Syntrophin-2 is required for eye development in Drosophila.

Syntrophins are components of the dystrophin glycoprotein complex (DGC), which is encoded by causative genes of muscular dystrophies. The DGC is thought to play roles not only in linking the actin cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix, providing stability to the cell membrane, but also in signal transduction. Because of their binding to a variety of different molecules, it has been suggested that syntrophins are adaptor proteins recruiting signaling proteins to membranes and the DGC. However, critical roles in vivo remain elusive. Drosophila Syntrophin-2 (Syn2) is an orthologue of human gamma 1/gamma 2-syntrophins. Western immunoblot analysis here showed Syn2 to be expressed throughout development, with especially high levels in the adult head. Morphological aberrations were observed in Syn2 knockdown adult flies, with lack of retinal elongation and malformation of rhabdomeres. Furthermore, Syn2 knockdown flies exhibited excessive apoptosis in third instar larvae and alterations in the actin localization in the pupal retinae. Genetic crosses with a collection of Drosophila deficiency stocks allowed us to identify seven genomic regions, deletions of which caused enhancement of the rough eye phenotype induced by Syn2 knockdown. This information should facilitate identification of Syn2 regulators in Drosophila and clarification of roles of Syn2 in eye development.

Identification of novel human Cdt1-binding proteins by a proteomics approach: proteolytic regulation by APC/CCdh1.

In mammalian cells, Cdt1 activity is strictly controlled by multiple independent mechanisms, implying that it is central to the regulation of DNA replication during the cell cycle. In fact, unscheduled Cdt1 hyperfunction results in rereplication and/or chromosomal damage. Thus, it is important to understand its function and regulations precisely. We sought to comprehensively identify human Cdt1-binding proteins by a combination of Cdt1 affinity chromatography and liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Through this approach, we could newly identify 11 proteins, including subunits of anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), SNF2H and WSTF, topoisomerase I and IIalpha, GRWD1/WDR28, nucleophosmin/nucleoplasmin, and importins. In vivo interactions of Cdt1 with APC/C(Cdh1), SNF2H, topoisomerase I and IIalpha, and GRWD1/WDR28 were confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation assays. A further focus on APC/C(Cdh1) indicated that this ubiquitin ligase controls the levels of Cdt1 during the cell cycle via three destruction boxes in the Cdt1 N-terminus. Notably, elimination of these destruction boxes resulted in induction of strong rereplication and chromosomal damage. Thus, in addition to SCF(Skp2) and cullin4-based ubiquitin ligases, APC/C(Cdh1) is a third ubiquitin ligase that plays a crucial role in proteolytic regulation of Cdt1 in mammalian cells.

The DRE/DREF transcriptional regulatory system: a master key for cell proliferation.

The coordinate expression of many cell proliferation-related genes is required for the cellular shift from the resting state into the proliferating state. One regulatory factor involved in this process, the transcription regulatory factor named DREF (DNA replication-related element-binding factor) was discovered in Drosophila and later found to have orthologues in other species including human. Drosophila DREF is a homo-dimer of a polypeptide of 709 amino acid residues, and shares about 22% identity in its amino acid sequence with the human homolog of 694 amino acid residues. The Drosophila DREF homo-dimer binds specifically to the DRE sequence (5'-TATCGATA) in the promoters of many DNA replication/ cell proliferation-related genes to activate their transcription, and the N-terminal region of DREF carries a domain for specific DRE-binding and homo-dimer formation. Ectopic expression of DREF in eye imaginal discs induces abnormal DNA synthesis, apoptosis and failure to differentiate. Conversely, expression of the dominant negative N-terminal region in larval salivary glands reduces endo-replication. Furthermore, RNA interference-mediated knockdown of DREF in vivo demonstrated its requirement for normal progression through the cell cycle and consequently for growth of imaginal discs and the endoreplicating organs. Both Drosophila and human DREF's interact genetically and physically with regulatory factors related to chromatin structures, suggesting that DREF activates the expression of proliferation-related genes through modification of the 3-D conformation of DNA. A search of the Drosophila genome database identified about 150 genes carrying DRE sequences in their promoter regions, many of which are related to reactions required for cell proliferation such as DNA replication, transcriptional regulation, cell cycle regulation, growth signal transduction and protein metabolism. Thus, DREF appears to be a master key-like factor for cell proliferation. Several differentiation-related transcription factors containing homeodomains down-regulate the function or expression of DREF by distinct mechanisms, suggesting a differentiation-coupled repression of cell proliferation via the DRE/DREF system.

An influenza virus replicon system in yeast identified Tat-SF1 as a stimulatory host factor for viral RNA synthesis.

Influenza viruses infect vertebrates, including mammals and birds. Influenza virus reverse-genetics systems facilitate the study of the structure and function of viral factors. In contrast, less is known about host factors involved in the replication process. Here, we developed a replication and transcription system of the negative-strand RNA genome of the influenza virus in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which depends on viral RNAs, viral RNA polymerases, and nucleoprotein (NP). Disruption of SUB2 encoding an orthologue of human RAF-2p48/UAP56, a previously identified viral RNA synthesis stimulatory host factor, resulted in reduction of the viral RNA synthesis rate. Using a genome-wide set of yeast single-gene deletion strains, we found several host factor candidates affecting viral RNA synthesis. We found that among them, Tat-SF1, a mammalian homologue of yeast CUS2, was a stimulatory host factor in influenza virus RNA synthesis. Tat-SF1 interacted with free NP, but not with NP associated with RNA, and facilitated formation of RNA-NP complexes. These results suggest that Tat-SF1 may function as a molecular chaperone for NP, as does RAF-2p48/UAP56. This system has proven useful for further studies on the mechanism of influenza virus genome replication and transcription.

The SYT-SSX fusion protein down-regulates the cell proliferation regulator COM1 in t(x;18) synovial sarcoma.

Chromosomal translocations are frequently associated with soft-tissue sarcomas. Fusion proteins generated by such translocations often play critical roles in tumorigenesis. Therefore, it is important to understand the function of the fusion protein to develop therapeutic interventions. The t(X;18)(p11.2;q11.2) translocation found in synovial sarcomas results in a fusion between the SYT gene on chromosome 18 and an SSX gene on the X chromosome. Although SYT-SSX fusion proteins appear to trigger synovial sarcoma development, little is known about the downstream targets of SYT-SSX. We found that the SYT-SSX fusion protein produces a dominant-negative function for SYT, which is a transcriptional coactivator. We then analyzed the gene expression profiles of SYT-SSX1-expressing HeLa cells using oligonucleotide microarrays and found that the SYT-SSX1 fusion protein directly down-regulated the expression of COM1, a regulator of cell proliferation. COM1 was found to be expressed at relatively low levels in synovial sarcoma tissues and cell lines. We then investigated the impact of conditional COM1 expression in the synovial sarcoma cell line. Increased COM1 expression resulted in induced apoptosis and in reduced cell growth and colony formation activity. Our results suggested that restoration of COM1 expression may be of therapeutic benefit in synovial sarcoma.

Microtubule bundle formation and cell death induced by the human CLASP/Orbit N-terminal fragment.

Previously we have identified the Drosophila orbit gene whose hypomorphic mutations cause abnormal chromosome segregation (Inoue et al., 2000). The orbit encodes Orbit/Mast, a 165-kDa microtubule-associated protein (MAP) with GTP-binding motifs. Two human homologues of the Orbit/Mast, CLASP1 (hOrbit1) and CLASP2 (hOrbit2) have been identified. Using an antibody to CLASP1/hOrbit1 polypeptide, we confirmed that the polypeptide of about 150 kDa associates with microtubule purified from the porcine brain. Thus, we conjectured that CLASP1 may be a human orthologue of the Drosophila Orbit/Mast, and therefore we named it h (human) Orbit1. We constructed the plasmid for expression of a fusion protein of the putative microtubule-binding domain (1-662 out of 1289 residues) of hOrbit1 and the green fluorescent protein (GFP), and then, transfected the plasmid into Tet off cells derived from HeLa cell. Confocal laser scanning microscopic observation revealed that the GFP-fluorescence associated with short and thin filaments in the perinuclear region during the short period after plasmid transfection, and colocalized with only part of the microtubules. GFP fluorescence was later detected on the abnormally longer and thick bundles of microtubule filaments. Finally the bundles formed networks in the perinuclear region. The results suggest that the GFP-hOrbit1 N-terminal fragment (GFP-hOrbit1 NF) binds to the newly formed microtubules rather than the pre-formed ones, and that displacement of the endogenous hOrbit by the fragment might cause abnormal bundling of microtubules. Interestingly, the expression of the GFP-hOrbit1 NF results in cell death associated with nuclear fragmentation.

Transcriptional regulation of the Drosophila caudal homeobox gene by DRE/DREF.

The caudal-related homeobox transcription factors are required for the normal development and differentiation of intestinal cells. Recent reports indicate that misregulation of homeotic gene expression is associated with gastrointestinal cancer in mammals. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate expression of the caudal-related homeobox genes are poorly understood. In this study, we have identified a DNA replication-related element (DRE) in the 5' flanking region of the Drosophila caudal gene. Gel-mobility shift analysis reveals that three of the four DRE-related sequences in the caudal 5'-flanking region are recognized by the DRE-binding factor (DREF). Deletion and site-directed mutagenesis of these DRE sites results in a considerable reduction in caudal gene promoter activity. Analyses with transgenic flies carrying a caudal-lacZ fusion gene bearing wild-type or mutant DRE sites indicate that the DRE sites are required for caudal expression in vivo. These findings indicate that DRE/DREF is a key regulator of Drosophila caudal homeobox gene expression and suggest that DREs and DREF contribute to intestinal development by regulating caudal gene expression.

Genetic link between p53 and genes required for formation of the zonula adherens junction.

Ectopic expression of human p53 in Drosophila eye imaginal disc cells induces apoptosis and results in a rough eye phenotype in the adult flies. We have screened Drosophila stocks to identify mutations that enhance or suppress the p53-induced rough eye phenotype. One of the dominant enhancers of the p53-induced rough eye phenotype corresponds to a loss-of-function mutation of the crumbs gene, which is essential for the biogenesis of the zonula adherens junction and the establishment of apical polarity in epithelial cells. Enhancement of p53-induced apoptosis in the eye imaginal discs by a half-reduction of the crumbs gene dose was confirmed by a TUNEL method. Furthermore, mutations of genes for Shotgun (Drosophila E-cadherin) and Armadillo (Drosophila beta-catenin), the two main components of the adherens junction, also strongly enhanced the p53-induced rough eye phenotype. These results suggest that human p53 senses subtle abnormality at the adherens junction or in signals derived from the junction, and consequently induces apoptosis to remove abnormal cells from tissue. Thus p53 likely plays a role as a guardian of the tissue not only by sensing the damaged DNA, but also by sensing signals from the adherens junction.

Cdt1 phosphorylation by cyclin A-dependent kinases negatively regulates its function without affecting geminin binding.

The current concept regarding cell cycle regulation of DNA replication is that Cdt1, together with origin recognition complex and CDC6 proteins, constitutes the machinery that loads the minichromosome maintenance complex, a candidate replicative helicase, onto chromatin during the G(1) phase. The actions of origin recognition complex and CDC6 are suppressed through phosphorylation by cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) after S phase to prohibit rereplication. It has been suggested in metazoan cells that the function of Cdt1 is blocked through binding to an inhibitor protein, geminin. However, the functional relationship between the Cdt1-geminin system and Cdks remains to be clarified. In this report, we demonstrate that human Cdt1 is phosphorylated by cyclin A-dependent kinases dependent on its cyclin-binding motif. Cdk phosphorylation resulted in the binding of Cdt1 to the F-box protein Skp2 and subsequent degradation. In contrast, in vitro DNA binding activity of Cdt1 was inhibited by the phosphorylation. However, geminin binding to Cdt1 was not affected by the phosphorylation. Finally we provide evidence that inactivation of Cdk1 results in Cdt1 dephosphorylation and rebinding to chromatin in murine FT210 cells synchronized around the G(2)/M phase. Taken together, these findings suggest that Cdt1 function is also negatively regulated by the Cdk phosphorylation independent of geminin binding.

A plant phytotoxin, solanapyrone A, is an inhibitor of DNA polymerase beta and lambda.

Solanapyrone A, a phytotoxin and enzyme inhibitor isolated from a fungus (SUT 01B1-2) selectively inhibits the activities of mammalian DNA polymerase beta and lambda (pol beta and lambda) in vitro. The IC50 values of the compound were 30 microm for pol beta and 37 microm for pol lambda. Because pol beta and lambda are in a family and their three-dimensional structures are thought to be highly similar to each other, we used pol beta to analyze the biochemical relationship with solanapyrone A. On pol beta, solanapyrone A antagonistically competed with both the DNA template and the nucleotide substrate. BIAcore analysis demonstrated that solanapyrone A bound selectively to the N-terminal 8-kDa domain of pol beta. This domain is known to bind single-stranded DNA, provide 5'-phosphate recognition of gapped DNA, and cleave the sugar-phosphate bond 3' to an intact apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) site (i.e. AP lyase activity) including 5'-deoxyribose phosphate lyase activity. Solanapyrone A inhibited the single-stranded DNA-binding activity but did not influence the activities of the 5'-phosphate recognition in gapped DNA structures and the AP lyase. Based on these results, the inhibitory mechanism of solanapyrone A is discussed.