The DNA replication stress(RS)response is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis and promoting physiological longevity.However,the mechanisms by which long-lived species,such as bats,regulate RS to maintain geno...The DNA replication stress(RS)response is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis and promoting physiological longevity.However,the mechanisms by which long-lived species,such as bats,regulate RS to maintain genomic stability remain unclear.Also,recent studies have uncovered noncanonical roles of ribosome-associated factors in maintaining genomic stability.In this study,somatic skin fibroblasts from the long-lived big-footed bat(Myotis pilosus)were examined,with results showing that bat cells exhibited enhanced RS tolerance compared to mouse cells.Comparative transcriptome analysis under RS conditions revealed pronounced species-specific transcriptional differences,including robust up-regulation of ribosome biogenesis genes in bat cells and a markedly reduced activation of the P53 signaling pathway.These features emphasize a distinct homeostatic strategy in bat cells.Nuclear fragile X mental retardation-interacting protein 1(Nufip1),a ribosome-associated factor highly expressed in bat fibroblasts,was identified as a potential integrator of ribosomal and P53 signaling via its association with ribosomal protein S27-like(Rps27l).These findings provide direct cellular and molecular evidence for a noncanonical RS response in bats,highlighting a deeper understanding of the biological characteristics and genomic maintenance mechanisms of long-lived species.展开更多
The fungal pathogen Setosphaeria turcica causes northern corn leaf blight(NCLB),which leads to considerable crop losses.Setosphaeria turcica elaborates a specialized infection structures called appressorium for maize ...The fungal pathogen Setosphaeria turcica causes northern corn leaf blight(NCLB),which leads to considerable crop losses.Setosphaeria turcica elaborates a specialized infection structures called appressorium for maize infection.Previously,we demonstrated that the S.turcica triggers an S-phase checkpoint and ATR(Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3 related)-dependent self-protective response to DNA genotoxic insults during maize infection.However,how the regulatory mechanism works was still largely unknown.Here,we report a genome wide transcriptional profile analysis during appressorium formation in the present of DNA replication stress.We performed RNA-Seq analysis to identify S.tuicica genes responsive to DNA replication stress.In the current work,we found that appressorium-mediated maize infection by S.turcica is significantly blocked by S-phase checkpoint.A large serial of secondary metabolite and melanin biosynthesis genes were blocked in appressorium formation of S.turcica during the replication stress.The secondary metabolite biosynthesis genes including alcohol dehydrogenase GroES-like domain,multicopper oxidase,ABCtransporter families,cytochrome P450 and FAD-containing monooxygenase were related to plant pathogen infection.In addition,we demonstrated that autophagy in S.turcica is up-regulated by ATR as a defense response to stress.We identified StATG3,StATG4,StATG5,StATG7 and StATG16 genes for autophagy were induced by ATR-mediated S-phase checkpoint.We therefore propose that in response to genotoxic stress,S.turcica utilizes ATR-dependent pathway to turn off transcription of genes governing appressorium-mediated infection,and meanwhile inducing transcription of autophagy genes likely as a mechanism of self-protection,aside from the more conservative responses in eukaryotes.展开更多
Background:Replication stress response is crucial for the maintenance of a stable ge-nome.POLDIP3(DNA polymerase delta interacting protein 3)was initially identified as one of the DNA polymeraseδ(Polδ)interacting pr...Background:Replication stress response is crucial for the maintenance of a stable ge-nome.POLDIP3(DNA polymerase delta interacting protein 3)was initially identified as one of the DNA polymeraseδ(Polδ)interacting proteins almost 20 years ago.Using a variety of in vitro biochemical assays,we previously established that POLDIP3 is a key regulator of the enzymatic activity of Polδ.However,the in vivo function of POLDIP3 in DNA replication and DNA damage response has been elusive.Methods:We first generated POLDIP3 knockout(KO)cells using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology.We then investigated its biological functions in vivo using a variety of biochemical and cell biology assays.Results:We showed that although the POLDIP3-KO cells manifest no pronounced defect in global DNA synthesis under nonstress conditions,they are sensitive to a va-riety of replication fork blockers.Intriguingly,we found that POLDIP3 plays a crucial role in the activation and maintenance of the DNA damage checkpoint in response to exogenous as well as endogenous replication stress.Conclusion:Our results indicate that when the DNA replication fork is blocked,POLDIP3 can be recruited to the stalled replication fork and functions to bridge the early DNA damage checkpoint response and the later replication fork repair/restart.展开更多
Human flap endonuclease 1 （FEN1） is a structure-specific, multi-functional endonuclease essential for DNA replication and repair. We and others have shown that during DNA replication, FEN1 processes Okazaki fragment...Human flap endonuclease 1 （FEN1） is a structure-specific, multi-functional endonuclease essential for DNA replication and repair. We and others have shown that during DNA replication, FEN1 processes Okazaki fragments via its interaction with the proliferating cell nuclear antigen （PCNA）. Alternatively, in response to DNA damage, FEN1 interacts with the PCNA-like Radg-Radl-Husl complex instead of PCNA to engage in DNA repair activities, such as homology-directed repair of stalled DNA replication forks. However, it is unclear how FEN1 is able to switch between these interactions and its roles in DNA replication and DNA repair. Here, we report that FEN1 undergoes SUMOylation by SUMO-1 in response to DNA replication fork-staUing agents, such as UV irradiation, hydroxyurea, and mitomycin C. This DNA damage-induced SUMO-1 modification promotes the interaction of FEN1 with the Radg-Rad1-Husl complex. Furthermore, we found that FEN1 mutations that prevent its SUMO-1 modification also impair its ability to interact with HUS1 and to rescue stalled replication forks. These impairments lead to the accumulation of DNA damage and heightened sensitivity to fork-staUing agents. Altogether, our findings suggest an important role of the SUMO-1 modification of FEN1 in regulating its roles in DNA replication and repair.展开更多
Survival of living organisms is fully dependent on their maintenance of genome integrity,being permanently threatened by replication stress in proliferating cells.Although the plant DNA damage response(DDR)regulator S...Survival of living organisms is fully dependent on their maintenance of genome integrity,being permanently threatened by replication stress in proliferating cells.Although the plant DNA damage response(DDR)regulator SOG1 has been demonstrated to cope with replication defects,accumulating evidence points to other pathways functioning independent of SOG1.Here,we report the roles of the Arabidopsis E2FA and EF2B transcription factors,two well-characterized regulators of DNA replication,in plant response to replication stress.Through a combination of reverse genetics and chromatin immunoprecipitation approaches,we show that E2FA and E2FB share many target genes with SOG1,providing evidence for their involvement in the DDR.Analysis of double-and triple-mutant combinations revealed that E2FB,rather than E2FA,plays the most prominent role in sustaining plant growth in the presence of replication defects,either operating antagonistically or synergistically with SOG1.Conversely,SOG1 aids in overcoming the replication defects of E2FA/E2FB-deficient plants.Collectively,our data reveal a complex transcriptional network controlling the replication stress response in which E2Fs and SOG1 act as key regulatory factors.展开更多
Background:Apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide(APOBEC),an endogenous mutator,induces DNA damage and activates the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related(ATR)-checkpoint kinase 1(Chk1)pathway.Although c...Background:Apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide(APOBEC),an endogenous mutator,induces DNA damage and activates the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related(ATR)-checkpoint kinase 1(Chk1)pathway.Although cisplatin-based therapy is the mainstay for muscle-invasive bladder cancer(MIBC),it has a poor survival rate.Therefore,this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an ATR inhibitor combined with cisplatin in the treatment of APOBEC catalytic subunit 3B(APOBEC3B)expressing MIBC.Methods:Immunohistochemical staining was performed to analyze an