Regulation of MCM2-7 function

Mechanism of DNA unwinding by MCM8-9 in complex with HROB

HROB promotes the MCM8-9 helicase in DNA damage response. To understand how HROB activates MCM8-9, we defined their interaction interface. We showed that HROB makes important yet transient contacts with both MCM8 and MCM9, and binds the MCM8-9 heterodimer with the highest affinity. MCM8-9-HROB prefer branched DNA structures, and display low DNA unwinding processivity. MCM8-9 unwinds DNA as a hexamer that assembles from dimers on DNA in the presence of ATP. The hexamer involves two repeating protein-protein interfaces between the alternating MCM8 and MCM9 subunits. One of these interfaces is quite stable and forms an obligate heterodimer across which HROB binds. The other interface is labile and mediates hexamer assembly, independently of HROB. The ATPase site formed at the labile interface contributes disproportionally more to DNA unwinding than that at the stable interface. Here, we show that HROB promotes DNA unwinding downstream of MCM8-9 loading and ring formation on ssDNA.

Overlapping action of T3 and T4 during Xenopus laevis development

Thyroid hormones are involved in many biological processes such as neurogenesis, metabolism, and development. However, compounds called endocrine disruptors can alter thyroid hormone signaling and induce unwanted effects on human and ecosystems health. Regulatory tests have been developed to detect these compounds but need to be significantly improved by proposing novel endpoints and key events. The Xenopus Eleutheroembryonic Thyroid Assay (XETA, OECD test guideline no. 248) is one such test. It is based on Xenopus laevis tadpoles, a particularly sensitive model system for studying the physiology and disruption of thyroid hormone signaling: amphibian metamorphosis is a spectacular (thus easy to monitor) life cycle transition governed by thyroid hormones. With a long-term objective of providing novel molecular markers under XETA settings, we propose first to describe the differential effects of thyroid hormones on gene expression, which, surprisingly, are not known. After thyroid hormones exposure (T3 or T4), whole tadpole RNAs were subjected to transcriptomic analysis. By using standard approaches coupled to system biology, we found similar effects of the two thyroid hormones. They impact the cell cycle and promote the expression of genes involves in cell proliferation. At the level of the whole tadpole, the immune system is also a prime target of thyroid hormone action.

Regulation of cancer stem cells by CXCL1, a chemokine whose secretion is controlled by MCM2

BACKGROUND

A high expression pattern of minichromosome maintenance 2 (MCM2) has been observed in various cancers. MCM2 is a protein involved in the cell cycle and plays a role in cancer growth and differentiation by binding to six members of the MCM subfamily. The MCM protein family includes MCM2 through MCM7.

METHODS

MCM2 has shown high expression in both lung cancer stem cells (LCSCs) and glioma stem cells (GSCs). We investigated the characteristics of CSCs and the regulation of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenomenon in LCSCs and GSCs by MCM2. Additionally, we explored secreted factors regulated by MCM2.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in survival rates between lung cancer patients and brain cancer patients based on MCM2 expression. MCM2 was found to regulate both markers and regulatory proteins in LCSCs. Moreover, MCM2 is thought to be involved in cancer metastasis by regulating cell migration and invasion, not limited to lung cancer but also identified in glioma. Among chemokines, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1) was found to be regulated by MCM2.

CONCLUSIONS

MCM2 not only participates in the cell cycle but also affects cancer cell growth by regulating the external microenvironment to create a favorable environment for cells. MCM2 is highly expressed in malignant carcinomas, including CSCs, and contributes to the malignancy of various cancers. Therefore, MCM2 may represent a crucial target for cancer therapeutics.

Role and molecular mechanism of APOBEC3B in the development and progression of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor with a high mortality rate. Abnormal APOBEC3B (apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3B) expression increases tumor susceptibility. However, the exact molecular mechanism of APOBEC3B expression in the development of gastric cancer is still unknown. We investigated the effect of APOBEC3B on the malignant biological behavior of gastric cancer cells and discussed the role of APOBEC3B in the development and progression of gastric cancer. APOBEC3B protein levels were measured in 161 gastric cancer samples using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Both in vitro and in vivo assays were performed, and molecules were analyzed using bioinformatics analysis and western blotting. APOBEC3B was overexpressed in gastric cancer. Moreover, APOBEC3B significantly enhanced cell proliferation in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. Regarding the underlying mechanism, APOBEC3B promoted the proliferation of gastric cancer cells by upregulating P53, MCM2 (minichromosome maintenance protein 2), and cyclin D1. Our results suggest that APOBEC3B is involved in cancer progression, providing a new theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer.

Heterogeneous Expression Patterns of the Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Members in Retinoblastoma Unveil Its Clinical Significance

Purpose

To explore the expression patterns and clinical significance of minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex members in retinoblastoma (RB).

Methods

Single-cell RNA sequencing datasets from five normal retina, six intraocular, and five extraocular RB samples were integrated to characterize the expression patterns of MCM complex members at the single-cell level. Western blot and quantitative PCR were used to detect the expression of MCM complex members in RB cell lines. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to validate the expression of MCM complex members in RB patient samples and a RB mouse model.

Results

The expression of MCM2-7 is increased in RB tissue, with MCM2/3/7 showing particularly higher levels in extraocular RB. MCM3/7 are abundantly detected in cell types associated with oncogenesis. Both mRNA and protein levels of MCM3/4/6/7 are increased in RB cell lines. Immunohistochemistry further confirmed the elevated expression of MCM3 in extraocular RB, with MCM6 being the most abundantly expressed MCM in RB.

Conclusions

The distinct MCM expression patterns across various RB cell types suggest diverse functional roles, offering valuable insights for targeted therapeutic strategies. The upregulation of MCM3, MCM4, MCM6, and MCM7 in RB, with a specific emphasis on MCM6 as a notable marker, highlights their potential significance.

Knockdown of MRPL35 promotes cell apoptosis and inhibits cell proliferation in non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a major pathological type of lung cancer. However, its pathogenesis remains largely unclear. MRPL35 is a regulatory subunit of the mitoribosome, which can regulate the assembly of cytochrome c oxidases and plays an important role in the occurrence of NSCLC.

METHODS

The expression of MRPL35 in NSCLC was detected by tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry. H1299 cells were infected with lentivirus to knockdown MRPL35, and the cells were subjected to crystal violet staining to assess the results of colony formation assays. A549 cells were infected by lentiviral particles-expressing shMRPL35 or shControl, and then subcutaneously injected into nude mice. Tumorigenesis in mice was detected by in vivo imaging. The potential pathway of MRPL35 in NSCLC was assessed by Western blotting.

RESULTS

MRPL35 was over-expressed in NSCLC tissue compared to para-cancerous and normal tissues. Knockdown of MRPL35 suppressed cell proliferation and decreased NSCLC progression both in vitro and in vivo. The possible molecular mechanisms were also clarified, which indicated that MRPL35 could be involved in cell apoptosis and proliferation by modulating the expression levels of CDK1, BIRC5, CHEK1, STMN1 and MCM2. Knockdown of MRPL35 activated p53 signaling pathway and inhibited cell cycle regulation.

CONCLUSIONS

The oncogenic role of MRPL35 in NSCLC was potentially mediated through the cell cycle regulatory genes such as BIRC5, STMN1, CDK1, CHEK1 and MCM2, as well as activation of P53 signaling pathway.

De novo PHF5A variants are associated with craniofacial abnormalities, developmental delay, and hypospadias

PURPOSE

The SF3B splicing complex is composed of SF3B1-6 and PHF5A. We report a developmental disorder caused by de novo variants in PHF5A.

METHODS

Clinical, genomic, and functional studies using subject-derived fibroblasts and a heterologous cellular system were performed.

RESULTS

We studied 9 subjects with congenital malformations, including preauricular tags and hypospadias, growth abnormalities, and developmental delay who had de novo heterozygous PHF5A variants, including 4 loss-of-function (LOF), 3 missense, 1 splice, and 1 start-loss variant. In subject-derived fibroblasts with PHF5A LOF variants, wild-type and variant PHF5A mRNAs had a 1:1 ratio, and PHF5A mRNA levels were normal. Transcriptome sequencing revealed alternative promoter use and downregulated genes involved in cell-cycle regulation. Subject and control fibroblasts had similar amounts of PHF5A with the predicted wild-type molecular weight and of SF3B1-3 and SF3B6. SF3B complex formation was unaffected in 2 subject cell lines.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest the existence of feedback mechanisms in fibroblasts with PHF5A LOF variants to maintain normal levels of SF3B components. These compensatory mechanisms in subject fibroblasts with PHF5A or SF3B4 LOF variants suggest disturbed autoregulation of mutated splicing factor genes in specific cell types, that is, neural crest cells, during embryonic development rather than haploinsufficiency as pathomechanism.

The minichromosome maintenance complex drives esophageal basal zone hyperplasia

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder characterized by food antigen-driven eosinophilic inflammation and hyperproliferation of esophageal mucosa. By utilizing a large-scale, proteomic screen of esophageal biopsies, we aimed to uncover molecular drivers of the disease. Proteomic analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry identified 402 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) that correlated with the EoE transcriptome. Immune cell-related proteins were among the most highly upregulated DEPs in EoE compared with controls, whereas proteins linked to epithelial differentiation were primarily downregulated. Notably, in the inflamed esophageal tissue, all 6 subunits of the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex, a DNA helicase essential for genomic DNA replication, were significantly upregulated at the gene and protein levels. Furthermore, treating esophageal epithelial cells with a known inhibitor of the MCM complex (ciprofloxacin) blocked esophageal epithelial proliferation. In a murine model of EoE driven by overexpression of IL-13, ciprofloxacin treatment decreased basal zone thickness and reduced dilated intercellular spaces by blocking the transition of epithelial cells through the S-phase of the cell cycle. Collectively, a broad-spectrum proteomic screen has identified the involvement of the MCM complex in EoE and has highlighted MCM inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents for the disease.

Minichromosome maintenance proteins in lung adenocarcinoma: Clinical significance and therapeutic targets

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide, accounting for 1.8 million deaths annually. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas data showed that all members of the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) family (hexamers involved in DNA replication: MCM2-MCM7) were upregulated in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tissues. High expression of MCM4 (P = 0.0032), MCM5 (P = 0.0032), and MCM7 (P = 0.0110) significantly predicted 5-year survival rates in patients with LUAD. Simurosertib (TAK-931) significantly suppressed the proliferation of LUAD cells by inhibiting cell division cycle 7-mediated MCM2 phosphorylation. This finding suggested that MCM2 might be a therapeutic target for LUAD. Moreover, analysis of the epigenetic regulation of MCM2 showed that miR-139-3p, miR-378a-5p, and miR-2110 modulated MCM2 expression in LUAD cells. In patients with LUAD, understanding the role of these miRNAs may improve prognoses.

Mechanism of DNA unwinding by hexameric MCM8-9 in complex with HROB

The human MCM8-9 helicase functions in concert with HROB in the context of homologous recombination, but its precise function is unknown. To gain insights into how HROB regulates MCM8-9, we first used molecular modeling and biochemistry to define their interaction interface. We show that HROB makes important contacts with both MCM8 and MCM9 subunits, which directly promotes its DNA-dependent ATPase and helicase activities. MCM8-9-HROB preferentially binds and unwinds branched DNA structures, and single-molecule experiments reveal a low DNA unwinding processivity. MCM8-9 unwinds DNA as a hexameric complex that assembles from dimers on DNA in the presence of ATP, which is prerequisite for its helicase function. The hexamer formation thus involves two repeating protein-protein interfaces forming between the alternating MCM8 and MCM9 subunits. One of these interfaces is rather stable and forms an obligate heterodimer, while the other interface is labile and mediates the assembly of the hexamer on DNA, independently of HROB. The ATPase site composed of the subunits forming the labile interface disproportionally contributes to DNA unwinding. HROB does not affect the MCM8-9 ring formation, but promotes DNA unwinding downstream by possibly coordinating ATP hydrolysis with structural transitions accompanying translocation of MCM8-9 on DNA.

E2F2 is upregulated by the ERK pathway and regulates decidualization via MCM4

Cell cycle modulation is an important event during decidualization. E2F2 is a transcription regulator that plays a vital role in cell cycle regulation. However, the biological role of E2F2 in decidualization has not yet been identified. In this study, estrogen (E2) and progestin (P4)-induced in vitro and in vivo decidualization models were applied. Our data showed that the expression levels of E2F2 and its downstream target MCM4 were downregulated in the uterus tissues of E2P4-treated mice compared with control mice. In hESCs, exposure to E2P4 resulted in a significant decrease in E2F2 and MCM4 expression. E2P4 treatment reduced hESC proliferation and ectopic expression of E2F2 or MCM4 elevated the viability of E2P4-treated hESCs. In addition, ectopic expression of E2F2 or MCM4 restored the expression of G1 phase-associated proteins. The ERK pathway was inactivated in E2P4-treated hESCs. Treatment with ERK agonist Ro 67-7476 restored the expression of E2F2, MCM4, and G1 phase-associated proteins that were inhibited by E2P4. Moreover, Ro 67-7476 retracted the levels of IGFBP1 and PRL that were induced by E2P4. Collectively, our results indicate that E2F2 is regulated by ERK signaling and contributes to decidualization via regulation of MCM4. Therefore, E2F2/MCM4 cascade may serve as promising targets for alleviating decidualization dysfunction.

Proteomic Analysis of Huntington's Disease Medium Spiny Neurons Identifies Alterations in Lipid Droplets

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. The resulting polyglutamine (polyQ) tract alters the function of the HTT protein. Although HTT is expressed in different tissues, the medium spiny projection neurons (MSNs) in the striatum are particularly vulnerable in HD. Thus, we sought to define the proteome of human HD patient-derived MSNs. We differentiated HD72 induced pluripotent stem cells and isogenic controls into MSNs and carried out quantitative proteomic analysis. Using data-dependent acquisitions with FAIMS for label-free quantification on the Orbitrap Lumos mass spectrometer, we identified 6,323 proteins with at least two unique peptides. Of these, 901 proteins were altered significantly more in the HD72-MSNs than in isogenic controls. Functional enrichment analysis of upregulated proteins demonstrated extracellular matrix and DNA signaling (DNA replication pathway, double-strand break repair, G1/S transition) with the highest significance. Conversely, processes associated with the downregulated proteins included neurogenesis-axogenesis, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor-signaling pathway, Ephrin-A: EphA pathway, regulation of synaptic plasticity, triglyceride homeostasis cholesterol, plasmid lipoprotein particle immune response, interferon-γ signaling, immune system major histocompatibility complex, lipid metabolism and cellular response to stimulus. Moreover, proteins involved in the formation and maintenance of axons, dendrites, and synapses (e.g., Septin protein members) were dysregulated in HD72-MSNs. Importantly, lipid metabolism pathways were altered, and using quantitative image, we found analysis that lipid droplets accumulated in the HD72-MSN, suggesting a deficit in the turnover of lipids possibly through lipophagy. Our proteomics analysis of HD72-MSNs identified relevant pathways that are altered in MSNs and confirm current and new therapeutic targets for HD.

The regulation loop of MARVELD1 interacting with PARP1 in DNA damage response maintains genome stability and promotes therapy resistance of cancer cells

The DNA damage response (DDR) plays crucial roles in cancer prevention and therapy. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) mediates multiple signal transduction in the DDR as a master regulator. Uncovering the regulatory factors of PARP1 contributes to a more comprehensive view of tumorigenesis and treatment strategies. Here, we reveal that MARVELD1 acts as a mediator of DDR to perform early events and maintain genome stability. Mechanistically, PARP1 PARylates MARVELD1 at D102, D118 and D130, and in turn, MARVELD1 stabilizes PARP1 by enhancing NAA50-mediated acetylation, thus forming a positive feedback loop. MARVELD1 knockout mice and their embryo fibroblasts exhibit genomic instability and shorter half-life of PARP1. Moreover, MARVELD1 partnering with PARP1 facilitates resistance to genotoxic drugs and disrupts PARP inhibitor (PARPi) effect in PDX model of colorectal cancer (CRC). Overall, our results underline the link between MARVELD1 and PARP1 in therapeutic resistance based on DDR and provide new insights for clinical tumor therapy of PARPi.

Meiotic nuclear divisions 1 promotes proliferation and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma and is a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target gene

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the cancer with the highest incidence among liver cancers and how to treat this cancer effectively is still a difficult problem we must face. We selected meiotic nuclear divisions 1 (MND1) as the study object by combining data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database with prognostic survival analysis. We validated the value of MND1 in evaluating the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma through a diagnostic and prognostic model. At the same time, cellular experiments were used to demonstrate the effect of MND1 on hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation and migration. We used short hairpin RNA (shRNA) to knock down MND1 in Hun7 and HCCLM3 cell lines. Through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and colony formation assays, we found that knocking down MND1 reduced the proliferation of cells. Through wound healing and Transwell assays, we found that knocking down MND1 reduced cell migration and invasion. Moreover, we found that MND1 can promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of Hep3B cells by overexpressing MND1. Therefore, in general, MND1 is expected to be a gene that can effectively diagnose and treat hepatocellular carcinoma.

High MCM8 expression correlates with unfavorable prognosis and induces immune cell infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

MCM8 has been reported highly expressed in several human malignancies. However, its role in HCC has not yet been researched.

METHODS

The prognostic significance of MCM8 mRNA expression was analyzed using datasets from TCGA and GEO databases. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay was used to detect the MCM8 protein expression in HCC tissues. The Cox regression analysis was employed to determine the independent prognostic value of MCM8. Then, we established a nomogram for OS and RFS prediction based on MCM8 protein expression. We analyzed the DNA methylation and genetic alteration of MCM8 in HCC. Moreover, GO, KEGG and GSEA were utilized to explore the potential biological functions of MCM8. Subsequently, we evaluate the correlations between MCM8 expression and composition of the tumor microenvironment as well as immunocyte infiltration ratio in HCC.

RESULTS

MCM8 mRNA and protein were significantly overexpressed in HCC tissues. High MCM8 protein expression was an independent risk factor for OS and RFS of HCC patients. MCM8 expression is altered in 60% of queried HCC patients. In addition, higher methylation of the CpG site cg03098629, cg10518808, and 17230679 correlated with lower MCM8 levels. MCM8 expression correlated with cell cycle and DNA replication signaling. Moreover, MCM8 may be correlated with different compositions of the tumor microenvironment and immunocyte infiltration ratio in HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

MCM8 was highly expressed in HCC tissues and was associated with poor prognosis. Meanwhile, high expression of MCM8 may induce immune cell infiltration and may be a promising prognostic biomarker for HCC.

Selective role of the DNA helicase Mcm5 in BMP retrograde signaling during Drosophila neuronal differentiation

The MCM2-7 complex is a highly conserved hetero-hexameric protein complex, critical for DNA unwinding at the replicative fork during DNA replication. Overexpression or mutation in MCM2-7 genes is linked to and may drive several cancer types in humans. In mice, mutations in MCM2-7 genes result in growth retardation and mortality. All six MCM2-7 genes are also expressed in the developing mouse CNS, but their role in the CNS is not clear. Here, we use the central nervous system (CNS) of Drosophila melanogaster to begin addressing the role of the MCM complex during development, focusing on the specification of a well-studied neuropeptide expressing neuron: the Tv4/FMRFa neuron. In a search for genes involved in the specification of the Tv4/FMRFa neuron we identified Mcm5 and find that it plays a highly specific role in the specification of the Tv4/FMRFa neuron. We find that other components of the MCM2-7 complex phenocopies Mcm5, indicating that the role of Mcm5 in neuronal subtype specification involves the MCM2-7 complex. Surprisingly, we find no evidence of reduced progenitor proliferation, and instead find that Mcm5 is required for the expression of the type I BMP receptor Tkv, which is critical for the FMRFa expression. These results suggest that the MCM2-7 complex may play roles during CNS development outside of its well-established role during DNA replication.

The MCM2-7 complex plays a critical role in the DNA replication allowing cells to progress throughout the cell cycle and divide. Overexpression or mutation in MCM2-7 genes is linked to and may drive several cancer types in humans. While MCM2-7 complex is widely expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) during development, its role is not yet clear. Here, we use the CNS of Drosophila melanogaster to address the role of the MCM complex, focusing on the specification of a well-studied neuropeptide expressing neuron: the Tv4/FMRFa neuron. We identified that Mcm5 plays a highly specific role in the specification of this neuron, and it involves other components of the MCM2-7 complex. Despite the described importance of this complex on DNA replication, we find no evidence of reduced progenitor proliferation, and instead we find that Mcm5 is required for the expression of the type I BMP receptor Tkv, which is critical for the specification of the Tv4/FMRFa neuron. These results suggest that the MCM2-7 complex may play roles during CNS development outside of its well-established role during DNA replication.

MCM6 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression via the Notch Pathway: Clinical, Functional, and Genomic Insights

Objective

To evaluate the expression profile of MCM6 in HCC and the relationship between MCM6 level and clinicopathological parameters through bioinformatics analysis of several databases.

Methods

MCM expression level, clinical parameters, survival data, and gene set enrichment analysis were analyzed by bioinformatics database, including Oncomine™, UALCAN, HCCDB, TCGA, cBioPortal, and LinkedOmics. Real-time PCR, western blotting, and IHC staining were conducted to identify the expression of MCM6 in HCC compared to normal liver tissues.

Results

Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the mRNA of MCM6 was obviously increased in multiple cancer types, especially in HCC. MCM6 level was positively associated with multiple clinical parameters (stage 3 and grades 3 and 4) and negatively associated with patient outcomes (overall survival). Moreover, enrichment of functions and signaling pathways analysis of MCM6 suggested that MCM6 might mediate DNA replication and cellular metabolism to promote the development and progression of HCC. Furthermore, IHC staining and western blotting indicated that the MCM6 was enhanced in HCC tissue, and MCM6 could promote HCC proliferation in activating Notch pathway via WB and bioinformatic analysis.

Conclusion

This study actually revealed the expression and related functions of MCM6 in HCC. Furthermore, MCM6 is a carcinogenic role in activating Notch pathway to promote HCC cell proliferation, which may be a new prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC patients.

Bioinformatic Analysis of the Expression and Clinical Significance of the DNA Replication Regulator MCM Complex in Bladder Cancer

Objective

The minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex (MCM2, MCM3, MCM4, MCM5, MCM6, and MCM7), which regulates DNA replication and cell cycle progression, is essential for the development and progression of multiple tumors, but their role in bladder cancer development remains unclear. In the present study, the biological role and clinical significance of the MCM complex in bladder cancer were systematically elucidated.

Materials and Methods

We analyzed DNA mutations, mRNA expression and protein levels, protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks, functional enrichment, prognostic value of MCM2/3/4/5/6/7 in bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLC) and the connections between the immune cell infiltration and the overall survival of BLC patients with the MCM expression levels using Oncomine, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), the Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA), Human Protein Atlas, UALCAN, STRING, cBioPortal, TIMER and GSCALite databases.

