D-type cyclin-dependent kinase activity in mammalian cells.

D-type cyclin-dependent kinase activities have not so far been detected in mammalian cells. Lysis of rodent fibroblasts, mouse macrophages, or myeloid cells with Tween 20 followed by precipitation with antibodies to cyclins D1, D2, and D3 or to their major catalytic partner, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (cdk4), yielded kinase activities in immune complexes which readily phosphorylated the retinoblastoma protein (pRb) but not histone H1 or casein. Virtually all cyclin D1-dependent kinase activity in proliferating macrophages and fibroblasts could be attributed to cdk4. When quiescent cells were stimulated by growth factors to enter the cell cycle, cyclin D1-dependent kinase activity was first detected in mid G1, reached a maximum near the G1/S transition, and remained elevated in proliferating cells. The rate of appearance of kinase activity during G1 phase lagged significantly behind cyclin induction and correlated with the more delayed accumulation of cdk4 and formation of cyclin D1-cdk4 complexes. Thus, cyclin D1-associated kinase activity was not detected during the G0-to-G1 transition, which occurs within the first few hours following growth factor stimulation. Rodent fibroblasts engineered to constitutively overexpress either cyclin D1 alone or cyclin D3 together with cdk4 exhibited greatly elevated cyclin D-dependent kinase activity, which remained absent in quiescent cells but rose to supraphysiologic levels as cells progressed through G1. Therefore, despite continued enforced overproduction of cyclins and cdk4, the assembly of cyclin D-cdk4 complexes and the appearance of their kinase activities remained dependent upon serum stimulation, indicating that upstream regulators must govern formation of the active enzymes.     

Cyclin D1 is dispensable for G1 control in retinoblastoma gene-deficient cells independently of cdk4 activity.

To elucidate the regulator-versus-target relationship in the cyclin D1/cdk4/retinoblastoma protein (pRB) pathway, we examined fibroblasts from RB-1 gene-deficient and RB-1 wild-type littermate mouse embryos (ME) and in human tumor cell lines that differed in the status of the RB-1 gene. The RB+/+ and RB-/- ME fibroblasts expressed similar protein levels of D-type cyclins, cdk4, and cdk6, showed analogous spectra and abundance of cellular proteins complexed with cdk4 and/or cyclins D1 and D2, and exhibited comparable associated kinase activities. Of the two human cell lines established from the same sarcoma biopsy, the RB-positive SKUT1B cells contained cdk4 that was mainly associated with D-type cyclins, contrary to a predominant cdk4-p16INK4 complex in the RB-deficient SKUT1A cells. Antibody-mediated neutralization of cyclin D1 arrested the RB-positive ME and SKUT1B cells in G1, whereas this cyclin appeared dispensable in the RB-deficient ME and SKUT1A cells. Lack of requirement for cyclin D1 therefore correlated with absence of functional pRB, regardless of whether active cyclin D1/cdk4 holoenzyme was present in the cells under study. Consistent with a potential role of cyclin D/cdk4 in phosphorylation of pRB, monoclonal anti-cyclin D1 antibodies supporting the associated kinase activity failed to significantly affect proliferation of RB-positive cells, whereas the antibody DCS-6, unable to coprecipitate cdk4, efficiently inhibited G1 progression and prevented pRB phosphorylation in vivo. These data provide evidence for an upstream control function of cyclin D1/cdk4, and a downstream role for pRB, in the order of events regulating transition through late G1 phase of the mammalian cell division cycle.     

Effects of Cyclic AMP on Components of the Cell Cycle Machinery Regulating DNA Synthesis in Cultured Astrocytes

Cyclic AMP is a second messenger for various hormones that inhibits cell multiplication and DNA synthesis in cultured astrocytes. We examined the effects of increasing intracellular cyclic AMP on the catalytic (cdks) and regulatory (cyclins and ckis) components of cyclin-dependent protein kinases, which regulate progression of the cell cycle before completion of DNA synthesis, in primary cultured astrocytes and in an astrocytic cell line C.LT.T.1.1. The amount of cdk4 changed little during the cell cycle and was not affected by cyclic AMP. There was little cdk1 and cdk2 in quiescent cells, and their expression increased during the G1-S phases. Cyclic AMP strongly inhibited cdk1 and cdk2 expression. Transforming growth factor beta also inhibited cdk1 expression in primary astrocytes. Cyclic AMP did not affect the two ckis p27KIP1 and p21CIP1. There was little cyclin D1 in quiescent cells, but it increased during the G1 phase and was reduced by cyclic AMP. Cyclin E increased during the G1-S phases and was not affected by cyclic AMP in primary astrocytes. The amount of cyclin A was low in quiescent cells and increased during the G1-S phases. Expression of its mRNA and protein was inhibited by cyclic AMP. The protein kinase activities associated with complexes of cyclins and cdks were increased by growth factors and prevented by cyclic AMP. We conclude that cyclic AMP inhibits progression of the cell cycle in astrocytes at least by preventing the expression of the regulatory subunits, cyclins D1 and A, and catalytic subunits, cdk1 and cdk2, of cyclin-regulated protein kinases. Key Words: Cyclin-dependent protein kinases-Glial cells-Cyclic AMP.     

Acceleration of the G1/S phase transition by expression of cyclins D1 and E with an inducible system.

Conditional overexpression of human cyclins B1, D1, and E was accomplished by using a synthetic cDNA expression system based on the Escherichia coli tetracycline repressor. After induction of these cyclins in asynchronous Rat-1 fibroblasts, a decrease in the length of the G1 interval was observed for cyclins D1 and E, consistent with an acceleration of the G1/S phase transition. We observed, in addition, a compensatory lengthening of S phase and G2 so that the mean cell cycle length in populations constitutively expressing these cyclins was unchanged relative to those of their uninduced counterparts. We found that expression of cyclin B1 had no effect on cell cycle dynamics, despite elevated levels of cyclin B-associated histone H1 kinase activity. Induction of cyclins D1 and E also accelerated entry into S phase for synchronized cultures emerging from quiescence. However, whereas cyclin E exerted a greater effect than cyclin D1 in asynchronous cycling cells, cyclin D1 conferred a greater effect upon stimulation from quiescence, suggesting a specific role for cyclin D1 in the G0-to-G1 transition. Overexpression of cyclins did not prevent cells from entering into quiescence upon serum starvation, although a slight delay in attainment of quiescence was observed for cells expressing either cyclin D1 or cyclin E. These results suggest that cyclins D1 and E are rate-limiting activators of the G1-to-S phase transition and that cyclin D1 might play a specialized role in facilitating emergence from quiescence.     

Integrin Signaling at the M/G1 Transition Induces Expression of Cyclin E

The activities of the mammalian G1 cyclins, cyclin D and cyclin E, during cell cycle progression (G1/S) are believed to be regulated by cell attachment and the presence of growth factors. In order to study the importance of cell attachment and concomitant integrin signaling on the expression of G1 cyclins during the natural adhesion process from mitosis to interphase, protein expression was monitored in cells that were synchronized by mitotic shake off. Here we show that in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and neuroblastoma (N2A) cells, expression of cyclin E at the M/G1 transition is regulated by both growth factors and cell attachment, while expression of cyclin D seems to be entirely dependent on the presence of serum. Expression of cyclin E appears to be correlated with the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein, suggesting a link with the activity of the cyclin D/cdk4 complex. Expression of the cdk inhibitors p21^cip1/Waf1 and p27^Kip1 is not changed upon serum depletion or detachment of cells during early G1, suggesting no direct role for these CKIs in the regulation of cyclin activity. Although inhibition of cyclin E/cdk2 kinase activity has been reported previously, this is the first time that cyclin E expression is shown to be dependent on cell attachment.     

Ectopic expression of cyclin D1 but not cyclin E induces anchorage-independent cell cycle progression.

Normal fibroblasts are dependent on adhesion to a substrate for cell cycle progression. Adhesion-deprived Rat1 cells arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, with low cyclin E-dependent kinase activity, low levels of cyclin D1 protein, and high levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27kip1. To understand the signal transduction pathway underlying adhesion-dependent growth, it is important to know whether prevention of any one of these down-regulation events under conditions of adhesion deprivation is sufficient to prevent the G1 arrest. To that end, sublines of Rat1 fibroblasts capable of expressing cyclin E, cyclin D1, or both in an inducible manner were used. Ectopic expression of cyclin D1 was sufficient to allow cells to enter S phase in an adhesion-independent manner. In contrast, cells expressing exogenous cyclin E at a level high enough to overcome the p27kip1-imposed inhibition of cyclin E-dependent kinase activity still arrested in G1 when deprived of adhesion. Moreover, expression of both cyclins D1 and E in the same cells did not confer any additional growth advantage upon adhesion deprivation compared to the expression of cyclin D1 alone. Exogenously expressed cyclin D1 was down-regulated under conditions of adhesion deprivation, despite the fact that it was expressed from a heterologous promoter. The ability of cyclin D1-induced cells to enter S phase in an adhesion-independent manner disappears as soon as cyclin D1 proteins disappear. These results suggest that adhesion-dependent cell cycle progression is mediated through cyclin D1, at least in Rat1 fibroblasts.     

Cyclin D1 production in cycling cells depends on ras in a cell-cycle-specific manner.

BACKGROUND: Cellular Ras and cyclin D1 are required at similar times of the cell cycle in quiescent NIH3T3 cells that have been induced to proliferate, but not in the case of cycling NIH3T3 cells. In asynchronous cultures, Ras activity has been found to be required only during G2 phase to promote passage through the entire upcoming cell cycle, whereas cyclin D1 is required through G1 phase until DNA synthesis begins. To explain these results in molecular terms, we propose a model whereby continuous cell cycle progression in NIH3T3 cells requires cellular Ras activity to promote the synthesis of cyclin D1 during G2 phase. Cyclin D1 expression then continues through G1 phase independently of Ras activity, and drives the G1-S phase transition. RESULTS: We found high levels of cyclin D1 expression during the G2, M and G1 phases of the cell cycle in cycling NIH3T3 cells, using quantitative fluorescent antibody measurements of individual cells. By microinjecting anti-Ras antibody, we found that the induction of cyclin D1 expression beginning in G2 phase was dependent on Ras activity. Consistent with our model, cyclin D1 expression during G1 phase was particularly stable following neutralization of cellular Ras. Finally, ectopic expression of cyclin D1 largely overcame the requirement for cellular Ras activity during the continuous proliferation of cycling NIH3T3 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Ras-dependent induction of cyclin D1 expression beginning in G2 phase is critical for continuous cell cycle progression in NIH3T3 cells.     

Unscheduled expression of cyclins D1 and D3 in human tumour cell lines

D-type cyclins are involved in regulation of cell traverse through G₁ primarily by activating the cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and targeting it to the retinoblastoma tumour suppressor protein. There is a vast body of evidence that defective expression of D-type cyclins is associated with tumour development and/or progression. Immunocytochemical detection of D cyclins combined with multiparameter flow cytometry makes it possible to measure the expression of these proteins in individual cells in relation to their cell cycle position without the need for cell synchronization. This approach was used in the present study to compare the cell cycle phase specific expression of cyclins D3 and D1 in human normal proliferating lymphocytes and fibroblasts, respectively, with nine tumour cell lines of different lineage. During exponential, unperturbed growth, expression of cyclin D1 in fibroblasts from donors of different age, or cyclin D3 in lymphocytes, was limited to mid-G₁ cells: Less than 7% of the cells entering S phase or progressing through S and G₂ were cyclin D positive. In contrast, expression of either cyclin D1 or cyclin D3 in tumour cell lines of different lineage was not limited to G₁ phase. Namely, over 80% of the cells in S and G₂+M were cyclin D positive in eight of the nine cell lines studied. The data indicate that while expression of cyclin D1 or D3 in normal cells is discontinuous, occurring transiently in G₁, these proteins are expressed in some tumour lines persistently throughout the cell cycle. This suggests that the partner kinase CDK4 is perpetually active throughout the cell cycle in these tumour lines.     

Expression of cyclins and cdks throughout murine carcinogenesis.

The overexpression and/or amplification of cell cycle regulating genes is an important factor in the progression of cancer. Recent attention has been focused on several cyclin and cdks genes whose expression were increased in many types of tumor. In this study, we investigated the expression kinetics of cyclins A, B, D1, E and cdks 1, 2, 4, 6 by RT-PCR coupled with densitometry and correlated to the growth fraction (percentage of S cells). This analysis was performed using an experimental murine leukemic model, generated by in vivo administration of murine clonogenic cells Wehi-3b injected into balb-c mice. Differential expression of cyclins and cdks was observed between normal and tumoral cells with different patterns of expression between G1 and G2M cyclins-cdks. G1 cyclins cdks expression was significantly increased in tumor cells when compared to normal cells. In the same manner, G2M cyclins cdks expression was only observed in tumor cells at a lower level than for G1 cyclins cdks, but not detected in normal cells. These differences correlated with the growth fraction for both the G1 cyclins cdks (r = 0.91, 0.94, 0.85, 0.90 and 0.96 for cyclin D1, cyclin E, cdk2, cdk4 and cdk6, respectively) and the G2M cyclins cdks (r = 0.96, 0.97 and 0.93 for cyclins A, B and cdkl respectively). Analysis of cyclins cdks expression kinetics during tumoral progression shows that cyclins A, B and cdkl were expressed from the 12th day on of disease, increased until the death of the animals and correlated with the growth fraction (r = 0.94, 0.95 and 0.97 for cyclins A, B and cdk1 respectively) (n = 20). Overexpression of other cyclins cdks were observed, from the 6th day on for cyclin D1, the 12th day for cdk2 and cdk4, the 15th day for cdk6 and the 20th day for cyclin E. These increases persisted during tumoral progression and correlated with the growth fraction (r = 0.85, 0.94, 0.93, 0.96, and 0.98 for cyclin D1, cyclin E, cdk2, cdk4 and cdk6, respectively) (n = 20). Our results demonstrated that G1 and G2-M cyclins cdks mRNA levels were increased at approximately the same time of maximal tumor growth. Only cyclin D1 overexpression occured at the initiation of tumoral development, and could therefore be considered as an early marker of cell proliferation.     

Activation of cyclin-dependent kinases by Myc mediates induction of cyclin A, but not apoptosis.

The activation of conditional alleles of Myc induces both cell proliferation and apoptosis in serum-deprived RAT1 fibroblasts. Entry into S phase and apoptosis are both preceded by increased levels of cyclin E- and cyclin D1-dependent kinase activities. To assess which, if any, cellular responses to Myc depend on active cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks), we have microinjected expression plasmids encoding the cdk inhibitors p16, p21 or p27, and have used a specific inhibitor of cdk2, roscovitine. Expression of cyclin A, which starts late in G1 phase, served as a marker for cell cycle progression. Our data show that active G1 cyclin/cdk complexes are both necessary and sufficient for induction of cyclin A by Myc. In contrast, neither microinjection of cdk inhibitors nor chemical inhibition of cdk2 affected the ability of Myc to induce apoptosis in serum-starved cells. Further, in isoleucine-deprived cells, Myc induces apoptosis without altering cdk activity. We conclude that Myc acts upstream of cdks in stimulating cell proliferation and also that activation of cdks and induction of apoptosis are largely independent events that occur in response to induction of Myc.     

Overexpression of cdk4/cyclin D1 induces apoptosis in PC12 cells in the presence of trophic support.

The induction of apoptosis by cell cycle regulator molecules under conditions optimal for exponential growth was examined in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells by overexpression of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks). By flow cytometry and by immunofluorescence, only cells overexpressing cdk4 or cyclin D1 underwent apoptosis, which was not associated with G1-arrest. Cdk4 kinase activity was significantly higher in cdk4-, or cyclin D1-expressing cells. Furthermore, induction of apoptosis by cdk4 was abrogated by co-transfection of p16(INK4), or dominant negative cdk4. These results suggest that upregulation of cdk4 kinase activity is a primary and critical mediator of apoptosis in PC12 cells under physiological conditions.     

Transforming activity of Fbxo7 is mediated specifically through regulation of cyclin D/cdk6

D cyclins (D1, D2 and D3) and their catalytic subunits (cyclin-dependent kinases cdk4 and cdk6) have a facilitating, but nonessential, role in cell cycle entry. Tissue-specific functions for D-type cyclins and cdks have been reported; however, the biochemical properties of these kinases are indistinguishable. We report that an F box protein, Fbxo7, interacted with cellular and viral D cyclins and distinguished among the cdks that bind D-type cyclins, specifically binding cdk6, in vitro and in vivo. Fbxo7 specifically regulated D cyclin/cdk6 complexes: Fbxo7 knockdown decreased cdk6 association with cyclin and its overexpression increased D cyclin/cdk6 activity and E2F activity. Fbxo7 interacted with p27, but its enhancement of cyclin D/cdk6 activity was p21/p27 independent. Fbxo7 overexpression transformed murine fibroblasts, rendering them tumorigenic in athymic nude mice. Transformed phenotypes were dependent on cdk6, as knockdown of cdk6 reversed them. Fbxo7 was highly expressed in epithelial tumors, but not in normal tissues, suggesting that it may have a proto-oncogenic role in human cancers.     

Cyclin D3 is dispensable for human diffuse large B-cell lymphoma survival and growth: evidence for redundancy with cyclin E

Genomic changes disrupting the expression of cyclin D3 are associated with aberrant growth of several human B-lymphoid malignancies. We demonstrate that the human diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), OCI-LY18 (LY18) expresses cyclin D3 but not cyclins D1 and D2. RNA interference was used to deplete cyclin D3 from LY18 cells. Surprisingly, knockdown of cyclin D3 did not inhibit pRb phosphorylation on cdk4/6- and cdk2-specific residues or measurably affect viability and proliferation. These results suggest that cyclin D3 is dispensable in LY18 cell proliferation and survival. Similar results were obtained following depletion of cyclin E. By contrast, combined knockdown of cyclins D3 and E had substantial consequences leading to G1-phase arrest and inhibition of proliferation. Whereas cell cycle distribution was not affected following individual depletion of cdk4, cdk6, or cdk2, the combined knockdown of cdk4 and cdk6 led to accumulation of LY18 cells in G1-phase of the cell cycle and inhibition of proliferation. Likewise treatment of LY18 cells with 2-Bromo-12,13-dihydro-5H-indolo[2,3-a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazole-5,7(6H)-dione, a selective inhibitor of cdk4/6, led to inhibition of proliferation. Taken together, these results uncover a built-in redundancy with cyclins D3 and E for G1-S progression. Moreover these findings highlight the rationale for simultaneous disruption of cdk4/6 as a potential therapeutic cancer strategy.     

Regulation of cyclin D-dependent kinase 4 (cdk4) by cdk4-activating kinase.

The accumulation of assembled holoenzymes composed of regulatory D-type cyclins and their catalytic partner, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (cdk4), is rate limiting for progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle in mammalian fibroblasts. Both the synthesis and assembly of D-type cyclins and cdk4 depend upon serum stimulation, but even when both subunits are ectopically overproduced, they do not assemble into complexes in serum-deprived cells. When coexpressed from baculoviral vectors in intact Sf9 insect cells, cdk4 assembles with D-type cyclins to form active protein kinases. In contrast, recombinant D-type cyclin and cdk4 subunits produced in insect cells or in bacteria do not assemble as efficiently into functional holoenzymes when combined in vitro but can be activated in the presence of lysates obtained from proliferating mammalian cells. Assembly of cyclin D-cdk4 complexes in coinfected Sf9 cells facilitates phosphorylation of cdk4 on threonine 172 by a cdk-activating kinase (CAK). Assembly can proceed in the absence of this modification, but cdk4 mutants which cannot be phosphorylated by CAK remain catalytically inactive. Therefore, formation of the cyclin D-cdk4 complex and phosphorylation of the bound catalytic subunit are independently regulated, and in addition to the requirement for CAK activity, serum stimulation is required to promote assembly of the complexes in mammalian cells.     

The cyclin encoded by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus stimulates cdk6 to phosphorylate the retinoblastoma protein and histone H1.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV or human herpesvirus 8) is a novel gammaherpesvirus implicated in the cause of Kaposi's sarcoma and certain malignancies of lymphatic origin. One of the candidate genes possibly involved in promoting tumor development is an open reading frame (ORF) with sequence similarity to human type D cyclin genes. This cyclin-like gene, when expressed in tissue culture cells, promotes phosphorylation and inactivation of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein and thereby may result in deregulation of cell division control. We report here the biochemical characterization of this cyclin (KSHV-cyc) and the kinase activity that it elicits upon expression in tissue culture cells. We demonstrate that the kinase activity associated with KSHV-cyc is sensitive to the cdk inhibitor p27 (KIP) and due to activation of cdk6. However, in contrast to cdk6 activated by cellular type D cyclins, the cdk6 activated by KSHV-cyc is capable of phosphorylating not only the retinoblastoma protein but also histone H1. This finding implies that activation by KSHV-cyc alters the substrate preference of this cdk. This may have important physiological consequences in that the kinase activity triggered by this viral cyclin may abrogate cell cycle checkpoints in addition to those targeted by cellular cyclin D-cdk6 kinase.