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Terui R, Berger SE, Sambel LA, Song D, Chistol G. Single-molecule imaging reveals the mechanism of bidirectional replication initiation in metazoa. Cell 2024; 187:3992-4009.e25. [PMID: 38866019 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Metazoan genomes are copied bidirectionally from thousands of replication origins. Replication initiation entails the assembly and activation of two CMG helicases (Cdc45⋅Mcm2-7⋅GINS) at each origin. This requires several replication firing factors (including TopBP1, RecQL4, and DONSON) whose exact roles are still under debate. How two helicases are correctly assembled and activated at each origin is a long-standing question. By visualizing the recruitment of GINS, Cdc45, TopBP1, RecQL4, and DONSON in real time, we uncovered that replication initiation is surprisingly dynamic. First, TopBP1 transiently binds to the origin and dissociates before the start of DNA synthesis. Second, two Cdc45 are recruited together, even though Cdc45 alone cannot dimerize. Next, two copies of DONSON and two GINS simultaneously arrive at the origin, completing the assembly of two CMG helicases. Finally, RecQL4 is recruited to the CMG⋅DONSON⋅DONSON⋅CMG complex and promotes DONSON dissociation and CMG activation via its ATPase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riki Terui
- Chemical and Systems Biology Department, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Scott E Berger
- Biophysics Program, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Larissa A Sambel
- Chemical and Systems Biology Department, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Dan Song
- Chemical and Systems Biology Department, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Gheorghe Chistol
- Chemical and Systems Biology Department, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Biophysics Program, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Cancer Biology Program, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; BioX Interdisciplinary Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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2
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Esplen HP, Yang RK, Kalia A, Tang Z, Tang G, Medeiros LJ, Toruner GA. Recurrent Somatic Copy Number Alterations and Their Association with Oncogene Expression Levels in High-Grade Ovarian Serous Carcinoma. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2192. [PMID: 38004332 PMCID: PMC10672014 DOI: 10.3390/life13112192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs) are frequently observed in high-grade ovarian serous carcinoma (HGOSC). However, their impact on gene expression levels has not been systematically assessed. In this study, we explored the relationship between recurrent SCNA and gene expression using The Cancer Genome Atlas Pan Cancer dataset (OSC, TCGA, PanCancer Atlas) to identify cancer-related genes in HGOSC. We then investigated any association between highly correlated cancer genes and clinicopathological parameters, including age of diagnosis, disease stage, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS). A total of 772 genes with recurrent SCNAs were observed. SCNA and mRNA expression levels were highly correlated for 274 genes; 24 genes were classified as a Tier 1 gene in the Cancer Gene Census in the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (CGC-COSMIC). Of these, 11 Tier 1 genes had highly correlated SCNA and mRNA expression levels: TBL1XR1, PIK3CA, UBR5, EIF3E, RAD21, EXT1, RECQL4, KRAS, PRKACA, BRD4, and TPM4. There was no association between gene amplification and disease stage or PFS. EIF3E, RAD21, and EXT1 were more frequently amplified in younger patients, specifically those under the age of 55 years. Patients with tumors carrying PRKACA, BRD4, or TPM4 amplification were associated with a significantly shorter OS. RECQL4 amplification was more frequent in younger patients, and tumors with this amplification were associated with a significantly better OS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillary P. Esplen
- Graduate Program in Diagnostic Genetics and Genomics, School of Health Professions, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA
| | - Richard K. Yang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA
| | - Awdhesh Kalia
- Graduate Program in Diagnostic Genetics and Genomics, School of Health Professions, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA
| | - Zhenya Tang
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 6565 MD Anderson Avenue, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-7815, USA
| | - Guilin Tang
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 6565 MD Anderson Avenue, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA
| | - L. Jeffrey Medeiros
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 6565 MD Anderson Avenue, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA
| | - Gokce A. Toruner
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 6565 MD Anderson Avenue, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA
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3
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Li F, Zafar A, Luo L, Denning AM, Gu J, Bennett A, Yuan F, Zhang Y. R-Loops in Genome Instability and Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4986. [PMID: 37894353 PMCID: PMC10605827 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15204986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
R-loops are unique, three-stranded nucleic acid structures that primarily form when an RNA molecule displaces one DNA strand and anneals to the complementary DNA strand in a double-stranded DNA molecule. R-loop formation can occur during natural processes, such as transcription, in which the nascent RNA molecule remains hybridized with the template DNA strand, while the non-template DNA strand is displaced. However, R-loops can also arise due to many non-natural processes, including DNA damage, dysregulation of RNA degradation pathways, and defects in RNA processing. Despite their prevalence throughout the whole genome, R-loops are predominantly found in actively transcribed gene regions, enabling R-loops to serve seemingly controversial roles. On one hand, the pathological accumulation of R-loops contributes to genome instability, a hallmark of cancer development that plays a role in tumorigenesis, cancer progression, and therapeutic resistance. On the other hand, R-loops play critical roles in regulating essential processes, such as gene expression, chromatin organization, class-switch recombination, mitochondrial DNA replication, and DNA repair. In this review, we summarize discoveries related to the formation, suppression, and removal of R-loops and their influence on genome instability, DNA repair, and oncogenic events. We have also discussed therapeutical opportunities by targeting pathological R-loops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Li
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Alyan Zafar
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Liang Luo
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Ariana Maria Denning
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Jun Gu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Ansley Bennett
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Fenghua Yuan
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Yanbin Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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4
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Xia Y, Sonneville R, Jenkyn-Bedford M, Ji L, Alabert C, Hong Y, Yeeles JT, Labib KP. DNSN-1 recruits GINS for CMG helicase assembly during DNA replication initiation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Science 2023; 381:eadi4932. [PMID: 37590372 PMCID: PMC7615117 DOI: 10.1126/science.adi4932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Assembly of the CMG (CDC-45-MCM-2-7-GINS) helicase is the key regulated step during eukaryotic DNA replication initiation. Until now, it was unclear whether metazoa require additional factors that are not present in yeast. In this work, we show that Caenorhabditis elegans DNSN-1, the ortholog of human DONSON, functions during helicase assembly in a complex with MUS-101/TOPBP1. DNSN-1 is required to recruit the GINS complex to chromatin, and a cryo-electron microscopy structure indicates that DNSN-1 positions GINS on the MCM-2-7 helicase motor (comprising the six MCM-2 to MCM-7 proteins), by direct binding of DNSN-1 to GINS and MCM-3, using interfaces that we show are important for initiation and essential for viability. These findings identify DNSN-1 as a missing link in our understanding of DNA replication initiation, suggesting that initiation defects underlie the human disease syndrome that results from DONSON mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yisui Xia
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, U.K
| | - Remi Sonneville
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, U.K
| | | | - Liqin Ji
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Constance Alabert
- Division of Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, U.K
| | - Ye Hong
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, U.K
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Joseph T.P. Yeeles
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, U.K
| | - Karim P.M. Labib
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, U.K
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Hussain M, Mohammed A, Saifi S, Priya S, Sengupta S. Hyperubiquitylation of DNA helicase RECQL4 by E3 ligase MITOL prevents mitochondrial entry and potentiates mitophagy. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105087. [PMID: 37495109 PMCID: PMC10470078 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the DNA helicase RECQL4 lead to Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (RTS), a disorder characterized by mitochondrial dysfunctions, premature aging, and genomic instability. However, the mechanisms by which these mutations lead to pathology are unclear. Here we report that RECQL4 is ubiquitylated by a mitochondrial E3 ligase, MITOL, at two lysine residues (K1101, K1154) via K6 linkage. This ubiquitylation hampers the interaction of RECQL4 with mitochondrial importer Tom20, thereby restricting its own entry into mitochondria. We show the RECQL4 2K mutant (where both K1101 and K1154 are mutated) has increased entry into mitochondria and demonstrates enhanced mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication. We observed that the three tested RTS patient mutants were unable to enter the mitochondria and showed decreased mtDNA replication. Furthermore, we found that RECQL4 in RTS patient mutants are hyperubiquitylated by MITOL and form insoluble aggregate-like structures on the outer mitochondrial surface. However, depletion of MITOL allows RECQL4 expressed in these RTS mutants to enter mitochondria and rescue mtDNA replication. Finally, we show increased accumulation of hyperubiquitylated RECQL4 outside the mitochondria leads to the cells being potentiated to increased mitophagy. Hence, we conclude regulating the turnover of RECQL4 by MITOL may have a therapeutic effect in patients with RTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansoor Hussain
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Aftab Mohammed
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Shabnam Saifi
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Swati Priya
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Sagar Sengupta
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India; National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani, India.
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Kliszczak M, Moralli D, Jankowska JD, Bryjka P, Subha Meem L, Goncalves T, Hester SS, Fischer R, Clynes D, Green CM. Loss of FAM111B protease mutated in hereditary fibrosing poikiloderma negatively regulates telomere length. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1175069. [PMID: 37342232 PMCID: PMC10277729 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1175069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Hereditary fibrosing poikiloderma (HFP) is a rare human dominant negative disorder caused by mutations in the FAM111B gene that encodes a nuclear trypsin-like serine protease. HFP patients present with symptoms including skin abnormalities, tendon contractures, myopathy and lung fibrosis. We characterized the cellular roles of human FAM111B using U2OS and MCF7 cell lines and report here that the protease interacts with components of the nuclear pore complex. Loss of FAM111B expression resulted in abnormal nuclear shape and reduced telomeric DNA content suggesting that FAM111B protease is required for normal telomere length; we show that this function is independent of telomerase or recombination driven telomere extension. Even though FAM111B-deficient cells were proficient in DNA repair, they showed hallmarks of genomic instability such as increased levels of micronuclei and ultra-fine DNA bridges. When mutated as in HFP, FAM111B was more frequently localized to the nuclear envelope, suggesting that accumulation of the mutated protease at the nuclear periphery may drive the disease pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Kliszczak
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Daniela Moralli
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Julia D. Jankowska
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Paulina Bryjka
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Lamia Subha Meem
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Tomas Goncalves
- Oncology Department, Weatherall Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Svenja S. Hester
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Roman Fischer
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Oxford Institute, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - David Clynes
- Oncology Department, Weatherall Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine M. Green
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Gillespie MS, Ward CM, Davies CC. DNA Repair and Therapeutic Strategies in Cancer Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:1897. [PMID: 36980782 PMCID: PMC10047301 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
First-line cancer treatments successfully eradicate the differentiated tumour mass but are comparatively ineffective against cancer stem cells (CSCs), a self-renewing subpopulation thought to be responsible for tumour initiation, metastasis, heterogeneity, and recurrence. CSCs are thus presented as the principal target for elimination during cancer treatment. However, CSCs are challenging to drug target because of numerous intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of drug resistance. One such mechanism that remains relatively understudied is the DNA damage response (DDR). CSCs are presumed to possess properties that enable enhanced DNA repair efficiency relative to their highly proliferative bulk progeny, facilitating improved repair of double-strand breaks induced by radiotherapy and most chemotherapeutics. This can occur through multiple mechanisms, including increased expression and splicing fidelity of DNA repair genes, robust activation of cell cycle checkpoints, and elevated homologous recombination-mediated DNA repair. Herein, we summarise the current knowledge concerning improved genome integrity in non-transformed stem cells and CSCs, discuss therapeutic opportunities within the DDR for re-sensitising CSCs to genotoxic stressors, and consider the challenges posed regarding unbiased identification of novel DDR-directed strategies in CSCs. A better understanding of the DDR mediating chemo/radioresistance mechanisms in CSCs could lead to novel therapeutic approaches, thereby enhancing treatment efficacy in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S. Gillespie
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (M.S.G.)
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Ciara M. Ward
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (M.S.G.)
| | - Clare C. Davies
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (M.S.G.)
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Colombo EA, Valiante M, Uggeri M, Orro A, Majore S, Grammatico P, Gentilini D, Finelli P, Gervasini C, D’Ursi P, Larizza L. Germline NUP98 Variants in Two Siblings with a Rothmund-Thomson-Like Spectrum: Protein Functional Changes Predicted by Molecular Modeling. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044028. [PMID: 36835439 PMCID: PMC9965077 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Two adult siblings born to first-cousin parents presented a clinical phenotype reminiscent of Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (RTS), implying fragile hair, absent eyelashes/eyebrows, bilateral cataracts, mottled pigmentation, dental decay, hypogonadism, and osteoporosis. As the clinical suspicion was not supported by the sequencing of RECQL4, the RTS2-causative gene, whole exome sequencing was applied and disclosed the homozygous variants c.83G>A (p.Gly28Asp) and c.2624A>C (p.Glu875Ala) in the nucleoporin 98 (NUP98) gene. Though both variants affect highly conserved amino acids, the c.83G>A looked more intriguing due to its higher pathogenicity score and location of the replaced amino acid between phenylalanine-glycine (FG) repeats within the first NUP98 intrinsically disordered region. Molecular modeling studies of the mutated NUP98 FG domain evidenced a dispersion of the intramolecular cohesion elements and a more elongated conformational state compared to the wild type. This different dynamic behavior may affect the NUP98 functions as the minor plasticity of the mutated FG domain undermines its role as a multi-docking station for RNA and proteins, and the impaired folding can lead to the weakening or the loss of specific interactions. The clinical overlap of NUP98-mutated and RTS2/RTS1 patients, accounted by converging dysregulated gene networks, supports this first-described constitutional NUP98 disorder, expanding the well-known role of NUP98 in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Adele Colombo
- Genetica Medica, Dipartimento di Scienze Della Salute, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milano, Italy
| | - Michele Valiante
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, 00152 Roma, Italy
| | - Matteo Uggeri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences National Research Council, Institute for Biomedical Technologies, 20054 Segrate, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, Section of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Orro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences National Research Council, Institute for Biomedical Technologies, 20054 Segrate, Italy
| | - Silvia Majore
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, 00152 Roma, Italy
| | - Paola Grammatico
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, 00152 Roma, Italy
| | - Davide Gentilini
- Bioinformatics and Statistical Genomics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Ariosto 13, 20145 Milan, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Palma Finelli
- Experimental Research Laboratory of Medical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Ariosto 13, 20145 Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Gervasini
- Genetica Medica, Dipartimento di Scienze Della Salute, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milano, Italy
| | - Pasqualina D’Ursi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences National Research Council, Institute for Biomedical Technologies, 20054 Segrate, Italy
- Correspondence: (P.D.); (L.L.)
| | - Lidia Larizza
- Experimental Research Laboratory of Medical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Ariosto 13, 20145 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: (P.D.); (L.L.)
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9
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Thakkar MK, Lee J, Meyer S, Chang VY. RecQ Helicase Somatic Alterations in Cancer. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:887758. [PMID: 35782872 PMCID: PMC9240438 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.887758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Named the “caretakers” of the genome, RecQ helicases function in several pathways to maintain genomic stability and repair DNA. This highly conserved family of enzymes consist of five different proteins in humans: RECQL1, BLM, WRN, RECQL4, and RECQL5. Biallelic germline mutations in BLM, WRN, and RECQL4 have been linked to rare cancer-predisposing syndromes. Emerging research has also implicated somatic alterations in RecQ helicases in a variety of cancers, including hematological malignancies, breast cancer, osteosarcoma, amongst others. These alterations in RecQ helicases, particularly overexpression, may lead to increased resistance of cancer cells to conventional chemotherapy. Downregulation of these proteins may allow for increased sensitivity to chemotherapy, and, therefore, may be important therapeutic targets. Here we provide a comprehensive review of our current understanding of the role of RecQ DNA helicases in cancer and discuss the potential therapeutic opportunities in targeting these helicases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megha K. Thakkar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jamie Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Stefan Meyer
- Division of Cancer Studies, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Department of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Vivian Y. Chang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Childrens Discovery and Innovation Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Vivian Y. Chang,
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