Results

The outcomes showed that the mRNA expression level of each member of the MCM complex was significantly correlated with histologic grade and tumor histology in BLC patients. Moreover, survival analysis showed that MCM/2/3/4/5/6/7 mRNA expressions were significantly associated with prognosis in patients with bladder cancer. Moreover, we experimentally validated the overexpression of the MCM2-7 complex in the BLC. Based on functional enrichment and PPI network analysis, the MCM complex might promote the progression of bladder cancer by activating DNA replication and accelerating cell cycle progression. In addition, MCM2/3/4/5/6/7 genes were also significantly associated with tumor immune cells infiltration and the drug sensitivity in BLC.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that the MCM complex especially MCM2/4/6/7 might be potential molecular therapeutic targets for BLC treatment and might be useful biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis.

The High Expression of Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 5 Is an Adverse Prognostic Factor in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background. Minichromosome maintenance (MCM) genes are crucial for genomic DNA replication and are important biomarkers in tumor biology. In this study, we aimed to identify the diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic value of the MCM2–10 genes in patients with lung cancer. Methods. We examined the expression levels, gene networks, and protein networks of lung cancer using data from the ONCOMINE, GeneMANIA, and STRING databases. We conducted a functional enrichment analysis of MCM2–10 using the clusterProfiler package using TCGA data. The correlation between the MCM2–10 expression and lung cancer prognosis was evaluated using Cox regression analysis. The influence of clinical variables on overall survival (OS) was evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. The TIMER database was used to evaluate the correlation between tumor infiltrating levels and lung cancer. Kaplan–Meier Plotter pan-cancer RNA sequencing was used to estimate the correlation between the MCM5 expression and OS in different immune cell subgroups in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Finally, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year predictions of LUAD were performed using nomogram and calibration analysis. Results. The expression of MCM2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10 in lung cancer was higher than that for normal samples. The MCM5 expression was associated with poor OS in patients with LUAD, and prognosis was related to TNM stage, smoking status, and pathological stage. The MCM5 expression is correlated with immune invasion in LUAD and may affect prognosis due to immune infiltration. Conclusion. MCM5 may serve as a molecular biomarker for LUAD prognosis.

Oxidative stress-induced circKIF18A downregulation impairs MCM7-mediated anti-senescence in intervertebral disc degeneration

Low back pain, triggered by intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), is one of the most common causes of disability and financial expenditure worldwide. However, except for surgical interventions, effective medical treatment to prevent the progression of IVDD is lacking. This study aimed to investigate the effects of circKIF18A, a novel circRNA, on IVDD progression and to explore its underlying mechanism in IVDD. In this study, we found that oxidative stress was positively correlated with nucleus pulposus cell (NPC) senescence in IVDD and that circKIF18A was downregulated in IVDD and attenuated senescent phenotypes such as cell cycle arrest and extracellular matrix degradation in NPCs. Mechanistically, circKIF18A competitively suppressed ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation of MCM7, and the protective effects of circKIF18A on NPCs were partially mediated by MCM7 under oxidative stress. Intradiscal injection of adenoviral circKIF18A ameliorated IVDD in a rat model. This study revealed that circKIF18A regulates NPC degeneration by stabilizing MCM7 and identified a novel signaling pathway, the circKIF18A-MCM7 axis, for anti-senescence molecular therapy in IVDD.

A non-coding circular RNA molecule that prevents spinal cells from undergoing premature ageing offers a new therapeutic target for treating intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), a major cause of lower back pain. Shuying Shen of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China, and colleagues took samples from the soft, gelatinous central portion of the intervertebral disk, the so-called nucleus pulposus, and looked for circular RNAs with high expression levels in healthy individuals and low levels in people with IVDD. They identified a specific RNA in this way, and showed how this regulatory molecule promotes the activity of a protein involved in enhancing the proliferative capacity of nucleus pulposus tissues. In rats, injections of a gene therapy vector encoding this RNA helped ameliorate signs of IVDD, highlighting the potential for similar therapeutic strategies in people with IVDD.

A critical role of nuclear m6A reader YTHDC1 in leukemogenesis by regulating MCM complex-mediated DNA replication

YTHDC1 has distinct functions as a nuclear N6-methyladenosine (m6A) reader in regulating RNA metabolism. Here we show that YTHDC1 is overexpressed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and that it is required for the proliferation and survival of human AML cells. Genetic deletion of Ythdc1 markedly blocks AML development and maintenance as well as self-renewal of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) in vivo in mice. We found that Ythdc1 is also required for normal hematopoiesis and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) maintenance in vivo. Notably, Ythdc1 haploinsufficiency reduces self-renewal of LSCs but not HSPCs in vivo. YTHDC1 knockdown has a strong inhibitory effect on proliferation of primary AML cells. Mechanistically, YTHDC1 regulates leukemogenesis through MCM4, which is a critical regulator of DNA replication. Our study provides compelling evidence that shows an oncogenic role and a distinct mechanism of YTHDC1 in AML.

Chromatin loading of MCM hexamers is associated with di-/tri-methylation of histone H4K20 toward S phase entry

DNA replication is a key step in initiating cell proliferation. Loading hexameric complexes of minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase onto DNA replication origins during the G1 phase is essential for initiating DNA replication. Here, we examined MCM hexamer states during the cell cycle in human hTERT-RPE1 cells using multicolor immunofluorescence-based, single-cell plot analysis, and biochemical size fractionation. Experiments involving cell-cycle arrest at the G1 phase and release from the arrest revealed that a double MCM hexamer was formed via a single hexamer during G1 progression. A single MCM hexamer was recruited to chromatin in the early G1 phase. Another single hexamer was recruited to form a double hexamer in the late G1 phase. We further examined relationship between the MCM hexamer states and the methylation levels at lysine 20 of histone H4 (H4K20) and found that the double MCM hexamer state was correlated with di/trimethyl-H4K20 (H4K20me2/3). Inhibiting the conversion from monomethyl-H4K20 (H4K20me1) to H4K20me2/3 retained the cells in the single MCM hexamer state. Non-proliferative cells, including confluent cells or Cdk4/6 inhibitor-treated cells, also remained halted in the single MCM hexamer state. We propose that the single MCM hexamer state is a halting step in the determination of cell cycle progression.

Synergistic effects of methyl 2-cyano-3,11-dioxo-18beta-olean-1,-12-dien-30-oate and erlotinib on erlotinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is often characterized by an underlying mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), contributing to aggressive metastatic disease. Methyl 2-cyano-3,11-dioxo-18beta-olean-1,12-dien-30-oate (CDODA-Me), a glycyrrhetinic acid derivative, reportedly improves the therapeutic response to erlotinib (ERL), an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor. In the present study, we performed a series of studies to demonstrate the efficacy of CDODA-Me (2 μM) in sensitizing HCC827R (ERL-resistant) cells to ERL. Herein, we first established the selectivity of ERL-induced drug resistance in the HCC827R cells, which was sensitized when ERL was combined with CDODA-Me (2 μM), shifting the IC50 from 23.48 μM to 5.46 μM. Subsequently, whole transcriptomic microarray expression data demonstrated that the combination of ERL + CDODA-Me elicited 210 downregulated genes (0.44% of the whole transcriptome (WT)) and 174 upregulated genes (0.36% of the WT), of which approximately 80% were unique to the ERL + CDODA-Me group. Synergistic effects centered on losses to cell cycle progression transcripts, a reduction of minichromosome maintenance complex components (MCM2-7), all key components of the Cdc45·MCM2-7GINS (CMG) complex, and replicative helicases; these effects were tantamount to the upregulation of processes associated with the nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2 translational response to oxidative stress, including sulfiredoxin 1, heme oxygenase 1, and stress-induced growth inhibitor 1. Collectively, these findings indicate that the synergistic therapeutic effects of ERL + CDODA-Me on resistant NSCLC cells are mediated via the inhibition of mitosis and induction of oxidative stress.

Hyperactivation of MEK/ERK pathway by Ca2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 promotes cellular proliferation by activating cyclin-dependent kinases and minichromosome maintenance protein in gastric cancer cells

Although CAMKK2 is overexpressed in several cancers, its role and relevant downstream signaling pathways in gastric cancer (GC) are poorly understood. Treatment of AGS GC cells with a CAMKK2 inhibitor, STO-609, resulted in decreased cell proliferation, cell migration, invasion, colony-forming ability, and G1/S-phase arrest. Quantitative phosphoproteomics in AGS cells with the CAMKK2 inhibitor led to the identification of 9603 unique phosphosites mapping to 3120 proteins. We observed decreased phosphorylation of 1101 phosphopeptides (1.5-fold) corresponding to 752 proteins upon CAMKK2 inhibition. Bioinformatics analysis of hypo-phosphorylated proteins revealed enrichment of MAPK1/MAPK3 signaling. Kinase enrichment analysis of hypo-phosphorylated proteins using the X2K Web tool identified ERK1, cyclin-dependant kinase 1 (CDK1), and CDK2 as downstream substrates of CAMKK2. Moreover, inhibition of CAMKK2 and MEK1 resulted in decreased phosphorylation of ERK1, CDK1, MCM2, and MCM3. Immunofluorescence results were in concordance with our mass spectroscopy data and Western blot analysis results. Taken together, our data reveal the essential role of CAMKK2 in the pathobiology of GC through the activation of the MEK/ERK1 signaling cascade.

San1 deficiency leads to cardiomyopathy due to excessive R-loop-associated DNA damage and cardiomyocyte hypoplasia

R-loops are naturally occurring transcriptional intermediates containing RNA/DNA hybrids. Excessive R-loops cause genomic instability, DNA damage, and replication stress. Senataxin-associated exonuclease (San1) is a protein that interacts with Senataxin (SETX), a helicase resolving R-loops. It remains unknown if R-loops-induced DNA damage plays a role in the heart, especially in the proliferative neonatal cardiomyocytes (CMs). San1-/- mice were generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique. The newborn San1-/- mice show no overt phenotype, but their hearts were smaller with larger, yet fewer CMs. CM proliferation was impaired with reduced cell cycle-related transcripts and proteins. S9.6 staining revealed that excessive R-loops accumulated in the nucleus of neonatal San1-/- CMs. Increased γH2AX staining on newborn and adult heart sections exhibited increased DNA damage. Similarly, San1-/- AC16-cardiomyocytes showed cumulative R-loops and DNA damage, leading to the activation of cell cycle checkpoint kinase ATR and PARP1 hyperactivity, arresting G2/M cell-cycle and CM proliferation. Together, the present study uncovers an essential role of San1 in resolving excessive R-loops that lead to DNA damage and repressing CM proliferation, providing new insights into a novel biological function of San1 in the neonatal heart. San1 may serve as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of hypoplastic cardiac disorders.

MCM8 is regulated by EGFR signaling and promotes the growth of glioma stem cells through its interaction with DNA-replication-initiating factors

Mini-chromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins are critical components of DNA-replication-licensing factors. MCM8 is an MCM protein that exhibits oncogenic functions in several human malignancies. However, the role of MCM8 in glioblastomas (GBMs) has remained unclear. In the present study, we investigated the biological functions and mechanisms of MCM8 in glioma stem cells (GSCs). The clinical relevance of MCM8 mRNA expression was explored via TCGA and REMBRANDT datasets. The effects of MCM8 on the self-renewal and tumorigenicity of GSCs were examined both in vitro and in vivo. The regulation of MCM8 expression and its interacting proteins were also evaluated. We found that the expression of MCM8 was elevated in high-grade gliomas and classical molecular subtypes and was inversely correlated with patient prognosis. GSCs had a significantly higher expression of MCM8 compared with that in normal glioma cells. Silencing of MCM8 induced G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis, as well as inhibited the proliferation and self-renewal of GSCs. Forced expression of MCM8 enhanced clonogenicity of GSCs both in vitro and in vivo. MCM8 expression was regulated by EGFR signaling, which was mediated by NF-κB (p65). MCM8 interacted with DNA-replication-initiating factors-including EZH2, CDC6, and CDCA2-and influenced these factors to associate with chromatin. In addition, MCM8 knockdown increased the sensitivity of GSCs to radiation and TMZ treatments. Our findings suggest that MCM8, regulated by the EGFR pathway, maintains the clonogenic and tumorigenic potential of GSCs through interaction with DNA-replication-initiating factors; hence, MCM8 may represent a novel therapeutic target in GBMs.

Expression and Prognostic Value of MCM Family Genes in Osteosarcoma

We performed a detailed cancer VS normal analysis to explore the expression and prognostic value of minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteinsin human sarcoma. The mRNA expression levels of the MCM family genes in sarcoma were analyzed using data from ONCOMINE, GEPIA and CCLE databases. KEGG database was used to analyze the function of MCM2–7 complex in DNA replication and cell cycle. QRT-PCR and western blot were used to confirm the differential expression of key MCMs in osteosarcoma cell lines. Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry method were used to detect the cell proliferation and apoptosis of hFOB1.19 cells. The results showed that MCM1–7 and MCM10 were all upregulated in sarcoma in ONCOMINE database. MCM2, and MCM4–7 were highly expressed in sarcoma in GEPIA database. Moreover, all these ten factors were highly expressed in sarcoma cell lines. Furthermore, we analyzed the prognostic value of MCMs for sarcoma in GEPIA and found that MCM2, MCM3, MCM4, and MCM10 are prognostic biomarkers for human sarcoma. Analysis results using KEGG datasets showed that MCM4 and MCM6–7 constituted a core structure of MCM2-7 hexamers. We found that AzadC treatment and overexpression of MCM4 significantly promoted hFOB1.19 cell proliferation and inhibited apoptosis. The present study implied that MCM2–4 and 10 are potential biomarkers for the prognosis of sarcoma. The prognostic role of MCM4 may be attributable to the change in its DNA methylation patterns.

Replication Stress, Genomic Instability, and Replication Timing: A Complex Relationship

The replication-timing program constitutes a key element of the organization and coordination of numerous nuclear processes in eukaryotes. This program is established at a crucial moment in the cell cycle and occurs simultaneously with the organization of the genome, thus indicating the vital significance of this process. With recent technological achievements of high-throughput approaches, a very strong link has been confirmed between replication timing, transcriptional activity, the epigenetic and mutational landscape, and the 3D organization of the genome. There is also a clear relationship between replication stress, replication timing, and genomic instability, but the extent to which they are mutually linked to each other is unclear. Recent evidence has shown that replication timing is affected in cancer cells, although the cause and consequence of this effect remain unknown. However, in-depth studies remain to be performed to characterize the molecular mechanisms of replication-timing regulation and clearly identify different cis- and trans-acting factors. The results of these studies will potentially facilitate the discovery of new therapeutic pathways, particularly for personalized medicine, or new biomarkers. This review focuses on the complex relationship between replication timing, replication stress, and genomic instability.

The CRK2-CYC13 complex functions as an S-phase cyclin-dependent kinase to promote DNA replication in Trypanosoma brucei

BACKGROUND

Faithful DNA replication is essential to maintain genomic stability in all living organisms, and the regulatory pathway for DNA replication initiation is conserved from yeast to humans. The evolutionarily ancient human parasite Trypanosoma brucei, however, lacks many of the conserved DNA replication factors and may employ unusual mechanisms for DNA replication. Neither the S-phase cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) nor the regulatory pathway governing DNA replication has been previously identified in T. brucei.

