scholarly journals SCFCdc4 ubiquitin ligase regulates synaptonemal complex formation during meiosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. e202000933
Author(s):  
Zhihui Zhu ◽  
Mohammad Bani Ismail ◽  
Miki Shinohara ◽  
Akira Shinohara

Homologous chromosomes pair with each other during meiosis, culminating in the formation of the synaptonemal complex (SC), which is coupled with meiotic recombination. In this study, we showed that a meiosis-specific depletion mutant of a cullin (Cdc53) in the SCF (Skp-Cullin-F-box) ubiquitin ligase, which plays a critical role in cell cycle regulation during mitosis, is deficient in SC formation. However, the mutant is proficient in forming crossovers, indicating the uncoupling of meiotic recombination with SC formation in the mutant. Furthermore, the deletion of the PCH2 gene encoding a meiosis-specific AAA+ ATPase suppresses SC-assembly defects induced by CDC53 depletion. On the other hand, the pch2 cdc53 double mutant is defective in meiotic crossover formation, suggesting the assembly of SC with unrepaired DNA double-strand breaks. A temperature-sensitive mutant of CDC4, which encodes an F-box protein of SCF, shows meiotic defects similar to those of the CDC53-depletion mutant. These results suggest that SCFCdc4, probably SCFCdc4-dependent protein ubiquitylation, regulates and collaborates with Pch2 in SC assembly and meiotic recombination.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhihui Zhu ◽  
Mohammad Bani Ismail ◽  
Miki Shinohara ◽  
Akira Shinohara

AbstractHomologous chromosomes pair with each other during meiosis, culminating in the formation of the synaptonemal complex (SC), which is coupled with meiotic recombination. In this study, we showed that a meiosis-specific depletion mutant of a cullin (Cdc53) of the SCF (Skp-Cullin-F-box) ubiquitin ligase, which plays a critical role in cell cycle regulation during mitosis, is deficient in SC formation, but is proficient in the formation of crossovers, indicating uncoupling of meiotic recombination with SC formation in the mutant. Furthermore, the deletion of the PCH2 gene encoding a meiosis-specific AAA+ ATPase suppresses SC-assembly defect induced by CDC53 depletion. On the other hand, the pch2 cdc53 double mutant is defective in meiotic crossover formation, suggesting the SC assembly with unrepaired DSBs. A temperature-sensitive mutant of the CDC4, which encodes a F-box protein of the SCF, shows similar meiotic defects to the CDC53 depletion mutant. These suggest that SCFCdc4, probably SCFCdc4-dependnet protein ubiquitylation, regulates and collaborates with Pch2 in SC assembly and meiotic recombination.SummaryDuring meiosis, homologous chromosomes pair with each other and form the synaptonemal complex (SC). In this study, components of the SCF (Skp-Cullin-F-box) ubiquitin ligase, Cdc53 and Cdc4, are required for SC formation. A meiosis-specific AAA+ ATPase Pch2 antagonize the functions of Cdc53 and Cdc4 for proper SC assembly.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3389
Author(s):  
Haitang Yang ◽  
Feng Yao ◽  
Thomas M. Marti ◽  
Ralph A. Schmid ◽  
Ren-Wang Peng

The DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) is a key component of the DNA-PK complex that has a well-characterized function in the non-homologous end-joining repair of DNA double-strand breaks. Since its identification, a large body of evidence has demonstrated that DNA-PKcs is frequently overexpressed in cancer, plays a critical role in tumor development and progression, and is associated with poor prognosis of cancer patients. Intriguingly, recent studies have suggested novel functions beyond the canonical role of DNA-PKcs, which has transformed the paradigm of DNA-PKcs in tumorigenesis and has reinvigorated the interest to target DNA-PKcs for cancer treatment. In this review, we update recent advances in DNA-PKcs, in particular the emerging roles in tumor metastasis, metabolic dysregulation, and immune escape. We further discuss the possible molecular basis that underpins the pleiotropism of DNA-PKcs in cancer. Finally, we outline the biomarkers that may predict the therapeutic response to DNA-PKcs inhibitor therapy. Understanding the functional repertoire of DNA-PKcs will provide mechanistic insights of DNA-PKcs in malignancy and, more importantly, may revolutionize the design and utility of DNA-PKcs-based precision cancer therapy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (549) ◽  
pp. eaar3721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bishuang Cai ◽  
Canan Kasikara ◽  
Amanda C. Doran ◽  
Rajasekhar Ramakrishnan ◽  
Raymond B. Birge ◽  
...  

Inflammation resolution counterbalances excessive inflammation and restores tissue homeostasis after injury. Failure of resolution contributes to the pathology of numerous chronic inflammatory diseases. Resolution is mediated by endogenous specialized proresolving mediators (SPMs), which are derived from long-chain fatty acids by lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes. 5-LOX plays a critical role in the biosynthesis of two classes of SPMs: lipoxins and resolvins. Cytoplasmic localization of the nonphosphorylated form of 5-LOX is essential for SPM biosynthesis, whereas nuclear localization of phosphorylated 5-LOX promotes proinflammatory leukotriene production. We previously showed that MerTK, an efferocytosis receptor on macrophages, promotes SPM biosynthesis by increasing the abundance of nonphosphorylated, cytoplasmic 5-LOX. We now show that activation of MerTK in human macrophages led to ERK-mediated expression of the gene encoding sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2 (SERCA2), which decreased the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration and suppressed the activity of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). This, in turn, reduced the activities of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 and the kinase MK2, resulting in the increased abundance of the nonphosphorylated, cytoplasmic form of 5-LOX and enhanced SPM biosynthesis. In a zymosan-induced peritonitis model, an inflammatory setting in which macrophage MerTK activation promotes resolution, inhibition of ERK activation delayed resolution, which was characterized by an increased number of neutrophils and decreased amounts of SPMs in tissue exudates. These findings contribute to our understanding of how MerTK signaling induces 5-LOX–derived SPM biosynthesis and suggest a therapeutic strategy to boost inflammation resolution in settings where defective resolution promotes disease progression.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Crichton ◽  
Christopher J. Playfoot ◽  
Marie MacLennan ◽  
David Read ◽  
Howard J. Cooke ◽  
...  

AbstractMeiosis relies on the SPO11 endonuclease to generate the recombinogenic DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) required for homologous chromosome synapsis and segregation. The number of meiotic DSBs needs to be sufficient to allow chromosomes to search for and find their homologs, but not excessive to the point of causing genome instability. Here we report that meiotic DSB frequency in mouse spermatocytes is regulated by the mammal-specific gene Tex19.1. We show that the chromosome asynapsis previously reported in Tex19.1-/- spermatocytes is preceded by reduced numbers of recombination foci in leptotene and zygotene. Tex19.1 is required for the generation of normal levels of Spo11-dependent DNA damage during leptotene, but not for upstream events such as MEI4 foci formation or accumulation of H3K4me3 at recombination hotspots. Furthermore, we show that mice carrying mutations in the E3 ubiquitin ligase UBR2, a TEX19.1-interacting partner, phenocopy the Tex19.1-/- recombination defects. These data show that Tex19.1 and Ubr2 are required for mouse spermatocytes to generate sufficient meiotic DSBs to ensure that homology search is consistently successful, and reveal a hitherto unknown genetic pathway regulating meiotic DSB frequency in mammals.Author SummaryMeiosis is a specialised type of cell division that occurs during sperm and egg development to reduce chromosome number prior to fertilisation. Recombination is a key step in meiosis as it facilitates the pairing of homologous chromosomes prior to their reductional division, and generates new combinations of genetic alleles for transmission in the next generation. Regulating the amount of recombination is key for successful meiosis: too much will likely cause mutations, chromosomal re-arrangements and genetic instability, whereas too little causes defects in homologous chromosome pairing prior to the meiotic divisions. This study identifies a genetic pathway requiredto generate robust meiotic recombination in mouse spermatocytes. We show that male mice with mutations in Tex19.1 or Ubr2, which encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase that interacts with TEX19.1, have defects in generating normal levels of meiotic recombination. We show that the defects in these mutants impact on the recombination process at the stage when programmed DNA double strand breaks are being made. This defect likely contributes to the chromosome synapsis and meiotic progression phenotypes previously described in these mutant mice. This study has implications for our understanding of how this fundamental aspect of genetics and inheritance is controlled.


Genome ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 778-786 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pedersen ◽  
S. Tiong ◽  
S. D. Campbell

ATM-related kinases promote repair of DNA double-strand breaks and maintenance of chromosome telomeres, functions that are essential for chromosome structural integrity in all eukaryotic organisms. In humans, loss of ATM function is associated with ataxia telangiectasia, a neurodegenerative disease characterized by extreme sensitivity to DNA damage. Drosophila melanogaster has recently emerged as a useful animal model for analyzing the molecular functions of specific domains of this large, multifunctional kinase. The gene encoding Drosophila ATM kinase (dATM) was originally designated tefu because of the telomere fusion defects observed in atm mutants. In this report, molecular characterization of eight atm (tefu) alleles identified nonsense mutations predicted to truncate conserved C-terminal domains of the dATM protein, as well as two interesting missense mutations. One of these missense mutations localized within a putative HEAT repeat in the poorly characterized N-terminal domain of dATM (atm4), whereas another associated with a temperature-sensitive allele (atm8) changed the last amino acid of the conserved FATC domain. Leveraging this molecular information with the powerful genetic tools available in Drosophila should facilitate future analysis of conserved ATM-mediated molecular mechanisms that are important for telomere maintenance, DNA repair, and neurodegeneration.


2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoshi Katayama ◽  
Kenji Kitamura ◽  
Anna Lehmann ◽  
Osamu Nikaido ◽  
Takashi Toda

The Skp1-Cullin-1/Cdc53-F-box protein (SCF) ubiquitin ligase plays an important role in various biological processes. In this enzyme complex, a variety of F-box proteins act as receptors that recruit substrates. We have identified a fission yeast gene encoding a novel F-box protein Pof3, which contains, in addition to the F-box, a tetratricopeptide repeat motif in its N terminus and a leucine-rich-repeat motif in the C terminus, two ubiquitous protein–protein interaction domains. Pof3 forms a complex with Skp1 and Pcu1 (fission yeast cullin-1), suggesting that Pof3 functions as an adaptor for specific substrates. In the absence of Pof3, cells exhibit a number of phenotypes reminiscent of genome integrity defects. These include G2 cell cycle delay, hypersensitivity to UV, appearance of lagging chromosomes, and a high rate of chromosome loss.pof3 deletion strains are viable because the DNA damage checkpoint is continuously activated in the mutant, and this leads to G2 cell cycle delay, thereby preventing the mutant from committing lethal mitosis. Pof3 localizes to the nucleus during the cell cycle. Molecular analysis reveals that in this mutant the telomere is substantially shortened and furthermore transcriptional silencing at the telomere is alleviated. The results highlight a role of the SCFPof3 ubiquitin ligase in genome integrity via maintaining chromatin structures.


Development ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 128 (14) ◽  
pp. 2735-2746
Author(s):  
Dazhong Zhao ◽  
Qilu Yu ◽  
Min Chen ◽  
Hong Ma

The Arabidopsis floral regulatory genes APETALA3 (AP3) and PISTILLATA (PI) are required for the B function according to the ABC model for floral organ identity. AP3 and PI expression are positively regulated by the LEAFY (LFY) and UNUSUAL FLORAL ORGANS (UFO) genes. UFO encodes an F-box protein, and we have shown previously that UFO genetically interacts with the ASK1 gene encoding a SKP1 homologue; both the F-box containing protein and SKP1 are subunits of ubiquitin ligases. We show here that the ask1-1 mutation can enhance the floral phenotypes of weak lfy and ap3 mutants; therefore, like UFO, ASK1 also interacts with LFY and AP3 genetically. Furthermore, our results from RNA in situ hybridizations indicate that ASK1 regulates early AP3 and PI expression. These results support the idea that UFO and ASK1 together positively regulate AP3 and PI expression. We propose that the UFO and ASK1 proteins are components of a ubiquitin ligase that mediates the proteolysis of a repressor of AP3 and PI expression. Our genetic studies also indicate that ASK1 and UFO play a role in regulating the number of floral organ primordia, and we discuss possible mechanisms for such a regulation.


2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1916-1928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Hui Shen ◽  
Yves Parmentier ◽  
Hanjo Hellmann ◽  
Esther Lechner ◽  
Aiwu Dong ◽  
...  

The SCF (for SKP1, Cullin/CDC53,F-box protein) ubiquitin ligase targets a number of cell cycle regulators, transcription factors, and other proteins for degradation in yeast and mammalian cells. Recent genetic studies demonstrate that plant F-box proteins are involved in auxin responses, jasmonate signaling, flower morphogenesis, photocontrol of circadian clocks, and leaf senescence, implying a large spectrum of functions for the SCF pathway in plant development. Here, we present a molecular and functional characterization of plant cullins. TheArabidopsis genome contains 11 cullin-related genes. Complementation assays revealed that AtCUL1 but not AtCUL4 can functionally complement the yeast cdc53 mutant.Arabidopsis mutants containing transfer DNA (T-DNA) insertions in the AtCUL1 gene were shown to display an arrest in early embryogenesis. Consistently, both the transcript and the protein of the AtCUL1 gene were found to accumulate in embryos. The AtCUL1 protein localized mainly in the nucleus but also weakly in the cytoplasm during interphase and colocalized with the mitotic spindle in metaphase. Our results demonstrate a critical role for the SCF ubiquitin ligase inArabidopsis embryogenesis.


2003 ◽  
Vol 371 (3) ◽  
pp. 957-964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kui XU ◽  
Charles BELUNIS ◽  
Wei CHU ◽  
David WEBER ◽  
Frank PODLASKI ◽  
...  

The p27Kip1 protein is a potent cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, the level of which is decreased in many common human cancers as a result of enhanced ubiquitin-dependent degradation. The multiprotein complex SCFSkp2 has been identified as the ubiquitin ligase that targets p27, but the functional interactions within this complex are not well understood. One component, the F-box protein Skp2, binds p27 when the latter is phosphorylated on Thr187, thus providing substrate specificity for the ligase. Recently, we and others have shown that the small cell cycle regulatory protein Cks1 plays a critical role in p27 ubiquitination by increasing the binding affinity of Skp2 for p27. Here we report the development of a homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence assay that allows the quantification of the molecular interactions between human recombinant Skp2, Cks1 and a p27-derived peptide phosphorylated on Thr187. Using this assay, we have determined the dissociation constant of the Skp2–Cks1 complex (Kd 140 ± 14 nM) and have shown that Skp2 binds phosphorylated p27 peptide with high affinity only in the presence of Cks1 (Kd 37 ± 2 nM). Cks1 does not bind directly to the p27 phosphopeptide or to Skp1, which confirms its suggested role as an allosteric effector of Skp2.


Author(s):  
Yukiko Imai ◽  
Kenji Saito ◽  
Kazumasa Takemoto ◽  
Fabien Velilla ◽  
Toshihiro Kawasaki ◽  
...  

In meiotic prophase I, homologous chromosomes are bound together by the synaptonemal complex, in which two axial elements are connected by transverse filaments and central element proteins. In human and zebrafish spermatocytes, homologous recombination and assembly of the synaptonemal complex initiate predominantly near telomeres. In mice, synapsis is not required for meiotic double-strand breaks (DSBs) and homolog alignment but is required for DSB repair; however, the interplay of these meiotic events in the context of peritelomeric bias remains unclear. In this study, we identified a premature stop mutation in the zebrafish gene encoding the transverse filament protein Sycp1. Insycp1mutant zebrafish spermatocytes, axial elements were formed and paired at chromosome ends between homologs during early to mid-zygonema. However, they did not synapse, and their associations were mostly lost in late zygotene- or pachytene-like stages. Insycp1mutant spermatocytes, γH2AX signals were observed, and Dmc1/Rad51 and RPA signals appeared predominantly near telomeres, resembling wild-type phenotypes. We observed persistent localization of Hormad1 along the axis insycp1mutant spermatocytes, while the majority of Iho1 signals appeared and disappeared with kinetics similar to those in wild-type spermatocytes. Notably, persistent Iho1 foci were observed inspo11mutant spermatocytes, suggesting that Iho1 dissociation from axes occurs in a DSB-dependent manner. Our results demonstrated that Sycp1 is not required for peritelomeric DSB formation but is necessary for complete pairing of homologs in zebrafish meiosis.


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