Deregulated minichromosomal maintenance protein MCM7 contributes to oncogene driven tumorigenesis

Oncogene. 2006 Jul 6;25(29):4027-32. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1209435. Epub 2006 Mar 6.

Abstract

Minichromosomal maintenance protein 7 (MCM7) is an essential component of the replication helicase complex (MCM2-7) required for DNA replication. Although this function is highly conserved among eukaryotes, additional functions for the MCM molecules continue to be described. Minichromosomal maintenance protein 7 is a marker for proliferation and is upregulated in a variety of tumors including neuroblastoma, prostate, cervical and hypopharyngeal carcinomas. To further investigate the general role of MCM7 in tumorigenesis, we generated a mouse model with deregulated MCM7 expression targeted to the basal layer of the epidermis using the keratin 14 (K14) promoter (K14.MCM7). When subjected to a two-stage chemical carcinogenesis protocol (dimethylbenz[alpha]anthracene (DMBA) initiation with 12-ortho-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate promotion), K14.MCM7 mice showed significantly increased incidence and prevalence of tumor development relative to controls. Furthermore, within 40 weeks of treatment over 45% K14.MCM7 mice exhibited tumors that had converted to squamous cell carcinomas versus none in the control group. As predicted from previous skin carcinogenesis studies using DMBA as the initiating agent, Ras mutations where found in more than 90% of tumors isolated from K14.MCM7 mice. Whereas previous studies have shown that MCM7 is useful as a proliferation marker, our data suggest that deregulated MCM7 expression actively contributes to tumor formation, progression and malignant conversion.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene / pharmacology
  • 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene / toxicity
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / biosynthesis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Carcinogens / pharmacology
  • Carcinogens / toxicity
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / chemically induced
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / chemically induced
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Genes, ras / genetics
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 7
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / chemically induced
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / genetics
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Nuclear Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Skin Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Skin Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Skin Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / analogs & derivatives
  • Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / pharmacology
  • Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / toxicity

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Carcinogens
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene
  • 4-O-methyl-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate
  • Mcm7 protein, mouse
  • Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 7
  • Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate