CBP-93872 suppresses maintenance of DNA double-stranded break-induced G2 checkpoint, by inhibiting the pathway between ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ATM- and Rad3-related (ATR) activation. To examine the potential use of CBP-93872 for clinical applications, we analyzed the synergistic effects of platinum-containing drugs, oxaliplatin and cisplatin, pyrimidine antimetabolites, gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), in combination with CBP-93872, on cell lethality in colorectal and pancreatic cancer cell lines. Treatment with CBP-93872 significantly increased cancer cell sensitivities to various chemotherapeutic agents tested through suppression of checkpoint activation. Our results thus reveal that combination treatment of CBP-93872 with known chemotherapeutic agents inhibits phosphorylation of ATR and Chk1, and induces cell death.

Mutations in the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-binding domain of the CDKN1C gene were recently identified in patients with IMAGe syndrome. However, loss of PCNA binding and suppression of CDKN1C monoubiquitination by IMAGe-associated mutations hardly explain the reduced-growth phenotype characteristic of IMAGe syndrome. We demonstrate here that IMAGe-associated mutations in the CDKN1C gene dramatically increased the protein stability. We identified a novel heterozygous mutation, c.815T>G (p.Ile272Ser), in the CDKN1C gene in three siblings manifesting clinical symptoms associated with IMAGe syndrome and their mother (unaffected carrier). PCNA binding to CDKN1C was disrupted in the case of p.Ile272Ser, and for two other IMAGe-associated mutations, p.Asp274Asn and p.Phe276Val. Intriguingly, the IMAGe-associated mutant CDKN1C proteins were fairly stable even in the presence of cycloheximide, whereas the wild-type protein was almost completely degraded via the proteasome pathway, as shown by the lack of degradation with addition of a proteasome inhibitor, MG132. These results thus suggested that the reduced-growth phenotype of IMAGe syndrome derives from CDKN1C gain-of-function due to IMAGe-associated mutations driving increased protein stability.

Recent evidence has revealed that senescence induction requires fine-tuned activation of p53, however, mechanisms underlying the regulation of p53 activity during senescence have not as yet been clearly established. We demonstrate here that SCF(Fbxo22)-KDM4A is a senescence-associated E3 ligase targeting methylated p53 for degradation. We find that Fbxo22 is highly expressed in senescent cells in a p53-dependent manner, and that SCF(Fbxo22) ubiquitylated p53 and formed a complex with a lysine demethylase, KDM4A. Ectopic expression of a catalytic mutant of KDM4A stabilizes p53 and enhances p53 interaction with PHF20 in the presence of Fbxo22. SCF(Fbxo22)-KDM4A is required for the induction of p16 and senescence-associated secretory phenotypes during the late phase of senescence. Fbxo22(-/-) mice are almost half the size of Fbxo22(+/-) mice owing to the accumulation of p53. These results indicate that SCF(Fbxo22)-KDM4A is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that targets methylated p53 and regulates key senescent processes.

Schaaf-Yang syndrome (SYS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by truncating variants in the paternal allele of MAGEL2, located in the Prader-Willi critical region, 15q11-q13. Although the phenotypes of SYS overlap those of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), including neonatal hypotonia, feeding problems, and developmental delay/intellectual disability, SYS patients show autism spectrum disorder and joint contractures, which are atypical phenotypes for PWS. Therefore, we hypothesized that the truncated Magel2 protein could potentially produce gain-of-function toxic effects. To test the hypothesis, we generated two engineered mouse models; one, an overexpression model that expressed the N-terminal region of Magel2 that was FLAG tagged with a strong ubiquitous promoter, and another, a genome-edited model that carried a truncating variant in Magel2 generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. In the overexpression model, all transgenic mice died in the fetal or neonatal period indicating embryonic or neonatal lethality of the transgene. Therefore, overexpression of the truncated Magel2 could show toxic effects. In the genome-edited model, we generated a mouse model carrying a frameshift variant (c.1690_1924del; p(Glu564Serfs*130)) in Magel2. Model mice carrying the frameshift variant in the paternal or maternal allele of Magel2 were termed Magel2P:fs and Magel2M:fs, respectively. The imprinted expression and spatial distribution of truncating Magel2 transcripts in the brain were maintained. Although neonatal Magel2P:fs mice were lighter than wildtype littermates, Magel2P:fs males and females weighed the same as their wildtype littermates by eight and four weeks of age, respectively. Collectively, the overexpression mouse model may recapitulate fetal or neonatal death, which are the severest phenotypes for SYS. In contrast, the genome-edited mouse model maintains genomic imprinting and distribution of truncated Magel2 transcripts in the brain, but only partially recapitulates SYS phenotypes. Therefore, our results imply that simple gain-of-function toxic effects may not explain the patho-mechanism of SYS, but rather suggest a range of effects due to Magel2 variants as in human SYS patients.

Susceptibility to senescence caused by defective DNA repair is a major hallmark of progeroid syndrome patients, but molecular mechanisms of how defective DNA repair predisposes to senescence are largely unknown. We demonstrate here that suppression of DNA repair pathways extends the duration of Chk1-dependent G2 checkpoint activation and sensitizes cells to senescence through enhancement of mitosis skipping. Extension of G2 checkpoint activation by introduction of the TopBP1 activation domain and the nondegradable mutant of Claspin sensitizes cells to senescence. In contrast, a shortening of G2 checkpoint activation by expression of SIRT6 or depletion of OTUB2 reduces susceptibility to senescence. Fibroblasts from progeroid syndromes tested shows a correlation between an extension of G2 checkpoint activation and an increase in the susceptibility to senescence. These results suggest that extension of G2 checkpoint activation caused by defective DNA repair is critical for senescence predisposition in progeroid syndrome patients.

The breast and ovarian cancer predisposition protein BRCA1 forms three mutually exclusive complexes with Fanconi anemia group J protein (FANCJ, also called BACH1 or BRIP1), CtIP, and Abraxas/RAP80 through its BRCA1 C terminus (BRCT) domains, while its RING domain binds to BRCA1-associated RING domain 1 (BARD1). We recently found that the interaction between heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) and BARD1 is required for the accumulation of BRCA1 and CtIP at sites of DNA double-strand breaks. Here, we investigated the importance of HP1 and BARD1-HP1 interaction in the localization of FANCJ together with the other BRCA1-BRCT binding proteins to clarify the separate role of the HP1-mediated pathway from the RNF8/RNF168-induced ubiquitin-mediated pathway for BRCA1 function. FANCJ interacts with HP1γ in a BARD1-dependent manner, and this interaction was enhanced by ionizing radiation or irinotecan hydrochloride treatment. Simultaneous depletion of all three HP1 isoforms with shRNAs disrupts the accumulation of FANCJ and CtIP, but not RAP80, at double-strand break sites. Replacement of endogenous BARD1 with a mutant BARD1 that is incapable of binding to HP1 also disrupts the accumulation of FANCJ and CtIP, but not RAP80. In contrast, RNF168 depletion disrupts the accumulation of only RAP80, but not FANCJ or CtIP. Consequently, the accumulation of conjugated ubiquitin was only inhibited by RNF168 depletion, whereas the accumulation of RAD51 and sister chromatid exchange were only inhibited by HP1 depletion or disruption of the BARD1-HP1 interaction. Taken together, the results suggest that the BRCA1-FANCJ and BRCA1-CtIP complexes are not downstream of the RNF8/RNF168/ubiquitin pathway, but are instead regulated by the HP1 pathway that precedes homologous recombination DNA repair.

Constitutive activation of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway (mTOR pathway) underlies megalencephaly in many patients. Yet, prevalence of the involvement of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway in patients with megalencephaly remains to be elucidated, and molecular diagnosis is challenging. Here, we have successfully established a combination of genetic and biochemical methods for diagnosis of mTOR pathway-associated megalencephaly, and have attempted to delineate the clinical characteristics of the disorder.

The LONRF family of proteins consists of three isozymes, LONRF1-3, which harbors RING (really interesting new gene) domain and Lon substrate binding domain. We have recently identified LONRF2 as a protein quality control ubiquitin ligase that acts predominantly in neurons. LONRF2 selectively ubiquitylates misfolded or damaged proteins for degradation. LONRF2-/- mice exhibit late-onset neurological deficits. However, the physiological implications of other LONRF isozymes remain unclear. Here, we analysed Lonrf1 expression and transcriptomics at the single-cell level under normal and pathological conditions. We found that Lonrf1 was ubiquitously expressed in different tissues. Its expression in LSEC and Kupffer cells increased with age in the liver. Lonrf1high Kupffer cells showed activation of regulatory pathways of peptidase activity. In normal and NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) liver, Lonrf1high LSECs showed activation of NF-kB and p53 pathways and suppression of IFNa, IFNg and proteasome signalling independent of p16 expression. During wound healing, Lonrf1high/p16low fibroblasts showed activation of cell growth and suppression of TGFb and BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) signalling, whereas Lonrf1high/p16high fibroblasts showed activation of WNT (wingless and Int-1) signalling. These results suggest that although Lonrf1 does not seem to be associated with senescence induction and phenotypes, LONRF1 may play a key role in linking oxidative damage responses and tissue remodelling during wound healing in different modes in senescent and nonsenescent cells.

Plasma membrane damage (PMD) occurs in all cell types due to environmental perturbation and cell-autonomous activities. However, cellular outcomes of PMD remain largely unknown except for recovery or death. In this study, using budding yeast and normal human fibroblasts, we found that cellular senescence-stable cell cycle arrest contributing to organismal aging-is the long-term outcome of PMD. Our genetic screening using budding yeast unexpectedly identified a close genetic association between PMD response and replicative lifespan regulations. Furthermore, PMD limits replicative lifespan in budding yeast; upregulation of membrane repair factors ESCRT-III (SNF7) and AAA-ATPase (VPS4) extends it. In normal human fibroblasts, PMD induces premature senescence via the Ca2+-p53 axis but not the major senescence pathway, DNA damage response pathway. Transient upregulation of ESCRT-III (CHMP4B) suppressed PMD-dependent senescence. Together with mRNA sequencing results, our study highlights an underappreciated but ubiquitous senescent cell subtype: PMD-dependent senescent cells.

Proper deposition and activation of Aurora B at the centromere is critical for faithful chromosome segregation in mammals. However, the mechanistic basis for abrupt Aurora B kinase activation at the centromere has not yet been fully understood. We demonstrate here that Aurora B-mediated phosphorylation of histone H2AX at serine 121 (H2AX-pS121) promotes Aurora B autophosphorylation and is essential for proper chromosome segregation. Aurora B-mediated H2AX-pS121 is specifically detected at the centromere during mitosis. H2AX depletion results in a severe defect in activation and deposition of Aurora B at this locus. A phosphomimic mutant of H2AX at S121 interacts with activated Aurora B more efficiently than wild-type in vitro. Taken together, these results propose a model in which Aurora B-mediated H2AX-pS121 probably provide a platform for Aurora B autoactivation circuitry at centromeres and thus play a pivotal role in proper chromosome segregation.

Uhrf1-dependent histone H3 ubiquitylation plays a crucial role in the maintenance of DNA methylation via the recruitment of the DNA methyltransferase Dnmt1 to DNA methylation sites. However, the involvement of deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) targeting ubiquitylated histone H3 in the maintenance of DNA methylation is largely unknown. With the use of Xenopus egg extracts, we demonstrate here that Usp7, a ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase, forms a stable complex with Dnmt1 and is recruited to DNA methylation sites during DNA replication. Usp7 deubiquitylates ubiquitylated histone H3 in vitro. Inhibition of Usp7 activity or its depletion in egg extracts results in enhanced and extended binding of Dnmt1 to chromatin, suppressing DNA methylation. Depletion of Usp7 in HeLa cells causes enhanced histone H3 ubiquitylation and enlargement of Dnmt1 nuclear foci during DNA replication. Our results thus suggest that Usp7 is a key factor that regulates maintenance of DNA methylation.

Cell senescence plays a key role in age-associated organ dysfunction, but the in vivo pathogenesis is largely unclear. Here, we generated a p16-CreERT2-tdTomato mouse model to analyze the in vivo characteristics of p16high cells at a single-cell level. We found tdTomato-positive p16high cells detectable in all organs, which were enriched with age. We also found that these cells failed to proliferate and had half-lives ranging from 2.6 to 4.2 months, depending on the tissue examined. Single-cell transcriptomics in the liver and kidneys revealed that p16high cells were present in various cell types, though most dominant in hepatic endothelium and in renal proximal and distal tubule epithelia, and that these cells exhibited heterogeneous senescence-associated phenotypes. Further, elimination of p16high cells ameliorated nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-related hepatic lipidosis and immune cell infiltration. Our new mouse model and single-cell analysis provide a powerful resource to enable the discovery of previously unidentified senescence functions in vivo.

Animal cells undergo rapid rounding during mitosis, ensuring proper chromosome segregation, during which an outward rounding force abruptly increases upon prometaphase entry and is maintained at a constant level during metaphase. Initial cortical tension is generated by the actomyosin system to which both myosin motors and actin network architecture contribute. However, how cortical tension is maintained and its physiological significance remain unknown. We demonstrate here that Cdk1-mediated phosphorylation of DIAPH1 stably maintains cortical tension after rounding and inactivates the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). Cdk1 phosphorylates DIAPH1, preventing profilin1 binding to maintain cortical tension. Mutation of DIAPH1 phosphorylation sites promotes cortical F-actin accumulation, increases cortical tension, and delays anaphase onset due to SAC activation. Measurement of the intra-kinetochore length suggests that Cdk1-mediated cortex relaxation is indispensable for kinetochore stretching. We thus uncovered a previously unknown mechanism by which Cdk1 coordinates cortical tension maintenance and SAC inactivation at anaphase onset.

Sacituzumab govitecan is an antibody-drug conjugate that delivers SN-38, an active metabolite of irinotecan, to the target molecule, trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (Trop-2). It is a promising drug for triple-negative breast cancer and is anticipated to be effective for luminal breast cancer. The efficacy of the agent relies on the expression of Trop-2 rather than its intracellular function. However, conditions that alter the Trop-2 expression have not been well investigated.