Project description:Replication protein A (RPA) binds to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and interacts with over three dozen enzymes and serves as a recruitment hub to coordinate most DNA metabolic processes. RPA binds ssDNA utilizing multiple oligosaccharide/oligonucleotide binding domains and based on their individual DNA binding affinities are classified as high versus low-affinity DNA-binding domains (DBDs). However, recent evidence suggests that the DNA-binding dynamics of DBDs better define their roles. Utilizing hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS), we assessed the ssDNA-driven dynamics of the individual domains of human RPA. As expected, ssDNA binding shows HDX changes in DBDs A, B, C, D and E. However, DBD-A and DBD-B are dynamic and do not show robust DNA-dependent protection. DBD-C displays the most extensive changes in HDX, suggesting a major role in stabilizing RPA on ssDNA. Slower allosteric changes transpire in the protein-protein interaction domains and linker regions, and thus do not directly interact with ssDNA. Within a dynamics-based model for RPA, we propose that DBD-A and -B act as the dynamic half and DBD-C, -D and -E function as the less-dynamic half. Thus, segments of ssDNA buried under the dynamic half are likely more readily accessible to RPA-interacting proteins.
Project description:Abstract Background. The cellular effects of androgen are transduced through the androgen receptor, which controls the expression of genes that regulate biosynthetic processes, cell growth, and metabolism. Androgen signaling also impacts DNA damage signaling through mechanisms involving gene expression and transcription-associated DNA damaging events. Defining the contributions of androgen signaling to DNA repair is important for understanding androgen receptor function, and it also has important translational implications. Methods. We generated RNA-seq data from multiple prostate cancer lines and used bioinformatic analyses to characterize androgen-regulated gene expression. We compared the results from cell lines with gene expression data from prostate cancer xenografts, and patient samples, to query how androgen signaling and prostate cancer progression influences the expression of DNA repair genes. We performed whole genome sequencing to help characterize the status of the DNA repair machinery in widely used prostate cancer lines. Finally, we tested a DNA repair enzyme inhibitor for effects on androgen-dependent transcription. Results. Our data indicates that androgen signaling regulates a subset of DNA repair genes that are largely specific to the respective model system and disease state. We identified deleterious mutations in the DNA repair genes RAD50 and CHEK2. We found that inhibition of the DNA repair enzyme MRE11 with the small molecule mirin inhibits androgen-dependent transcription and growth of prostate cancer cells. Conclusions. Our data supports the view that crosstalk between androgen signaling and DNA repair occurs at multiple levels, and that DNA repair enzymes in addition to PARPs, could be actionable targets in prostate cancer.
Project description:The small heat shock protein Hsp27 has been long demonstrated as a major driver of Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC) progression via an androgen receptor-independent pathway. In the light of identification of its molecular mechanisms, we found that the RNA helicase protein DDX5 was an interactor of Hsp27 and DDX5 expression was regulated by Hsp27 through its cytoprotective function. We showed that DDX5 was overexpressed in a large collection of human samples in aggressive PCs, especially CRPC. Here, we described the protein-protein interaction network of DDX5 which were identified in four human prostate cell lines (PNT1A, LNCaP, DU-145 and PC-3) representing different disease stages using immunoaffinity purification and quantitative mass spectrometry. The DDX5 interactome in CRPC cells was enriched in several functions (DNA damage response, translation, transcription, RNA stability, and DNA conformation changes) involved in disease progression. Furthermore, we found a new critical function of DDX5 in DNA damage repair in CRPC and validated the interaction of DDX5 with the DNA repair complex Ku70/Ku86 which plays a pivotal role in the NHEJ process. We also showed that DDX5 overexpression conferred resistance to DNA damage poisoners (such as irradiation and cisplatin) in CRPC, a feature that could lead to genome maintenance, tumor progression and treatment resistance.
