Non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) is an essential DNA double strand break repair pathway during all cell cycle stages. Deficiency in NHEJ factors can lead to accumulation of unrepaired DNA breaks or faulty DNA repair, which may ultimately result in cell death, senescence or carcinogenesis. The Ku70/80 heterodimer is a key-player in the NHEJ pathway and binds to DNA termini with high affinity, where it helps to protect DNA ends from degradation and to recruit other NHEJ factors required for repair. The mechanism of Ku70/80 detachment from the DNA helix after completion of DNA repair is incompletely understood. Some data suggest that certain DNA repair factors are ubiquitylated and targeted for proteasomal degradation after repair. Recent studies suggest that Ku80 is conjugated to lysine48-linked ubiquitin chains by the Skp1-Cullin-F-box (SCF) complex and/or the RING finger protein 8 (RNF8) ubiquitin-protein ligases, followed by rapid proteasomal degradation. In this review we address the structure and function of the Ku70/80 heterodimer and how ubiquitylation may affect the release of Ku70/80 from chromatin and its subsequent degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system.

DNA-dependent protein kinase, the catalytic subunit associated with the Ku heterodimer (Ku70/Ku86), has been implicated in switch recombination. Therefore, we tested whether certain stimuli known to promote switch recombination may act in part by inducing Ku expression. We find that resting B cells contain relatively low levels of nuclear Ku, but that Ku expression can be up-regulated by culturing the cells with two switch stimuli. First, IL-4 and CD40 engagement in combination, but neither of these stimuli acting alone, strongly induce Ku expression; Ku levels rise within 24 h, about 2 days before switch recombination is detected. Second, dextran-conjugated anti-IgD Abs strongly induce Ku expression, which is variably enhanced by IL-5, but not by IL-4. Our data suggest that switch recombination may be regulated, at least in part, through changes in the nuclear expression of Ku.

DNA repair pathways play a critical role in maintaining cellular homeostasis by repairing DNA damage induced by endogenous processes and xenobiotics, including environmental chemicals. Induction of DNA damage may lead to genomic instability, disruption of cellular homeostasis and potentially tumours. Isogenic chicken DT40 B-lymphocyte cell lines deficient in DNA repair pathways can be used to identify genotoxic compounds and aid in characterising the nature of the induced DNA damage. As part of the US Tox21 program, we previously optimised several different DT40 isogenic clones on a high-throughput screening platform and confirmed the utility of this approach for detecting genotoxicants by measuring differential cytotoxicity in wild-type and DNA repair-deficient clones following chemical exposure. In the study reported here, we screened the Tox21 10K compound library against two isogenic DNA repair-deficient DT40 cell lines (KU70 (-/-) /RAD54 (-/-) and REV3 (-/-) ) and the wild-type cell line using a cell viability assay that measures intracellular adenosine triphosphate levels. KU70 and RAD54 are genes associated with DNA double-strand break repair processes, and REV3 is associated with translesion DNA synthesis pathways. Active compounds identified in the primary screening included many well-known genotoxicants (e.g. adriamycin, melphalan) and several compounds previously untested for genotoxicity. A subset of compounds was further evaluated by assessing their ability to induce micronuclei and phosphorylated H2AX. Using this comprehensive approach, three compounds with previously undefined genotoxicity-2-oxiranemethanamine, AD-67 and tetraphenylolethane glycidyl ether-were identified as genotoxic. These results demonstrate the utility of this approach for identifying and prioritising compounds that may damage DNA.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) induced DNA damage which may be related to gastric cancer development. The DNA damage response coordinates DNA repair, cell-cycle transition, and apoptosis through activation of DNA damage response molecules. The damaged DNA is repaired through non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR). In the present study, we investigated the changes of HR DNA repair proteins (ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated; ATM, ATM and Rad3-related; ATR), NHEJ repair proteins (Ku70/80), cell cycle regulators (Chk1, Chk2), and apoptosis marker (p53/p-p53) were determined in H. pylori-infected Mongolian gerbils. In addition, the effect of an antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on H. pylori-induced DNA damage response was determined to assess the involvement of oxidative stress on DNA damage of the animals infected with H. pylori. One week after intragastric inoculation with H. pylori, Mongolian gerbils were fed with basal diet with or without 3% NAC for 6 weeks. After 6 week, the expression levels of DNA repair proteins (Ku70/80, ATM, ATR), cell cycle regulators (Chk1, Chk2) and apoptosis marker (p-p53/p53) were increased in gastric mucosa of Mongolian gerbils, which was suppressed by NAC treatment. In conclusion, oxidative stress mediates H. pylori-induced DNA damage response including NHEJ and HR repairing processes, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in gastric mucosa of Mongolian gerbils.

In this study, we investigated the role of c-Myc/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway in sensitization of human hepatoma HepG2 cells to TRAIL. Knockdown of SIRT1 or treatment with SIRT1 inhibitor caused the up-regulation of DR5 and down-regulation of c-FLIP through modulation of c-Myc/ATF4/CHOP pathway, and subsequently enhanced the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of TRAIL on HepG2 cells. Interestingly, SIRT1 interacted directly with c-FLIP(L) and Ku70, and treatment with SIRT1 inhibitor enhanced acetylation of Ku70 and subsequently decreased its binding to c-FLIP. And this was followed by degradation of c-FLIP. Moreover, Ku70(-/-) MEF and Ku70-knockdown HepG2 cells showed the increased levels of c-Myc, ATF4, CHOP, and DR5 and decreased level of c-FLIP. These results were followed by increased sensitivity of Ku70(-/-) MEF cells and Ku70-knockdown HepG2 cells to TRAIL compared with their control cells. These findings reveal for the first time that SIRT1 inhibition increases Ku70 acetylation, and the acetylated Ku70 with a decreased function mediates the induction of DR5 and the down-regulation of c-FLIP by up-regulating c-Myc/ATF4/CHOP pathway, and consequently promotes the TRAIL-induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells. This study provides important mechanistic insight of the synergism exhibited by SIRT1 inhibition and TRAIL.

In recent years, both hyperthermia and gene-therapy have been evaluated as approaches to improve cancer radiotherapy. In addition, potential exists to combine these approaches to increase the overall therapeutic efficacy. For example, it has been reported that adenovirus-mediated heat-inducible gene expression may reduce the normal tissue toxicity associated with constitutively controlled expression of therapeutic genes. In our laboratory, we have shown that adenovirus-mediated, heat-activated antisense Ku70 expression radiosensitizes tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, suggesting a novel approach to use heat-activated gene-radiotherapy to radiosensitize human tumors.However, to optimize the application of heat-activated gene-radiotherapy in the clinic, we need to develop techniques to improve the delivery of the therapeutic adenovirus and to verify/monitor the delivery non-invasively. In an ongoing study we test the effect of mild hyperthermia in improving adenovirus-medicated vector delivery in a mouse tumor model. In addition, we evaluate the use of non-invasive microPET imaging to monitor the spread of the adenoviral vector. Our preliminary results show that (1) microPET imaging can be used to monitor non-invasively the viral vector delivery and dissemination, and (2) mild heat shock leads to significantly improved viral vector distribution, in other words, a wider spatial spread, in vivo.Here, we will present a short review on the current status of hyperthermia and heat-activated gene-radiotherapy, and the potential use of PET imaging in gene therapy.

Ku70-binding protein 5 (Kub5)-Hera (K-H)/RPRD1B maintains genetic integrity by concomitantly minimizing persistent R-loops and promoting repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). We used tandem affinity purification-mass spectrometry, co-immunoprecipitation and gel-filtration chromatography to define higher-order protein complexes containing K-H scaffolding protein to gain insight into its cellular functions. We confirmed known protein partners (Ku70, RNA Pol II, p15RS) and discovered several novel associated proteins that function in RNA metabolism (Topoisomerase 1 and RNA helicases), DNA repair/replication processes (PARP1, MSH2, Ku, DNA-PKcs, MCM proteins, PCNA and DNA Pol δ) and in protein metabolic processes, including translation. Notably, this approach directed us to investigate an unpredicted involvement of K-H in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) where K-H depletion led to concomitant MMR deficiency and compromised global microsatellite stability. Mechanistically, MMR deficiency in K-H-depleted cells was a consequence of reduced stability of the core MMR proteins (MLH1 and PMS2) caused by elevated basal caspase-dependent proteolysis. Pan-caspase inhibitor treatment restored MMR protein loss. These findings represent a novel mechanism to acquire MMR deficiency/microsatellite alterations. A significant proportion of colon, endometrial and ovarian cancers exhibit k-h expression/copy number loss and may have severe mutator phenotypes with enhanced malignancies that are currently overlooked based on sporadic MSI+ screening.

OBJECTIVE

Like all viruses, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) requires host cellular factors for productive replication. Identification of these factors may lead to the development of novel cell-based inhibitors.

METHODS

A Strep-tag was inserted into the C-terminus of the matrix (MA) region of the HIV-1 gag gene. The resultant virus was replication competent and used to infect Jurkat T-cells. MA complexes were affinity purified with Strep-Tactin agarose. Protein quantification was performed using sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment ion spectra (SWATH) MS, data were log2 -transformed, and Student t-tests with Bonferroni correction used to determine statistical significance. Several candidate proteins were validated by immunoblot and investigated for their role in virus infection by siRNA knockdown assays.

RESULTS

A total of 17 proteins were found to be statistically different between the infected versus uninfected and untagged control samples. X-ray repair cross-complementing protein 6 (Ku70), X-ray repair cross-complementing protein 5 (Ku80), and Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1) were confirmed to interact with MA by immunoblot. Knockdown of two candidates, EZRIN and Y-box binding protein 1, enhanced HIV infection in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

The Strep-tag allowed for the capture of viral protein complexes in the context of virus replication. Several previously described factors were identified and at least two candidate proteins were found to play a role in HIV-1 infection. These data further increase our understanding of HIV host -cell interactions.

Streptomyces avermitilis is an industrially important soil bacterium known for production of avermectins, which are antiparasitic agents useful in animal health care, agriculture, and treatment of human infections. ku genes play a key role in the non-homologous end-joining pathway for repair of DNA double strand breaks. We identified homologs of eukaryotic ku70 and ku80 genes, termed ku1 and ku2, in S. avermitilis. Mutants with deletion of ku1, ku2, and both genes were constructed and their phenotypic changes were characterized. Deletion of ku genes had no apparent adverse effects on growth, spore formation, or avermectin production. The ku mutants, in comparison to wild-type strain, were slightly more sensitive to the DNA-damaging agent ethyl methanesulfonate, but not to UV exposure or to bleomycin. Gene targeting frequencies by homologous recombination were higher in the ku mutants than in wild-type strain. We conclude that ku-deleted strains will be useful hosts for efficient gene targeting and will facilitate functional analysis of genes in S. avermitilis and other industrially important bacterial strains.

Human origins of DNA replication are specific sequences within the genome whereby DNA replication is initiated. A select group of proteins, known as the pre-replication (pre-RC) complex, in whose formation the Ku protein (Ku70/Ku86) was shown to play a role, bind to replication origins to initiate DNA replication. In this study, we have examined the involvement of Ku in breast tumorigenesis and tumor progression and found that the Ku protein expression levels in human breast metastatic (MCF10AC1a) cells were higher in the chromatin fraction compared to hyperplastic (MCF10AT) and normal (MCF10A) human breast cells, but remained constant in both the nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions. In contrast, in human intestinal cells, the Ku expression level was relatively constant for all cell fractions. Nascent DNA abundance and chromatin association of Ku70/86 revealed that the c-myc origin activity in MCF10AC1a is 2.5 to 5-fold higher than in MCF10AT and MCF10A, respectively, and Ku was bound to the c-myc origin more abundantly in MCF10AC1a, by approximately 1.5 to 4.2-fold higher than in MCF10AT and MCF10A, respectively. In contrast, similar nascent DNA abundance and chromatin association was found for all cell lines for the lamin B2 origin, associated with the constitutively active housekeeping lamin B2 gene. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) performed on the nuclear extracts (NEs) of the three cell types revealed the presence of protein-DNA replication complexes on both the c-myc and lamin B2 origins, but an increase in binding activity was observed from normal, to transformed, to cancer cells for the c-myc origin, whereas no such difference was seen for the lamin B2 origin. Overall, the results suggest that increased Ku chromatin association, beyond wild type levels, alters cellular processes, which have been implicated in tumorigenesis.

Androgens are known to protect prostate cancer cells from DNA damage. Recent studies showed regulation of DNA repair genes by androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancers. ELL-associated factor 2 (EAF2) is an androgen-regulated tumor suppressor and its intracellular localization can be modulated by ultraviolet light, suggesting a potential role for EAF2 in androgen regulation of DNA repair in prostate cancer cells. Here we show that knockdown of EAF2 or its homolog EAF1 sensitized prostate cancer cells to DNA damage and the sensitization did not require p53. EAF2 knockout mouse prostate was also sensitized to γ-irradiation. Furthermore, EAF2 knockdown blocked androgen repression of LNCaP or C4-2 cells from doxorubicin induction of γH2ax, a DNA damage marker. In human prostate cancer specimens, EAF2 expression was inversely correlated with the level of γH2ax. Further analysis showed that EAF2 and EAF1 are required for the recruitment and retention of Ku70/Ku80 to DNA damage sites and play a functional role in nonhomologous end-joining DNA repair. These findings provide evidence for EAF2 as a key factor mediating androgen protection of DNA damage via Ku70/Ku80 in prostate cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between polymorphic variants of DNA repair genes with the susceptibility of acute oral mucositis (OM) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients treated with radiotherapy.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 120 NPC patients treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Among them 70 patients also received concurrent chemotherapy. Genotypes in DNA repair genes Ku70 c.-1310C>G (rs2267437), Ku70 c.1781G> T (rs132788), Ku80 c.2099-2408G> A (rs3835), Ku80 c.*841G> A (rs2440) and DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) c.2888 + 713C> T (rs2213178) were determined by polymerase chain reaction combined with the restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Mucositis was scored using the Common Terminology Criteria (CTC) for Adverse Events v.3.0 scale. The population was divided into the CTC0-2 group (CTC toxicity grade 0, 1 and 2) and the CTC3 + group (CTC toxicity grade 3 and above). Odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A significant difference in Ku70 c.1781G> T genotype distribution was observed between the CTC0-2 and CTC3 + groups for the 120 patients analyzed. The GG carriers were at higher risks for severe OM (CTC3+) compared with the TT homozygotes (OR = 3.000, 95% CI = 1.287-6.994, p = 0.011). No association was found between Ku70 (c.-1310C> G), Ku80 (c.2099-2408G> A, c.*841G> A), DNA-PKcs (c.2888 + 713 C>> T) and the development of severe oral mucositis. Stratification analyses for the 50 patients treated with radiation alone further confirmed the association between the variant genotype of GG and severe OM (OR = 5.128, 95% CI = 1.183-22.238, p = 0.029). Concurrent radiochemotherapy increased the risk of severe OM for both the TT homozygotes and GG genotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that the Ku70 c.1781G> T polymorphism may be a susceptibility factor for radiation-induced oral mucositis in Chinese nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.

OBJECTIVE

To elaborate the B-cell micronucleus (MN) response in the low-dose region in detail and to investigate the postulated deficiency in DNA-PK in B-cells.

METHODS

Lymphocytes of five healthy volunteers were irradiated with low LET gamma-rays and high LET fast neutrons with doses ranging between 0.01 and 2 Gy. After post-irradiation incubation, B- and T-cells were isolated via CD3 and CD19 immunomagnetic microbeads. MN were analysed in both subpopulations. To study the underlying mechanism of chromosomal radiosensitivity, cell extracts prepared from purified B- and T-cells were subjected to SDS-electrophoresis and electroblotting using antibodies directed against the DNA-PK repair enzymes Ku70/86 and DNA-PKcs. Activity measurements were performed using the SignaTECT DNA-dependent protein kinase assay. DNA double-strand break (DSB) induction and rejoining was determined using constant-field gel electrophoresis.

RESULTS

For low LET gamma-rays a higher MN yield was observed in B-cells than in T-cells, but only in those samples exposed to doses < 1 Gy. For 1 Gy, the MN yields were comparable and for 2Gy even lower in B-cells compared with T-cells. After high LET neutron irradiation no significant differences in MN yields were observed between both subsets. The results of the DNA-PK experiments demonstrate that there is no difference between T- and B-cells in the basal expression and activity of DNA-PK repair proteins. No differences in DNA DSB induction and rejoining were found between T- and B-cells using constant-field gel electrophoresis.

CONCLUSIONS

From the results, it was concluded that the enhanced chromosomal radiosensitivity in B-cells is restricted to low doses (<1 Gy) of low LET radiation and that the chromosomal behaviour of B-cells to low LET radiation cannot be attributed to aberrant forms of the DNA-PK components. A type of chromosomal induced radioresistance (IRR) may be a possible explanation for the observed effect.

Agnoprotein is an important regulatory protein of polyomaviruses, including JCV, BKV, and SV40. In the absence of its expression, these viruses are unable to sustain their productive life cycle. It is a highly basic phosphoprotein that localizes mostly to the perinuclear area of infected cells, although a small amount of the protein is also found in nucleus. Much has been learned about the structure and function of this important regulatory protein in recent years. It forms highly stable dimers/oligomers in vitro and in vivo through its Leu/Ile/Phe-rich domain. Structural NMR studies revealed that this domain adopts an alpha-helix conformation and plays a critical role in the stability of the protein. It associates with cellular proteins, including YB-1, p53, Ku70, FEZ1, HP1α, PP2A, AP-3, PCNA, and α-SNAP; and viral proteins, including small t antigen, large T antigen, HIV-1 Tat, and JCV VP1; and significantly contributes the viral transcription and replication. This review summarizes the recent advances in the structural and functional properties of this important regulatory protein. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 2115-2127, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Centrosomes are important cytoplasmic organelles involved in chromosome segregation, defects in which can result in aneuploidy, and contribute to tumorigenesis. It is known that DNA damage causes the supernumerary centrosomes by a mechanism in which centrosomes continue to duplicate during cell cycle arrest at checkpoints. We show here that ionizing radiation induces the overduplication of centrosomes in a dose-dependent manner, and that the level of overduplication is pronounced in BRCA1- and NBS1-deficient cells, even though their checkpoint control is abrogated. Conversely, marginal increases in overduplication were observed in Ku70- and DNA-PKcs-deficient cells, which are intact in checkpoint control. The frequency of radiation-induced overduplication of centrosomes might be associated with DNA repair, as it was decreased with reduced cell killing after protracted exposures to radiation. As a result, when the frequency of radiation-induced centrosome overduplication was plotted against radiation-induced cell killing, similar curves were seen for both protracted and acute exposures in wild-type cells, Ku70-deficient, and DNA-PKcs-deficient cells, indicating a common mechanism for centrosome overduplication. However, the absence of either BRCA1 or NBS1 enhanced radiation-induced overduplication frequencies by 2-4-fold on the basis of the same cell killing. These results suggest that radiation-induced centrosome overduplication is regulated by at least two mechanisms: a checkpoint-dependent pathway involved in wild-type cells, Ku70-deficient and DNA-PKcs-deficient cells; and a checkpoint-independent pathway as observed in BRCA1-deficient and NBS1-deficient cells.

The genesis of β-cells predominantly occurs through self-replication; therefore, understanding the regulation of cell proliferation is essential. We previously showed that the lack of nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) DNA repair factor ligase IV leads to an accumulation of DNA damage that permanently halts β-cell proliferation and dramatically decreases insulin production, causing overt diabetes in a hypomorphic p53(R172P) background. In the present study, to further delineate the function of NHEJ, we analyzed mice deficient for another key NHEJ factor, Ku70, to discover the effect of cellular responses to DNA damage in pancreatic β-cells on cellular proliferation and glucose homeostasis. Analysis of Ku70(-/-) pancreatic β-cells revealed an accumulation of DNA damage and activation of p53-dependent cellular senescence similar to the results found in our earlier ligase IV deficiency study. To our surprise, Ku70(-/-) mice had significantly increased β-cell proliferation and islet expansion, heightened insulin levels, and decreased glycemia. This augmented β-cell proliferation was accompanied by an increased β-catenin level, which we propose to be responsible for this phenotype. This study highlights Ku70 as an important player not only in maintaining genomic stability through NHEJ-dependent functions, but also in regulating pancreatic β-cell proliferation, a novel NHEJ-independent function.

In contrast to model yeasts, gene targeting efficiencies of non-conventional yeasts are usually low, which greatly limits the research and applications of these organisms. In this study, we aimed to enhance the gene targeting efficiency of non-conventional yeasts by improving the fitness of mutant strains, particularly by increasing the genetic redundancy of host cells. To demonstrate this process, OCH1 gene deletion in Pichia pastoris was performed. Extra copies of the OCH1 gene on a helper plasmid were provided for the P. pastoris GS115 strain before the native OCH1 gene in the genomic DNA was knocked out. The redundancy in OCH1 gene significantly eliminated the growth defects of the och1 mutant and increased the deletion efficiency of the OCH1 gene by two orders of magnitude with the same length of homologous flanks. The same strategy was used to delete the KU70 and SGS1 genes. The targeting efficiencies of KU70 and SGS1 were increased by 1- and 23-fold, respectively. Therefore, this study provided an efficient strategy for the deletion of "stubborn" genes in non-conventional yeasts. This study further showed that cellular fitness is potentially an important factor that can limit the efficiency of gene targeting.

LRH-1 (liver receptor homologue-1), a transcription factor and member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, regulates the expression of its target genes, which are involved in bile acid and cholesterol homoeostasis. However, the molecular mechanisms of transcriptional control by LRH-1 are not completely understood. Previously, we identified Ku80 and Ku70 as LRH-1-binding proteins and reported that they function as co-repressors. In the present study, we identified an additional LRH-1-binding protein, ILF3 (interleukin enhancer-binding factor 3). ILF3 formed a complex with LRH-1 and the other two nuclear receptor co-activators PRMT1 (protein arginine methyltransferase 1) and PGC-1α (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator-1α). We demonstrated that ILF3, PRMT1 and PGC-1α were recruited to the promoter region of the LRH-1-regulated SHP (small heterodimer partner) gene, encoding one of the nuclear receptors. ILF3 enhanced SHP gene expression in co-operation with PRMT1 and PGC-1α through the C-terminal region of ILF3. In addition, we found that the small interfering RNA-mediated down-regulation of ILF3 expression led to a reduction in the occupancy of PGC-1α at the SHP promoter and SHP expression. Taken together, our results suggest that ILF3 functions as a novel LRH-1 co-activator by acting synergistically with PRMT1 and PGC-1α, thereby promoting LRH-1-dependent gene expression.

The DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), comprised of the Ku70/Ku80 (now known as G22p1/Xrcc5) heterodimer and the catalytic subunit DNA-PKcs (now known as Prkdc), is required for the nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway of DNA double-strand break repair. The mechanism of action of DNA-PK remains unclear. We have investigated whether DNA-PK regulates gene transcription in vivo after DNA damage using the subtractive hybridization technique of cDNA representational difference analysis (cDNA RDA). Differential transcription, both radiation-dependent and independent, was detected and confirmed in primary mouse embryo fibroblasts from DNA-PKcs(-/-) and DNA-PKcs(+/+) mice. We present evidence that transcription of the extracellular matrix gene laminin alpha 4 (Lama4) is regulated by DNA-PK in a radiation-independent manner. However, screening of both primary and immortalized DNA-PKcs-deficient cell lines demonstrates that the majority of differences were not consistently dependent on DNA-PK status. Similar results were obtained in experiments using KU mutant hamster cell lines, indicating heterogeneity of transcription between closely related cell lines. Our results suggest that while DNA-PK may be involved in limited gene-specific transcription, it does not play a major role in the transcriptional response to DNA damage.

Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) has been reported to alter global gene expression, induce epigenetic modifications, and interfere with complex regulatory networks of cells. In addition to these reprogramming events, we have demonstrated that BPA exposure generates reactive oxygen species and promotes cellular survival when co-exposed with the oxidizing agent potassium bromate (KBrO3).

We determined the cellular microenvironment changes induced by co-exposure of BPA and KBrO3 versus either agent alone.

Ku70-deficient cells were exposed to 150 μM BPA, 20 mM KBrO3, or co-exposed to both agents. Four and 24 hr post-damage initiation by KBrO3, with BPA-only samples timed to coincide with these designated time points, we performed whole-genome microarray analysis and evaluated chromatin structure, DNA lesion load, glutathione content, and intracellular pH.

We found that 4 hr post-damage initiation, BPA exposure and co-exposure transiently condensed chromatin compared with untreated and KBrO3-only treated cells; the transcription of DNA repair proteins was also reduced. At this time point, BPA exposure and co-exposure also reduced the change in intracellular pH observed after treatment with KBrO3 alone. Twenty-four hours post-damage initiation, BPA-exposed cells showed less condensed chromatin than cells treated with KBrO3 alone; the intracellular pH of the co-exposed cells was significantly reduced compared with untreated and KBrO3-treated cells; and significant up-regulation of DNA repair proteins was observed after co-exposure.

These results support the induction of an adaptive response by BPA co-exposure that alters the microcellular environment and modulates DNA repair. Further work is required to determine whether BPA induces similar DNA lesions in vivo at environmentally relevant doses; however, in the Ku70-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts, exposure to a high dose of BPA was associated with changes in the cellular microenvironment that may promote survival.

Gassman NR, Coskun E, Jaruga P, Dizdaroglu M, Wilson SH. 2016. Combined effects of high-dose bisphenol A and oxidizing agent (KBrO3) on cellular microenvironment, gene expression, and chromatin structure of Ku70-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Environ Health Perspect 124:1241-1252; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP237.

OBJECTIVE

The present study investigated the effect of AC480, a small molecule pan-HER tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on in vitro radiosensitivity and in vivo radioresponse of a human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line.

METHODS

HN-5 cells were exposed to γ-radiation with and without AC480 and assayed for proliferation, clonogenic survival, apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, and DNA damage. The cells were analyzed by immunoprecipitation and western blotting for proteins involved in apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, and the EGFR pathway. The effect of AC480 on tumor radioresponse was assessed by tumor growth delay assay using HN5 tumor xenografts generated in nude mice.

RESULTS

At the molecular level, in HN-5 cells the agent inhibited the expression of pEGFR, pHER2, cyclins D and E, pRb, pAkt, pMAPK, pCDK1 and 2, CDK 6, and Ku70 proteins. The drug also induced accumulation of cells in the G1 cell cycle phase, inhibited cell growth, enhanced radiosensitivity, and prolonged the presence of γ-H₂AX foci up to 24 h after radiation. AC480 did not increase the percentage of cells undergoing radiation-induced apoptosis. The drug given before and during irradiation improved the radioresponse of HN5 tumors in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

AC480 significantly enhanced the radiosensitivity of HN-5 cells, expressing both EGFR and Her2. The mechanisms involved in the enhancement included cell cycle redistribution and inhibition of DNA repair. Both in vitro and in vivo data from our study suggest that AC480 has potential to increase tumor response to radiotherapy.

