1
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Biswas J, Boussi L, Stein E, Abdel-Wahab O. Aberrant pre-mRNA processing in cancer. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20230891. [PMID: 39316554 PMCID: PMC11448470 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20230891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of the flow of information from genomic DNA to RNA to protein occurs within all cancer types. In this review, we described the current state of understanding of how RNA processing is dysregulated in cancer with a focus on mutations in the RNA splicing factor machinery that are highly prevalent in hematologic malignancies. We discuss the downstream effects of these mutations highlighting both individual genes as well as common pathways that they perturb. We highlight examples of how alterations in RNA processing have been harnessed for therapeutic intent as well as to promote the selective toxicity of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeetayu Biswas
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Leora Boussi
- Department of Medicine, Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eytan Stein
- Department of Medicine, Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Omar Abdel-Wahab
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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2
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Zhou L, Zhou K, Chang Y, Yang J, Fan B, Su Y, Li Z, Mannan R, Mahapatra S, Ding M, Zhou F, Huang W, Ren X, Xu J, Wang GX, Zhang J, Wang Z, Chinnaiyan AM, Ding K. Discovery of ZLC491 as a Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable CDK12/13 PROTAC Degrader. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 39388374 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
Selective degradation of cyclin-dependent kinases 12 and 13 (CDK12/13) emerges as a new potential therapeutic approach for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and other human cancers. While several proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) degraders of CDK12/13 were reported, none are orally bioavailable. Here, we report the discovery of ZLC491 as a potent, selective, and orally bioavailable CDK12/13 PROTAC degrader. The compound effectively degraded CDK12 and CDK13 with DC50 values of 32 and 28 nM, respectively, in TNBC MDA-MB-231 cells. Global proteomic assessment and mechanistic studies revealed that ZLC491 selectively induced CDK12/13 degradation in a cereblon- and proteasome-dependent manner. Furthermore, the molecule efficiently suppressed transcription and expression of long genes, predominantly a subset of genes associated with DNA damage response, and significantly inhibited proliferation of multiple TNBC cell lines. Importantly, ZLC491 achieved an oral bioavailability of 46.8% in rats and demonstrated potent in vivo degradative effects on CDK12/13 in an MDA-MB-231 xenografted mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Licheng Zhou
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 855 Xingye Avenue East, Guangzhou 511400, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, #345 Lingling Rd., Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Kaijie Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, #345 Lingling Rd., Shanghai 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1 Yanxihu Road, Huairou District, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Yu Chang
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Jianzhang Yang
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 855 Xingye Avenue East, Guangzhou 511400, China
| | - Bohai Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, #345 Lingling Rd., Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yuhan Su
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, #345 Lingling Rd., Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zilu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, #345 Lingling Rd., Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Rahul Mannan
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Somnath Mahapatra
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Ming Ding
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Fengtao Zhou
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 855 Xingye Avenue East, Guangzhou 511400, China
| | - Weixue Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, #345 Lingling Rd., Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiaomei Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, #345 Lingling Rd., Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Livzon Research Institute, Livzon Pharmaceutical Group Inc., No. 38, Chuangye North Road, Jinwan District, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - George Xiaoju Wang
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Jinwei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, #345 Lingling Rd., Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, #345 Lingling Rd., Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Arul M Chinnaiyan
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Ke Ding
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 855 Xingye Avenue East, Guangzhou 511400, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, #345 Lingling Rd., Shanghai 200032, China
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3
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Sharma S, Kapoor S, Ansari A, Tyagi AK. The general transcription factors (GTFs) of RNA polymerase II and their roles in plant development and stress responses. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2024:1-43. [PMID: 39361782 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2024.2408562] [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: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 09/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/21/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024]
Abstract
In eukaryotes, general transcription factors (GTFs) enable recruitment of RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) to core promoters to facilitate initiation of transcription. Extensive research in mammals and yeast has unveiled their significance in basal transcription as well as in diverse biological processes. Unlike mammals and yeast, plant GTFs exhibit remarkable degree of variability and flexibility. This is because plant GTFs and GTF subunits are often encoded by multigene families, introducing complexity to transcriptional regulation at both cellular and biological levels. This review provides insights into the general transcription mechanism, GTF composition, and their cellular functions. It further highlights the involvement of RNA Pol II-related GTFs in plant development and stress responses. Studies reveal that GTFs act as important regulators of gene expression in specific developmental processes and help equip plants with resilience against adverse environmental conditions. Their functions may be direct or mediated through their cofactor nature. The versatility of GTFs in controlling gene expression, and thereby influencing specific traits, adds to the intricate complexity inherent in the plant system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivam Sharma
- Inter-disciplinary Centre for Plant Genomics and Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Sanjay Kapoor
- Inter-disciplinary Centre for Plant Genomics and Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Athar Ansari
- Department of Biological Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Akhilesh Kumar Tyagi
- Inter-disciplinary Centre for Plant Genomics and Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
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4
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Liang J, Gondane A, Itkonen HM. CDK12-inactivation-induced MYC signaling causes dependency on the splicing kinase SRPK1. Mol Oncol 2024; 18:2510-2523. [PMID: 38775167 PMCID: PMC11459032 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 10/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Inactivation of cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) characterizes an aggressive sub-group of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Hyper-activation of MYC transcription factor is sufficient to confer the CRPC phenotype. Here, we show that loss of CDK12 promotes MYC activity, which renders the cells dependent on the otherwise non-essential splicing regulatory kinase SRSF protein kinase 1 (SRPK1). High MYC expression is associated with increased levels of SRPK1 in patient samples, and overexpression of MYC sensitizes prostate cancer cells to SRPK1 inhibition using pharmacological and genetic strategies. We show that Endovion (SCO-101), a compound currently in clinical trials against pancreatic cancer, phenocopies the effects of the well-characterized SRPK1 inhibitor SRPIN340 on nascent transcription. This is the first study to show that Endovion is an SRPK1 inhibitor. Inhibition of SRPK1 with either of the compounds promotes transcription elongation, and transcriptionally activates the unfolded protein response. In brief, here we discover that CDK12 inactivation promotes MYC signaling in an SRPK1-dependent manner, and show that the clinical grade compound Endovion selectively targets the cells with CDK12 inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liang
- Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Aishwarya Gondane
- Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Harri M. Itkonen
- Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
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5
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Cheng X, Jiang G, Zhou X, Wang J, Zhao Z, Zhang J, Ni T. The landscape and clinical relevance of intronic polyadenylation in human cancers. J Genet Genomics 2024; 51:1030-1039. [PMID: 38740258 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Intronic polyadenylation (IPA) is an RNA 3' end processing event which has been reported to play important roles in cancer development. However, the comprehensive landscape of IPA events across various cancer types is lacking. Here, we apply IPAFinder to identify and quantify IPA events in 10,383 samples covering all 33 cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project. We identify a total of 21,835 IPA events, almost half of which are ubiquitously expressed. We identify 2761 unique dynamically changed IPA events across cancer types. Furthermore, we observe 8855 non-redundant clinically relevant IPA events, which could potentially be used as prognostic indicators. Our analysis also reveals that dynamic IPA usage within cancer signaling pathways may affect drug response. Finally, we develop a user-friendly data portal, IPACancer Atlas (http://www.tingni-lab.com/Pancan_IPA/), to search and explore IPAs in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomeng Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Human Phenome Institute, Center for Evolutionary Biology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Guanghui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Human Phenome Institute, Center for Evolutionary Biology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Xiaolan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Human Phenome Institute, Center for Evolutionary Biology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Human Phenome Institute, Center for Evolutionary Biology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Zhaozhao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Human Phenome Institute, Center for Evolutionary Biology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Jiayu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Human Phenome Institute, Center for Evolutionary Biology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Ting Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Human Phenome Institute, Center for Evolutionary Biology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010070, China.
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6
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Tien JCY, Luo J, Chang Y, Zhang Y, Cheng Y, Wang X, Yang J, Mannan R, Mahapatra S, Shah P, Wang XM, Todd AJ, Eyunni S, Cheng C, Rebernick RJ, Xiao L, Bao Y, Neiswender J, Brough R, Pettitt SJ, Cao X, Miner SJ, Zhou L, Wu YM, Labanca E, Wang Y, Parolia A, Cieslik M, Robinson DR, Wang Z, Feng FY, Chou J, Lord CJ, Ding K, Chinnaiyan AM. CDK12 loss drives prostate cancer progression, transcription-replication conflicts, and synthetic lethality with paralog CDK13. Cell Rep Med 2024:101758. [PMID: 39368479 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101758] [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: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 10/07/2024]
Abstract
Biallelic loss of cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) defines a metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) subtype. It remains unclear, however, whether CDK12 loss drives prostate cancer (PCa) development or uncovers pharmacologic vulnerabilities. Here, we show Cdk12 ablation in murine prostate epithelium is sufficient to induce preneoplastic lesions with lymphocytic infiltration. In allograft-based CRISPR screening, Cdk12 loss associates positively with Trp53 inactivation but negatively with Pten inactivation. Moreover, concurrent Cdk12/Trp53 ablation promotes proliferation of prostate-derived organoids, while Cdk12 knockout in Pten-null mice abrogates prostate tumor growth. In syngeneic systems, Cdk12/Trp53-null allografts exhibit luminal morphology and immune checkpoint blockade sensitivity. Mechanistically, Cdk12 inactivation mediates genomic instability by inducing transcription-replication conflicts. Strikingly, CDK12-mutant organoids and patient-derived xenografts are sensitive to inhibition or degradation of the paralog kinase, CDK13. We therein establish CDK12 as a bona fide tumor suppressor, mechanistically define how CDK12 inactivation causes genomic instability, and advance a therapeutic strategy for CDK12-mutant mCRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Ching-Yi Tien
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jie Luo
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yu Chang
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yuping Zhang
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yunhui Cheng
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Xiaoju Wang
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jianzhang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China; International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511400, People's Republic of China
| | - Rahul Mannan
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Somnath Mahapatra
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Palak Shah
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Xiao-Ming Wang
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Abigail J Todd
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sanjana Eyunni
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Caleb Cheng
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ryan J Rebernick
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lanbo Xiao
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yi Bao
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - James Neiswender
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, SW3 6JB London, UK
| | - Rachel Brough
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, SW3 6JB London, UK
| | - Stephen J Pettitt
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, SW3 6JB London, UK
| | - Xuhong Cao
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Stephanie J Miner
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Licheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China; International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511400, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Mi Wu
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Estefania Labanca
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology and David H. Koch Center for Applied Research of Genitourinary Cancer, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yuzhuo Wang
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital and Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada
| | - Abhijit Parolia
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Marcin Cieslik
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Dan R Robinson
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Zhen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China; International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511400, People's Republic of China
| | - Felix Y Feng
- Departments of Radiation Oncology and Urology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan Chou
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Christopher J Lord
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, SW3 6JB London, UK
| | - Ke Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.
| | - Arul M Chinnaiyan
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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7
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Chang Y, Wang X, Yang J, Tien JCY, Mannan R, Cruz G, Zhang Y, Vo JN, Magnuson B, Mahapatra S, Cho H, Dhanasekaran SM, Wang C, Wang Z, Zhou L, Zhou K, Zhou Y, Zhang P, Huang W, Xiao L, Liu WR, Hamadeh R, Su F, Wang R, Miner SJ, Cao X, Cheng Y, Mehra R, Ding K, Chinnaiyan AM. Development of an orally bioavailable CDK12/13 degrader and induction of synthetic lethality with AKT pathway inhibition. Cell Rep Med 2024:101752. [PMID: 39353441 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101752] [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: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinases 12/13 play pivotal roles in orchestrating transcription elongation, DNA damage response, and maintenance of genomic stability. Biallelic CDK12 loss has been documented in various malignancies. Here, we develop a selective CDK12/13 PROTAC degrader, YJ9069, which effectively inhibits proliferation in subsets of prostate cancer cells preferentially over benign immortalized cells. CDK12/13 degradation rapidly triggers gene-length-dependent transcriptional elongation defects, leading to DNA damage and cell-cycle arrest. In vivo, YJ9069 significantly suppresses prostate tumor growth. Modifications of YJ9069 yielded an orally bioavailable CDK12/13 degrader, YJ1206, which exhibits comparable efficacy with significantly less toxicity. To identify pathways synthetically lethal upon CDK12/13 degradation, phosphorylation pathway arrays were performed using cell lines treated with YJ1206. Interestingly, degradation or genetic knockdown of CDK12/13 led to activation of the AKT pathway. Targeting CDK12/13 for degradation, in conjunction with inhibiting the AKT pathway, resulted in a synthetic lethal effect in preclinical prostate cancer models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chang
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Xiaoju Wang
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jianzhang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511436, People's Republic of China
| | - Jean Ching-Yi Tien
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Rahul Mannan
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Gabriel Cruz
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yuping Zhang
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Josh N Vo
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Brian Magnuson
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Somnath Mahapatra
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Hanbyul Cho
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Saravana Mohan Dhanasekaran
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Cynthia Wang
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Zhen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Licheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511436, People's Republic of China
| | - Kaijie Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511436, People's Republic of China
| | - Pujuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Weixue Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Lanbo Xiao
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Weihuang Raymond Liu
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Rudana Hamadeh
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Fengyun Su
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Rui Wang
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Stephanie J Miner
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Xuhong Cao
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yunhui Cheng
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Rohit Mehra
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ke Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.
| | - Arul M Chinnaiyan
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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8
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Ebara S, Yoshida M, Yamakawa H, Shimokawa K, Inoue Y, Tauchi H, Morishita D. Interaction of CDK12 with NXF1 is a new node for the linking mechanism between transcription and transportation of mRNA. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 735:150608. [PMID: 39270556 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150608] [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: 08/19/2024] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
The transcription and transportation of mRNA are coupled processes; however, the mechanisms linking these processes remain unclear. Additionally, the significance of this connection in cancer drug development is poorly understood. To address these issues, we investigated the role of CDK12 kinase, which regulates RNA transcription through the phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and has a repeated serine-arginine dipeptide (RS domain) involved in mRNA transport. Despite the anticipated uniqueness of CDK12 function, the mechanism by which CDK12 bridges and manages mRNA transcription and transport has not been fully analyzed. Our study revealed that CDK12 interacts with NXF1, a key molecule involved in the export of mRNA from the nucleus to the cytosol. Although CDK12 does not phosphorylate NXF1, we found that NXF1 unexpectedly stabilized the CDK12 protein, suggesting that NXF1 mRNA export activity indirectly affects mRNA transcriptional activity by modifying the protein level of CDK12. Furthermore, CDK12 recruited other essential RNA transporters, specifically the exon junction complex (EJC) and THO complexes, into the CDK12-NXF1 axis through its kinase activity. These observations provide insights into the mechanisms linking mRNA transcription and transport through the formation of a novel CDK12-NXF1 complex that involves EJC and THO. Importantly, the expression level of NXF1 influences sensitivity to CDK12 inhibitors, which are emerging as novel anti-cancer drug candidates. This highlights the importance of considering the relationship between mRNA transcription and transport when targeting RNA transcription in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Ebara
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, Bunkyo 2-1-1, Mito, Ibaraki, 310-8512, Japan; Chordia Therapeutics Inc., Kanagawa, 251-0012, Japan
| | | | - Hiroko Yamakawa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, Bunkyo 2-1-1, Mito, Ibaraki, 310-8512, Japan; Chordia Therapeutics Inc., Kanagawa, 251-0012, Japan
| | | | - Yasumichi Inoue
- Department of Cell Signaling, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, 467-8603, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Tauchi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, Bunkyo 2-1-1, Mito, Ibaraki, 310-8512, Japan.
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9
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Curti L, Rohban S, Bianchi N, Croci O, Andronache A, Barozzi S, Mattioli M, Ricci F, Pastori E, Sberna S, Bellotti S, Accialini A, Ballarino R, Crosetto N, Wade M, Parazzoli D, Campaner S. CDK12 controls transcription at damaged genes and prevents MYC-induced transcription-replication conflicts. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7100. [PMID: 39155303 PMCID: PMC11330984 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51229-5] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The identification of genes involved in replicative stress is key to understanding cancer evolution and to identify therapeutic targets. Here, we show that CDK12 prevents transcription-replication conflicts (TRCs) and the activation of cytotoxic replicative stress upon deregulation of the MYC oncogene. CDK12 was recruited at damaged genes by PARP-dependent DDR-signaling and elongation-competent RNAPII, to repress transcription. Either loss or chemical inhibition of CDK12 led to DDR-resistant transcription of damaged genes. Loss of CDK12 exacerbated TRCs in MYC-overexpressing cells and led to the accumulation of double-strand DNA breaks, occurring between co-directional early-replicating regions and transcribed genes. Overall, our data demonstrate that CDK12 protects genome integrity by repressing transcription of damaged genes, which is required for proper resolution of DSBs at oncogene-induced TRCs. This provides a rationale that explains both how CDK12 deficiency can promote tandem duplications of early-replicated regions during tumor evolution, and how CDK12 targeting can exacerbate replicative-stress in tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Curti
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT, CGS@SEMM (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia at European School of Molecular Medicine), Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Rohban
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT, CGS@SEMM (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia at European School of Molecular Medicine), Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Bianchi
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT, CGS@SEMM (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia at European School of Molecular Medicine), Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Ottavio Croci
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT, CGS@SEMM (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia at European School of Molecular Medicine), Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Adrian Andronache
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT, CGS@SEMM (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia at European School of Molecular Medicine), Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Barozzi
- IFOM ETS, The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Mattioli
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT, CGS@SEMM (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia at European School of Molecular Medicine), Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Fernanda Ricci
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT, CGS@SEMM (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia at European School of Molecular Medicine), Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Pastori
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT, CGS@SEMM (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia at European School of Molecular Medicine), Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Sberna
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT, CGS@SEMM (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia at European School of Molecular Medicine), Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Bellotti
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT, CGS@SEMM (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia at European School of Molecular Medicine), Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Accialini
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT, CGS@SEMM (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia at European School of Molecular Medicine), Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Ballarino
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Tomtebodavägen 23A, SE-17165, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nicola Crosetto
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Tomtebodavägen 23A, SE-17165, Solna, Sweden
- Human Technopole, Viale Rita Levi-Montalcini 1, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Mark Wade
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT, CGS@SEMM (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia at European School of Molecular Medicine), Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, CB4 0QA, Cambridge, UK
| | - Dario Parazzoli
- IFOM ETS, The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Campaner
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT, CGS@SEMM (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia at European School of Molecular Medicine), Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139, Milan, Italy.
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10
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Sun R, Fisher RP. The CDK9-SPT5 Axis in Control of Transcription Elongation by RNAPII. J Mol Biol 2024:168746. [PMID: 39147127 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168746] [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: 06/21/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
The RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription cycle is regulated at every stage by a network of cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDKs) and protein phosphatases. Progression of RNAPII from initiation to termination is marked by changing patterns of phosphorylation on the highly repetitive carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of RPB1, its largest subunit, suggesting the existence of a CTD code. In parallel, the conserved transcription elongation factor SPT5, large subunit of the DRB sensitivity-inducing factor (DSIF), undergoes spatiotemporally regulated changes in phosphorylation state that may be directly linked to the transitions between transcription-cycle phases. Here we review insights gained from recent structural, biochemical, and genetic analyses of human SPT5, which suggest that two of its phosphorylated regions perform distinct functions at different points in transcription. Phosphorylation within a flexible, RNA-binding linker promotes release from the promoter-proximal pause-frequently a rate-limiting step in gene expression-whereas modifications in a repetitive carboxy-terminal region are thought to favor processive elongation, and are removed just prior to termination. Phosphorylations in both motifs depend on CDK9, catalytic subunit of positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb); their different timing of accumulation on chromatin and function during the transcription cycle might reflect their removal by different phosphatases, different kinetics of phosphorylation by CDK9, or both. Perturbations of SPT5 regulation have profound impacts on viability and development in model organisms through largely unknown mechanisms, while enzymes that modify SPT5 have emerged as potential therapeutic targets in cancer; elucidating a putative SPT5 code is therefore a high priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Sun
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA
| | - Robert P Fisher
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA.
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11
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Kowalski MH, Wessels HH, Linder J, Dalgarno C, Mascio I, Choudhary S, Hartman A, Hao Y, Kundaje A, Satija R. Multiplexed single-cell characterization of alternative polyadenylation regulators. Cell 2024; 187:4408-4425.e23. [PMID: 38925112 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.06.005] [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: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Most mammalian genes have multiple polyA sites, representing a substantial source of transcript diversity regulated by the cleavage and polyadenylation (CPA) machinery. To better understand how these proteins govern polyA site choice, we introduce CPA-Perturb-seq, a multiplexed perturbation screen dataset of 42 CPA regulators with a 3' scRNA-seq readout that enables transcriptome-wide inference of polyA site usage. We develop a framework to detect perturbation-dependent changes in polyadenylation and characterize modules of co-regulated polyA sites. We find groups of intronic polyA sites regulated by distinct components of the nuclear RNA life cycle, including elongation, splicing, termination, and surveillance. We train and validate a deep neural network (APARENT-Perturb) for tandem polyA site usage, delineating a cis-regulatory code that predicts perturbation response and reveals interactions between regulatory complexes. Our work highlights the potential for multiplexed single-cell perturbation screens to further our understanding of post-transcriptional regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline H Kowalski
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA; Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA; New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hans-Hermann Wessels
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA; Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Johannes Linder
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Isabella Mascio
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA; Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Saket Choudhary
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA; Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Yuhan Hao
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA; Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anshul Kundaje
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Rahul Satija
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA; Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA; New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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12
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Liu L, Sun P, Zhang W. A pan-cancer interrogation of intronic polyadenylation and its association with cancer characteristics. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae376. [PMID: 39082645 PMCID: PMC11289681 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae376] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024] Open
Abstract
3'UTR-APAs have been extensively studied, but intronic polyadenylations (IPAs) remain largely unexplored. We characterized the profiles of 22 260 IPAs in 9679 patient samples across 32 cancer types from the Cancer Genome Atlas cohort. By comparing tumor and paired normal tissues, we identified 180 ~ 4645 dysregulated IPAs in 132 ~ 2249 genes in each of 690 patient tumors from 22 cancer types that showed consistent patterns within individual cancer types. We selected 2741 genes that showed consistently patterns across cancer types, including 1834 pan-cancer tumor-enriched and 907 tumor-depleted IPA genes; the former were amply represented in the functional pathways such as deoxyribonucleic acid damage repair. Expression of IPA isoforms was associated with tumor mutation burden and patient characteristics (e.g. sex, race, cancer stages, and subtypes) in cancer-specific and feature-specific manners, and could be a more accurate prognostic marker than gene expression (summary of all isoforms). In summary, our study reveals the roles and the clinical relevance of tumor-associated IPAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States
- Center for Cancer Genomics and Precision Oncology, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States
| | - Peiqing Sun
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States
- Center for Cancer Genomics and Precision Oncology, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States
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13
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Frank S, Persse T, Coleman I, Bankhead A, Li D, De-Sarkar N, Wilson D, Rudoy D, Vashisth M, Galipeau P, Yang M, Hanratty B, Dumpit R, Morrissey C, Corey E, Montgomery RB, Haffner MC, Pritchard C, Vasioukhin V, Ha G, Nelson PS. Molecular consequences of acute versus chronic CDK12 loss in prostate carcinoma nominates distinct therapeutic strategies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.16.603734. [PMID: 39071291 PMCID: PMC11275783 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.16.603734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Genomic loss of the transcriptional kinase CDK12 occurs in ~6% of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancers (mCRPC) and correlates with poor patient outcomes. Prior studies demonstrate that acute CDK12 loss confers a homologous recombination (HR) deficiency (HRd) phenotype via premature intronic polyadenylation (IPA) of key HR pathway genes, including ATM. However, mCRPC patients have not demonstrated benefit from therapies that exploit HRd such as inhibitors of polyADP ribose polymerase (PARP). Based on this discordance, we sought to test the hypothesis that an HRd phenotype is primarily a consequence of acute CDK12 loss and the effect is greatly diminished in prostate cancers adapted to CDK12 loss. Analyses of whole genome sequences (WGS) and RNA sequences (RNAseq) of human mCRPCs determined that tumors with biallelic CDK12 alterations (CDK12 BAL ) lack genomic scar signatures indicative of HRd, despite carrying bi-allelic loss and the appearance of the hallmark tandem-duplicator phenotype (TDP). Experiments confirmed that acute CDK12 inhibition resulted in aberrant polyadenylation and downregulation of long genes (including BRCA1 and BRCA2) but such effects were modest or absent in tumors adapted to chronic CDK12 BAL . One key exception was ATM, which did retain transcript shortening and reduced protein expression in the adapted CDK12 BAL models. However, CDK12 BAL cells demonstrated intact HR as measured by RAD51 foci formation following irradiation. CDK12 BAL cells showed a vulnerability to targeting of CDK13 by sgRNA or CDK12/13 inhibitors and in vivo treatment of prostate cancer xenograft lines showed that tumors with CDK12 BAL responded to the CDK12/13 inhibitor SR4835, while CDK12-intact lines did not. Collectively, these studies show that aberrant polyadenylation and long HR gene downregulation is primarily a consequence of acute CDK12 deficiency, which is largely compensated for in cells that have adapted to CDK12 loss. These results provide an explanation for why PARPi monotherapy has thus far failed to consistently benefit patients with CDK12 alterations, though alternate therapies that target CDK13 or transcription are candidates for future research and testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sander Frank
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
| | - Thomas Persse
- Divison of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
| | - Ilsa Coleman
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
| | - Armand Bankhead
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
| | - Dapei Li
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
| | - Navonil De-Sarkar
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226
- Research Member, Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center, WI-53226
| | - Divin Wilson
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226
- Research Member, Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center, WI-53226
| | - Dmytro Rudoy
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
| | - Manasvita Vashisth
- Divison of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
| | - Patty Galipeau
- Divison of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
| | - Michael Yang
- Divison of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
| | - Brian Hanratty
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
| | - Ruth Dumpit
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
| | - Colm Morrissey
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Eva Corey
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | | | - Michael C. Haffner
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Colin Pritchard
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Valera Vasioukhin
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
| | - Gavin Ha
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
- Divison of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
| | - Peter S. Nelson
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
- Divison of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
- Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98119
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
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14
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Gui F, Jiang B, Jiang J, He Z, Tsujino T, Takai T, Arai S, Pana C, Köllermann J, Bradshaw GA, Eisert R, Kalocsay M, Fassl A, Balk SP, Kibel AS, Jia L. Acute BRCAness Induction and AR Signaling Blockage through CDK12/7/9 Degradation Enhances PARP Inhibitor Sensitivity in Prostate Cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.09.602803. [PMID: 39026842 PMCID: PMC11257538 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.09.602803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Current treatments for advanced prostate cancer (PCa) primarily target androgen receptor (AR)-pathways. However, the emergence of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and resistance to AR signaling inhibitors (ARSI) remains a significant clinical challenge. This study introduces BSJ-5-63, a novel triple degrader targeting cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) CDK12, CDK7, and CDK9, with potential to transform CRPC therapy. BSJ-5-63 effectively downregulates homologous recombination repair (HRR) genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, through CDK12 degradation, and attenuates AR signaling through CDK7 and CDK9 degradation, further enhancing its therapeutic impact. Importantly, BSJ-5-63 induces a "BRCAness" state that persists for a significant duration, enabling sequential combination therapy with PARP inhibitors (PARPis) while potentially minimizing drug-related toxicity and resistance. In both in vitro and in vivo studies, BSJ-5-63 exhibited potent antiproliferative effects in both AR-positive and AR-negative CRPC models. This study presents a promising multi-pronged approach for CRPC treatment, addressing both DNA repair mechanisms and AR signaling, with the potential to benefit a wide range of patients regardless of their BRCA1/2 mutational status. SIGNIFICANCE This study introduces BSJ-5-63, a triple degrader designed to target CDK12, CDK7, and CDK9, making a significant advancement in CRPC therapy. The distinctive mechanism of BSJ-5-63 involves downregulating HRR genes and inhibiting AR signaling, thereby inducing a BRCAness state. This enhances sensitivity to PARP inhibition, effectively addressing ARSI resistance and improving the overall efficacy of treatment. The development of BSJ-5-63 represents a promising therapeutic approach, with the potential to benefit a broad spectrum of CRPC patients.
