2019
WRN helicase is a synthetic lethal target in microsatellite unstable cancers
Chan EM, Shibue T, McFarland JM, Gaeta B, Ghandi M, Dumont N, Gonzalez A, McPartlan JS, Li T, Zhang Y, Bin Liu J, Lazaro JB, Gu P, Piett CG, Apffel A, Ali SO, Deasy R, Keskula P, Ng RWS, Roberts EA, Reznichenko E, Leung L, Alimova M, Schenone M, Islam M, Maruvka YE, Liu Y, Roper J, Raghavan S, Giannakis M, Tseng YY, Nagel ZD, D’Andrea A, Root DE, Boehm JS, Getz G, Chang S, Golub TR, Tsherniak A, Vazquez F, Bass AJ. WRN helicase is a synthetic lethal target in microsatellite unstable cancers. Nature 2019, 568: 551-556. PMID: 30971823, PMCID: PMC6580861, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1102-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSynthetic lethal targetLethal targetGenetic eventsDepletion of WRNCRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockoutDNA repair pathwaysDNA repair processesSynthetic lethal relationshipSynthetic lethal vulnerabilitiesDNA repair defectsDNA mismatch repairCell cycle arrestWRN helicaseHelicase activityPromising drug targetHomologous recombinationRepair pathwaysRNA interferenceDNA breaksSynthetic lethalityWRNLethal relationshipExonuclease activityRepair defectsMismatch repair
2007
WRN at telomeres: implications for aging and cancer
Multani AS, Chang S. WRN at telomeres: implications for aging and cancer. Journal Of Cell Science 2007, 120: 713-721. PMID: 17314245, DOI: 10.1242/jcs.03397.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWerner syndromeHuman Werner syndromePremature aging syndromesRecent genetic evidenceAge-related pathologiesGenome stabilityWRN deficiencyTelomere maintenanceDNA replicationGenetic evidenceSingle gene defectsTelomere dysfunctionCellular senescenceAging syndromesMolecular levelPremature agingEarly cancer onsetWRNGene defectsCancer onsetMajor roleTelomeresSenescenceRapid onsetProtein
2005
Elevated telomere-telomere recombination in WRN-deficient, telomere dysfunctional cells promotes escape from senescence and engagement of the ALT pathway
Laud PR, Multani AS, Bailey SM, Wu L, Ma J, Kingsley C, Lebel M, Pathak S, DePinho RA, Chang S. Elevated telomere-telomere recombination in WRN-deficient, telomere dysfunctional cells promotes escape from senescence and engagement of the ALT pathway. Genes & Development 2005, 19: 2560-2570. PMID: 16264192, PMCID: PMC1276730, DOI: 10.1101/gad.1321305.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWerner syndromeSister chromatidsT-SCETelomere sister chromatid exchangeElevated recombination ratesActivation of ALTWRN functionAberrant recombinationGenomic instabilityALT pathwayChromosomal aberrationsChromosomal instabilityTelomeresPremature agingDysfunctional cellsTumor formationChromatidsSister chromatid exchangesPathwayChromatid exchangesRecombinationRecombination rateCellsWRNMutants
2004
Essential role of limiting telomeres in the pathogenesis of Werner syndrome
Chang S, Multani AS, Cabrera NG, Naylor ML, Laud P, Lombard D, Pathak S, Guarente L, DePinho RA. Essential role of limiting telomeres in the pathogenesis of Werner syndrome. Nature Genetics 2004, 36: 877-882. PMID: 15235603, DOI: 10.1038/ng1389.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWerner syndromeCultured cellsComplex cellular phenotypesElevated genomic instabilityDNA damage fociPremature aging syndromesWRN deficiencyReplicative senescenceCellular phenotypesGenomic instabilityAging syndromesGenetic dataMutational inactivationPremature senescenceChromosomal instabilityTelomerase expressionHair grayingPremature agingDisease phenotypeEssential roleWRNMice nullSenescenceAutosomal recessive diseaseType II diabetes