DNA double strand breaks (DSB) are among the most lethal forms of DNA damage and, in humans, are repaired predominantly by the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway. NHEJ is initiated by the Ku70/80 heterodimer binding free DNA termini and then recruiting the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) to form the catalytically active DNA-PK holoenzyme. The extreme C-terminus of Ku80 (Ku80CTD) has been shown to be important for in vitro stimulation of DNA-PK activity and NHEJ in vivo. To better define the mechanism by which the Ku80CTD elicits these activities, we assessed its functional and physical interactions with DNA-PKcs and Ku70/80. The results demonstrate that DNA-PKcs activity could not be complemented by addition of a Ku80CTD suggesting that the physical connection of the C-terminus to the DNA binding domain of Ku70/80 is required for DNA -PKcs activation. Analysis of protein-protein interactions revealed a low but measurable binding of the Ku80CTD for Ku70/80ΔC and for DNA-PKcs while dimer formation and the formation of higher ordered structures of the Ku80CTD was readily apparent. Ku has been shown to tether DNA termini possibly due to protein/protein interactions. Results demonstrate that the presence of the Ku80CTD stimulates this activity possibly through Ku80CTD/Ku80CTD interactions.

Since DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) has been known to play a protective role against drug-induced apoptosis, the role of DNA-PK in the regulation of mitochondrial heat shock proteins by anticancer drugs was examined. The levels of basal and drug-induced mitochondrial heat shock proteins of drug-sensitive parental cells were higher than those of multidrug-resistant (MDR) cells. We also demonstrated that the development of MDR might be correlated with the increased expression of Ku-subunit of DNA-PK and concurrent down-regulation of mitochondrial heat shock proteins. The basal mtHsp70 and Hsp60 levels of Ku70(-/-) cells, which were known to be sensitive to anticancer drugs, were higher than those of parental MEF cells, but conversely these mitochondrial heat shock proteins of R7080-6 cells over-expressing both Ku70 and Ku80 were lower than those of parental Rat-1 cells. Also, the mtHsp70 and Hsp60 levels of DNA-PKcs-deficient SCID cells were higher than those of parental CB-17 cells. Our results suggest the possibility that mitochondrial heat shock protein may be one of determinants of drug sensitivity and could be regulated by DNA-PK activity.

Cyclophilin-40 (CyP40) is part of the immunophilin family and is found in Hsp90-containing protein complexes. We were interested in identifying proteins that interact with CyP40. CyP40-interacting proteins in HeLa cells were identified using the tandem affinity purification approach. Adenovirus expressing human CyP40 protein (Ad-CyP40), fused with streptavidin and calmodulin binding peptides at the N terminus, was generated. Proteins were separated on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gel after tandem affinity purification. Here 10 silver-stained protein bands that were enriched in the Ad-CyP40-infected lysate and the corresponding regions in the control lysate were excised, digested by trypsin, and identified by tandem mass spectrometric analysis. Of 11 interacting proteins that were identified, 4 (RACK1, Ku70, RPS3, and NF45) were expressed in rabbit reticulocyte lysate, bacteria, and MCF-7 cells. We confirmed that these proteins interact with CyP40. We observed that RACK1 suppressed the cobalt chloride-induced, hypoxia response element-dependent luciferase activity in MCF-7 cells but not in MCF-7 stable cells expressing approximately 10% of the cellular CyP40 content. In addition, RACK1 reduced the HIF-1α protein accumulation after cobalt chloride treatment, which was not observed when the CyP40 content was down-regulated. Collectively, we conclude that reduction of the HIF-1 α protein by RACK1 is CyP40-mediated.