Integrated computational model of cell cycle and checkpoint reveals different essential roles of Aurora-A and Plk1 in mitotic entry.
Understanding the regulation of mitotic entry is one of the most important goals of modern cell biology, and computational modeling of mitotic entry has been a subject of several recent studies. However, there are still many regulation mechanisms that remain poorly characterized. Two crucial aspects are how mitotic entry is controlled by its upstream regulators Aurora-A and Plk1, and how mitotic entry is coordinated with other biological events, especially G2/M checkpoint. In this context, we reconstructed a comprehensive computational model that integrates the mitotic entry network and the G2/M checkpoint system. Computational simulation of this model and subsequent experimental verification revealed that Aurora-A and Plk1 are redundant to the activation of cyclin B/Cdk1 during normal mitotic entry, but become especially important for cyclin B/Cdk1 activation during G2/M checkpoint recovery. Further analysis indicated that, in response to DNA damage, Chk1-mediated network rewiring makes cyclin B/Cdk1 more sensitive to the down-regulation of Aurora-A and Plk1. In addition, we demonstrated that concurrently targeting Aurora-A and Plk1 during G2/M checkpoint recovery achieves a synergistic effect, which suggests the combinational use of Aurora-A and Plk1 inhibitors after chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Thus, the results presented here provide novel insights into the regulation mechanism of mitotic entry and have potential value in cancer therapy.
State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Jun
J
Zou
Shi-Dong
SD
Luo
Yu-Quan
YQ
Wei
Sheng-Yong
SY
Yang
D000465:Algorithms; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019295:Computational Biology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097869:Polo-Like Kinase 1
D064127:Aurora Kinases; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D000097869:Polo-Like Kinase 1