DNA repair mechanisms in dividing and non-dividing cells

DNA damage created by endogenous or exogenous genotoxic agents can exist in multiple forms, and if allowed to persist, can promote genome instability and directly lead to various human diseases, particularly cancer, neurological abnormalities, immunodeficiency and premature aging. To avoid such deleterious outcomes, cells have evolved an array of DNA repair pathways, which carry out what is typically a multiple-step process to resolve specific DNA lesions and maintain genome integrity. To fully appreciate the biological contributions of the different DNA repair systems, one must keep in mind the cellular context within which they operate. For example, the human body is composed of non-dividing and dividing cell types, including, in the brain, neurons and glial cells. We describe herein the molecular mechanisms of the different DNA repair pathways, and review their roles in non-dividing and dividing cells, with an eye toward how these pathways may regulate the development of neurological disease.     

hMSH2、PCNA和结核菌L型感染与前列腺癌的相关性研究

【摘 要】 目的 探讨hMSH2(human muts homolog2)基因、增殖细胞核抗原（proliferating cell nuclear antigen,PCNA）和结核菌L型感染在前列腺癌中的表达及相关性研究。方法 应用免疫组化和抗酸染色等方法检测了65例前列腺癌（carcinoma of prostate,PCa）和30例良性前列腺增生(benign prostatic hyperplasia,BPH)中的hMSH2、PCNA蛋白的表达以及结核菌L型的检出率,并对前列腺癌主要临床资料和病理分级参数进行比较,用卡方（χ2）检验进行统计学处理。结果 hMSH2、PCNA蛋白在PCa中的表达明显高于BPH（P<0.01）。前列腺癌中临床分期Ⅲ、Ⅳ期hMSH2、PCNA蛋白的表达明显高于Ⅰ、Ⅱ期（P<0.01）;随着病理分级增高而显著增加（P<0.01）。结核菌L型的检出率与PCa的病理分级、临床分期差异具有统计学意义（P<0.01～0.05 ）。结核菌L型阳性患者中hMSH2表达率[97.2%（35/36）]明显高于结核菌L型阴性患者中hMSH2阳性表达率[31.0%(9/29)];结核菌L型阳性患者中PCNA表达率[94.4%（35/36）]明显高于结核菌L型阴性患者中PCNA阳性表达率[55.2%(16/29)]。结论 hMSH2、PCNA基因在前列腺肿瘤中有不同程度的异常表达,在前列腺癌的发生和发展中起重要的促进作用。结核菌L型感染极有可能导致基因的突变或过表达,因此L型感染可能成为诱发肿瘤形成的原因之一,它们相互协同在前列腺肿瘤发生和发展过程中起重要作用。     

Cloning,recombinant production and crystallographic structure of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen from radioresistant archaeon Thermococcus gammatolerans

Thermococcus gammatolerans is a strictly anaerobic; hyperthermophilicarchaeon belongs to the order Thermococcales in the phylum Euryarchaeota. It was extracted from a hydrothermal vent from the Guaymas Basin (Gulf of California, Mexico). Different studies show that T. gammatolerans is one of the most radioresistant organisms known amongst the archaea. This makes it a unique model to study adaptations to the environment and to study DNA repair mechanisms in an organism able to tolerate harsh conditions. A key protein in these mechanisms is the Proliferation Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA). Its function is focused on their ability to slide along the DNA duplex and coordinating the activities of proteins mainly related to DNA edition and processing. Analysis of archaeal proteins have proven to be enormously fruitful because much of the information obtained from them can be extrapolated to eukaryotic systems, and PCNA is no exception. Here we report the cloning, recombinant expression and crystallographic structure of PCNA from T. gammatolerans (TgPCNA).     

CD47基因对食道癌细胞增殖的影响

本研究将CD47-si RNA转染至食道癌细胞,采用蛋白免疫印迹检测食道癌细胞中CD47蛋白的表达,MTT法检测CD47-siRNA转染组和空质粒转染组(对照组)食道癌细胞增殖状态,蛋白免疫印迹检测CD47-siRNA转染组和空质粒转染组(对照组)食道癌细胞中PCNA蛋白表达,DCFDA染色流式细胞仪检测食道癌细胞CD47-siRNA转染组和空质粒转染组(对照组)中ROS水平,以探究CD47基因对食道癌发生发展的影响。研究结果表明,CD47-si RNA转染组食道癌细胞中CD47蛋白明显低于对照组;CD47-siRNA转染组食道癌细胞增殖率显著低于对照组(p<0.05);CD47-siRNA转染组细胞增殖相关蛋白PCNA低于对照组(p<0.01);CD47-siRNA转染组食道癌细胞中ROS水平明显高于对照组(p<0.05)。本研究初步认为:CD47-siRNA可降低食道癌细胞中CD47蛋白表达,抑制食道癌细胞的增殖并增加食道癌细胞中ROS水平。     

Role of Y-family translesion DNA polymerases in replication stress: Implications for new cancer therapeutic targets

DNA replication stress, defined as the slowing or stalling of replication forks, is considered an emerging hallmark of cancer and a major contributor to genomic instability associated with tumorigenesis (Macheret and Halazonetis, 2015). Recent advances have been made in attempting to target DNA repair factors involved in alleviating replication stress to potentiate genotoxic treatments. Various inhibitors of ATR and Chk1, the two major kinases involved in the intra-S-phase checkpoint, are currently in Phase I and II clinical trials [2]. In addition, currently approved inhibitors of Poly-ADP Ribose Polymerase (PARP) show synthetic lethality in cells that lack double-strand break repair such as in BRCA1/2 deficient tumors [3]. These drugs have also been shown to exacerbate replication stress by creating a DNA-protein crosslink, termed PARP ‘trapping’, and this is now thought to contribute to the therapeutic efficacy. Translesion synthesis (TLS) is a mechanism whereby special repair DNA polymerases accommodate and tolerate various DNA lesions to allow for damage bypass and continuation of DNA replication (Yang and Gao, 2018). This class of proteins is best characterized by the Y-family, encompassing DNA polymerases (Pols) Kappa, Eta, Iota, and Rev1. While best studied for their ability to bypass physical lesions on the DNA, there is accumulating evidence for these proteins in coping with various natural replication fork barriers and alleviating replication stress. In this mini-review, we will highlight some of these recent advances, and discuss why targeting the TLS pathway may be a mechanism of enhancing cancer-associated replication stress. Exacerbation of replication stress can lead to increased genome instability, which can be toxic to cancer cells and represent a therapeutic vulnerability.     

Backbone assignment of human proliferating cell nuclear antigen

PCNA is an essential factor for DNA replication, repair, chromatin metabolism, and effector of cell-cycle regulatory signals. The assignment of backbone ¹H_N, ¹³C_α, ¹³CO, and ¹⁵N, and sidechain ¹³C_β resonances of the human PCNA homotrimeric ring (∼90 kDa, 261 residues) is reported here.     

AMPA receptor expression in mouse testis and spermatogonial GC-1 cells: A study on its regulation by excitatory amino acids

Excitatory amino acids (EAAs) are found present in the nervous and reproductive systems of animals. Numerous studies have demonstrated a regulatory role for Glutamate (Glu), d -aspartate ( d -Asp) and N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) in the control of spermatogenesis. EAAs are able to stimulate the Glutamate receptors, including the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR). Here in, we assess expression of the main AMPAR subunits, GluA1 and GluA2/3, in the mouse testis and in spermatogonial GC-1 cells. The results showed that both GluA1 and GluA2/3 were localized in mouse testis prevalently in spermatogonia. The subunit GluA2/3 was more highly expressed compared with GluA1 in both the testis and the GC-1 cells. Subsequently, GC-1 cells were incubated with medium containing l -Glu, d -Glu, d -Asp or NMDA to determine GluA1 and GluA2/3 expressions. At 30 minutes and 2 hours of incubation, EAA-treated GC-1 cells showed significantly higher expression levels of both GluA1 and GluA2/3. Furthermore, p-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p-Akt, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and Aurora B expressions were assayed in l -Glu-, d -Glu-, and NMDA-treated GC-1 cells. At 30 minutes and 2 hours of incubation, treated GC-1 cells showed significantly higher expression levels of p-ERK and p-Akt. A consequent increase of PCNA and Aurora B expressions was induced by l -Glu and NMDA, but not by d -Glu. Our study demonstrates a direct effect of the EAAs on spermatogonial activity. In addition, the increased protein expression levels of GluA1 and GluA2/3 in EAA-treated GC-1 cells suggest that EAAs could activate ERK and Akt pathways through the AMPAR. Finally, the increased PCNA and Aurora B levels may imply an enhanced proliferative activity.     

Use of peptides from p21 (Waf1/Cip1) to investigate PCNA function in Xenopus egg extracts

Cell-free systems derived from unfertilized Xenopus eggs have been particularly informative in the study of the regulation and biochemistry of DNA replication. We have developed a Xenopus-based system to analyze proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-specific effects on the functional properties of egg extracts. To do this, we have coupled peptides derived from p21 (Waf1/Cip1) to beads and used these to deplete PCNA from Xenopus egg extracts. The effect on various aspects of DNA replication can be analyzed after the readdition of PCNA and other purified proteins. Using this system, we have shown that replication of single-stranded M13 DNA is entirely dependent upon PCNA. By adding exogenous T7 DNA polymerase to PCNA-depleted extracts, we have uncoupled processive DNA replication from PCNA activity and so created an experimental system to analyze the dependence of postreplicative processes on PCNA function. We have shown that successful chromatin assembly is specifically dependent on PCNA. However, systems for analyzing the far more complex mechanisms required for the replication of nuclear double-stranded DNA have proved so far to be refractory to specific PCNA depletion.     

Dynamic changes in subnuclear NP95 location during the cell cycle and its spatial relationship with DNA replication foci

We determined the expression and subcellular localization of nuclear protein NP95 during the cell cycle in mouse 3T3 cells. The levels of NP95 mRNA and protein were extremely low in quiescent cells; however, stimulation with 10% serum increased their expressions in a time course similar to that of the late growth-regulated gene proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Subnuclear location of NP95 dynamically changed during the cell cycle. Double immunostaining for NP95 and chromatin-bound PCNA, a marker of DNA replication sites, revealed that NP95 was almost exclusively colocalized with chromatin-bound PCNA throughout the nucleus in early S phase and partly in mid-S phase. Distinct localization of the two proteins, however, became evident in mid-S phase, and thereafter, many chromatin-bound PCNA foci not carrying NP95 foci could be detected. In G2 phase, nodular NP95 foci were still identified without any chromatin-bound PCNA foci. Chromatin-bound PCNA was observed as a pre-DNA replication complex at the G1/S boundary synchronized by hydroxyurea treatment, while NP95 was detected in nucleolar regions as unique large foci. There was no significant redistribution of NP95 foci shortly after DNA damage by gamma-irradiation. Nodular NP95 foci characteristically seen in G2 phase were also detected in G2-arrested cells following gamma-irradiation. Taken together, our results indicate that NP95 is assigned to a late growth-regulated gene and suggest that NP95 does not take a direct part in DNA replication as part of the DNA synthesizing machinery, like PCNA, but is presumably involved in other DNA replication-linked nuclear events.