Tipping the balance of cell death: alternative splicing as a source of MCL-1S in cancer
Abstract Apoptosis-regulating proteins from the B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) family are of continued interest as they represent promising targets for anti-cancer therapies. Myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL-1), which usually refers to the long isoform (MCL-1L) is frequently overexpressed in various types of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Publishing Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Cell Death and Disease |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-024-07307-z |
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| Summary: | Abstract Apoptosis-regulating proteins from the B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) family are of continued interest as they represent promising targets for anti-cancer therapies. Myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL-1), which usually refers to the long isoform (MCL-1L) is frequently overexpressed in various types of cancer. However, MCL1 pre-mRNA can also undergo alternative splicing through exon skipping to yield the short isoform, MCL-1S. Regarding its structure and function, MCL-1S corresponds to BCL-2 homology domain 3 (BH3)-only pro-apoptotic proteins in contrast to the pro-survival role of MCL-1L. As cancer cells are usually characterized by the high MCL-1L:MCL-1S ratio, several studies revealed that overexpression of MCL-1S may constitute a new therapeutic approach in cancer and presumably overcome resistance to currently available drugs. Switching the balance towards high levels of MCL-1S is feasible by using inhibitors of alternative splicing-regulating proteins and strategies directly interfering with MCL1 pre-mRNA. Additionally, several compounds were shown to increase MCL-1S levels through unelucidated mechanisms, while diversely affecting the level of MCL-1L isoform. These mechanisms require detailed clarification as the balance between the long and short variants of MCL-1 can also contribute to mitochondrial hyperpolarization. In this respect, the role of MCL-1S in the regulation of apoptosis-unrelated events of the mitochondria physiology, including mitochondria fission and fusion also remains to be determined. In this review, the structure and function of MCL-1S isoform, and MCL-1S-targeting approaches are discussed. |
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| ISSN: | 2041-4889 |