Investigation of Functional Synergism of CENPF and FOXM1 Identifies POLD1 as Downstream Target in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Lines of evidence implicate CENPF and FOXM1 may have novel co-operative roles in driving hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Objective: We investigated the clinicopathological correlation, functional characterization, molecular mechanism and translational significance of CENPF and FOXM1. Methods: We carried out integrative studies investigating functional synergism of CENPF and FOXM1 in HCC and its metastasis. Human HCC samples, HCC cell lines and mouse model were used in the studies. Stable knockdown, q-PCR, Western blotting, whole-transcriptomic sequencing (RNA-seq), as well as cell and mouse assays were performed. Results: Upon clinicopathological correlation, we found that co-overexpression of CENPF and FOXM1 in human HCCs was associated with more aggressive tumor behavior including presence of venous invasion, tumor microsatellite formation, and absence of tumor encapsulation. Moreover, co-silencing FOXM1 and CENPF using shRNA approach in HCC cell lines resulted in significantly reduced cell proliferation. Furthermore, our RNA-seq and differential gene expression analysis delineated that CENPF and FOXM1 co-regulated a specific set of target genes in various metabolic processes and oncogenic signaling pathways. Among them, POLD1, which encodes the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase δ, was ranked as the top downstream target co-regulated by CENPF and FOXM1. POLD1 expression was positively correlated with that of FOXM1 and CENPF in HCCs. In addition, POLD1 expression was significantly upregulated in HCC tumors. Functionally, in vivo orthotopic injection model showed that stable knockdown of POLD1 in HCC cells suppressed tumor incidence and tumorigenicity and had a trend of diminished lung metastasis. Conclusion: Taken together, our data suggest that CENPF and FOXM1 could synergistically support hepatocarcinogenesis via the regulation of POLD1. CENPF and FOXM1 may represent new vulnerabilities to novel drug-based therapy in HCC.

GPCR signaling inhibits mTORC1 via PKA phosphorylation of Raptor.

The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) regulates cell growth, metabolism, and autophagy. Extensive research has focused on pathways that activate mTORC1 like growth factors and amino acids; however, much less is known about signaling cues that directly inhibit mTORC1 activity. Here, we report that G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) paired to Gαs proteins increase cyclic adenosine 3'5' monophosphate (cAMP) to activate protein kinase A (PKA) and inhibit mTORC1. Mechanistically, PKA phosphorylates the mTORC1 component Raptor on Ser 791, leading to decreased mTORC1 activity. Consistently, in cells where Raptor Ser 791 is mutated to Ala, mTORC1 activity is partially rescued even after PKA activation. Gαs-coupled GPCRs stimulation leads to inhibition of mTORC1 in multiple cell lines and mouse tissues. Our results uncover a signaling pathway that directly inhibits mTORC1, and suggest that GPCRs paired to Gαs proteins may be potential therapeutic targets for human diseases with hyperactivated mTORC1.

Hydrogen Sulfide--Mechanisms of Toxicity and Development of an Antidote.

Hydrogen sulfide is a highly toxic gas-second only to carbon monoxide as a cause of inhalational deaths. Its mechanism of toxicity is only partially known, and no specific therapy exists for sulfide poisoning. We show in several cell types, including human inducible pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons, that sulfide inhibited complex IV of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and induced apoptosis. Sulfide increased hydroxyl radical production in isolated mouse heart mitochondria and F2-isoprostanes in brains and hearts of mice. The vitamin B12 analog cobinamide reversed the cellular toxicity of sulfide, and rescued Drosophila melanogaster and mice from lethal exposures of hydrogen sulfide gas. Cobinamide worked through two distinct mechanisms: direct reversal of complex IV inhibition and neutralization of sulfide-generated reactive oxygen species. We conclude that sulfide produces a high degree of oxidative stress in cells and tissues, and that cobinamide has promise as a first specific treatment for sulfide poisoning.

The Hippo pathway effectors YAP and TAZ promote cell growth by modulating amino acid signaling to mTORC1.

YAP and TAZ are transcriptional co-activators and function as the major effectors of the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway, which controls cell growth, tissue homeostasis, and organ size. Here we show that YAP/TAZ play an essential role in amino acid-induced mTORC1 activation, particularly under nutrient-limiting conditions. Mechanistically, YAP/TAZ act via the TEAD transcription factors to induce expression of the high-affinity leucine transporter LAT1, which is a heterodimeric complex of SLC7A5 and SLC3A2. Deletion of YAP/TAZ abolishes expression of LAT1 and reduces leucine uptake. Re-expression of SLC7A5 in YAP/TAZ knockout cells restores leucine uptake and mTORC1 activation. Moreover, SLC7A5 knockout cells phenocopies YAP/TAZ knockout cells which exhibit defective mTORC1 activation in response to amino acids. We further demonstrate that YAP/TAZ act through SLC7A5 to provide cells with a competitive growth advantage. Our study provides molecular insight into the mechanism of YAP/TAZ target genes in cell growth regulation.