Characterization of the role of Fhit in suppression of DNA damage

Adv Biol Regul. 2013 Jan;53(1):77-85. doi: 10.1016/j.jbior.2012.10.003. Epub 2012 Oct 11.

Abstract

The fragile histidine triad protein, Fhit, has a number of reported tumor suppressive functions which include signaling of apoptosis in cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, modulation of the DNA damage response, down-regulation of target oncogene expression, suppression of tumor growth in vivo, and suppression of cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Most of these functions of Fhit have been observed on exogenous re-expression of Fhit in Fhit-negative cancer cells. However, little is known about the tumorigenic changes that occur in normal or precancerous cells following loss of Fhit expression. Recently, we have shown that shortly after loss of Fhit expression, cells exhibit signs of DNA replication stress-induced DNA damage and develop genomic instability. Here, we extend these findings through investigation of different factors that affect Fhit function to prevent DNA damage. We found that Fhit activity is dependent upon a functional HIT domain and the tyrosine-114 residue, previously shown to be required for tumor suppression by Fhit. Furthermore, Fhit function was shown to be independent of exogenous and endogenous sources of oxidative stress. Finally, Fhit function was shown to be dependent upon Chk1 kinase activity, but independent of Atr or Atm kinases. Evidence suggests that Fhit and Chk1 kinase cooperate to prevent replication stress-induced DNA damage. These findings provide important and unexpected insights into the mechanism whereby loss of Fhit expression contributes to cell transformation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acid Anhydride Hydrolases / genetics*
  • Acid Anhydride Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
  • Checkpoint Kinase 1
  • Comet Assay
  • DNA Damage
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Kidney / cytology
  • Kidney / drug effects
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinases / genetics*
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Tyrosine / metabolism

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • fragile histidine triad protein
  • Tyrosine
  • Protein Kinases
  • Atr protein, mouse
  • ATM protein, human
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • Atm protein, mouse
  • CHEK1 protein, human
  • Checkpoint Kinase 1
  • Chek1 protein, mouse
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Acid Anhydride Hydrolases