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de la Peña Avalos B, Tropée R, Duijf PHG, Dray E. EYA4 promotes breast cancer progression and metastasis through its role in replication stress avoidance. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:158. [PMID: 37777742 PMCID: PMC10543271 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01861-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The Eyes Absent (EYA) family of proteins is an atypical group of four dual-functioning protein phosphatases (PP), which have been linked to many vital cellular processes and organogenesis pathways. The four family members of this PP family possess transcriptional activation and phosphatase functions, with serine/threonine and tyrosine phosphatase domains. EYA4 has been associated with several human cancers, with tumor-suppressing and tumor-promoting roles. However, EYA4 is the least well-characterized member of this unique family of PP, with its biological functions and molecular mechanisms in cancer progression, particularly in breast cancer, still largely unknown. In the present study, we found that the over-expression of EYA4 in breast tissue leads to an aggressive and invasive breast cancer phenotype, while the inhibition of EYA4 reduced tumorigenic properties of breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Cellular changes downstream of EYA4, including cell proliferation and migration, may explain the increased metastatic power of breast cancer cells over-expressing EYA4. Mechanistically, EYA4 prevents genome instability by inhibiting the accumulation of replication-associated DNA damage. Its depletion results in polyploidy as a consequence of endoreplication, a phenomenon that can occur in response to stress. The absence of EYA4 leads to spontaneous replication stress characterized by the activation of the ATR pathway, sensitivity to hydroxyurea, and accumulation of endogenous DNA damage as indicated by increased γH2AX levels. In addition, we show that EYA4, specifically its serine/threonine phosphatase domain, plays an important and so far, unexpected role in replication fork progression. This phosphatase activity is essential for breast cancer progression and metastasis. Taken together, our data indicate that EYA4 is a novel potential breast cancer oncogene that supports primary tumor growth and metastasis. Developing therapeutics aimed at the serine/threonine phosphatase activity of EYA4 represents a robust strategy for killing breast cancer cells, to limit metastasis and overcome chemotherapy resistance caused by endoreplication and genomic rearrangements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara de la Peña Avalos
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Romain Tropée
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Present Address: Southern RNA, Springfield Central, QLD, 4300, Australia
| | - Pascal H G Duijf
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Cancer Biology, Clinical and Health Sciences, & SA Pathology, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eloïse Dray
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
- Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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de la Peña Avalos B, Tropée R, Duijf PHG, Dray E. EYA4 drives breast cancer progression and metastasis through its novel role in replication stress avoidance. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2917471. [PMID: 37292941 PMCID: PMC10246277 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2917471/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The Eyes Absent (EYA) family of proteins is an atypical group of four dual-functioning protein phosphatases, which have been linked to many vital cellular processes and organogenesis pathways. Like the other isoforms, EYA4 possesses transcriptional activation and phosphatase functions, with serine/threonine and tyrosine phosphatase domains. EYA4 has been associated with several human cancers, with tumor-suppressing and tumor-promoting roles. However, EYA4 is the least well-characterized member of this unique family of phosphatases, with its biological functions and molecular mechanisms in cancer progression, particularly in breast cancer, still largely unknown. In the present study, we found that the over-expression of EYA4 in breast tissue leads to an aggressive and invasive breast cancer phenotype, while the inhibition of EYA4 reduced tumorigenic properties of breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo . Cellular changes downstream of EYA4, including cell proliferation and migration, may explain the increased metastatic power of breast cancer cells over-expressing EYA4. Mechanistically, EYA4 prevents genome instability by inhibiting the accumulation of replication-associated DNA damage. Its depletion results in polyploidy as a consequence of endoreplication, a phenomenon that can occur in response to stress. The absence of EYA4 leads to spontaneous replication stress characterized by the activation of the ATR pathway, sensitivity to hydroxyurea, and accumulation of endogenous DNA damage as indicated by increased γH2AX levels. In addition, we show that EYA4, specifically its serine/threonine phosphatase domain, plays an important and so far, unexpected role in replication fork progression. This phosphatase activity is essential for breast cancer progression and metastasis. Taken together, our data indicate that EYA4 is a novel breast cancer oncogene that supports primary tumor growth and metastasis. Developing therapeutics aimed at the serine/threonine phosphatase activity of EYA4 represents a robust strategy for killing breast cancer cells, to limit metastasis and overcome chemotherapy resistance caused by endoreplication and genomic rearrangements.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Eloïse Dray
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
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Song HY, Shen R, Mahasin H, Guo YN, Wang DG. DNA replication: Mechanisms and therapeutic interventions for diseases. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e210. [PMID: 36776764 PMCID: PMC9899494 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Accurate and integral cellular DNA replication is modulated by multiple replication-associated proteins, which is fundamental to preserve genome stability. Furthermore, replication proteins cooperate with multiple DNA damage factors to deal with replication stress through mechanisms beyond their role in replication. Cancer cells with chronic replication stress exhibit aberrant DNA replication and DNA damage response, providing an exploitable therapeutic target in tumors. Numerous evidence has indicated that posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of replication proteins present distinct functions in DNA replication and respond to replication stress. In addition, abundant replication proteins are involved in tumorigenesis and development, which act as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in some tumors, implying these proteins act as therapeutic targets in clinical. Replication-target cancer therapy emerges as the times require. In this context, we outline the current investigation of the DNA replication mechanism, and simultaneously enumerate the aberrant expression of replication proteins as hallmark for various diseases, revealing their therapeutic potential for target therapy. Meanwhile, we also discuss current observations that the novel PTM of replication proteins in response to replication stress, which seems to be a promising strategy to eliminate diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Yun Song
- School of Basic Medical Sciences Lanzhou University Lanzhou Gansu China
| | - Rong Shen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences Lanzhou University Lanzhou Gansu China
| | - Hamid Mahasin
- School of Basic Medical Sciences Lanzhou University Lanzhou Gansu China
| | - Ya-Nan Guo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences Lanzhou University Lanzhou Gansu China
| | - De-Gui Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences Lanzhou University Lanzhou Gansu China
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Martín-Rufo R, de la Vega-Barranco G, Lecona E. Ubiquitin and SUMO as timers during DNA replication. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 132:62-73. [PMID: 35210137 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Every time a cell copies its DNA the genetic material is exposed to the acquisition of mutations and genomic alterations that corrupt the information passed on to daughter cells. A tight temporal regulation of DNA replication is necessary to ensure the full copy of the DNA while preventing the appearance of genomic instability. Protein modification by ubiquitin and SUMO constitutes a very complex and versatile system that allows the coordinated control of protein stability, activity and interactome. In chromatin, their action is complemented by the AAA+ ATPase VCP/p97 that recognizes and removes ubiquitylated and SUMOylated factors from specific cellular compartments. The concerted action of the ubiquitin/SUMO system and VCP/p97 determines every step of DNA replication enforcing the ordered activation/inactivation, loading/unloading and stabilization/destabilization of replication factors. Here we analyze the mechanisms used by ubiquitin/SUMO and VCP/p97 to establish molecular timers throughout DNA replication and their relevance in maintaining genome stability. We propose that these PTMs are the main molecular watch of DNA replication from origin recognition to replisome disassembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Martín-Rufo
- Chromatin, Cancer and the Ubiquitin System lab, Centre for Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa (CBMSO, CSIC-UAM), Department of Genome Dynamics and Function, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Guillermo de la Vega-Barranco
- Chromatin, Cancer and the Ubiquitin System lab, Centre for Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa (CBMSO, CSIC-UAM), Department of Genome Dynamics and Function, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Emilio Lecona
- Chromatin, Cancer and the Ubiquitin System lab, Centre for Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa (CBMSO, CSIC-UAM), Department of Genome Dynamics and Function, Madrid 28049, Spain.
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Discovery of a Novel Bloom's Syndrome Protein (BLM) Inhibitor Suppressing Growth and Metastasis of Prostate Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314798. [PMID: 36499126 PMCID: PMC9736344 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common cancer and a major cause of cancer-related death worldwide in men, necessitating novel targets for cancer therapy. High expression of Bloom's syndrome protein (BLM) helicase is associated with the occurrence and development of PCa. Therefore, the identification and development of new BLM inhibitors may be a new direction for the treatment of PCa. Here, we identified a novel inhibitor by molecular docking and put it to systematic evaluation via various experiments, AO/854, which acted as a competitive inhibitor that blocked the BLM-DNA interaction. Cellular evaluation indicated that AO/854-suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in PC3 cells by enhancing DNA damage, phosphorylating Chk1/Chk2, and altering the p53 signaling pathway. Collectively, the study highlights the potential of BLM as a therapeutic target in PCa and reveals a distinct mechanism by which AO/854 competitively inhibits the function of BLM.
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de Renty C, Pond KW, Yagle MK, Ellis NA. BLM Sumoylation Is Required for Replication Stability and Normal Fork Velocity During DNA Replication. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:875102. [PMID: 35847987 PMCID: PMC9284272 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.875102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BLM is sumoylated in response to replication stress. We have studied the role of BLM sumoylation in physiologically normal and replication-stressed conditions by expressing in BLM-deficient cells a BLM with SUMO acceptor-site mutations, which we refer to as SUMO-mutant BLM cells. SUMO-mutant BLM cells exhibited multiple defects in both stressed and unstressed DNA replication conditions, including, in hydroxyurea-treated cells, reduced fork restart and increased fork collapse and, in untreated cells, slower fork velocity and increased fork instability as assayed by track-length asymmetry. We further showed by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching that SUMO-mutant BLM protein was less dynamic than normal BLM and comprised a higher immobile fraction at collapsed replication forks. BLM sumoylation has previously been linked to the recruitment of RAD51 to stressed forks in hydroxyurea-treated cells. An important unresolved question is whether the failure to efficiently recruit RAD51 is the explanation for replication stress in untreated SUMO-mutant BLM cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christelle de Renty
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Kelvin W Pond
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Mary K Yagle
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Nathan A Ellis
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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