@phdthesis{BergmannBorges2023, author = {Bergmann Borges, Alyssa}, title = {The endo-lysosomal system of \(Trypanosoma\) \(brucei\): insights from a protist cell model}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-32924}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-329248}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Most of the studies in cell biology primarily focus on models from the opisthokont group of eukaryotes. However, opisthokonts do not encompass the full diversity of eukaryotes. Thus, it is necessary to broaden the research focus to other organisms to gain a comprehensive understanding of basic cellular processes shared across the tree of life. In this sense, Trypanosoma brucei, a unicellular eukaryote, emerges as a viable alternative. The collaborative efforts in genome sequencing and protein tagging over the past two decades have significantly expanded our knowledge on this organism and have provided valuable tools to facilitate a more detailed analysis of this parasite. Nevertheless, numerous questions still remain. The survival of T. brucei within the mammalian host is intricately linked to the endo-lysosomal system, which plays a critical role in surface glycoprotein recycling, antibody clearance, and plasma membrane homeostasis. However, the dynamics of the duplication of the endo-lysosomal system during T. brucei proliferation and its potential relationship with plasma membrane growth remain poorly understood. Thus, as the primary objective, this thesis explores the endo-lysosomal system of T. brucei in the context of the cell cycle, providing insights on cell surface growth, endosome duplication, and clathrin recruitment. In addition, the study revisits ferritin endocytosis to provide quantitative data on the involvement of TbRab proteins (TbRab5A, TbRab7, and TbRab11) and the different endosomal subpopulations (early, late, and recycling endosomes, respectively) in the transport of this fluid-phase marker. Notably, while these subpopulations function as distinct compartments, different TbRabs can be found within the same region or structure, suggesting a potential physical connection between the endosomal subpopulations. The potential physical connection of endosomes is further explored within the context of the cell cycle and, finally, the duplication and morphological plasticity of the lysosome are also investigated. Overall, these findings provide insights into the dynamics of plasma membrane growth and the coordinated duplication of the endo-lysosomal system during T. brucei proliferation. The early duplication of endosomes suggests their potential involvement in plasma membrane growth, while the late duplication of the lysosome indicates a reduced role in this process. The recruitment of clathrin and TbRab GTPases to the site of endosome formation supports the assumption that the newly formed endosomal system is active during cell division and, consequently, indicates its potential role in plasma membrane homeostasis. Furthermore, considering the vast diversity within the Trypanosoma genus, which includes ~500 described species, the macroevolution of the group was investigated using the combined information of the 18S rRNA gene sequence and structure. The sequence-structure analysis of T. brucei and other 42 trypanosome species was conducted in the context of the diversity of Trypanosomatida, the order in which trypanosomes are placed. An additional analysis focused on Trypanosoma highlighted key aspects of the group's macroevolution. To explore these aspects further, additional trypanosome species were included, and the changes in the Trypanosoma tree topology were analyzed. The sequence-structure phylogeny confirmed the independent evolutionary history of the human pathogens T. brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi, while also providing insights into the evolution of the Aquatic clade, paraphyly of groups, and species classification into subgenera.}, subject = {Endocytose}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{FetivaMora2023, author = {Fetiva Mora, Maria Camila}, title = {Changes in chromatin accessibility by oncogenic YAP and its relevance for regulation of cell cycle gene expression and cell migration}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-30291}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-302910}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Various types of cancer involve aberrant cell cycle regulation. Among the pathways responsible for tumor growth, the YAP oncogene, a key downstream effector of the Hippo pathway, is responsible for oncogenic processes including cell proliferation, and metastasis by controlling the expression of cell cycle genes. In turn, the MMB multiprotein complex (which is formed when B-MYB binds to the MuvB core) is a master regulator of mitotic gene expression, which has also been associated with cancer. Previously, our laboratory identified a novel crosstalk between the MMB-complex and YAP. By binding to enhancers of MMB target genes and promoting B-MYB binding to promoters, YAP and MMB co-regulate a set of mitotic and cytokinetic target genes which promote cell proliferation. This doctoral thesis addresses the mechanisms of YAP and MMB mediated transcription, and it characterizes the role of YAP regulated enhancers in transcription of cell cycle genes. The results reported in this thesis indicate that expression of constitutively active, oncogenic YAP5SA leads to widespread changes in chromatin accessibility in untransformed human MCF10A cells. ATAC-seq identified that newly accessible and active regions include YAP-bound enhancers, while the MMB-bound promoters were found to be already accessible and remain open during YAP induction. By means of CRISPR-interference (CRISPRi) and chromatin immuniprecipitation (ChIP), we identified a role of YAP-bound enhancers in recruitment of CDK7 to MMB-regulated promoters and in RNA Pol II driven transcriptional initiation and elongation of G2/M genes. Moreover, by interfering with the YAP-B-MYB protein interaction, we can show that binding of YAP to B-MYB is also critical for the initiation of transcription at MMB-regulated genes. Unexpectedly, overexpression of YAP5SA also leads to less accessible chromatin regions or chromatin closing. Motif analysis revealed that the newly closed regions contain binding motifs for the p53 family of transcription factors. Interestingly, chromatin closing by YAP is linked to the reduced expression and loss of chromatin-binding of the p53 family member Np63. Furthermore, I demonstrate that downregulation of Np63 following expression of YAP is a key step in driving cellular migration. Together, the findings of this thesis provide insights into the role of YAP in the chromatin changes that contribute to the oncogenic activities of YAP. The overexpression of YAP5SA not only leads to the opening of chromatin at YAP-bound enhancers which together with the MMB complex stimulate the expression of G2/M genes, but also promotes the closing of chromatin at ∆Np63 -bound regions in order to lead to cell migration.}, subject = {Chromatin}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Gruendl2021, author = {Gr{\"u}ndl, Marco}, title = {Biochemical characterization of the MMB-Hippo crosstalk and its physiological relevance for heart development}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-21332}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-213328}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The Myb-MuvB (MMB) complex plays an essential role in the time-dependent transcriptional activation of mitotic genes. Recently, our laboratory identified a novel crosstalk between the MMB-complex and YAP, the transcriptional coactivator of the Hippo pathway, to coregulate a subset of mitotic genes (Pattschull et al., 2019). Several genetic studies have shown that the Hippo-YAP pathway is essential to drive cardiomyocyte proliferation during cardiac development (von Gise et al., 2012; Heallen et al., 2011; Xin et al., 2011). However, the exact mechanisms of how YAP activates proliferation of cardiomyocytes is not known. This doctoral thesis addresses the physiological role of the MMB-Hippo crosstalk within the heart and characterizes the YAP-B-MYB interaction with the overall aim to identify a potent inhibitor of YAP. The results reported in this thesis indicate that complete loss of the MMB scaffold protein LIN9 in heart progenitor cells results in thinning of ventricular walls, reduced cardiomyocyte proliferation and early embryonic lethality. Moreover, genetic experiments using mice deficient in SAV1, a core component of the Hippo pathway, and LIN9-deficient mice revealed that the correct function of the MMB complex is critical for proliferation of cardiomyocytes due to Hippo-deficiency. Whole genome transcriptome profiling as well as genome wide binding studies identified a subset of Hippo-regulated cell cycle genes as direct targets of MMB. By proximity ligation assay (PLA), YAP and B-MYB were discovered to interact in embryonal cardiomyocytes. Biochemical approaches, such as co-immunoprecipitation assays, GST-pulldown assays, and µSPOT-based peptide arrays were employed to characterize the YAP-B-MYB interaction. Here, a PY motif within the N-terminus of B-MYB was found to directly interact with the YAP WW-domains. Consequently, the YAP WW-domains were important for the ability of YAP to drive proliferation in cardiomyocytes and to activate MMB target genes in differentiated C2C12 cells. The biochemical information obtained from the interaction studies was utilized to develop a novel competitive inhibitor of YAP called MY-COMP (Myb-YAP competition). In MY-COMP, the protein fragment of B-MYB containing the YAP binding domain is fused to a nuclear localization signal. Co-immunoprecipitation studies as well as PLA revealed that the YAP-B-MYB interaction is robustly blocked by expression of MY-COMP. Adenoviral overexpression of MY-COMP in embryonal cardiomyocytes suppressed entry into mitosis and blocked the pro-proliferative function of YAP. Strikingly, characterization of the cellular phenotype showed that ectopic expression of MY-COMP led to growth defects, nuclear abnormalities and polyploidization in HeLa cells. Taken together, the results of this thesis reveal the mechanism of the crosstalk between the Hippo signaling pathway and the MMB complex in the heart and form the basis for interference with the oncogenic activity of the Hippo coactivator YAP.}, subject = {Zellzyklus}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Fackler2014, author = {Fackler, Marc}, title = {Biochemical characterization of GAS2L3, a target gene of the DREAM complex}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-103394}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2014}, abstract = {GAS2L3 was identified recently as a target gene of the DREAM complex (Reichert et al., 2010; Wolter et al., 2012). It was shown that GAS2L3 is expressed in a cell cycle specific manner and that depletion of the protein leads to defects in cytokinesis and genomic instability (Wolter et al., 2012). Major aim of this thesis was, to further characterize the biochemical properties and physiological function of GAS2L3. By in vitro co-sedimentation and bundling assays, GAS2L3 was identified as a cytoskeleton associated protein which bundles, binds and crosslinks F-actin and MTs. GST pulldown assays and co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that GAS2L3 interacts in vitro and in vivo with the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), a very important regulator of mitosis and cytokinesis, and that the interaction is mediated by the GAR domain of GAS2L3 and the C-terminal part of Borealin and the N-terminal part of Survivin. Kinase assays showed that GAS2L3 is not a substrate of the CPC but is strongly phosphorylated by CDK1 in vitro. Depletion of GAS2L3 by shRNA influenced protein stability and activity of the CPC. However pharmacological studies showed that the decreased CPC activity is not responsible for the observed cytokinesis defects upon GAS2L3 depletion. Immunofluorescence experiments revealed that GAS2L3 is localized to the constriction zone by the CPC in a GAR dependent manner and that the GAR domain is important for proper protein function. New interacting proteins of GAS2L3 were identified by stable isotope labelling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) in combination with tandem affinity purification and subsequent mass spectrometrical analysis. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments further confirmed the obtained mass spectrometrical data. To address the physiological function of GAS2L3 in vivo, a conditional and a non-conditional knockout mouse strain was established. The non-conditional mouse strain showed a highly increased mortality rate before weaning age probably due to heart failure. The physiological function of GAS2L3 in vivo as well as the exact reason for the observed heart phenotype is not known at the moment.}, subject = {Zellzyklus}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Wurster2014, author = {Wurster, Sebastian}, title = {Die Bedeutung von LIN9 f{\"u}r die Regulation der Genexpression, die genomische Stabilit{\"a}t und die Tumorsuppression}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-114967}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Pocket proteins and E2F transcription factors regulate the expression of cell cycle associated genes and play a central role in the coordination of cell division, differentiation, and apoptosis. Disorders of these pathways contribute to the development of various human tumor entities. Despite intensive research in the field of cell cycle regulation many details are not yet understood. The LIN complex (LINC / DREAM) is a recently discovered human multiprotein complex, which dynamically interacts with pocket proteins and E2F transcription factors. An essential component of the LIN complex is the LIN9 protein. In order to obtain a better insight into the function of this protein in cell cycle regulation and tumorigenesis, a conditional Lin9 knockout mouse model was established in our laboratory. The primary objective of this study was the phenotypic characterization of embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from these mice. Shortly after inactivation of Lin9 cell proliferation was massively impaired. Multiple types of mitotic defects such as structural abnormalities of the spindle apparatus, aberrant nuclei, failed nuclear segregation and cytokinesis failure have been observed in Lin9-depleted cells leading to a dramatic increase in polyploid and aneuploid cells. Ultimately these serious aberrations result in premature cellular senescence. If the senescence of Lin9-deficient cells is overcome by the Large T antigen the cells can adhere to the loss of Lin9, but show severe genomic instability and grow anchorage-independently in soft-agar as a sign of oncogenic transformation. In the second part of the thesis the gene expression of Lin9-deficient cells was assessed by quantitative real time PCR analyses to determine, whether the mitotic abnormalities are caused by transcriptional defects. Here a significant reduction of mitotic gene expression was observed in Lin9-depleted cells. Additionally chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments were performed to clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms. Compared to control cells epigenetic alterations at the promoters of mitotic target genes with regard to activating histone modifications were found in Lin9-deficient MEFs. In the last section of this study, the effects of Lin9 heterozygosity were analyzed. Lin9 heterozygous MEFs showed normal proliferation, although expression of different mitotic genes was slightly reduced. It appeared, however, that the mitotic spindle checkpoint of Lin9 heterozygous MEFs is weakened and thus over several cell generations an increase in polyploid cells was observed. Soft-agar assays showed that Lin9 heterozygosity contributes to oncogenic transformation. Taken together, these results document a crucial role of LIN9 in the regulation of cell cycle-associated gene expression. LIN9 is an essential factor for cell proliferation on one hand, while at the same time it functions as a tumor suppressor.}, subject = {Zellzyklus}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Esterlechner2013, author = {Esterlechner, Jasmina}, title = {Role of the DREAM complex in mouse embryonic stem cells and identification of ZO-2 as a new LIN9 interacting protein}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-90440}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The DREAM complex plays an important role in regulation of gene expression during the cell cycle. It was previously shown that the DREAM subunits LIN9 and B-MYB are required for early embryonic development and for the maintenance of the inner cell mass in vitro. In this work the effect of LIN9 or B-MYB depletion on embryonic stem cells (ESC) was examined. It demonstrates that LIN9 and B-MYB knock down changes the cell cycle distribution of ESCs and results in an accumulation of cells in G2 and M and in an increase of polyploid cells. By using genome-wide expression studies it was revealed that the depletion of LIN9 leads to downregulation of mitotic genes and to upregulation of differentiation-specific genes. ChIP-on chip experiments determined that mitotic genes are direct targets of LIN9 while lineage specific markers are regulated indirectly. Importantly, depletion of LIN9 does not alter the expression of the pluripotency markers Sox2 and Oct4 and LIN9 depleted ESCs retain alkaline phosphatase activity. I conclude that LIN9 is essential for proliferation and genome stability of ESCs by activating genes with important functions in mitosis and cytokinesis. The exact molecular mechanisms behind this gene activation are still unclear as no DREAM subunit features a catalytically active domain. It is assumed that DREAM interacts with other proteins or co-factors for transcriptional activation. This study discovered potential binding proteins by combining in vivo isotope labeling of proteins with mass spectrometry (MS) and further analysed the identified interaction of the tight junction protein ZO-2 with DREAM which is cell cycle dependent and strongest in S-phase. ZO-2 depletion results in reduced cell proliferation and decreased G1 gene expression. As no G2/M genes, typical DREAM targets, are affected upon ZO-2 knock down, it is unlikely that ZO-2 binding is needed for a functional DREAM complex. However, this work demonstrates that with (MS)-based quantitative proteomics, DREAM interacting proteins can be identified which might help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying DREAM mediated gene activation.}, subject = {Zellzyklus}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Schmitt2010, author = {Schmitt, Kathrin}, title = {Identification and Characterization of GAS2L3 as a Novel Mitotic Regulator in Human Cells}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-52704}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Precise control of mitotic progression is vital for the maintenance of genomic integrity. Since the loss of genomic integrity is known to promote tumorigenesis, the identification of knew G2/M regulatory genes attracts great attention. LINC, a human multiprotein complex, is a transcriptional activator of a set of G2/M specific genes. By depleting LIN9 in MEFs, a core subunit of LINC, Gas2l3 was identified as a novel LINC target gene. The so far uncharacterized Gas2l3 gene encodes for a member of the family of growth arrest specific 2 (GAS2) proteins, which share a highly conserved putative actin binding CH and a putative microtubule binding GAS2 domain. In the present study GAS2L3 was identified as a LINC target gene also in human cells. Gene expression analysis revealed that GAS2L3 transcription, in contrast to all other GAS2 