Rajasekaran Baskaran

Induction of JNK and c-Abl signalling by cisplatin and oxaliplatin in mismatch repair-proficient and -deficient cells.

SummaryLoss of DNA mismatch repair has been observed in a variety of human cancers. Recent studies have shown that loss of DNA mismatch repair results in resistance to cisplatin but not oxaliplatin, suggesting that the mismatch repair proteins serve as a detector for cisplatin but not oxaliplatin adducts. To identify the signal transduction pathways with which the detector communicates, we investigated the effect of loss of DNA mismatch repair on activation of known damage-responsive pathways, and recently reported that cisplatin differentially activates c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and c-Abl in repair-proficient vs.-deficient cells. In the current study, we directly compared differential activation of these pathways by cisplatin vs. oxaliplatin. The results confirm that cisplatin activates JNK kinase 5.7 ± 1.5 (s.d.)-fold more efficiently in DNA mismatch repair-proficient than repair-deficient cells, and that the c-Abl response to cisplatin is completely absent in DNA mismatch repair-deficient cells. In contrast, there was no detectable activation of the JNK or c-Abl kinases in DNA mismatch repair-proficient or -deficient cells exposed to oxaliplatin. The present study demonstrates that, despite the similarity of the adducts produced by cisplatin and oxaliplatin, they appear to be recognized by different detectors. The DNA mismatch repair system plays an important part in the recognition of cisplatin adducts, and activation of both the JNK and c-Abl kinases in response to cisplatin damage is dependent on the detector function of the DNA mismatch repair proteins. In contrast, this detector does not respond to oxaliplatin adducts.

Growth Suppression by an E2F-Binding-Defective Retinoblastoma Protein (RB): Contribution from the RB C Pocket

ABSTRACT Growth suppression by the retinoblastoma protein (RB) is dependent on its ability to form complexes with transcription regulators. At least three distinct protein-binding activities have been identified in RB: the large A/B pocket binds E2F, the A/B pocket binds the LXCXE peptide motif, and the C pocket binds the nuclear c-Abl tyrosine kinase. Substitution of Trp for Arg 661 in the B region of RB (mutant 661) inactivates both E2F and LXCXE binding. The tumor suppression function of mutant 661 is not abolished, because this allele predisposes its carriers to retinoblastoma development with a low penetrance. In cell-based assays, 661 is shown to inhibit G1/S progression. This low-penetrance mutant also induces terminal growth arrest with reduced but detectable activity. We have constructed mutations that disrupt C pocket activity. When overproduced, the RB C-terminal fragment did not induce terminal growth arrest but could inhibit G1/S progression, and this activity was abolished by the C-pocket mutations. In full-length RB, the C-pocket mutations reduced but did not abolish RB function. Interestingly, combination of the C-pocket and 661 mutations completely abolished RB’s ability to cause an increase in the percentage of cells in G1 and to induce terminal growth arrest. These results suggest that the A/B or C region can induce a prolongation of G1 through mechanisms that are independent of each other. In contrast, long-term growth arrest requires combined activities from both regions of RB. In addition, E2F and LXCXE binding are not the only mechanisms through which RB inhibits cell growth. The C pocket also contributes to RB-mediated growth suppression.

Loss of distal 11q is associated with DNA repair deficiency and reduced sensitivity to ionizing radiation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

About 45% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are characterized by amplification of chromosomal band 11q13. This amplification occurs by a breakage‐fusion‐bridge (BFB) cycle mechanism. The first step in the BFB cycle involves breakage and loss of distal 11q, from FRA11F (11q14.2) to 11qter. Consequently, numerous genes, including three critical genes involved in the DNA damage response pathway, MRE11A, ATM, and H2AFX are lost in the step preceding 11q13 amplification. We hypothesized that this partial loss of genes on distal 11q may lead to a diminished DNA damage response in HNSCC. Characterization of HNSCC using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed concurrent partial loss of MRE11A, ATM, and H2AFX in all four cell lines with 11q13 amplification and in four of seven cell lines without 11q13 amplification. Quantitative microsatellite analysis and loss of heterozygosity studies confirmed the distal 11q loss. FISH evaluation of a small series of HNSCC, ovarian, and breast cancers confirmed the presence of 11q loss in at least 60% of these tumors. All cell lines with distal 11q loss exhibited a diminished DNA damage response, as measured by a decrease in the size and number of γ‐H2AX foci and increased chromosomal instability following treatment with ionizing radiation. In conclusion, loss of distal 11q results in a defective DNA damage response in HNSCC. Distal 11q loss was also unexpectedly associated with reduced sensitivity to ionizing radiation. Although the literature attributes the poor prognosis in HNSCC to 11q13 gene amplification, our results suggest that distal 11q deletions may be an equally significant factor.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II carboxyl-terminal domain by the Abl-related gene product.

The largest subunit of RNA polymerase II contains a C-terminal repeated domain (CTD) that is the site of phosphorylation by serine (threonine) and tyrosine kinases. Phosphorylation of the CTD is correlated with transcription elongation. A number of different kinases have previously been shown to phosphorylate the CTD; among them is a nuclear tyrosine kinase encoded by the c-ablproto-oncogene. The processive and high stoichiometric phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II by c-Abl requires the tyrosine kinase, the SH2 domain, and a CTD-interacting domain (CTD-ID) in the Abl protein. The physiological tyrosine phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II by c-Abl in DNA damage response has previously been demonstrated. Basal tyrosine phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II, however, is observed in cells derived from abl-deficient mice, indicating the existence of other CTD tyrosine kinases. In this report, we show that the tyrosine kinase encoded by an Abl-relatedgene (Arg) also phosphorylates the CTD in vitroand in transfected cells. The SH2 and kinase domain of Arg are 95% identical to that of c-Abl. However, these two proteins share only 29% identity in the large C-terminal region. Interestingly, a CTD-ID is also found in the C-terminal region of Arg. Mapping studies and sequence analysis have led to the identification of the CTD-ID that is highly conserved among the divergent C-terminal regions of Abl and Arg. These results indicate that tyrosine phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II CTD could be catalyzed by either c-Abl or Arg kinase.

Identification of a binding site in c-Ab1 tyrosine kinase for the C-terminal repeated domain of RNA polymerase II.

The c-abl proto-oncogene encodes a nuclear tyrosine kinase that can phosphorylate the mammalian RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) on its C-terminal repeated domain (CTD) in vitro. Phosphorylation of the CTD has previously been shown to require the tyrosine kinase and the SH2 domain of Abl. We show here that a CTD-interacting domain (CTD-ID) at the C-terminal region of c-Abl is also required. Deletion of the CTD-ID causes the Km 0.4 microM to increase by 2 orders of magnitude. Direct binding of the CTD-ID to CTD and to RNAP II could be demonstrated in vitro. Phosphorylation of a recombinant glutathione S-transferase-CTD by c-Abl was observed in cotransfected COS cells. Mutant Abl proteins lacking the CTD-ID, while capable of autophosphorylation, neither phosphorylated nor associated with the glutathione S-transferase-CTD in vivo. Transient overexpression of c-Abl also led to a four- to fivefold increase in the phosphotyrosine content of the RNAP II large subunit. Moreover, the large subunit of RNAP II could be coprecipitated with c-Abl. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the coprecipitated RNAP II was again dependent on the presence of the CTD-ID in Abl. Finally, the ability of c-Abl to phosphorylate and associate with RNAP II could be correlated with the enhancement of transcription by c-Abl in transient cotransfection assays. Taken together, these observations demonstrate that c-Abl can function as a CTD kinase in vitro as well as in vivo.

Caspase-3 mediated cleavage of BRCA1 during UV-induced apoptosis.

The breast cancer suppressor protein, BRCA1 plays an important role in mediating cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and DNA responses to DNA damage signals. In this study, we show that BRCA1 level is downregulated during UV-induced apoptosis by caspase-3 mediated cleavage. Cleavage of BRCA1 by caspase-3 produced a fragment that contained the C-terminal of the molecule. Accordingly, treatment of cells with caspase-3 inhibitor or mutation of a specific caspase-3 cleavage site (DLLD) at amino acid 1151–1154 of BRCA1 abolished cleavage and consequential accumulation of the BRCA1 C-terminal fragment. Whereas expression of the non-cleavable BRCA1 (D/A 1154) mutant conferred the resistance phenotype to UV-induced cell death, expression of the cleaved BRCA1 C-terminus induced cell death in the absence of UV. Examination of the mechanism of C-terminus-induced cell death revealed that the cleaved fragment triggers the apoptotic response through activation of BRCA1 downstream effectors, GADD45 and JNK. Altogether, results of our study demonstrate a functional role for caspase-3 mediated cleavage of BRCA1 during UV-induced apoptosis.

Chk2 is required for HSV-1 ICP0-mediated G2/M arrest and enhancement of virus growth.

