (HSFA2). Like HSFA2, CDK8 is largely dispensable for the initial gene induction upon HS, and its function in transcriptional memory is thus independent of primary gene activation. In addition to the promoter and transcriptional start region of target genes, CDK8 also binds their 3'-region, where it may promote elongation, termination, or rapid re-initiation of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) complexes during transcriptional memory bursts. Our work presents a complex role for the Mediator kinase module during transcriptional memory in multicellular eukaryotes, through interactions with transcription factors, chromatin modifications, and promotion of Pol II efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Crawford
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Lara Siebler
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Bryan Nowack
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Li Jiang
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Yufeng Pan
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jörn Lämke
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Christian Kappel
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Isabel Bäurle
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
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14
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Wood K, Nussbaum D, Martz C, Waters A, Barrera A, Rutter J, Cerda-Smith C, Stewart A, Wu C, Cakir M, Levandowski C, Kantrowitz D, McCall S, Pierobon M, Petricoin E, Smith J, Der C, Taatjes D. Mediator Kinase Inhibition Impedes Transcriptional Plasticity and Prevents Resistance to ERK/MAPK-Targeted Therapy in KRAS-Mutant Cancers. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3511242. [PMID: 37961649 PMCID: PMC10635398 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3511242/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Acquired resistance remains a major challenge for therapies targeting oncogene activated pathways. KRAS is the most frequently mutated oncogene in human cancers, yet strategies targeting its downstream signaling kinases have failed to produce durable treatment responses. Here, we developed multiple models of acquired resistance to dual-mechanism ERK/MAPK inhibitors across KRAS-mutant pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers, and then probed the long-term events enabling survival against this class of drugs. These studies revealed that resistance emerges secondary to large-scale transcriptional adaptations that are diverse and cell line-specific. Transcriptional reprogramming extends beyond the well-established early response, and instead represents a dynamic, evolved process that is refined to attain a stably resistant phenotype. Mechanistic and translational studies reveal that resistance to dual-mechanism ERK/MAPK inhibition is broadly susceptible to manipulation of the epigenetic machinery, and that Mediator kinase, in particular, can be co-targeted at a bottleneck point to prevent diverse, cell line-specific resistance programs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Chao Wu
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
| | | | | | | | | | - Mariaelena Pierobon
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University
| | | | - J Smith
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
| | - Channing Der
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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15
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Maia-Silva D, Schier AC, Skopelitis D, Kechejian V, Alpsoy A, Liverpool J, Taatjes DJ, Vakoc CR. Marker-based CRISPR screening reveals a MED12-p63 interaction that activates basal identity in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.24.563848. [PMID: 37961243 PMCID: PMC10634811 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.24.563848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The presence of basal lineage characteristics signifies hyper-aggressive human adenocarcinomas of the breast, bladder, and pancreas. However, the biochemical mechanisms that maintain this aberrant cell state are poorly understood. Here we performed marker-based genetic screens in search of factors needed to maintain basal identity in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This approach revealed MED12 as a powerful regulator of the basal cell state in this disease. Using biochemical reconstitution and epigenomics, we show that MED12 carries out this function by bridging the transcription factor p63, a known master regulator of the basal lineage, with the Mediator complex to activate lineage-specific enhancer elements. Consistent with this finding, the growth of basal-like PDAC is hypersensitive to MED12 loss when compared to classical PDAC. Taken together, our comprehensive genetic screens have revealed a biochemical interaction that sustains basal identity in human cancer, which could serve as a target for tumor lineage-directed therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Aktan Alpsoy
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
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16
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Pluta AJ, Studniarek C, Murphy S, Norbury CJ. Cyclin-dependent kinases: Masters of the eukaryotic universe. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 15:e1816. [PMID: 37718413 PMCID: PMC10909489 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
A family of structurally related cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDKs) drives many aspects of eukaryotic cell function. Much of the literature in this area has considered individual members of this family to act primarily either as regulators of the cell cycle, the context in which CDKs were first discovered, or as regulators of transcription. Until recently, CDK7 was the only clear example of a CDK that functions in both processes. However, new data points to several "cell-cycle" CDKs having important roles in transcription and some "transcriptional" CDKs having cell cycle-related targets. For example, novel functions in transcription have been demonstrated for the archetypal cell cycle regulator CDK1. The increasing evidence of the overlap between these two CDK types suggests that they might play a critical role in coordinating the two processes. Here we review the canonical functions of cell-cycle and transcriptional CDKs, and provide an update on how these kinases collaborate to perform important cellular functions. We also provide a brief overview of how dysregulation of CDKs contributes to carcinogenesis, and possible treatment avenues. This article is categorized under: RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA-Protein Complexes RNA Processing > 3' End Processing RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shona Murphy
- Sir William Dunn School of PathologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Chris J. Norbury
- Sir William Dunn School of PathologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
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17
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Chen M, Li J, Zhang L, Wang L, Cheng C, Ji H, Altilia S, Ding X, Cai G, Altomare D, Shtutman M, Byrum SD, Mackintosh SG, Feoktistov A, Soshnikova N, Mogila VA, Tatarskiy V, Erokhin M, Chetverina D, Prawira A, Ni Y, Urban S, McInnes C, Broude EV, Roninson IB. CDK8 and CDK19: positive regulators of signal-induced transcription and negative regulators of Mediator complex proteins. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:7288-7313. [PMID: 37378433 PMCID: PMC10415139 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We have conducted a detailed transcriptomic, proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis of CDK8 and its paralog CDK19, alternative enzymatic components of the kinase module associated with transcriptional Mediator complex and implicated in development and diseases. This analysis was performed using genetic modifications of CDK8 and CDK19, selective CDK8/19 small molecule kinase inhibitors and a potent CDK8/19 PROTAC degrader. CDK8/19 inhibition in cells exposed to serum or to agonists of NFκB or protein kinase C (PKC) reduced the induction of signal-responsive genes, indicating a pleiotropic role of Mediator kinases in signal-induced transcriptional reprogramming. CDK8/19 inhibition under basal conditions initially downregulated a small group of genes, most of which were inducible by serum or PKC stimulation. Prolonged CDK8/19 inhibition or mutagenesis upregulated a larger gene set, along with a post-transcriptional increase in the proteins comprising the core Mediator complex and its kinase module. Regulation of both RNA and protein expression required CDK8/19 kinase activities but both enzymes protected their binding partner cyclin C from proteolytic degradation in a kinase-independent manner. Analysis of isogenic cell populations expressing CDK8, CDK19 or their kinase-inactive mutants revealed that CDK8 and CDK19 have the same qualitative effects on protein phosphorylation and gene expression at the RNA and protein levels, whereas differential effects of CDK8 versus CDK19 knockouts were attributable to quantitative differences in their expression and activity rather than different functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqian Chen
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
- Senex Biotechnology, Inc. Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Lili Wang
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Chen Cheng
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Hao Ji
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Serena Altilia
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Xiaokai Ding
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Guoshuai Cai
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Diego Altomare
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Michael Shtutman
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Stephanie D Byrum
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Samuel G Mackintosh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Alexey Feoktistov
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Nataliya Soshnikova
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Vladislav A Mogila
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Victor Tatarskiy
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Maksim Erokhin
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Darya Chetverina
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Angga Prawira
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yi Ni
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephan Urban
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Campbell McInnes
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Eugenia V Broude
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Igor B Roninson
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
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18
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Tehrani SSH, Kogan A, Mikulski P, Jansen LET. Remembering foods and foes: emerging principles of transcriptional memory. Cell Death Differ 2023:10.1038/s41418-023-01200-6. [PMID: 37563261 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-023-01200-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional memory is characterized by a primed cellular state, induced by an external stimulus that results in an altered expression of primed genes upon re-exposure to the inducing signal. Intriguingly, the primed state is heritably maintained across somatic cell divisions even after the initial stimulus and target gene transcription cease. This phenomenon is widely observed across various organisms and appears to enable cells to retain a memory of external signals, thereby adapting to environmental changes. Signals range from nutrient supplies (food) to a variety of stress signals, including exposure to pathogens (foes), leading to long-term memory such as in the case of trained immunity in plants and mammals. Here, we review these priming phenomena and our current understanding of transcriptional memory. We consider different mechanistic models for how memory can work and discuss existing evidence for potential carriers of memory. Key molecular signatures include: the poising of RNA polymerase II machinery, maintenance of histone marks, as well as alterations in nuclear positioning and long-range chromatin interactions. Finally, we discuss the potential adaptive roles of transcriptional memory in the organismal response to its environment from nutrient sensing to trained immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar S H Tehrani
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU, Oxford, UK
| | - Anna Kogan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU, Oxford, UK
| | - Pawel Mikulski
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU, Oxford, UK.
| | - Lars E T Jansen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU, Oxford, UK.
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19
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Xu W, Li X. Regulation of Pol II Pausing during Daily Gene Transcription in Mouse Liver. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1107. [PMID: 37626993 PMCID: PMC10452108 DOI: 10.3390/biology12081107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Cell autonomous circadian oscillation is present in central and various peripheral tissues. The intrinsic tissue clock and various extrinsic cues drive gene expression rhythms. Transcription regulation is thought to be the main driving force for gene rhythms. However, how transcription rhythms arise remains to be fully characterized due to the fact that transcription is regulated at multiple steps. In particular, Pol II recruitment, pause release, and premature transcription termination are critical regulatory steps that determine the status of Pol II pausing and transcription output near the transcription start site (TSS) of the promoter. Recently, we showed that Pol II pausing exhibits genome-wide changes during daily transcription in mouse liver. In this article, we review historical as well as recent findings on the regulation of transcription rhythms by the circadian clock and other transcription factors, and the potential limitations of those results in explaining rhythmic transcription at the TSS. We then discuss our results on the genome-wide characteristics of daily changes in Pol II pausing, the possible regulatory mechanisms involved, and their relevance to future research on circadian transcription regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xiaodong Li
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China;
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20
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Ilchuk LA, Kubekina MV, Okulova YD, Silaeva YY, Tatarskiy VV, Filatov MA, Bruter AV. Genetically Engineered Mice Unveil In Vivo Roles of the Mediator Complex. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119330. [PMID: 37298278 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119330] [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: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The Mediator complex is a multi-subunit protein complex which plays a significant role in the regulation of eukaryotic gene transcription. It provides a platform for the interaction of transcriptional factors and RNA polymerase II, thus coupling external and internal stimuli with transcriptional programs. Molecular mechanisms underlying Mediator functioning are intensively studied, although most often using simple models such as tumor cell lines and yeast. Transgenic mouse models are required to study the role of Mediator components in physiological processes, disease, and development. As constitutive knockouts of most of the Mediator protein coding genes are embryonically lethal, conditional knockouts and corresponding activator strains are needed for these studies. Recently, they have become more easily available with the development of modern genetic engineering techniques. Here, we review existing mouse models for studying the Mediator, and data obtained in corresponding experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonid A Ilchuk
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Marina V Kubekina
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Yulia D Okulova
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Yulia Yu Silaeva
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilov Street, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Victor V Tatarskiy
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilov Street, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Maxim A Filatov
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexandra V Bruter
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
- Federal State Budgetary Institution "N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology", Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Kashirskoe Sh. 24, 115478 Moscow, Russia
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21
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Kuchur OA, Zavisrskiy AV, Shtil AA. Transcriptional Reprogramming Regulates Tumor Cell Survival in Response to Ionizing Radiation: a Role of p53. Bull Exp Biol Med 2023; 174:659-665. [PMID: 37060380 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-023-05764-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Senexin B, a non-toxic selective inhibitor of cyclin-dependent protein kinases 8 and 19 (CDK8 and CDK19), in combination with γ-photon irradiation in doses of 2-10 Gy increased the death of colon adenocarcinoma cell line HCT116 (intact p53) in a logarithmically growing culture, which was accompanied by the prevention of cell cycle arrest and a decrease of "senescence" phenotype. The effect of senexin B in cells with intact p53 is similar to that of Tp53 gene knockout: irradiated HCT116p53KO cells passed through the interphase and died independently of senexin B. The inhibitor reduced the ability of cells to colony formation in response to irradiation; p53 status did not affect the effectiveness of the combination of radiation and senexin B. Thus, the CDK8/19 inhibitor senexin B increased cell sensitivity to radiotherapy by mechanisms dependent and independent of p53 status.
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Affiliation(s)
- O A Kuchur
- SCAMT Institute, St. Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics, and Optics (ITMO University), St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - A V Zavisrskiy
- SCAMT Institute, St. Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics, and Optics (ITMO University), St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - A A Shtil
- SCAMT Institute, St. Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics, and Optics (ITMO University), St. Petersburg, Russia
- N. N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
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22
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Wang Z, Mačáková M, Bugai A, Kuznetsov SG, Hassinen A, Lenasi T, Potdar S, Friedel CC, Barborič M. P-TEFb promotes cell survival upon p53 activation by suppressing intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:1687-1706. [PMID: 36727434 PMCID: PMC9976905 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) is the crucial player in RNA polymerase II (Pol II) pause release that has emerged as a promising target in cancer. Because single-agent therapy may fail to deliver durable clinical response, targeting of P-TEFb shall benefit when deployed as a combination therapy. We screened a comprehensive oncology library and identified clinically relevant antimetabolites and Mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) inhibitors as top compounds eliciting p53-dependent death of colorectal cancer cells in synergy with selective inhibitors of P-TEFb. While the targeting of P-TEFb augments apoptosis by anti-metabolite 5-fluorouracil, it switches the fate of cancer cells by the non-genotoxic MDM2 inhibitor Nutlin-3a from cell-cycle arrest to apoptosis. Mechanistically, the fate switching is enabled by the induction of p53-dependent pro-apoptotic genes and repression of P-TEFb-dependent pro-survival genes of the PI3K-AKT signaling cascade, which stimulates caspase 9 and intrinsic apoptosis pathway in BAX/BAK-dependent manner. Finally, combination treatments trigger apoptosis of cancer cell spheroids. Together, co-targeting of P-TEFb and suppressors of intrinsic apoptosis could become a viable strategy to eliminate cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijia Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Monika Mačáková
- Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Andrii Bugai
- Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland.,Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Sergey G Kuznetsov
- High-Throughput Biomedicine Unit (HTB), Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Antti Hassinen
- High Content Imaging and Analysis Unit (HCA), Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Tina Lenasi
- Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Swapnil Potdar
- High-Throughput Biomedicine Unit (HTB), Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Caroline C Friedel
- Institute for Informatics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80333 Munich, Germany
| | - Matjaž Barborič
- Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
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23
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Hope I, Endicott JA, Watt JE. Emerging approaches to CDK inhibitor development, a structural perspective. RSC Chem Biol 2023; 4:146-164. [PMID: 36794018 PMCID: PMC9906319 DOI: 10.1039/d2cb00201a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant activity of the cyclin-dependent kinase family is frequently noted in a number of diseases identifying them as potential targets for drug development. However, current CDK inhibitors lack specificity owing to the high sequence and structural conservation of the ATP binding cleft across family members, highlighting the necessity of finding novel modes of CDK inhibition. The wealth of structural information regarding CDK assemblies and inhibitor