scholarly journals Gain-of-Function Mutations in p53 in Cancer Invasiveness and Metastasis

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna A. Roszkowska ◽  
Slawomir Gizinski ◽  
Maria Sady ◽  
Zdzislaw Gajewski ◽  
Maciej B. Olszewski

Forty years of research has proven beyond any doubt that p53 is a key regulator of many aspects of cellular physiology. It is best known for its tumor suppressor function, but it is also a regulator of processes important for maintenance of homeostasis and stress response. Its activity is generally antiproliferative and when the cell is damaged beyond repair or intensely stressed the p53 protein contributes to apoptosis. Given its key role in preventing cancer it is no wonder that it is the most frequently mutated gene in human cancer. Surprisingly, a subset of missense mutations occurring in p53 (gain-of-function) cause it to lose its suppressor activity and acquire new functionalities that turn the tumor suppressor protein into an oncoprotein. A solid body of evidence exists demonstrating increased malignancy of cancers with mutated p53 in all aspects considered “hallmarks of cancer”. In this review, we summarize current findings concerning the cellular processes altered by gain-of-function mutations in p53 and their influence on cancer invasiveness and metastasis. We also present the variety of molecular mechanisms regulating these processes, including microRNA, direct transcriptional regulation, protein–protein interactions, and more.

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangbing Meng ◽  
Shujie Yang ◽  
Yujun Li ◽  
Yiyang Li ◽  
Eric J. Devor ◽  
...  

Mutations in the “guardian of the genome” TP53 predominate in solid tumors. In addition to loss of tumor suppressor activity, a specific subset of missense mutations confers additional oncogenic properties. These “gain-of-function” (GOF) mutations portend poor prognosis across cancer types regardless of treatment. Our objective in this study was to identify novel therapeutic opportunities to overcome the deleterious effects of GOF TP53 mutants. Using gynecologic cancer cell lines with known TP53 mutational status, we established that treatment with a proteasome inhibitor induced cell death in cells with two recurrent GOF TP53 mutations (R175H and R248Q), and addition of a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) enhanced this effect. By contrast, p53-null cancer cells were relatively resistant to the combination. Proteasome inhibition promoted apoptosis of cells with TP53 GOF mutations, potentially through induction of the unfolded protein response. In line with the reported hyperstabilization of GOF p53 protein, cells treated with HDACi exhibited reduced levels of p53 protein. Together, these data form the basis for future clinical studies examining therapeutic efficacy in a preselected patient population with GOF TP53 mutations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (24) ◽  
pp. 6197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Stein ◽  
Varda Rotter ◽  
Ronit Aloni-Grinstein

The p53 protein is mutated in about 50% of human cancers. Aside from losing the tumor-suppressive functions of the wild-type form, mutant p53 proteins often acquire inherent, novel oncogenic functions, a phenomenon termed mutant p53 gain-of-function (GOF). A growing body of evidence suggests that these pro-oncogenic functions of mutant p53 proteins are mediated by affecting the transcription of various genes, as well as by protein–protein interactions with transcription factors and other effectors. In the current review, we discuss the various GOF effects of mutant p53, and how it may serve as a central node in a network of genes and proteins, which, altogether, promote the tumorigenic process. Finally, we discuss mechanisms by which “Mother Nature” tries to abrogate the pro-oncogenic functions of mutant p53. Thus, we suggest that targeting mutant p53, via its reactivation to the wild-type form, may serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for many cancers that harbor mutant p53. Not only will this strategy abrogate mutant p53 GOF, but it will also restore WT p53 tumor-suppressive functions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 401 (8) ◽  
pp. 921-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ave Kuusk ◽  
Helen Boyd ◽  
Hongming Chen ◽  
Christian Ottmann

AbstractSmall-molecule modulation of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) is a very promising but also challenging area in drug discovery. The tumor suppressor protein p53 is one of the most frequently altered proteins in human cancers, making it an attractive target in oncology. 14-3-3 proteins have been shown to bind to and positively regulate p53 activity by protecting it from MDM2-dependent degradation or activating its DNA binding affinity. PPIs can be modulated by inhibiting or stabilizing specific interactions by small molecules. Whereas inhibition has been widely explored by the pharmaceutical industry and academia, the opposite strategy of stabilizing PPIs still remains relatively underexploited. This is rather interesting considering the number of natural compounds like rapamycin, forskolin and fusicoccin that exert their activity by stabilizing specific PPIs. In this review, we give an overview of 14-3-3 interactions with p53, explain isoform specific stabilization of the tumor suppressor protein, explore the approach of stabilizing the 14-3-3σ-p53 complex and summarize some promising small molecules inhibiting the p53-MDM2 protein-protein interaction.


Author(s):  
Xiangbing Meng ◽  
Shujie Yang ◽  
Yujun Li ◽  
Yiyang Li ◽  
Jianling Bi ◽  
...  

Mutations in the “guardian of the genome” TP53 predominate in solid tumors. In addition to loss of tumor suppressor activity, a specific subset of missense mutations confers additional oncogenic properties. These “gain-of-function” (GOF) mutations portend poor prognosis across cancer types regardless of treatment. Our objective in this study was to identify novel therapeutic opportunities to overcome the deleterious effects of GOF TP53 mutants. Using gynecologic cancer cell lines with known TP53 mutational status, we established that treatment with a proteasome inhibitor induced cell death in cells with two recurrent GOF TP53 mutations (R175H and R248Q), and addition of a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) enhanced this effect. By contrast, p53-null cancer cells were relatively resistant to the combination. Towards understanding the mechanism, we found that proteasome inhibition promotes apoptosis of cells with TP53 GOF mutations, potentially through induction of the unfolded protein response. In line with the reported hyperstabilization of GOF p53 protein, cells treated with HDACi exhibited reduced levels of p53 protein. Together, these data form the basis for future clinical studies examining therapeutic efficacy in a preselected patient population with GOF TP53 mutations.


Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 150 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-128
Author(s):  
M Rhys Dow ◽  
Paul E Mains

Abstract We have previously described the gene mei-1, which encodes an essential component of the Caenorhabditis elegans meiotic spindle. When ectopically expressed after the completion of meiosis, mei-1 protein disrupts the function of the mitotic cleavage spindles. In this article, we describe the cloning and the further genetic characterization of mel-26, a postmeiotic negative regulator of mei-1. mel-26 was originally identified by a gain-of-function mutation. We have reverted this mutation to a loss-of-function allele, which has recessive phenotypes identical to the dominant defects of its gain-of-function parent. Both the dominant and recessive mutations of mel-26 result in mei-1 protein ectopically localized in mitotic spindles and centrosomes, leading to small and misoriented cleavage spindles. The loss-of-function mutation was used to clone mel-26 by transformation rescue. As suggested by genetic results indicating that mel-26 is required only maternally, mel-26 mRNA was expressed predominantly in the female germline. The gene encodes a protein that includes the BTB motif, which is thought to play a role in protein-protein interactions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ylenia Cau ◽  
Daniela Valensin ◽  
Mattia Mori ◽  
Sara Draghi ◽  
Maurizio Botta

14-3-3 is a class of proteins able to interact with a multitude of targets by establishing protein-protein interactions (PPIs). They are usually found in all eukaryotes with a conserved secondary structure and high sequence homology among species. 14-3-3 proteins are involved in many physiological and pathological cellular processes either by triggering or interfering with the activity of specific protein partners. In the last years, the scientific community has collected many evidences on the role played by seven human 14-3-3 isoforms in cancer or neurodegenerative diseases. Indeed, these proteins regulate the molecular mechanisms associated to these diseases by interacting with (i) oncogenic and (ii) pro-apoptotic proteins and (iii) with proteins involved in Parkinson and Alzheimer diseases. The discovery of small molecule modulators of 14-3-3 PPIs could facilitate complete understanding of the physiological role of these proteins, and might offer valuable therapeutic approaches for these critical pathological states.


2008 ◽  
Vol 412 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alon Herschhorn ◽  
Iris Oz-Gleenberg ◽  
Amnon Hizi

The RT (reverse transcriptase) of HIV-1 interacts with HIV-1 IN (integrase) and inhibits its enzymatic activities. However, the molecular mechanisms underling these interactions are not well understood. In order to study these mechanisms, we have analysed the interactions of HIV-1 IN with HIV-1 RT and with two other related RTs: those of HIV-2 and MLV (murine-leukaemia virus). All three RTs inhibited HIV-1 IN, albeit to a different extent, suggesting a common site of binding that could be slightly modified for each one of the studied RTs. Using surface plasmon resonance technology, which monitors direct protein–protein interactions, we performed kinetic analyses of the binding of HIV-1 IN to these three RTs and observed interesting binding patterns. The interaction of HIV-1 RT with HIV-1 IN was unique and followed a two-state reaction model. According to this model, the initial IN–RT complex formation was followed by a conformational change in the complex that led to an elevation of the total affinity between these two proteins. In contrast, HIV-2 and MLV RTs interacted with IN in a simple bi-molecular manner, without any apparent secondary conformational changes. Interestingly, HIV-1 and HIV-2 RTs were the most efficient inhibitors of HIV-1 IN activity, whereas HIV-1 and MLV RTs showed the highest affinity towards HIV-1 IN. These modes of direct protein interactions, along with the apparent rate constants calculated and the correlations of the interaction kinetics with the capacity of the RTs to inhibit IN activities, are all discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanyang Li ◽  
He Fang ◽  
Li Chang ◽  
Shuang Qiu ◽  
Xiaojun Ren ◽  
...  

Several C2 domain-containing proteins play key roles in tumorigenesis, signal transduction, and mediating protein–protein interactions. Tandem C2 domains nuclear protein (TC2N) is a tandem C2 domain-containing protein that is differentially expressed in several types of cancers and is closely associated with tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Notably, TC2N has been identified as an oncogene in lung and gastric cancer but as a tumor suppressor gene in breast cancer. Recently, a large number of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), such as heat shock proteins, alpha-fetoprotein, and carcinoembryonic antigen, have been identified in a variety of malignant tumors. Differences in the expression levels of TAAs between cancer cells and normal cells have led to these antigens being investigated as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and as novel targets in cancer treatment. In this review, we summarize the clinical characteristics of TC2N-positive cancers and potential mechanisms of action of TC2N in the occurrence and development of specific cancers. This article provides an exploration of TC2N as a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of different types of cancers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 30-36
Author(s):  
Tatjana Simić

Studies of the molecular mechanisms regarding interaction of different viruses with receptors on the host cell surface have shown that the viral entry depends on the specific relationship between free thiol (SH) groups and disulfides on the virus surface, as well as the thiol disulfide balance on the host cell surface. The presence of oxidizing compounds or alkylating agents, which disturb the thiol-disulfide balance on the surface of the virus, can also affect its infectious potential. Disturbed thiol-disulfide balance may also influence protein-protein interactions between SARS-CoV-2 protein S and ACE2 receptors of the host cell. This review presents the basic mechanisms of maintaining intracellular and extracellular thiol disulfide balance and previous experimental and clinical evidence in favor of impaired balance in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Besides, the results of the clinical application or experimental analysis of compounds that induce changes in the thiol disulfide balance towards reduction of disulfide bridges in proteins of interest in COVID-19 infection are presented.


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