Inhibition Of Cdk2 Activity Research Articles

Cyclin E1 Regulates Kv2.1 Channel Phosphorylation and Localization in Neuronal Ischemia

Kv2.1 is a major delayed rectifying K(+) channel normally localized to highly phosphorylated somatodendritic clusters in neurons. Excitatory stimuli induce calcineurin-dependent dephosphorylation and dispersal of Kv2.1 clusters, with a concomitant hyperpolarizing shift in the channel's activation kinetics. We showed previously that sublethal ischemia, which renders neurons transiently resistant to excitotoxic cell death, can also induce Zn(2+)-dependent changes in Kv2.1 localization and activation kinetics, suggesting that activity-dependent modifications of Kv2.1 may contribute to cellular adaptive responses to injury. Recently, cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) was shown to phosphorylate Kv2.1, with pharmacological Cdk5 inhibition being sufficient to decluster channels. In another study, cyclin E1 was found to restrict neuronal Cdk5 kinase activity. We show here that cyclin E1 regulates Kv2.1 cellular localization via inhibition of Cdk5 activity. Expression of cyclin E1 in human embryonic kidney cells prevents Cdk5-mediated phosphorylation of Kv2.1, and cyclin E1 overexpression in rat cortical neurons triggers dispersal of Kv2.1 channel clusters. Sublethal ischemia in neurons induces calcineurin-dependent upregulation of cyclin E1 protein expression and cyclin E1-dependent Kv2.1 channel declustering. Importantly, overexpression of cyclin E1 in neurons is sufficient to reduce excitotoxic cell death. These results support a novel role for neuronal cyclin E1 in regulating the phosphorylation status and localization of Kv2.1 channels, a likely component of signaling cascades leading to ischemic preconditioning.

Progesterone Receptor–Cyclin D1 Complexes Induce Cell Cycle–Dependent Transcriptional Programs in Breast Cancer Cells

The progesterone receptor (PR) and its coactivators are direct targets of activated cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) in response to peptide growth factors, progesterone, and deregulation of cell cycle inhibitors. Herein, using the T47D breast cancer model, we probed mechanisms of cell cycle-dependent PR action. In the absence of exogenous progestin, the PR is specifically phosphorylated during the G2/M phase. Accordingly, numerous PR target genes are cell cycle regulated, including HSPB8, a heat-shock protein whose high expression is associated with tamoxifen resistance. Progestin-induced HSPB8 expression required cyclin D1 and was insensitive to antiestrogens but blocked by antiprogestins or inhibition of specificity factor 1 (SP1). HSPB8 expression increased with or without ligand when cells were G2/M synchronized or contained high levels of cyclin D1. Knockdown of PRs abrogated ligand-independent HSPB8 expression in synchronized cells. Notably, PRs and cyclin D1 copurified in whole-cell lysates of transiently transfected COS-1 cells and in PR-positive T47D breast cancer cells expressing endogenous cyclin D1. PRs, cyclin D1, and SP1 were recruited to the HSPB8 promoter in progestin-treated T47D breast cancer cells. Mutation of PR Ser345 to Ala (S345A) or inhibition of CDK2 activity using roscovitine disrupted PR/cyclin D1 interactions with DNA and blocked HSPB8 mRNA expression. Interaction of phosphorylated PRs with SP1 and cyclin D1 provides a mechanism for targeting transcriptionally active PRs to selected gene promoters relevant to breast cancer progression. Understanding the functional linkage between PRs and cell cycle regulatory proteins will provide keys to targeting novel PR/cyclin D1 cross talk in both hormone-responsive disease and HSPB8-high refractory disease with high HSPB8 expression.

8-Substituted O6-Cyclohexylmethylguanine CDK2 Inhibitors: Using Structure-Based Inhibitor Design to Optimize an Alternative Binding Mode

Evaluation of the effects of purine C-8 substitution within a series of CDK1/2-selective O(6)-cyclohexylmethylguanine derivatives revealed that potency decreases initially with increasing size of the alkyl substituent. Structural analysis showed that C-8 substitution is poorly tolerated, and to avoid unacceptable steric interactions, these compounds adopt novel binding modes. Thus, 2-amino-6-cyclohexylmethoxy-8-isopropyl-9H-purine adopts a "reverse" binding mode where the purine backbone has flipped 180°. This provided a novel lead chemotype from which we have designed more potent CDK2 inhibitors using, in the first instance, quantum mechanical energy calculations. Introduction of an ortho-tolyl or ortho-chlorophenyl group at the purine C-8 position restored the potency of these "reverse" binding mode inhibitors to that of the parent 2-amino-6-cyclohexylmethoxy-9H-purine. By contrast, the corresponding 8-(2-methyl-3-sulfamoylphenyl)-purine derivative exhibited submicromolar CDK2-inhibitory activity by virtue of engineered additional interactions with Asp86 and Lys89 in the reversed binding mode, as confirmed by X-ray crystallography.

Abstract A76: EGFR activation signaling cascade leads to phosphorylation on serine 732 of FAK and mitosis in a subset of epithelial ovarian cancer

Abstract The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is expressed in up to 70% of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) where it correlates with poor prognosis. Despite the evidence for EGFR expression in the majority of EOCs, to date a uniform picture of the biological and clinical consequences of EGFR expression and activation has not emerged. Indeed, treatment of EOC patients with anti-EGFR results in a very poor response and is not correlated to EGFR expression. We aimed to characterize EGFR-expressing EOCs in the aim to better define EGFR-expressing EOC subtypes. We have recently showed that co-expression as well as the concomitant presence of IL-6 and PAI-1 in EOC ascites could characterize a subset of EGFR-expressing EOCs with shorter progression-free survival after chemotherapy. In vitro we have also found that the EOC cell line resembling this subset of EOC is more sensitive to anti-EGFR compounds suggesting that the association of anti-EGFR agents with taxol and cisplatin could be more appropriate for treating this subset of EOCs. We are now further investigating EGFR signaling cascade in EOC cell lines not only in traditional 2D cultures but also in 3D culture. Indeed, we found that in EOC E-cadherin (cadh) may be still present at cell-cell contacts during tumor progression and that EOC cells present in the ascites preferentially express E-cadh at cell-cell contacts. Therefore, we have set up a 3D culture system, resembling the multicellular aggregates (MCAs) found in the ascites, by using a commercially available alginate matrix to which human cells do not attach. Immunoblotting on 3D EOC cell line showed a significant increase of E-cadh expression together with that of cytokeratin 8/18 and vimentin. Interestingly, in this system we found a tremendous increase of EGFR phosphorylation and that EGF stimulation induced EGFR phosphorylation and triggered PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK activations. In line with these results, down-modulation of E-cadh expression by specific siRNA, was associated with a significant decrease of EGFR phosphorylation with consequent decrease of both AKT and MAPK phosphorylations. Interestingly, EGF stimulation led to phosphorylation (P-) of FAK on tyrosine residues and also on FAK at Ser-732 (FakSer732). In vivo, in E-cadh-expressing EOC cells present in the ascites P-FAKser732 was also present. In vitro P-FAKSer732 was barely detectable during interphase while its levels strongly increased in mitotic cells upon activation of the EGFR/MEK/ERK axis in an integrin-independent manner. P-FAKSer732 presence was crucial for the maintenance of the proliferation rate and its level was inversely related to the level of acetylated α-tubulin. P-FAKSer732 localized at the microtubules (MT) of the spindle, biochemically associated with MT and contributed to MT depolymerization. The lack of the phosphorylation on Ser732 as well as the inhibition of CDK5 activity by roscovitine impaired mitotic spindle assembly and correct chromosome alignment during mitosis. In conclusion, we have identified that the EGF-dependent EGFR activation led to increased P-FAKSer732 and polymerized MT. Our data shed light on the multifunctional roles of FAK in neoplastic cells, being involved not only in integrin-dependent migratory signaling, but even in integrin-independent MT dynamics and mitosis control. These findings provide a new potential target for inhibiting the growth of EOC cells in which the EGFR/MEK/ERK/CDK5 pathway is active. Partially supported by Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC) Citation Format: Antonella Tomassetti, Katia Rea, Marialuisa Sensi, Silvana Canevari. EGFR activation signaling cascade leads to phosphorylation on serine 732 of FAK and mitosis in a subset of epithelial ovarian cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research: From Concept to Clinic; Sep 18-21, 2013; Miami, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2013;19(19 Suppl):Abstract nr A76.

