title: E2F1 induces MRN foci formation and a cell cycle checkpoint response in human fibroblasts.
abstract: Deregulation of the Rb/E2F pathway in human fibroblasts results in an E2F1-mediated apoptosis dependent on Atm, Nbs1, Chk2 and p53. Here, we show that E2F1 expression results in MRN foci formation, which is independent of the Nbs1 interacting region and the DNA-binding domain of E2F1. E2F1-induced MRN foci are similar to irradiation-induced foci (IRIF) that result from double-strand DNA breaks because they correlate with 53BP1 and gammaH2AX foci, do not form in NBS cells, do form in AT cells and do not correlate with cell cycle entry. In fact, we find that in human fibroblasts deregulated E2F1 causes a G1 arrest, blocking serum-induced cell cycle progression, in part through an Nbs1/53BP1/p53/p21(WAF1/CIP1) checkpoint pathway. This checkpoint protects against apoptosis because depletion of 53BP1 or p21(WAF1/CIP1) increases both the rate and extent of apoptosis. Nbs1 and p53 contribute to both checkpoint and apoptosis pathways. These results suggest that E2F1-induced foci generate a cell cycle checkpoint that, with sustained E2F1 activity, eventually yields to apoptosis. Uncontrolled proliferation due to Rb/E2F deregulation as well as inactivation of both checkpoint and apoptosis programs would then be required for transformation of normal cells to tumor cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, 01655, USA.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Frame
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Rogoff
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Pickering
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Cress
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Kowalik
mesh_terms: D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000502:physiology; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000502:physiology; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000502:physiology*; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D000076228:MRE11 Homologue Protein; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000502:physiology; D000071857:Tumor Suppressor p53-Binding Protein 1
chemical_list: C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; C493753:E2F1 protein, human; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C121766:MRE11 protein, human; C112156:NBN protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; C498301:TP53BP1 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D000071857:Tumor Suppressor p53-Binding Protein 1; D000076228:MRE11 Homologue Protein; D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases; C112158:RAD50 protein, human; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes