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Exportin 1 (XPO1) is the main nuclear export receptor that controls the subcellular trafficking and the functions of major regulatory proteins. XPO1 is overexpressed in various cancers and small inhibitors of nuclear export (SINEs) have been developed to inhibit XPO1. In primary mediastinal B‐cell lymphoma (PMBL) and classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL), the XPO1 gene may be mutated on one nucleotide and encodes the mutant XPO1E571K. To understand the impact of mutation on protein function, we studied the response of PMBL and cHL cells to selinexor, a SINE, and ibrutinib, an inhibitor of Bruton tyrosine kinase. XPO1 mutation renders lymphoma cells more sensitive to selinexor due to a faster degradation of mutant XPO1 compared to the wild‐type. We further showed that a mistrafficking of p65 (RELA) and p52 (NFκB2) transcription factors between the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments accounts for the response toward ibrutinib. XPO1 mutation may be envisaged as a biomarker of the response of PMBL and cHL cells and other B‐cell hemopathies to SINEs and drugs that target even indirectly the NFκB signaling pathway.

Exportin 1 (XPO1) is the main nuclear export receptor that controls the subcellular trafficking and the functions of major regulatory proteins. XPO1 is overexpressed in various cancers and small inhibitors of nuclear export (SINEs) have been developed to inhibit XPO1. In primary mediastinal B‐cell lymphoma (PMBL) and classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL), the XPO1 gene may be mutated on one nucleotide and encodes the mutant XPO1E571K. To understand the impact of mutation on protein function, we studied the response of PMBL and cHL cells to selinexor, a SINE, and ibrutinib, an inhibitor of Bruton tyrosine kinase. XPO1 mutation renders lymphoma cells more sensitive to selinexor due to a faster degradation of mutant XPO1 compared to the wild‐type. We further showed that a mistrafficking of p65 (RELA) and p52 (NFκB2) transcription factors between the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments accounts for the response toward ibrutinib. XPO1 mutation may be envisaged as a biomarker of the response of PMBL and cHL cells and other B‐cell hemopathies to SINEs and drugs that target even indirectly the NFκB signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma, the most common malignant tumor in the brain, lacks effective treatments and is currently incurable. To identify novel drug targets for this deadly cancer, the publicly available results of RNA interference screens from the Project Achilles database were analyzed. Ten candidate genes were identified as survival genes in 15 glioblastoma cell lines. RAN, member RAS oncogene family (RAN) was expressed in glioblastoma at the highest level among all candidates based upon cDNA microarray data. However, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis did not show any correlation between RAN mRNA levels and patient survival. Because RAN is a small GTPase that regulates nuclear transport controlled by karyopherin subunit beta 1 (KPNB1), RAN was further analyzed together with KPNB1. Indeed, GBM patients with high levels of RAN also had more KPNB1 and levels of KPNB1 alone did not relate to patient prognosis. Through a Cox multivariate analysis, GBM patients with high levels of RAN and KPNB1 showed significantly shorter life expectancy when temozolomide and promoter methylation of O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase were used as covariates. These results indicate that RAN and KPNB1 together are associated with drug resistance and GBM poor prognosis. Furthermore, the functional blockade of RAN and KPNB1 by importazole remarkably suppressed cell viability and activated apoptosis in GBM cells expressing high levels of RAN, while having a limited effect on astrocytes and GBM cells with undetectable RAN. Together, our results demonstrate that RAN activity is important for GBM survival and the functional blockade of RAN/KPNB1 is an appealing therapeutic approach.

