Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2025
09:33
Methods to Classify Cytoplasmic Foci as Mammalian Stress Granules
Published on: May 12, 2017
14.5K
RNF144A-VRK2-G3BP1 axis regulates stress granule assembly.
Sung Wook Kim1, Jae Lee1, Kyung Won Jo2
1Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea.
Cell Death Discovery
|April 9, 2025
Summary
Stress granules aid cancer cell survival during chemotherapy. This study reveals the RNF144A-VRK2-G3BP1 axis regulates stress granule formation, offering a potential anti-cancer therapy target.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Stress granules (SGs) are cellular structures that aid cell survival under stress.
- Cancer cells exploit SGs to resist chemotherapy, but the formation mechanism remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanism of SG formation in cancer cells during chemotherapy.
- To identify key regulators of SG formation and their role in chemoresistance.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the role of VRK2 and G3BP1 phosphorylation under cellular stress induced by sodium arsenite and cisplatin.
- Assessed RNF144A levels and its effect on VRK2 stability.
- Examined the impact of VRK2 overexpression on SG formation and chemosensitivity.
Main Results:
- Increased cellular stress reduced VRK2 levels and G3BP1 phosphorylation.
- RNF144A levels increased under stress, promoting VRK2 degradation via the proteasome.
- Overexpression of VRK2 inhibited SG formation and sensitized cancer cells to stress and chemotherapy.
Conclusions:
- Established the RNF144A-VRK2-G3BP1 axis as a regulator of SG formation.
- This axis represents a potential therapeutic target for enhancing anti-cancer chemotherapy efficacy.
Related Concept Videos
02:37Restarting Stalled Replication Forks
5.7K
DNA replication is initiated at sites containing predefined DNA sequences known as origins of replication. DNA is unwound at these sites by the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase and other factors such as Cdc45 and the associated GINS complex.The unwound single strands are protected by replication protein A (RPA) until DNA polymerase starts synthesizing DNA at the 5’ end of the strand in the same direction as the replication fork. To prevent the replication fork from falling apart,...
5.7K
01:45Regulation of Nuclear Protein Sorting
2.3K
Nuclear protein sorting regulates nucleus composition and gene expression, crucial for determining the fate of a eukaryotic cell. Hence, the entry and exit of molecules across the nuclear envelope is a tightly controlled process. Nuclear protein sorting can be inhibited by one of the following ways: 1) masking cargo signal sequences, 2) modifying the nuclear receptor's affinity for cargo, 3) controlling the nuclear pore size, 4) retaining the cargo during its transit to the cytosol or the...
2.3K
01:14Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments
2.8K
The straight or branched structure formation of actin filaments is controlled by nucleating proteins such as the formins and Arp2/3 complex. Formin-mediated assembly results in straight filaments, whereas Arp2/3 protein complex-mediated assembly results in branched actin filaments.
Arp2/3 Complex
Arp2/3 complex is a seven-subunit complex consisting of two proteins similar to actin- Arp2 and Arp3, and five other subunits that help keep Arp2 and Arp3 inactive. When required, the complex is...
Arp2/3 Complex
Arp2/3 complex is a seven-subunit complex consisting of two proteins similar to actin- Arp2 and Arp3, and five other subunits that help keep Arp2 and Arp3 inactive. When required, the complex is...
2.8K
01:31Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response
2.3K
Inositol-requiring kinase one or IRE1 is the most conserved eukaryotic unfolded protein response (UPR) receptor. It is a type I transmembrane protein kinase receptor with a distinctive site-specific RNase activity. As the binding mechanics of the misfolded proteins with the N-terminal domain of IRE-1 are unclear, three binding models — direct, indirect, and allosteric -- are proposed for receptor activation. Nevertheless, it is known that once a misfolded protein associates with IRE1, it...
2.3K
02:37DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle
9.0K
In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
9.0K
02:19The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint
3.1K
The spindle assembly checkpoint is a molecular surveillance mechanism ensuring the fidelity of chromosome segregation during anaphase. The checkpoint monitors the completion of all the prerequisite steps before chromosome segregation to determine whether the segregation process should proceed or be delayed.
Many proteins function together to control the spindle assembly checkpoint. Mutations affecting these proteins may allow cells to proceed into anaphase prematurely, resulting in the...
Many proteins function together to control the spindle assembly checkpoint. Mutations affecting these proteins may allow cells to proceed into anaphase prematurely, resulting in the...
3.1K