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Abstract Background The product of the retinoblastoma-susceptibility gene (pRb) is a substrate for Protein Phosphatase 1 (PP1). At mitotic exit, all three PP1 isoforms, α, γ1 and δ, bind to pRb and dephosphorylate its Ser/Thr sites in a sequential and site-specific way. The pRb-C terminal has been reported to be necessary and sufficient for PP1α binding. The present study investigated whether the three PP1 isoforms from mitotic or asynchronous HeLa cells associate differentially with wild-type and pRb mutants, as well as the holoenzyme composition of the pRb-directed PP1. Results The requirement for the entire pRb molecule to achieve optimal PP1-binding was indicated by the fact that full-length pRb displayed the highest affinity for all three PP1 isoforms. Ser/Thr-to-Ala substitution for up to 14 pRb sites did not affect the ability of pRb to bind the PP1 isoforms derived from mitotic or asynchronous HeLa cells, thus suggesting that the phosphate-accepting residues on pRb do not regulate the interaction with PP1. To probe for the presence of PP1 targeting subunits in the pRb-directed PP1 complex, PP1 from mitotic or asynchronous HeLa cells was isolated by affinity chromatography on GST-Rb (either full-length or its deletion mutants Rb-big pocket or Rb-C-terminal). The PP1 was always obtained as free catalytic subunit, displaying all three isoforms, thus suggesting direct interaction between pRb and PP1. The direct association was confirmed by the ability of pRb to pull-down purified PP1 catalytic subunits and by in vitro reconstitution of a complex between PP1 catalytic subunit and the pRb-C-terminal. Conclusion The work indicated that the full length of the pRb molecule is required for optimal interaction with the PP1 isoforms and that the association between pRb and PP1 isoforms is direct.

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is an aggressive sarcoma subtype that is driven by the EWS-WT1 chimeric transcription factor. The prognosis for DSRCT is poor, and major advances in treating DSRCT have not occurred for over two decades. To identify effective therapeutic approaches to target DSRCT, we conducted a high-throughput drug sensitivity screen in a DSRCT cell line assessing chemosensitivity profiles for 79 small-molecule inhibitors. DSRCT cells were sensitive to PARP inhibitors (PARPi) and ataxia-telangiectasia and Rad3-related inhibitors (ATRi), as monotherapies and in combination. These effects were recapitulated using multiple clinical PARPi and ATRi in three biologically distinct, clinically relevant models of DSRCT, including cell lines, a patient-derived xenograft-derived organoid model, and a cell line-derived xenograft mouse model. Mechanistically, exposure to a combination of PARPi and ATRi caused increased DNA damage, G2-M checkpoint activation, micronuclei accumulation, replication stress, and R-loop formation. EWS-WT1 silencing abrogated these phenotypes and was epistatic with exogenous expression of the R-loop resolution enzyme RNase H1 in reversing sensitivity to PARPi and ATRi monotherapies. The combination of PARPi and ATRi also induced EWS-WT1-dependent cell-autonomous activation of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of IFN genes innate immune pathway and cell-surface expression of PD-L1. Taken together, these findings point toward a role for EWS-WT1 in generating R-loop-dependent replication stress that leads to a targetable vulnerability, providing a rationale for the clinical assessment of PARPi and ATRi in DSRCT. Significance: EWS-WT1, the unique oncogenic driver of desmoplastic small round cell tumors, confers sensitivity to PARP and ATR inhibitors, supporting the potential of these drugs in treating patients with this aggressive sarcoma subtype., (©2024 The Authors; Published by the American Association for Cancer Research.)

The role of endothelial cells in promoting cancer cell extravasation to the brain during the interaction of cancer cells with the vasculature is not well characterised. We show that brain endothelial cells activate EGFR signalling in triple-negative breast cancer cells with propensity to metastasise to the brain. This activation is dependent on soluble factors secreted by brain endothelial cells, and occurs via the RAC1 GEF DOCK4, which is required for breast cancer cell extravasation to the brain in vivo. Knockdown of DOCK4 inhibits breast cancer cell entrance to the brain without affecting cancer cell survival or growth. Defective extravasation is associated with loss of elongated morphology preceding intercalation into brain endothelium. We also show that brain endothelial cells promote paracrine stimulation of mesenchymal-like morphology of breast cancer cells via DOCK4, DOCK9, RAC1 and CDC42. This stimulation is accompanied by EGFR activation necessary for brain metastatic breast cancer cell elongation which can be reversed by the EGFR inhibitor Afatinib. Our findings suggest that brain endothelial cells promote metastasis through activation of cell signalling that renders breast cancer cells competent for extravasation. This represents a paradigm of brain endothelial cells influencing the signalling and metastatic competency of breast cancer cells., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Loss-of-function mutations in the RB1 tumour suppressor are key drivers in cancer, including osteosarcoma. RB1 loss-of-function compromises genome-maintenance and hence could yield vulnerability to therapeutics targeting such processes. Here we demonstrate selective hypersensitivity to clinically-approved inhibitors of Poly-ADP-Polymerase1,2 inhibitors (PARPi) in RB1-defective cancer cells, including an extended panel of osteosarcoma-derived lines. PARPi treatment results in extensive cell death in RB1-defective backgrounds and prolongs survival of mice carrying human RB1-defective osteosarcoma grafts. PARPi sensitivity is not associated with canonical homologous recombination defect (HRd) signatures that predict PARPi sensitivity in cancers with BRCA1,2 loss, but is accompanied by rapid activation of DNA replication checkpoint signalling, and active DNA replication is a prerequisite for sensitivity. Importantly, sensitivity in backgrounds with natural or engineered RB1 loss surpasses that seen in BRCA-mutated backgrounds where PARPi have established clinical benefit. Our work provides evidence that PARPi sensitivity extends beyond cancers identifiable by HRd and advocates PARP1,2 inhibition as a personalised strategy for RB1-mutated osteosarcoma and other cancers., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Cellular senescence is a stable cell cycle arrest that normal cells undergo after a finite number of divisions, in response to a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli. Although senescence is largely established and maintained by the p53/p21 WAF1/CIP1 and pRB/p16 INK4A tumour suppressor pathways, the downstream targets responsible for the stability of the growth arrest are not known. We have employed a stable senescence bypass assay in conditionally immortalised human breast fibroblasts (CL3 EcoR ) to investigate the role of the DREAM complex and its associated components in senescence. DREAM is a multi-subunit complex comprised of the MuvB core, containing LIN9, LIN37, LIN52, LIN54, and RBBP4, that when bound to p130, an RB1 like protein, and E2F4 inhibits cell cycle-dependent gene expression thereby arresting cell division. Phosphorylation of LIN52 at Serine 28 is required for DREAM assembly. Re-entry into the cell cycle upon phosphorylation of p130 leads to disruption of the DREAM complex and the MuvB core, associating initially to B-MYB and later to FOXM1 to form MMB and MMB-FOXM1 complexes respectively. Here we report that simultaneous expression of MMB-FOXM1 complex components efficiently bypasses senescence with LIN52, B-MYB, and FOXM1 as the crucial components. Moreover, bypass of senescence requires non-phosphorylated LIN52 that disrupts the DREAM complex, thereby indicating a central role for assembly of the DREAM complex in senescence., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

To avoid replicative senescence or telomere-induced apoptosis, cancers employ telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMMs) involving either the upregulation of telomerase or the acquisition of recombination-based alternative telomere lengthening (ALT). The choice of TMM may differentially influence cancer evolution and be exploitable in targeted therapies. Here, we examine TMMs in a panel of 17 osteosarcoma-derived cell lines, defining three separate groups according to TMM and the length of telomeres maintained. Eight were ALT-positive, including the previously uncharacterized lines, KPD and LM7. While ALT-positive lines all showed excessive telomere length, ALT-negative cell lines fell into two groups according to their telomere length: HOS-MNNG, OHSN, SJSA-1, HAL, 143b, and HOS displayed subnormally short telomere length, while MG-63, MHM, and HuO-3N1 displayed long telomeres. Hence, we further subcategorized ALT-negative TMM into long-telomere (LT) and short-telomere (ST) maintenance groups. Importantly, subnormally short telomeres were significantly associated with hypersensitivity to three different therapeutics targeting the protein kinase ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) (AZD-6738/Ceralasertib, VE-822/Berzoserib, and BAY-1895344) compared to long telomeres maintained via ALT or telomerase. Within 24 h of ATR inhibition, cells with short but not long telomeres displayed chromosome bridges and underwent cell death, indicating a selective dependency on ATR for chromosome stability. Collectively, our work provides a resource to identify links between the mode of telomere maintenance and drug sensitivity in osteosarcoma and indicates that telomere length predicts ATR inhibitor sensitivity in cancer., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2020 American Chemical Society.)

Deregulation of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) is highly prevalent in cancer; yet, inhibitors against these kinases are currently used only in restricted tumour contexts. The extent to which cancers depend on CDK4/6 and the mechanisms that may undermine such dependency are poorly understood. Here, we report that signalling engaging the MET proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase/focal adhesion kinase (FAK) axis leads to CDK4/6-independent CDK2 activation, involving as critical mechanistic events loss of the CDKI p21 CIP1 and gain of its regulator, the ubiquitin ligase subunit SKP2. Combined inhibition of MET/FAK and CDK4/6 eliminates the proliferation capacity of cancer cells in culture, and enhances tumour growth inhibition in vivo. Activation of the MET/FAK axis is known to arise through cancer extrinsic and intrinsic cues. Our work predicts that such cues support cell division independent of the activity of the cell cycle-regulating CDK4/6 kinases and identifies MET/FAK as a tractable route to broaden the utility of CDK4/6 inhibitor-based therapies in the clinic.

Loss of retinoblastoma protein (RB1) function is a major driver in cancer development. We have recently reported that, in addition to its well-documented functions in cell cycle and fate control, RB1 and its paralogs have a novel role in regulating DNA repair by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Here we summarize our findings and present mechanistic hypotheses on how RB1 may support the DNA repair process and the therapeutic implications for patients who harbor RB1-negative cancers.

Deficiencies in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair lead to genetic instability, a recognized cause of cancer initiation and evolution. We report that the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (RB1) is required for DNA DSB repair by canonical non-homologous end-joining (cNHEJ). Support of cNHEJ involves a mechanism independent of RB1's cell-cycle function and depends on its amino terminal domain with which it binds to NHEJ components XRCC5 and XRCC6. Cells with engineered loss of RB family function as well as cancer-derived cells with mutational RB1 loss show substantially reduced levels of cNHEJ. RB1 variants disabled for the interaction with XRCC5 and XRCC6, including a cancer-associated variant, are unable to support cNHEJ despite being able to confer cell-cycle control. Our data identify RB1 loss as a candidate driver of structural genomic instability and a causative factor for cancer somatic heterogeneity and evolution., (Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The retinoblastoma susceptibility protein RB1 is a key regulator of cell proliferation and fate. RB1 operates through nucleating the formation of multi-component protein complexes involved in the regulation of gene transcription, chromatin structure and protein stability. Phosphorylation of RB1 by cyclin-dependent kinases leads to conformational alterations and inactivates the capability of RB1 to bind partner protein. Using small angle X-ray scattering in combination with single particle analysis of transmission electron microscope images of negative-stained material we present the first three-dimensional reconstruction of non-phosphorylated RB1 revealing an extended architecture and deduce the domain arrangement within the molecule. Phosphorylation results in an overt alteration of the molecular shape and dimensions, consistent with the transition to a compact globular architecture. The work presented provides what is to our knowledge the first description of the relative domain arrangement in active RB1 and predicts the molecular movement that leads to RB1 inactivation following protein phosphorylation.

Background: The tripartite motif family protein 27 (TRIM27) is a transcriptional repressor that interacts with, and attenuates senescence induction by, the retinoblastoma-associated protein (RB1). High expression of TRIM27 was noted in several human cancer types including breast and endometrial cancer, where elevated TRIM27 expression predicts poor prognosis. Here, we investigated the role of TRIM27 expression in cancer development., Methods: We assessed TRIM27 expression in human cancer using cancer profiling arrays containing paired tumor and normal cRNA (n = 261) as well as in murine skin cancer induced by 7, 12-dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA)/12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). We generated mice with disrupted expression of murine TRIM27 (Trim27(-/-)) and assessed their susceptibility to DMBA/TPA-induced skin tumor development compared with isogenic littermates (n = 26 mice per group). We assessed the effect of Trim27 loss on senescence propensity in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) by quantifying cell proliferation alongside senescence markers (senescence-associated β-galactosidase [SA-β-gal] activity and hypertrophic cell morphology). The contribution of RB1 on senescence and cancer susceptibility (n > 20 mice per group) in Trim27(-/-) backgrounds was also assessed. Data were analyzed using the Student's t, χ(2), or log-rank test as indicated. All statistical tests were two-sided., Results: TRIM27 transcript levels are statistically significantly increased in common human cancers, including colon and lung, vs normal tissues (TRIM27 expression relative to ubiquitin: cancers vs normal tissues, mean = 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.55 to 0.63 vs mean = 0.46, 95% CI =0.43 to 0.49, P < .001) as well as in chemically induced mouse skin cancer compared with matched normal tissue (Trim27 expression relative to Gapdh control: tumor vs normal skin, mean = 4.2, 95% CI = 3.97 to 4.43 vs mean = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.69 to 1.2, P < .001). Trim27(-/-) mice (n = 14) were resistant to chemically induced skin cancer development (eight [57.2%] of 14 mice were tumor free) compared with Trim27(+/+) wild-type littermates (n = 13) (one [7.7%] of 13 mice was tumor free). Trim27(-/-) MEFs show enhanced senescence propensity in response to replicative (percentage of SA-β-gal-positive cells: Trim27(+/+) MEFs vs Trim27(-/-) MEFs, mean = 14.2%, 95% CI = 11.1% to 17.4% vs mean = 53.3%, 95% CI = 48.7% to 57.9%, P < .001) or oncogenic stress (percentage of SA-β-gal-positive cells: Trim27(+/+) MEFs + Ras vs Trim27(-/-) MEFs + Ras, mean = 24.0%, 95% CI = 19.9% to 28.1% vs mean = 37.3%, 95% CI = 32.2% to 42.4%, P < .05) compared with Trim27(+/+) MEFs. These responses were alleviated following inactivation of murine RB1 (Rb1). Furthermore, Trim27(-/-) mice are not protected from cancers arising as a consequence of Rb1 deletion (median survival: Trim27(-/-)Rb(+/-) vs Trim27(+/+)Rb(+/-), 14 vs 13 months; difference = 1.0 month, 95% CI = 0.5 to 1.6 months, P = .14)., Conclusion: TRIM27 expression is a modifier of disease incidence and progression relevant to the development of common human cancers and is a potential target for intervention in cancer.

DNA damage activates checkpoint controls which block progression of cells through the division cycle. Several different checkpoints exist that control transit at different positions in the cell cycle. A role for checkpoint activation in providing resistance of cells to genotoxic anticancer therapy, including chemotherapy and ionizing radiation, is widely recognized. Although the core molecular functions that execute different damage activated checkpoints are known, the signals that control checkpoint activation are far from understood. We used a kinome-spanning RNA interference screen to delineate signalling required for radiation-mediated retinoblastoma protein activation, the recognized executor of G(1) checkpoint control. Our results corroborate the involvement of the p53 tumour suppressor (TP53) and its downstream targets p21(CIP1/WAF1) but infer lack of involvement of canonical double strand break (DSB) recognition known for its role in activating TP53 in damaged cells. Instead our results predict signalling involving the known TP53 phosphorylating kinase PRPK/TP53RK and the JNK/p38MAPK activating kinase STK4/MST1, both hitherto unrecognised for their contribution to DNA damage G1 checkpoint signalling. Our results further predict a network topology whereby induction of p21(CIP1/WAF1) is required but not sufficient to elicit checkpoint activation. Our experiments document a role of the kinases identified in radiation protection proposing their pharmacological inhibition as a potential strategy to increase radiation sensitivity in proliferating cancer cells.

Human cancers often contain genetic alterations that disable G1/S checkpoint control and loss of this checkpoint is thought to critically contribute to cancer generation by permitting inappropriate proliferation and distorting fate-driven cell cycle exit. The identification of cell permeable small molecules that activate the G1/S checkpoint may therefore represent a broadly applicable and clinically effective strategy for the treatment of cancer. Here we describe the identification of several novel small molecules that trigger G1/S checkpoint activation and characterise the mechanism of action for one, CCT020312, in detail. Transcriptional profiling by cDNA microarray combined with reverse genetics revealed phosphorylation of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2-alpha (EIF2A) through the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2-alpha kinase 3 (EIF2AK3/PERK) as the mechanism of action of this compound. While EIF2AK3/PERK activation classically follows endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signalling that sets off a range of different cellular responses, CCT020312 does not trigger these other cellular responses but instead selectively elicits EIF2AK3/PERK signalling. Phosphorylation of EIF2A by EIF2A kinases is a known means to block protein translation and hence restriction point transit in G1, but further supports apoptosis in specific contexts. Significantly, EIF2AK3/PERK signalling has previously been linked to the resistance of cancer cells to multiple anticancer chemotherapeutic agents, including drugs that target the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway and taxanes. Consistent with such findings CCT020312 sensitizes cancer cells with defective taxane-induced EIF2A phosphorylation to paclitaxel treatment. Our work therefore identifies CCT020312 as a novel small molecule chemical tool for the selective activation of EIF2A-mediated translation control with utility for proof-of-concept applications in EIF2A-centered therapeutic approaches, and as a chemical starting point for pathway selective agent development. We demonstrate that consistent with its mode of action CCT020312 is capable of delivering potent, and EIF2AK3 selective, proliferation control and can act as a sensitizer to chemotherapy-associated stresses as elicited by taxanes.

Cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) complexes are critical regulators of cellular proliferation. A complex network of regulatory mechanisms has evolved to control their activity, including activating and inactivating phosphorylation of the catalytic CDK subunit and inhibition through specific regulatory proteins. Primate herpesviruses, including the oncogenic Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus, encode cyclin D homologues. Viral cyclins have diverged from their cellular progenitor in that they elicit holoenzyme activity independent of activating phosphorylation by the CDK-activating kinase and resistant to inhibition by CDK inhibitors. Using sequence comparison and site-directed mutagenesis, we performed molecular analysis of the cellular cyclin D and the Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus-cyclin to delineate the molecular mechanisms behind their different behavior. This provides evidence that a surface recognized for its involvement in the docking of CIP/KIP inhibitors is required and sufficient to modulate cyclin-CDK response to a range of regulatory cues, including INK4 sensitivity and CDK-activating kinase dependence. Importantly, amino acids in this region are critically linked to substrate selection, suggesting that a mutational drift in this surface simultaneously affects function and regulation. Together our work provides novel insight into the molecular mechanisms governing cyclin-CDK function and regulation and defines the biological forces that may have driven evolution of viral cyclins.

The retinoblastoma susceptibility protein, Rb, has a key role in regulating cell-cycle progression via interactions involving the central "pocket" and C-terminal regions. While the N-terminal domain of Rb is dispensable for this function, it is nonetheless strongly conserved and harbors missense mutations found in hereditary retinoblastoma, indicating that disruption of its function is oncogenic. The crystal structure of the Rb N-terminal domain (RbN), reveals a globular entity formed by two rigidly connected cyclin-like folds. The similarity of RbN to the A and B boxes of the Rb pocket domain suggests that Rb evolved through domain duplication. Structural and functional analysis provides insight into oncogenicity of mutations in RbN and identifies a unique phosphorylation-regulated site of protein interaction. Additionally, this analysis suggests a coherent conformation for the Rb holoprotein in which RbN and pocket domains directly interact, and which can be modulated through ligand binding and possibly Rb phosphorylation.

The protein kinase Chk2 (checkpoint kinase 2) is a major effector of the replication checkpoint. Chk2 activation is initiated by phosphorylation of Thr68, in the serine-glutamine/threonine-glutamine cluster domain (SCD), by ATM. The phosphorylated SCD-segment binds to the FHA domain of a second Chk2 molecule, promoting dimerisation of the protein and triggering phosphorylation of the activation segment/T-loop in the kinase domain. We have now determined the structure of the kinase domain of human Chk2 in complexes with ADP and a small-molecule inhibitor debromohymenialdisine. The structure reveals a remarkable dimeric arrangement in which T-loops are exchanged between protomers, to form an active kinase conformation in trans. Biochemical data suggest that this dimer is the biologically active state promoted by ATM-phosphorylation, and also suggests a mechanism for dimerisation-driven activation of Chk2 by trans-phosphorylation.

Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV) encodes a D-like cyclin (K-cyclin) that is thought to contribute to the viral oncogenicity. K-cyclin activates cellular cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) 4 and 6, generating enzymes with a substrate selectivity deviant from CDK4 and CDK6 activated by D-type cyclins, suggesting different biochemical and biological functions. Here we report the identification of the actin- and calmodulin-binding protein caldesmon (CALD1) as a novel K-cyclin.CDK substrate, which is not phosphorylated by D.CDK. CALD1 plays a central role in the regulation of microfilament organization, consequently controlling cell shape, adhesion, cytokinesis and motility. K-cyclin.CDK6 specifically phosphorylates four Ser/Thr sites in the human CALD1 carboxyl terminus, abolishing CALD1 binding to its effector protein, actin, and its regulator protein, calmodulin. CALD1 is hyperphosphorylated in cells following K-cyclin expression and in KSHV-transformed lymphoma cells. Moreover, expression of exogenous K-cyclin results in microfilament loss and changes in cell morphology; both effects are reliant on CDK catalysis and can be reversed by the expression of a phosphorylation defective CALD1. Together, these data strongly suggest that K-cyclin expression modulates the activity of caldesmon and through this the microfilament functions in cells. These results establish a novel link between KSHV infection and the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton.

The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (Rb) affects gene transcription both negatively and positively and through this regulates distinct cellular responses. Although cell cycle regulation requires gene repression, Rb's ability to promote differentiation and part of its antiproliferative activity appears to rely on the activation of gene transcription. We present evidence here that the RET finger protein (RFP)/tripartite motif protein 27 (TRIM 27) inhibits gene transcription activation by Rb but does not affect gene repression. RFP binds to Rb and prevents the degradation of the EID-1 inhibitor of histone acetylation and differentiation. Furthermore, ablation of RFP in U2OS osteosarcoma cells augments a transcriptional program indicative of lineage-specific differentiation in response to Rb. These findings provide precedent for a regulatory pathway that uncouples different Rb-dependent activities and thus silences specific cellular responses to Rb in a selective way.

Adult newt cardiomyocytes, in contrast to their mammalian counterparts, can proliferate after injury and contribute to the functional regeneration of the heart. In order to understand the mechanisms underlying this plasticity we performed longitudinal studies on single cardiomyocytes in culture. We find that the majority of cardiomyocytes can enter S phase, a process that occurs in response to serum-activated pathways and is dependent on the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein. However, more than half of these cells stably arrest at either entry to mitosis or during cytokinesis, thus resembling the behaviour observed in mammalian cardiomyocytes. Approximately a third of the cells progress through mitosis and may enter successive cell divisions. When cardiomyocytes divided more than once, the proliferative behaviour of sister cells was significantly correlated, in terms of whether they underwent a subsequent cell cycle, and if so, the duration of that cycle. These observations suggest a mechanism whereby newt heart regeneration depends on the retention of proliferative potential in a subset of cardiomyocytes. The regulation of the remaining newt cardiomyocytes is similar to that described for their mammalian counterparts, as they arrest during mitosis or cytokinesis. Understanding the nature of this block and why it arises in some but not other newt cardiomyocytes may lead to an augmentation of the regenerative potential in the mammalian heart.

The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (pRb) regulates the cell cycle, facilitates differentiation, and restrains apoptosis. Furthermore, dysfunctional pRb is thought to be involved in the development of most human malignancies. Many of the functions of pRb are mediated by its regulation of the E2F transcription factors. To understand the structural basis for this regulation, we have determined the crystal structure of a fragment of E2F in complex with the pocket domain of the tumor suppressor protein. The pRb pocket, comprising the A and B cyclin-like domains, is the major focus of tumourigenic mutations in the protein. The fragment of E2F used in our structural studies, residues 409-426 of E2F-1, represents the core of the pRb-binding region of the transcription factor. The structure shows that E2F binds at the interface of the A and B domains of the pocket making extensive interactions with conserved residues from both. We show by solution studies that a second site, probably contained within the "marked box" region of E2F, is responsible for additional interactions with the pRb pocket but is insufficient for complex formation on its own. In addition, we show that the interaction of the core binding fragment of E2F with pRb is inhibited by phosphorylation of the tumor suppressor protein by CDK2cyclin DE. Finally, our data reveal that the tight binding of the human papillomavirus E7 oncoprotein to pRb prevents subsequent interactions with the marked box region of E2F but not with its core binding region.

Activation of the retinoblastoma (RB) protein through dephosphorylation arises in cells upon exit from M phase and in response to environmental stresses, including DNA damage. We provide here for the first time evidence that these responses are co-ordinately affected in a subset of tumor derived cell lines. We find that RB dephosphorylation is not apparent in these cells during progression into G(1). Importantly these cells also do not respond with RB activation after DNA damage during S phase. Moreover and as a consequence they display phenotypes classically associated with RB(-) cells, showing accelerated apoptosis after DNA damage and DNA re-replication after spindle-checkpoint activation. A large body of literature provides evidence that controls governing inactivation of RB are lost in tumors. The results presented here indicate that the reverse reaction, namely the activation of RB from an inactive precursor, may also be compromised. Our findings indicate that this type of defect may be coupled with hypersensitivity to DNA damage and an increase in genomic instability in response to spindle-checkpoint activation thus bearing potentially important medical implications.

The Kaposi's Sarcoma associated Herpes virus (KSHV) encodes two genes with the potential to affect the activity of the retinoblastoma protein (Rb). Open reading frame (orf) 72 encodes a D type cyclin (kcyc) that can elicit p16INK4a resistant cdk activity and orf73 encodes the latency associated nuclear antigen (LNA) that can bind Rb and neutralize E2F regulation. This indicates that, like papilloma and adenovirus associated malignancies, those associated with KSHV are defective with respect to their Rb pathway. To address this we investigated whether KSHV associated primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) derived cell lines are resistant to growth inhibition by p16INK4a. We provide evidence that ectopic expression of p16INK4a in these cells causes an Rb dependent G1 cell cycle block. Importantly, endogenous p16INK4a expression is not detected in six PEL derived cell lines and four primary PEL samples and examination of the p16INK4a locus shows deletion in two out of six and hypermethylation in four out of six PEL lines. Treatment of the latter with the demethylating agent 5'-aza-2' deoxycytidine leads to re-expression of p16INK4a protein. Taken together these results suggest that p16INK4a loss may be a cellular change frequently associated with PEL. They furthermore argue that despite the presence of KSHV DNA and expression of a latent gene program Rb function is intact in PEL.

pRb is dephosphorylated at mitotic exit by the type 1 serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PP1). Here we demonstrate for the first time that mitotic pRb dephosphorylation is a sequential, temporally-regulated event. We also provide evidence that the three mammalian isoforms of PP1, alpha, gamma-1, and delta, differ in their respective preferences for site-specific pRb dephosphorylation and that the mitotic and G(1) PP1-isoform counterparts exhibit differential activities towards mitotic pRb. Finally, the physiological relevance of the striking contrast between the patterns of Thr821 and Thr826 dephosphorylation, sites known to be important for disrupting binding of LXCXE-containing proteins to pRb, is addressed.

The human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8/KSHV), along with certain other herpesviruses, encodes a gene with cyclin homology. Although the functional significance of the encoded cyclin is not clear at present, various lines of evidence propose a role for this cyclin in latently infected cells and possibly in the induction of tumors that arise in HHV8-infected individuals. We provide evidence here that the cyclin protein is expressed in HHV8 positive primary effusion lymphoma (PEL)-derived cell lines and that its level of expression varies greatly between different lines. Our analysis indicates that the level of cyclin protein expression in different PEL cell lines may correlate with the level of transcript expression during latency but not in cells induced to undergo lytic replication. In highly expressing BC-3 cells the cyclin is complexed with cdk6, cdk4, cdk2, and cdk5 under both latent and lytic conditions, although subtle changes in the level of cdk association are seen after induction of the lytic cycle. Altogether our findings support the notion that the cyclin is a latency-associated gene product expressed in PEL tumor cells. They furthermore indicate that after lytic cycle induction, the level of cyclin transcript expression may not be a reliable indicator for the level of cyclin protein expression., (Copyright 2000 Academic Press.)

The product of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene, pRB, is a demonstrated substrate for the type 1 serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PP1). Curiously, there has been a paucity of data supporting the idea that phosphorylated pRB can be found in a complex with PP1. To more fully characterize the association between these two proteins, we utilized a PP1-affinity chromatography approach to increase our ability to capture from mammalian cell lysate populations of pRB capable of binding to PP1. Western blot analysis of the bound proteins indicates that both faster migrating, hypophosphorylated pRB, as well as slower migrating, hyperphosphorylated pRB can bind. Phosphorylated pRB binding was confirmed by immunoprecipitation of eluted 32P-labeled pRB. In addition, Western blotting of eluted proteins with pRB phosphorylated-site-specific antibodies revealed select phosphorylated forms of pRB binding to PP1. Similar binding studies performed with toxin-inhibited PP1 indicate that catalytic activity of PP1 is not required for pRB binding. The significance of this finding with respect to the functional importance of this interaction is discussed.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV-8) is the likely infectious cause of Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma, and some cases of multicentric Castleman's disease. Its latent nuclear antigen (LANA) is expressed in the nuclei of latently infected cells and may play a role in the persistence of episomal viral DNA in dividing cells. Here we report that LANA interacts with RING3, a nuclear protein and member of the Drosophila fsh (female sterile homeotic) family of proteins, some of which have previously been implicated in controlling gene expression. Binding of RING3 to LANA involves the ET domain, characteristic of fsh-related proteins, suggesting that this highly conserved region is involved in protein-protein interactions. The interaction between RING3 and LANA results in phosphorylation of serine and threonine residues located between amino acids 951 and 1107 in the carboxy-terminal region of LANA. However, RING3 is not itself a kinase but appears to recruit an as yet unidentified serine/threonine protein kinase into the complex which it forms with LANA.

Lack of detectable expression of p27kip1 cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor has previously been correlated with high degree of malignancy in human breast, colorectal, gastric and small cell lung carcinomas. Here we demonstrate that an inverse correlation between p27kip1 expression and tumour malignancy also exists in most types of human B cell lymphomas examined. A clear exception was Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), a highly malignant tumour which often expresses high levels of p27kip1. Analysis of p27kip1 derived from Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines expressing high levels of p27kip1, BL40 and BL41, in a cyclin E/cdk2 kinase inhibition assay demonstrated that p27kip1 is not permanently inactivated since heat treatment can restore the inhibitory activity of p27kip1. However, p27kip1 expressed in these two cell lines is largely sequestered in inactive complexes and we have no evidence that c-myc or Epstein-Barr virus are responsible for the sequestration of p27kip1 in these two cell lines although c-myc and EBV are two oncogenic agents often associated with Burkitt's lymphomas. Interestingly, we observed that high level p27kip1 expression often correlated with cyclin D3 overexpression both in vivo and in BL cell lines. The majority of p27kip1 in BL40 cells was complexed with cyclin D3 indicating that overexpressed cyclin D3 may at least be part of the sequestering activity for the inhibitory function of p27kip1. Furthermore, cyclinD3/cdk4 complex could sequester p27kip1 in a cyclin E/cdk2 kinase assay in vitro. Finally, we show that cyclin D3 transfected into an inducible p27kip1 cell line could overcome the G1 arrest mediated by p27kip1. These results argue that in addition to down-regulation of p27kip1 expression, some tumour cells can sequester and tolerate the antiproliferative function of p27kip1. They also suggest a novel role for the overexpression of D-type cyclins as one pathway allowing tumour cells to overcome the antiproliferative function of p27kip1.