RESULTS

Here we report that CRK2 (Cdc2-related kinase 2) complexes with CYC13 (Cyclin13) and functions as an S-phase CDK to promote DNA replication in T. brucei. We further show that CRK2 phosphorylates Mcm3, a subunit of the Mcm2-7 sub-complex of the Cdc45-Mcm2-7-GINS complex, and demonstrate that Mcm3 phosphorylation by CRK2 facilitates interaction with Sld5, a subunit of the GINS sub-complex of the Cdc45-Mcm2-7-GINS complex.

CONCLUSIONS

These results identify the CRK2-CYC13 complex as an S-phase regulator in T. brucei and reveal its role in regulating DNA replication through promoting the assembly of the Cdc45-Mcm2-7-GINS complex.

Biological features, gene expression profile, and mechanisms of drug resistance of two- and three-dimensional hepatocellular carcinoma cell cultures

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor with insidious onset and rapid progression. Its treatment is often difficult owing to tumor resistance. In this study, we aimed to understand the different biological characteristics, gene expression profiles, and drug resistance mechanisms of HCC cells cultured under different conditions. A conventional adherence method and a liquid overlay technique were used to prepare two- and three-dimensional cultures of Bel-7402 and 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu)-resistant Bel-7402 (Bel-7402/5-Fu) cells. Morphological characteristics were assessed via microscopy, and cell cycle distribution and apoptotic rate were obtained using flow cytometry. Cell sensitivity to different concentrations of drugs was detected with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays. Gene expression profiles and signal transduction pathways of Bel-7402 and Bel-7402/5-Fu cells under different culture conditions were determined using gene chips. Cells in three-dimensional culture were suspended and they grew into dense multicellular spheroid (MCS) structures, aggregating with each other. In contrast to cells in the two-dimensional culture, cell cycle arrest was observed in MCSs. The sensitivity of Bel-7402 cells in the two-dimensional culture to drugs at high concentrations was significantly higher than that of cells in the three-dimensional culture (p < .05). The apoptotic rate of Bel-7402 and Bel-7402/5-Fu cells was also higher in the two-dimensional culture (p < .05). Signal transduction pathway analysis showed that after Bel-7402 cells acquired resistance to 5-Fu, CCND1, MCM2, and MCM3 gene expression was upregulated in the G1 to S cell cycle control signal transduction pathway, CDKN1C and CCNG2 gene expression was downregulated, and MCM2 and MCM3 gene expression was upregulated in the DNA replication signal transduction pathway. Therefore, the liquid overlay technique is a simple, low-cost procedure to successfully construct three-dimensional culture models of HCC. This study provides new information and methods for exploring the molecular mechanisms of liver cancer resistance, clinical treatment, development of molecular information, and interventional prevention.

Proteomic Analyses Identify Differentially Expressed Proteins and Pathways Between Low-Risk and High-Risk Subtypes of Early-Stage Lung Adenocarcinoma and Their Prognostic Impacts

The histopathological subtype of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is closely associated with prognosis. Micropapillary or solid predominant LUAD tends to relapse after surgery at an early stage, whereas lepidic pattern shows a favorable outcome. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains unknown. Here, we recruited 31 lepidic predominant LUADs (LR: low-risk subtype group) and 28 micropapillary or solid predominant LUADs (HR: high-risk subtype group). Tissues of these cases were obtained and label-free quantitative proteomic and bioinformatic analyses were performed. Additionally, prognostic impact of targeted proteins was validated using The Cancer Genome Atlas databases (n = 492) and tissue microarrays composed of early-stage LUADs (n = 228). A total of 192 differentially expressed proteins were identified between tumor tissues of LR and HR and three clusters were identified via hierarchical clustering excluding eight proteins. Cluster 1 (65 proteins) showed a sequential decrease in expression from normal tissues to tumor tissues of LR and then to HR and was predominantly enriched in pathways such as tyrosine metabolism and ECM-receptor interaction, and increased matched mRNA expression of 18 proteins from this cluster predicted favorable prognosis. Cluster 2 (70 proteins) demonstrated a sequential increase in expression from normal tissues to tumor tissues of LR and then to HR and was mainly enriched in pathways such as extracellular organization, DNA replication and cell cycle, and high matched mRNA expression of 25 proteins indicated poor prognosis. Cluster 3 (49 proteins) showed high expression only in LR, with high matched mRNA expression of 20 proteins in this cluster indicating favorable prognosis. Furthermore, high expression of ERO1A and FEN1 at protein level predicted poor prognosis in early-stage LUAD, supporting the mRNA results. In conclusion, we discovered key differentially expressed proteins and pathways between low-risk and high-risk subtypes of early-stage LUAD. Some of these proteins could serve as potential biomarkers in prognostic evaluation.

Identification of Hub Genes as Potential Prognostic Biomarkers in Cervical Cancer Using Comprehensive Bioinformatics Analysis and Validation Studies

Background

Cervical cancer belongs to one of the most common female cancers; yet, the exact underlying mechanisms are still elusive. Recently, microarray and sequencing technologies have been widely used for screening biomarkers and molecular mechanism discovery in cancer studies. In this study, we aimed to analyse the microarray datasets using comprehensive bioinformatics tools and identified novel biomarkers associated with the prognosis of patients with cervical cancer.

Methods

The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets including GSE138080, GSE113942 and GSE63514 were analysed using GEO2R tool. The functional enrichment analysis was performed using g:Profiler tool. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction and hub genes identification were performed using the STRING database and Cytoscape software, respectively. The hub genes were subjected to expression and survival analysis in the cervical cancer. The EdU incorporation and Cell Counting Kit-8 assays were performed to evaluate the effects of hub gene knockdown on the proliferation of cervical cancer cells.

Results

A total of 89 overlapping DEGs (63 up-regulated and 26 down-regulated genes) were identified in the microarray datasets. The functional enrichment analysis indicated that the overlapping DEGs were mainly associated with "DNA replication" and "cell cycle". Furthermore, the PPI network analysis revealed that the network contains 87 nodes and 309 edges. Sub-module analysis using the Molecular Complex Detection tool identified 21 hub genes from the PPI network. The expression levels of the 21 hub genes were all up-regulated in the cervical cancer tissues when compared to normal cervical tissues as analysed by GEPIA tool. The survival analysis showed that the low expression of cell division cycle 45 (CDC45), GINS complex subunit 2 (GINS2), minichromosome maintenance complex component 2 (MCM2) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was significantly correlated with the shorter overall survival of patients with cervical cancer. Moreover, the protein expression levels of GINS2, MCM2 and PCNA, but not CDC45, were significantly up-regulated in the cervical cancer tissues when compared to normal cervical tissues. Finally, knockdown of MCM2 significantly suppressed the proliferation of HeLa and SiHa cells.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we screened a total of 89 overlapping DEGs from the GEO datasets, and further analysis identified four hub genes (CDC45, GINS2, MCM2 and PCNA) that were likely associated with the prognosis of patients with cervical cancer. MCM2 knockdown repressed the cervical cancer cell proliferation. The current findings may provide novel insights into understanding the pathophysiology of cervical cancer and develop therapeutic targets for patients with cervical cancer.

Recombination and Pol ζ Rescue Defective DNA Replication upon Impaired CMG Helicase-Pol ε Interaction

The CMG complex (Cdc45, Mcm2–7, GINS (Psf1, 2, 3, and Sld5)) is crucial for both DNA replication initiation and fork progression. The CMG helicase interaction with the leading strand DNA polymerase epsilon (Pol ε) is essential for the preferential loading of Pol ε onto the leading strand, the stimulation of the polymerase, and the modulation of helicase activity. Here, we analyze the consequences of impaired interaction between Pol ε and GINS in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells with the psf1-100 mutation. This significantly affects DNA replication activity measured in vitro, while in vivo, the psf1-100 mutation reduces replication fidelity by increasing slippage of Pol ε, which manifests as an elevated number of frameshifts. It also increases the occurrence of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) gaps and the demand for homologous recombination. The psf1-100 mutant shows elevated recombination rates and synthetic lethality with rad52Δ. Additionally, we observe increased participation of DNA polymerase zeta (Pol ζ) in DNA synthesis. We conclude that the impaired interaction between GINS and Pol ε requires enhanced involvement of error-prone Pol ζ, and increased participation of recombination as a rescue mechanism for recovery of impaired replication forks.

Neuronal Differentiation of LUHMES Cells Induces Substantial Changes of the Proteome

Neuronal cell lines are important model systems to study mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. One example is the Lund Human Mesencephalic (LUHMES) cell line, which can differentiate into dopaminergic-like neurons and is frequently used to study mechanisms of Parkinson's disease and neurotoxicity. Neuronal differentiation of LUHMES cells is commonly verified with selected neuronal markers, but little is known about the proteome-wide protein abundance changes during differentiation. Using mass spectrometry and label-free quantification (LFQ), the proteome of differentiated and undifferentiated LUHMES cells and of primary murine midbrain neurons are compared. Neuronal differentiation induced substantial changes of the LUHMES cell proteome, with proliferation-related proteins being strongly down-regulated and neuronal and dopaminergic proteins, such as L1CAM and α-synuclein (SNCA) being up to 1,000-fold up-regulated. Several of these proteins, including MAPT and SYN1, may be useful as new markers for experimentally validating neuronal differentiation of LUHMES cells. Primary midbrain neurons are slightly more closely related to differentiated than to undifferentiated LUHMES cells, in particular with respect to the abundance of proteins related to neurodegeneration. In summary, the analysis demonstrates that differentiated LUHMES cells are a suitable model for studies on neurodegeneration and provides a resource of the proteome-wide changes during neuronal differentiation. (ProteomeXchange identifier PXD020044).

Proteomic and Phosphoproteomic Maps of Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma From Chinese Patients

Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is one of the leading causes of tumor-driven deaths in the world. To date, studies on the tumor heterogeneity of LUSC at genomic level have only revealed limited therapeutic benefits. Therefore, system-wide research of LUSC at proteomic level may further improve precision medicine strategies on individual demands. To this end, we performed proteomic and phosphoproteomic study for LUSC samples of 25 Chinese patients. From our results, two subgroups (Cluster I and II) based on proteomic data were identified, which were associated with distinct molecular characteristics and clinicopathologic features. Combined with phosphoproteomic data, our result showed that spliceosome pathway was enriched in Cluster I, while focal adhesion pathway, immune-related pathways and Ras signaling pathway were enriched in Cluster II. In addition, we found that lymph node metastasis (LNM) was associated with our proteomic subgroups and cell cycle pathway was enriched in patients with LNM. Further analysis showed that MCM2, a DNA replication licensing factor involved in cell cycle pathway, was highly expressed in patients with poor prognosis, which was further proved by immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis. In summary, our study provided a resource of the proteomic and phosphoproteomic features of LUSC in Chinese patients.

The impact of MCM6 on hepatocellular carcinoma in a Southern Chinese Zhuang population

Minichromosome maintenance complex component 6 (MCM6) is involved in tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Because its effect on different populations remains unclear, this study investigated the impact of MCM6 on HCC in Southern Chinese Zhuang population. In addition to assessing the global mRNA levels of MCM6 based on The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA) and The Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO), associations between MCM6 mRNA levels and clinicopathological features were analyzed. High MCM6 levels were associated with high alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (>20 ng/mL in serum) (P < 0.0001) and advanced clinical stage (III + IV) (P < 0.001). Higher MCM6 was associated with poorer outcomes (P < 0.01) in these databases. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression of MCM6 in the Guangxi Zhuang population was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), western blot, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The results showed that MCM6 levels were up-regulated in the Zhuang population with HCC. Higher MCM6 protein levels were correlated with larger tumor size (>5 cm) (P = 0.038) and advanced clinical stage (III + IV) (p = 0.023). Bioinformatic enrichment analysis of MCM6 and its interacting proteins (CDT1,WEE1,TRIM28 and MKI67) suggested that in addition to being involved in the cell cycle process, these complexes could also be involved in protein binding, pre-replication complex assemble, and nucleus metabolism. Based on the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network with module screen, the interactions between MCM6 and its potential interacting proteins were further studied through protein docking with hot spot analysis. Additionally, the results of the algorithms combining the ROC of MCM6 and its interacting proteins showed that combination biomarker analysis has better HCC diagnosis ability than the single MCM6 test. The combination of MCM6 and TRIM28 was more suitable for the Guangxi Zhuang population. Overall, our study suggests that MCM6 plays an important role in the growth of HCC. MCM6 could be an optimal biomarker for diagnosing HCC and a potential molecular target for HCC therapy in the Zhuang population.

Proteome of thymus and spleen reveals that 10-hydroxydec-2-enoic acid could enhance immunity in mice

Objectives: 10-hydroxydec-2-enoic acid (10-HDA), a unique component of royal jelly existing only in nature, has the potential to promote human health. Knowledge of 10-HDA in regulating immuno-activity, however, is lacking. The aim of our work is to gain a novel understanding of 10-HDA in promoting immunity.Methods: Immuno-suppressed mice were generated by cyclophosphamide injection, After 10-HDA supplementation to the mice to rescue their immunity, the proteomes of the thymus and spleen were analyzed.Results: The weight of the body, thymus, and spleen in cyclophosphamide-induced mice recovered by 10-HDA indicate its potential role in immuno-organ protection. In the thymus, the enhanced activity of pathways associated with DNA/RNA/protein activities may be critical for T-lymphocyte proliferation/differentiation, and cytotoxicity. In the spleen, the induced pathways involved in DNA/RNA/protein activities, and cell proliferative stimulation suggest their vital role in B-lymphocyte affinity maturation, antigen presentation, and macrophage activity. The up-regulated proteins highly connected in networks modulated by 10-HDA indicate that the mice may evolve tactics to respond to immuno-organ impairment by activating critical physiological processes.Conclusion: Our data constitute a proof-of-concept that 10-HDA is a potential agent to improve immunity in the thymus and spleen and offer a new venue for applying natural products to the therapy for hypoimmunity.

Working on Genomic Stability: From the S-Phase to Mitosis

Fidelity in chromosome duplication and segregation is indispensable for maintaining genomic stability and the perpetuation of life. Challenges to genome integrity jeopardize cell survival and are at the root of different types of pathologies, such as cancer. The following three main sources of genomic instability exist: DNA damage, replicative stress, and chromosome segregation defects. In response to these challenges, eukaryotic cells have evolved control mechanisms, also known as checkpoint systems, which sense under-replicated or damaged DNA and activate specialized DNA repair machineries. Cells make use of these checkpoints throughout interphase to shield genome integrity before mitosis. Later on, when the cells enter into mitosis, the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) is activated and remains active until the chromosomes are properly attached to the spindle apparatus to ensure an equal segregation among daughter cells. All of these processes are tightly interconnected and under strict regulation in the context of the cell division cycle. The chromosomal instability underlying cancer pathogenesis has recently emerged as a major source for understanding the mitotic processes that helps to safeguard genome integrity. Here, we review the special interconnection between the S-phase and mitosis in the presence of under-replicated DNA regions. Furthermore, we discuss what is known about the DNA damage response activated in mitosis that preserves chromosomal integrity.

