The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Interpreting variants of uncertain significance (VUS) for their effect on protein function, and therefore for the risk of developing cancer, has become a challenge in clinical practice for genetic counselling services. The present work combines structural bioinformatics and systems biology based mathematical modelling approaches with the aim of determining the pathogenicity of the mutation c.5434C->G (p.Pro1812Ala) in the BRCA1 gene (detected in a patient from a high risk family) and also to mechanistically understand the effect of this mutation in DNA damage response, a key process in cancer development. The results obtained showed that this mutation prevents the interaction of BRCA1 with key proteins of the cell cycle, subsequently impairing BRCA1-dependent induction of cell cycle arrest. The comparison of the molecular mechanisms associated with the native BRCA1 protein and the mutated variant function in DNA damage response showed that the latter undergoes a reduction in its ability to modulate pathways that are critical for DNA repair and cell cycle control. Therefore, this variant will not be able to exert its tumor suppressive action. Interestingly, these conclusions can be extrapolated to all mutations that, like c.5434C>G (p.Pro1812Ala) BRCA1, cause loss of BRCT domain activity.
Deleterious variants in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes account for approximately 20% of cases of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. The BRCA1 gene is found on the long arm of chromosome 17 (17q21) and plays a crucial role in DNA damage response. BRCA1 inactivating mutations lead to genetic instability, indirectly causing tumours to occur as a result of an accumulation of mutations in cell cycle regulatory genes. In Spain, families that carry the deleterious mutation in the BRCA1 gene have a 52% cumulative risk of developing breast cancer and a 22% risk of developing ovarian cancer by the age of 70
The BRCA1 protein is a protein of 1863 amino acids. The two most important domains of BRCA1 are the RING domain and the BRCT domain. The RING domain is located at the amino terminus of BRCA1, between amino acids 1 and 109 (exons 2 - 7), and it is responsible for the E3·ubiquitin·ligase activity of BRCA1
BRCA1 is involved in several steps of the DNA damage response process, a cell cycle control mechanisms that prevent the progression of the cell cycle while activating DNA repair routes. From a mechanistic point of view, it is known that BRCA1 forms part of 4 macro-complexes
Interpreting variants of uncertain significance for the effect of protein function, and therefore for the risk of developing cancer, has become a challenge in clinical practice for genetic counselling services. It is necessary to develop tools that will help us reduce the high percentage of variants of uncertain significance, therefore facilitating genetic counselling process.
The variant of uncertain significance c.5434C->G (p.Pro1812Ala = Pro1812Ala) has been found in a high-risk family, where the proband is a woman diagnosed with papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary, and her mother and maternal aunt are diagnosed with breast cancer. The c.5434C>G variant is found at position 28 of exon 23 of the BRCA1 gene. In this work we apply systems biology based mathematical modelling approaches to mechanistically determine the pathogenic effect of this variant.
The assessment of the physiological consequences of the c.5434C->G (p.Pro1812Ala) mutation with regard to its predisposition to develop cancer was approached by two complementary computational perspectives: a structural approach and a systems biology based functional approach.
A three-dimensional structure of the BRCA1 protein was modelled after experimentally obtained structures contained in PDB, taking into account the changes induced by the mutation according to published literature
The presence of significant structural changes in the BRCA1 protein was detected through statistical parameters and subjective assessment after visualization and the stability of the mutated protein was determined based on certain key values, including potential energy, RMSD, and Ramachandran outliers. The predictions were compared with the conclusions of published studies.
Therapeutic Performance Mapping System (TPMS) technology (Anaxomics Biotech, Barcelona)
This static map was transformed into a dynamic mathematical model with predictive capacity through training them with functional information collected in Anaxomics proprietary Truth Table database. In brief, to train the mathematical models a collection of known input-output physiological signals was used. The molecular description of these input-output physiological signals mainly derives from literature mining and a compendium of databases that accumulate biological and clinical knowledge, such as microarray databases (e.g. GEO
Once the models had been generated, they were analysed in two sequential steps: First the mechanism of action of functional protein and the mutated protein in DNA damage response was evaluated independently, as detailed in the literature
In order to determine the physiological consequences of BRCA1 c.5434C->G (p.Pro1812Ala) mutation, this variant was analysed from two complementary perspectives to determine, first, the protein structural changes caused by the mutation in BRCA1 and then, the impact of these changes in the protein functionally in the context of the DNA damage response.
It has been previously reported that the c.5434C->G (p.Pro1812Ala) mutation causes an important splicing defect in BRCA1, resulting in the omission of exon 23, which in turn leads to the appearance of a premature stop codon (p.Gly1803GlnfsX11)
Both proteins have the same number of α helices, β strands and turns
Additionally, in order to evaluate whether the structural similarity between the variants remains invariable over time (i.e. if they are equally stable), we tracked the conformational changes through molecular dynamics during 100 picoseconds (
Mathematical models simulating DNA damage response related mechanisms were used to compare two molecular scenarios: expression of the wild type and the c.5434C->G (Pro1812Ala) variant. Working on the basis that loss of the second BRCT domain disturbs the whole BRCT region
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P35869 | AHR | does not activate | P38398 | BRCA1 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | Q92793 | CREBBP |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | Q96RL1 | UIMC1 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | P15311 | EZR |
P78347 | GTF21 | does not activate | P38398 | BRCA1 |
Q9NWV8 | BABAM1 | does not activate | P38398 | BRCA1 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | Q86YC2 | PALB2 |
Q8N163 | CCAR2 | does not inhibit | P51948 | BRCA1 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not inhibit | P38398 | MNAT1 |
P51587 | BRCA2 | does not activate | Q06609 | RAD51 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | Q13287 | NM1 |
P67870 | CSNK2B | does not activate | P38398 | BRCA1 |
Q9Y4A5 | TRRAP | does not activate | P38398 | BRCA1 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | P26038 | MSN |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | Q99708 | RBBP8 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | Q09028 | RBBP4 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | Q9Y216 | NINL |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | Q16576 | RBBP7 |
Q15648 | MED1 | does not activate | P38398 | BRCA1 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | Q92769 | HDAC2 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not inhibit | P31749 | AKT1 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate with | 60934 | NBN |
Q86YC2 | PALB2 | does not interact | P51587 | BRCA2 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | P84022 | SMAD3 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not inhibit | Q8WXE1 | ATRIP |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | Q14032 | BAAT |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | Q6R327 | RICTOR |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | P31749 | AKT1 |
P23771 | GATA3 | does not activate | P38398 | BRCA1 |
P00519 | ABL1 | does not activate | P38398 | BRCA1 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | P52701 | MSH6 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | P51587 | BRCA2 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | P49959 | MRE11A |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | Q92878 | RAD50 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | P40692 | MLH1 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | P43246 | MSH2 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | P35241 | RDX |
Q08211 | DHX9 | does not inhibit | P38398 | BRCA1 |
P84022 | SMAD3 | does not inhibit | P38398 | BRCA1 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | P35222 | CTNNB1 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | Q9BX63 | BRIP1 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | Q13547 | HDAC1 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | P04637 | TP53 |
Q86YC2 | PALB2 | does not activate | P51587 | BRCA2 |
P09651 | HNRNPA1 | does not inhibit | P38398 | BRCA1 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | Q6UWZ7 | FAM175A |
Q92830 | KAT2A | does not activate | P38398 | BRCA1 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not activate | Q99759 | MAP3K3 |
P38398 | BRCA1 | does not inhibit | Q86YC2 | PALB2 |
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O14757 | Serine/threonine-protein kinase Chk1 | CHK1 |
P03372 | Estrogen receptor | ESR1 |
P06493 | Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 | CDK1 |
P14635 | G2/mitotic-specific cyclin-B1 | CCNB1 |
P14859 | POU domain, class 2, transcription factor 1 | PO2F1 |
P16104 | Histone H2AX | H2AX |
P30304 | M-phase inducer phosphatase 1 | MPIP1 |
P30305 | M-phase inducer phosphatase 2 | MPIP2 |
P30307 | M-phase inducer phosphatase 3 | MPIP3 |
P31749 | RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase | AKT1 |
P31947 | 14-3-3 protein sigma | 1433S |
P38398 | Breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein | BRCA1 |
P40692 | DNA mismatch repair protein Mlh1 | MLH1 |
P43246 | DNA mismatch repair protein Msh2 | MSH2 |
P51587 | Breast cancer type 2 susceptibility protein | BRCA2 |
P52701 | DNA mismatch repair protein Msh6 | MSH6 |
Q09028 | Histone-binding protein RBBP4 | RBBP4 |
Q13547 | Histone deacetylase 1 | HDAC1 |
Q16576 | Histone-binding protein RBBP7 | RBBP7 |
Q86YC2 | Partner and localizer of BRCA2 | PALB2 |
Q92769 | Histone deacetylase 2 | HDAC2 |
Q99708 | DNA endonuclease RBBP8 | COM1 |
Q99728 | BRCA1-associated RING domain protein 1 | BARD1 |
P04637 | Cellular tumor antigen p53 | P53 |
Q03468 | DNA excision repair protein ERCC-6 | ERCC6 |
STIMULUS: Activation of BRCA1 A ➙B: Activation relationship
RESPONSE: DDR (DNA Damage Response)
A ➙B: Inhibition relationship
The model corresponding to the mutated variant has been defined with restrictions that eliminate functional associations that depend on the BRCT domain. Interestingly, the formation of the BRCA1 complexes A, B and C was impaired in the mutated variant model, since the interaction with Abraxas/FAM175A, Bach1/BRIP1 and CTIP proteins require the BRCT domain of BRCA1.
According to our results, DNA damage response is severely affected by the mutation (
Mismatch repair (MMR): Since the mutated BRCA1 cannot activate MLH1, MSH2 or MSH6, which are key mediators of this repair mechanism, it is expected that MMR becomes severely impaired. As a result, mismatch mutations that are not repaired might persist and promote the apparition of tumors.
Homologous recombination (HR): BRCA2, COM1 and PALB3 are central mediators of the HR process, so their loss might result in the complete impairment of this pathway. Consequently, mutations that should be repaired by means of this process will not be fixed, potentially leading to cancer. HR participates in the repair of DNA double-stranded breaks (DSB) and interstrand crosslinks (CLS), as well as in providing support for DNA replication
Nucleotide excision repair: Although the BRCA1-P53 interaction is lost, the inhibition of ERCC6, also known as Cockayne syndrome group (CSB)
Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ): With BRCA1 unable to activate MSH6, a certain impact on this process is expected. However, H2AX is still active, as well as other proteins that are important for this mechanism. Hence, little real change in this mechanism is expected.
Cell cycle arrest: Despite the disruption of the interactions with key proteins of the cell cycle, namely AKT, P53, HDAC 1/2 and RBBP 4/7, the Pro1821Ala variant is still capable of binding and affecting other mediators of cell cycle arrest. Thus, albeit this process will be much more fragile and sensitive to future mutations, it is expected that BRCA1 retains a certain ability to stop the cell cycle.
The different biological processes and protein interaction altered by the studied mutation are summarized in
Process | Affected | Not affected | New |
MMR | MLH1, MSHS, MSH6 | None | - |
HR | COMI, BRCA2, PALB2 | BARDI, H2AX | - |
NER | P53 | None | ERRC6 |
NHEJ | MSH6 | H2AX | - |
Cell cycle | P53, AKT1, HDAC1, HDAC2, RBBP4, RBBP7 | COMI | MPIP1, MPIP2, MPIP3, 1433S, CDK1, CCNB1 |
MMR = Mismatch Repair
HR = Homologous Recombination
NER = Nucleotide Excision Repair
NHEJ = Non-Homologous End Join
Overall, the comparison between the MoAs of the full-length BRCA1 and its mutated variant shows that the latter undergoes a drastic reduction in its ability to modulate a number of proteins and pathways which are critical for DNA repair and cell cycle control.
In order to investigate the hypothetically pathogenic role of the BRCA1 c.5434C->G (p.Pro1812Ala) mutation, a study was carried out using computational methods. A structural model was created and it was assessed from a functional and systems biology point of view.
The c.5434C->G (p.Pro1812Ala) mutation causes an important splicing defect in BRCA1, resulting in the omission of exon 23, which in turn leads to the appearance of a premature stop codon (p.Gly1803GlnfsX11)
As a result of a dysfunctional BRCT domain, the mutated protein cannot carry out its role in DNA damage response and cell cycle regulation.
BRCA1 activity that depends on proteins that interact with other domains, such as interaction of the RING domain with the BARD1 protein, is not expected to be affected by this mutation
In the c.5434C->G (p.Pro1812Ala) variant, p53 is not activated by the altered BRCT domain. The initiation of the apoptotic response may therefore be compromised
The results of structural and mechanical analyses mean that the c.5434C->G (p.Pro1812Ala) variant can be reclassified from a variant of unknown significance to a pathogenic variant. The following evidence supports this statement:
BRCA1 mutations with a similar splicing effect, including the neighbouring variants c.4987-3C>G
Systems biology tools were used to evaluate the impact of the BRCA1 c.5434C->G (p.Pro1812Ala) mutation on DNA damage response from a mechanistic perspective. The results of this analysis support the findings of structural and functional methods explaining how the c.5434C->G (p.Pro1812Ala) mutation leads to impaired DNA repair and cell cycle control. This conclusion can be extrapolated to all mutations that cause loss of BRCT domain activity.
As regards DNA repair pathways, Mismatch Repair (MMR) and homologous recombination can be strongly altered in cells that harbour the c.5434C->G (p.Pro1812Ala) variant, whereas the effect on non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and nucleotide excision repair (NER) seem to be less significant. Each of these mechanisms plays an independent and irreplaceable role in DNA repair. Failure of any one of them makes it impossible to repair a certain type of damage, which will eventually lead to an accumulation of mutations.
Together with structural and functional analysis, mechanistic insight provides a sound basis for defining the c.5434C->G (p.Pro1812Ala) mutation as a pathogenic variant. The BRCA1 c.5434C->G (Pro1812Ala) mutation causes deletion of the second BRCT domain, which plays a key role in critical processes, such as DNA repair and cell cycle control. It is therefore to be expected that this variant will not be able to exert its tumour suppressor action.
In conclusion, the c.5434C->G (p.Pro1812Ala) mutation creates an environment with increased risk of binding and tolerance to damage, which promotes the accumulation of mutations. Despite some compensation mechanisms, DNA damage whose repair is not induced, cell cycle arrest or stimulation of the apoptotic machinery may go unnoticed. This phenomenon can lead to mutations in other tumour suppressor genes or oncogenes, which causes cancer to develop. This hypothesis is consistent with Knudson's two-hit hypothesis
“The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No. 306240.”