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Title: Dual genome-wide CRISPR knockout and CRISPR activation screens identify mechanisms that regulate the resistance to multiple ATR inhibitors.

Authors: Schleicher, Emily M; Dhoonmoon, Ashna; Jackson, Lindsey M; Clements, Kristen E; Stump, Coryn L; Nicolae, Claudia M; Moldovan, George-Lucian

Published In PLoS Genet, (2020 11)

Abstract: The ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) protein kinase is a key regulator of the cellular response to DNA damage. Due to increased amount of replication stress, cancer cells heavily rely on ATR to complete DNA replication and cell cycle progression. Thus, ATR inhibition is an emerging target in cancer therapy, with multiple ATR inhibitors currently undergoing clinical trials. Here, we describe dual genome-wide CRISPR knockout and CRISPR activation screens employed to comprehensively identify genes that regulate the cellular resistance to ATR inhibitors. Specifically, we investigated two different ATR inhibitors, namely VE822 and AZD6738, in both HeLa and MCF10A cells. We identified and validated multiple genes that alter the resistance to ATR inhibitors. Importantly, we show that the mechanisms of resistance employed by these genes are varied, and include restoring DNA replication fork progression, and prevention of ATR inhibitor-induced apoptosis. In particular, we describe a role for MED12-mediated inhibition of the TGFβ signaling pathway in regulating replication fork stability and cellular survival upon ATR inhibition. Our dual genome-wide screen findings pave the way for personalized medicine by identifying potential biomarkers for ATR inhibitor resistance.

PubMed ID: 33137164 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Apoptosis/drug effects; Apoptosis/genetics; Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors*; Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics*; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism; CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics; DNA Replication/drug effects; DNA Replication/genetics; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics*; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Gene Knockdown Techniques; HeLa Cells; Humans; Indoles; Mediator Complex/genetics; Mediator Complex/metabolism; Morpholines; Neoplasms/drug therapy*; Neoplasms/genetics; Neoplasms/pathology; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology*; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use; Pyrimidines/pharmacology; Pyrimidines/therapeutic use; Signal Transduction/drug effects; Signal Transduction/genetics; Sulfonamides; Sulfoxides/pharmacology; Sulfoxides/therapeutic use; Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism

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