Project description:There is a long-established connection between epigenetic reprogramming and the local function of the spliceosome. Recently the oncogenic potential of this connection has also been recognized. Recent work has demonstrated that EWS-FLI1 recruits the BRG1/BRM-associated factor (BAF) complex, however, the specific BAF subunits that interact with EWS-FLI1 and the role of the BAF complex in oncogenesis remains unknown. Within the BAF complex, the AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 1A (ARID1A, BAF250a) gene encodes a central scaffold. EWS-FLI1 is a well-described transcriptional regulator that also has a role in modulating RNA splicing. While EWS-FLI1 alters the splicing of many mRNA isoforms, the role of splicing modulation in ES oncogenesis remains unknown. Here we report a direct connection between the EWS-FLI1-induced transcriptome and the EWS-FLI1 protein interactome to reveal a novel interaction with a specific isoform of ARID1A that has a direct impact on oncogenicity. We report a novel feed-forward cycle of EWS-FLI1 and ARID1A-L facilitating ES growth through splicing modulation and protein stability that may lead to improved cancer-specific drug targeting.
Project description:The synthesis and processing of mRNA, from transcription to translation initiation, often requires splicing of intragenic material. The final mRNA composition varies based upon proteins that modulate splice site selection. EWS-FLI1 is an Ewing sarcoma (ES) oncogene with an interactome that we demonstrate to have multiple partners in spliceosomal complexes. We evaluate EWS-FLI1 upon post-transcriptional gene regulation using both exon array and RNA-seq. Genes that potentially regulate oncogenesis including CLK1, CASP3, PPFIBP1, and TERT validate as alternatively spliced by EWS-FLI1. EWS-FLI1 also alters splicing by directly binding to known splicing factors including DDX5, hnRNPK, and PRPF6. Reduction of EWS-FLI1 produces an isoform of g-TERT that has increased telomerase activity compared to WT TERT. The small molecule YK-4-279 is an inhibitor of EWS-FLI1 oncogenic function that disrupts specific protein interactions including DDX5 and RNA helicase A (RHA) that alters RNA splicing ratios. As such, YK-4-279 validates the splicing mechanism of EWS-FLI1 showing alternatively spliced gene patterns that significantly overlap with EWS-FLI1 reduction and WT human mesenchymal stem cells. Exon array analysis of 75 ES patient samples show similar isoform expression patterns to cell line models expressing EWS-FLI1, supporting the clinical relevance of our findings. These experiments establish systemic alternative splicing as an oncogenic process modulated by EWS-FLI1. EWS-FLI1 modulation of mRNA splicing may provide insight into the contribution of splicing towards oncogenesis, and reciprocally, EWS-FLI1 interactions with splicing proteins may inform the splicing code. Alternative splicing of RNA allows a limited number of coding regions in the human genome to produce proteins with diverse functionality. Alternative splicing has also been implicated as an oncogenic process. Identifying aspects of cancer cells that differentiate them from non-cancer cells remains an ongoing challenge and our research suggests that alternatively spliced mRNA and subsequent protein isoforms will provide new anti-cancer targets. We determined that the key oncogene of Ewing sarcoma (ES), EWS-FLI1, regulates alternative splicing in multiple cell line models. These experiments establish oncogenic aspects of splicing which are specific to cancer cells and thereby illuminate potentially oncogenic splicing shifts as well as provide a useful stratification mechanism for ES patients. We analyzed three models of EWS-FLI1 using Affymetrix GeneChip Human Exon 1.0 ST microarray: (i) Ewing's sarcoma TC32 wild-type cells expressing EWS-FLI1, and TC32 cells where EWS-FLI1 was reduced with a lentiviral shRNA; (ii) A673i, which has a doxycycline-inducible shRNA to reduce EWS-FLI1 expression, and wild-type EWS-FLI1 to screen for alternative splicing as measured by exon-specific expression changes; and (iii) human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC), a putative cell of origin of Ewing's sarcoma, exogenously expressing EWS-FLI1, and hMSC wild-type cells without EWS-FLI1. Three biological replicates were included for each condition. The Bioconductor package "oligo" in the R programming language was used for normalization and background correction. Analysis was carried out using only core probesets, as defined by the manufacturer.
