A central region of Ku80 mediates interaction with Ku70 in vivo.

Ku, the DNA binding component of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), is a heterodimer composed of 70 and 86 kDa subunits, known as Ku70 and Ku80 respectively . Defects in DNA-PK subunits have been shown to result in a reduced capacity to repair DNA double-strand breaks. Assembly of the Ku heterodimer is required to obtain DNA end binding activity and association of the DNA-PK catalytic subunit. The regions of the Ku subunits responsible for heterodimerization have not been clearly defined in vivo . A previous study has suggested that the C-terminus of Ku80 is required for interaction with Ku70. Here we examine Ku subunit interaction using N- and C-terminal Ku80 deletions in a GAL4-based two-hybrid system and an independent mammalian in vivo system. Our two-hybrid study suggests that the central region of Ku80, not its C-terminus, is capable of mediating interaction with Ku70. To determine if this region mediates interaction with Ku70 in mammalian cells we transfected xrs-6 cells, which lack endogenous Ku80, with epitope-tagged Ku80 deletions carrying a nuclear localization signal. Immunoprecipitation from transfected cell extracts revealed that the central domain identified by the GAL4 two-hybrid studies stabilizes and co-immunoprecipitates with endogenous xrs-6 Ku70. The central interaction domain maps to the internally deleted regions of Ku80 in the mutant cell lines XR-V9B and XR-V15B. These findings indicate that the internally deleted Ku80 mutations carried in these cell lines are incapable of heterodimerization with Ku70.     

Ku80 facilitates chromatin binding of the telomere binding protein,TRF2

The Ku70/80 heterodimer is central to non-homologous end joining repair of DNA double-strand breaks and the Ku80 gene appears to be essential for human but not rodent cell survival. The Ku70/80 heterodimer is located at telomeres but its precise function in telomere maintenance is not known. In order to examine the role of Ku80 fibroblast strain. Following targeted Ku80 knockdown, telomere defects are observed and the steady state levels of the TRF2 protein are reduced. Inhibitor studies indicate that this loss of TRF2 is mediated by the proteasome, and degradation of TRF2 following Ku depletion appears to involve a decrease in chromatin binding of TRF2, suggesting that the Ku heterodimer enhances TRF2 chromatin association and that non-chromatin bound TRF2 is targeted to the proteasome.     

Ku80 facilitates chromatin binding of the telomere binding protein,TRF2

The Ku70/80 heterodimer is central to non-homologous end joining repair of DNA double-strand breaks and the Ku80 gene appears to be essential for human but not rodent cell survival. The Ku70/80 heterodimer is located at telomeres but its precise function in telomere maintenance is not known. In order to examine the role of Ku80 beyond DNA repair in more detail, we have taken a knockdown approach using a human fibroblast strain. Following targeted Ku80 knockdown, telomere defects are observed and the steady state levels of the TRF2 protein are reduced. Inhibitor studies indicate that this loss of TRF2 is mediated by the proteasome and degradation of TRF2 following Ku depletion appears to involve a decrease in chromatin binding of TRF2, suggesting that the Ku heterodimer enhances TRF2 chromatin association and that non-chromatin bound TRF2 is targeted to the proteasome.Key words: Ku80, TRF2, chromatin, telomere, fibroblast     

Double-strand break repair by Ku70 requires heterodimerization with Ku80 and DNA binding functions.

Heterodimers of the 70 and 80 kDa Ku autoantigens (Ku70 and Ku80) activate the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK). Mutations in any of the three subunits of this protein kinase (Ku70, Ku80 and DNA-PKcs) lead to sensitivity to ionizing radiation (IR) and to DNA double-strand breaks, and V(D)J recombination product formation defects. Here we show that the IR repair, DNA end binding and DNA-PK defects in Ku70-/- embryonic stem cells can be counteracted by introducing epitope-tagged wild-type Ku70 cDNA. Truncations and chimeras of Ku70 were used to identify the regions necessary for DNA end binding and IR repair. Site-specific mutational analysis revealed a core region of Ku70 responsible for DNA end binding and heterodimerization. The propensity for Ku70 to associate with Ku80 and to bind DNA correlates with the ability to activate DNA-PK, although two mutants showed that the roles of Ku70 in DNA-PK activation and IR repair are separate. Mutation of DNA-PK autophosphorylation sites and other structural motifs in Ku70 showed that these sites are not necessary for IR repair in vivo. These studies reveal Ku70 features required for double-strand break repair.     

Expression and chromosome location of hamster Ku70 and Ku80

Ku proteins play an important role in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, chromosome maintenance, and growth regulation. To understand the fundamental characteristics of Ku proteins, we examined the electrophoretic mobility and expression of hamster Ku70 and Ku80 and determined the chromosome locations of their genes. The electrophoretic mobility of hamster Ku proteins are different from that of human Ku proteins. No significant changes in the quantity of Ku proteins were observed in CHO-K1 cells treated with 10 Gy of ionizing radiation, suggesting that both proteins are expressed constitutively in amounts adequate to repair DNA DSBs. The chromosome locations of the Ku genes were determined by direct R-banding fluorescence in situ hybridization. The Ku70 gene was localized to Syrian hamster chromosome 4qa4.1--> qa4.2 and Chinese hamster chromosome 2p3.1, and the Ku80 gene was localized to Syrian hamster chromosome 4qb5--> qb6.1 and Chinese hamster chromosome 2p3.5-->p3.6. These results provide clues to the biological functions of Ku, as well as useful information for constructing comparative chromosome maps between hamsters and other mammalian species, including human, mouse, and rat.     

Interleukin-2 promoter activation in T-cells expressing activated Ha-ras.

Antigen triggering of the T-cell receptor results in an accumulation of activated GTP-bound p21ras protein. To assess the role of ras protein in T-cell activation we have cotransfected the murine thymoma line EL4 with a construct capable of expressing a constitutively active, oncogenic form of Ha-ras and a reporter construct containing the human interleukin-2 promoter fused upstream of the bacterial gene for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. We show that the ras oncoprotein contributes to interleukin-2 promoter activation. Its pattern of synergism with a calcium ionophore or the lymphokine interleukin-1 indicates that it replaces a signal mediated by protein kinase C. Interleukin-2 promoter activity in the presence of ras oncoprotein was inhibited by H7, a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C, but not by HA1004, an inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinase, suggesting that protein kinase C mediates the ras effect. In addition, we show that in these cells, expression of activated ras results in activation of a synthetic promoter containing several copies of an NF kappa B binding site.     

Deletion of Ku70, Ku80, or both causes early aging without substantially increased cancer

Ku70 forms a heterodimer with Ku80, called Ku, that is critical for repairing DNA double-stand breaks by nonhomologous end joining and for maintaining telomeres. Mice with either gene mutated exhibit similar phenotypes that include increased sensitivity to ionizing radiation and severe combined immunodeficiency. However, there are also differences in the reported phenotypes. For example, only Ku70 mutants are reported to exhibit a high incidence of thymic lymphomas while only Ku80 mutants are reported to exhibit early aging with very low cancer levels. There are two explanations for these differences. First, either Ku70 or Ku80 functions outside the Ku heterodimer such that deletion of one is not identical to deletion of the other. Second, divergent genetic backgrounds or environments influence the phenotype. To distinguish between these possibilities, the Ku70 and Ku80 mutations were crossed together to generate Ku70, Ku80, and double-mutant mice in the same genetic background raised in the same environment. We show that these three cohorts have similar phenotypes that most resemble the previous report for Ku80 mutant mice, i.e., early aging without substantially increased cancer levels. Thus, our observations suggest that the Ku heterodimer is important for longevity assurance in mice since divergent genetic backgrounds and/or environments likely account for these previously reported differences.     

Expression of Ku70 and Ku80 mediated by NF-kappa B and cyclooxygenase-2 is related to proliferation of human gastric cancer cells

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is mediated by constitutive NF-kappaB and regulates human gastric cancer cell growth and proliferation. Inactivating Ku70 or Ku80 suppresses cell growth and induces apoptosis. It has been hypothesized that Ku70 and Ku80 expression may be associated with NF-kappaB activation and COX-2 expression and is involved in cell proliferation. In this study, we found that inhibition of constitutive NF-kappaB (by transfecting a mutated IkappaBalpha gene) and of COX-2 (by treatment with indomethacin and NS-398) suppressed Ku70 and Ku80 expression in cells. Treatment with prostaglandin E(2) adenocarcinoma gastric (AGS) increased expression of these Ku proteins in cells with low constitutive NF-kappaB levels. Inhibition of the Ku DNA end-binding activity by transfection with the C-terminal Ku80 expression gene suppressed cell proliferation. Ku70 or Ku80 overexpression by transfection with the Ku70 or Ku80 expression gene, respectively, enhanced proliferation of cells with low NF-kappaB levels. These results demonstrate that Ku70 and Ku80 expression is mediated by constitutively activated NF-kappaB and constitutively expressed COX-2 in gastric cancer cells and that the high Ku DNA end-binding activity contributes to cell proliferation. Ku70 and Ku80 expression may be related to gastric cell proliferation and carcinogenesis.     

Identification and analysis of Ku70 and Ku80 homologs in the koji molds Aspergillus sojae and Aspergillus oryzae

Ku genes play a key role in the non-homologous end-joining pathway. We have identified Ku70 and Ku80 homologs in the koji molds Aspergillus sojae and Aspergillus oryzae, and have constructed the disruption mutants of Ku70, Ku80, and Ku70-80 to characterize the phenotypic change in these mutants. Neither Ku70- nor Ku80-disrupted strains show hypersensitivity to the DNA damaging agents methylmethane sulfonate (MMS) and phleomycin. Moreover, undesirable phenotypes, such as poor growth or repressed conidiospore formation, were not observed in the Ku-disrupted A. sojae and A. oryzae.     

Repression of the HSP70B promoter by NFIL6, Ku70, and MAPK involves three complementary mechanisms

We have studied mechanisms of HSP70 gene regulation at 37 degrees C by the cellular factors NF-IL6 and Ku70. As both factors repress HSF1, we first examined whether phosphorylation on serine 303 and 307 of HSF1 by MAPK and GSK3, which has known to inhibit HSF1, was involved in the repression. However, repression by NF-IL6 was found using HSF1 mutants S303G and S307G refractory to the effects of MAPK and GSK3. We then examined whether NF-IL6 repressed HSP70B by a mechanism resembling Ku proteins. However, in Ku-deficient cells, NF-IL6 was still able to displace HSF1 from heat shock element (HSE) and repressed HSF1 activation. In addition, activation of the HSP 70B promoter by wild type, S303G, or S307G HSF1 was observed to be much more pronounced in Ku-deficient cells. In vitro translated Ku70 interacted with HSF1 by binding to and displacing it from HSE. These data indicate that the repression of the HSP70B promoter by NF-IL6, Ku70, and MAPK occurs independently of each other and involves three complementary mechanisms.     

Exogenously expressed human Ku70 stabilizes Ku80 in Xenopus oocytes and induces heterologous DNA-PK catalytic activity

The Ku protein is a heterodimer composed of 70 kD (Ku70) and 80 kD (Ku80) subunits. Ku is the regulatory component of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) that has a catalytic subunit of ~460 kD (DNA-PK_cs). In this study, the two polypeptides (Ku80/Ku70) of the human Ku were expressed in Xenopus oocytes in order to investigate their over-expression, sub-cellular localization, and functional interaction with the Xenopus DNA-PK_cs. In vitro-transcribed mRNAs for Ku70 and Ku80 were obtained from the respective plasmid constructs. The exogenously expressed proteins from the injected mRNAs were immunoprecipitated using a specific anti-T7 Tag antibody. The T7 Tag epitope is present in the vector at the amino-terminus and is in-frame with the Ku cDNA sequences. While injected Ku70 mRNA translated to a full-length Ku70 polypeptide that translocated to the nucleus, injected Ku80 mRNA resulted in the expression of a truncated product that was retained in the cytoplasm. Although Ku80 mRNA was stable for a period of 18 h in the oocytes post-microinjection, the protein was only stabilized when co-expressed with Ku70, suggesting that Ku80 is susceptible to proteolytic degradation when not dimerized with Ku70. Furthermore, the immunocomplex was capable of phosphorylating the DNA-PK-specific substrate thereby indicating that the holoenzyme could functionally reconstitute in vivo in the oocytes by heterologous subunits thus demonstrating evolutionary conservation of the enzyme subunit structure and function among diverse species.     

Integrated analysis reveals FOXA1 and Ku70/Ku80 as targets of ivermectin in prostate cancer

Ivermectin is a widely used antiparasitic drug and shows promising anticancer activity in various cancer types. Although multiple signaling pathways modulated by ivermectin have been identified in tumor cells, few studies have focused on the exact target of ivermectin. Herein, we report the pharmacological effects and targets of ivermectin in prostate cancer. Ivermectin caused G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, induced cell apoptosis and DNA damage, and decreased androgen receptor (AR) signaling in prostate cancer cells. Further in vivo analysis showed ivermectin could suppress 22RV1 xenograft progression. Using integrated omics profiling, including RNA-seq and thermal proteome profiling, the forkhead box protein A1 (FOXA1) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) repair executer Ku70/Ku80 were strongly suggested as direct targets of ivermectin in prostate cancer. The interaction of ivermectin and FOXA1 reduced the chromatin accessibility of AR signaling and the G0/G1 cell cycle regulator E2F1, leading to cell proliferation inhibition. The interaction of ivermectin and Ku70/Ku80 impaired the NHEJ repair ability. Cooperating with the downregulation of homologous recombination repair ability after AR signaling inhibition, ivermectin increased intracellular DNA double-strand breaks and finally triggered cell death. Our findings demonstrate the anticancer effect of ivermectin in prostate cancer, indicating that its use may be a new therapeutic approach for prostate cancer.Subject terms: Target identification, Endocrine cancer     

Contribution of basic residues of the 70-80-loop to heparin binding and anticoagulant function of activated protein C

The role of basic residues of the 70-80-loop, Arg(74), Arg(75), and Lys(78) (chymotrypsin numbering) in the catalytic function of activated protein C (APC) was investigated by expressing mutants of protein C in which these residues were replaced with Ala in three separate constructs. Following purification to homogeneity and activation by thrombin, the catalytic properties of the mutants were characterized with respect to their ability to cleave the chromogenic substrate Spectrozyme PCa, react with protein C inhibitor (PCI), and inactivate factor Va. Relative to wild-type APC, the mutants cleaved Spectrozyme PCa with identical or improved catalytic efficiencies. Similarly, PCI inhibited mutants with identical or improved second-order rate constants (k(2)) in the absence of heparin. However, the heparin-catalyzed inhibition of mutants by PCI was impaired approximately 10-fold. Analysis of k(2) values by a ternary complex model revealed that the affinities of mutants for heparin were impaired to a similar extent. Moreover, analysis of the NaCl gradient elution profiles of APC derivatives from Heparin-Sepharose supported this conclusion. An oligosaccharide containing 14 residues efficiently catalyzed the PCI inhibition of APC by a template mechanism. Further studies revealed that the ability of Arg(74) and Arg(75) mutants to inactivate factor Va was markedly impaired. We conclude that basic residues of the 70-80-loop are critical for the catalytic function of APC.     

Targeting of p300 to the interleukin-2 promoter via CREB-Rel cross-talk during mitogen and oncogenic molecular signaling in activated T-cells

In this report, we explore the mechanisms of targeting of p300 to the interleukin-2 (IL-2) promoter in response to mitogenic and oncogenic molecular signals. Recruitment of p300 by cAMP-responsive element-binding protein-Rel cross-talk at the composite CD28 response element (CD28RE)-TRE element of the IL-2 promoter is essential for promoter inducibility during T-cell activation, and CD28RE-TRE is the exclusive target of the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I oncoprotein Tax. The intrinsic histone acetyltransferase activity of p300 is dispensable for activation of the IL-2 promoter, and the N-terminal 743 residues contain the minimal structural requirements for synergistic transactivation of the CD28RE-TRE, the IL-2 promoter, and endogenous IL-2 gene expression. Mutational analysis of p300 reveals differential structural requirements for the N-terminal p300 module by individual cis-elements within the IL-2 promoter. These findings provide evidence that p300 assembles at the IL-2 promoter to form an enhanceosome-like signal transduction target that is centrally integrated at the CD28RE-TRE element of the IL-2 promoter through specific protein module-targeted associations in activated T-cells.     

Epitopes of the p70 and p80 (Ku) lupus autoantigens.

High titer autoantibodies to the Ku Ag, a DNA-protein complex containing 70- and approximately 80-kDa protein subunits (p70 and p80, respectively), are found in sera of certain patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and related disorders. Autoepitopes of the Ku Ag were identified and partially characterized by expressing fragments of the p70 and p80 cDNA as fusion proteins in bacteria. Systemic lupus erythematosus sera reacted on immunoblots with at least three epitopes of p70 (amino acids 560-609, 506-535, and 115-467), and three epitopes of p80 (amino acids 682-732, 558-681, and 1-374). These six antigenic regions had distinct amino acid sequences, and were also immunologically distinct, as determined by using immunoaffinity-purified auto-antibodies to particular epitopes. Detailed mapping of the strongly antigenic region near the C terminus of p70 revealed a complex conformational or discontinuous epitope, the antigenicity of which was abolished by deleting either amino acids 560-571 or 601-609. The C terminus of p80 may also contain a discontinuous or conformational epitope(s). Although only some sera reacted with p70 or p80 on immunoblots, all sera that immunoprecipitated the native Ku complex reacted with native Ku by ELISA, and inhibited the binding of mAb directed at epitopes of native Ku. Taken together, these studies indicate that anti-Ku autoantibodies target a diversity of independent epitopes located on p70, p80, and the intact Ku complex, and that a significant portion of the autoantibodies in most patients' sera is directed against conformational/discontinuous epitopes.