AKT supports the metabolic fitness of multiple myeloma cells by restricting FOXO activity.

Metabolic alterations are important cancer-associated features that allow cancer cell transformation and survival under stress conditions. Multiple myeloma (MM) plasma cells show increased glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), which are characteristics associated with recurrent genetic aberrations that drive the proliferation and survival of MM cells. The protein kinase B/AKT acts as a central node in cellular metabolism and is constitutively active in MM cells.

Metabolic Effects of Recurrent Genetic Aberrations in Multiple Myeloma.

Oncogene activation and malignant transformation exerts energetic, biosynthetic and redox demands on cancer cells due to increased proliferation, cell growth and tumor microenvironment adaptation. As such, altered metabolism is a hallmark of cancer, which is characterized by the reprogramming of multiple metabolic pathways. Multiple myeloma (MM) is a genetically heterogeneous disease that arises from terminally differentiated B cells.

AKT signaling restrains tumor suppressive functions of FOXO transcription factors and GSK3 kinase in multiple myeloma.

The phosphatidylinositide-3 kinases and the downstream mediator AKT drive survival and proliferation of multiple myeloma (MM) cells. AKT signaling is active in MM and has pleiotropic effects; however, the key molecular aspects of AKT dependency in MM are not fully clear. Among the various downstream AKT targets are the Forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factors (TFs) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3), which are negatively regulated by AKT signaling.

Detection and Visualization of DNA Damage-induced Protein Complexes in Suspension Cell Cultures Using the Proximity Ligation Assay.

The DNA damage response orchestrates the repair of DNA lesions that occur spontaneously, are caused by genotoxic stress, or appear in the context of programmed DNA breaks in lymphocytes. The Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated kinase (ATM), ATM- and Rad3-Related kinase (ATR) and the catalytic subunit of DNA-dependent Protein Kinase (DNA-PKcs) are among the first that are activated upon induction of DNA damage, and are central regulators of a network that controls DNA repair, apoptosis and cell survival. As part of a tumor-suppressive pathway, ATM and ATR activate p53 through phosphorylation, thereby regulating the transcriptional activity of p53.

The DNA Damage Response Regulates RAG1/2 Expression in Pre-B Cells through ATM-FOXO1 Signaling.

The recombination activating gene (RAG) 1 and RAG2 protein complex introduces DNA breaks at Tcr and Ig gene segments that are required for V(D)J recombination in developing lymphocytes. Proper regulation of RAG1/2 expression safeguards the ordered assembly of Ag receptors and the development of lymphocytes, while minimizing the risk for collateral damage. The ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase is involved in the repair of RAG1/2-mediated DNA breaks and prevents their propagation.

NF-κB and AKT signaling prevent DNA damage in transformed pre-B cells by suppressing RAG1/2 expression and activity.

In developing lymphocytes, expression and activity of the recombination activation gene protein 1 (RAG1) and RAG2 endonuclease complex is tightly regulated to ensure ordered recombination of the immunoglobulin genes and to avoid genomic instability. Aberrant RAG activity has been implicated in the generation of secondary genetic events in human B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (B-ALLs), illustrating the oncogenic potential of the RAG complex. Several layers of regulation prevent collateral genomic DNA damage by restricting RAG activity to the G1 phase of the cell cycle.