Posttranslational Regulation of O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase (MGMT) and New Opportunities for Treatment of Brain Cancers.

O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) is an antimutagenic DNA repair protein highly expressed in human brain tumors. Because MGMT repairs the mutagenic, carcinogenic and cytotoxic O(6)-alkylguanine adducts, including those generated by the clinically used anticancer alkylating agents, it has emerged as a central and rational target for overcoming tumor resistance to alkylating agents. Although the pseudosubstrates for MGMT [O(6)-benzylguanine, O(6)-(4- bromothenyl)guanine] have gained attention as powerful and clinically-relevant inhibitors, bone marrow suppression due to excessive alkylation damage has diminished this strategy.

Oncogene PKCε controls INrf2-Nrf2 interaction in normal and cancer cells through phosphorylation of INrf2.

The INrf2 (Keap1)-Nrf2 cell sensor complex has a crucial role in protection against chemical- and radiation-induced oxidative stress and cellular transformation. INrf2, in association with Cul3-Rbx1, ubiquitylates and degrades Nrf2. Exposure to stressors leads to stabilization of Nrf2 and the coordinated activation of cytoprotective proteins and cellular protection.

Regulation of Nrf2-an update.

Nrf2:INrf2 (Keap1) are cellular sensors of oxidative and electrophilic stress. Nrf2 is a nuclear factor that controls the expression and coordinated induction of a battery of genes that encode detoxifying enzymes, drug transporters, antiapoptotic proteins, and proteasomes. In the basal state, Nrf2 is constantly degraded in the cytoplasm by its inhibitor, INrf2.

Nrf2-induced antiapoptotic Bcl-xL protein enhances cell survival and drug resistance.

Nuclear transcription factor Nrf2 binds with the antioxidant-response element (ARE) in the promoter regions of cytoprotective genes, leading to their increased expression and cellular protection. In this study, we investigated the role of Nrf2 in the regulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-xL protein and its effect on cellular apoptosis. Treatment of mouse Hepa-1 cells with the antioxidant tert-butylhydroquinone led to the induction of Bcl-xL gene expression.

Antioxidant-induced INrf2 (Keap1) tyrosine 85 phosphorylation controls the nuclear export and degradation of the INrf2-Cul3-Rbx1 complex to allow normal Nrf2 activation and repression.

INrf2 (Keap1) serves as a negative regulator of the cytoprotective transcription factor Nrf2. At basal levels, INrf2 functions as a substrate adaptor to sequester Nrf2 into the Cul3-Rbx1 E3 ligase complex for ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation. In response to antioxidants, Nrf2 is released from the INrf2-Cul3-Rbx1 complex and translocates into the nucleus, where it activates ARE-mediated cytoprotective gene expression.

Nrf2 protein up-regulates antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and prevents cellular apoptosis.

Nuclear transcription factor Nrf2 regulates the expression and coordinated induction of a battery of genes encoding cytoprotective and drug transporter proteins in response to chemical and radiation stress. This leads to reduced apoptosis, enhanced cell survival, and increased drug resistance. In this study, we investigated the role of Nrf2 in up-regulation of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and its contribution to stress-induced apoptosis and cell survival.

Inhibitor of Nrf2 (INrf2 or Keap1) protein degrades Bcl-xL via phosphoglycerate mutase 5 and controls cellular apoptosis.

INrf2 (Keap1) is an adaptor protein that facilitates INrf2-Cul3-Rbx1-mediated ubiquitination/degradation of Nrf2, a master regulator of cytoprotective gene expression. Here, we present evidence that members of the phosphoglycerate mutase family 5 (PGAM5) proteins are involved in the INrf2-mediated ubiquitination/degradation of anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-xL. Mass spectrometry and co-immunoprecipitation assays revealed that INrf2, through its DGR domain, interacts with PGAM5, which in turn interacts with anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL protein.

Src subfamily kinases regulate nuclear export and degradation of transcription factor Nrf2 to switch off Nrf2-mediated antioxidant activation of cytoprotective gene expression.

Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor 2) is a nuclear transcription factor that in response to chemical and radiation stress regulates coordinated induction of a battery of cytoprotective gene expressions leading to cellular protection. In this study, we investigated the role of Src kinases in the regulation of Nrf2 and downstream signaling. siRNA-mediated inhibition of Fyn, Src, Yes, and Fgr, but not Lyn, in mouse hepatoma Hepa-1 cells, led to nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 and up-regulation of Nrf2 downstream gene expression.

Hsp90 interaction with INrf2(Keap1) mediates stress-induced Nrf2 activation.

INrf2(Keap1) functions as an adapter for Cul3/Rbx1-mediated degradation of Nrf2. In response to stress, Nrf2 is released from INrf2 and translocates inside the nucleus leading to activation of cytoprotective proteins critical in protection against adverse effects including cancer. We demonstrate here a novel role of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) in control of the INrf2 and Nrf2 activation.

Antioxidant-induced modification of INrf2 cysteine 151 and PKC-delta-mediated phosphorylation of Nrf2 serine 40 are both required for stabilization and nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and increased drug resistance.

Antioxidants cause dissociation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) from inhibitor of Nrf2 (INrf2) and so Nrf2:INrf2 can serve as a sensor of oxidative stress. Nrf2 translocates to the nucleus, binds to antioxidant response element (ARE) and activates defensive gene expression, which protects cells. Controversies exist regarding the role of antioxidant-induced modification of INrf2 cysteine 151 or protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated phosphorylation of Nrf2 serine 40 in the release of Nrf2 from INrf2.

Nrf2:INrf2 (Keap1) signaling in oxidative stress.

Nrf2:INrf2 (Keap1) are cellular sensors of chemical- and radiation-induced oxidative and electrophilic stress. Nrf2 is a nuclear transcription factor that controls the expression and coordinated induction of a battery of defensive genes encoding detoxifying enzymes and antioxidant proteins. This is a mechanism of critical importance for cellular protection and cell survival.

Nrf2 signaling and cell survival.

Nrf2:INrf2 acts as a sensor for oxidative/electrophilic stress. INrf2 serves as an adaptor to link Nrf2 to the ubiquitin ligase Cul3-Rbx1 complex that ubiquitinate and degrade Nrf2. Under basal conditions, cytosolic INrf2/Cul3-Rbx1 is constantly degrading Nrf2.

Prothymosin-alpha mediates nuclear import of the INrf2/Cul3 Rbx1 complex to degrade nuclear Nrf2.

Nrf2-mediated coordinated induction of a battery of defensive genes is a critical mechanism in cellular protection and survival. INrf2 (Keap1), an inhibitor of Nrf2, functions as an adaptor for Cul3 Rbx1-mediated degradation of Nrf2. A majority of the INrf2/Cul3 Rbx1 complex is localized in the cytosol that degrades cytosolic Nrf2.

Human p53 is inhibited by glutathionylation of cysteines present in the proximal DNA-binding domain during oxidative stress.

The cellular mechanisms that modulate the redox state of p53 tumor suppressor remain unclear, although its DNA binding function is known to be strongly inhibited by oxidative and nitrosative stresses. We show that human p53 is subjected to a new and reversible posttranslational modification, namely, S-glutathionylation in stressed states, including DNA damage. First, a rapid and direct incorporation of biotinylated GSH or GSSG into the purified recombinant p53 protein was observed.

Chemopreventative strategies targeting the MGMT repair protein: augmented expression in human lymphocytes and tumor cells by ethanolic and aqueous extracts of several Indian medicinal plants.

O6-alkylguanines are potent mutagenic, pro-carcinogenic and cytotoxic lesions induced by exogenous and endogenous alkylating agents. A facilitated elimination of these lesions by increasing the activity of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is likely to be a beneficial chemoprevention strategy, which, however, has not been examined. Because, a marginal enhancement of this protein may be adequate for genomic protection, we studied alterations in MGMT activity and expression in human peripheral blood lymphocytes and cancer cell lines induced by water-soluble and alcohol-soluble constituents of several plants with established antioxidant and medicinal properties.

Increased expression of the MGMT repair protein mediated by cysteine prodrugs and chemopreventative natural products in human lymphocytes and tumor cell lines.

O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is a DNA repair protein which protects the cellular genome and critical oncogenic genes from the mutagenic action of endogenous and exogenous alkylating agents. An expedited elimination of O6-alkylguanines by increasing MGMT activity levels is likely to be a successful chemoprevention strategy. Here, we report for the first time that cysteine/glutathione enhancing drugs and certain plant antioxidants possess the ability to increase human MGMT expression beyond its steady-state levels that may afford protection.