PUBLICATION

Cohesin mutations are synthetic lethal with stimulation of WNT signaling

Authors
Chin, C.V., Antony, J., Ketharnathan, S., Labudina, A., Gimenez, G., Parsons, K.M., He, J., George, A.J., Pallota, M.M., Musio, A., Braithwaite, A.W., Guilford, P., Hannan, R.D., Horsfield, J.A.
ID
ZDB-PUB-201208-60
Date
2020
Source
eLIFE   9: (Journal)
Registered Authors
Horsfield, Jules, Ketharnathan, Sarada
Keywords
cancer biology, chromosomes, gene expression, human, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Carcinogenesis/genetics*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics*
  • Cell Division
  • Cell Line
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/genetics*
  • Humans
  • Synthetic Lethal Mutations/genetics*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway/physiology*
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
33284104 Full text @ Elife
Abstract
Mutations in genes encoding subunits of the cohesin complex are common in several cancers, but may also expose druggable vulnerabilities. We generated isogenic MCF10A cell lines with deletion mutations of genes encoding cohesin subunits SMC3, RAD21 and STAG2 and screened for synthetic lethality with 3,009 FDA-approved compounds. The screen identified several compounds that interfere with transcription, DNA damage repair and the cell cycle. Unexpectedly, one of the top 'hits' was a GSK3 inhibitor, an agonist of Wnt signaling. We show that sensitivity to GSK3 inhibition is likely due to stabilization of b-catenin in cohesin mutant cells, and that Wnt-responsive gene expression is highly sensitized in STAG2-mutant CMK leukemia cells. Moreover, Wnt activity is enhanced in zebrafish mutant for cohesin subunits stag2b and rad21. Our results suggest that cohesin mutations could progress oncogenesis by enhancing Wnt signaling, and that targeting the Wnt pathway may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for cohesin mutant cancers.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping