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Molnar C, Heinen JP, Reina J, Llamazares S, Palumbo E, Pollarolo G, Gonzalez C. TrxT and dhd are dispensable for Drosophila brain development but essential for l(3)mbt brain tumour growth. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:2842-2860. [PMID: 38750349 PMCID: PMC11239866 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00154-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Expression of the Drosophila cancer-germline (CG), X-linked, head-to-head gene pair TrxT and dhd is normally germline-specific but becomes upregulated in brain tumours caused by mutation in l(3)mbt. Here, we show that TrxT and dhd play a major synergistic role in the emergence of l(3)mbt tumour-linked transcriptomic signatures and tumour development, which is remarkable, taking into account that these two genes are never expressed together under normal conditions. We also show that TrxT, but not dhd, is crucial for the growth of l(3)mbt allografts, hence suggesting that the initial stages of tumour development and long-term tumour growth may depend on different molecular pathways. In humans, head-to-head inverted gene pairs are abundant among CG genes that map to the X chromosome. Our results identify a first example of an X-linked, head-to-head CG gene pair in Drosophila, underpinning the potential of such CG genes, dispensable for normal development and homoeostasis of somatic tissue, as targets to curtail malignant growth with minimal impact on overall health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Molnar
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Carrer Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jan Peter Heinen
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Carrer Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose Reina
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Carrer Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salud Llamazares
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Carrer Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emilio Palumbo
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Giulia Pollarolo
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Carrer Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- ISGlobal, Carrer del Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cayetano Gonzalez
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Carrer Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
- Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Pg Lluis Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain.
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2
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Ectopic expression of meiotic cohesin generates chromosome instability in cancer cell line. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2204071119. [PMID: 36179046 PMCID: PMC9549395 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2204071119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This work originated from mining of cancer genome data and proceeded to analyze the effects of ectopic expression of meiotic cohesins in mitotic cells in culture. In the process, apart from conclusively answering the question on mechanisms for RAD21L toxicity and its underrepresentation in tumor transcriptomes, we found an association of meiotic cohesin binding with BORIS/CTCFL sites in the normal testis. We also elucidated the patterns and outcomes of meiotic cohesin binding to chromosomes in model cell lines. Furthermore, we uncovered that RAD21L-based meiotic cohesin possesses a self-contained chromosome restructuring activity able to trigger sustainable but imperfect mitotic arrest leading to chromosomal instability. The discovered epigenomic and genetic mechanisms can be relevant to chromosome instability in cancer. Many tumors express meiotic genes that could potentially drive somatic chromosome instability. While germline cohesin subunits SMC1B, STAG3, and REC8 are widely expressed in many cancers, messenger RNA and protein for RAD21L subunit are expressed at very low levels. To elucidate the potential of meiotic cohesins to contribute to genome instability, their expression was investigated in human cell lines, predominately in DLD-1. While the induction of the REC8 complex resulted in a mild mitotic phenotype, the expression of the RAD21L complex produced an arrested but viable cell pool, thus providing a source of DNA damage, mitotic chromosome missegregation, sporadic polyteny, and altered gene expression. We also found that genomic binding profiles of ectopically expressed meiotic cohesin complexes were reminiscent of their corresponding specific binding patterns in testis. Furthermore, meiotic cohesins were found to localize to the same sites as BORIS/CTCFL, rather than CTCF sites normally associated with the somatic cohesin complex. These findings highlight the existence of a germline epigenomic memory that is conserved in cells that normally do not express meiotic genes. Our results reveal a mechanism of action by unduly expressed meiotic cohesins that potentially links them to aneuploidy and chromosomal mutations in affected cells.
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Oxidative Stress Is Associated with Overgrowth in Drosophila l(3)mbt Mutant Imaginal Discs. Cells 2022; 11:cells11162542. [PMID: 36010619 PMCID: PMC9406541 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162542] [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: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The loss-of-function conditions for an l(3)malignant brain tumour (l(3)mbt) in larvae reared at 29 °C results in malignant brain tumours and hyperplastic imaginal discs. Unlike the former that have been extensively characterised, little is known about the latter. Here we report the results of a study of the hyperplastic l(3)mbt mutant wing imaginal discs. We identify the l(3)mbt wing disc tumour transcriptome and find it to include genes involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism. Furthermore, we show the presence of oxidative stress in l(3)mbt hyperplastic discs, even in apoptosis-blocked conditions, but not in l(3)mbt brain tumours. We also find that chemically blocking oxidative stress in l(3)mbt wing discs reduces the incidence of wing disc overgrowths. Our results reveal the involvement of oxidative stress in l(3)mbt wing discs hyperplastic growth.
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Jay A, Reitz D, Namekawa SH, Heyer WD. Cancer testis antigens and genomic instability: More than immunology. DNA Repair (Amst) 2021; 108:103214. [PMID: 34481156 PMCID: PMC9196322 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2021.103214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cancer testis antigens or genes (CTA, CTG) are predominantly expressed in adult testes while silenced in most or all somatic tissues with sporadic expression in many human cancers. Concerted misexpression of numerous CTA/CTGs is rarely observed. This finding argues against the germ cell theory of cancer. A surprising number of CTA/CTGs are involved in meiotic chromosome metabolism and specifically in meiotic recombination. Recent discoveries with a group of CTGs established that their misexpression in somatic cells results in genomic instability by interfering with homologous recombination (HR), a DNA repair pathway for complex DNA damage such as DNA double-stranded breaks, interstrand crosslinks, and single-stranded DNA gaps. HR-deficient tumors have specific vulnerabilities and show synthetic lethality with inhibition of polyADP-ribose polymerase, opening the possibility that expression of CTA/CTGs that result in an HR-defect could be used as an additional biomarker for HR status. Here, we review the repertoire of CTA/CTGs focusing on a cohort that functions in meiotic chromosome metabolism by interrogating relevant cancer databases and discussing recent discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ash Jay
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616-8665, USA
| | - Diedre Reitz
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616-8665, USA
| | - Satoshi H Namekawa
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616-8665, USA
| | - Wolf-Dietrich Heyer
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616-8665, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616-8665, USA.
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Wang XF, Yang SA, Gong S, Chang CH, Portilla JM, Chatterjee D, Irianto J, Bao H, Huang YC, Deng WM. Polyploid mitosis and depolyploidization promote chromosomal instability and tumor progression in a Notch-induced tumor model. Dev Cell 2021; 56:1976-1988.e4. [PMID: 34146466 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Ploidy variation is a cancer hallmark and is frequently associated with poor prognosis in high-grade cancers. Using a Drosophila solid-tumor model where oncogenic Notch drives tumorigenesis in a transition-zone microenvironment in the salivary gland imaginal ring, we find that the tumor-initiating cells normally undergo endoreplication to become polyploid. Upregulation of Notch signaling, however, induces these polyploid transition-zone cells to re-enter mitosis and undergo tumorigenesis. Growth and progression of the transition-zone tumor are fueled by a combination of polyploid mitosis, endoreplication, and depolyploidization. Both polyploid mitosis and depolyploidization are error prone, resulting in chromosomal copy-number variation and polyaneuploidy. Comparative RNA-seq and epistasis analysis reveal that the DNA-damage response genes, also active during meiosis, are upregulated in these tumors and are required for the ploidy-reduction division. Together, these findings suggest that polyploidy and associated cell-cycle variants are critical for increased tumor-cell heterogeneity and genome instability during cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-Feng Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University Louisiana Center Research Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Sheng-An Yang
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Shangyu Gong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University Louisiana Center Research Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Chih-Hsuan Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University Louisiana Center Research Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Juan Martin Portilla
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Deeptiman Chatterjee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University Louisiana Center Research Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Jerome Irianto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Hongcun Bao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University Louisiana Center Research Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Yi-Chun Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University Louisiana Center Research Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Wu-Min Deng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University Louisiana Center Research Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
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Freier R, Aragón E, Bagiński B, Pluta R, Martin-Malpartida P, Ruiz L, Condeminas M, Gonzalez C, Macias MJ. Structures of the germline-specific Deadhead and thioredoxin T proteins from Drosophila melanogaster reveal unique features among thioredoxins. IUCRJ 2021; 8:281-294. [PMID: 33708404 PMCID: PMC7924233 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252521000221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Thioredoxins (Trxs) are ubiquitous enzymes that regulate the redox state in cells. In Drosophila, there are two germline-specific Trxs, Deadhead (Dhd) and thioredoxin T (TrxT), that belong to the lethal(3)malignant brain tumor signature genes and to the 'survival network' of genes that mediate the cellular response to DNA damage. Dhd is a maternal protein required for early embryogenesis that promotes protamine-histone exchange in fertilized eggs and midblastula transition. TrxT is testis-specific and associates with the lampbrush loops of the Y chromosome. Here, the first structures of Dhd and TrxT are presented, unveiling new features of these two thioredoxins. Dhd has positively charged patches on its surface, in contrast to the negatively charged surfaces commonly found in most Trxs. This distinctive charge distribution helps to define initial encounter complexes with DNA/RNA that will lead to final specific interactions with cofactors to promote chromatin remodeling. TrxT contains a C-terminal extension, which is mostly unstructured and highly flexible, that wraps the conserved core through a closed conformation. It is believed that these new structures can guide future work aimed at understanding embryo development and redox homeostasis in Drosophila. Moreover, due to their restricted presence in Schizophora (a section of the true flies), these structures can help in the design of small-molecular binders to modulate native redox homeostasis, thereby providing new applications for the control of plagues that cause human diseases and/or bring about economic losses by damaging crop production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina Freier
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eric Aragón
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Błażej Bagiński
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Radoslaw Pluta
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pau Martin-Malpartida
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lidia Ruiz
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miriam Condeminas
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cayetano Gonzalez
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria J. Macias
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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Inhibition of kinase IKKβ suppresses cellular abnormalities induced by the human papillomavirus oncoprotein HPV 18E6. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1111. [PMID: 33441820 PMCID: PMC7807017 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80193-5] [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: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer and has been implicated in several other cancer types including vaginal, vulvar, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. Despite the recent availability of a vaccine, there are still over 310,000 deaths each year worldwide. Current treatments for HPV-mediated cancers show limited efficacy, and would benefit from improved understanding of disease mechanisms. Recently, we developed a Drosophila ‘HPV 18 E6’ model that displayed loss of cellular morphology and polarity, junctional disorganization, and degradation of the major E6 target Magi; we further provided evidence that mechanisms underlying HPV E6-induced cellular abnormalities are conserved between humans and flies. Here, we report a functional genetic screen of the Drosophila kinome that identified IKK\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\beta$$\end{document}β—a regulator of NF-κB—as an enhancer of E6-induced cellular defects. We demonstrate that inhibition of IKK\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\beta$$\end{document}β reduces Magi degradation and that this effect correlates with hyperphosphorylation of E6. Further, the reduction in IKK\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\beta$$\end{document}β suppressed the cellular transformation caused by the cooperative action of HPVE6 and the oncogenic Ras. Finally, we demonstrate that the interaction between IKK\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\beta$$\end{document}β and E6 is conserved in human cells: inhibition of IKK\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\beta$$\end{document}β blocked the growth of cervical cancer cells, suggesting that IKK\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\beta$$\end{document}β may serve as a novel therapeutic target for HPV-mediated cancers.
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Molnar C, Heinen JP, Reina J, Llamazares S, Palumbo E, Breschi A, Gay M, Villarreal L, Vilaseca M, Pollarolo G, Gonzalez C. The histone code reader PHD finger protein 7 controls sex-linked disparities in gene expression and malignancy in Drosophila. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaaw7965. [PMID: 31453329 PMCID: PMC6693905 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw7965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The notable male predominance across many human cancer types remains unexplained. Here, we show that Drosophila l(3)mbt brain tumors are more invasive and develop as malignant neoplasms more often in males than in females. By quantitative proteomics, we have identified a signature of proteins that are differentially expressed between male and female tumor samples. Prominent among them is the conserved chromatin reader PHD finger protein 7 (Phf7). We show that Phf7 depletion reduces sex-dependent differences in gene expression and suppresses the enhanced malignant traits of male tumors. Our results identify potential regulators of sex-linked tumor dimorphism and show that these genes may serve as targets to suppress sex-linked malignant traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Molnar
- IRB Barcelona, BIST, Carrer de Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jan Peter Heinen
- IRB Barcelona, BIST, Carrer de Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose Reina
- IRB Barcelona, BIST, Carrer de Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salud Llamazares
- IRB Barcelona, BIST, Carrer de Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emilio Palumbo
- CRG, BIST, Carrer del Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- UPF, Plaça de la Mercè, 10, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
- IMIM, Carrer del Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Marina Gay
- IRB Barcelona, BIST, Carrer de Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Villarreal
- IRB Barcelona, BIST, Carrer de Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Vilaseca
- IRB Barcelona, BIST, Carrer de Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Giulia Pollarolo
- IRB Barcelona, BIST, Carrer de Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cayetano Gonzalez
- IRB Barcelona, BIST, Carrer de Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
- Corresponding author.
