PAX8 promotes tumor cell growth by transcriptionally regulating E2F1 and stabilizing RB protein

The retinoblastoma protein (RB)–E2F1 pathway has a central role in regulating the cell cycle. Several PAX proteins (tissue-specific developmental regulators), including PAX8, interact with the RB protein, and thus regulate the cell cycle directly or indirectly. Here, we report that PAX8 expression is frequent in renal cell carcinoma, bladder, ovarian and thyroid cancer cell lines, and that silencing of PAX8 in cancer cell lines leads to a striking reduction in the expression of E2F1 and its target genes, as well as a proteasome-dependent destabilization of RB protein, with the RB1 mRNA level remaining unaffected. Cancer cells expressing PAX8 undergo a G1/S arrest and eventually senesce following PAX8 silencing. We demonstrate that PAX8 transcriptionally regulates the E2F1 promoter directly, and E2F1 transcription is enhanced after RB depletion. RB is recruited to the PAX8-binding site, and is involved in PAX8-mediated E2F1 transcription in cancer cells. Therefore, our results suggest that, in cancer, frequent and persistent expression of PAX8 is required for cell growth control through transcriptional activation of E2F1 expression and upregulation of the RB–E2F1 pathway

MYC-containing amplicons in acute myeloid leukemia: genomic structures, evolution, and transcriptional consequences.

Double minutes (dmin), homogeneously staining regions, and ring chromosomes are vehicles of gene amplification in cancer. The underlying mechanism leading to their formation as well as their structure and function in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain mysterious. We combined a range of high-resolution genomic methods to investigate the architecture and expression pattern of amplicons involving chromosome band 8q24 in 23 cases of AML (AML-amp). This revealed that different MYC-dmin architectures can coexist within the same leukemic cell population, indicating a step-wise evolution rather than a single event origin, such as through chromothripsis. This was supported also by the analysis of the chromothripsis criteria, that poorly matched the model in our samples. Furthermore, we found that dmin could evolve toward ring chromosomes stabilized by neocentromeres. Surprisingly, amplified genes (mainly PVT1) frequently participated in fusion transcripts lacking a corresponding DNA template. We also detected a significant overexpression of the circular RNA of PVT1 (circPVT1) in AML-amp cases versus AML with a normal karyotype. Our results show that 8q24 amplicons in AML are surprisingly plastic DNA structures with an unexpected association to novel fusion transcripts and circular RNAs

Identification of chemical byproducts in the radiofluorination of structurally complex aryliodonium salts

The use of direct radiofluorination of aryliodonium salts represents a promising route to new PET tracers. This study tested the use of these precursors for obtaining candidate ligands of the cannabinoid type-2 receptor. ¹⁸F-labelling was performed using microfluidic technology, which allowed obtaining good incorporation yields. A closer inspection of the chemical composition of the reaction mixture evidenced the recurrent occurrence of chemical byproducts (H-adduct) due to a reductive side reaction of these substrates. The H-adduct formation seems to be unrelated to water presence, needed for obtaining a satisfactory incorporation, and may become an important feature for assessing the real-life accessibility of new radiotracers through the use of aryliodonium precursors

Identification of chemical byproducts in the radiofluorination of structurally complex aryliodonium salts

The use of direct radiofluorination of aryliodonium salts represents a promising route to new PET tracers. This study tested the use of these precursors for obtaining candidate ligands of the cannabinoid type-2 receptor. 18F-labelling was performed using microfluidic technology, which allowed obtaining good incorporation yields. A closer inspection of the chemical composition of the reaction mixture evidenced the recurrent occurrence of chemical byproducts (H-adduct) due to a reductive side reaction of these substrates. The H-adduct formation seems to be unrelated to water presence, needed for obtaining a satisfactory incorporation, and may become an important feature for assessing the real-life accessibility of new radiotracers through the use of aryliodonium precursors. © 2014 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungar