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Li Z, Xie L, Zou L, Xiao S, Tao J. Overexpression of RAD54L attenuates osteoarthritis by suppressing the HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway: Bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298575. [PMID: 38593124 PMCID: PMC11003635 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298575] [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: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread chronic, progressive, degenerative joint disease that causes pain and disability. Current treatments for OA have limited effectiveness and new biomarkers need to be identified. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to explore differentially expressed genes and DNA repair/recombination protein 54 L (RAD54L) was selected. We firstly overexpressed RAD54L in interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-induced human articular chondrocytes or in OA rats to investigate its effect on OA. Chondrocyte viability and apoptotic rate were measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry, respectively. Then we evaluated OA severity in vivo by Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Osteoarthritis Research Society International standards. The expression of inflammatory mediators was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Finally, western blot was performed to determine the relative expression level of hypoxia-inducible factors 1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Overexpression of RAD54L promoted cell viability and attenuated apoptosis in IL-1β-induced human chondrocytes. A lower Osteoarthritis Research Society International score and a remarkable alleviation of chondrocyte disordering and infiltration of inflammatory cells were found in cartilage tissues of OA rats after overexpressing RAD54L. The inflammatory response induced by OA was decreased by RAD54L overexpression in vitro and in vivo. In addition, RAD54L overexpression decreased the relative expression level of HIF-1α and VEGF. Overexpression of RAD54L could attenuate OA by suppressing the HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway, indicating that RAD54L may be a potential treatment target for OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengnan Li
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Donghu District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Sports Medicine, The Affiliated Ganzhou Hospital of Nanchang University (Ganzhou People’s Hospital), Zhanggong District, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Lifeng Xie
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Donghu District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Longqiang Zou
- Department of Sports Medicine, The Affiliated Ganzhou Hospital of Nanchang University (Ganzhou People’s Hospital), Zhanggong District, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Shiliang Xiao
- Department of Sports Medicine, The Affiliated Ganzhou Hospital of Nanchang University (Ganzhou People’s Hospital), Zhanggong District, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Jun Tao
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Donghu District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
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Kaur E, Agrawal R, Arun R, Madhavan V, Srivastava V, Kumar D, Rath PP, Kumar N, Vedagopuram S, Pandey N, Priya S, Legembre P, Gourinath S, Bajaj A, Sengupta S. Small molecules that disrupt RAD54-BLM interaction hamper tumor proliferation in colon cancer chemoresistance models. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e161941. [PMID: 38421735 PMCID: PMC11014671 DOI: 10.1172/jci161941] [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: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
RAD54 and BLM helicase play pivotal roles during homologous recombination repair (HRR) to ensure genome maintenance. BLM amino acids (aa 181-212) interact with RAD54 and enhance its chromatin remodeling activity. Functionally, this interaction heightens HRR, leading to a decrease in residual DNA damage in colon cancer cells. This contributes to chemoresistance in colon cancer cells against cisplatin, camptothecin, and oxaliplatin, eventually promoting tumorigenesis in preclinical colon cancer mouse models. ChIP-Seq analysis and validation revealed increased BLM and RAD54 corecruitment on the MRP2 promoter in camptothecin-resistant colon cancer cells, leading to BLM-dependent enhancement of RAD54-mediated chromatin remodeling. We screened the Prestwick small-molecule library, with the intent to revert camptothecin- and oxaliplatin-induced chemoresistance by disrupting the RAD54-BLM interaction. Three FDA/European Medicines Agency-approved candidates were identified that could disrupt this interaction. These drugs bound to RAD54, altered its conformation, and abrogated RAD54-BLM-dependent chromatin remodeling on G5E4 and MRP2 arrays. Notably, the small molecules also reduced HRR efficiency in resistant lines, diminished anchorage-independent growth, and hampered the proliferation of tumors generated using camptothecin- and oxaliplatin-resistant colon cancer cells in both xenograft and syngeneic mouse models in BLM-dependent manner. Therefore, the 3 identified small molecules can serve as possible viable candidates for adjunct therapy in colon cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekjot Kaur
- Biotechnology Research Innovation Council—National Institute of Immunology (BRIC-NII), New Delhi, India
| | - Ritu Agrawal
- Biotechnology Research Innovation Council—National Institute of Immunology (BRIC-NII), New Delhi, India
| | - Rimpy Arun
- Biotechnology Research Innovation Council—National Institute of Immunology (BRIC-NII), New Delhi, India
| | - Vinoth Madhavan
- Biotechnology Research Innovation Council—National Institute of Immunology (BRIC-NII), New Delhi, India
| | - Vivek Srivastava
- Biotechnology Research Innovation Council—National Institute of Immunology (BRIC-NII), New Delhi, India
| | - Dilip Kumar
- Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | | | - Nitin Kumar
- Biotechnology Research Innovation Council—National Institute of Immunology (BRIC-NII), New Delhi, India
| | - Sreekanth Vedagopuram
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Nishant Pandey
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Swati Priya
- Biotechnology Research Innovation Council—National Institute of Immunology (BRIC-NII), New Delhi, India
| | - Patrick Legembre
- UMR CNRS 7276, INSERM U1262, CRIBL, Université Limoges, Limoges, France
| | | | - Avinash Bajaj
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Sagar Sengupta
- Biotechnology Research Innovation Council—National Institute of Immunology (BRIC-NII), New Delhi, India
- Biotechnology Research Innovation Council—National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (BRIC-NIBMG), Kalyani, India
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Yu S, Lv L, Li Y, Ning Q, Liu T, Hu T. PLK3 promotes the proneural-mesenchymal transition in glioblastoma via transcriptional regulation of C5AR1. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:8249-8258. [PMID: 37568042 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08716-7] [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: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Yu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi, China
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lin Lv
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Qian Ning
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tingting Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tinghua Hu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi, China.
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4
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Zhou Y, Qiu C, Fu Q, Li T, Zhang X, Zhu C, Qin X, Wu B. Pan-Cancer Analysis of Oncogenic Role of RAD54L and Experimental Validation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Inflamm Res 2023; 16:3997-4017. [PMID: 37719938 PMCID: PMC10503553 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s426558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background RAD54L is a prominent member of the SWI2/SNF2 protein family, primarily involved in the homologous recombination repair (HRR) process, thereby playing a pivotal role in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). RAD54L has been implicated in the development of numerous tumors. Consequently, we aimed to investigate the potential contribution of RAD54L in pan-cancer. Methods Various databases and analytical tools were employed for bioinformatics analysis. Moreover, in vitro experiments were conducted to corroborate the findings from the bioinformatics analysis and delve deeper into the role of RAD54L in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Results RAD54L expression demonstrated a significant elevation in the majority of tumors, and its overexpression was strongly associated with unfavorable survival outcomes. RAD54L displayed robust correlations with the infiltration levels of various immune cells, including cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Additionally, associations were observed between RAD54L and key factors such as tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), multiple immune checkpoints, and immune cell infiltration. Moreover, a close relationship was observed between RAD54L expression levels in HCC and clinicopathological characteristics, as well as immune cell infiltration. Experimental techniques including qRT-PCR, Western blotting, colony-forming, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), wound-healing, and transwell assays were employed, which collectively demonstrated that RAD54L promoted the proliferation and migration of HCC cells. Conclusion RAD54L exhibits robust expression in both pan-cancer and HCC, exerting a significant influence on the proliferation and migration of HCC cells. These findings highlight its potential as a promising biomarker for pan-cancer and a prospective target for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongzhen Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, the Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, People’s Republic of China
- Graduate School, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233003, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chenjie Qiu
- Department of General Surgery, Changzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changzhou, 213000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qingsheng Fu
- Graduate School, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233003, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tao Li
- Department of General Surgery, the Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xudong Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, the Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chunfu Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, the Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xihu Qin
- Department of General Surgery, the Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Baoqiang Wu
- Department of General Surgery, the Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, People’s Republic of China
- Graduate School, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233003, People’s Republic of China
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DNA repair/recombination protein 54L promotes the progression of lung adenocarcinoma by activating mTORC1 pathway. Hum Cell 2023; 36:421-433. [PMID: 36454390 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-022-00832-z] [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: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most prevalent form of lung cancer and has a poor prognosis. RAD54L is a DNA repair protein upregulated in several cancer types, but its role in LUAD progression remains unclear. The objective of this study was to characterise the molecular pathways that oncogenic RAD54L modulates to drive LUAD progression. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)‒LUAD dataset was analysed to compare the RAD54L mRNA expression in LUAD tumours to that in normal lung tissue. RAD54L and E2F7 mRNA expression was confirmed in human cancer cell lines using RT-qPCR. Bioinformatics tools were used to predict the target genes and downstream signalling pathways of RAD54L. Proteins related to RAD54L, apoptosis, migration, and the mTORC1 pathway were assessed by Western blotting. Using the TCGA‒LUAD dataset, we found that RAD54L was higher in LUAD tumours compared to that in non-cancerous lung tissue, and RAD54L levels were significantly correlated with pathological TNM stage and unfavourable prognosis in patients with LUAD. RAD54L was ubiquitously upregulated in LUAD cells (NCI-H1975, H1299, H23 and A549). Furthermore, RAD54L silencing decreased cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, and induced cell apoptosis and G1 cell cycle phase arrest in H1299 and H23 human lung cancer cell lines. E2F7 was predicted as a target gene of RAD54L. E2F7 overexpression restored malignant cell behaviour in si-RAD54L-treated H1299 cells. Bioinformatic analysis suggested that the mTORC1 signalling pathway is downstream of RAD54L. Rapamycin treatment impaired RAD54L-mediated malignant cell behaviour in H1299 cells. Additionally, RAD54L promoted the progression of xenograft tumours and metastasis in vivo. In conclusion, the E2F7-RAD54L axis promotes the progression of LUAD through the mTORC1 signalling pathway.
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Chava S, Bugide S, Malvi P, Gupta R. Co-targeting of specific epigenetic regulators in combination with CDC7 potently inhibit melanoma growth. iScience 2022; 25:104752. [PMID: 35942091 PMCID: PMC9356103 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a highly aggressive skin cancer that frequently metastasizes, but current therapies only benefit some patients. Here, we demonstrate that the serine/threonine kinase cell division cycle 7 (CDC7) is overexpressed in melanoma, and patients with higher expression have shorter survival. Transcription factor ELK1 regulates CDC7 expression, and CDC7 inhibition promotes cell cycle arrest, senescence, and apoptosis, leading to inhibition of melanoma tumor growth and metastasis. Our chemical genetics screen with epigenetic inhibitors revealed stronger melanoma tumor growth inhibition when XL413 is combined with the EZH2 inhibitor GSK343 or BRPF1/2/3 inhibitor OF1. Mechanistically, XL413 with GSK343 or OF1 synergistically altered the expression of tumor-suppressive genes, leading to higher apoptosis than the single agent alone. Collectively, these results identify CDC7 as a driver of melanoma tumor growth and metastasis that can be targeted alone or in combination with EZH2 or BRPF1/2/3 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh Chava
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Suresh Bugide
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Parmanand Malvi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Romi Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
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7
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Liu R, Huang Y. CDC7 as a novel biomarker and druggable target in cancer. Clin Transl Oncol 2022; 24:1856-1864. [PMID: 35657477 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-022-02853-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Due to the bottlenecks encountered in traditional treatment for tumor, more effective drug targets need to be developed. Cell division cycle 7 kinase plays an important role in DNA replication, DNA repair and recombination signaling pathways. In this review, we first describe recent studies on the role of CDC7 in DNA replication in normal human tissues, and then we integrate new evidence focusing on the important role of CDC7 in replication stress tolerance of tumor cells and its impact on the prognosis of clinical oncology patients. Finally, we comb through the CDC7 inhibitors identified in recent studies as a reference for further research in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runze Liu
- National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Talent Highland of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Yong Huang
- National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Talent Highland of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.
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8
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Baroni M, Yi C, Choudhary S, Lei X, Kosti A, Grieshober D, Velasco M, Qiao M, Burns SS, Araujo PR, DeLambre T, Son MY, Plateroti M, Ferreira MAR, Hasty EP, Penalva LOF. Musashi1 Contribution to Glioblastoma Development via Regulation of a Network of DNA Replication, Cell Cycle and Division Genes. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1494. [PMID: 33804958 PMCID: PMC8036803 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) function as master regulators of gene expression. Alterations in their levels are often observed in tumors with numerous oncogenic RBPs identified in recent years. Musashi1 (Msi1) is an RBP and stem cell gene that controls the balance between self-renewal and differentiation. High Msi1 levels have been observed in multiple tumors including glioblastoma and are often associated with poor patient outcomes and tumor growth. A comprehensive genomic analysis identified a network of cell cycle/division and DNA replication genes and established these processes as Msi1's core regulatory functions in glioblastoma. Msi1 controls this gene network via two mechanisms: direct interaction and indirect regulation mediated by the transcription factors E2F2 and E2F8. Moreover, glioblastoma lines with Msi1 knockout (KO) displayed increased sensitivity to cell cycle and DNA replication inhibitors. Our results suggest that a drug combination strategy (Msi1 + cell cycle/DNA replication inhibitors) could be a viable route to treat glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirella Baroni
- Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (M.B.); (C.Y.); (X.L.); (A.K.); (D.G.); (M.V.); (M.Q.); (P.R.A.); (T.D.)
| | - Caihong Yi
- Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (M.B.); (C.Y.); (X.L.); (A.K.); (D.G.); (M.V.); (M.Q.); (P.R.A.); (T.D.)
- Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Saket Choudhary
- Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA;
| | - Xiufen Lei
- Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (M.B.); (C.Y.); (X.L.); (A.K.); (D.G.); (M.V.); (M.Q.); (P.R.A.); (T.D.)
| | - Adam Kosti
- Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (M.B.); (C.Y.); (X.L.); (A.K.); (D.G.); (M.V.); (M.Q.); (P.R.A.); (T.D.)
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Denise Grieshober
- Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (M.B.); (C.Y.); (X.L.); (A.K.); (D.G.); (M.V.); (M.Q.); (P.R.A.); (T.D.)
| | - Mitzli Velasco
- Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (M.B.); (C.Y.); (X.L.); (A.K.); (D.G.); (M.V.); (M.Q.); (P.R.A.); (T.D.)
| | - Mei Qiao
- Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (M.B.); (C.Y.); (X.L.); (A.K.); (D.G.); (M.V.); (M.Q.); (P.R.A.); (T.D.)
| | - Suzanne S. Burns
- Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (M.B.); (C.Y.); (X.L.); (A.K.); (D.G.); (M.V.); (M.Q.); (P.R.A.); (T.D.)
| | - Patricia R. Araujo
- Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (M.B.); (C.Y.); (X.L.); (A.K.); (D.G.); (M.V.); (M.Q.); (P.R.A.); (T.D.)
| | - Talia DeLambre
- Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (M.B.); (C.Y.); (X.L.); (A.K.); (D.G.); (M.V.); (M.Q.); (P.R.A.); (T.D.)
| | - Mi Young Son
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (M.Y.S.); (E.P.H.)
| | - Michelina Plateroti
- Team: Development, Cancer and Stem Cells, Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, IRFAC/UMR-S1113, FMTS, 67200 Strasbourg, France;
| | | | - E. Paul Hasty
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (M.Y.S.); (E.P.H.)
| | - Luiz O. F. Penalva
- Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (M.B.); (C.Y.); (X.L.); (A.K.); (D.G.); (M.V.); (M.Q.); (P.R.A.); (T.D.)
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
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9
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Tu Z, Chen X, Tian T, Chen G, Huang M. Prognostic significance of epigenetic regulatory gene expression in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:7397-7415. [PMID: 33658396 PMCID: PMC7993691 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we used public databases to investigate the prognostic significance of epigenetic regulatory gene expression in patients with non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Oncomine database analysis showed that the mRNA levels of seven epigenetic regulatory genes, UHRF1, EZH2, TTF2, SUV39H2, PCNA, WHSC1 and RAD54L, genes were significantly upregulated in NSCLC patients as compared to normal lung tissues. Functional enrichment analysis of these seven genes showed that the most enriched GO terms were DNA repair and rhythmic process, whereas, the most enriched KEGG pathway was lysine degradation pathway. The mRNA and protein expression levels of UHRF1, EZH2, TTF2, WHSC1 and RAD54L significantly correlated with tumor stage in NSCLC patients. Moreover, NSCLC patients exhibiting higher UHRF1, EZH2, WHSC1 and RAD54L mRNA and protein expression levels had poorer progression-free survival and overall survival. These findings demonstrate that UHRF1, EZH2, WHSC1 and RAD54L are potential prognostic biomarkers to distinguish high-risk from low-risk NSCLC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zegui Tu
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China.,West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P.R. China
| | - Xiancheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Tian Tian
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China.,West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P.R. China
| | - Guo Chen
- Global Infotech Software Limited Corporation, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Meijuan Huang
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China.,West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China
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10
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Xia X, Li Y. Comprehensive analysis of transcriptome data stemness indices identifies key genes for controlling cancer stem cell characteristics in gastric cancer. Transl Cancer Res 2020; 9:6050-6061. [PMID: 35117216 PMCID: PMC8797465 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-20-704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the tumor cell of origin with self-renewing ability and multi-differentiation potency. CSCs can play vital roles in gastric cancer (GC) metastasis and relapse. However, the genes that regulate the stemness maintenance of CSCs in GC patients remain largely unknown. In the present study, we sought to determine the key genes associated with stemness in GC patients. METHODS mRNA expression-based stemness index (mRNA SI) was analyzed with regard to the differential expression levels between normal and GC tissues, as well as clinical features and survival outcomes. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identify modules of interest and key genes. The differences in mRNA expression of key genes between normal and GC tissues were calculated by "ggpubr" package in R. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis were carried out to annotate the function of key genes. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) and gene co-expression analyses were conducted using STRING and "corrplot" package in R, respectively. RESULTS mRNA SI score was markedly increased in GC tumor compared to normal tissues. High mRNA SI score was remarkably associated with more advanced tumor stage and higher pathologic grade, but longer survival times. Based on the results of WGCNA, 19 key genes (i.e., BUB1, BUB1B, KIF14, NCAPH, RACGAP1, KIF15, CENPF, TPX2, RAD54L, KIF18B, TTX, KIF4A, SGO2, PLK4, ARHGAP11A, XRCC2, C1orf112, NCAPG, ORC6) were identified. GO and KEGG functional analyses revealed that these 19 key genes were mainly related to cell proliferation. From PPI and gene co-expression analyses, these 19 key genes were discovered to be intensively associated with each other at both protein and transcription levels. CONCLUSIONS our study identified 19 key genes that play vital roles in the stemness maintenance of CSCs in GC patients. Targeting these key genes may help to control CSC characteristics in GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Xia
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuejun Li
- Department of Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhuzhou, China.,Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhuzhou, China
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11
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Basilico S, Wang X, Kennedy A, Tzelepis K, Giotopoulos G, Kinston SJ, Quiros PM, Wong K, Adams DJ, Carnevalli LS, Huntly BJP, Vassiliou GS, Calero-Nieto FJ, Göttgens B. Dissecting the early steps of MLL induced leukaemogenic transformation using a mouse model of AML. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1407. [PMID: 32179751 PMCID: PMC7075888 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15220-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukaemogenic mutations commonly disrupt cellular differentiation and/or enhance proliferation, thus perturbing the regulatory programs that control self-renewal and differentiation of stem and progenitor cells. Translocations involving the Mll1 (Kmt2a) gene generate powerful oncogenic fusion proteins, predominantly affecting infant and paediatric AML and ALL patients. The early stages of leukaemogenic transformation are typically inaccessible from human patients and conventional mouse models. Here, we take advantage of cells conditionally blocked at the multipotent haematopoietic progenitor stage to develop a MLL-r model capturing early cellular and molecular consequences of MLL-ENL expression based on a clear clonal relationship between parental and leukaemic cells. Through a combination of scRNA-seq, ATAC-seq and genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 screening, we identify pathways and genes likely to drive the early phases of leukaemogenesis. Finally, we demonstrate the broad utility of using matched parental and transformed cells for small molecule inhibitor studies by validating both previously known and other potential therapeutic targets.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
- DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
- DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
- Female
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells/metabolism
- Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase/genetics
- Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase/metabolism
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/metabolism
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/physiopathology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/genetics
- Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/metabolism
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/metabolism
- Transcription Factors/genetics
- Transcription Factors/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Basilico
- Wellcome and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and University of Cambridge Department of Haematology, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Xiaonan Wang
- Wellcome and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and University of Cambridge Department of Haematology, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Alison Kennedy
- Wellcome and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and University of Cambridge Department of Haematology, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Konstantinos Tzelepis
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
- Milner Therapeutics Institute, University of Cambridge, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - George Giotopoulos
- Wellcome and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and University of Cambridge Department of Haematology, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Sarah J Kinston
- Wellcome and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and University of Cambridge Department of Haematology, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Pedro M Quiros
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Kim Wong
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - David J Adams
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | | | - Brian J P Huntly
- Wellcome and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and University of Cambridge Department of Haematology, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - George S Vassiliou
- Wellcome and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and University of Cambridge Department of Haematology, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Fernando J Calero-Nieto
- Wellcome and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and University of Cambridge Department of Haematology, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK.
| | - Berthold Göttgens
- Wellcome and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and University of Cambridge Department of Haematology, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK.
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Chung YH, Lin CW, Huang HY, Chen SL, Huang HJ, Sun YC, Lee GC, Lee-Chen GJ, Chang YC, Hsieh-Li HM. Targeting Inflammation, PHA-767491 Shows a Broad Spectrum in Protein Aggregation Diseases. J Mol Neurosci 2020; 70:1140-1152. [PMID: 32170713 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-020-01521-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Many protein aggregation diseases (PAD) affect the nervous system. Deposits of aggregated disease-specific proteins are found within or around the neuronal cells of neurodegenerative diseases. Although the main protein component is disease-specific, oligomeric aggregates are presumed to be the key agents causing the neurotoxicity. Evidence has shown that protein aggregates cause a chronic inflammatory reaction in the brain, resulting in neurodegeneration. Therefore, strategies targeting anti-inflammation could be beneficial to the therapeutics of PAD. PHA-767491 was originally identified as an inhibitor of CDC7/CDK9 and was found to reduce TDP-43 phosphorylation and prevent neurodegeneration in TDP-43 transgenic animals. We recently identified PHA-767491 as a GSK-3β inhibitor. In this study, we established mouse hippocampal primary culture with tau-hyperphosphorylation through the activation of GSK-3β using Wortmannin and GF109203X. We found that PHA-767491 significantly improved the neurite outgrowth of hippocampal primary neurons against the neurotoxicity induced by GSK-3β. We further showed that PHA-767491 had neuroprotective ability in hippocampal primary culture under oligomeric Aβ treatment. In addition, PHA-767491 attenuated the neuroinflammation in mouse cerebellar slice culture with human TBP-109Q agitation. Further study of SCA17 transgenic mice carrying human TBP-109Q showed that PHA-767491 ameliorated the gait ataxia and the inflammatory response both centrally and peripherally. Our findings suggest that PHA-767491 has a broad spectrum of activity in the treatment of different PAD and that this activity could be based on the anti-inflammation mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Han Chung
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wei Lin
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Yu Huang
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Ling Chen
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hei-Jen Huang
- Department of Nursing, Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Chieh Sun
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Guan-Chiun Lee
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Guey-Jen Lee-Chen