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Feichtinger J, McFarlane RJ. Meiotic gene activation in somatic and germ cell tumours. Andrology 2019; 7:415-427. [PMID: 31102330 PMCID: PMC6766858 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Background Germ cell tumours are uniquely associated with the gametogenic tissues of males and females. A feature of these cancers is that they can express genes that are normally tightly restricted to meiotic cells. This aberrant gene expression has been used as an indicator that these cancer cells are attempting a programmed germ line event, meiotic entry. However, work in non‐germ cell cancers has also indicated that meiotic genes can become aberrantly activated in a wide range of cancer types and indeed provide functions that serve as oncogenic drivers. Here, we review the activation of meiotic factors in cancers and explore commonalities between meiotic gene activation in germ cell and non‐germ cell cancers. Objectives The objectives of this review are to highlight key questions relating to meiotic gene activation in germ cell tumours and to offer possible interpretations as to the biological relevance in this unique cancer type. Materials and Methods PubMed and the GEPIA database were searched for papers in English and for cancer gene expression data, respectively. Results We provide a brief overview of meiotic progression, with a focus on the unique mechanisms of reductional chromosome segregation in meiosis I. We then offer detailed insight into the role of meiotic chromosome regulators in non‐germ cell cancers and extend this to provide an overview of how this might relate to germ cell tumours. Conclusions We propose that meiotic gene activation in germ cell tumours might not indicate an unscheduled attempt to enter a full meiotic programme. Rather, it might simply reflect either aberrant activation of a subset of meiotic genes, with little or no biological relevance, or aberrant activation of a subset of meiotic genes as positive tumour evolutionary/oncogenic drivers. These postulates provide the provocation for further studies in this emerging field.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Feichtinger
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,OMICS Center Graz, BioTechMed Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - R J McFarlane
- North West Cancer Research Institute, School of Medical Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK
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Gibbs ZA, Whitehurst AW. Emerging Contributions of Cancer/Testis Antigens to Neoplastic Behaviors. Trends Cancer 2018; 4:701-712. [PMID: 30292353 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2018.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tumors of nearly every origin activate the expression of genes normally restricted to gametogenic cells. These genes encode proteins termed cancer/testis (CT) antigens, since expression outside of their naturally immune-privileged site can evoke an immune response. Despite extensive efforts to exploit CT antigens as immunotherapeutic targets, investigation of whether these proteins participate in tumorigenic processes has lagged. Here, we discuss emerging evidence that demonstrates that CT antigens can confer a selective advantage to tumor cells by promoting oncogenic processes or permitting evasion of tumor-suppressive mechanisms. These advances indicate the inherent flexibility of tumor cell regulatory networks to engage aberrantly expressed proteins to promote neoplastic behaviors, which could ultimately present novel therapeutic entry points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zane A Gibbs
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Angelique W Whitehurst
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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11
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Coux RX, Teixeira FK, Lehmann R. L(3)mbt and the LINT complex safeguard cellular identity in the Drosophila ovary. Development 2018; 145:dev.160721. [PMID: 29511022 PMCID: PMC5963868 DOI: 10.1242/dev.160721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Maintenance of cellular identity is essential for tissue development and homeostasis. At the molecular level, cell identity is determined by the coordinated activation and repression of defined sets of genes. The tumor suppressor L(3)mbt has been shown to secure cellular identity in Drosophila larval brains by repressing germline-specific genes. Here, we interrogate the temporal and spatial requirements for L(3)mbt in the Drosophila ovary, and show that it safeguards the integrity of both somatic and germline tissues. l(3)mbt mutant ovaries exhibit multiple developmental defects, which we find to be largely caused by the inappropriate expression of a single gene, nanos, a key regulator of germline fate, in the somatic ovarian cells. In the female germline, we find that L(3)mbt represses testis-specific and neuronal genes. At the molecular level, we show that L(3)mbt function in the ovary is mediated through its co-factor Lint-1 but independently of the dREAM complex. Together, our work uncovers a more complex role for L(3)mbt than previously understood and demonstrates that L(3)mbt secures tissue identity by preventing the simultaneous expression of original identity markers and tissue-specific misexpression signatures. Highlighted Article: Characterization of the developmental defects of l(3)mbt mutant ovaries shows that L(3)mbt regulates tissue-specific gene signatures to secure the identity of somatic ovarian and germline tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rémi-Xavier Coux
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine of the Skirball Institute, Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Felipe Karam Teixeira
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine of the Skirball Institute, Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.,Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Ruth Lehmann
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine of the Skirball Institute, Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
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