GCN2 is a determinant of the response to WEE1 kinase inhibition in small-cell lung cancer
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ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE246354 | GEO | 2024/07/16
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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Project description:The G1/S cell-cycle checkpoint is frequently dysregulated in cancer, leaving cancer cells particularly reliant on a functional G2/M checkpoint to prevent excessive DNA damage. Inhibiting regulators of the G2/M checkpoint can therefore drive cancer cells into premature mitosis, ultimately causing cell death by mitotic catastrophe. One such regulator is Wee1, a nuclear tyrosine kinase that delays mitotic entry by phosphorylating CDK1 at Tyr15. Previous drug development efforts targeting Wee1 resulted in the clinical-grade inhibitor, AZD1775. However, AZD1775 is burdened by dose- limiting adverse events, and has off-target PLK1 activity. In an attempt to overcome these limitations, we designed small molecule degraders of Wee1 by conjugating AZD1775 to the cereblon (CRBN)- binding ligand, pomalidomide, as informed by molecular docking. The resulting lead compound, ZNL- 02-096, degrades Wee1 while sparing PLK1, induces G2/M phase accumulation at up to 10-fold lower concentrations than AZD1775, and potently synergizes with Olaparib in ovarian cancer cell lines. We demonstrate that ZNL-02-096 has CRBN-dependent pharmacology that is distinct from the conventional catalytic inhibitor, AZD1775, which justifies further evaluation of selective Wee1 degraders.
2019-11-18 | PXD015513 | Pride
Project description:The G2 DNA damage checkpoint inhibits Cdc2 and mitotic entry through the dual regulation of Wee1 and Cdc25 by the Chk1 effector kinase. Up-regulation of Chk1 by mutation or overexpression bypasses the requirement for up-stream regulators or DNA damage to promote a G2 cell cycle arrest. We screened in fission yeast for mutations that rendered cells resistant to overexpressed Chk1. We identified a mutation in tra1, which encodes one of two homologs of TRRAP, an ATM/R-related pseudokinase that scaffolds several histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complexes. Inhibition of histone deacetylases reverts the resistance to overexpressed Chk1, suggesting this phenotype is due to a HAT activity, though expression of checkpoint and cell cycle genes is not greatly affected. Cells with mutant or deleted tra1 activate Chk1 normally and are checkpoint proficient. However, these cells are semi-wee even when overexpressing Chk1, and accumulate inactive Wee1 protein. The Cdr (changed division response) kinases Cdr1 and Cdr2 are negative regulators of Wee1, and while best characterized in the cellular response to limited nutrition, we show that they are required for the Tra1-dependent alterations to Wee1 function. This identifies Tra1 as another component controlling the timing of entry into mitosis via Cdc2 activation. Two and three independent microaaray experiments were done for wild type and the mutant (tra1-1) respectively.
2010-04-11 | E-GEOD-12674 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Circadian clocks are evolved to adapt to the daily environment changes under different conditions. The ability to maintain circadian clock functions in response to various stress and perturbations is important for organismal fitness. Here, we show that the nutrient sensing GCN2 signaling pathway is required for robust circadian clock function under amino acid starvation in Neurospora. The deletion of GCN2 pathway components disrupts rhythmic transcription of clock gene frq by suppressing WC complex binding at the frq promoter due to its reduced histone H3 acetylation levels. Under amino acid starvation, the activation of GCN2 kinase and its downstream transcription factor CPC-1 establish a proper chromatin state at the frq promoter by recruiting the histone acetyltransferase GCN-5. The arrhythmic phenotype of the GCN2 kinase mutants under amino acid starvation can be rescued by inhibiting histone deacetylation. Finally, genome-wide transcriptional analysis indicates that the GCN2 signaling pathway maintains robust rhythmic expression of metabolic genes under amino acid starvation. Together, these results uncover an essential role of GCN2 signaling pathway in maintaining robust circadian clock function in response to amino acid starvation and the importance of histone acetylation at the frq locus in rhythmic gene expression.
2023-05-08 | GSE220169 | GEO
Project description:The G2 DNA damage checkpoint inhibits Cdc2 and mitotic entry through the dual regulation of Wee1 and Cdc25 by the Chk1 effector kinase. Up-regulation of Chk1 by mutation or overexpression bypasses the requirement for up-stream regulators or DNA damage to promote a G2 cell cycle arrest. We screened in fission yeast for mutations that rendered cells resistant to overexpressed Chk1. We identified a mutation in tra1, which encodes one of two homologs of TRRAP, an ATM/R-related pseudokinase that scaffolds several histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complexes. Inhibition of histone deacetylases reverts the resistance to overexpressed Chk1, suggesting this phenotype is due to a HAT activity, though expression of checkpoint and cell cycle genes is not greatly affected. Cells with mutant or deleted tra1 activate Chk1 normally and are checkpoint proficient. However, these cells are semi-wee even when overexpressing Chk1, and accumulate inactive Wee1 protein. The Cdr (changed division response) kinases Cdr1 and Cdr2 are negative regulators of Wee1, and while best characterized in the cellular response to limited nutrition, we show that they are required for the Tra1-dependent alterations to Wee1 function. This identifies Tra1 as another component controlling the timing of entry into mitosis via Cdc2 activation.
2010-04-11 | GSE12674 | GEO
Project description:Cancers invoke various pathways to mitigate external and internal stresses to continue their growth and progression. We previously reported that the eIF2 kinase GCN2 and the integrated stress response are constitutively active in prostate cancer (PCa) and are required to maintain amino acid homeostasis needed to fuel tumor growth. However, although loss of GCN2 function reduces intracellular amino acid availability and PCa growth, there is no appreciable cell death. Here, we discovered that the loss of GCN2 in PCa induces prosenescent p53 signaling. This p53 activation occurred through GCN2 inhibition-dependent reductions in purine nucleotides that impaired ribosome biogenesis and, consequently, induced the impaired ribosome biogenesis checkpoint. p53 signaling induced cell cycle arrest and senescence that promoted the survival of GCN2-deficient PCa cells. Depletion of GCN2 combined with loss of p53 or pharmacological inhibition of de novo purine biosynthesis reduced proliferation and enhanced cell death in PCa cell lines, organoids, and xenograft models. Our findings highlight the coordinated interplay between GCN2 and p53 regulation during nutrient stress and provide insight into how they could be targeted in developing new therapeutic strategies for PCa.
2024-10-01 | GSE260934 | GEO
Project description:Background: Atherosclerosis leads high mortality, highlighting an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. Protein kinases orchestrate multiple cellular events in atherosclerosis and may provide new therapeutic targets for atherosclerosis. Here, we identified a protein kinase, WEE1 G2 checkpoint kinase (WEE1), promoting inflammatory response in atherosclerosis. Methods: The ApoE-/- mice without macrophage-specific WEE1 deletion (ApoE-/-WEE1f/f) and ApoE-/- mice with macrophage-specific WEE1 deletion (ApoE-/-WEE1MCKO) were generated using bone marrow transplantation. These mice and WEE1 inhibitor MK1775 were used in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced atherosclerotic model. Human atherosclerotic tissues, mouse primary peritoneal macrophages (MPMs), 293T cells, and recombinant proteins were utilized to investigate the pathogenic role and underlying mechanisms of WEE1. Results: We identified up-regulated p-WEE1 in macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions of HFD-fed ApoE-/- mice. Transcriptome sequencing analysis indicated that WEE1 promotes oxLDL-induced inflammation in macrophages. We then demonstrated that macrophage-specific deletion or pharmacological inhibition of WEE1 attenuates atherosclerosis by reducing inflammation both in vivo and in vitro. The overexpression of wild-type WEE1 or activating-mutant WEE1, but not inactivating-mutant WEE1, exacerbates inflammation in macrophages. Mechanistically, transcriptome sequencing analysis and co-immunoprecipitation followed by quantitative proteomics analysis identified p65 as a binding protein of WEE1. We confirmed that WEE1 directly interacts with the RHD domain of p65 via kinase domain and phosphorylates p65 at S536, thereby facilitating subsequent NF-κB activation and inflammatory response in macrophages. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that macrophage WEE1 promotes inflammatory atherosclerosis by directly binding to p65 and phosphorylate it at S536. This study provides WEE1 as a new p65 regulator in inflammation and a potential therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.
2024-03-25 | PXD050932 | Pride
Project description:Background: Atherosclerosis leads high mortality, highlighting an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. Protein kinases orchestrate multiple cellular events in atherosclerosis and may provide new therapeutic targets for atherosclerosis. Here, we identified a protein kinase, WEE1 G2 checkpoint kinase (WEE1), promoting inflammatory response in atherosclerosis. Methods: The ApoE-/- mice without macrophage-specific WEE1 deletion (ApoE-/-WEE1f/f) and ApoE-/- mice with macrophage-specific WEE1 deletion (ApoE-/-WEE1MCKO) were generated using bone marrow transplantation. These mice and WEE1 inhibitor MK1775 were used in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced atherosclerotic model. Human atherosclerotic tissues, mouse primary peritoneal macrophages (MPMs), 293T cells, and recombinant proteins were utilized to investigate the pathogenic role and underlying mechanisms of WEE1. Results: We identified up-regulated p-WEE1 in macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions of HFD-fed ApoE-/- mice. Transcriptome sequencing analysis indicated that WEE1 promotes oxLDL-induced inflammation in macrophages. We then demonstrated that macrophage-specific deletion or pharmacological inhibition of WEE1 attenuates atherosclerosis by reducing inflammation both in vivo and in vitro. The overexpression of wild-type WEE1 or activating-mutant WEE1, but not inactivating-mutant WEE1, exacerbates inflammation in macrophages. Mechanistically, transcriptome sequencing analysis and co-immunoprecipitation followed by quantitative proteomics analysis identified p65 as a binding protein of WEE1. We confirmed that WEE1 directly interacts with the RHD domain of p65 via kinase domain and phosphorylates p65 at S536, thereby facilitating subsequent NF-κB activation and inflammatory response in macrophages. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that macrophage WEE1 promotes inflammatory atherosclerosis by directly binding to p65 and phosphorylate it at S536. This study provides WEE1 as a new p65 regulator in inflammation and a potential therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.
2024-03-30 | GSE262427 | GEO
Project description:Amino acid availability regulates translation through the action of the GCN2 and mTORC1 pathways. Low amino acids activate the eIF2α kinase GCN2 through binding of uncharged tRNAs to a histidyl-tRNA synthetase−related regulatory domain. Once activated GCN2 phosphorylates eIF2α, inhibiting ternary complex formation and translation initiation. Recent studies show that mTORC1 is particularly sensitive to arginine and leucine status, with a deprivation of these amino acids leading to a strong inhibition of mTORC1 that prevents the phosphorylation and inactivation of the translational repressor 4EBP1. Though amino acids are known regulators of translation, the effects that deficiencies of specific amino acids have on translation have yet to be determined. We demonstrate that deprivation of leucine or methionine results in large inhibitory effects on translation initiation and on polysome formation that are not replicated by overexpressing non-phosphorylatable 4EBP1 or a phosphomimetic eIF2α. Our results demonstrate that a lack of either leucine or methionine has a major impact on mRNA translation, though they act by quite different mechanisms. Leucine deprivation appears to primarily inhibit ribosome loading, whereas methionine deprivation appears to primarily impair start site recognition. These data point to a unique regulatory effect that methionine status has on translation initiation.
2018-04-04 | GSE112643 | GEO
Project description:While effective anti-cancer drugs targeting the CHK1 kinase are advancing in the clinic, drug resistance is rapidly emerging. Here, we demonstrate that CRISPR-mediated knockout of the little-known gene FAM122A confers cellular resistance to CHK1 inhibitors and cross-resistance to ATR inhibitors. Knockout of FAM122A results in activation of PP2A-B55α, a phosphatase which dephosphorylates the WEE1 protein and rescues WEE1 from Ubiquitin-mediated degradation. The resulting increase in WEE1 protein expression reduces replication stress, activates the G2/M checkpoint, and confers cellular resistance to CHK1 inhibitors. Interestingly, in tumor cells with oncogene-driven replication stress, CHK1 can directly phosphorylate FAM122A, leading to activation of the PP2A-B55α phosphatase and increased WEE1 expression. A combination of a CHK1 inhibitor plus a WEE1 inhibitor can overcome CHK1 inhibitor resistance of these tumor cells, thereby enhancing anti-cancer activity. The FAM122A expression level in a tumor cell can serve as a useful biomarker for predicting CHK1 inhibitor sensitivity or resistance.
2021-01-01 | GSE158338 | GEO