Lehrstuhl für Biochemie
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- CIBSS Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg (1)
- Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, 3030 Bunker Hill Street, Suite 310, San Diego, California 92109, USA (1)
- MRB Forschungszentrum für Magnet-Resonanz-Bayern e.V., Am Hubland, D-97074 Würzburg (1)
- Rudolf-Virchow-Zentrum DFG-Forschungszentrum für Experimentelle Biomedizin der Universität Würzburg (1)
The eukaryotic gene expression requires extensive regulations to enable the homeostasis of the cell and to allow dynamic responses due to external stimuli. Although many regulatory mechanisms involve the transcription as the first step of the gene expression, intensive regulation occurs also in the post-transcriptional mRNA metabolism. Thereby, the particular composition of the mRNPs plays a central role as the components associated with the mRNA form a specific “mRNP code” which determines the fate of the mRNA. Many proteins which are involved in this regulation and the mRNA metabolism are affected in diseases and especially neurological disorders often result from an aberrant mRNP code which leads to changes in the regulation and expression of mRNPs.
The focus of this work was on a trimeric protein complex which is termed TTF complex based on its subunits TDRD3, TOP3β and FMRP. Biochemical investigations revealed that the three components of the TTF complex are nucleo-cytosolic shuttle proteins which localize in the cytoplasm at the steady-state, associate with mRNPs and are presumably connected to the translation. Upon cellular stress conditions, the TTF components concentrate in stress granules. Thus, the TTF complex is part of the mRNP code, however its target RNAs and function are still completely unknown. Since the loss of functional FMRP results in the fragile X syndrome and TOP3β is associated with schizophrenia and intellectual disability, the TTF complex connects these phenotypically related neuro-psychiatric disorders with each other on a molecular level.
Therefore, the aim of this work was to biochemically characterize the TTF complex and to define its function in the mRNA metabolism. In this work, evidence was provided that TDRD3 acts as the central unit of the TTF complex and directly binds to FMRP as well as to TOP3β. Thereby, the interaction of TDRD3 and TOP3β is very stable, whereas FMRP is a dynamic component. Interestingly, the TTF complex is not bound directly to mRNA, but is recruited via the exon junction complex (EJC) to mRNPs. This interaction is mediated by a specific binding motif of TDRD3, the EBM. Upon biochemical and biological investigations, it was possible to identify the interactome of the TTF complex and to define the role in the mRNA metabolism. The data revealed that the TTF complex is mainly associated with “early” mRNPs and is probably involved in the pioneer round of translation. Furthermore, TOP3β was found to bind directly to the ribosome and thus, establishes a connection between the EJC and the translation machinery. A reduction of the TTF components resulted in selective changes in the proteome in cultured cells, whereby individual protein subsets seem to be regulated rather than the global protein expression.
Moreover, the enzymatic analysis of TOP3β indicated that TOP3β is a type IA topoisomerase which can catalytically attack not only DNA but also RNA. This aspect is particularly interesting with regard to the connection between early mRNPs and the translation which has been revealed in this work.
The data obtained in this work suggest that the TTF complex plays a role in regulating the metabolism of an early mRNP subset possibly in the course of the pioneer round of translation. Until now, the link between an RNA topoisomerase and the mRNA metabolism is thereby unique and thus provides a completely new perspective on the steps in the post-transcriptional gene expression and its regulation.
The conserved, ubiquitin-selective AAA ATPase Cdc48 regulates numerous cellular processes including protein quality control, DNA repair and the cell cycle. Cdc48 function is tightly controlled by a multitude of cofactors mediating substrate specificity and processing. The UBX domain protein Shp1 is a bona fide substrate-recruiting cofactor of Cdc48 in the budding yeast S. cerevisiae. Even though Shp1 has been proposed to be a positive regulator of Glc7, the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 1 in S. cerevisiae, its cellular functions in complex with Cdc48 remain largely unknown. Here we show that deletion of the SHP1 gene results in severe growth defects and a cell cycle delay at the metaphase to anaphase transition caused by reduced Glc7 activity. Using an engineered Cdc48 binding-deficient variant of Shp1, we establish the Cdc48Shp1 complex as a critical regulator of mitotic Glc7 activity. We demonstrate that shp1 mutants possess a perturbed balance of Glc7 phosphatase and Ipl1 (Aurora B) kinase activities and show that hyper-phosphorylation of the kinetochore protein Dam1, a key mitotic substrate of Glc7 and Ipl1, is a critical defect in shp1. We also show for the first time a physical interaction between Glc7 and Shp1 in vivo. Whereas loss of Shp1 does not significantly affect Glc7 protein levels or localization, it causes reduced binding of the activator protein Glc8 to Glc7. Our data suggest that the Cdc48Shp1 complex controls Glc7 activity by regulating its interaction with Glc8 and possibly further regulatory subunits.
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) represents the most aggressive form of malignant brain tumors and remains a therapeutically challenge. Intense research in the field has lead to the testing of oncolytic viruses to improve tumor control. Currently, a variety of different oncolytic viruses are being evaluated for their ability to be used in anti-cancer therapy and a few have entered clinical trials. Vaccinia virus, is one of the viruses being studied. GLV-1h68, an oncolytic vaccinia virus engineered by Genelux Corporation, was constructed by insertion of three gene cassettes, RUC-GFP fusion, β-galactosidase and β- glucuronidase into the genome of the LIVP strain. Since focal tumor radiotherapy is a mainstay for cancer treatment, including glioma therapy, it is of clinical relevance to assess how systemically administered oncolytic vaccinia virus could be combined with targeted ionizing radiation for therapeutic gain. In this work we show how focal ionizing radiation (IR) can be combined with multiple systemically delivered oncolytic vaccinia virus strains in murine models of human U-87 glioma. After initial experiments which confirmed that ionizing radiation does not damage viral DNA or alter viral tropism, animal studies were carried out to analyze the interaction of vaccinia virus and ionizing radiation in the in vivo setting. We found that irradiation of the tumor target, prior to systemic administration of oncolytic vaccinia virus GLV-1h68, increased viral replication within the U-87 xenografts as measured by viral reporter gene expression and viral titers. Importantly, while GLV-1h68 alone had minimal effect on U-87 tumor growth delay, IR enhanced GLV-1h68 replication, which translated to increased tumor growth delay and mouse survival in subcutaneous and orthotopic U-87 glioma murine models compared to monotherapy with IR or GLV-1h68. The ability of IR to enhance vaccinia replication was not restricted to the multi-mutated GLV-1h68, but was also seen with the less attenuated oncolytic vaccinia, LIVP 1.1.1. We have demonstrated that in animals treated with combination of ionizing radiation and LIVP 1.1.1 a strong pro-inflammatory tissue response was induced. When IR was given in a more clinically relevant fractionated scheme, we found oncolytic vaccinia virus replication also increased. This indicates that vaccinia virus could be incorporated into either larger hypo-fraction or more conventionally fractionated radiotherapy schemes. The ability of focal IR to mediate selective replication of systemically injected oncolytic vaccinia was demonstrated in a bilateral glioma model. In mice with bilateral U-87 tumors in both hindlimbs, systemically administered oncolytic vaccinia replicated preferentially in the focally irradiated tumor compared to the shielded non- irradiated tumor in the same mouse We demonstrated that tumor control could be further improved when fractionated focal ionizing radiation was combined with a vaccinia virus caring an anti-angiogenic payload targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Our studies showed that following ionizing radiation expression of VEGF is upregulated in U-87 glioma cells in culture. We further showed a concentration dependent increase in radioresistance of human endothelial cells in presence of VEGF. Interestingly, we found effects of vascular endothelial growth factor on endothelial cells were reversible by adding purified GLAF-1 to the cells. GLAF-1 is a single- chain antibody targeting human and murine VEGF and is expressed by oncolytic vaccinia virus GLV-109. In U-87 glioma xenograft murine models the combination of fractionated ionizing radiation with GLV-1h164, a vaccinia virus also targeting VEGF, resulted in the best volumetric tumor response and a drastic decrease in vascular endothelial growth factor. Histological analysis of embedded tumor sections 14 days after viral administration confirmed that blocking VEGF translated into a decrease in vessel number to 30% of vessel number found in control tumors in animals treated with GLV-164 and fractionated IR which was lower than for all other treatment groups. Our experiments with GLV-1h164 and fractionated radiotherapy have shown that in addition to ionizing radiation and viral induced tumor cell destruction we were able to effectively target the tumor vasculature. This was achieved by enhanced viral replication translating in increased levels of GLAF-2 disrupting tumor vessels as well as the radiosensitization of tumor vasculature to IR by blocking VEGF. Our preclinical results have important clinical implications of how focal radiotherapy can be combined with systemic oncolytic viral administration for highly aggressive, locally advanced tumors with the potential, by using a vaccinia virus targeting human vascular endothelial growth factor, to further increase tumor radiation sensitivity by engaging the vascular component in addition to cancer cells.
Virotherapy on the basis of oncolytic vaccinia virus (VACV) strains is a promising approach for cancer therapy. Recently, we showed that the oncolytic vaccinia virus GLV-1h68 has a therapeutic potential in treating human prostate and hepatocellular carcinomas in xenografted mice. In this study, we describe the use of dynamic boolean modeling for tumor growth prediction of vaccinia virus-injected human tumors. Antigen profiling data of vaccinia virus GLV-1h68-injected human xenografted mice were obtained, analyzed and used to calculate differences in the tumor growth signaling network by tumor type and gender. Our model combines networks for apoptosis, MAPK, p53, WNT, Hedgehog, the T-killer cell mediated cell death, Interferon and Interleukin signaling networks. The in silico findings conform very well with in vivo findings of tumor growth. Similar to a previously published analysis of vaccinia virus-injected canine tumors, we were able to confirm the suitability of our boolean modeling for prediction of human tumor growth after virus infection in the current study as well. In summary, these findings indicate that our boolean models could be a useful tool for testing of the efficacy of VACV-mediated cancer therapy already before its use in human patients.
Macromolecular complexes, also termed molecular machines, facilitate a large spectrum of biological reactions and tasks crucial to the survival of cells. These complexes are composed of either protein only, or proteins bound to nucleic acids (DNA or RNA). Prominent examples for each class are the proteosome, the nucleosome and the ribosome. How such units are assembled within the context of a living cell is a central question in molecular biology. Earlier studies had indicated that even very large complexes such as ribosomes could be reconstituted from purified constituents in vitro. The structural information required for the formation of macromolecular complexes, hence, lies within the subunits itself and, thus, allow for self- assembly. However, increasing evidence suggests that in vivo many macromolecular complexes do not form spontaneously but require assisting factors (“assembly chaperones”) for their maturation. In this thesis the assembly of RNA-protein (RNP) complexes has been studied by a combination of biochemical and structural approaches. A resourceful model system to study this process is the biogenesis pathway of the uridine-rich small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (U snRNPs) of the spliceosome. This molecular machine catalyzes pre-mRNA splicing, i.e. the removal of non-coding introns and the joining of coding exons to functional mRNA. The composition and architecture of U snRNPs is well defined, also, the nucleo-cytoplasmic transport events enabling the formation of these particles in vivo have been analyzed in some detail. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that the formation of U snRNPs in vivo is mediated by an elaborate assembly machinery consisting of protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT5)- and survival motor neuron (SMN)-complexes. The elucidation of the reaction mechanism of cellular U snRNP assembly would serve as a paradigm for our understanding of how RNA-protein complexes are formed in the cellular environment. The following key findings were obtained as part of this study: 1) Efforts were made to establish a full inventory of the subunits of the SMN-complex. This was achieved by the biochemical definition and characterization of an atypical component of this complex, the unrip protein. This protein is associated with the SMN-complex exclusively in the cytoplasm and influences its subcellular localization. 2) With a full inventory of the components in hand, the architecture of the SMN-complex was defined on the basis of an interaction map of all subunits. This study elucidated that the proteins SMN, Gemin7 and Gemin8 form a backbone, onto which the remaining subunits adhere in a modular manner. 3) The two studies mentioned above formed the basis to elucidate the reaction mechanism of cellular U snRNP assembly. Initially, an early phase in the SMN-assisted formation of U snRNPs was analyzed. Two subunits of the U7 snRNP (LSm10 and 11) were found to interact with the PRMT5-complex, without being methylated. This report suggests that the stimulatory role of the PRMT5-complex is independent of its methylation activity. 4) Key reaction intermediates in U snRNP assembly were found and characterized by a combination of biochemistry and structural studies. Initially, a precursor to U snRNPs with a sedimentation coefficient of 6S is formed by the pICln subunit of the PRMT5-complex and Sm proteins. This intermediate was shown to constitute a kinetic trap in the U snRNP assembly reaction. Progression towards the assembled U snRNP depends on the activity of the SMN-complex, which acts as a catalyst. The formation of U snRNPs is shown to be structurally similar to the way clamps are deposited onto DNA to tether poorly processive polymerases. 5) The human SMN-complex is composed of several subunits. However, it is unknown whether all subunits of this entity are essential for U snRNP assembly. A combination of bioinformatics and biochemistry was applied to tackle this question. By mining databases containing whole-genome assemblies, the SMN-Gemin2 heterodimer is recognized as the most ancestral form of the SMN-complex. Biochemical purification of the Drosophila melanogaster SMN-complex reveals that this complex is composed of the same two subunits. Furthermore, evidence is provided that the SMN-Gemin2 heterodimer is necessary and sufficient to promote faithful U snRNP assembly. Future studies will adress further details in the reaction mechanism of cellular U snRNP assembly. The results obtained in this thesis suggest that the SMN and Gemin2 subunits are sufficient to promote U snRNP formation. What then is the function of the remaining subunits of the SMN-complex? The reconstitution schemes established in this thesis will be instrumental to address this question. Furthermore, additional mechanistic insights into the U snRNP assembly reaction will require the elucidation of structures of the assembly machinery trapped at various states. The prerequisite for these structural studies, the capability to generate homogenous complexes in sufficient amounts, has been accomplished in this thesis.
Somatostatin ist ein regulatorisches Peptid, das eine Vielzahl von biologischen Prozessen innerhalb des Körpers beeinflußt. Die Wirkung von Somatostatin wird auf zellulärer Ebene über eine Familie von fünf G-Protein-gekoppelten Rezeptoren vermittelt, die entweder in G Protein-abhängiger Weise oder vermutlich auch über andere interagierende intrazelluläre Proteine auf nachgeschaltete Signaltransduktionswege wirken. Der Somatostatinrezeptor Subtyp 4 (SSTR4) wird hauptsächlich im Gehirn exprimiert und wirkt dort inhibierend auf die exzitatorische Signalweiterleitung. Es sind aber auch stimulierende Effekte des SSTR4 bekannt. Um das subtypspezifische Signalverhalten des SSTR4 weiter zu untersuchen, wurden im Rahmen dieser Arbeit Proteine gesucht, die intrazellulär mit dem SSTR4 interagieren und so seine physiologischen Effekte beeinflussen. In einem ersten Ansatz konnten drei mögli-che Interaktionspartner mit Hilfe des Hefe-Zwei-Hybrid-Systems identifiziert werden, die aber in nachfolgenden Untersuchungen als unpezifisch eingestuft wurden. Mit Hilfe einer Affinitätschromatografie wurden dann zwei Proteine identifiziert, die spezifisch mit dem SSTR4 interagieren. Sowohl PSD-95 als auch PSD-93 (Postsynaptic density protein of 95 kDa bzw. 93kDa) wurden mit einem immobilisierten Peptid präzipitiert, das die neun C-terminalen Aminosäuren des SSTR4 enthält. Die Interaktion des SSTR4 mit PSD 95 wurde im Weiteren näher charakterisiert. In einem Bindungsexperiment mit rekombinaten Proteinen konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Interaktion durch die 1. und 2. PDZ-Domäne von PSD-95 vermittelt wird. In humanen embryonalen Nieren-Zellen (HEK293), die den SSTR4 stabil exprimieren, konnte PSD-95 mit dem Rezeptor koimmunpräzipitiert werden. Nach Koexpression von PSD-95 und SSTR4 findet man eine partielle Kolokalisierung beider Proteine an der Zellmembran, wobei aber der Großteil des PSD-95 weiterhin eine diffuse zytoplasmatische Verteilung zeigt. Die Interaktion wurde in vivo sowohl immunhistochemisch in kultivierten Hippocampus-Neuronen als auch durch Koimmunpräzipitation beider Proteine aus Rattengehirn-Lysaten nachgewiesen. Die Interaktion von PSD-95 mit dem SSTR4 beeinflußt weder die Agonisten-induzierte Internalisierung des Rezeptors in HEK293-Zellen, noch die Kopplung des Rezeptors an einen G-Protein-gekoppelten einwärtsgleichrichtenden Kaliumkanal in Oozyten des afrikanischen Krallenfrosches Xenopus laevis. Durch die Interaktion mit PSD-95 wird der SSTR4 in physikalische Nähe zu bestimmten Zielproteinen gebracht, über die nachfolgend die Somatostatineffekte weitervermittelt werden. So ermöglicht die Interaktion vermutlich eine Integration des SSTR4 in den postsynaptischen Komplex aus PSD-95 und Glutamatrezeptoren, wo der SSTR4 die bereits beschrieben regulatorischen Effekte auf die Glutamat-vermittelte exzitatorische Signaltransduktion ausüben kann.
Bei Daidzein und Bisphenol A handelt es sich um zwei Vertreter einer Klasse von Stoffen, die als „Umwelthormone“ (engl. endocrine disrupter) bezeichnet werden. Aus der Gruppe der Phytoöstrogene wurde Daidzein als wichtiger Vertreter, der in hohen Konzentrationen in vielen Nutzpflanzen und Nahrungsmitteln vorkommt, ausgewählt. Sojaprodukte, die den größten Beitrag einer menschlichen Exposition gegen Daidzein liefern, werden in zunehmendem Maße auch in westlichen Ländern konsumiert. Bisphenol A wurde als Vertreter der Xenoöstrogene gewählt, da es - was Weltjahresproduktion und Verwendung angeht - die wohl wichtigste Substanz dieser Gruppe darstellt. Im ersten Teil der Arbeit wurde die Biotransformation und Toxikokinetik der beiden Verbindungen nach oraler Gabe in der Ratte aufgeklärt. Dabei konnte gezeigt werden, daß die orale Bioverfügbarkeit beider Substanzen in der Ratte sehr gering war. Maximal zehn Prozent der jeweils applizierten Dosis konnten im Urin der Tiere wiedergefunden werden. Als Hauptmetabolit wurden sowohl von Daidzein als auch von Bisphenol A das jeweilige Glucuronid-Konjugat gebildet. Bei Daidzein überwog in der männlichen Ratte zusätzlich das Sulfat-Konjugat. Der Anteil an freier, d.h. unkonjugierter Verbindung betrug im Urin der Tiere zwischen 1 und 3 Prozent der Dosis. Außer den Phase II-Konjugaten, die aufgrund ihrer mangelnden östrogenen Wirksamkeit zu einer Detoxifizierung der beiden Verbindungen führte, konnten nach Gabe von Bisphenol A in der Ratte keine weiteren Metabolite identifiziert werden. Nach Exposition mit Daidzein konnten in den Faeces der Tiere in geringem Umfang die beiden reduktiven Metabolite Equol und O-DMA gefunden werden. Diese wurden wahrscheinlich im Magen-Darm-Trakt durch die Bakterien der Darmflora gebildet. Sowohl Daidzein als auch Bisphenol A wurden bei der Ratte nur unvollständig aus dem Magen-Darm-Trakt resorbiert; der Großteil der gegebenen Dosis wurde als unveränderte Substanz in den Faeces wiedergefunden. Bei Bisphenol A wurde die Ausscheidung zudem durch einen ausgeprägten enterohepatischen Kreislauf verzögert. Im zweiten Teil der Arbeit wurden zunächst empfindliche GC/MS- und HPLC-Methoden zur Quantifizierung der Verbindungen in humanen Plasma- und Urinproben entwickelt. Danach wurden freiwillige Probanden oral mit jeweils 5 mg Daidzein bzw. d16-Bisphenol A exponiert, um Daten zur Biotransformation und Toxikokinetik der beiden Substanzen im Mensch zu erhalten. Wegen des deutlich meßbaren Hintergrundes an Bisphenol A, das in allen Kontrollproben nachweisbar war, wurde für die Humanstudie die deuterierte Verbindung gegeben, für die kein störender Hintergrund meßbar war. Die Bioverfügbarkeit der Gesamt-Substanz (freie Verbindung + Konjugate) im Menschen war in beiden Fällen deutlich höher als in der Ratte. Von Daidzein wurden 40 Prozent (Ratte 10 Prozent), von Bisphenol A > 95 Prozent (Ratte 13 Prozent) der applizierten Dosis im Urin der Probanden wiedergefunden. Dabei zeigte sich ein sehr effizienter Phase II-Metabolismus; weniger als 1 Prozent der Glucuronid-Konjugatkonzentrationen wurden als unveränderte Substanz gefunden. Das Glucuronid stellte in beiden Fällen den einzigen nachweisbaren Metaboliten dar. Die Elimination von Daidzein und Bisphenol A verlief in den beiden Studien sehr schnell nach einer Kinetik erster Ordnung. Im Gegensatz zu der Ratte konnten auch bei Bisphenol A keine Auffälligkeiten in den Ausscheidungskurven beobachtet werden, Hinweise auf einen enterohepatischen Kreislauf im Menschen wurden nicht gefunden. Im Falle von Bisphenol A wurde fast die komplette applizierte Dosis (> 95 Prozent) in Form des Glucuronides im Urin wiedergefunden. Anhand der erhobenen Daten wurde anschließend eine Beurteilung des Risikos für den Menschen abgegeben.
Peroxisomes are ubiquitous organelles with essential functions in numerous cellular processes such as lipid metabolism, detoxification of reactive oxygen species and signaling. Knowledge of the peroxisomal proteome including multi-localized proteins and, most importantly, changes of its composition induced by altering cellular conditions or impaired peroxisome biogenesis and function is of paramount importance for a holistic view on peroxisomes and their diverse functions in a cellular context. In this chapter, we provide a spatial proteomics protocol specifically tailored to the analysis of the peroxisomal proteome of baker's yeast that enables the definition of the peroxisomal proteome under distinct conditions and to monitor dynamic changes of the proteome including the relocation of individual proteins to a different cellular compartment. The protocol comprises subcellular fractionation by differential centrifugation followed by Nycodenz density gradient centrifugation of a crude peroxisomal fraction, quantitative mass spectrometric measurements of subcellular and density gradient fractions and advanced computational data analysis, resulting in the establishment of organellar maps on a global scale.
Molecular Signatures Associated with HCV-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Liver Metastasis
(2013)
Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors that differ in risk factors and genetic alterations. In Italy, particularly Southern Italy, chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents the main cause of HCC. Using high-density oligoarrays, we identified consistent differences in gene-expression between HCC and normal liver tissue. Expression patterns in HCC were also readily distinguishable from those associated with liver metastases. To characterize molecular events relevant to hepatocarcinogenesis and identify biomarkers for early HCC detection, gene expression profiling of 71 liver biopsies from HCV-related primary HCC and corresponding HCV-positive non-HCC hepatic tissue, as well as gastrointestinal liver metastases paired with the apparently normal peri-tumoral liver tissue, were compared to 6 liver biopsies from healthy individuals. Characteristic gene signatures were identified when normal tissue was compared with HCV-related primary HCC, corresponding HCV-positive non-HCC as well as gastrointestinal liver metastases. Pathway analysis classified the cellular and biological functions of the genes differentially expressed as related to regulation of gene expression and post-translational modification in HCV-related primary HCC; cellular Growth and Proliferation, and Cell-To-Cell Signaling and Interaction in HCV-related non HCC samples; Cellular Growth and Proliferation and Cell Cycle in metastasis. Also characteristic gene signatures were identified of HCV-HCC progression for early HCC diagnosis.
Conclusions: A diagnostic molecular signature complementing conventional pathologic assessment was identified.
Background
Deregulated expression of MYC is a driver of colorectal carcinogenesis, suggesting that decreasing MYC expression may have significant therapeutic value. CIP2A is an oncogenic factor that regulates MYC expression. CIP2A is overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC), and its expression levels are an independent marker for long-term outcome of CRC. Previous studies suggested that CIP2A controls MYC protein expression on a post-transcriptional level.
Methods
To determine the mechanism by which CIP2A regulates MYC in CRC, we dissected MYC translation and stability dependent on CIP2A in CRC cell lines.
Results
Knockdown of CIP2A reduced MYC protein levels without influencing MYC stability in CRC cell lines. Interfering with proteasomal degradation of MYC by usage of FBXW7-deficient cells or treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 did not rescue the effect of CIP2A depletion on MYC protein levels. Whereas CIP2A knockdown had marginal influence on global protein synthesis, we could demonstrate that, by using different reporter constructs and cells expressing MYC mRNA with or without flanking UTR, CIP2A regulates MYC translation. This interaction is mainly conducted by the MYC 5′UTR.
Conclusions
Thus, instead of targeting MYC protein stability as reported for other tissue types before, CIP2A specifically regulates MYC mRNA translation in CRC but has only slight effects on global mRNA translation. In conclusion, we propose as novel mechanism that CIP2A regulates MYC on a translational level rather than affecting MYC protein stability in CRC.
Formation oft the central nervous system (CNS) from multipotent neuronal stem cells (NSCs) requires a tightly controlled, step-wise activation of the neuronal gene expression program. Expression of neuronal genes at the transition from neural stem cell to mature neuron (i. e. neuronal cell differentiation) is controlled by the Repressor element 1 (RE1) silencing transcription factor (REST) complex. As a master transcriptional regulator, the REST-complex specifically inhibits expression of neuronal genes in non-neuronal tissues and neuronal progenitor cells. Differentiation of NSCs to mature neurons requires the activation of genes controlled by the REST-complex, but how abrogation of REST-complex mediated repression is achieved during neurogenesis is only poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small regulatory RNAs that posttranscriptionally control target gene expression. Binding of miRNAs to target sequences in the 3’UTR of mRNAs, leads either to degradation or translational inhibition of the mRNA. Distinct neuronal miRNAs (e.g. miR-124) were shown to modulate REST-complex activity by silencing expression of REST-complex components. Interestingly, these miRNAs are also under transcriptional control of the REST-complex and inactivation of the REST-complex precedes their expression. Hence, additional factors are required for derepression of neuronal genes at the onset of neurogenesis. In this study function of the miR-26 family during neurogenesis of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) was analyzed. Computational target prediction revealed a number of REST-complex components as putative miR-26 targets. One of these predicted target genes, the C-terminal domain small phosphatase 2 (Ctdsp2) was validated as an in vivo target for miR-26b. Ctdsps are important cofactors of REST and suppress neuronal gene expression by dephosphorylating the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Interestingly, miR-26b is encoded in an intron of the ctdsp2 primary transcript and is cotranscribed together with its host gene. Hence, miR-26b modulates expression of its host gene ctdsp2 in an intrinsic negative autoregulatory loop. This negative autoregulatory loop is inactive in NSCs because miR-26b biogenesis is inhibited at the precursor level. Generation of mature miR-26b is activated during neurogenesis, where it suppresses Ctdsp2 protein expression and is required for neuronal cell differentiation in vivo. Strikingly, miR-26b is expressed prior to miR-124 during neuronal cell differentiation. Thus, it is reasonable to speculate about a function of miR-26b in early events of neurogenesis. In line with this assumption, knockdown of miR-26b in zebrafish embryos results in downregulation of REST-complex controlled neuronal genes and a block in neuronal cell differentiation, most likely due to aberrant regulation of Ctdsp2 expression. This is evident by reduced numbers of secondary motor neurons compared to control siblings. In contrast, motor neuron progenitor cells and glia cells were not affected by depletion of miR-26b.This study identifies the ctdsp2/miR-26b autoregulatory loop as the first experimentally validated interaction between an intronic miRNA and its host gene transcript. Silencing of ctdsp2 by miR-26b in neurons is possible because biogenesis of the ctdsp2 mRNA and mature mir-26b is uncoupled at the posttranscriptional level. Furthermore the obtained data indicate a cell type specific role for miR-26b in vertebrate neurogenesis and CNS development.
Characterization of Metastasis Formation and Virotherapy in the Human C33A Cervical Cancer Model
(2014)
More than 90% of cancer mortalities are due to cancer that has metastasized. Therefore, it is crucial to intensify research on metastasis formation and therapy. Here, we describe for the first time the metastasizing ability of the human cervical cancer cell line C33A in athymic nude mice after subcutaneous implantation of tumor cells. In this model, we demonstrated a steady progression of lumbar and renal lymph node metastases during tumor development. Besides predominantly occurring lymphatic metastases, we visualized the formation of hematogenous metastases utilizing red fluorescent protein (RFP) expressing C33A-RFP cells. RFP positive cancer cells were found migrating in blood vessels and forming micrometastases in lungs of tumor-bearing mice. Next, we set out to analyze the influence of oncolytic virotherapy in the C33A-RFP model and demonstrated an efficient virus-mediated reduction of tumor size and metastatic burden. These results suggest the C33A-RFP cervical cancer model as a new platform to analyze cancer metastases as well as to test novel treatment options to combat metastases.
Background
Previous studies have identified IFNγ as an important early barrier to oncolytic viruses including vaccinia. The existing innate and adaptive immune barriers restricting oncolytic virotherapy, however, can be overcome using autologous or allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells as carrier cells with unique immunosuppressive properties.
Methods
To test the ability of mesenchymal stem cells to overcome innate and adaptive immune barriers and to successfully deliver oncolytic vaccinia virus to tumor cells, we performed flow cytometry and virus plaque assay analysis of ex vivo co-cultures of stem cells infected with vaccinia virus in the presence of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors. Comparative analysis was performed to establish statistically significant correlations and to evaluate the effect of stem cells on the activity of key immune cell populations.
