Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.11.22 (cdc2)
 8,319 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

When cells progressing in G(1) phase are irradiated with UV light, two damage checkpoint pathways are activated: CHK1-Cdc25A and p53-p21WAF1/CIP1, both targeting Cdk2 but the latter inducing long lasting inactivation. In similarly irradiated S phase cells, however, p21WAF1/CIP1-dependent checkpoint is largely inactive. We report here that p21-dependent checkpoint can effectively be activated and induce a prolonged S phase arrest with similarly extended inactivation of Cdk2 by association of p21 if mid-S phase cells are damaged with a base-modifying agent instead of UV light, indicating that the poor utilization of p21-dependent checkpoint is not an innate property of S phase cells.
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PMID:Chemical DNA damage activates p21 WAF1/CIP1-dependent intra-S checkpoint. 1806 63

Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is a phosphatidyl-3-kinase-related protein kinase that functions as a central regulator of the DNA damage response in eukaryotic cells. In humans, mutations in ATM cause the devastating neurodegenerative disease ataxia telangiectasia. Previously, we characterized the homolog of ATM (AtmA) in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. In addition to its expected role in the DNA damage response, we found that AtmA is also required for polarized hyphal growth. Here, we extended these studies by investigating which components of the DNA damage response pathway are interacting with AtmA. The AtmA(ATM) loss of function caused synthetic lethality when combined with mutation in UvsB(ATR). Our results suggest that AtmA and UvsB are interacting and they are probably partially redundant in terms of DNA damage sensing and/or repairing and polar growth. We identified and inactivated A. nidulans chkA(CHK1) and chkB(CHK2) genes. These genes are also redundantly involved in A. nidulans DNA damage response. We constructed several combinations of double mutants for DeltaatmA, DeltauvsB, DeltachkA, and DeltachkB. We observed a complex genetic relationship with these mutations during the DNA replication checkpoint and DNA damage response. Finally, we observed epistatic and synergistic interactions between AtmA, and bimE(APC1), ankA(WEE1) and the cdc2-related kinase npkA, at S-phase checkpoint and in response to DNA-damaging agents.
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PMID:Genetic interactions of the Aspergillus nidulans atmAATM homolog with different components of the DNA damage response pathway. 1824 60

When cells progressing in mid-S phase are damaged with a base-modifying chemical, they arrest in S phase long after the CHK1 checkpoint signal fades out, partly because of p53-mediated long-lasting induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1). We have recently found that enforced expression of Cdc6, the assembler of prereplicative complexes, markedly advances recovery from the prolonged S-phase arrest and reactivation of Cdk2 despite the presence of a high level of induced p21. Here, we report that Cdc6 protein can activate p21-associated Cdk2 in an ATP-dependent manner in vitro. Consistently, Cdc6 mutated for ATPase or a putative cyclin binding motif is no longer able to activate the Cdk2 in vitro or promote reinitiation of S-phase progression and reactivation of Cdk2 in vivo. These results reveal the never anticipated function of Cdc6 and redefine its role in the control of S-phase progression in mammalian cells.
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PMID:ATP-dependent activation of p21WAF1/CIP1-associated Cdk2 by Cdc6. 1835 1

Cell cycle checkpoints are pivotal mechanisms safeguarding genome stability. Cells that harbor defects in checkpoints are predisposed to genome instability and neoplastic transformation. Two structurally-unrelated protein kinases, CHK1 and CHK2, are implicated in several major checkpoints of the cell cycle, providing a crucial linkage between the upstream sensors of the checkpoints and the cell cycle engine. Variations of the ATM/ATR-CHK1/CHK2-CDC25-CDK axis underlie the molecular basis of the replication checkpoint, the intra-S phase checkpoint, and the G2 DNA damage checkpoint. Although some aspects of the pathway remain contentious, the ATM/ATR-CHK1/CHK2-p53-p21CIP1/WAF1-CDK axis is believed to play an important role in the G1 DNA damage checkpoint. Recent data also reveal that CHK1 may play a role in the spindle-assembly checkpoint. Finally, CHK1 and CHK2 are implicated in linking the cell cycle to diverse processes such as senescence and the circadian cycle. In this review article, we provide an overview of how the multi-tasking nature of CHK1 and CHK2 is achieved in vertebrate cells.
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PMID:The multiple checkpoint functions of CHK1 and CHK2 in maintenance of genome stability. 1850 66

Genome endoreduplication during mammalian development is a rare event for which the mechanism is unknown. It first appears when fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF4) deprivation induces differentiation of trophoblast stem (TS) cells into the nonproliferating trophoblast giant (TG) cells required for embryo implantation. Here we show that RO3306 inhibition of cyclin-dependent protein kinase 1 (CDK1), the enzyme required to enter mitosis, induced differentiation of TS cells into TG cells. In contrast, RO3306 induced abortive endoreduplication and apoptosis in embryonic stem cells, revealing that inactivation of CDK1 triggers endoreduplication only in cells programmed to differentiate into polyploid cells. Similarly, FGF4 deprivation resulted in CDK1 inhibition by overexpressing two CDK-specific inhibitors, p57/KIP2 and p21/CIP1. TS cell mutants revealed that p57 was required to trigger endoreduplication by inhibiting CDK1, while p21 suppressed expression of the checkpoint protein kinase CHK1, thereby preventing induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, Cdk2(-/-) TS cells revealed that CDK2 is required for endoreduplication when CDK1 is inhibited. Expression of p57 in TG cells was restricted to G-phase nuclei to allow CDK activation of S phase. Thus, endoreduplication in TS cells is triggered by p57 inhibition of CDK1 with concomitant suppression of the DNA damage response by p21.
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PMID:Differentiation of trophoblast stem cells into giant cells is triggered by p57/Kip2 inhibition of CDK1 activity. 1898 69