Project description:The synthesis and processing of mRNA, from transcription to translation initiation, often requires splicing of intragenic material. The final mRNA composition varies based upon proteins that modulate splice site selection. EWS-FLI1 is an Ewing sarcoma (ES) oncogene with an interactome that we demonstrate to have multiple partners in spliceosomal complexes. We evaluate EWS-FLI1 upon post-transcriptional gene regulation using both exon array and RNA-seq. Genes that potentially regulate oncogenesis including CLK1, CASP3, PPFIBP1, and TERT validate as alternatively spliced by EWS-FLI1. EWS-FLI1 also alters splicing by directly binding to known splicing factors including DDX5, hnRNPK, and PRPF6. Reduction of EWS-FLI1 produces an isoform of g-TERT that has increased telomerase activity compared to WT TERT. The small molecule YK-4-279 is an inhibitor of EWS-FLI1 oncogenic function that disrupts specific protein interactions including DDX5 and RNA helicase A (RHA) that alters RNA splicing ratios. As such, YK-4-279 validates the splicing mechanism of EWS-FLI1 showing alternatively spliced gene patterns that significantly overlap with EWS-FLI1 reduction and WT human mesenchymal stem cells. Exon array analysis of 75 ES patient samples show similar isoform expression patterns to cell line models expressing EWS-FLI1, supporting the clinical relevance of our findings. These experiments establish systemic alternative splicing as an oncogenic process modulated by EWS-FLI1. EWS-FLI1 modulation of mRNA splicing may provide insight into the contribution of splicing towards oncogenesis, and reciprocally, EWS-FLI1 interactions with splicing proteins may inform the splicing code. Alternative splicing of RNA allows a limited number of coding regions in the human genome to produce proteins with diverse functionality. Alternative splicing has also been implicated as an oncogenic process. Identifying aspects of cancer cells that differentiate them from non-cancer cells remains an ongoing challenge and our research suggests that alternatively spliced mRNA and subsequent protein isoforms will provide new anti-cancer targets. We determined that the key oncogene of Ewing sarcoma (ES), EWS-FLI1, regulates alternative splicing in multiple cell line models. These experiments establish oncogenic aspects of splicing which are specific to cancer cells and thereby illuminate potentially oncogenic splicing shifts as well as provide a useful stratification mechanism for ES patients.
Project description:Alterations in the function of transcriptional regulators can orchestrate oncogenic programs that are critical for the transformation and survival of cancer cells. Here we show that the BAF chromatin remodeling complex, which is mutated in over 20% of human tumors, interacts with EWSR1, a member of the FET family of proteins containing prion-like domains that are frequent partners in oncogenic fusions with transcription factors. In Ewing sarcoma, characterized by the EWS-FLI1 fusion, we find that the BAF complex is recruited by EWS-FLI1 to tumor specific enhancers at GGAA microsatellite repeats and contributes to the activation of target genes. This process depends on tyrosine residues that are necessary for the aggregation properties of the EWSR1 prion-like domain and is a neomorphic feature of EWS-FLI1 compared to the wild type ETS transcription factor FLI1. Furthermore, fusion of short fragments of the EWSR1 prion-like domain to FLI1 is sufficient to recapitulate EWS-FLI1-mediated gene expression. Our studies demonstrate that the aggregation properties of prion-like domains can retarget chromatin regulatory complexes to establish and maintain oncogenic gene expression and proliferation.
Project description:Alterations in the function of transcriptional regulators can orchestrate oncogenic programs that are critical for the transformation and survival of cancer cells. Here we show that the BAF chromatin remodeling complex, which is mutated in over 20% of human tumors, interacts with EWSR1, a member of the FET family of proteins containing prion-like domains that are frequent partners in oncogenic fusions with transcription factors. In Ewing sarcoma, characterized by the EWS-FLI1 fusion, we find that the BAF complex is recruited by EWS-FLI1 to tumor specific enhancers at GGAA microsatellite repeats and contributes to the activation of target genes. This process depends on tyrosine residues that are necessary for the aggregation properties of the EWSR1 prion-like domain and is a neomorphic feature of EWS-FLI1 compared to the wild type ETS transcription factor FLI1. Furthermore, fusion of short fragments of the EWSR1 prion-like domain to FLI1 is sufficient to recapitulate EWS-FLI1-mediated gene expression. Our studies demonstrate that the aggregation properties of prion-like domains can retarget chromatin regulatory complexes to establish and maintain oncogenic gene expression and proliferation.
Project description:Alterations in the function of transcriptional regulators can orchestrate oncogenic programs that are critical for the transformation and survival of cancer cells. Here we show that the BAF chromatin remodeling complex, which is mutated in over 20% of human tumors, interacts with EWSR1, a member of the FET family of proteins containing prion-like domains that are frequent partners in oncogenic fusions with transcription factors. In Ewing sarcoma, characterized by the EWS-FLI1 fusion, we find that the BAF complex is recruited by EWS-FLI1 to tumor specific enhancers at GGAA microsatellite repeats and contributes to the activation of target genes. This process depends on tyrosine residues that are necessary for the aggregation properties of the EWSR1 prion-like domain and is a neomorphic feature of EWS-FLI1 compared to the wild type ETS transcription factor FLI1. Furthermore, fusion of short fragments of the EWSR1 prion-like domain to FLI1 is sufficient to recapitulate EWS-FLI1-mediated gene expression. Our studies demonstrate that the aggregation properties of prion-like domains can retarget chromatin regulatory complexes to establish and maintain oncogenic gene expression and proliferation.
