Biomedical subjects

Andrew R Cuddihy

Publications and source records attributed to Andrew R Cuddihy.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Coordination of DNA damage responses via the Smc5/Smc6 complex.

The detection of DNA damage activates DNA repair pathways and checkpoints to allow time for repair. Ultimately, these responses must be coordinated to ensure that cell cycle progression is halted until repair is completed. Several multiprotein complexes containing members of the structural maintenance of chromosomes family of proteins have been described, including the condensin and cohesin complexes, that are critical for chromosomal organization. Here we show that the Smc5/Smc6 (Smc5/6) complex is required for a coordinated response to DNA damage and normal chromosome integrity. Fission yeast cells lacking functional Smc6 initiate a normal checkpoint response to DNA damage, culminating in the phosphorylation and activation of the Chk1 protein kinase. Despite this, cells enter a lethal mitosis, presumably without completion of DNA repair. Another subunit of the complex, Nse1, is a conserved member of this complex and is also required for this response. We propose that the failure to maintain a checkpoint response stems from the lack of ongoing DNA repair or from defective chromosomal organization, which is the signal to maintain a checkpoint arrest. The Smc5/6 complex is fundamental to genome integrity and may function with the condensin and cohesin complexes in a coordinated manner.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Protein kinase inhibitor 2-aminopurine overrides multiple genotoxic stress-induced cellular pathways to promote cell survival.

2-Aminopurine (2-AP) is an adenine analog shown to cause cells to bypass chemical- and radiation-induced cell cycle arrest through as-yet unidentified mechanisms. 2-AP has also been shown to act as a kinase inhibitor. Tumor suppressor p53 plays an important role in the control of cell cycle and apoptosis in response to genotoxic stress. We were interested in examining the effect of 2-AP on p53 phosphorylation and its possible consequences on checkpoint control in cells subjected to various forms of DNA damage. Here, we show that 2-AP suppresses p53 phosphorylation in response to gamma radiation, adriamycin, or ultraviolet treatment. This is partly explained by the ability of the kinase inhibitor to inhibit ATM or ATR activities in vitro and impair ATM- or ATR-dependent p53 phosphorylation in vivo. However, 2-AP is also capable of inhibiting p53 phosphorylation in cells deficient in ATM, DNA-PK, or ATR suggesting the existence of multiple pathways by which this kinase inhibitor modulates p53 activation. Biologically, the 2-AP-mediated inhibition of p53 stabilization enables wild-type p53-containing cells to bypass adriamycin-induced G(2)/M arrest. In the long term, however, 2-AP facilitates cells to resist DNA damage-induced cell death independently of p53.

2-Aminopurine↗

PubMed2003

Cell-cycle responses to DNA damage in G2.

Cellular reproduction, at its basic level, is simply the passing of genetic information from a single parent cell into two daughter cells. As the cellular genome encodes all the information that defines a cell, it is crucial that the genome be accurately replicated. Furthermore, the duplicated genome must be properly segregated so that each daughter cell contains the exact same information as the parent cell. The processes by which this occurs is known as the cell cycle. The failure of either duplication or segregation of the genome can have disastrous consequences for an organism, including cancer and death. This article discusses what is known about checkpoints, the surveillance mechanisms that monitor both the fidelity and accuracy of DNA replication and segregation. Specifically, we will focus on the G2 checkpoint that is responsible for ensuring proper segregation of the duplicated genome into the daughter cells and how this checkpoint functions to arrest entry into mitosis in response to DNA damage.

Cell Cycle↗

PubMed2002

Normal p53 function in primary cells deficient for Siah genes.

Overexpression studies have suggested that Siah1 proteins may act as effectors of p53-mediated cellular responses and as regulators of mitotic progression. We have tested these hypotheses using Siah gene knockout mice. Siah1a and Siah1b were not induced by activation of endogenous p53 in tissues, primary murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) or thymocytes. Furthermore, primary MEFs lacking Siah1a, Siah1b, Siah2, or both Siah2 and Siah1a displayed normal cell cycle progression, proliferation, p53-mediated senescence, and G(1) phase cell cycle arrest. Primary thymocytes deficient for Siah1a, Siah2, or both Siah2 and Siah1a, E1A-transformed MEFs lacking Siah1a, Siah1b, or Siah2, and Siah1b-null ES cells all underwent normal p53-mediated apoptosis. Finally, inhibition of Siah1b expression in Siah2 Siah1a double-mutant cells failed to inhibit cell division, p53-mediated induction of p21 expression, or cell cycle arrest. Our loss-of-function experiments do not support a general role for Siah genes in p53-mediated responses or mitosis.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The p53 protein family and radiation sensitivity: Yes or no?

The p53 tumor suppressor protein is a key mediator of an ATM-dependent DNA damage response cascade following cellular exposure to ionizing radiation. The p53-family members, p63 and p73, are highly similar to p53, yet are differentially activated by IR, UV and cis-platinum via ATM and c-abl/ATR signaling pathways. Loss of function of p53 can occur by mutation or degradation; giving rise to alterations in G(1) and G(2) cell cycle checkpoint control, cell death, DNA repair and genetic stability. The end result of these alterations can be the generation of radioresistant mutant tumor cells. Indeed, in isogenic systems, loss of p53 or p73 function has been associated with decreased chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity, in vitro. However, clinical data supporting a role for p53 genotype as an independent predictive factor for radiotherapy outcome continues to be controversial due to variable endpoints in clinical trial design and in methodology in detecting p53 function. Nonetheless, in carefully controlled radiotherapy studies where mutations in p53 have been detected using DNA sequencing or functional assays, the presence of mutant p53 can be associated with decreased local control following radiotherapy. This suggests that novel molecular treatment strategies specifically designed to re-institute normal p53 function within resistant tumors can be used as combined modality protocols to improve local control and maintain a therapeutic ratio. A future challenge lies in the pre-therapy determination of a 'molecular therapeutic ratio' for individual patients which could allow for specific prognostication based on p53 functional status and subsequent individualized therapy.

Animals↗