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Ghasemi N, Azizi H. Exploring Myc puzzle: Insights into cancer, stem cell biology, and PPI networks. Gene 2024; 916:148447. [PMID: 38583818 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148447] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
"The grand orchestrator," "Universal Amplifier," "double-edged sword," and "Undruggable" are just some of the Myc oncogene so-called names. It has been around 40 years since the discovery of the Myc, and it remains in the mainstream of cancer treatment drugs. Myc is part of basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper (bHLH-LZ) superfamily proteins, and its dysregulation can be seen in many malignant human tumors. It dysregulates critical pathways in cells that are connected to each other, such as proliferation, growth, cell cycle, and cell adhesion, impacts miRNAs action, intercellular metabolism, DNA replication, differentiation, microenvironment regulation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Myc, surprisingly, is used in stem cell research too. Its family includes three members, MYC, MYCN, and MYCL, and each dysfunction was observed in different cancer types. This review aims to introduce Myc and its function in the body. Besides, Myc deregulatory mechanisms in cancer cells, their intricate aspects will be discussed. We will look at promising drugs and Myc-based therapies. Finally, Myc and its role in stemness, Myc pathways based on PPI network analysis, and future insights will be explained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nima Ghasemi
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran
| | - Hossein Azizi
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran.
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2
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van Breugel ME, Gerber A, van Leeuwen F. The choreography of chromatin in RNA polymerase III regulation. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:1173-1189. [PMID: 38666598 PMCID: PMC11346459 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230770] [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: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Regulation of eukaryotic gene expression involves a dynamic interplay between the core transcriptional machinery, transcription factors, and chromatin organization and modification. While this applies to transcription by all RNA polymerase complexes, RNA polymerase III (RNAPIII) seems to be atypical with respect to its mechanisms of regulation. One distinctive feature of most RNAPIII transcribed genes is that they are devoid of nucleosomes, which relates to the high levels of transcription. Moreover, most of the regulatory sequences are not outside but within the transcribed open chromatin regions. Yet, several lines of evidence suggest that chromatin factors affect RNAPIII dynamics and activity and that gene sequence alone does not explain the observed regulation of RNAPIII. Here we discuss the role of chromatin modification and organization of RNAPIII transcribed genes and how they interact with the core transcriptional RNAPIII machinery and regulatory DNA elements in and around the transcribed genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Elize van Breugel
- Division of Gene Regulation, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, The Netherlands
| | - Alan Gerber
- Department of Neurosurgery, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081HV, The Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology, Amsterdam 1081HV, The Netherlands
| | - Fred van Leeuwen
- Division of Gene Regulation, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
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3
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Chan KI, Zhang S, Li G, Xu Y, Cui L, Wang Y, Su H, Tan W, Zhong Z. MYC Oncogene: A Druggable Target for Treating Cancers with Natural Products. Aging Dis 2024; 15:640-697. [PMID: 37450923 PMCID: PMC10917530 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.0520] [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: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Various diseases, including cancers, age-associated disorders, and acute liver failure, have been linked to the oncogene, MYC. Animal testing and clinical trials have shown that sustained tumor volume reduction can be achieved when MYC is inactivated, and different combinations of therapeutic agents including MYC inhibitors are currently being developed. In this review, we first provide a summary of the multiple biological functions of the MYC oncoprotein in cancer treatment, highlighting that the equilibrium points of the MYC/MAX, MIZ1/MYC/MAX, and MAD (MNT)/MAX complexes have further potential in cancer treatment that could be used to restrain MYC oncogene expression and its functions in tumorigenesis. We also discuss the multifunctional capacity of MYC in various cellular cancer processes, including its influences on immune response, metabolism, cell cycle, apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, metastasis, angiogenesis, multidrug resistance, and intestinal flora. Moreover, we summarize the MYC therapy patent landscape and emphasize the potential of MYC as a druggable target, using herbal medicine modulators. Finally, we describe pending challenges and future perspectives in biomedical research, involving the development of therapeutic approaches to modulate MYC or its targeted genes. Patients with cancers driven by MYC signaling may benefit from therapies targeting these pathways, which could delay cancerous growth and recover antitumor immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ka Iong Chan
- Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Siyuan Zhang
- Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Guodong Li
- Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Yida Xu
- Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Liao Cui
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China
| | - Yitao Wang
- Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Huanxing Su
- Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Wen Tan
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zhangfeng Zhong
- Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
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4
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Shi Y, Feng Y, Wang Q, Dong G, Xia W, Jiang F. The Role of tRNA-Centered Translational Regulatory Mechanisms in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:77. [PMID: 38201505 PMCID: PMC10778012 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010077] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. While numerous factors have been identified as contributing to the development of malignancy, our understanding of the mechanisms involved remains limited. Early cancer detection and the development of effective treatments are therefore critical areas of research. One class of molecules that play a crucial role in the transmission of genetic information are transfer RNAs (tRNAs), which are the most abundant RNA molecules in the human transcriptome. Dysregulated synthesis of tRNAs directly results in translation disorders and diseases, including cancer. Moreover, various types of tRNA modifications and the enzymes responsible for these modifications have been implicated in tumor biology. Furthermore, alterations in tRNA modification can impact tRNA stability, and impaired stability can prompt the cleavage of tRNAs into smaller fragments known as tRNA fragments (tRFs). Initially believed to be random byproducts lacking any physiological function, tRFs have now been redefined as non-coding RNA molecules with distinct roles in regulating RNA stability, translation, target gene expression, and other biological processes. In this review, we present recent findings on translational regulatory models centered around tRNAs in tumors, providing a deeper understanding of tumorigenesis and suggesting new directions for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanjian Shi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing 211166, China; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (Q.W.); (G.D.)
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210009, China
- The Fourth Clinical College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Yipeng Feng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing 211166, China; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (Q.W.); (G.D.)
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210009, China
- The Fourth Clinical College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Qinglin Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing 211166, China; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (Q.W.); (G.D.)
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210009, China
- The Fourth Clinical College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Gaochao Dong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing 211166, China; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (Q.W.); (G.D.)
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Wenjie Xia
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing 211166, China; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (Q.W.); (G.D.)
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Feng Jiang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing 211166, China; (Y.S.); (Y.F.); (Q.W.); (G.D.)
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210009, China
- The Fourth Clinical College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
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5
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Kubickova A, De Sanctis JB, Hajduch M. Isoform-Directed Control of c-Myc Functions: Understanding the Balance from Proliferation to Growth Arrest. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17524. [PMID: 38139353 PMCID: PMC10743581 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417524] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor c-Myc, a key regulator of cellular processes, has long been associated with roles in cell proliferation and apoptosis. This review analyses the multiple functions of c-Myc by examining the different c-Myc isoforms in detail. The impact of different c-Myc isoforms, in particular p64 and p67, on fundamental biological processes remains controversial. It is necessary to investigate the different isoforms in the context of proto-oncogenesis. The current knowledge base suggests that neoplastic lesions may possess the means for self-destruction via increased c-Myc activity. This review presents the most relevant information on the c-Myc locus and focuses on a number of isoforms, including p64 and p67. This compilation provides a basis for the development of therapeutic approaches that target the potent growth arresting and pro-apoptotic functions of c-Myc. This information can then be used to develop targeted interventions against specific isoforms with the aim of shifting the oncogenic effects of c-Myc from pro-proliferative to pro-apoptotic. The research summarised in this review can deepen our understanding of how c-Myc activity contributes to different cellular responses, which will be crucial in developing effective therapeutic strategies; for example, isoform-specific approaches may allow for precise modulation of c-Myc function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Kubickova
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Palacky University and University Hospital Olomouc, Hnevotinska 1333/5, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (A.K.); (J.B.D.S.)
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute, Palacky University in Olomouc, Hnevotinska 1333/5, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Juan Bautista De Sanctis
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Palacky University and University Hospital Olomouc, Hnevotinska 1333/5, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (A.K.); (J.B.D.S.)
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute, Palacky University in Olomouc, Hnevotinska 1333/5, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Marian Hajduch
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Palacky University and University Hospital Olomouc, Hnevotinska 1333/5, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (A.K.); (J.B.D.S.)
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute, Palacky University in Olomouc, Hnevotinska 1333/5, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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6
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van Breugel ME, van Kruijsbergen I, Mittal C, Lieftink C, Brouwer I, van den Brand T, Kluin RJC, Hoekman L, Menezes RX, van Welsem T, Del Cortona A, Malik M, Beijersbergen RL, Lenstra TL, Verstrepen KJ, Pugh BF, van Leeuwen F. Locus-specific proteome decoding reveals Fpt1 as a chromatin-associated negative regulator of RNA polymerase III assembly. Mol Cell 2023; 83:4205-4221.e9. [PMID: 37995691 PMCID: PMC11289708 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.10.037] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Transcription of tRNA genes by RNA polymerase III (RNAPIII) is tuned by signaling cascades. The emerging notion of differential tRNA gene regulation implies the existence of additional regulatory mechanisms. However, tRNA gene-specific regulators have not been described. Decoding the local chromatin proteome of a native tRNA gene in yeast revealed reprogramming of the RNAPIII transcription machinery upon nutrient perturbation. Among the dynamic proteins, we identified Fpt1, a protein of unknown function that uniquely occupied RNAPIII-regulated genes. Fpt1 binding at tRNA genes correlated with the efficiency of RNAPIII eviction upon nutrient perturbation and required the transcription factors TFIIIB and TFIIIC but not RNAPIII. In the absence of Fpt1, eviction of RNAPIII was reduced, and the shutdown of ribosome biogenesis genes was impaired upon nutrient perturbation. Our findings provide support for a chromatin-associated mechanism required for RNAPIII eviction from tRNA genes and tuning the physiological response to changing metabolic demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Elize van Breugel
- Division of Gene Regulation, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Ila van Kruijsbergen
- Division of Gene Regulation, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Chitvan Mittal
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Biotechnology Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Cor Lieftink
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Robotics and Screening Center, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Ineke Brouwer
- Division of Gene Regulation, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands; Division of Gene Regulation, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Oncode Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Teun van den Brand
- Division of Gene Regulation, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Roelof J C Kluin
- Genomics Core Facility, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Liesbeth Hoekman
- Proteomics Facility, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Renée X Menezes
- Biostatistics Centre and Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Tibor van Welsem
- Division of Gene Regulation, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Andrea Del Cortona
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, KU Leuven, 3001 Heverlee-Leuven, Belgium
| | - Muddassir Malik
- Division of Gene Regulation, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Roderick L Beijersbergen
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Robotics and Screening Center, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands; Genomics Core Facility, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Tineke L Lenstra
- Division of Gene Regulation, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands; Division of Gene Regulation, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Oncode Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Kevin J Verstrepen
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, KU Leuven, 3001 Heverlee-Leuven, Belgium
| | - B Franklin Pugh
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Biotechnology Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Fred van Leeuwen
- Division of Gene Regulation, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands; Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, the Netherlands.
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7
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Cimpean M, Keppel MP, Gainullina A, Fan C, Sohn H, Schedler NC, Swain A, Kolicheski A, Shapiro H, Young HA, Wang T, Artyomov MN, Cooper MA. IL-15 Priming Alters IFN-γ Regulation in Murine NK Cells. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 211:1481-1493. [PMID: 37747317 PMCID: PMC10873103 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
NK effector functions can be triggered by inflammatory cytokines and engagement of activating receptors. NK cell production of IFN-γ, an important immunoregulatory cytokine, exhibits activation-specific IFN-γ regulation. Resting murine NK cells exhibit activation-specific metabolic requirements for IFN-γ production, which are reversed for activating receptor-mediated stimulation following IL-15 priming. Although both cytokine and activating receptor stimulation leads to similar IFN-γ protein production, only cytokine stimulation upregulates Ifng transcript, suggesting that protein production is translationally regulated after receptor stimulation. Based on these differences in IFN-γ regulation, we hypothesized that ex vivo IL-15 priming of murine NK cells allows a switch to IFN-γ transcription upon activating receptor engagement. Transcriptional analysis of primed NK cells compared with naive cells or cells cultured with low-dose IL-15 demonstrated that primed cells strongly upregulated Ifng transcript following activating receptor stimulation. This was not due to chromatin accessibility changes in the Ifng locus or changes in ITAM signaling, but was associated with a distinct transcriptional signature induced by ITAM stimulation of primed compared with naive NK cells. Transcriptional analyses identified a common signature of c-Myc (Myc) targets associated with Ifng transcription. Although Myc marked NK cells capable of Ifng transcription, Myc itself was not required for Ifng transcription using a genetic model of Myc deletion. This work highlights altered regulatory networks in IL-15-primed cells, resulting in distinct gene expression patterns and IFN-γ regulation in response to activating receptor stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cimpean
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology/Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Molly P. Keppel
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology/Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Anastasiia Gainullina
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Changxu Fan
- Department of Genetics, Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Hyogon Sohn
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology/Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Nathan C. Schedler
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology/Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Amanda Swain
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ana Kolicheski
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology/Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Hannah Shapiro
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology/Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Howard A. Young
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Genetics, Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Maxim N. Artyomov
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Megan A. Cooper
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology/Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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8
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Pinzaru AM, Tavazoie SF. Transfer RNAs as dynamic and critical regulators of cancer progression. Nat Rev Cancer 2023; 23:746-761. [PMID: 37814109 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00611-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) have been historically viewed as non-dynamic adaptors that decode the genetic code into proteins. Recent work has uncovered dynamic regulatory roles for these fascinating molecules. Advances in tRNA detection methods have revealed that specific tRNAs can become modulated upon DNA copy number and chromatin alterations and can also be perturbed by oncogenic signalling and transcriptional regulators in cancer cells or the tumour microenvironment. Such alterations in the levels of specific tRNAs have been shown to causally impact cancer progression, including metastasis. Moreover, sequencing methods have identified tRNA-derived small RNAs that influence various aspects of cancer progression, such as cell proliferation and invasion, and could serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers or putative therapeutic targets in various cancers. Finally, there is accumulating evidence, including from genetic models, that specific tRNA synthetases - the enzymes responsible for charging tRNAs with amino acids - can either promote or suppress tumour formation. In this Review, we provide an overview of how deregulation of tRNAs influences cancer formation and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M Pinzaru
- Laboratory of Systems Cancer Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Sohail F Tavazoie
- Laboratory of Systems Cancer Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
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9
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Lafita-Navarro MC, Hao YH, Jiang C, Jang S, Chang TC, Brown IN, Venkateswaran N, Maurais E, Stachera W, Zhang Y, Mundy D, Han J, Tran VM, Mettlen M, Xu L, Woodruff JB, Grishin NV, Kinch L, Mendell JT, Buszczak M, Conacci-Sorrell M. ZNF692 organizes a hub specialized in 40S ribosomal subunit maturation enhancing translation in rapidly proliferating cells. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113280. [PMID: 37851577 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113280] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Increased nucleolar size and activity correlate with aberrant ribosome biogenesis and enhanced translation in cancer cells. One of the first and rate-limiting steps in translation is the interaction of the 40S small ribosome subunit with mRNAs. Here, we report the identification of the zinc finger protein 692 (ZNF692), a MYC-induced nucleolar scaffold that coordinates the final steps in the biogenesis of the small ribosome subunit. ZNF692 forms a hub containing the exosome complex and ribosome biogenesis factors specialized in the final steps of 18S rRNA processing and 40S ribosome maturation in the granular component of the nucleolus. Highly proliferative cells are more reliant on ZNF692 than normal cells; thus, we conclude that effective production of small ribosome subunits is critical for translation efficiency in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Carmen Lafita-Navarro
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Yi-Heng Hao
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Chunhui Jiang
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Seoyeon Jang
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Tsung-Cheng Chang
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Isabella N Brown
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Niranjan Venkateswaran
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Elizabeth Maurais
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Weronika Stachera
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Yanfeng Zhang
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Department of Population & Data Sciences, Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Dorothy Mundy
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Live Cell Imaging Core Facility, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jungsoo Han
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Vanna M Tran
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Marcel Mettlen
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Lin Xu
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Department of Population & Data Sciences, Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jeffrey B Woodruff
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Nick V Grishin
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Lisa Kinch
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Joshua T Mendell
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Michael Buszczak
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Maralice Conacci-Sorrell
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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10
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Jha RK, Kouzine F, Levens D. MYC function and regulation in physiological perspective. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1268275. [PMID: 37941901 PMCID: PMC10627926 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1268275] [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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
MYC, a key member of the Myc-proto-oncogene family, is a universal transcription amplifier that regulates almost every physiological process in a cell including cell cycle, proliferation, metabolism, differentiation, and apoptosis. MYC interacts with several cofactors, chromatin modifiers, and regulators to direct gene expression. MYC levels are tightly regulated, and deregulation of MYC has been associated with numerous diseases including cancer. Understanding the comprehensive biology of MYC under physiological conditions is an utmost necessity to demark biological functions of MYC from its pathological functions. Here we review the recent advances in biological mechanisms, functions, and regulation of MYC. We also emphasize the role of MYC as a global transcription amplifier.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - David Levens
- Gene Regulation Section, Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD, United States
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11
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Pan Y, van der Watt PJ, Kay SA. E-box binding transcription factors in cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1223208. [PMID: 37601651 PMCID: PMC10437117 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1223208] [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: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
E-boxes are important regulatory elements in the eukaryotic genome. Transcription factors can bind to E-boxes through their basic helix-loop-helix or zinc finger domain to regulate gene transcription. E-box-binding transcription factors (EBTFs) are important regulators of development and essential for physiological activities of the cell. The fundamental role of EBTFs in cancer has been highlighted by studies on the canonical oncogene MYC, yet many EBTFs exhibit common features, implying the existence of shared molecular principles of how they are involved in tumorigenesis. A comprehensive analysis of TFs that share the basic function of binding to E-boxes has been lacking. Here, we review the structure of EBTFs, their common features in regulating transcription, their physiological functions, and their mutual regulation. We also discuss their converging functions in cancer biology, their potential to be targeted as a regulatory network, and recent progress in drug development targeting these factors in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanzhong Pan
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Pauline J. van der Watt
- Division of Medical Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Steve A. Kay
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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12
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Butterfield SP, Sizer RE, Rand E, White RJ. Selection of tRNA Genes in Human Breast Tumours Varies Substantially between Individuals. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3576. [PMID: 37509247 PMCID: PMC10377016 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormally elevated expression of tRNA is a common feature of breast tumours. Rather than a uniform increase in all tRNAs, some are deregulated more strongly than others. Elevation of particular tRNAs has been associated with poor prognosis for patients, and experimental models have demonstrated the ability of some tRNAs to promote proliferation or metastasis. Each tRNA isoacceptor is encoded redundantly by multiple genes, which are commonly dispersed across several chromosomes. An unanswered question is whether the consistently high expression of a tRNA in a cancer type reflects the consistent activation of the same members of a gene family, or whether different family members are activated from one patient to the next. To address this question, we interrogated ChIP-seq data to determine which tRNA genes were active in individual breast tumours. This revealed that distinct sets of tRNA genes become activated in individual cancers, whereas there is much less variation in the expression patterns of families. Several pathways have been described that are likely to contribute to increases in tRNA gene transcription in breast tumours, but none of these can adequately explain the observed variation in the choice of genes between tumours. Current models may therefore lack at least one level of regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebecca E Sizer
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Emma Rand
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Robert J White
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
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13
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Nguyen T, Mills JC, Cho CJ. The coordinated management of ribosome and translation during injury and regeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1186638. [PMID: 37427381 PMCID: PMC10325863 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1186638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Diverse acute and chronic injuries induce damage responses in the gastrointestinal (GI) system, and numerous cell types in the gastrointestinal tract demonstrate remarkable resilience, adaptability, and regenerative capacity in response to stress. Metaplasias, such as columnar and secretory cell metaplasia, are well-known adaptations that these cells make, the majority of which are epidemiologically associated with an elevated cancer risk. On a number of fronts, it is now being investigated how cells respond to injury at the tissue level, where diverse cell types that differ in proliferation capacity and differentiation state cooperate and compete with one another to participate in regeneration. In addition, the cascades or series of molecular responses that cells show are just beginning to be understood. Notably, the ribosome, a ribonucleoprotein complex that is essential for translation on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and in the cytoplasm, is recognized as the central organelle during this process. The highly regulated management of ribosomes as key translational machinery, and their platform, rough endoplasmic reticulum, are not only essential for maintaining differentiated cell identity, but also for achieving successful cell regeneration after injury. This review will cover in depth how ribosomes, the endoplasmic reticulum, and translation are regulated and managed in response to injury (e.g., paligenosis), as well as why this is essential for the proper adaptation of a cell to stress. For this, we will first discuss how multiple gastrointestinal organs respond to stress through metaplasia. Next, we will cover how ribosomes are generated, maintained, and degraded, in addition to the factors that govern translation. Finally, we will investigate how ribosomes and translation machinery are dynamically regulated in response to injury. Our increased understanding of this overlooked cell fate decision mechanism will facilitate the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for gastrointestinal tract tumors, focusing on ribosomes and translation machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanh Nguyen
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jason C. Mills
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Charles J. Cho
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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14
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Zhang Y, Pang Y, Zhang K, Song X, Gao J, Zhang S, Deng W. RNA polymerase I subunit RPA43 activates rRNA expression and cell proliferation but inhibits cell migration. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2023:130411. [PMID: 37343605 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130411] [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: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
The products synthesized by RNA polymerase I (Pol I) play fundamental roles in several cellular processes, including ribosomal biogenesis, protein synthesis, cell metabolism, and growth. Deregulation of Pol I products can cause various diseases such as ribosomopathies, leukaemia, and solid tumours. However, the detailed mechanism of Pol I-directed transcription remains elusive, and the roles of Pol I subunits in rRNA synthesis and cellular activities still need clarification. In this study, we found that RPA43 expression levels positively correlate with Pol I product accumulation and cell proliferation, indicating that RPA43 activates these processes. Unexpectedly, RPA43 depletion promoted HeLa cell migration, suggesting that RPA43 functions as a negative regulator in cell migration. Mechanistically, RPA43 positively modulates the recruitment of Pol I transcription machinery factors to the rDNA promoter by activating the transcription of the genes encoding Pol I transcription machinery factors. RPA43 inhibits cell migration by dampening the expression of c-JUN and Integrin. Collectively, we found that RPA43 plays opposite roles in cell proliferation and migration except for driving Pol I-dependent transcription. These findings provide novel insights into the regulatory mechanism of Pol I-mediated transcription and cell proliferation and a potential pathway to developing anti-cancer drugs using RPA43 as a target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhang
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei province 430065, China
| | - Yaoyu Pang
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7GE, UK
| | - Kewei Zhang
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei province 430065, China
| | - Xiaoye Song
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei province 430065, China
| | - Junwei Gao
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei province 430065, China
| | - Shuting Zhang
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei province 430065, China
| | - Wensheng Deng
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei province 430065, China.