association between APOBEC3B and ATR in patients with MIBC.The APOBEC3B expression in MIBC cell lines was assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis.Western blot analysis was performed to confirm differences in phosphorylated Chk1(pChk1)expression according to the APOBEC3B expression.Cell viability and apoptosis analyses were performed to examine the anti-tumor activity of ATR inhibitors combined with cisplatin.Results:There was a significant association between APOBEC3B and ATR expression in the tumor tissues obtained from patients with MIBC.Cells with higher APOBEC3B expression showed higher pChk1 expression than cells expressing low APOBEC3B levels.Combination treatment of ATR inhibitor and cisplatin inhibited cell growth in MIBC cells with a higher APOBEC3B expression.Compared to cisplatin single treatment,combination treatment induced more apoptotic cell death in the cells with higher APOBEC3B expression.Conclusion:Our study shows that APOBEC3B’s higher expression status can enhance the sensitivity of MIBC to cisplatin upon ATR inhibition.This result provides new insight into appropriate patient selection for the effective application of ATR inhibitors in MIBC.展开更多
The ataxia telangiectasia–mutated and Rad3-related(ATR)kinase is a master regulator of DNA damage response and replication stress in humans.Targeting ATR is the focus of oncology drug pipelines with a number of poten...The ataxia telangiectasia–mutated and Rad3-related(ATR)kinase is a master regulator of DNA damage response and replication stress in humans.Targeting ATR is the focus of oncology drug pipelines with a number of potent,selective ATR inhibitors currently in clinical development.Here,we determined the cryo-EM structures of the human ATR-ATRIP complex in the presence of VE-822 and RP-3500,two ATR inhibitors currently in Phase II clinical trials,achieving an overall resolution of approximately 3Å.These structures yield a near-complete atomic model of the ATR-ATRIP complex,revealing subunit stoichiometry,intramolecular and intermolecular interactions,and critical regulatory sites including an insertion in the PIKK regulatory domain(PRD).Structural comparison provides insights into the modes of action and selectivity of ATR inhibitors.The divergent binding modes near the solvent side and in the rear pocket area of VE-822 and RP-3500,particularly their disparate binding orientations,lead to varying conformational changes in the active site.Surprisingly,one ATR-ATRIP complex binds four VE-822 molecules,with two in the ATR active site and two at the ATR-ATR dimer interface.The binding and selectivity of RP-3500 depend on two bound water molecules,which may be further enhanced by the substitution of these bound waters.Our study provides a structural framework for understanding ATR regulation and holds promise for assisting future efforts in rational drug design targeting ATR.展开更多
R-loops,three-strand nucleic acid structures,have emerged as crucial players in various physiological processes,including the regulation of gene expression,DNA replication,and class switch recombination.However,their ...R-loops,three-strand nucleic acid structures,have emerged as crucial players in various physiological processes,including the regulation of gene expression,DNA replication,and class switch recombination.However,their presence also poses a significant threat to genome stability.A particularly challenging aspect is understanding the dynamic balance between R-loops’“light”and“dark”sites,especially concerning maintaining genome integrity.The complex and multifaceted roles of R-loops in genome stability necessitate a deeper understanding.This review offers a comprehensive exploration of the formation,resolution,and implications of R-loops,particularly in the context of DNA damage and human disease.We delve into the dualistic nature of R-loops,highlighting their role in DNA damage response and repair,and discuss the therapeutic potential arising from our evolving understanding of these enigmatic entities.Emphasizing recent advancements and unresolved questions,this review aims to provide a cohesive overview of R-loops,inviting further inquiry and investigation into their complex biological significance.展开更多
Environmental stress from climate change and agricultural activity threatens global plant biodiversity as well as crop yield and quality.As sessile organisms,plants must maintain the integrity of their genomes and adj...Environmental stress from climate change and agricultural activity threatens global plant biodiversity as well as crop yield and quality.As sessile organisms,plants must maintain the integrity of their genomes and adjust gene expression to adapt to various environmental changes.In eukaryotes,nucleosomes are the basic unit of chromatin around which genomic DNA is packaged by condensation.To enable dynamic access to packaged DNA,eukaryotes have evolved Snf2(sucrose nonfermenting 2)family proteins as chromatin remodeling factors(CHRs)that modulate the position of nucleosomes on chromatin.During plant stress responses,CHRs are recruited to specific genomic loci,where they regulate the distribution or composition of nucleosomes,which in turn alters the accessibility of these loci to general transcription or DNA damage repair machinery.Moreover,CHRs interplay with other epigenetic mechanisms,including DNA methylation,histone modifications,and deposition of histone variants.CHRs are also involved in RNA processing at the posttranscriptional level.In this review,we discuss major advances in our understanding of the mechanisms by which CHRs function during plants’response to environmental stress.展开更多
Sense mutations in several conserved modifiable sites of histone H3 have been found to be strongly correlated with multiple tissuespecific clinical cancers.These clinical site mutants acquire a distinctively new epige...Sense mutations in several conserved modifiable sites of histone H3 have been found to be strongly correlated with multiple tissuespecific clinical cancers.These clinical site mutants acquire a distinctively new epigenetic role and mediate cancer evolution.In this study,we mimicked histone H3 at the 56th lysine(H3K56)mutant incorporation in mouse embryonic stem cells(mESCs)by lentivirus-mediated ectopic expression and analyzed the effects on replication and epigenetic regulation.The data show that two types of H3K56 mutants,namely H3 lysine 56-to-methionine(H3K56M)and H3 lysine 56-to-alanine(H3K56A),promote replication by recruiting more minichromosome maintenance complex component 3 and checkpoint kinase 1 onto chromatin compared with wild-type histone H3 and other site substitution mutants.Under this condition,the frequency of genomic copy number gain in H3K56M and H3K56A cells globally increases,especially in the Mycl1 region,a known molecular marker frequently occurring in multiple malignant cancers.Additionally,we found the disruption of H3K56 acetylation distribution in the copy-gain regions,which indicates a probable epigenetic mechanism of H3K56M and H3K56A.We then identified that H3K56M and H3K56A can trigger a potential adaptation to transcription;genes involved in the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway are partially upregulated,whereas genes associated with intrinsic apoptotic function show obvious downregulation.The final outcome of ectopic H3K56M and H3K56A incorporation in mESCs is an enhanced ability to form carcinomas.This work indicates that H3K56 site conservation and proper modification play important roles in harmonizing the function of the replication machinery in mESCs.展开更多
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic cancer. Optimal cytoreductive surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab is the conventional therapeutic strategy. Since 2016, the pharmac...Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic cancer. Optimal cytoreductive surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab is the conventional therapeutic strategy. Since 2016, the pharmacological treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer has significantly changed following the introduction of the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi). BRCA1/2 mutations and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) have been established as predictive biomarkers of the benefit from platinum-based chemotherapy and PARPi. While in the absence of HRD (the so-called homologous recombination proficiency, HRp), patients derive minimal benefit from PARPi, the use of the antiangiogenic agent bevacizumab in first line did not result in different efficacy according to the presence of homologous recombination repair (HRR) genes mutations. No clinical trials have currently compared PARPi and bevacizumab as maintenance therapy in the HRp population. Different strategies are under investigation to overcome primary and acquired resistance to PARPi and to increase the sensitivity of HRp tumors to these agents. These tumors are characterized by frequent amplifications of Cyclin E and MYC, resulting in high replication stress. Different agents targeting DNA replication stress, such as ATR, WEE1 and CHK1 inhibitors, are currently being explored in preclinical models and clinical trials and have shown promising preliminary signs of activity. In this review, we will summarize the available evidence on the activity of PARPi in HRp tumors and the ongoing research to develop new treatment options in this hard-to-treat population.展开更多
基金supported by the Applied Basic Research Programs of Science and Technology Commission Foundation of Yunnan Province(202401AT070186 to K.Q.L.,202201AS070044 to B.Z.)Yunnan Province(202305AH340006 to B.Z.)Kunming Science and Technology Bureau(2022SCP007 to B.Z.)。
文摘The DNA replication stress(RS)response is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis and promoting physiological longevity.However,the mechanisms by which long-lived species,such as bats,regulate RS to maintain genomic stability remain unclear.Also,recent studies have uncovered noncanonical roles of ribosome-associated factors in maintaining genomic stability.In this study,somatic skin fibroblasts from the long-lived big-footed bat(Myotis pilosus)were examined,with results showing that bat cells exhibited enhanced RS tolerance compared to mouse cells.Comparative transcriptome analysis under RS conditions revealed pronounced species-specific transcriptional differences,including robust up-regulation of ribosome biogenesis genes in bat cells and a markedly reduced activation of the P53 signaling pathway.These features emphasize a distinct homeostatic strategy in bat cells.Nuclear fragile X mental retardation-interacting protein 1(Nufip1),a ribosome-associated factor highly expressed in bat fibroblasts,was identified as a potential integrator of ribosomal and P53 signaling via its association with ribosomal protein S27-like(Rps27l).These findings provide direct cellular and molecular evidence for a noncanonical RS response in bats,highlighting a deeper understanding of the biological characteristics and genomic maintenance mechanisms of long-lived species.
基金supported by the grants from the Youth Top Talent Project from Hebei Provincial Department of Education,China(BJ2020003)the China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA(CARS-02-25)+3 种基金the State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and RegulationOpen Project of Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity Research and Application of Hebei Province(MDRA202101)the Hebei Provincial Department of Bureau of Science and Technology(360-0803-JSN-3YGS)the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province(C202204138)。
文摘The fungal pathogen Setosphaeria turcica causes northern corn leaf blight(NCLB),which leads to considerable crop losses.Setosphaeria turcica elaborates a specialized infection structures called appressorium for maize infection.Previously,we demonstrated that the S.turcica triggers an S-phase checkpoint and ATR(Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3 related)-dependent self-protective response to DNA genotoxic insults during maize infection.However,how the regulatory mechanism works was still largely unknown.Here,we report a genome wide transcriptional profile analysis during appressorium formation in the present of DNA replication stress.We performed RNA-Seq analysis to identify S.tuicica genes responsive to DNA replication stress.In the current work,we found that appressorium-mediated maize infection by S.turcica is significantly blocked by S-phase checkpoint.A large serial of secondary metabolite and melanin biosynthesis genes were blocked in appressorium formation of S.turcica during the replication stress.The secondary metabolite biosynthesis genes including alcohol dehydrogenase GroES-like domain,multicopper oxidase,ABCtransporter families,cytochrome P450 and FAD-containing monooxygenase were related to plant pathogen infection.In addition,we demonstrated that autophagy in S.turcica is up-regulated by ATR as a defense response to stress.We identified StATG3,StATG4,StATG5,StATG7 and StATG16 genes for autophagy were induced by ATR-mediated S-phase checkpoint.We therefore propose that in response to genotoxic stress,S.turcica utilizes ATR-dependent pathway to turn off transcription of genes governing appressorium-mediated infection,and meanwhile inducing transcription of autophagy genes likely as a mechanism of self-protection,aside from the more conservative responses in eukaryotes.
基金NIEHSGrant/Award Number:R01 ES014737+2 种基金USAMRDCGrant/Award Number:W81XWH-18-1-0353supported by the research fund from NYIT
文摘Background:Replication stress response is crucial for the maintenance of a stable ge-nome.POLDIP3(DNA polymerase delta interacting protein 3)was initially identified as one of the DNA polymeraseδ(Polδ)interacting proteins almost 20 years ago.Using a variety of in vitro biochemical assays,we previously established that POLDIP3 is a key regulator of the enzymatic activity of Polδ.However,the in vivo function of POLDIP3 in DNA replication and DNA damage response has been elusive.Methods:We first generated POLDIP3 knockout(KO)cells using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology.We then investigated its biological functions in vivo using a variety of biochemical and cell biology assays.Results:We showed that although the POLDIP3-KO cells manifest no pronounced defect in global DNA synthesis under nonstress conditions,they are sensitive to a va-riety of replication fork blockers.Intriguingly,we found that POLDIP3 plays a crucial role in the activation and maintenance of the DNA damage checkpoint in response to exogenous as well as endogenous replication stress.Conclusion:Our results indicate that when the DNA replication fork is blocked,POLDIP3 can be recruited to the stalled replication fork and functions to bridge the early DNA damage checkpoint response and the later replication fork repair/restart.
基金This work was supported by grants from the National Basic Research Program of China （2015CB910600）, the National Natural Science Foundation of China （31700688）, the National Key Research and Development Program of China （2017YFA0503900）, and the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province （LY16C050003） to Y.I.H. and H.X. A part of the work presented in the current article was supported by the National Institutes of Health grants ROICA073764 to B.H.S and R50CA211397 to L.Z.
文摘Human flap endonuclease 1 （FEN1） is a structure-specific, multi-functional endonuclease essential for DNA replication and repair. We and others have shown that during DNA replication, FEN1 processes Okazaki fragments via its interaction with the proliferating cell nuclear antigen （PCNA）. Alternatively, in response to DNA damage, FEN1 interacts with the PCNA-like Radg-Radl-Husl complex instead of PCNA to engage in DNA repair activities, such as homology-directed repair of stalled DNA replication forks. However, it is unclear how FEN1 is able to switch between these interactions and its roles in DNA replication and DNA repair. Here, we report that FEN1 undergoes SUMOylation by SUMO-1 in response to DNA replication fork-staUing agents, such as UV irradiation, hydroxyurea, and mitomycin C. This DNA damage-induced SUMO-1 modification promotes the interaction of FEN1 with the Radg-Rad1-Husl complex. Furthermore, we found that FEN1 mutations that prevent its SUMO-1 modification also impair its ability to interact with HUS1 and to rescue stalled replication forks. These impairments lead to the accumulation of DNA damage and heightened sensitivity to fork-staUing agents. Altogether, our findings suggest an important role of the SUMO-1 modification of FEN1 in regulating its roles in DNA replication and repair.
基金supported by grants from the Research Foundation Flanders(G011420N)Agence Nationale de la Recherche(21-CE20-0027).
文摘Survival of living organisms is fully dependent on their maintenance of genome integrity,being permanently threatened by replication stress in proliferating cells.Although the plant DNA damage response(DDR)regulator SOG1 has been demonstrated to cope with replication defects,accumulating evidence points to other pathways functioning independent of SOG1.Here,we report the roles of the Arabidopsis E2FA and EF2B transcription factors,two well-characterized regulators of DNA replication,in plant response to replication stress.Through a combination of reverse genetics and chromatin immunoprecipitation approaches,we show that E2FA and E2FB share many target genes with SOG1,providing evidence for their involvement in the DDR.Analysis of double-and triple-mutant combinations revealed that E2FB,rather than E2FA,plays the most prominent role in sustaining plant growth in the presence of replication defects,either operating antagonistically or synergistically with SOG1.Conversely,SOG1 aids in overcoming the replication defects of E2FA/E2FB-deficient plants.Collectively,our data reveal a complex transcriptional network controlling the replication stress response in which E2Fs and SOG1 act as key regulatory factors.
基金supported by St.Vincent’s Hospital,the Research Institute of Medical Science(Grant Number:SVHR-2021-03).
文摘Background:Apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide(APOBEC),an endogenous mutator,induces DNA damage and activates the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related(ATR)-checkpoint kinase 1(Chk1)pathway.Although cisplatin-based therapy is the mainstay for muscle-invasive bladder cancer(MIBC),it has a poor survival rate.Therefore,this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an ATR inhibitor combined with cisplatin in the treatment of APOBEC catalytic subunit 3B(APOBEC3B)expressing MIBC.Methods:Immunohistochemical staining was performed to analyze an association between APOBEC3B and ATR in patients with MIBC.The APOBEC3B expression in MIBC cell lines was assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis.Western blot analysis was performed to confirm differences in phosphorylated Chk1(pChk1)expression according to the APOBEC3B expression.Cell viability and apoptosis analyses were performed to examine the anti-tumor activity of ATR inhibitors combined with cisplatin.Results:There was a significant association between APOBEC3B and ATR expression in the tumor tissues obtained from patients with MIBC.Cells with higher APOBEC3B expression showed higher pChk1 expression than cells expressing low APOBEC3B levels.Combination treatment of ATR inhibitor and cisplatin inhibited cell growth in MIBC cells with a higher APOBEC3B expression.Compared to cisplatin single treatment,combination treatment induced more apoptotic cell death in the cells with higher APOBEC3B expression.Conclusion:Our study shows that APOBEC3B’s higher expression status can enhance the sensitivity of MIBC to cisplatin upon ATR inhibition.This result provides new insight into appropriate patient selection for the effective application of ATR inhibitors in MIBC.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32030057,32271255,and 31922035)Research Funds of Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM(QYZD20220001)+1 种基金the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB37010000)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(WK9100000032).
文摘The ataxia telangiectasia–mutated and Rad3-related(ATR)kinase is a master regulator of DNA damage response and replication stress in humans.Targeting ATR is the focus of oncology drug pipelines with a number of potent,selective ATR inhibitors currently in clinical development.Here,we determined the cryo-EM structures of the human ATR-ATRIP complex in the presence of VE-822 and RP-3500,two ATR inhibitors currently in Phase II clinical trials,achieving an overall resolution of approximately 3Å.These structures yield a near-complete atomic model of the ATR-ATRIP complex,revealing subunit stoichiometry,intramolecular and intermolecular interactions,and critical regulatory sites including an insertion in the PIKK regulatory domain(PRD).Structural comparison provides insights into the modes of action and selectivity of ATR inhibitors.The divergent binding modes near the solvent side and in the rear pocket area of VE-822 and RP-3500,particularly their disparate binding orientations,lead to varying conformational changes in the active site.Surprisingly,one ATR-ATRIP complex binds four VE-822 molecules,with two in the ATR active site and two at the ATR-ATR dimer interface.The binding and selectivity of RP-3500 depend on two bound water molecules,which may be further enhanced by the substitution of these bound waters.Our study provides a structural framework for understanding ATR regulation and holds promise for assisting future efforts in rational drug design targeting ATR.
基金supported by research funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32201061)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong,China(No.ZR2021QC083).
文摘R-loops,three-strand nucleic acid structures,have emerged as crucial players in various physiological processes,including the regulation of gene expression,DNA replication,and class switch recombination.However,their presence also poses a significant threat to genome stability.A particularly challenging aspect is understanding the dynamic balance between R-loops’“light”and“dark”sites,especially concerning maintaining genome integrity.The complex and multifaceted roles of R-loops in genome stability necessitate a deeper understanding.This review offers a comprehensive exploration of the formation,resolution,and implications of R-loops,particularly in the context of DNA damage and human disease.We delve into the dualistic nature of R-loops,highlighting their role in DNA damage response and repair,and discuss the therapeutic potential arising from our evolving understanding of these enigmatic entities.Emphasizing recent advancements and unresolved questions,this review aims to provide a cohesive overview of R-loops,inviting further inquiry and investigation into their complex biological significance.
基金financially supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31970287,31800210,and 31625004)。
文摘Environmental stress from climate change and agricultural activity threatens global plant biodiversity as well as crop yield and quality.As sessile organisms,plants must maintain the integrity of their genomes and adjust gene expression to adapt to various environmental changes.In eukaryotes,nucleosomes are the basic unit of chromatin around which genomic DNA is packaged by condensation.To enable dynamic access to packaged DNA,eukaryotes have evolved Snf2(sucrose nonfermenting 2)family proteins as chromatin remodeling factors(CHRs)that modulate the position of nucleosomes on chromatin.During plant stress responses,CHRs are recruited to specific genomic loci,where they regulate the distribution or composition of nucleosomes,which in turn alters the accessibility of these loci to general transcription or DNA damage repair machinery.Moreover,CHRs interplay with other epigenetic mechanisms,including DNA methylation,histone modifications,and deposition of histone variants.CHRs are also involved in RNA processing at the posttranscriptional level.In this review,we discuss major advances in our understanding of the mechanisms by which CHRs function during plants’response to environmental stress.
基金supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFA0103301)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81972743)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2020M671205).
文摘Sense mutations in several conserved modifiable sites of histone H3 have been found to be strongly correlated with multiple tissuespecific clinical cancers.These clinical site mutants acquire a distinctively new epigenetic role and mediate cancer evolution.In this study,we mimicked histone H3 at the 56th lysine(H3K56)mutant incorporation in mouse embryonic stem cells(mESCs)by lentivirus-mediated ectopic expression and analyzed the effects on replication and epigenetic regulation.The data show that two types of H3K56 mutants,namely H3 lysine 56-to-methionine(H3K56M)and H3 lysine 56-to-alanine(H3K56A),promote replication by recruiting more minichromosome maintenance complex component 3 and checkpoint kinase 1 onto chromatin compared with wild-type histone H3 and other site substitution mutants.Under this condition,the frequency of genomic copy number gain in H3K56M and H3K56A cells globally increases,especially in the Mycl1 region,a known molecular marker frequently occurring in multiple malignant cancers.Additionally,we found the disruption of H3K56 acetylation distribution in the copy-gain regions,which indicates a probable epigenetic mechanism of H3K56M and H3K56A.We then identified that H3K56M and H3K56A can trigger a potential adaptation to transcription;genes involved in the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway are partially upregulated,whereas genes associated with intrinsic apoptotic function show obvious downregulation.The final outcome of ectopic H3K56M and H3K56A incorporation in mESCs is an enhanced ability to form carcinomas.This work indicates that H3K56 site conservation and proper modification play important roles in harmonizing the function of the replication machinery in mESCs.
文摘Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic cancer. Optimal cytoreductive surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab is the conventional therapeutic strategy. Since 2016, the pharmacological treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer has significantly changed following the introduction of the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi). BRCA1/2 mutations and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) have been established as predictive biomarkers of the benefit from platinum-based chemotherapy and PARPi. While in the absence of HRD (the so-called homologous recombination proficiency, HRp), patients derive minimal benefit from PARPi, the use of the antiangiogenic agent bevacizumab in first line did not result in different efficacy according to the presence of homologous recombination repair (HRR) genes mutations. No clinical trials have currently compared PARPi and bevacizumab as maintenance therapy in the HRp population. Different strategies are under investigation to overcome primary and acquired resistance to PARPi and to increase the sensitivity of HRp tumors to these agents. These tumors are characterized by frequent amplifications of Cyclin E and MYC, resulting in high replication stress. Different agents targeting DNA replication stress, such as ATR, WEE1 and CHK1 inhibitors, are currently being explored in preclinical models and clinical trials and have shown promising preliminary signs of activity. In this review, we will summarize the available evidence on the activity of PARPi in HRp tumors and the ongoing research to develop new treatment options in this hard-to-treat population.
