Abstract 1260: Collapse of cancer cell micronuclei from oxidative damage
Authors: Di Bona Melody , Chen Yanyang , Agustinus Albert , Deyell Matthew , Duran Mercedes A. , Hong Christy , Hickling James , Bronder Daniel , Martin Sara , Riaz Nadeem , Diplas Bill , Jalan Manisha , Lee Nancy , Ordureau Alban , Izar Benjamin , Laughney Ashley , Powell Simon , Santaguida Stefano , Maciejowski John , Jeitner Thomas , Bakhoum Samuel 
Published: March 2024

Chromosomal instability, a hallmark of aggressive cancers, disrupts genome integrity through multiple hits by ongoing missegregation of chromosomes. These chromosomes, inherited only by one daughter cell, are subsequently encapsulated in micronuclei (MNi). Micronucleation is detrimental for replication fidelity not only because it sustains chromosomal missegregation, but also because MNi frequently undergo irreversible collapse during interphase exposing their enclosed chromatin to the cytosol. This exposure catalyzes chromosomal rearrangements and heritable epigenetic abnormalities that have been shown to further bolster cancer evolution and therapeutic resistance. Moreover, MNi collapse is known to promote distant metastasis and poor prognosis through eliciting a non-canonical response of otherwise inflammatory signaling pathways. Despite the fundamental role played by MNi catastrophe in compromising genome integrity and sustaining cancer progression, and the subsequent therapeutic potential of targeting this process, the mechanisms underlying MNi collapse are poorly understood. Here, we identify mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) as the main cause of MNi rupture. Notably, we observe that MNi that locate closer to mitochondria are more prone to rupture. Accordingly, increasing ROS chemically and by H2O2 addition increment rupture in a panel of 5 different tumor cell lines, while decreasing ROS using pan-cellular or mitochondrial specific scavengers reduce the frequency of ruptured MNi. By using a combination of advanced super-resolution microscopy, proteomics, transcriptomics, in vitro biochemistry assays, and extensive mutagenesis, we reveal the exact pathway leading to MNi collapse. We demonstrate that ROS promote a noncanonical function of the membrane repair ESCRT-III complex scaffolding protein, CHMP7. ROS reduce CHMP7 interaction with ESCRT-III promoting CHMP7 oligomerization and its binding to the inner nuclear membrane protein, LEMD2. CHMP7, while aggregating, physically pulls the micronuclear envelope together with the LEMD2-associated lamina, thereby disrupting MNi integrity. Finally, we show that hypoxic conditions promote ROS-dependent CHMP7-LEMD2 interaction, inducing MNi rupture and inflammatory signaling. Thus, we observe that human tumors characterized by hypoxia have a significantly increased predominance of ruptured MNi, providing a mechanistic link between tumor hypoxia and downstream processes that drive cancer progression.

Citation Format: Melody Di Bona, Yanyang Chen, Albert Agustinus, Matthew Deyell, Mercedes A. Duran, Christy Hong, James Hickling, Daniel Bronder, Sara Martin, Nadeem Riaz, Bill Diplas, Manisha Jalan, Nancy Lee, Alban Ordureau, Benjamin Izar, Ashley Laughney, Simon Powell, Stefano Santaguida, John Maciejowski, Thomas Jeitner, Samuel Bakhoum. Collapse of cancer cell micronuclei from oxidative damage [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1260.