Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0004135 (ATM)
 13,001 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Many conventional anticancer treatments kill cells irrespective of whether they are normal or cancerous, so patients suffer from adverse side effects due to the loss of healthy cells. Anticancer insights derived from cell cycle research has given birth to the idea of cell cycle G2 checkpoint abrogation as a cancer cell specific therapy, based on the discovery that many cancer cells have a defective G1 checkpoint resulting in a dependence on the G2 checkpoint during cell replication. Damaged DNA in humans is detected by sensor proteins (such as hHUS1, hRAD1, hRAD9, hRAD17, and hRAD26) that transmit a signal via ATR to CHK1, or by another sensor complex (that may include gammaH2AX, 53BP1, BRCA1, NBS1, hMRE11, and hRAD50), the signal of which is relayed by ATM to CHK2. Most of the damage signals originated by the sensor complexes for the G2 checkpoint are conducted to CDC25C, the activity of which is modulated by 14-3-3. There are also less extensively explored pathways involving p53, p38, PCNA, HDAC, PP2A, PLK1, WEE1, CDC25B, and CDC25A. This review will examine the available inhibitors of CHK1 (Staurosporin, UCN-01, Go6976, SB-218078, ICP-1, and CEP-3891), both CHK1 and CHK2 (TAT-S216A and debromohymenialdisine), CHK2 (CEP-6367), WEE1 (PD0166285), and PP2A (okadaic acid and fostriecin), as well as the unknown checkpoint inhibitors 13-hydroxy-15-ozoapathin and the isogranulatimides. Among these targets, CHK1 seems to be the most suitable target for therapeutic G2 abrogation to date, although an unexplored target such as 14-3-3 or the strategy of targeting multiple proteins at once may be of interest in the future.
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PMID:G2 checkpoint abrogators as anticancer drugs. 1507 95

In eukaryotic cells, DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) cause the prompt phosphorylation of serine 139 at the carboxy terminus of histone H2AX to generate gamma-H2AX, detectable by Western blotting or immunofluorescence. The consensus sequence at the phosphorylation site implicates the phosphatidylinositol 3-like family of protein kinases in H2AX phosphorylation. It remains open whether ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated) is the major H2AX kinase, or whether other members of the family, such as DNA-PK (DNA dependent protein kinase) or ATR (ATM and Rad3 related), contribute in a functionally complementary manner. To address this question, we measured global H2AX phosphorylation in cell lysates and foci formation in individual cells of either wild type or mutant (ATM or DNA-PK) genetic background. Normal global phosphorylation kinetics is observed after irradiation in cells defective either in ATM or DNA-PK alone, suggesting a complementary contribution to H2AX phosphorylation. This is further supported by the observation that initial H2AX phosphorylation is delayed when both kinases are inhibited by wortmannin, as well as when ATM is inhibited by caffeine in DNA-PK deficient cells. However, robust residual global phosphorylation is detectable under all conditions of genetic or chemical inhibition suggesting the function of additional kinases, such as ATR. Treatment with wortmannin, caffeine, or UCN-01 produces a strong DNA-PK dependent late global hyperphosphorylation of H2AX, uncoupled from DNA DSB rejoining and compatible with an inhibition of late steps in DNA DSB processing. Evaluation of gamma-H2AX foci formation confirms the major conclusions made on the basis of global H2AX phosphorylation, but also points to differences particularly several hours after exposure to IR. The results in aggregate implicate DNA-PK, ATM and possibly other kinases in H2AX phosphorylation. The functional significance and the mechanisms of coordination in space and time of these multiple inputs require further investigation.
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PMID:Complex H2AX phosphorylation patterns by multiple kinases including ATM and DNA-PK in human cells exposed to ionizing radiation and treated with kinase inhibitors. 1538 85

We have shown previously that ionizing radiation (IR) induces a persistent G(2)-M arrest but not cell death in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells that harbor functional p53 but lack caspase-3. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms of apoptosis resistance and the roles of p53, caspase-3, and cell cycle arrest in IR-induced apoptosis. The methylxanthine caffeine and the staurosporine analog UCN-01, which can inhibit ATM and Chk kinases, efficiently abrogated the IR-induced G(2)-M arrest and induced mitochondrial activation as judged by the loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential and the release of cytochrome c and Smac/Diablo. However, despite these proapoptotic alterations, cell death and activation of the initiator caspase-9 were not induced in MCF-7 cells but were interestingly only observed after reexpression of caspase-3. Sensitization to IR-induced apoptosis by caffeine or UCN-01 was abrogated neither by cycloheximide nor by pifithrin-alpha, an inhibitor of the transcriptional activity of p53. Furthermore, suppression of p53 by RNA interference could not prevent caffeine- and IR-induced mitochondrial alterations and apoptosis but resulted in an even more pronounced G(2)-M arrest. Collectively, our results clearly show that the resistance of MCF-7 cells to IR-induced apoptosis is caused by two independent events; one of them is a caffeine- or UCN-01-inhibitable event that does not depend on p53 or a release of the G(2)-M arrest. The second event is the loss of caspase-3 that surprisingly seems essential for a fully functional caspase-9 pathway, even despite the previous release of mitochondrial proapoptotic proteins.
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PMID:Apoptosis resistance of MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells to ionizing radiation is independent of p53 and cell cycle control but caused by the lack of caspase-3 and a caffeine-inhibitable event. 1546 1

Human checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) is an essential kinase required to preserve genome stability. Here, we show that Chk1 inhibition by two distinct drugs, UCN-01 and CEP-3891, or by Chk1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) leads to phosphorylation of ATR targets. Chk1-inhibition triggered rapid, pan-nuclear phosphorylation of histone H2AX, p53, Smc1, replication protein A, and Chk1 itself in human S-phase cells. These phosphorylations were inhibited by ATR siRNA and caffeine, but they occurred independently of ATM. Chk1 inhibition also caused an increased initiation of DNA replication, which was accompanied by increased amounts of nonextractable RPA protein, formation of single-stranded DNA, and induction of DNA strand breaks. Moreover, these responses were prevented by siRNA-mediated downregulation of Cdk2 or the replication initiation protein Cdc45, or by addition of the CDK inhibitor roscovitine. We propose that Chk1 is required during normal S phase to avoid aberrantly increased initiation of DNA replication, thereby protecting against DNA breakage. These results may help explain why Chk1 is an essential kinase and should be taken into account when drugs to inhibit this kinase are considered for use in cancer treatment.
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PMID:Inhibition of human Chk1 causes increased initiation of DNA replication, phosphorylation of ATR targets, and DNA breakage. 1583 61

S(N)1-alkylating agents, such as the mutagenic and cytotoxic drug N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), robustly activate the DNA damage-responsive G(2) checkpoint. Establishment of this checkpoint is dependent on a functional mismatch repair (MMR) system; however, exposure to high doses of MNNG overrides the requirement for MMR to trigger G(2) arrest. In addition, unlike moderate-dose exposure, in which the G(2) checkpoint is attenuated in ataxia-telangiectasia, mutated (ATM)-deficient cells, high-dose MNNG treatment activates G(2) arrest through an ATM-independent mechanism. We document that this arrest is sensitive to the pharmacological agents caffeine and 7-hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01) that inhibit the checkpoint kinases ATM/ATM and Rad-3-related (ATR) and Chk1/Chk2, respectively. Furthermore, these agents block inactivation of the cell-cycle regulatory molecules Cdc25C and Cdc2, establishing the downstream mechanism through which high-dose MNNG establishes G(2) arrest. Activation of both Chk2 and Chk1 was independent of ATM and MMR in response to high-dose MNNG, unlike the response to moderate doses of this drug. Chk2 was found to be dispensable for cell-cycle arrest in response to high-dose MNNG treatment; however, ATR deficiency and decreased Chk1 expression forced by RNA interference resulted in diminished checkpoint response. These results indicate that MNNG activates the G(2) checkpoint through different mechanisms activated in a dose-dependent fashion.
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PMID:N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine activates cell-cycle arrest through distinct mechanisms activated in a dose-dependent manner. 1599 68

Iron is critical for cell growth and proliferation. Iron chelators are being explored for a number of clinical applications, including the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, heart disease, and cancer. To uncover mechanisms of action of tachpyridine, a chelator currently undergoing preclinical evaluation as an anticancer agent, cell-cycle analysis was performed. Tachpyridine arrested cells at G2, a radiosensitive phase of the cell cycle, and enhanced the sensitivity of cancer cells but not nontransformed cells to ionizing radiation. G2 arrest was p53 independent and was accompanied by activation of the checkpoint kinases CHK1 and CHK2. G2 arrest was blocked by UCN-01, a CHK1 inhibitor, but proceeded in CHK2 knock-out cells, indicating a critical role for CHK1 in G2 arrest. Tachpyridine-induced cell-cycle arrest was abrogated in cells treated with caffeine, an inhibitor of the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated/ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated and Rad3-related (ATM/ATR) kinases. Further, G2 arrest proceeded in ATM-deficient cells but was blocked in ATR-deficient cells, implicating ATR as the proximal kinase in tachpyridine-mediated G2 arrest. Collectively, our results suggest that iron chelators may function as antitumor and radioenhancing agents and uncover a previously unexplored activity of iron chelators in activation of ATR and checkpoint kinases.
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PMID:Tachpyridine, a metal chelator, induces G2 cell-cycle arrest, activates checkpoint kinases, and sensitizes cells to ionizing radiation. 1601 67

Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ATM- and Rad3-related (ATR) kinases, family members of the PI-3 kinase related proteins, play a key role in checkpoint activation and maintenance of genomic stability following DNA damage. We have used wild type (WT) and p38alpha-deficient mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells to investigate the role of ATR and ATM kinases during embryonic cell cycle. We have found that inhibition of ATR and ATM kinases with caffeine or Chk1 with UCN-01, results in activation of a p38-dependent intra-S-phase checkpoint and activation of apoptosis in ES cells. However, wortmannin at a concentration, that inhibits ATM kinase but not ATR kinase, did not affect cell cycle progression. Furthermore, the presence of caffeine results in activation of p38 kinase, accumulation of p21/Waf1 in a complex with Cdk2 and decrease of Cdk2 kinase activity. In contrast, caffeine-treated p38alpha-/- ES cells show less apoptosis, and fail to trigger an effective S-phase checkpoint and accumulation of p21/Waf1. We conclude that ATR kinase activity is essential for normal cell cycle progression of exponentially proliferating mouse ES cells even in the absence of exogenous DNA damage, and ATR deregulation triggers p38alpha-dependent cell-cycle checkpoint and apoptotic responses.
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PMID:Inhibition of the ATR/Chk1 pathway induces a p38-dependent S-phase delay in mouse embryonic stem cells. 1613 10

In response to DNA damage, eukaryotic cells activate ATM-Chk2 and/or ATR-Chk1 to arrest the cell cycle and initiate DNA repair. We show that, in the absence of p53, cells depend on a third cell-cycle checkpoint pathway involving p38MAPK/MK2 for cell-cycle arrest and survival after DNA damage. MK2 depletion in p53-deficient cells, but not in p53 wild-type cells, caused abrogation of the Cdc25A-mediated S phase checkpoint after cisplatin exposure and loss of the Cdc25B-mediated G2/M checkpoint following doxorubicin treatment, resulting in mitotic catastrophe and pronounced regression of murine tumors in vivo. We show that the Chk1 inhibitor UCN-01 also potently inhibits MK2, suggesting that its clinical efficacy results from the simultaneous disruption of two critical checkpoint pathways in p53-defective cells.
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PMID:p53-deficient cells rely on ATM- and ATR-mediated checkpoint signaling through the p38MAPK/MK2 pathway for survival after DNA damage. 1729 28

Human replication protein A (RPA) becomes phosphorylated on the RPA2 subunit by cyclin B-Cdc2 during mitosis, although the functional role of this modification is unclear. We find that this modification stimulates RPA2 to become hyperphosphorylated in response to mitotic DNA damage caused by bleomycin treatment. Cells in which endogenous RPA2 was replaced by a mutant subunit lacking both Cdc2 sites had a significant defect in mitotic release into a 2N G(1) phase after exposure to bleomycin. An increased percentage of these mutant cells also was positive initially for cyclin B expression and BubR1 chromatin staining, indicative of an extended spindle assembly checkpoint. The mutant cells that experienced mitotic DNA damage also underwent apoptosis at higher levels than cells expressing the WT subunit. Even so, we did not find the mutation had any dramatic effects on the level of DNA repair in mitosis. Cells lacking ATM (a checkpoint factor and RPA2 kinase) also were severely defective in mitotic exit and were unable to support RPA hyperphosphorylation after mitotic DNA damage. Although checkpoint 1 effector kinase (Chk1) had a more complex role, inhibition of Chk1 activity with UCN-01 also reduced mitotic exit. Chk1 activation and mitotic RPA hyperphosphorylation were found to be independent events. Our results demonstrate that mitotic RPA hyperphosphorylation facilitates release of cells from a damaged mitosis into a 2N G(1) phase, thereby increasing cell viability.
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PMID:RPA phosphorylation facilitates mitotic exit in response to mitotic DNA damage. 1872 75

Carcinogenesis is a multistep process that is frequently associated with p53 inactivation. The class 1 carcinogen cadmium (Cd(2+)) causes renal cancer and is known to inactivate p53. G(2)/mitosis (M) arrest contributes to stabilization of p53-deficient mutated cells, but its role and regulation in Cd(2+)-exposed p53-deficient renal cells are unknown. In p53-inactivated kidney proximal tubule (PT) cells, comet assay experiments showed that Cd(2+) (50-100 microM) induced DNA damage within 1-6 h. This was associated with peak formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at 1-3 h, measured with dihydrorhodamine 123, and G(2)/M cell cycle arrest at 6 h, which were abolished by the antioxidant alpha-tocopherol (100 microM). Cd(2+)-induced G(2)/M arrest was enhanced approximately twofold on release from cell synchronization (double thymidine block or nocodazole) and resulted in approximately twofold increase of apoptosis, indicating that G(2)/M arrest mirrors DNA damage and toxicity. The Chk1/2 kinase inhibitor UCN-01 (0.3 microM), which relieves G(2)/M transition block, abolished Cd(2+)-induced G(2) arrest and increased apoptosis. This was accompanied by prevention of Cd(2+)-induced cyclin-dependent kinase cdc2 phosphorylation at tyrosine 15, as shown by immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoblotting. The data indicate that in p53-inactivated PT cells Cd(2+)-induced ROS formation and DNA damage trigger signaling of checkpoint activating kinases ataxia telangiectasia-mutated kinase (ATM) and ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related kinase (ATR) to cause G(2)/M arrest. This may promote survival of premalignant PT cells and Cd(2+) carcinogenesis.
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PMID:Cadmium-induced DNA damage triggers G(2)/M arrest via chk1/2 and cdc2 in p53-deficient kidney proximal tubule cells. 1992 12


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