title: Cul4A is required for hematopoietic cell viability and its deficiency leads to apoptosis.
abstract: In vitro studies indicate that Cul4A ubiquitin ligases target for ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis regulators of cell-cycle progression, apoptosis, development, and DNA repair. In hematopoietic cell lines, studies by our group and others showed that Cul4A ligases regulate proliferation and differentiation in maturing myeloid and erythroid cells. In vivo, Cul4A-deficient embryos die in utero. Cul4A haploinsufficient mice are viable but have fewer erythroid and primitive myeloid progenitors. Yet, little more is known about Cul4A function in vivo. To examine Cul4A function in adults, we generated mice with interferon-inducible deletion of Cul4A. Cul4A deficiency resulted in DNA damage and apoptosis of rapidly dividing cells, and mutant mice died within 3 to 10 days after induction with dramatic atrophy of the intestinal villi, bone marrow, and spleen, and with hematopoietic failure. Cul4A deletion in vivo specifically increased cellular levels of the Cul4A ligase targets Cdt1 and p27(Kip1) but not other known targets. Bone marrow transplantation studies with Cul4A deletion in engrafted cells specifically isolated analysis of Cul4A function to hematopoietic cells and resulted in hematopoietic failure. These recipients died within 9 to 11 days, demonstrating that in hematopoietic cells, Cul4A is essential for survival.
authors.affiliation: Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Waning
authors.forename: Binghui
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Yahaira
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Naaldijk
authors.forename: W Scott
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Goebel
authors.forename: Harm
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: HogenEsch
authors.forename: Kristin T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Chun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002470:Cell Survival; D044842:Cullin Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 / Q000032:analysis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006413:Hematopoietic System / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; C491940:Cul4a protein, mouse; D044842:Cullin Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C498645:Ris2 protein, mouse; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27