EGFR/MEK/ERK/CDK5-dependent integrin-independent FAK phosphorylated on serine 732 contributes to microtubule depolymerization and mitosis in tumor cells

FAK is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase contributing to migration and proliferation downstream of integrin and/or growth factor receptor signaling of normal and malignant cells. In addition to well-characterized tyrosine phosphorylations, FAK is phosphorylated on several serines, whose role is not yet clarified. We observed that phosphorylated FAK on serine 732 (P-FAKSer732) is present at variable levels in vitro, in several melanoma, ovarian and thyroid tumor cell lines and in vivo, in tumor cells present in fresh ovarian cancer ascites. In vitro P-FAKSer732 was barely detectable during interphase while its levels strongly increased in mitotic cells upon activation of the EGFR/MEK/ERK axis in an integrin-independent manner. P-FAKSer732 presence was crucial for the maintenance of the proliferation rate and its levels were inversely related to the levels of acetylated α-tubulin. P-FAKSer732 localized at the microtubules (MTs) of the spindle, biochemically associated with MTs and contributed to MT depolymerization. The lack of the phosphorylation on Ser732 as well as the inhibition of CDK5 activity by roscovitine impaired mitotic spindle assembly and correct chromosome alignment during mitosis. We also identified, for the first time, that the EGF-dependent EGFR activation led to increased P-FAKSer732 and polymerized MTs. Our data shed light on the multifunctional roles of FAK in neoplastic cells, being involved not only in integrin-dependent migratory signaling but also in integrin-independent MT dynamics and mitosis control. These findings provide a new potential target for inhibiting the growth of tumor cells in which the EGFR/MEK/ERK/CDK5 pathway is active.

Inhibition of aberrant cyclin-dependent kinase 5 activity attenuates isoflurane neurotoxicity in the developing brain

Aberrant CDK5 activity is implicated in a number of neurodegenerative disorders. Isoflurane exposure leads to neuronal apoptosis, and subsequent learning and memory defects in the developing brain. The present study was designed to examine whether and how CDK5 activity plays a role in developmental isoflurane neurotoxicity. Rat pups and hippocampal neuronal cultures were exposed to 1.5% isoflurane for 4 h. The protein and mRNA levels of CDK5, p35 and p25 were detected by western blot and QReal-Time PCR. CDK5 activity was evaluated in vitro using Histone H1 as a substrate. Roscovitine (an inhibitor of CDK5) was applied before isoflurane treatment, cleaved Caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax, MEF2 and phospho-MEF2A-Ser-408 expressions were determined. Dominant-Negative CDK5 was transfected before isoflurane treatment. Neuronal apoptosis was evaluated by Flow cytometry (FCM) and TUNEL-staining. Cognitive functions were assessed by Morris water maze. We found that isoflurane treatment led to an aberrant CDK5 activation due to its activator p25 that was cleaved from p35 by calpain. Inhibition of CDK5 activity with Roscovitine enhanced Bcl-2, and decreased cleaved Caspase-3 and Bax expressions. In addition, isoflurane exposure resulted in a decrease of MEF2 and increase of phospho-MEF2A-Ser-408, which were rescued by Roscovitine or Dominant-Negative CDK5 transfection. Dominant-Negative CDK5 transfection also decreased the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells in isoflurane neurotoxicity. Moreover, Roscovitine remarkably alleviated the learning and memory deficits induced by postnatal isoflurane exposure. These results indicated that aberrant CDK5 activity-dependent MEF2 phosphorylation mediates developmental isoflurane neurotoxicity. Inhibition of CDK5 overactivation contributes to the relief of isoflurane neurotoxicity in the developing brain.

6-Cyclohexylmethoxy-5-(cyano-NNO-azoxy)pyrimidine-4-amine: A new scaffold endowed with potent CDK2 inhibitory activity

Substitution of the cyano-NNO-azoxy moiety (NC–N(O)N–) for the nitroso group in NU6027, a potent and selective CDK2 inhibitor, affords a compound with slightly improved potency and comparable selectivity profile. A molecular modelling study indicates for this new scaffold a binding mode similar to the one adopted by other purine and pyrimidine analogues, and suggests a relevant role for a conserved water molecule in stabilizing the bioactive pose of this and other pyrimidine ligands. The introduction of aminosulfonylphenyl substituents on the 2-amino group of the pyrimidine increased the CDK2 inhibitory potency by two orders of magnitude, while maintaining the same degree of selectivity.

A Novel Series of Highly Potent 2,6,9-Trisubstituted Purine Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitors

The inhibition of overactive CDKs during cancer remains an important strategy in cancer drug development. We synthesized and screened a novel series of 2-substituted-6-biarylmethylamino-9-cyclopentylpurine derivatives for improved CDK inhibitory activity and antiproliferative effects. One of the most potent compounds, 6b, exhibited strong cytotoxicity in the human melanoma cell line G361 that correlated with robust CDK1 and CDK2 inhibition and caspase activation. In silico modeling of 6b in the active site of CDK2 revealed a high interaction energy, which we believe is due to the 6-heterobiarylmethylamino substitution of the purine moiety.

Phosphorylation of Minichromosome Maintenance Protein 7 (MCM7) by Cyclin/Cyclin-dependent Kinase Affects Its Function in Cell Cycle Regulation

MCM7 is one of the subunits of the MCM2-7 complex that plays a critical role in DNA replication initiation and cell proliferation of eukaryotic cells. After forming the pre-replication complex (pre-RC) with other components, the MCM2-7 complex is activated by DDK/cyclin-dependent kinase to initiate DNA replication. Each subunit of the MCM2-7 complex functions differently under regulation of various kinases on the specific site, which needs to be investigated in detail. In this study, we demonstrated that MCM7 is a substrate of cyclin E/Cdk2 and can be phosphorylated on Ser-121. We found that the distribution of MCM7-S121A is different from wild-type MCM7 and that the MCM7-S121A mutant is much less efficient to form a pre-RC complex with MCM3/MCM5/cdc45 compared with wild-type MCM7. By using the Tet-On inducible HeLa cell line, we revealed that overexpression of wild-type MCM7 but not MCM7-S121A can block S phase entry, suggesting that an excess of the pre-RC complex may activate the cell cycle checkpoint. Further analysis indicates that the Chk1 pathway is activated in MCM7-overexpressed cells in a p53-dependent manner. We performed experiments with the human normal cell line HL-7702 and also observed that overexpression of MCM7 can cause S phase block through checkpoint activation. In addition, we found that MCM7 could also be phosphorylated by cyclin B/Cdk1 on Ser-121 both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, overexpression of MCM7-S121A causes an obvious M phase exit delay, which suggests that phosphorylation of MCM7 on Ser-121 in M phase is very important for a proper mitotic exit. These data suggest that the phosphorylation of MCM7 on Ser-121 by cyclin/Cdks is involved in preventing DNA rereplication as well as in regulation of the mitotic exit.

Diverse models for the prediction of CDK4 inhibitory activity of substituted 4-aminomethylene isoquinoline-1, 3-diones

In the present study, both classification and correlation approaches have been successfully employed for development of models for the prediction of CDK4 inhibitory activity using a dataset comprising of 52 analogues of 4-aminomethylene isoquinoline-1,3-(2H,4H)-dione. Decision tree, random forest, moving average analysis (MAA), multiple linear regression (MLR), partial least square regression (PLSR) and principal component regression (PCR) were used to develop models for prediction of CDK4 inhibitory activity. The statistical significance of models was assessed through specificity, sensitivity, overall accuracy, Mathew’s correlation coefficient (MCC), cross validated correlation coefficient, F test, r 2 for external test set (pred_r2), coefficient of correlation of predicted dataset (pred_ r2Se) and intercorrelation analysis. High accuracy of prediction offers proposed models a vast potential for providing lead structures for the development of potent therapeutic agents for CDK4 inhibition. Diverse classification and correlation techniques were successfully employed for the development of the models for the prediction of CDK4 inhibitory activity of substituted 4-aminomethylene isoquinoline-1, 3-diones.

Abstract 5447: Phosphorylation status of Ascl1 regulates neuroblastoma self-renewal and differentiation.

Abstract Neuroblastoma (NB) is a tumor of infancy that accounts for 15% of all pediatric cancer mortality. NB bares striking similarity to undifferentiated neuroblasts of the sympathetic nervous system in gene expression profiles and histological appearance. In most neuroblastoma tumors, the cell cycle is hyperactive due to overexpression of cyclin D1 and amplification of MYCN. However, retinoic acid (RA) induces differentiation and cell cycle exit of some NB cell lines in vitro and provides significant benefit to patients in the clinic. As neuroblastoma appears to result from sustained proliferation and inhibition of differentiation, we sought to understand how cell cycle and differentiation are linked within NB. We focused our efforts on Ascl1, a proneural transcription factor that is both necessary and sufficient for neural differentiation of noradrenergic neurons and has been shown to be regulated by the cell cycle. Paradoxically, Ascl1 is both highly expressed and associated with poor prognosis in NB. However, we hypothesized that Ascl1 phosphostatus critically regulates its ability to induce differentiation. We show that Ascl1 is highly expressed and phosphorylated across multiple NB cell lines and is largely phosphorylated by CDKs. Phosphorylated Ascl1 actively promotes the G1-S transition by upregulating E2f, Skp2, and Cdk2. These targets all promote CDK activity, further maintaining Ascl1 phosphorylation. However, a phosphomutant form of Ascl1, where putative CDK sites are mutated, arrests cells in the G1 phase by preferentially upregulating Ebf3 and p27. These targets inhibit CDK activity promoting Ascl1 dephosphorylation and further upregulation of Ebf3 and p27. We propose a model whereby Ascl1 sits between two positive feedback loops, both forming a critical link between cell cycle and differentiation, but also as an agent to commit cells to either a self-renewing undifferentiated state or a postmitotic differentiated state. Given this model, we hypothesized that pharmacologic inhibition of CDK activity when combined with a pro-differentiation agent such as RA would synergistically cause differentiation in neuroblastoma. Indeed, CDK inhibitor and RA combination treatment causes increased differentiation in RA-susceptible cell lines and induces differentiation in RA-resistant cell lines. Given that most neuroblastoma tumors have an overactive cell cycle and also highly express Ascl1, combination therapy of CDK inhibitor and RA may provide generalized benefit to NB patients. Citation Format: Luke A. Wylie, Carol J. Thiele, Anna Philpott. Phosphorylation status of Ascl1 regulates neuroblastoma self-renewal and differentiation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5447. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5447

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 Phosphorylates and Positively Regulates PAX3-FOXO1 in Human Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma Cells

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is an aggressive childhood muscle sarcoma with a 5-year survival rate of less than 30%. More than 80% of ARMSs harbor a PAX3-FOXO1 fusion transcription factor. However, expression of PAX3-FOXO1 in muscle cells alone is not sufficient and requires the loss of function of Ink4a/ARF to promote malignant proliferation of muscle cells in vitro or initiate ARMS tumor formation in vivo. This prompted us to examine the signaling pathways required to activate the function of PAX3-FOXO1 and to explore the functional interaction between the Ink4a/ARF and PAX3-FOXO1 signaling pathways. Here we report that inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4) by fascaplysin (a small molecule selective inhibitor of Cdk4/cyclin D1 that we identified in a screen for compounds that inhibit PAX3-FOXO1) led to inhibition of the transcriptional activity of PAX3-FOXO1 in ARMS cell line Rh30. Consistent with this finding, activation of Cdk4 enhanced the activity of PAX3-FOXO1. In vitro kinase assays revealed that Cdk4 directly phosphorylated PAX3-FOXO1 at Ser430. Whereas fascaplysin did not affect the protein level of PAX3-FOXO1, it did increase the cytoplasmic level of PAX3-FOXO1 in a portion of cells. Our findings indicate that Cdk4 phosphorylates and positively regulates PAX3-FOXO1 and suggest that inhibition of Cdk4 activity should be explored as a promising avenue for developing therapy for ARMS.

Cdk5 regulates Rap1 activity

Rap1 signaling is important for migration, differentiation, axonal growth, and during neuronal polarity. Rap1 can be activated by external stimuli, which in turn regulates specific guanine nucleotide exchange factors such as C3G, among others. Cdk5 functions are also important to neuronal migration and differentiation. Since we found that pharmacological inhibition of Cdk5 by using roscovitine reduced Rap1 protein levels in COS-7 cells and also C3G contains three putative phosphorylation sites for Cdk5, we examined whether the Cdk5-dependent phosphorylation of C3G could affect Rap1 expression and activity. We co-transfected C3G and tet-OFF system for p35 over-expression, an activator of Cdk5 activity into COS-7 cells, and then we evaluated phosphorylation in serine residues in C3G by immunoprecipitation and Western blot. We found that p35 over-expression increased C3G-serine-phosphorylation while inhibition of p35 expression by tetracycline or inhibition of Cdk5 activity with roscovitine decreased it. Interestingly, we found that MG-132, a proteasome inhibitor, rescue Rap1 protein levels in the presence of roscovitine. Besides, C3G-serine-phosphorylation and Rap1 protein levels were reduced in brain from Cdk5−/− as compared with the Cdk5+/+ brain. Finally, we found that p35 over-expression increased Rap1 activity while inhibition of p35 expression by tetracycline or roscovitine decreased Rap1 activity. These results suggest that Cdk5-mediated serine-phosphorylation of C3G may control Rap1 stability and activity, and this may potentially impact various neuronal functions such as migration, differentiation, and polarity.

Inhibitory Effect of Adenoviral Vector-Mediated Delivery of p21WAF1/CIP1 on Retinal Vascular Endothelial Cell Proliferation and Tube Formation in Cultured Rhesus Monkey Cells (RF/6A)

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect(s) of adenovirus (Ad) vector-mediated delivery of p21WAF1/CIP1 (Ad-p21) on proliferation and tube formation in Rhesus monkey choroid-retina vascular endothelial cells (RF/6A).Methods: In vitro-cultured RF/6A cells were divided into three groups: phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), Ad-p21-transfected, and negative control. Plasmid vectors were transfected via Ad-p21. The mRNA and protein expressions of p21 and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)2 in RF/6A cells were measured by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and western blot analyses. Cell-cycle distributions were analyzed by flow cytometry. Matrigel was used as a matrix for endothelial cell tube formation.Results: Expressions of p21 mRNA and protein were greater, and expressions of CDK2 mRNA and protein lower, in the Ad-p21-transfected group than in either the PBS or negative control groups. Cell-cycle distribution analysis indicated that the proportion of G0/G1 cells was significantly higher in the Ad-p21 transfected group than in either the PBS or negative control groups (p = 0.000). There were significantly fewer endothelial cell tubes in the Ad-p21-transfected group than in either the PBS or negative control groups (p = 0.004).Conclusions: Ad-p21 inhibits RF/6A cell proliferation and tube formation. The underlying mechanism to account for this may be that overexpression of p21 arrests the cell-cycle transition from the G1- to the S-phase via inhibition of CDK2 activity.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of guanidino analogues of roscovitine

A series of 2,9-substituted 6-guanidinopurines, structurally related to the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors olomoucine and roscovitine, has been synthesized and characterized. A new copper-catalyzed method for the synthesis of 2-substituted 6-guanidino-9-isopropylpurines under mild reaction conditions has been developed. All prepared compounds were screened for their CDK1 and CDK2 inhibitory activities, cytotoxicity and antiproliferative effects in the breast cancer-derived cell line MCF7. The most active derivative 16g possessed an identical side chain in the C2 position to roscovitine; this compound displayed approximately five fold higher inhibitory activity towards CDK2/cyclin E and more than ten fold increase in cytotoxicity in MCF7 cells. Interestingly and in contrast to previously described findings, (S)-6-guanidinopurine derivatives were generally more active than their (R)-counterparts. Kinase selectivity profiling of (R)- and (S)-enantiomers 16e and 16g, respectively, revealed that introduction of a guanidino group at the C6 position of the purine moiety decreased selectivity towards protein kinases compared to roscovitine. Nevertheless, increased inhibitory activity and decreased selectivity offer a good starting point for further development of new protein kinase inhibitors.

Regulation of N-type Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels and Presynaptic Function by Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5

N-type voltage-gated calcium channels localize topresynaptic nerve terminals and mediate key eventsincluding synaptogenesis and neurotransmission.While several kinases have been implicated in the modulation of calcium channels, their impact on presynaptic functions remains unclear. Here we report that the N-type calcium channel is a substrate for cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5). The pore-forming α(1) subunit of the N-type calcium channel is phosphorylated in the C-terminal domain, and phosphorylation results in enhanced calcium influx due to increased channel open probability. Phosphorylation of the N-type calcium channel by Cdk5 facilitates neurotransmitter release and alters presynaptic plasticity by increasing the number of docked vesicles at the synaptic cleft. These effects are mediated by an altered interaction between N-type calcium channels and RIM1, which tethers presynaptic calcium channels to the active zone. Collectively, our results highlight a molecular mechanism by which N-type calcium channels are regulated by Cdk5 to affect presynaptic function.

Elevated Cyclin G2 Expression Intersects with DNA Damage Checkpoint Signaling and Is Required for a Potent G2/M Checkpoint Arrest Response to Doxorubicin

To maintain genomic integrity DNA damage response (DDR), signaling pathways have evolved that restrict cellular replication and allow time for DNA repair. CCNG2 encodes an unconventional cyclin homolog, cyclin G2 (CycG2), linked to growth inhibition. Its expression is repressed by mitogens but up-regulated during cell cycle arrest responses to anti-proliferative signals. Here we investigate the potential link between elevated CycG2 expression and DDR signaling pathways. Expanding our previous finding that CycG2 overexpression induces a p53-dependent G(1)/S phase cell cycle arrest in HCT116 cells, we now demonstrate that this arrest response also requires the DDR checkpoint protein kinase Chk2. In accord with this finding we establish that ectopic CycG2 expression increases phosphorylation of Chk2 on threonine 68. We show that DNA double strand break-inducing chemotherapeutics stimulate CycG2 expression and correlate its up-regulation with checkpoint-induced cell cycle arrest and phospho-modification of proteins in the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ATM and Rad3-related (ATR) signaling pathways. Using pharmacological inhibitors and ATM-deficient cell lines, we delineate the DDR kinase pathway promoting CycG2 up-regulation in response to doxorubicin. Importantly, RNAi-mediated blunting of CycG2 attenuates doxorubicin-induced cell cycle checkpoint responses in multiple cell lines. Employing stable clones, we test the effect that CycG2 depletion has on DDR proteins and signals that enforce cell cycle checkpoint arrest. Our results suggest that CycG2 contributes to DNA damage-induced G(2)/M checkpoint by enforcing checkpoint inhibition of CycB1-Cdc2 complexes.

Abstract 1467: Inhibition of Cdk4 radiosensitizes breast cancer cells by increasing PP2A levels, and decreasing Bad136 phosphorylation.

Abstract Treatment of breast cancers by targeting molecular markers associated with various subtypes has improved the outcome of breast cancer patients. Unfortunately, triple negative breast cancers lack these markers; missing estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER2. These breast cancers are invulnerable to the most effective treatments. Albeit triple-negative breast cancers and Her2+ER-PR- breast cancers respond well to initial therapies, including radiation, those cancers are prone to recurrence and patients show decreased survival rates. Increasing evidence suggests that this resistance is in part related to deregulation of G1 phase regulatory mechanisms. G1/S phase regulatory molecules, including cyclins, Cdks and the E2Fs may contribute to lower survival rates, higher recurrence, and resistance to adjuvant therapies. Radiotherapy is one of the foundations of breast cancer treatments. However breast tumors can acquire radioresistance. Consequently, re-sensitizing malignant cells to radiation would increase the effectiveness of radiotherapy. To address whether deregulation contributes to radiotherapy resistance, a normal human mammary epithelial cell line, an ER-PR-Her2+ and an ER-PR-Her2- breast cancer cell line were analyzed in terms of molecular markers and radioresistance. Cyclin D1 and Cyclin A1 correlated with radioresistance and were overexpressed in all cell lines. Each influence Cdk2 and Cdk4 activities, respectively. We directly addressed the role played by those Cdks in radioresistance by generating cell lines stably expressing small hairpin RNAs (shRNA) targeting Cdk2 or Cdk4. Colony forming assays established that cell lines knocked down for Cdk2 did not display radiosensitization, however cell lines knocked down for Cdk4 were radiosensitized. Data demonstrated that silencing Cdk4 significantly increases radiation induced cell apoptosis in all ER-PR-Her2- cell lines without considerably altering cell proliferation, cell cycle progression or DNA repair. Cdk4 silencing in conjunction with ionizing radiation caused lower levels of phosphorylation of BCL-2 family member, BAD, a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family that promotes cell death when hypophosphorylated at at Ser-136. Elevated levels of PP2A, a phosphatase that dephosphorylates Bad at ser136 were also found. This is further supported by the data showing over expression of PP2A in ER-PR-Her2- cell lines increase apoptosis and encouraged radiosensitivity in colony formations experiments. We conclude that inhibition of Cdk4 activity sensitizes breast cancer cells to radiation by activating PP2A/Bad-dependent cell death pathways. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1467. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1467

Cdk5 mediates vimentin ser56 phosphorylation during GTP‐induced secretion by neutrophils

Secretion by neutrophils contributes to acute inflammation following injury or infection. Vimentin has been shown to be important for secretion by neutrophils but little is known about its dynamics during secretion, which is regulated by cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5). In this study, we sought to examine the vimentin dynamics and its potential regulation by Cdk5 during neutrophil secretion. We show that vimentin is a Cdk5 substrate that is specifically phosphorylated at Ser56. In response to neutrophil stimulation with GTP, vimentin Ser56 was phosphorylated and colocalized with Cdk5 in the cytoplasmic compartment. Vimentin pSer56 and Cdk5 colocalization was consistent with coimmunoprecipitation from stimulated cells. Vimentin Ser56 phosphorylation occurred immediately after stimulation, and a remarkable increase in phosphorylation was noted later in the secretory process. Decreased GTP-induced vimentin Ser56 phosphorylation and secretion resulted from inhibition of Cdk5 activity by roscovitine or olomoucine or by depletion of Cdk5 by siRNA, suggesting that GTP-induced Cdk5-mediated vimentin Ser56 phosphorylation may be related to GTP-induced Cdk5-mediated secretion by neutrophils. Indeed, inhibition of vimentin Ser56 phosphorylation led to a corresponding inhibition of GTP-induced secretion, indicating a link between these two events. While fMLP also induced vimentin Ser56 phosphorylation, such phosphorylation was unaffected by roscovitine, which nonetheless, inhibited secretion, suggesting that Cdk5 regulates fMLP-induced secretion via a mechanism independent of Cdk5-mediated vimentin Ser56 phosphorylation. These findings demonstrate the distinct involvement of Cdk5 in GTP- and fMLP-induced secretion by neutrophils, and support the notion that specific targeting of Cdk5 may serve to inhibit the neutrophil secretory process.

Cdk1 promotes kinetochore bi-orientation and regulates Cdc20 expression during recovery from spindle checkpoint arrest

The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), an evolutionarily conserved surveillance pathway, prevents chromosome segregation in response to conditions that disrupt the kinetochore-microtubule attachment. Removal of the checkpoint-activating stimulus initiates recovery during which spindle integrity is restored, kinetochores become bi-oriented, and cells initiate anaphase. Whether recovery ensues passively after the removal of checkpoint stimulus, or requires mediation by specific effectors remains uncertain. Here, we report two unrecognized functions of yeast Cdk1 required for efficient recovery from SAC-induced arrest. We show that Cdk1 promotes kinetochore bi-orientation during recovery by restraining premature spindle elongation thereby extinguishing SAC signalling. Moreover, Cdk1 is essential for sustaining the expression of Cdc20, an activator of the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) required for anaphase progression. We suggest a model in which Cdk1 activity promotes recovery from SAC-induced mitotic arrest by regulating bi-orientation and APC/C activity. Our findings provide fresh insights into the regulation of mitosis and have implications for the therapeutic efficacy of anti-mitotic drugs.