Dysregulation of RNA polymerase I transcription during disease.

Transcription of the ribosomal RNA genes by the dedicated RNA polymerase I enzyme and subsequent processing of the ribosomal RNA are fundamental control steps in the synthesis of functional ribosomes. Dysregulation of Pol I transcription and ribosome biogenesis is linked to the etiology of a broad range of human diseases. Diseases caused by loss of function mutations in the molecular constituents of the ribosome, or factors intimately associated with RNA polymerase I transcription and processing are collectively termed ribosomopathies. Ribosomopathies are generally rare and treatment options are extremely limited tending to be more palliative than curative. Other more common diseases are associated with profound changes in cellular growth such as cardiac hypertrophy, atrophy or cancer. In contrast to ribosomopathies, altered RNA polymerase I transcriptional activity in these diseases largely results from dysregulated upstream oncogenic pathways or by direct modulation by oncogenes or tumor suppressors at the level of the RNA polymerase I transcription apparatus itself. Ribosomopathies associated with mutations in ribosomal proteins and ribosomal RNA processing or assembly factors have been covered by recent excellent reviews. In contrast, here we review our current knowledge of human diseases specifically associated with dysregulation of RNA polymerase I transcription and its associated regulatory apparatus, including some cases where this dysregulation is directly causative in disease. We will also provide insight into and discussion of possible therapeutic approaches to treat patients with dysregulated RNA polymerase I transcription. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Transcription by Odd Pols.

AKT induces senescence in human cells via mTORC1 and p53 in the absence of DNA damage: implications for targeting mTOR during malignancy.

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and RAS oncogenic signalling modules are frequently mutated in sporadic human cancer. Although each of these pathways has been shown to play critical roles in driving tumour growth and proliferation, their activation in normal human cells can also promote cell senescence. Although the mechanisms mediating RAS-induced senescence have been well characterised, those controlling PI3K/AKT-induced senescence are poorly understood. Here we show that PI3K/AKT pathway activation in response to phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) knockdown, mutant PI3K, catalytic, α polypeptide (PIK3CA) or activated AKT expression, promotes accumulation of p53 and p21, increases cell size and induces senescence-associated ß-galactosidase activity. We demonstrate that AKT-induced senescence is p53-dependent and is characterised by mTORC1-dependent regulation of p53 translation and stabilisation of p53 protein following nucleolar localisation and inactivation of MDM2. The underlying mechanisms of RAS and AKT-induced senescence appear to be distinct, demonstrating that different mediators of senescence may be deregulated during transformation by specific oncogenes. Unlike RAS, AKT promotes rapid proliferative arrest in the absence of a hyperproliferative phase or DNA damage, indicating that inactivation of the senescence response is critical at the early stages of PI3K/AKT-driven tumourigenesis. Furthermore, our data imply that chronic activation of AKT signalling provides selective pressure for the loss of p53 function, consistent with observations that PTEN or PIK3CA mutations are significantly associated with p53 mutation in a number of human tumour types. Importantly, the demonstration that mTORC1 is an essential mediator of AKT-induced senescence raises the possibility that targeting mTORC1 in tumours with activated PI3K/AKT signalling may exert unexpected detrimental effects due to inactivation of a senescence brake on potential cancer-initiating cells.

Protein kinase-dependent phosphorylation of the Menkes copper P-type ATPase.

The Menkes copper-translocating P-type ATPase (ATP7A; MNK) is a key regulator of copper homeostasis in humans. It has a dual role in supplying copper to essential cuproenzymes in the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and effluxing copper from the cell. These functions are achieved through copper-regulated trafficking of MNK between the TGN and the plasma membrane. However, the exact mechanism(s) which regulate the localisation and biochemical functions of MNK are still unknown. Here we investigated copper-dependent phosphorylation of MNK by a putative protein kinase(s). We found that in the presence of elevated copper there was a substantial increase in phosphorylation of the wild-type MNK in vivo. The majority of copper-dependent phosphorylation was on serine residues in two phosphopeptides. In contrast, there was no up-regulation of phosphorylation of a non-trafficking MNK mutant with mutated cytosolic copper-binding sites. Our findings suggest a potentially important role of kinase-dependent phosphorylation in the regulation of function of the MNK protein.

Troglitazone, but not rosiglitazone, inhibits Na/H exchange activity and proliferation of macrovascular endothelial cells.

Diabetes is associated with a high level of mortality due to cardiovascular disease resulting from accelerated coronary artery atherosclerosis. A current focus for investigation of atherosclerotic mechanisms is the vascular endothelium since physical or functional injury may represent an initiating step for atherogenesis. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are the newest class of drugs for the treatment of insulin resistance and its metabolic consequences; they are peroxisome proliferator-activating receptor (PPAR)-gamma ligands that act as insulin-sensitizing agents. We are interested in the contribution of direct vascular actions to the clinical utility of these agents. We investigated the effect troglitazone and rosiglitazone on endothelial cell proliferation in low- and high-glucose media and further explored their action on the ubiquitous membrane transport system, the Na/H exchanger (NHE), which has been implicated in regulating the growth of vascular cells. Experiments were conducted in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). Cell proliferation was assessed by cell counting, and NHE activity was determined in cells loaded with the pH-sensitive fluorescent dye, 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein, acetoxymethyl ester (BCECF-AM). Troglitazone caused a dose-dependent inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation with approximately 50% inhibition at 10 microM. Troglitazone inhibited endothelial cell proliferation with similar potency under low- (5 mM) and high-glucose (25 mM) concentrations. Rosiglitazone had no significant effect on endothelial cell proliferation at concentrations of up to 100 microM under low- or high-glucose concentrations. The NHE inhibitor, 3-metlylsulfonyl-4-piperidinobenzoyl guanidine (HOE 694), caused dose dependent inhibition of BAEC proliferation, which was independent of the media glucose concentration. Acute exposure of cells to troglitazone (10 microM) and rosiglitazone (30 microM) during recovery from acidosis showed slight but significant (P<.05) inhibition of NHE activity by troglitazone, but no significant (P>.05) effect by rosiglitazone. Exposure of cells to either drug for 24 h revealed no chronic regulation of NHE activity. Our data demonstrate that troglitazone has similar actions in endothelial cells as in vascular smooth muscle. The absence of rosiglitazone effects, a more potent PPAR-gamma activator, suggests that the observed actions of troglitazone may be at least partially independent of PPAR-gamma. The effects of troglitazone and rosiglitazone on endothelial cell proliferation and NHE activity, although contrasting, are consistent with a central signalling role of this transporter in cell proliferation.

Rb and p130 regulate RNA polymerase I transcription: Rb disrupts the interaction between UBF and SL-1.

We have previously demonstrated that the protein encoded by the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene (Rb) functions as a regulator of transcription by RNA polymerase I (rDNA transcription) by inhibiting UBF-mediated transcription. In the present study, we have examined the mechanism by which Rb represses UBF-dependent rDNA transcription and determined if other Rb-like proteins have similar effects. We demonstrate that authentic or recombinant UBF and Rb interact directly and this requires a functional A/B pocket. DNase footprinting and band-shift assays demonstrated that the interaction between Rb and UBF does not inhibit the binding of UBF to DNA. However, the formation of an UBF/Rb complex does block the interaction of UBF with SL-1, as indicated by using the 48 kDa subunit as a marker for SL-1. Additional evidence is presented that another pocket protein, p130 but not p107, can be found in a complex with UBF. Interestingly, the cellular content of p130 inversely correlated with the rate of rDNA transcription in two physiological systems, and overexpression of p130 inhibited rDNA transcription. These results suggest that p130 may regulate rDNA transcription in a similar manner to Rb.

RNA polymerase I transcription in confluent cells: Rb downregulates rDNA transcription during confluence-induced cell cycle arrest.

When 3T6 cells are confluent, they withdraw from the cell cycle. Concomitant with cell cycle arrest a significant reduction in RNA polymerase I transcription (80% decrease at 100% confluence) is observed. In the present study, we examined mechanism(s) through which transcription of the ribosomal genes is coupled to cell cycle arrest induced by cell density. Interestingly with an increase in cell density (from 3 - 43% confluence), a significant accumulation in the cellular content of hyperphosphorylated Rb was observed. As cell density increased further, the hypophosphorylated form of Rb became predominant and accumulated in the nucleoli. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated there was also a significant rise in the amount of hypophosphorylated Rb associated with the rDNA transcription factor UBF. This increased interaction between Rb and UBF correlated with the reduced rate of rDNA transcription. Furthermore, overexpression of recombinant Rb inhibited UBF-dependent activation of transcription from a cotransfected rDNA reporter in either confluent or exponential cells. The amounts or activities of the rDNA transcription components we examined did not significantly change with cell cycle arrest. Although the content of PAF53, a polymerase associated factor, was altered marginally (decreased 38%), the time course and magnitude of the decrease did not correlate with the reduced rate of rDNA transcription. The results presented support a model wherein regulation of the binding of UBF to Rb and, perhaps the cellular content of PAF53, are components of the mechanism through which cell cycle and rDNA transcription are linked. Oncogene (2000) 19, 3487 - 3497

Diabetes-induced vascular hypertrophy is accompanied by activation of Na(+)-H(+) exchange and prevented by Na(+)-H(+) exchange inhibition.

