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Contribution of Yeast Studies to the Understanding of BCL-2 Family Intracellular Trafficking. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084086. [PMID: 33920941 PMCID: PMC8071328 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BCL-2 family members are major regulators of apoptotic cell death in mammals. They form an intricate regulatory network that ultimately regulates the release of apoptogenic factors from mitochondria to the cytosol. The ectopic expression of mammalian BCL-2 family members in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which lacks BCL-2 homologs, has been long established as a useful addition to the available models to study their function and regulation. In yeast, individual proteins can be studied independently from the whole interaction network, thus providing insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying their function in a living context. Furthermore, one can take advantage of the powerful tools available in yeast to probe intracellular trafficking processes such as mitochondrial sorting and interactions/exchanges between mitochondria and other compartments, such as the endoplasmic reticulum that are largely conserved between yeast and mammals. Yeast molecular genetics thus allows the investigation of the role of these processes on the dynamic equilibrium of BCL-2 family members between mitochondria and extramitochondrial compartments. Here we propose a model of dynamic regulation of BCL-2 family member localization, based on available evidence from ectopic expression in yeast.
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Li M, Wang D, He J, Chen L, Li H. Bcl-X L: A multifunctional anti-apoptotic protein. Pharmacol Res 2020; 151:104547. [PMID: 31734345 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.104547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-XL) is one of the anti-apoptotic proteins of the Bcl-2 family that is localized in the mitochondria. Bcl-XL is one of the key regulators of apoptosis that can also regulate other important cellular functions. Bcl-XL is overexpressed in many cancers, and its inhibitors have shown good therapeutic effects. Bcl-XL interacts with Beclin 1, a key factor regulating autophagy. Bcl-XL is essential for the survival of neurons and plays protective roles in neuronal injuries. It can promote the growth of neurons and the correct formation of neural networks, enhance synaptic plasticity, and control neurotoxicity. Bcl-XL can also promote the transport of Ca2+ to mitochondria, increase the production of ATP, and improve metabolic efficiency. In addition, targeting Bcl-XL has shown potential value in autoimmune diseases and aging. In this review, we summarize the functions of Bcl-XL in cancer, autophagy, Ca2+ signaling, neuroprotection, neuronal growth and synaptic plasticity, energy metabolism, immunity, and senescence as revealed by investigations conducted in the past 10 years. Moreover, we list some inhibitors that have been developed based on the functions of Bcl-XL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxue Li
- Wuya College of Innovation, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Dun Wang
- Wuya College of Innovation, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Jianhua He
- Wuya College of Innovation, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Lixia Chen
- Wuya College of Innovation, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China.
| | - Hua Li
- Wuya College of Innovation, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
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Baruah PS, Beauchemin M, Parker JA, Bertrand R. Expression of human Bcl-xL (Ser49) and (Ser62) mutants in Caenorhabditis elegans causes germline defects and aneuploidy. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177413. [PMID: 28481930 PMCID: PMC5421811 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
An interesting feature of Bcl-xL protein is the presence of an unstructured loop domain between α1 and α2 helices, a domain not essential for its anti-apoptotic function and absent in CED-9 protein. Within this domain, Bcl-xL undergoes dynamic phosphorylation and dephosphorylation at Ser49 and Ser62 during G2 and mitosis in human cells. Studies have revealed that when these residues are mutated, cells harbour mitotic defects, including chromosome mis-attachment, lagging, bridging and mis-segregation with, ultimately, chromosome instability and aneuploidy. We undertook genetic experiments in Caenorhabditis elegans to understand the importance of Bcl-xL (Ser49) and (Ser62) in vivo. Transgenic worms carrying single-site S49A, S62A, S49D, S62D and dual site S49/62A mutants were generated and their effects were analyzed in germlines of young adult worms. Worms expressing Bcl-xL variants showed decreased egg-laying and hatching potency, variations in the length of their mitotic regions but not of their transition zones, appearance of chromosomal abnormalities at their diplotene stages, and increased germline apoptosis, with the exception of the S62D variants. Some of these transgenic strains, particularly the Ser to Ala variants, also showed slight modulations of lifespan compared to their controls. In addition, RNAi experiments silencing expression of the various Bcl-xL variants reversed their effects in vivo. Our in vivo observations confirmed the importance of Ser49 and Ser62 within Bcl-xL loop domain in maintaining chromosome stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasamit Saurav Baruah
- Centre de recherche, Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal (Québec) Canada
- Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montréal (Québec) Canada
| | - Myriam Beauchemin
- Centre de recherche, Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal (Québec) Canada
- Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montréal (Québec) Canada
| | - J. Alexander Parker
- Centre de recherche, Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal (Québec) Canada
- Département de neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal (Québec) Canada
| | - Richard Bertrand
- Centre de recherche, Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal (Québec) Canada
- Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montréal (Québec) Canada
- Département de médecine et Spec. médicales, Université de Montréal, Montréal (Québec) Canada
- * E-mail:
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Dynamic Bcl-xL (S49) and (S62) Phosphorylation/Dephosphorylation during Mitosis Prevents Chromosome Instability and Aneuploidy in Normal Human Diploid Fibroblasts. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159091. [PMID: 27398719 PMCID: PMC4939973 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Bcl-xL proteins undergo dynamic phosphorylation/dephosphorylation on Ser49 and Ser62 residues during mitosis. The expression of Bcl-xL(S49A), (S62A) and dual (S49/62A) phosphorylation mutants in tumor cells lead to severe mitotic defects associated with multipolar spindle, chromosome lagging and bridging, and micro-, bi- and multi-nucleated cells. Because the above observations were made in tumor cells which already display genomic instability, we now address the question: will similar effects occur in normal human diploid cells? We studied normal human diploid BJ foreskin fibroblast cells expressing Bcl-xL (wild type), (S49A), (S49D), (S62A), (S62D) and the dual-site (S49/62A) and (S49/62D) mutants. Cells expressing S49 and/or S62 phosphorylation mutants showed reduced kinetics of cell population doubling. These effects on cell population doubling kinetics correlated with early outbreak of senescence with no impact on the cell death rate. Senescent cells displayed typical senescence-associated phenotypes including high-level of senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion, tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21Waf1/Cip1 activation as well as γH2A.X-associated nuclear chromatin foci. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis and Giemsa-banded karyotypes revealed that the expression of Bcl-xL phosphorylation mutants in normal diploid BJ cells provoked chromosome instability and aneuploidy. These findings suggest that dynamic Bcl-xL(S49) and (S62) phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cycles are important in the maintenance of chromosome integrity during mitosis in normal cells. They could impact future strategies aiming to develop and identify compounds that could target not only the anti-apoptotic domain of Bcl-xL protein, but also its mitotic domain for cancer therapy.
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Matsushima H, Mori T, Ito F, Yamamoto T, Akiyama M, Kokabu T, Yoriki K, Umemura S, Akashi K, Kitawaki J. Anti-tumor effect of estrogen-related receptor alpha knockdown on uterine endometrial cancer. Oncotarget 2016; 7:34131-48. [PMID: 27153547 PMCID: PMC5085142 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogen-related receptor (ERR)α presents structural similarities with estrogen receptor (ER)α. However, it is an orphan receptor not binding to naturally occurring estrogens. This study was designed to investigate the role of ERRα in endometrial cancer progression. Immunohistochemistry analysis on 50 specimens from patients with endometrial cancer showed that ERRα was expressed in all examined tissues and the elevated expression levels of ERRα were associated with advanced clinical stages and serous histological type (p < 0.01 for each). ERRα knockdown with siRNA suppressed angiogenesis via VEGF and cell proliferation in vitro (p < 0.01). Cell cycle and apoptosis assays using flow cytometry and western blot revealed that ERRα knockdown induced cell cycle arrest during the mitotic phase followed by apoptosis initiated by caspase-3. Additionally, ERRα knockdown sensitized cells to paclitaxel. A significant reduction of tumor growth and angiogenesis was also observed in ERRα knockdown xenografts (p < 0.01). These findings indicate that ERRα may serve as a novel molecular target for the treatment of endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Matsushima
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Taisuke Mori
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Fumitake Ito
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takuro Yamamoto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Makoto Akiyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Kokabu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kaori Yoriki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shiori Umemura
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kyoko Akashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jo Kitawaki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
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Song X, Dilly AK, Choudry HA, Bartlett DL, Kwon YT, Lee YJ. Hypoxia Promotes Synergy between Mitomycin C and Bortezomib through a Coordinated Process of Bcl-xL Phosphorylation and Mitochondrial Translocation of p53. Mol Cancer Res 2015; 13:1533-43. [PMID: 26354682 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-15-0237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis (CPC) exhibits severe tumor hypoxia, leading to drug resistance and disease aggressiveness. This study demonstrates that the combination of the chemotherapeutic agent mitomycin C with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib induced synergistic cytotoxicity and apoptosis, which was even more effective under hypoxia in colorectal cancer cells. The combination of mitomycin C and bortezomib at sublethal doses induced activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and resulted in Bcl-xL phosphorylation at Serine 62, leading to dissociation of Bcl-xL from proapoptotic Bak. Interestingly, the intracellular level of p53 became elevated and p53 translocated to the mitochondria during the combinatorial treatment, in particular under hypoxia. The coordinated action of Bcl-xL phosphorylation and p53 translocation to the mitochondria resulted in conformational activation of Bak oligomerization, facilitating cytochrome c release and apoptosis induction. In addition, the combinatorial treatment with mitomycin C and bortezomib significantly inhibited intraperitoneal tumor growth in LS174T cells and increased apoptosis, especially under hypoxic conditions in vivo. This study provides a preclinical rationale for the use of combination therapies for CPC patients. IMPLICATIONS The combination of a chemotherapy agent and proteasome inhibitor at sublethal doses induced synergistic apoptosis, in particular under hypoxia, in vitro and in vivo through coordinated action of Bcl-xL and p53 on Bak activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Song
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Ashok-Kumar Dilly
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Haroon Asif Choudry
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - David L Bartlett
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Yong Tae Kwon
- Protein Metabolism Medical Research Center and Department of Biomedical Science, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yong J Lee
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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