Tubulin Mutations Research Articles

High resistance of Isaria fumosorosea to carbendazim arises from the overexpression of an ATP-binding cassette transporter (ifT1) rather than tubulin mutation

Probing possible mechanisms involved in the resistance of entomopathogenic fungus Isaria fumosorosea to carbendazim fungicide. A carbendazim-sensitive strain (If116) selected from 15 wild-type strains was subjected to NaNO(2) -induced mutagenesis, yielding nine mutants with carbendazim resistance increased by 82- to 830-fold and thermotolerance decreased by 15-51%. Comparing the protein sequences deduced from the α- and β-tubulin genes of If116 and its mutants revealed no traceable site mutation relating to the enhanced resistance although the transcripts levels of β-tubulin gene in all mutants were 0·87- to 7·16-fold of that in If116. Three examined mutants showed multidrug resistance because they were significantly more resistant to glufosinate, imidacloprid and other six fungicides than If116 during growth. Further examination of rhodamine-stained blastospores revealed existence of drug efflux pump protein(s) in all carbendazim-resistant mutants. Thus, the sequences of an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter gene (ifT1) and its promoter region cloned from the wild-type and mutant strains were analysed. Three common point mutations were located, respectively, at the binding sites of Gal4, Abf1 and Raf, which are crucial transcription factors in the regulative network of numerous protein loci. Such point mutations elevated the ifT1 expression by 17 to 137-fold in all the mutants. The overexpression of the ABC transporter caused by the point mutations at the binding sites was responsible for the fungal resistance to various pesticides including carbendazim. The transporter-mediated multidrug resistance found for the first time in entomopathogenic fungi is potential for use in improving mycoinsecticide compatibility with chemical pesticides.

Mitotic Centromere-associated Kinesin (MCAK) Mediates Paclitaxel Resistance

Paclitaxel has powerful anticancer activity, but some tumors are inherently resistant to the drug, whereas others are initially sensitive but acquire resistance during treatment. To deal with this problem, it will be necessary to understand the mechanisms of drug action and resistance. Recent studies indicate that paclitaxel blocks cell division by inhibiting the detachment of microtubules from centrosomes. Here, we demonstrate that mitotic centromere-associated kinesin (MCAK), a kinesin-related protein that destabilizes microtubules, plays an important role in microtubule detachment. Depletion of MCAK altered mitotic spindle morphology, increased the frequency of lagging chromosomes, and inhibited the proliferation of WT CHO cells, confirming that it is an essential protein for cell division. In contrast, MCAK depletion rescued the proliferation of mutant paclitaxel-dependent cell lines that are unable to divide because of defective spindle function resulting from altered α-tubulin or class III β-tubulin overexpression. In concert with the correction of mitotic defects, loss of MCAK reversed an aberrantly high frequency of microtubule detachment in the mutant cells and increased their sensitivity to paclitaxel. The results indicate that MCAK affects cell sensitivity to mitotic inhibitors by modulating the frequency of microtubule detachment, and they demonstrate that changes in a microtubule-interacting protein can reverse the effects of mutant tubulin expression.

Identification of Glycan Structure Alterations on Cell Membrane Proteins in Desoxyepothilone B Resistant Leukemia Cells

Resistance to tubulin-binding agents used in cancer is often multifactorial and can include changes in drug accumulation and modified expression of tubulin isotypes. Glycans on cell membrane proteins play important roles in many cellular processes such as recognition and apoptosis, and this study investigated whether changes to the glycan structures on cell membrane proteins occur when cells become resistant to drugs. Specifically, we investigated the alteration of glycan structures on the cell membrane proteins of human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (CEM) cells that were selected for resistance to desoxyepothilone B (CEM/dEpoB). The glycan profile of the cell membrane glycoproteins was obtained by sequential release of N- and O-glycans from cell membrane fraction dotted onto polyvinylidene difluoride membrane with PNGase F and β-elimination respectively. The released glycan alditols were analyzed by liquid chromatography (graphitized carbon)-electrospray ionization tandem MS. The major N-glycan on CEM cell was the core fucosylated α2-6 monosialo-biantennary structure. Resistant CEM/dEpoB cells had a significant decrease of α2-6 linked sialic acid on N-glycans. The lower α2-6 sialylation was caused by a decrease in activity of β-galactoside α2-6 sialyltransferase (ST6Gal), and decreased expression of the mRNA. It is clear that the membrane glycosylation of leukemia cells changes during acquired resistance to dEpoB drugs and that this change occurs globally on all cell membrane glycoproteins. This is the first identification of a specific glycan modification on the surface of drug resistant cells and the mechanism of this downstream effect on microtubule targeting drugs may offer a route to new interventions to overcome drug resistance.

Peloruside- and Laulimalide-Resistant Human Ovarian Carcinoma Cells Have βI-Tubulin Mutations and Altered Expression of βII- and βIII-Tubulin Isotypes

Peloruside A and laulimalide are potent microtubule-stabilizing natural products with a mechanism of action similar to that of paclitaxel. However, the binding site of peloruside A and laulimalide on tubulin remains poorly understood. Drug resistance in anticancer treatment is a serious problem. We developed peloruside A- and laulimalide-resistant cell lines by selecting 1A9 human ovarian carcinoma cells that were able to grow in the presence of one of these agents. The 1A9-laulimalide resistant cells (L4) were 39-fold resistant to the selecting agent and 39-fold cross-resistant to peloruside A, whereas the 1A9-peloruside A resistant cells (R1) were 6-fold resistant to the selecting agent while they remained sensitive to laulimalide. Neither cell line showed resistance to paclitaxel or other drugs that bind to the taxoid site on β-tubulin nor was there resistance to microtubule-destabilizing drugs. The resistant cells exhibited impaired peloruside A/laulimalide-induced tubulin polymerization and impaired mitotic arrest. Tubulin mutations were found in the βI-tubulin isotype, R306H or R306C for L4 and A296T for R1 cells. This is the first cell-based evidence to support a β-tubulin-binding site for peloruside A and laulimalide. To determine whether the different resistance phenotypes of the cells were attributable to any other tubulin alterations, the β-tubulin isotype composition of the cells was examined. Increased expression of βII- and βIII-tubulin was observed in L4 cells only. These results provide insight into how alterations in tubulin lead to unique resistance profiles for two drugs, peloruside A and laulimalide, that have a similar mode of action.

Overexpression of Mitotic Centromere–Associated Kinesin Stimulates Microtubule Detachment and Confers Resistance to Paclitaxel

Numerous studies have implicated mutations in tubulin or the overexpression of specific tubulin genes in resistance to microtubule-targeted drugs. Much less is known about the role of accessory proteins that modulate microtubule behavior in the genesis of drug resistance. Here, we examine mitotic centromere-associated kinesin (MCAK), a member of the kinesin family of microtubule motor proteins that has the ability to stimulate microtubule depolymerization, and show that overexpressing the protein confers resistance to paclitaxel and epothilone A, but increases sensitivity to colcemid. Cells transfected with FLAG-tagged MCAK cDNA using a tet-off-regulated expression system had a disrupted microtubule cytoskeleton and were able to survive a toxic concentration of paclitaxel in the absence, but not in the presence of tetracycline, showing that drug resistance was caused by ectopic MCAK production. Moreover, a population that was heterogeneous with respect to FLAG-MCAK expression became enriched with cells that produced the ectopic protein when it was placed under paclitaxel selection. Similar to previously isolated mutants with altered tubulin, paclitaxel resistant cells resulting from MCAK overexpression were found to have decreased microtubule polymer and a seven-fold increase in the frequency of microtubule detachment from centrosomes. These data are consistent with a model for paclitaxel resistance that is based on stability of the attachment of microtubules to their nucleating centers, and they implicate MCAK in the mechanism of microtubule detachment.

Reducing the future threat from (liver) fluke: realistic prospect or quixotic fantasy?

The liver fluke remains an economically significant parasite of livestock and is emerging as an important zoonotic infection of humans. The incidence of the disease has increased in the last few years, as a possible consequence of changes to the World's climate. Future predictions suggest that this trend is likely to continue. Allied to the changing pattern of disease, reports of resistance to triclabendazole (TCBZ) have appeared in the literature, although they do not all represent genuine cases of resistance. Nevertheless, any reports of resistance are a concern, because triclabendazole is the only drug that has high activity against the migratory and damaging juvenile stages of infection. How to deal with the twin problems (of increasing incidence and drug resistance) is the overall theme of the session on “Trematodes: Fasciola hepatica epidemiology and control” and of this review to introduce the session.Greater knowledge of fluke epidemiology and population genetics will highlight those regions where surveillance is most required and indicate how quickly resistant populations of fluke may arise. Models of disease risk are becoming increasingly sophisticated and precise, with more refined data analysis programmes and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data. Recent improvements have been made in our understanding of the action of triclabendazole and the ways in which flukes have become resistant to it. While microtubules are the most likely target for drug action, tubulin mutations do not seem to be involved in the resistance mechanism. Rather, upregulation of drug uptake and metabolism processes appear to be more important and the data relating to them will be discussed. The information may help in the design of new treatment strategies or pinpoint potential molecular markers for monitoring fluke populations. Advances in the identification of novel targets for drugs and vaccines will be made by the various “-omics” technologies that are now being applied to Fasciola. A major area of concern in the current control of fasciolosis is the lack of reliable tests for the diagnosis of drug (TCBZ) resistance. This has led to inaccurate reports of resistance, which is hindering successful disease management, as farmers may be encouraged to switch to less effective drugs. Progress with the development of a number of new diagnostic tests will be reviewed.

KIF1A Repeats Cycle of ‘FREE Diffusion’ and ‘SPECIFIC Binding’ during Weak Binding State

The nature of intermolecular interaction between motor and cytoskeletal filament during the weak binding state is not fully understood. In the case of kinesin, while structural analyses revealed that kinesin binds to a specific binding site on tubulin, motility data suggested that kinesin undergoes diffusion, searching for its next binding site. To understand how specific binding and diffusion are compatible in a single ADP state, we analyzed the motion of the single-headed kinesin KIF1A on various mutant microtubules (MTs) in the presence of ADP, using the single molecule motility assay. We prepared two series of mutant MTs. The first is a series with increased/decreased negative charges at the C-terminal tails (CTTs) of tubulin, reported to be indispensable for the weak binding of KIF1A to the MT (Okada et al., 2000). The second is a series of charged-to-alanine mutants in the H11-12 loop and H12 of tubulin (α-E415, -E416, -E418, -E421 and β-E410, -D417), found to be critical for kinesin motility and ATPase (Uchimura et al., 2010). The analyses of KIF1A movement showed that a reduction of negative charges in CTTs leads to a reduction in both the duration of interaction and the diffusion length of KIF1A, yet the diffusion constant was not greatly changed. In contrast, in most of the charged-to-alanine tubulin mutants, the diffusion constant of KIF1A increased and the duration shortened, but the diffusion length was unaffected. These results indicate that KIF1A-MT interaction in the ADP state can be modeled as an equilibrium between two substates: a dynamic ‘diffusion state’ and a static ‘binding state’. While CTTs stabilize the former, the critical residues in the H11-12 loop and H12 of tubulin stabilize the latter. This model is applicable to dimeric kinesin.

A novel acetylation of β-tubulin by San modulates microtubule polymerization via down-regulating tubulin incorporation

Dynamic instability is a critical property of microtubules (MTs). By regulating the rate of tubulin polymerization and depolymerization, cells organize the MT cytoskeleton to accommodate their specific functions. Among many processes, posttranslational modifications of tubulin are implicated in regulating MT functions. Here we report a novel tubulin acetylation catalyzed by acetyltransferase San at lysine 252 (K252) of β-tubulin. This acetylation, which is also detected in vivo, is added to soluble tubulin heterodimers but not tubulins in MTs. The acetylation-mimicking K252A/Q mutants were incorporated into the MT cytoskeleton in HeLa cells without causing any obvious MT defect. However, after cold-induced catastrophe, MT regrowth is accelerated in San-siRNA cells while the incorporation of acetylation-mimicking mutant tubulins is severely impeded. K252 of β-tubulin localizes at the interface of α-/β-tubulins and interacts with the phosphate group of the α-tubulin-bound GTP. We propose that the acetylation slows down tubulin incorporation into MTs by neutralizing the positive charge on K252 and allowing tubulin heterodimers to adopt a conformation that disfavors tubulin incorporation.

Mutation of Ser172 in Yeast β Tubulin Induces Defects in Microtubule Dynamics and Cell Division

Ser172 of β tubulin is an important residue that is mutated in a human brain disease and phosphorylated by the cyclin-dependent kinase Cdk1 in mammalian cells. To examine the role of this residue, we used the yeast S. cerevisiae as a model and produced two different mutations (S172A and S172E) of the conserved Ser172 in the yeast β tubulin Tub2p. The two mutants showed impaired cell growth on benomyl-containing medium and at cold temperatures, altered microtubule (MT) dynamics, and altered nucleus positioning and segregation. When cytoplasmic MT effectors Dyn1p or Kar9p were deleted in S172A and S172E mutants, cells were viable but presented increased ploidy. Furthermore, the two β tubulin mutations exhibited synthetic lethal interactions with Bik1p, Bim1p or Kar3p, which are effectors of cytoplasmic and spindle MTs. In the absence of Mad2p-dependent spindle checkpoint, both mutations are deleterious. These findings show the importance of Ser172 for the correct function of both cytoplasmic and spindle MTs and for normal cell division.

α-Tubulin Mutations Alter Oryzalin Affinity and Microtubule Assembly Properties To Confer Dinitroaniline Resistance

Plant and protozoan microtubules are selectively sensitive to dinitroanilines, which do not disrupt vertebrate or fungal microtubules. Tetrahymena thermophila is an abundant source of dinitroaniline-sensitive tubulin, and we have modified the single T. thermophila α-tubulin gene to create strains that solely express mutant α-tubulin in functional dimers. Previous research identified multiple α-tubulin mutations that confer dinitroaniline resistance in the human parasite Toxoplasma gondii, and when two of these mutations (L136F and I252L) were introduced into T. thermophila, they conferred resistance in these free-living ciliates. Purified tubulin heterodimers composed of L136F or I252L α-tubulin display decreased affinity for the dinitroaniline oryzalin relative to wild-type T. thermophila tubulin. Moreover, the L136F substitution dramatically reduces the critical concentration for microtubule assembly relative to the properties of wild-type T. thermophila tubulin. Our data provide additional support for the proposed dinitroaniline binding site on α-tubulin and validate the use of T. thermophila for expression of genetically homogeneous populations of mutant tubulins for biochemical characterization.

Cancer Cells Acquire Mitotic Drug Resistance Properties Through Beta I-Tubulin Mutations and Alterations in the Expression of Beta-Tubulin Isotypes