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15
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D’Avola A, Kluckova K, Finch AJ, Riches JC. Spotlight on New Therapeutic Opportunities for MYC-Driven Cancers. Onco Targets Ther 2023; 16:371-383. [PMID: 37309471 PMCID: PMC10257908 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s366627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
MYC can be considered to be one of the most pressing and important targets for the development of novel anti-cancer therapies. This is due to its frequent dysregulation in tumors and due to the wide-ranging impact this dysregulation has on gene expression and cellular behavior. As a result, there have been numerous attempts to target MYC over the last few decades, both directly and indirectly, with mixed results. This article reviews the biology of MYC in the context of cancers and drug development. It discusses strategies aimed at targeting MYC directly, including those aimed at reducing its expression and blocking its function. In addition, the impact of MYC dysregulation on cellular biology is outlined, and how understanding this can underpin the development of approaches aimed at molecules and pathways regulated by MYC. In particular, the review focuses on the role that MYC plays in the regulation of metabolism, and the therapeutic avenues offered by inhibiting the metabolic pathways that are essential for the survival of MYC-transformed cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa D’Avola
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Katarina Kluckova
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Andrew J Finch
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - John C Riches
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
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16
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Lee YS, Lee YS. nc886, an RNA Polymerase III-Transcribed Noncoding RNA Whose Expression Is Dynamic and Regulated by Intriguing Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108533. [PMID: 37239877 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108533] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
nc886 is a medium-sized non-coding RNA that is transcribed by RNA polymerase III (Pol III) and plays diverse roles in tumorigenesis, innate immunity, and other cellular processes. Although Pol III-transcribed ncRNAs were previously thought to be expressed constitutively, this concept is evolving, and nc886 is the most notable example. The transcription of nc886 in a cell, as well as in human individuals, is controlled by multiple mechanisms, including its promoter CpG DNA methylation and transcription factor activity. Additionally, the RNA instability of nc886 contributes to its highly variable steady-state expression levels in a given situation. This comprehensive review discusses nc886's variable expression in physiological and pathological conditions and critically examines the regulatory factors that determine its expression levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeon-Su Lee
- Rare Cancer Branch, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Sun Lee
- Department of Cancer Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Republic of Korea
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17
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Cimpean M, Keppel MP, Gainullina A, Fan C, Schedler NC, Swain A, Kolicheski A, Shapiro H, Young HA, Wang T, Artyomov MN, Cooper MA. IL-15 priming alters IFN-γ regulation in murine NK cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.23.537947. [PMID: 37163083 PMCID: PMC10168240 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.23.537947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) effector functions can be triggered by inflammatory cytokines and engagement of activating receptors. NK cell production of IFN-γ, an important immunoregulatory cytokine, exhibits activation-specific IFN-γ regulation. Resting murine NK cells exhibit activation-specific metabolic requirements for IFN-γ production, which are reversed for activating receptor-mediated stimulation following IL-15 priming. While both cytokine and activating receptor stimulation leads to similar IFN-γ protein production, only cytokine stimulation upregulates Ifng transcript, suggesting that protein production is translationally regulated after receptor stimulation. Based on these differences in IFN-γ regulation, we hypothesized that ex vivo IL-15 priming of murine NK cells allows a switch to IFN-γ transcription upon activating receptor engagement. Transcriptional analysis of primed NK cells compared to naïve cells or cells cultured with low-dose IL-15 demonstrated that primed cells strongly upregulated Ifng transcript following activating receptor stimulation. This was not due to chromatin accessibility changes in the Ifng locus or changes in ITAM signaling, but was associated with a distinct transcriptional signature induced by ITAM stimulation of primed compared to naïve NK cells. Transcriptional analyses identified a common signature of c-Myc (Myc) targets associated with Ifng transcription. While Myc marked NK cells capable of Ifng transcription, Myc itself was not required for Ifng transcription using a genetic model of Myc deletion. This work highlights altered regulatory networks in IL-15 primed cells, resulting in distinct gene expression patterns and IFN-γ regulation in response to activating receptor stimulation.
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18
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Cabarcas-Petroski S, Olshefsky G, Schramm L. BDP1 as a biomarker in serous ovarian cancer. Cancer Med 2023; 12:6401-6418. [PMID: 36305848 PMCID: PMC10028122 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5388] [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: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND TFIIIB, an RNA polymerase III specific transcription factor has been found to be deregulated in human cancers with much of the research focused on the TBP, BRF1, and BRF2 subunits. To date, the TFIIIB specific subunit BDP1 has not been investigated in ovarian cancer but has previously been shown to be deregulated in neuroblastoma, breast cancer, and Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. RESULTS Using in silico analysis of clinically derived platforms, we report a decreased BDP1 expression as a result of deletion in serous ovarian cancer and a correlation with higher and advanced ovarian stages. Further analysis in the context of TP53 mutations, a major contributor to ovarian tumorigenesis, suggests that high BDP1 expression is unfavorable for overall survival and high BDP1 expression occurs in stages 2, 3 and 4 serous ovarian cancer. Additionally, high BDP1 expression is disadvantageous and unfavorable for progression-free survival. Lastly, BDP1 expression significantly decreased in patients treated with first-line chemotherapy, platin and taxane, at twelve-month relapse-free survival. CONCLUSIONS Taken together with a ROC analysis, the data suggest BDP1 could be of clinical relevance as a predictive biomarker in serous ovarian cancer. Lastly, this study further demonstrates that both the over- and under expression of BDP1 warrants further investigation and suggests BDP1 may exhibit dual function in the context of tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laura Schramm
- Biology Department, St. John's University, Queens, New York, USA
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19
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Ni C, Buszczak M. The homeostatic regulation of ribosome biogenesis. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 136:13-26. [PMID: 35440410 PMCID: PMC9569395 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.03.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The continued integrity of biological systems depends on a balance between interdependent elements at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. This is particularly true for the generation of ribosomes, which influence almost every aspect of cell and organismal biology. Ribosome biogenesis (RiBi) is an energetically demanding process that involves all three RNA polymerases, numerous RNA processing factors, chaperones, and the coordinated expression of 79-80 ribosomal proteins (r-proteins). Work over the last several decades has revealed that the dynamic regulation of ribosome production represents a major mechanism by which cells maintain homeostasis in response to changing environmental conditions and acute stress. More recent studies suggest that cells and tissues within multicellular organisms exhibit dramatically different levels of ribosome production and protein synthesis, marked by the differential expression of RiBi factors. Thus, distinct bottlenecks in the RiBi process, downstream of rRNA transcription, may exist within different cell populations of multicellular organisms during development and in adulthood. This review will focus on our current understanding of the mechanisms that link the complex molecular process of ribosome biogenesis with cellular and organismal physiology. We will discuss diverse topics including how different steps in the RiBi process are coordinated with one another, how MYC and mTOR impact RiBi, and how RiBi levels change between stem cells and their differentiated progeny. In turn, we will also review how regulated changes in ribosome production itself can feedback to influence cell fate and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyang Ni
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9148, USA
| | - Michael Buszczak
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9148, USA.
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20
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Lari A, Glaunsinger BA. Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68 ORF45 Stimulates B2 Retrotransposon and Pre-tRNA Activation in a Manner Dependent on Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Signaling. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0017223. [PMID: 36752632 PMCID: PMC10100704 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00172-23] [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: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA polymerase III (RNAPIII) transcribes a variety of noncoding RNAs, including tRNA (tRNA) and the B2 family of short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs). B2 SINEs are noncoding retrotransposons that possess tRNA-like promoters and are normally silenced in healthy somatic tissue. Infection with the murine gammaherpesvirus MHV68 induces transcription of both SINEs and tRNAs, in part through the activity of the viral protein kinase ORF36. Here, we identify the conserved MHV68 tegument protein ORF45 as an additional activator of these RNAPIII loci. MHV68 ORF45 and ORF36 form a complex, resulting in an additive induction RNAPIII and increased ORF45 expression. ORF45-induced RNAPIII transcription is dependent on its activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, which in turn increases the abundance of the RNAPIII transcription factor Brf1. Other viral and nonviral activators of MAPK/ERK signaling also increase the levels of Brf1 protein, B2 SINE RNA, and tRNA, suggesting that this is a common strategy to increase RNAPIII activity. IMPORTANCE Gammaherpesviral infection alters the gene expression landscape of a host cell, including through the induction of noncoding RNAs transcribed by RNA polymerase III (RNAPIII). Among these are a class of repetitive genes known as retrotransposons, which are normally silenced elements and can copy and spread throughout the genome, and transfer RNAs (tRNAs), which are fundamental components of protein translation machinery. How these loci are activated during infection is not well understood. Here, we identify ORF45 from the model murine gammaherpesvirus MHV68 as a novel activator of RNAPIII transcription. To do so, it engages the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, which is a central regulator of cellular response to environmental stimuli. Activation of this pathway leads to the upregulation of a key factor required for RNAPIII activity, Brf1. These findings expand our understanding of the regulation and dysregulation of RNAPIII transcription and highlight how viral cooption of key signaling pathways can impact host gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azra Lari
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Britt A. Glaunsinger
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Berkeley, California, USA
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21
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Scagnoli F, Palma A, Favia A, Scuoppo C, Illi B, Nasi S. A New Insight into MYC Action: Control of RNA Polymerase II Methylation and Transcription Termination. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020412. [PMID: 36830948 PMCID: PMC9952900 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020412] [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: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
MYC oncoprotein deregulation is a common catastrophic event in human cancer and limiting its activity restrains tumor development and maintenance, as clearly shown via Omomyc, an MYC-interfering 90 amino acid mini-protein. MYC is a multifunctional transcription factor that regulates many aspects of transcription by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), such as transcription activation, pause release, and elongation. MYC directly associates with Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), a protein that methylates a variety of targets, including RNAPII at the arginine residue R1810 (R1810me2s), crucial for proper transcription termination and splicing of transcripts. Therefore, we asked whether MYC controls termination as well, by affecting R1810me2S. We show that MYC overexpression strongly increases R1810me2s, while Omomyc, an MYC shRNA, or a PRMT5 inhibitor and siRNA counteract this phenomenon. Omomyc also impairs Serine 2 phosphorylation in the RNAPII carboxyterminal domain, a modification that sustains transcription elongation. ChIP-seq experiments show that Omomyc replaces MYC and reshapes RNAPII distribution, increasing occupancy at promoter and termination sites. It is unclear how this may affect gene expression. Transcriptomic analysis shows that transcripts pivotal to key signaling pathways are both up- or down-regulated by Omomyc, whereas genes directly controlled by MYC and belonging to a specific signature are strongly down-regulated. Overall, our data point to an MYC/PRMT5/RNAPII axis that controls termination via RNAPII symmetrical dimethylation and contributes to rewiring the expression of genes altered by MYC overexpression in cancer cells. It remains to be clarified which role this may have in tumor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiorella Scagnoli
- IBPM—CNR, Biology and Biotechnology Department, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.S.); (B.I.); (S.N.)
| | - Alessandro Palma
- Translational Cytogenomics Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Annarita Favia
- IBPM—CNR, Biology and Biotechnology Department, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Scuoppo
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Barbara Illi
- IBPM—CNR, Biology and Biotechnology Department, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.S.); (B.I.); (S.N.)
| | - Sergio Nasi
- IBPM—CNR, Biology and Biotechnology Department, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.S.); (B.I.); (S.N.)
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22
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Wang J, Chen Q, Peng F, Zhao S, Zhang C, Song X, Yu D, Wu Z, Du J, Ni H, Deng H, Deng W. Transcription factor AP-2α activates RNA polymerase III-directed transcription and tumor cell proliferation by controlling expression of c-MYC and p53. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:102945. [PMID: 36707053 PMCID: PMC9999235 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.102945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of transcription factor AP2 alpha (TFAP2A) and RNA polymerase III (Pol III) products is associated with tumorigenesis. However, the mechanism underlying this event is not fully understood and the connection between TFAP2A and Pol III-directed transcription has not been investigated. Here, we report that TFAP2A functions as a positive factor in the regulation of Pol III-directed transcription and cell proliferation. We found TFAP2A is also required for the activation of Pol III transcription induced by the silencing of filamin A, a well-known cytoskeletal protein and an inhibitor in Pol III-dependent transcription identified previously. Using a chromatin immunoprecipitation technique, we showed TFAP2A positively modulates the assembly of Pol III transcription machinery factors at Pol III-transcribed gene loci. We found TFAP2A can activate the expression of Pol III transcription-related factors, including BRF1, GTF3C2, and c-MYC. Furthermore, we demonstrate TFAP2A enhances expression of MDM2, a negative regulator of tumor suppressor p53, and also inhibits p53 expression. Finally, we found MDM2 overexpression can rescue the inhibition of Pol III-directed transcription and cell proliferation caused by TFAP2A silencing. In summary, we identified that TFAP2A can activate Pol III-directed transcription by controlling multiple pathways, including general transcription factors, c-MYC and MDM2/p53. The findings from this study provide novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms of Pol III-dependent transcription and cancer cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; School of Materials and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiyue Chen
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Feixia Peng
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shasha Zhao
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoye Song
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Deen Yu
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhongyu Wu
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiannan Du
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongwei Ni
- School of Materials and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Huan Deng
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Wensheng Deng
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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23
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Zhang C, Zhao S, Deng H, Zhang S, Wang J, Song X, Yu D, Zhang Y, Deng W. STAT3 promotes RNA polymerase III-directed transcription by controlling the miR-106a-5p/TP73 axis. eLife 2023; 12:e82826. [PMID: 36656267 PMCID: PMC9851613 DOI: 10.7554/elife.82826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of Pol III products causes a range of diseases, including neural diseases and cancers. However, the factors and mechanisms that modulate Pol III-directed transcription remain to be found, although massive advances have been achieved. Here, we show that STAT3 positively regulates the activities of Pol III-dependent transcription and cancer cell growth. RNA-seq analysis revealed that STAT3 inhibits the expression of TP73, a member of the p53 family. We found that TP73 is not only required for the regulation of Pol III-directed transcription mediated by STAT3 but also independently suppresses the synthesis of Pol III products. Mechanistically, TP73 can disrupt the assembly of TFIIIB subunits and inhibit their occupancies at Pol III target loci by interacting with TFIIIB subunit TBP. MiR-106a-5p can activate Pol III-directed transcription by targeting the TP73 mRNA 3' UTR to reduce TP 73 expression. We show that STAT3 activates the expression of miR-106a-5p by binding to the miRNA promoter, indicating that the miR-106a-5p links STAT3 with TP73 to regulate Pol III-directed transcription. Collectively, these findings indicate that STAT3 functions as a positive regulator in Pol III-directed transcription by controlling the miR-106a-5p/TP73 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhang
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Shasha Zhao
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Huan Deng
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Shihua Zhang
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Juan Wang
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- School of Materials and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Xiaoye Song
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Deen Yu
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Yue Zhang
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Wensheng Deng
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
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24
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Cheng R, Van Bortle K. RNA polymerase III transcription and cancer: A tale of two RPC7 subunits. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 9:1073795. [PMID: 36710885 PMCID: PMC9877311 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1073795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA polymerase III composition is shaped by the mutually exclusive incorporation of two paralogous subunits, RPC7α and RPC7β, encoded by genes POLR3G and POLR3GL in vertebrates. The expression of POLR3G and POLR3GL is spatiotemporally regulated during development, and multiple reports point to RPC7α-enhanced Pol III activity patterns, indicating that Pol III identity may underly dynamic Pol III transcription patterns observed in higher eukaryotes. In cancer, upregulation of POLR3G, but not POLR3GL, is associated with poor survival outcomes among patients, suggesting differences between RPC7α and RPC7β further influence disease progression and may translate into future biomarkers and therapeutic strategies. Here, we outline our current understanding of Pol III identity and transcription and reexamine the distinct protein characteristics of Pol III subunits RPC7α and RPC7β. Drawing on both structural and genomic studies, we discuss differences between RPC7α and RPC7β and the potential mechanisms by which Pol III identity may establish differential activities during development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiying Cheng
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Kevin Van Bortle
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
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25
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Jiao L, Liu Y, Yu XY, Pan X, Zhang Y, Tu J, Song YH, Li Y. Ribosome biogenesis in disease: new players and therapeutic targets. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:15. [PMID: 36617563 PMCID: PMC9826790 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01285-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The ribosome is a multi-unit complex that translates mRNA into protein. Ribosome biogenesis is the process that generates ribosomes and plays an essential role in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, development, and transformation. The mTORC1, Myc, and noncoding RNA signaling pathways are the primary mediators that work jointly with RNA polymerases and ribosome proteins to control ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis. Activation of mTORC1 is required for normal fetal growth and development and tissue regeneration after birth. Myc is implicated in cancer development by enhancing RNA Pol II activity, leading to uncontrolled cancer cell growth. The deregulation of noncoding RNAs such as microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and circular RNAs is involved in developing blood, neurodegenerative diseases, and atherosclerosis. We review the similarities and differences between eukaryotic and bacterial ribosomes and the molecular mechanism of ribosome-targeting antibiotics and bacterial resistance. We also review the most recent findings of ribosome dysfunction in COVID-19 and other conditions and discuss the consequences of ribosome frameshifting, ribosome-stalling, and ribosome-collision. We summarize the role of ribosome biogenesis in the development of various diseases. Furthermore, we review the current clinical trials, prospective vaccines for COVID-19, and therapies targeting ribosome biogenesis in cancer, cardiovascular disease, aging, and neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Jiao
- grid.263761.70000 0001 0198 0694Institute for Cardiovascular Science and Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital and Medical College of Soochow University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123 P. R. China
| | - Yuzhe Liu
- grid.452829.00000000417660726Department of Orthopedics, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130000 P. R. China
| | - Xi-Yong Yu
- grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology and the NMPA State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511436 P. R. China
| | - Xiangbin Pan
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Department of Structural Heart Disease, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, China & Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. China ,Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Appratus Innovation, Beijing, 100037 P. R. China
| | - Yu Zhang
- grid.263761.70000 0001 0198 0694Institute for Cardiovascular Science and Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital and Medical College of Soochow University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123 P. R. China
| | - Junchu Tu
- grid.263761.70000 0001 0198 0694Institute for Cardiovascular Science and Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital and Medical College of Soochow University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123 P. R. China
| | - Yao-Hua Song
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China. .,State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China.
| | - Yangxin Li
- Institute for Cardiovascular Science and Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital and Medical College of Soochow University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, P. R. China.
