Chromatin PTEN is involved in DNA damage response partly through regulating Rad52 sumoylation

A pool of PTEN localizes to the nucleus. However, the exact mechanism of action of nuclear PTEN remains poorly understood. We have investigated PTEN’s role during DNA damage response. Here we report that PTEN undergoes chromatin translocation after DNA damage, and that its translocation is closely associated with its phosphorylation on S366/T370 but not on S380. Deletional analysis reveals that the C2 domain of PTEN is responsible for its nuclear translocation after exposure to genotoxin. Both casein kinase 2 and GSK3β are involved in the phosphorylation of the S366/T370 epitope, as well as PTEN’s association with chromatin after DNA damage. Significantly, PTEN specifically interacts with Rad52 and colocalizes with Rad52, as well as γH2AX, after genotoxic stress. Moreover, PTEN is involved in regulating Rad52 sumoylation. Combined, our studies strongly suggest that nuclear/chromatin PTEN mediates DNA damage repair through interacting with and modulating the activity of Rad52.     

Author Correction: Neddylation of PTEN regulates its nuclear import and promotes tumor development

PTEN tumor suppressor opposes the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the cytoplasm and maintains chromosomal integrity in the nucleus. Nucleus–cytoplasm shuttling of PTEN is regulated by ubiquitylation, SUMOylation and phosphorylation, and nuclear PTEN has been proposed to exhibit tumor-suppressive functions. Here we show that PTEN is conjugated by Nedd8 under high glucose conditions, which induces PTEN nuclear import without effects on PTEN stability. PTEN neddylation is promoted by the XIAP ligase and removed by the NEDP1 deneddylase. We identify Lys197 and Lys402 as major neddylation sites on PTEN. Neddylated PTEN accumulates predominantly in the nucleus and promotes rather than suppresses cell proliferation and metabolism. The nuclear neddylated PTEN dephosphorylates the fatty acid synthase (FASN) protein, inhibits the TRIM21-mediated ubiquitylation and degradation of FASN, and then promotes de novo fatty acid synthesis. In human breast cancer tissues, neddylated PTEN correlates with tumor progression and poor prognosis. Therefore, we demonstrate a previously unidentified pool of nuclear PTEN in the Nedd8-conjugated form and an unexpected tumor-promoting role of neddylated PTEN.Subject terms: Neddylation, Breast cancer     

Coactivator functions in a stoichiometric complex with anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome to mediate substrate recognition

The anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is a multisubunit E3 ligase required for ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis of cell-cycle-regulatory proteins, including mitotic cyclins and securin/Pds1. Regulation of APC/C activity and substrate recognition, mediated by the coactivators Cdc20 and Cdh1, is fundamental to cell-cycle control. However, the precise mechanism by which coactivators stimulate APC/C ubiquitylation activity and the nature of the substrate-binding sites on the activated APC/C are not understood. Here, we show that the optimal interaction of substrate with APC/C is dependent specifically on the simultaneous association of coactivator. This is consistent with a model whereby both core APC/C subunits and coactivators contribute recognition sites for substrates, accounting for the bipartite nature (D and KEN boxes) of most APC/C degradation signals. A direct and stoichiometric function for the coactivators could explain how specific substrates are recognized by APC/C in a cell-cycle-specific manner, and how coactivator stimulates APC/C ubiquitylation activity.     

Meiotic control of the APC/C: similarities & differences from mitosis

The anaphase promoting complex is a highly conserved E3 ligase complex that mediates the destruction of key regulatory proteins during both mitotic and meiotic divisions. In order to maintain ploidy, this destruction must occur after the regulatory proteins have executed their function. Thus, the regulation of APC/C activity itself is critical for maintaining ploidy during all types of cell divisions. During mitotic cell division, two conserved activator proteins called Cdc20 and Cdh1 are required for both APC/C activation and substrate selection. However, significantly less is known about how these proteins regulate APC/C activity during the specialized meiotic nuclear divisions. In addition, both budding yeast and flies utilize a third meiosis-specific activator. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, this meiosis-specific activator is called Ama1. This review summarizes our knowledge of how Cdc20 and Ama1 coordinate APC/C activity to regulate the meiotic nuclear divisions in yeast.     

Ubiquitination regulates PTEN nuclear import and tumor suppression

The PTEN tumor suppressor is frequently affected in cancer cells, and inherited PTEN mutation causes cancer-susceptibility conditions such as Cowden syndrome. PTEN acts as a plasma-membrane lipid-phosphatase antagonizing the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT cell survival pathway. However, PTEN is also found in cell nuclei, but mechanism, function, and relevance of nuclear localization remain unclear. We show that nuclear PTEN is essential for tumor suppression and that PTEN nuclear import is mediated by its monoubiquitination. A lysine mutant of PTEN, K289E associated with Cowden syndrome, retains catalytic activity but fails to accumulate in nuclei of patient tissue due to an import defect. We identify this and another lysine residue as major monoubiquitination sites essential for PTEN import. While nuclear PTEN is stable, polyubiquitination leads to its degradation in the cytoplasm. Thus, we identify cancer-associated mutations of PTEN that target its posttranslational modification and demonstrate how a discrete molecular mechanism dictates tumor progression by differentiating between degradation and protection of PTEN.     

A functional network of the tumor suppressors APC, hDlg, and PTEN, that relies on recognition of specific PDZ-domains

APC and PTEN are tumor suppressor proteins that bind through their C-termini to the PDZ domain containing-hDlg scaffolding protein. We have found that co-expression of PTEN and hDlg enhanced the negative regulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway by PTEN, indicating the physiologic importance of these interactions. APC and PTEN share other PDZ domain containing-interacting partners, including the MAGI scaffolding proteins and the MAST family of protein kinases. Mutational analysis revealed that the C-terminal PDZ-binding motifs from APC and PTEN were differentially recognized by distinct PDZ domains. APC bound to the three PDZ domains from hDlg, whereas PTEN mainly bound to PDZ-2/hDlg. This indicates the existence of overlapping, but distinct PDZ-domain recognition patterns by APC and PTEN. Furthermore, a ternary complex formed by APC, PTEN, and hDlg was detected, suggesting that hDlg may serve as a platform to bring in proximity APC and PTEN tumor suppressor activities. In line with this, tumor-related mutations targeting the PDZ-2/hDlg domain diminished its interaction with APC and PTEN. Our results expand the PDZ-domain counterparts for the tumor suppressor APC, show that APC and PTEN share PDZ-domain partners but have individual molecular determinants for specific recognition of PDZ domains, and suggest the participation of the tumor suppressors APC, PTEN, and hDlg in PDZ-domain interaction networks which may be relevant in oncogenesis.     

Inactivation of platelet-derived growth factor receptor by the tumor suppressor PTEN provides a novel mechanism of action of the phosphatase

PTEN, mutated in a variety of human cancers, is a dual specificity protein phosphatase and also possesses D3-phosphoinositide phosphatase activity on phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-tris-phosphate (PIP(3)), a product of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. This PIP(3) phosphatase activity of PTEN contributes to its tumor suppressor function by inhibition of Akt kinase, a direct target of PIP(3). We have recently shown that Akt regulates PDGF-induced DNA synthesis in mesangial cells. In this study, we demonstrate that expression of PTEN in mesangial cells inhibits PDGF-induced Akt activation leading to reduction in PDGF-induced DNA synthesis. As a potential mechanism, we show that PTEN inhibits PDGF-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation with concomitant dephosphorylation and inactivation of tyrosine phosphorylated and activated PDGF receptor. Recombinant as well as immunopurified PTEN dephosphorylates autophosphorylated PDGF receptor in vitro. Expression of phosphatase deficient mutant of PTEN does not dephosphorylate PDGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylated PDGF receptor. Rather its expression increases tyrosine phosphorylation of PDGF receptor. Furthermore, expression of PTEN attenuated PDGF-induced signal transduction including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Erk1/2 MAPK activities. Our data provide the first evidence that PTEN is physically associated with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor and that PDGF causes its dissociation from the receptor. Finally, we show that both the C2 and tail domains of PTEN contribute to binding to the PDGF receptor. These data demonstrate a novel aspect of PTEN function where it acts as an effector for the PDGF receptor function and negatively regulates PDGF receptor activation.     

PTEN induces cell cycle arrest by decreasing the level and nuclear localization of cyclin D1

PTEN is a tumor suppressor frequently inactivated in brain, prostate, and uterine cancers that acts as a phosphatase on phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate, antagonizing the activity of the phosphatidylinositol 3'-OH kinase. PTEN manifests its tumor suppressor function in most tumor cells by inducing G(1)-phase cell cycle arrest. To study the mechanism of cell cycle arrest, we established a tetracycline-inducible expression system for PTEN in cell lines lacking this gene. Expression of wild-type PTEN but not of mutant forms unable to dephosphorylate phosphoinositides reduced the expression of cyclin D1. Cyclin D1 reduction was accompanied by a marked decrease in endogenous retinoblastoma (Rb) protein phosphorylation on cyclin D/CDK4-specific sites, showing an early negative effect of PTEN on Rb inactivation. PTEN expression also prevented cyclin D1 from localizing to the nucleus during the G(1)- to S-phase cell cycle transition. The PTEN-induced localization defect and the cell growth arrest could be rescued by the expression of a nucleus-persistent mutant form of cyclin D1, indicating that an important effect of PTEN is at the level of nuclear availability of cyclin D1. Constitutively active Akt/PKB kinase counteracted the effect of PTEN on cyclin D1 translocation. The data are consistent with an oncogenesis model in which a lack of PTEN fuels the cell cycle by increasing the nuclear availability of cyclin D1 through the Akt/PKB pathway.     

Dim1p is required for efficient splicing and export of mRNA encoding lid1p, a component of the fission yeast anaphase-promoting complex

Schizosaccharomyces pombe Dim1p is required for maintaining the steady-state level of the anaphase-promoting complex or cyclosome (APC/C) component Lid1p and thus for maintaining the steady-state level and activity of the APC/C. To gain further insight into Dim1p function, we have investigated the mechanism whereby Dim1p influences Lid1p levels. We show that S. pombe cells lacking Dim1p or Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells lacking its ortholog, Dib1p, are defective in generalized pre-mRNA splicing in vivo, a result consistent with the identification of Dim1p as a component of the purified yeast U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP complex. Moreover, we find that Dim1p is part of a complex with the splicing factor Prp1p. However, although Dim1p is required for efficient splicing of lid1(+) pre-mRNA, circumventing the necessity for this particular function of Dim1p is insufficient for restoring normal Lid1p levels. Finally, we provide evidence that Dim1p also participates in the nuclear export of lid1(+) mRNA and that it is likely the combined loss of both of these two Dim1p functions which compromises Lid1p levels in the absence of proper Dim1p function. These data indicate that a mechanism acting at the level of mRNA impacts the functioning of the APC/C, a critical complex in controlling mitotic progression.     

Opposite effects of dihydrosphingosine 1-phosphate and sphingosine 1-phosphate on transforming growth factor-beta/Smad signaling are mediated through the PTEN/PPM1A-dependent pathway

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is an important regulator of physiological connective tissue biosynthesis and plays a central role in pathological tissue fibrosis. Previous studies have established that a biologically active lipid mediator, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), mimics some of the profibrotic functions of TGF-beta through cross-activation of Smad signaling. Here we report that another product of sphingosine kinase, dihydrosphingosine 1-phosphate (dhS1P), has an opposite role in the regulation of TGF-beta signaling. In contrast to S1P, dhS1P inhibits TGF-beta-induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation and up-regulation of collagen synthesis. The effects of dhS1P require a lipid phosphatase, PTEN, a key modulator of cell growth and survival. dhS1P stimulates phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of PTEN and its subsequent translocation into the nucleus. We demonstrate a novel function of nuclear PTEN as a co-factor of the Smad2/3 phosphatase, PPM1A. Complex formation of PTEN with PPM1A does not require the lipid phosphatase activity but depends on phosphorylation of the serine/threonine residues located in the C-terminal domain of PTEN. Upon complex formation with PTEN, PPM1A is protected from degradation induced by the TGF-beta signaling. Consequently, overexpression of PTEN abrogates TGF-beta-induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation. This study establishes a novel role for nuclear PTEN in the stabilization of PPM1A. PTEN-mediated cross-talk between the sphingolipid and TGF-beta signaling pathways may play an important role in physiological and pathological TGF-beta signaling.     

APC/C-mediated degradation of dsRNA-binding protein 4 (DRB4) involved in RNA silencing

Background

Selective protein degradation via the ubiquitin-26S proteasome is a major mechanism underlying DNA replication and cell division in all Eukaryotes. In particular, the APC/C (Anaphase Promoting Complex or Cyclosome) is a master ubiquitin protein ligase (E3) that targets regulatory proteins for degradation allowing sister chromatid separation and exit from mitosis. Interestingly, recent work also indicates that the APC/C remains active in differentiated animal and plant cells. However, its role in post-mitotic cells remains elusive and only a few substrates have been characterized.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In order to identify novel APC/C substrates, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen using as the bait Arabidopsis APC10/DOC1, one core subunit of the APC/C, which is required for substrate recruitment. This screen identified DRB4, a double-stranded RNA binding protein involved in the biogenesis of different classes of small RNA (sRNA). This protein interaction was further confirmed in vitro and in plant cells. Moreover, APC10 interacts with DRB4 through the second dsRNA binding motif (dsRBD2) of DRB4, which is also required for its homodimerization and binding to its Dicer partner DCL4. We further showed that DRB4 protein accumulates when the proteasome is inactivated and, most importantly, we found that DRB4 stability depends on APC/C activity. Hence, depletion of Arabidopsis APC/C activity by RNAi leads to a strong accumulation of endogenous DRB4, far beyond its normal level of accumulation. However, we could not detect any defects in sRNA production in lines where DRB4 was overexpressed.

Conclusions/Significance

Our work identified a first plant substrate of the APC/C, which is not a regulator of the cell cycle. Though we cannot exclude that APC/C-dependent degradation of DRB4 has some regulatory roles under specific growth conditions, our work rather points to a housekeeping function of APC/C in maintaining precise cellular-protein concentrations and homeostasis of DRB4.     

Changes in the localization of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae anaphase-promoting complex upon microtubule depolymerization and spindle checkpoint activation

The anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase in the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis pathway (UMP). To understand how the APC/C was targeted to its substrates, we performed a detailed analysis of one of the APC/C components, Cdc23p. In live cells, Cdc23-GFP localized to punctate nuclear spots surrounded by homogenous nuclear signal throughout the cell cycle. These punctate spots colocalized with two outer kinetochore proteins, Slk19p and Okp1p, but not with the spindle pole body protein, Spc42p. In late anaphase, the Cdc23-GFP was also visualized along the length of the mitotic spindle. We hypothesized that spindle checkpoint activation may affect the APC/C nuclear spot localization. Localization of Cdc23-GFP was disrupted upon nocodazole treatment in the kinetochore mutant okp1-5 and in the cdc20-1 mutant. Cdc23-GFP nuclear spot localization was not affected in the ndc10-1 mutant, which is defective in spindle checkpoint function. Additional studies using a mad2Delta strain revealed a microtubule dependency of Cdc23-GFP spot localization, whether or not the checkpoint response was activated. On the basis of these data, we conclude that Cdc23p localization was dependent on microtubules and was affected by specific types of kinetochore disruption.     

Mutually dependent degradation of Ama1p and Cdc20p terminates APC/C ubiquitin ligase activity at the completion of meiotic development in yeast

Background

The execution of meiotic nuclear divisions in S. cerevisiae is regulated by protein degradation mediated by the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) ubiquitin ligase. The correct timing of APC/C activity is essential for normal chromosome segregation. During meiosis, the APC/C is activated by the association of either Cdc20p or the meiosis-specific factor Ama1p. Both Ama1p and Cdc20p are targeted for degradation as cells exit meiosis II with Cdc20p being destroyed by APC/C^Ama1. In this study we investigated how Ama1p is down regulated at the completion of meiosis.

Findings

Here we show that Ama1p is a substrate of APC/C^Cdc20 but not APC/C^Cdh1 in meiotic cells. Cdc20p binds Ama1p in vivo and APC/C^Cdc20 ubiquitylates Ama1p in vitro. Ama1p ubiquitylation requires one of two degradation motifs, a D-box and a “KEN-box” like motif called GxEN. Finally, Ama1p degradation does not require its association with the APC/C via its conserved APC/C binding motifs (C-box and IR) and occurs simultaneously with APC/C^Ama1-mediated Cdc20p degradation.

Conclusions

Unlike the cyclical nature of mitotic cell division, meiosis is a linear pathway leading to the production of quiescent spores. This raises the question of how the APC/C is reset prior to spore germination. This and a previous study revealed that Cdc20p and Ama1p direct each others degradation via APC/C-dependent degradation. These findings suggest a model that the APC/C is inactivated by mutual degradation of the activators. In addition, these results support a model in which Ama1p and Cdc20p relocate to the substrate address within the APC/C cavity prior to degradation.

     

Human Kid is Degraded by the APC/CCdh1 but Not by the APC/CCdc20

The APC/CCdh1 (Anaphase Promoting Complex/Cyclosome) targets numerous cell cycle proteins for ubiquitin mediated degradation in late mitosis and G1. The KEN box is one of two major recognition motifs of APC/CCdh1 substrates. This motif is however very common and shared by a tenth of the human proteome, the vast majority of which are obviously not APC/C substrates. We have observed that most known functional KEN boxes are followed by a proline residue and show that this proline plays a role in APC/CCdh1 specific degradation. This insight can be instrumental for identifying novel APC/CCdh1 substrates. We used this KENxP motif to identify human Aurora B and Kid as APC/CCdh1 substrates. The degradation of Xenopus XKid at metaphase by APC/CCdc20 is essential for chromatid segregation. Human Kid in contrast is degraded later and its APC/CCdh1 specific degradation is not required for mitotic progress. It is thus likely that Kid inactivation in G1 takes place both by nuclear sequestration and degradation by the APC/CCdh1.