Expression Of P53 Target Genes Research Articles

A phase (Ph) 0/Ia study of brigimadlin concentration in brain tissue and a non-randomized, open-label, dose escalation study of brigimadlin in combination with radiotherapy (RT) in patients (pts) with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM).

2017 Background: MDM2 inhibits tumor suppressor p53. Brigimadlin, a potent MDM2–p53 antagonist, restores wild-type (wt) p53 function and has shown early efficacy in pts with solid tumors (LoRusso et al Cancer Disc 2023). GBM is an area of unmet need with 5-year survival <10%. In p53 wt GBM pt-derived xenograft models, brigimadlin promotes tumor cell apoptosis and extends survival in combination with RT. Methods: NCT05376800 is a Ph 0/Ia open-label, single-arm trial that aims to measure brigimadlin concentration in brain tumor tissue in pts with histologically or radiologically newly diagnosed GBM eligible for resection (Ph 0) and determine the maximum tolerated dose of brigimadlin plus RT in pts with TP53wt, IDH wt, MGMT promoter unmethylated GBM (Ph Ia). In Ph 0, pts received one brigimadlin dose (30 mg or 45 mg) ~12–24 h before resection. Ph 0 primary endpoints are the measured total concentration and the calculated unbound concentration of brigimadlin in brain tissue homogenate from non-contrast enhancing (NCE) and contrast enhancing (CE) regions. The predefined threshold for trial continuation is 0.5 nmol/L (corresponding to IC50 in GBM cell lines) unbound brigimadlin in CE samples in ≥50% of pts. Brigimadlin concentration was measured using LC/MS and corrected for amount of brigimadlin in residual blood. Unbound concentration was calculated using an in vitro estimate of unbound fraction (fu): 0.654% (rat brain slice). fu in human plasma was 0.22%. Kp,uu (ratio of unbound concentration in brain vs plasma) was calculated. Biomarker testing was performed. Results: Data are available for 11 pts (brigimadlin 30 mg: n=6; 45 mg: n=5). In the 30 mg group, median total brigimadlin concentration in NCE samples was 267 nmol/L (4 samples, range 86–316 nmol/L) and 332 nmol/L (6 samples, range 272–952 nmol/L) in CE samples. In the 45 mg group, median total brigimadlin concentration in NCE samples was 197 nmol/L (5 samples, range 140–347 nmol/L) and 603 nmol/L (5 samples, range 441–905 nmol/L) in CE samples. Unbound concentration exceeded the 0.5 nmol/L threshold in most cases (Table). Post-brigimadlin, an increase in selected p53 target gene expression was observed in CE vs NCE tissue. Conclusions: Unbound brigimadlin concentrations in CE regions in all pts receiving the low dose of 30 mg brigimadlin exceeded the 0.5 nmol/L threshold. Kp,uu in most patients was close to 1 in CE regions. Biomarker data support target engagement in brain tissue. Our findings support continued investigation of brigimadlin in GBM. Recruitment is ongoing. Updated data will be presented. Clinical trial information: NCT05376800 . [Table: see text]

Application of prime editing system to introduce TP53 R248Q hotspot mutation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line.

In childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), TP53 gene mutation is associated with chemoresistance in a certain population of relapsed cases. To directly verify the association of TP53 gene mutation with chemoresistance of relapsed childhood ALL cases and improve their prognosis, the development of appropriate human leukemia models having TP53 mutation in the intrinsic gene is required. Here, we sought to introduce R248Q hotspot mutation into the intrinsic TP53 gene in an ALL cell line, 697, by applying a prime editing (PE) system, which is a versatile genome editing technology. The PE2 system uses an artificial fusion of nickase Cas9 and reverse-transcriptase to directly place new genetic information into a target site through a reverse transcriptase template in the prime editing guide RNA (pegRNA). Moreover, in the advanced PE3b system, single guide RNA (sgRNA) matching the edited sequence is also introduced to improve editing efficiency. The initially obtained MDM2 inhibitor-resistant PE3b-transfected subline revealed disrupted p53 transactivation activity, reduced p53 target gene expression, and acquired resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and irradiation. Although the majority of the subline acquired the designed R248Q and adjacent silent mutations, the insertion of the palindromic sequence in the scaffold hairpin structure of pegRNA and the overlap of the original genomic DNA sequence were frequently observed. Targeted next-generation sequencing reconfirmed frequent edit errors in both PE2 and PE3b-transfected 697 cells, and it revealed frequent successful edits in HEK293T cells. These observations suggest a requirement for further modification of the PE2 and PE3b systems for accurate editing in leukemic cells.

