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Vol. 20, Issue 14, 3374-3389, July 15, 2009
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Division of Endocrinology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90822; Departments of *Medicine and
Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine CA 92717
Submitted January 28, 2009;
Revised April 21, 2009;
Accepted May 18, 2009
Monitoring Editor: John L. Cleveland
| ABSTRACT |
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. E2/ER reduces the enhanced association of ATR andTopBP1 proteins that follows DNA damage and strongly correlates to ATR activity. E2 inhibits ATR activation through rapid PI3K/AKT signaling: AKT phosphorylates TopBP1 at Serine 1159, thereby preventing the enhanced association of ATR with TopBP1 after DNA damage. E2 also inhibits Claspin:Chk1 protein association via AKT phosphorylation of Chk1, preventing Chk1 signaling to the G2/M checkpoint. ATR-phosphorylation of p53 induces p21 transcription, prevented by E2/ER. E2 delays the assembly and prolongs the resolution of
H2AX and Rad51 nuclear foci and delays DNA repair. E2/ER also increases the chromosomal damage seen from cell exposure to IR. Therefore, the restraint of ATR cascade activation may be a novel estrogen action relevant to breast cancer. | INTRODUCTION |
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Radiation damage in the cell evokes pathways that link DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoints. Ionizing radiation (IR) and UV radiation (UV) cause double-stranded DNA breaks and fork replication stalling, respectively (Kastan and Bartek, 2004
). DNA damage is sensed, resulting in the activation of the serine/threonine kinases, ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia mutated) and ATR (ATM and Rad3-related; Bakkenist and Kastan, 2003
; Kastan and Bartek, 2004
). ATR activation results from replication stress, whereas ATM and ATR play roles in the cellular response to double-strand DNA breaks. Mutations of these and downstream substrate molecules (BRCA1 and 2, NBS, p53, and Chk2) can result in epithelial cell malignancies.
The activity of ATR requires its association with the ATRIP (Cortez et al., 2001
) and TopBP1 proteins (Kumagai et al., 2006
), and association with RPA-coated single-strand DNA activates the kinase. Inhibition of normal DNA repair signaling may simulate genetic loss of these molecules and predispose normal cells to acquire transforming mutations. However, endogenous inhibitory mechanisms that prevent the activation of ATR and downstream effectors are virtually unknown. For breast cancer, estradiol (E2), and estrogen receptors (ER) act as proliferation and survival factors that promote the development of this malignancy (Lippman and Dickson, 1989
; Platet et al., 2004
). Approximately 70% of breast cancers in women display the ER
isoform (ER
), and the major adjuvant therapies (to some form of surgery) usually involve anti-estrogen/receptor agents (Lippman and Dickson, 1989
). Oncogenic actions of nuclear ER in breast tumors involve regulation of gene transcription (genomic actions; Keeton and Brown, 2005
). Additionally, nongenomic actions of E2/ER mediated through membrane and mitochondrial ER pools and genomic actions resulting from kinase activation by membrane ER may also contribute to breast tumor biology (Levin, 2005
; Levin and Pietras, 2007
). Membrane ER
is the classical ER
that is found predominantly in the nucleus, but a smaller pool of this receptor traffics to the plasma membrane (Levin, 2005
). The ligand-binding domain (E domain) of classical ER
is essential for the membrane pool of the sex steroid receptors to generate rapid signal transduction.
It is probable that E2/ER effect additional oncogenic processes (Naugler et al., 2007
) and may alter DNA repair in target cells. Here, we describe the unexpected findings that E2/ER
inhibits ATR activation resulting from multiple DNA damage–inducing stimuli in breast cancer and normal mammary epithelial cells. As the first described endogenous inhibitors of ATR activation, the resulting E2/ER actions indicate potential novel functions that are germane to the impact of ATR inhibition for malignancy.
| MATERIALS AND METHODS |
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H2AX (Serine139) were from Cell Signaling (Beverly, MA, or Santa Cruz Biotechnology). Wild-type (wt) ER
, membrane or nuclear-targeted E domain (ligand-binding domain) of ER
, pRK5-HERCD533 (dom-neg enhanced green fluorescent protein [EGFR] from Axel Ullrich (Institute of Molecular Biology, A*STAR, Singapore) (Redemann et al., 1992
S522A constructs were previously described (Razandi et al., 2003a
Cell Culture, Reagents, and Basic Experiments
All cell lines were from ATCC (Manassas, VA). MCF7 cells were grown using DMEM-F12, 10% FBS, and 1% antibiotic-antimycotic (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA; 15240-062) at 37°C to 75% confluency in 100-mm dishes. In experiments where the effects of estrogen were determined, cells were cultured for 24 h in phenol red–free, charcoal-stripped FBS to remove any estrogenic effects, before E2 addition.
For experiments using random cycling cells, culture was done in the absence of serum for 2 h, before DNA damage± E2 addition. For S-phase synchronization, MCF7 cells were grown to
60% confluence. Thymidine was added (final concentration 2 mM), and the cells were cultured at 37°C for 16 h. Medium was then removed, and cells were washed three times with PBS. Fresh medium without thymidine was added for 9 h at 37°C, followed by adding thymidine for 16 h. After washing, time-course studies of thymidine incorporation after release from the second thymidine incubation showed strong DNA synthesis at 6 h (S-phase). At this time ATR activity in response to DNA-damaging agents was determined.
Mouse mammary epithelial cells were isolated from 8-wk-old female C57/BL6 mice by enzymatic and mechanical methods and established as primary cultures for experiments. propyl-pyrazole-triol (PPT) and diarylpropionitrile (DPN) were from Tocris Chemicals (Ballwin, MO). Tyrphostin 1478 and LY294002 were from Calbiochem (La Jolla, CA). Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) forTopBP1, and AKT were from Dharmacon (Boulder, CO). In general, E2 or other steroids or chemicals were added 20 min before DNA-damaging treatment. UV exposure (10 J/m2) was performed over 10 s using a Stratalinker 1800 (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA). Gamma radiation (IR) of cells was performed at our Radiation Therapy Center, after calculating the delivery of precise amounts of radiation (2 Gy) to cultured cells over 15 s. Hydroxyurea (HU), 1 mM, was added to the cells for 2 h, based on initial ATR kinase time-course studies.
The E domain of ER
was inserted into EGFP vectors (Clontech) targeting the E domain completely to the plasma membrane or nucleus as we described (Pedram et al., 2006b
), and the constructs were transfected into ER null HCC-1569 cells. Cells were synchronized to S-phase and exposed to brief UV in the presence or absence of E2, and ATR activity was then determined.
Kinase Assays and 32Pi labeling
ATR kinase activity was determined in vitro. For kinase assays, both random cycling and S-phase–synchronized MCF7 cells were exposed to various treatments (e.g., brief UV±E2). MCF7 cells from each condition (
1 million) were then washed with DMEM/F12 medium and lysed in buffer (50 mM Tris-HCL, pH 7.5,100 mM NaCl, 50 mM NaF, 5 mM EDTA, 0.5% Triton X-100, 40 mM β-glycerophosphate, 200 mM sodium orthovanadate, 40 mM PNPP, 100 mM PMSF, and protease inhibitor cocktail; Sigma, St. Louis, MO). The lysates were centrifuged at 14K rpm for 10 min, and the supernatants were exposed to 50 µl of suspended Protein A or G agarose beads in microcentrifuge tubes and rotated for 30 min at 4°C. This was done twice to ensure removal of endogenous IgG and nonspecific proteins from lysate. The cell lysate/protein G or A bead complex was centrifuged at 14,000 rpm for 30 s at 4°C. Without disturbing the pellet, the supernatant was transferred to a new tube. These precleared supernatants were stored on ice. For the ATR activity assay, 10 µl of ATR antibody (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, sc-1887or sc-21848) was conjugated to 50 µl of protein G beads (Sigma, P4691) for 2 h at room temperature, and the bead complex was washed. Then, 1 ml of precleared whole-cell extract from each experimental condition was added to the ATR antibody/protein G bead complex in lysis buffer (that also serves as the IP buffer), and rotated end-over-end overnight at 4°C. Beads were washed once with lysis buffer and twice with HEPES buffer (25 mM HEPES, 10 mM Mg-acetate). To the lysates/antibody/bead complexes, 40 µl of stock mixture, made up as 20 µl of 3 x kinase buffer (25 mM HEPES, pH 7.5, 10 mM MgAc, 2 mM DTT, 40 mM ATP), and 10 µl of H2O, was added to 2 mg glutathione S-transferase (GST)-Phas1 in 9 µl of water, and 1 µl [
-32P]ATP. Each tube was vortexed and then incubated at 30°C for 30 min. SDS-PAGE loading buffer (40 µl) was then added, vortexed, boiled for 5 min, and centrifuged at 14K rpm for 1 min. Samples of 40 µl from each condition were loaded onto a 10% gel. After electrophoresis, the gel was fixed, dried, and subjected to autoradiography, reflecting 32P incorporated into the Phas-1 protein. ATR activity was also determined by specific phosphorylation of endogenous p53 (Serine 15) and Chk1 (Serine 345), as immunoblots with phospho-specific antibodies (Santa Cruz Biotechnology). Total protein immunoblots serves as loading controls for many experiments and reflect additional gel separation of the same cell protein lysates.
Chk1activity was determined either using Serine 345 (Cell Signaling) phospho-Chk 1 antibodies for immunoblot, or as kinase activity using GST-Cdc25C as substrate. The in vitro kinase activity assay was similar to what was described for ATR. Immunoblots for Serine 280 Chk1 phosphorylation were also determined (antibody was a kind gift from Dr. Emma Shtivelman). Immunoprecipitated endogenous Cdc2 kinase from cells undergoing various conditions and p70 S6 kinase protein as exogenous substrate were used for in vitro Cdc2 kinase activity assays. Tyr15 phosphorylation of Cdc2 was determined by IB (antibody from Santa Cruz Biotechnology). Cdc2 kinase is also known as Cdk1 kinase.
32P-labeling of cellular protein was done in near confluent MCF7 cells transfected with Flag-wt or S1159ATopBP1 and recovered overnight. Transfected cells were placed for 18 h before labeling in fresh, phosphate-free DMEM (Invitrogen) supplemented with 5% charcoal-stripped FBS and incubated in 5% CO2 at 37°C. This medium was removed, and washed cells were pretreated with medium containing LY294002 for 20 min and then exposed to brief UV in the presence or absence of E2. Replacement with prewarmed medium containing 0.5 µCi/ml 32Pi (Perkin Elmer-Cetus) ± E2 ensued, and the cells were placed in a CO2 incubator inside a Plexiglas box for 2 h. Cells were washed to remove unincorporated 32Pi and lysed in the previously mentioned lysis buffer. Lysates were sonicated at 4°C for 10 min and then spun at 14K rpm for 5 min. Supernatants were placed in microcentrifuge tubes, and lysates were precleared with 50 µl of suspended agarose beads, for 30 min at 4°C while rotating. The lysate/bead complex in microcentrifuge tubes was centrifuged at 14K rpm for 30 s at 4°C. Without disturbing the pellet, the supernatant was transferred to a new tube and stored on ice. Flag antibody (20 µl, Santa Cruz Biotechnology) was conjugated to 50 µl of protein G beads (Sigma, P4691) for 2 h at room temperature. Then, 1 ml of precleared cell extract was added to the Flag antibody–protein G bead complex and rotated end-over-end overnight at 4°C. Beads were washed with PBS, and 50 µl of SDS-PAGE loading buffer was added. After boiling and centrifugation, 40 µl of each sample was loaded onto a 10% gel. Subsequently, the gel was fixed, dried, and subjected to autoradiography (using special intensifying screen for 32P).
Protein–Protein Interactions
IP of endogenous ATR, followed by immunoblot for TopBP1 was carried out in S-phase and in randomly cycling MCF7 cells under stated conditions. Whole-cell lysates were precleared by adding 1 ml of whole-cell lysate to 50 µl of protein A/G agarose beads at 4°C for 30 min. Beads were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 30 s at 4°C. Supernatants (cell lysates) were transferred to a new microcentrifuge tube. To 1 ml of the above cell lysate, 10 µg of primary antibody (agarose conjugate) was added and incubated at 4°C overnight with end-to-end mixing. After centrifugation, pellets were washed three times with PBS. After final wash, the pellets were resuspended in 40 µl of 2x electrophoresis sample buffer, for separation by PAGE. Proteins from the gel were transferred to nitrocellulose and then exposed to TopBP1 antibodies for immunoblot, using the ExactaCruz kit (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) that features the elimination of light and heavy chain antibody detection. Similar techniques were used to assess Chk1:Claspin interactions. In some experiments, Flag antibodies were used. Cell localization of proteins and phosphorylation status was determined by immunofluorescent confocal microscopy after culturing the cells on glass coverslips before specific antibody staining, followed by FITC conjugated–second antibody.
DNA Repair and Viability Assays
S-phase and random cycling MCF7 cells were exposed to brief UV or IR±E2. The cells were allowed to proceed in DMEM-F12±E2 agarose, alkali-denatured, and subjected to electrophoresis. The cells were stained with DNA intercalating dye (SYBR green and visualized by epifluorescence (Trevigen, Gaithersburg, MD; UVDE Flare Assay Kit). Damaged, unrepaired DNA was seen as the "tail" of the Comet, quantified from 200 cells per condition by using Komet imaging software, version 5.5 (Andor Technology, South Windsor, CT). The experiment was repeated twice for mean ± SEM calculations of tail quantification. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay (Sigma) that measures mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity in viable cells. Random cycling MCF7 cells were exposed to DNA-damaging agents in the presence or absence of E2. At 24 h, the cells were incubated with medium containing MTT, 1 mg/ml, for 4 h at 37°C. MTT/formazan was extracted by overnight incubation at 37°C with 100 µl extraction buffer (20% SDS, 50% formamide adjusted to pH 4.7 with 0.02% acetic acid, and 0.025 N HCl). Optical densities at 570 nm were measured using extraction buffer as a blank.
P21 Transcription
Wild-type or S15Ap53 were expressed in HCC-1937 cells (p53 null, BRCA1 mutated, and ER negative), and the cells were recovered and then exposed to brief UV. DNA was obtained 6 h after treatment. In some cells, ER
was expressed, and the cells were incubated in the presence or absence of E2. RT-PCR for p21 was performed at 94°C for 3 min, followed by 26 cycles of 94°C for 30 s, 55°C for 30 s, and 72°C for 30 s, using primers p21F (5'-CCAAGAGGAAGCCCTAATCC-3') and p21R (5'-CCCTTCAAAGTGCCATCTGT-3'). As a control, the same reaction conditions were applied for PCR detection of the human GAPDH. The GAPDH primers were as follows: forward, 5'-AGCCACATCGCTCAGAACAC, and reverse, GAGGCATTGCTGATGATCTTG-3', respectively.
CPD Quantification
S-phase MCF7 cells were exposed to UV±E2 and then fixed at 10 min, 2, 4, 6, or 8 h and exposed to photoproduct specific CPD fluorescent antibody (Sigma). The nuclear fluorescent signal was quantified and normalized to nuclear area determined by propidium iodide (PI) staining. Insets show PI staining of the same fields.
H2AX and Rad51 Foci Formation
MCF7 cells were cultured in glass plates with phenol red–free DMEM-F12 containing charcoal-treated FBS. The cells were synchronized with 1 µM nocodazole for 16 h and then released and irradiated with UV 10 J/m2 in the presence or absence of 10 nM E2. Cells were fixed with 4% freshly prepared paraformaldehyde at room temperature, at 10 min, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after UV. Cells were then briefly treated with 0.5% Triton X-100, washed four times with PBS, and incubated with 2% BSA for 1 h at room temperature. Then the primary antibodies Rad 51 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology), or
H2AX (Upstate Biotechnology, Lake Placid, NY) were incubated with cells overnight at 4°C. Cells then were washed and incubated with secondary antibody conjugated with FITC (Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, CA) at 1:100 dilution for 1 h, and visualized under fluorescent microscopy.
Preparation of Metaphase Chromosome Spreads from Adherent Cells
MCF7 cells were grown in DMEM-F12 with estrogen-free serum 2 d before performing the experiments involving chromosome spreads. Nonsynchronized cells were exposed to 2 Gy IR in the presence or absence of 10 nM E2 ± ICI182780 (ICI), (Faslodex, AstraZeneca, Wilmington, DE) and then were allowed to recover at 37°C for 48 h. For the last 3 h of incubation, colcemid was added to a final concentration of 1 µg/ml and incubated at 37°C. The cells were washed with PBS (without Ca2+ and Mg2+) and then detached with trypsin-EDTA. The cell pellet was treated with 0.075 M KCl solution and pipetted up and down to break clumps. After centrifugation, the supernatant was aspirated, leaving 200 µl of the hypotonic solution. After centrifugation, the pellet was resuspended in1 ml of methanol:glacial acetic acid (3:1) solution, and the procedure was repeated. Resuspending the pellet then occurred in a small volume of fixative (<500 µl). A drop of mounting solution with 1% Giemsa stain was added to each slide. The slides were examined under oil immersion and viewed at 10 x 100 magnification. Chromosomal damage (chromatid breaks, dicentric chromosomes, or condensation [ring formation]) was scored from 200 cells in each condition, and the study was repeated.
Image Acquisition
The microscopic images were obtained using a Nikon Eclipse TE-200 scope with magnification from 200 x to 400 x at room temperature. A Diagnostic Instruments camera (model 3.2.0; Sterling Heights, MI) was used in conjunction with Spot Advance software, to capture and transfer images to the computer. Rhodamine- (red) and FITC (green)-conjugated secondary antibodies (Vector Laboratories) were used for fluorescent visualization.
| RESULTS |
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are Endogenous Inhibitors of ATR Kinase
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or β; Greene et al., 1977
agonist PPT, but not the ERβ-specific agonist DPN inhibited ATR activation comparably to E2 in MCF7 cells (Figure 2a, lanes 2–4). All MCF7 cells show both membrane and nuclear ER
, and no dissociation of receptor pools is seen. Rapid modulation of kinases mainly results from actions of E2 at cell membrane-localized ER (Levin, 2005
, the E domain/ligand-binding domain, to either the plasma membrane or nucleus of ER null breast cancer cells (Pedram et al., 2006b
supported E2 inhibition of radiation-activated ATR (Figure 2b). We also expressed a mutant ER
that specifically binds and sequesters endogenous ER
from localizing to the plasma membrane (Razandi et al., 2003a
expression in S-phase MCF7 cells reversed E2-inhibition of UV-activated ATR (Figure 2c, lanes 2, 3, and 8). Because classical androgen and progesterone receptors are also expressed at the cell surface of MCF7 cells (Pedram et al., 2007
to inhibit ATR activation by DNA damage but ligands for other sex steroid receptors in breast cancer do not inhibit ATR.
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We speculated that in these settings, E2 prevents complexing of enhanced endogenous proteins, thereby inhibiting ATR activity. Supporting this idea, UV at 5 min and IR at 15 min each induced a stronger association of ATR with TopBP1, inhibited by E2 (Figure 3, b and c). To further understand the kinetics of ATR andTopBP1 protein complexing, we carried out association studies over 24 h after a single episode of exposure to UV. Association of TopBP1 with ATR rapidly increased (0.1 h), persisting for 30 min to 1 h (Figure 3d). A second association was seen at 4–8 h, followed by diminished association at 24 h. These results indicate a dynamic process of protein–protein interactions after DNA damage alone.
What modulates the dynamic interactions of ATR:TopBP1 proteins especially as regulated by E2? TopBP1 is a phosphoprotein but the significance of phosphorylation is not well understood. Recently, the serine/threonine kinase, AKT, was reported to phosphorylate TopBP1 at Serine1159, promoting a functional interaction with E2F1 (Liu, K. et al., 2006
). We found that E2 activates phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)-dependent AKT by 2 min (Figure 3e, top). Importantly, the ability of E2 to prevent ATR:TopBP1 association at 5 min was reversed by the PI3 kinase inhibitor LY294002 (Figure 3c). Reversal was also seen by expression of dominant negative AKT or siRNA to AKT (21) (Figure 3e, middle and bottom, lanes 2 and 3 vs 4, 5, and 10); this also occurred in the setting of HU.
To further support AKT-inhibition of ATR:TopBP1 association, we expressed wt or S1159A mutated, Flag-Top BP1 in MCF7 cells. Both forms of expressed TopBP1 increasingly associated with endogenous ATR upon DNA damage (Figure 4a). E2 inhibited Flag-wtTopBP1 association with ATR, in a PI3K-dependent manner, but could not prevent the association of Flag-S1159ATopBP1 with ATR (Figure 4a, lanes 1–4). This suggests that Serine 1159 is the functional site by which E2/ER-induced AKT prevents enhanced ATR:TopBP1 association upon DNA damage. To reinforce this idea, we expressed Flag-wt or S1159ATopBP1 and labeled the MCF7 cells with 32P. E2 stimulated the strong phosphorylation of expressed wtTopBP1 via PI3K signaling, but this was completely lost in the S1159A mutant (Figure 4b). Thus, the AKT site at Serine1159 of TopBP1 is the key amino acid that is a targeted for E2-stimulated phosphorylation via PI3K, and UV did not affect this phosphorylation. We also expressed a Serine1159 phosphomimetic mutant (Flag-S1159DTopBP1) and determined its association with ATR (Figure 4c). As expected, Flag-wtTopBP1 was recruited to complex with ATR upon UV exposure, significantly prevented by E2 (lanes 1–3). In contrast, no UV-induced association of Flag-S1159DTopBP1 and ATR was detected. These data strongly support the idea that E2 induces the phosphorylation of TopBP1 at the AKT site. S1159 phosphorylation prevents the increased association of TopBP1 and ATR that occurs upon DNA damage. The ability of E2 to block ATR activation after DNA damage occurs through a PI3K/AKT-mediated mechanism (Figure 3f). It is likely to occur at least in part through AKT, preventing the increased association of TopBP1 with ATR, shown here.
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E2/ER Inhibits Chk1 Activation via AKT
We then examined Chk1 kinase activity directed against the Cdc25C phosphatase substrate protein (Stanford and Ruderman, 2005
). HU-induced Chk1 activity was inhibited by E2 at 1 nM, reversed by ICI (Figure 5a). Chk1 phosphorylates Cdc25C at Serine 216 and thereby promotes binding to 14-3-3 proteins, resulting in sequestration and degradation of the phosphatase in the cytoplasm (Sanchez et al., 1997
; Boddy et al., 1998
). This prevents Cdc25C from removing the inhibitory phosphorylation on Tyr15 of the Cdc2 kinase (Cdk1), resulting in the G2/M checkpoint after DNA damage. Nocodazole-synchronized MCF7 were released for 6 h and then exposed to brief IR or UV±E2. After IR or UV alone, abundant Cdc25C protein was phosphorylated at Serine 216 and found with total Cdc25C protein in cytoplasm (Figure 5b, left panels). The lack of nuclear localization suggests that most Cdc25C was phosphorylated and retained in the cytosol. In contrast, cells coexposed to IR or UV and E2 showed a nuclear distribution of Cdc25C protein, and a marked reduction of phosphorylation (middle panels). Because Cdc25C is probably active against Cdk1 in the nucleus, we expected that E2-exposed cells would progress through mitosis. Supporting this idea, all E2-exposed cells showed intense nuclear histone H3 Serine10 phosphorylation, an important marker of mitosis (Xu and Kastan, 2004
; Figure 5b, right panels).
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This suggested a second AKT-related mechanism by which E2/ER blocks Chk1 Ser345 phosphorylation. To support this, we expressed a Flag-tagged wt or Serine280Ala mutant Chk1 in MCF7 cells. On DNA damage, Claspin comparably and increasingly associated with either expressed Chk1 (Figure 5f). Thus, this serine does not affect Chk1: Claspin association after DNA damage. However, upon mutant expression, E2 could not significantly prevent S280AChk1:Claspin association. In contrast, Flag-wt Chk1 interactions with Claspin were perturbed by E2 signaling through PI3K/AKT. Thus, E2 inhibition of 1) ATR activity and 2) Claspin:Chk1 association (via AKT phosphorylation of Chk1) reduces Serine 345 Chk1 phosphorylation that correlates to Chk1 activity.
E2/ER Inhibition of ATR and Chk1 Signaling Impacts Substrate Functions
On DNA damage, the Cdc25C phosphatase is phosphorylated and inactivated by Chk1. Loss of Cdc25C phosphatase activity enhances the inhibitory tyr15 phosphorylation of Cdc2 (Cdk1) that promotes the G2/M checkpoint (Hutchins and Clarke, 2004
). We found that UV and HU enhanced the inhibitory phosphorylation of Cdc2 at tyr15 that reflects Cdc25C inactivation by DNA damage and was prevented by E2 (Figure 5g). This indicates a potential mechanism by which E2 overcomes the G2/M checkpoint. In the absence of UV or HU, E2 stimulated Cdc2 activity, as well as overcoming the restraint of kinase activity imposed by DNA damage (Figure 5h).
At least partially as a result of these actions, E2 promoted bypass of the G2/M checkpoint. IR-induction of the G2/M checkpoint in randomly cycling MCF7 cells was prevented by E2, seen as phospho-H3 (Serine 10) staining (Figure 6a). The E2 effect was reversed by ICI. The sex steroid has previously been shown to stimulate H3 phosphorylation, in vitro and in vivo (Brenner et al., 2003
). We also determined that E2 promoted a bypass of the G2/M checkpoint induced by IR, as seen in Figure 6b. Here, nocodazole-synchronized cells were released from nocodazole, exposed to IR±E2, and the cells were assayed for phospho-H3 over 6 h. Additionally, E2 significantly reversed the loss of cell viability caused by DNA damage (Figure 6c).
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null) were transfected to express either wt or S15Ap53 and ER
, then exposed to UV±E2. Expression of wtp53 resulted in strong endogenous p21 expression, inhibited by the coexpression of ER
and requiring exposure to E2 (Figure 7a, lanes 1 and 2 vs control lane 3). In contrast, expression of S15Ap53 did not stimulate p21 (lane 9). Our results suggest that the ability of E2/ER
to block ATR-induced Serine 15 phosphorylation of p53 importantly contributes to the abrogation of p21 induction that would likely impact the G1/S checkpoint. By blocking DNA damage–induced signaling, E2/ER inhibits a key function of intact p53 in breast cancer cells.
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H2AX) was fully evident at 2 h and was barely seen by 8 h after UV exposure (Figure 7b). E2 delayed this response in that the peak occurred at 4 h, and complex formation was very evident at 8 h. E2 also diminished the magnitude of UV-induced phosphorylation of
H2AX at the ATR site. Similarly, nuclear Rad 51 focus formation was delayed by 2 h, compared with UV alone (Figure 7c). Also, resolution of the foci was prolonged where at 8 h, fivefold more foci remained in the E2-treated cells (Figure 7c). We also assessed DNA repair using the Comet assay that mainly reflects nucleotide excision repair in this setting. UV-induced DNA damage was substantially repaired by 4 h and completed by 8 h (Figure 7d). E2 delayed this, with unrepaired DNA persisting most noticeably at 4 h. Additionally, specific resolution of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer photo adducts was delayed at 4–8 h of E2 exposure (Figure 8a). Although the Comet DNA repair assay showed a kinetic "catch-up" at 8 h in the setting of E2 (Figure 7d), the other assays of DNA damage foci or photo adduct repair consistently showed continuing delay induced by sex steroid at the latest times assessed (Figures 7, b and c, and 8a). Additionally, when the assays were carried out with IR as the DNA-damaging agent, the Comet assay showed about two times the amount of persisting DNA damage at 8 h from cells also exposed to E2 (compared with IR alone; data not shown).
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Effects of E2/ER in Nontransformed Breast Epithelial Cells
Inhibition of DNA damage signaling to cell cycle checkpoints and DNA repair could promote both the transformation of normal cells to malignancy and alter subsequent biology of established tumor. We therefore asked whether E2/ER inhibits DNA damage–induced signaling in normal breast epithelial cells. To determine this, we isolated adult mouse breast epithelial cells and established acute primary cultures. Approximately 50% of the cells expressed ER
by immunofluorescent staining (data not shown). These cells responded to IR with rapid ATR activation (Figure 8c, top) and
H2AX foci formation (Figure 8d). E2 substantially blocked ATR activation and delayed the assembly and resolution of the foci. We also found that expression of ER
in nonmalignant, ER null, human MCF10A breast epithelial cells supported E2 inhibition of ATR activation (Figure 8c, lower figure). Thus, E2 acts similarly in nontransformed and transformed breast epithelial cells.
| DISCUSSION |
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as endogenous inhibitors of ATR cascade signaling to the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint and prompt DNA repair in breast cancer cells (Figure 9). Interestingly, the therapeutic ER antagonist, ICI inhibits this action of E2/ER potentially preserving DNA-damage signaling as a novel function to prevent reoccurrence or progression of breast cancer. Whether Fulvestrant fails to prevent these actions in breast cancers that are resistant to endocrine therapy is an important question that is under evaluation.
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(and not nuclear ER
) to activate PI3K/AKT and inhibit ATR signaling and Chk1 phosphorylation. These novel findings add to the growing body of data implicating rapid signaling by membrane ER in the development of breast cancer (Levin and Pietras, 2007
are the same protein (Pedram et al., 2006a
We report that AKT activation by E2/ER
reduces DNA damage–enhanced ATR:TopBP1 association and ATR activity. This is important because the interaction of TopBP1 and ATR is required for ATR activity (Kumagai et al., 2006
). Mechanistically, we found that an AKT-site phosphomimetic mutant TopBP1 protein was unable to associate with ATR after DNA damage, in contrast to expressed wild-type TopBP1 or endogenous TopBP1 in MCF7 cells. Further, E2/ER stimulated the phosphorylation of TopBP1 only at the AKT site (Serine 1159), and mutation of this serine to alanine prevented sex steroid block of the enhanced complexing of ATR:TopBP1 proteins after DNA damage. E2/ER
and AKT also prevented the enhanced association of Claspin and Chk1 proteins, leading to inhibition of Chk1 phosphorylation at the ATR substrate site. These findings suggest potential new mechanisms by which AKT contributes to breast carcinogenesis (Carpten et al., 2007
), ones that may also underlie EGF/EGFR-inhibition of ATR activation that we demonstrated.
Inhibition of ATR-Chk1 signaling would be expected to increase sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents and decrease cell survival. In the absence of DNA damage, E2/ER activation of PI3K and AKT contributes to the survival and growth effects of the steroid in breast cancer (Ahmad et al., 1999
; Marquez and Pietras, 2001
, Fernando and Wimalasena, 2004
; Rodrik et al., 2005
). When E2/ER functions during DNA damage, cell survival effects appear to dominate, as we showed. This may form the basis for the clinical recommendation that women with breast cancer should not take estrogen during radiation or endocrine therapies, therapies that severely damage DNA to induce breast cancer apoptosis.
Consistent with E2/ER preventing ATR and Chk1 activation, the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint is overcome by the sex steroid. E2/ER inhibition of Chk1 phosphorylation of Cdc25C prevented DNA-damage restraint of Cdc2 kinase activity, promoting the passage of these cells prematurely into mitosis. Additionally, we found that E2/ER stimulates Cdc2 (Cdk1) activity in the absence of DNA damage. Acting as a growth factor in breast cancer (Cordera and Jordan, 2006
), E2 stimulates cyclin gene transcription, Cdk2 activity, and down-regulates cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (e.g., p27), resulting in part from nuclear ER
action (Foster et al., 2001
; Doisneau-Sixou et al., 2003
; Eeckhoute et al., 2006
). We propose that in the setting of DNA damage, E2/ER has multiple effects to promote cell cycle progression. We identify novel mechanisms where plasma membrane ER inhibits crucial DNA damage–induced signal transduction that invokes the G2/M checkpoint. Additionally, p53-induced p21 transcription is important to the G1/S checkpoint after DNA damage (Meek, 2002
; Sancar et al., 2004
) and is lost in our cell model as a result of E2/ER blocking ATR-dependent Serine 15 phosphorylation of p53. In the majority of breast cancers, p53 is not mutated and appears to function normally. We propose that E2/ER may inhibit several important tumor suppressor functions of intact p53 by preventing posttranslational modifications (e.g., phosphorylation) that augment the stability and transcriptional functions of this protein. E2 has been reported to stimulate p53 transcription but the importance of this is unknown (Horvath et al., 1996
; Qin et al., 2002
).
E2/ER inhibition of DNA damage–induced cell cycle checkpoints and prompt DNA repair might allow passage of unrepaired mutations to cell progeny. As a result, E2/ER could promote early development of breast cancer and additional functions (e.g., tissue invasion) through mutation acquisition at later stages. Regarding this, we showed E2/ER
blocks ATR activation and downstream functions in both normal breast epithelial and breast cancer cells. Additionally, three assays (
H2AX and Rad51 foci and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer photo adduct resolutions) all suggest persisting DNA damage from UV, although the Comet results did not show this (but did show kinetic delay of repair). However, approximately twice the DNA damage persisted by Comet assay in cells exposed to IR+E2, compared with IR alone. Most importantly, we found enhanced chromosomal damage in the presence of IR+E2, compared with radiation alone. IR is a more relevant stimulus to breast neoplasia compared with UV, probably because IR exposure frequently causes double-strand breaks.
Further supporting the idea that E2 promotes persisting DNA damage and hence mutation acquisition, female August/Copenhagen/Irish (ACI) rats treated with physiological E2 develop mammary carcinomas that exhibit aneuploidy, chromosomal amplifications, and instability, all prevented by tamoxifen (Li et al., 2004
). Aneuploidy has increasingly been implicated as causing human cancer (Pellman, 2007
). Amplification of c-myc and cyclin E genes and chromosome instability in ACI tumors is also characteristic of most human mammary ductal carcinomas in situ and primary invasive ductal breast cancers that usually express ER (Li et al., 2002
). E2 metabolites (quinone forms of hydroxy-catecholestrogens) have also been reported to directly damage DNA in breast epithelium, promoting tumorigenesis (Cavalieri et al., 1997
). These metabolites act independently of the estrogen receptor and can react with DNA to form depurinating adducts. Such adducts when released from DNA generate apurinic sites, and error-prone base excision repair of this damage may lead to mutations (Cavalieri et al., 2006
). Our results indicate that it is likely E2 itself acts through ER
to further damage chromosomes in the setting of radiation, but this does not rule out an added contribution from estrogen metabolites.
The DNA damage response (DDR) involves both ATR and ATM to prevent cancer formation (Bartkova et al., 2005
). IR primarily activates ATM and then ATR, and we recently found that E2/ER also inhibits rapid ATM activation by
-radiation (data not shown). Oncogenes such as c-myc stimulate the DDR in human cells and suppress tumorigenesis mainly through p53 activation (Gorgoulis et al., 2005
). Because ER functionally inhibits ATR and ATM, and an important target of the p53 arm of the DDR, we propose the propensity toward mutation acquisition is increased. This may occur in both premalignant and transformed breast epithelial cells.
| ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
|---|
| Footnotes |
|---|
Address correspondence to: Ellis R. Levin (ellis.levin{at}med.va.gov)
Abbreviations used: ATR, ataxia telangiectasia-mutated and Rad3-related; ATM, ataxia telangiectasia-mutated; Chk1, checkpoint kinase1; Cdk1, cyclin-dependent kinae 1; DPN, diarylpropionitrile; UV, ultraviolet; EGF, epidermal growth factor; ER, estrogen receptor; IR, ionizing radiation; HU, hydroxyurea; PPT, propyl-pyrazole-triol.
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E. R. Levin Membrane oestrogen receptor \#945; signalling to cell functions J. Physiol., November 1, 2009; 587(21): 5019 - 5023. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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