“Dr. Jachimowicz´s findings regarding the molecular understanding of DNA repair mechanisms and the resulting treatment approaches in oncology are groundbreaking”, says Univ.-Prof. Jürgen Floegge, DGIM Chairman.
Genomic instability can be a hallmark of both human genetic disease and cancer. Dr. Jachimowicz and colleagues identifed a deleterious UBQLN4 mutation in families with an autosomal recessive syndrome reminiscent of genome instability disorders. UBQLN4 deficiency leads to increased sensitivity to genotoxic stress and delayed DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. The proteasomal shuttle factor UBQLN4 is phosphorylated by ATM and interacts with ubiquitylated MRE11 to mediate early steps of homologous recombination-mediated DSB repair (HRR). Loss of UBQLN4 leads to chromatin retention of MRE11, promoting non-physiological HRR activity in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, UBQLN4 overexpression represses HRR and favors non-homologous end joining. Moreover, they found UBQLN4 overexpressed in aggressive tumors. In line with an HRR defect in these tumors, UBQLN4 overexpression is associated with PARP1 inhibitor sensitivity. UBQLN4 therefore curtails HRR activity through removal of MRE11 from damaged chromatin and thus offers a therapeutic window for PARP1 inhibitor treatment in UBQLN4-overexpressing tumors.
Cell 2019 Jan;176(3):505-519.e22
Else Kröner Forschungskolleg Köln
c/o University Hospital Cologne
Department of Internal Medicine
Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO ABCD)
Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
Phone: +49-221-478-38376
Email: info@ekf-cologne.de
www.ekf-cologne.de