BackgroundAnti-mitotic compounds (microtubule de-stabilizers) such as vincristine and vinblastine have been shown clinically successful in treating various cancers. However, development of drug-resistance cells limits their efficacies in clinical situations. Therefore, experiments were performed to determine possible drug resistance mechanisms related to the application of anti-mitotic cancer therapy.Principal FindingsA KB-derived microtubule de-stabilizer-resistant KB-L30 cancer cell line was generated for this study. KB-L30 cells showed cross-resistance to various microtubule de-stabilizers including BPR0L075, vincristine and colchicine through multiple-drug resistant (MDR)-independent mechanisms. Surprisingly, KB-L30 cells showed hyper-sensitivity to the microtubule-stabilizer, paclitaxel. Results of the RT-PCR analysis revealed that expression of both class II and III β-tubulin was down-regulated in KB-L30 cells as compared to its parental KB cancer cells. In addition, DNA sequencing analysis revealed six novel mutation sites present in exon four of the βI-tubulin gene. Computational modeling indicated that a direct relationship exists between βI-tubulin mutations and alteration in the microtubule assembly and dynamic instability in KB-L30 cells and this predicted model was supported by an increased microtubule assembly and reduced microtubule dynamic instability in KB-L30 cells, as shown by Western blot analysis.Conclusions and SignificanceOur study demonstrated that these novel mutations in exon four of the βI-tubulin induced resistance to microtubule de-stabilizers and hyper-sensitivity to microtubule stabilizer through an alteration in the microtubule assembly and dynamics in cancer cells. Importantly, the current study reveals that cancer cells may acquire drug resistance ability to anti-mitotic compounds through multiple changes in the microtubule networks. This study further provided molecular information in drug selection for patients with specific tubulin mutations.

Defective adult oligodendrocyte and Schwann cell development, pigment pattern, and craniofacial morphology in puma mutant zebrafish having an alpha tubulin mutation

The processes of myelination remain incompletely understood but are of profound biomedical importance owing to the several dysmyelinating and demyelinating disorders known in humans. Here, we analyze the zebrafish puma mutant, isolated originally for pigment pattern defects limited to the adult stage. We show that puma mutants also have late-arising defects in Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system, locomotor abnormalities, and sex-biased defects in adult craniofacial morphology. Using methods of positional cloning, we identify a critical genetic interval harboring two alpha tubulin loci, and we identify a chemically induced missense mutation in one of these, tubulin alpha 8-like 3a ( tuba8l3a). We demonstrate tuba8l3a expression in the central nervous system (CNS), leading us to search for defects in the development of oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells of the CNS. We find gross reductions in CNS myelin and oligodendrocyte numbers in adult puma mutants, and these deficits are apparent already during the larval-to-adult transformation. By contrast, analyses of embryos and early larvae reveal a normal complement of oligodendrocytes that nevertheless fail to localize normal amounts of myelin basic protein ( mbp) mRNA in cellular processes, and fail to organize these processes as in the wild-type. This study identifies the puma mutant as a valuable model for studying microtubule-dependent events of myelination, as well as strategies for remyelination in the adult.

Cortical microtubules are responsible for gravity resistance in plants

Mechanical resistance to the gravitational force is a principal gravity response in plants distinct from gravitropism. In the final step of gravity resistance, plants increase the rigidity of their cell walls. Here we discuss the role of cortical microtubules, which sustain the function of the cell wall, in gravity resistance. Hypocotyls of Arabidopsis tubulin mutants were shorter and thicker than the wild-type, and showed either left-handed or right-handed helical growth at 1 g. The degree of twisting phenotype was intensified under hypergravity conditions. Hypergravity also induces reorientation of cortical microtubules from transverse to longitudinal directions in epidermal cells. In tubulin mutants, the percentage of cells with longitudinal microtubules was high even at 1 g, and it was further increased by hypergravity. The left-handed helical growth mutants had right-handed microtubule arrays, whereas the right-handed mutant had left-handed arrays. Moreover, blockers of mechanoreceptors suppressed both the twisting phenotype and reorientation of microtubules in tubulin mutants. These results support the hypothesis that cortical microtubules play an essential role in maintenance of normal growth phenotype against the gravitational force, and suggest that mechanoreceptors are involved in signal perception in gravity resistance. Space experiments will confirm whether this view is applicable to plant resistance to 1 g gravity, as to the resistance to hypergravity.

A phase I trial of TPI-287 as a single agent and its combination with temozolomide in relapsed neuroblastoma or medulloblastoma.

TPS329 Background: Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor and medulloblastoma is the most common brain tumor in children. The prognosis for infants with neuroblastoma is good, while only 30% of children diagnosed after 12-15 months of age survive despite aggressive multimodal therapies. Therapies for children with relapsed medulloblastoma are associated with severe long-term toxicities with <15% survival. Thus, development of new therapies, especially ones with favorable toxicity profiles, would improve the treatment of these diseases. A novel anti- microtubule agent, TPI 287, is synthetically manufactured from naturally occurring taxanes extracted from yew starting material. The synthesis involves modifications of the side chain to make the drug more lipophilic, and modification of the baccatin ring structure which circumvents multidrug resistance (MDR)-based resistance and allows for binding to mutant tubulin. Selection was also made on the basis of the very high potency of this drug ...

Abstract LB-64: Synuclein gamma inhibits BubR1 function and renders resistance to antimicrotubule drug

Abstract The microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton is an effective and validated target for cancer chemotherapeutic drugs. Currently, anti-MT drug taxane, e.g. docetaxel, is the first-line chemotherapeutic agent to treat patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer and is also one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents in clinical use in six different cancers (breast, ovarian, non-small cell lung, prostate, gastric, and head and neck). Nearly half of the treated breast and ovarian cancer patients, however, do not respond to chemotherapy. Although general mechanisms of drug resistance may apply to docetaxel resistance, more specifically, the current research paradigm on docetaxel resistance focus on acquired -tubulin mutations and altered expression of β-tubulin isotypes that interfere with drug target binding. Synuclein gamma (SNCG) is a new unfavorable prognostic marker for breast cancer and a potential target for cancer treatment. At the cellular level, SNCG increases metastasis and promotes genetic instability. At the molecular level, SNCG functions like a tumor specific chaperone and regulates many pathways in growth and progression of cancer, including an interaction with mitotic checkpoint kinase BubR1. Here, we show that expression of SNCG is sufficient to induce specific resistance to docetaxel-caused mitotic arrest and apoptosis in breast cancer cells and in breast cancer xenografts. SNCG binds to spindle checkpoint kinase BubR1, interferes with its interaction with other checkpoint proteins of p55cdc20-APC and Mda2, reduces BubR1's kinase activity, and thus attenuates docetaxel-caused mitotic cell death. The working mechanism of anti-MT drugs heavily relies on the normal function of the checkpoint machinery in which BubR1 is a critical component, this inhibitory effect of SNCG on BubR1 function may lead to the inactivation of checkpoint and thus renders docetaxel resistance. To test the clinical relevance, in a pilot neoadjuvant trial, 20 women with histological proven locally advanced breast cancer were treated with 3 cycles of neoadjuvant TE regimen (docetaxel + epirubicin). SNCG-positive tumors are resistant to anticancer effect of neoadjuvant therapy as assayed by reduction in primary tumor size, an increase in apoptotic index, and a decrease in Ki67 proliferation index. These data show that SNCG renders docetaxel resistance by inhibiting BubR1 activity and is new biomarker for predicting anti-MT drug resistance. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-64.

Distinct α- and β-tubulin isotypes are required for the positioning, differentiation and survival of neurons: new support for the ‘multi-tubulin’ hypothesis

The many functions of the microtubule cytoskeleton are essential for shaping the development and maintaining the operation of the nervous system. With the recent discovery of congenital neurological disorders that result from mutations in genes that encode different alpha- and beta-tubulin isotypes (TUBA1A, TUBB2B, TUBA8 and TUBB3), scientists have a novel paradigm to assess how select perturbations in microtubule function affect a range of cellular processes in humans. Moreover, important phenotypic distinctions found among the syndromes suggest that different tubulin isotypes can be utilized for distinct cellular functions during nervous system development. In the present review, we discuss: (i) the spectrum of congenital nervous system diseases that result from mutations in tubulin and MAPs (microtubule-associated proteins); (ii) the known or putative roles of these proteins during nervous system development; (iii) how the findings collectively support the 'multi-tubulin' hypothesis, which postulates that different tubulin isotypes may be required for specialized microtubule functions.

Abstract 2555: Class I β-tubulin mutations induce resistance to microtubule destabilizer through stabilization of the microtubule networks

Abstract Anti-mitotic compounds such as vincristine, colchicine and paclitaxel have been developed to target microtubules in cancers. Although these compounds have been shown successful in treating various cancers, development of drug-resistance cells limits their efficacies in clinical situations. To determine possible mechanisms that are responsible for drug-resistance to microtubule de-stabilizers, KB-derived drug-resistant KB-L30 cells were developed. KB-L30 cells showed resistance to various microtubule de-stabilizers through multiple-drug resistant (MDR)-independent mechanisms. In contrast, this specific clone showed hyper-sensitized to the microtubule-stabilizer, paclitaxel. Single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, RT-PCR and DNA sequencing revealed no mutation on exon 1, 2 and 3 of βI-tubulin. Surprisingly, six novel mutation sites were found present in the exon 4 of βI-tubulin gene. Transfection of the βI-tubulin-mutated construct into KB cells demonstrated that these mutations could alter its sensitivity to the microtubule de-stabilizer, BPR0L075, in vitro. On the other hand, western blot analysis revealed increased microtubule assembly and reduced microtubule dynamic instability in KB-L30 cells when compared to its parental KB cells. In addition, computational modeling indicated that a direct relationship exists between tubulin mutations and alteration in the microtubule assembly and dynamic instability in KB-L30 cells. In conclusion, we showed for the first time that mutations in exon 4 of βI-tubulin induced resistance to microtubule de-stabilizers and hyper-sensitivity to microtubule stabilizer through an alteration in the microtubule assembly and dynamics in cancer cells. The results of this study have important implications for the development of future anti-mitotic compounds that are able to target microtubule mutation-induced drug-resistant cancer cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2555.

Abstract 4059: Taxol inhibits HIF-1α translation by targeting HIF-1α mRNA to P-bodies following microtubule disruption

Abstract Hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a pro-angiogenic transcription factor over-expressed in over 70% of human cancers. We have previously shown that microtubule-targeting drugs (MTDs) inhibit tumor angiogenesis by downregulating HIF-1α protein and its transcriptional activity. Polysome association profiling has shown that MTDs inhibit HIF-1α by shifting its mRNA association from actively translating polysomes to the non-translating ribosomal subunits. This mechanism depends on effective drug-tubulin interaction, as no shift in HIF-1α translation is observed upon Taxol treatment in the tubulin mutant, taxol-resistant PTX10 cells, consistent with the lack of drug-induced microtubule stabilization. We next revealed a specific interaction between HIF-1α mRNA and tubulin in untreated cells through co-precipitation experiments. Moreover, visualization of HIF-1α mRNA, using HIF-specific molecular beacons, showed that HIF-1α moved bi-directionally along microtubule polymers. Interestingly, MTD treatment resulted in a significant increase in the number of Processing (P)-bodies which are cytoplasmic regions where translationally repressed mRNAs are enriched. Immunoprecipitation of the P-body component protein, Argonaute 2, revealed a 15-fold enrichment in bound HIF-1α mRNA following Taxol or other MTD treatment, suggesting that HIF-1α mRNA accumulates in P-bodies following microtubule disruption. Microtubule depolymerization by the reversible MTD, Nocodazole, also suppressed HIF-1α mRNA translation by targeting it to P-body sites; re-polymerization of microtubules, following Nocodazole washout both relieved the inhibition of HIF-1α translation and returned P-body numbers to baseline. To test whether the increase in P-body number alone was responsible for the suppression of HIF-1α translation we employed glucose starvation to increase P-body numbers without affecting cellular microtubules. Our data showed that while glucose starvation significantly increased P-body numbers, it had no effect on HIF-1α translation. Collectively, our results demonstrate that HIF-1α translation is dependent on functional microtubules, and suggest that HIF-1α mRNA may be released from P-bodies, and return to an actively translated state, once the microtubule network is restored. Our data raise the outstanding question of whether there are other mRNAs, important for cancer biology, that are similarly affected by MTD treatment. We are currently isolating translationally-active versus translationally-repressed mRNAs, by sucrose gradient centrifugation and polysome separation, from untreated or Taxol-treated MCF7 breast cancer cells, in order to identify affected genes using the Illumina Genome Analyzer IIx System. This knowledge will have important therapeutic implications given the wide use of MTDs in oncology (Supported by RO1CA114335 to PG and TL1RR024998 to MC). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4059.

Human Mutations That Confer Paclitaxel Resistance

The involvement of tubulin mutations as a cause of clinical drug resistance has been intensely debated in recent years. In the studies described here, we used transfection to test whether beta1-tubulin mutations and polymorphisms found in cancer patients are able to confer resistance to drugs that target microtubules. Three of four mutations (A185T, A248V, R306C, but not G437S) that we tested caused paclitaxel resistance, as indicated by the following observations: (a) essentially 100% of cells selected in paclitaxel contained transfected mutant tubulin; (b) paclitaxel resistance could be turned off using tetracycline to turn off transgene expression; (c) paclitaxel resistance increased as mutant tubulin production increased. All the paclitaxel resistance mutations disrupted microtubule assembly, conferred increased sensitivity to microtubule-disruptive drugs, and produced defects in mitosis. The results are consistent with a mechanism in which tubulin mutations alter microtubule stability in a way that counteracts drug action. These studies show that human tumor cells can acquire spontaneous mutations in beta1-tubulin that cause resistance to paclitaxel, and suggest that patients with some polymorphisms in beta1-tubulin may require higher drug concentrations for effective therapy.

Paclitaxel-Related Peripheral Neuropathy Associated with Improved Outcome of Patients with Early Stage HER2+ Breast Cancer Who Did Not Receive Trastuzumab in the N9831 Clinical Trial.

Abstract Background: Microtubules are crucial for spindle formation during mitosis and for cellular proliferation. The antineoplastic effect of paclitaxel is mainly related to its ability to bind the beta subunit of tubulin, thus preventing tubulin chain depolarization and inducing apoptosis. Tubulins are expressed in human peripheral nerves and the binding of paclitaxel to tubulin may lead to neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is a common dose limiting toxicity of paclitaxel. We hypothesized that the occurrence of peripheral neuropathy may correlate with outcome (disease-free survival; DFS).Methods: This analysis sought to describe incidence of peripheral neuropathy following paclitaxel and its association to outcome (DFS) in patients who received paclitaxel (weekly x 12) in the adjuvant HER2+ intergroup trial N9831. Only eligible pts who initiated paclitaxel and did not have peripheral neuropathy at initiation of paclitaxel that were randomized to arms A (955 pts; chemotherapy alone) and C (889 pts; chemotherapy plus concurrent trastuzumab) of N9831 were included. Cox regression analysis stratified by ER/PR status and nodal status was used to compare DFS within arm between patients with and without peripheral neuropathy.Results: Out of 1844 eligible pts, 379 developed neuropathy (20.5%). For pts in arm A, those who developed neuropathy had better DFS than pts who did not (3 yr DFS: 86.2% vs 81.8%; HR 0.65; p=0.01), despite lower doses of paclitaxel in the pts with neuropathy. Grade of neuropathy did not appear to impact DFS. No statistical difference was noted for pts treated in the trastuzumab-containing arm (3 yr DFS: 92.8% vs 91.1% for pts with neuropathy vs not; HR 0.79; p=0.34). There were no differences in paclitaxel dose intensity between arms A and C.Conclusion: Patients with early stage HER2+ breast cancer who received adjuvant paclitaxel-containing chemotherapy in arm A and developed peripheral neuropathy had a better DFS than pts who did not develop neuropathy. This effect was possibly abrogated by the use of trastuzumab in Arm C. This side effect may represent effective bindings of paclitaxel to the target tubulin, lack of point mutations in tubulin at the paclitaxel binding site and/or lack of selective overexpression of β-III tubulin. This is a hypothesis generating study and additional analysis needs to be conducted from other large taxane-based trials.Partial support from Genentech and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 2100.