Kinesins and protein kinases: key players in the regulation of microtubule dynamics and organization

Microtubule dynamics is controlled and amplified in vivo by complex sets of regulators. Among these regulatory proteins, molecular motors from the kinesin superfamily are taking an increasing importance. Here we review how microtubule disassembly or assembly into interphase microtubules, mitotic spindle or cilia may involve kinesins and how protein kinases may participate in these kinesin-dependent regulations.     

WEE1 inhibition and genomic instability in cancer

One of the hallmarks of cancer is genomic instability controlled by cell cycle checkpoints. The G₁ and G₂ checkpoints allow DNA damage responses, whereas the mitotic checkpoint enables correct seggregation of the sister chromosomes to prevent aneuploidy. Cancer cells often lack a functional G₁ arrest and rely on G₂ arrest for DNA damage responses. WEE1 kinase is an important regulator of the G₂ checkpoint and is overexpressed in various cancer types. Inhibition of WEE1 is a promising strategy in cancer therapy in combination with DNA-damaging agents, especially when cancer cells harbor p53 mutations, as it causes mitotic catastrophy when DNA is not repaired during G₂ arrest. Cancer cell response to WEE1 inhibition monotherapy has also been demonstrated in various types of cancer, including p53 wild-type cancers. We postulate that chromosomal instability can explain tumor response to WEE1 monotherapy. Therefore, chromosomal instability may need to be taken into account when determining the most effective strategy for the use of WEE1 inhibitors in cancer therapy.     

FHOD1 coordinates actin filament and microtubule alignment to mediate cell elongation

Diaphanous-related formins (DRFs) are actin nucleators that mediate rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton downstream of specific Rho GTPases. The DRF Formin Homology 2 Domain containing 1 (FHOD1) interacts with the Rac1 GTPase and induces the formation of and associates with bundled actin stress fibers. Here we report that active FHOD1 also coordinates microtubules with these actin stress fibers. Expression of a constitutive active FHOD1 variant in HeLa cells not only resulted in pronounced formation of FHOD1-actin fibers but also caused marked cell elongation and parallel alignment of microtubules without affecting cytokinesis of these cells. The analysis of deletions in the FH1 and FH2 functional regions revealed that the integrity of both domains was strictly required for FHOD1's effects on the cytoskeleton. Dominant-negative approaches demonstrated that filament coordination and cell elongation depended on the activity of the Rho-ROCK cascade, but did not involve Rac or Cdc42 activity. Experimental depolymerization of actin filaments or microtubules revealed that the formation of FHOD1-actin fibers was a prerequisite for the polarization of microtubules. However, only simultaneous disruption of both filament systems reversed the cell elongation induced by activated FHOD1. Thus, sustained cell elongation was a consequence of FHOD1-mediated actin-microtubule coordination. These results suggest filament coordination as a conserved function of mammalian DRFs.     

MACF1 regulates the migration of pyramidal neurons via microtubule dynamics and GSK-3 signaling

Neuronal migration and subsequent differentiation play critical roles for establishing functional neural circuitry in the developing brain. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate these processes are poorly understood. Here, we show that microtubule actin crosslinking factor 1 (MACF1) determines neuronal positioning by regulating microtubule dynamics and mediating GSK-3 signaling during brain development. First, using MACF1 floxed allele mice and in utero gene manipulation, we find that MACF1 deletion suppresses migration of cortical pyramidal neurons and results in aberrant neuronal positioning in the developing brain. The cell autonomous deficit in migration is associated with abnormal dynamics of leading processes and centrosomes. Furthermore, microtubule stability is severely damaged in neurons lacking MACF1, resulting in abnormal microtubule dynamics. Finally, MACF1 interacts with and mediates GSK-3 signaling in developing neurons. Our findings establish a cellular mechanism underlying neuronal migration and provide insights into the regulation of cytoskeleton dynamics in developing neurons.     

Detection of chromosomal instability in alpha-irradiated and bystander human fibroblasts

There is increasing evidence biological responses to ionizing radiation are not confined to those cells that are directly hit, but may be seen in the progeny at subsequent generations (genomic instability) and in non-irradiated neighbors of irradiated cells (bystander effects). These so called non-targeted phenomena would have significant contributions to radiation-induced carcinogenesis, especially at low doses where only a limited number of cells in a population are directed hit. Here we present data using a co-culturing protocol examining chromosomal instability in alpha-irradiated and bystander human fibroblasts BJ1-htert. At the first cell division following exposure to 0.1 and 1Gy alpha-particles, irradiated populations demonstrated a dose dependent increase in chromosome-type aberrations. At this time bystander BJ1-htert populations demonstrated elevated chromatid-type aberrations when compared to controls. Irradiated and bystander populations were also analyzed for chromosomal aberrations as a function of time post-irradiation. When considered over 25 doublings, all irradiated and bystander populations had significantly higher frequencies of chromatid aberrations when compared to controls (2-3-fold over controls) and were not dependent on dose. The results presented here support the link between the radiation-induced phenomena of genomic instability and the bystander effect.     

VMP1 related autophagy and apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells: VMP1 regulates cell death

Vacuole membrane protein 1 (VMP1) is an autophagy-related protein and identified as a key regulator of autophagy in recent years. In pancreatic cell lines, VMP1-dependent autophagy has been linked to positive regulation of apoptosis. However, there are no published reports on the role of VMP1 in autophagy and apoptosis in colorectal cancers. Therefore, to address this gap of knowledge, we decided to interrogate regulation of autophagy and apoptosis by VMP1. We have studied the induction of autophagy by starvation and rapamycin treatment in colorectal cell lines using electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, and immunoblotting. We found that starvation-induced autophagy correlated with an increase in VMP1 expression, that VMP1 interacted with BECLIN1, and that siRNA mediated down-regulation of VMP1-reduced autophagy. Next, we examined the relationship between VMP1-dependent autophagy and apoptosis and found that VMP1 down-regulation sensitizes cells to apoptosis and that agents that induce apoptosis down-regulate VMP1. In conclusion, similar to its reported role in other cell types, VMP1 is an important regulator of autophagy in colorectal cell lines. However, in contrast to its role in pancreatic cell lines, in colorectal cancer cells, VMP1-dependent autophagy appears to be pro-survival rather than pro-cell death.     

Still entangled: Assembly of the central spindle by multiple microtubule modulators

The central spindle is a microtubule-based structure that assembles during anaphase of mitosis in animal cells and is essential for multiple steps of cytokinesis. Central spindle assembly occurs by the cooperative action of multiple microtubule motors and modulators. Here, we review the mechanism by which the central spindle is formed, the role of several key proteins in this process and how central spindle assembly is temporally and spatially coordinated with mitosis.     

Centrosomal ALIX regulates mitotic spindle orientation by modulating astral microtubule dynamics

The orientation of the mitotic spindle (MS) is tightly regulated, but the molecular mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here we report a novel role for the multifunctional adaptor protein ALG‐2‐interacting protein X (ALIX) in regulating MS orientation in addition to its well‐established role in cytokinesis. We show that ALIX is recruited to the pericentriolar material (PCM) of the centrosomes and promotes correct orientation of the MS in asymmetrically dividing Drosophila stem cells and epithelial cells, and symmetrically dividing Drosophila and human epithelial cells. ALIX‐deprived cells display defective formation of astral microtubules (MTs), which results in abnormal MS orientation. Specifically, ALIX is recruited to the PCM via Drosophila Spindle defective 2 (DSpd‐2)/Cep192, where ALIX promotes accumulation of γ‐tubulin and thus facilitates efficient nucleation of astral MTs. In addition, ALIX promotes MT stability by recruiting microtubule‐associated protein 1S (MAP1S), which stabilizes newly formed MTs. Altogether, our results demonstrate a novel evolutionarily conserved role of ALIX in providing robustness to the orientation of the MS by promoting astral MT formation during asymmetric and symmetric cell division.     

Mid1ip1b modulates apical reorientation of non-centrosomal microtubule organizing center in epithelial cells

In most kinds of animal cells, the centrosome serves as the main microtubule organizing center (MTOC) that nucleates microtubule arrays throughout the cytoplasm to maintain cell structure, cell division and intracellular transport. Whereas in epithelial cells, non-centrosomal MTOCs are established in the apical domain for generating asymmetric microtubule fibers and cilia in epithelial cells for the organ morphogenesis during embryonic development. However, the mechanism by which MTOCs localize to the apical domain in epithelial cells remains largely unknown. Here, we show that Mid1ip1b has a close interaction with γ-tubulin protein, the central component of MTOC, and modulates lumen opening of the neural tube, gut, intestine, and kidney of zebrafish. Knockdown or dominant negative effect of Mid1ip1b resulted in failure of lumen formation of the organs as aforementioned. Moreover, the non-centrosomal MTOCs were unable to orientate to the apical domain in Mid1ip1b knockdown epithelial cells, and the centrosomal MTOCs were inaccurately placed in the apical domain, resulting in defective formation of asymmetric microtubules and misplacement of cilia in the apical domain. These data uncover a molecule that controls the proper localization of MTOCs in the apical domain in epithelial cells for organ morphogenesis during embryonic development.     

miR-214-mediated downregulation of RNF8 induces chromosomal instability in ovarian cancer cells

Defective DNA damage response (DDR) is frequently associated with carcinogenesis. Abrogation of DDR leads to chromosomal instability, a most common characteristic of tumors. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of DDR are still elusive. The ubiquitin ligase RNF8 mediates the ubiquitination of γH2AX and recruits 53BP1 and BRCA1 to DNA damage sites which promotes DDR and inhibits chromosomal instability. Though RNF8 is a key player involved in DDR, regulation of its expression is still poorly understood. Here, we show that miR-214 could abrogate DDR by repressing RNF8 expression through direct binding to 3′-untranslated region (3′ UTR) of RNF8 mRNA in human ovarian cancer cells. Antagonizing miR-214 by expressing its inhibitors in A2780 cells significantly increased RNF8 expression and thus promoted DNA damage repair. Consistent with the role of miR-214 in regulating RNF8 expression, the impaired DNA repair induced by miR-214 overexpression can be rescued by overexpressing RNF8 mRNA lacking the 3′ UTR. Together, our results indicate that down-regulation of RNF8 mediated by miR-214 impedes DNA damage response to induce chromosomal instability in ovarian cancers, which may facilitate the understanding of mechanisms underlying chromosomal instability.     

Mutation-selection networks of cancer initiation: tumor suppressor genes and chromosomal instability

In this paper, we derive analytic solutions of stochastic mutation-selection networks that describe early events of cancer formation. A main assumption is that cancer is initiated in tissue compartments, where only a relatively small number of cells are at risk of mutating into cells that escape from homeostatic regulation. In this case, the evolutionary dynamics can be approximated by a low-dimensional stochastic process with a linear Kolmogorov forward equation that can be solved analytically. Most of the time, the cell population is homogeneous with respect to relevant mutations. Occasionally, such homogeneous states are connected by 'stochastic tunnels'. We give a precise analysis of the existence of tunnels and calculate the rate of tunneling. Finally, we calculate the conditions for chromosomal instability (CIN) to precede inactivation of the first tumor suppressor gene. In this case, CIN is an early event and a driving force of cancer progression. The techniques developed in this paper can be used to study arbitrarily complex mutation-selection networks of the somatic evolution of cancer.     

A stochastic carcinogenesis model incorporating multiple types of genomic instability fitted to colon cancer data

A generalization of the two-mutation stochastic carcinogenesis model of Moolgavkar, Venzon and Knudson and certain models constructed by Little [Little, M.P. (1995). Are two mutations sufficient to cause cancer? Some generalizations of the two-mutation model of carcinogenesis of Moolgavkar, Venzon, and Knudson, and of the multistage model of Armitage and Doll. Biometrics 51, 1278-1291] and Little and Wright [Little, M.P., Wright, E.G. (2003). A stochastic carcinogenesis model incorporating genomic instability fitted to colon cancer data. Math. Biosci. 183, 111-134] is developed; the model incorporates multiple types of progressive genomic instability and an arbitrary number of mutational stages. The model is fitted to US Caucasian colon cancer incidence data. On the basis of the comparison of fits to the population-based data, there is little evidence to support the hypothesis that the model with more than one type of genomic instability fits better than models with a single type of genomic instability. Given the good fit of the model to this large dataset, it is unlikely that further information on presence of genomic instability or of types of genomic instability can be extracted from age-incidence data by extensions of this model.     

LncRNA OIP5-AS1 regulates radioresistance by targeting DYRK1A through miR-369-3p in colorectal cancer cells

Object

This study aimed to investigate the role of lncRNA OIP5-AS1 in regulating radioresistance of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells.

Association of MAD2 expression with mitotic checkpoint competence in hepatoma cells

Chromosomal instability (CIN) refers to high rates of chromosomal gains and losses and is a major cause of genomic instability of cells. It is thought that CIN caused by loss of mitotic checkpoint contributes to carcinogenesis. In this study, we evaluated the competence of mitotic checkpoint in hepatoma cells and investigated the cause of mitotic checkpoint defects. We found that 6 (54.5%) of the 11 hepatoma cell lines were defective in mitotic checkpoint control as monitored by mitotic indices and flow-cytometric analysis after treatment with microtubule toxins. Interestingly, all 6 hepatoma cell lines with defective mitotic checkpoint showed significant underexpression of mitotic arrest deficient 2 (MAD2), a key mitotic checkpoint protein. The level of MAD2 underexpression was significantly associated with defective mitotic checkpoint response (p<0.001). In addition, no mutations were found in the coding sequences of MAD2 in all 11 hepatoma cell lines. Our findings suggest that MAD2 deficiency may cause a mitotic checkpoint defect in hepatoma cells.     

Reduced expression of the BRCA1 gene and increased chromosomal instability in MCF-7 cell line.

Using clonal cell cultures, a significant increase in chromosomal aberrations (aneuplolidy, dicentrics and chromatid breaks) were observed in MCF-7 cells compared with HeLa. BRCA1 expression was lower in MCF-7 cells than in HeLa cells. Since BRCA1 is known to play a role in the maintenance of chromosomal integrity, the increase in chromosomal aberrations in MCF-7 clones suggests that downregulation of BRCA1 expression could be one of the possible mechanisms for increased chromosomal instability in this cell line.     

MAP1B regulates microtubule dynamics by sequestering EB1/3 in the cytosol of developing neuronal cells

MAP1B, a structural microtubule (MT)‐associated protein highly expressed in developing neurons, plays a key role in neurite and axon extension. However, not all molecular mechanisms by which MAP1B controls MT dynamics during these processes have been revealed. Here, we show that MAP1B interacts directly with EB1 and EB3 (EBs), two core ‘microtubule plus‐end tracking proteins’ (+TIPs), and sequesters them in the cytosol of developing neuronal cells. MAP1B overexpression reduces EBs binding to plus‐ends, whereas MAP1B downregulation increases binding of EBs to MTs. These alterations in EBs behaviour lead to changes in MT dynamics, in particular overstabilization and looping, in growth cones of MAP1B‐deficient neurons. This contributes to growth cone remodelling and a delay in axon outgrowth. Together, our findings define a new and crucial role of MAP1B as a direct regulator of EBs function and MT dynamics during neurite and axon extension. Our data provide a new layer of MT regulation: a classical MAP, which binds to the MT lattice and not to the end, controls effective concentration of core +TIPs thereby regulating MTs at their plus‐ends.     

直结肠癌BUBR1的过度表达与TP53突变及微卫星状态关系提示其过度表达与染色体不稳定表型有关

在有丝分裂过程中BUBR1监视微管与着丝点的结合,是保证染色体均等分离的重要分子机制之一.BUBIB变异家谱研究及其敲除模型的研究表明,BUBR1缺陷与染色体不稳定性及肿瘤的发生直接相关.近来在数种人类肿瘤,对BUBR1蛋白过度表达有所报道.但在直结肠癌,BUBR1的过度表达是否与染色体不稳定性的发生有关目前仍无定论.在人类结直肠癌的遗传不稳定性主要表现为两种类型,染色体不稳定性及微卫星不稳定性,它们提示了两条独立的肿瘤发生路径.一般认为不存在高频度微卫星不稳定性表型的肿瘤通过染色体不稳定途径癌变.P53蛋白通过多种机制对维护遗传稳定性起到重要的作用,TP53基因突变经常与染色体不稳定现象并存.DNA倍体情况也是染色体不稳定研究不可缺少的指标.本研究采用免疫组织化学法检测了一组93例进展期散发结直肠癌BUBR1蛋白的表达情况,直接测序法检测TP53变异.高分辨率荧光标记微卫星不稳定检测技术检测微卫星状态,固相激光扫描细胞仪技术检测DNA倍体情况.我们分析了BUBR1表达与三种反映遗传背景的因子的关系.BUBR1蛋白过度表达在人结直肠癌较为常见.在非高频度微卫星不稳定的结直肠癌,BUBR1蛋白过度表达率明显为高(P＜0.01),在TP53基因突变的病例其过度表达率亦较高(P＜0.05).BUBR1蛋白的过度表达与DNA异倍体无统计学相关,但DNA异倍体病例的BuBRl过度表达有偏高倾向.BuBRl表达情况与常用的临床病理学指标无统计学相关.BuBRl过度表达同微卫星状态及TP53突变的关系明确的提示,在人类散发结直肠癌,BUBR1蛋白过度表达与染色体不稳定状态有关.BUBR1过度表达作为一种常见的分子异常,对于肿瘤的早诊预防提供新的标志物.并可能成为治疗的新靶点.     

CXC chemokine ligand 12/Stromal cell-derived factor-1 regulates cell adhesion in human colon cancer cells by induction of intercellular adhesion molecule-1

Background

Gene therapy and viral therapy are used for cancer therapy for many years, but the results are less than satisfactory. Our aim was to construct a new recombinant adenovirus which is more efficient to kill hepatocarcinoma cells but more safe to normal cells.

Methods

By using the Cancer Targeting Gene-Viro-Therapy strategy, Apoptin, a promising cancer therapeutic gene was inserted into the double-regulated oncolytic adenovirus AD55 in which E1A gene was driven by alpha fetoprotein promoter along with a 55 kDa deletion in E1B gene to form AD55-Apoptin. The anti-tumor effects and safety were examined by western blotting, virus yield assay, real time polymerase chain reaction, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, Hoechst33342 staining, Fluorescence-activated cell sorting, xenograft tumor model, Immunohistochemical assay, liver function analysis and Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP Nick End Labeling assay.

Results

The recombinant virus AD55-Apoptin has more significant antitumor effect for hepatocelluar carcinoma cell lines (in vitro) than that of AD55 and even ONYX-015 but no or little impair on normal cell lines. Furthermore, it also shows an obvious in vivo antitumor effect on the Huh-7 liver carcinoma xenograft in nude mice with bigger beginning tumor volume till about 425 mm3 but has no any damage on the function of liver. The induction of apoptosis is involved in AD55-Apoptin induced antitumor effects.

Conclusion

The AD55-Apoptin can be a potential anti-hepatoma agent with remarkable antitumor efficacy as well as higher safety in cancer targeting gene-viro-therapy system.