DNA methylation-associated dysregulation of transfer RNA expression in human cancer

The human cytoplasmatic pool of tRNA for the 20 proteinogenic amino acids and selenocysteine is composed of 48 isoacceptor families -those tRNA with different anticodons- divided into 253 different isodecoder species -those tRNAs that share the same anticodon but present sequence variations in other positions [1, 2]. All these molecules cooperate to translate the genetic information encoded in mRNA to enable protein synthesis. For many years, tRNAs have been considered as housekeeping molecules without any additional regulatory function, but compelling recent evidence of the intricacy of tRNA biology have proven that this initial misconception was far from reality. In fact, tRNAs actively engage in protein synthesis regulation and in additional molecular processes that are unrelated to translation, like apoptosis prevention and the generation of small derivative non-coding RNAs that perform further cellular function

Epigenetic loss of the transfer RNA-modifying enzyme TYW2 induces ribosome frameshifts in colon cancer

Transfer RNA (tRNA) activity is tightly regulated to provide a physiological protein translation, and tRNA chemical modifications control its function in a complex with ribosomes and messenger RNA5 (mRNA5). In this regard, the correct hypermodification of position G37 of phenylalanine-tRNA, adjacent to the anticodon, is critical to prevent ribosome frameshifting events. Here we report that the tRNA-yW Synthesizing Protein 2 (TYW2) undergoes promoter hypermethylation-associated transcriptional silencing in human cancer, particularly in colorectal tumors. The epigenetic loss of TYW2 induces guanosine hypomodification in phenylalanine-tRNA, an increase in -1 ribosome frameshift events, and down-regulation of transcripts by mRNA decay, such as of the key cancer gene ROBO1. Importantly, TYW2 epigenetic inactivation is linked to poor overall survival in patients with early-stage colorectal cancer, a finding that could be related to the observed acquisition of enhanced migration properties and epithelial-to-mesenchymal features in the colon cancer cells that harbor TYW2 DNA methylation-associated loss. These findings provide an illustrative example of how epigenetic changes can modify the epitranscriptome and further support a role for tRNA modifications in cancer biology

Gene Amplification-Associated Overexpression of the Selenoprotein tRNA Enzyme TRIT1 Confers Sensitivity to Arsenic Trioxide in Small-Cell Lung Cancer

The alteration of RNA modification patterns is emerging as a common feature of human malignancies. If these changes affect key RNA molecules for mRNA translation, such as transfer RNA, they can have important consequences for cell transformation. TRIT1 is the enzyme responsible for the hypermodification of adenosine 37 in the anticodon region of human tRNAs containing serine and selenocysteine. Herein, we show that TRIT1 undergoes gene amplification-associated overexpression in cancer cell lines and primary samples of small-cell lung cancer. From growth and functional standpoints, the induced depletion of TRIT1 expression in amplified cells reduces their tumorigenic potential and downregulates the selenoprotein transcripts. We observed that TRIT1-amplified cells are sensitive to arsenic trioxide, a compound that regulates selenoproteins, whereas reduction of TRIT1 levels confers loss of sensitivity to the drug. Overall, our results indicate a role for TRIT1 as a small-cell lung cancer-relevant gene that, when undergoing gene amplification-associated activation, can be targeted with the differentiation agent arsenic trioxide

Epigenetic loss of the transfer RNA-modifying enzyme TYW2 induces ribosome frameshifts in colon cancer

Altres ajuts: Funding for this research was provided by the Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer Scientific Foundation (Accelerator Award A26825); and the Olga Torres Foundation.Transfer RNA (tRNA) activity is tightly regulated to provide a physiological protein translation, and tRNA chemical modifications control its function in a complex with ribosomes and messenger RNAs (mRNAs). In this regard, the correct hypermodification of position G37 of phenylalanine-tRNA, adjacent to the anticodon, is critical to prevent ribosome frameshifting events. Here we report that the tRNA-yW Synthesizing Protein 2 (TYW2) undergoes promoter hypermethylation-associated transcriptional silencing in human cancer, particularly in colorectal tumors. The epigenetic loss of TYW2 induces guanosine hypomodification in phenylalanine-tRNA, an increase in -1 ribosome frameshift events, and down-regulation of transcripts by mRNA decay, such as of the key cancer gene ROBO1. Importantly, TYW2 epigenetic inactivation is linked to poor overall survival in patients with early-stage colorectal cancer, a finding that could be related to the observed acquisition of enhanced migration properties and epithelial-to-mesenchymal features in the colon cancer cells that harbor TYW2 DNA methylation-associated loss. These findings provide an illustrative example of how epigenetic changes can modify the epitranscriptome and further support a role for tRNA modifications in cancer biology

In vitro and in vivo activity of a new small-molecule inhibitor of HDAC6 in mantle cell lymphoma

Cancer origin and development is associated not only with genetic alterations, but also with the disturbance of epigenetic profiles.1 In this regard, the tumoral epigenome is characterized by both specific and general shifts in the DNA methylation and histone-modification landscapes.1 However, in contrast to genetic disruption, the effect of epigenetic modifications or marks may potentially be reversed by the use of drugs that target enzymes involved in adding, removing or signaling DNA methylation and histone modifications.1 This basic knowledge has been adopted into clinical practice, and inhibitors of histone deacetylases and DNA demethylating agents have been approved for use in the therapy of hematologic malignancies, such as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and myelodysplastic syndrome, respectively.2 Other promising epigenetic drugs include inhibitors of histone methyltransferases,2 histone demethylases,2 histone kinases,3 and bromodomain proteins that interfere with the 'reading' of acetylated histone residues

Epigenetic loss of RNA‑methyltransferase NSUN5 in glioma targets ribosomes to drive stress adaptive translational program

Tumors have aberrant proteomes that often do not match their corresponding transcriptome profiles. One possible cause of this discrepancy is the existence of aberrant RNA modification landscapes in the so-called epitranscriptome. Here, we report that human glioma cells undergo DNA methylation-associated epigenetic silencing of NSUN5, a candidate RNA methyltransferase for 5-methylcytosine. In this setting, NSUN5 exhibits tumor-suppressor characteristics in vivo glioma models. We also found that NSUN5 loss generates an unmethylated status at the C3782 position of 28S rRNA that drives an overall depletion of protein synthesis, and leads to the emergence of an adaptive translational program for survival under conditions of cellular stress. Interestingly, NSUN5 epigenetic inactivation also renders these gliomas sensitive to bioactivatable substrates of the stress-related enzyme NQO1. Most importantly, NSUN5 epigenetic inactivation is a hallmark of glioma patients with long-term survival for this otherwise devastating disease

Epigenetic Regulation of tRNA Biology in Cancer

[eng] Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are essential molecules that allow the translation of the genetic code into amino acids. Extensive research during the last 50 years have revealed that, despite their apparently simple structure and function, tRNAs are more than simple adaptors in protein synthesis –they are of high importance in normal cell functions. Reinforcing this, tRNA levels are tightly regulated to match the codon usage patterns of a given cell type or cellular status to meet the cellular specific needs and adapt to stress. Moreover, tRNA nucleoside modifications are critical for their function at multiple levels, such as translation efficiency and fidelity, wobbling and fragmentation. The relevance of tRNA regulation in cell physiology is emphasized by the recent discovery that these molecules and their derived fragments are deregulated in cancer. Not only tRNA biology imbalance is associated to malignant transformation, but it also actively participates in it. These alterations occur at multiple levels of tRNA biology, such as expression, nucleoside modification and fragmentation, but many open questions remain unanswered. Cancer- specific tRNA deregulation is a very new and still unexplored discipline, and further studies are required to fully understand the molecular mechanisms that account for these alterations and their relevance in tumor biology. Because alterations in DNA methylation constitute a frequent mechanism by which transformed cells acquire their malignant characteristics, the cornerstone of this thesis is the description of epigenetic lesions that support the cancer-associated tRNA deregulation. To this end, we have designed and performed two independent studies to unveil the epigenetic regulation of tRNA biology in cancer. In the first study, we highlighted the tumor-specific epigenetic silencing of TYW2 as a mechanism to induce tRNAPhe hypomodification at position 37, a phenomenon that was observed for the first time more than forty years ago but whose cause and consequences have remained obscure. Our results established the connection between this epigenetic defect and a phenotype that enhances -1 ribosome frameshifting events to ultimately confer increased migratory capacities and mesenchymal features to the transformed colon cells. In the second study, we established a founded connection between cancer-associated DNA methylation defects with alterations in the expression of specific tRNAs. Our analyses also revealed that the oncogenic tRNA-Arg-TCT-4-1 overexpression in endometrial cancer was guided by DNA hypomethylation. Most importantly from the clinical perspective, the epigenetic alterations identified in both studies can anticipate the patients’ outcome, for which they may serve as biomarkers to allow the identification of high-risk patients that may benefit from a more comprehensive surveillance or complementary therapeutic strategies.[cat] Els ARN de transferència (tRNAs) són d’una importància clau en la regulació de la síntesi proteica i l’expressió gènica. La seva rellevància en la fisiologia cel·lular es veu reforçada pel descobriment que aquestes molècules i els seus derivats estan alterats en patologies com el càncer, on contribueixen activament. Les alteracions dels tRNAs en càncer suposen una nova disciplina d’estudi on encara moltes preguntes romanen obertes per tal d’arribar a comprendre quines són les causes d’aquestes defectes i quin impacte tenen sobre la malaltia. Aquesta tesi té com objectiu identificar i caracteritzar alteracions en la metilació de l’ADN subjacents als desequilibris en la biologia dels tRNAs de les cèl·lules tumorals. En el primer estudi, hem descobert el silenciament epigenètic de l’enzim TYW2 en càncer colorectal com a causa de la hipomodificació del tRNAPhe, un fenomen que va ser descrit per primer cop fa més de quaranta anys però les causes i conseqüències del qual no van ser mai estudiades. Els nostres resultats estableixen una clara connexió entre aquest defecte epigenètic i un fenotip que és propens a potencial el frameshift dels ribosomes, cosa que augmenta la capacitat migratòria de les cèl·lules de càncer de colon. El segon estudi ha servit per caracteritzar la relació entre els canvis en la metilació de l’ADN i les alteracions en l’expressió dels tRNAs en càncer. Els nostres resultats han revelat que l’expressió de tRNA-Arg-TCT-4-1 augmenta en càncer d’endometri arrel de la hipometilació del seu gen. Més enllà d’aquests dos mecanismes epigenètics per modular la biologia dels tRNAs, els nostres estudis estableixen una connexió entre aquestes lesions epigenètiques i la prognosi dels pacients amb certs tipus de tumor, per la qual cosa podrien proposar-se com biomarcadors per identificar pacients de risc

Epigenetic loss of the transfer RNA-modifying enzyme TYW2 induces ribosome frameshifts in colon cancer

Altres ajuts: Funding for this research was provided by the Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer Scientific Foundation (Accelerator Award A26825); and the Olga Torres Foundation.Transfer RNA (tRNA) activity is tightly regulated to provide a physiological protein translation, and tRNA chemical modifications control its function in a complex with ribosomes and messenger RNAs (mRNAs). In this regard, the correct hypermodification of position G37 of phenylalanine-tRNA, adjacent to the anticodon, is critical to prevent ribosome frameshifting events. Here we report that the tRNA-yW Synthesizing Protein 2 (TYW2) undergoes promoter hypermethylation-associated transcriptional silencing in human cancer, particularly in colorectal tumors. The epigenetic loss of TYW2 induces guanosine hypomodification in phenylalanine-tRNA, an increase in -1 ribosome frameshift events, and down-regulation of transcripts by mRNA decay, such as of the key cancer gene ROBO1. Importantly, TYW2 epigenetic inactivation is linked to poor overall survival in patients with early-stage colorectal cancer, a finding that could be related to the observed acquisition of enhanced migration properties and epithelial-to-mesenchymal features in the colon cancer cells that harbor TYW2 DNA methylation-associated loss. These findings provide an illustrative example of how epigenetic changes can modify the epitranscriptome and further support a role for tRNA modifications in cancer biology