The Wee1 Inhibitor MK1775 In Combination With Cytarabine (AraC) Has Potent Activity In AML By Completely Abrogating DNA Damage and Cell Cycle Checkpoint Repair Capacity Via The Mrn/NBS1 Complex

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 3831-3831
Author(s):  
Leena Chaudhuri ◽  
James M Bogenberger ◽  
Lisa Sproat ◽  
James L Slack ◽  
Veena Fauble ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Single Agent ◽  
S Phase ◽  
Cell Cycle Checkpoint ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Repair Capacity ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Mitotic Entry ◽  
Cycle Checkpoint

Abstract Cytarabine (AraC) resistance is a fundamental feature of refractory/relapsed AML. RNA interference (RNAi) screens conducted in our laboratory recently identified WEE1 kinase (WEE1) as one of the top candidate genes and target in leukemias in combination with AraC. WEE1 is a tyrosine kinase belonging to the Ser/Thr family of protein kinases and acts as a negative regulator of mitotic entry by controlling DNA damage (DDR) and cell cycle checkpoint responses. The WEE1 inhibitor MK1775 potently synergizes with AraC ex vivo and in vitro and clinical trials are in preparation. However, the mechanism of action for the anti-leukemic activity of MK1775 with AraC remains unknown. To elucidate genes mediating activity of the combination, we first performed siRNA rescue screens silencing a custom set of 44 genes involved in WEE1 regulation under combined AraC + MK1775 to identify sensitizers and markers of resistance. The MRN (MRE11, Rad51, NBS1) complex and particularly NBS1 were potent modifiers of AraC and MK1775. Focusing on NBS1 since it is proposed to centrally regulate the defense capacity of leukemic cells, we identified that NBS1 phosphorylation at Ser343 (the ATM regulation site) is significantly altered both in cell lines and primary AML samples under combined AraC+MK1775 treatment as compared to single agent MK1775. In parallel, lower phosphorylation of ATMS1981(an autophosphorylation site in response to DNA strand breaks), was observed indicating that the ATM-CHEK1 pathway is not activated under co-treatment. Further Homologous recombination (HR)-mediated repair was compromised by AraC+MK1775 shown by DR-GFP expression vector to measure intracellular HR capacity: post-transfection of the I-SceI nuclease which cleaves non-functioning GFP tandem repeats to form a functional GFP unit, the HR was reduced with the combination. Consistently other HR markers decreased as well. Delayed accumulation of Cyclin A (indicative of S-phase progression) and greater inhibition of phospho-Cdk2Y15in synchronized cells treated with AraC + MK1775 in comparison to controls was observed. In addition the cell cycle was globally dysregulated by slower S-phase kinetics (progression), a completely abrogated G2/M checkpoint/phase as well as de-regulated DNA replication origin formation and firing as evidenced by Cdt1 and Mus81. As a consequence high single and double strand breaks (ɣH2AX) were observed with an increase in phospho-histone H3 in AraC + MK1775 treated cells compared to untreated cells or MK1775 single agent, confirming faster mitotic entry. Changes were followed by massive induction of apoptosis. Since WEE1 is implicated in leukemic stem cell maintenance we examined the long term effects of the combination in colony forming assays. AraC + MK1775 treated leukemic cells obtained from patients with AML were re-plated on Methocult after drug washout and colonies counted after 14 days. While MK1775 as a single agent could reduce colony formation by 4 fold compared to controls and lower dose AraC, co-treatment with low to moderate doses of AraC and MK1775 reduced colony formation by more than 7 fold and to almost zero in some primary specimens. Taken together, these results suggest that leukemia cells co-treated with AraC + MK1775 lost their ability to activate DNA damage and repair pathways mainly by compromising the MRN complex via NBS1 with subsequently reduced HR. The combination (as opposed to single agents) almost complete dysregulated the cell cycle and its checkpoints lead to DNA damage, genomic instability and rapid exit from the cell cycle with cell death via apoptosis. Thus we have molecularly characterized the detailed mechanisms underlying the potent AraC+WEE1 inhibition in AML and describe for the first time a therapeutic combination that has the potential to abrogate the MRN and NBS1 repair capacity which is central for drug resistance in AML. A key implication of our work is to provide a clinical rationale, mechanistic understanding and suggestions for biomarkers to clinically evaluate AraC + MK1775 in patients with AML. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Critical Role for Mouse Hus1 in an S-Phase DNA Damage Cell Cycle Checkpoint

2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 791-803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert S. Weiss ◽  
Philip Leder ◽  
Cyrus Vaziri
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Synthesis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
S Phase ◽  
Cell Cycle Checkpoint ◽  
Dna Damage Checkpoint ◽  
Null Mouse ◽  
Cycle Checkpoint ◽  
S Phase Checkpoint

ABSTRACT Mouse Hus1 encodes an evolutionarily conserved DNA damage response protein. In this study we examined how targeted deletion of Hus1 affects cell cycle checkpoint responses to genotoxic stress. Unlike hus1− fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) cells, which are defective for the G2/M DNA damage checkpoint, Hus1-null mouse cells did not inappropriately enter mitosis following genotoxin treatment. However, Hus1-deficient cells displayed a striking S-phase DNA damage checkpoint defect. Whereas wild-type cells transiently repressed DNA replication in response to benzo(a)pyrene dihydrodiol epoxide (BPDE), a genotoxin that causes bulky DNA adducts, Hus1-null cells maintained relatively high levels of DNA synthesis following treatment with this agent. However, when treated with DNA strand break-inducing agents such as ionizing radiation (IR), Hus1-deficient cells showed intact S-phase checkpoint responses. Conversely, checkpoint-mediated inhibition of DNA synthesis in response to BPDE did not require NBS1, a component of the IR-responsive S-phase checkpoint pathway. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Hus1 is required specifically for one of two separable mammalian checkpoint pathways that respond to distinct forms of genome damage during S phase.

Stability of proteins involved in initiation of DNA replication in UV damaged human cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Boyka Borisova Anachkova ◽  
Vera Lyubchova Djeliova
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Hela Cells ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Cell Cycle Checkpoint ◽  
Cell Cycle Distribution ◽  
Repair Capacity ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Cycle Checkpoint ◽  
Proteasome Pathway

Abstract The protein stability of the initiation factors Orc2, Orc3, Orc4, and Cdc6 was analyzed after UV light exposure in two human cell lines. In the cell line with higher repair capacity, HEK 293, no changes in the cell cycle distribution or in the protein levels of the investigated factors were detected. In HeLa cells that are characterized by lower repair capacity, UV irradiation caused a reduction of the levels of Cdc6, Orc2 and Orc3, but not of Orc4 or triggered apoptosis. The appearance of the truncated 49 kDa form of Cdc6 suggested the involvement of the caspase pathway in the degradation of the proteins. Reduced protein levels of Cdc6 were detected in UV damaged HeLa cells in which the apoptotic process was blocked with the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk, indicating that the degradation of Cdc6 is mediated by the proteasome pathway instead. In the presence of caffeine, an inhibitor of the cell cycle checkpoint kinases, Cdc6 was stabilized, demonstrating that its degradation is controlled by the DNA damage cell cycle checkpoint. We conclude that in response to DNA damage, the activation of origins of replication can be prevented by the degradation of Cdc6, most likely through the proteasome pathway.

scholarly journals WEE1 Inhibition Enhances Anti-Apoptotic Dependency as a Result of Premature Mitotic Entry and DNA Damage

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathilde Rikje Willemijn de Jong ◽  
Myra Langendonk ◽  
Bart Reitsma ◽  
Pien Herbers ◽  
Marcel Nijland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Cell Cycle Checkpoint ◽  
Cell Cycle Checkpoints ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
M Cell ◽  
Mitotic Entry ◽  
Enhanced Sensitivity ◽  
Cycle Checkpoint

Genomically unstable cancers are dependent on specific cell cycle checkpoints to maintain viability and prevent apoptosis. The cell cycle checkpoint protein WEE1 is highly expressed in genomically unstable cancers, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Although WEE1 inhibition effectively induces apoptosis in cancer cells, the effect of WEE1 inhibition on anti-apoptotic dependency is not well understood. We show that inhibition of WEE1 by AZD1775 induces DNA damage and pre-mitotic entry in DLBCL, thereby enhancing dependency on BCL-2 and/or MCL-1. Combining AZD1775 with anti-apoptotic inhibitors such as venetoclax (BCL-2i) or S63845 (MCL-1i) enhanced sensitivity in a cell-specific manner. In addition, we demonstrate that both G2/M cell cycle arrest and DNA damage induction put a similar stress on DLBCL cells, thereby enhancing anti-apoptotic dependency. Therefore, genotoxic or cell cycle disrupting agents combined with specific anti-apoptotic inhibitors may be very effective in genomic unstable cancers such as DLBCL and therefore warrants further clinical evaluation.

scholarly journals Sensitivity of cells to ATR and CHK1 inhibitors requires hyperactivation of CDK2 rather than endogenous replication stress or ATM dysfunction

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer P. Ditano ◽  
Katelyn L. Donahue ◽  
Laura J. Tafe ◽  
Charlotte F. McCleery ◽  
Alan Eastman
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Single Agent ◽  
Replication Stress ◽  
Cell Cycle Checkpoint ◽  
High Threshold ◽  
Cycle Checkpoint ◽  
Atm Signaling

AbstractDNA damage activates cell cycle checkpoint proteins ATR and CHK1 to arrest cell cycle progression, providing time for repair and recovery. Consequently, inhibitors of ATR (ATRi) and CHK1 (CHK1i) enhance damage-induced cell death. Intriguingly, both CHK1i and ATRi alone elicit cytotoxicity in some cell lines. Sensitivity has been attributed to endogenous replications stress, but many more cell lines are sensitive to ATRi than CHK1i. Endogenous activation of the DNA damage response also did not correlate with drug sensitivity. Sensitivity correlated with the appearance of γH2AX, a marker of DNA damage, but without phosphorylation of mitotic markers, contradicting suggestions that the damage is due to premature mitosis. Sensitivity to ATRi has been associated with ATM mutations, but dysfunction in ATM signaling did not correlate with sensitivity. CHK1i and ATRi circumvent replication stress by reactivating stalled replicons, a process requiring a low threshold activity of CDK2. In contrast, γH2AX induced by single agent ATRi and CHK1i requires a high threshold activity CDK2. Hence, phosphorylation of different CDK2 substrates is required for cytotoxicity induced by replication stress plus ATRi/CHK1i as compared to their single agent activity. In summary, sensitivity to ATRi and CHK1i as single agents is elicited by premature hyper-activation of CDK2.

scholarly journals Artemis Links ATM to G2/M Checkpoint Recovery via Regulation of Cdk1-Cyclin B

2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 2625-2635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liyi Geng ◽  
Xiaoshan Zhang ◽  
Shu Zheng ◽  
Randy J. Legerski
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Cell Cycle Checkpoint ◽  
Nonhomologous End Joining ◽  
Cyclin B ◽  
End Joining ◽  
M Cell ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Checkpoint Recovery ◽  
Cycle Checkpoint

ABSTRACT Artemis is a phospho-protein that has been shown to have roles in V(D)J recombination, nonhomologous end-joining of double-strand breaks, and regulation of the DNA damage-induced G2/M cell cycle checkpoint. Here, we have identified four sites in Artemis that are phosphorylated in response to ionizing radiation (IR) and show that ATM is the major kinase responsible for these modifications. Two of the sites, S534 and S538, show rapid phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, and the other two sites, S516 and S645, exhibit rapid and prolonged phosphorylation. Mutation of both of these latter two residues results in defective recovery from the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint. This defective recovery is due to promotion by mutant Artemis of an enhanced interaction between unphosphorylated cyclin B and Cdk1, which in turn promotes inhibitory phosphorylation of Cdk1 by the Wee1 kinase. In addition, we show that mutant Artemis prevents Cdk1-cyclin B activation by causing its retention in the centrosome and inhibition of its nuclear import during prophase. These findings show that ATM regulates G2/M checkpoint recovery through inhibitory phosphorylations of Artemis that occur soon after DNA damage, thus setting a molecular switch that, hours later upon completion of DNA repair, allows activation of the Cdk1-cyclin B complex. These findings thus establish a novel function of Artemis as a regulator of the cell cycle in response to DNA damage.

scholarly journals Acceleration or Brakes: Which Is Rational for Cell Cycle-Targeting Neuroblastoma Therapy?

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 750
Author(s):  
Kiyohiro Ando ◽  
Akira Nakagawara
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Parp Inhibitors ◽  
Cell Cycle Checkpoint ◽  
Mitotic Catastrophe ◽  
Malignant Neoplasms ◽  
Checkpoint Kinases ◽  
Molecular Features ◽  
Cycle Checkpoint

Unrestrained proliferation is a common feature of malignant neoplasms. Targeting the cell cycle is a therapeutic strategy to prevent unlimited cell division. Recently developed rationales for these selective inhibitors can be subdivided into two categories with antithetical functionality. One applies a “brake” to the cell cycle to halt cell proliferation, such as with inhibitors of cell cycle kinases. The other “accelerates” the cell cycle to initiate replication/mitotic catastrophe, such as with inhibitors of cell cycle checkpoint kinases. The fate of cell cycle progression or arrest is tightly regulated by the presence of tolerable or excessive DNA damage, respectively. This suggests that there is compatibility between inhibitors of DNA repair kinases, such as PARP inhibitors, and inhibitors of cell cycle checkpoint kinases. In the present review, we explore alterations to the cell cycle that are concomitant with altered DNA damage repair machinery in unfavorable neuroblastomas, with respect to their unique genomic and molecular features. We highlight the vulnerabilities of these alterations that are attributable to the features of each. Based on the assessment, we offer possible therapeutic approaches for personalized medicine, which are seemingly antithetical, but both are promising strategies for targeting the altered cell cycle in unfavorable neuroblastomas.

scholarly journals The Interactions of DNA Repair, Telomere Homeostasis, and p53 Mutational Status in Solid Cancers: Risk, Prognosis, and Prediction

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 479
Author(s):  
Pavel Vodicka ◽  
Ladislav Andera ◽  
Alena Opattova ◽  
Ludmila Vodickova
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Dna Repair ◽  
Dna Lesions ◽  
Cell Cycle Checkpoint ◽  
Solid Cancer ◽  
Genomic Integrity ◽  
Repair Capacity ◽  
Mutational Status ◽  
Telomere Homeostasis

The disruption of genomic integrity due to the accumulation of various kinds of DNA damage, deficient DNA repair capacity, and telomere shortening constitute the hallmarks of malignant diseases. DNA damage response (DDR) is a signaling network to process DNA damage with importance for both cancer development and chemotherapy outcome. DDR represents the complex events that detect DNA lesions and activate signaling networks (cell cycle checkpoint induction, DNA repair, and induction of cell death). TP53, the guardian of the genome, governs the cell response, resulting in cell cycle arrest, DNA damage repair, apoptosis, and senescence. The mutational status of TP53 has an impact on DDR, and somatic mutations in this gene represent one of the critical events in human carcinogenesis. Telomere dysfunction in cells that lack p53-mediated surveillance of genomic integrity along with the involvement of DNA repair in telomeric DNA regions leads to genomic instability. While the role of individual players (DDR, telomere homeostasis, and TP53) in human cancers has attracted attention for some time, there is insufficient understanding of the interactions between these pathways. Since solid cancer is a complex and multifactorial disease with considerable inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity, we mainly dedicated this review to the interactions of DNA repair, telomere homeostasis, and TP53 mutational status, in relation to (a) cancer risk, (b) cancer progression, and (c) cancer therapy.

scholarly journals Cdc5L interacts with ATR and is required for the S‐phase cell‐cycle checkpoint

EMBO Reports ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1029-1035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nianxiang Zhang ◽  
Ramandeep Kaur ◽  
Shamima Akhter ◽  
Randy J Legerski
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
S Phase ◽  
Cell Cycle Checkpoint ◽  
Phase Cell ◽  
Cycle Checkpoint
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