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Seong BKA, Dharia NV, Lin S, Donovan KA, Chong S, Robichaud A, Conway A, Hamze A, Ross L, Alexe G, Adane B, Nabet B, Ferguson FM, Stolte B, Wang EJ, Sun J, Darzacq X, Piccioni F, Gray NS, Fischer ES, Stegmaier K. TRIM8 modulates the EWS/FLI oncoprotein to promote survival in Ewing sarcoma. Cancer Cell 2021; 39:1262-1278.e7. [PMID: 34329586 PMCID: PMC8443273 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2021.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Fusion-transcription factors (fusion-TFs) represent a class of driver oncoproteins that are difficult to therapeutically target. Recently, protein degradation has emerged as a strategy to target these challenging oncoproteins. The mechanisms that regulate fusion-TF stability, however, are generally unknown. Using CRISPR-Cas9 screening, we discovered tripartite motif-containing 8 (TRIM8) as an E3 ubiquitin ligase that ubiquitinates and degrades EWS/FLI, a driver fusion-TF in Ewing sarcoma. Moreover, we identified TRIM8 as a selective dependency in Ewing sarcoma compared with >700 other cancer cell lines. Mechanistically, TRIM8 knockout led to an increase in EWS/FLI protein levels that was not tolerated. EWS/FLI acts as a neomorphic substrate for TRIM8, defining the selective nature of the dependency. Our results demonstrate that fusion-TF protein stability is tightly regulated and highlight fusion oncoprotein-specific regulators as selective therapeutic targets. This study provides a tractable strategy to therapeutically exploit oncogene overdose in Ewing sarcoma and potentially other fusion-TF-driven cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Kyung A Seong
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Neekesh V Dharia
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shan Lin
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Katherine A Donovan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shasha Chong
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Amanda Robichaud
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amy Conway
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amanda Hamze
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Linda Ross
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gabriela Alexe
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Biniam Adane
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Behnam Nabet
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fleur M Ferguson
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Björn Stolte
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Dr.von Hauner Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Emily Jue Wang
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jialin Sun
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xavier Darzacq
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; CIRM Center of Excellence, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eric S Fischer
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kimberly Stegmaier
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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2
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Shrestha UR, Smith JC, Petridis L. Full structural ensembles of intrinsically disordered proteins from unbiased molecular dynamics simulations. Commun Biol 2021; 4:243. [PMID: 33623120 PMCID: PMC7902620 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01759-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is widely used to complement ensemble-averaged experiments of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). However, MD often suffers from limitations of inaccuracy. Here, we show that enhancing the sampling using Hamiltonian replica-exchange MD (HREMD) led to unbiased and accurate ensembles, reproducing small-angle scattering and NMR chemical shift experiments, for three IDPs of varying sequence properties using two recently optimized force fields, indicating the general applicability of HREMD for IDPs. We further demonstrate that, unlike HREMD, standard MD can reproduce experimental NMR chemical shifts, but not small-angle scattering data, suggesting chemical shifts are insufficient for testing the validity of IDP ensembles. Surprisingly, we reveal that despite differences in their sequence, the inter-chain statistics of all three IDPs are similar for short contour lengths (< 10 residues). The results suggest that the major hurdle of generating an accurate unbiased ensemble for IDPs has now been largely overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Utsab R Shrestha
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, UT/ORNL Center for Molecular Biophysics, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Jeremy C Smith
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, UT/ORNL Center for Molecular Biophysics, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Loukas Petridis
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, UT/ORNL Center for Molecular Biophysics, Oak Ridge, TN, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
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3
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Hou C, Mandal A, Rohr J, Tsodikov OV. Allosteric interference in oncogenic FLI1 and ERG transactions by mithramycins. Structure 2020; 29:404-412.e4. [PMID: 33275876 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2020.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
