1
|
Townley R, Deniaud A, Stacy KS, Torres CSR, Cheraghi F, Wicker NB, de la Cova CC. The E3/E4 ubiquitin ligase UFD-2 suppresses normal and oncogenic signaling mediated by a Raf ortholog in Caenorhabditis elegans. Sci Signal 2023; 16:eabq4355. [PMID: 37643243 PMCID: PMC10656100 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abq4355] [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: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Signaling by the kinase cascade composed of Raf, MEK, and ERK is critical for animal development and is often inappropriately activated in human malignancies. We sought to identify factors that control signaling mediated by the Caenorhabditis elegans Raf ortholog LIN-45. A genetic screen showed that the degradation of LIN-45 required the E3/E4 ubiquitin ligase UFD-2. Both UFD-2 and its partner, the ATP-dependent segregase CDC-48, were required for the developmental regulation of LIN-45 protein abundance. We showed that UFD-2 acted in the same pathway as the E3 ubiquitin ligase SCFSEL-10 to decrease LIN-45 abundance in cells in which Raf-MEK-ERK signaling was most highly active. UFD-2 also reduced the protein abundance of activated LIN-45 carrying a mutation equivalent to the cancer-associated BRAF(V600E) variant. Our structure-function studies showed that the disruption of LIN-45 domains that mediate protein-protein interactions, including the conserved cysteine-rich domain and 14-3-3 binding motifs, were required for UFD-2-independent degradation of LIN-45. We propose a model in which UFD-2 and CDC-48 act downstream of SCFSEL-10 to remove LIN-45 from its protein interaction partners and facilitate proteasomal targeting and degradation. These findings imply that UFD-2 and CDC-48 may be important for Raf degradation during normal and oncogenic Ras and MAPK signaling in mammalian cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Townley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53201 USA
| | - Augustin Deniaud
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53201 USA
| | - Kennedy S. Stacy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53201 USA
| | | | - Fatemeh Cheraghi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53201 USA
| | - Nicole B. Wicker
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53201 USA
| | - Claire C. de la Cova
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53201 USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jayadev R, Chi Q, Sherwood DR. Post-embryonic endogenous expression and localization of LET-60/Ras in C. elegans. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2023; 2023:10.17912/micropub.biology.000931. [PMID: 37692087 PMCID: PMC10492041 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Ras GTPases regulate many developmental and physiological processes and mutations in Ras are associated with numerous human cancers. Here, we report the function, levels, and localization of an N-terminal knock-in of mNeonGreen (mNG) into C. elegans LET-60 /Ras. mNG:: LET-60 interferes with some but not all LET-60 /Ras functions. mNG:: LET-60 is broadly present in tissues, found at different levels in cells, and concentrates in distinct subcellular compartments, including the nucleolus, nucleus, intracellular region, and plasma membrane. These results suggest that mNG:: LET-60 can be a useful tool for determining LET-60 levels and localization once its functionality in a developmental or physiological process is established.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Qiuyi Chi
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
O'Keeffe C, Greenwald I. EGFR signal transduction is downregulated in C. elegans vulval precursor cells during dauer diapause. Development 2022; 149:dev201094. [PMID: 36227589 PMCID: PMC9793418 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans larvae display developmental plasticity in response to environmental conditions: in adverse conditions, second-stage larvae enter a reversible, long-lived dauer stage instead of proceeding to reproductive adulthood. Dauer entry interrupts vulval induction and is associated with a reprogramming-like event that preserves the multipotency of vulval precursor cells (VPCs), allowing vulval development to reinitiate if conditions improve. Vulval induction requires the LIN-3/EGF-like signal from the gonad, which activates EGFR-Ras-ERK signal transduction in the nearest VPC, P6.p. Here, using a biosensor and live imaging we show that EGFR-Ras-ERK activity is downregulated in P6.p in dauers. We investigated this process using gene mutations or transgenes to manipulate different steps of the pathway, and by analyzing LET-23/EGFR subcellular localization during dauer life history. We found that the response to EGF is attenuated at or upstream of Ras activation, and discuss potential membrane-associated mechanisms that could achieve this. We also describe other findings pertaining to the maintenance of VPC competence and quiescence in dauer larvae. Our analysis indicates that VPCs have L2-like and unique dauer stage features rather than features of L3 VPCs in continuous development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine O'Keeffe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Iva Greenwald
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cooper JF, Guasp RJ, Arnold ML, Grant BD, Driscoll M. Stress increases in exopher-mediated neuronal extrusion require lipid biosynthesis, FGF, and EGF RAS/MAPK signaling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2101410118. [PMID: 34475208 PMCID: PMC8433523 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2101410118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In human neurodegenerative diseases, neurons can transfer toxic protein aggregates to surrounding cells, promoting pathology via poorly understood mechanisms. In Caenorhabditis elegans, proteostressed neurons can expel neurotoxic proteins in large, membrane-bound vesicles called exophers. We investigated how specific stresses impact neuronal trash expulsion to show that neuronal exopher production can be markedly elevated by oxidative and osmotic stress. Unexpectedly, we also found that fasting dramatically increases exophergenesis. Mechanistic dissection focused on identifying nonautonomous factors that sense and activate the fasting-induced exopher response revealed that DAF16/FOXO-dependent and -independent processes are engaged. Fasting-induced exopher elevation requires the intestinal peptide transporter PEPT-1, lipid synthesis transcription factors Mediator complex MDT-15 and SBP-1/SREPB1, and fatty acid synthase FASN-1, implicating remotely initiated lipid signaling in neuronal trash elimination. A conserved fibroblast growth factor (FGF)/RAS/MAPK signaling pathway that acts downstream of, or in parallel to, lipid signaling also promotes fasting-induced neuronal exopher elevation. A germline-based epidermal growth factor (EGF) signal that acts through neurons is also required for exopher production. Our data define a nonautonomous network that links food availability changes to remote, and extreme, neuronal homeostasis responses relevant to aggregate transfer biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason F Cooper
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Ryan J Guasp
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Meghan Lee Arnold
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Barth D Grant
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854
- Rutgers Center for Lipid Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
| | - Monica Driscoll
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854;
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rasmussen NR, Reiner DJ. Nuclear translocation of the tagged endogenous MAPK MPK-1 denotes a subset of activation events in C. elegans development. J Cell Sci 2021; 134:272044. [PMID: 34341823 PMCID: PMC8445601 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.258456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) are mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) that are utilized downstream of Ras to Raf to MEK signaling to control activation of a wide array of targets. Activation of ERKs is elevated in Ras-driven tumors and RASopathies, and thus is a target for pharmacological inhibition. Regulatory mechanisms of ERK activation have been studied extensively in vitro and in cultured cells, but little in living animals. In this study, we tagged the Caenorhabditis elegans ERK-encoding gene, mpk-1. MPK-1 is ubiquitously expressed with elevated expression in certain contexts. We detected cytosol-to-nuclear translocation of MPK-1 in maturing oocytes and hence validated nuclear translocation as a reporter of some activation events. During patterning of vulval precursor cells (VPCs), MPK-1 is necessary and sufficient for the central cell, P6.p, to assume the primary fate. Yet MPK-1 translocates to the nuclei of all six VPCs in a temporal and concentration gradient centered on P6.p. This observation contrasts with previous results using the ERK nuclear kinase translocation reporter of substrate activation, raising questions about mechanisms and indicators of MPK-1 activation. This system and reagent promise to provide critical insights into the regulation of MPK-1 activation within a complex intercellular signaling network. Summary: Tagged endogenous C. elegans MPK-1 shows activation-dependent cytosol-to-nuclear translocation. This tool provides novel insights into MPK-1 localization compared with other markers of in vivo ERK activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neal R Rasmussen
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, Houston, 77030, USA
| | - David J Reiner
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, Houston, 77030, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Anti-Cancer Effects of Cyclic Peptide ALOS4 in a Human Melanoma Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179579. [PMID: 34502483 PMCID: PMC8430629 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined the effects of ALOS4, a cyclic peptide discovered previously by phage library selection against integrin αvβ3, on a human melanoma (A375) xenograft model to determine its abilities as a potential anti-cancer agent. We found that ALOS4 promoted healthy weight gain in A375-engrafted nude mice and reduced melanoma tumor mass and volume. Despite these positive changes, examination of the tumor tissue did not indicate any significant effects on proliferation, mitotic index, tissue vascularization, or reduction of αSMA or Ki-67 tumor markers. Modulation in overall expression of critical downstream αvβ3 integrin factors, such as FAK and Src, as well as reductions in gene expression of c-Fos and c-Jun transcription factors, indirectly confirmed our suspicions that ALOS4 is likely acting through an integrin-mediated pathway. Further, we found no overt formulation issues with ALOS4 regarding interaction with standard inert laboratory materials (polypropylene, borosilicate glass) or with pH and temperature stability under prolonged storage. Collectively, ALOS4 appears to be safe, chemically stable, and produces anti-cancer effects in a human xenograft model of melanoma. We believe these results suggest a role for ALOS4 in an integrin-mediated pathway in exerting its anti-cancer effects possibly through immune response modulation.
Collapse
|
7
|
Kropp PA, Bauer R, Zafra I, Graham C, Golden A. Caenorhabditis elegans for rare disease modeling and drug discovery: strategies and strengths. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:dmm049010. [PMID: 34370008 PMCID: PMC8380043 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although nearly 10% of Americans suffer from a rare disease, clinical progress in individual rare diseases is severely compromised by lack of attention and research resources compared to common diseases. It is thus imperative to investigate these diseases at their most basic level to build a foundation and provide the opportunity for understanding their mechanisms and phenotypes, as well as potential treatments. One strategy for effectively and efficiently studying rare diseases is using genetically tractable organisms to model the disease and learn about the essential cellular processes affected. Beyond investigating dysfunctional cellular processes, modeling rare diseases in simple organisms presents the opportunity to screen for pharmacological or genetic factors capable of ameliorating disease phenotypes. Among the small model organisms that excel in rare disease modeling is the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. With a staggering breadth of research tools, C. elegans provides an ideal system in which to study human disease. Molecular and cellular processes can be easily elucidated, assayed and altered in ways that can be directly translated to humans. When paired with other model organisms and collaborative efforts with clinicians, the power of these C. elegans studies cannot be overstated. This Review highlights studies that have used C. elegans in diverse ways to understand rare diseases and aid in the development of treatments. With continuing and advancing technologies, the capabilities of this small round worm will continue to yield meaningful and clinically relevant information for human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Andy Golden
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Brock EJ, Jackson RM, Boerner JL, Li Q, Tennis MA, Sloane BF, Mattingly RR. Sprouty4 negatively regulates ERK/MAPK signaling and the transition from in situ to invasive breast ductal carcinoma. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252314. [PMID: 34048471 PMCID: PMC8162601 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a non-obligate precursor of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). It is still unclear which DCIS will become invasive and which will remain indolent. Patients often receive surgery and radiotherapy, but this early intervention has not produced substantial decreases in late-stage disease. Sprouty proteins are important regulators of ERK/MAPK signaling and have been studied in various cancers. We hypothesized that Sprouty4 is an endogenous inhibitor of ERK/MAPK signaling and that its loss/reduced expression is a mechanism by which DCIS lesions progress toward IDC, including triple-negative disease. Using immunohistochemistry, we found reduced Sprouty4 expression in IDC patient samples compared to DCIS, and that ERK/MAPK phosphorylation had an inverse relationship to Sprouty4 expression. These observations were reproduced using a 3D culture model of disease progression. Knockdown of Sprouty4 in MCF10.DCIS cells increased ERK/MAPK phosphorylation as well as their invasive capability, while overexpression of Sprouty4 in MCF10.CA1d IDC cells reduced ERK/MAPK phosphorylation, invasion, and the aggressive phenotype exhibited by these cells. Immunofluorescence experiments revealed reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and relocation of E-cadherin back to the cell surface, consistent with the restoration of adherens junctions. To determine whether these effects were due to changes in ERK/MAPK signaling, MEK1/2 was pharmacologically inhibited in IDC cells. Nanomolar concentrations of MEK162/binimetinib restored an epithelial-like phenotype and reduced pericellular proteolysis, similar to Sprouty4 overexpression. From these data we conclude that Sprouty4 acts to control ERK/MAPK signaling in DCIS, thus limiting the progression of these premalignant breast lesions.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Breast Neoplasms/genetics
- Breast Neoplasms/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/genetics
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/genetics
- Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cells, Cultured
- Female
- Humans
- Immunoblotting
- Immunohistochemistry
- Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics
- Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1/genetics
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1/metabolism
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3/genetics
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3/metabolism
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ethan J. Brock
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United states of America
| | - Ryan M. Jackson
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United states of America
| | - Julie L. Boerner
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United states of America
| | - Quanwen Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United states of America
| | - Meredith A. Tennis
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United states of America
| | - Bonnie F. Sloane
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United states of America
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United states of America
| | - Raymond R. Mattingly
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United states of America
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United states of America
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Robinson-Thiewes S, Dufour B, Martel PO, Lechasseur X, Brou AAD, Roy V, Chen Y, Kimble J, Narbonne P. Non-autonomous regulation of germline stem cell proliferation by somatic MPK-1/MAPK activity in C. elegans. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109162. [PMID: 34038716 PMCID: PMC8182673 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is a major positive regulator of cell proliferation, which is often upregulated in cancer. However, few studies have addressed ERK/MAPK regulation of proliferation within a complete organism. The Caenorhabditis elegans ERK/MAPK ortholog MPK-1 is best known for its control of somatic organogenesis and germline differentiation, but it also stimulates germline stem cell proliferation. Here, we show that the germline-specific MPK-1B isoform promotes germline differentiation but has no apparent role in germline stem cell proliferation. By contrast, the soma-specific MPK-1A isoform promotes germline stem cell proliferation non-autonomously. Indeed, MPK-1A functions in the intestine or somatic gonad to promote germline proliferation independent of its other known roles. We propose that a non-autonomous role of ERK/MAPK in stem cell proliferation may be conserved across species and various tissue types, with major clinical implications for cancer and other diseases. The prevailing paradigm is that ERK/MAPK functions autonomously to promote cell proliferation upon mitogen stimulation. Robinson-Thiewes et al. now demonstrate that C. elegans ERK/MAPK acts within somatic tissues to non-autonomously promote the proliferation of germline stem cells. Germline ERK/MAPK is thus dispensable for germline stem cell proliferation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin Dufour
- Département de Biologie Médicale, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7, Canada
| | - Pier-Olivier Martel
- Département de Biologie Médicale, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7, Canada
| | - Xavier Lechasseur
- Département de Biologie Médicale, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7, Canada
| | - Amani Ange Danielle Brou
- Département de Biologie Médicale, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7, Canada
| | - Vincent Roy
- Département de Biologie Médicale, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7, Canada; Département de Biologie Moléculaire, de Biochimie Médicale et de pathologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, QC G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - Yunqing Chen
- Département de Biologie Médicale, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7, Canada
| | - Judith Kimble
- Department of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706-1580, USA
| | - Patrick Narbonne
- Département de Biologie Médicale, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7, Canada; Département de Biologie Moléculaire, de Biochimie Médicale et de pathologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, QC G1R 3S3, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Knox J, Joly N, Linossi EM, Carmona-Negrón JA, Jura N, Pintard L, Zuercher W, Roy PJ. A survey of the kinome pharmacopeia reveals multiple scaffolds and targets for the development of novel anthelmintics. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9161. [PMID: 33911106 PMCID: PMC8080662 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88150-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Over one billion people are currently infected with a parasitic nematode. Symptoms can include anemia, malnutrition, developmental delay, and in severe cases, death. Resistance is emerging to the anthelmintics currently used to treat nematode infection, prompting the need to develop new anthelmintics. Towards this end, we identified a set of kinases that may be targeted in a nematode-selective manner. We first screened 2040 inhibitors of vertebrate kinases for those that impair the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. By determining whether the terminal phenotype induced by each kinase inhibitor matched that of the predicted target mutant in C. elegans, we identified 17 druggable nematode kinase targets. Of these, we found that nematode EGFR, MEK1, and PLK1 kinases have diverged from vertebrates within their drug-binding pocket. For each of these targets, we identified small molecule scaffolds that may be further modified to develop nematode-selective inhibitors. Nematode EGFR, MEK1, and PLK1 therefore represent key targets for the development of new anthelmintic medicines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Knox
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Nicolas Joly
- Programme Équipe Labellisée Ligue Contre Le Cancer, Institut Jacques Monod, UMR7592, Université de Paris, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Edmond M Linossi
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - José A Carmona-Negrón
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Natalia Jura
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Lionel Pintard
- Programme Équipe Labellisée Ligue Contre Le Cancer, Institut Jacques Monod, UMR7592, Université de Paris, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - William Zuercher
- School of Pharmacy, UNC Eshelman, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Peter J Roy
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada. .,The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada. .,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
BRAF Controls the Effects of Metformin on Neuroblast Cell Divisions in C. elegans. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010178. [PMID: 33375360 PMCID: PMC7795703 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Metformin has demonstrated substantial potential for use in cancer treatments. Liver kinase B (LKB)-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and mTOR are reported to be the main targets of metformin in relation to its ability to prevent cancer cell proliferation. However, the role of metformin in the control of neoplastic cancer cell growth is possibly independent of LKB-AMPK and mTOR. Using C. elegans as a model, we found that the neuronal Q-cell divisions in L1-arrested worms were suppressed following metformin treatment in AMPK-deficient mutants, suggesting that the mechanism by which metformin suppresses these cell divisions is independent of AMPK. Our results showed that the mTOR pathway indeed played a role in controlling germ cell proliferation, but it was not involved in the neuronal Q-cell divisions occurring in L1-arrested worms. We found that the neuronal Q-cells divisions were held at G1/S cell stage by metformin in vivo. Additionally, we demonstrated that metformin could reduce the phosphorylation activity of BRAF and block the BRAF-MAPK oncogenesis pathway to regulate neuronal Q-cell divisions during L1 arrest. This work discloses a new mechanism by which metformin treatment acts to promote neuronal cancer prevention, and these results will help promote the study of the anticancer mechanisms underlying metformin treatments.
Collapse
|
12
|
de la Cova CC, Townley R, Greenwald I. Negative feedback by conserved kinases patterns the degradation of Caenorhabditis elegans Raf in vulval fate patterning. Development 2020; 147:226094. [PMID: 33144396 DOI: 10.1242/dev.195941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Activation of a canonical EGFR-Ras-Raf-ERK cascade initiates patterning of multipotent vulval precursor cells (VPCs) of Caenorhabditis elegans We have previously shown that this pathway includes a negative-feedback component in which MPK-1/ERK activity targets the upstream kinase LIN-45/Raf for degradation by the SEL-10/FBXW7 E3 ubiquitin ligase. This regulation requires a Cdc4 phosphodegron (CPD) in LIN-45 that is conserved in BRAF. Here, we identify and characterize the minimal degron that encompasses the CPD and is sufficient for SEL-10-mediated, MPK-1-dependent protein degradation. A targeted screen of conserved protein kinase-encoding genes yielded gsk-3 (an ortholog of human GSK3B) and cdk-2 (a CDK2-related kinase) as required for LIN-45 degron-mediated turnover. Genetic analysis revealed that LIN-45 degradation is blocked at the second larval stage due to cell cycle quiescence, and that relief of this block during the third larval stage relies on activation of CDKs. Additionally, activation of MPK-1 provides spatial pattern to LIN-45 degradation but does not bypass the requirement for gsk-3 and cdk-2 This analysis supports a model whereby MPK-1/ERK, GSK-3/GSK3 and CDK-2/CDK2, along with SEL-10/FBXW7, constitute a regulatory network that exerts spatial and temporal control of LIN-45/Raf degradation during VPC patterning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire C de la Cova
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
| | - Robert Townley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
| | - Iva Greenwald
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Duong T, Rasmussen NR, Reiner DJ. Insulated Switches: Dual-Function Protein RalGEF RGL-1 Promotes Developmental Fidelity. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21207610. [PMID: 33076222 PMCID: PMC7588897 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The C. elegans vulva is an excellent model for the study of developmental biology and cell–cell signaling. The developmental induction of vulval precursor cells (VPCs) to assume the 3°-3°-2°-1°-2°-3° patterning of cell fates occurs with 99.8% accuracy. During C. elegans vulval development, an EGF signal from the anchor cell initiates the activation of RasLET-60 > RafLIN-45 > MEKMEK-2 > ERKMPK-1 signaling cascade to induce the 1° cell. The presumptive 1° cell signals its two neighboring cells via NotchLIN-12 to develop 2° cells. In addition, RasLET-60 switches effectors to RalGEFRGL-1 > RalRAL-1 to promote 2° fate. Shin et al. (2019) showed that RalGEFRGL-1 is a dual-function protein in VPCs fate patterning. RalGEFRGL-1 functions as a scaffold for PDKPDK-1 > AktAKT-1/2 modulatory signaling to promote 1° fate in addition to propagating the RasLET-60 modulatory signal through RalRAL-1 to promote 2° fate. The deletion of RalGEFRGL-1 increases the frequency of VPC patterning errors 15-fold compared to the wild-type control. We speculate that RalGEFRGL-1 represents an “insulated switch”, whereby the promotion of one signaling activity curtails the promotion of the opposing activity. This property might increase the impact of the switch on fidelity more than two separately encoded proteins could. Understanding how developmental fidelity is controlled will help us to better understand the origins of cancer and birth defects, which occur in part due to the misspecification of cell fates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tam Duong
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (T.D.); (N.R.R.)
- Department of Translational Medical Science, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Neal R. Rasmussen
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (T.D.); (N.R.R.)
- Department of Translational Medical Science, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - David J. Reiner
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (T.D.); (N.R.R.)
- Department of Translational Medical Science, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Motta M, Pannone L, Pantaleoni F, Bocchinfuso G, Radio FC, Cecchetti S, Ciolfi A, Di Rocco M, Elting MW, Brilstra EH, Boni S, Mazzanti L, Tamburrino F, Walsh L, Payne K, Fernández-Jaén A, Ganapathi M, Chung WK, Grange DK, Dave-Wala A, Reshmi SC, Bartholomew DW, Mouhlas D, Carpentieri G, Bruselles A, Pizzi S, Bellacchio E, Piceci-Sparascio F, Lißewski C, Brinkmann J, Waclaw RR, Waisfisz Q, van Gassen K, Wentzensen IM, Morrow MM, Álvarez S, Martínez-García M, De Luca A, Memo L, Zampino G, Rossi C, Seri M, Gelb BD, Zenker M, Dallapiccola B, Stella L, Prada CE, Martinelli S, Flex E, Tartaglia M. Enhanced MAPK1 Function Causes a Neurodevelopmental Disorder within the RASopathy Clinical Spectrum. Am J Hum Genet 2020; 107:499-513. [PMID: 32721402 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Signal transduction through the RAF-MEK-ERK pathway, the first described mitogen-associated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, mediates multiple cellular processes and participates in early and late developmental programs. Aberrant signaling through this cascade contributes to oncogenesis and underlies the RASopathies, a family of cancer-prone disorders. Here, we report that de novo missense variants in MAPK1, encoding the mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (i.e., extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 2, ERK2), cause a neurodevelopmental disease within the RASopathy phenotypic spectrum, reminiscent of Noonan syndrome in some subjects. Pathogenic variants promote increased phosphorylation of the kinase, which enhances translocation to the nucleus and boosts MAPK signaling in vitro and in vivo. Two variant classes are identified, one of which directly disrupts binding to MKP3, a dual-specificity protein phosphatase negatively regulating ERK function. Importantly, signal dysregulation driven by pathogenic MAPK1 variants is stimulus reliant and retains dependence on MEK activity. Our data support a model in which the identified pathogenic variants operate with counteracting effects on MAPK1 function by differentially impacting the ability of the kinase to interact with regulators and substrates, which likely explains the minor role of these variants as driver events contributing to oncogenesis. After nearly 20 years from the discovery of the first gene implicated in Noonan syndrome, PTPN11, the last tier of the MAPK cascade joins the group of genes mutated in RASopathies.
Collapse
|
15
|
Mereu L, Morf MK, Spiri S, Gutierrez P, Escobar-Restrepo JM, Daube M, Walser M, Hajnal A. Polarized epidermal growth factor secretion ensures robust vulval cell fate specification in Caenorhabditis elegans. Development 2020; 147:dev175760. [PMID: 32439759 PMCID: PMC7286359 DOI: 10.1242/dev.175760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The anchor cell (AC) in C. elegans secretes an epidermal growth factor (EGF) homolog that induces adjacent vulval precursor cells (VPCs) to differentiate. The EGF receptor in the nearest VPC sequesters the limiting EGF amounts released by the AC to prevent EGF from spreading to distal VPCs. Here, we show that not only EGFR localization in the VPCs but also EGF polarity in the AC is necessary for robust fate specification. The AC secretes EGF in a directional manner towards the nearest VPC. Loss of AC polarity causes signal spreading and, when combined with MAPK pathway hyperactivation, the ectopic induction of distal VPCs. In a screen for genes preventing distal VPC induction, we identified sra-9 and nlp-26 as genes specifically required for polarized EGF secretion. sra-9(lf) and nlp-26(lf) mutants exhibit errors in vulval fate specification, reduced precision in VPC to AC alignment and increased variability in MAPK activation. sra-9 encodes a seven-pass transmembrane receptor acting in the AC and nlp-26 a neuropeptide-like protein expressed in the VPCs. SRA-9 and NLP-26 may transduce a feedback signal to channel EGF secretion towards the nearest VPC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Louisa Mereu
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Molecular Life Science PhD Program, University and ETH Zürich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias K Morf
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Molecular Life Science PhD Program, University and ETH Zürich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Silvan Spiri
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Molecular Life Science PhD Program, University and ETH Zürich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Gutierrez
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Molecular Life Science PhD Program, University and ETH Zürich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Juan M Escobar-Restrepo
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Daube
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Walser
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Alex Hajnal
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Kramer-Drauberg M, Liu JL, Desjardins D, Wang Y, Branicky R, Hekimi S. ROS regulation of RAS and vulva development in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1008838. [PMID: 32544191 PMCID: PMC7319342 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are signalling molecules whose study in intact organisms has been hampered by their potential toxicity. This has prevented a full understanding of their role in organismal processes such as development, aging and disease. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the development of the vulva is regulated by a signalling cascade that includes LET-60ras (homologue of mammalian Ras), MPK-1 (ERK1/2) and LIN-1 (an ETS transcription factor). We show that both mitochondrial and cytoplasmic ROS act on a gain-of-function (gf) mutant of the LET-60ras protein through a redox-sensitive cysteine (C118) previously identified in mammals. We show that the prooxidant paraquat as well as isp-1, nuo-6 and sod-2 mutants, which increase mitochondrial ROS, inhibit the activity of LET-60rasgf on vulval development. In contrast, the antioxidant NAC and loss of sod-1, both of which decrease cytoplasmic H202, enhance the activity of LET-60rasgf. CRISPR replacement of C118 with a non-oxidizable serine (C118S) stimulates LET-60rasgf activity, whereas replacement of C118 with aspartate (C118D), which mimics a strongly oxidised cysteine, inhibits LET-60rasgf. These data strongly suggest that C118 is oxidized by cytoplasmic H202 generated from dismutation of mitochondrial and/or cytoplasmic superoxide, and that this oxidation inhibits LET-60ras. This contrasts with results in cultured mammalian cells where it is mostly nitric oxide, which is not found in worms, that oxidizes C118 and activates Ras. Interestingly, PQ, NAC and the C118S mutation do not act on the phosphorylation of MPK-1, suggesting that oxidation of LET-60ras acts on an as yet uncharacterized MPK-1-independent pathway. We also show that elevated cytoplasmic superoxide promotes vulva formation independently of C118 of LET-60ras and downstream of LIN-1. Finally, we uncover a role for the NADPH oxidases (BLI-3 and DUOX-2) and their redox-sensitive activator CED-10rac in stimulating vulva development. Thus, there are at least three genetically separable pathways by which ROS regulates vulval development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ju-Ling Liu
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - David Desjardins
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Robyn Branicky
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Siegfried Hekimi
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Mátyási B, Farkas Z, Kopper L, Sebestyén A, Boissan M, Mehta A, Takács-Vellai K. The Function of NM23-H1/NME1 and Its Homologs in Major Processes Linked to Metastasis. Pathol Oncol Res 2020; 26:49-61. [PMID: 31993913 PMCID: PMC7109179 DOI: 10.1007/s12253-020-00797-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Metastasis suppressor genes (MSGs) inhibit different biological processes during metastatic progression without globally influencing development of the primary tumor. The first MSG, NM23 (non-metastatic clone 23, isoform H1) or now called NME1 (stands for non-metastatic) was identified some decades ago. Since then, ten human NM23 paralogs forming two groups have been discovered. Group I NM23 genes encode enzymes with evolutionarily highly conserved nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK) activity. In this review we summarize how results from NDPKs in model organisms converged on human NM23 studies. Next, we examine the role of NM23-H1 and its homologs within the metastatic cascade, e.g. cell migration and invasion, proliferation and apoptosis. NM23-H1 homologs are well known inhibitors of cell migration. Drosophila studies revealed that AWD, the fly counterpart of NM23-H1 is a negative regulator of cell motility by modulating endocytosis of chemotactic receptors on the surface of migrating cells in cooperation with Shibire/Dynamin; this mechanism has been recently confirmed by human studies. NM23-H1 inhibits proliferation of tumor cells by phosphorylating the MAPK scaffold, kinase suppressor of Ras (KSR), resulting in suppression of MAPK signalling. This mechanism was also observed with the C. elegans homolog, NDK-1, albeit with an inverse effect on MAPK activation. Both NM23-H1 and NDK-1 promote apoptotic cell death. In addition, NDK-1, NM23-H1 and their mouse counterpart NM23-M1 were shown to promote phagocytosis in an evolutionarily conserved manner. In summary, inhibition of cell migration and proliferation, alongside actions in apoptosis and phagocytosis are all mechanisms through which NM23-H1 acts against metastatic progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Mátyási
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter stny. 1/C, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Farkas
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter stny. 1/C, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Kopper
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, 1st, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Sebestyén
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, 1st, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Mathieu Boissan
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, F-75012, Paris, France
- Service de Biochimie et Hormonologie, AP- HP, Hôpital Tenon, Paris, France
| | - Anil Mehta
- Division of Medical Sciences, Centre for CVS and Lung Biology, Ninewells Hospital Medical School, DD19SY, Dundee, UK
| | - Krisztina Takács-Vellai
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter stny. 1/C, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Doll MA, Soltanmohammadi N, Schumacher B. ALG-2/AGO-Dependent mir-35 Family Regulates DNA Damage-Induced Apoptosis Through MPK-1/ERK MAPK Signaling Downstream of the Core Apoptotic Machinery in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2019; 213:173-194. [PMID: 31296532 PMCID: PMC6727803 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.302458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) associate with argonaute (AGO) proteins to post-transcriptionally modulate the expression of genes involved in various cellular processes. Herein, we show that loss of the Caenorhabditis elegans AGO gene alg-2 results in rapid and significantly increased germ cell apoptosis in response to DNA damage inflicted by ionizing radiation (IR). We demonstrate that the abnormal apoptosis phenotype in alg-2 mutant animals can be explained by reduced expression of mir-35 miRNA family members. We show that the increased apoptosis levels in IR-treated alg-2 or mir-35 family mutants depend on a transient hyperactivation of the C. elegans ERK1/2 MAPK ortholog MPK-1 in dying germ cells. Unexpectedly, MPK-1 phosphorylation occurs downstream of caspase activation and depends at least in part on a functional cell corpse-engulfment machinery. Therefore, we propose a refined mechanism, in which an initial proapoptotic stimulus by the core apoptotic machinery initiates the engulfment process, which in turn activates MAPK signaling to facilitate the demise of genomically compromised germ cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Alexander Doll
- Institute for Genome Stability in Ageing and Disease, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, 50931, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Ageing-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931, Germany
| | - Najmeh Soltanmohammadi
- Institute for Genome Stability in Ageing and Disease, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, 50931, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Ageing-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931, Germany
| | - Björn Schumacher
