1
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Carvajal-Maldonado D, Li Y, Returan M, Averill AM, Doublié S, Wood RD. Dynamic stem loop extension by Pol θ and templated insertion during DNA repair. J Biol Chem 2024:107461. [PMID: 38876299 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Theta-mediated end-joining (TMEJ) is critical for survival of cancer cells when other DNA double-stranded break repair pathways are impaired. Human DNA polymerase theta (Pol θ) can extend single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides, but little is known about preferred substrates and mechanism. We show that Pol θ can extend both single-stranded DNA and RNA substrates by unimolecular stem loop synthesis initiated by only two 3' terminal base-pairs. Given sufficient time, Pol θ uses alternative pairing configurations that greatly expand the repertoire of sequence outcomes. Further primer-template adjustments yield low-fidelity outcomes when the nucleotide pool is imbalanced. Unimolecular stem loop synthesis competes with bimolecular end-joining, even when a longer terminal microhomology for end-joining is available. Both reactions are partially suppressed by the ssDNA binding protein RPA. Protein-primer grasp residues that are specific to Pol θ are needed for rapid stem-loop synthesis. The ability to perform stem-loop synthesis from a minimally paired primer is rare amongst human DNA polymerases but we show that human DNA polymerases Pol η and Pol λ can catalyze related reactions. Using purified human Pol θ, we reconstituted in vitro TMEJ incorporating an insertion arising from a stem loop extension. These activities may help explain TMEJ repair events that include inverted repeat sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denisse Carvajal-Maldonado
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yuzhen Li
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Mark Returan
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - April M Averill
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Sylvie Doublié
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA.
| | - Richard D Wood
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
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2
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Chen Y, Feng X, Wu Z, Yang Y, Rao X, Meng R, Zhang S, Dong X, Xu S, Wu G, Jie X. USP9X-mediated REV1 deubiquitination promotes lung cancer radioresistance via the action of REV1 as a Rad18 molecular scaffold for cystathionine γ-lyase. J Biomed Sci 2024; 31:55. [PMID: 38802791 PMCID: PMC11131313 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-024-01044-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Radioresistance is a key clinical constraint on the efficacy of radiotherapy in lung cancer patients. REV1 DNA directed polymerase (REV1) plays an important role in repairing DNA damage and maintaining genomic stability. However, its role in the resistance to radiotherapy in lung cancer is not clear. This study aims to clarify the role of REV1 in lung cancer radioresistance, identify the intrinsic mechanisms involved, and provide a theoretical basis for the clinical translation of this new target for lung cancer treatment. METHODS The effect of targeting REV1 on the radiosensitivity was verified by in vivo and in vitro experiments. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) combined with nontargeted metabolomics analysis was used to explore the downstream targets of REV1. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to quantify the content of specific amino acids. The coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP) and GST pull-down assays were used to validate the interaction between proteins. A ubiquitination library screening system was constructed to investigate the regulatory proteins upstream of REV1. RESULTS Targeting REV1 could enhance the radiosensitivity in vivo, while this effect was not obvious in vitro. RNA sequencing combined with nontargeted metabolomics revealed that the difference result was related to metabolism, and that the expression of glycine, serine, and threonine (Gly/Ser/Thr) metabolism signaling pathways was downregulated following REV1 knockdown. LC-MS/MS demonstrated that REV1 knockdown results in reduced levels of these three amino acids and that cystathionine γ-lyase (CTH) was the key to its function. REV1 enhances the interaction of CTH with the E3 ubiquitin ligase Rad18 and promotes ubiquitination degradation of CTH by Rad18. Screening of the ubiquitination compound library revealed that the ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9 X-linked (USP9X) is the upstream regulatory protein of REV1 by the ubiquitin-proteasome system, which remodels the intracellular Gly/Ser/Thr metabolism. CONCLUSION USP9X mediates the deubiquitination of REV1, and aberrantly expressed REV1 acts as a scaffolding protein to assist Rad18 in interacting with CTH, promoting the ubiquitination and degradation of CTH and inducing remodeling of the Gly/Ser/Thr metabolism, which leads to radioresistance. A novel inhibitor of REV1, JH-RE-06, was shown to enhance lung cancer cell radiosensitivity, with good prospects for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunshang Chen
