After fertilization, remodeling of the oocyte and sperm genomes is essential to convert these highly differentiated and transcriptionally quiescent cells into early cleavage-stage blastomeres that are transcriptionally active and totipotent. This developmental transition is accompanied by cell cycle adaptation, such as lengthening or shortening of the gap phases G1 and G2. However, regulation of these cell cycle changes is poorly understood, especially in mammals. Checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) is a protein kinase that regulates cell cycle progression in somatic cells. Here, we show that CHK1 regulates cell cycle progression in early mouse embryos by restraining CDK1 kinase activity due to CDC25A phosphatase degradation. CHK1 kinase also ensures the long G2 phase needed for genome activation and reprogramming gene expression in two-cell stage mouse embryos. Finally, Chk1 depletion leads to DNA damage and chromosome segregation errors that result in aneuploidy and infertility.

• Klíčová slova
• CDC25A phosphatase, CDK1 kinase, CHK1 kinase, cell cycle regulation, early mouse embryos,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Selective killing of cancer cells while sparing healthy ones is the principle of the perfect cancer treatment and the primary aim of many oncologists, molecular biologists, and medicinal chemists. To achieve this goal, it is crucial to understand the molecular mechanisms that distinguish cancer cells from healthy ones. Accordingly, several clinical candidates that use particular mutations in cell-cycle progressions have been developed to kill cancer cells. As the majority of cancer cells have defects in G1 control, targeting the subsequent intra‑S or G2/M checkpoints has also been extensively pursued. This review focuses on clinical candidates that target the kinases involved in intra‑S and G2/M checkpoints, namely, ATR, CHK1, and WEE1 inhibitors. It provides insight into their current status and future perspectives for anticancer treatment. Overall, even though CHK1 inhibitors are still far from clinical establishment, promising accomplishments with ATR and WEE1 inhibitors in phase II trials present a positive outlook for patient survival.

• Klíčová slova
• ATR–CHK1–WEE1 axis, DNA damage response, cell-cycle checkpoints, clinical trials, inhibitors,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

The astonishing survival abilities of Vicia faba, one the earliest domesticated plants, are associated, among other things, to the highly effective replication stress response system which ensures smooth cell division and proper preservation of genomic information. The most crucial pathway here seems to be the ataxia telangiectasia-mutated kinase (ATM)/ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related kinase (ATR)-dependent replication stress response mechanism, also present in humans. In this article, we attempted to take an in-depth look at the dynamics of regeneration from the effects of replication inhibition and cell cycle checkpoint overriding causing premature chromosome condensation (PCC) in terms of DNA damage repair and changes in replication dynamics. We were able to distinguish a unique behavior of replication factors at the very start of the regeneration process in the PCC-induced cells. We extended the experiment and decided to profile the changes in replication on the level of a single replication cluster of heterochromatin (both alone and with regard to its position in the nucleus), including the mathematical profiling of the size, activity and shape. The results obtained during these experiments led us to the conclusion that even "chaotic" events are dealt with in a proper degree of order.

• Klíčová slova
• 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine, DNA damage, DNA repair, DNA replication, caffeine, heterochromatin, hydroxyurea, nuclei sorting, premature chromosome condensation, replication stress,
• MeSH
• chromozomy rostlin genetika   MeSH
• fluorescence MeSH
• fyziologický stres * MeSH
• heterochromatin metabolismus   MeSH
• kinetika MeSH
• meristém fyziologie   MeSH
• oprava DNA * MeSH
• poškození DNA MeSH
• regenerace fyziologie   MeSH
• replikace DNA * MeSH
• Vicia faba fyziologie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• heterochromatin MeSH

Gastrulation initiates with the formation of the primitive streak, during which, cells of the epiblast delaminate to form the mesoderm and definitive endoderm. At this stage, the pluripotent cell population of the epiblast undergoes very rapid proliferation and extensive epigenetic programming. Here we show that Fam208a, a new epigenetic modifier, is essential for early post-implantation development. We show that Fam208a mutation leads to impaired primitive streak elongation and delayed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Fam208a mutant epiblasts had increased expression of p53 pathway genes as well as several pluripotency-associated long non-coding RNAs. Fam208a mutants exhibited an increase in p53-driven apoptosis and complete removal of p53 could partially rescue their gastrulation block. This data demonstrates a new in vivo function of Fam208a in maintaining epiblast fitness, establishing it as an important factor at the onset of gastrulation when cells are exiting pluripotency.

• MeSH
• apoptóza MeSH
• epigeneze genetická * MeSH
• epitelo-mezenchymální tranzice MeSH
• jaderné proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• myši MeSH
• primitivní proužek embryologie   MeSH
• zárodečné listy embryologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• Fam208a protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• jaderné proteiny MeSH

Cancer treatments such as radiotherapy and most of the chemotherapies act by damaging DNA of cancer cells. Upon DNA damage, cells stop proliferation at cell cycle checkpoints, which provides them time for DNA repair. Inhibiting the checkpoint allows entry to mitosis despite the presence of DNA damage and can lead to cell death. Importantly, as cancer cells exhibit increased levels of endogenous DNA damage due to an excessive replication stress, inhibiting the checkpoint kinases alone could act as a directed anti-cancer therapy. Here, we review the current status of inhibitors targeted towards the checkpoint effectors and discuss mechanisms of their actions in killing of cancer cells.

• Klíčová slova
• ATM, ATR, Chk1, DNA damage response, Wee1, cancer, checkpoint, inhibitor, p53, replication stress,
• MeSH
• buněčná smrt účinky léků   MeSH
• cílená molekulární terapie metody   MeSH
• inhibitory proteinkinas farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• kontrolní body buněčného cyklu účinky léků   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorový supresorový protein p53 metabolismus   MeSH
• nádory farmakoterapie   enzymologie   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• inhibitory proteinkinas MeSH
• nádorový supresorový protein p53 MeSH

The cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) regulate many cellular processes, including the cell cycle, neuronal development, transcription, and posttranscriptional processing. To perform their functions, Cdks bind to specific cyclin subunits to form a functional and active cyclin/Cdk complex. This review is focused on Cyclin K, which was originally considered an alternative subunit of Cdk9, and on its newly identified partners, Cdk12 and Cdk13. We briefly summarize research devoted to each of these proteins. We also discuss the proteins' functions in the regulation of gene expression via the phosphorylation of serine 2 in the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II, contributions to the maintenance of genome stability, and roles in the onset of human disease and embryo development.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH