Interaction of p107 with cyclin A independent of complex formation with viral oncoproteins.

The p107 protein and the retinoblastoma protein (RB) both bind specifically to two viral oncoproteins, the SV40 T antigen (T) and adenoviral protein E1A (E1A). Like RB, p107 contains a segment (the pocket) that, alone, can bind specifically to T, E1A, and multiple cellular proteins. Cyclin A bound to the p107 pocket, but not the RB pocket. Although both pockets contain two, related collinear subsegments (A and B), the unique sequence in the p107 pocket that occupies the space between A and B is required for the interaction with cyclin A.

Interaction between human cyclin A and adenovirus E1A-associated p107 protein.

The products of the adenovirus early region 1A (E1A) gene are potent oncoproteins when tested in standard transformation and immortalization assays. Many of the changes induced by E1A may be due to its interaction with cellular proteins. Four of these cellular proteins are the retinoblastoma protein (pRB), p107, cyclin A, and p33cdk2. The pRB and p107 proteins are structurally related and have several characteristics in common, including that they both bind to the SV40 large T oncoprotein as well as to E1A. Cyclin A and p33cdk2 are thought to function in the control of the cell cycle. They bind to one another, forming a kinase that closely resembles the cell cycle-regulating complexes containing p34cdc2. Cyclin A is now shown to bind to p107 in the absence of E1A. The association of p107 with cyclin A suggests a direct link between cell cycle control and the function of p107.

Definition of the minimal simian virus 40 large T antigen- and adenovirus E1A-binding domain in the retinoblastoma gene product.

It has previously been demonstrated that the simian virus 40 large T antigen and adenovirus E1A proteins can form complexes with the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product (RB). We studied the ability of these proteins to bind to mutant RB proteins in vitro. A region of RB spanning residues 379 to 792 was found to be both necessary and sufficient for binding to T or E1A. Furthermore, this region of RB contains sufficient structural information to mimic wild-type RB in its ability to distinguish between wild-type T and the transformation-defective T mutant K1. The results of competition experiments with peptide analogs of the RB-binding sequence in T suggest that this region of RB makes direct contact with a short colinear region of T, i.e., residues 102 to 115, previously implicated in both transformation and RB binding.

p16INK4A participates in a G1 arrest checkpoint in response to DNA damage.

Members of the INK4 protein family specifically inhibit cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (cdk4) and cdk6-mediated phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product (Rb). p16INK4A, a prototypic INK4 protein, has been identified as a tumor suppressor in many human cancers. Inactivation of p16INK4A in tumors expressing wild-type Rb is thought to be required in order for many malignant cell types to enter S phase efficiently or to escape senescence. Here, we demonstrate another mechanism of tumor suppression by implicating p16INK4A in a G1 arrest checkpoint in response to DNA damage. Calu-1 non-small cell lung cancer cells, which retain Rb and lack p53, do not arrest in G1 following DNA damage. However, engineered expression of p16INK4A at levels compatible with cell proliferation restores a G1 arrest checkpoint in response to treatment with gamma-irradiation, topoisomerase I and II inhibitors, and cisplatin. A similar checkpoint can be demonstrated in p53-/- fibroblasts that express p16INK4A. DNA damage-induced G1 arrest, which requires the expression of pocket proteins such as Rb, can be abrogated by overexpression of cdk4, kinase-inactive cdk4 variants capable of sequestering p16INK4A, or a cdk4 variant incapable of binding p16INK4A. After exposure to DNA-damaging agents, there was no change either in overall levels of p16INK4A or in amounts of p16INK4A found in complex with cdks 4 and 6. Nonetheless, p16INK4A expression is required for the reduction in cdk4- and cdk6-mediated Rb kinase activity observed in response to DNA damage. During tumor progression, loss of p16INK4A expression may be necessary for cells with wild-type Rb to bypass this G1 arrest checkpoint and attain a fully transformed phenotype.

The retinoblastoma protein is linked to the activation of Ras.

The inner membrane-bound protein Ras integrates various extracellular signals that are subsequently communicated from the cytoplasm to the nucleus via the Raf/MEK/MAPK cascade. Here we show that the retinoblastoma protein pRb, previously reported to be a nuclear target of this pathway, can in turn influence the activation state of Ras. Rb-deficient fibroblasts display elevated levels (up to 30-fold) of activated Ras during G(1). Expression of wild-type pRb or a number of pRb mutants defective in E2F regulation reverses this effect. We provide evidence that the mid-G(1) activation of Ras in Rb-deficient cells, which occurs at the level of guanine nucleotide binding, differs from that of epidermal growth factor-induced stimulation of Ras, being dependent on protein synthesis. The aberrant levels of Ras activity associated with loss of pRb may be responsible for the differentiation defects in Rb-deficient cells, because suppression of Ras activity in Rb(-/-) fibroblasts restores the transactivation function of MyoD and the expression of a late marker of skeletal muscle differentiation. These data suggest that nuclear-cytoplasmic communication between pRb and Ras is bidirectional.

Regulation of the functional interaction between cyclin D1 and the estrogen receptor.

We report that the functional interaction between cyclin D1 and the estrogen receptor (ER) is regulated by a signal transduction pathway involving the second messenger, cyclic AMP (cAMP). The cell-permeable cAMP analogue 8-bromo-cAMP caused a concentration-dependent enhancement of cyclin D1-ER complex formation, as judged both by coimmunoprecipitation and mammalian two-hybrid analysis. This effect was paralleled by increases in ligand-independent ER-mediated transcription from an estrogen response element containing reporter construct. These effects of 8-bromo-cAMP were antagonized by a specific protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, indicating that the signaling pathway involved was PKA dependent. Further, we show that culture of MCF-7 cells on a cellular substratum of murine preadipocytes also enhanced the functional interaction between cyclin D1 and ER in a PKA-dependent manner. These findings demonstrate a collaboration between cAMP signaling and cyclin D1 in the ligand-independent activation of ER-mediated transcription in mammary epithelial cells and show that the functional associations of cyclin D1 are regulated as a function of cellular context.

p53 binds selectively to the 5' untranslated region of cdk4, an RNA element necessary and sufficient for transforming growth factor beta- and p53-mediated translational inhibition of cdk4.

One consequence of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) treatment is inhibition of Cdk4 synthesis, and this is dependent on p53. Here, we show that the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of the cdk4 mRNA is both necessary and sufficient for wild-type p53-dependent TGF-beta-regulated translational inhibition of cdk4. Wild-type p53 bound selectively to the 5' UTR of the cdk4 mRNA and inhibited translation of RNAs that contain this region. RNA binding and translational control are two genetically separable functions of p53, as are specific and nonspecific RNA binding. Moreover, transactivation-defective mutants of p53 retain the ability to regulate cdk4 translation. Our findings suggest that p53 functions as a regulator of translation in response to TGF-beta in vivo.

Regulation of exit from quiescence by p27 and cyclin D1-CDK4.

The synthesis of cyclin D1 and its assembly with cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) to form an active complex is a rate-limiting step in progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Using an activated allele of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEK1), we show that this kinase plays a significant role in positively regulating the expression of cyclin D1. This was found both in quiescent serum-starved cells and in cells expressing dominant-negative Ras. Despite the observation that cyclin D1 is a target of MEK1, in cycling cells, activated MEK1, but not cyclin D1, is capable of overcoming a G1 arrest induced by Ras inactivation. Either wild-type or catalytically inactive CDK4 cooperates with cyclin D1 in reversing the G1 arrest induced by inhibition of Ras activity. In quiescent NIH 3T3 cells expressing either ectopic cyclin D1 or activated MEK1, cyclin D1 is able to efficiently associate with CDK4; however, the complex is inactive. A significant percentage of the cyclin D1-CDK4 complexes are associated with p27 in serum-starved activated MEK1 or cyclin D1 cell lines. Reduction of p27 levels by expression of antisense p27 allows for S-phase entry from quiescence in NIH 3T3 cells expressing ectopic cyclin D1, but not in parental cells.

Bcl-2 retards cell cycle entry through p27(Kip1), pRB relative p130, and altered E2F regulation.

Independent of its antiapoptotic function, Bcl-2 can, through an undetermined mechanism, retard entry into the cell cycle. Cell cycle progression requires the phosphorylation by cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) of retinoblastoma protein (pRB) family members to free E2F transcription factors. We have explored whether retarded cycle entry is mediated by the Cdk inhibitor p27 or the pRB family. In quiescent fibroblasts, enforced Bcl-2 expression elevated levels of both p27 and the pRB relative p130. Bcl-2 still slowed G(1) progression in cells deficient in pRB but not in those lacking p27 or p130. Hence, pRB is not required, but both p27 and p130 are essential mediators. The ability of p130 to form repressive complexes with E2F4 is implicated, because the retardation by Bcl-2 was accentuated by coexpressed E2F4. A plausible relevant target of p130/E2F4 is the E2F1 gene, because Bcl-2 expression delayed E2F1 accumulation during G(1) progression and overexpression of E2F1 overrode the Bcl-2 inhibition. Hence, Bcl-2 appears to retard cell cycle entry by increasing p27 and p130 levels and maintaining repressive complexes of p130 with E2F4, perhaps to delay E2F1 expression.

Cyclin D1 stimulation of estrogen receptor transcriptional activity independent of cdk4.

Cyclin D1 plays an important role in the development of breast cancer and is required for normal breast cell proliferation and differentiation associated with pregnancy. We show that ectopic expression of cyclin D1 can stimulate the transcriptional activity of the estrogen receptor in the absence of estradiol and that this activity can be inhibited by 4-hydroxytamoxifen and ICI 182,780. Cyclin D1 can form a specific complex with the estrogen receptor. Stimulation of the estrogen receptor by cyclin D1 is independent of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 activation. Cyclin D1 may manifest its oncogenic potential in breast cancer in part through binding to the estrogen receptor and activation of the transcriptional activity of the receptor.

The RB-IL-6 axis controls self-renewal and endocrine therapy resistance by fine-tuning mitochondrial activity.

Retinoblastoma (RB) protein inactivation during tumor progression is often associated with acquisition of immature phenotypes and resistance to therapy. Determination of an RB inactivation signature in a context of gaining undifferentiated phenotype in a p53-null sarcoma system revealed a critical role for interleukin (IL)-6. Using a Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), we discovered that poorly differentiated breast cancers are enriched for this RB inactivation signature. Accelerated IL-6 secretion following RB inactivation in an RB-intact luminal-type breast cancer cell line MCF-7 promoted a positive feed forward loop between IL-6 and STAT3 driving tumor growth and endocrine therapy resistance. In addition, some of RB-intact basal-like type breast cancer cell lines exhibited a similar phenotype following RB depletion. The mechanism whereby RB inactivation increases IL-6 production in MCF-7 cells appeared to involve fatty acid oxidation (FAO)-dependent mitochondrial metabolism and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK). In addition, IL-6, via STAT3-mediated feedback to mitochondria, autonomously adjusts mitochondrial superoxide to levels suitable to maintain stem cell-like activity. The gene expression profile of luminal-type breast cancer patients with low RB expression revealed high enrichment of genes involved in mitochondrial respiration and downstream targets of IL-6. These findings unveiled an unexpected strategy whereby RB suppresses malignant features of cancer cells through metabolic reprogramming and cell-autonomous inflammation.

Multiple mechanisms of p16INK4A inactivation in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines.

p16INK4A, a specific inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk)4 and cdk6, is a candidate tumor suppressor in malignancies with wild-type retinoblastoma (Rb). Loss of p16INK4A frees these cdks from inhibition, permitting constitutive phosphorylation of Rb and inactivation of its growth suppressive properties. Consistent with this model, Rb-positive non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) have little or no detectable p16INK4A protein, whereas Rb-negative lung cancers have abundant p16INK4A. However, only some NSCLCs have homozygous deletions or nonsense mutations in a remaining p16INK4A allele, suggesting that other mechanisms must account for absent or low levels of p16INK4A protein. Here, we analyzed 9 Rb-positive NSCLC cell lines for the controls governing p16INK4A activity. Four lines had homozygous deletions of p16INK4A (SK-LU-1, SK-MES-1, A-427, and SW900), and three had a point mutation in a single allele. First, in H520 cells, the previously reported deletion at codon 45 results in a frameshift that produces no detectable protein. Second, in Calu-3 cells, a His to Tyr substitution at codon 83 produced a variant with a shortened half-life that was unable to form complexes with cdk4 or cdk6. Third, in H661 cells, the previously reported point mutation in the second intron splice donor site resulted in a smaller p16INK4A protein. Although this variant formed complexes with cdk4 and cdk6, it had a profoundly reduced half-life, producing low steady-state levels of p16INK4A and abundant levels of free cdks. Finally, Calu-1 and Calu-6 cells transcribed no detectable mRNA encoding authentic p16INK4A. These cell lines displayed methylation of the CpG island surrounding the first exon of p16INK4A and expressed abundant levels of a nontranslated mRNA containing an alternative first exon (E1 beta), as did all other cell lines in which the p16INK4A locus was not deleted. These data indicate that Rb-positive NSCLC cells have evolved a variety of pathways to suppress p16INK4A expression. Reintroduction of p16INK4A into these cell lines by retroviral transfer resulted in a reduced growth rate, increased abundance of hypophosphorylated Rb, accumulation of cells in G1, and a less transformed morphology in Rb-positive, but not Rb-negative cells, suggesting that loss of p16INK4A is essential for maintenance of the transformed phenotype.

Enforced CDK4 expression in a hematopoietic cell line confers resistance to the G1 arrest induced by ionizing radiation.

In hematopoietic cells, gamma-irradiation causes a p53-dependent transient G1 phase cell cycle arrest. Various extracellular growth inhibitory signals elicit G1 arrest by targeting CDK4. Here we show that in a myeloid cell line, 32D cl 3, enforced expression of CDK4, but not cyclins D2 nor D3, overrides the gamma-irradiation-induced G1 arrest. CDK4 does not confer resistance to the radiation-induced G2 block observed in parental cells. Ectopic expression of CDK4 overcomes the ionizing radiation-induced inhibition of CDK4 and CDK2 kinase activity. The levels of CDK4 protein do not change after exposure to ionizing radiation in either parental cells or those overexpressing CDK4. Ionizing radiation induces the expression of both p53 and p21, and in cells constitutively synthesizing exogenous CDK4, the return of p53 protein levels to baseline is prolonged. Increased levels of p21 are found associated with CDK4, and not CDK2, in the lines overexpressing CDK4, compared to the parental line, after exposure to ionizing radiation. Enforced expression of CDK4 may therefore overcome a gamma-irradiation-induced G1 arrest through the titration of the CDK inhibitor p21 allowing both CDK4 and CDK2 to remain active.

p53 and translational control.

The tumor suppressor p53 plays a role in mediating a G1 arrest (for example, in response to DNA damage), in the cellular commitment to apoptosis and in suppression of transformation. The mechanism of action of p53 in each of these biological outcomes is likely to be overlapping. Current data indicate that p53 functions as a sequence specific transcriptional activator. p53 can also repress transcription from certain promoters. One way in which p53 mediates a G1 arrest after DNA damage appears to be clear. Cells exposed to ionizing radiation show elevated levels of p53 protein. The increase in p53 levels is thought to be responsible for the increase in the cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor p21 mediated through the p53 binding sites in the p21 promoter. With regard to the ability of p53 to suppress transformation, there is data suggesting that p53 functions other than, or in addition to, its transcriptional activation function may be necessary. Similar data exist for p53-dependent apoptosis. Recently a role for p53 at another level of gene regulation, namely, translational regulation has been proposed. p53 associates with various components of the translation machinery and has been implicated in the translational regulation of both the p53 and CDK4 mRNAs. Here we will summarize the evidence suggesting a role for p53 in translation and how this regulation might be achieved.

Relationship between Ras pathways and cell cycle control.

The ordered execution of the two main events of cellular reproduction, duplication of the genome and cell division, characterize progression through the cell cycle. Cultured cells can be switched between cycling and non-cycling states by alteration of extracellular conditions and the notion that a critical cellular control mechanism presides on this decision, whose temporal location is known as the restriction point, has become the focus for the study of how extracellular mitogenic signalling impinges upon the cell cycle to influence proliferation. This review attempts to cover the disparate pathways of Ras-mediated mitogenic signal transduction that impact upon restriction point control.

The cell cycle and the retinoblastoma protein family.

Tumor formation results from alterations in the control of normal cell proliferation. To further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the deregulation of cell proliferation much attention, over the past decade, has been focused on the function of proto-oncogenes. Cellular oncogenes are thought to be growth promoting. More recently, a class of genes known as tumor suppressors have come under intense study. Tumor suppressors are largely thought to restrain cell proliferation. The retinoblastoma protein (Rb) is one of a growing list of tumor suppressors. Concurrent with the study of tumor suppressor genes has been a rapid increase in our understanding of the cell cycle at the molecular level. Rb and a related protein p107 are involved in the processes of cell proliferation and differentiation. Each functionally interacts with and affects the activity of the transcription factor E2F as well as other transcription factors involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. Additionally, Rb and p107 are modified by, and/or form specific complexes with, several elements of the basic cell cycle machinery. Specifically, Rb and p107 interact with and are modified by various cyclins and cyclin dependent kinases (cdk), some of which have been shown to be essential for cell cycle progression and in some cases their deregulation has been implicated in the development of cancer. This review will attempt to convey our current functional and mechanistic understanding of the biological roles Rb and p107 play in proliferation, development and differentiation. A knowledge of the interplay between these positive and negative regulators of cell proliferation and differentiation, noted above, is central to our understanding of human cancer.

p53-dependent repression of cdk4 synthesis in transforming growth factor-beta-induced G1 cell cycle arrest.

In summary, TGF-beta induces cell cycle arrest, at least in part, through down-regulation of cdk4 levels and inhibition of cdk2 activity. Thus both of the kinases thought to be responsible for phosphorylation and inactivation of RB in mid to late G1 are affected by the cytokine. Inhibition of cdk4 synthesis occurs at the translational level, is p53 dependent, and requires the 5' UTR of cdk4. David Beach's laboratory has found that TGF-beta also causes the induction of the cdk4-specific inhibitor p15 (a p16 family member). Thus TGF-beta uses two pathways to regulate cdk4 function: decreasing its expression and inhibiting its function. Mutant p53 confers resistance to TGF-beta by preventing cdk4 down-regulation and overcoming the inhibition of cdk2 activity. Work from the laboratories of both Massague and Roberts has shown that the inhibition of cdk2 brought about by TGF-beta is caused by the cdk inhibitor p27.

RNA-protein complexes responsible for replication and transcription of the double-stranded RNA bacteriophage phi 6.

RNA-protein complexes active for transcription and replication of the double-stranded RNA bacteriophage phi 6 have been partially purified from lysates of infected Pseudomonas phaseolicola. Transcribing particles (filled procapsids) contain the three viral dsRNAs and all four procapsid proteins P1, P2, P4, and P7. Particles with replicase activity contain the same four proteins as well as single plus RNA strands duplexed with various extents of minus strands initiated in vivo. The in vitro replication reaction is insensitive to RNaseA. Sarkosyl destroys transcription complexes but does not reduce the activity of replication complexes, although the latter lose 80% of their P4 and the single-strand RNA template becomes sensitive to RNase. The detection of complexes that replicate small only, or both small and medium, RNA suggests that the RNAs are packaged sequentially in the order small, medium, large.

In vitro replication and transcription of the segmented double-stranded RNA bacteriophage phi 6.

In vitro conditions that support viral-specific replication and transcription have been developed from Pseudomonas phaseolicola cells infected with the segmented double-stranded RNA bacteriophage phi 6. Transcription activity, previously shown to occur by semiconservative strand displacement, labeled (+) strands of all three genome segments and produced all three corresponding genome length messenger RNAs. Replication activity for each of the three double-stranded RNA segments is observed. Our criteria for replication were formation of genomic length double-stranded RNA products and at least (-) strand synthesis activity. Mn2+ and Sarkosyl together selectively inhibited transcription. Analysis of replication alone suggested that replication templates are the viral (+) messenger RNAs.

Trypanosome invasion of mammalian cells requires activation of the TGF beta signaling pathway.

Trypanosoma cruzi invades most nucleated mammalian cells by as yet unknown mechanisms. We report here that while T. cruzi attaches to epithelial cells lacking signaling transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) receptor I or II, the adherent parasites cannot penetrate and replicate inside the mutant cells, as they do in parental cells. Invasion of the mutants is restored by transfection with the TGF beta receptor genes, as are biological responses to TGF beta. Similar rescue of both TGF beta antiproliferative response and T. cruzi invasion was demonstrated in a hybrid of TGF beta-resistant bladder and colon carcinoma cells. In addition, T. cruzi did not efficiently invade epithelial cells with dysfunction of the intracellular signaling cascade caused by the constitutive expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase cdk4 or of the oncogene H-ras. Treatment with TGF beta, but not with other antiproliferative agents of non-phagocytic cells, greatly enhances T. cruzi invasion. Moreover, infective, but not noninfective, trypanosomes strongly induce a TGF beta-responsive reporter gene in TGF beta-sensitive, but not in TGF beta-insensitive, cell lines. Thus, T. cruzi itself may directly trigger activation of the TGF beta signaling pathway required for parasite entry into the mammalian cells.