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Xue Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Zilong Wu
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yongqiang Yang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Xinrui Rao
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Rui Meng
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Xiaorong Dong
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Shuangbing Xu
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Gang Wu
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| | - Xiaohua Jie
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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3
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Clark-Hachtel CM, Hibshman JD, De Buysscher T, Stair ER, Hicks LM, Goldstein B. The tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris dramatically upregulates DNA repair pathway genes in response to ionizing radiation. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1819-1830.e6. [PMID: 38614079 PMCID: PMC11078613 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Tardigrades can survive remarkable doses of ionizing radiation, up to about 1,000 times the lethal dose for humans. How they do so is incompletely understood. We found that the tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris suffers DNA damage upon gamma irradiation, but the damage is repaired. We show that this species has a specific and robust response to ionizing radiation: irradiation induces a rapid upregulation of many DNA repair genes. This upregulation is unexpectedly extreme-making some DNA repair transcripts among the most abundant transcripts in the animal. By expressing tardigrade genes in bacteria, we validate that increased expression of some repair genes can suffice to increase radiation tolerance. We show that at least one such gene is important in vivo for tardigrade radiation tolerance. We hypothesize that the tardigrades' ability to sense ionizing radiation and massively upregulate specific DNA repair pathway genes may represent an evolved solution for maintaining DNA integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney M Clark-Hachtel
- Biology Department, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Biology Department, The University of North Carolina at Asheville, Asheville, NC 28804, USA.
| | - Jonathan D Hibshman
- Biology Department, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Tristan De Buysscher
- Biology Department, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Bioinformatics & Analytics Research Collaborative, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Evan R Stair
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Leslie M Hicks
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Bob Goldstein
- Biology Department, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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4
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Fijen C, Drogalis Beckham L, Terino D, Li Y, Ramsden DA, Wood RD, Doublié S, Rothenberg E. Sequential requirements for distinct Polθ domains during theta-mediated end joining. Mol Cell 2024; 84:1460-1474.e6. [PMID: 38640894 PMCID: PMC11031631 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.03.010] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
DNA polymerase θ (Polθ) plays a central role in a DNA double-strand break repair pathway termed theta-mediated end joining (TMEJ). TMEJ functions by pairing short-sequence "microhomologies" (MHs) in single-stranded DNA at each end of a break and subsequently initiating DNA synthesis. It is not known how the Polθ helicase domain (HD) and polymerase domain (PD) operate to bring together MHs and facilitate repair. To resolve these transient processes in real time, we utilized in vitro single-molecule FRET approaches and biochemical analyses. We find that the Polθ-HD mediates the initial capture of two ssDNA strands, bringing them in close proximity. The Polθ-PD binds and stabilizes pre-annealed MHs to form a synaptic complex (SC) and initiate repair synthesis. Individual synthesis reactions show that Polθ is inherently non-processive, accounting for complex mutational patterns during TMEJ. Binding of Polθ-PD to stem-loop-forming sequences can substantially limit synapsis, depending on the available dNTPs and sequence context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carel Fijen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - Lea Drogalis Beckham
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Dante Terino
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yuzhen Li
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77230, USA
| | - Dale A Ramsden
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Richard D Wood
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77230, USA
| | - Sylvie Doublié
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Eli Rothenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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5
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Carvajal-Maldonado D, Zahn K, Jensen R, Wood RD, Doublié S. Human DNA polymerase θ does not harbor intrinsic nuclease activity. Mol Cell 2024; 84:1394-1395. [PMID: 38640889 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Denisse Carvajal-Maldonado
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Karl Zahn
- Repare Therapeutics, 7210 rue Frederick-Banting bureau 100, Saint-Laurent, QC H4S 2A1, Canada
| | - Ryan Jensen
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Richard D Wood
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Sylvie Doublié
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
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6
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Kannan S, Gillespie SW, Picking WL, Picking WD, Lorson CL, Singh K. Inhibitors against DNA Polymerase I Family of Enzymes: Novel Targets and Opportunities. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:204. [PMID: 38666816 PMCID: PMC11048162 DOI: 10.3390/biology13040204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
DNA polymerases replicate cellular genomes and/or participate in the maintenance of genome integrity. DNA polymerases sharing high sequence homology with E. coli DNA polymerase I (pol I) have been grouped in Family A. Pol I participates in Okazaki fragment maturation and in bacterial genome repair. Since its discovery in 1956, pol I has been extensively studied, primarily to gain deeper insights into the mechanism of DNA replication. As research on DNA polymerases advances, many novel functions of this group of polymerases are being uncovered. For example, human DNA polymerase θ (a Family A DNA pol) has been shown to synthesize DNA using RNA as a template, a function typically attributed to retroviral reverse transcriptase. Increased interest in drug discovery against pol θ has emerged due to its roles in cancer. Likewise, Pol I family enzymes also appear attractive as drug-development targets against microbial infections. Development of antimalarial compounds targeting apicoplast apPOL, an ortholog of Pol I, further extends the targeting of this family of enzymes. Here, we summarize reported drug-development efforts against Family A polymerases and future perspective regarding these enzymes as antibiotic targets. Recently developed techniques, such as artificial intelligence, can be used to facilitate the development of new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saathvik Kannan
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (S.K.); (S.W.G.); (W.L.P.); (W.D.P.); (C.L.L.)
| | - Samuel W. Gillespie
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (S.K.); (S.W.G.); (W.L.P.); (W.D.P.); (C.L.L.)
| | - Wendy L. Picking
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (S.K.); (S.W.G.); (W.L.P.); (W.D.P.); (C.L.L.)
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - William D. Picking
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (S.K.); (S.W.G.); (W.L.P.); (W.D.P.); (C.L.L.)
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Christian L. Lorson
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (S.K.); (S.W.G.); (W.L.P.); (W.D.P.); (C.L.L.)
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Kamal Singh
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (S.K.); (S.W.G.); (W.L.P.); (W.D.P.); (C.L.L.)
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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7
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Rajendra E, Grande D, Mason B, Di Marcantonio D, Armstrong L, Hewitt G, Elinati E, Galbiati A, Boulton SJ, Heald RA, Smith GCM, Robinson HMR. Quantitative, titratable and high-throughput reporter assays to measure DNA double strand break repair activity in cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:1736-1752. [PMID: 38109306 PMCID: PMC10899754 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Repair of DNA damage is essential for the maintenance of genome stability and cell viability. DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) constitute a toxic class of DNA lesion and multiple cellular pathways exist to mediate their repair. Robust and titratable assays of cellular DSB repair (DSBR) are important to functionally interrogate the integrity and efficiency of these mechanisms in disease models as well as in response to genetic or pharmacological perturbations. Several variants of DSBR reporters are available, however these are often limited by throughput or restricted to specific cellular models. Here, we describe the generation and validation of a suite of extrachromosomal reporter assays that can efficiently measure the major DSBR pathways of homologous recombination (HR), classical nonhomologous end joining (cNHEJ), microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ) and single strand annealing (SSA). We demonstrate that these assays can be adapted to a high-throughput screening format and that they are sensitive to pharmacological modulation, thus providing mechanistic and quantitative insights into compound potency, selectivity, and on-target specificity. We propose that these reporter assays can serve as tools to dissect the interplay of DSBR pathway networks in cells and will have broad implications for studies of DSBR mechanisms in basic research and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eeson Rajendra
- Artios Pharma Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, UK
| | - Diego Grande
- Artios Pharma Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, UK
| | - Bethany Mason
- Artios Pharma Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, UK
| | | | - Lucy Armstrong
- Artios Pharma Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, UK
| | | | - Elias Elinati
- Artios Pharma Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, UK
| | | | - Simon J Boulton
- Artios Pharma Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Robert A Heald
- Artios Pharma Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, UK
| | - Graeme C M Smith
- Artios Pharma Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, UK
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8
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Gao A, Zhang M, Zhu SQ, Zou S, Chen H, Li X, He C, Zhou L, Mei Y, Ding W, Zhou J, Zhou Y, Cao Y. DNA polymerase iota promotes EMT and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by interacting with USP7 to stabilize HIF-1α. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:171. [PMID: 38402183 PMCID: PMC10894303 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06552-6] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most lethal cancer types, with a low 5-year survival rate of ~20%. Our prior research has suggested that DNA Polymerase iota (Pol ι), a member of Y-family DNA polymerase, plays a crucial role in the invasion and metastasis of ESCC. However, the underlying mechanism is not well understood. In this study, we utilized ChIP-PCR and luciferase reporter assays to investigate the binding of HIF-1α to the promoter of the Pol ι gene. Transwell, wound healing, and mouse models were employed to assess the impact of Pol ι and HIF-1α on the motility of ESCC cells. Co-immunoprecipitation and Western blot were carried out to explore the interaction between Pol ι and HIF-1α, while qRT-PCR and Western blot were conducted to confirm the regulation of Pol ι and HIF-1α on their downstream targets. Our results demonstrate that HIF-1α activates the transcription of the Pol ι gene in ESCC cells under hypoxic conditions. Furthermore, the knockdown of Pol ι impeded HIF-1α-induced invasion and metastasis. Additionally, we found that Pol ι regulates the expression of genes involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and initiates EMT through the stabilization of HIF-1α. Mechanistically, Pol ι maintains the protein stability of HIF-1α by recruiting USP7 to mediate the deubiquitination of HIF-1α, with the residues 446-578 of Pol being crucial for the interaction between Pol ι and USP7. Collectively, our findings unveil a novel feedforward molecular axis of HIF-1α- Pol ι -USP7 in ESCC that contributes to ESCC metastasis. Hence, our results present an attractive target for intervention in ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidi Gao
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Mingxia Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Shuang Qi Zhu
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Shitao Zou
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Hengrui Chen
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoqin Li
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Chao He
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Liangsu Zhou
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Yan Mei
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Weiqun Ding
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Jundong Zhou
- Suzhou Cancer Center Core Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P.R. China.
| | - Yue Zhou
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, P.R. China.
| | - Yuandong Cao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China.
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9
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Lakota J. Spontaneous regression of tumours. Possible cross reactivity of autoantibodies against carbonic anhydrase I. J Cell Mol Med 2023; 27:3637-3640. [PMID: 37776059 PMCID: PMC10660616 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous tumour regression in patients after high dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation or patients with standard therapy is accompanied with the presence of high titers autoantibodies against carbonic anhydrase I (CA I). The concomitant presence of aplastic anaemia-like syndrome in these patients points to parallel bone marrow suppression during this period. It seems that CA I, an 'obscure' enzyme, does not have any significant physiological role in humans. One possible explanation points to the fact that autoantibodies against CA I may target another antigen(s) which is(are) important in tumour growth as well as in normal haematopoiesis. One of the candidates for such a target is the DNA polymerase theta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ján Lakota
- Centre of Experimental Medicine, SASBratislavaSlovakia
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10
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Pearson ADJ, Federico S, Gatz SA, Ortiz M, Lesa G, Scobie N, Gounaris I, Weiner SL, Weigel B, Unger TJ, Stewart E, Smith M, Slotkin EK, Reaman G, Pappo A, Nysom K, Norga K, McDonough J, Marshall LV, Ludwinski D, Ligas F, Karres D, Kool M, Horner TJ, Henssen A, Heenen D, Hawkins DS, Gore L, Bender JG, Galluzzo S, Fox E, de Rojas T, Davies BR, Chakrabarti J, Carmichael J, Bradford D, Blanc P, Bernardi R, Benchetrit S, Akindele K, Vassal G. Paediatric Strategy Forum for medicinal product development of DNA damage response pathway inhibitors in children and adolescents with cancer: ACCELERATE in collaboration with the European Medicines Agency with participation of the Food and Drug Administration. Eur J Cancer 2023; 190:112950. [PMID: 37441939 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2023.112950] [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: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
DNA damage response inhibitors have a potentially important therapeutic role in paediatric cancers; however, their optimal use, including patient selection and combination strategy, remains unknown. Moreover, there is an imbalance between the number of drugs with diverse mechanisms of action and the limited number of paediatric patients available to be enrolled in early-phase trials, so prioritisation and a strategy are essential. While PARP inhibitors targeting homologous recombination-deficient tumours have been used primarily in the treatment of adult cancers with BRCA1/2 mutations, BRCA1/2 mutations occur infrequently in childhood tumours, and therefore, a specific response hypothesis is required. Combinations with targeted radiotherapy, ATR inhibitors, or antibody drug conjugates with DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor-related warheads warrant evaluation. Additional monotherapy trials of PARP inhibitors with the same mechanism of action are not recommended. PARP1-specific inhibitors and PARP inhibitors with very good central nervous system penetration also deserve evaluation. ATR, ATM, DNA-PK, CHK1, WEE1, DNA polymerase theta and PKMYT1 inhibitors are early in paediatric development. There should be an overall coordinated strategy for their development. Therefore, an academia/industry consensus of the relevant biomarkers will be established and a focused meeting on ATR inhibitors (as proof of principle) held. CHK1 inhibitors have demonstrated activity in desmoplastic small round cell tumours and have a potential role in the treatment of other paediatric malignancies, such as neuroblastoma and Ewing sarcoma. Access to CHK1 inhibitors for paediatric clinical trials is a high priority. The three key elements in evaluating these inhibitors in children are (1) innovative trial design (design driven by a clear hypothesis with the intent to further investigate responders and non-responders with detailed retrospective molecular analyses to generate a revised or new hypothesis); (2) biomarker selection and (3) rational combination therapy, which is limited by overlapping toxicity. To maximally benefit children with cancer, investigators should work collaboratively to learn the lessons from the past and apply them to future studies. Plans should be based on the relevant biology, with a focus on simultaneous and parallel research in preclinical and clinical settings, and an overall integrated and collaborative strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D J Pearson
- ACCELERATE, c/o BLSI, Clos Chapelle-aux-Champs 30, Bte 1.30.30 BE-1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Sara Federico
- St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Susanne A Gatz
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Michael Ortiz
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Giovanni Lesa
- Paediatric Medicines Office, Scientific Evidence Generation Department, Human Division, European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Ioannis Gounaris
- Merck Serono Ltd (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Feltham, UK
| | | | | | - T J Unger
- Repare Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Gregory Reaman
- US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Springs, MD, USA
| | - Alberto Pappo
- St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - Koen Norga
- Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium; Paediatric Committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joe McDonough
- The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Lynley V Marshall
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Hospital, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, UK
| | | | - Franca Ligas
- Paediatric Medicines Office, Scientific Evidence Generation Department, Human Division, European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dominik Karres
- Paediatric Medicines Office, Scientific Evidence Generation Department, Human Division, European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marcel Kool
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Douglas S Hawkins
- Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA; Children's Oncology Group, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lia Gore
- Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA; University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | | | - Elizabeth Fox
- St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Teresa de Rojas
- ACCELERATE, c/o BLSI, Clos Chapelle-aux-Champs 30, Bte 1.30.30 BE-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | - Juliet Carmichael
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Hospital, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, UK
| | - Diana Bradford
- US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Springs, MD, USA