- Institute for Genome Stability in Ageing and Disease, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, 50931, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Ageing-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Shin H, Braendle C, Monahan KB, Kaplan REW, Zand TP, Mote FS, Peters EC, Reiner DJ. Developmental fidelity is imposed by genetically separable RalGEF activities that mediate opposing signals. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1008056. [PMID: 31086367 PMCID: PMC6534338 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The six C. elegans vulval precursor cells (VPCs) are induced to form the 3°-3°-2°-1°-2°-3° pattern of cell fates with high fidelity. In response to EGF signal, the LET-60/Ras-LIN-45/Raf-MEK-2/MEK-MPK-1/ERK canonical MAP kinase cascade is necessary to induce 1° fate and synthesis of DSL ligands for the lateral Notch signal. In turn, LIN-12/Notch receptor is necessary to induce neighboring cells to become 2°. We previously showed that, in response to graded EGF signal, the modulatory LET-60/Ras-RGL-1/RalGEF-RAL-1/Ral signal promotes 2° fate in support of LIN-12. In this study, we identify two key differences between RGL-1 and RAL-1. First, deletion of RGL-1 confers no overt developmental defects, while previous studies showed RAL-1 to be essential for viability and fertility. From this observation, we hypothesize that the essential functions of RAL-1 are independent of upstream activation. Second, RGL-1 plays opposing and genetically separable roles in VPC fate patterning. RGL-1 promotes 2° fate via canonical GEF-dependent activation of RAL-1. Conversely, RGL-1 promotes 1° fate via a non-canonical GEF-independent activity. Our genetic epistasis experiments are consistent with RGL-1 functioning in the modulatory 1°-promoting AGE-1/PI3-Kinase-PDK-1-AKT-1 cascade. Additionally, animals lacking RGL-1 experience 15-fold higher rates of VPC patterning errors compared to the wild type. Yet VPC patterning in RGL-1 deletion mutants is not more sensitive to environmental perturbations. We propose that RGL-1 functions to orchestrate opposing 1°- and 2°-promoting modulatory cascades to decrease developmental stochasticity. We speculate that such switches are broadly conserved but mostly masked by paralog redundancy or essential functions. Developmental signals are increasingly conceptualized in the context of networks rather than linear pathways. Patterning of C. elegans vulval fates is mostly governed by two major signaling cascades that operate antagonistically to induce two cell identities. An additional pair of minor cascades support each of the major cascades. All components in this system are conserved in mammalian oncogenic signaling networks. We find that RGL-1, a component of one of the minor cascades, performs two antagonistic functions. Its deletion appears to abolish both opposing modulatory signals, resulting in a 15-fold increase in the basal error rate in development of these cells. We hypothesize that the bifunctional RGL-1 protein defines a novel mechanism by which signaling networks are interwoven to mitigate developmental errors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Shin
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | | | - Kimberly B Monahan
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Rebecca E W Kaplan
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Tanya P Zand
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America.,Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Francisca Sefakor Mote
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Eldon C Peters
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - David J Reiner
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, United States of America.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America.,Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Shin H, Reiner DJ. The Signaling Network Controlling C. elegans Vulval Cell Fate Patterning. J Dev Biol 2018; 6:E30. [PMID: 30544993 PMCID: PMC6316802 DOI: 10.3390/jdb6040030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 12/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
EGF, emitted by the Anchor Cell, patterns six equipotent C. elegans vulval precursor cells to assume a precise array of three cell fates with high fidelity. A group of core and modulatory signaling cascades forms a signaling network that demonstrates plasticity during the transition from naïve to terminally differentiated cells. In this review, we summarize the history of classical developmental manipulations and molecular genetics experiments that led to our understanding of the signals governing this process, and discuss principles of signal transduction and developmental biology that have emerged from these studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Shin
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - David J Reiner
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
- College of Medicine, Texas A & M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Rasmussen NR, Dickinson DJ, Reiner DJ. Ras-Dependent Cell Fate Decisions Are Reinforced by the RAP-1 Small GTPase in Caenorhabditiselegans. Genetics 2018; 210:1339-1354. [PMID: 30257933 PMCID: PMC6283165 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.118.301601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The notoriety of the small GTPase Ras as the most mutated oncoprotein has led to a well-characterized signaling network largely conserved across metazoans. Yet the role of its close relative Rap1 (Ras Proximal), which shares 100% identity between their core effector binding sequences, remains unclear. A long-standing controversy in the field is whether Rap1 also functions to activate the canonical Ras effector, the S/T kinase Raf. We used the developmentally simpler Caenorhabditis elegans, which lacks the extensive paralog redundancy of vertebrates, to examine the role of RAP-1 in two distinct LET-60/Ras-dependent cell fate patterning events: induction of 1° vulval precursor cell (VPC) fate and of the excretory duct cell. Fluorescence-tagged endogenous RAP-1 is localized to plasma membranes and is expressed ubiquitously, with even expression levels across the VPCs. RAP-1 and its activating GEF PXF-1 function cell autonomously and are necessary for maximal induction of 1° VPCs. Critically, mutationally activated endogenous RAP-1 is sufficient both to induce ectopic 1°s and duplicate excretory duct cells. Like endogenous RAP-1, before induction GFP expression from the pxf-1 promoter is uniform across VPCs. However, unlike endogenous RAP-1, after induction GFP expression is increased in presumptive 1°s and decreased in presumptive 2°s. We conclude that RAP-1 is a positive regulator that promotes Ras-dependent inductive fate decisions. We hypothesize that PXF-1 activation of RAP-1 serves as a minor parallel input into the major LET-60/Ras signal through LIN-45/Raf.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neal R Rasmussen
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Daniel J Dickinson
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78705
| | - David J Reiner
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Houston, Texas 77030
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Zheng S, Qu Z, Zanetti M, Lam B, Chin-Sang I. C. elegans PTEN and AMPK block neuroblast divisions by inhibiting a BMP-insulin-PP2A-MAPK pathway. Development 2018; 145:145/23/dev166876. [PMID: 30487179 DOI: 10.1242/dev.166876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans that hatch in the absence of food stop their postembryonic development in a process called L1 arrest. Intriguingly, we find that the postembryonic Q neuroblasts divide and migrate during L1 arrest in mutants that have lost the energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) or the insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) negative regulator DAF-18/PTEN. We report that DBL-1/BMP works upstream of IIS to promote agonistic insulin-like peptides during L1 arrest. However, the abnormal Q cell divisions that occur during L1 arrest use a novel branch of the IIS pathway that is independent of the terminal transcription factor DAF-16/FOXO. Using genetic epistasis and drug interactions we show that AMPK functions downstream of, or in parallel with DAF-18/PTEN and IIS to inhibit PP2A function. Further, we show that PP2A regulates the abnormal Q cell divisions by activating the MPK-1/ERK signaling pathway via LIN-45/RAF, independently of LET-60/RAS. PP2A acts as a tumor suppressor in many oncogenic signaling cascades. Our work demonstrates a new role for PP2A that is needed to induce neuroblast divisions during starvation and is regulated by both insulin and AMPK.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shanqing Zheng
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada K7L 3N6
| | - Zhi Qu
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada K7L 3N6
| | - Michael Zanetti
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada K7L 3N6
| | - Brandon Lam
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada K7L 3N6
| | - Ian Chin-Sang
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada K7L 3N6
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Wang YN, Lee HH, Hung MC. A novel ligand-receptor relationship between families of ribonucleases and receptor tyrosine kinases. J Biomed Sci 2018; 25:83. [PMID: 30449278 PMCID: PMC6241042 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-018-0484-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ribonuclease is known to participate in host defense system against pathogens, such as parasites, bacteria, and virus, which results in innate immune response. Nevertheless, its potential impact to host cells remains unclear. Of interest, several ribonucleases do not act as catalytically competent enzymes, suggesting that ribonucleases may be associated with certain intrinsic functions other than their ribonucleolytic activities. Most recently, human pancreatic ribonuclease 5 (hRNase5; also named angiogenin; hereinafter referred to as hRNase5/ANG), which belongs to the human ribonuclease A superfamily, has been demonstrated to function as a ligand of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a member of the receptor tyrosine kinase family. As a newly identified EGFR ligand, hRNase5/ANG associates with EGFR and stimulates EGFR and the downstream signaling in a catalytic-independent manner. Notably, hRNase5/ANG, whose level in sera of pancreatic cancer patients, serves as a non-invasive serum biomarker to stratify patients for predicting the sensitivity to EGFR-targeted therapy. Here, we describe the hRNase5/ANG-EGFR pair as an example to highlight a ligand-receptor relationship between families of ribonucleases and receptor tyrosine kinases, which are thought as two unrelated protein families associated with distinct biological functions. The notion of serum biomarker-guided EGFR-targeted therapies will also be discussed. Furthering our understanding of this novel ligand-receptor interaction will shed new light on the search of ligands for their cognate receptors, especially those orphan receptors without known ligands, and deepen our knowledge of the fundamental research in membrane receptor biology and the translational application toward the development of precision medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Nai Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 108, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Heng-Huan Lee
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 108, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Mien-Chie Hung
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 108, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030 USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030 USA
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Shin H, Kaplan REW, Duong T, Fakieh R, Reiner DJ. Ral Signals through a MAP4 Kinase-p38 MAP Kinase Cascade in C. elegans Cell Fate Patterning. Cell Rep 2018; 24:2669-2681.e5. [PMID: 30184501 PMCID: PMC6484852 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
C. elegans vulval precursor cell (VPC) fates are patterned by an epidermal growth factor (EGF) gradient. High-dose EGF induces 1° VPC fate, and lower dose EGF contributes to 2° fate in support of LIN-12/Notch. We previously showed that the EGF 2°-promoting signal is mediated by LET-60/Ras switching effectors, from the canonical Raf-MEK-ERK mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade that promotes 1° fate to the non-canonical RalGEF-Ral that promotes 2° fate. Of oncogenic Ras effectors, RalGEF-Ral is by far the least well understood. We use genetic analysis to identify an effector cascade downstream of C. elegans RAL-1/Ral, starting with an established Ral binding partner, Exo84 of the exocyst complex. Additionally, RAL-1 signals through GCK-2, a citron-N-terminal-homology-domain-containing MAP4 kinase, and PMK-1/p38 MAP kinase cascade to promote 2° fate. Our study delineates a Ral-dependent developmental signaling cascade in vivo, thus providing the mechanism by which lower EGF dose is transduced.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Shin
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rebecca E W Kaplan
- Department of Pharmacology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Tam Duong
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Razan Fakieh
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - David J Reiner
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Medical Physiology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
OrthoList 2: A New Comparative Genomic Analysis of Human and Caenorhabditis elegans Genes. Genetics 2018; 210:445-461. [PMID: 30120140 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.118.301307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OrthoList, a compendium of Caenorhabditis elegans genes with human orthologs compiled in 2011 by a meta-analysis of four orthology-prediction methods, has been a popular tool for identifying conserved genes for research into biological and disease mechanisms. However, the efficacy of orthology prediction depends on the accuracy of gene-model predictions, an ongoing process, and orthology-prediction algorithms have also been updated over time. Here we present OrthoList 2 (OL2), a new comparative genomic analysis between C. elegans and humans, and the first assessment of how changes over time affect the landscape of predicted orthologs between two species. Although we find that updates to the orthology-prediction methods significantly changed the landscape of C. elegans-human orthologs predicted by individual programs and-unexpectedly-reduced agreement among them, we also show that our meta-analysis approach "buffered" against changes in gene content. We show that adding results from more programs did not lead to many additions to the list and discuss reasons to avoid assigning "scores" based on support by individual orthology-prediction programs; the treatment of "legacy" genes no longer predicted by these programs; and the practical difficulties of updating due to encountering deprecated, changed, or retired gene identifiers. In addition, we consider what other criteria may support claims of orthology and alternative approaches to find potential orthologs that elude identification by these programs. Finally, we created a new web-based tool that allows for rapid searches of OL2 by gene identifiers, protein domains [InterPro and SMART (Simple Modular Architecture Research Tool], or human disease associations ([OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritence in Man], and also includes available RNA-interference resources to facilitate potential translational cross-species studies.
Collapse
|
26
|
Abstract
The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway leads to activation of the effector molecule ERK, which controls downstream responses by phosphorylating a variety of substrates, including transcription factors. Crucial insights into the regulation and function of this pathway came from studying embryos in which specific phenotypes arise from aberrant ERK activation. Despite decades of research, several important questions remain to be addressed for deeper understanding of this highly conserved signaling system and its function. Answering these questions will require quantifying the first steps of pathway activation, elucidating the mechanisms of transcriptional interpretation and measuring the quantitative limits of ERK signaling within which the system must operate to avoid developmental defects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleena L Patel
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Department of Chemical Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Stanislav Y Shvartsman
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Department of Chemical Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Coleman B, Topalidou I, Ailion M. Modulation of Gq-Rho Signaling by the ERK MAPK Pathway Controls Locomotion in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2018; 209:523-535. [PMID: 29615470 PMCID: PMC5972424 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.118.300977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The heterotrimeric G protein Gq regulates neuronal activity through distinct downstream effector pathways. In addition to the canonical Gq effector phospholipase Cβ, the small GTPase Rho was recently identified as a conserved effector of Gq. To identify additional molecules important for Gq signaling in neurons, we performed a forward genetic screen in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans for suppressors of the hyperactivity and exaggerated waveform of an activated Gq mutant. We isolated two mutations affecting the MAP kinase scaffold protein KSR-1 and found that KSR-1 modulates locomotion downstream of, or in parallel to, the Gq-Rho pathway. Through epistasis experiments, we found that the core ERK MAPK cascade is required for Gq-Rho regulation of locomotion, but that the canonical ERK activator LET-60/Ras may not be required. Through neuron-specific rescue experiments, we found that the ERK pathway functions in head acetylcholine neurons to control Gq-dependent locomotion. Additionally, expression of activated LIN-45/Raf in head acetylcholine neurons is sufficient to cause an exaggerated waveform phenotype and hypersensitivity to the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor aldicarb, similar to an activated Gq mutant. Taken together, our results suggest that the ERK MAPK pathway modulates the output of Gq-Rho signaling to control locomotion behavior in C. elegans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brantley Coleman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | - Irini Topalidou
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | - Michael Ailion
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Templeman NM, Murphy CT. Regulation of reproduction and longevity by nutrient-sensing pathways. J Cell Biol 2018; 217:93-106. [PMID: 29074705 PMCID: PMC5748989 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201707168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Nutrients are necessary for life, as they are a crucial requirement for biological processes including reproduction, somatic growth, and tissue maintenance. Therefore, signaling systems involved in detecting and interpreting nutrient or energy levels-most notably, the insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling pathway, mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-play important roles in regulating physiological decisions to reproduce, grow, and age. In this review, we discuss the connections between reproductive senescence and somatic aging and give an overview of the involvement of nutrient-sensing pathways in controlling both reproductive function and lifespan. Although the molecular mechanisms that affect these processes can be influenced by distinct tissue-, temporal-, and pathway-specific signaling events, the progression of reproductive aging and somatic aging is systemically coordinated by integrated nutrient-sensing signaling pathways regulating somatic tissue maintenance in conjunction with reproductive capacity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M Templeman
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics and Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
| | - Coleen T Murphy
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics and Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Sherwood DR, Plastino J. Invading, Leading and Navigating Cells in Caenorhabditis elegans: Insights into Cell Movement in Vivo. Genetics 2018; 208:53-78. [PMID: 29301948 PMCID: PMC5753875 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.300082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Highly regulated cell migration events are crucial during animal tissue formation and the trafficking of cells to sites of infection and injury. Misregulation of cell movement underlies numerous human diseases, including cancer. Although originally studied primarily in two-dimensional in vitro assays, most cell migrations in vivo occur in complex three-dimensional tissue environments that are difficult to recapitulate in cell culture or ex vivo Further, it is now known that cells can mobilize a diverse repertoire of migration modes and subcellular structures to move through and around tissues. This review provides an overview of three distinct cellular movement events in Caenorhabditis elegans-cell invasion through basement membrane, leader cell migration during organ formation, and individual cell migration around tissues-which together illustrate powerful experimental models of diverse modes of movement in vivo We discuss new insights into migration that are emerging from these in vivo studies and important future directions toward understanding the remarkable and assorted ways that cells move in animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David R Sherwood
- Department of Biology, Regeneration Next, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27705
| | - Julie Plastino
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR 168, F-75005 Paris, France
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, UMR 168, F-75005 Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Golden A. From phenologs to silent suppressors: Identifying potential therapeutic targets for human disease. Mol Reprod Dev 2017; 84:1118-1132. [PMID: 28834577 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Orthologous phenotypes, or phenologs, are seemingly unrelated phenotypes generated by mutations in a conserved set of genes. Phenologs have been widely observed and accepted by those who study model organisms, and allow one to study a set of genes in a model organism to learn more about the function of those genes in other organisms, including humans. At the cellular and molecular level, these conserved genes likely function in a very similar mode, but are doing so in different tissues or cell types and can result in different phenotypic effects. For example, the RAS-RAF-MEK-MAPK pathway in animals is a highly conserved signaling pathway that animals adopted for numerous biological processes, such as vulval induction in Caenorhabditis elegans and cell proliferation in mammalian cells; but this same gene set has been co-opted to function in a variety of cellular contexts. In this review, I give a few examples of how suppressor screens in model organisms (with a emphasis on C. elegans) can identify new genes that function in a conserved pathway in many other organisms. I also demonstrate how the identification of such genes can lead to important insights into mammalian biology. From such screens, an occasional silent suppressor that does not cause a phenotype on its own is found; such suppressors thus make for good candidates as therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andy Golden
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Nguyen HL, Boon LM, Vikkula M. Vascular Anomalies Caused by Abnormal Signaling within Endothelial Cells: Targets for Novel Therapies. Semin Intervent Radiol 2017; 34:233-238. [PMID: 28955112 DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1604296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Vascular anomalies arise as a consequence of improper development and maintenance of the vasculature. Our knowledge on the pathophysiological bases of vascular anomalies has skyrocketed during the past 5 years. It is becoming clear that common intracellular signaling pathways are often activated by mutations, causing endothelial cell dysfunction. These mutations cause hyperactivation of two major intracellular signaling pathways that may be controlled by inhibitors developed for cancer treatment. Although we do not know yet all the downstream effects, it has become evident that normalization of the abnormal signaling is an interesting target for therapy. This is a major paradigm change, as developmental malformations were considered to be inert to any molecular treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ha-Long Nguyen
- Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics, de Duve Institute, University of Louvain (UCL), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laurence M Boon
- Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics, de Duve Institute, University of Louvain (UCL), Brussels, Belgium.,Center for Vascular Anomalies, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, University of Louvain (UCL), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Miikka Vikkula
- Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics, de Duve Institute, University of Louvain (UCL), Brussels, Belgium.,Center for Vascular Anomalies, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, University of Louvain (UCL), Brussels, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
de la Cova C, Townley R, Regot S, Greenwald I. A Real-Time Biosensor for ERK Activity Reveals Signaling Dynamics during C. elegans Cell Fate Specification. Dev Cell 2017; 42:542-553.e4. [PMID: 28826819 PMCID: PMC5595649 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2017.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Kinase translocation reporters (KTRs) are genetically encoded fluorescent activity sensors that convert kinase activity into a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling equilibrium for visualizing single-cell signaling dynamics. Here, we adapt the first-generation KTR for extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) to allow easy implementation in vivo. This sensor, "ERK-nKTR," allows quantitative and qualitative assessment of ERK activity by analysis of individual nuclei and faithfully reports ERK activity during development and neural function in diverse cell contexts in Caenorhabditis elegans. Analysis of ERK activity over time in the vulval precursor cells, a well-characterized paradigm of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-Ras-ERK signaling, has identified dynamic features not evident from analysis of developmental endpoints alone, including pulsatile frequency-modulated signaling associated with proximity to the EGF source. The toolkit described here will facilitate studies of ERK signaling in other C. elegans contexts, and the design features will enable implementation of this technology in other multicellular organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire de la Cova
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert Townley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sergi Regot
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Iva Greenwald
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Tang H, Han M. Fatty Acids Regulate Germline Sex Determination through ACS-4-Dependent Myristoylation. Cell 2017; 169:457-469.e13. [PMID: 28431246 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.03.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Revised: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Fat metabolism has been linked to fertility and reproductive adaptation in animals and humans, and environmental sex determination potentially plays a role in the process. To investigate the impact of fatty acids (FA) on sex determination and reproductive development, we examined and observed an impact of FA synthesis and mobilization by lipolysis in somatic tissues on oocyte fate in Caenorhabditis elegans. The subsequent genetic analysis identified ACS-4, an acyl-CoA synthetase and its FA-CoA product, as key germline factors that mediate the role of FA in promoting oocyte fate through protein myristoylation. Further tests indicated that ACS-4-dependent protein myristoylation perceives and translates the FA level into regulatory cues that modulate the activities of MPK-1/MAPK and key factors in the germline sex-determination pathway. These findings, including a similar role of ACS-4 in a male/female species, uncover a likely conserved mechanism by which FA, an environmental factor, regulates sex determination and reproductive development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongyun Tang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of MCDB of the University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Min Han
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of MCDB of the University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
From the research laboratory to the database: the Caenorhabditis elegans kinome in UniProtKB. Biochem J 2017; 474:493-515. [PMID: 28159896 PMCID: PMC5290486 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20160991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Protein kinases form one of the largest protein families and are found in all species, from viruses to humans. They catalyze the reversible phosphorylation of proteins, often modifying their activity and localization. They are implicated in virtually all cellular processes and are one of the most intensively studied protein families. In recent years, they have become key therapeutic targets in drug development as natural mutations affecting kinase genes are the cause of many diseases. The vast amount of data contained in the primary literature and across a variety of biological data collections highlights the need for a repository where this information is stored in a concise and easily accessible manner. The UniProt Knowledgebase meets this need by providing the scientific community with a comprehensive, high-quality and freely accessible resource of protein sequence and functional information. Here, we describe the expert curation process for kinases, focusing on the Caenorhabditis elegans kinome. The C. elegans kinome is composed of 438 kinases and almost half of them have been functionally characterized, highlighting that C. elegans is a valuable and versatile model organism to understand the role of kinases in biological processes.
Collapse
|
35
|
Onderak AM, Anderson JT. Loss of the RNA helicase SKIV2L2 impairs mitotic progression and replication-dependent histone mRNA turnover in murine cell lines. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2017; 23:910-926. [PMID: 28351885 PMCID: PMC5435864 DOI: 10.1261/rna.060640.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
RNA surveillance via the nuclear exosome requires cofactors such as the helicase SKIV2L2 to process and degrade certain noncoding RNAs. This research aimed to characterize the phenotype associated with RNAi knockdown of Skiv2l2 in two murine cancer cell lines: Neuro2A and P19. SKIV2L2 depletion in Neuro2A and P19 cells induced changes in gene expression indicative of cell differentiation and reduced cellular proliferation by 30%. Propidium iodide-based cell-cycle analysis of Skiv2l2 knockdown cells revealed defective progression through the G2/M phase and an accumulation of mitotic cells, suggesting SKIV2L2 contributes to mitotic progression. Since SKIV2L2 targets RNAs to the nuclear exosome for processing and degradation, we identified RNA targets elevated in cells depleted of SKIV2L2 that could account for the observed twofold increase in mitotic cells. Skiv2l2 knockdown cells accumulated replication-dependent histone mRNAs, among other RNAs, that could impede mitotic progression and indirectly trigger differentiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexis M Onderak
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, USA
| | - James T Anderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Gauthier K, Rocheleau CE. C. elegans Vulva Induction: An In Vivo Model to Study Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Signaling and Trafficking. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1652:43-61. [PMID: 28791633 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7219-7_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated activation of the canonical Ras/MAPK signaling cascade is responsible for cell proliferation and cell growth. This signaling pathway is frequently overactivated in epithelial cancers; therefore, studying regulation of this pathway is crucial not only for our fundamental understanding of cell biology but also for our ability to treat EGFR-related disease. Genetic model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans, a hermaphroditic nematode, played a vital role in identifying components of the EGFR/Ras/MAPK pathway and delineating their order of function, and continues to play a role in identifying novel regulators of the pathway. Polarized activation of LET-23, the C. elegans homolog of EGFR, is responsible for induction of the vulval cell fate; perturbations in this signaling pathway produce either a vulvaless or multivulva phenotype. The translucent cuticle of the nematode facilitates in vivo visualization of the receptor, revealing that localization of LET-23 EGFR is tightly regulated and linked to its function. In this chapter, we review the methods used to harness vulva development as a tool for studying EGFR signaling and trafficking in C. elegans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley Gauthier
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Centre for Translational Biology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Christian E Rocheleau
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
- Centre for Translational Biology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Abstract
The evolutionarily conserved extracellular signal transducing RTK-RAS-ERK pathway is an important kinase-signaling cascade that controls multiple cellular and developmental processes principally via activation of ERK, the terminal kinase of the pathway. Tight regulation of ERK activity is essential for normal development and homeostasis; overly active ERK results in excessive cellular proliferation, while underactive ERK causes cell death. C. elegans is a powerful model system that has helped characterize the function and regulation of RTK-RAS-ERK signaling pathway during development. In particular, the RTK-RAS-ERK pathway is essential for C. elegans germline development, which is the focus of this method. Using antibodies specific to the active, diphosphorylated form of ERK (dpERK), the stereotypical localization pattern can be visualized within the germline. Because this pattern is both spatially and temporally controlled, the ability to reproducibly assay dpERK is useful to identify regulators of the pathway that affect dpERK signal duration and amplitude and thus germline development. Here we demonstrate how to successfully dissect, stain, and image dpERK within the C. elegans gonad. This method can be adapted for spatial localization of any signaling or structural protein in the C. elegans gonad, provided an antibody compatible with immunofluorescence is available.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Swathi Arur
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine; Department of Genetics, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center;
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Yan L, Du Q, Yao J, Liu R. ROR2 inhibits the proliferation of gastric carcinoma cells via activation of non-canonical Wnt signaling. Exp Ther Med 2016; 12:4128-4134. [PMID: 28101190 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2016.3883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric carcinoma is one of the most common human cancers and has a poor prognosis. Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 (ROR2), which is a non-canonical receptor of the Wnt signaling pathway, has been reported to be deregulated in numerous types of human cancers, including gastric carcinoma. However, the exact role of ROR2 in the regulation of the malignant phenotypes of gastric carcinoma, as well as the underlying molecular mechanism, remains largely unclear. The present study demonstrated that ROR2 was recurrently downregulated in gastric carcinoma tissues, as compared with their matched adjacent normal tissues. Furthermore, the expression levels of ROR2 were reduced in several common gastric carcinoma cell lines, as compared with normal gastric epithelial cells. Gastric carcinoma cells were transfected with ROR2 plasmids, and it was demonstrated that restoration of ROR2 expression significantly inhibited the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of gastric carcinoma cells by a Wnt5a-independent mechanism. In addition, it was observed that ROR2-overexpressing cells accumulated in the G0/G1 phase; thus suggesting that overexpression of ROR2 induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. An investigation of the underlying mechanism demonstrated that activation of the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway inhibited canonical Wnt signal transduction, as demonstrated by the decreased level of β-catenin in nuclei, as well as the reduced expression levels of c-Myc. The results of the present study indicated a tumor suppressive role for ROR2 in gastric carcinoma growth in vitro, and suggested that ROR2 may be used as a molecular target for the treatment of gastric carcinoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Likun Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710068, P.R. China
| | - Qingguo Du
- Department of General Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710068, P.R. China
| | - Jianfeng Yao
- Department of General Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710068, P.R. China
| | - Ruiting Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710068, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Sansone CL, Cohen J, Yasunaga A, Xu J, Osborn G, Subramanian H, Gold B, Buchon N, Cherry S. Microbiota-Dependent Priming of Antiviral Intestinal Immunity in Drosophila. Cell Host Microbe 2016; 18:571-81. [PMID: 26567510 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2015.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Revised: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Enteric pathogens must overcome intestinal defenses to establish infection. In Drosophila, the ERK signaling pathway inhibits enteric virus infection. The intestinal microflora also impacts immunity but its role in enteric viral infection is unknown. Here we show that two signals are required to activate antiviral ERK signaling in the intestinal epithelium. One signal depends on recognition of peptidoglycan from the microbiota, particularly from the commensal Acetobacter pomorum, which primes the NF-kB-dependent induction of a secreted factor, Pvf2. However, the microbiota is not sufficient to induce this pathway; a second virus-initiated signaling event involving release of transcriptional paused genes mediated by the kinase Cdk9 is also required for Pvf2 production. Pvf2 stimulates antiviral immunity by binding to the receptor tyrosine kinase PVR, which is necessary and sufficient for intestinal ERK responses. These findings demonstrate that sensing of specific commensals primes inflammatory signaling required for epithelial responses that restrict enteric viral infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christine L Sansone
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jonathan Cohen
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ari Yasunaga
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jie Xu
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Greg Osborn
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Harry Subramanian
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Beth Gold
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Nicolas Buchon
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Sara Cherry