Vascular disease often involves vessel hypertrophy with underlying cellular hypertrophy or hyperplasia. Experimental diabetes stimulates hypertrophy of the rat mesenteric vasculature, and we investigated the hypothesis that this hypertrophy is associated with activation of Na(+)-H(+) exchange (NHE) activity. We measured the NHE activity in isolated, intact blood vessels from control and streptozotocin-induced diabetic adult rats using concurrent myography and fluorescence spectroscopy. The role of inhibiting NHE activity in preventing the development of the mesenteric hypertrophy in streptozotocin-diabetic rats was investigated by administration of cariporide (100 mg/kg body weight per day in 3 doses by gavage) after induction of diabetes and subsequently determining vessel weight and structure. The weight of the mesenteric vasculature was not increased 1 week after streptozotocin treatment but was significantly increased by an average of 56% at 3 weeks. NHE activity in mesenteric arteries showed an enhanced maximal velocity (V:(max)) in diabetic vessels at 1 and 3 weeks (0.246+/-0.006 and 0. 238+/-0.007 versus 0.198+/-0.007 pH U/min) with no change in the apparent K:(m). Moreover, NHE-1 mRNA in mesenteric arterioles at 3 weeks after streptozotocin treatment was increased by >60% (55.8+/-6. 4 versus 91.3+/-12.3 fg). Administration of cariporide significantly reduced mesenteric vascular weight, the wall/lumen ratio, and mesenteric extracellular matrix accumulation in the diabetic animals. Our study shows that diabetes in vivo correlates with elevated NHE activity and mRNA in the mesenteric vasculature and furthermore that inhibition of this system prevents the hypertrophic response. These data suggest that NHE may be a target for therapeutic modulation of vascular changes in diabetes.

Regulation of ribosomal DNA transcription by insulin.

The experiments reported here used 3T6-Swiss albino mouse fibroblasts and H4-II-E-C3 rat hepatoma cells as model systems to examine the mechanism(s) through which insulin regulates rDNA transcription. Serum starvation of 3T6 cells for 72 h resulted in a marked reduction in rDNA transcription. Treatment of serum-deprived cells with insulin was sufficient to restore rDNA transcription to control values. In addition, treatment of exponentially growing H4-II-E-C3 with insulin stimulated rDNA transcription. However, for both cell types, the stimulation of rDNA transcription in response to insulin was not associated with a change in the cellular content of RNA polymerase I. Thus we conclude that insulin must cause alterations in formation of the active RNA polymerase I initiation complex and/or the activities of auxiliary rDNA transcription factors. In support of this conclusion, insulin treatment of both cell types was found to increase the nuclear content of upstream binding factor (UBF) and RNA polymerase I-associated factor 53. Both of these factors are thought to be involved in recruitment of RNA polymerase I to the rDNA promoter. Nuclear run-on experiments demonstrated that the increase in cellular content of UBF was due to elevated transcription of the UBF gene. In addition, overexpression of UBF was sufficient to directly stimulate rDNA transcription from a reporter construct. The results demonstrate that insulin is capable of stimulating rDNA transcription in both 3T6 and H4-II-E-C3 cells, at least in part by increasing the cellular content of components required for assembly of RNA polymerase I into an active complex.

Transcription by RNA polymerase I.

The genes that code for 45S rRNA, the precursor of 18S, 5.8S and 28S rRNA, are transcribed by RNA polymerase I. In many eukaryotes the genes are arranged as tandem repeats in discrete chromosomal clusters. rDNA transcription and rRNA processing occur in the nucleolus. In vertebrates, at least two factors, SL-1 and UBF, specific for transcription by RNA polymerase I cooperate in the formation of the initiation complex. Interestingly, there are proteins analogous to SL-1 in unicellular eukaryotes, but the requirement for a UBF-like factor appears to vary. Recent advances in our understanding of the rDNA transcription system and its regulation have demonstrated overlap with the other nuclear transcription systems (RNA polymerase II and III). This is exemplified by the utilization of TBP as a component of SL-1 and the role of Rb in regulatory rDNA transcription.

Mechanisms regulating the vascular smooth muscle Na/H exchanger (NHE-1) in diabetes.

Vascular disease is a major component of the complications associated with diabetes. The pathology involves hypertrophy and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and the production and modification of extracellular matrix. The sodium/hydrogen exchanger has been widely implicated in the growth of multiple cell types, including vascular smooth muscle. Increases in sodium/hydrogen exchange activity serve as an effector or at least as an indicator of vascular activation. This article is concerned with the role of the biochemical abnormalities of diabetes exerting their pathological effects on vascular smooth muscle cells via altering sodium/hydrogen exchange activity.