Human cells enter mitosis with damaged DNA after treatment with pharmacological concentrations of genotoxic agents.

In the present paper, we report that mitosis is a key step in the cellular response to genotoxic agents in human cells. Cells with damaged DNA recruit γH2AX (phosphorylated histone H2AX), phosphorylate Chk1 (checkpoint kinase 1) and arrest in the G2-phase of the cell cycle. Strikingly, nearly all cells escape the DNA damage checkpoint and become rounded, by a mechanism that correlates with Chk1 dephosphorylation. The rounded cells are alive and in mitosis as measured by low phospho-Tyr(15) Cdk1 (cyclin-dependent kinase 1), high Cdk activity, active Plk1 (Polo-like kinase 1) and high phospho-histone H3 signals. This phenomenon is independent of the type of DNA damage, but is dependent on pharmacologically relevant doses of genotoxicity. Entry into mitosis is likely to be caused by checkpoint adaptation, and the HT-29 cell-based model provides a powerful experimental system in which to explore its molecular basis. We propose that mitosis with damaged DNA is a biologically significant event because it may cause genomic rearrangement in cells that survive genotoxic damage.

A western blot assay to measure cyclin dependent kinase activity in cells or in vitro without the use of radioisotopes.

We developed a quantitative method to measure the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) by western blotting, without radioisotopes. We prepared a recombinant protein substrate based upon the natural Cdk1 substrate, PP1Cα. By combining this substrate in a western blot method using fluorochrome based antibodies and phospho-imager analysis, we measured the Km of ATP binding to Cdk1 to be 3.5 µM. We then measured Cdk1 activity in cell extracts from interphase or mitotic cells, and demonstrated that previously identified Cdk inhibitors could be detected by this assay. Our data show that we have a safe, reliable assay to identify Cdk1 inhibitors and measure Cdk1 activity.

Characterization of novel checkpoint kinase 1 inhibitors by in vitro assays and in human cancer cells treated with topoisomerase inhibitors.

AIMS: We have developed biochemical and cell based assays to characterize small therapeutic molecules that inhibit the DNA damage checkpoint enzyme, Chk1 (Checkpoint kinase 1). MAIN METHODS: To prepare a screen of large chemical libraries, we purified the full-length and the catalytic domain versions of human Chk1. We characterized their properties and then selected full-length Chk1 as the variant most suitable for screening. We then identified and characterized structurally different Chk1 inhibitors in cell based-assays by measuring cytotoxicity and checkpoint bypass activity. KEY FINDINGS: We treated human cells with topoisomerase I inhibitors and demonstrated that at the time of Chk1 inhibitor addition, the cells have damaged DNA and activated Chk1. One Chk1 inhibitor, the indolocarbazole S27888, was active in the checkpoint bypass assay. SIGNIFICANCE: Knowing that the protein kinase inhibitory properties are different for each inhibitor, it seems that only a limited range of inhibitory activity is tolerated by cells. Chk1 has an essential role in determining how cancer cells respond to genotoxic treatments, therefore, inhibitors of this protein kinase are of great medical interest.