Project description:Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is a malignant pediatric bone cancer. Most Ewing sarcomas are driven by EWS-FLI1 oncogenic transcription factor that plays roles in transcriptional regulation, DNA damage response, cell cycle checkpoint control, and alternative splicing. USP1, a deubiquitylase which regulates DNA damage and replication stress responses, is overexpressed at both the mRNA and protein levels in EWS cell lines compared to human mesenchymal stem cells, the EWS cell of origin. The functional significance of high USP1 expression in Ewing sarcoma is not known. Here, we identify USP1 as a transcriptional target of EWS-FLI1 and a key regulator of EWS cell survival. We show that EWS-FLI1 knockdown decreases USP1 mRNA and protein levels. ChIP and ChIP-seq analyses show EWS-FLI1 occupancy on the USP1 promoter. Importantly, USP1 knockdown or inhibition arrests EWS cell growth and induces cell death by apoptosis. We observe destabilization of Survivin (also known as BIRC5 or IAP4) and activation of caspases-3 and -7 following USP1 knockdown or inhibition in the absence of external DNA damage stimuli. Notably, EWS cells display hypersensitivity to combinatorial treatment of doxorubicin or etoposide, EWS standard of care drugs, and USP1 inhibitor compared to single agents alone. Together, our study demonstrates that USP1 is regulated by EWS-FLI1, the USP1-Survivin axis promotes EWS cell survival, and USP1 inhibition sensitizes EWS cells to standard of care chemotherapy.
Project description:EWS/ETS fusion transcription factors, most commonly EWSR1-FLI1, drive initiation and progression of Ewing sarcoma (EwS), a highly aggressive childhood cancer of bone and soft tissues. Even though direct targeting EWSR1-FLI1 is a formidable challenge, epigenetic or transcriptional modulators have been recently proved to be promising therapeutic targets for indirectly disrupting its expression and/or function. Here, we performed transcriptome and functional genomics dataset analyses, and combined with small molecule screening of EwS lines to identify novel epigenetic/transcriptional-targeted therapeutic strategies. SSRP1 and SUPT16H, two subunits of the Facilitates Chromatin Transcription (FACT) complex, are both found to be EWSR1-FLI1-induced essential oncogenes in EwS. The FACT-targeted drug CBL0137 exhibits potent therapeutic efficacy against multiple EwS preclinical models in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the FACT complex and EWS-FLI1 form oncogenic positive feedback loop via mutual transcriptional regulation and activation, and cooperatively promote cell cycle/DNA replication process and IGF1R-PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway to drive EwS oncogenesis. The FACT inhibitor drug CBL0137 effectively targets the EWSR1-FLI1-FACT circuit, resulting in transcriptional disruption of EWS-FLI1, SSRP1 and their downstream effector oncogenic signatures. Our study illustrates a crucial role of the FACT complex in facilitating the expression and function of EWSR1-FLI1 and demonstrates FACT inhibition as a novel therapeutic strategy against EwS via indirect targeting the oncogenic fusion TF, providing preclinical support for adding EwS to CBL0137’s future clinical trials.
Project description:EWS/ETS fusion transcription factors, most commonly EWSR1-FLI1, drive initiation and progression of Ewing sarcoma (EwS), a highly aggressive childhood cancer of bone and soft tissues. Even though direct targeting EWSR1-FLI1 is a formidable challenge, epigenetic or transcriptional modulators have been recently proved to be promising therapeutic targets for indirectly disrupting its expression and/or function. Here, we performed transcriptome and functional genomics dataset analyses, and combined with small molecule screening of EwS lines to identify novel epigenetic/transcriptional-targeted therapeutic strategies. SSRP1 and SUPT16H, two subunits of the Facilitates Chromatin Transcription (FACT) complex, are both found to be EWSR1-FLI1-induced essential oncogenes in EwS. The FACT-targeted drug CBL0137 exhibits potent therapeutic efficacy against multiple EwS preclinical models in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the FACT complex and EWS-FLI1 form oncogenic positive feedback loop via mutual transcriptional regulation and activation, and cooperatively promote cell cycle/DNA replication process and IGF1R-PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway to drive EwS oncogenesis. The FACT inhibitor drug CBL0137 effectively targets the EWSR1-FLI1-FACT circuit, resulting in transcriptional disruption of EWS-FLI1, SSRP1 and their downstream effector oncogenic signatures. Our study illustrates a crucial role of the FACT complex in facilitating the expression and function of EWSR1-FLI1 and demonstrates FACT inhibition as a novel therapeutic strategy against EwS via indirect targeting the oncogenic fusion TF, providing preclinical support for adding EwS to CBL0137’s future clinical trials.