Micronuclear collapse from oxidative damage

Science. 2024 Aug 30;385(6712):eadj8691. doi: 10.1126/science.adj8691. Epub 2024 Aug 30.

Abstract

Chromosome-containing micronuclei are a hallmark of aggressive cancers. Micronuclei frequently undergo irreversible collapse, exposing their enclosed chromatin to the cytosol. Micronuclear rupture catalyzes chromosomal rearrangements, epigenetic abnormalities, and inflammation, yet mechanisms safeguarding micronuclear integrity are poorly understood. In this study, we found that mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) disrupt micronuclei by promoting a noncanonical function of charged multivesicular body protein 7 (CHMP7), a scaffolding protein for the membrane repair complex known as endosomal sorting complex required for transport III (ESCRT-III). ROS retained CHMP7 in micronuclei while disrupting its interaction with other ESCRT-III components. ROS-induced cysteine oxidation stimulated CHMP7 oligomerization and binding to the nuclear membrane protein LEMD2, disrupting micronuclear envelopes. Furthermore, this ROS-CHMP7 pathological axis engendered chromosome shattering known to result from micronuclear rupture. It also mediated micronuclear disintegrity under hypoxic conditions, linking tumor hypoxia with downstream processes driving cancer progression.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Hypoxia
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • Cysteine / metabolism
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport* / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins* / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins* / metabolism
  • Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective*
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Nuclear Envelope / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins* / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins* / metabolism
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxidative Stress*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • Cysteine
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • CHMP7 protein, human
  • LEMD2 protein, human