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Skorobogata O, Meng J, Gauthier K, Rocheleau CE. Dynein-mediated trafficking negatively regulates LET-23 EGFR signaling. Mol Biol Cell 2016; 27:mbc.E15-11-0757. [PMID: 27654944 PMCID: PMC5170559 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e15-11-0757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Revised: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signaling is essential for animal development and increased signaling underlies many human cancers. Identifying the genes and cellular processes that regulate EGFR signaling in vivo will help elucidate how this pathway can become inappropriately activated. Caenorhabditis elegans vulva development provides an in vivo model to genetically dissect EGFR signaling. Here we identified a mutation in dhc-1, the heavy chain of the cytoplasmic dynein minus-end directed microtubule motor, in a genetic screen for regulators of EGFR signaling. Despite the many cellular functions of dynein, DHC-1 is a strong negative regulator of EGFR signaling during vulva induction. DHC-1 is required in the signal-receiving cell, genetically functions upstream or in parallel to LET-23 EGFR. LET-23 EGFR accumulates in cytoplasmic foci in dhc-1 mutants consistent with mammalian cell studies whereby dynein has been shown to regulate late endosome trafficking of EGFR with the Rab7 GTPase. However, we found different distributions of LET-23 EGFR foci in rab-7 versus dhc-1 mutants, suggesting that dynein functions at an earlier step of LET-23 EGFR trafficking to the lysosome than RAB-7. Our results demonstrate an in vivo role for dynein in limiting LET-23 EGFR signaling via endosomal trafficking.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olga Skorobogata
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Departments of Medicine, and Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, and the Program in Experimental Therapeutics and Metabolism, Centre for Translational Biology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H4A 3J1
| | - Jassy Meng
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Departments of Medicine, and Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, and the Program in Experimental Therapeutics and Metabolism, Centre for Translational Biology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H4A 3J1
| | - Kimberley Gauthier
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Departments of Medicine, and Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, and the Program in Experimental Therapeutics and Metabolism, Centre for Translational Biology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H4A 3J1
| | - Christian E Rocheleau
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Departments of Medicine, and Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, and the Program in Experimental Therapeutics and Metabolism, Centre for Translational Biology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H4A 3J1
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Gao Y, Ruan B, Liu W, Wang J, Yang X, Zhang Z, Li X, Duan J, Zhang F, Ding R, Tao K, Dou K. Knockdown of CD44 inhibits the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma both in vitro and in vivo by reversing epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Oncotarget 2016; 6:7828-37. [PMID: 25797261 PMCID: PMC4480719 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2014] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence has shown that induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes to the the expression of CSC (cancer stem cell) markers. However, whether and how CSC markers could be involved in regulating EMT has rarely been reported. CD44, being one of the most commonly used CSC markers in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has been demonstrated to act as a multidomain, transmembrane platform that serves to integrate a wide variety of extracellular signals. Therefore, we determined to seek whether CD44 is necessary for the EMT process in HCC. First, we noticed that CD44 expression was associated with the mesenchymal phenotype in HCC cell lines, and knocking down CD44 with lentivirus-mediated shRNA in HCC cell lines resulted in the mesenchymal-epithelial-transition (MET) and the subsequent impaired migration and invasion in vitro. Moreover, in a metastatic mice model established by tail vein injection of luciferase labelled MHCC97-H cells, we confirmed that CD44 knockdown resulted in the decreased metastasis of HCC cells. Furthermore, we found that the induction of MET by CD44 inhibition might be achieved, at least in part, by repressing the ERK/Snail pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Gao
- Department of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreto-Splenic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Bai Ruan
- Department of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreto-Splenic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Weihui Liu
- General Surgery Center of PLA, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Jianlin Wang
- Department of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreto-Splenic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xisheng Yang
- Department of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreto-Splenic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhuochao Zhang
- Department of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreto-Splenic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xia Li
- Department of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreto-Splenic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Juanli Duan
- Department of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreto-Splenic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Fuqing Zhang
- Department of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreto-Splenic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Rui Ding
- Department of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreto-Splenic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Kaishan Tao
- Department of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreto-Splenic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Kefeng Dou
- Department of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreto-Splenic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Chen MK, Hung MC. Regulation of therapeutic resistance in cancers by receptor tyrosine kinases. Am J Cancer Res 2016; 6:827-842. [PMID: 27186434 PMCID: PMC4859887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In response to DNA damage lesions due to cellular stress, DNA damage response (DDR) pathways are activated to promote cell survival and genetic stability or unrepaired lesion-induced cell death. Current cancer treatments predominantly utilize DNA damaging agents, such as irradiation and chemotherapy drugs, to inhibit cancer cell proliferation and induce cell death through the activation of DDR. However, a portion of cancer patients is reported to develop therapeutic resistance to these DDR-inducing agents. One significant resistance mechanism in cancer cells is oncogenic kinase overexpression, which promotes cell survival by enhancing DNA damage repair pathways and evading cell cycle arrest. Among the oncogenic kinases, overexpression of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) is reported in many of solid tumors, and numerous clinical trials targeting RTKs are currently in progress. As the emerging trend in cancer treatment combines DNA damaging agents and RTK inhibitors, it is important to understand the substrates of RTKs relative to the DDR pathways. In addition, alteration of RTK expression and their phosphorylated substrates can serve as biomarkers to stratify patients for combination therapies. In this review, we summarize the deleterious effects of RTKs on the DDR pathways and the emerging biomarkers for personalized therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Kuang Chen
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science, The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonHouston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Mien-Chie Hung
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science, The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonHouston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, Texas, 77030, USA
- Center of Molecular Medicine and Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology, China Medical UniversityTaichung 404, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology, Asia UniversityTaichung 413, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Burdick J, Walton T, Preston E, Zacharias A, Raj A, Murray JI. Overlapping cell population expression profiling and regulatory inference in C. elegans. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:159. [PMID: 26926147 PMCID: PMC4772325 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2482-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding gene expression across the diverse metazoan cell types during development is critical to understanding their function and regulation. However, most cell types have not been assayed for expression genome-wide. Results We applied a novel approach we term “Profiling of Overlapping Populations of cells (POP-Seq)” to assay differential expression across all embryonic cells in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. In this approach, we use RNA-seq to define the transcriptome of diverse partially overlapping FACS-sorted cell populations. This identified thousands of transcripts differentially expressed across embryonic cells. Hierarchical clustering analysis identified over 100 sets of coexpressed genes corresponding to distinct patterns of cell type specific expression. We identified thousands of candidate regulators of these clusters based on enrichment of transcription factor motifs and experimentally determined binding sites. Conclusions Our analysis provides new insight into embryonic gene regulation, and provides a resource for improving our knowledge of tissue-specific expression and its regulation throughout C. elegans development. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-2482-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Burdick
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - Travis Walton
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - Elicia Preston
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - Amanda Zacharias
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - Arjun Raj
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - John Isaac Murray
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. .,Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 437A Clinical Research Building, 415 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6145, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Nadarajan S, Mohideen F, Tzur YB, Ferrandiz N, Crawley O, Montoya A, Faull P, Snijders AP, Cutillas PR, Jambhekar A, Blower MD, Martinez-Perez E, Harper JW, Colaiacovo MP. The MAP kinase pathway coordinates crossover designation with disassembly of synaptonemal complex proteins during meiosis. eLife 2016; 5:e12039. [PMID: 26920220 PMCID: PMC4805554 DOI: 10.7554/elife.12039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Asymmetric disassembly of the synaptonemal complex (SC) is crucial for proper meiotic chromosome segregation. However, the signaling mechanisms that directly regulate this process are poorly understood. Here we show that the mammalian Rho GEF homolog, ECT-2, functions through the conserved RAS/ERK MAP kinase signaling pathway in the C. elegans germline to regulate the disassembly of SC proteins. We find that SYP-2, a SC central region component, is a potential target for MPK-1-mediated phosphorylation and that constitutively phosphorylated SYP-2 impairs the disassembly of SC proteins from chromosomal domains referred to as the long arms of the bivalents. Inactivation of MAP kinase at late pachytene is critical for timely disassembly of the SC proteins from the long arms, and is dependent on the crossover (CO) promoting factors ZHP-3/RNF212/Zip3 and COSA-1/CNTD1. We propose that the conserved MAP kinase pathway coordinates CO designation with the disassembly of SC proteins to ensure accurate chromosome segregation. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.12039.001 Most plants and animals, including humans, have cells that contain two copies of every chromosome, with one set inherited from each parent. However, reproductive cells (such as eggs and sperm) contain just one copy of every chromosome so that when they fuse together at fertilization, the resulting cell will have the usual two copies of each chromosome. Embryos that have incorrect numbers of chromosome copies either fail to survive or develop disorders such as Down syndrome. Therefore, it is important that when cells divide to form new reproductive cells, their chromosomes are correctly segregated. To end up with one copy of each chromosome, reproductive cells undergo a form of cell division called meiosis. During meiosis, pairs of chromosomes are held together by a zipper-like structure called the synaptonemal complex. While held together like this, each chromosome in the pair exchanges DNA with the other by forming junctions called crossovers. Once DNA exchange is completed, the synaptonemal complex disappears from certain regions of the chromosome. Using a range of genetic, biochemical and cell biological approaches, Nadarajan et al. have now investigated how crossover formation and the disassembly of the synaptonemal complex are coordinated in the reproductive cells of a roundworm called Caenorhabditis elegans. This revealed that a signaling pathway called the MAP kinase pathway regulates the removal of synaptonemal complex proteins from particular sites between the paired chromosomes. Turning off this pathway’s activity is required for the timely disassembly of this complex, and depends on proteins that are involved in crossover formation. This regulatory mechanism likely ensures that the synaptonemal complex starts to disassemble only after the physical attachments between the paired chromosomes are “locked in”, thus ensuring that reproductive cells receive the correct number of chromosomes. Given that the MAP kinase pathway regulates cell processes in many different organisms, a future challenge is to determine whether this pathway regulates the synaptonemal complex in other species as well. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.12039.002