complexes derived from X-ray crystallographic studies has been recently complemented through the use of cryo-electron microscopy. These recent advances have provided insights into the functional roles and regulatory mechanisms of CDKs and their interaction partners. This review explores the conformational malleability of the CDK subunit, the importance of SLiM recognition sites in CDK complexes, the progress made in chemically induced CDK degradation and how these studies can contribute to CDK inhibitor design. Additionally, fragment-based drug discovery can be utilised to identify small molecules that bind to allosteric sites on the CDK surface employing interactions which mimic those of native protein-protein interactions. These recent structural advances in CDK inhibitor mechanisms and in chemical probes which do not occupy the orthosteric ATP binding site can provide important insights for targeted CDK therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Hope
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Paul O'Gorman Building, Framlington Place Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH UK
| | - Jane A Endicott
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Paul O'Gorman Building, Framlington Place Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH UK
| | - Jessica E Watt
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Paul O'Gorman Building, Framlington Place Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH UK
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24
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Mechanisms of Interaction between Enhancers and Promoters in Three Drosophila Model Systems. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032855. [PMID: 36769179 PMCID: PMC9917889 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In higher eukaryotes, the regulation of developmental gene expression is determined by enhancers, which are often located at a large distance from the promoters they regulate. Therefore, the architecture of chromosomes and the mechanisms that determine the functional interaction between enhancers and promoters are of decisive importance in the development of organisms. Mammals and the model animal Drosophila have homologous key architectural proteins and similar mechanisms in the organization of chromosome architecture. This review describes the current progress in understanding the mechanisms of the formation and regulation of long-range interactions between enhancers and promoters at three well-studied key regulatory loci in Drosophila.
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25
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Zamkova MA, Persiyantseva NA, Tatarskiy VV, Shtil AA. Therapy-Induced Tumor Cell Senescence: Mechanisms and Circumvention. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2023; 88:86-104. [PMID: 37068872 DOI: 10.1134/s000629792301008x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Plasticity of tumor cells (multitude of molecular regulation pathways) allows them to evade cytocidal effects of chemo- and/or radiation therapy. Metabolic adaptation of the surviving cells is based on transcriptional reprogramming. Similarly to the process of natural cell aging, specific features of the survived tumor cells comprise the therapy-induced senescence phenotype. Tumor cells with this phenotype differ from the parental cells since they become less responsive to drugs and form aggressive progeny. Importance of the problem is explained by the general biological significance of transcriptional reprogramming as a mechanism of adaptation to stress, and by the emerging potential of its pharmacological targeting. In this review we analyze the mechanisms of regulation of the therapy-induced tumor cell senescence, as well as new drug combinations aimed to prevent this clinically unfavorable phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Zamkova
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia.
- Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow, 115478, Russia
| | - Nadezhda A Persiyantseva
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia
- Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow, 115478, Russia
| | - Victor V Tatarskiy
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - Alexander A Shtil
- Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow, 115478, Russia
- Institute of Cyber Intelligence Systems, National Research Nuclear University MEPHI, Moscow, 115409, Russia
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26
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Clopper KC, Taatjes DJ. Chemical inhibitors of transcription-associated kinases. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2022; 70:102186. [PMID: 35926294 PMCID: PMC10676000 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.102186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Transcription by RNA polymerase II (pol II) is regulated by kinases. In recent years, many selective and potent inhibitors of pol II transcription-associated kinases have been developed, and these molecules have advanced understanding of kinase function in mammalian cells. Here, we focus on chemical inhibitors of the transcription-associated kinases CDK7, CDK8, CDK9, CDK12, CDK13, and CDK19. We provide a brief overview of the function of these kinases and common activation mechanisms. We then highlight the advantages of kinase inhibitors compared with other basic research methods, and describe the caveats associated with non-selective compounds (e.g. flavopiridol). We conclude with strategies and recommendations for implementation of chemical inhibitors for experimental analysis of transcription-associated kinases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin C Clopper
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Dylan J Taatjes
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
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27
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Tanemoto F, Nangaku M, Mimura I. Epigenetic memory contributing to the pathogenesis of AKI-to-CKD transition. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:1003227. [PMID: 36213117 PMCID: PMC9532834 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1003227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic memory, which refers to the ability of cells to retain and transmit epigenetic marks to their daughter cells, maintains unique gene expression patterns. Establishing programmed epigenetic memory at each stage of development is required for cell differentiation. Moreover, accumulating evidence shows that epigenetic memory acquired in response to environmental stimuli may be associated with diverse diseases. In the field of kidney diseases, the “memory” of acute kidney injury (AKI) leads to progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD); epidemiological studies show that patients who recover from AKI are at high risk of developing CKD. The underlying pathological processes include nephron loss, maladaptive epithelial repair, inflammation, and endothelial injury with vascular rarefaction. Further, epigenetic alterations may contribute as well to the pathophysiology of this AKI-to-CKD transition. Epigenetic changes induced by AKI, which can be recorded in cells, exert long-term effects as epigenetic memory. Considering the latest findings on the molecular basis of epigenetic memory and the pathophysiology of AKI-to-CKD transition, we propose here that epigenetic memory contributing to AKI-to-CKD transition can be classified according to the presence or absence of persistent changes in the associated regulation of gene expression, which we designate “driving” memory and “priming” memory, respectively. “Driving” memory, which persistently alters the regulation of gene expression, may contribute to disease progression by activating fibrogenic genes or inhibiting renoprotective genes. This process may be involved in generating the proinflammatory and profibrotic phenotypes of maladaptively repaired tubular cells after kidney injury. “Priming” memory is stored in seemingly successfully repaired tubular cells in the absence of detectable persistent phenotypic changes, which may enhance a subsequent transcriptional response to the second stimulus. This type of memory may contribute to AKI-to-CKD transition through the cumulative effects of enhanced expression of profibrotic genes required for wound repair after recurrent AKI. Further understanding of epigenetic memory will identify therapeutic targets of future epigenetic intervention to prevent AKI-to-CKD transition.
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28
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Allen BL, Quach K, Jones T, Levandowski CB, Ebmeier CC, Rubin JD, Read T, Dowell RD, Schepartz A, Taatjes DJ. Suppression of p53 response by targeting p53-Mediator binding with a stapled peptide. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110630. [PMID: 35385747 PMCID: PMC9044438 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA-binding transcription factors (TFs) remain challenging to target with molecular probes. Many TFs function in part through interaction with Mediator, a 26-subunit complex that controls RNA polymerase II activity genome-wide. We sought to block p53 function by disrupting the p53-Mediator interaction. Through rational design and activity-based screening, we characterize a stapled peptide, with functional mimics of both p53 activation domains, that blocks p53-Mediator binding and selectively inhibits p53-dependent transcription in human cells; importantly, this "bivalent" peptide has negligible impact, genome-wide, on non-p53 target genes. Our proof-of-concept strategy circumvents the TF entirely and targets the TF-Mediator interface instead, with desired functional outcomes (i.e., selective inhibition of p53 activation). Furthermore, these results demonstrate that TF activation domains represent viable starting points for Mediator-targeting molecular probes, as an alternative to large compound libraries. Different TFs bind Mediator through different subunits, suggesting this strategy could be broadly applied to selectively alter gene expression programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin L. Allen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Kim Quach
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Taylor Jones
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | | | | | - Jonathan D. Rubin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Timothy Read
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA,Department of Medicine, Division of Genetics, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Robin D. Dowell
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA,BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Alanna Schepartz
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA,Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA,Correspondence: (A.S.), (D.J.T.)
| | - Dylan J. Taatjes
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA,Lead contact,Correspondence: (A.S.), (D.J.T.)
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