Abstract 5940: JAB-30355: A highly potent, orally bioavailable p53-Y220C reactivator

Abstract Background: As a key tumor suppressor, p53 precisely regulates cellular events such as cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, senescence, and DNA repair under physiological conditions. In 50-60% of human cancers, TP53 gene is mutated. The TP53 Y220C is a hotspot loss-of-function mutation occurring in around 1% of solid tumors. Application of p53-Y220C reactivator for restoration of p53 function represents a promising treatment strategy for patients with this mutation. Methods: The Induced Allosteric Drug Discovery Platform (IADDP), which integrates medicinal chemistry, biochemical and biophysical studies, and computational techniques, was applied for the development of JAB-30355. The proportion of p53-Y220C with wild-type protein-like structure after JAB-30355 treatment was determined by immunoprecipitation. Thermal shift assay was applied to assess the thermal stability of JAB-30355-reactivated p53-Y220C protein. DNA binding assay was developed to evaluate the in vitro DNA binding activity. p53-luciferase reporter system was developed to evaluate the cellular transcriptional activity. qPCR and Western blotting were performed to evaluate the transcriptional and translational levels of p53 downstream targets, respectively. CellTiter-Glo assay was performed to evaluate the inhibitory activity of JAB-30355 on the viability of tumor cell lines harboring wild-type or Y220C mutated TP53. In vivo PK-PD study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between JAB-30355 concentration and expression of p53 target genes. Multiple CDX and PDX mouse models harboring TP53 Y220C were used to evaluate the antitumor activity of JAB-30355. Results: Immunoprecipitation assay and thermal shift assay results demonstrated that JAB-30355 efficiently restored the wild-type p53-like structure and enhanced protein stability of p53-Y220C in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, JAB-30355 significantly enhanced the DNA binding activity of p53-Y220C and subsequently increased the expression of p53 target genes, such as CDKN1A, MDM2 and PUMA. JAB-30355 inhibited cell viability of multiple TP53 Y220C-mutated cancer cell lines with IC50s ranging from 0.2 to 0.7 μM, and exhibited good selectivity against TP53 wild-type cells. Overall, the in vitro data demonstrated that JAB-30355 is a potent and selective p53-Y220C reactivator. In vivo PK-PD study showed good correlation between JAB-30355 exposure and activation of p53 target genes. Furthermore, JAB-30355 exhibited dose-dependent anti-tumor activity, inducing tumor stasis or regression in multiple CDX and PDX models of ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, and small cell lung cancer, with overall good tolerability. Conclusions: JAB-30355 is a highly potent, selective, and orally bioavailable p53-Y220C reactivator that will be tested in clinical space soon. Citation Format: Qian Zheng, Peng Wang, Chen Liang, Yao Li, Xin Sun, Amin Li, Wei Zhang, Wei Long, Yanping Wang. JAB-30355: A highly potent, orally bioavailable p53-Y220C reactivator [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 5940.

Capturing Protein-Protein Interactions with Acidic Amino Acids Reactive Cross-Linkers.

Acidic residues (Asp and Glu) have a high prevalence on protein surfaces, but cross-linking reactions targeting these residues are limited. Existing methods either require high-concentration coupling reagents or have low structural compatibility. Here a previously reported "plant-and-cast" strategy is extended to develop heterobifunctional cross-linkers. These cross-linkers first react rapidly with Lys sidechains and then react with Asp and Glu sidechains, in a proximity-enhanced fashion. The cross-linking reaction proceeds at neutral pH and room temperature without coupling reagents. The efficiency and robustness of cross-linking using model proteins, ranging from small monomeric proteins to large protein complexes are demonstrated. Importantly, it is shown that this type of cross-linkers are efficient at identifying protein-protein interactions involving acidic domains. The Cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) study with p53 identified 87 putative binders of the C-terminal domain of p53. Among them, SARNP, ZRAB2, and WBP11 are shown to regulate the expression and alternative splicing of p53 target genes. Thus, these carboxylate-reactive cross-linkers will further expand the power of XL-MS in the analysis of protein structures and protein-protein interactions.

ARID3A and ARID3B exert direct regulatory control over the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) MALAT1 and NORAD within the context of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Lung cancer, known for its high mortality rates and poor prognosis, remains one of the most prevalent cancer types. Early detection and effective treatment methods are crucial for improving survival rates. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85 % of all lung cancer cases. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which play vital roles in various biological processes, have been implicated in the development of cancer and can impact key therapeutic targets in different cancer types. In NSCLC, the dysregulation of specific lncRNAs, such as MALAT1 and NORAD, has been associated with neoplastic initiation, progression, metastasis, tumor angiogenesis, chemoresistance, and genomic instability. Both MALAT1 and NORAD directly regulate the expression of the transcription factor E2F1, thereby influencing cell cycle progression. Additionally, MALAT1 has been reported to affect the expression of p53 target genes, leading to cell cycle progression through the repression of p53 promoter activity. NORAD, on the other hand, is indirectly regulated by p53. The AT-rich interaction domain (ARID) family of DNA-binding proteins, particularly ARID3A and ARID3B, are involved in various biological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and development. They also play significant roles in E2F-dependent transcription and are transcriptional targets of p53. The intricate balance between promoting cellular proliferation through the pRB-E2F pathway and inducing growth arrest through the p53 pathway underscores the crucial regulatory role of ARID3A, ARID3B, and their interaction with lncRNAs MALAT1 and NORAD. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential interactive and functional connections among ARID3A, ARID3B, MALAT1, and NORAD in NSCLC, considering their involvement in the pRB-E2F and p53 pathways. Our findings strongly suggest that ARID3A and ARID3B play a regulatory role in controlling MALAT1 and NORAD in NSCLC. Specifically, our study demonstrates that the activities of MALAT1 and NORAD were markedly increased upon the overexpression of ARID3A and ARID3B. Therefore, we can conclude that ARID3A and ARID3B likely contribute significantly to the oncogenic functions of MALAT1 and NORAD in NSCLC. Consequently, targeting ARID3A and ARID3B could hold promise as a therapeutic approach in NSCLC, given their direct control over the expression of MALAT1 and NORAD.

A lncRNA from the FTO locus acts as a suppressor of the m6A writer complex and p53 tumor suppression signaling

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) of mRNAs modulated by the METTL3-METTL14-WTAP-RBM15 methyltransferase complex and m6A demethylases such as FTO play important roles in regulating mRNA stability, splicing, and translation. Here, we demonstrate that FTO-IT1 long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) was upregulated and positively correlated with poor survival of patients with wild-type p53-expressing prostate cancer (PCa). m6A RIP-seq analysis revealed that FTO-IT1 knockout increased mRNA m6A methylation of a subset of p53 transcriptional target genes (e.g., FAS, TP53INP1, and SESN2) and induced PCa cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. We further showed that FTO-IT1 directly binds RBM15 and inhibits RBM15 binding, m6A methylation, and stability of p53 target mRNAs. Therapeutic depletion of FTO-IT1 restored mRNA m6A level and expression of p53 target genes and inhibited PCa growth in mice. Our study identifies FTO-IT1 lncRNA as a bona fide suppressor of the m6A methyltransferase complex and p53 tumor suppression signaling and nominates FTO-IT1 as a potential therapeutic target of cancer.

A Narrative Review of the <i>TP53</i> and Its Product the p53 Protein

The main purpose of this paper was to generate a narrative review related to the current knowledge of the <em>TP53</em> gene and its product, the p53 protein. It was also attempted to elucidate the different p53 reactivation strategies of great interest, as various small molecules are being studied to reactivate mutant p53. PubMed and ScienceDirect were searched for p53, mutant p53, and wild-type p53 limited by the title filter through the end of 2022. The collected articles were studied, evaluated and summarized. In the short (p) arm of chromosome 17, there is a special place for <em>TP53</em>.<em> </em>(17p.13.1). It is made up of 19,180 bp, which includes thirteen exons, (elevem exons, two alternative exons), and ten introns. <em>TP53 </em>is mutated in most types of human cancers resulting in aggressive cancer proliferation, immune system evasion, genomic instability, invasion, and metastasis. Under stress-free conditions, p53 function is negatively regulated by <em>HDM2, </em>a p53 target gene, which binds to it and establishes an auto-regulatory negative feedback loop that promotes proteasomal-dependent degradation. In these conditions, p53 maintains at low levels and normalizes biological operations as the master regulator of cell fate. However, under conditions of stress such as DNA damage, hypoxia, oxidative stress, oncogene expression, nutrient deprivation, ribosomal dysfunction, or telomere attrition the p53 selection pathway will be cell type-specific and depend on the type and severity of the cell damage. Post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation and acetylation, which induce the expression of p53 target genes, contribute to the p53 selection pathway. In these conditions, p53 tetramerized and stabilized in the nucleus and activated, and its levels increased in the cell due to blocking the interaction with<em> MDM2. </em>Valuable findings have been discovered that elucidate the biological, biochemical, immunological, physiological, and pathological roles of p53 and its fundamental roles in cancer biology and genetics. The information gathered here should contribute to a better understanding of the impact of p53 deregulation on cancer and new research aimed at finding new anticancer strategies capable of reactivating the cancer suppressive function of WT and/or blocking the function of mutant p53 in order to improve cancer therapy and prognosis.

A Narrative Review of the <i>TP53</i> and Its Product the p53 Protein

The main purpose of this paper was to generate a narrative review related to the current knowledge of the <em>TP53</em> gene and its product, the p53 protein. It was also attempted to elucidate the different p53 reactivation strategies of great interest, as various small molecules are being studied to reactivate mutant p53. PubMed and ScienceDirect were searched for p53, mutant p53, and wild-type p53 limited by the title filter through the end of 2022. The collected articles were studied, evaluated and summarized. In the short (p) arm of chromosome 17, there is a special place for <em>TP53</em>.<em> </em>(17p.13.1). It is made up of 19,180 bp, which includes thirteen exons, (elevem exons, two alternative exons), and ten introns. <em>TP53 </em>is mutated in most types of human cancers resulting in aggressive cancer proliferation, immune system evasion, genomic instability, invasion, and metastasis. Under stress-free conditions, p53 function is negatively regulated by <em>HDM2, </em>a p53 target gene, which binds to it and establishes an auto-regulatory negative feedback loop that promotes proteasomal-dependent degradation. In these conditions, p53 maintains at low levels and normalizes biological operations as the master regulator of cell fate. However, under conditions of stress such as DNA damage, hypoxia, oxidative stress, oncogene expression, nutrient deprivation, ribosomal dysfunction, or telomere attrition the p53 selection pathway will be cell type-specific and depend on the type and severity of the cell damage. Post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation and acetylation, which induce the expression of p53 target genes, contribute to the p53 selection pathway. In these conditions, p53 tetramerized and stabilized in the nucleus and activated, and its levels increased in the cell due to blocking the interaction with<em> MDM2. </em>Valuable findings have been discovered that elucidate the biological, biochemical, immunological, physiological, and pathological roles of p53 and its fundamental roles in cancer biology and genetics. The information gathered here should contribute to a better understanding of the impact of p53 deregulation on cancer and new research aimed at finding new anticancer strategies capable of reactivating the cancer suppressive function of WT and/or blocking the function of mutant p53 in order to improve cancer therapy and prognosis.

Synergistic anticancer activity of combined ATR and ribonucleotide reductase inhibition in Ewing's sarcoma cells.

Ewing's sarcoma is a highly malignant childhood tumour whose outcome has hardly changed over the past two decades despite numerous attempts at chemotherapy intensification. It is therefore essential to identify new treatment options. The present study was conducted to explore the effectiveness of combined inhibition of two promising targets, ATR and ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), in Ewing's sarcoma cells. Effects of the ATR inhibitor VE821 in combination with the RNR inhibitors triapine and didox were assessed in three Ewing's sarcoma cell lines with different TP53 status (WE-68, SK-ES-1, A673) by flow cytometric analysis of cell death, mitochondrial depolarisation and cell cycle distribution as well as by caspase 3/7 activity determination, by immunoblotting and by real-time RT-PCR. Interactions between inhibitors were evaluated by combination index analysis. Single ATR or RNR inhibitor treatment produced small to moderate effects, while their combined treatment produced strong synergistic ones. ATR and RNR inhibitors elicited synergistic cell death and cooperated in inducing mitochondrial depolarisation, caspase 3/7 activity and DNA fragmentation, evidencing an apoptotic form of cell death. All effects were independent of functional p53. In addition, VE821 in combination with triapine increased p53 level and induced p53 target gene expression (CDKN1A, BBC3) in p53 wild-type Ewing's sarcoma cells. Our study reveals that combined targeting of ATR and RNR was effective against Ewing's sarcoma in vitro and thus rationalises an in vivo exploration into the potential of combining ATR and RNR inhibitors as a new strategy for the treatment of this challenging disease.

Abstract 53: Zebrafish tp53 mutants recapitulate Li-Fraumeni syndrome phenotypes and provide a preclinical platform for evaluating tumor preventive compounds

Abstract Background: Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a hereditary cancer predisposition disorder associated with a highly penetrant and diverse tumor spectrum characterized by germline mutations in the TP53 tumor suppressor gene. Individuals with LFS experience early tumor onset, often during childhood, with a cumulative lifetime cancer risk of 68% in males and 93% in females. Being prone to multiple cancer diagnoses, individuals with LFS endure frequent long-term multi-modal cancer screening protocols, which have improved survival through early detection but are non-specific and can be very burdensome. Preclinical animal models recapitulating the genomic landscape observed in LFS offer the potential to define cancer-driving mechanisms in LFS to personalize tumor surveillance, while also providing a preclinical platform for testing molecularly targeted therapies. Zebrafish are a powerful cancer research tool due to their high degree of genetic conservation; histological/molecular similarities in tumor development with their human counterparts; optical clarity facilitating high-resolution imaging and non-invasive tumor screening. Experimental Design: We have generated two tp53 zebrafish point mutants, R217H and R242H, (representing commonly mutated human LFS and sporadic residues, R248 and R273H) and obtained tp53 null mutants (Langenau lab). The point mutants recapitulate LFS phenotypes, including partial-to-no expression of p53 target genes; resistance to p53-mediated apoptosis; dominant negative activity; and tp53 loss-of-heterozygosity in tumor tissue. These mutants develop tumors beginning at 6-9 months post-fertilization that histologically resemble human sarcomas. R242H mutants exhibit earlier tumor onset and higher life-time incidence than both R217H and null mutants, suggesting that this mutation is more aggressive. Additionally, R217H and R242H mutants each present with a distinctive anatomic tumor distribution and skewed sex ratios, indicating different tumor-driving mechanisms. Whole larvae RNA sequencing and DNA methylation analyses are in progress to reveal mutation-specific mechanisms and pathways, which may reveal novel molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. tp53 R217H and R242H mutants are currently being subjected to treatment with pCAPs (p53 conformation activating peptides) that restore p53 tumor-suppressive hallmarks and/or re-establish native p53 folding to potentially prevent tumor initiation. Significance: In sum, these zebrafish LFS models hold tremendous potential to unravel the pathogenesis of tumor formation in this cancer predisposition syndrome and facilitate a precision-medicine approach to cancer surveillance and prevention to increase survival and enhance quality of life for this vulnerable population. Citation Format: Kim Kobar, Erin Burnley, Lissandra Tuzi, Craig Midgen, Adam Shlien, David Malkin, Sergey V. Prykhozhij, Jason N. Berman. Zebrafish tp53 mutants recapitulate Li-Fraumeni syndrome phenotypes and provide a preclinical platform for evaluating tumor preventive compounds [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 53.

Abstract 45: Elephant p53 protects mice from carcinogen induced death

Abstract Elephants naturally have low rates of cancer, potentially due to evolved genetic changes in tumor suppressor elephant TP53 (EP53) and amplification of 19 TP53 retrogenes. A better understanding of the mechanisms of cancer suppression in elephants by EP53 and its retrogenes could lead to more effective human cancer therapeutics. EP53 induces a strong apoptotic response compared to human TP53, especially when combined with EP53-RETROGENE 9 (EP53-R9). EP53-R9 encodes a truncated p53 protein that induces apoptosis of human cancer cells independent of EP53 through a transcription-independent mechanism. To characterize EP53 and EP53-R9’s role in cancer suppression, transgenic mice were generated to replace mouse TRP53 with EP53. Additionally, a tetracycline inducible EP53-R9 gene was inserted into a safe harbor locus in mice. Carcinogenesis studies with 3-Methylcholanthene injection revealed that EP53 mice survived significantly longer compared to heterozygous or homozygousTRP53 mice (p <0.0001, 0.0102). Experiments to assess the protective role of EP53-R9 alone and combined with EP53 are ongoing. Several mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cell lines were generated from these transgenic mice with 14 distinct genotypes with different combinations of TRP53, EP53, and EP53-R9. p53 target gene expression studies showed that MEFs with EP53 induce higher expression of MDM2 and p21 compared to TRP53-containing MEFs, suggesting that the cancer-protective effect observed in EP53 mice is due, in part, to greater activation of p53 signaling. These results support the need for future work to assess the potential of EP53-based therapeutics for human cancer. Citation Format: Lisa M. Abegglen, Jared S. Fowles, Aidan J. Preston, Aaron Rogers, Niraja Bhachech, Brayden B. Barney, Ryan Kennington, David H. Lum, Gareth Mitchell, Joshua D. Schiffman. Elephant p53 protects mice from carcinogen induced death [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 45.

Loss of DNA repair mechanisms in cardiac myocytes induce dilated cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathy is a progressive disease of the myocardium leading to impaired contractility. Genotoxic cancer therapies are known to be potent drivers of cardiomyopathy, whereas causes of spontaneous disease remain unclear. To test the hypothesis that endogenous genotoxic stress contributes to cardiomyopathy, we deleted the DNA repair gene Ercc1 specifically in striated muscle using a floxed allele of Ercc1 and mice expressing Cre under control of the muscle-specific creatinine kinase (Ckmm) promoter or depleted systemically (Ercc1-/D mice). Ckmm-Cre+/- ;Ercc1-/fl mice expired suddenly of heart disease by 7 months of age. As young adults, the hearts of Ckmm-Cre+/- ;Ercc1-/fl mice were structurally and functionally normal, but by 6-months-of-age, there was significant ventricular dilation, wall thinning, interstitial fibrosis, and systolic dysfunction indicative of dilated cardiomyopathy. Cardiac tissue from the tissue-specific or systemic model showed increased apoptosis and cardiac myocytes from Ckmm-Cre+/- ;Ercc1-/fl mice were hypersensitive to genotoxins, resulting in apoptosis. p53 levels and target gene expression, including several antioxidants, were increased in cardiac tissue from Ckmm-Cre+/- ;Ercc1-/fl and Ercc1-/D mice. Despite this, cardiac tissue from older mutant mice showed evidence of increased oxidative stress. Genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of p53 attenuated apoptosis and improved disease markers. Similarly, overexpression of mitochondrial-targeted catalase improved disease markers. Together, these data support the conclusion that DNA damage produced endogenously can drive cardiac disease and does so mechanistically via chronic activation of p53 and increased oxidative stress, driving cardiac myocyte apoptosis, dilated cardiomyopathy, and sudden death.

DNA damage-induced cellular senescence is regulated by 53BP1 accumulation in the nuclear foci and phase separation.

Cellular senescence is linked to a wide range of age-related diseases and can be triggered by a variety of stresses, including DNA damage. A variety of genotoxic stressors, such as anti-cancer drugs, cause DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which trigger the accumulation of the tumour suppressor protein p53 in the nucleus. Cellular stresses stabilize and activate the p53 signalling pathway, which regulates various cellular processes, such as apoptosis, DNA repair, and senescence. Although p53 signalling is a well-known tumour suppressor pathway, it remains unclear how it is regulated during cellular senescence. Here, we show that p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1) accumulation in the nuclear foci is required for DNA damage-induced cellular senescence via p53 activation. In human immortalized fibroblast, shRNA-mediated 53BP1 depletion decreased not only the expression of p53-target genes but also the cellular senescence induced by adriamycin treatment. Furthermore, we confirmed that DSBs trigger the hyperaccumulation of 53BP1 in the nuclear foci, which plays a key role in the regulation of cellular senescence. To prevent the accumulation of 53BP1 in the nuclear foci, we used phase separation inhibitors, and siRNA against RNF168, which accumulates at DSB loci and forms complexes with 53BP1. This blocks the formation of 53BP1 nuclear foci and DNA damage-induced cellular senescence by activating the p53 signaling pathway. In conclusion, we demonstrated that increased accumulation of 53BP1 in the nuclear foci following DNA damage activates p53 and governs cellular senescence via a liquid-liquid phase separation mechanism.

Editor's Note on 'Cancer-derived p53 mutants suppress p53-target gene expression-potential mechanism for gain of function of mutant p53'.

Editor's Note on 'Cancer-derived p53 mutants suppress p53-target gene expression-potential mechanism for gain of function of mutant p53'.

HPV E6 regulates therapy responses in oropharyngeal cancer by repressing the PGC-1α/ERRα axis.

Therapy with radiation plus cisplatin kills HPV+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) by increasing reactive oxygen species beyond cellular antioxidant capacity. To explore why these standard treatments fail for some patients, we evaluated whether the variation in HPV oncoprotein levels among HPV+ OPSCCs affects mitochondrial metabolism, a source of antioxidant capacity. In cell line and patient-derived xenograft models, levels of HPV full-length E6 (fl-E6) inversely correlated with oxidative phosphorylation, antioxidant capacity, and therapy resistance, and fl-E6 was the only HPV oncoprotein to display such correlations. Ectopically expressing fl-E6 in models with low baseline levels reduced mitochondrial mass, depleted antioxidant capacity, and sensitized to therapy. In this setting, fl-E6 repressed the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1α/estrogen-related receptor α (PGC-1α/ERRα) pathway for mitochondrial biogenesis by reducing p53-dependent PGC-1α transcription. Concordant observations were made in 3 clinical cohorts, where expression of mitochondrial components was higher in tumors of patients with reduced survival. These tumors contained the lowest fl-E6 levels, the highest p53 target gene expression, and an activated PGC-1α/ERRα pathway. Our findings demonstrate that E6 can potentiate treatment responses by depleting mitochondrial antioxidant capacity and provide evidence for low E6 negatively affecting patient survival. E6's interaction with the PGC-1α/ERRα axis has implications for predicting and targeting treatment resistance in OPSCC.

The Mettl3 epitranscriptomic writer amplifies p53 stress responses

The p53 transcription factor drives anti-proliferative gene expression programs in response to diverse stressors, including DNA damage and oncogenic signaling. Here, we seek to uncover new mechanisms through which p53 regulates gene expression using tandem affinity purification/mass spectrometry to identify p53-interacting proteins. This approach identified METTL3, an m6A RNA-methyltransferase complex (MTC) constituent, as a p53 interactor. We find that METTL3 promotes p53 protein stabilization and target gene expression in response to DNA damage and oncogenic signals, by both catalytic activity-dependent and independent mechanisms. METTL3 also enhances p53 tumor suppressor activity in invivo mouse cancer models and human cancer cells. Notably, METTL3 only promotes tumor suppression in the context of intact p53. Analysis of human cancer genome data further supports the notion that the MTC reinforces p53 function in human cancer. Together, these studies reveal a fundamental role for METTL3 in amplifying p53 signaling in response to cellular stress.

Oncogenic RAS sensitizes cells to drug-induced replication stress via transcriptional silencing of P53.

Cancer cells often experience high basal levels of DNA replication stress (RS), for example due to hyperactivation of oncoproteins like MYC or RAS. Therefore, cancer cells are considered to be sensitive to drugs that exacerbate the level of RS or block the intra S-phase checkpoint. Consequently, RS-inducing drugs including ATR and CHK1 inhibitors are used or evaluated as anti-cancer therapies. However, drug resistance and lack of biomarkers predicting therapeutic efficacy limit efficient use. This raises the question what determines sensitivity of individual cancer cells to RS. Here, we report that oncogenic RAS does not only enhance the sensitivity to ATR/CHK1 inhibitors by directly causing RS. Instead, we observed that HRASG12V dampens the activation of the P53-dependent transcriptional response to drug-induced RS, which in turn confers sensitivity to RS. We demonstrate that inducible expression of HRASG12V sensitized cells to ATR and CHK1 inhibitors. Using RNA-sequencing of FACS-sorted cells we discovered that P53 signaling is the sole transcriptional response to RS. However, oncogenic RAS attenuates the transcription of P53 and TGF-β pathway components which consequently dampens P53 target gene expression. Accordingly, live cell imaging showed that HRASG12V exacerbates RS in S/G2-phase, which could be rescued by stabilization of P53. Thus, our results demonstrate that transcriptional control of P53 target genes is the prime determinant in the response to ATR/CHK1 inhibitors and show that hyperactivation of the MAPK pathway impedes this response. Our findings suggest that the level of oncogenic MAPK signaling could predict sensitivity to intra-S-phase checkpoint inhibition in cancers with intact P53.

Presence of mutant p53 increases stem cell frequency and is associated with reduced binding to classic TP53 binding sites in cell lines and primary AMLs

With an overall 5%-10% incidence rate in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the occurrence of TP53 mutations is low compared with that in solid tumors. However, when focusing on high-risk groups including secondary AML (sAML) and therapy-related AMLs, the frequency of mutations reaches up to 35%. Mutations may include loss of heterozygosity (LOH) or deletion of the 17p allele, but are mostly missense substitutions that are located in the DNA-binding domain. Despite elaborate research on the effects of TP53 mutations in solid tumors, in hematological malignancies, the effects of TP53 mutations versus loss of TP53 remain unclear and under debate. Here, we compared the cellular effects of a TP53 mutant and loss of TP53 in human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). We found that when expressing TP53 mutant or loss of TP53 using siRNA, CD34+/CD38- cells have a significantly enhanced replating potential, which could not be demonstrated for the CD34+/CD38+ population. Using RNA-sequencing analysis, we found a loss of expression of p53 target genes in cells with TP53 knockdown. In contrast, an increased expression of a large number of genes was observed when expressing TP53 mutant, resulting in an increase in expression of genes involved in megakaryocytic differentiation, plasma membrane binding, and extracellular structure organization. When binding of p53 wild type and p53 mutant was compared in cell lines, we found that mutant p53 binds to a large number of binding sites genomewide, contrary to wild-type p53, for which binding is restricted to genes with a p53 binding motif. These findings were verified in primary AMLs with and without mutated TP53. In conclusion, in our models, we identified overlapping effects of TP53 mutant and loss of TP53 on in vitro stem cell properties but distinct effects on DNA binding and gene expression.

Functional interaction between S100A1 and MDM2 may modulate p53 signaling in normal and malignant endometrial cells

BackgroundS100A1 expression is deregulated in a variety of human malignancies, but its role in normal and malignant endometrial cells is unclear.MethodsWe used endometrial carcinoma (Em Ca) cell lines to evaluate the physical and functional interaction of S100A1 with p53 and its negative regulator, mouse double minute 2 (MDM2). We also evaluated the expression of S100A1, p53, and MDM2 in clinical samples consisting of 89 normal endometrial and 189 Em Ca tissues.ResultsS100A1 interacted with MDM2 but not p53 in Em Ca cell lines. Treatment of cells stably overexpressing S100A1 with Nutlin-3A, an inhibitor of the p53/MDM2 interaction, increased expression of p53-target genes including p21waf1 and BAX. S100A1 overexpression enhanced cellular migration, but also sensitized cells to the antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of Adriamycin, a genotoxic agent; these phenotypes were abrogated when S100A1 was knocked down using shRNA. In clinical samples from normal endometrium, S100A1 expression was significantly higher in endometrial glandular cells of the middle/late secretory and menstrual stages when compared to cells in the proliferative phases; high S100A1 was also positively correlated with expression of MDM2 and p21waf1 and apoptotic status, and inversely correlated with Ki-67 scores. However, such correlations were absent in Em Ca tissues.ConclusionThe interaction between S100A1 and MDM2 may modulate proliferation, susceptibility to apoptosis, and migration through alterations in p53 signaling in normal- but not malignant-endometrial cells.

Regulation of P53 signaling in breast cancer by the E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF187

The tumor suppressor P53 plays critical role in preventing cancer. P53 is rarely mutated and remains functional in luminal-type breast cancer(1). According to current knowledge, wild-type P53 function is tightly controlled by posttranslational modifications, such as ubiquitination. Several ubiquitin ligases have been shown to regulate P53 ubiquitination and protein stability. Here, we report that RNF187, a RING family ubiquitin ligase, facilitates breast cancer growth and inhibits apoptosis by modulating P53 signaling. RNF187 expression was elevated in breast cancer and correlated with breast cancer survival only in the P53 wild-type groups. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the expression of RNF187 was negatively correlated with the expression of P53 target genes, such as IGFBP3 and FAS, in breast cancer. RNF187 depletion inhibited breast cancer growth and facilitated cell death. RNA sequencing analysis indicated that RNF187 could be an important modulator of P53 signaling. Further experiments showed that RNF187 interacts with P53 and promotes its degradation by facilitating its polyubiquitination in breast cancer cells. Interestingly, the in vitro ubiquitin assay showed that RNF187 can directly ubiquitinate P53 in a manner independent of MDM2. These findings reveal a novel direct P53 regulator and a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.