| | | | - Ronald Bernardi
- Genentech, a Member of the Roche Group, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sylvie Benchetrit
- National Agency for the Safety of Medicine and Health Products, Paris, France
| | | | - Gilles Vassal
- ACCELERATE, c/o BLSI, Clos Chapelle-aux-Champs 30, Bte 1.30.30 BE-1200 Brussels, Belgium; Gustave Roussy Cancer Centre, Paris, France
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Smith CM, Gupta GP. Polymerase θ inhibition steps on the cGAS pedal. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e170660. [PMID: 37259920 PMCID: PMC10231987 DOI: 10.1172/jci170660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Deficiencies in homologous recombination (HR) repair lead to an accumulation of DNA damage and can predispose individuals to cancer. Polymerase theta (Pol θ, encoded by POLQ) is overexpressed by HR-deficient cancers and promotes cancer cell survival by mediating error-prone double-stranded break (DSB) repair and facilitating resistance against poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitor treatment. In this issue of the JCI, Oh, Wang, et al. report on the impact of Pol θ inhibition on activation of antitumor immunity. The authors used pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell and mouse models characterized by HR-associated gene alterations and POLQ overexpression. POLQ knockdown showed synthetic lethality in combination with gene mutations involving DNA repair, including BRCA1, BRCA2, and ATM. Notably, Pol θ deficiency or inhibition suppressed tumor growth, increased the accumulation of unrepaired DNA damage, and enhanced T cell infiltration via the cGAS/STING pathway. These findings suggest a broader scope for Pol θ inhibition in HR-deficient cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea M. Smith
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and
| | - Gaorav P. Gupta
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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12
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Multifaceted Nature of DNA Polymerase θ. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043619. [PMID: 36835031 PMCID: PMC9962433 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA polymerase θ belongs to the A family of DNA polymerases and plays a key role in DNA repair and damage tolerance, including double-strand break repair and DNA translesion synthesis. Pol θ is often overexpressed in cancer cells and promotes their resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. In this review, we discuss unique biochemical properties and structural features of Pol θ, its multiple roles in protection of genome stability and the potential of Pol θ as a target for cancer treatment.
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13
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Vanson S, Li Y, Wood RD, Doublié S. Probing the structure and function of polymerase θ helicase-like domain. DNA Repair (Amst) 2022; 116:103358. [PMID: 35753097 PMCID: PMC10329254 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2022.103358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
DNA Polymerase θ is the key actuator of the recently identified double-strand break repair pathway, theta-mediated end joining (TMEJ). It is the only known polymerase to have a 3-domain architecture containing an independently functional family A DNA polymerase tethered by a long central region to an N-terminal helicase-like domain (HLD). Full-length polymerase θ and the isolated HLD hydrolyze ATP in the presence of DNA, but no processive DNA duplex unwinding has been observed. Based on sequence and structure conservation, the HLD is classified as a member of helicase superfamily II and, more specifically, the Ski2-like family. The specific subdomain composition and organization most closely resemble that of archaeal DNA repair helicases Hel308 and Hjm. The underlying structural basis as to why the HLD is not able to processively unwind duplex DNA, despite its similarity to bona fide helicases, remains elusive. Activities of the HLD include ATP hydrolysis, protein displacement, and annealing of complementary DNA. These observations have led to speculation about the role of the HLD within the context of double-strand break repair via TMEJ, such as removal of single-stranded DNA binding proteins like RPA and RAD51 and microhomology alignment. This review summarizes the structural classification and organization of the polymerase θ HLD and its homologs and explores emerging data on its biochemical activities. We conclude with a simple, speculative model for the HLD's role in TMEJ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Vanson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, 89 Beaumont Ave, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Yuzhen Li
- Department of Epigenetics & Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Center, Houston, TX 77230, USA
| | - Richard D Wood
- Department of Epigenetics & Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Center, Houston, TX 77230, USA.
| | - Sylvie Doublié
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, 89 Beaumont Ave, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
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