Number Of Cell Cycle Regulators Research Articles

Abstract IA06: Oncogenic translation programs

Abstract New York, NY. I will provide an overview of the lab's contribution to deciphering the role of aberrant mRNA translation in cancer. We initially reported that aberrant eIF4E expression can drive lymphomagenesis in vivo. Next, we noticed that eIF4E's oncogenic activity strictly required phosphorylation at S209 by MNK1/2 kinases. The latter is the basis of ongoing efforts to develop and test MNK kinase inhibitors for cancer applications. More recently, we dissected the molecular basis of the anti-cancer action of eIF4A inhibitors like silvestrol. Using the ribosome footprinting technology developed by the Weissman lab we noticed that eIF4A inhibition acutely and preferentially suppressed a select group of ~200 mRNAs. These are marked by repeated 5' UTR sequences that are predicted to fold into energetically favorable G-quadruplex structures. Notably, many of these eIF4A–dependent transcripts encode oncogenic transcription factors (e.g. MYC and MYB), a number of cell cycle regulators (e.g. CDK6, CCND3), and anti-apoptotic BCL2 family genes. These findings also begin to shed light on the overarching question of how aberrant translation may lead to cancer. We speculate that it is not simply a global increase in protein production but instead the activation of oncogenic translation programs. We will discuss these findings also in light of recent work proposing an additional mechanism of eIF4A action that emphasizes binding to ubiquitous RNA sequence elements over the enzymatic activity of eIF4A. Citation Format: Hans-Guido Wendel. Oncogenic translation programs. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Translational Control of Cancer: A New Frontier in Cancer Biology and Therapy; 2016 Oct 27-30; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(6 Suppl):Abstract nr IA06.

Chronological Lifespan in Yeast Is Dependent on the Accumulation of Storage Carbohydrates Mediated by Yak1, Mck1 and Rim15 Kinases.

Upon starvation for glucose or any other macronutrient, yeast cells exit from the mitotic cell cycle and acquire a set of characteristics that are specific to quiescent cells to ensure longevity. Little is known about the molecular determinants that orchestrate quiescence entry and lifespan extension. Using starvation-specific gene reporters, we screened a subset of the yeast deletion library representing the genes encoding ‘signaling’ proteins. Apart from the previously characterised Rim15, Mck1 and Yak1 kinases, the SNF1/AMPK complex, the cell wall integrity pathway and a number of cell cycle regulators were shown to be necessary for proper quiescence establishment and for extension of chronological lifespan (CLS), suggesting that entry into quiescence requires the integration of starvation signals transmitted via multiple signaling pathways. The CLS of these signaling mutants, and those of the single, double and triple mutants of RIM15, YAK1 and MCK1 correlates well with the amount of storage carbohydrates but poorly with transition-phase cell cycle status. Combined removal of the glycogen and trehalose biosynthetic genes, especially GSY2 and TPS1, nearly abolishes the accumulation of storage carbohydrates and severely reduces CLS. Concurrent overexpression of GSY2 and TSL1 or supplementation of trehalose to the growth medium ameliorates the severe CLS defects displayed by the signaling mutants (rim15Δyak1Δ or rim15Δmck1Δ). Furthermore, we reveal that the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species are cooperatively controlled by Yak1, Rim15 and Mck1, and the three kinases mediate the TOR1-regulated accumulation of storage carbohydrates and CLS extension. Our data support the hypothesis that metabolic reprogramming to accumulate energy stores and the activation of anti-oxidant defence systems are coordinated by Yak1, Rim15 and Mck1 kinases to ensure quiescence entry and lifespan extension in yeast.

Transcriptome profiles of Penaeus (Marsupenaeus) japonicus animal and vegetal half-embryos: identification of sex determination, germ line, mesoderm, and other developmental genes.

There is virtually no knowledge of the molecular events controlling early embryogenesis in Penaeid shrimp. A combination of controlled spawning environment, shrimp embryo micro-dissection techniques, and next-generation sequencing was used to produce transcriptome EST datasets of Penaeus japonicus animal and vegetal half-embryos. Embryos were collected immediately after spawning, and then blastomeres were separated at the two-cell stage and allowed to develop to late gastrulation, then pooled for RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis. Ion Torrent sequencing of cDNA from approximately 500 pooled animal and vegetal half-embryos from multiple spawnings resulted in 560,516 and 493,703 reads, respectively. Reads from each library were assembled and Gene Ontogeny analysis produced 3479 annotated animal contigs and 4173 annotated vegetal contigs, with 159/139 hits for developmental processes in the animal/vegetal contigs, respectively. Contigs were subject to BLAST for selected developmental toolbox genes. Some of the genes found included the sex determination genes sex-lethal and transformer; the germ line genes argonaute 1, boule, germ cell-less, gustavus, maelstrom, mex-3, par-1, pumilio, SmB, staufen, and tudor; the mesoderm genes brachyury, mef2, snail, and twist; the axis determination/segmentation genes β-catenin, deformed, distal-less, engrailed, giant, hairy, hunchback, kruppel, orthodenticle, patched, tailless, and wingless/wnt-8c; and a number of cell-cycle regulators. Animal and vegetal contigs were computationally subtracted from each other to produce sets unique to either half-embryo library. Genes expressed only in the animal half included bmp1, kruppel, maelstrom, and orthodenticle. Genes expressed only in the vegetal half included boule, brachyury, deformed, dorsal, engrailed, hunchback, spalt, twist, and wingless/wnt-8c.

A crucial role for the homeodomain transcription factor Hhex in lymphopoiesis

AbstractThe hematopoietically expressed homeobox gene, Hhex, is a transcription factor that is important for development of definitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and B cells, and that causes T-cell leukemia when overexpressed. Here, we have used an Hhex inducible knockout mouse model to study the role of Hhex in adult hematopoiesis. We found that loss of Hhex was tolerated in HSCs and myeloid lineages, but resulted in a progressive loss of B lymphocytes in the circulation. This was accompanied by a complete loss of B-cell progenitors in the bone marrow and of transitional B-cell subsets in the spleen. In addition, transplantation and in vitro culture experiments demonstrated an almost complete failure of Hhex-null HSCs to contribute to lymphoid lineages beyond the common lymphoid precursor stage, including T cells, B cells, NK cells, and dendritic cells. Gene expression analysis of Hhex-deleted progenitors demonstrated deregulated expression of a number of cell cycle regulators. Overexpression of one of these, cyclin D1, could rescue the B-cell developmental potential of Hhex-null lymphoid precursors. Thus, Hhex is a key regulator of early lymphoid development, functioning, at least in part, via regulation of the cell cycle.

149. TRANSLATIONAL CONTROL IN FOLLICULOGENESIS AND OOCYTE DEVELOPMENT: A ROLE FOR RNA-BINDING PROTEIN MUSASHI-1

Control of the maternal mRNA pool during oocyte maturation is crucial to the correct temporal and spatial expression of proteins, particularly during oocyte transcriptional quiescence. We have identified Musashi-1 as being present within the oocyte/ovary, where this RNA-binding protein is believed to act as a translational repressor of target mRNAs. Recent studies in mammalian neural and intestinal systems have identified a number of cell cycle regulators as potential targets of Msi-1. Using Msi-1 protein-RNA immunoprecipitation, we have also identified musashi-2 (msi-2) and c-mos as putative targets in the mouse oocyte. To further study these targets, a transgenic mouse was produced to overexpress Msi-1 exclusively in the oocyte. QPCR analysis, performed on intact ovaries of wild type (WT) and Tg mice, confirmed a 1.5-fold increase in msi-1 expression in tgMsi-1/+ ovaries in excess of WT ovary expression. QPCR analysis of Msi-1 target expression, performed on intact WT and Tg ovaries, in conjunction with transcript obtained from the Msi-1 protein-RNA immunoprecipitation, revealed an overall increase in expression in the tgMsi-1/+ and Msi-1 IP samples, respectively, of p21WAF-1 (~2.5-fold; undetected), cdkn2a (~2-fold; undetected), notch1 (~3-fold;undetected), c-mos (no difference; ~41-fold) and msi-2 (~7-fold; ~10-fold). Immunohistochemical analysis of Msi-2 protein expression in transgenic juvenile mouse ovaries,demonstrated a decrease in expression of Msi-2 in tgMsi-1/+ ovaries, when compared to WT ovary expression, suggesting that Msi-2 mRNA is translationally repressed by Msi-1. Therefore, preliminary analysis suggests that Msi-1 may play a role inregulating transcripts of genes necessary for processes characteristic of meiotic progression and oocyte development.

RNA Silencing Suppressor p19 Regulates The Expressions of Cell Cycle Related Genes*

Besides its function as a pathogenicity determinant, the Tombusvirus P19 also serves as a suppressor of RNA interference (RNAi) by sequestering intracellular small RNAs such as the small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs). However, the effect of P19 on mammalian cells has not been evaluated before. A human embryonic kidney 293 cell line that stably expressed p19 (HEK293-p19) was generated. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that over-expression of P19 caused a significant accumulation of G2/M phase cells. Cell proliferation assays demonstrated a reduced DNA replication and cell growth in HEK293-p19 cells. Moreover, p19 altered the expression profiles of a number of cell cycle regulators in HEK293 cells, such as upregulation of cyclin Al, CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, p18, cyclin D2, pl9INK4d and E2F1, and downregulation of p15, cyclin A2, cyclin BI and cyclin El. Thus, the data strongly indicate that p19 might influence multiple G2/M regulators to cause G2/M arrest.

SUMO E3 Ligase HIGH PLOIDY2 Regulates Endocycle Onset and Meristem Maintenance inArabidopsis

Endoreduplication involves a doubling of chromosomal DNA without corresponding cell division. In plants, many cell types transit from the mitotic cycle to the endoreduplication cycle or endocycle, and this transition is often coupled with the initiation of cell expansion and differentiation. Although a number of cell cycle regulators implicated in endocycle onset have been identified, it is still largely unknown how this transition is developmentally regulated at the whole organ level. Here, we report that a nuclear-localized SUMO E3 ligase, HIGH PLOIDY2 (HPY2), functions as a repressor of endocycle onset in Arabidopsis thaliana meristems. Loss of HPY2 results in a premature transition from the mitotic cycle to the endocycle, leading to severe dwarfism with defective meristems. HPY2 possesses an SP-RING domain characteristic of MMS21-type SUMO E3 ligases, and we show that the conserved residues within this domain are required for the in vivo and in vitro function of HPY2. HPY2 is predominantly expressed in proliferating cells of root meristems and it functions downstream of meristem patterning transcription factors PLETHORA1 (PLT1) and PLT2. These results establish that HPY2-mediated sumoylation modulates the cell cycle progression and meristem development in the PLT-dependent signaling pathway.

The E3 ubiquitin ligase skp2 regulates neural differentiation independent from the cell cycle

BackgroundThe SCFskp2 complex is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that is known to target a number of cell cycle regulators, including cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, for proteolysis. While its role in regulation of cell division has been well documented, additional functions in differentiation, including in the nervous system, have not been investigated.ResultsUsing Xenopus as a model system, here we demonstrate that skp2 has an additional role in regulation of differentiation of primary neurons, the first neurons to differentiate in the neural plate. Xenopus skp2 shows a dynamic expression pattern in early embryonic neural tissue and depletion of skp2 results in generation of extra primary neurons. In contrast, over-expression of skp2 inhibits neurogenesis in a manner dependent on its ability to act as part of the SCFskp2 complex. Moreover, inhibition of neurogenesis by skp2 occurs upstream of the proneural gene encoding NeuroD and prior to cell cycle exit. We have previously demonstrated that the Xenopus cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor Xic1 is essential for primary neurogenesis at an early stage, and before these cells exit the cell cycle. We show that SCFskp2 degrades Xic1 in embryos and this contributes to the ability of skp2 to regulate neurogenesis.ConclusionWe conclude that the SCFskp2 complex has functions in the control of neuronal differentiation additional to its role in cell cycle regulation. Thus, it is well placed to be a co-ordinating factor regulating both cell proliferation and cell differentiation directly.

The ΔN Isoform of the p73 Gene Is Induced during the G0→G1 Transition in Primary Human T Cells.

p73 is a member of the p53-family of transcription factors (p73, p53 and p63). A truncated form of p73 (ΔNp73) also exists that lacks the transcriptional activation domain and inhibits both p53 & p73. However, ΔNp73 transcripts have not been reported in normal tissues or peripheral blood. We now show for the first time that ΔNp73 mRNA and protein are not present in quiescent (G0), primary human T cells but are induced post the G0→G1 cell cycle commitment point following stimulation with anti-CD3/CD28 or PMA/ionomycin. The ΔNp73 transcript could be produced either by activation of a promoter in intron 3 or from the 5′ P1 promoter by alternative splicing. Bisulfite sequencing shows that the intron 3 promoter is hypermethylated in T cells in G0 and throughout the cell cycle while the 5′ P1 promoter remains largely unmethylated. 5′-RACE results with quiescent and stimulated T cells verify that ΔNp73 transcripts originate from the P1 promoter. Additionally, RT-PCR analyses show that the transcript originating from the P1 promoter is present in G0 and mature ΔNp73 mRNA is produced by cell cycle-dependent splicing during the G0→G1 transition. We investigated the function of ΔNp73 during G0→G1 by inhibiting its induction with two different siRNAs. Microarray analyses show that expression of mRNA encoding a number of cell cycle regulators like E2F1, TCFL2 and CDT1 during G0→G1 are dependent on ΔNp73 and ΔNp73 represses the expression of the pro-apoptotic PUMA, a known p73 target. We conclude that ΔNp73 is produced in normal, human T cells during cell cycle entry and regulates normal gene expression. Moreover, the intron 3 promoter is hypermethylated, the ΔNp73 transcript originates at the P1 promoter and ΔNp73 mRNA is produced by cell cycle-dependent splicing.

Identification and characterization of a novel and functional murine Pin1 isoform

Pin1, a phosphorylation-dependent peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase (PPIase), regulates the activity of a number of cell cycle regulators, transcription factors, and microtubule-associated tau. Aberrant expression of Pin1 is implicated in carcinogenesis and neurodegenerative diseases. Yet, there are discrepancies regarding its biological significance in different organisms. Pin1 was essential in HeLa cells, while Pin1-deficient mice showed no lethal phenotypes. We here identified a novel murine Pin1 isoform (mPin1L) consisting of the WW domain and the PPIase domain. Murine Pin1L shares 92% sequence identity with the wild-type Pin1 and shows wide tissue distribution with highest levels in mouse testis. The recombinant mPin1L is enzymatically active, but is approximately three times less efficient than Pin1 in catalyzing the cis/trans isomerization. These data suggest that mPin1L may serve as a surrogate for Pin1. The finding provides insights into phenotypic consequences for Pin1-null mice and may facilitate future biological study and pharmacological development in mice.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of rice cell cycle genes

Cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases, and a number of other proteins control the progression of plant cell cycle. Although extensive studies have revealed the roles of some cell cycle regulators and the underlying mechanisms in Arabidopsis, relatively a small number of cell cycle regulators were functionally analyzed in rice. In this study, we describe 41 regulators in the rice genome. Our results indicate that the rice genome contains a less number of the core cell cycle regulators than the Arabidopsis one does, although the rice genome is much larger than the Arabidopsis one. Eight groups of CDKs similar to those in Arabidopsis were identified in the rice genome through phylogenetic analysis, and the corresponding members in the different groups include E2F, CKI, Rb, CKS and Wee. The structures of the core cell regulators were relatively conserved between the rice and Arabidopsis genomes. Furthermore, the expression of the majority of the core cell cycle genes was spatially regulated, and the most closely related ones showed very similar patterns of expression, suggesting functional redundancy and conservation between the highly similar core cell cycle genes in rice and Arabidopsis. Following auxin or cytokinin treatment, the expression of the core cell cycle genes was either upregulated or downregulated, suggesting that auxin and/or cytokinin may directly regulate the expression of the core cell cycle genes. Our results provide basic information to understand the mechanism of cell cycle regulation and the functions of the rice cell cycle genes.

The SIN3 Deacetylase Complex Represses Genes Encoding Mitochondrial Proteins: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE REGULATION OF ENERGY METABOLISM

Deacetylation of histones by the SIN3 complex is a major mechanism utilized in eukaryotic organisms to repress transcription. Presumably, developmental and cellular phenotypes resulting from mutations in SIN3 are a consequence of altered transcription of SIN3 target genes. Therefore, to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying SIN3 mutant phenotypes in Drosophila, we used full-genome oligonucleotide microarrays to compare gene expression levels in wild type Drosophila tissue culture cells versus SIN3-deficient cells generated by RNA interference. Of the 13,137 genes tested, 364 were induced and 35 were repressed by loss of SIN3. The approximately 10-fold difference between the number of induced and repressed genes suggests that SIN3 plays a direct role in regulating these genes. The identified genes are distributed throughout euchromatic regions but are preferentially excluded from heterochromatic regions of Drosophila chromosomes suggesting that the SIN3 complex can only access particular chromatin structures. A number of cell cycle regulators were repressed by loss of SIN3, and functional studies indicate that repression of string, encoding the Drosophila homologue of the yeast CDC25 phosphatase, contributes to the G2 cell cycle delay of SIN3-deficient cells. Unexpectedly, a substantial fraction of genes induced by loss of SIN3 is involved in cytosolic and mitochondrial energy-generating pathways and other genes encode components of the mitochondrial translation machinery. Increased expression of mitochondrial proteins in SIN3-deficient cells is manifested in an increase in mitochondrial mass. Thus, SIN3 may play an important role in regulating mitochondrial respiratory activity.

Null mutation of AtCUL1 causes arrest in early embryogenesis in Arabidopsis.

The SCF (for SKP1, Cullin/CDC53, F-box protein) ubiquitin ligase targets a number of cell cycle regulators, transcription factors, and other proteins for degradation in yeast and mammalian cells. Recent genetic studies demonstrate that plant F-box proteins are involved in auxin responses, jasmonate signaling, flower morphogenesis, photocontrol of circadian clocks, and leaf senescence, implying a large spectrum of functions for the SCF pathway in plant development. Here, we present a molecular and functional characterization of plant cullins. The Arabidopsis genome contains 11 cullin-related genes. Complementation assays revealed that AtCUL1 but not AtCUL4 can functionally complement the yeast cdc53 mutant. Arabidopsis mutants containing transfer DNA (T-DNA) insertions in the AtCUL1 gene were shown to display an arrest in early embryogenesis. Consistently, both the transcript and the protein of the AtCUL1 gene were found to accumulate in embryos. The AtCUL1 protein localized mainly in the nucleus but also weakly in the cytoplasm during interphase and colocalized with the mitotic spindle in metaphase. Our results demonstrate a critical role for the SCF ubiquitin ligase in Arabidopsis embryogenesis.

Nud1p links astral microtubule organization and the control of exit from mitosis.

The budding yeast spindle pole body (SPB) not only organizes the astral and nuclear microtubules but is also associated with a number of cell-cycle regulators that control mitotic exit. Here, we describe that the core SPB component Nud1p is a key protein that functions in both processes. The astral microtubule organizing function of Nud1p is mediated by its interaction with the gamma-tubulin complex binding protein Spc72p. This function of Nud1p is distinct from its role in cell-cycle control: Nud1p binds the spindle checkpoint control proteins Bfa1p and Bub2p to the SPB, and is part of the mitotic exit network (MEN) in which it functions upstream of CDC15 but downstream of LTE1. In conditional lethal nud1-2 cells, the MEN component Tem1p, a GTPase, is mislocalized, whereas the kinase Cdc15p is still associated with the SPB. Thus, in nud1-2 cells the failure of Tem1p to interact with Cdc15p at the SPB probably prevents mitotic exit.

Cell cycle regulators in neural stem cells and postmitotic neurons.

In the mammalian central nervous system, neurons withdraw from the cell cycle immediately after their differentiation from proliferative neuroepithelial cells. Even while postmitotic neurons remain in permanent mitotic quiescence, they express a number of cell cycle regulators required for cell cycle progression. This review focuses on the expression and functions of members of the retinoblastoma protein (Rb) family (Rb, p107, p130) and necdin, all of which are growth suppressors that interact with the viral oncoproteins and the E2F family proteins. These molecules are differentially expressed in proliferative neural progenitors and postmitotic neurons in the developing neuroepithelium in vivo and differentiating embryonal carcinoma cells in vitro. During neurogenesis, dysfunction of the Rb family proteins causes impaired neuronal differentiation accompanied by cell death (apoptosis). Thus, the Rb family proteins are essential for both terminal mitosis of neuronal progenitors and survival of nascent neurons. However, the Rb family proteins seem to be dispensable for the maintenance of the postmitotic state of terminally differentiated neurons. Necdin is expressed exclusively in postmitotic cells and may contribute to their permanent mitotic arrest. These cell cycle regulators coordinately act in the generation, survival and demise of postmitotic neurons.

Deletion of the Cul1 gene in mice causes arrest in early embryogenesis and accumulation of cyclin E

The stability of many proteins is controlled by the ubiquitin proteolytic system, which recognizes specific substrates through the action of E3 ubiquitin ligases [1]. The SCFs are a recently described class of ubiquitin ligase that target a number of cell cycle regulators and other proteins for degradation in both yeast and mammalian cells [2–6]. Each SCF complex is composed of the core protein subunits Skp1, Rbx1 and Cul1 (known as Cdc53 in yeast), and substrate-specific adaptor subunits called F-box proteins [2–4]. To understand the physiological role of SCF complexes in mammalian cells, we generated mice carrying a deletion in the Cul1 gene. Cul1−/− embryos arrested around embryonic day 6.5 (E6.5) before the onset of gastrulation. In all cells of the mutant embryos, cyclin E protein, but not mRNA, was highly elevated. Outgrowths of Cul1−/− blastocysts had limited proliferative capacity in vitro and accumulated cyclin E in all cells. Within Cul1−/− blastocyst cultures, trophoblast giant cells continued to endocycle despite the elevated cyclin E levels. These results suggest that cyclin E abundance is controlled by SCF activity, possibly through SCF-dependent degradation of cyclin E.