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Ching Chang
- Department of Pharmacy, Taiwan Adventist Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Hsiu Mei Hsieh-Li
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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13
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Qiu HZ, Huang J, Xiang CC, Li R, Zuo ED, Zhang Y, Shan L, Cheng X. Screening and Discovery of New Potential Biomarkers and Small Molecule Drugs for Cervical Cancer: A Bioinformatics Analysis. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2020; 19:1533033820980112. [PMID: 33302814 PMCID: PMC7734488 DOI: 10.1177/1533033820980112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cervical cancer (CC) is the second most common type of malignant tumor survival rate is low in advanced stage, metastatic, and recurrent CC patients. This study aimed at identifying potential genes and drugs for CC diagnosis and targeting therapies. METHODS Three GEO mRNA microarray datasets of CC tissues and non-cancerous tissues were analyzed for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by limma package. GO (Gene Ontologies) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) were used to explore the relationships between the DEGs. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) of these genes was established by the STRING database. MCODE was used for screening significant modules in the PPI networks to select hub genes. Biochemical mechanisms of the hub genes were investigated with Metascape. GEPIA database was used for validating the core genes. According to these DEGs, molecular candidates for CC were recognized from the CMAP database. RESULTS We identified 309 overlapping DEGs in the 2 tissue-types. Pathway analysis revealed that the DEGs were involved in cell cycle, DNA replication, and p53 signaling. PPI networks between overlapping DEGs showed 68 high-connectivity DEGs that were chosen as hub genes. The GEPIA database showed that the expression levels of RRM2, CDC45, GINS2, HELLS, KNTC1, MCM2, MYBL2, PCNA, RAD54 L, RFC4, RFC5, TK1, TOP2A, and TYMS in CC tissues were significantly different from those in the healthy tissues and were significantly relevant to the OS of CC. We found 10 small molecules from the CMAP database that could change the trend of gene expression in CC tissues, including piperlongumine and chrysin. CONCLUSIONS The 14 DEGs identified in this study could serve as novel prognosis biomarkers for the detection and forecasting of CC. Small molecule drugs like piperlongumine and chrysin could be potential therapeutic drugs for CC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Zhu Qiu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Soochow University Affiliated Taicang Hospital (The First People’s Hospital of Taicang), Jiangsu, China
| | - Ji Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, Soochow University Affiliated Taicang Hospital (The First People’s Hospital of Taicang), Jiangsu, China
| | - Cheng-Cheng Xiang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Soochow University Affiliated Taicang Hospital (The First People’s Hospital of Taicang), Jiangsu, China
| | - Rong Li
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Soochow University Affiliated Taicang Hospital (The First People’s Hospital of Taicang), Jiangsu, China
| | - Er-Dong Zuo
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Soochow University Affiliated Taicang Hospital (The First People’s Hospital of Taicang), Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Soochow University Affiliated Taicang Hospital (The First People’s Hospital of Taicang), Jiangsu, China
| | - Li Shan
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Soochow University Affiliated Taicang Hospital (The First People’s Hospital of Taicang), Jiangsu, China
| | - Xu Cheng
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Soochow University Affiliated Taicang Hospital (The First People’s Hospital of Taicang), Jiangsu, China
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14
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Fei L, Xu H. Role of MCM2-7 protein phosphorylation in human cancer cells. Cell Biosci 2018; 8:43. [PMID: 30062004 PMCID: PMC6056998 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-018-0242-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
A heterohexameric complex composed of minichromosome maintenance protein 2–7 (MCM2–7), which acts as a key replicative enzyme in eukaryotes, is crucial for initiating DNA synthesis only once per cell cycle. The MCM complex remains inactive through the G1 phase, until the S phase, when it is activated to initiate replication. During the transition from the G1 to S phase, the MCM undergoes multisite phosphorylation, an important change that promotes subsequent assembly of other replisome members. Phosphorylation is crucial for the regulation of MCM activity and function. MCMs can be phosphorylated by multiple kinases and these phosphorylation events are involved not only in DNA replication but also cell cycle progression and checkpoint response. Dysfunctional phosphorylation of MCMs appears to correlate with the occurrence and development of cancers. In this review, we summarize the currently available data regarding the regulatory mechanisms and functional consequences of MCM phosphorylation and seek the probability that protein kinase inhibitor can be used therapeutically to target MCM phosphorylation in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangru Fei
- Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medical Sciences and the First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, 110122 Liaoning Province People's Republic of China
| | - Hongtao Xu
- Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medical Sciences and the First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, 110122 Liaoning Province People's Republic of China
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