family members, is highly regulated during the cell cycle with highest expression in G2/M. The GAS2L3 protein showed a specific localization pattern during the M phase: In metaphase, GAS2L3 localized to the mitotic spindle, relocated to the spindle midzone microtubules in late anaphase and concentrated at the midbody in telophase where it persisted until the end of cytokinesis. Overexpression of a set of different GAS2L3 deletion mutants demonstrated that the localization to the mitotic microtubule network is dependent on the C-terminus, whereas the midbody localization is dependent on full length GAS2L3 protein. Additionally, exclusive overexpression of the CH domain induced the formation of actin stress fibers, suggesting that the CH domain is an actin binding domain. In contrast, the GAS2 domain was neither needed nor sufficient for microtubule binding, indicating that there must be an additional so far unknown microtubule binding domain in the C-terminus. Interestingly, immunoblot analysis also identified the C-terminus as the domain responsible for GAS2L3 protein instability, partially dependent on proteasomal degradation. Consistent with its specific localization pattern, GAS2L3 depletion by RNAi demonstrated its responsibility for proper mitosis and cytokinesis. GAS2L3 depletion in HeLa cells resulted in the accumulation of multinucleated cells, an indicator for chromosome mis-segregation during mitosis. Also the amount of cells in cytokinesis was enriched, indicating failures in completing the last step of cytokinesis, the abscission. Strikingly, treatment with microtubule poisons that lead to the activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) indicated that the SAC was weakened in GAS2L3 depleted cells. Although the exact molecular mechanism is still unknown, fist experiments support the hypothesis that GAS2L3 might be a regulator of the SAC master kinase BUBR1. In conclusion, this study provides first evidence for GAS2L3 as a novel regulator of mitosis and cytokinesis and it might therefore be an important guardian against tumorigenesis.}, subject = {Mensch}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Reichert2008, author = {Reichert, Nina}, title = {The Role of LIN9 in Mouse Development}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-30889}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2008}, abstract = {LINC, the human homologue of an evolutionary conserved complex, regulates the transcription of a set of genes essential during the G2/M transition (Osterloh et al., 2007; Schmit et al., 2007). One component of the LINC core module is LIN-9. LIN-9 is essential for the transcriptional activation of LINC target genes and also promotes differentiation in association with pRB (Gagrica et al., 2004). However, nothing is known about its function in vivo. Histological and molecular analysis revealed that Lin9 is ubiquitously expressed throughout embryonic development and in all examined adult organs. Additionally, Lin9 mRNA is expressed in ES cells and blastocysts. Moreover the analogous distribution of the other LINC components suggested that they all function in the same cells and most likely in the same pathway. To deeper investigate the role of LIN9 in cell cycle and differentiation in vivo, a Lin9 gene trap mouse model (GT) was successfully generated and examined. Heterozygouse Lin9GT/+ mice were inconspicuous and develop normally. However, homozygouse knockout embryos were never obtained. The Lin9GT/GT embryos die at peri-implantation, probably due to a defect in the development of the epiblast, which could be shown with in situ hybridization with specific lineage markers. In vitro, the ICM of Lin9-deficient blastocysts did not develop properly. These data suggest that the loss of Lin9 leads to embryonic lethality at peri-implantation, and indicates that LIN9 is required for proper formation of the epiblast. In parallel, the first conditional Lin9 mouse model based on the Cre-loxP technology was generated. The Lin9fl/fl allele can be deleted by Cre-recombinase, in vivo and in vitro. Therefore an inducible system with Lin9fl/fl mice harboring Cre-ERT2 was established. The MEFs generated from these transgenic mice carried a nearly complete knockout upon induction with tamoxifen. Deletion of LIN9 in MEFs had a major impact upon the cell cycle and growth rates. Specifically, they arrested in G2/M phase and stopped to proliferate. Taken together, I was able to generate a lin9 gene trap and a lin9 conditional knockout mouse model. All results obtained so far demonstrate, that Lin9 is an essential gene for embryonic development and cell cycle control. It will be of great interest to further investigate Lin9-deficiency to gain insights into the mechanism of cell cycle control in early embryonic development and cell differentiation.}, subject = {Zellzyklus}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Mannefeld2009, author = {Mannefeld, Mirijam}, title = {Role of the human LIN complex in DNA damage induced regulation of gene expression}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-39261}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2009}, abstract = {In jeder menschlichen Zelle entstehen t{\"a}glich ca. 10.000 - 150.000 endogene DNA Sch{\"a}den. Eine Anh{\"a}ufung dieser L{\"a}sionen kann zu genetischer Instabilit{\"a}t f{\"u}hren und dadurch zur Krebsentwicklung beitragen. Daher ist eine schnelle DNA Schadensantwort n{\"o}tig, um schwerwiegende Folgen f{\"u}r die Zelle zu vermeiden. Da bekannt ist, dass der Multiproteinkomplex LINC (auch humaner dREAM-Komplex genannt) an der transkriptionellen Regulation mitotischer und G2-spezifischer Gene beteiligt ist, sollte in dieser Arbeit seine Beteiligung an der DNA Schadensantwort genauer untersucht werden. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird gezeigt, dass in normal wachsenden Zellen B-MYB an den LINC-Kernkomplex bindet, welcher sich aus 5 Proteinen zusammensetzt: LIN-9, LIN-54, LIN-52, LIN-37 und RbAp48. Treten DNA Sch{\"a}den auf, dissoziiert B-MYB vom LINC Kernkomplex wobei gleichzeitig die Bindung von p130 und E2F4 an LINC induziert wird. Zus{\"a}tzlich konnte gezeigt werden, dass der Signalweg, der die LINC Umlagerung vermittelt, sowohl p53- als auch p21-abh{\"a}ngig ist. p53 negative Zellen k{\"o}nnen nach Sch{\"a}digung der DNA weder einen G1 Block induzieren noch einen G2 Block langfristig aufrechterhalten. Eine Erkl{\"a}rung f{\"u}r diese Schw{\"a}chung des G2 Arrests liefern Daten dieser Arbeit: Da in DNA gesch{\"a}digten p53 -/- Zellen keine LINC Umlagerung beobachtet werden kann und zus{\"a}tzlich B-MYB verst{\"a}rkt an LINC und die Zielpromotoren bindet, kommt es zu einer erh{\"o}hten G2/M Genexpression. Dies resultiert h{\"a}ufig in einem verfr{\"u}hten Wiedereintritt in den Zellzyklus („checkpoint adaptation"). Eine Daten-Analyse prim{\"a}rer Brustkrebstumore zeigte außerdem, dass erh{\"o}hte B-MYB Genexpressionslevel mit einer erh{\"o}hte R{\"u}ckfallgefahr und einer schlechten Prognose korrelieren, was m{\"o}glicherweise auf die Funktion von B-MYB w{\"a}hrend der „checkpoint adaptation" zur{\"u}ckzuf{\"u}hren ist. Schlussendlich lassen die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit vermuten, dass die Hemmung der B-MYB Funktion in solchen Tumoren, die p53 Mutationen tragen, die Wahrscheinlichkeit eines Behandlungserfolges vergr{\"o}ßern und die Wahrscheinlichkeit eines R{\"u}ckfalls senken k{\"o}nnte.}, subject = {Zellzyklus}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Schmit2008, author = {Schmit, Fabienne}, title = {LINC, a novel protein complex involved in the regulation of G2/M genes}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-29336}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2008}, abstract = {Regulated progression through the cell cycle is essential for ordered cell proliferation. One of the best characterized tumor suppressors is the retinoblastoma protein pRB, which together with the E2F transcription factors regulates cell cycle progression. In the model organisms Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans, RB/E2F containing multiprotein complexes have been described as transcriptional regulators of gene expression. This work first describes a homologous complex in human cells named LINC (for LIN complex). It consists of a stable core complex containing LIN-9, LIN-37, LIN-52, LIN-54 and RbAp48. This core complex interacts cell cycle-dependently with different pocket proteins and transcription factors. In quiescent cells, LINC associates with p130 and E2F4. In S-phase cells these interactions are lost and LINC binds to B-MYB and p107. The transient knock-down of LIN-54 in primary fibroblasts, as the depletion of LIN-9, leads to cell cycle defects. The cells are delayed before the entry into mitosis. This effect is due to the fact that the knock-down of LINC components leads to the downregulation of cell cycle genes responsible for the entry into and exit from mitosis as well as for checkpoints during mitosis. These LINC target genes are known E2F G2/M target genes, which are expressed later than the classical G1/S E2F target genes. The transcriptional regulation by LINC is a direct effect as LINC binds to the promoters of its target genes throughout the cell cycle. LINC contains three DNA-binding proteins. E2F4 and B-MYB, which cell cycle-dependently bind to LINC, are known DNA-binding transcription factors. Additionally, it is show here that the LINC core complex member LIN-54 also directly binds to the promoter of a LINC target gene. Although the exact molecular mechanism of LINC function needs to be analyzed further, data in this work provide a model for the delayed activation of G2/M target genes. B-MYB, a G1/S E2F target gene, binds to LINC upon its expression in S-phase. Then only LINC is a transcriptional activator that induces the expression of the G2/M genes. This provides an explanation for the delayed expression of these E2F G2/M target genes.}, subject = {Zellzyklus}, language = {en} }