RSK2 is a kinetochore-associated protein that participates in the spindle assembly checkpoint

Cyclic AMP responsive element-binding protein promotes renal cell carcinoma proliferation probably via the expression of spindle and kinetochore-associated protein 2

Emerging evidence shows that the aberrantly expressed cyclic AMP responsive element-binding protein (CREB) is associated with tumor development and progression in several cancers. Spindle and kinetochore-associated protein 2 (SKA2) is essential for regulating the progress of mitosis. In this study, we evaluate in vitro and in vivo the functional relationship between CREB and SKA2 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Suppressing and replenishing CREB levels were used to manipulate SKA2 expression, observing the effects on RCC cell lines. Computational prediction and ChIP assay identified that CREB targeted ska2 by binding its CRE sequence in the human genome. Overexpression of CREB reversed the inhibited cell growth following siSKA2 treatment, and reduced the number of cells holding in mitosis. Decreased expression of CREB suppressed RCC cell growth and xenograft tumor formation, accompanied by reduced expression of SKA2. In RCC tumor samples from patients, mRNA for SKA2 were plotted near those of CREB in each sample, with significantly increased immunohistochemical staining of higher SKA2 and CREB in the higher TNM stages. The study adds evidence that CREB, a tumor oncogene, promotes RCC proliferation. It probably achieves this by increasing SKA2 expression.

Defining the role of the RSK isoforms in cancer

The 90kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) family is a group of Ser/Thr protein kinases (RSK1-4) that function downstream of the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway. RSK regulates many substrates involved in cell survival, growth, and proliferation, and as such, deregulated RSK activity has been associated with multiple cancer types. RSK expression and activity are dysregulated in several malignancies, including breast, prostate, and lung cancer, and available evidence suggests that RSK may be a promising cancer therapeutic target. Current limitations include the lack of RSK inhibitors with suitable pharmacokinetics and selectivity toward particular isoforms. This review briefly describes the current knowledge on RSK activation and function, with a particular emphasis on RSK-dependent mechanisms associated with tumorigenesis and pharmacological inhibition.

Mechanisms of Chromosome Congression during Mitosis

Chromosome congression during prometaphase culminates with the establishment of a metaphase plate, a hallmark of mitosis in metazoans. Classical views resulting from more than 100 years of research on this topic have attempted to explain chromosome congression based on the balance between opposing pulling and/or pushing forces that reach an equilibrium near the spindle equator. However, in mammalian cells, chromosome bi-orientation and force balance at kinetochores are not required for chromosome congression, whereas the mechanisms of chromosome congression are not necessarily involved in the maintenance of chromosome alignment after congression. Thus, chromosome congression and maintenance of alignment are determined by different principles. Moreover, it is now clear that not all chromosomes use the same mechanism for congressing to the spindle equator. Those chromosomes that are favorably positioned between both poles when the nuclear envelope breaks down use the so-called "direct congression" pathway in which chromosomes align after bi-orientation and the establishment of end-on kinetochore-microtubule attachments. This favors the balanced action of kinetochore pulling forces and polar ejection forces along chromosome arms that drive chromosome oscillatory movements during and after congression. The other pathway, which we call "peripheral congression", is independent of end-on kinetochore microtubule-attachments and relies on the dominant and coordinated action of the kinetochore motors Dynein and Centromere Protein E (CENP-E) that mediate the lateral transport of peripheral chromosomes along microtubules, first towards the poles and subsequently towards the equator. How the opposite polarities of kinetochore motors are regulated in space and time to drive congression of peripheral chromosomes only now starts to be understood. This appears to be regulated by position-dependent phosphorylation of both Dynein and CENP-E and by spindle microtubule diversity by means of tubulin post-translational modifications. This so-called "tubulin code" might work as a navigation system that selectively guides kinetochore motors with opposite polarities along specific spindle microtubule populations, ultimately leading to the congression of peripheral chromosomes. We propose an integrated model of chromosome congression in mammalian cells that depends essentially on the following parameters: (1) chromosome position relative to the spindle poles after nuclear envelope breakdown; (2) establishment of stable end-on kinetochore-microtubule attachments and bi-orientation; (3) coordination between kinetochore- and arm-associated motors; and (4) spatial signatures associated with post-translational modifications of specific spindle microtubule populations. The physiological consequences of abnormal chromosome congression, as well as the therapeutic potential of inhibiting chromosome congression are also discussed.

The p90 ribosomal S6 kinase 2 specifically affects mitotic progression by regulating the basal level, distribution and stability of mitotic spindles

RSK2, also known as RPS6KA3 (ribosomal protein S6 kinase, 90 kDa, polypeptide 3), is a downstream kinase of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which is important in regulating survival, transcription, growth and proliferation. However, its biological role in mitotic progression is not well understood. In this study, we examined the potential involvement of RSK2 in the regulation of mitotic progression. Interestingly, depletion of RSK2, but not RSK1, caused the accumulation of mitotic cells. Time-lapse analysis revealed that mitotic duration, particularly the duration for metaphase-to-anaphase transition was prolonged in RSK2-depleted cells, suggesting activation of spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). Indeed, more BubR1 (Bub1-related kinase) was present on metaphase plate kinetochores in RSK2-depleted cells, and depletion of BubR1 abolished the mitotic accumulation caused by RSK2 depletion, confirming BubR1-dependent SAC activation. Along with the shortening of inter-kinetochore distance, these data suggested that weakening of the tension across sister kinetochores by RSK2 depletion led to the activation of SAC. To test this, we analyzed the RSK2 effects on the stability of kinetochore–microtubule interactions, and found that RSK2-depleted cells formed less kinetochore–microtubule fibers. Moreover, RSK2 depletion resulted in the decrease of basal level of microtubule as well as an irregular distribution of mitotic spindles, which might lead to observed several mitotic progression defects such as increase in unaligned chromosomes, defects in chromosome congression and a decrease in pole-to-pole distance in these cells. Taken together, our data reveal that RSK2 affects mitotic progression by regulating the distribution, basal level and the stability of mitotic spindles.

Myricetin inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in gastric cancer cells

Myricetin is a flavonoid that is abundant in fruits and vegetables and has protective effects against cancer and diabetes. However, the mechanism of action of myricetin against gastric cancer (GC) is not fully understood. We researched myricetin on the proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle in GC HGC-27 and SGC7901 cells, to explore the underlying mechanism of action. Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8 assay, Western blotting, cell cycle analysis, and apoptosis assay were used to evaluate the effects of myricetin on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and the cell cycle. To analyze the binding properties of ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (RSK2) with myricetin, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis was performed. CCK8 assay showed that myricetin inhibited GC cell proliferation. Flow cytometry analysis showed that myricetin induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in GC cells. Western blotting indicated that myricetin influenced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of GC cells by regulating related proteins. SPR analysis showed strong binding affinity of RSK2 and myricetin. Myricetin bound to RSK2, leading to increased expression of Mad1, and contributed to inhibition of HGC-27 and SGC7901 cell proliferation. Our results suggest the therapeutic potential of myricetin in GC.

Myricetin exerts anti-proliferative, anti-invasive, and pro-apoptotic effects on esophageal carcinoma EC9706 and KYSE30 cells via RSK2

Myricetin, a common dietary flavonoid, is widely distributed in fruits and vegetables and is used as a health food supplement based on its anti-tumor properties. However, the effect and mechanisms of myricetin in esophageal carcinoma are not fully understood. Here, we demonstrated the effect of myricetin on the proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion of the esophageal carcinoma cell lines EC9706 and KYSE30 and explored the underlying mechanism and target protein(s) of myricetin. CCK-8 assay, transwell invasion assay, wound-healing assay, cell cycle analysis, and apoptosis assay were used to evaluate the effects of myricetin on cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis. Nude mouse tumor xenograft model was built to understand the interaction between myricetin and NTD RSK2. Pull-down assay was used to verify molecular mechanism. Myricetin inhibited proliferation and invasion and induced apoptosis of EC9706 and KYSE30 cells. Moreover, myricetin was shown to bind RSK2 through the NH2-terminal kinase domain. Finally, myricetin inhibited EC9706 and KYSE30 cell proliferation through Mad1 and induced cell apoptosis via Bad. Myricetin inhibits the proliferation and invasion and induces apoptosis in EC9706 and KYSE30 cells via RSK2. Myricetin exerts anti-proliferative, anti-invasive, and pro-apoptotic effects on esophageal carcinoma EC9706 and KYSE30 cells via RSK2. Our results provide novel insight into myricetin as a potential agent for the prevention and treatment of esophageal carcinoma.

Comparison of epigenetic mediator expression and function in mouse and human embryonic blastomeres

A map of human embryo development that combines imaging, molecular, genetic and epigenetic data for comparisons to other species and across pathologies would be greatly beneficial for basic science and clinical applications. Here, we compared mRNA and protein expression of key mediators of DNA methylation and histone modifications between mouse and human embryos, embryos from fertile/infertile couples, and following growth factor supplementation. We observed that individual mouse and human embryos are characterized by similarities and distinct differences in DNA methylation and histone modification patterns especially at the single-cell level. In particular, while mouse embryos first exhibited sub-compartmentalization of different histone modifications between blastomeres at the morula stage and cell sub-populations in blastocysts, differential histone modification expression was detected between blastomeres earlier in human embryos at the four- to eight-cell stage. Likewise, differences in epigenetic mediator expression were also observed between embryos from fertile and infertile couples, which were largely equalized in response to growth factor supplementation, suggesting that select growth factors might prevent alterations in epigenetic profiles during prolonged embryo culture. Finally, we determined that reduced expression via morpholino technologies of a single histone-modifying enzyme, Rps6ka4/Msk2, resulted in cleavage-stage arrest as assessed by time-lapse imaging and was associated with aneuploidy generation. Taken together, data document differences in epigenetic patterns between species with implications for fertility and suggest functional roles for individual epigenetic factors during pre-implantation development.

Cell cycle regulated phosphorylation of the telomere-associated protein TIN2

The protein TIN2 is a member of telomere-binding protein complex that serves to cap and protect mammalian chromosome ends. As a number of proteins in this complex are phosphorylated in a cell cycle-dependent manner, we investigated whether TIN2 is modified by phosphorylation as well. We performed phospho-proteomic analysis of human TIN2, and identified two phosphorylated residues, serines 295 and 330. We demonstrated that both these sites were phosphorylated during mitosis in human cells, as detected by Phos-tag reagent and phosphorylation-specific antibodies. Phosphorylation of serines 295 and 330 appeared to be mediated, at least in part, by the mitotic kinase RSK2. Specifically, phosphorylation of TIN2 at both these residues was increased upon expression of RSK2 and reduced by an inhibitor of the RSK family of kinases. Moreover, RSK2 phosphorylated TIN2 in vitro. The identification of these specifically timed post-translational events during the cell cycle suggests a potential mitotic regulation of TIN2 by phosphorylation.

Regulation and function of the RSK family of protein kinases

The RSK (90 kDa ribosomal S6 kinase) family comprises a group of highly related serine/threonine kinases that regulate diverse cellular processes, including cell growth, proliferation, survival and motility. This family includes four vertebrate isoforms (RSK1, RSK2, RSK3 and RSK4), and single family member orthologues are also present in Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans. The RSK isoforms are downstream effectors of the Ras/ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) signalling pathway. Significant advances in the field of RSK signalling have occurred in the past few years, including several new functions ascribed to the RSK isoforms, the discovery of novel protein substrates and the implication of different RSK isoforms in cancer. Collectively, these new findings increase the diversity of biological functions regulated by RSK, and highlight potential new directions of research. In the present paper, we review the structure, expression and activation mechanisms of the RSK isoforms, and discuss their physiological roles on the basis of established substrates and recent discoveries.