Cited by 89DNA Repair MechanismsCancer-related Molecular PathwaysChromatin Remodeling and Cancer

An Evolutionarily Conserved Synthetic Lethal Interaction Network Identifies FEN1 as a Broad-Spectrum Target for Anticancer Therapeutic Development

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van Pel, Derek M., Barrett, Irene J., Shimizu, Yoko, Sajesh, Babu V., Guppy, Brent J., Pfeifer, Tom, McManus, Kirk J., Hieter, Philip·2013·PLoS Genetics

Abstract

Harnessing genetic differences between cancerous and noncancerous cells offers a strategy for the development of new therapies. Extrapolating from yeast genetic interaction data, we used cultured human cells and siRNA to construct and evaluate a synthetic lethal interaction network comprised of chromosome instability (CIN) genes that are frequently mutated in colorectal cancer. A small number of genes in this network were found to have synthetic lethal interactions with a large number of cancer CIN genes; these genes are thus attractive targets for anticancer therapeutic development. The protein product of one highly connected gene, the flap endonuclease FEN1, was used as a target for small-molecule inhibitor screening using a newly developed fluorescence-based assay for enzyme activity. Thirteen initial hits identified through in vitro biochemical screening were tested in cells, and it was found that two compounds could selectively inhibit the proliferation of cultured cancer cells carrying inactivating mutations in CDC4, a gene frequently mutated in a variety of cancers. Inhibition of flap endonuclease activity was also found to recapitulate a genetic interaction between FEN1 and MRE11A, another gene frequently mutated in colorectal cancers, and to lead to increased endogenous DNA damage. These chemical-genetic interactions in mammalian cells validate evolutionarily conserved synthetic lethal interactions and demonstrate that a cross-species candidate gene approach is successful in identifying small-molecule inhibitors that prove effective in a cell-based cancer model.

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Authors
van Pel, D. M., Barrett, I. J., Shimizu, Y., Sajesh, B. V., Guppy, B. J., Pfeifer, T., McManus, K. J., & Hieter, P.
Affiliations
  • University of British Columbia (CA)
  • Centre for Drug Research and Development (CA)
  • University of Manitoba (CA)
Corresponding author
Hieter, Philip
Venue
PLoS Genetics
Published
2013-01-31
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
e1003254
ISSN
  • 1553-7390 (ISSN-L)
  • 1553-7404
OpenAlex
W1971500514
Cited by
89
References
71
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 4
FWCI
5.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS Genetics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Manitoba Health Research Council
  • University of Manitoba
  • Michael Smith Health Research BC
  • University of Bristol
  • University of British Columbia
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP115179, MOP38096)
  • National Cancer Institute (R01CA158162)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › DNA Repair Mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer-related Molecular Pathways
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Chromatin Remodeling and Cancer
Keywords
synthetic lethality, FEN1, flap endonuclease, chromosomal instability, colorectal cancer, Cdc4, MRE11A, small molecule inhibitors, chemical-genetic interactions, DNA damage, anticancer drug targets
MeSH terms
MRE11 Homologue Protein, DNA Damage, DNA-Binding Proteins, Biological Evolution, Genes, Lethal, Genes, Synthetic, Humans, Mutation, Colorectal Neoplasms, RNA, Small Interfering, Chromosomal Instability, Flap Endonucleases, Cell Proliferation, Gene Regulatory Networks, Small Molecule Libraries, Molecular Targeted Therapy

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