Abstract: Human inositol phosphate multikinase (IPMK) is a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein involved in multiple signal transduction pathways located both in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm. To efficaciously inhibit the conventional nuclear import of IPMK, we first examined the effect of different inhibitors and cellular stressors on nuclear import of enhanced green fluorescent protein monomer and octamer, both fused with a monopartite nuclear localization signal (NLS), in HeLa and H1299 cells. Most efficacious inhibition of conventional nuclear protein import was observed when using Importazole and hydrogen peroxide. Therefore, these substances were then applied to examine nuclear import mechanisms of IPMK. Thereby, we demonstrated that nuclear accumulation of IPMK is significantly lessened, but not abrogated by inhibition of conventional protein import. This indicates that IPMK is imported into the nucleus by both conventional and non-conventional pathways. Furthermore, intracellular distribution of an IPMK mutant with inactivated NLS is unaffected by inhibition of conventional protein import. Obviously, the conventional import of IPMK is entirely mediated by interaction of the Importin α/β heterodimer with IPMK's sole NLS motif (R320HRKIYTKKHH). Future research should focus on the hitherto unknown non-conventional import of IPMK and the potential impact of its dysregulation on IPMK signaling pathways regulating cellular growth and proliferation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

For malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. In a previous study, we identified 51 putative cancer genes over-expressed in MPM tissues and cell lines. Here, we deepened the study on nine of them (ASS1, EIF4G1, GALNT7, GLUT1, IGF2BP3 (IMP3), ITGA4, RAN, SOD1, and THBS2) to ascertain whether they are truly mesothelial cancer driver genes (CDGs) or genes overexpressed in an adaptive response to the tumoral progression ("passenger genes"). Through a fast siRNA-based screening, we evaluated the consequences of gene depletion on migration, proliferation, colony formation capabilities, and caspase activities of four MPM (Mero-14, Mero-25, IST-Mes2, and NCI-H28) and one SV40-immortalized mesothelial cell line (MeT-5A) as a non-malignant model. The depletion of EIF4G1 and RAN significantly reduced cell proliferation and colony formation and increased caspase activity. In particular, the findings for RAN resemble those observed for other types of cancer. Thus, we evaluated the in vitro effects of importazole (IPZ), a small molecule inhibitor of the interaction between RAN and importin-β. We showed that IPZ could have effects similar to those observed following RAN gene silencing. We also found that primary cell lines from one out of three MPM patients were sensitive to IPZ. As EIF4G1 and RAN deserve further investigation with additional in vitro and in vivo studies, they emerged as promising CDGs, suggesting that their upregulation could play a role in mesothelial tumorigenesis and aggressiveness. Furthermore, present data propose the molecular pathways dependent on RAN as a putative pharmacological target for MPM patients in the view of a future personalized medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear-cytoplasmic trafficking of proteins is a highly regulated process that modulates multiple biological processes in eukaryotic cells. In Giardia lamblia , shuttling has been described from the cytoplasm to nuclei of proteins during the biological cell cycle of the parasite. This suggests that a mechanism of nucleocytoplasmic transport is present and functional in G. lamblia. By means of computational biology analyses, we found that there are only two genes for nuclear transport in this parasite, named Importin α and Importin β. When these transporters were overexpressed, both localized close to the nuclear envelope, and no change was observed in trophozoite growth rate. However, during the encystation process, both transporters induced an increase in the number of cysts produced. Importazole and Ivermectin, two known specific inhibitors of importins, separately influenced the encysting process by inducing an arrest in the trophozoite stage that prevents the production of cysts. This effect was more noticeable when Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug, was used. Finally, we tested whether the enzyme arginine deiminase, which shuttles from the cytoplasm to the nuclei during encystation, was influenced by these transporters. We found that treatment with each of the inhibitors abrogates arginine deiminase nuclear translocation and favors perinuclear localization. This suggests that Importin α and Importin β are key transporters during the encystation process and are involved, at least, in the transport of arginine deiminase into the nuclei. Considering the effect produced by Ivermectin during growth and encystation, we postulate that this drug could be used to treat giardiasis. Unlabelled Image • Importin α and Importin β are functional nuclear transporters in G. lamblia. • Importazole, an inhibitor of Importin β, inhibits the cysts production. • Ivermectin, a classical anti-parasitic drug abolishes the encystation process. • The cytoplasmic-nuclear trafficking of arginine deiminase is impaired under the treatment with both inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myosin IC is a molecular motor involved in intracellular transport, cell motility, and transcription. Its mechanical properties are regulated by calcium via calmodulin binding, and its functions in the nucleus depend on import from the cytoplasm. The import has recently been shown to be mediated by the nuclear localization signal located within the calmodulin-binding domain. In the present paper, it is demonstrated that mutations in the calmodulin-binding sequence shift the intracellular distribution of myosin IC to the nucleus. The redistribution is displayed by isoform B, described originally as the "nuclear myosin," but is particularly pronounced with isoform C, the normally cytoplasmic isoform. Furthermore, experimental elevation of the intracellular calcium concentration induces a rapid import of myosin into the nucleus. The import is blocked by the importin β inhibitor importazole. These findings are consistent with a mechanism whereby calmodulin binding prevents recognition of the nuclear localization sequence by importin β, and the steric inhibition of import is released by cell signaling leading to the intracellular calcium elevation. The results establish a mechanistic connection between the calcium regulation of the motor function of myosin IC in the cytoplasm and the induction of its import into the nucleus. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell neoplasm that is currently incurable. The activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signalling plays a crucial role in the immortalisation of MM cells. As the most important transcription factor of the canonical NF-κB pathway, the p50/p65 heterodimer requires transportation into the nucleus for its successful signal transduction. Importin β1 is the key transport receptor that mediates p50/p65 nuclear import. Currently, it remains unclear whether the regulation of importin β1 function affects the biological behaviour of MM cells. In the present study, we investigated the changes in p65 translocation and the proliferation and apoptosis of MM cells after treatment with small interfering RNA (siRNA) or an importin β1 inhibitor. The underlying mechanisms were also investigated. We found importin β1 over-expression and the excessive nuclear transport of p65 in myeloma cells. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and Western blot analysis results indicated that p65 nuclear transport was blocked after inhibiting importin β1 expression with siRNA and the importin β1-specific inhibitor importazole (IPZ). Importantly, electronic mobility shift assay results also verified that p65 nuclear transport was dramatically reduced. Moreover, the expression of the NF-κB signalling target genes involved in MM cell apoptosis, such as BCL-2, c-IAP1 and XIAP, were markedly reduced, as demonstrated by the RT-PCR results. Furthermore, the proliferation of MM cells was inhibited, as demonstrated by MTT assay results, and the MM cell apoptosis rate was higher, as demonstrated by the annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) double-staining assay results. Additionally, the percentage of S phase cells in the myeloma cell lines treated with IPZ was dramatically reduced. In conclusion, our results clearly show that importin β1 mediates the translocation of NF-κB into the nuclei of myeloma cells, thereby regulating proliferation and blocking apoptosis, which provides new insights for targeted myeloma therapies., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In various human malignancies, widespread dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA) expression is reported to occur and affects various cell growth programs. Recent studies suggest that the expression levels of miRNAs that act as tumor suppressors are frequently reduced in cancers because of chromosome deletions, epigenetical changes, aberrant transcription, and disturbances in miRNA processing. MiR-143 and -145 are well-recognized miRNAs that are highly expressed in several tissues, but down-regulated in most types of cancers. However, the mechanism of this down-regulation has not been investigated in detail. Here, we show that DEAD-box RNA helicase 6, DDX6 (p54/RCK), post-transcriptionally down-regulated miR-143/145 expression by prompting the degradation of its host gene product, NCR143/145 RNA. In human gastric cancer cell line MKN45, DDX6 protein was abundantly expressed and accumulated in processing bodies (P-bodies). DDX6 preferentially increased the instability of non-coding RNA, NCR143/145, which encompasses the miR-143/145 cluster, and down-regulated the expression of mature miR-143/145. In human monocytic cell line THP-1, lipopolysaccharide treatment promoted the assembly of P-bodies and down-regulated the expression of NCR143/145 and its miR-143/145 rapidly. In these cells, cycloheximide treatment led to a loss of P-bodies and to an increase in NCR143/145 RNA stability, thus resulting in up-regulation of miR-143/145 expression. These data demonstrate that DDX6 contributed to the control of NCR143/145 RNA stability in P-bodies and post-transcriptionally regulated miR-143/145 expression in cancer cells., (© 2013.)