DNA-protective protein could help clinicians better target fast-growing cancer cells

DNA-protective protein could help clinicians better target fast-growing cancer cells
PLK1 inactivation causes metaphase collapse. a Experimental outline and time-lapse imaging examples showing the mitotic progression of RPE1 cells under the indicated drug treatment. RPE1 cells were arrested in G1/S by a single thymidine block. Five hour post-G1/S-release, the indicated inhibitors were added for another 3 h, followed by live-cell microscopy (started at t = 8 h post-G1/S release). Time-lapse imaging was carried out with a 5-min interval. b Percentages of prophase cells establishing metaphase(-like) alignment and progressing into anaphase under the indicated treatment. A total of 41, 29, 21, 52 and 58 prophase cells were analysed in untreated, monastrol, nocodazole, ProTAME- and BI2536-treated conditions. c The durations of metaphase(-like) and collapse stages (h:min) of RPE1 cells under the indicated treatment. Note: only cells that established a metaphase(-like) stage were measured. 23, 17 and 19 cells were analysed in untreated, ProTAME- and BI2536-treated conditions. DNA was stained by SiR-DNA. Scale bars = 5 μm, Owen Addis Jones et al. PLK1 facilitates chromosome biorientation by suppressing centromere disintegration driven by BLM-mediated unwinding and spindle pulling, Nature Communications (2019). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10938-y

The discovery that an essential protein plays a protective role during cell division, could open the door to better targeted treatment of fast-growing cancer cells.

Polo-like kinase (PLK1) was previously thought to have a major function—helping chromosome alignment during mitosis for cell division.

But scientists at the Genome Damage and Stability Centre (GDSC) at the University of Sussex, have found that it also plays a crucial protective role, guarding against severe DNA damage caused during mitosis in cultured human cells.

It casts doubts over theories that by inhibiting PLK1, fast-growing cancerous cells could be stopped from dividing and replicating, suggesting that this technique needs further research to avoid damaging side effects.

Dr. Kok-Lung Chan, Wellcome Trust and Royal Society Sir Henry Dale Fellow at the GDSC said: "Up until now, scientists thought that one of the key roles of PLK1 was to help to be stably captured for partition during mitosis.

"So it was thought that if that protein was inhibited or lacking, the duplicated chromosomes couldn't be grasped properly and, in the case of cancerous cells, wouldn't be able to segregate equally.

"We've discovered that PLK1 actually has a crucial protective role and is needed to avoid ruptures and splits of chromosomes, of which inhibition could have dangerous side effects on otherwise healthy growing cells."

The new findings, published in Nature Communications, suggest that any interference with the function of this essential protein could remove a protective barrier, resulting in specific DNA damage and chromosome rearrangements.

Dr. Chan said: "For the first time, we have found that PLK1 works to maintain the rigidity of a critical part of the chromosome called the centromere. When the protein is lacking, centromeres become very fragile and rupture during , causing 'whole chromosome arm splitting.'"

"Effectively, this means that, when they divide, chromosome arms are split in the wrong place. In principle, they can rearrange themselves resulting in characteristic whole-arm rearrangements, which are commonly observed in cancers and were also reported in some genetic disorders like Downs Syndrome."

Interestingly, Dr. Chan believes that the identification of the new role played by PLK1 could help clinicians develop cancer treatments which better target fast growing by not just blocking their division but also by simultaneously damaging their chromosome integrity.

Dr. Chan explained: "Further investigation on this new function might actually help us to understand how the PLK1 inhibitors kill and could potentially improve future cancer therapies."

More information: Owen Addis Jones et al. PLK1 facilitates chromosome biorientation by suppressing centromere disintegration driven by BLM-mediated unwinding and spindle pulling, Nature Communications (2019). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10938-y

Journal information: Nature Communications
Citation: DNA-protective protein could help clinicians better target fast-growing cancer cells (2019, July 31) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-07-dna-protective-protein-clinicians-fast-growing-cancer.html
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