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Firaz Mohideen
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Yonatan B Tzur
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Nuria Ferrandiz
- MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver Crawley
- MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alex Montoya
- Proteomics facility, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Faull
- Proteomics facility, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ambrosius P Snijders
- Proteomics facility, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pedro R Cutillas
- Proteomics facility, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ashwini Jambhekar
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States.,Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States
| | - Michael D Blower
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States.,Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States
| | | | - J Wade Harper
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Huang J, Shi Y, Li H, Tan D, Yang M, Wu X. Knockdown of receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 inhibits cell proliferation and colony formation in osteosarcoma cells by inducing arrest in cell cycle progression. Oncol Lett 2015; 10:3705-3711. [PMID: 26788194 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2015.3797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common malignant tumor of the bone, with a high mortality rate and poor prognosis. Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 (ROR2) has been reported to be dysregulated in human malignancies. More recently, ROR2 has been demonstrated to promote OS cell migration and invasion. However, the role of ROR2 in the regulation of OS cell proliferation, as well as the underlying molecular mechanism, remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism of ROR2 in osteosarcoma growth. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis and western blot analysis were used to examine the mRNA and protein expression. MTT assay, colony formation assay and cell cycle analysis were conducted to explore the function of ROR2 in osteosarcoma cells. In the present study, the expression of ROR2 was found to be frequently upregulated in OS tissues compared with matched adjacent normal tissues. It was also upregulated in the OS cell lines Saos-2, MG-63 and U-2 OS, relative to normal osteoblast hFOB 1.19 cells. Knockdown of ROR2 expression by transfection with ROR2-specific siRNA markedly inhibited the proliferation and colony formation of OS cells. Data from the cell cycle distribution assay revealed an accumulation of ROR2-knockdown cells in the G0/G1 phase, indicating that knockdown of ROR2 leads to an arrest in cell cycle progression. Mechanistic investigation revealed that the protein levels of c-myc, a target gene of the Wnt signaling, as well as cyclin D1, cyclin E and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 were markedly reduced in the ROR2-knockdown OS cells, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of ROR2 knockdown on OS cell proliferation is associated with the Wnt signaling pathway. In summary, the current study indicates an important role for ROR2 in the proliferation of OS cells. Therefore, ROR2 may be a promising therapeutic target in OS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianjun Huang
- The Second Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jishou University, Jishou, Hunan 416000, P.R. China
| | - Ying Shi
- Teaching and Research Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Medical School of Jishou University, Jishou, Hunan 416000, P.R. China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Medical School of Jishou University, Jishou, Hunan 416000, P.R. China
| | - Dunyong Tan
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Medical School of Jishou University, Jishou, Hunan 416000, P.R. China
| | - Meisongzhu Yang
- Teaching and Research Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Medical School of Jishou University, Jishou, Hunan 416000, P.R. China
| | - Xiang Wu
- The Second Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jishou University, Jishou, Hunan 416000, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Chen MK, Hung MC. Proteolytic cleavage, trafficking, and functions of nuclear receptor tyrosine kinases. FEBS J 2015; 282:3693-721. [PMID: 26096795 DOI: 10.1111/febs.13342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Revised: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular localization has been reported for over three-quarters of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) families in response to environmental stimuli. Internalized RTK may bind to non-canonical substrates and affect various cellular processes. Many of the intracellular RTKs exist as fragmented forms that are generated by γ-secretase cleavage of the full-length receptor, shedding, alternative splicing, or alternative translation initiation. Soluble RTK fragments are stabilized and intracellularly transported into subcellular compartments, such as the nucleus, by binding to chaperone or transcription factors, while membrane-bound RTKs (full-length or truncated) are transported from the plasma membrane to the ER through the well-established Rab- or clathrin adaptor protein-coated vesicle retrograde trafficking pathways. Subsequent nuclear transport of membrane-bound RTK may occur via two pathways, INFS or INTERNET, with the former characterized by release of receptors from the ER into the cytosol and the latter characterized by release of membrane-bound receptor from the ER into the nucleoplasm through the inner nuclear membrane. Although most non-canonical intracellular RTK signaling is related to transcriptional regulation, there may be other functions that have yet to be discovered. In this review, we summarize the proteolytic processing, intracellular trafficking and nuclear functions of RTKs, and discuss how they promote cancer progression, and their clinical implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Kuang Chen
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mien-Chie Hung
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Center of Molecular Medicine and Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Abstract
A little over 50 years ago, Sydney Brenner had the foresight to develop the nematode (round worm) Caenorhabditis elegans as a genetic model for understanding questions of developmental biology and neurobiology. Over time, research on C. elegans has expanded to explore a wealth of diverse areas in modern biology including studies of the basic functions and interactions of eukaryotic cells, host-parasite interactions, and evolution. C. elegans has also become an important organism in which to study processes that go awry in human diseases. This primer introduces the organism and the many features that make it an outstanding experimental system, including its small size, rapid life cycle, transparency, and well-annotated genome. We survey the basic anatomical features, common technical approaches, and important discoveries in C. elegans research. Key to studying C. elegans has been the ability to address biological problems genetically, using both forward and reverse genetics, both at the level of the entire organism and at the level of the single, identified cell. These possibilities make C. elegans useful not only in research laboratories, but also in the classroom where it can be used to excite students who actually can see what is happening inside live cells and tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ann K Corsi
- Biology Department, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064
| | - Bruce Wightman
- Biology Department, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18104
| | - Martin Chalfie
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
van Zon JS, Kienle S, Huelsz-Prince G, Barkoulas M, van Oudenaarden A. Cells change their sensitivity to an EGF morphogen gradient to control EGF-induced gene expression. Nat Commun 2015; 6:7053. [PMID: 25958991 PMCID: PMC4438782 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
How cells in developing organisms interpret the quantitative information contained in morphogen gradients is an open question. Here we address this question using a novel integrative approach that combines quantitative measurements of morphogen-induced gene expression at single-mRNA resolution with mathematical modelling of the induction process. We focus on the induction of Notch ligands by the LIN-3/EGF morphogen gradient during vulva induction in Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that LIN-3/EGF-induced Notch ligand expression is highly dynamic, exhibiting an abrupt transition from low to high expression. Similar transitions in Notch ligand expression are observed in two highly divergent wild C. elegans isolates. Mathematical modelling and experiments show that this transition is driven by a dynamic increase in the sensitivity of the induced cells to external LIN-3/EGF. Furthermore, this increase in sensitivity is independent of the presence of LIN-3/EGF. Our integrative approach might be useful to study induction by morphogen gradients in other systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Sebastiaan van Zon
- Departments of Physics and Biology and Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- FOM Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Simone Kienle
- FOM Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Michalis Barkoulas
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS-Inserm-ENS, 46 rue d'Ulm, 75230 Paris cedex 05, France
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Alexander van Oudenaarden
- Departments of Physics and Biology and Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Sikkink KL, Reynolds RM, Cresko WA, Phillips PC. Environmentally induced changes in correlated responses to selection reveal variable pleiotropy across a complex genetic network. Evolution 2015; 69:1128-42. [PMID: 25809411 PMCID: PMC5523853 DOI: 10.1111/evo.12651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Selection in novel environments can lead to a coordinated evolutionary response across a suite of characters. Environmental conditions can also potentially induce changes in the genetic architecture of complex traits, which in turn could alter the pattern of the multivariate response to selection. We describe a factorial selection experiment using the nematode Caenorhabditis remanei in which two different stress-related phenotypes (heat and oxidative stress resistance) were selected under three different environmental conditions. The pattern of covariation in the evolutionary response between phenotypes or across environments differed depending on the environment in which selection occurred, including asymmetrical responses to selection in some cases. These results indicate that variation in pleiotropy across the stress response network is highly sensitive to the external environment. Our findings highlight the complexity of the interaction between genes and environment that influences the ability of organisms to acclimate to novel environments. They also make clear the need to identify the underlying genetic basis of genetic correlations in order understand how patterns of pleiotropy are distributed across complex genetic networks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin L Sikkink
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 97403
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55108
| | - Rose M Reynolds
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 97403
- Department of Biology, William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri, 64068
| | - William A Cresko
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 97403.
| | - Patrick C Phillips
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 97403.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Takács-Vellai K, Vellai T, Farkas Z, Mehta A. Nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDPKs) in animal development. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015. [PMID: 25537302 DOI: 10.07/s00018-014-1803-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
In textbooks of biochemistry, nucleoside diphosphate conversion to a triphosphate by nucleoside diphosphate 'kinases' (NDPKs, also named NME or NM23 proteins) merits a few lines of text. Yet this essential metabolic function, mediated by a multimeric phosphotransferase protein, has effects that lie beyond a simple housekeeping role. NDPKs attracted more attention when NM23-H1 was identified as the first metastasis suppressor gene. In this review, we examine these NDPK enzymes from a developmental perspective because of the tractable phenotypes found in simple animal models that point to common themes. The data suggest that NDPK enzymes control the availability of surface receptors to regulate cell-sensing cues during cell migration. NDPKs regulate different forms of membrane enclosure that engulf dying cells during development. We suggest that NDPK enzymes have been essential for the regulated uptake of objects such as bacteria or micronutrients, and this evolutionarily conserved endocytic function contributes to their activity towards the regulation of metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Krisztina Takács-Vellai
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter stny. 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary,
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|