Results
Here, we demonstrate that adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have the potential to eradicate resistant tumor cells through a combination of potent virus amplification and sensitization of the tumor cells to virus infection. Moreover, the ADSCs demonstrate ability to function as a virus-amplifying Trojan horse in the presence of both autologous and allogeneic human PBMCs, which can be linked to the intrinsic immunosuppressive properties of stem cells and their unique potential to overcome innate and adaptive immune barriers. The clinical application of ready-to-use ex vivo expanded allogeneic stem cell lines, however, appears significantly restricted by patient-specific allogeneic differences associated with the induction of potent anti-stem cell cytotoxic and IFNγ responses. These allogeneic responses originate from both innate (NK)- and adaptive (T)- immune cells and might compromise therapeutic efficacy through direct elimination of the stem cells or the induction of an anti-viral state, which can block the potential of the Trojan horse to amplify and deliver vaccinia virus to the tumor.
Conclusions
Overall, our findings and data indicate the feasibility to establish simple and informative assays that capture critically important patient-specific differences in the immune responses to the virus and stem cells, which allows for proper patient-stem cell matching and enables the effective use of off-the-shelf allogeneic cell-based delivery platforms, thus providing a more practical and commercially viable alternative to the autologous stem cell approach.
No abstract availableBackground: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer with a high rate of recurrence. We propose a novel oncolytic vaccinia virus (VACV)-based therapy using expression of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-4 for treating GBM and preventing recurrence.
Methods: We have utilized clinically relevant, orthotopic xenograft models of GBM based on tumor-biopsy derived, primary cancer stem cell (CSC) lines. One of the cell lines, after being transduced with a cDNA encoding firefly luciferase, could be used for real time tumor imaging. A VACV that expresses BMP-4 was constructed and utilized for infecting several primary glioma cultures besides conventional serum-grown glioma cell lines. This virus was also delivered intracranially upon implantation of the GBM CSCs in mice to determine effects on tumor growth.
Results: We found that the VACV that overexpresses BMP-4 demonstrated heightened replication and cytotoxic activity in GBM CSC cultures with a broad spectrum of activity across several different patient-biopsy cultures. Intracranial inoculation of mice with this virus resulted in a tumor size equal to or below that at the time of injection. This resulted in survival of 100% of the treated mice up to 84 days post inoculation, significantly superior to that of a VACV lacking BMP-4 expression. When mice with a higher tumor burden were injected with the VACV lacking BMP-4, 80% of the mice showed tumor recurrence. In contrast, no recurrence was seen when mice were injected with the VACV expressing BMP-4, possibly due to induction of differentiation in the CSC population and subsequently serving as a better host for VACV infection and oncolysis. This lack of recurrence resulted in superior survival in the BMP-4 VACV treated group.
Conclusions: Based on these findings we propose a novel VACV therapy for treating GBM, which would allow tumor specific production of drugs in the future in combination with BMPs which would simultaneously control tumor maintenance and facilitate CSC differentiation, respectively, thereby causing sustained tumor regression without recurrence.
Untersuchungen zur Biogenese spleißosomaler UsnRNPs und ihrer Bedeutung für die Pathogenese der SMA
(2005)
Die neurodegenerative Krankheit Spinale Muskelatrophie (SMA) wird durch den Mangel an funktionellem Survival Motor Neuron Protein (SMN) verursacht. Eine Funktion von SMN liegt in der Biogenese spleißosomaler UsnRNPs (U-rich small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles). Diese Arbeit zeigt in einem SMA-Modell in Hela-Zellkultur, dass der SMN-Mangel zu einer reduzierten de novo-Produktion der spleißosomalen UsnRNPs führt. In einem Zebrafisch-Modell für SMA wurde nachgewiesen, dass die reduzierte UsnRNP-Produktion die Degenerationen von Axonen der Motoneuronen verursacht, einen Phänotyp wie er bei SMA auftritt. Damit konnte erstmals eine direkte Verbindung zwischen einer zellulären Funktion von SMN und der Entstehung von SMA hergestellt werden.
Effects of stem cell transcription factor-expressing vaccinia viruses in oncolytic virotherapy
(2012)
Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the industrialized. The data from many different studies investigating the nature of cancer-initiating cells coined the description ‘cancer stem cells’ and has major implications on conventional cancer therapy. Thus, to improve the outcome of cancer treatment and to lower negative side effects, the development of novel therapeutic regimens is indispensable. It has been demonstrated in many preclinical studies that oncolytic virotherapy using vaccinia virus may provide a powerful and well-tolerable new tool in cancer therapy which is currently investigated in several clinical trials (Phase I & II) as stand-alone treatment or in combination with conventional cancer therapy. Cancer-initiating cells and stem cells share a variety of characteristics like the ability to self-renew, differentiation potential, quiescence, drug and radiation resistance, activation and inhibition of similar signaling pathways as well as expression of cell surface markers and stem cell-related genes. In this work, two new recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing the transcription factors Nanog (GLV-1h205) and Oct4 (GLV-1h208) were engineered to provide deeper insight of these stem cell master regulators in their significance of cancer-initiation and their impact on oncolytic virotherapy. Both viruses were analyzed for their replication potential in A549 and PC-3 human cancer cells. Marker gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR, SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, ELISA or immunocytochemistry.Furthermore, the effect of GLV-1h205 infection on the cell cycle in A549 cells was analyzed. Next, the effects of virus-mediated expression of stem cell transcription factors on therapeutic efficacy and survival rates in A549 xenograft mouse models was analyzed. A non-functional Nanog mutant-expressing virus strain (GLV-1h321) was engineered to analyze whether the observed therapeutic benefits were promoter- or payload-driven. Furthermore, this study analyzed the potential of GLV-1h68 to infect, replicate in, and lyse colorectal cancer cell lines to study whether oncolytic vaccinia viruses can be potential new and less invasive treatment regimens for late stage colorectal cancer. Marker gene expression was assessed by fluorescence microscopy and FACS. The transcription factor Klf4 is highly expressed in quiescent, terminally differentiated cells in the colonic epithelium whereas it is dramatically downregulated in colon cancers. Klf4 expression leads to cell growth arrest and inhibits Wnt signaling by binding to beta-catenin. To further improve the treatment of colorectal cancers, new recombinant vaccinia viruses (GLV-1h290-292) mediating the expression of differing amounts of the tumor suppressor Klf4 by using different promoter strengths were engineered. Initial characterization of recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing Klf4 by replication assay, cell viability assay, SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, immuncytochemistry and analysis of protein functionality by qPCR and ELISA analysis for cellular beta-catenin expression, demonstrated promoter strength-dependent expression of and impact of Klf4. To further boost the effects of tumor suppressor Klf4, a vaccinia virus strain expressing Klf4 with a C-terminal fusion of the TAT transduction domain (GLV-1h391) was engineered. Treatment of HT-29 non-responder tumors in vivo with GLV-1h291 and GLV-1h391 led to significant tumor growth inhibition and improved overall survival compared to GLV-1h68. This makes the Klf4-TAT expressing GLV-1h391 a promising candidate for the treatment of colorectal cancer in man.
Background: Despite availability of efficient treatment regimens for early stage colorectal cancer, treatment regimens for late stage colorectal cancer are generally not effective and thus need improvement. Oncolytic virotherapy using replication-competent vaccinia virus (VACV) strains is a promising new strategy for therapy of a variety of human cancers.
Methods: Oncolytic efficacy of replication-competent vaccinia virus GLV-1h68 was analyzed in both, cell cultures and subcutaneous xenograft tumor models.
Results: In this study we demonstrated for the first time that the replication-competent recombinant VACV GLV-1h68 efficiently infected, replicated in, and subsequently lysed various human colorectal cancer lines (Colo 205, HCT-15, HCT-116, HT-29, and SW-620) derived from patients at all four stages of disease. Additionally, in tumor xenograft models in athymic nude mice, a single injection of intravenously administered GLV-1h68 significantly inhibited tumor growth of two different human colorectal cell line tumors (Duke’s type A-stage HCT-116 and Duke’s type C-stage SW-620), significantly improving survival compared to untreated mice. Expression of the viral marker gene ruc-gfp allowed for real-time analysis of the virus infection in cell cultures and in mice. GLV-1h68 treatment was well-tolerated in all animals and viral replication was confined to the tumor. GLV-1h68 treatment elicited a significant up-regulation of murine immune-related antigens like IFN-γ, IP-10, MCP-1, MCP-3, MCP-5, RANTES and TNF-γ and a greater infiltration of macrophages and NK cells in tumors as compared to untreated controls.
Conclusion: The anti-tumor activity observed against colorectal cancer cells in these studies was a result of direct viral oncolysis by GLV-1h68 and inflammation-mediated innate immune responses. The therapeutic effects occurred in tumors regardless of the stage of disease from which the cells were derived. Thus, the recombinant vaccinia virus GLV-1h68 has the potential to treat colorectal cancers independently of the stage of progression.
Mechanismus des pre-tRNA-Spleißens : Struktur und Funktion pflanzlicher und animaler RNA-Ligasen
(2005)
Transfer Ribonukleinsäuren werden von der RNA Polymerase III als Vorläufer tRNA transkribiert und durchlaufen eine Vielzahl von Reifungsschritten hin zur maturen tRNA. Neben der Hydrolyse der 5´- und 3´-Flanke durch die RNase P und die tRNase Z, sowie einer Vielzahl von Basenmodifizierungen, wird bei einigen pre-tRNAs das Intron herausgespleißt. Die ersten intronhaltigen tRNA Gene wurden in der Hefe Saccharomyces cerevisiae nachgewiesen und folglich wurde der Spleißmechanismus in diesem Organismus als erstes untersucht. Eine tetramere tRNA Spleißendonuklease spaltet das Intron an den Exongrenzen heraus und eine tRNA Ligase ligiert die entstandenen tRNA Hälften zur gespleißten tRNA. Einzig in der Hefe und anderen Pilzen konnten bisher die Gene für die tRNA Ligase identifiziert werden. Weder molekularbiologische Ansätze – wie z.B. DNA Hybridisierung, Expressions-“Screening“ und funktionelle Komplementationsstudien mit einem tRNA Ligase-defizienten Hefestamm – noch Datenbanksuchen mit der bekannten Hefe tRNA Ligasesequenz haben in den vergangenen Jahren zur Identifizierung eines pflanzlichen oder animalen tRNA Ligase Gens geführt. In dieser Arbeit ist es erstmals gelungen, das tRNA Ligase Protein aus Weizenkeimen bis zur Homogenität zu isolieren und mit Hilfe erhaltener Peptidsequenzen die entsprechenden Kern-codierten Gene in höheren und niederer Pflanzen zu identifizieren. Die Ligaseaktivität wurde für das klonierte, rekombinant überexprimierte tRNA Ligaseprotein bestätigt. Weiterhin wurde zum ersten Mal das Ligaseprotein aus Schweineleber aufgereinigt und das zugehörige Gen im humanen Genom identifiziert.
Ein Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war die Untersuchung der Lokalisation und der Dynamik der Replikationsproteine des murinen prä-replikativen Komplexes in vivo. Dazu wurden die zu untersuchenden Replikationsproteine als EGFP-Fusionsproteine in LTK--Zellen exprimiert und am konfokalen Laserscanning-Mikroskop untersucht. CDC6-EGFP war in der G1-Phase diffus in Zellkern und Cytoplasma verteilt, am G1/S-Übergang ausschließlich im Zellkern lokalisiert und während der S-Phase in zahlreichen Foci im Kern akkumuliert. CDC6-EGFP war mit Replikationsfoci colokalisiert. Endogenes Cdc6p wies dieselbe subzelluläre Verteilung wie CDC6-EGFP auf. Auch Fusionsproteine des humanen Proteins Cdc6p waren in HEK-293T-Zellen in Replikationsfoci lokalisiert. FRAP-Studien ergaben, dass 80-90 % von CDC6-EGFP während der gesamten S-Phase stabil mit der Replikationsmaschinerie assoziiert sind. Durch Mutation der Phosphoryliersstellen für Cyclin-abhängige Proteinkinasen wurde der Einfluss des Phosphorylierungsstatus der konservierten Serinreste der Cdk-Phosphorylierungsstellen auf die Lokalisation von CDC6-EGFP in vivo untersucht. Alle Mutanten bei denen die Cdk-Serinreste zu nicht-phosphorylierbaren Alaninresten mutiert wurden waren in Replikationsfoci lokalisiert. Dies zeigt, dass die Phosphorylierung dieser Serinreste für die Lokalisation von CDC6-EGFP an Stellen aktiver DNA-Replikation nicht essentiell ist. Durch Mutation der Serinreste zu Phosphatreste-simulierenden Aspartatresten konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Phosphorylierung des Serinrests S102 zum Export von CDC6-EGFP aus dem Zellkern führt. FRAP-Studien ergaben, dass CDC6-EGFP in Replikationsfoci an Serinrest 82 phosphoryliert und an Serinrest 102 dephosphoryliert vorliegt. Mit Immunfluoreszenz-Analysen konnte gezeigt werden, dass Chromatin in Replikationsfoci nicht acetyliert ist. Dies deutet darauf hin, dass die Elongation der DNA-Replikation an nicht-acetyliertem Chromatin erfolgt. Trichostatin A-induzierte Hyperacetylierung des Chromatins hatte keinen Einfluss auf Lokalisation und Mobilität von CDC6-EGFP in Replikationsfoci. Die Mobilität des nucleoplasmatischen CDC6-EGFP-Pools wurde dadurch erhöht. In der G1-Phase wurde die Mobilität von CDC6-EGFP durch TSA verringert, woraus gefolgert werden kann, dass der Acetylierungsstatus des Chromatins in der G1-Phase die Mobilität von CDC6-EGFP beeinflusst. ORC1-EGFP war im Zellkern in großen kugelförmigen Strukturen lokalisiert, ORC2-EGFP war diffus in Cytoplasma und Zellkern verteilt. ORC3-EGFP akkumulierte in PML nuclear bodies. Während ORC4-EGFP und ORC5-EGFP am Centrosom lokalisiert waren konnte ORC6-EGFP in Nucleoli nachgewiesen werden. Die EGFP-Fusionsproteine von Cdc45p, PCNA und DNA-Ligase-I waren im Zellkern lokalisiert, die Nucleoli waren ausgespart. Ein weiterer Aspekt dieser Arbeit war die Untersuchung der Substratspezifität der murinen Cdc7p/Dbf4p-Proteinkinase. Die in Sf9-Zellen exprimierte und aufgereinigte Kinase phosphorylierte Orc2p, Orc6p, Cdc45p und Mcm6p. Mit Phosphopeptidkartierungen konnte gezeigt werden, dass Cdc7p von CylinE/Cdk2 an zwei Stellen und von CyclinA/Cdk2 an einer Stelle in vitro phosphoryliert wird. CDC7-EGFP war in der G1-Phase, am G1/S-Übergang und in der S-Phase im Kern lokalisiert. Durch FISH-Experimente konnte der genomische Locus des murinen Cdc7-Gens der Bande E von Chromosom 5 zugeordnet werden. Mit Kinase-Assays wurde untersucht, ob die murine Plk1p-Kinase Initiationsfaktoren der DNA-Replikation in vitro phosphoryliert. Die in Sf9-Zellen exprimierte Plk1p phosphorylierte Cdc7p, Orc2p und Orc6p. Cdc7p und Orc6p sind mit Plk1p am Midbody während der Telophase in vivo colokalisiert. Ein weiteres Ziel dieser Arbeit war die Messung der Mobilität des murinen Transkriptions-Terminationsfaktors TTF-I mittels FRAP. EGFP-TTF-I und EGFP-NRD waren diffus in den Nucleoli verteilt, einzelne Areale waren ausgespart. EGFP-TTFdeltaN185 war hingegen in distinkten nucleolären Stellen akkumuliert. Mit FRAP-Studien konnte gezeigt werden, dass EGFP-TTFdeltaN185 in einer 10 %igen immobilen Fraktion vorlag während das Gesamtprotein EGFP-TTF-I zu 100% mobil war. Das Protein TIP5 interagiert mit TTF-I. EGFP-TIP5 war diffus im Nucleoplasma verteilt, die Ncleoli waren ausgespart. Durch Cotransfektionen verschiedener EYFP-TTF-I-Konstrukte mit EGFP-TIP5 konnte gezeigt werden, dass EGFP-TIP5 von EYFP-TTFdeltaN185 nicht in Nucleoli cotransportiert wird. Mit BRET-Studien ergaben, dass Orc6p mit TTF-I in vivo interagiert. Eine Interaktion mit TTFdeltaN185 war nicht nachweisbar.
YAP, the key protein effector of the Hippo pathway, is a transcriptional co-activator that controls the expression of cell cycle genes, promotes cell growth and proliferation and regulates organ size. YAP modulates gene transcription by binding to distal enhancers, but the mechanisms of gene regulation by YAP-bound enhancers remain poorly understood. Here we show that constitutive active YAP5SA leads to widespread changes in chromatin accessibility in untransformed MCF10A cells. Newly accessible regions include YAP-bound enhancers that mediate activation of cycle genes regulated by the Myb-MuvB (MMB) complex. By CRISPR-interference we identify a role for YAP-bound enhancers in phosphorylation of Pol II at Ser5 at MMB-regulated promoters, extending previously published studies that suggested YAP primarily regulates the pause-release step and transcriptional elongation. YAP5SA also leads to less accessible ‘closed’ chromatin regions, which are not directly YAP-bound but which contain binding motifs for the p53 family of transcription factors. Diminished accessibility at these regions is, at least in part, a consequence of reduced expression and chromatin-binding of the p53 family member ΔNp63 resulting in downregulation of ΔNp63-target genes and promoting YAP-mediated cell migration. In summary, our studies uncover changes in chromatin accessibility and activity that contribute to the oncogenic activities of YAP.