A fundamental principle in malignant tranformation is the ability of cancer cells to escape the naturally occurring cell-intrinsic responses to DNA damage. Tumors progress despite the accumulation of DNA lesions. However, the underlying mechanisms of this tolerance to genotoxic stress are still poorly characterized. Here, we show that replication stress occurs in Kras-driven murine lung adenocarcinomas, as well as in proliferating murine embryonic and adult tissues. We identify the transcriptional regulator AATF/CHE-1 as a key molecule to sustain proliferative tissues and tumor progression in parts by inhibiting p53-driven apoptosis in vivo. In an autochthonous Kras-driven lung adenocarcinoma model, deletion of Aatf delayed lung cancer formation predominantly in a p53-dependent manner. Moreover, targeting Aatf in existing tumors through a dual recombinase strategy caused a halt in tumor progression. Taken together, these data suggest that AATF may serve as a drug target to treat KRAS-driven malignancies.

AATF is a central regulator of the cellular outcome upon p53 activation, a finding that has primarily been attributed to its function as a transcription factor. Recent data showed that AATF is essential for ribosome biogenesis and plays a role in rRNA maturation. AATF has been implicated to fulfil this role through direct interaction with rRNA and was identified in several RNA-interactome capture experiments. Here, we provide a first comprehensive analysis of the RNA bound by AATF using CLIP-sequencing. Interestingly, this approach shows predominant binding of the 45S pre-ribosomal RNA precursor molecules. Furthermore, AATF binds to mRNAs encoding for ribosome biogenesis factors as well as snoRNAs. These findings are complemented by an in-depth analysis of the protein interactome of AATF containing a large set of proteins known to play a role in rRNA maturation with an emphasis on the protein-RNA-complexes known to be required for the generation of the small ribosomal subunit (SSU). In line with this finding, the binding sites of AATF within the 45S rRNA precursor localize in close proximity to the SSU cleavage sites. Consequently, our multilayer analysis of the protein-RNA interactome of AATF reveals this protein to be an important hub for protein and RNA interactions involved in ribosome biogenesis.

Transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) and Yes-associated protein (YAP) are critical transcriptional coactivators downstream of the Hippo pathway involved in the regulation of organ size, tissue regeneration, proliferation, and apoptosis. Recent studies suggested common and distinct functions of TAZ and YAP and their diverse impact under several pathological conditions. Here we report differential regulation of TAZ and YAP in response to oxidative stress. H 2 O 2 exposure leads to increased stability and activation of TAZ but not of YAP. H 2 O 2 induces reversible S-glutathionylation at conserved cysteine residues within TAZ. We further demonstrate that TAZ S-glutathionylation is critical for reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated, TAZ-dependent TEA domain transcription factor (TEAD) trans-activation. Lysophosphatidic acid, a physiological activator of YAP and TAZ, induces ROS elevation and, subsequently, TAZ S-glutathionylation, which promotes TAZmediated target gene expression. TAZ expression is essential for renal homeostasis in mice, and we identify basal TAZ S-glutathionylation in murine kidney lysates, which is elevated during ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo. This induced nuclear localization of TAZ and increased expression of connective tissue growth factor. These results describe a novel mechanism by which ROS sustains total cellular levels of TAZ. This preferential regulation suggests TAZ to be a redox sensor of the Hippo pathway.