The concept of combining targeted agents for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a relatively new but potentially promising area of investigation. A number of targeted agents may have limited single-agent activity but could show significant promise when used in conjunction with other types of similar compounds. Combinations of targeted agents may effectively interrupt multiple pathways in either a linear or parallel fashion. There are currently numerous combination regimens under investigation at either the preclinical or clinical levels, including histone deacetylase (HDAC) and CDK inhibitors; HDAC and proteasome inhibitors; HDAC and NF-kappaB (IKKbeta) inhibitors; CHK1 and MEK1/2 inhibitors; and BCL-2 antagonists and CDK inhibitors. Although combinations of targeted agents will not displace conventional cytotoxic regimens in AML or related disorders in the foreseeable future, these combinations clearly warrant further attention.
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PMID:Is the focus moving toward a combination of targeted drugs? 1904 2

SNF2L, a chromatin remodeling gene expressed in diverse tissues, cancers, and derived cell lines, contributes to the chromatin remodeling complex that facilitates transcription. Because of this wide expression, it has not been exploited as a cancer therapeutic target. However, based on our present studies, we find that cancer cells, although expressing SNF2L at similar levels as their normal counterparts, are sensitive to its knockdown. This is not observed when its imitation SWI ortholog, SNF2H, is inhibited. SNF2L siRNA inhibition using two different siRNAs separately reduced SNF2L transcript levels and protein in both normal and cancer lines, but only the cancer lines showed significant growth inhibition, DNA damage, a DNA damage response, and phosphorylation of checkpoint proteins and marked apoptosis. DNA damage and the damage response preceded apoptosis rather than being consequences of it. The damage response consisted of increased phosphorylation of multiple substrates including ATR, BRCA1, CHK1, CHK2, and H2AX. Both the total and phosphorylated levels of p53 increased. The downstream targets of p53, p21, GADD45A, and 14-3-3sigma, were also upregulated. The alterations in checkpoint proteins included increased phosphorylated cdc2 but not Rb, which resulted in a modest G(2)-M arrest. Although apoptosis may be mediated by Apaf-1/caspase 9, other caspases could be involved. Other members of the chromatin remodeling or SWI/SNF gene families exhibited overall reduced levels of expression in the cancer lines compared with the normal lines. This raised the hypothesis that cancers are sensitive to SNF2L knockdown because, unlike their normal counterparts, they lack sufficient compensation from other family members.
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PMID:Inhibition of expression of the chromatin remodeling gene, SNF2L, selectively leads to DNA damage, growth inhibition, and cancer cell death. 1999 4

The DNA damage induced G(2)/M checkpoint is an important guardian of the genome that prevents cell division when DNA lesions are present. The checkpoint prevents cells from entering mitosis by degrading CDC25A, a key CDK activator. CDC25A proteolysis is controlled by direct phosphorylation events that lead to its recognition by the ubiquitin ligase beta-TrCP. Recently we have identified NEK11, a member of NIMA-related kinase family, as the critical kinase triggering CDC25A degradation. NEK11 controls degradation of CDC25A by directly phosphorylating CDC25A on residues whose phosphorylation is required for beta-TrCP mediated CDC25A polyubiquitylation and degradation. The activity of NEK11 is in turn controlled by CHK1 that activates NEK11 via phosphorylation on serine 273. Since inhibition of NEK11 activity forces checkpoint-arrested cells into mitosis and cell death, NEK11 is, like CHK1, a strong candidate target for the development of novel anticancer drugs. Here we further support this notion by showing results suggesting that NEK11 expression increases during colon cancer development.
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PMID:NEK11: linking CHK1 and CDC25A in DNA damage checkpoint signaling. 2009 Apr 22

Previous efforts by our group have established pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine as a viable core for the development of potent and selective CDK inhibitors. As part of an effort to utilize the pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine core as a template for the design and synthesis of potent and selective kinase inhibitors, we focused on a key regulator in the cell cycle progression, CHK1. Continued SAR development of the pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine core at the C5 and C6 positions, in conjunction with previously disclosed SAR at the C3 and C7 positions, led to the discovery of potent and selective CHK1 inhibitors.
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PMID:Discovery of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-based CHK1 inhibitors: a template-based approach--part 2. 2109 7

Mechanisms that preserve genome integrity are highly important during the normal life cycle of human cells. Loss of genome protective mechanisms can lead to the development of diseases such as cancer. Checkpoint kinases function in the cellular surveillance pathways that help cells to cope with DNA damage. Importantly, the checkpoint kinases ATR, CHK1 and WEE1 are not only activated in response to exogenous DNA damaging agents, but are active during normal S phase progression. Here, we review recent evidence that these checkpoint kinases are critical to avoid deleterious DNA breakage during DNA replication in normal, unperturbed cell cycle. Possible mechanisms how loss of these checkpoint kinases may cause DNA damage in S phase are discussed. We propose that the majority of DNA damage is induced as a consequence of deregulated CDK activity that forces unscheduled initiation of DNA replication. This could generate structures that are cleaved by DNA endonucleases leading to the formation of DNA double-strand breaks. Finally, we discuss how these S phase effects may impact on our understanding of cancer development following disruption of these checkpoint kinases, as well as on the potential of these kinases as targets for cancer treatment.
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PMID:Safeguarding genome integrity: the checkpoint kinases ATR, CHK1 and WEE1 restrain CDK activity during normal DNA replication. 2193 10


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