A DR4:tBID axis drives the p53 apoptotic response by promoting oligomerization of poised BAX

The cellular response to p53 activation varies greatly in a stimulus‐ and cell type‐specific manner. Dissecting the molecular mechanisms defining these cell fate choices will assist the development of effective p53‐based cancer therapies and also illuminate fundamental processes by which gene networks control cellular behaviour. Using an experimental system wherein stimulus‐specific p53 responses are elicited by non‐genotoxic versus genotoxic agents, we discovered a novel mechanism that determines whether cells undergo proliferation arrest or cell death. Strikingly, we observe that key mediators of cell‐cycle arrest (p21, 14‐3‐3σ) and apoptosis (PUMA, BAX) are equally activated regardless of outcome. In fact, arresting cells display strong translocation of PUMA and BAX to the mitochondria, yet fail to release cytochrome C or activate caspases. Surprisingly, the key differential events in apoptotic cells are p53‐dependent activation of the DR4 death receptor pathway, caspase 8‐mediated cleavage of BID, and BID‐dependent activation of poised BAX at the mitochondria. These results reveal a previously unappreciated role for DR4 and the extrinsic apoptotic pathway in cell fate choice following p53 activation.Fil: Henry, Ryan E. State University Of Colorado-boulder; Estados UnidosFil: Andrysik, Zdenek. State University Of Colorado-boulder; Estados UnidosFil: Paris, Ramiro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina. State University Of Colorado-boulder; Estados UnidosFil: Galbraith, Matthew D.. State University Of Colorado-boulder; Estados UnidosFil: Espinosa, Joaquín M.. State University Of Colorado-boulder; Estados Unido

The novel mouse Polo-like kinase 5 responds to DNA damage and localizes in the nucleolus

Polo-like kinases (Plk1-4) are emerging as an important class of proteins involved in many aspects of cell cycle regulation and response to DNA damage. Here, we report the cloning of a fifth member of the polo-like kinase family named Plk5. DNA and protein sequence analyses show that Plk5 shares more similarities with Plk2 and Plk3 than with Plk1 and Plk4. Consistent with this observation, we show that mouse Plk5 is a DNA damage inducible gene. Mouse Plk5 protein localizes predominantly to the nucleolus, and deletion of a putative nucleolus localization signal (NoLS) within its N-terminal moiety disrupts its nucleolar localization. Ectopic expression of Plk5 leads to cell cycle arrest in G1, decreased DNA synthesis, and to apoptosis, a characteristic it shares with Plk3. Interestingly, in contrast to mouse Plk5 gene, the sequence of human Plk5 contains a stop codon that produces a truncated protein lacking part of the kinase domain

A Genetic Screen Identifies TCF3/E2A and TRIAP1 as Pathway-Specific Regulators of the Cellular Response to p53 Activation

The p53 transcription factor participates in diverse cellular responses to stress, including cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, senescence, and autophagy. The molecular mechanisms defining the ultimate outcome of p53 activation remain poorly characterized. We performed a genome-wide genetic screen in human cells to identify pathway-specific coregulators of the p53 target gene CDKN1A (p21), an inhibitor of cell-cycle progression, versus BBC3 (PUMA), a key mediator of apoptosis. Our screen identified numerous factors whose depletion creates an imbalance in the p21:PUMA ratio upon p53 activation. The transcription factor TCF3, also known as E2A, drives p21 expression while repressing PUMA across cancer cell types of multiple origins. Accordingly, TCF3/E2A depletion impairs the cell-cycle-arrest response and promotes apoptosis upon p53 activation by chemotherapeutic agents. In contrast, TRIAP1 is a specific repressor of p21 whose depletion slows down cell-cycle progression. Our results reveal strategies for driving cells toward specific p53-dependent responses

Autophagy Controls the Kinetics and Extent of Mitochondrial Apoptosis by Regulating PUMA Levels

Macroautophagy is thought to protect against apoptosis; however, underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We examined how autophagy affects canonical death receptor-induced mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) and apoptosis. MOMP occurs at variable times in a population of cells, and this is delayed by autophagy. Additionally, autophagy leads to inefficient MOMP, after which some cells die through a slower process than typical apoptosis and, surprisingly, can recover and divide afterward. These effects are associated with p62/SQSTM1-dependent selective autophagy causing PUMA levels to be kept low through an indirect mechanism whereby autophagy affects constitutive levels of PUMA mRNA. PUMA depletion is sufficient to prevent the sensitization to apoptosis that occurs when autophagy is blocked. Autophagy can therefore control apoptosis via a key regulator that makes MOMP faster and more efficient, thus ensuring rapid completion of apoptosis. This identifies a molecular mechanism whereby cell-fate decisions can be determined by autophagy

ΔNp63α Suppresses TGFB2 Expression and RHOA Activity to Drive Cell Proliferation in Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Summary: The transcriptional repressor ΔNp63α is a potent oncogene widely overexpressed in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of diverse tissue origins, where it promotes malignant cell proliferation and survival. We report here the results of a genome-wide CRISPR screen to identify pathways controlling ΔNp63α-dependent cell proliferation, which revealed that the small GTPase RHOA blocks cell division upon ΔNp63α knockdown. After ΔNp63α depletion, RHOA activity is increased, and cells undergo RHOA-dependent proliferation arrest along with transcriptome changes indicative of increased TGF-β signaling. Mechanistically, ΔNp63α represses transcription of TGFB2, which induces a cell cycle arrest that is partially dependent on RHOA. Ectopic TGFB2 activates RHOA and impairs SCC proliferation, and TGFB2 neutralization restores cell proliferation during ΔNp63α depletion. Genomic data from tumors demonstrate inactivation of RHOA and the TGFBR2 receptor and ΔNp63α overexpression in more than 80% of lung SCCs. These results reveal a signaling pathway controlling SCC proliferation that is potentially amenable to pharmacological intervention. : Abraham et al. employ a genome-wide CRISPR screening strategy to characterize the mechanism of action of the ΔNp63α oncogene in SCC. ΔNp63α suppresses TGFB2 expression and RHOA activity to drive SCC proliferation. TGFB2 is sufficient to impair SCC proliferation and necessary to enforce cell cycle arrest upon depletion of ΔNp63α. Keywords: p63, CRISPR screen, p53, lung cancer, head and neck carcinom

CDK8 Kinase Activity Promotes Glycolysis

Summary: Aerobic glycolysis, also known as the Warburg effect, is a hallmark of cancerous tissues. Despite its importance in cancer development, our understanding of mechanisms driving this form of metabolic reprogramming is incomplete. We report here an analysis of colorectal cancer cells engineered to carry a single point mutation in the active site of the Mediator-associated kinase CDK8, creating hypomorphic alleles sensitive to bulky ATP analogs. Transcriptome analysis revealed that CDK8 kinase activity is required for the expression of many components of the glycolytic cascade. CDK8 inhibition impairs glucose transporter expression, glucose uptake, glycolytic capacity and reserve, as well as cell proliferation and anchorage-independent growth, both in normoxia and hypoxia. Importantly, CDK8 impairment sensitizes cells to pharmacological glycolysis inhibition, a result reproduced with Senexin A, a dual inhibitor of CDK8/CDK19. Altogether, these results contribute to our understanding of CDK8 as an oncogene, and they justify investigations to target CDK8 in highly glycolytic tumors. : Galbraith et al. use a chemical genetics approach to examine the role of CDK8 kinase activity in cancer cells. CDK8 activity is required for the transcription of multiple genes encoding enzymes required for glucose metabolism. Impaired CDK8 activity reduces glucose uptake and glycolysis and sensitizes cells to the glucose analog 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Keywords: CDK8, CDK19, Mediator, glycolysis, Warburg effect, chemical genetics, HCT116, SW480, A549, H46