Project description:The CUT and homeodomain are ubiquitous DNA binding elements often tandemly arranged in multiple transcription factor families. However, how the CUT and homeodomain work concertedly to bind DNA remains unknown. Using ONECUT2, a driver and therapeutic target of advanced prostate cancer, we show that while the CUT initiates DNA binding, the homeodomain thermodynamically stabilizes the ONECUT2-DNA complex through allosteric modulation of CUT. We identify an arginine pair in the ONECUT family homeodomain that can adapt to DNA sequence variations. Base interactions by this ONECUT family-specific arginine pair as well as the evolutionarily conserved residues are critical for optimal DNA binding and ONECUT2 transcriptional activity in a prostate cancer model. The evolutionarily conserved base interactions additionally determine the ONECUT2-DNA binding energetics. These findings provide insights into the cooperative DNA binding by CUT-homeodomain proteins.
Project description:Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed oncogenic malignancy in men worldwide, resulting in almost 30,000 cancer-related deaths in the United States each year. Wider examination of aberrant glycosylation in prostate cancer has revealed increased expression of the glycotransferase involved in core fucosylation, (1,6)fucosyltranferase (FUT8) associating with aggressive (AG) prostate cancer and castration-resistance, with functional analyses revealing FUT8 impacting cell motility and invasiveness in prostate cancer cells. Exosomes are extracellular microvesicles (30-150 nm) that are involved in in both proximal and distal intercellular communication via the transport of proteins and nucleic acids (mRNA, miRNA, and DNA). To gain insight into the impact of increased cellular FUT8 expression on exosome biogenesis and protein cargo profiles in prostate cancer, we paired Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) and stable isotope labelling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) quantitative proteomics.
Project description:Prostate cancer is the second most occurring cancer in men worldwide, and with the advances made with screening for prostate-specific antigen, it has been prone to early diagnosis and over-treatment. To better understand the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and possible treatment responses, we developed a mathematical model of prostate cancer which considers the major signalling pathways known to be deregulated. The model includes pathways such as androgen receptor, MAPK, Wnt, NFkB, PI3K/AKT, MAPK, mTOR, SHH, the cell cycle, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), apoptosis and DNA damage pathways. The final model accounts for 133 nodes and 449 edges. We applied a methodology to personalise this Boolean model to molecular data to reflect the heterogeneity and specific response to perturbations of cancer patients, using TCGA and GDSC datasets.
Project description:Genome wide DNA methylation profiling of normal and tumor prostate samples, as well as cultured primary prostate cells overexpressing DNA Methyltransferases (DNMTs) and EZH2 Candidate gene based studies have identified a handful of aberrant CpG DNA methylation events in prostate cancer. However, DNA methylation profiles have not been compared on a large scale between prostate tumor and normal prostate, and the mechanisms behind these alterations are unknown. In this study, we quantitatively profiled 95 primary prostate tumors and 86 healthy prostate tissue samples for their DNA methylation levels at 26,333 CpGs representing 14,104 gene promoters by using the Illumina HumanMethylation27 platform. A 2-class Significance Analysis of this dataset revealed 5,912 CpG sites with increased DNA methylation and 2,151 CpG sites with decreased DNA methylation in tumors (FDR < 0.8%). Prediction Analysis of this dataset identified 87 CpGs that are the most predictive diagnostic methylation biomarkers of prostate cancer. By integrating available clinical follow-up data, we also identified 69 prognostic DNA methylation alterations that correlate with biochemical recurrence of the tumor. To identify the mechanisms responsible for these genome-wide DNA methylation alterations, we measured the gene expression levels of several DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and their interacting proteins by TaqMan qPCR and observed increased expression of DNMT3A2, DNMT3B, and EZH2 in tumors. Subsequent transient transfection assays in cultured primary prostate cells revealed that DNMT3B1 and DNMT3B2 overexpression resulted in increased methylation of a substantial subset of CpG sites that also showed tumor-specific increased methylation.
Project description:The aim of this study was to analyze critically the potential usefulness of selected DNA methylation biomarkers in supporting conventional histological diagnostic tests for PCa. The selection of potential biomarkers was conducted by microarray profiling of DNA methylation on prostate tissues extracted from the gland after total radical prostatectomy. DNA methylation profiles of 16 prostate samples without carcinoma and 16 matched pairs of samples with and without cancer cells isolated from prostates containing prostate carcinoma