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Ascanelli C, Dahir R, Wilson CH. Manipulating Myc for reparative regeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1357589. [PMID: 38577503 PMCID: PMC10991803 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1357589] [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: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The Myc family of proto-oncogenes is a key node for the signal transduction of external pro-proliferative signals to the cellular processes required for development, tissue homoeostasis maintenance, and regeneration across evolution. The tight regulation of Myc synthesis and activity is essential for restricting its oncogenic potential. In this review, we highlight the central role that Myc plays in regeneration across the animal kingdom (from Cnidaria to echinoderms to Chordata) and how Myc could be employed to unlock the regenerative potential of non-regenerative tissues in humans for therapeutic purposes. Mastering the fine balance of harnessing the ability of Myc to promote transcription without triggering oncogenesis may open the door to many exciting opportunities for therapeutic development across a wide array of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Catherine H. Wilson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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2
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Lama D, Vosselman T, Sahin C, Liaño-Pons J, Cerrato CP, Nilsson L, Teilum K, Lane DP, Landreh M, Arsenian Henriksson M. A druggable conformational switch in the c-MYC transactivation domain. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1865. [PMID: 38424045 PMCID: PMC10904854 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45826-7] [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: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The c-MYC oncogene is activated in over 70% of all human cancers. The intrinsic disorder of the c-MYC transcription factor facilitates molecular interactions that regulate numerous biological pathways, but severely limits efforts to target its function for cancer therapy. Here, we use a reductionist strategy to characterize the dynamic and structural heterogeneity of the c-MYC protein. Using probe-based Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations and machine learning, we identify a conformational switch in the c-MYC amino-terminal transactivation domain (termed coreMYC) that cycles between a closed, inactive, and an open, active conformation. Using the polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) to modulate the conformational landscape of coreMYC, we show through biophysical and cellular assays that the induction of a closed conformation impedes its interactions with the transformation/transcription domain-associated protein (TRRAP) and the TATA-box binding protein (TBP) which are essential for the transcriptional and oncogenic activities of c-MYC. Together, these findings provide insights into structure-activity relationships of c-MYC, which open avenues towards the development of shape-shifting compounds to target c-MYC as well as other disordered transcription factors for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilraj Lama
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Thibault Vosselman
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cagla Sahin
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Biology, Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory and the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Judit Liaño-Pons
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carmine P Cerrato
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lennart Nilsson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, SE-14813, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Kaare Teilum
- Department of Biology, Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory and the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David P Lane
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Michael Landreh
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Cell- and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, SE-751 24, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Marie Arsenian Henriksson
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden.
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3
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Venkatraman S, Balasubramanian B, Thuwajit C, Meller J, Tohtong R, Chutipongtanate S. Targeting MYC at the intersection between cancer metabolism and oncoimmunology. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1324045. [PMID: 38390324 PMCID: PMC10881682 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1324045] [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: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
MYC activation is a known hallmark of cancer as it governs the gene targets involved in various facets of cancer progression. Of interest, MYC governs oncometabolism through the interactions with its partners and cofactors, as well as cancer immunity via its gene targets. Recent investigations have taken interest in characterizing these interactions through multi-Omic approaches, to better understand the vastness of the MYC network. Of the several gene targets of MYC involved in either oncometabolism or oncoimmunology, few of them overlap in function. Prominent interactions have been observed with MYC and HIF-1α, in promoting glucose and glutamine metabolism and activation of antigen presentation on regulatory T cells, and its subsequent metabolic reprogramming. This review explores existing knowledge of the role of MYC in oncometabolism and oncoimmunology. It also unravels how MYC governs transcription and influences cellular metabolism to facilitate the induction of pro- or anti-tumoral immunity. Moreover, considering the significant roles MYC holds in cancer development, the present study discusses effective direct or indirect therapeutic strategies to combat MYC-driven cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simran Venkatraman
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Brinda Balasubramanian
- Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Chanitra Thuwajit
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jaroslaw Meller
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Rutaiwan Tohtong
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Somchai Chutipongtanate
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Milk, microbiome, Immunity and Lactation research for Child Health (MILCH) and Novel Therapeutics Lab, Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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4
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Tijms BM, Vromen EM, Mjaavatten O, Holstege H, Reus LM, van der Lee S, Wesenhagen KEJ, Lorenzini L, Vermunt L, Venkatraghavan V, Tesi N, Tomassen J, den Braber A, Goossens J, Vanmechelen E, Barkhof F, Pijnenburg YAL, van der Flier WM, Teunissen CE, Berven FS, Visser PJ. Cerebrospinal fluid proteomics in patients with Alzheimer's disease reveals five molecular subtypes with distinct genetic risk profiles. NATURE AGING 2024; 4:33-47. [PMID: 38195725 PMCID: PMC10798889 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-023-00550-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is heterogenous at the molecular level. Understanding this heterogeneity is critical for AD drug development. Here we define AD molecular subtypes using mass spectrometry proteomics in cerebrospinal fluid, based on 1,058 proteins, with different levels in individuals with AD (n = 419) compared to controls (n = 187). These AD subtypes had alterations in protein levels that were associated with distinct molecular processes: subtype 1 was characterized by proteins related to neuronal hyperplasticity; subtype 2 by innate immune activation; subtype 3 by RNA dysregulation; subtype 4 by choroid plexus dysfunction; and subtype 5 by blood-brain barrier impairment. Each subtype was related to specific AD genetic risk variants, for example, subtype 1 was enriched with TREM2 R47H. Subtypes also differed in clinical outcomes, survival times and anatomical patterns of brain atrophy. These results indicate molecular heterogeneity in AD and highlight the need for personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betty M Tijms
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Ellen M Vromen
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Olav Mjaavatten
- Proteomics Unit at the University of Bergen, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Henne Holstege
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lianne M Reus
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sven van der Lee
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Aging, Human Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kirsten E J Wesenhagen
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Luigi Lorenzini
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neuroimaging, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lisa Vermunt
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Vikram Venkatraghavan
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Niccoló Tesi
- Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Aging, Human Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Delft Bioinformatics Lab, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Jori Tomassen
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anouk den Braber
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Frederik Barkhof
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Queen Square Institute of Neurology and Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, UK
| | - Yolande A L Pijnenburg
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wiesje M van der Flier
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Epidemiology & Data Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Charlotte E Teunissen
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Frode S Berven
- Proteomics Unit at the University of Bergen, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Pieter Jelle Visser
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Alzheimer Center Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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5
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Miyasaka S, Kitada R, Kokubo T. Taf1 N-terminal domain 2 (TAND2) of TFIID promotes formation of stable and mobile unstable TBP-TATA complexes. Gene 2023; 889:147800. [PMID: 37716588 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147800] [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: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
In eukaryotes, TATA-binding protein (TBP) occupancy of the core promoter globally correlates with transcriptional activity of class II genes. Elucidating how TBP is delivered to the TATA box or TATA-like element is crucial to understand the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation. A previous study demonstrated that the inhibitory DNA binding (IDB) surface of human TBP plays an indispensable role during the two-step formation of the TBP-TATA complex, first assuming an unstable and unbent intermediate conformation, and subsequently converting slowly to a stable and bent conformation. The DNA binding property of TBP is altered by physical contact of this surface with TBP regulators. In the present study, we examined whether the interaction between Taf1 N-terminal domain 2 (TAND2) and the IDB surface affected DNA binding property of yeast TBP by exploiting TAND2-fused TBP derivatives. TAND2 promoted formation of two distinct types of TBP-TATA complexes, which we arbitrarily designated as complex I and II. While complex I was stable and similar to the well-characterized original TBP-TATA complex, complex II was unstable and moved along DNA. Removal of TAND2 from TBP after complex formation revealed that continuous contact of TAND2 with the IDB surface was required for formation of complex II but not complex I. Further, TFIIA could be incorporated into the complex of TAND2-fused TBP and the TATA box, which was dependent on the amino-terminal non-conserved region of TBP, implying that this region could facilitate the exchange between TAND2 and TFIIA on the IDB surface. Collectively, these findings provide novel insights into the mechanism by which TBP is relieved from the interaction with TAND to bind the TATA box or TATA-like element within promoter-bound TFIID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Miyasaka
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Ryota Kitada
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Kokubo
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
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6
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Jha RK, Kouzine F, Levens D. MYC function and regulation in physiological perspective. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1268275. [PMID: 37941901 PMCID: PMC10627926 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1268275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
MYC, a key member of the Myc-proto-oncogene family, is a universal transcription amplifier that regulates almost every physiological process in a cell including cell cycle, proliferation, metabolism, differentiation, and apoptosis. MYC interacts with several cofactors, chromatin modifiers, and regulators to direct gene expression. MYC levels are tightly regulated, and deregulation of MYC has been associated with numerous diseases including cancer. Understanding the comprehensive biology of MYC under physiological conditions is an utmost necessity to demark biological functions of MYC from its pathological functions. Here we review the recent advances in biological mechanisms, functions, and regulation of MYC. We also emphasize the role of MYC as a global transcription amplifier.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - David Levens
- Gene Regulation Section, Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD, United States
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Cheng L, Zhai H, Du J, Zhang G, Shi G. Lobetyolin inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis by downregulating ASCT2 in gastric cancer. Cytotechnology 2023; 75:435-448. [PMID: 37655270 PMCID: PMC10465467 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-023-00588-w] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is a heterogeneous disease and is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. Lobetyolin, as a bioactive ingredient extracted from Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf., has been reported to exert anti-tumor effects in several cancer types. This study was aimed to investigate the role of lobetyolin in GC and the associated mechanism. MKN-45 and MKN-28 cells were incubated with concentrations of lobetyolin for 24 h. The viability and survival of GC cells were evaluated by performing MTT assay. Glutamine uptake, Adenosine Triphosphate, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and glutathione levels were measured by corresponding kits. Apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential of GC cells were determined by flow cytometry. Alanine, serine, cysteine-preferring transporter 2 (ASCT2) and the AKT/GSK3β/c-Myc pathway protein levels were examined by western blotting. Xenograft model and immunohistochemical staining were used to evaluate the pharmacological effects of lobetyolin in mice in vivo. We found that lobetyolin treatment suppressed the proliferative capacity of both MKN-45 and MKN-28 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Lobetyolin reduced the uptake of glutamine and downregulated the expression levels of ASCT2 in GC cells and xenograft tumors. Lobetyolin effectively restrained the growth of tumors in vivo. In addition, lobetyolin induced the accumulation of ROS to attenuate mitochondria-mediated apoptosis via downregulation of ASCT2 expression. Lobetyolin promoted the phosphorylation of c-Myc and suppressed the phosphorylation of GSK3β and AKT in both MKN-45 and MKN-28 cells. The level of total Nrf2 protein was reduced after lobetyolin treatment. Overall, lobetyolin exerts anti-cancer effects by repressing cell proliferation and inducing cell apoptosis via downregulation of ASCT2 in GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Cheng
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Central Hospital of Qianjiang, Yangtze University, Qianjiang, 433100 China
| | - Haoqing Zhai
- Department of Oncology, The Central Hospital of Qianjiang, Yangtze University, Qianjiang, 433100 China
| | - Juan Du
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hubei University Hospital, Wuhan, 430062 China
| | - Gang Zhang
- Department of Digestive 2, Wuhan Sixth Hospital, Wuhan, 430015 China
| | - Gan Shi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Wuhan Xinzhou District People’s Hospital, No.61, Xinzhou Street, Zhucheng Street, Xinzhou District, Wuhan, 430400 China
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Pan Y, van der Watt PJ, Kay SA. E-box binding transcription factors in cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1223208. [PMID: 37601651 PMCID: PMC10437117 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1223208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
E-boxes are important regulatory elements in the eukaryotic genome. Transcription factors can bind to E-boxes through their basic helix-loop-helix or zinc finger domain to regulate gene transcription. E-box-binding transcription factors (EBTFs) are important regulators of development and essential for physiological activities of the cell. The fundamental role of EBTFs in cancer has been highlighted by studies on the canonical oncogene MYC, yet many EBTFs exhibit common features, implying the existence of shared molecular principles of how they are involved in tumorigenesis. A comprehensive analysis of TFs that share the basic function of binding to E-boxes has been lacking. Here, we review the structure of EBTFs, their common features in regulating transcription, their physiological functions, and their mutual regulation. We also discuss their converging functions in cancer biology, their potential to be targeted as a regulatory network, and recent progress in drug development targeting these factors in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanzhong Pan
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Pauline J. van der Watt
- Division of Medical Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Steve A. Kay
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Das SK, Lewis BA, Levens D. MYC: a complex problem. Trends Cell Biol 2023; 33:235-246. [PMID: 35963793 PMCID: PMC9911561 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The MYC protooncogene functions as a universal amplifier of transcription through interaction with numerous factors and complexes that regulate almost every cellular process. However, a comprehensive model that explains MYC's actions and the interplay governing the complicated dynamics of components of the transcription and replication machinery is still lacking. Here, we review the potency of MYC as an oncogenic driver and how it regulates the broad spectrum of complexes (effectors and regulators). We propose a 'hand-over model' for differential partitioning and trafficking of unstructured MYC via a loose interaction network between various gene-regulatory complexes and factors. Additionally, the article discusses how unstructured-MYC energetically favors efficient modulation of the energy landscape of the transcription cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhendu K Das
- Gene Regulation Section, Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD 20892-1500, USA
| | - Brian A Lewis
- Gene Regulation Section, Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD 20892-1500, USA
| | - David Levens
- Gene Regulation Section, Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD 20892-1500, USA.
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10
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Chen Y, León-Letelier RA, Abdel Sater AH, Vykoukal J, Dennison JB, Hanash S, Fahrmann JF. c-MYC-Driven Polyamine Metabolism in Ovarian Cancer: From Pathogenesis to Early Detection and Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:623. [PMID: 36765581 PMCID: PMC9913358 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030623] [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: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
c-MYC and its paralogues MYCN and MYCL are among the most frequently amplified and/or overexpressed oncoproteins in ovarian cancer. c-MYC plays a key role in promoting ovarian cancer initiation and progression. The polyamine pathway is a bona fide target of c-MYC signaling, and polyamine metabolism is strongly intertwined with ovarian malignancy. Targeting of the polyamine pathway via small molecule inhibitors has garnered considerable attention as a therapeutic strategy for ovarian cancer. Herein, we discuss the involvement of c-MYC signaling and that of its paralogues in promoting ovarian cancer tumorigenesis. We highlight the potential of targeting c-MYC-driven polyamine metabolism for the treatment of ovarian cancers and the utility of polyamine signatures in biofluids for early detection applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Johannes F. Fahrmann
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Cryo-EM structure of human SAGA transcriptional coactivator complex. Cell Discov 2022; 8:125. [PMID: 36414614 PMCID: PMC9681738 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-022-00489-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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12
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Jiménez-Mejía G, Montalvo-Méndez R, Hernández-Bautista C, Altamirano-Torres C, Vázquez M, Zurita M, Reséndez-Pérez D. Trimeric complexes of Antp-TBP with TFIIEβ or Exd modulate transcriptional activity. Hereditas 2022; 159:23. [PMID: 35637493 PMCID: PMC9150345 DOI: 10.1186/s41065-022-00239-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hox proteins finely coordinate antero-posterior axis during embryonic development and through their action specific target genes are expressed at the right time and space to determine the embryo body plan. As master transcriptional regulators, Hox proteins recognize DNA through the homeodomain (HD) and interact with a multitude of proteins, including general transcription factors and other cofactors. HD binding specificity increases by protein–protein interactions with a diversity of cofactors that outline the Hox interactome and determine the transcriptional landscape of the selected target genes. All these interactions clearly demonstrate Hox-driven transcriptional regulation, but its precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. Results Here we report Antennapedia (Antp) Hox protein–protein interaction with the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and the formation of novel trimeric complexes with TFIIEβ and Extradenticle (Exd), as well as its participation in transcriptional regulation. Using Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC), we detected the interaction of Antp-TBP and, in combination with Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (BiFC-FRET), the formation of the trimeric complex with TFIIEβ and Exd in living cells. Mutational analysis showed that Antp interacts with TBP through their N-terminal polyglutamine-stretches. The trimeric complexes of Antp-TBP with TFIIEβ and Exd were validated using different Antp mutations to disrupt the trimeric complexes. Interestingly, the trimeric complex Antp-TBP-TFIIEβ significantly increased the transcriptional activity of Antp, whereas Exd diminished its transactivation. Conclusions Our findings provide important insights into the Antp interactome with the direct interaction of Antp with TBP and the two new trimeric complexes with TFIIEβ and Exd. These novel interactions open the possibility to analyze promoter function and gene expression to measure transcription factor binding dynamics at target sites throughout the genome. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41065-022-00239-8.
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13
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Johansson-Åkhe I, Wallner B. InterPepScore: A Deep Learning Score for Improving the FlexPepDock Refinement Protocol. Bioinformatics 2022; 38:3209-3215. [PMID: 35575349 PMCID: PMC9191208 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btac325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Motivation Interactions between peptide fragments and protein receptors are vital to cell function yet difficult to experimentally determine in structural details of. As such, many computational methods have been developed to aid in peptide–protein docking or structure prediction. One such method is Rosetta FlexPepDock which consistently refines coarse peptide–protein models into sub-Ångström precision using Monte-Carlo simulations and statistical potentials. Deep learning has recently seen increased use in protein structure prediction, with graph neural networks used for protein model quality assessment. Results Here, we introduce a graph neural network, InterPepScore, as an additional scoring term to complement and improve the Rosetta FlexPepDock refinement protocol. InterPepScore is trained on simulation trajectories from FlexPepDock refinement starting from thousands of peptide–protein complexes generated by a wide variety of docking schemes. The addition of InterPepScore into the refinement protocol consistently improves the quality of models created, and on an independent benchmark on 109 peptide–protein complexes its inclusion results in an increase in the number of complexes for which the top-scoring model had a DockQ-score of 0.49 (Medium quality) or better from 14.8% to 26.1%. Availability and implementation InterPepScore is available online at http://wallnerlab.org/InterPepScore. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isak Johansson-Åkhe
- Division of Bioinformatics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, SE-581 83, Sweden
| | - Björn Wallner
- Division of Bioinformatics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, SE-581 83, Sweden
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14
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Wei Y, Redel C, Ahlner A, Lemak A, Johansson-Åkhe I, Houliston S, Kenney TMG, Tamachi A, Morad V, Duan S, Andrews DW, Wallner B, Sunnerhagen M, Arrowsmith CH, Penn LZ. The MYC oncoprotein directly interacts with its chromatin cofactor PNUTS to recruit PP1 phosphatase. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:3505-3522. [PMID: 35244724 PMCID: PMC8989513 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite MYC dysregulation in most human cancers, strategies to target this potent oncogenic driver remain an urgent unmet need. Recent evidence shows the PP1 phosphatase and its regulatory subunit PNUTS control MYC phosphorylation, chromatin occupancy, and stability, however the molecular basis remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that MYC interacts directly with PNUTS through the MYC homology Box 0 (MB0), a highly conserved region recently shown to be important for MYC oncogenic activity. By NMR we identified a distinct peptide motif within MB0 that interacts with PNUTS residues 1–148, a functional unit, here termed PNUTS amino-terminal domain (PAD). Using NMR spectroscopy we determined the solution structure of PAD, and characterised its MYC-binding patch. Point mutations of residues at the MYC-PNUTS interface significantly weaken their interaction both in vitro and in vivo, leading to elevated MYC phosphorylation. These data demonstrate that the MB0 region of MYC directly interacts with the PAD of PNUTS, which provides new insight into the control mechanisms of MYC as a regulator of gene transcription and a pervasive cancer driver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Wei
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 101 College St, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada.,Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), University of Toronto, 101 College St., Suite 700, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada.,Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Ave. Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Cornelia Redel
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 101 College St, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 101 College St, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Alexandra Ahlner
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Alexander Lemak
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 101 College St, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada.,Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), University of Toronto, 101 College St., Suite 700, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Isak Johansson-Åkhe
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Scott Houliston
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 101 College St, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada.,Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), University of Toronto, 101 College St., Suite 700, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Tristan M G Kenney
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 101 College St, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 101 College St, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Aaliya Tamachi
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 101 College St, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Vivian Morad
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | | | - David W Andrews
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Ave. Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 101 College St, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Björn Wallner
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Maria Sunnerhagen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Cheryl H Arrowsmith
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 101 College St, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada.,Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), University of Toronto, 101 College St., Suite 700, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 101 College St, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Linda Z Penn
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 101 College St, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 101 College St, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
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15
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Karim RM, Yang L, Chen L, Bikowitz MJ, Lu J, Grassie D, Shultz ZP, Lopchuk JM, Chen J, Schönbrunn E. Discovery of Dual TAF1-ATR Inhibitors and Ligand-Induced Structural Changes of the TAF1 Tandem Bromodomain. J Med Chem 2022; 65:4182-4200. [PMID: 35191694 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Bromodomains regulate chromatin remodeling and gene transcription through recognition of acetylated lysines on histones and other proteins. Bromodomain-containing protein TAF1, a subunit of general transcription factor TFIID, initiates preinitiation complex formation and cellular transcription. TAF1 serves as a cofactor for certain oncogenic transcription factors and is implicated in regulating the p53 tumor suppressor. Therefore, TAF1 is a potential target to develop small molecule therapeutics for diseases arising from dysregulated transcription, such as cancer. Here, we report the ATR kinase inhibitor AZD6738 (Ceralasertib) and analogues thereof as bona fide inhibitors of TAF1. Crystallographic and small-angle X-ray scattering studies established that newly identified and previously reported inhibitors stabilize distinct structural states of the TAF1 tandem bromodomain through "open-closed" transitions and dimerization. Combined with functional studies on p53 signaling in cancer cell lines, the data provide new insights into the feasibility and challenges of TAF1 inhibitors as chemical probes and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rezaul Md Karim
- Drug Discovery Department, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Leixiang Yang
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Lihong Chen
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Melissa J Bikowitz
- Drug Discovery Department, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Junhao Lu
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Dylan Grassie
- Drug Discovery Department, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Zachary P Shultz
- Drug Discovery Department, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Justin M Lopchuk
- Drug Discovery Department, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Jiandong Chen
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Ernst Schönbrunn
- Drug Discovery Department, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
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16
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Patange S, Ball DA, Wan Y, Karpova TS, Girvan M, Levens D, Larson DR. MYC amplifies gene expression through global changes in transcription factor dynamics. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110292. [PMID: 35081348 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The MYC oncogene has been studied for decades, yet there is still intense debate over how this transcription factor controls gene expression. Here, we seek to answer these questions with an in vivo readout of discrete events of gene expression in single cells. We engineered an optogenetic variant of MYC (Pi-MYC) and combined this tool with single-molecule RNA and protein imaging techniques to investigate the role of MYC in modulating transcriptional bursting and transcription factor binding dynamics in human cells. We find that the immediate consequence of MYC overexpression is an increase in the duration rather than in the frequency of bursts, a functional role that is different from the majority of human transcription factors. We further propose that the mechanism by which MYC exerts global effects on the active period of genes is by altering the binding dynamics of transcription factors involved in RNA polymerase II complex assembly and productive elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Patange
- Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - David A Ball
- Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yihan Wan
- Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Tatiana S Karpova
- Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Michelle Girvan
- Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - David Levens
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Daniel R Larson
- Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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17
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Identification of Aging-Related Genes Associated with Prognostic Value and Immune Microenvironment Characteristics in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:3334522. [PMID: 35069971 PMCID: PMC8777392 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3334522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a complex invasive tumour that occurs mainly among the elderly. Therefore, we analysed the relationship between ageing-related genes (AG) and DLBCL prognosis. Datasets related to DLBCL and human AGs were downloaded and screened from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and HAGR website, respectively. LASSO and Cox regression were used to analyse AGs in the dataset and construct an AG predictive model related to DLBCL prognosis. Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment were used to analyse the function of the AG predictive model. The immune microenvironment and immune cell infiltration in DLBCL and their relationship with the AG prediction model were also analysed. After the analysis, 118 AGs were identified as genes related to DLBCL prognosis. Using the LASSO and Cox regression analyses, 9 AGs (PLAU, IL7R, MYC, S100B, IGFBP3, NR3C1, PTK2, TBP, and CLOCK) were used to construct an AG prognostic model. In the training and verification sets, this model exhibited excellent predictive ability for the prognosis of patients with DLBCL who have different clinical characteristics. Further analysis revealed that the high- and low-risk groups of the AG prognostic model were significantly correlated with immune cell infiltration and tumour microenvironment in DLBCL. Functional enrichment analysis also showed that the genes in the AG model were associated with immune-related functions and pathways. In conclusion, we constructed an AG model with a strong predictive function in DLBCL, with the ability to predict the prognosis of patients with different clinical features. This model provides new ideas and potential therapeutic targets for the study of the pathogenesis of DLBCL.
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18
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Homologous basic helix–loop–helix transcription factors induce distinct deformations of torsionally-stressed DNA: a potential transcription regulation mechanism. QRB DISCOVERY 2022. [PMID: 37529292 PMCID: PMC10392670 DOI: 10.1017/qrd.2022.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Changing torsional restraints on DNA is essential for the regulation of transcription. Torsional stress, introduced by RNA polymerase, can propagate along chromatin facilitating topological transitions and modulating the specific binding of transcription factors (TFs) to DNA. Despite the importance, the mechanistic details on how torsional stress impacts the TFs-DNA complexation remain scarce. Herein, we address the impact of torsional stress on DNA complexation with homologous human basic helix–loop–helix (BHLH) hetero- and homodimers: MycMax, MadMax and MaxMax. The three TF dimers exhibit specificity towards the same DNA consensus sequence, the E-box response element, while regulating different transcriptional pathways. Using microseconds-long atomistic molecular dynamics simulations together with the torsional restraint that controls DNA total helical twist, we gradually over- and underwind naked and complexed DNA to a maximum of ± 5°/bp step. We observe that the binding of the BHLH dimers results in a similar increase in DNA torsional rigidity. However, under torsional stress the BHLH dimers induce distinct DNA deformations, characterised by changes in DNA grooves geometry and a significant asymmetric DNA bending. Supported by bioinformatics analyses, our data suggest that torsional stress may contribute to the execution of differential transcriptional programs of the homologous TFs by modulating their collaborative interactions.
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19
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Llombart V, Mansour MR. Therapeutic targeting of "undruggable" MYC. EBioMedicine 2022; 75:103756. [PMID: 34942444 PMCID: PMC8713111 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 75.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
c-MYC controls global gene expression and regulates cell proliferation, cell differentiation, cell cycle, metabolism and apoptosis. According to some estimates, MYC is dysregulated in ≈70% of human cancers and strong evidence implicates aberrantly expressed MYC in both tumor initiation and maintenance. In vivo studies show that MYC inhibition elicits a prominent anti-proliferative effect and sustained tumor regression while any alteration on healthy tissue remains reversible. This opens an exploitable window for treatment that makes MYC one of the most appealing therapeutic targets for cancer drug development. This review describes the main functional and structural features of the protein structure of MYC and provides a general overview of the most relevant or recently identified interactors that modulate MYC oncogenic activity. This review also summarizes the different approaches aiming to abrogate MYC oncogenic function, with a particular focus on the prototype inhibitors designed for the direct and indirect targeting of MYC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Llombart
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, Department of Haematology, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Marc R Mansour
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, Department of Haematology, London WC1E 6DD, UK; UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Developmental Biology and Cancer, London, UK.
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20
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Das SK, Kuzin V, Cameron DP, Sanford S, Jha RK, Nie Z, Rosello MT, Holewinski R, Andresson T, Wisniewski J, Natsume T, Price DH, Lewis BA, Kouzine F, Levens D, Baranello L. MYC assembles and stimulates topoisomerases 1 and 2 in a "topoisome". Mol Cell 2021; 82:140-158.e12. [PMID: 34890565 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
High-intensity transcription and replication supercoil DNA to levels that can impede or halt these processes. As a potent transcription amplifier and replication accelerator, the proto-oncogene MYC must manage this interfering torsional stress. By comparing gene expression with the recruitment of topoisomerases and MYC to promoters, we surmised a direct association of MYC with topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) and TOP2 that was confirmed in vitro and in cells. Beyond recruiting topoisomerases, MYC directly stimulates their activities. We identify a MYC-nucleated "topoisome" complex that unites TOP1 and TOP2 and increases their levels and activities at promoters, gene bodies, and enhancers. Whether TOP2A or TOP2B is included in the topoisome is dictated by the presence of MYC versus MYCN, respectively. Thus, in vitro and in cells, MYC assembles tools that simplify DNA topology and promote genome function under high output conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhendu K Das
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Vladislav Kuzin
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Donald P Cameron
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Suzanne Sanford
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Rajiv Kumar Jha
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Zuqin Nie
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Marta Trullols Rosello
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ronald Holewinski
- Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Bethesda, MD 21701, USA
| | - Thorkell Andresson
- Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Bethesda, MD 21701, USA
| | - Jan Wisniewski
- Confocal Microscopy and Digital Imaging Facility, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Toyoaki Natsume
- Department of Chromosome Science, National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan; Research Center for Genome & Medical Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - David H Price
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Brian A Lewis
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Fedor Kouzine
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - David Levens
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
| | - Laura Baranello
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
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21
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Herbst DA, Esbin MN, Louder RK, Dugast-Darzacq C, Dailey GM, Fang Q, Darzacq X, Tjian R, Nogales E. Structure of the human SAGA coactivator complex. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2021; 28:989-996. [PMID: 34811519 PMCID: PMC8660637 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-021-00682-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The SAGA complex is a regulatory hub involved in gene regulation, chromatin modification, DNA damage repair and signaling. While structures of yeast SAGA (ySAGA) have been reported, there are noteworthy functional and compositional differences for this complex in metazoans. Here we present the cryogenic-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of human SAGA (hSAGA) and show how the arrangement of distinct structural elements results in a globally divergent organization from that of yeast, with a different interface tethering the core module to the TRRAP subunit, resulting in a dramatically altered geometry of functional elements and with the integration of a metazoan-specific splicing module. Our hSAGA structure reveals the presence of an inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6) binding site in TRRAP and an unusual property of its pseudo-(Ψ)PIKK. Finally, we map human disease mutations, thus providing the needed framework for structure-guided drug design of this important therapeutic target for human developmental diseases and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik A Herbst
- California Institute for Quantitative Biology (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bio-Imaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Meagan N Esbin
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Robert K Louder
- California Institute for Quantitative Biology (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Claire Dugast-Darzacq
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Gina M Dailey
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Qianglin Fang
- California Institute for Quantitative Biology (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bio-Imaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xavier Darzacq
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Robert Tjian
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Eva Nogales
- California Institute for Quantitative Biology (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bio-Imaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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22
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Zhou Y, Gao X, Yuan M, Yang B, He Q, Cao J. Targeting Myc Interacting Proteins as a Winding Path in Cancer Therapy. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:748852. [PMID: 34658888 PMCID: PMC8511624 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.748852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
MYC, as a well-known oncogene, plays essential roles in promoting tumor occurrence, development, invasion and metastasis in many kinds of solid tumors and hematologic neoplasms. In tumors, the low expression and the short half-life of Myc are reversed, cause tumorigenesis. And proteins that directly interact with different Myc domains have exerted a significant impact in the process of Myc-driven carcinogenesis. Apart from affecting the transcription of Myc target genes, Myc interaction proteins also regulate the stability of Myc through acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation and other post-translational modifications, as well as competitive combination with Myc. In this review, we summarize a series of Myc interacting proteins and recent advances in the related inhibitors, hoping that can provide new opportunities for Myc-driven cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihui Zhou
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaomeng Gao
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Meng Yuan
- Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,The Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiaojun He
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,The Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ji Cao
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,The Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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23
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Lourenco C, Resetca D, Redel C, Lin P, MacDonald AS, Ciaccio R, Kenney TMG, Wei Y, Andrews DW, Sunnerhagen M, Arrowsmith CH, Raught B, Penn LZ. MYC protein interactors in gene transcription and cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2021; 21:579-591. [PMID: 34188192 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-021-00367-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factor and oncoprotein MYC is a potent driver of many human cancers and can regulate numerous biological activities that contribute to tumorigenesis. How a single transcription factor can regulate such a diverse set of biological programmes is central to the understanding of MYC function in cancer. In this Perspective, we highlight how multiple proteins that interact with MYC enable MYC to regulate several central control points of gene transcription. These include promoter binding, epigenetic modifications, initiation, elongation and post-transcriptional processes. Evidence shows that a combination of multiple protein interactions enables MYC to function as a potent oncoprotein, working together in a 'coalition model', as presented here. Moreover, as MYC depends on its protein interactome for function, we discuss recent research that emphasizes an unprecedented opportunity to target protein interactors to directly impede MYC oncogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diana Resetca
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Cornelia Redel
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Peter Lin
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alannah S MacDonald
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Roberto Ciaccio
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Tristan M G Kenney
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yong Wei
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David W Andrews
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Maria Sunnerhagen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Cheryl H Arrowsmith
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brian Raught
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Linda Z Penn
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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24
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Identifying and Validating MYC:Protein Interactors in Pursuit of Novel Anti-MYC Therapies. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 34019286 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1476-1_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
By identifying MYC protein-protein interactors, we aim to gain a deeper mechanistic understanding of MYC as a regulator of gene transcription and potent oncoprotein. This information can then be used to devise strategies for disrupting critical MYC protein-protein interactions to inhibit MYC-driven tumorigenesis. In this chapter, we discuss four techniques to identify and validate MYC-interacting partners. First, we highlight BioID, a powerful discovery method used to identify high-confidence proximal interactors in living cells. We also discuss bioinformatic prioritization strategies for the BioID-derived MYC-proximal complexes. Next, we discuss how protein interactions can be validated using techniques such as in vivo-in vitro pull-down assays and the proximity ligation assay (PLA). We conclude with an overview of biolayer interferometry (BLI), a quantitative method used to characterize direct interactions between two proteins in vitro. Overall, we highlight the principles of each assay and provide methodology necessary to conduct these experiments and adapt them to the study of interactors of additional proteins of interest.
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25
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The Role of Non-Coding RNAs in the Regulation of the Proto-Oncogene MYC in Different Types of Cancer. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9080921. [PMID: 34440124 PMCID: PMC8389562 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9080921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in the expression level of the MYC gene are often found in the cells of various malignant tumors. Overexpressed MYC has been shown to stimulate the main processes of oncogenesis: uncontrolled growth, unlimited cell divisions, avoidance of apoptosis and immune response, changes in cellular metabolism, genomic instability, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Thus, controlling the expression of MYC is considered as an approach for targeted cancer treatment. Since c-Myc is also a crucial regulator of many cellular processes in healthy cells, it is necessary to find ways for selective regulation of MYC expression in tumor cells. Many recent studies have demonstrated that non-coding RNAs play an important role in the regulation of the transcription and translation of this gene and some RNAs directly interact with the c-Myc protein, affecting its stability. In this review, we summarize current data on the regulation of MYC by various non-coding RNAs that can potentially be targeted in specific tumor types.
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26
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Curti L, Campaner S. MYC-Induced Replicative Stress: A Double-Edged Sword for Cancer Development and Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6168. [PMID: 34201047 PMCID: PMC8227504 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
MYC is a transcription factor that controls the expression of a large fraction of cellular genes linked to cell cycle progression, metabolism and differentiation. MYC deregulation in tumors leads to its pervasive genome-wide binding of both promoters and distal regulatory regions, associated with selective transcriptional control of a large fraction of cellular genes. This pairs with alterations of cell cycle control which drive anticipated S-phase entry and reshape the DNA-replication landscape. Under these circumstances, the fine tuning of DNA replication and transcription becomes critical and may pose an intrinsic liability in MYC-overexpressing cancer cells. Here, we will review the current understanding of how MYC controls DNA and RNA synthesis, discuss evidence of replicative and transcriptional stress induced by MYC and summarize preclinical data supporting the therapeutic potential of triggering replicative stress in MYC-driven tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Curti
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@CGS, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Campaner
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@CGS, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139 Milan, Italy
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27
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Yang J, Ding S. Engineering L7Ae for RNA-Only Delivery Kill Switch Targeting CMS2 Type Colorectal Cancer Cells. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:1095-1105. [PMID: 33939419 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The lack of specific-targeting therapy to precisely identify and kill malignant cells while sparing others is a great challenge in colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. In the era of molecular classification of tumors, CRC has been grouped into four Consensus Molecular Subtypes. Accounting for 37% of all types, the CMS2 group (canonical type) shows distinguishing features: WNT and MYC signaling activation. In this study, we designed an RNA-only delivery kill switch to specifically eliminate CMS2 type CRC cells. The sensing and logic processing functions are integrated by the newly engineered L7Ae, which can not only detect the stability of β-catenin protein and the presence of cytoplasm located Myc/Myc-nick, but also do logic computation. The circuit specifically eliminated HCT-116 cells while sparing other kinds of cells, showing a proof-of-principle approach to precisely target CMS2 type CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiong Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Helicobacter pylori Infection and Upper Gastrointestinal Diseases, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Shigang Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Helicobacter pylori Infection and Upper Gastrointestinal Diseases, Beijing 100191, China
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28
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Huang W, Song W, Jiang Y, Chen L, Lu H. c-Myc-induced circ-NOTCH1 promotes aggressive phenotypes of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by regulating the miR-34c-5p/c-Myc axis. Cell Biol Int 2021; 45:1436-1447. [PMID: 33675278 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the subclass of head and neck cancer with the highest incidence among otolaryngology malignancies. A growing amount of evidence has proven that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play key roles in the progression of multiple cancers. It has been reported that circ-NOTCH1 is a novel circRNA and functions as an oncogene in gastric cancer, while the regulatory mechanism of circ-NOTCH1 in NPC remains unknown. In the present research, our findings revealed that circ-NOTCH1 was overexpressed in NPC tissues and cells. Circ-NOTCH1 knockdown suppressed NPC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Subsequently, we discovered that c-Myc can activate circ-NOTCH1 by binding to the NOTCH1 promoter. c-Myc functioned as a tumor promoter in NPC cells. Mechanistically, circ-NOTCH1 served as a competitive endogenous RNA to modulate c-Myc expression by sponging miR-34c-5p. Additionally, overexpression of c-Myc reversed the circ-NOTCH1 knockdown-mediated inhibition of NPC cellular progression. Overall, this study suggested that c-Myc-induced circ-NOTCH1 promoted malignant phenotypes of NPC cells by regulating the miR-34c-5p/c-Myc axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,School of Clinical, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Song
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yunfei Jiang
- Department of Emergency, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lejun Chen
- School of Clinical, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hong Lu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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29
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Wolpaw AJ, Bayliss R, Büchel G, Dang CV, Eilers M, Gustafson WC, Hansen GH, Jura N, Knapp S, Lemmon MA, Levens D, Maris JM, Marmorstein R, Metallo SJ, Park JR, Penn LZ, Rape M, Roussel MF, Shokat KM, Tansey WP, Verba KA, Vos SM, Weiss WA, Wolf E, Mossé YP. Drugging the "Undruggable" MYCN Oncogenic Transcription Factor: Overcoming Previous Obstacles to Impact Childhood Cancers. Cancer Res 2021; 81:1627-1632. [PMID: 33509943 PMCID: PMC8392692 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-3108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Effective treatment of pediatric solid tumors has been hampered by the predominance of currently "undruggable" driver transcription factors. Improving outcomes while decreasing the toxicity of treatment necessitates the development of novel agents that can directly inhibit or degrade these elusive targets. MYCN in pediatric neural-derived tumors, including neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma, is a paradigmatic example of this problem. Attempts to directly and specifically target MYCN have failed due to its similarity to MYC, the unstructured nature of MYC family proteins in their monomeric form, the lack of an understanding of MYCN-interacting proteins and ability to test their relevance in vivo, the inability to obtain structural information on MYCN protein complexes, and the challenges of using traditional small molecules to inhibit protein-protein or protein-DNA interactions. However, there is now promise for directly targeting MYCN based on scientific and technological advances on all of these fronts. Here, we discuss prior challenges and the reasons for renewed optimism in directly targeting this "undruggable" transcription factor, which we hope will lead to improved outcomes for patients with pediatric cancer and create a framework for targeting driver oncoproteins regulating gene transcription.
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MESH Headings
- Age of Onset
- Antineoplastic Agents/history
- Antineoplastic Agents/isolation & purification
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- Child
- Drug Discovery/history
- Drug Discovery/methods
- Drug Discovery/trends
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor/history
- Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor/methods
- Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor/trends
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- History, 20th Century
- History, 21st Century
- Humans
- N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein/antagonists & inhibitors
- N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein/genetics
- N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein/physiology
- Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Neoplasms/epidemiology
- Neoplasms/genetics
- Therapies, Investigational/history
- Therapies, Investigational/methods
- Therapies, Investigational/trends
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Wolpaw
- Division of Oncology and Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Richard Bayliss
- Astbury Center for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriele Büchel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, University of Wuürzburg, Wuürzburg, Germany
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, University Hospital Wuürzburg, Wuürzburg, Germany
| | - Chi V Dang
- Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York
| | - Martin Eilers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, University of Wuürzburg, Wuürzburg, Germany
| | - W Clay Gustafson
- University of California San Francisco, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, San Francisco, California
| | | | - Natalia Jura
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Stefan Knapp
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie und Structural Genomics Consortium, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Mark A Lemmon
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology Institute, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - David Levens
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - John M Maris
- Division of Oncology and Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ronen Marmorstein
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Julie R Park
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine and Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington
| | - Linda Z Penn
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Rape
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California
| | - Martine F Roussel
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Kevan M Shokat
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | | | - Kliment A Verba
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Seychelle M Vos
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - William A Weiss
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Neurological Surgery and Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Elmar Wolf
- Cancer Systems Biology Group, Theodor Boveri Institute, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Yaël P Mossé
- Division of Oncology and Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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30
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What do Transcription Factors Interact With? J Mol Biol 2021; 433:166883. [PMID: 33621520 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.166883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Although we have made significant progress, we still possess a limited understanding of how genomic and epigenomic information directs gene expression programs through sequence-specific transcription factors (TFs). Extensive research has settled on three general classes of TF targets in metazoans: promoter accessibility via chromatin regulation (e.g., SAGA), assembly of the general transcription factors on promoter DNA (e.g., TFIID), and recruitment of RNA polymerase (Pol) II (e.g., Mediator) to establish a transcription pre-initiation complex (PIC). Here we discuss TFs and their targets. We also place this in the context of our current work with Saccharomyces (yeast), where we find that promoters typically lack an architecture that supports TF function. Moreover, yeast promoters that support TF binding also display interactions with cofactors like SAGA and Mediator, but not TFIID. It is unknown to what extent all genes in metazoans require TFs and their cofactors.
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31
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Cabarcas-Petroski S, Meneses PI, Schramm L. A meta-analysis of BRF2 as a prognostic biomarker in invasive breast carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:1093. [PMID: 33176745 PMCID: PMC7659115 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07569-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deregulation of the RNA polymerase III specific TFIIIB subunit BRF2 occurs in subtypes of human cancers. However, correlations between BRF2 alterations and clinical outcomes in breast cancer are limited. We conducted this review to analyze BRF2 alterations in genomic data sets housed in Oncomine and cBioPortal to identify potential correlations between BRF2 alterations and clinical outcomes. METHODS The authors queried both Oncomine and cBioPortal for alterations in BRF2 in human cancers and performed meta-analyses identifying significant correlations between BRF2 and clinical outcomes in invasive breast cancer (IBC). RESULTS A meta cancer outlier profile analysis (COPA) of 715 data sets (86,733 samples) in Oncomine identified BRF2 as overexpressed in 60% of breast cancer data sets. COPA scores in IBC data sets (3594 patients) are comparable for HER2 (24.211, median gene rank 60) and BRF2 (29.656, median gene rank 36.5). Overall survival in IBC patients with BRF2 alterations (21%) is significantly decreased (p = 9.332e-3). IBC patients with BRF2 alterations aged 46 to 50 have a significantly poor survival outcome (p = 7.093e-3). Strikingly, in metastatic breast cancer, BRF2 is altered in 33% of women aged 45-50. BRF2 deletions are predominant in this age group. CONCLUSION This study suggests BRF2 may be an prognostic biomarker in invasive breast carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laura Schramm
- Department of Biological Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY, USA.
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32
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Erijman A, Kozlowski L, Sohrabi-Jahromi S, Fishburn J, Warfield L, Schreiber J, Noble WS, Söding J, Hahn S. A High-Throughput Screen for Transcription Activation Domains Reveals Their Sequence Features and Permits Prediction by Deep Learning. Mol Cell 2020; 78:890-902.e6. [PMID: 32416068 PMCID: PMC7275923 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Acidic transcription activation domains (ADs) are encoded by a wide range of seemingly unrelated amino acid sequences, making it difficult to recognize features that promote their dynamic behavior, "fuzzy" interactions, and target specificity. We screened a large set of random 30-mer peptides for AD function in yeast and trained a deep neural network (ADpred) on the AD-positive and -negative sequences. ADpred identifies known acidic ADs within transcription factors and accurately predicts the consequences of mutations. Our work reveals that strong acidic ADs contain multiple clusters of hydrophobic residues near acidic side chains, explaining why ADs often have a biased amino acid composition. ADs likely use a binding mechanism similar to avidity where a minimum number of weak dynamic interactions are required between activator and target to generate biologically relevant affinity and in vivo function. This mechanism explains the basis for fuzzy binding observed between acidic ADs and targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Erijman
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lukasz Kozlowski
- Quantitative and Computational Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Salma Sohrabi-Jahromi
- Quantitative and Computational Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - James Fishburn
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Linda Warfield
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jacob Schreiber
- Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - William S Noble
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Johannes Söding
- Quantitative and Computational Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Steven Hahn
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
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33
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Beaulieu ME, Castillo F, Soucek L. Structural and Biophysical Insights into the Function of the Intrinsically Disordered Myc Oncoprotein. Cells 2020; 9:E1038. [PMID: 32331235 PMCID: PMC7226237 DOI: 10.3390/cells9041038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Myc is a transcription factor driving growth and proliferation of cells and involved in the majority of human tumors. Despite a huge body of literature on this critical oncogene, our understanding of the exact molecular determinants and mechanisms that underlie its function is still surprisingly limited. Indubitably though, its crucial and non-redundant role in cancer biology makes it an attractive target. However, achieving successful clinical Myc inhibition has proven challenging so far, as this nuclear protein is an intrinsically disordered polypeptide devoid of any classical ligand binding pockets. Indeed, Myc only adopts a (partially) folded structure in some contexts and upon interacting with some protein partners, for instance when dimerizing with MAX to bind DNA. Here, we review the cumulative knowledge on Myc structure and biophysics and discuss the implications for its biological function and the development of improved Myc inhibitors. We focus this biophysical walkthrough mainly on the basic region helix-loop-helix leucine zipper motif (bHLHLZ), as it has been the principal target for inhibitory approaches so far.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laura Soucek
- Peptomyc S.L., Edifici Cellex, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (F.C.); (L.S.)
- Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Edifici Cellex, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Bellaterra, Spain
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34
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Abstract
RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcribes all protein-coding genes and many noncoding RNAs in eukaryotic genomes. Although Pol II is a complex, 12-subunit enzyme, it lacks the ability to initiate transcription and cannot consistently transcribe through long DNA sequences. To execute these essential functions, an array of proteins and protein complexes interact with Pol II to regulate its activity. In this review, we detail the structure and mechanism of over a dozen factors that govern Pol II initiation (e.g., TFIID, TFIIH, and Mediator), pausing, and elongation (e.g., DSIF, NELF, PAF, and P-TEFb). The structural basis for Pol II transcription regulation has advanced rapidly in the past decade, largely due to technological innovations in cryoelectron microscopy. Here, we summarize a wealth of structural and functional data that have enabled a deeper understanding of Pol II transcription mechanisms; we also highlight mechanistic questions that remain unanswered or controversial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison C Schier
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
| | - Dylan J Taatjes
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA
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35
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Fant CB, Levandowski CB, Gupta K, Maas ZL, Moir J, Rubin JD, Sawyer A, Esbin MN, Rimel JK, Luyties O, Marr MT, Berger I, Dowell RD, Taatjes DJ. TFIID Enables RNA Polymerase II Promoter-Proximal Pausing. Mol Cell 2020; 78:785-793.e8. [PMID: 32229306 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription is governed by the pre-initiation complex (PIC), which contains TFIIA, TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH, RNAPII, and Mediator. After initiation, RNAPII enzymes pause after transcribing less than 100 bases; precisely how RNAPII pausing is enforced and regulated remains unclear. To address specific mechanistic questions, we reconstituted human RNAPII promoter-proximal pausing in vitro, entirely with purified factors (no extracts). As expected, NELF and DSIF increased pausing, and P-TEFb promoted pause release. Unexpectedly, the PIC alone was sufficient to reconstitute pausing, suggesting RNAPII pausing is an inherent PIC function. In agreement, pausing was lost upon replacement of the TFIID complex with TATA-binding protein (TBP), and PRO-seq experiments revealed widespread disruption of RNAPII pausing upon acute depletion (t = 60 min) of TFIID subunits in human or Drosophila cells. These results establish a TFIID requirement for RNAPII pausing and suggest pause regulatory factors may function directly or indirectly through TFIID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charli B Fant
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | - Kapil Gupta
- School of Biochemistry, Bristol Research Centre for Synthetic Biology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Zachary L Maas
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - John Moir
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Jonathan D Rubin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Andrew Sawyer
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Meagan N Esbin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Jenna K Rimel
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Olivia Luyties
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Michael T Marr
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Imre Berger
- School of Biochemistry, Bristol Research Centre for Synthetic Biology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Robin D Dowell
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA; BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Dylan J Taatjes
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
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36
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Baluapuri A, Wolf E, Eilers M. Target gene-independent functions of MYC oncoproteins. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2020; 21:255-267. [PMID: 32071436 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-020-0215-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Oncoproteins of the MYC family are major drivers of human tumorigenesis. Since a large body of evidence indicates that MYC proteins are transcription factors, studying their function has focused on the biology of their target genes. Detailed studies of MYC-dependent changes in RNA levels have provided contrasting models of the oncogenic activity of MYC proteins through either enhancing or repressing the expression of specific target genes, or as global amplifiers of transcription. In this Review, we first summarize the biochemistry of MYC proteins and what is known (or is unclear) about the MYC target genes. We then discuss recent progress in defining the interactomes of MYC and MYCN and how this information affects central concepts of MYC biology, focusing on mechanisms by which MYC proteins modulate transcription. MYC proteins promote transcription termination upon stalling of RNA polymerase II, and we propose that this mechanism enhances the stress resilience of basal transcription. Furthermore, MYC proteins coordinate transcription elongation with DNA replication and cell cycle progression. Finally, we argue that the mechanism by which MYC proteins regulate the transcription machinery is likely to promote tumorigenesis independently of global or relative changes in the expression of their target genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apoorva Baluapuri
- Theodor Boveri Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Elmar Wolf
- Theodor Boveri Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Eilers
- Theodor Boveri Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany.
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