Mammalian SWI/SNF Chromatin Remodeling Complexes: Emerging Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies.

Small molecule-based targeting of chromatin regulatory factors has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy in recent years. The development and ongoing clinical evaluation of novel agents targeting a range of chromatin regulatory processes, including DNA or histone modifiers, histone readers, and chromatin regulatory protein complexes, has inspired the field to identify and act upon the full compendium of therapeutic opportunities. Emerging studies highlight the frequent involvement of altered mammalian Switch/Sucrose-Nonfermentable (mSWI/SNF) chromatin-remodeling complexes (also called BAF complexes) in both human cancer and neurological disorders, suggesting new mechanisms and accompanying routes toward therapeutic intervention.

Preclinical Anticancer Efficacy of BET Bromodomain Inhibitors Is Determined by the Apoptotic Response.

Small-molecule inhibitors of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family of proteins are being tested in clinical trials for a variety of cancers, but patient selection strategies remain limited. This challenge is partly attributed to the heterogeneous responses elicited by BET inhibition (BETi), including cellular differentiation, senescence, and death. In this study, we performed phenotypic and gene-expression analyses of treatment-naive and engineered tolerant cell lines representing human melanoma and leukemia to elucidate the dominant features defining response to BETi.

Bromodomain inhibition of the transcriptional coactivators CBP/EP300 as a therapeutic strategy to target the IRF4 network in multiple myeloma.

Pharmacological inhibition of chromatin co-regulatory factors represents a clinically validated strategy to modulate oncogenic signaling through selective attenuation of gene expression. Here, we demonstrate that CBP/EP300 bromodomain inhibition preferentially abrogates the viability of multiple myeloma cell lines. Selective targeting of multiple myeloma cell lines through CBP/EP300 bromodomain inhibition is the result of direct transcriptional suppression of the lymphocyte-specific transcription factor IRF4, which is essential for the viability of myeloma cells, and the concomitant repression of the IRF4 target gene c-MYC.

Spartan/C1orf124, a reader of PCNA ubiquitylation and a regulator of UV-induced DNA damage response.

PCNA is a key component of DNA replication and repair machineries. DNA damage-induced PCNA ubiquitylation serves as a molecular mark to orchestrate postreplication repair. Here, we have identified and characterized Spartan, a protein that specifically recognizes ubiquitylated PCNA and plays an important role in cellular resistance to UV radiation.

Direct role for proliferating cell nuclear antigen in substrate recognition by the E3 ubiquitin ligase CRL4Cdt2.

The E3 ubiquitin ligase Cullin-ring ligase 4-Cdt2 (CRL4(Cdt2)) is emerging as an important cell cycle regulator that targets numerous proteins for destruction in S phase and after DNA damage, including Cdt1, p21, and Set8. CRL4(Cdt2) substrates contain a "PIP degron," which consists of a canonical proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) interaction motif (PIP box) and an adjacent basic amino acid. Substrates use their PIP box to form a binary complex with PCNA on chromatin and the basic residue to recruit CRL4(Cdt2) for substrate ubiquitylation.

TERRA and hnRNPA1 orchestrate an RPA-to-POT1 switch on telomeric single-stranded DNA.

Maintenance of telomeres requires both DNA replication and telomere 'capping' by shelterin. These two processes use two single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-binding proteins, replication protein A (RPA) and protection of telomeres 1 (POT1). Although RPA and POT1 each have a critical role at telomeres, how they function in concert is not clear.

CRL4(Cdt2)-mediated destruction of the histone methyltransferase Set8 prevents premature chromatin compaction in S phase.

The proper coordination between DNA replication and mitosis during cell-cycle progression is crucial for genomic stability. During G2 and mitosis, Set8 catalyzes monomethylation of histone H4 on lysine 20 (H4K20me1), which promotes chromatin compaction. Set8 levels decline in S phase, but why and how this occurs is unclear.

Differential requirements of two recA mutants for constitutive SOS expression in Escherichia coli K-12.

Background: Repairing DNA damage begins with its detection and is often followed by elicitation of a cellular response. In E. coli, RecA polymerizes on ssDNA produced after DNA damage and induces the SOS Response.

UvrD303, a hyperhelicase mutant that antagonizes RecA-dependent SOS expression by a mechanism that depends on its C terminus.

Genomic integrity is critical for an organism's survival and ability to reproduce. In Escherichia coli, the UvrD helicase has roles in nucleotide excision repair and methyl-directed mismatch repair and can limit reactions by RecA under certain circumstances. UvrD303 (D403A D404A) is a hyperhelicase mutant, and when expressed from a multicopy plasmid, it results in UV sensitivity (UV(s)), recombination deficiency, and antimutability.

XthA (Exonuclease III) regulates loading of RecA onto DNA substrates in log phase Escherichia coli cells.

Exonucleases can modify DNA substrates created during DNA replication, recombination and repair. In Escherichia coli, the effects of several 3'-5' exonucleases on RecA loading were studied by assaying RecA-GFP foci formation. Mutations in xthA (ExoIII), xseAB (ExoVII), xni (ExoIX), exoX (ExoX) and tatD (ExoXI) increased the number of RecA-GFP foci twofold to threefold in a population of log phase cells grown in minimal medium.

UvrD limits the number and intensities of RecA-green fluorescent protein structures in Escherichia coli K-12.

RecA is important for recombination, DNA repair, and SOS induction. In Escherichia coli, RecBCD, RecFOR, and RecJQ prepare DNA substrates onto which RecA binds. UvrD is a 3'-to-5' helicase that participates in methyl-directed mismatch repair and nucleotide excision repair.