ICP0 is a multi-functional herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) immediate-early (IE) gene product that contributes to efficient virus growth and reactivation from latency. Here we show that HSV-1-induced cell-cycle arrest at the G2/M border requires ICP0 and Chk2 kinase and that ICP0 expression by transfection or infection induces ATM-dependent phosphorylation of Chk2 and Cdc25C. Infection of cells with a replication-defective mutant virus deleted for all the regulatory IE genes except ICP0 (TOZ22R) induced G2/M arrest whereas a mutant virus deleted in addition for ICP0 (QOZ22R) failed to do so. Chk2-deficient cells and cells expressing a kinase-deficient Chk2 did not undergo cell-cycle arrest in response to TOZ22R infection. Chk2 deficiency diminished the growth of wild-type HSV-1, but not the growth of an ICP0-deleted recombinant virus. Together, these results are consistent with the interpretation that ICP0 activates a DNA damage response pathway to arrest cells in G2/M phase and promote virus growth.

c-Abl kinase regulates curcumin-induced cell death through activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase.

Curcumin, a natural phenolic compound found in turmeric (Curcuma longa) exhibits anticancer properties, attributed to its antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing activity. The ubiquitously expressed nonreceptor tyrosine kinase c-Abl regulates stress responses induced by oxidative agents such as ionizing radiation and H2O2. In this study, we show that c-Abl is an important component of the cell death response activated by curcumin and that Abl mediates this response partly through activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Therefore, inhibition of Abl by STI571 [imatinib (Gleevec)] treatment or down-regulation of Abl expression through Abl-specific short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) diminished cell death induction and JNK activation. Highlighting the interdependent nature of the Abl and JNK signaling in the curcumin-induced cell death response, a JNK inhibitor [anthra(1,9-cd)pyrazol-6(2H)-one-1,9-pyrazoloanthrone (SP600125)] caused very little cell death inhibition in STI571-pretreated cells and in Abl shRNA-expressing cells. Moreover, treatment with Abl and JNK inhibitor alone or together caused similar levels of cell death inhibition. Although p53 induction in response to curcumin treatment is dependent on Abl, we found that Abl→p53 signaling is not necessary for curcumin-induced cell death. Taken together, the results demonstrate the differential roles played by Abl→p53 and Abl→JNK signaling events in modulating the cell death response to curcumin.

Identification of novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors for drug resistant T315I mutant BCR-ABL: a virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulations study

BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase plays a major role in the pathogenesis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and is a proven target for drug development. Currently available drugs in the market are effective against CML; however, side-effects and drug-resistant mutations in BCR-ABL limit their full potential. Using high throughput virtual screening approach, we have screened several small molecule databases and docked against wild-type and drug resistant T315I mutant BCR-ABL. Drugs that are currently available, such as imatinib and ponatinib, were also docked against BCR-ABL protein to set a cutoff value for our screening. Selected lead compounds were further evaluated for chemical reactivity employing density functional theory approach, all selected ligands shows HLG value > 0.09900 and the binding free energy between protein-ligand complex interactions obtained was rescored using MM-GBSA. The selected compounds showed least ΔG score −71.53 KJ/mol to maximum −126.71 KJ/mol in both wild type and drug resistant T315I mutant BCR-ABL. Following which, the stability of the docking complexes were evaluated by molecular dynamics simulation (MD) using GROMACS4.5.5. Results uncovered seven lead molecules, designated with Drug-Bank and PubChem ids as DB07107, DB06977, ST013616, DB04200, ST007180 ST019342, and DB01172, which shows docking scores higher than imatinib and ponatinib.

Lyn regulates the cell death response to ultraviolet radiation through c-Jun N terminal Kinase-dependent Fas ligand activation

The Src-related tyrosine kinase, Lyn, plays an important role in mediating the cell cycle arrest and cell death response to genotoxic agents such as ionizing radiation. In this report we provide evidence to show that the catalytic function of Lyn is required for ultraviolet radiation (UV)- and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS)- but not for cisplatin (CDDP)- or ionizing radiation (IR)-induced cell death. Consequently, fibroblasts deficient in Lyn function were protected against cell death induction by UV and MMS, but showed normal cell death to IR and CDDP treatment. In Lyn(-/-) cells, UV-induced activation of stress-responsive kinases, Erk1/2 and p38, was normal; however, JNK activation was diminished. In addition, FasL induction by UV was also diminished in these cells. Reintroduction of wild-type Lyn restored JNK activation, FasL induction, and sensitivity to UV and MMS. A role for FasL in the cell death induction by Lyn-JNK signaling is indicated by the inhibition of cell death response by FasL neutralizing antibody. Together, the results support the presence of the Lyn-JNK signaling pathway that mediates the cell death response to UV and MMS treatment through FasL induction.