Novel Ubiquitinated Proteins Downstream of the Fanconi Anemia Core Complex

Abstract The Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway is a major player in the control of DNA replication integrity in response to replication stress. Germline defect in the pathway results in the FA syndrome characterized by developmental abnormalities, bone marrow (BM) failure, and genome instability which greatly elevates the incidence of cancers. A pivotal step in the activation of the FA DNA repair pathway is the monoubiquitination of the FANCD2 and FANCI proteins (ID2) by the FA core complex, a unique ubiquitin ligase complex which includes eight proteins (FANCA-FANCG, FANCL, and FAAP100) and UBE2T/FANCT. This monoubiquitination event enables the recruitment of the ID2 complex to chromatin and nuclear foci at sites of DNA damage. Cells with mutations in any of the FA core complex proteins lack the ability to monoubiquitinated ID2, making ID2 ubiquitination a convergence point in the pathway, with an estimation of>90% FA patients defective in this step. Additionally, somatic mutations In FA genes render tumor cells sensitive to DNA crosslinking agents, so identification of FA pathway defects provides an opportunity for therapeutic targeting. In search for additional potential target/substrate of this unique FA core ubiquitin ligase complex, we performed a high throughput genome-wide ubiquitin-specific proteomics (UbiScan) screen and found, in addition to the ID2 complex, many ubiquitinated proteins are dysregulated (mostly downregulated) in FA deficient cells compared with that of FA proficient cells. We used a Ubiquitin Remnant Motif (K- ∑-GG) Antibody Bead Conjugate (Cell Signaling Technology), a proprietary ubiquitin branch ("K- ∑-GG") antibody with specificity for a di-glycine tag that is the remnant of ubiquitin left on protein substrates after trypsin digestion, to enrich ubiquitinated peptides from trypsin digested cell samples (shNT vs shFANCA). This enrichment is followed by LC-MS/MS analysis for quantitative profiles of hundreds to over a thousand nonredundant ubiquitinated sequences. We were successful in demonstrating that under steady-state conditions (without proteasome inhibitor treatment), the ubiquitinated forms of both FANCD2 and FANCI proteins are much higher in control (shNT) HeLa cells compared with that of the cells depleted of FANCA (shFANCA). We then collaborated with the Cell signaling technology to perform a high throughput UbiScan® analysis of total ubiquitinated proteins both in total nuclei and chromatin fractions under replicative stress conditions. UbiScan® enables researchers to isolate, identify and quantitate large numbers of ubiquitin-modified cellular peptides with a high degree of specificity and sensitivity, providing a global overview of the ubiquitination sites in cellular proteins in cell and tissue samples without preconceived biases about where these modified sites occur. A total of 16,249 redundant modified peptide assignments to 7,856 modified sites for the Ubiquitin K-GG Remnant Motif Antibody were obtained. As expected, the amount of monoubiquitinated FANCD2 (at K651) and FANCI (at K523) were highly reduced in both the nuclear and chromatin fractions of Hela cells depleted of FANCA (shA). Consistent with the earlier findings, the amount of ubiquitinated ID2 proteins were extremely low in the chromatin fraction of the Hela cells depleted of FANCA. Since there are numerous ubiquitinated proteins found to be dysregulated in our UbiScan analyses, we used the following criteria to select the target proteins based on; a) -fold changes, and b) proteins that are known to participate in the DNA repair signaling pathways. We validated our UbiScan results by using an assay system to detect endogenous protein ubiquitination. We also found a significant reduction in the ubiquitination of several DNA repair-related proteins (found in our UbiScan analysis) in FANCA deficient cells. To assess FA pathway functions, we generated HAP1 and appropriate cells knock out of these select ubiquitinated target proteins by using CRISPR-Cas9 system. Then, the KO cells were examined for FA pathway functions. These results will be discussed. In conclusion, our findings reveal that the FA core ubiquitin ligase complex regulates (directly or indirectly) the ubiquitinated levels of many novel proteins outside of the ID2 complex, and these novel target proteins may provide important additional mechanistic insights into the FA DNA repair pathway. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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A High-Throughput Screening Strategy to Identify Protein-Protein Interaction Inhibitors That Block the Fanconi Anemia DNA Repair Pathway

CrossRef Listing of Deleted DOIs ◽

10.1177/1087057116635503 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 626-633 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Andrew F. Voter ◽

Kelly A. Manthei ◽

James L. Keck

Keyword(s):

Dna Repair ◽

High Throughput ◽

Fanconi Anemia ◽

Fluorescence Polarization ◽

High Throughput Screening ◽

Titration Calorimetry ◽

Common Mechanism ◽

Physical Interaction ◽

Repair Pathway ◽

Dna Crosslinking

Induction of the Fanconi anemia (FA) DNA repair pathway is a common mechanism by which tumors evolve resistance to DNA crosslinking chemotherapies. Proper execution of the FA pathway requires interaction between the FA complementation group M protein (FANCM) and the RecQ-mediated genome instability protein (RMI) complex, and mutations that disrupt FANCM/RMI interactions sensitize cells to DNA crosslinking agents. Inhibitors that block FANCM/RMI complex formation could be useful therapeutics for resensitizing tumors that have acquired chemotherapeutic resistance. To identify such inhibitors, we have developed and validated high-throughput fluorescence polarization and proximity assays that are sensitive to inhibitors that disrupt interactions between the RMI complex and its binding site on FANCM (a peptide referred to as MM2). A pilot screen of 74,807 small molecules was performed using the fluorescence polarization assay. Hits from the primary screen were further tested using the proximity assay, and an orthogonal proximity assay was used to assess inhibitor selectivity. Direct physical interaction between the RMI complex and the most selective inhibitor identified through the screening process was measured by surface plasmon resonance and isothermal titration calorimetry. Observation of direct binding by this small molecule validates the screening protocol.

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Selected Resistance to Topoisomerase II Inhibitors Correlates with the Over Expression of FANCF In a Fanconi Anemia/BRCA DNA Repair Pathway Independent Manner.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v116.21.3372.3372 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 116 (21) ◽

pp. 3372-3372

Author(s):

Kenneth H. Shain ◽

Liang Nong ◽

Danielle Yarde ◽

Vasco Oliveira ◽

William S. Dalton

Keyword(s):

Dna Repair ◽

Mrna Expression ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Fanconi Anemia ◽

Repair Pathway ◽

Core Complex ◽

Doxorubicin Resistance ◽

Over Expression ◽

The Core ◽

Enhanced Expression

Abstract Abstract 3372 Enhanced expression of the Fanconi Anemia (FA)/BRCA DNA repair pathway correlates with melphalan-resistance in multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines. Continued investigation demonstrated a bortezomib sensitive RelB/p50-mediated regulation of the FA/BRCA pathway contributed to the observed melphalan resistance.(Yarde et al 2009) The FA/BRCA pathway represents a co-dependent DNA damage response pathway involving thirteen loss of function complementation groups cloned from FA patients. The key functional event of this pathway is the interdependent mono-ubiquitination (Ub) of FANCD2 and FANCI (ID complex) by the E3 Ub-ligase activity of the FA core complex a multimer consisting of 8 FA (FANCA, B, C, E, F, G, L and M) and three non-FA proteins (FAAP100, FAAP24 and HES1). Formation of the core complex and mono-Ub of the ID complex appears to revolve around the flexible adapter protein FANCF. Nuclear localization of the core complex components requires binding of FANCA/G and FANCC/E subcomplexes to the C- terminal domain (CTD) and NTD domains of FANCF, respectively. This complex associates with FANCM:FAAP24 at sites of interstand crosslinks (ICL) via the FANCM-binding domain of FANCF, culminating in ID complex mono-Ub, recruitment of BRCA1, BRCA2/FANCD1, FANCJ and FANCN, and homologous recombination (HR) repair. Reduced function of this pathway has been associated with increased genomic instability, cancer susceptibility, and increased sensitivity to DNA cross-linking agents in FA. However, as predicted by the role of the FA/BRCA pathway in DNA repair, enhanced expression of the FA/BRCA pathway has been shown to play an important role in resistance to agents requiring HR for ICL repair. We next examined expression of this pathway in models of resistance to DNA damaging agents not predicted to utilize FA/BRCA activity. We screened 8226/Dox40 doxorubicin resistant and 8226/MR20 mitoxantrone resistant MM cell lines for expression of the 12 FA/BRCA pathway members with quantitative PCR (qPCR) using customized micro-fluidic cards. Interestingly, in these models of topoisomerase (topo) II inhibitor resistance qPCR demonstrated a 2.6 (p<0.05) and 1.7 (p<0.05) fold over expression of FANCF mRNA relative to drug sensitive RPMI8226 cells. Importantly, mRNA expression of other the eleven FA/BRCA pathway constituents was not increased relative to sensitive cells. To further characterize the relationship between FANCF and doxorubicin resistance, we examined mRNA and protein expression of FANCF in RMPI8226, 8226/Dox6 and 8226/Dox40 MM cell lines (representing progressive levels of doxorubicin resistance). FANCF qPCR demonstrated a 2 and 4.7 fold increased in mRNA expression in the 8226/Dox6 and 8226/Dox40 cell lines, respectively (p= 0.103 and p= 0.034) suggesting that increasing expression of FANCF correlated with increasing dox resistance. A similar doxorubicin resistance- dependent increase in FANCF protein was demonstrated by Western blot analysis of these cell lines. Consistent with mRNA results, FANCD2 or FANCG protein levels remained unchanged in the doxorubicin resistant versus sensitive cell lines These observations suggest that FANCF may contribute to topoII inhibitor-mediated DNA double strand break repair, a process that primarily thought to involve non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) independent of the FA/BRCA pathway. To determine if FANCF expression alone could facilitate doxorubicin resistance, pQCXIP-control or pQCXIP-FANCF constructs were expressed in RPMI8226 sensitive MM cells. MTT assays demonstrated a greater than 2 fold resistance to doxorubicin in FANCF over expressing cells at 48 and 96 hours (IC50: 1.33 ×10−6 and 5.3×10−9M) as compared to control cells (3.26×10−6 and 1.13×10−8M). Taken together, these results indicate that the flexible adaptor protein FANCF may participate in doxorubicin resistance independently of other FA/BRCA members. However, future studies will be needed to elucidate the nature of FANCF in doxorubicin resistance. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Fanconi Anemia DNA Repair Pathway as a New Mechanism to Exploit Cancer Drug Resistance

Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1389557520666200103114556 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (9) ◽

pp. 779-787

Author(s):

Kajal Ghosal ◽

Christian Agatemor ◽

Richard I. Han ◽

Amy T. Ku ◽

Sabu Thomas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Resistance ◽

Dna Repair ◽

Fanconi Anemia ◽

Cancer Drug ◽

Drug Resistant ◽

Cancer Drugs ◽

Repair Pathway ◽

Cancer Drug Resistance ◽

Anti Cancer ◽

Cancerous Cells

Chemotherapy employs anti-cancer drugs to stop the growth of cancerous cells, but one common obstacle to the success is the development of chemoresistance, which leads to failure of the previously effective anti-cancer drugs. Resistance arises from different mechanistic pathways, and in this critical review, we focus on the Fanconi Anemia (FA) pathway in chemoresistance. This pathway has yet to be intensively researched by mainstream cancer researchers. This review aims to inspire a new thrust toward the contribution of the FA pathway to drug resistance in cancer. We believe an indepth understanding of this pathway will open new frontiers to effectively treat drug-resistant cancer.

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Immunotherapy in combination with PARP inhibition in advanced cervical cancer patients functionally competent or deficient for the Fanconi anemia repair pathway.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.tps5597 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. TPS5597-TPS5597

Author(s):

John Paul Diaz ◽

Wenrui Duan ◽

Eric Schroeder ◽

Zuanel Diaz ◽

Nicholas Lambrou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Cell Death ◽

Dna Repair ◽

Programmed Cell Death ◽

Phase Ii ◽

Fanconi Anemia ◽

Objective Response ◽

Repair Pathway ◽

Mutational Burden ◽

Tumor Mutational Burden

TPS5597 Background: Immunotherapy has improved outcomes for patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer whose tumors express PD-L1. Pembrolizumab (PEM), a monoclonal antibody that binds to programmed cell death 1 (PD 1) receptor, inhibits interaction with programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed cell death ligand 2 (PD-L2). It is approved for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer. Despite promising results, new strategies are being developed to improve immunotherapy responses. This includes DNA-damaging agents that have the potential to enhance the response to immunotherapy by promoting neo-antigen release, increasing tumor mutational burden, and enhancing PD-L1 expression. Poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, such as olaparib, have shown synergy with immunotherapy in preclinical and early clinical studies. PARP-based therapy is based on the inhibition of single-strand DNA repair, leading to DNA damage and increased tumor mutational burden. As a result, the tumor becomes a more attractive target for immunotherapy. Based on this, we are investigating the interplay between homologous recombination (HR) repair deficiency, another mechanism of DNA repair, and solid tumor response to ICI. Our approach uses an all-inclusive functional immunofluorescence assay of the Fanconi Anemia triple-staining immunofluorescence (FATSI) we developed and can be performed in paraffin-embedded tumors. Methods: This is a phase II open-label single center trial evaluating the role of PEM and olaparib in patients with metastatic cervical cancer who have progressed on first-line standard of care chemotherapy. FATSI will be performed in all patients. We hypothesize that FATSI negative tumors will be associated with improved responses. Other eligibility criteria include measurable disease by imaging, 18 years of age or older, and no previous exposure to ICI or PARP inhibitor. The primary objective is to evaluate the immune-related objective response rate (iORR) achieved in patients with FA Repair Pathway functionally competent and functionally deficient tumors. Secondary objectives include 20-week progression free survival and overall survival. Other exploratory objectives include evaluation of the mutation load and markers of neo-antigenicity, T cell receptor clonotype analyses (before and after treatment), and alterations in HR repair genes. We will utilize a two-stage phase II design to detect an iORR ≥ 20% in the whole population tested vs. the null hypothesis that the true iORR ≤5%, represents a response by chance alone or other infrequent unknown mechanisms. An interim analysis requires at least 2 of the first 20 evaluable patients enrolled have an objective response. If this occurs, we will accrue 28 additional patients to total 48. Enrollment is ongoing and two patients are currently on treatment. Clinical trial information: NCT04483544.

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Endogenous formaldehyde scavenges cellular glutathione resulting in cytotoxic redox disruption

10.1101/2020.05.14.090738 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Carla Umansky ◽

Agustín Morellato ◽

Marco Scheidegger ◽

Matthias Rieckher ◽

Manuela R. Martinefski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Dna Repair ◽

Fanconi Anemia ◽

Redox Homeostasis ◽

Thiol Group ◽

Cellular Damage ◽

Repair Pathway ◽

Cellular Redox ◽

Redox Active ◽

Development And Aging

AbstractFormaldehyde (FA) is a ubiquitous endogenous and environmental metabolite that is thought to exert cytotoxicity through DNA and DNA-protein crosslinking. We show here that FA can cause cellular damage beyond genotoxicity by triggering oxidative stress, which is prevented by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase 5 (ADH5/GSNOR). Mechanistically, we determine that endogenous FA reacts with the redox-active thiol group of glutathione (GSH) forming S-hydroxymethyl-GSH, which is metabolized by ADH5 yielding reduced GSH thus preventing redox disruption. We identify the ADH5-ortholog gene in Caenorhabditis elegans and show that oxidative stress also underlies FA toxicity in nematodes. Moreover, we show that endogenous GSH can protect cells lacking the Fanconi Anemia DNA repair pathway from FA, which might have broad implications for Fanconi Anemia patients and for healthy BRCA2-mutation carriers. We thus establish a highly conserved mechanism through which endogenous FA disrupts the GSH-regulated cellular redox homeostasis that is critical during development and aging.

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Identification of microRNAs that stabilize p53 in HPV-positive cancer cells

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.01865-21 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Gustavo Martínez-Noël ◽

Patricia Szajner ◽

Rebecca E. Kramer ◽

Kathleen A. Boyland ◽

Asma Sheikh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Cells ◽

High Throughput ◽

Ubiquitin Ligase ◽

Hela Cells ◽

Fluorescent Protein ◽

Human Papillomaviruses ◽

Live Cell ◽

Viral Oncoprotein ◽

Protein Levels ◽

P53 Stability

Etiologically, 5% of all cancers worldwide are caused by the high-risk human papillomaviruses (hrHPVs). These viruses encode two oncoproteins (E6 and E7) whose expression is required for cancer initiation and maintenance. Among their cellular targets are the p53 and the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor proteins. Inhibition of the hrHPV E6-mediated ubiquitylation of p53 through the E6AP ubiquitin ligase results in the stabilization of p53, leading to cellular apoptosis. We utilized a live cell high throughput screen to determine whether exogenous microRNA (miRNA) transfection had the ability to stabilize p53 in hrHPV-positive cervical cancer cells expressing a p53-fluorescent protein as an in vivo reporter of p53 stability. Among the miRNAs whose transfection resulted in the greatest p53 stabilization was 375-3p that has previously been reported to stabilize p53 in HeLa cells, providing validation of the screen. The top 32 miRNAs in addition to 375-3p were further assessed using a second cell-based p53 stability reporter system as well as in non-reporter HeLa cells to examine their effects on endogenous p53 protein levels, resulting in the identification of 23 miRNAs whose transfection increased p53 levels in HeLa cells. While a few miRNAs that stabilized p53 led to decreases in E6AP protein levels, all targeted HPV oncoprotein expression. We further examined subsets of these miRNAs for their abilities to induce apoptosis and determined whether it was p53-mediated. The introduction of specific miRNAs revealed surprisingly heterogeneous responses in different cell lines. Nonetheless, some of the miRNAs described here have potential as therapeutics for treating HPV-positive cancers. Importance Human papillomaviruses cause approximately 5% of all cancers worldwide and encode genes that contribute to both the initiation and maintenance of these cancers. The viral oncoprotein E6 is expressed in all HPV-positive cancers and functions by targeting the degradation of p53 through the engagement of the cellular ubiquitin ligase E6AP. Inhibiting the degradation of p53 leads to apoptosis in HPV-positive cancer cells. Using a high throughput live cell assay we identified several miRNAs whose transfection stabilize p53 in HPV-positive cells. These miRNAs have the potential to be used in the treatment of HPV-positive cancers.

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