Knockdown of MCM10 Gene Impairs Glioblastoma Cell Proliferation, Migration and Invasion and the Implications for the Regulation of Tumorigenesis

Minichromosome maintenance 10 (MCM10) plays an important role in DNA replication and is expressed in a variety of tumors, including glioma. However, its role and mechanism in glioma remain elusive. The purpose of this study was to examine the molecular function of MCM10 in glioblastoma cell lines in vitro and to further investigate the molecular mechanisms in the network mediated by MCM10. Cell proliferation, invasion, and migration were investigated in the absence of MCM10 mediated by RNA interference (RNAi) in U87 and U251 cell lines. Microarray data were obtained from U87 cells infected with a lentivirus expressing a small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting MCM10, and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) was performed. Molecular signaling pathways, gene functions, and upstream and downstream regulatory genes and networks were analyzed. MCM10 was positively stained in human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) samples according to immunohistochemistry. Silencing MCM10 in U87 and U251 cells significantly reduced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In U87 cells transfected with MCM10, 274 genes were significantly upregulated, while 313 genes were downregulated. IPA revealed that MCM10 is involved in the IGF-1 signaling pathway, and calcitriol appears to be a significant upstream regulator of MCM10. Other factors, such as TWIST1 and Stat3, also interact within the MCM10-mediated network. Our data indicate that MCM10 is involved in the regulation of GBM in vitro and may provide more evidence for understanding the molecular mechanisms of this fatal disease.

MCMs in Cancer: Prognostic Potential and Mechanisms

Enabling replicative immortality and uncontrolled cell cycle are hallmarks of cancer cells. Minichromosome maintenance proteins (MCMs) exhibit helicase activity in replication initiation and play vital roles in controlling replication times within a cell cycle. Overexpressed MCMs are detected in various cancerous tissues and cancer cell lines. Previous studies have proposed MCMs as promising proliferation markers in cancers, while the prognostic values remain controversial and the underlying mechanisms remain unascertained. This review provides an overview of the significant findings regarding the cellular and tumorigenic functions of the MCM family. Besides, current evidence of the prognostic roles of MCMs is retrospectively reviewed. This work also offers insight into the mechanisms of MCMs prompting carcinogenesis and adverse prognosis, providing information for future research. Finally, MCMs in liver cancer are specifically discussed, and future perspectives are provided.

Antitumor Activity of Ohmyungsamycin A through the Regulation of the Skp2-p27 Axis and MCM4 in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

Ohmyungsamycin A (1), a novel cyclic peptide discovered from a marine Streptomyces sp., was previously reported with antibacterial and anticancer activities. However, the antitumor activities and the underlying molecular mechanisms of 1 remain to be elucidated. Compound 1 inhibited the proliferation and tumor growth of HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells based on both in vitro cell cultures and an in vivo animal model. A cDNA microarray analysis revealed that 1 downregulated genes involved in cell cycle checkpoint control. Compound 1 also induced G₀/G₁ cell cycle arrest that was mediated by the regulation of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2)-p27 axis and minichromosome maintenance protein 4 (MCM4). Furthermore, a longer exposure of 1 exhibited an accumulation of a sub-G₁ phase cell population, which is characteristic of apoptotic cells. The induction of apoptosis by 1 was also associated with the modulation of caspase family proteins. Compound 1 effectively suppressed tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model subcutaneously implanted with HCT116 cells. In addition, analysis of tumors revealed that 1 upregulated the expression of the CDK inhibitor p27 but downregulated the expression of Skp2 and MCM4. These findings demonstrate the involvement of 1 in cell cycle regulation and the induction of apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells.

Gain-of-Function Mutant p53 R273H Interacts with Replicating DNA and PARP1 in Breast Cancer

Over 80% of triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) express mutant p53 (mtp53) and some contain oncogenic gain-of-function (GOF) p53. We previously reported that GOF mtp53 R273H upregulates the chromatin association of mini chromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins MCM2-7 and PARP and named this the mtp53-PARP-MCM axis. In this study, we dissected the function and association between mtp53 and PARP using a number of different cell lines, patient-derived xenografts (PDX), tissue microarrays (TMA), and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Endogenous mtp53 R273H and exogenously expressed R273H and R248W bound to nascent 5-ethynyl-2´-deoxyuridine-labeled replicating DNA. Increased mtp53 R273H enhanced the association of mtp53 and PARP on replicating DNA. Blocking poly-ADP-ribose gylcohydrolase also enhanced this association. Moreover, mtp53 R273H expression enhanced overall MCM2 levels, promoted cell proliferation, and improved the synergistic cytotoxicity of treatment with the alkylating agent temozolomide in combination with the PARP inhibitor (PARPi) talazoparib. Staining of p53 and PARP1 in breast cancer TMAs and comparison with the TCGA database indicated a higher double-positive signal in basal-like breast cancer than in luminal A or luminal B subtypes. Higher PARP1 protein levels and PAR proteins were detected in mtp53 R273H than in wild-type p53-expressing PDX samples. These results indicate that mtp53 R273H and PARP1 interact with replicating DNA and should be considered as dual biomarkers for identifying breast cancers that may respond to combination PARPi treatments. SIGNIFICANCE: p53 gain-of-function mutant 273H and PARP1 interact with replication forks and could serve as potential biomarkers for breast cancer sensitivity to PARP inhibitors. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/80/3/394/F1.large.jpg.

α-Tocopherol Modulates Non-Amyloidogenic Pathway and Autophagy in an In Vitro Model of Alzheimer's Disease: A Transcriptional Study

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia worldwide. The hallmarks of AD are the extracellular amyloid plaques, which are formed by amyloid β (Aβ) aggregates derived from the processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), and the intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles, which are formed by the hyperphosphorylated tau protein. The aim of this work was to study the effects of α-tocopherol in retinoic acid differentiated SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells exposed to Aβ_1-42 evaluating the transcriptional profile by next-generation sequencing. We observed that α-tocopherol was able to reduce the cytotoxicity induced by Aβ treatment, as demonstrated by Thiazolyl Blue Tetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay. Moreover, the transcriptomic analysis evidenced that α-tocopherol treatment upregulated genes involved in the non-amyloidogenic processing of APP, while it downregulated the amyloidogenic pathway. Moreover, α-tocopherol modulated the expression of the genes involved in autophagy and the cell cycle, which are both known to be altered in AD. The treatment with α-tocopherol was also able to reduce oxidative stress, restoring nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2) and decreasing inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels, as demonstrated by immunocytochemistry.

Seven-senescence-associated gene signature predicts overall survival for Asian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Cellular senescence is a recognized barrier for progression of chronic liver diseases to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expression of a cluster of genes is altered in response to environmental factors during senescence. However, it is questionable whether these genes could serve as biomarkers for HCC patients.

AIM

To develop a signature of senescence-associated genes (SAGs) that predicts patients’ overall survival (OS) to improve prognosis prediction of HCC.

METHODS

SAGs were identified using two senescent cell models. Univariate COX regression analysis was performed to screen the candidate genes significantly associated with OS of HCC in a discovery cohort (GSE14520) for the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator modelling. Prognostic value of this seven-gene signature was evaluated using two independent cohorts retrieved from the GEO (GSE14520) and the Cancer Genome Atlas datasets, respectively. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to compare the predictive accuracy of the seven-SAG signature and serum α-fetoprotein (AFP).

RESULTS

A total of 42 SAGs were screened and seven of them, including KIF18B, CEP55, CIT, MCM7, CDC45, EZH2, and MCM5, were used to construct a prognostic formula. All seven genes were significantly downregulated in senescent cells and upregulated in HCC tissues. Survival analysis indicated that our seven-SAG signature was strongly associated with OS, especially in Asian populations, both in discovery and validation cohorts. Moreover, time-dependent ROC curve analysis suggested the seven-gene signature had a better predictive accuracy than serum AFP in predicting HCC patients’ 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS.

CONCLUSION

We developed a seven-SAG signature, which could predict OS of Asian HCC patients. This risk model provides new clinical evidence for the accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment of HCC.