Tumor Suppressive Role of miR-342-5p in Human Chondrosarcoma Cells and 3D Organoids.

Chondrosarcomas are malignant bone tumors. Their abundant cartilage-like extracellular matrix and their hypoxic microenvironment contribute to their resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and no effective therapy is currently available. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may be an interesting alternative in the development of therapeutic options. Here, for the first time in chondrosarcoma cells, we carried out high-throughput functional screening using impedancemetry, and identified five miRNAs with potential antiproliferative or chemosensitive effects on SW1353 chondrosarcoma cells. The cytotoxic effects of miR-342-5p and miR-491-5p were confirmed on three chondrosarcoma cell lines, using functional validation under normoxia and hypoxia. Both miRNAs induced apoptosis and miR-342-5p also induced autophagy. Western blots and luciferase reporter assays identified for the first time Bcl-2 as a direct target of miR-342-5p, and also Bcl-xL as a direct target of both miR-342-5p and miR-491-5p in chondrosarcoma cells. MiR-491-5p also inhibited EGFR expression. Finally, only miR-342-5p induced cell death on a relevant 3D chondrosarcoma organoid model under hypoxia that mimics the in vivo microenvironment. Altogether, our results revealed the tumor suppressive activity of miR-342-5p, and to a lesser extent of miR-491-5p, on chondrosarcoma lines. Through this study, we also confirmed the potential of Bcl-2 family members as therapeutic targets in chondrosarcomas.

A multimodal treatment of carbon ions irradiation, miRNA-34 and mTOR inhibitor specifically control high-grade chondrosarcoma cancer stem cells.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: High-grade chondrosarcomas are chemo- and radio-resistant cartilage-forming tumors of bone that often relapse and metastase. Thus, new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Chondrosarcoma cells (CH-2879) were exposed to carbon-ion irradiation, combined with miR-34 mimic and/or rapamycin administration. The effects of treatment on cancer stem cells, stemness-associated phenotype, radioresistance and tumor-initiating properties were evaluated. RESULTS: We show that high-grade chondrosarcoma cells contain a population of radioresistant cancer stem cells that can be targeted by a combination of carbon-ion therapy, miR-34 mimic administration and/or rapamycin treatment that triggers FOXO3 and miR-34 over-expression. mTOR inhibition by rapamycin triggered FOXO3 and miR-34, leading to KLF4 repression. CONCLUSION: Our results show that particle therapy combined with molecular treatments effectively controls cancer stem cells and may overcome treatment resistance of high-grade chondrosarcoma.

Hadrontherapy Interactions in Molecular and Cellular Biology.

The resistance of cancer cells to radiotherapy is a major issue in the curative treatment of cancer patients. This resistance can be intrinsic or acquired after irradiation and has various definitions, depending on the endpoint that is chosen in assessing the response to radiation. This phenomenon might be strengthened by the radiosensitivity of surrounding healthy tissues. Sensitive organs near the tumor that is to be treated can be affected by direct irradiation or experience nontargeted reactions, leading to early or late effects that disrupt the quality of life of patients. For several decades, new modalities of irradiation that involve accelerated particles have been available, such as proton therapy and carbon therapy, raising the possibility of specifically targeting the tumor volume. The goal of this review is to examine the up-to-date radiobiological and clinical aspects of hadrontherapy, a discipline that is maturing, with promising applications. We first describe the physical and biological advantages of particles and their application in cancer treatment. The contribution of the microenvironment and surrounding healthy tissues to tumor radioresistance is then discussed, in relation to imaging and accurate visualization of potentially resistant hypoxic areas using dedicated markers, to identify patients and tumors that could benefit from hadrontherapy over conventional irradiation. Finally, we consider combined treatment strategies to improve the particle therapy of radioresistant cancers.

High LET Radiation Overcomes In Vitro Resistance to X-Rays of Chondrosarcoma Cell Lines.

Chondrosarcomas are malignant tumors of the cartilage that are chemoresistant and radioresistant to X-rays. This restricts the treatment options essential to surgery. In this study, we investigated the sensitivity of chondrosarcoma to X-rays and C-ions in vitro. The sensitivity of 4 chondrosarcoma cell lines (SW1353, CH2879, OUMS27, and L835) was determined by clonogenic survival assays and cell cycle progression. In addition, biomarkers of DNA damage responses were analyzed in the SW1353 cell line. Chondrosarcoma cells showed a heterogeneous sensitivity toward irradiation. Chondrosarcoma cell lines were more sensitive to C-ions exposure compared to X-rays. Using D10 values, the relative biological effectiveness of C-ions was higher (relative biological effectiveness = 5.5) with cells resistant to X-rays (CH2879) and lower (relative biological effectiveness = 3.7) with sensitive cells (L835). C-ions induced more G2 phase blockage and micronuclei in SW1353 cells as compared to X-rays with the same doses. Persistent unrepaired DNA damage was also higher following C-ions irradiation. These results indicate that chondrosarcoma cell lines displayed a heterogeneous response to conventional radiation treatment; however, treatment with C-ions irradiation was more efficient in killing chondrosarcoma cells, compared to X-rays.

Bystander effectors of chondrosarcoma cells irradiated at different LET impair proliferation of chondrocytes.

While the dose-response relationship of radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE) is controversial at low and high linear energy transfer (LET), mechanisms and effectors of cell-to-cell communication stay unclear and highly dependent of cell type. In the present study, we investigated the capacity of chondrocytes in responding to bystander factors released by chondrosarcoma cells irradiated at different doses (0.05 to 8 Gy) with X-rays and C-ions. Following a medium transfer protocol, cell survival, proliferation and DNA damages were quantified in bystander chondrocytes. The bystander factors secreted by chondrosarcoma cells were characterized. A significant and major RIBE response was observed in chondrocyte cells (T/C-28a2) receiving conditioned medium from chondrosarcoma cells (SW1353) irradiated with 0.1 Gy of X-rays and 0.05 Gy of C-ions, resulting in cell survivals of 36% and 62%, respectively. Micronuclei induction in bystander cells was observed from the same low doses. The cell survival results obtained by clonogenic assays were confirmed using impedancemetry. The bystander activity was vanished after a heat treatment or a dilution of the conditioned media. The cytokines which are well known as bystander factors, TNF-α and IL-6, were increased as a function of doses and LET according to an ELISA multiplex analysis. Together, the results demonstrate that irradiated chondrosarcoma cells can communicate stress factors to non-irradiated chondrocytes, inducing a wide and specific bystander response related to both doses and LET.

Combining PARP inhibition, radiation, and immunotherapy: A possible strategy to improve the treatment of cancer?

Immunotherapy has revolutionized the practice of oncology, improving survival in certain groups of patients with cancer. Immunotherapy can synergize with radiation therapy, increase locoregional control, and have abscopal effects. Combining it with other treatments, such as targeted therapies, is a promising means of improving the efficacy of immunotherapy. Because the value of immunotherapy is amplified with the expression of tumor antigens, coupling poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors and immunotherapy might be a promising treatment for cancer. Further, PARP inhibitors (PARPis) are being combined with radiation therapy to inhibit DNA repair functions, thus enhancing the effects of radiation; this association might interact with the antitumor immune response. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes are central to the antitumor immune response. PARP inhibitors and ionizing radiation can enhance the infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes into the tumor bed, but they can also enhance PD-1/PDL-1 expression. Thus, the addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors with PARP inhibitors and/or ionizing radiation could counterbalance such immunosuppressive effects. With the present review article, we proposed to evaluate some of these associated therapies, and we explored the biological mechanisms and medical benefits of the potential combination of radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and PARP inhibitors.

Radiosensitization Effect of Talazoparib, a Parp Inhibitor, on Glioblastoma Stem Cells Exposed to Low and High Linear Energy Transfer Radiation.

Despite continuous improvements in treatment of glioblastoma, tumor recurrence and therapy resistance still occur in a high proportion of patients. One underlying reason for this radioresistance might be the presence of glioblastoma cancer stem cells (GSCs), which feature high DNA repair capability. PARP protein plays an important cellular role by detecting the presence of damaged DNA and then activating signaling pathways that promote appropriate cellular responses. Thus, PARP inhibitors (PARPi) have recently emerged as potential radiosensitizing agents. In this study, we investigated the preclinical efficacy of talazoparib, a new PARPi, in association with low and high linear energy transfer (LET) irradiation in two GSC cell lines. Reduction of GSC fraction, impact on cell proliferation, and cell cycle arrest were evaluated for each condition. All combinations were compared with a reference schedule: photonic irradiation combined with temozolomide. The use of PARPi combined with photon beam and even more carbon beam irradiation drastically reduced the GSC frequency of GBM cell lines in vitro. Furthermore, talazoparib combined with irradiation induced a marked and prolonged G2/M block, and decreased proliferation. These results show that talazoparib is a new candidate that effects radiosensitization in radioresistant GSCs, and its combination with high LET irradiation, is promising.

Poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase inhibitors as radiosensitizers: a systematic review of pre-clinical and clinical human studies.

BACKGROUND: Poly-(ADP-Ribose)-Polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are becoming important actors of anti-neoplasic agents landscape, with recent but narrow FDA's approvals for ovarian BRCA mutated cancers and prostatic cancer. Nevertheless, PARP inhibitors are also promising drugs for combined treatments particularly with radiotherapy. More than seven PARP inhibitors have been currently developed. Central Role of PARP in DNA repair, makes consider PARP inhibitor as potential radiosensitizers, especially for tumors with DNA repair defects, such as BRCA mutation, because of synthetic lethality. Furthermore the replication-dependent activity of PARP inhibitor helps to maintain the differential effect between tumoral and healthy tissues. Inhibition of chromatin remodeling, G2/M arrest, vasodilatory effect induced by PARP inhibitor, also participate to their radio-sensitization effect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here, after highlighting mechanisms of PARP inhibitors radiosensitization we methodically searched PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Databases and meeting proceedings for human pre-clinical and clinical studies that evaluated PARP inhibitor radiosensitizing effect. Enhancement ratio, when available, was systematically reported. RESULTS: Sixty four studies finally met our selection criteria and were included in the analysis. Only three pre-clinical studies didn't find any radiosensitizing effect. Median enhancement ratio vary from 1,3 for prostate tumors to 1,5 for lung cancers. Nine phase I or II trials assessed safety data. CONCLUSION: PARP inhibitors are promising radiosensitizers, but need more clinical investigation. The next ten years will be determining for judging their real potential.

Differential pattern of HIF-1α expression in HNSCC cancer stem cells after carbon ion or photon irradiation: one molecular explanation of the oxygen effect.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are resistant to standard treatments, partly due to cancer stem cells (CSCs) localised in hypoxic niches. Compared to X-rays, carbon ion irradiation relies on better ballistic properties, higher relative biological effectiveness and the absence of oxygen effect. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is involved in the resistance to photons, whereas its role in response to carbon ions remains unclear. METHODS: Two HNSCC cell lines and their CSC sub-population were studied in response to photons or carbon ion irradiation, in normoxia or hypoxia, after inhibition or not of HIF-1α. RESULTS: Under hypoxia, compared to non-CSCs, HIF-1α is expressed earlier in CSCs. A combined effect photons/hypoxia, less observed with carbon ions, results in a synergic and earlier HIF-1α expression in both subpopulations. The diffuse ROS production by photons is concomitant with HIF-1α expression and essential to its activation. There is no oxygen effect in response to carbon ions and the ROS localised in the track might be insufficient to stabilise HIF-1α. Finally, in hypoxia, cells were sensitised to both types of radiations after HIF-1α inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α plays a main role in the response of CSCs and non-CSCs to carbon ion and photon irradiations, which makes the HIF-1α targeting an attractive therapeutic challenge.

A threshold of endogenous stress is required to engage cellular response to protect against mutagenesis.

Endogenous stress represents a major source of genome instability, but is in essence difficult to apprehend. Incorporation of labeled radionuclides into DNA constitutes a tractable model to analyze cellular responses to endogenous attacks. Here we show that incorporation of [(3)H]thymidine into CHO cells generates oxidative-induced mutagenesis, but, with a peak at low doses. Proteomic analysis showed that the cellular response differs between low and high levels of endogenous stress. In particular, these results confirmed the involvement of proteins implicated in redox homeostasis and DNA damage signaling pathways. Induced-mutagenesis was abolished by the anti-oxidant N-acetyl cysteine and plateaued, at high doses, upon exposure to L-buthionine sulfoximine, which represses cellular detoxification. The [(3)H]thymidine-induced mutation spectrum revealed mostly base substitutions, exhibiting a signature specific for low doses (GC > CG and AT > CG). Consistently, the enzymatic activity of the base excision repair protein APE-1 is induced at only medium or high doses. Collectively, the data reveal that a threshold of endogenous stress must be reached to trigger cellular detoxification and DNA repair programs; below this threshold, the consequences of endogenous stress escape cellular surveillance, leading to high levels of mutagenesis. Therefore, low doses of endogenous local stress can jeopardize genome integrity more efficiently than higher doses.

Comparable Senescence Induction in Three-dimensional Human Cartilage Model by Exposure to Therapeutic Doses of X-rays or C-ions.

PURPOSE: Particle therapy using carbon ions (C-ions) has been successfully used in the treatment of tumors resistant to conventional radiation therapy. However, the potential side effects to healthy cartilage exposed to lower linear energy transfer (LET) ions in the beam track before the tumor have not been evaluated. The aim of the present study was to assess the extent of damage after C-ion irradiation in a 3-dimensional (3D) cartilage model close to human homeostasis. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Primary human articular chondrocytes from a healthy donor were cultured in a collagen scaffold to construct a physioxic 3D cartilage model. A 2-dimensional (2D) culture was used as a reference. The cells were irradiated with a single dose of a monoenergetic C-ion beam with a LET of approximatively 30 keV/µm. This LET corresponds to the entrance channel of C-ions in the shallow healthy tissues before the spread-out Bragg peak (∼100 keV/µm) during hadron therapy protocols. The same dose of X-rays was used as a reference. Survival, cell death, and senescence assays were performed. RESULTS: As expected, in the 2D culture, C-ions were more efficient than X-rays in reducing cell survival with a relative biological effectiveness of 2.6. This correlated with stronger radiation-induced senescence (two-fold) but not with higher cell death induction. This differential effect was not reflected in the 3D culture. Both ionizing radiation types induced a comparable rate of senescence induction in the 3D model. CONCLUSIONS: The greater biological effectiveness of C-ions compared with low LET radiation when evaluated in treatment planning systems might be misevaluated using 2D culture experiments. Radiation-induced senescence is an important factor of potential cartilage attrition. The present data should encourage the scientific community to use relevant models and beams to improve the use of charged particles with better safety for patients.

In vitro engineering of human 3D chondrosarcoma: a preclinical model relevant for investigations of radiation quality impact.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of better ballistic and higher efficiency of carbon ions for cancer treatment (hadron-therapy) is asserted since decades, especially for unresectable or resistant tumors like sarcomas. However, hadron-therapy with carbon ions stays underused and raises some concerns about potential side effects for patients. Chondrosarcoma is a cartilaginous tumor, chemo- and radiation-resistant, that lacks reference models for basic and pre-clinical studies in radiation-biology. Most studies about cellular effects of ionizing radiation, including hadrons, were performed under growth conditions dramatically different from human homeostasis. Tridimensional in vitro models are a fair alternative to animal models to approach tissue and tumors microenvironment. METHODS: By using a collagen matrix, standardized culture conditions, physiological oxygen tension and a well defined chondrosarcoma cell line, we developed a pertinent in vitro 3D model for hadron-biology studies. Low- and high-Linear Energy Transfer (LET) ionizing radiations from GANIL facilities of ~1 keV/µm and 103 ± 4 keV/µm were used respectively, at 2 Gy single dose. The impact of radiation quality on chondrosarcoma cells cultivated in 3D was analyzed on cell death, cell proliferation and DNA repair. RESULTS: A fair distribution of chondrosarcoma cells was observed in the whole 3D scaffold. Moreover, LET distribution in depth, for ions, was calculated and found acceptable for radiation-biology studies using this kind of scaffold. No difference in cell toxicity was observed between low- and high-LET radiations but a higher rate of proliferation was displayed following high-LET irradiation. Furthermore, 3D models presented a higher and longer induction of H2AX phosphorylation after 2 Gy of high-LET compared to low-LET radiations. CONCLUSIONS: The presented results show the feasibility and usefulness of our 3D chondrosarcoma model in the study of the impact of radiation quality on cell fate. The observed changes in our tissue-like model after ionizing radiation exposure may explain some discrepancies between radiation-biology studies and clinical data.

Proteomic overview and perspectives of the radiation-induced bystander effects.

Radiation proteomics is a recent, promising and powerful tool to identify protein markers of direct and indirect consequences of ionizing radiation. The main challenges of modern radiobiology is to predict radio-sensitivity of patients and radio-resistance of tumor to be treated, but considerable evidences are now available regarding the significance of a bystander effect at low and high doses. This "radiation-induced bystander effect" (RIBE) is defined as the biological responses of non-irradiated cells that received signals from neighboring irradiated cells. Such intercellular signal is no more considered as a minor side-effect of radiotherapy in surrounding healthy tissue and its occurrence should be considered in adapting radiotherapy protocols, to limit the risk for radiation-induced secondary cancer. There is no consensus on a precise designation of RIBE, which involves a number of distinct signal-mediated effects within or outside the irradiated volume. Indeed, several cellular mechanisms were proposed, including the secretion of soluble factors by irradiated cells in the extracellular matrix, or the direct communication between irradiated and neighboring non-irradiated cells via gap junctions. This phenomenon is observed in a context of major local inflammation, linked with a global imbalance of oxidative metabolism which makes its analysis challenging using in vitro model systems. In this review article, the authors first define the radiation-induced bystander effect as a function of radiation type, in vitro analysis protocols, and cell type. In a second time, the authors present the current status of protein biomarkers and proteomic-based findings and discuss the capacities, limits and perspectives of such global approaches to explore these complex intercellular mechanisms.

Impact of therapeutic irradiation on healthy articular cartilage.

Radiation-induced complications in bone and cartilage are of increasing concern due to potential long-term effects in cancer survivors. Healthy articular cartilage may be exposed to radiation during either chondrosarcoma treatment or in-field radiotherapy of tumors located in close proximity to articulation. Cartilage exposed to radiation undergoes bone differentiation and senescence, which can lead to painful and disabling sequelae that can impair patient quality of life. An understanding of the biological processes involved in healthy cartilage response to radiotherapy may not only optimize the delivery of therapeutic radiation but also reduce the risk of long-term sequelae in irradiated cartilage. Over the last few decades, radiobiology studies have focused primarily on signaling and repair of DNA damage pathways induced by ionizing radiation in immortalized cells under conditions dramatically different from human homeostasis. This research needs to be continued and broadened, since the range of normal tissue responses to radiation exposure is still not fully understood, despite being recognized as the major limiting factor in the rupture of tissue homeostasis after radiotherapy. Human articular cartilage is an avascular tissue with low intracellular oxygen levels and is comprised of a single cell lineage of chondrocytes embedded in a highly dense and structured extracellular matrix. These relatively unique features may impact inherent cell radiation sensitivity and suggests that canonical cell responses to ionizing radiation may not be applicable to articular cartilage. Despite the number of studies in this field, radiation-induced modifications of chondrocyte proteome remain unclear because of the dramatic variability in reported experimental conditions. In this review, we propose to introduce cartilage tissue physiology and microenvironment concepts, and then present a comprehensive synthesis of cartilage radiation biology.

Tritium contamination of hematopoietic stem cells alters long-term hematopoietic reconstitution.

PURPOSE: In vivo effects of tritium contamination are poorly documented. Here, we study the effects of tritiated Thymidine ([(3)H] Thymidine) or tritiated water (HTO) contamination on the biological properties of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mouse HSC were contaminated with concentrations of [(3)H] Thymidine ranging from 0.37-37.03 kBq/ml or of HTO ranging from 5-50 kBq/ml. The biological properties of contaminated HSC were studied in vitro after HTO contamination and in vitro and in vivo after [(3)H] Thymidine contamination. RESULTS: Proliferation, viability and double-strand breaks were dependent on [(3)H] Thymidine or HTO concentrations used for contamination but in vitro myeloid differentiation of HSC was not affected by [(3)H] Thymidine contamination. [(3)H] Thymidine contaminated HSC showed a compromised long-term capacity of hematopoietic reconstitution and competition experiments showed an up to two-fold decreased capacity of contaminated HSC to reconstitute hematopoiesis. These defects were not due to impaired homing in bone marrow but to an initial decreased proliferation rate of HSC. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that contaminations of HSC with doses of tritium that do not result in cell death, induce short-term effects on proliferation and cell cycle and long-term effects on hematopoietic reconstitution capacity of contaminated HSC.

Functional role of the Werner syndrome RecQ helicase in human fibroblasts.

Werner syndrome is an autosomal recessive human genetic instability and cancer predisposition syndrome that also has features of premature aging. We focused on two questions related to Werner syndrome protein (WRN) function in human fibroblasts: Do WRN-deficient fibroblasts have a consistent cellular phenotype? What role does WRN play in the recovery from replication arrest? We identified consistent cell proliferation and DNA damage sensitivity defects in both primary and SV40-transformed fibroblasts from different Werner syndrome patients, and showed that these defects could be revealed by acute depletion of WRN protein. Mechanistic analysis of the role of WRN in recovery from replication arrest indicated that WRN acts to repair damage resulting from replication arrest, rather than to prevent the disruption or breakage of stalled replication forks. These results identify readily quantified cell phenotypes that result from WRN loss in human fibroblasts; delineate the impact of cell transformation on the expression of these phenotypes; and define a mechanistic role for WRN in the recovery from replication arrest.

Chronic exposure to sublethal doses of radiation mimetic Zeocin selects for clones deficient in homologous recombination.

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are highly toxic lesions leading to genome variability/instability. The balance between homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), two alternative DSB repair systems, is essential to ensure genome maintenance in mammalian cells. Here, we transfected CHO hamster cells with the pcDNA3.1/Zeo plasmid, and selected transfectants with Zeocin, a bleomycin analog which produces DSBs. Despite the presence of a Zeocin resistance gene in pcDNA3.1/Zeo, Zeocin induced 8-10 gamma-H2AX foci per cell. This shows that the Zeocin resistance gene failed to fully detoxify cells treated with Zeocin, and that during selection cells were submitted to a chronic sublethal DSB stress. Selected clones show decreases in both spontaneous and induced intrachromosomal HR. In contrast, in an in vitro assay, these clones show an increase in NHEJ products specific to the KU86 pathway. We selected cells, in the absence of pcDNA3.1/Zeo, with low and sublethal doses of Zeocin, producing a mean 8-10 gamma-H2AX foci per cell. Newly selected clones exhibited similar phenotypes: HR decrease accompanied by an increase in KU86-dependent NHEJ efficiency. Thus chronic exposure to sublethal numbers of DSBs selects cells whose HR versus NHEJ balance is altered. This may well have implications for radio- and chemotherapy, and for management of environmental hazards.

[Direct role of p53 on homologous recombination]. / Rôle direct de p53 dans la recombinaison homologue.

The tumor suppressor gene p53, which is the most frequently mutated gene in human tumors, controls cell cycle checkpoint and apoptosis via the transactivation of the transcription of a collection of genes. These activities avoid proliferation of cell bearing alteration of genetic material. However, like a two-edged sword, p53 can also directly participate to genome stability maintenance by repressing homologous recombination (HR), independently of the transactivation activity. This parallel activity allows to limit the deleterious consequences on an excess of HR. Beside genetic interactions, p53 protein physically interacts with both HR proteins and HR intermediates (heteroduplex and Holliday junctions). The core domain of p53 is required for interaction with Rad51 at an early step and the carboxy-terminal domain of p53 is involved in the interaction with Rad54 and HR intermediates, at a late step. We discuss here the putative consequences of this parallel activity of p53 on genome stability, speciation and tumor protection.

p53's double life: transactivation-independent repression of homologous recombination.

The tumor suppressor protein p53 controls cell cycle checkpoints and apoptosis via the transactivation of several genes. However, data from various laboratories suggest an additional role for p53: transcription-independent suppression of homologous recombination (HR). Genetic and physical interactions among p53, HR proteins (e.g. RAD51 and RAD54) and HR-DNA intermediates show that p53 acts directly on HR during the early and late steps of recombination. Complementary to the MSH2 mismatch-repair system, p53 appears to impair excess HR by controlling the minimal efficiency processing segment and by reversing recombination intermediates. By controlling the balance between the BLM and the RAD51 pathways, this direct role of p53 could maintain genome stability when replication forks are stalled at regions of DNA damage. In this article, we discuss the direct role of p53 on HR and the consequences for genome stability, tumor protection and speciation.

Werner syndrome protein--unwinding function to explain disease.

Werner syndrome (WS) is one of three heritable human genetic instability/cancer predisposition syndromes that result from mutations in a member of the gene family encoding human RecQ helicases. Cellular defects are a prominent part of the WS phenotype. Here we review recent work to identify in vivo functions of the WS protein and discuss how loss of function leads to cellular defects. These new results provide clues to the origin of cell lineage-specific defects in WS patients and suggest a broader role for Werner protein function in determining disease risk in the general population.