DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) is the primary enzyme that maintains DNA methylation. We describe a previously unknown mode of regulation of DNMT1 protein stability through the coordinated action of an array of DNMT1-associated proteins. DNMT1 was destabilized by acetylation by the acetyltransferase Tip60, which triggered ubiquitination by the E3 ligase UHRF1, thereby targeting DNMT1 for proteasomal degradation. In contrast, DNMT1 was stabilized by histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and the deubiquitinase HAUSP (herpes virus–associated ubiquitin-specific protease). Analysis of the abundance of DNMT1 and Tip60, as well as the association between HAUSP and DNMT1, suggested that during the cell cycle the initiation of DNMT1 degradation was coordinated with the end of DNA replication and the need for DNMT activity. In human colon cancers, the abundance of DNMT1 correlated with that of HAUSP. HAUSP knockdown rendered colon cancer cells more sensitive to killing by HDAC inhibitors both in tissue culture and in tumor xenograft models. Thus, these studies provide a mechanism-based rationale for the development of HDAC and HAUSP inhibitors for combined use in cancer therapy.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are enzymes that remove phosphate from tyrosine residues in proteins. Recent whole-exome sequencing of human cancer genomes reveals that many PTPs are frequently mutated in a variety of cancers. Among these mutated PTPs, protein tyrosine phosphatase T (PTPRT) appears to be the most frequently mutated PTP in human cancers. Beside PTPN11 which functions as an oncogene in leukemia, genetic and functional studies indicate that most of mutant PTPs are tumor suppressor genes. Identification of the substrates and corresponding kinases of the mutant PTPs may provide novel therapeutic targets for cancers harboring these mutant PTPs.

The metabolism and efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) and other fluorinated pyrimidine (FP) derivatives have been intensively investigated for over fifty years. FUra and its antimetabolites can be incorporated at RNA-and DNA-levels, with RNA level incorporation provoking toxic responses in human normal tissue, and DNA-level antimetabolite formation and incorporation believed primarily responsible for tumour-selective responses. Attempts to direct FUra into DNA-level antimetabolites, based on mechanism-of-action studies, have led to gradual improvements in tumour therapy. These include the use of leukovorin to stabilize the inhibitory thymidylate synthase-5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine 5′ monophoshate (FdUMP)-5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate (5,10-CH2FH4) trimeric complex. FUra incorporated into DNA also contributes to antitumour activity in preclinical and clinical studies. This review examines our current state of knowledge regarding the mechanistic aspects of FUra:Gua lesion detection by DNA mismatch repair (MMR) machinery that ultimately results in lethality. MMR-dependent direct cell death signalling or futile cycle responses will be discussed. As 10-30% of sporadic colon and endometrial tumours display MMR defects as a result of human MutL homologue-1 (hMLH1) promoter hypermethylation, we discuss the use and manipulation of the hypomethylating agent, 5-fluorodeoxycytidine (FdCyd), and our ability to manipulate its metabolism using the cytidine or deoxycytidylate (dCMP) deaminase inhibitors, tetrahydrouridine or deoxytetrahydrouridine, respectively, as a method for re-expression of hMLH1 and re-sensitization of tumours to FP therapy. (2009) Keywords: 5-fluorouracil; DNA mismatch repair; thymidylate synthase; hypermethylation; hMLH1; MMR/c-Abl/p73a/ GADD45a signalling Abbreviations: 5,10-CH2FH4, 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate; 5′-dRP, 5′-deoxyribose phosphate; AM, adaptors/mediators; AP, apyrimidinic/apurinic site; APE, apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease; ATM, ataxia telangiectasia mutated; ATR, ataxia telangiectasia-and-rad3-related; BER, base excision repair; CD, cytosine deaminase; dCMP, deoxycytidylate; dCMPD, deoxycytidylate deaminase; dH4Urd, deoxytetrahydrouridine; DS, damage sensors; DSBs, DNA double-strand breaks; dThyd, thymidine; ES, embryonic stem; FdCyd, 5-fluoro-2′-deoxycyticine; FdUDP, 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine 5′-diphosphate; FdUMP, 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine 5′-monophosphate; FdUTP, 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine-5′-triphosphate; FdUrd, 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine; FEN1, flap-endonuclease 1; FPs, fluorinated pyrimidines; FUDP, 5-fluorouridine 5′-diphosphate; FUra (or 5-FU), 5-fluorouracil; FUrd, fluorouridine; FUTP, 5-fluorouridine-5′-triphosphate; GADD45, growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible-45 gene/ protein; H4Urd, 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrouridine; hMLH1, human MutL homologue-1; hMSH2, human MutS homologue-2; hMSH3, human MutS homologue-3; hMSH6, human MutS homologue-6; hPMS2, postmeiotic segregation increased 2; IDL, insertion/deletion loop-type; MBD4, methyl-CpG binding domain protein 4; British Journal of Phar...

Hyper-phosphorylation at the Y705 residue of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is implicated in tumorigenesis of leukemia and some solid tumors. However, its role in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) is not well defined. To rigorously test the impact of this phosphorylation on colorectal tumorigenesis, we engineered a STAT3 Y705F knock-in to interrupt STAT3 activity in HCT116 and RKO CRC cells. These STAT3 Y705F mutant cells fail to respond to cytokine stimulation and grow slower than parental cells. These mutant cells are also greatly diminished in their abilities to form colonies in culture, to exhibit anchorage-independent growth in soft agar, and to grow as xenografts in nude mice. These observations strongly support the premise that STAT3 Y705 phosphorylation is crucial in colorectal tumorigenesis. Although it is generally believed that STAT3 functions as a transcription factor, recent studies indicate that transcription-independent functions of STAT3 also play an important role in tumorigenesis. We show here that wild-type STAT3, but not STAT3 Y705F mutant protein, associates with PLCγ1. PLCγ1 is a central signal transducer of growth factor and cytokine signaling pathways that are involved in tumorigenesis. In STAT3 Y705F mutant CRC cells, PLCγ1 activity is reduced. Moreover, over-expression of a constitutively active form of PLC γ1 rescues the transformation defect of STAT3 Y705F mutant cells. In aggregate, our study identifies previously unknown cross-talk between STAT3 and the PLCγ signaling pathways that may play a critical role in colorectal tumorigenesis.