Abstract

Claspin is essential for activating the DNA damage checkpoint effector kinase Chk1, a target in oncotherapy. Claspin functions are tightly correlated to Claspin protein stability, regulated by ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation. Here we identify Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3-ß (GSK3-ß) as a new regulator of Claspin stability. Interestingly, as Chk1, GSK3-ß is a therapeutic target in cancer. GSK3-ß inhibition or knockdown stabilizes Claspin, whereas a GSK3-ß constitutively active form reduces Claspin protein levels by ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation. Our results also suggest that GSK3-ß modulates the interaction of Claspin with ß-TrCP, a critical E3 ubiquitin ligase that regulates Claspin stability. Importantly, GSK3-ß knock down increases Chk1 activation in response to DNA damage in a Claspin-dependent manner. Therefore, Chk1 activation could be a pro-survival mechanism that becomes activated upon GSK3-ß inhibition. Importantly, treating triple negative breast cancer cell lines with Chk1 or GSK3-ß inhibitors alone or in combination, demonstrates that Chk1/GSK3-ß double inhibition restrains cell growth and triggers more apoptosis compared to individual treatments, thereby revealing novel possibilities for a combination therapy for cancer.

Authors	Cabrera, Elisa; Raninga, Prahlad; Khanna, Kum Kum; Freire, Raimundo
Journal	Cancers
Pages
Volume	11
Date	1/07/2019
Grant ID	SAF2016-80626-R , BFU2016-81796-REDC
Funding Body	Spanish Ministry of Innovation Science and Universities
URL	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=10.3390/cancers11081073