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26
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Wang J, Chen Q, Wang X, Zhao S, Deng H, Guo B, Zhang C, Song X, Deng W, Zhang T, Ni H. TFIIB-related factor 1 is a nucleolar protein that promotes RNA polymerase I-directed transcription and tumour cell growth. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:104-121. [PMID: 35925837 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic RNA polymerase I (Pol I) products play fundamental roles in ribosomal assembly, protein synthesis, metabolism and cell growth. Abnormal expression of both Pol I transcription-related factors and Pol I products causes a range of diseases, including ribosomopathies and cancers. However, the factors and mechanisms governing Pol I-dependent transcription remain to be elucidated. Here, we report that transcription factor IIB-related factor 1 (BRF1), a subunit of transcription factor IIIB required for RNA polymerase III (Pol III)-mediated transcription, is a nucleolar protein and modulates Pol I-mediated transcription. We showed that BRF1 can be localized to the nucleolus in several human cell types. BRF1 expression correlates positively with Pol I product levels and tumour cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Pol III transcription inhibition assays confirmed that BRF1 modulates Pol I-directed transcription in an independent manner rather than through a Pol III product-to-45S pre-rRNA feedback mode. Mechanistically, BRF1 binds to the Pol I transcription machinery components and can be recruited to the rDNA promoter along with them. Additionally, alteration of BRF1 expression affects the recruitment of Pol I transcription machinery components to the rDNA promoter and the expression of TBP and TAF1A. These findings indicate that BRF1 modulates Pol I-directed transcription by controlling the expression of selective factor 1 subunits. In summary, we identified a novel role of BRF1 in Pol I-directed transcription, suggesting that BRF1 can independently regulate both Pol I- and Pol III-mediated transcription and act as a key coordinator of Pol I and Pol III.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, China.,School of Materials and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Qiyue Chen
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Shasha Zhao
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Huan Deng
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Baoqiang Guo
- School of Healthcare Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GD, UK
| | - Cheng Zhang
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Xiaoye Song
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Wensheng Deng
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Tongcun Zhang
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Hongwei Ni
- School of Materials and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
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27
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Abstract
tRNAs are key adaptor molecules that decipher the genetic code during translation of mRNAs in protein synthesis. In contrast to the traditional view of tRNAs as ubiquitously expressed housekeeping molecules, awareness is now growing that tRNA-encoding genes display tissue-specific and cell type-specific patterns of expression, and that tRNA gene expression and function are both dynamically regulated by post-transcriptional RNA modifications. Moreover, dysregulation of tRNAs, mediated by alterations in either their abundance or function, can have deleterious consequences that contribute to several distinct human diseases, including neurological disorders and cancer. Accumulating evidence shows that reprogramming of mRNA translation through altered tRNA activity can drive pathological processes in a codon-dependent manner. This Review considers the emerging evidence in support of the precise control of functional tRNA levels as an important regulatory mechanism that coordinates mRNA translation and protein expression in physiological cell homeostasis, and highlights key examples of human diseases that are linked directly to tRNA dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban A Orellana
- Stem Cell Program, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elisabeth Siegal
- Stem Cell Program, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard I Gregory
- Stem Cell Program, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Harvard Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
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28
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Mohapatra P, Mohanty S, Ansari SA, Shriwas O, Ghosh A, Rath R, Majumdar SKD, Swain RK, Raghav SK, Dash R. CMTM6 attenuates cisplatin-induced cell death in OSCC by regulating AKT/c-Myc-driven ribosome biogenesis. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22566. [PMID: 36165231 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202200808rr] [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: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
CMTM6, a type 3 transmembrane protein, is known to stabilize the expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and hence facilitates the immune evasion of tumor cells. Recently, we demonstrated that CMTM6 is a major driver of cisplatin resistance in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC). However, the detailed mechanism of how CMTM6 rewires cisplatin resistance in OSCC is yet to be explored. RNA sequencing analysis of cisplatin-resistant OSCC lines stably expressing Nt shRNA and CMTM6 shRNA revealed that CMTM6 might be a potential regulator of the ribosome biogenesis network. Knocking down CMTM6 significantly inhibited transcription of 47S precursor rRNA and hindered the nucleolar structure, indicating reduced ribosome biogenesis. When CMTM6 was ectopically over-expressed in CMTM6KD cells, almost all ribosomal machinery components were rescued. Mechanistically, CMTM6 induced the expression of C-Myc, which promotes RNA polymerase I mediated rDNA transcription. In addition to this, CMTM6 was also found to regulate the AKT-mTORC1-dependent ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis in cisplatin-resistant lines. The nude mice and zebrafish xenograft experiments indicate that blocking ribosome synthesis either by genetic inhibitor (CMTM6KD) or pharmacological inhibitor (CX-5461) significantly restores cisplatin-mediated cell death in chemoresistant OSCC. Overall, our study suggests that CMTM6 is a major regulator of the ribosome biogenesis network and targeting the ribosome biogenesis network is a viable target to overcome chemoresistance in OSCC. The novel combination of CX-5461 and cisplatin deserves further clinical investigation in advanced OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi Mohapatra
- Cancer biology Unit, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India.,Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, India
| | - Sibasish Mohanty
- Cancer biology Unit, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India.,Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, India
| | - Shamima Azma Ansari
- Cancer biology Unit, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India.,Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, India
| | | | - Arup Ghosh
- Cancer biology Unit, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Rachna Rath
- Sriram Chandra Bhanj Dental College and Hospital, Cuttack, India
| | | | - Rajeeb K Swain
- Cancer biology Unit, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Sunil K Raghav
- Cancer biology Unit, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India.,Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Rupesh Dash
- Cancer biology Unit, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
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29
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Polyploidy and Myc Proto-Oncogenes Promote Stress Adaptation via Epigenetic Plasticity and Gene Regulatory Network Rewiring. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179691. [PMID: 36077092 PMCID: PMC9456078 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyploid cells demonstrate biological plasticity and stress adaptation in evolution; development; and pathologies, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegeneration, and cancer. The nature of ploidy-related advantages is still not completely understood. Here, we summarize the literature on molecular mechanisms underlying ploidy-related adaptive features. Polyploidy can regulate gene expression via chromatin opening, reawakening ancient evolutionary programs of embryonality. Chromatin opening switches on genes with bivalent chromatin domains that promote adaptation via rapid induction in response to signals of stress or morphogenesis. Therefore, stress-associated polyploidy can activate Myc proto-oncogenes, which further promote chromatin opening. Moreover, Myc proto-oncogenes can trigger polyploidization de novo and accelerate genome accumulation in already polyploid cells. As a result of these cooperative effects, polyploidy can increase the ability of cells to search for adaptive states of cellular programs through gene regulatory network rewiring. This ability is manifested in epigenetic plasticity associated with traits of stemness, unicellularity, flexible energy metabolism, and a complex system of DNA damage protection, combining primitive error-prone unicellular repair pathways, advanced error-free multicellular repair pathways, and DNA damage-buffering ability. These three features can be considered important components of the increased adaptability of polyploid cells. The evidence presented here contribute to the understanding of the nature of stress resistance associated with ploidy and may be useful in the development of new methods for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and oncological diseases.
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30
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Edwards-Hicks J, Su H, Mangolini M, Yoneten KK, Wills J, Rodriguez-Blanco G, Young C, Cho K, Barker H, Muir M, Guerrieri AN, Li XF, White R, Manasterski P, Mandrou E, Wills K, Chen J, Abraham E, Sateri K, Qian BZ, Bankhead P, Arends M, Gammoh N, von Kriegsheim A, Patti GJ, Sims AH, Acosta JC, Brunton V, Kranc KR, Christophorou M, Pearce EL, Ringshausen I, Finch AJ. MYC sensitises cells to apoptosis by driving energetic demand. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4674. [PMID: 35945217 PMCID: PMC9363429 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32368-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The MYC oncogene is a potent driver of growth and proliferation but also sensitises cells to apoptosis, which limits its oncogenic potential. MYC induces several biosynthetic programmes and primary cells overexpressing MYC are highly sensitive to glutamine withdrawal suggesting that MYC-induced sensitisation to apoptosis may be due to imbalance of metabolic/energetic supply and demand. Here we show that MYC elevates global transcription and translation, even in the absence of glutamine, revealing metabolic demand without corresponding supply. Glutamine withdrawal from MRC-5 fibroblasts depletes key tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolites and, in combination with MYC activation, leads to AMP accumulation and nucleotide catabolism indicative of energetic stress. Further analyses reveal that glutamine supports viability through TCA cycle energetics rather than asparagine biosynthesis and that TCA cycle inhibition confers tumour suppression on MYC-driven lymphoma in vivo. In summary, glutamine supports the viability of MYC-overexpressing cells through an energetic rather than a biosynthetic mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Edwards-Hicks
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
- Department of Immunometabolism, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Stübeweg 51, D-79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Huizhong Su
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Maurizio Mangolini
- Wellcome Trust/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute & Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Kubra K Yoneten
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Jimi Wills
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Giovanny Rodriguez-Blanco
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Christine Young
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Kevin Cho
- Department of Chemistry and Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Heather Barker
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Morwenna Muir
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Ania Naila Guerrieri
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Xue-Feng Li
- MRC University of Edinburgh Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Rachel White
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Piotr Manasterski
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Elena Mandrou
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Karen Wills
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Jingyu Chen
- Wellcome Trust/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute & Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Emily Abraham
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Kianoosh Sateri
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Bin-Zhi Qian
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
- MRC University of Edinburgh Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Peter Bankhead
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Mark Arends
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Noor Gammoh
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Alex von Kriegsheim
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Gary J Patti
- Department of Chemistry and Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Andrew H Sims
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Juan Carlos Acosta
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, IBBTEC (CSIC, Universidad de Cantabria). C/ Albert Einstein 22, Santander, 39011, Spain
| | - Valerie Brunton
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Kamil R Kranc
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
- MRC Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL, UK
| | - Maria Christophorou
- Wellcome Trust/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute & Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Erika L Pearce
- Department of Immunometabolism, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Stübeweg 51, D-79108, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Oncology, The Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ingo Ringshausen
- Wellcome Trust/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute & Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Andrew J Finch
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK.
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.
