Essential role of microphthalmia transcription factor for DNA replication, mitosis and genomic stability in melanoma

Oncogene. 2011 May 19;30(20):2319-32. doi: 10.1038/onc.2010.612. Epub 2011 Jan 24.

Abstract

Malignant melanoma is an aggressive cancer known for its notorious resistance to most current therapies. The basic helix-loop-helix microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF) is the master regulator determining the identity and properties of the melanocyte lineage, and is regarded as a lineage-specific 'oncogene' that has a critical role in the pathogenesis of melanoma. MITF promotes melanoma cell proliferation, whereas sustained supression of MITF expression leads to senescence. By combining chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled to high throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq) and RNA sequencing analyses, we show that MITF directly regulates a set of genes required for DNA replication, repair and mitosis. Our results reveal how loss of MITF regulates mitotic fidelity, and through defective replication and repair induces DNA damage, ultimately ending in cellular senescence. These findings reveal a lineage-specific control of DNA replication and mitosis by MITF, providing new avenues for therapeutic intervention in melanoma. The identification of MITF-binding sites and gene-regulatory networks establish a framework for understanding oncogenic basic helix-loop-helix factors such as N-myc or TFE3 in other cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cellular Senescence
  • DNA Repair / genetics*
  • DNA Replication*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Genomic Instability*
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / genetics*
  • Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor / genetics
  • Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Mitosis / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Skin Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Skin Neoplasms / metabolism

Substances

  • Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor