scholarly journals Hidden Targets in RAF Signalling Pathways to Block Oncogenic RAS Signalling

Author(s):  
Aoife A. Nolan ◽  
Nourhan K. Aboud ◽  
Walter Kolch ◽  
David Matallanas

Abstract: Oncogenic RAS mutations drive more than half of human cancers, and RAS inhibition is the holy grail of oncology. Thirty years of relentless efforts and harsh disappointments have taught us about the intricacies of oncogenic RAS signalling that allow us to now get a pharmacological grip on this elusive protein. The inhibition of effector pathways, such as the RAF-MEK-ERK pathway, has largely proven disappointing. So far, most of these efforts were aimed at blocking the activation of ERK. Here, we discuss RAF dependent pathways that are regulated through RAF functions independent of catalytic activity and their potential role as targets to block oncogenic RAS signalling. We focus on the now well documented roles of RAF kinase independent functions in apoptosis, cell cycle progression and cell migration.

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 553
Author(s):  
Aoife A. Nolan ◽  
Nourhan K. Aboud ◽  
Walter Kolch ◽  
David Matallanas

Oncogenic RAS (Rat sarcoma) mutations drive more than half of human cancers, and RAS inhibition is the holy grail of oncology. Thirty years of relentless efforts and harsh disappointments have taught us about the intricacies of oncogenic RAS signalling that allow us to now get a pharmacological grip on this elusive protein. The inhibition of effector pathways, such as the RAF-MEK-ERK pathway, has largely proven disappointing. Thus far, most of these efforts were aimed at blocking the activation of ERK. Here, we discuss RAF-dependent pathways that are regulated through RAF functions independent of catalytic activity and their potential role as targets to block oncogenic RAS signalling. We focus on the now well documented roles of RAF kinase-independent functions in apoptosis, cell cycle progression and cell migration.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiming He ◽  
Mingxi Gan ◽  
Yanan Wang ◽  
Tong Huang ◽  
Jianbin Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractGrainyhead-like 1 (GRHL1) is a transcription factor involved in embryonic development. However, little is known about the biological functions of GRHL1 in cancer. In this study, we found that GRHL1 was upregulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and correlated with poor survival of patients. GRHL1 overexpression promoted the proliferation of NSCLC cells and knocking down GRHL1 inhibited the proliferation. RNA sequencing showed that a series of cell cycle-related genes were altered when knocking down GRHL1. We further demonstrated that GRHL1 could regulate the expression of cell cycle-related genes by binding to the promoter regions and increasing the transcription of the target genes. Besides, we also found that EGF stimulation could activate GRHL1 and promoted its nuclear translocation. We identified the key phosphorylation site at Ser76 on GRHL1 that is regulated by the EGFR-ERK axis. Taken together, these findings elucidate a new function of GRHL1 on regulating the cell cycle progression and point out the potential role of GRHL1 as a drug target in NSCLC.


2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 1436-1450
Author(s):  
Leonardo Vinícius Monteiro de Assis ◽  
Maria Nathália Moraes ◽  
Davi Mendes ◽  
Matheus Molina Silva ◽  
Carlos Frederico Martins Menck ◽  
...  

Skin melanocytes harbor a complex photosensitive system comprised of opsins, which were shown, in recent years, to display light- and thermo-independent functions. Based on this premise, we investigated whether melanopsin, OPN4, displays such a role in normal melanocytes. In this study, we found that murine Opn4KO melanocytes displayed a faster proliferation rate compared to Opn4WT melanocytes. Cell cycle population analysis demonstrated that OPN4KO melanocytes exhibited a faster cell cycle progression with reduced G0–G1, and highly increased S and slightly increased G2/M cell populations compared to the Opn4WT counterparts. Expression of specific cell cycle-related genes in Opn4KO melanocytes exhibited alterations that corroborate a faster cell cycle progression. We also found significant modification in gene and protein expression levels of important regulators of melanocyte physiology. PER1 protein level was higher while BMAL1 and REV-ERBα decreased in Opn4KO melanocytes compared to Opn4WT cells. Interestingly, the gene expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) was upregulated in Opn4KO melanocytes, which is in line with a higher proliferative capability. Taken altogether, we demonstrated that OPN4 regulates cell proliferation, cell cycle, and affects the expression of several important factors of the melanocyte physiology; thus, arguing for a putative tumor suppression role in melanocytes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (35) ◽  
pp. 2981-2995
Author(s):  
Ning Lou ◽  
Guohong Liu ◽  
Yunbao Pan

The long noncoding RNA ANRIL, located in the human chromosome 9p21 region, has been reported to be involved in tumor progression. ANRIL regulates gene expression via recruiting PRC2 or titrating miRNA; it also participates in signaling pathways. Evidence has indicated that ANRIL is overexpressed in many cancer types and is capable of enhancing cell proliferation and cell cycle progression and inhibiting apoptosis and senescence. ANRIL has the potential to serve as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis in cancer. In this article we focus on recent advances in studies of the oncogenic role of ANRIL and its potential role in cancer medicine.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 4662-4670
Author(s):  
Miao Zhang ◽  
Saifei He ◽  
Xing Ma ◽  
Ying Ye ◽  
Guoyu Wang ◽  
...  

Sarcoma ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Martin ◽  
M. Zielenska ◽  
G. S. Stein ◽  
A. J. van Wijnen ◽  
J. A. Squire

Osteosarcoma is an aggressive but ill-understood cancer of bone that predominantly affects adolescents. Its rarity and biological heterogeneity have limited studies of its molecular basis. In recent years, an important role has emerged for the RUNX2 “platform protein” in osteosarcoma oncogenesis. RUNX proteins are DNA-binding transcription factors that regulate the expression of multiple genes involved in cellular differentiation and cell-cycle progression. RUNX2 is genetically essential for developing bone and osteoblast maturation. Studies of osteosarcoma tumours have revealed that the RUNX2 DNA copy number together with RNA and protein levels are highly elevated in osteosarcoma tumors. The protein is also important for metastatic bone disease of prostate and breast cancers, while RUNX2 may have both tumor suppressive and oncogenic roles in bone morphogenesis. This paper provides a synopsis of the current understanding of the functions of RUNX2 and its potential role in osteosarcoma and suggests directions for future study.


2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (20) ◽  
pp. 7226-7241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth C. Roberts ◽  
Paul S. Shapiro ◽  
Theresa Stines Nahreini ◽  
Gilles Pages ◽  
Jacques Pouyssegur ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways are necessary for cell cycle progression into S phase; however the importance of these pathways after the restriction point is poorly understood. In this study, we examined the regulation and function of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and PI3K during G2/M in synchronized HeLa and NIH 3T3 cells. Phosphorylation and activation of both the MAP kinase kinase/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways occur in late S and persist until the end of mitosis. Signaling was rapidly reversed by cell-permeable inhibitors, indicating that both pathways are continuously activated and rapidly cycle between active and inactive states during G2/M. The serum-dependent behavior of PI3K/Akt versus ERK pathway activation indicates that their mechanisms of regulation differ during G2/M. Effects of cell-permeable inhibitors and dominant-negative mutants show that both pathways are needed for mitotic progression. However, inhibiting the PI3K pathway interferes with cdc2 activation, cyclin B1 expression, and mitotic entry, whereas inhibiting the ERK pathway interferes with mitotic entry but has little effect on cdc2 activation and cyclin B1 and retards progression from metaphase to anaphase. Thus, our study provides novel evidence that ERK and PI3K pathways both promote cell cycle progression during G2/M but have different regulatory mechanisms and function at distinct times.


2001 ◽  
Vol 114 (14) ◽  
pp. 2553-2560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Alexander Schwartz ◽  
Richard K. Assoian

Cell cycle progression in mammalian cells is strictly regulated by both integrin-mediated adhesion to the extracellular matrix and by binding of growth factors to their receptors. This regulation is mediated by G1 phase cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), which are downstream of signaling pathways under the integrated control of both integrins and growth factor receptors. Recent advances demonstrate a surprisingly diverse array of integrin-dependent signals that are channeled into the regulation of the G1 phase CDKs. Regulation of cyclin D1 by the ERK pathway may provide a paradigm for understanding how cell adhesion can determine cell cycle progression.


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