ETS family transcription factors of ERG and FLI1 play a key role in oncogenesis of prostate cancer and Ewing sarcoma by binding regulatory DNA sites and interfering with function of other factors. Mithramycin (MTM) is an anti-cancer, DNA binding natural product that functions as a potent antagonist of ERG and FLI1 by an unknown mechanism. We present a series of crystal structures of the DNA binding domain (DBD) of ERG/FLI1 culminating in a structure of a high-order complex of the ERG/FLI1 DBD, transcription factor Runx2, core-binding factor beta (Cbfβ), and MTM on a DNA enhancer site, along with supporting DNA binding studies using MTM and its analogues. Taken together, these data provide insight into allosteric mechanisms underlying ERG and FLI1 transactions and their disruption by MTM analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caixia Hou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Abhisek Mandal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Jürgen Rohr
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Oleg V Tsodikov
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
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Ma Y, Xu B, Yu J, Huang L, Zeng X, Shen X, Ren C, Ben-David Y, Luo H. Fli-1 Activation through Targeted Promoter Activity Regulation Using a Novel 3', 5'-diprenylated Chalcone Inhibits Growth and Metastasis of Prostate Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21062216. [PMID: 32210104 PMCID: PMC7139342 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21062216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The friend leukemia integration 1 (Fli-1) gene is involved in the expression control of key genes in multiple pathogenic/physiological processes, including cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis; this implies that Fli-1 is a strong candidate for drug development. In our previous study, a 3′,5′-diprenylated chalcone, (E)-1-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-3,5-diprenyl) phenyl-3-(3-pyridinyl)-propene-1-one (C10), was identified as a novel anti-prostate cancer (PCa) agent. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer effects of C10 on the growth, metastasis, and invasion of PC3 cells in vitro. Our results show that C10 exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on proliferation and metastasis of PC3 cells via several cellular and flow cytometric analyses. Further mechanism studies revealed that C10 likely serves as an Fli-1 agonist for regulating the expression of Fli-1 target genes including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (P110), murine double minute2 (MDM2), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Src homology-2 domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatase 1 (SHIP-1), and globin transcription factor-1 (Gata-1) as well as the phosphorylation of extracellular-regulated protein kinases 1 (ERK1). Further, we confirmed that C10 can regulate the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor 1 (VEGF-1), transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), p53, and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) genes associated with tumor apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Thus, C10 exhibits stronger anticancer activity with novel molecular targets and regulatory molecular mechanisms, indicating its great potency for development as a novel targeted anticancer drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youfen Ma
- State key laboratory of functions and applications of medicinal plants, Guizhou medical university, Guiyang 550014, China; (Y.M.); (B.X.); (J.Y.); (X.Z.); (X.S.)
- College of pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550029, China
| | - Bixue Xu
- State key laboratory of functions and applications of medicinal plants, Guizhou medical university, Guiyang 550014, China; (Y.M.); (B.X.); (J.Y.); (X.Z.); (X.S.)
- The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Science, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Jia Yu
- State key laboratory of functions and applications of medicinal plants, Guizhou medical university, Guiyang 550014, China; (Y.M.); (B.X.); (J.Y.); (X.Z.); (X.S.)
- The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Science, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Lirong Huang
- College of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Guizhou Institute of Technology, Guiyang 550003, China;
| | - Xiaoping Zeng
- State key laboratory of functions and applications of medicinal plants, Guizhou medical university, Guiyang 550014, China; (Y.M.); (B.X.); (J.Y.); (X.Z.); (X.S.)
- The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Science, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Xiangchun Shen
- State key laboratory of functions and applications of medicinal plants, Guizhou medical university, Guiyang 550014, China; (Y.M.); (B.X.); (J.Y.); (X.Z.); (X.S.)
- College of pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550029, China
| | - Chunyan Ren
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Yaacov Ben-David
- State key laboratory of functions and applications of medicinal plants, Guizhou medical university, Guiyang 550014, China; (Y.M.); (B.X.); (J.Y.); (X.Z.); (X.S.)
- The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Science, Guiyang 550014, China
- Correspondence: (Y.B.-D.); (H.L.); Tel.: +86-0851-83876210 (H.L.)
| | - Heng Luo
- State key laboratory of functions and applications of medicinal plants, Guizhou medical university, Guiyang 550014, China; (Y.M.); (B.X.); (J.Y.); (X.Z.); (X.S.)
- The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Science, Guiyang 550014, China
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- Correspondence: (Y.B.-D.); (H.L.); Tel.: +86-0851-83876210 (H.L.)
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Selvanathan S, Graham G, Grego A, Baker T, Hogg J, Simpson M, Batish M, Crompton B, Stegmaier K, Tomazou E, Kovar H, Üren A, Toretsky J. EWS-FLI1 modulated alternative splicing of ARID1A reveals novel oncogenic function through the BAF complex. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:9619-9636. [PMID: 31392992 PMCID: PMC6765149 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Connections between epigenetic reprogramming and transcription or splicing create novel mechanistic networks that can be targeted with tailored therapies. Multiple subunits of the chromatin remodeling BAF complex, including ARID1A, play a role in oncogenesis, either as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. Recent work demonstrated that EWS-FLI1, the oncogenic driver of Ewing sarcoma (ES), plays a role in chromatin regulation through interactions with the BAF complex. However, the specific BAF subunits that interact with EWS-FLI1 and the precise role of the BAF complex in ES oncogenesis remain unknown. In addition to regulating transcription, EWS-FLI1 also alters the splicing of many mRNA isoforms, but the role of splicing modulation in ES oncogenesis is not well understood. We have identified a direct connection between the EWS-FLI1 protein and ARID1A isoform protein variant ARID1A-L. We demonstrate here that ARID1A-L is critical for ES maintenance and supports oncogenic transformation. We further report a novel feed-forward cycle in which EWS-FLI1 leads to preferential splicing of ARID1A-L, promoting ES growth, and ARID1A-L reciprocally promotes EWS-FLI1 protein stability. Dissecting this interaction may lead to improved cancer-specific drug targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saravana P Selvanathan
- Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Garrett T Graham
- Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Alexander R Grego
- Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | | | - J Robert Hogg
- Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mark Simpson
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Mona Batish
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Brian Crompton
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kimberly Stegmaier
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Eleni M Tomazou
- Children's Cancer Research Institute, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, Vienna, Austria
| | - Heinrich Kovar
- Children's Cancer Research Institute, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Aykut Üren
- Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Toretsky
- Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
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Sharma R, Gangwar SP, Saxena AK. Comparative structure analysis of the ETSi domain of ERG3 and its complex with the E74 promoter DNA sequence. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2018; 74:656-663. [PMID: 30279318 PMCID: PMC6168766 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x1801110x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
ERG3 (ETS-related gene) is a member of the ETS (erythroblast transformation-specific) family of transcription factors, which contain a highly conserved DNA-binding domain. The ETS family of transcription factors differ in their binding to promoter DNA sequences, and the mechanism of their DNA-sequence discrimination is little known. In the current study, crystals of the ETSi domain (the ETS domain of ERG3 containing a CID motif) in space group P41212 and of its complex with the E74 DNA sequence (DNA9) in space group C2221 were obtained and their structures were determined. Comparative structure analysis of the ETSi domain and its complex with DNA9 with previously determined structures of the ERGi domain (the ETS domain of ERG containing inhibitory motifs) in space group P65212 and of the ERGi-DNA12 complex in space group P41212 were performed. The ETSi domain is observed as a homodimer in solution as well as in the crystallographic asymmetric unit. Superposition of the structure of the ETSi domain on that of the ERGi domain showed a major conformational change at the C-terminal DNA-binding autoinhibitory (CID) motif, while minor changes are observed in the loop regions of the ETSi-domain structure. The ETSi-DNA9 complex in space group C2221 forms a structure that is quite similar to that of the ERG-DNA12 complex in space group P41212. Upon superposition of the complexes, major conformational changes are observed at the 5' and 3' ends of DNA9, while the conformation of the core GGA nucleotides was quite conserved. Comparison of the ETSi-DNA9 structure with known structures of ETS class 1 protein-DNA complexes shows the similarities and differences in the promoter DNA binding and specificity of the class 1 ETS proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruby Sharma
- Structural Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110 067, India
| | - Shanti P. Gangwar
- Structural Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110 067, India
| | - Ajay K. Saxena
- Structural Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110 067, India
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Todorova R. Disordered binding regions of Ewing's sarcoma fusion proteins. Bioorg Khim 2014; 40:20-30. [PMID: 25898720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A relationship was found between the Amino acid (AA) composition, Intrinsic Protein Disorder (IPD) and Protein Binding Regions (PBRs) of the functional regions of Ewing's sarcoma protein (EWS) and oncogenic EWS fusion proteins (EFPs). EWS has high IPD and 64% predicted Disordered Binding Regions (DBRs) by ANCHOR. The native Transcription Factors, fused to EWS Activation Domain (EAD) in EFPs, show high DBRs in N-terminal domain and relatively low in C-terminal domain. EFPs oncogenic function is related to IPD and PBRs probabilities, high around breakpoint and decreased in the fused Transcription Factor. The increased IPD in EAD around (AA 82), and the small RBRs around (AAs (50-60) and 100) are consistent with the reported physical interactions with RNA Polymerase II subunits. The AAs (228-264) of EWS, interacting with ZFM1 (SF1), correspond to two peaks of DBRs by Anchor and high IPD by IUPred. The IQ domain of EAD (AAs 258-280) that is phosphorylated by PKC and interacts with calmodulin, has high IPD and DBRs probability. The Ser266, conserved site of PKC phosphorylation, is situated in DBR and IPD region with about 100% probability. The small PBRs found in the EAD correspond to important physical protein-protein interactions, confirmed by experimental data. Thus regions of EWS and EFPs, included in functional interactions with other partners, are enriched of Protein Binding Regions by ANCHOR. The development of IPD- and PBRs-related, EWS-FLI1-directed specific therapies will help the design of antitumor agents against ESFT because of high patient mortality in cases of meta- static disease.
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Tsugita M, Yamada N, Noguchi S, Yamada K, Moritake H, Shimizu K, Akao Y, Ohno T. Ewing sarcoma cells secrete EWS/Fli-1 fusion mRNA via microvesicles. PLoS One 2013; 8:e77416. [PMID: 24124617 PMCID: PMC3790721 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2012] [Accepted: 09/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumours defined as Ewing sarcoma (ES) constitute a group of highly malignant neoplasms that most often affect children and young adults in the first 2 decades of life. The EWS/Fli-1 fusion gene, a product of the translocation t(11;22) (q24; 12), is detected in 95% of ES patients. Recently, it was validated that cells emit a heterogeneous mixture of vesicular, organelle-like structures (microvesicles, MVs) into their surroundings including blood and body fluids, and that these MVs contain a selected set of tumor-related proteins and high levels of mRNAs and miRNAs. In this present study, we detected the Ewing sarcoma-specific EWS/Fli-1 mRNA in MVs from the culture medium of ES cell lines carrying t(11;22) (q24; 12). Also, we detected this fusion gene in approximately 40% of the blood samples from mice inoculated with xenografts of TC135 or A673 cells. These findings indicate the EWS/Fli-1 mRNA in MVs might be a new non-invasive diagnostic marker for specific cases of Ewing sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanori Tsugita
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
| | - Nami Yamada
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
- United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Noguchi
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
| | - Kazunari Yamada
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Moritake
- Division of Pediatrics, Department of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Katsuji Shimizu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Akao
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
| | - Takatoshi Ohno
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
- * E-mail:
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9
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Agra N, Cidre F, García-García L, de la Parra J, Alonso J. Lysyl oxidase is downregulated by the EWS/FLI1 oncoprotein and its propeptide domain displays tumor supressor activities in Ewing sarcoma cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66281. [PMID: 23750284 PMCID: PMC3672102 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2012] [Accepted: 05/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is the second most common bone malignancy in children and young adults. It is driven by oncogenic fusion proteins (i.e. EWS/FLI1) acting as aberrant transcription factors that upregulate and downregulate target genes, leading to cellular transformation. Thus, identificating these target genes and understanding their contribution to Ewing sarcoma tumorigenesis are key for the development of new therapeutic strategies. In this study we show that lysyl oxidase (LOX), an enzyme involved in maintaining structural integrity of the extracellular matrix, is downregulated by the EWS/FLI1 oncoprotein and in consequence it is not expressed in Ewing sarcoma cells and primary tumors. Using a doxycycline inducible system to restore LOX expression in an Ewing sarcoma derived cell line, we showed that LOX displays tumor suppressor activities. Interestingly, we showed that the tumor suppressor activity resides in the propeptide domain of LOX (LOX-PP), an N-terminal domain produced by proteolytic cleavage during the physiological processing of LOX. Expression of LOX-PP reduced cell proliferation, cell migration, anchorage-independent growth in soft agar and formation of tumors in immunodeficient mice. By contrast, the C-terminal domain of LOX, which contains the enzymatic activity, had the opposite effects, corroborating that the tumor suppressor activity of LOX is mediated exclusively by its propeptide domain. Finally, we showed that LOX-PP inhibits ERK/MAPK signalling pathway, and that many pathways involved in cell cycle progression were significantly deregulated by LOX-PP, providing a mechanistic explanation to the cell proliferation inhibition observed upon LOX-PP expression. In summary, our observations indicate that deregulation of the LOX gene participates in Ewing sarcoma development and identify LOX-PP as a new therapeutic target for one of the most aggressive paediatric malignancies. These findings suggest that therapeutic strategies based on the administration of LOX propeptide or functional analogues could be useful for the treatment of this devastating paediatric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia Agra
- Unidad de Tumores Sólidos Infantiles, Área de Genética Humana, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Florencia Cidre
- Unidad de Tumores Sólidos Infantiles, Área de Genética Humana, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura García-García
- Unidad de Tumores Sólidos Infantiles, Área de Genética Humana, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan de la Parra
- Unidad de Tumores Sólidos Infantiles, Área de Genética Humana, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Alonso
- Unidad de Tumores Sólidos Infantiles, Área de Genética Humana, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
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Berger M, Dirksen U, Braeuninger A, Koehler G, Juergens H, Krumbholz M, Metzler M. Genomic EWS-FLI1 fusion sequences in Ewing sarcoma resemble breakpoint characteristics of immature lymphoid malignancies. PLoS One 2013; 8:e56408. [PMID: 23441188 PMCID: PMC3575406 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2012] [Accepted: 01/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromosomal translocations between the EWS gene and members of the ETS gene family are characteristic molecular features of the Ewing sarcoma. The most common translocation t(11;22)(q24;q12) fuses the EWS gene to FLI1, and is present in 85–90% of Ewing sarcomas. In the present study, a specifically designed multiplex long-range PCR assay was applied to amplify genomic EWS-FLI1 fusion sites from as little as 100 ng template DNA. Characterization of the EWS-FLI1 fusion sites of 42 pediatric and young adult Ewing sarcoma patients and seven cell lines revealed a clustering in the 5′ region of the EWS-breakpoint cluster region (BCR), in contrast to random distribution of breakpoints in the FLI1-BCR. No association of breakpoints with various recombination-inducing sequence motifs was identified. The occurrence of small deletions and duplications at the genomic junction is characteristic of involvement of the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair system, similar to findings at chromosomal breakpoints in pediatric leukemia and lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfred Berger
- University Hospital Erlangen, Department of Pediatrics, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Uta Dirksen
- University Hospital Muenster, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Gabriele Koehler
- University Hospital Muenster, Department of Pathology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Heribert Juergens
- University Hospital Muenster, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Manuela Krumbholz
- University Hospital Erlangen, Department of Pediatrics, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus Metzler
- University Hospital Erlangen, Department of Pediatrics, Erlangen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Cironi L, Riggi N, Provero P, Wolf N, Suvà ML, Suvà D, Kindler V, Stamenkovic I. IGF1 is a common target gene of Ewing's sarcoma fusion proteins in mesenchymal progenitor cells. PLoS One 2008; 3:e2634. [PMID: 18648544 PMCID: PMC2481291 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0002634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2008] [Accepted: 06/04/2008] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The EWS-FLI-1 fusion protein is associated with 85–90% of Ewing's sarcoma family tumors (ESFT), the remaining 10–15% of cases expressing chimeric genes encoding EWS or FUS fused to one of several ets transcription factor family members, including ERG-1, FEV, ETV1 and ETV6. ESFT are dependent on insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) for growth and survival and recent evidence suggests that mesenchymal progenitor/stem cells constitute a candidate ESFT origin. Methodology/Principal Findings To address the functional relatedness between ESFT-associated fusion proteins, we compared mouse progenitor cell (MPC) permissiveness for EWS-FLI-1, EWS-ERG and FUS-ERG expression and assessed the corresponding expression profile changes. Whereas all MPC isolates tested could stably express EWS-FLI-1, only some sustained stable EWS-ERG expression and none could express FUS-ERG for more than 3–5 days. Only 14% and 4% of the total number of genes that were respectively induced and repressed in MPCs by the three fusion proteins were shared. However, all three fusion proteins, but neither FLI-1 nor ERG-1 alone, activated the IGF1 promoter and induced IGF1 expression. Conclusion/Significance Whereas expression of different ESFT-associated fusion proteins may require distinct cellular microenvironments and induce transcriptome changes of limited similarity, IGF1 induction may provide one common mechanism for their implication in ESFT pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Cironi
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Pathology CHUV, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolò Riggi
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Pathology CHUV, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Provero
- Department of Biology Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Natalie Wolf
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Pathology CHUV, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mario-Luca Suvà
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Pathology CHUV, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Domizio Suvà
- Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Kindler
- Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Stamenkovic
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Pathology CHUV, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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Aryee DNT, Kreppel M, Bachmaier R, Uren A, Muehlbacher K, Wagner S, Breiteneder H, Ban J, Toretsky JA, Kovar H. Single-chain antibodies to the EWS NH(2) terminus structurally discriminate between intact and chimeric EWS in Ewing's sarcoma and interfere with the transcriptional activity of EWS in vivo. Cancer Res 2006; 66:9862-9. [PMID: 17047047 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-05-4042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The chimeric protein EWS-FLI1, arising from chromosomal translocation in Ewing's sarcoma family tumors (ESFT), acts as an aberrant tumorigenic transcription factor. The transforming activity of EWS-FLI1 minimally requires an ETS DNA binding domain and the EWS NH(2) terminus. Proteins interacting with the EWS portion differ between germ-line and chimeric EWS despite their sharing identical sequences in this domain. We explored the use of the phage display technology to isolate anti-EWS-FLI1 specific single-chain antibody fragments (scFvs). Using recombinant EWS-FLI1 as bait, 16 independent specific antibody clones were isolated from combinatorial phage display libraries, of which six were characterized in detail. Despite differing in their complementarity-determining region sequences, all six scFvs bound to the same epitope spanning residues 51 to 75 within the shared minimal transforming EWS domain. Whereas all six scFvs bound efficiently to cellular EWS, reactivity with ESFT-expressed EWS-FLI1 was weak and restricted to denatured protein. One scFv, scFv-I85, when expressed as an intrabody, efficiently suppressed EWS-dependent coactivation of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4- and OCT4-mediated transcription in vivo but no effect on known EWS-FLI1 target genes was observed. These data suggest that a prominent EWS epitope exposed on recombinant EWS-FLI1 structurally differs between germ-line and chimeric EWS in mammalian cells and that this region is functionally involved in the transcriptional activity of EWS. Thus, we have generated a tool that will prove useful to specifically differentiate between normal and rearranged EWS in functional studies.
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Abstract
A key molecular event in the genesis of Ewing's sarcoma is the consistent presence of chromosomal translocations that result in the formation of proteins in which the amino terminus of EWS is fused to the carboxyl terminus, including the DNA binding domain, of one of five different Ets family proteins. These fusion proteins function as deregulated transcription factors, resulting in aberrant control of gene expression. Recent data indicate that some EWS-Ets target promoters, including the uridine phosphorylase (UPP) promoter, harbor tandem binding sites for Ets and AP-1 proteins. Here we show that those Ets family proteins that participate in Ewing's sarcoma, including Fli1, ERG, and ETV1, cooperatively bind these tandem elements with Fos-Jun while other Ets family members do not. Analysis of this cooperativity in vitro shows that (i) many different spatial arrangements of the Ets and AP-1 sites support cooperative binding, (ii) the bZIP motifs of Fos and Jun are sufficient to support this cooperativity, and (iii) both the Ets domain and carboxy-terminal sequences of Fli1 are important for cooperative DNA binding. EWS-Fli1 activates the expression of UPP mRNA, is directly bound to the UPP promoter, and transforms 3T3 fibroblasts; in contrast, a C-terminally truncated mutant form of EWS-Fli1 that cannot cooperatively bind DNA with Fos-Jun is defective in all of these properties. The results show that the ability of EWS-Ets proteins to cooperatively bind DNA with Fos-Jun is critical to the biologic activities of these proteins. The results have implications for understanding the pathogenesis of Ewing's sarcoma. In addition, they may be relevant to the mechanisms of Ras-dependent activation of genes that harbor tandem Ets and AP-1 binding sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungeun Kim
- Division of Hematology/Oncology and UC Davis Cancer Center, University of California at Davis, USA
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van den Akker E, Ano S, Shih HM, Wang LC, Pironin M, Palvimo JJ, Kotaja N, Kirsh O, Dejean A, Ghysdael J. FLI-1 functionally interacts with PIASxalpha, a member of the PIAS E3 SUMO ligase family. J Biol Chem 2005; 280:38035-46. [PMID: 16148010 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m502938200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
FLI-1 is a transcription factor of the ETS family that is involved in several developmental processes and that becomes oncogenic when overexpressed or mutated. As the functional regulators of FLI-1 are largely unknown, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen with FLI-1 and identified the SUMO E3 ligase PIASxalpha/ARIP3 as a novel in vitro and in vivo binding partner of FLI-1. This interaction involved the ETS domain of FLI-1 and required the integrity of the SAP domain of PIASxalpha/ARIP3. SUMO-1 and Ubc9, the ubiquitin carrier protein component in the sumoylation pathway, were also identified as interactors of FLI-1. Both PIASxalpha/ARIP3 and the closely related PIASxbeta isoform specifically enhanced sumoylation of FLI-1 at Lys(67), located in its N-terminal activation domain. PIASxalpha/ARIP3 relocalized the normally nuclear but diffusely distributed FLI-1 protein to PIASxalpha nuclear bodies and repressed FLI-1 transcriptional activation as assessed using different ETS-binding site-dependent promoters and different cell systems. PIASxalpha repressive activity was independent of sumoylation and did not result from inhibition of FLI-1 DNA-binding activity. Analysis of the properties of a series of ARIP3 mutants showed that the repressive properties of PIASxalpha/ARIP3 require its physical interaction with FLI-1, identifying PIASxalpha as a novel corepressor of FLI-1.
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