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31
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Grieb BC, Eischen CM. MTBP and MYC: A Dynamic Duo in Proliferation, Cancer, and Aging. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:881. [PMID: 35741402 PMCID: PMC9219613 DOI: 10.3390/biology11060881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The oncogenic transcription factor c-MYC (MYC) is highly conserved across species and is frequently overexpressed or dysregulated in human cancers. MYC regulates a wide range of critical cellular and oncogenic activities including proliferation, metabolism, metastasis, apoptosis, and differentiation by transcriptionally activating or repressing the expression of a large number of genes. This activity of MYC is not carried out in isolation, instead relying on its association with a myriad of protein cofactors. We determined that MDM Two Binding Protein (MTBP) indirectly binds MYC and is a novel MYC transcriptional cofactor. MTBP promotes MYC-mediated transcriptional activity, proliferation, and cellular transformation by binding in a protein complex with MYC at MYC-bound promoters. This discovery provided critical context for data linking MTBP to aging as well as a rapidly expanding body of evidence demonstrating MTBP is overexpressed in many human malignancies, is often linked to poor patient outcomes, and is necessary for cancer cell survival. As such, MTBP represents a novel and potentially broad reaching oncologic drug target, particularly when MYC is dysregulated. Here we have reviewed the discovery of MTBP and the initial controversy with its function as well as its associations with proliferation, MYC, DNA replication, aging, and human cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C. Grieb
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA;
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Christine M. Eischen
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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32
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Busschers E, Ahmad N, Sun L, Iben JR, Walkey CJ, Rusin A, Yuen T, Rosen CJ, Willis IM, Zaidi M, Johnson DL. MAF1, a repressor of RNA polymerase III-dependent transcription, regulates bone mass. eLife 2022; 11:74740. [PMID: 35611941 PMCID: PMC9212997 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
MAF1, a key repressor of RNA polymerase (pol) III-mediated transcription, has been shown to promote mesoderm formation in vitro. Here, we show that MAF1 plays a critical role in regulating osteoblast differentiation and bone mass. Global deletion of MAF1 (Maf1-/- mice) produced a high bone mass phenotype. However, osteoblasts isolated from Maf1-/- mice showed reduced osteoblastogenesis ex vivo. Therefore, we determined the phenotype of mice overexpressing MAF1 in cells from the mesenchymal lineage (Prx1-Cre;LSL-MAF1 mice). These mice showed increased bone mass. Ex vivo, cells from these mice showed enhanced osteoblastogenesis concordant with their high bone mass phenotype. Thus, the high bone mass phenotype in Maf1-/- mice is likely due to confounding effects from the global absence of MAF1. MAF1 overexpression promoted osteoblast differentiation of ST2 cells while MAF1 downregulation inhibited differentiation, indicating MAF1 enhances osteoblast formation. However, other perturbations used to repress RNA pol III transcription, inhibited osteoblast differentiation. However, decreasing RNA pol III transcription through these perturbations enhanced adipogenesis in ST2 cells. RNA-seq analyzed the basis for these opposing actions on osteoblast differentiation. The different modalities used to perturb RNA pol III transcription resulted in distinct gene expression changes, indicating that this transcription process is highly sensitive and triggers diverse gene expression programs and phenotypic outcomes. Specifically, MAF1 induced genes known to promote osteoblast differentiation. Furthermore, genes that are induced during osteoblast differentiation displayed codon bias. Together, these results reveal a novel role for MAF1 and RNA pol III-mediated transcription in osteoblast fate determination, differentiation, and bone mass regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Busschers
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Naseer Ahmad
- Department of Medicine, Ican School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Medicine, Ican School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States
| | - James R Iben
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, United States
| | - Christopher J Walkey
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Aleksandra Rusin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Tony Yuen
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States
| | - Clifford J Rosen
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, United States
| | - Ian M Willis
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, United States
| | - Mone Zaidi
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States
| | - Deborah L Johnson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
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Sizer RE, Chahid N, Butterfield SP, Donze D, Bryant NJ, White RJ. TFIIIC-based chromatin insulators through eukaryotic evolution. Gene X 2022; 835:146533. [PMID: 35623477 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146533] [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: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic chromosomes are divided into domains with distinct structural and functional properties, such as differing levels of chromatin compaction and gene transcription. Domains of relatively compact chromatin and minimal transcription are termed heterochromatic, whereas euchromatin is more open and actively transcribed. Insulators separate these domains and maintain their distinct features. Disruption of insulators can cause diseases such as cancer. Many insulators contain tRNA genes (tDNAs), examples of which have been shown to block the spread of activating or silencing activities. This characteristic of specific tDNAs is conserved through evolution, such that human tDNAs can serve as barriers to the spread of silencing in fission yeast. Here we demonstrate that tDNAs from the methylotrophic fungus Pichia pastoris can function effectively as insulators in distantly-related budding yeast. Key to the function of tDNAs as insulators is TFIIIC, a transcription factor that is also required for their expression. TFIIIC binds additional loci besides tDNAs, some of which have insulator activity. Although the mechanistic basis of TFIIIC-based insulation has been studied extensively in yeast, it is largely uncharacterized in metazoa. Utilising publicly-available genome-wide ChIP-seq data, we consider the extent to which mechanisms conserved from yeast to man may suffice to allow efficient insulation by TFIIIC in the more challenging chromatin environments of metazoa and suggest features that may have been acquired during evolution to cope with new challenges. We demonstrate the widespread presence at human tDNAs of USF1, a transcription factor with well-established barrier activity in vertebrates. We predict that tDNA-based insulators in higher organisms have evolved through incorporation of modules, such as binding sites for factors like USF1 and CTCF that are absent from yeasts, thereby strengthening function and providing opportunities for regulation between cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E Sizer
- Department of Biology, The University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Nisreen Chahid
- Department of Biology, The University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | | | - David Donze
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Nia J Bryant
- Department of Biology, The University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Robert J White
- Department of Biology, The University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK.
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Malcolm JR, Leese NK, Lamond-Warner PI, Brackenbury WJ, White RJ. Widespread association of ERα with RMRP and tRNA genes in MCF-7 cells and breast cancers. Gene X 2022; 821:146280. [PMID: 35143945 PMCID: PMC8942118 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogen receptor (ER) interacts with hundreds of tRNA genes (tDNAs) in MCF-7 cells. Hundreds of tDNAs are also targeted in primary breast tumours and metastases. Canonical estrogen response element is not found near top tDNA targets of ER. ER also targets non-coding breast cancer driver gene RMRP. ER also targets RN7SL1 gene that promotes breast cancer progression.
tRNA gene transcription by RNA polymerase III (Pol III) is a tightly regulated process, but dysregulated Pol III transcription is widely observed in cancers. Approximately 75% of all breast cancers are positive for expression of Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERα), which acts as a key driver of disease. MCF-7 cells rapidly upregulate tRNA gene transcription in response to estrogen and ChIP-PCR demonstrated ERα enrichment at tRNALeu and 5S rRNA genes in this breast cancer cell line. While these data implicate the ERα as a Pol III transcriptional regulator, how widespread this regulation is across the 631 tRNA genes has yet to be revealed. Through analyses of ERα ChIP-seq datasets, we show that ERα interacts with hundreds of tRNA genes, not only in MCF-7 cells, but also in primary human breast tumours and distant metastases. The extent of ERα association with tRNA genes varies between breast cancer cell lines and does not correlate with levels of ERα binding to its canonical target gene GREB1. Amongst other Pol III-transcribed genes, ERα is consistently enriched at the long non-coding RNA gene RMRP, a positive regulator of cell cycle progression that is subject to focal amplification in tumours. Another Pol III template targeted by ERα is the RN7SL1 gene, which is strongly implicated in breast cancer pathology by inducing inflammatory responses in tumours. Our data indicate that Pol III-transcribed non-coding genes should be added to the list of ERα targets in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodie R Malcolm
- Department of Biology, The University of York, Heslington Road, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Natasha K Leese
- Department of Biology, The University of York, Heslington Road, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | | | - William J Brackenbury
- Department of Biology, The University of York, Heslington Road, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Robert J White
- Department of Biology, The University of York, Heslington Road, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom.
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Codon optimality-mediated mRNA degradation: Linking translational elongation to mRNA stability. Mol Cell 2022; 82:1467-1476. [PMID: 35452615 PMCID: PMC10111967 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.03.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) translation by the ribosome represents the final step of a complicated molecular dance from DNA to protein. Although classically considered a decipherer that translates a 64-word genetic code into a proteome of astonishing complexity, the ribosome can also shape the transcriptome by controlling mRNA stability. Recent work has discovered that the ribosome is an arbiter of the general mRNA degradation pathway, wherein the ribosome transit rate serves as a major determinant of transcript half-lives. Specifically, members of the degradation complex sense ribosome translocation rates as a function of ribosome elongation rates. Central to this notion is the concept of codon optimality: although all codons impact translation rates, some are deciphered quickly, whereas others cause ribosome hesitation as a consequence of relative cognate tRNA concentration. These transient pauses induce a unique ribosome conformational state that is probed by the deadenylase complex, thereby inducing an orchestrated set of events that enhance both poly(A) shortening and cap removal. Together, these data imply that the coding region of an mRNA not only encodes for protein content but also impacts protein levels through determining the transcript's fate.
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36
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Kovalski JR, Kuzuoglu‐Ozturk D, Ruggero D. Protein synthesis control in cancer: selectivity and therapeutic targeting. EMBO J 2022; 41:e109823. [PMID: 35315941 PMCID: PMC9016353 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021109823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Translational control of mRNAs is a point of convergence for many oncogenic signals through which cancer cells tune protein expression in tumorigenesis. Cancer cells rely on translational control to appropriately adapt to limited resources while maintaining cell growth and survival, which creates a selective therapeutic window compared to non-transformed cells. In this review, we first discuss how cancer cells modulate the translational machinery to rapidly and selectively synthesize proteins in response to internal oncogenic demands and external factors in the tumor microenvironment. We highlight the clinical potential of compounds that target different translation factors as anti-cancer therapies. Next, we detail how RNA sequence and structural elements interface with the translational machinery and RNA-binding proteins to coordinate the translation of specific pro-survival and pro-growth programs. Finally, we provide an overview of the current and emerging technologies that can be used to illuminate the mechanisms of selective translational control in cancer cells as well as within the microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna R Kovalski
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCAUSA
- Department of UrologyUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Duygu Kuzuoglu‐Ozturk
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCAUSA
- Department of UrologyUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Davide Ruggero
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCAUSA
- Department of UrologyUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCAUSA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular PharmacologyUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCAUSA
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Surya A, Sarinay-Cenik E. Cell autonomous and non-autonomous consequences of deviations in translation machinery on organism growth and the connecting signalling pathways. Open Biol 2022; 12:210308. [PMID: 35472285 PMCID: PMC9042575 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Translation machinery is responsible for the production of cellular proteins; thus, cells devote the majority of their resources to ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis. Single-copy loss of function in the translation machinery components results in rare ribosomopathy disorders, such as Diamond-Blackfan anaemia in humans and similar developmental defects in various model organisms. Somatic copy number alterations of translation machinery components are also observed in specific tumours. The organism-wide response to haploinsufficient loss-of-function mutations in ribosomal proteins or translation machinery components is complex: variations in translation machinery lead to reduced ribosome biogenesis, protein translation and altered protein homeostasis and cellular signalling pathways. Cells are affected both autonomously and non-autonomously by changes in translation machinery or ribosome biogenesis through cell-cell interactions and secreted hormones. We first briefly introduce the model organisms where mutants or knockdowns of protein synthesis and ribosome biogenesis are characterized. Next, we specifically describe observations in Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster, where insufficient protein synthesis in a subset of cells triggers cell non-autonomous growth or apoptosis responses that affect nearby cells and tissues. We then cover the characterized signalling pathways that interact with ribosome biogenesis/protein synthesis machinery with an emphasis on their respective functions during organism development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustian Surya
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Elif Sarinay-Cenik
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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38
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Schreiner C, Kernl B, Dietmann P, Riegger RJ, Kühl M, Kühl SJ. The Ribosomal Protein L5 Functions During Xenopus Anterior Development Through Apoptotic Pathways. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:777121. [PMID: 35281111 PMCID: PMC8905602 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.777121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Ribosomal biogenesis is a fundamental process necessary for cell growth and division. Ribosomal protein L5 (Rpl5) is part of the large ribosomal subunit. Mutations in this protein have been associated with the congenital disease Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA), a so called ribosomopathy. Despite of the ubiquitous need of ribosomes, clinical manifestations of DBA include tissue-specific symptoms, e.g., craniofacial malformations, eye abnormalities, skin pigmentation failure, cardiac defects or liver cirrhosis. Here, we made use of the vertebrate model organism Xenopus laevis and showed a specific expression of rpl5 in the developing anterior tissue correlating with tissues affected in ribosomopathies. Upon Rpl5 knockdown using an antisense-based morpholino oligonucleotide approach, we showed different phenotypes affecting anterior tissue, i.e., defective cranial cartilage, malformed eyes, and microcephaly. Hence, the observed phenotypes in Xenopus laevis resemble the clinical manifestations of DBA. Analyses of the underlying molecular basis revealed that the expression of several marker genes of neural crest, eye, and brain are decreased during induction and differentiation of the respective tissue. Furthermore, Rpl5 knockdown led to decreased cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis during early embryogenesis. Investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying Rpl5 function revealed a more than additive effect between either loss of function of Rpl5 and loss of function of c-Myc or loss of function of Rpl5 and gain of function of Tp53, suggesting a common signaling pathway of these proteins. The co-injection of the apoptosis blocking molecule Bcl2 resulted in a partial rescue of the eye phenotype, supporting the hypothesis that apoptosis is one main reason for the phenotypes occurring upon Rpl5 knockdown. With this study, we are able to shed more light on the still poorly understood molecular background of ribosomopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinna Schreiner
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Bianka Kernl
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Petra Dietmann
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ricarda J Riegger
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Michael Kühl
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Susanne J Kühl
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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39
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Brown IN, Lafita-Navarro MC, Conacci-Sorrell M. Regulation of Nucleolar Activity by MYC. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030574. [PMID: 35159381 PMCID: PMC8834138 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The nucleolus harbors the machinery necessary to produce new ribosomes which are critical for protein synthesis. Nucleolar size, shape, and density are highly dynamic and can be adjusted to accommodate ribosome biogenesis according to the needs for protein synthesis. In cancer, cells undergo continuous proliferation; therefore, nucleolar activity is elevated due to their high demand for protein synthesis. The transcription factor and universal oncogene MYC promotes nucleolar activity by enhancing the transcription of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and ribosomal proteins. This review summarizes the importance of nucleolar activity in mammalian cells, MYC’s role in nucleolar regulation in cancer, and discusses how a better understanding (and the potential inhibition) of aberrant nucleolar activity in cancer cells could lead to novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella N. Brown
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA;
| | - M. Carmen Lafita-Navarro
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA;
- Correspondence: (M.C.L.-N.); (M.C.-S.)
| | - Maralice Conacci-Sorrell
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA;
- Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Correspondence: (M.C.L.-N.); (M.C.-S.)
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40
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Qiu Z, Wang Q, Liu L, Li G, Hao Y, Ning S, Zhang L, Zhang X, Chen Y, Wu J, Wang X, Yang S, Lin Y, Xu S. Riddle of the Sphinx: Emerging Role of Transfer RNAs in Human Cancer. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:794986. [PMID: 34975491 PMCID: PMC8714751 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.794986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The dysregulation of transfer RNA (tRNA) expression contributes to the diversity of proteomics, heterogeneity of cell populations, and instability of the genome, which may be related to human cancer susceptibility. However, the relationship between tRNA dysregulation and cancer susceptibility remains elusive because the landscape of cancer-associated tRNAs has not been portrayed yet. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms of tRNAs involved in tumorigenesis and cancer progression have not been systematically understood. In this review, we detail current knowledge of cancer-related tRNAs and comprehensively summarize the basic characteristics and functions of these tRNAs, with a special focus on their role and involvement in human cancer. This review bridges the gap between tRNAs and cancer and broadens our understanding of their relationship, thus providing new insights and strategies to improve the potential clinical applications of tRNAs for cancer diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhilin Qiu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Qin Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Guozheng Li
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Yi Hao
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Shipeng Ning
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Yihai Chen
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Jiale Wu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Xinheng Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Shuai Yang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Yaoxin Lin
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Yaoxin Lin, ; Shouping Xu,
| | - Shouping Xu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
- *Correspondence: Yaoxin Lin, ; Shouping Xu,
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41
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Das SK, Kuzin V, Cameron DP, Sanford S, Jha RK, Nie Z, Rosello MT, Holewinski R, Andresson T, Wisniewski J, Natsume T, Price DH, Lewis BA, Kouzine F, Levens D, Baranello L. MYC assembles and stimulates topoisomerases 1 and 2 in a "topoisome". Mol Cell 2021; 82:140-158.e12. [PMID: 34890565 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
High-intensity transcription and replication supercoil DNA to levels that can impede or halt these processes. As a potent transcription amplifier and replication accelerator, the proto-oncogene MYC must manage this interfering torsional stress. By comparing gene expression with the recruitment of topoisomerases and MYC to promoters, we surmised a direct association of MYC with topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) and TOP2 that was confirmed in vitro and in cells. Beyond recruiting topoisomerases, MYC directly stimulates their activities. We identify a MYC-nucleated "topoisome" complex that unites TOP1 and TOP2 and increases their levels and activities at promoters, gene bodies, and enhancers. Whether TOP2A or TOP2B is included in the topoisome is dictated by the presence of MYC versus MYCN, respectively. Thus, in vitro and in cells, MYC assembles tools that simplify DNA topology and promote genome function under high output conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhendu K Das
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Vladislav Kuzin
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Donald P Cameron
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Suzanne Sanford
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Rajiv Kumar Jha
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Zuqin Nie
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Marta Trullols Rosello
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ronald Holewinski
- Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Bethesda, MD 21701, USA
| | - Thorkell Andresson
- Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Bethesda, MD 21701, USA
| | - Jan Wisniewski
- Confocal Microscopy and Digital Imaging Facility, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Toyoaki Natsume
- Department of Chromosome Science, National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan; Research Center for Genome & Medical Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - David H Price
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Brian A Lewis
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Fedor Kouzine
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - David Levens
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
| | - Laura Baranello
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
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42
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Differential Transcriptional Reprogramming by Wild Type and Lymphoma-Associated Mutant MYC Proteins as B-Cells Convert to a Lymphoma Phenotype. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13236093. [PMID: 34885204 PMCID: PMC8657136 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13236093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The MYC transcription factor regulates a vast number of genes and is implicated in many human malignancies. In some hematological malignancies, MYC is frequently subject to missense mutations that enhance its transformation activity. Here, we use a novel murine cell system to (i) characterize the transcriptional effects of progressively increasing MYC levels as normal primary B-cells transform to lymphoma cells and (ii) determine how this gene regulation program is modified by lymphoma-associated MYC mutations (T58A and T58I) that enhance its transformation activity. Unlike many previous studies, the cell system exploits primary B-cells that are transduced to allow regulated MYC expression under circumstances where apoptosis and senescence pathways are abrogated by the over-expression of the Bcl-xL and BMI1 proteins. In such cells, transition from a normal to a lymphoma phenotype is directly dependent on the MYC expression level, without a requirement for secondary events that are normally required during MYC-driven oncogenic transformation. A generalized linear model approach allowed an integrated analysis of RNA sequencing data to identify regulated genes in relation to both progressively increasing MYC level and wild type or mutant status. Using this design, a total of 7569 regulated genes were identified, of which the majority (n = 7263) were regulated in response to progressively increased levels of wild type MYC, while a smaller number of genes (n = 917) were differentially regulated, compared to wild type MYC, in T58A MYC- and/or T58I MYC-expressing cells. Unlike most genes that are similarly regulated by both wild type and mutant MYC genes, the set of 917 genes did not significantly overlap with known lipopolysaccharide regulated genes, which represent genes regulated by MYC in normal B cells. The genes that were differently regulated in cells expressing mutant MYC proteins were significantly enriched in DNA replication and G2 phase to mitosis transition genes. Thus, mutants affecting MYC proteins may augment quantitative oncogenic effects on the expression of normal MYC-target genes with qualitative oncogenic effects, by which sets of cell cycle genes are abnormally targeted by MYC as B cells transition into lymphoma cells. The T58A and T58I mutations augment MYC-driven transformation by distinct mechanisms.
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43
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Kessler AC, Maraia RJ. The nuclear and cytoplasmic activities of RNA polymerase III, and an evolving transcriptome for surveillance. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:12017-12034. [PMID: 34850129 PMCID: PMC8643620 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A 1969 report that described biochemical and activity properties of the three eukaryotic RNA polymerases revealed Pol III as highly distinguishable, even before its transcripts were identified. Now known to be the most complex, Pol III contains several stably-associated subunits referred to as built-in transcription factors (BITFs) that enable highly efficient RNA synthesis by a unique termination-associated recycling process. In vertebrates, subunit RPC7(α/β) can be of two forms, encoded by POLR3G or POLR3GL, with differential activity. Here we review promoter-dependent transcription by Pol III as an evolutionary perspective of eukaryotic tRNA expression. Pol III also provides nonconventional functions reportedly by promoter-independent transcription, one of which is RNA synthesis from DNA 3'-ends during repair. Another is synthesis of 5'ppp-RNA signaling molecules from cytoplasmic viral DNA in a pathway of interferon activation that is dysfunctional in immunocompromised patients with mutations in Pol III subunits. These unconventional functions are also reviewed, including evidence that link them to the BITF subunits. We also review data on a fraction of the human Pol III transcriptome that evolved to include vault RNAs and snaRs with activities related to differentiation, and in innate immune and tumor surveillance. The Pol III of higher eukaryotes does considerably more than housekeeping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan C Kessler
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892 USA
| | - Richard J Maraia
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892 USA
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Li L, Yang Y, Wang Z, Xu C, Huang J, Li G. Prognostic role of METTL1 in glioma. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:633. [PMID: 34838021 PMCID: PMC8627054 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02346-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Current treatment options for glioma are limited, and the prognosis of patients with glioma is poor as the available drugs show low therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms associated with glioma remain poorly understood. METTL1 mainly catalyzes the formation of N(7)-methylguanine at position 46 of the transfer RNA sequence, thereby regulating the translation process. However, the role of METTL1 in glioma has not been studied to date. The purpose of this study was to analyze the expression and prognosis of METTL1 in glioma, and to explore the potential analysis mechanism. Methods Data from five publicly available databases were used to analyze METTL1 expression across different tumor types and its differential expression between carcinoma and adjacent normal tissues. The expression of METTL1 in glioma was further validated using real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Meanwhile, siRNA was used to knockdown METTL1 in U87 glioma cells, and the resultant effect on glioma proliferation was verified using the Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8) assay. Furthermore, a nomogram was constructed to predict the association between METTL1 expression and the survival rate of patients with glioma. Results METTL1 expression increased with increasing glioma grades and was significantly higher in glioma than in adjacent noncancerous tissues. In addition, high expression of METTL1 promoted cell proliferation. Moreover, METTL1 expression was associated with common clinical risk factors and was significantly associated with the prognosis and survival of patients with glioma. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that METTL1 expression may be used as an independent prognostic risk factor for glioma. Furthermore, results of functional enrichment and pathway analyses indicate that the mechanism of METTL1 in glioma is potentially related to the MAPK signaling pathway. Conclusions High METTL1 expression is significantly associated with poor prognosis of patients with glioma and may represent a valuable independent risk factor. In addition, high expression of METTL1 promotes glioma proliferation and may regulate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Thus, METTL1 may be a potential biomarker for glioma. Further investigations are warranted to explore its clinical use. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02346-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lun Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Anshan Hospital of the First Hospital of China Medical University, Anshan, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhenshuang Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Chengran Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jinhai Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Guangyu Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
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Gillen SL, Waldron JA, Bushell M. Codon optimality in cancer. Oncogene 2021; 40:6309-6320. [PMID: 34584217 PMCID: PMC8585667 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-02022-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A key characteristic of cancer cells is their increased proliferative capacity, which requires elevated levels of protein synthesis. The process of protein synthesis involves the translation of codons within the mRNA coding sequence into a string of amino acids to form a polypeptide chain. As most amino acids are encoded by multiple codons, the nucleotide sequence of a coding region can vary dramatically without altering the polypeptide sequence of the encoded protein. Although mutations that do not alter the final amino acid sequence are often thought of as silent/synonymous, these can still have dramatic effects on protein output. Because each codon has a distinct translation elongation rate and can differentially impact mRNA stability, each codon has a different degree of 'optimality' for protein synthesis. Recent data demonstrates that the codon preference of a transcriptome matches the abundance of tRNAs within the cell and that this supply and demand between tRNAs and mRNAs varies between different cell types. The largest observed distinction is between mRNAs encoding proteins associated with proliferation or differentiation. Nevertheless, precisely how codon optimality and tRNA expression levels regulate cell fate decisions and their role in malignancy is not fully understood. This review describes the current mechanistic understanding on codon optimality, its role in malignancy and discusses the potential to target codon optimality therapeutically in the context of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Gillen
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK.
| | - Joseph A Waldron
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
| | - Martin Bushell
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK.
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK, G61 1QH.
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Fabbri L, Chakraborty A, Robert C, Vagner S. The plasticity of mRNA translation during cancer progression and therapy resistance. Nat Rev Cancer 2021; 21:558-577. [PMID: 34341537 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-021-00380-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Translational control of mRNAs during gene expression allows cells to promptly and dynamically adapt to a variety of stimuli, including in neoplasia in response to aberrant oncogenic signalling (for example, PI3K-AKT-mTOR, RAS-MAPK and MYC) and microenvironmental stress such as low oxygen and nutrient supply. Such translational rewiring allows rapid, specific changes in the cell proteome that shape specific cancer phenotypes to promote cancer onset, progression and resistance to anticancer therapies. In this Review, we illustrate the plasticity of mRNA translation. We first highlight the diverse mechanisms by which it is regulated, including by translation factors (for example, eukaryotic initiation factor 4F (eIF4F) and eIF2), RNA-binding proteins, tRNAs and ribosomal RNAs that are modulated in response to aberrant intracellular pathways or microenvironmental stress. We then describe how translational control can influence tumour behaviour by impacting on the phenotypic plasticity of cancer cells as well as on components of the tumour microenvironment. Finally, we highlight the role of mRNA translation in the cellular response to anticancer therapies and its promise as a key therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucilla Fabbri
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR3348, INSERM U1278, Orsay, France
- Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR3348, INSERM U1278, Orsay, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Orsay, France
| | - Alina Chakraborty
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR3348, INSERM U1278, Orsay, France
- Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR3348, INSERM U1278, Orsay, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Orsay, France
| | - Caroline Robert
- INSERM U981, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
- Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Dermato-Oncology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | - Stéphan Vagner
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR3348, INSERM U1278, Orsay, France.
- Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR3348, INSERM U1278, Orsay, France.
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Orsay, France.
- Dermato-Oncology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France.
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A transcription-based mechanism for oncogenic β-catenin-induced lethality in BRCA1/2-deficient cells. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4919. [PMID: 34389725 PMCID: PMC8363664 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25215-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BRCA1 or BRCA2 germline mutations predispose to breast, ovarian and other cancers. High-throughput sequencing of tumour genomes revealed that oncogene amplification and BRCA1/2 mutations are mutually exclusive in cancer, however the molecular mechanism underlying this incompatibility remains unknown. Here, we report that activation of β-catenin, an oncogene of the WNT signalling pathway, inhibits proliferation of BRCA1/2-deficient cells. RNA-seq analyses revealed β-catenin-induced discrete transcriptome alterations in BRCA2-deficient cells, including suppression of CDKN1A gene encoding the CDK inhibitor p21. This accelerates G1/S transition, triggering illegitimate origin firing and DNA damage. In addition, β-catenin activation accelerates replication fork progression in BRCA2-deficient cells, which is critically dependent on p21 downregulation. Importantly, we find that upregulated p21 expression is essential for the survival of BRCA2-deficient cells and tumours. Thus, our work demonstrates that β-catenin toxicity in cancer cells with compromised BRCA1/2 function is driven by transcriptional alterations that cause aberrant replication and inflict DNA damage. Germline mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 tumour suppressor genes predispose to different cancers, as does oncogene activation. Here the authors reveal that aberrant transcription of specific genes triggered by activation of the oncogene β-catenin causes replication failure and cell death in the context of BRCA1/2 deficiency.
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Abstract
A central component of Myc's role as a master coordinator of energy metabolism and biomass accumulation is its ability to increase the rate of protein synthesis, driving cell cycle progression, and proliferation. Importantly, Myc-induced alterations in both global and specific mRNA translation is a key determinant of Myc's oncogenic function. Herein, we provide five assays to enable researchers to measure global protein synthesis changes, to identify the translatome uniquely regulated by Myc and to investigate the mechanisms generating the tailored Myc translation network. Metabolic labeling of cells with 35S-containing methionine and cysteine in culture and O-propargyl-puromycin (OP-Puro) incorporation in vivo are presented as methods to measure the overall rate of global protein synthesis. Isolation of polysome-associated mRNAs followed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and the toeprint assay enable the detection of altered translation of specific mRNAs and isoforms, and visualization of differential ribosomal engagement at start codons uniquely mediated by Myc activation, respectively. Finally, the translation initiation reporter assay is utilized to uncover the molecular mechanism mediating altered translation initiation of a specific mRNA. Together, the protocols detailed in this chapter can be used to illuminate how and to what degree Myc-dependent regulation of translation influences homeostatic cellular functions as well as tumorigenesis.
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Kulaberoglu Y, Malik Y, Borland G, Selman C, Alic N, Tullet JMA. RNA Polymerase III, Ageing and Longevity. Front Genet 2021; 12:705122. [PMID: 34295356 PMCID: PMC8290157 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.705122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription in eukaryotic cells is performed by three RNA polymerases. RNA polymerase I synthesises most rRNAs, whilst RNA polymerase II transcribes all mRNAs and many non-coding RNAs. The largest of the three polymerases is RNA polymerase III (Pol III) which transcribes a variety of short non-coding RNAs including tRNAs and the 5S rRNA, in addition to other small RNAs such as snRNAs, snoRNAs, SINEs, 7SL RNA, Y RNA, and U6 spilceosomal RNA. Pol III-mediated transcription is highly dynamic and regulated in response to changes in cell growth, cell proliferation and stress. Pol III-generated transcripts are involved in a wide variety of cellular processes, including translation, genome and transcriptome regulation and RNA processing, with Pol III dys-regulation implicated in diseases including leukodystrophy, Alzheimer's, Fragile X-syndrome and various cancers. More recently, Pol III was identified as an evolutionarily conserved determinant of organismal lifespan acting downstream of mTORC1. Pol III inhibition extends lifespan in yeast, worms and flies, and in worms and flies acts from the intestine and intestinal stem cells respectively to achieve this. Intriguingly, Pol III activation achieved through impairment of its master repressor, Maf1, has also been shown to promote longevity in model organisms, including mice. In this review we introduce the Pol III transcription apparatus and review the current understanding of RNA Pol III's role in ageing and lifespan in different model organisms. We then discuss the potential of Pol III as a therapeutic target to improve age-related health in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yavuz Kulaberoglu
- Department of Genetics Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yasir Malik
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | - Gillian Borland
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Colin Selman
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Nazif Alic
- Department of Genetics Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Beznosková P, Bidou L, Namy O, Valášek LS. Increased expression of tryptophan and tyrosine tRNAs elevates stop codon readthrough of reporter systems in human cell lines. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:5202-5215. [PMID: 34009360 PMCID: PMC8136774 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulation of translation via stop codon readthrough (SC-RT) expands not only tissue-specific but also viral proteomes in humans and, therefore, represents an important subject of study. Understanding this mechanism and all involved players is critical also from a point of view of prospective medical therapies of hereditary diseases caused by a premature termination codon. tRNAs were considered for a long time to be just passive players delivering amino acid residues according to the genetic code to ribosomes without any active regulatory roles. In contrast, our recent yeast work identified several endogenous tRNAs implicated in the regulation of SC-RT. Swiftly emerging studies of human tRNA-ome also advocate that tRNAs have unprecedented regulatory potential. Here, we developed a universal U6 promotor-based system expressing various human endogenous tRNA iso-decoders to study consequences of their increased dosage on SC-RT employing various reporter systems in vivo. This system combined with siRNA-mediated downregulations of selected aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases demonstrated that changing levels of human tryptophan and tyrosine tRNAs do modulate efficiency of SC-RT. Overall, our results suggest that tissue-to-tissue specific levels of selected near-cognate tRNAs may have a vital potential to fine-tune the final landscape of the human proteome, as well as that of its viral pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Beznosková
- Laboratory of Regulation of Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology ASCR, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague, the Czech Republic
| | - Laure Bidou
- Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Olivier Namy
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Leoš Shivaya Valášek
- Laboratory of Regulation of Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology ASCR, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague, the Czech Republic
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