SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Cell Cycle Checkpoints”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

SV40 and cell cycle perturbations in malignant mesothelioma.

Although epidemiological findings have established that exposure to asbestos fibers is the major cause of malignant mesothelioma (MM), recent studies have implicated simian virus 40 (SV40) in the etiology of some of these tumors. Cytogenetic and molecular genetic evidence suggests that multiple somatic genetic events are required for tumorigenic conversion of a mesothelial cell. As with many other types of cancer, in MM critical oncogenic events exert their action via perturbations of the cell cycle. Interactions between the retinoblastoma (Rb) family of proteins and oncoproteins encoded by SV40 lead to cell cycle alterations. Likewise, inhibition of the p53 tumor suppressor by SV40 can inactivate a crucial cell cycle checkpoint, thereby permitting cells to undergo mitosis regardless of the presence of DNA damage. Many MMs exhibit loss and/or inactivation of the tumor suppressors p16(INK4a)and p14(ARF), components of the pRb and p53 cell cycle regulatory pathways, respectively. Recent investigations have demonstrated that SV40 large T antigen, isolated from frozen biopsies of human MM specimens, binds to and inactivates various tumor suppressor gene products such as pRb and p53. In this review, we discuss how SV40-oncosuppressor interactions can lead to functional alterations of the pRb- and p53-dependent cell cycle regulatory pathways and thereby contribute to neoplastic transformation of human mesothelial cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Distinct patterns of cleavage and translocation of cell cycle control proteins in CD95-induced and p53-induced apoptosis.

Apoptotic cell death induced by p53 occurs at a late G1 cell cycle checkpoint termed the restriction (R) point, and it has been proposed that p53-induced apoptosis causes upregulation of CD95. However, as cells with defective in CD95 signaling pathway are still sensitive to p53-induced apoptosis, CD95 cannot be the sole factor resulting in apoptosis. In addition, unlike p53-induced apoptosis, the relationship between CD95-mediated apoptosis and the cell cycle is not clearly understood. It would therefore be worth investigating whether CD95-mediated cell death is pertinent with p53-induced apoptosis in view of cell cycle related molecules. In this report, biochemical analysis showed that etoposide-induced apoptosis caused the induction and the nuclear translocation of effector molecules involved in G1 cell cycle checkpoint. However, there was no such translocation in the case of CD95-mediated death. Thus, although both types of apoptosis involved caspase activation, the cell cycle related proteins responded differently. This argues against the idea that p53-induced apoptosis occurs through the induction of CD95/CD95L expression.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

PubMed2002

MRK, a mixed lineage kinase-related molecule that plays a role in gamma-radiation-induced cell cycle arrest.

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways are three-kinase modules that mediate diverse cellular processes and have been highly conserved among eukaryotes. By using a functional complementation screen in yeast, we have identified a human MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) that shares homology with members of the mixed lineage kinase (MLK) family and therefore was called MRK (MLK-related kinase). We report the structure of the MRK gene, from which are generated two splice forms of MRK, MRK-alpha and MRK-beta, encoding for proteins of 800 and 456 amino acids, respectively. By using a combination of solid phase protein kinase assays, transient transfections in cells, and analysis of endogenous proteins in stably transfected Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, we found that MRK-beta preferentially activates ERK6/p38gamma via MKK3/MKK6 and JNK through MKK4/MKK7. We also show that expression of wild type MRK increases the cell population in the G(2)/M phase of the cell cycle, whereas dominant negative MRK attenuates the G(2) arrest caused by gamma-radiation. In addition, exposure of cells to gamma-radiation induces MRK activity. These data suggest that MRK may mediate gamma-radiation signaling leading to cell cycle arrest and that MRK activity is necessary for the cell cycle checkpoint regulation in cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Inhibition of hsp90 compromises the DNA damage response to radiation.

Inhibitors of the molecular chaperone Hsp90 have been shown to enhance tumor cell radiosensitivity. To begin to address the mechanism responsible, we have determined the effect of the Hsp90 inhibitor 17-(dimethylaminoethylamino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17DMAG) on the DNA damage response to radiation. Exposure of MiaPaCa tumor cells to 17DMAG, which results in radiosensitization, inhibited the repair of DNA double-strand breaks according to gammaH2AX foci dispersal and the neutral comet assay. This repair inhibition was associated with reduced DNA-PK catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) phosphorylation after irradiation and a disruption of DNA-PKcs/ErbB1 interaction. These data suggest that the previously established 17DMAG-mediated reduction in ErbB1 activity reduces its interaction with DNA-PKcs and thus accounts for the attenuation of radiation-induced DNA-PK activation. 17DMAG was also found to abrogate the activation of the G(2)- and S-phase cell cycle checkpoints. Associated with these events was a reduction in radiation-induced ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) activation and foci formation in 17DMAG-treated cells. Although no interaction between ATM and Hsp90 was detected, Hsp90 was found to interact with the MRE11/Rad50/NBS1 (MRN) complex. 17DMAG exposure reduced the ability of the MRN components to form nuclear foci after irradiation. Moreover, 17DMAG exposure reduced the interaction between NBS1 and ATM, although no degradation of the MRN complex was detected. These results suggest that the diminished radiation-induced activation of ATM in 17DMAG-treated cells was the result of a compromise in the function of the MRN complex. These data indicate that Hsp90 can contribute to the DNA damage response to radiation affecting both DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoint activation.

Benzoquinones↗

PubMed1997

The role of ErbB-2 tyrosine kinase receptor in cellular intrinsic chemoresistance: mechanisms and implications.

The erbB family of tyrosine kinase receptors is involved in the regulation of a variety of vital functions including cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and stress response. Alteration in the expression of erbB receptors occurs in numerous tumor types and plays an important role in cancer development, cancer progression, and susceptibility to cell killing by anticancer agents. Of particular interest is the intrinsic drug resistance associated with overexpression of the erbB-2 receptor. In general, tumor cells overexpressing erbB-2 are intrinsically resistant to DNA-damaging agents such as cisplatin. While the molecular mechanisms by which erbB-2 induces drug resistance are not yet established, there is evidence that this may be a consequence of altered cell cycle checkpoint and DNA repair mechanisms and dysregulation of apoptotic pathway(s). The apoptotic signal induced by many anticancer drugs originates at a receptor on the cell membrane and is transduced through a signaling cascade to the nucleus. Drug-induced apoptosis is dependent on the balance between cell cycle checkpoints and DNA repair mechanisms. Blockade of erbB-2 signaling using erbB-2 antagonists, dominant negative mutants, or chemical inhibitors of erbB-2 tyrosine kinase activity induces cell cycle arrest, inhibits DNA repair, and (or) promotes apoptosis. Less understood are downstream signal transduction cascades by which erbB-2 affects these regulatory mechanisms. The diversity of erbB receptors results in an interconnected network of cell signaling pathways that determine tumor cell fate in response to chemotherapy stress. Further investigations on the role of erbB-coupled signaling in the regulation of stress responsive genes are critical to understand the mechanisms by which tumor cells escape cell death, and will contribute to the development of alternative therapeutic targets to overcome intrinsic drug resistance in clinical settings.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

[Effect of papillary thyroid carcinoma related gene PTC1 on subcellular localization and function of ATM cell].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Papillary thyroid carcinoma is characterized by RET (rearranged during transfection)/PTC (papillary thyroid carcinoma) rearrangements. However, the function of RET/PTC in carcino- genesis is not well understood. This study was designed to investigate the interaction between DNA double-strand break sensor ATM (mutated in ataxia telangiectasia) kinase and PTC1, a rearranged form of proto-oncogene ret, to explore the role of ret rearrangements in carcinogenesis. METHODS: RET TK phosphorylation was determined by in vitro kinase assay using the immunoprecipitation with anti-ATM antibody as kinase and the immunoprecipitation of HA-tagged TK as substrate. The location of ATM-LZPR in COS7 cells coexpressed with PTC1 was investigated by protein extracts of cytoplasm and nucleus. The phosphorylation level of p53, was determined by Western blot analysis with the antibody against phosphorylated p53, and the cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry when PTC1 overexpressed. RESULTS: ATM directly phosphorylated TK domain of PTC1 in vitro kinase assay. ATM-LZPR was located in both cell cytoplasm and nucleus when PTC1 was not expressed, however, co-overexpression of PTC1 and ATM-LZPR made the latter locate only in the cytoplasm. In addition, overexpression of PTC1 inhibited the phosphorylation level of p53 by ATM and caused G(1)/S phase arrest of cell cycle. CONCLUSIONS: PTC1 may remain ATM kinase in cytoplasm and inhibit the phosphorylation of p53 by ATM. PTC1, a rearrangement form of ret, may result in the disorder of cell damage repair and cell cycle checkpoint and destroy cell homeostasis.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

[Anti-apoptotic and antiproliferative effect of bcl-2 gene transferred to E1A+cHa-ras-transformed cells].

Transformed rat embryo fibroblasts E1A + cHa-ras known to possess high proapoptotic sensitivity and not to be arrested after DNA damage or upon serum starvation, were transfected with bcl-2 gene using calcium-phosphate precipitation method. Triple transformants E1A + cHa-ras + bcl-2 appeared to be protected from damage- and serum depletion-induced apoptosis and to restore cell cycle checkpoint control. Using the method of flow cytometry we have shown that these transformants are arrested in different phases of cell cycle in response to irradiation, adriamycin treatment and serum deprivation. Overexpression of bcl-2 in E1A + cHa-ras-transformed cells entirely suppresses adriamycin-induced apoptosis and significantly reduces the level of apoptosis triggered by irradiation and growth factor withdrawal, as we have revealed by the test of clonogenic survival and electrophoretic analysis of oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Our results have demonstrated, for the first time, that the oncogenic Ras co-immunoprecipitates with transfected Bcl-2 in E1A + cHa-ras + bcl-2 transformed cells after irradiation but not after adriamycin treatment. Bcl-2-Ras complexes were also observed in transformants E1A + cHa-ras + bcl-2 after serum starvation. Taken together, these data suggest that Bcl-2 and Ras interaction might play a crucial role in the cell cycle checkpoints restoration and apoptotic events regulation in transformants E1A + cHa-ras + bcl-2 exposed to DNA-damaging factors or growth factor-deprived.

Adenovirus E1A Proteins↗

PubMed2004

Topoisomerase poisons differentially activate DNA damage checkpoints through ataxia-telangiectasia mutated-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

Camptothecin and Adriamycin are clinically important inhibitors for topoisomerase (Topo) I and Topo II, respectively. The ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) product is essential for ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage responses, but the role of ATM in Topo poisons-induced checkpoints remains unresolved. We found that distinct mechanisms are involved in the activation of different cell cycle checkpoints at different concentrations of Adriamycin and camptothecin. Adriamycin promotes the G(1) checkpoint through activation of the p53-p21(CIP1/WAF1) pathway and decrease of pRb phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of p53(Ser20) after Adriamycin treatment is ATM dependent, but is not required for the full activation of p53. The G(1) checkpoint is dependent on ATM at low doses but not at high doses of Adriamycin. In contrast, the Adriamycin-induced G(2) checkpoint is independent on ATM but sensitive to caffeine. Adriamycin inhibits histone H3(Ser10) phosphorylation through inhibitory phosphorylation of CDC2 at low doses and down-regulation of cyclin B1 at high doses. The camptothecin-induced intra-S checkpoint is partially dependent on ATM, and is associated with inhibitory phosphorylation of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and reduction of BrdUrd incorporation after mid-S phase. Finally, apoptosis associated with high doses of Adriamycin or camptothecin is not influenced by the absence of ATM. These data indicate that the involvement of ATM following treatment with Topo poisons differs extensively with dosage and for different cell cycle checkpoints.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

PubMed2002

UCN-01 inhibits p53 up-regulation and abrogates gamma-radiation-induced G(2)-M checkpoint independently of p53 by targeting both of the checkpoint kinases, Chk2 and Chk1.

UCN-01 (7-hydroxystaurosporine) is a cell-cycle checkpoint abrogator that sensitizes cells to ionizing radiation (IR) and chemotherapeutic agents. It has been shown previously that UCN-01 abrogates DNA-damage-induced G(2) checkpoint most selectively in p53-defective cells, by primarily targeting Chk1. Here we show that UCN-01 prevented IR-induced p53 up-regulation and p53 phosphorylation on serine 20, a site previously identified for Chk2 (or/and Chk1) kinase. We found that in human colon carcinoma HCT116 cells, IR treatment enhanced Chk2 kinase activity, whereas Chk1 activity remained unchanged, which suggested that UCN-01 may interrupt IR-induced p53 response by inhibiting Chk2 kinase. This conclusion is supported by in vitro kinase assays, showing that UCN-01 inhibits Chk2 immunoprecipitated from HCT116 cells (IC(50), approximately 10 nM). In addition, UCN-01 efficiently abrogated both the initiation and maintenance of IR-induced G(2) arrest in HCT116 cells and their isogenic p53 (-/-) derivative, indicating that G(2) checkpoint abrogation by UCN-01 is p53 independent. In the p53 (-/-) cells, there was no p21(Waf1/Cip1) induction nor UCN-01-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these observations indicate that UCN-01 can modulate both Chk1 and Chk2 in intact cells and enhance IR-induced apoptosis in p53-deficient, and consequently p21-deficient, cells.

Alkaloids↗

PubMed1999

Ataxia-telangiectasia, cancer and the pathobiology of the ATM gene.

Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a pleiotropic inherited disease characterized by neurodegeneration, cancer, immunodeficiencies, radiation sensitivity, and genetic instability. Although A-T homozygotes are rare, the A-T gene may play a role in sporadic breast cancer and leukemia. ATM, the gene responsible for A-T, is homologous to several cell cycle checkpoint genes from other organisms. ATM is thought to play a crucial role in a signal transduction network that modulates cell cycle checkpoints, genetic recombination, apoptosis, and other cellular responses to DNA damage. New insights into the pathobiology of A-T have been provided by the creation of Atm-/- mice and by in vitro studies of ATM function. Analyses of ATM mutations in A-T patients and in sporadic tumors suggest the existence of two classes of ATM mutation: null mutations that lead to A-T and dominant negative missense mutations that may predispose to cancer in the heterozygous state.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Inactivation of p53 and of pRb protects human colorectal carcinoma cells against hyperthermia-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis.

Cell-cycle checkpoints are thought to govern the cellular response to external stimuli. The involvement of the p53 tumour-suppressor protein and the retinoblastoma protein (pRb) in the cell-cycle checkpoint in G1 phase is well established. However, little is known about the importance of these G1 checkpoint regulators in hyperthermia-induced cytotoxicity. Such information is relevant because of the clinical application of hyperthermia in combination with chemotherapy or with radiotherapy. The effects of p53 or pRb inactivation were studied in a well-established isogenic system using the human colorectal carcinoma cell line (RKO). The cells were treated with clinically relevant heat doses (60 min at 40-43 degrees C). Cell survival, cell-cycle redistribution and induction of apoptosis were investigated. Survival of the p53-inactivated transfectants was higher than that of the wild-type p53 cells. The pRb-inactivated transfectants showed an intermediate sensitivity to hyperthermia. All transfectants showed G2 arrest after hyperthermia and the appearance of a sub-G1 population. The induction of apoptosis was inhibited in p53-inactivated and pRb-inactivated transfectants. These results suggest that p53 and/or pRb status may be an important determinant of the clinical response to hyperthermia.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

PubMed2005

Human TopBP1 ensures genome integrity during normal S phase.

Cell cycle checkpoints are essential for maintaining genomic integrity. Human topoisomerase II binding protein 1 (TopBP1) shares sequence similarity with budding yeast Dpb11, fission yeast Rad4/Cut5, and Xenopus Cut5, all of which are required for DNA replication and cell cycle checkpoints. Indeed, we have shown that human TopBP1 participates in the activation of replication checkpoint and DNA damage checkpoints, following hydroxyurea treatment and ionizing radiation. In this study, we address the physiological function of TopBP1 in S phase by using small interfering RNA. In the absence of exogenous DNA damage, TopBP1 is recruited to replicating chromatin. However, TopBP1 does not appear to be essential for DNA replication. TopBP1-deficient cells have increased H2AX phosphorylation and ATM-Chk 2 activation, suggesting the accumulation of DNA double-strand breaks in the absence of TopBP1. This leads to formation of gaps and breaks at fragile sites, 4N accumulation, and aberrant cell division. We propose that the cellular function of TopBP1 is to monitor ongoing DNA replication. By ensuring proper DNA replication, TopBP1 plays a critical role in the maintenance of genomic stability during normal S phase as well as following genotoxic stress.

Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins↗

PubMed2006

DNA damage response and mutagenesis in mouse embryonic stem cells.

Mutation in embryonic stem (ES) cells can potentially compromise multiple cell lineages and affect the well-being of subsequent generations. Thus, ES cells require sensitive mechanisms to maintain genomic integrity. One mechanism involves suppression of mutation. A complementary mechanism is to regulate the cell cycle checkpoint and facilitate cell death. Here, we describe the detailed protocols we have used to investigate DNA damage response and mutagenesis in mouse ES cells.

Adenine Phosphoribosyltransferase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

K-Ras-independent effects of the farnesyl transferase inhibitor L-744,832 on cyclin B1/Cdc2 kinase activity, G2/M cell cycle progression and apoptosis in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a highly lethal malignancy that is resistant to traditional cytotoxic therapy. High rates of activating codon 12 K-Ras mutations in this disease have generated considerable interest in the therapeutic application of novel farnesyl transferase inhibitors (FTIs). However, a comprehensive analysis of the effects of FTI treatment on pancreatic cancer cells has not been performed. Treatment of five different human pancreatic cancer cell lines with FTI L-744,832 resulted in inhibition of anchorage-dependent growth, with wide variation in sensitivity among different lines. Effective growth inhibition by L-744,832 correlated with accumulation of cells with a tetraploid (4N) DNA content and high levels of cyclin B1/cdc2 kinase activity, implying cell cycle arrest downstream from the DNA damage-inducible G2/M cell cycle checkpoint. In addition, sensitive cell lines underwent apoptosis as evidenced by changes in nuclear morphology and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. L-744,832 at a concentration of 1 microM additively enhanced the cytotoxic effect of ionizing radiation, apparently by overriding G2/M checkpoint activation. The effects of FTI treatment on cell growth and cell cycle regulation were associated with changes in posttranslational processing of H-Ras and N-Ras, but not K-Ras. The results confirm the potential therapeutic efficacy of FTI treatment in pancreatic cancer, and suggest that farnesylated proteins other than K-Ras may act as important regulators of G2/M cell cycle kinetics.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed2004

Chk1 activation and the nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio.

ATR and Chk1 are important components of a cell cycle checkpoint pathway. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Conn et al. shed a novel light on the molecular mechanism of Chk1 activation and raise the possibility of a developmental checkpoint that regulates Chk1 in response to the nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in cell cycle regulation.

One of the most puzzling aspects of the biological impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds is that they elicit an apparently unrelated variety of toxic, teratogenic, and carcinogenic responses in exposed animals and in humans. At the cellular level, these environmental toxicants affect cell cycle regulatory mechanisms and signal transduction pathways in ways that are equally diverse and often contradictory. For example, depending on the particular cell lines studied, exposure to these compounds may lead to cell proliferation, to terminal differentiation, or to apoptosis. These effects are mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, a ligand-activated transcription factor well known for its regulatory activity on the expression of several phase I detoxification cytochrome P450 genes. Research into the molecular mechanisms of aryl hydrocarbon receptor function has uncovered a novel role for this protein during cell cycle progression. The activated receptor acts as an environmental sensor and cell cycle checkpoint that commits cells exposed to adverse environmental stimuli to arrest before the onset of DNA replication.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Yeast histone 2A serine 129 is essential for the efficient repair of checkpoint-blind DNA damage.

Cells maintain genomic stability by the coordination of DNA-damage repair and cell-cycle checkpoint control. In replicating cells, DNA damage usually activates intra-S-phase checkpoint controls, which are characterized by delayed S-phase progression and increased Rad53 phosphorylation. We show that in budding yeast, the intra-S-phase checkpoint controls, although functional, are not activated by the topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin (CPT). In a CPT-hypersensitive mutant strain that lacks the histone 2A (H2A) phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI(3)K) motif at Ser 129 (h2a-s129a), the hypersensitivity was found to result from a failure to process full-length chromosomal DNA molecules during ongoing replication. H2A Ser 129 is not epistatic to the RAD24 and RAD9 checkpoint genes, suggesting a non-checkpoint role for the H2A PI(3)K site. These results suggest that H2A Ser 129 is an essential component for the efficient repair of DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) during replication in yeast, particularly of those DSBs that do not induce the intra-S-phase checkpoint.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

cDNA cloning and gene mapping of human homologs for Schizosaccharomyces pombe rad17, rad1, and hus1 and cloning of homologs from mouse, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Drosophila melanogaster.

Mutations in DNA repair/cell cycle checkpoint genes can lead to the development of cancer. The cloning of human homologs of yeast DNA repair/cell cycle checkpoint genes should yield candidates for human tumor suppressor genes as well as identifying potential targets for cancer therapy. The Schizosaccharomyces pombe genes rad17, rad1, and hus1 have been identified as playing roles in DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoint control pathways. We have cloned the cDNA for the human homolog of S. pombe rad17, RAD17, which localizes to chromosomal location 5q13 by fluorescence in situ hybridization and radiation hybrid mapping; the cDNA for the human homolog of S. pombe rad1, RAD1, which maps to 5p14-p13.2; and the cDNA for the human homolog of S. pombe hus1, HUS1, which maps to 7p13-p12. The human gene loci have previously been identified as regions containing tumor suppressor genes. In addition, we report the cloning of the cDNAs for genes related to S. pombe rad17, rad9, rad1, and hus1 from mouse, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Drosophila melanogaster. These include Rad17 and Rad9 from D. melanogaster, hpr-17 and hpr-1 from C. elegans, and RAD1 and HUS1 from mouse. The identification of homologs of the S. pombe rad checkpoint genes from mammals, arthropods, and nematodes indicates that this cell cycle checkpoint pathway is conserved throughout eukaryotes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