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15
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Wang X, Carvajal-Moreno J, Zhao X, Li J, Hernandez VA, Yalowich JC, Elton TS. Circumvention of Topoisomerase II α Intron 19 Intronic Polyadenylation in Acquired Etoposide-Resistant Human Leukemia K562 Cells. Mol Pharmacol 2024; 106:33-46. [PMID: 38719474 PMCID: PMC11187689 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.124.000868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA topoisomerase IIα (TOP2α; 170 kDa, TOP2α/170) is an essential enzyme for proper chromosome dysjunction by producing transient DNA double-stranded breaks and is an important target for DNA damage-stabilizing anticancer agents, such as etoposide. Therapeutic effects of TOP2α poisons can be limited due to acquired drug resistance. We previously demonstrated decreased TOP2α/170 levels in an etoposide-resistant human leukemia K562 subline, designated K/VP.5, accompanied by increased expression of a C-terminal truncated TOP2α isoform (90 kDa; TOP2α/90), which heterodimerized with TOP2α/170 and was a determinant of resistance by exhibiting dominant-negative effects against etoposide activity. Based on 3'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends, we confirmed TOP2α/90 as the translation product of a TOP2α mRNA in which a cryptic polyadenylation site (PAS) harbored in intron 19 (I19) was used. In this report, we investigated whether the resultant intronic polyadenylation (IPA) would be attenuated by blocking or mutating the I19 PAS, thereby circumventing acquired drug resistance. An antisense morpholino oligonucleotide was used to hybridize/block the PAS in TOP2α pre-mRNA in K/VP.5 cells, resulting in decreased TOP2α/90 mRNA/protein levels in K/VP.5 cells and partially circumventing drug resistance. Subsequently, CRISPR/CRISPR-associated protein 9 with homology-directed repair was used to mutate the cryptic I19 PAS (AATAAA→ACCCAA) to prevent IPA. Gene-edited clones exhibited increased TOP2α/170 and decreased TOP2α/90 mRNA/protein and demonstrated restored sensitivity to etoposide and other TOP2α-targeted drugs. Together, results indicated that blocking/mutating a cryptic I19 PAS in K/VP.5 cells reduced IPA and restored sensitivity to TOP2α-targeting drugs. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The results presented in this study indicate that CRISPR/CRISPR-associated protein 9 gene editing of a cryptic polyadenylation site (PAS) within I19 of the TOP2α gene results in the reversal of acquired resistance to etoposide and other TOP2-targeted drugs. An antisense morpholino oligonucleotide targeting the PAS also partially circumvented resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Wang
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy (X.W., J.C.-M., X.Z., V.A.H., J.C.Y., T.S.E.) and Division of Outcomes and Translational Science (J.L.), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Jessika Carvajal-Moreno
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy (X.W., J.C.-M., X.Z., V.A.H., J.C.Y., T.S.E.) and Division of Outcomes and Translational Science (J.L.), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Xinyu Zhao
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy (X.W., J.C.-M., X.Z., V.A.H., J.C.Y., T.S.E.) and Division of Outcomes and Translational Science (J.L.), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Junan Li
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy (X.W., J.C.-M., X.Z., V.A.H., J.C.Y., T.S.E.) and Division of Outcomes and Translational Science (J.L.), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Victor A Hernandez
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy (X.W., J.C.-M., X.Z., V.A.H., J.C.Y., T.S.E.) and Division of Outcomes and Translational Science (J.L.), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Jack C Yalowich
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy (X.W., J.C.-M., X.Z., V.A.H., J.C.Y., T.S.E.) and Division of Outcomes and Translational Science (J.L.), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Terry S Elton
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy (X.W., J.C.-M., X.Z., V.A.H., J.C.Y., T.S.E.) and Division of Outcomes and Translational Science (J.L.), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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16
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Stiegeler N, Garsed DW, Au-Yeung G, Bowtell DDL, Heinzelmann-Schwarz V, Zwimpfer TA. Homologous recombination proficient subtypes of high-grade serous ovarian cancer: treatment options for a poor prognosis group. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1387281. [PMID: 38894867 PMCID: PMC11183307 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1387281] [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: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Approximately 50% of tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSCs) have functional homologous recombination-mediated (HR) DNA repair, so-called HR-proficient tumors, which are often associated with primary platinum resistance (relapse within six months after completion of first-line therapy), minimal benefit from poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, and shorter survival. HR-proficient tumors comprise multiple molecular subtypes including cases with CCNE1 amplification, AKT2 amplification or CDK12 alteration, and are often characterized as "cold" tumors with fewer infiltrating lymphocytes and decreased expression of PD-1/PD-L1. Several new treatment approaches aim to manipulate these negative prognostic features and render HR-proficient tumors more susceptible to treatment. Alterations in multiple different molecules and pathways in the DNA damage response are driving new drug development to target HR-proficient cancer cells, such as inhibitors of the CDK or P13K/AKT pathways, as well as ATR inhibitors. Treatment combinations with chemotherapy or PARP inhibitors and agents targeting DNA replication stress have shown promising preclinical and clinical results. New approaches in immunotherapy are also being explored, including vaccines or antibody drug conjugates. Many approaches are still in the early stages of development and further clinical trials will determine their clinical relevance. There is a need to include HR-proficient tumors in ovarian cancer trials and to analyze them in a more targeted manner to provide further evidence for their specific therapy, as this will be crucial in improving the overall prognosis of HGSC and ovarian cancer in general.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dale W. Garsed
- Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - George Au-Yeung
- Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David D. L. Bowtell
- Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Tibor A. Zwimpfer
- Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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17
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Fansler MM, Mitschka S, Mayr C. Quantifying 3'UTR length from scRNA-seq data reveals changes independent of gene expression. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4050. [PMID: 38744866 PMCID: PMC11094166 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48254-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Although more than half of all genes generate transcripts that differ in 3'UTR length, current analysis pipelines only quantify the amount but not the length of mRNA transcripts. 3'UTR length is determined by 3' end cleavage sites (CS). We map CS in more than 200 primary human and mouse cell types and increase CS annotations relative to the GENCODE database by 40%. Approximately half of all CS are used in few cell types, revealing that most genes only have one or two major 3' ends. We incorporate the CS annotations into a computational pipeline, called scUTRquant, for rapid, accurate, and simultaneous quantification of gene and 3'UTR isoform expression from single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. When applying scUTRquant to data from 474 cell types and 2134 perturbations, we discover extensive 3'UTR length changes across cell types that are as widespread and coordinately regulated as gene expression changes but affect mostly different genes. Our data indicate that mRNA abundance and mRNA length are two largely independent axes of gene regulation that together determine the amount and spatial organization of protein synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mervin M Fansler
- Tri-Institutional Training Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, Weill Cornell Graduate College, New York, NY, 10021, USA
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Sibylle Mitschka
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Christine Mayr
- Tri-Institutional Training Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, Weill Cornell Graduate College, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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18
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Fallah J, Xu J, Weinstock C, Gao X, Heiss BL, Maguire WF, Chang E, Agrawal S, Tang S, Amiri-Kordestani L, Pazdur R, Kluetz PG, Suzman DL. Efficacy of Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors by Individual Genes in Homologous Recombination Repair Gene-Mutated Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: A US Food and Drug Administration Pooled Analysis. J Clin Oncol 2024; 42:1687-1698. [PMID: 38484203 PMCID: PMC11095872 DOI: 10.1200/jco.23.02105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We performed a pooled analysis of multiple trials of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) to investigate the efficacy of PARPi in each individual homologous recombination repair (HRR) mutated (m) gene. PATIENTS AND METHODS We pooled patient-level data from trials of PARPi in mCRPC that reported mutation status in individual HRR genes. Any HRR gene with available data across all the randomized trials of PARPi in first-line mCRPC was selected. The hazard ratios (HRs; 95% CI) for radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS; by blinded independent review) and overall survival (OS) of a PARPi plus an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) relative to placebo plus an ARPI in the pool of three randomized trials in first-line mCRPC were calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates and a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS In ATMm (N = 268), rPFS HR was 1.05 (0.74 to 1.49) and OS HR was 1.18 (0.82 to 1.71). In BRCA1m (N = 64), rPFS HR was 0.51 (0.23 to 1.1) and OS HR was 0.74 (0.34 to 1.61). In BRCA2m (N = 422), rPFS HR was 0.31 (0.23 to 0.42) and OS HR was 0.66 (0.49 to 0.89). In CDK12m (N = 164), rPFS HR was 0.50 (0.32 to 0.80) and OS HR was 0.63 (0.39 to 0.99). In CHEK2m (N = 172), rPFS HR was 1.06 (0.67 to 1.66) and OS HR was 1.53 (0.95 to 2.46). In PALB2m (N = 41) rPFS HR was 0.52 (0.23 to 1.17) and OS HR was 0.78 (0.34 to 1.8). CONCLUSION In this pooled analysis, benefit from PARPi appeared greatest for patients with BRCA1m, BRCA2m, CDK12m, and PALB2m. Given limitations of this exploratory analysis, the apparent lack of benefit from PARPi in patients with CHEK2m or ATMm should be further explored in future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaleh Fallah
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Jianjin Xu
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Chana Weinstock
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Xin Gao
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Brian L. Heiss
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
| | - William F. Maguire
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Elaine Chang
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Sundeep Agrawal
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Shenghui Tang
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Laleh Amiri-Kordestani
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
- Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Richard Pazdur
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
- Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Paul G. Kluetz
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
- Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Daniel L. Suzman
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
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19
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Ni Z, Ahmed N, Nabeel-Shah S, Guo X, Pu S, Song J, Marcon E, Burke G, Tong AH, Chan K, Ha KH, Blencowe B, Moffat J, Greenblatt J. Identifying human pre-mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation factors by genome-wide CRISPR screens using a dual fluorescence readthrough reporter. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:4483-4501. [PMID: 38587191 PMCID: PMC11077057 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Messenger RNA precursors (pre-mRNA) generally undergo 3' end processing by cleavage and polyadenylation (CPA), which is specified by a polyadenylation site (PAS) and adjacent RNA sequences and regulated by a large variety of core and auxiliary CPA factors. To date, most of the human CPA factors have been discovered through biochemical and proteomic studies. However, genetic identification of the human CPA factors has been hampered by the lack of a reliable genome-wide screening method. We describe here a dual fluorescence readthrough reporter system with a PAS inserted between two fluorescent reporters. This system enables measurement of the efficiency of 3' end processing in living cells. Using this system in combination with a human genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 library, we conducted a screen for CPA factors. The screens identified most components of the known core CPA complexes and other known CPA factors. The screens also identified CCNK/CDK12 as a potential core CPA factor, and RPRD1B as a CPA factor that binds RNA and regulates the release of RNA polymerase II at the 3' ends of genes. Thus, this dual fluorescence reporter coupled with CRISPR/Cas9 screens reliably identifies bona fide CPA factors and provides a platform for investigating the requirements for CPA in various contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuyao Ni
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Nujhat Ahmed
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
| | - Syed Nabeel-Shah
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
| | - Xinghua Guo
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Shuye Pu
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Jingwen Song
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Edyta Marcon
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Giovanni L Burke
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
| | - Amy Hin Yan Tong
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Katherine Chan
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Kevin C H Ha
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
| | - Benjamin J Blencowe
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
| | - Jason Moffat
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
- Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Jack F Greenblatt
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
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20
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Lautert-Dutra W, M Melo C, Chaves LP, Crozier C, P Saggioro F, B Dos Reis R, Bayani J, Bonatto SL, Squire JA. Loss of heterozygosity impacts MHC expression on the immune microenvironment in CDK12-mutated prostate cancer. Mol Cytogenet 2024; 17:11. [PMID: 38704603 PMCID: PMC11070094 DOI: 10.1186/s13039-024-00680-6] [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: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In prostate cancer (PCa), well-established biomarkers such as MSI status, TMB high, and PDL1 expression serve as reliable indicators for favorable responses to immunotherapy. Recent studies have suggested a potential association between CDK12 mutations and immunotherapy response; however, the precise mechanisms through which CDK12 mutation may influence immune response remain unclear. A plausible explanation for immune evasion in this subset of CDK12-mutated PCa may be reduced MHC expression. RESULTS Using genomic data of CDK12-mutated PCa from 48 primary and 10 metastatic public domain samples and a retrospective cohort of 53 low-intermediate risk primary PCa, we investigated how variation in the expression of the MHC genes affected associated downstream pathways. We classified the patients based on gene expression quartiles of MHC-related genes and categorized the tumors into "High" and "Low" expression levels. CDK12-mutated tumors with higher MHC-expressed pathways were associated with the immune system and elevated PD-L1, IDO1, and TIM3 expression. Consistent with an inflamed tumor microenvironment (TME) phenotype, digital cytometric analyses identified increased CD8 + T cells, B cells, γδ T cells, and M1 Macrophages in this group. In contrast, CDK12-mutated tumors with lower MHC expression exhibited features consistent with an immune cold TME phenotype and immunoediting. Significantly, low MHC expression was also associated with chromosome 6 loss of heterozygosity (LOH) affecting the entire HLA gene cluster. These LOH events were observed in both major clonal and minor subclonal populations of tumor cells. In our retrospective study of 53 primary PCa cases from this Institute, we found a 4% (2/53) prevalence of CDK12 mutations, with the confirmation of this defect in one tumor through Sanger sequencing. In keeping with our analysis of public domain data this tumor exhibited low MHC expression at the RNA level. More extensive studies will be required to determine whether reduced HLA expression is generally associated with primary tumors or is a specific feature of CDK12 mutated PCa. CONCLUSIONS These data show that analysis of CDK12 alteration, in the context of MHC expression levels, and LOH status may offer improved predictive value for outcomes in this potentially actionable genomic subgroup of PCa. In addition, these findings highlight the need to explore novel therapeutic strategies to enhance MHC expression in CDK12-defective PCa to improve immunotherapy responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Lautert-Dutra
- Department of Genetics, Medical School of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Prêto, SP, 14048-900, Brazil
| | - Camila M Melo
- Department of Genetics, Medical School of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Prêto, SP, 14048-900, Brazil
| | - Luiz P Chaves
- Department of Genetics, Medical School of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Prêto, SP, 14048-900, Brazil
| | - Cheryl Crozier
- Diagnostic Development, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Fabiano P Saggioro
- Department of Pathology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Prêto, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo B Dos Reis
- Department of Pathology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Prêto, Brazil
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Medical School of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Prêto, Brazil
| | - Jane Bayani
- Diagnostic Development, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sandro L Bonatto
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande Do Sul - PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga, 668, Porto Alegre, RS, 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Jeremy A Squire
- Department of Genetics, Medical School of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Prêto, SP, 14048-900, Brazil.
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L3N6, Canada.
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21
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Orhan E, Velazquez C, Tabet I, Fenou L, Rodier G, Orsetti B, Jacot W, Sardet C, Theillet C. CDK inhibition results in pharmacologic BRCAness increasing sensitivity to olaparib in BRCA1-WT and olaparib resistant in Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Cancer Lett 2024; 589:216820. [PMID: 38574883 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216820] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
One in three Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is Homologous Recombination Deficient (HRD) and susceptible to respond to PARP inhibitor (PARPi), however, resistance resulting from functional HR restoration is frequent. Thus, pharmacologic approaches that induce HRD are of interest. We investigated the effectiveness of CDK-inhibition to induce HRD and increase PARPi sensitivity of TNBC cell lines and PDX models. Two CDK-inhibitors (CDKi), the broad range dinaciclib and the CDK12-specific SR-4835, strongly reduced the expression of key HR genes and impaired HR functionality, as illustrated by BRCA1 and RAD51 nuclear foci obliteration. Consequently, both CDKis showed synergism with olaparib, as well as with cisplatin and gemcitabine, in a range of TNBC cell lines and particularly in olaparib-resistant models. In vivo assays on PDX validated the efficacy of dinaciclib which increased the sensitivity to olaparib of 5/6 models, including two olaparib-resistant and one BRCA1-WT model. However, no olaparib response improvement was observed in vivo with SR-4835. These data support that the implementation of CDK-inhibitors could be effective to sensitize TNBC to olaparib as well as possibly to cisplatin or gemcitabine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esin Orhan
- Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, IRCM, U1194, Montpellier University, INSERM, ICM, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Carolina Velazquez
- Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, IRCM, U1194, Montpellier University, INSERM, ICM, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Imene Tabet
- Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, IRCM, U1194, Montpellier University, INSERM, ICM, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Lise Fenou
- Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, IRCM, U1194, Montpellier University, INSERM, ICM, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Geneviève Rodier
- Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, IRCM, U1194, Montpellier University, INSERM, ICM, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Béatrice Orsetti
- Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, IRCM, U1194, Montpellier University, INSERM, ICM, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - William Jacot
- Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, IRCM, U1194, Montpellier University, INSERM, ICM, CNRS, Montpellier, France; Oncologie Clinique, Institut Du Cancer de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Claude Sardet
- Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, IRCM, U1194, Montpellier University, INSERM, ICM, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Charles Theillet
- Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, IRCM, U1194, Montpellier University, INSERM, ICM, CNRS, Montpellier, France.
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22
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Tien JCY, Chang Y, Zhang Y, Chou J, Cheng Y, Wang X, Yang J, Mannan R, Shah P, Wang XM, Todd AJ, Eyunni S, Cheng C, Rebernick RJ, Xiao L, Bao Y, Neiswender J, Brough R, Pettitt SJ, Cao X, Miner SJ, Zhou L, Wu YM, Labanca E, Wang Y, Parolia A, Cieslik M, Robinson DR, Wang Z, Feng FY, Lord CJ, Ding K, Chinnaiyan AM. CDK12 Loss Promotes Prostate Cancer Development While Exposing Vulnerabilities to Paralog-Based Synthetic Lethality. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.20.585990. [PMID: 38562774 PMCID: PMC10983964 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.20.585990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Biallelic loss of cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) defines a unique molecular subtype of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). It remains unclear, however, whether CDK12 loss per se is sufficient to drive prostate cancer development-either alone, or in the context of other genetic alterations-and whether CDK12-mutant tumors exhibit sensitivity to specific pharmacotherapies. Here, we demonstrate that tissue-specific Cdk12 ablation is sufficient to induce preneoplastic lesions and robust T cell infiltration in the mouse prostate. Allograft-based CRISPR screening demonstrated that Cdk12 loss is positively associated with Trp53 inactivation but negatively associated with Pten inactivation-akin to what is observed in human mCRPC. Consistent with this, ablation of Cdk12 in prostate organoids with concurrent Trp53 loss promotes their proliferation and ability to form tumors in mice, while Cdk12 knockout in the Pten-null prostate cancer mouse model abrogates tumor growth. Bigenic Cdk12 and Trp53 loss allografts represent a new syngeneic model for the study of androgen receptor (AR)-positive, luminal prostate cancer. Notably, Cdk12/Trp53 loss prostate tumors are sensitive to immune checkpoint blockade. Cdk12-null organoids (either with or without Trp53 co-ablation) and patient-derived xenografts from tumors with CDK12 inactivation are highly sensitive to inhibition or degradation of its paralog kinase, CDK13. Together, these data identify CDK12 as a bona fide tumor suppressor gene with impact on tumor progression and lends support to paralog-based synthetic lethality as a promising strategy for treating CDK12-mutant mCRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Ching-Yi Tien
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yu Chang
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Yuping Zhang
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Jonathan Chou
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Yunhui Cheng
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Xiaoju Wang
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jianzhang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, People’s Republic of China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511400, People’s Republic of China
| | - Rahul Mannan
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Palak Shah
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Xiao-Ming Wang
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Abigail J. Todd
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sanjana Eyunni
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Caleb Cheng
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ryan J. Rebernick
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lanbo Xiao
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yi Bao
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - James Neiswender
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Rachel Brough
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Stephen J. Pettitt
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Xuhong Cao
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Stephanie J. Miner
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Licheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, People’s Republic of China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511400, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi-Mi Wu
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Estefania Labanca
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology and David H. Koch Center for Applied Research of Genitourinary Cancer, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yuzhuo Wang
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital and Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 3Z6, Canada
| | - Abhijit Parolia
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Marcin Cieslik
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Dan R. Robinson
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Zhen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, People’s Republic of China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511400, People’s Republic of China
| | - Felix Y. Feng
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Departments of Radiation Oncology and Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Christopher J. Lord
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Ke Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Arul M. Chinnaiyan
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Lead contact
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23
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Li Y, Gong J, Sun Q, Vong EG, Cheng X, Wang B, Yuan Y, Jin L, Gamazon ER, Zhou D, Lai M, Zhang D. Alternative polyadenylation quantitative trait methylation mapping in human cancers provides clues into the molecular mechanisms of APA. Am J Hum Genet 2024; 111:562-583. [PMID: 38367620 PMCID: PMC10940021 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.01.010] [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: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic variants are involved in the orchestration of alternative polyadenylation (APA) events, while the role of DNA methylation in regulating APA remains unclear. We generated a comprehensive atlas of APA quantitative trait methylation sites (apaQTMs) across 21 different types of cancer (1,612 to 60,219 acting in cis and 4,448 to 142,349 in trans). Potential causal apaQTMs in non-cancer samples were also identified. Mechanistically, we observed a strong enrichment of cis-apaQTMs near polyadenylation sites (PASs) and both cis- and trans-apaQTMs in proximity to transcription factor (TF) binding regions. Through the integration of ChIP-signals and RNA-seq data from cell lines, we have identified several regulators of APA events, acting either directly or indirectly, implicating novel functions of some important genes, such as TCF7L2, which is known for its involvement in type 2 diabetes and cancers. Furthermore, we have identified a vast number of QTMs that share the same putative causal CpG sites with five different cancer types, underscoring the roles of QTMs, including apaQTMs, in the process of tumorigenesis. DNA methylation is extensively involved in the regulation of APA events in human cancers. In an attempt to elucidate the potential underlying molecular mechanisms of APA by DNA methylation, our study paves the way for subsequent experimental validations into the intricate biological functions of DNA methylation in APA regulation and the pathogenesis of human cancers. To present a comprehensive catalog of apaQTM patterns, we introduce the Pancan-apaQTM database, available at https://pancan-apaqtm-zju.shinyapps.io/pancanaQTM/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yige Li
- Department of Pathology, and Department of Medical Oncology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Pathology, Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jingwen Gong
- Department of Pathology, and Department of Medical Oncology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Pathology, Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Alibaba-Zhejiang University Joint Research Center of Future Digital Healthcare, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Qingrong Sun
- Department of Pathology, Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Alibaba-Zhejiang University Joint Research Center of Future Digital Healthcare, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, 1369 West Wenyi Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; College of Information Science and Technology, ZheJiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, ZheJiang, China
| | - Eu Gene Vong
- Department of Pathology, Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xiaoqing Cheng
- Department of Pathology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Binghong Wang
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ying Yuan
- Department of Medical Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Chinese National Ministry of Education), the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Li Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Research Unit of Dissecting the Population Genetics and Developing New Technologies for Treatment and Prevention of Skin Phenotypes and Dermatological Diseases (2019RU058), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Eric R Gamazon
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Data Science Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Dan Zhou
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; School of Public Health and the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Maode Lai
- Department of Pathology, Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Alibaba-Zhejiang University Joint Research Center of Future Digital Healthcare, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Pathology, Research Unit of Intelligence Classification of Tumor Pathology and Precision Therapy, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU042), Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
| | - Dandan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, and Department of Medical Oncology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Pathology, Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Alibaba-Zhejiang University Joint Research Center of Future Digital Healthcare, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Pathology, Research Unit of Intelligence Classification of Tumor Pathology and Precision Therapy, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU042), Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
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24
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Akhoundova D, Francica P, Rottenberg S, Rubin MA. DNA Damage Response and Mismatch Repair Gene Defects in Advanced and Metastatic Prostate Cancer. Adv Anat Pathol 2024; 31:61-69. [PMID: 38008971 PMCID: PMC10846598 DOI: 10.1097/pap.0000000000000422] [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] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Alterations in DNA damage response (DDR) and related genes are present in up to 25% of advanced prostate cancers (PCa). Most frequently altered genes are involved in the homologous recombination repair, the Fanconi anemia, and the mismatch repair pathways, and their deficiencies lead to a highly heterogeneous spectrum of DDR-deficient phenotypes. More than half of these alterations concern non- BRCA DDR genes. From a therapeutic perspective, poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors have demonstrated robust clinical efficacy in tumors with BRCA2 and BRCA1 alterations. Mismatch repair-deficient PCa, and a subset of CDK12-deficient PCa, are vulnerable to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Emerging data point to the efficacy of ATR inhibitors in PCa with ATM deficiencies. Still, therapeutic implications are insufficiently clarified for most of the non- BRCA DDR alterations, and no successful targeted treatment options have been established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilara Akhoundova
- Department for BioMedical Research
- Department of Medical Oncology
- Bern Center for Precision Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Paola Francica
- Department for BioMedical Research
- Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern
- Bern Center for Precision Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sven Rottenberg
- Department for BioMedical Research
- Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern
- Bern Center for Precision Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mark A. Rubin
- Department for BioMedical Research
- Bern Center for Precision Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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25
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Mofayezi A, Jadaliha M, Zangeneh FZ, Khoddami V. Poly(A) tale: From A to A; RNA polyadenylation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2024; 15:e1837. [PMID: 38485452 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Most eukaryotic mRNAs and different non-coding RNAs undergo a form of 3' end processing known as polyadenylation. Polyadenylation machinery is present in almost all organisms except few species. In bacteria, the machinery has evolved from PNPase, which adds heteropolymeric tails, to a poly(A)-specific polymerase. Differently, a complex machinery for accurate polyadenylation and several non-canonical poly(A) polymerases are developed in eukaryotes. The role of poly(A) tail has also evolved from serving as a degradative signal to a stabilizing modification that also regulates translation. In this review, we discuss poly(A) tail emergence in prokaryotes and its development into a stable, yet dynamic feature at the 3' end of mRNAs in eukaryotes. We also describe how appearance of novel poly(A) polymerases gives cells flexibility to shape poly(A) tail. We explain how poly(A) tail dynamics help regulate cognate RNA metabolism in a context-dependent manner, such as during oocyte maturation. Finally, we describe specific mRNAs in metazoans that bear stem-loops instead of poly(A) tails. We conclude with how recent discoveries about poly(A) tail can be applied to mRNA technology. This article is categorized under: RNA Evolution and Genomics > RNA and Ribonucleoprotein Evolution RNA Processing > 3' End Processing RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Regulation of RNA Stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmadreza Mofayezi
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
- ReNAP Therapeutics, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdieh Jadaliha
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Vahid Khoddami
- ReNAP Therapeutics, Tehran, Iran
- Pediatric Cell and Gene Therapy Research Center, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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26
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Naro C, Antonioni A, Medici V, Caggiano C, Jolly A, de la Grange P, Bielli P, Paronetto MP, Sette C. Splicing targeting drugs highlight intron retention as an actionable vulnerability in advanced prostate cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:58. [PMID: 38413979 PMCID: PMC10898177 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-02986-0] [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: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advanced prostate cancer (PC) is characterized by insensitivity to androgen deprivation therapy and chemotherapy, resulting in poor outcome for most patients. Thus, advanced PC urgently needs novel therapeutic strategies. Mounting evidence points to splicing dysregulation as a hallmark of advanced PC. Moreover, pharmacologic inhibition of the splicing process is emerging as a promising option for this disease. METHOD By using a representative androgen-insensitive PC cell line (22Rv1), we have investigated the genome-wide transcriptomic effects underlying the cytotoxic effects exerted by three splicing-targeting drugs: Pladienolide B, indisulam and THZ531. Bioinformatic analyses were performed to uncover the gene structural features underlying sensitivity to transcriptional and splicing regulation by these treatments. Biological pathways altered by these treatments were annotated by gene ontology analyses and validated by functional experiments in cell models. RESULTS Although eliciting similar cytotoxic effects on advanced PC cells, Pladienolide B, indisulam and THZ531 modulate specific transcriptional and splicing signatures. Drug sensitivity is associated with distinct gene structural features, expression levels and cis-acting sequence elements in the regulated exons and introns. Importantly, we identified PC-relevant genes (i.e. EZH2, MDM4) whose drug-induced splicing alteration exerts an impact on cell survival. Moreover, computational analyses uncovered a widespread impact of splicing-targeting drugs on intron retention, with enrichment in genes implicated in pre-mRNA 3'-end processing (i.e. CSTF3, PCF11). Coherently, advanced PC cells displayed high sensitivity to a specific inhibitor of the cleavage and polyadenylation complex, which enhances the effects of chemotherapeutic drugs that are already in use for this cancer. CONCLUSIONS Our study uncovers intron retention as an actionable vulnerability for advanced PC, which may be exploited to improve therapeutic management of this currently incurable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Naro
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
- GSTeP Organoids Research Core Facility, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Ambra Antonioni
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Vanessa Medici
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Caggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
- GSTeP Organoids Research Core Facility, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Pamela Bielli
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Paola Paronetto
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143, Rome, Italy
- University of Rome Foro Italico, 00135, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Sette
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy.
- GSTeP Organoids Research Core Facility, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168, Rome, Italy.
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27
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Gaballa A, Gebhardt-Wolf A, Krenz B, Mattavelli G, John M, Cossa G, Andreani S, Schülein-Völk C, Montesinos F, Vidal R, Kastner C, Ade CP, Kneitz B, Gasteiger G, Gallant P, Rosenfeldt M, Riedel A, Eilers M. PAF1c links S-phase progression to immune evasion and MYC function in pancreatic carcinoma. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1446. [PMID: 38365788 PMCID: PMC10873513 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45760-8] [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: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), endogenous MYC is required for S-phase progression and escape from immune surveillance. Here we show that MYC in PDAC cells is needed for the recruitment of the PAF1c transcription elongation complex to RNA polymerase and that depletion of CTR9, a PAF1c subunit, enables long-term survival of PDAC-bearing mice. PAF1c is largely dispensable for normal proliferation and regulation of MYC target genes. Instead, PAF1c limits DNA damage associated with S-phase progression by being essential for the expression of long genes involved in replication and DNA repair. Surprisingly, the survival benefit conferred by CTR9 depletion is not due to DNA damage, but to T-cell activation and restoration of immune surveillance. This is because CTR9 depletion releases RNA polymerase and elongation factors from the body of long genes and promotes the transcription of short genes, including MHC class I genes. The data argue that functionally distinct gene sets compete for elongation factors and directly link MYC-driven S-phase progression to tumor immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdallah Gaballa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Anneli Gebhardt-Wolf
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Bastian Krenz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Greta Mattavelli
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Mara John
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Giacomo Cossa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Silvia Andreani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christina Schülein-Völk
- Core Unit High-Content Microscopy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Francisco Montesinos
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Raphael Vidal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Carolin Kastner
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Carsten P Ade
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Burkhard Kneitz
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Georg Gasteiger
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Versbacher Str. 9, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Peter Gallant
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Mathias Rosenfeldt
- Institute of Pathology, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Angela Riedel
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Eilers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.
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28
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Zhang YL, Tang TT, Ni WJ, Li ZT, Jiang LYZ, Wang Y, Zhou X, Cao JY, Yin Q, Jiang W, Zhao YJ, Gan WH, Zhang AQ, Li ZL, Wen Y, Lv LL, Liu BC, Wang B. Tubule-specific cyclin-dependent kinase 12 knockdown potentiates kidney injury through transcriptional elongation defects. Int J Biol Sci 2024; 20:1669-1687. [PMID: 38481813 PMCID: PMC10929189 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.90872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Direct tubular injury caused by several medications, especially chemotherapeutic drugs, is a common cause of AKI. Inhibition or loss of cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) triggers a transcriptional elongation defect that results in deficiencies in DNA damage repair, producing genomic instability in a variety of cancers. Notably, 10-25% of individuals developed AKI after treatment with a CDK12 inhibitor, and the potential mechanism is not well understood. Here, we found that CDK12 was downregulated in the renal tubular epithelial cells in both patients with AKI and murine AKI models. Moreover, tubular cell-specific knockdown of CDK12 in mice enhanced cisplatin-induced AKI through promotion of genome instability, apoptosis, and proliferative inhibition, whereas CDK12 overexpression protected against AKI. Using the single molecule real-time (SMRT) platform on the kidneys of CDK12RTEC+/- mice, we found that CDK12 knockdown targeted Fgf1 and Cast through transcriptional elongation defects, thereby enhancing genome instability and apoptosis. Overall, these data demonstrated that CDK12 knockdown could potentiate the development of AKI by altering the transcriptional elongation defect of the Fgf1 and Cast genes, and more attention should be given to patients treated with CDK12 inhibitors to prevent AKI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Lin Zhang
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tao-Tao Tang
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei-Jie Ni
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhong-Tang Li
- Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Liang-Yun-Zi Jiang
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yao Wang
- Department of Nephrology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuan Zhou
- Shanghai OE Biotech Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Jing-Yuan Cao
- Institute of Nephrology, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jinagsu, China
| | - Qing Yin
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ya-Jie Zhao
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei-Hua Gan
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ai-Qing Zhang
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zuo-Lin Li
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi Wen
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lin-Li Lv
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bi-Cheng Liu
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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29
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Yang Y, Badura ML, O’Leary PC, Delavan HM, Robinson TM, Egusa EA, Zhong X, Swinderman JT, Li H, Zhang M, Kim M, Ashworth A, Feng FY, Chou J, Yang L. Large tandem duplications in cancer result from transcription and DNA replication collisions. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2023.05.17.23290140. [PMID: 38260434 PMCID: PMC10802642 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.17.23290140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Despite the abundance of somatic structural variations (SVs) in cancer, the underlying molecular mechanisms of their formation remain unclear. Here, we use 6,193 whole-genome sequenced tumors to study the contributions of transcription and DNA replication collisions to genome instability. After deconvoluting robust SV signatures in three independent pan-cancer cohorts, we detect transcription-dependent replicated-strand bias, the expected footprint of transcription-replication collision (TRC), in large tandem duplications (TDs). Large TDs are abundant in female-enriched, upper gastrointestinal tract and prostate cancers. They are associated with poor patient survival and mutations in TP53, CDK12, and SPOP. Upon inactivating CDK12, cells display significantly more TRCs, R-loops, and large TDs. Inhibition of G2/M checkpoint proteins, such as WEE1, CHK1, and ATR, selectively inhibits the growth of cells deficient in CDK12. Our data suggest that large TDs in cancer form due to TRCs, and their presence can be used as a biomarker for prognosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Michelle L. Badura
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Departments of Radiation Oncology and Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Patrick C. O’Leary
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Henry M. Delavan
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Troy M. Robinson
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Departments of Radiation Oncology and Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Emily A. Egusa
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Departments of Radiation Oncology and Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xiaoming Zhong
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jason T. Swinderman
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Departments of Radiation Oncology and Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Haolong Li
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Departments of Radiation Oncology and Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Meng Zhang
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Departments of Radiation Oncology and Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Minkyu Kim
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Cellular Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alan Ashworth
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Felix Y. Feng
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Departments of Radiation Oncology and Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan Chou
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lixing Yang
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, USA
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30
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Schmitz M, Kaltheuner IH, Anand K, Düster R, Moecking J, Monastyrskyi A, Duckett DR, Roush WR, Geyer M. The reversible inhibitor SR-4835 binds Cdk12/cyclin K in a noncanonical G-loop conformation. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105501. [PMID: 38016516 PMCID: PMC10767194 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) has evolved as an emerging anticancer strategy. In addition to the cell cycle-regulating CDKs, the transcriptional kinases Cdk12 and Cdk13 have become the focus of interest as they mediate a variety of functions, including the transition from transcription initiation to elongation and termination, precursor mRNA splicing, and intronic polyadenylation. Here, we determine the crystal structure of the small molecular inhibitor SR-4835 bound to the Cdk12/cyclin K complex at 2.68 Å resolution. The compound's benzimidazole moiety is embedded in a unique hydrogen bond network mediated by the kinase hinge region with flanking hydroxy groups of the Y815 and D819 side chains. Whereas the SR-4835 head group targets the adenine-binding pocket, the kinase's glycine-rich loop is shifted down toward the activation loop. Additionally, the αC-helix adopts an inward conformation, and the phosphorylated T-loop threonine interacts with all three canonical arginines, a hallmark of CDK activation that is altered in Cdk12 and Cdk13. Dose-response inhibition measurements with recombinant CMGC kinases show that SR-4835 is highly specific for Cdk12 and Cdk13 following a 10-fold lower potency for Cdk10. Whereas other CDK-targeting compounds exhibit tighter binding affinities and higher potencies for kinase inhibition, SR-4835 can be considered a selective transcription elongation antagonist. Our results provide the basis for a rational improvement of SR-4835 toward Cdk12 inhibition and a gain in selectivity over other transcription regulating CDKs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kanchan Anand
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Robert Düster
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jonas Moecking
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Derek R Duckett
- Department of Drug Discovery, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - William R Roush
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Matthias Geyer
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
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31
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Zhu S, Xu N, Zeng H. Molecular complexity of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e6939. [PMID: 38379333 PMCID: PMC10879723 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6939] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) is an aggressive subtype of prostate cancer characterized by the growth of tumor cells within the prostate ducts. It is often found alongside invasive carcinoma and is associated with poor prognosis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms driving IDC-P is crucial for improved diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment strategies. This review summarizes the molecular characteristics of IDC-P and their prognostic indications, comparing them to conventional prostate acinar adenocarcinoma, to gain insights into its unique behavior and identify potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Zhu
- Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Nanwei Xu
- Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Hao Zeng
- Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
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32
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Houles T, Boucher J, Lavoie G, MacLeod G, Lin S, Angers S, Roux PP. The CDK12 inhibitor SR-4835 functions as a molecular glue that promotes cyclin K degradation in melanoma. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:459. [PMID: 38104154 PMCID: PMC10725499 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01754-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
CDK12 is a transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) that interacts with cyclin K to regulate different aspects of gene expression. The CDK12-cyclin K complex phosphorylates several substrates, including RNA polymerase II (Pol II), and thereby regulates transcription elongation, RNA splicing, as well as cleavage and polyadenylation. Because of its implication in cancer, including breast cancer and melanoma, multiple pharmacological inhibitors of CDK12 have been identified to date, including THZ531 and SR-4835. While both CDK12 inhibitors affect Poll II phosphorylation, we found that SR-4835 uniquely promotes cyclin K degradation via the proteasome. Using loss-of-function genetic screening, we found that SR-4835 cytotoxicity depends on a functional CUL4-RBX1-DDB1 ubiquitin ligase complex. Consistent with this, we show that DDB1 is required for cyclin K degradation, and that SR-4835 promotes DDB1 interaction with the CDK12-cyclin K complex. Docking studies and structure-activity relationship analyses of SR-4835 revealed the importance of the benzimidazole side-chain in molecular glue activity. Together, our results indicate that SR-4835 acts as a molecular glue that recruits the CDK12-cyclin K complex to the CUL4-RBX1-DDB1 ubiquitin ligase complex to target cyclin K for degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibault Houles
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Jonathan Boucher
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Geneviève Lavoie
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Graham MacLeod
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sichun Lin
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephane Angers
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Philippe P Roux
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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33
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Murphy MR, Ramadei A, Doymaz A, Varriano S, Natelson D, Yu A, Aktas S, Mazzeo M, Mazzeo M, Zakusilo G, Kleiman F. Long non-coding RNA generated from CDKN1A gene by alternative polyadenylation regulates p21 expression during DNA damage response. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:11911-11926. [PMID: 37870464 PMCID: PMC10681730 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative Polyadenylation (APA) is an emerging mechanism for dynamic changes in gene expression. Previously, we described widespread APA occurrence in introns during the DNA damage response (DDR). Here, we show that a DDR-activated APA event occurs in the first intron of CDKN1A, inducing an alternate last exon-containing lncRNA. We named this lncRNA SPUD (Selective Polyadenylation Upon DNA Damage). SPUD localizes to polysomes in the cytoplasm and is detectable as multiple isoforms in available high-throughput studies. SPUD has low abundance compared to the CDKN1A full-length isoform under non-stress conditions, and SPUD is induced in cancer and normal cells under a variety of DNA damaging conditions in part through p53. The RNA binding protein HuR binds to and promotes the stability of SPUD precursor RNA. SPUD induction increases p21 protein, but not mRNA levels, affecting p21 functions in cell-cycle, CDK2 expression and cell growth. Like CDKN1A full-length isoform, SPUD can bind two competitive p21 translational regulators, the inhibitor calreticulin and the activator CUGBP1; SPUD alters their association with CDKN1A full-length in a DDR-dependent manner, promoting CDKN1A translation. Together, these results show a new regulatory mechanism by which a lncRNA controls p21 expression post-transcriptionally, highlighting lncRNA relevance in DDR progression and cell-cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Murphy
- Chemistry Department, Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Biology Program, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Anthony Ramadei
- Chemistry Department, Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Biology Program, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Ahmet Doymaz
- Chemistry Department, Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Sophia Varriano
- Chemistry Department, Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Biology Program, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Devorah M Natelson
- Chemistry Department, Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Biology Program, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Amy Yu
- Chemistry Department, Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Sera Aktas
- Chemistry Department, Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Marie Mazzeo
- Chemistry Department, Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Michael Mazzeo
- Chemistry Department, Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - George Zakusilo
- Chemistry Department, Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Frida E Kleiman
- Chemistry Department, Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Biology Program, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
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34
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Shen P, Ye K, Xiang H, Zhang Z, He Q, Zhang X, Cai MC, Chen J, Sun Y, Lin L, Qi C, Zhang M, Cheung LWT, Shi T, Yin X, Li Y, Di W, Zang R, Tan L, Zhuang G. Therapeutic targeting of CPSF3-dependent transcriptional termination in ovarian cancer. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadj0123. [PMID: 37992178 PMCID: PMC10664987 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj0123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptional dysregulation is a recurring pathogenic hallmark and an emerging therapeutic vulnerability in ovarian cancer. Here, we demonstrated that ovarian cancer exhibited a unique dependency on the regulatory machinery of transcriptional termination, particularly, cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF) complex. Genetic abrogation of multiple CPSF subunits substantially hampered neoplastic cell viability, and we presented evidence that their indispensable roles converged on the endonuclease CPSF3. Mechanistically, CPSF perturbation resulted in lengthened 3'-untranslated regions, diminished intronic polyadenylation and widespread transcriptional readthrough, and consequently suppressed oncogenic pathways. Furthermore, we reported the development of specific CPSF3 inhibitors building upon the benzoxaborole scaffold, which exerted potent antitumor activity. Notably, CPSF3 blockade effectively exacerbated genomic instability by down-regulating DNA damage repair genes and thus acted in synergy with poly(adenosine 5'-diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibition. These findings establish CPSF3-dependent transcriptional termination as an exploitable driving mechanism of ovarian cancer and provide a promising class of boron-containing compounds for targeting transcription-addicted human malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiye Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kaiyan Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huaijiang Xiang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenfeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinyang He
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Mei-Chun Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Junfei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunheng Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lifeng Lin
- Ovarian Cancer Program, Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunting Qi
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Meiying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lydia W. T. Cheung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tingyan Shi
- Ovarian Cancer Program, Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xia Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Li
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen Di
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rongyu Zang
- Ovarian Cancer Program, Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Tan
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Guanglei Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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35
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Wang Z, Himanen SV, Haikala HM, Friedel CC, Vihervaara A, Barborič M. Inhibition of CDK12 elevates cancer cell dependence on P-TEFb by stimulation of RNA polymerase II pause release. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:10970-10991. [PMID: 37811895 PMCID: PMC10639066 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
P-TEFb and CDK12 facilitate transcriptional elongation by RNA polymerase II. Given the prominence of both kinases in cancer, gaining a better understanding of their interplay could inform the design of novel anti-cancer strategies. While down-regulation of DNA repair genes in CDK12-targeted cancer cells is being explored therapeutically, little is known about mechanisms and significance of transcriptional induction upon inhibition of CDK12. We show that selective targeting of CDK12 in colon cancer-derived cells activates P-TEFb via its release from the inhibitory 7SK snRNP. In turn, P-TEFb stimulates Pol II pause release at thousands of genes, most of which become newly dependent on P-TEFb. Amongst the induced genes are those stimulated by hallmark pathways in cancer, including p53 and NF-κB. Consequently, CDK12-inhibited cancer cells exhibit hypersensitivity to inhibitors of P-TEFb. While blocking P-TEFb triggers their apoptosis in a p53-dependent manner, it impedes cell proliferation irrespective of p53 by preventing induction of genes downstream of the DNA damage-induced NF-κB signaling. In summary, stimulation of Pol II pause release at the signal-responsive genes underlies the functional dependence of CDK12-inhibited cancer cells on P-TEFb. Our study establishes the mechanistic underpinning for combinatorial targeting of CDK12 with either P-TEFb or the induced oncogenic pathways in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijia Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Samu V Himanen
- Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Heidi M Haikala
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Programs Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
- iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Caroline C Friedel
- Institute of Informatics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80333 Munich, Germany
| | - Anniina Vihervaara
- Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matjaž Barborič
- Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
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36
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Masci D, Naro C, Puxeddu M, Urbani A, Sette C, La Regina G, Silvestri R. Recent Advances in Drug Discovery for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment. Molecules 2023; 28:7513. [PMID: 38005235 PMCID: PMC10672974 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28227513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most heterogeneous and aggressive breast cancer subtypes with a high risk of death on recurrence. To date, TNBC is very difficult to treat due to the lack of an effective targeted therapy. However, recent advances in the molecular characterization of TNBC are encouraging the development of novel drugs and therapeutic combinations for its therapeutic management. In the present review, we will provide an overview of the currently available standard therapies and new emerging therapeutic strategies against TNBC, highlighting the promises that newly developed small molecules, repositioned drugs, and combination therapies have of improving treatment efficacy against these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domiziana Masci
- Department of Basic Biotechnological Sciences, Intensivological and Perioperative Clinics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (D.M.); (A.U.)
| | - Chiara Naro
- Department of Neurosciences, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (C.N.); (C.S.)
- GSTeP-Organoids Research Core Facility, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Puxeddu
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia—Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.P.); (G.L.R.)
| | - Andrea Urbani
- Department of Basic Biotechnological Sciences, Intensivological and Perioperative Clinics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (D.M.); (A.U.)
| | - Claudio Sette
- Department of Neurosciences, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (C.N.); (C.S.)
- GSTeP-Organoids Research Core Facility, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe La Regina
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia—Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.P.); (G.L.R.)
| | - Romano Silvestri
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia—Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.P.); (G.L.R.)
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37
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Al-Toubat M, Serrano S, Elshafei A, Koul K, Feibus AH, Balaji KC. Metastatic prostate cancer is associated with distinct higher frequency of genetic mutations at diagnosis. Urol Oncol 2023; 41:455.e7-455.e15. [PMID: 37838503 DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2023.09.014] [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: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES We explored characteristic genetic mutations associated with metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) by comparing next generation sequencing (NGS) data between men with or without metastatic disease at diagnosis. METHODS We queried the American Association for Cancer Research Project Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange (GENIE) registry for men diagnosed with PCa. Patients were categorized into with (M1) or without metastatic disease (M0) groups. The difference in the frequency of genetic mutations between the two groups and the prognostic significance of the mutations were analyzed using SPSS V28. We included frequency rate of > 5% and P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant to maintain over 95% true positive detection rate. RESULTS Of a total of 10,580 patients with diagnosis of PCa in the dataset, we selected a study cohort of 1268 patients without missing data; 700 (55.2%) had nonmetastatic PCa, 421 (33.2%) and 147 (11.6%) patients had metastatic castration sensitive and resistant PCa respectively. The median age at diagnosis and serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) level for the entire cohort was 62.8 years (IQR 56.3-68.4) and 8.0 ng/ml (IQR 4.9-20.9) respectively. A vast majority of the cohort were of Caucasian ancestry (89.1%). Of a total of 561 genes sequenced, there were mutations in 79 genes (14.1%). The mutation frequency was significantly higher in M1PCa compared to M0PCa, 35.7% and 23.3%, respectively (P = <0.001). The median tumor mutational burden was also significantly higher in the samples from M1PCa (2.59 mut/MB) compared to M0PCa (1.96 mut/MB) (P < 0.001). Compared to M0PCa patients, M1PCa patients demonstrated significantly higher rate of genetic mutations; TP53 (38.73% vs. 17.71% P < 0.001), PTEN (25.70% vs. 11.71% P < 0.001), AR (17.25% vs. 1.43% P < 0.001), APC (11.8% vs. 4.43% P < 0.001), TMPRSS2 (31.5% vs. 11.14% P < 0.001), ERG (23.59% vs. 13.13% P < 0.001), FOXA1 (17.43% vs. 6.33% P < 0.001), MYC (8.45% vs. 2.29% P < 0.001), RB1 (10.39% vs. 2.43% P < 0.001) and CDK12 (8.45% vs. 1.31% P < 0.001). Of the various cellular signaling pathways, the androgen receptor signaling pathway was most often impacted. In the cohort with M1 disease, compared to men without genetic mutations the men with genetic mutations demonstrated worse survival (P = <0.001, log rank test). Compared to castration sensitive M1 patients, AR (57% vs. 4% P < 0.001), TP53 (50.7% vs. 34% P < 0.001), PTEN (35.2% vs. 22.1% P < 0.001), RB1(23.9% vs. 4.75% P < 0.001) were significantly more frequently mutated in castration resistant M1 patients. In contrast, mutations of SPOP (13.3% vs. 7.9% P < 0.001), FOXA1 (17.6% vs. 5.3% P < 0.001) and CDK12 (12% vs. 6.45% P < 0.001) were significantly more frequently found in castration sensitive M1 patients compared to castration resistant patients. CONCLUSION Patients with M1PCa demonstrated characteristic genetic mutations compared to M0PCa, which most often influenced androgen receptor signaling and is associated with worse survival. In addition, we identified distinct genetic mutations between castration sensitive and resistant M1PCa. These findings may be used to further our understanding and management of men with PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Al-Toubat
- Department of Urology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL
| | - Samuel Serrano
- Department of Urology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL
| | - Ahmed Elshafei
- Department of Urology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL
| | - Kashyap Koul
- Department of Urology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL
| | - Allison H Feibus
- Department of Urology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL
| | - K C Balaji
- Department of Urology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL.
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Ang HX, Sutiman N, Deng XL, Liu A, Cerda-Smith CG, Hutchinson HM, Kim H, Bartelt LC, Chen Q, Barrera A, Lin J, Sheng Z, McDowell IC, Reddy TE, Nicchitta CV, Wood KC. Cooperative regulation of coupled oncoprotein synthesis and stability in triple-negative breast cancer by EGFR and CDK12/13. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2221448120. [PMID: 37695916 PMCID: PMC10515179 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221448120] [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: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence has long suggested that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) may play a prominent role in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) pathogenesis, but clinical trials of EGFR inhibitors have yielded disappointing results. Using a candidate drug screen, we identified that inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases 12 and 13 (CDK12/13) dramatically sensitizes diverse models of TNBC to EGFR blockade. This combination therapy drives cell death through the 4E-BP1-dependent suppression of the translation and translation-linked turnover of driver oncoproteins, including MYC. A genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen identified the CCR4-NOT complex as a major determinant of sensitivity to the combination therapy whose loss renders 4E-BP1 unresponsive to drug-induced dephosphorylation, thereby rescuing MYC translational suppression and promoting MYC stability. The central roles of CCR4-NOT and 4E-BP1 in response to the combination therapy were further underscored by the observation of CNOT1 loss and rescue of 4E-BP1 phosphorylation in TNBC cells that naturally evolved therapy resistance. Thus, pharmacological inhibition of CDK12/13 reveals a long-proposed EGFR dependence in TNBC that functions through the cooperative regulation of translation-coupled oncoprotein stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hazel X. Ang
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
| | - Natalia Sutiman
- Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School,Singapore169857, Singapore
| | - Xinyue L. Deng
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
| | - Annie Liu
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
| | - Christian G. Cerda-Smith
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
| | - Haley M. Hutchinson
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
| | - Holly Kim
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
| | - Luke C. Bartelt
- Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC27708
| | - Qiang Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
| | - Alejandro Barrera
- Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC27708
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC27708
| | - Jiaxing Lin
- Bioinformatics Shared Resources, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC27705
| | - Zhecheng Sheng
- Bioinformatics Shared Resources, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC27705
| | - Ian C. McDowell
- Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC27708
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC27708
| | - Timothy E. Reddy
- Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC27708
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC27708
| | | | - Kris C. Wood
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
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Pluta AJ, Studniarek C, Murphy S, Norbury CJ. Cyclin-dependent kinases: Masters of the eukaryotic universe. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 15:e1816. [PMID: 37718413 PMCID: PMC10909489 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
A family of structurally related cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDKs) drives many aspects of eukaryotic cell function. Much of the literature in this area has considered individual members of this family to act primarily either as regulators of the cell cycle, the context in which CDKs were first discovered, or as regulators of transcription. Until recently, CDK7 was the only clear example of a CDK that functions in both processes. However, new data points to several "cell-cycle" CDKs having important roles in transcription and some "transcriptional" CDKs having cell cycle-related targets. For example, novel functions in transcription have been demonstrated for the archetypal cell cycle regulator CDK1. The increasing evidence of the overlap between these two CDK types suggests that they might play a critical role in coordinating the two processes. Here we review the canonical functions of cell-cycle and transcriptional CDKs, and provide an update on how these kinases collaborate to perform important cellular functions. We also provide a brief overview of how dysregulation of CDKs contributes to carcinogenesis, and possible treatment avenues. This article is categorized under: RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA-Protein Complexes RNA Processing > 3' End Processing RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shona Murphy
- Sir William Dunn School of PathologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Chris J. Norbury
- Sir William Dunn School of PathologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
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Sarkar GC, Rautela U, Goyala A, Datta S, Anand N, Singh A, Singh P, Chamoli M, Mukhopadhyay A. DNA damage signals from somatic uterine tissue arrest oogenesis through activated DAF-16. Development 2023; 150:dev201472. [PMID: 37577954 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201472] [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: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Germ line integrity is crucial for progeny fitness. Organisms deploy the DNA damage response (DDR) signaling to protect the germ line from genotoxic stress, facilitating the cell-cycle arrest of germ cells and DNA repair or their apoptosis. Cell-autonomous regulation of germ line quality in response to DNA damage is well studied; however, how quality is enforced cell non-autonomously on sensing somatic DNA damage is less known. Using Caenorhabditis elegans, we show that DDR disruption, only in the uterus, when insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) is low, arrests oogenesis in the pachytene stage of meiosis I, in a FOXO/DAF-16 transcription factor-dependent manner. Without FOXO/DAF-16, germ cells of the IIS mutant escape the arrest to produce poor-quality oocytes, showing that the transcription factor imposes strict quality control during low IIS. Activated FOXO/DAF-16 senses DDR perturbations during low IIS to lower ERK/MPK-1 signaling below a threshold to promote germ line arrest. Altogether, we elucidate a new surveillance role for activated FOXO/DAF-16 that ensures optimal germ cell quality and progeny fitness in response to somatic DNA damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gautam Chandra Sarkar
- Molecular Aging Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Umanshi Rautela
- Molecular Aging Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Anita Goyala
- Molecular Aging Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Sudeshna Datta
- Molecular Aging Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Nikhita Anand
- Molecular Aging Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Anupama Singh
- Molecular Aging Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Prachi Singh
- Molecular Aging Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Manish Chamoli
- Molecular Aging Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Arnab Mukhopadhyay
- Molecular Aging Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
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Kobayashi K, Saito Y, Kage H, Fukuoka O, Yamamura K, Mukai T, Oda K, Yamasoba T. CDK12 alterations and ARID1A mutations are predictors of poor prognosis and therapeutic targets in high-grade salivary gland carcinoma: analysis of the National Genomic Profiling Database. Jpn J Clin Oncol 2023; 53:798-807. [PMID: 37357968 DOI: 10.1093/jjco/hyad066] [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: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to the diversity of histopathologic types in salivary gland carcinoma, genomic analysis of large cohorts with next-generation sequencing by histologic type has not been adequately performed. METHODS We analysed data from 93 patients with salivary duct carcinoma and 243 patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma who underwent comprehensive genomic profiling testing in the Center for Cancer Genomics and Advanced Therapeutics database, a Japanese national genome profiling database. We visualised gene mutation profiles using the OncoPrinter platform. Fisher's exact test, Kaplan-Meier analysis, log-rank test and Cox regression models were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS In salivary duct carcinoma, a population with CDK12 and ERBB2 co-amplification was detected in 20 of 37 (54.1%) patients with ERBB2 amplification. We identified five loss-of-function variants in genes related to homologous recombination deficiency, such as BRCA2 and CDK12. Cox survival analysis showed that CDK12 and ERBB2 co-amplification is associated with overall survival (hazard ratio, 3.597; P = 0.045). In salivary duct carcinoma, NOTCH1 mutations were the most common, followed by mutations in chromatin modification genes such as KMT2D, BCOR, KDM6A, ARID1A, EP300 and CREBBP. In the multivariate Cox analysis, activating NOTCH1 mutations (hazard ratio, 3.569; P = 0.009) and ARID1A mutations (hazard ratio, 4.029; P = 0.034) were significantly associated with overall survival. CONCLUSION CDK12 and ERBB2 co-amplification is associated with a poor prognosis in salivary duct carcinoma. Chromatin remodelling genes are deeply involved in tumour progression in adenoid cystic carcinoma. One such gene, ARID1A, was an independent prognostic factor. In salivary duct carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma, there might be minor populations with mutations that could be targeted for treatment with the synthetic lethality approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenya Kobayashi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuki Saito
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidenori Kage
- Department of Next-Generation Precision Medicine Development Laboratory, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Osamu Fukuoka
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koji Yamamura
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Mukai
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Katsutoshi Oda
- Department of Integrative Genomics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Yamasoba
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Pitolli C, Marini A, Guerra M, Pieraccioli M, Marabitti V, Palluzzi F, Giacò L, Tamburrini G, Cecconi F, Nazio F, Sette C, Pagliarini V. MYC up-regulation confers vulnerability to dual inhibition of CDK12 and CDK13 in high-risk Group 3 medulloblastoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:214. [PMID: 37599362 PMCID: PMC10440921 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02790-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common cerebellar malignancy during childhood. Among MB, MYC-amplified Group 3 tumors display the worst prognosis. MYC is an oncogenic transcription factor currently thought to be undruggable. Nevertheless, targeting MYC-dependent processes (i.e. transcription and RNA processing regulation) represents a promising approach. METHODS We have tested the sensitivity of MYC-driven Group 3 MB cells to a pool of transcription and splicing inhibitors that display a wide spectrum of targets. Among them, we focus on THZ531, an inhibitor of the transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) 12 and 13. High-throughput RNA-sequencing analyses followed by bioinformatics and functional analyses were carried out to elucidate the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the susceptibility of Group 3 MB to CDK12/13 chemical inhibition. Data from International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and other public databases were mined to evaluate the functional relevance of the cellular pathway/s affected by the treatment with THZ531 in Group 3 MB patients. RESULTS We found that pharmacological inhibition of CDK12/13 is highly selective for MYC-high Group 3 MB cells with respect to MYC-low MB cells. We identified a subset of genes enriched in functional terms related to the DNA damage response (DDR) that are up-regulated in Group 3 MB and repressed by CDK12/13 inhibition. Accordingly, MYC- and CDK12/13-dependent higher expression of DDR genes in Group 3 MB cells limits the toxic effects of endogenous DNA lesions in these cells. More importantly, chemical inhibition of CDK12/13 impaired the DDR and induced irreparable DNA damage exclusively in MYC-high Group 3 MB cells. The augmented sensitivity of MYC-high MB cells to CDK12/13 inhibition relies on the higher elongation rate of the RNA polymerase II in DDR genes. Lastly, combined treatments with THZ531 and DNA damage-inducing agents synergically suppressed viability of MYC-high Group 3 MB cells. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that CDK12/13 activity represents an exploitable vulnerability in MYC-high Group 3 MB and may pave the ground for new therapeutic approaches for this high-risk brain tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Consuelo Pitolli
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Marini
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy
- GSTEP-Organoids Research Core Facility, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Marika Guerra
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Pieraccioli
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy
- GSTEP-Organoids Research Core Facility, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Marabitti
- Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Fernando Palluzzi
- Bioinformatics Research Core Facility, Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSTeP), IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy
- Present Address: Integrated Omics Department, Novo Nordisk, 2860, Søborg, Denmark
| | - Luciano Giacò
- Bioinformatics Research Core Facility, Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSTeP), IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianpiero Tamburrini
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy
- Pediatric Neurosurgery, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Cecconi
- Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Basic Biotechnological Sciences, Intensive Care and Perioperative Clinics Research, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy
- Unit of Cell Stress and Survival, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Francesca Nazio
- Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Sette
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy.
- GSTEP-Organoids Research Core Facility, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy.
| | - Vittoria Pagliarini
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy.
- GSTEP-Organoids Research Core Facility, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy.
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Xiao Y, Dong J. Coming of Age: Targeting Cyclin K in Cancers. Cells 2023; 12:2044. [PMID: 37626854 PMCID: PMC10453554 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) play versatile roles in promoting the hallmarks of cancer. Therefore, cyclins and CDKs have been widely studied and targeted in cancer treatment, with four CDK4/6 inhibitors being approved by the FDA and many other inhibitors being examined in clinical trials. The specific purpose of this review is to delineate the role and therapeutic potential of Cyclin K in cancers. Studies have shown that Cyclin K regulates many essential biological processes, including the DNA damage response, mitosis, and pre-replicative complex assembly, and is critical in both cancer cell growth and therapeutic resistance. Importantly, the druggability of Cyclin K has been demonstrated in an increasing number of studies that identify novel opportunities for its use in cancer treatment. This review first introduces the basic features and translational value of human cyclins and CDKs. Next, the discovery, phosphorylation targets, and related functional significance of Cyclin K-CDK12/13 complexes in cancer are detailed. This review then provides a summary of current Cyclin K-associated cancer studies, with an emphasis on the available Cyclin K-targeting drugs. Finally, the current knowledge gaps regarding the potential of Cyclin K in cancers are discussed, along with interesting directions for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jixin Dong
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA;
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Cui Y, Wang L, Ding Q, Shin J, Cassel J, Liu Q, Salvino JM, Tian B. Elevated pre-mRNA 3' end processing activity in cancer cells renders vulnerability to inhibition of cleavage and polyadenylation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4480. [PMID: 37528120 PMCID: PMC10394034 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39793-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Cleavage and polyadenylation (CPA) is responsible for 3' end processing of eukaryotic poly(A)+ RNAs and preludes transcriptional termination. JTE-607, which targets CPSF-73, is the first known CPA inhibitor (CPAi) in mammalian cells. Here we show that JTE-607 perturbs gene expression through both transcriptional readthrough and alternative polyadenylation (APA). Sensitive genes are associated with features similar to those previously identified for PCF11 knockdown, underscoring a unified transcriptomic signature of CPAi. The degree of inhibition of an APA site by JTE-607 correlates with its usage level and, consistently, cells with elevated CPA activities, such as those with induced overexpression of FIP1, display greater transcriptomic disturbances when treated with JTE-607. Moreover, JTE-607 causes S phase crisis and is hence synergistic with inhibitors of DNA damage repair pathways. Together, our data reveal CPA activity and proliferation rate as determinants of CPAi-mediated cell death, raising the possibility of using CPAi as an adjunct therapy to suppress certain cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yange Cui
- Gene Expression and Regulation Program, and Center for Systems and Computational Biology, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Luyang Wang
- Gene Expression and Regulation Program, and Center for Systems and Computational Biology, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Qingbao Ding
- Gene Expression and Regulation Program, and Center for Systems and Computational Biology, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jihae Shin
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Joel Cassel
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Qin Liu
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Joseph M Salvino
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Bin Tian
- Gene Expression and Regulation Program, and Center for Systems and Computational Biology, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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Lukashchuk N, Barnicle A, Adelman CA, Armenia J, Kang J, Barrett JC, Harrington EA. Impact of DNA damage repair alterations on prostate cancer progression and metastasis. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1162644. [PMID: 37434977 PMCID: PMC10331135 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1162644] [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: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is among the most common diseases worldwide. Despite recent progress with treatments, patients with advanced prostate cancer have poor outcomes and there is a high unmet need in this population. Understanding molecular determinants underlying prostate cancer and the aggressive phenotype of disease can help with design of better clinical trials and improve treatments for these patients. One of the pathways often altered in advanced prostate cancer is DNA damage response (DDR), including alterations in BRCA1/2 and other homologous recombination repair (HRR) genes. Alterations in the DDR pathway are particularly prevalent in metastatic prostate cancer. In this review, we summarise the prevalence of DDR alterations in primary and advanced prostate cancer and discuss the impact of alterations in the DDR pathway on aggressive disease phenotype, prognosis and the association of germline pathogenic alterations in DDR genes with risk of developing prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Lukashchuk
- Translational Medicine, Oncology Research and Development (R&D), AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Barnicle
- Translational Medicine, Oncology Research and Development (R&D), AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Carrie A. Adelman
- Translational Medicine, Oncology Research and Development (R&D), AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Joshua Armenia
- Oncology Data Science, Oncology Research and Development (R&D), AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jinyu Kang
- Global Medicines Development, Oncology Research and Development (R&D), AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - J. Carl Barrett
- Translational Medicine, Oncology Research and Development (R&D), AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA, United States
| | - Elizabeth A. Harrington
- Translational Medicine, Oncology Research and Development (R&D), AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Panzeri V, Pieraccioli M, Cesari E, de la Grange P, Sette C. CDK12/13 promote splicing of proximal introns by enhancing the interaction between RNA polymerase II and the splicing factor SF3B1. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:5512-5526. [PMID: 37026485 PMCID: PMC10287901 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription-associated cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) regulate the transcription cycle through sequential phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). Herein, we report that dual inhibition of the highly homologous CDK12 and CDK13 impairs splicing of a subset of promoter-proximal introns characterized by weak 3' splice sites located at larger distance from the branchpoint. Nascent transcript analysis indicated that these introns are selectively retained upon pharmacological inhibition of CDK12/13 with respect to downstream introns of the same pre-mRNAs. Retention of these introns was also triggered by pladienolide B (PdB), an inhibitor of the U2 small nucelar ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) factor SF3B1 that recognizes the branchpoint. CDK12/13 activity promotes the interaction of SF3B1 with RNAPII phosphorylated on Ser2, and disruption of this interaction by treatment with the CDK12/13 inhibitor THZ531 impairs the association of SF3B1 with chromatin and its recruitment to the 3' splice site of these introns. Furthermore, by using suboptimal doses of THZ531 and PdB, we describe a synergic effect of these inhibitors on intron retention, cell cycle progression and cancer cell survival. These findings uncover a mechanism by which CDK12/13 couple RNA transcription and processing, and suggest that combined inhibition of these kinases and the spliceosome represents an exploitable anticancer approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Panzeri
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Pieraccioli
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
- Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSTeP)-Organoids Research Core Facility, Fondazione Policlinico Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cesari
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
- Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSTeP)-Organoids Research Core Facility, Fondazione Policlinico Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Sette
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
- Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSTeP)-Organoids Research Core Facility, Fondazione Policlinico Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Cao J, Kuyumcu-Martinez MN. Alternative polyadenylation regulation in cardiac development and cardiovascular disease. Cardiovasc Res 2023; 119:1324-1335. [PMID: 36657944 PMCID: PMC10262186 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvad014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cleavage and polyadenylation of pre-mRNAs is a necessary step for gene expression and function. Majority of human genes exhibit multiple polyadenylation sites, which can be alternatively used to generate different mRNA isoforms from a single gene. Alternative polyadenylation (APA) of pre-mRNAs is important for the proteome and transcriptome landscape. APA is tightly regulated during development and contributes to tissue-specific gene regulation. Mis-regulation of APA is linked to a wide range of pathological conditions. APA-mediated gene regulation in the heart is emerging as a new area of research. Here, we will discuss the impact of APA on gene regulation during heart development and in cardiovascular diseases. First, we will briefly review how APA impacts gene regulation and discuss molecular mechanisms that control APA. Then, we will address APA regulation during heart development and its dysregulation in cardiovascular diseases. Finally, we will discuss pre-mRNA targeting strategies to correct aberrant APA patterns of essential genes for the treatment or prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The RNA field is blooming due to advancements in RNA-based technologies. RNA-based vaccines and therapies are becoming the new line of effective and safe approaches for the treatment and prevention of human diseases. Overall, this review will be influential for understanding gene regulation at the RNA level via APA in the heart and will help design RNA-based tools for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Cao
- Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Muge N Kuyumcu-Martinez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77573, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Institute for Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77573, USA
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Araki S, Ohori M, Yugami M. Targeting pre-mRNA splicing in cancers: roles, inhibitors, and therapeutic opportunities. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1152087. [PMID: 37342192 PMCID: PMC10277747 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1152087] [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: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence has indicated that pre-mRNA splicing plays critical roles in a variety of physiological processes, including development of multiple diseases. In particular, alternative splicing is profoundly involved in cancer progression through abnormal expression or mutation of splicing factors. Small-molecule splicing modulators have recently attracted considerable attention as a novel class of cancer therapeutics, and several splicing modulators are currently being developed for the treatment of patients with various cancers and are in the clinical trial stage. Novel molecular mechanisms modulating alternative splicing have proven to be effective for treating cancer cells resistant to conventional anticancer drugs. Furthermore, molecular mechanism-based combination strategies and patient stratification strategies for cancer treatment targeting pre-mRNA splicing must be considered for cancer therapy in the future. This review summarizes recent progress in the relationship between druggable splicing-related molecules and cancer, highlights small-molecule splicing modulators, and discusses future perspectives of splicing modulation for personalized and combination therapies in cancer treatment.
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Henfrey C, Murphy S, Tellier M. Regulation of mature mRNA levels by RNA processing efficiency. NAR Genom Bioinform 2023; 5:lqad059. [PMID: 37305169 PMCID: PMC10251645 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqad059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription and co-transcriptional processes, including pre-mRNA splicing and mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation, regulate the production of mature mRNAs. The carboxyl terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase (pol) II, which comprises 52 repeats of the Tyr1Ser2Pro3Thr4Ser5Pro6Ser7 peptide, is involved in the coordination of transcription with co-transcriptional processes. The pol II CTD is dynamically modified by protein phosphorylation, which regulates recruitment of transcription and co-transcriptional factors. We have investigated whether mature mRNA levels from intron-containing protein-coding genes are related to pol II CTD phosphorylation, RNA stability, and pre-mRNA splicing and mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation efficiency. We find that genes that produce a low level of mature mRNAs are associated with relatively high phosphorylation of the pol II CTD Thr4 residue, poor RNA processing, increased chromatin association of transcripts, and shorter RNA half-life. While these poorly-processed transcripts are degraded by the nuclear RNA exosome, our results indicate that in addition to RNA half-life, chromatin association due to a low RNA processing efficiency also plays an important role in the regulation of mature mRNA levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callum Henfrey
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Shona Murphy
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Michael Tellier
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
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50
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Bai Y, Liu Z, Li Y, Zhao H, Lai C, Zhao S, Chen K, Luo C, Yang X, Wang F. Structural Mass Spectrometry Probes the Inhibitor-Induced Allosteric Activation of CDK12/CDK13-Cyclin K Dissociation. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:11477-11481. [PMID: 37207290 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c01697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The rational design and development of effective inhibitors for cyclin-dependent kinases 12 and 13 (CDK12 and CDK13) are largely dependent on the understanding of the dynamic inhibition conformations but are difficult to be achieved by conventional characterization tools. Herein, we integrate the structural mass spectrometry (MS) methods of lysine reactivity profiling (LRP) and native MS (nMS) to systematically interrogate both the dynamic molecular interactions and overall protein assembly of CDK12/CDK13-cyclin K (CycK) complexes under the modulation of small molecule inhibitors. The essential structure insights, including inhibitor binding pocket, binding strength, interfacial molecular details, and dynamic conformation changes, can be derived from the complementary results of LRP and nMS. We find the inhibitor SR-4835 binding can greatly destabilize the CDK12/CDK13-CycK interactions in an unusual allosteric activation way, thereby providing a novel alternative for the kinase activity inhibition. Our results underscore the great potential of LRP combination with nMS for the evaluation and rational design of effective kinase inhibitors at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Bai
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Zheyi Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuanqing Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, the Center for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Heng Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Can Lai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shan Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Kaixian Chen
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, the Center for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Cheng Luo
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, the Center for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xueming Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Fangjun Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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