Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Castration-resistant prostate cancer cells are addicted to the high activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 2

doi: 10.64898/2026.03.17.712428

Figure Lengend Snippet: A) Schematic representation of RB1-E2F regulation during cell cycle. Phosphorylation of RB1 releases the E2F transcription factor, which activates the genes required for cell cycle progression. B) mRNA expression levels of E-type cyclins ( CCNE1 and CCNE2 ) and Dtype cyclins ( CCND1, CCND2 , and CCND3 ) were analyzed across normal prostate tissue, primary prostate cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, and castration-resistant prostate cancer using patient datasets obtained from accessed through betastasis.com. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean (SEM) and unpaired Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test was used to evaluate statistical significance. C and D) Gleason score distribution in prostate tumors over-expression CDK2 and / or CCNE1 and / or CCNE2 (exp > 2) accessed through the cBioPortal in the Prostate Adenocarcinoma (TCGA, Firehose Legacy) dataset and Metastatic Prostate Adenocarcinoma (SU2C/PCF Dream Team, PNAS 2019). Please, note that value of 11 is that recorded from cBioportal. D and E) Cell viability after 4 days of treatment with BLU-222 and Tagtociclib at the indicated concentrations (average of three biological replicates each with three technical replicates). Control samples were set to 100 and treatments were normalized to that. Error bars represent the SEM. F and G) Colony-formation assay after 7 days treatment with BLU-222 and Tagtociclib or CDK2 knockdown in C4-2 (3-4 biological replicates, paired two-tailed Student’s t -test (F) and one-sample t -test (G) were used to evaluate statistical significance and error bars represent the SEM. Western blot was used to confirm successful depletion of CDK2 after the knockdown (representative of three biological replicates).

Article Snippet: LNCaP, C4-2, 22RV1, and RWPE-1 cell lines were obtained from the American Tissue Culture Collection, while PNT1 cells were obtained from Sigma; all were maintained in the RPMI media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS).

Techniques: Phospho-proteomics, Expressing, MANN-WHITNEY, Over Expression, Control, Colony Assay, Knockdown, Two Tailed Test, Western Blot

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Castration-resistant prostate cancer cells are addicted to the high activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 2

doi: 10.64898/2026.03.17.712428

Figure Lengend Snippet: A) Parental and BLU-222-resistant C4-2 cells were treated with BLU-222 as indicated and cell viability was assessed after 4 days of treatment (four biological replicates, each 6 technical replicates and paired two-tailed Student’s t -test was used to assess significance. GraphPad Prism was used to calculate IC 50 -values. Error bars represent the SEM. B and C) Parental and BLU-222-resistant C4-2 cells were treated with the selective CDK2 inhibitor Tagtociclib or the pan-CDK inhibitor AT7519 and viability assessed (the rest is the same as in 2A). D) RT-qPCR analysis of parental and BLU-222 resistant C4-2 cells after the indicated treatments. Data is from 3-4 biological replicates, error bars represent the SEM and statistical significance is evaluated by one sample t -test. E) Parental and BLU-222-resistant C4-2 cells were treated with the CDK4/6 inhibitor Abemaciclib and Palbociclib for 4 days and the rest is the same as in 2A.

Article Snippet: LNCaP, C4-2, 22RV1, and RWPE-1 cell lines were obtained from the American Tissue Culture Collection, while PNT1 cells were obtained from Sigma; all were maintained in the RPMI media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS).

Techniques: Two Tailed Test, Quantitative RT-PCR

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Castration-resistant prostate cancer cells are addicted to the high activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 2

doi: 10.64898/2026.03.17.712428

Figure Lengend Snippet: A) C4-2 cells were treated with BLU-222 (500 nM) and Tagtociclib (500 nM) for 3 days, R-loop accumulation was detected using immunofluorescence (the S9.6 antibody), and TP53BP1 was also detected. Quantification of signal intensity with SEM and significance was assessed by paired two-tailed Student’s t -test. B) CRPC cell lines (C4-2 and 22RV1) and normal prostate epithelial cells (PNT1) were treated for 4 days with CX-5461 or Everolimus alone, or in combination with BLU-222 (500 nM) or Tagtociclib (500 nM), cell viability assessed and data is the mean of four biological replicates (2-3 technical replicates each) with SEM. Paired two-tailed Student’s t -test was used to evaluate statistical significance, which is indicated in comparison between CDK2 inhibitor-alone and compound of interest-alone to combination and is color-coded according to CDK2 inhibitor used. C) Colony-formation assay. Cells were either not radiated (0), first radiated and then treated after 1 day (R>C), first treated and then radiated after 1 day (C>R) or treated and radiated at the same time (CR). After 7 days, the colonies were detected (4 biological replicates with SEM). Paired two-tailed Student’s t -test was used to evaluate statistical significance and the value reported is in comparison to both radiation-alone and CDK2 inhibitor-alone (whichever is higher, is reported).

Article Snippet: LNCaP, C4-2, 22RV1, and RWPE-1 cell lines were obtained from the American Tissue Culture Collection, while PNT1 cells were obtained from Sigma; all were maintained in the RPMI media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS).

Techniques: Immunofluorescence, Two Tailed Test, Comparison, Colony Assay

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Castration-resistant prostate cancer cells are addicted to the high activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 2

doi: 10.64898/2026.03.17.712428

Figure Lengend Snippet: A-D) CRPC cell lines (C4-2 and 22Rv1), cell lines derived from normal prostate epithelia (PNT1 and RWPE-1), and prostate cancer cells (LNCaP) were treated for 4 days as indicated (BLU-222: 500 nM and Tagtociclib: 500 nM), viability assay performed and data is the mean of four biological replicates (2-3 technical replicates each) with SEM. Paired two-tailed Student’s t -test was used to evaluate statistical significance, which is indicated in comparison between CDK2 inhibitor-alone and compound of interest-alone to combination and is color-coded according to CDK2 inhibitor used. E) Colony-formation assay. Cells were treated as indicated and colony-formation assay performed after 7 days (3 biological replicates with SEM and paired two-tailed Student’s t -test was used to assess the significance).

Article Snippet: LNCaP, C4-2, 22RV1, and RWPE-1 cell lines were obtained from the American Tissue Culture Collection, while PNT1 cells were obtained from Sigma; all were maintained in the RPMI media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS).

Techniques: Derivative Assay, Viability Assay, Two Tailed Test, Comparison, Colony Assay

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Castration-resistant prostate cancer cells are addicted to the high activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 2

doi: 10.64898/2026.03.17.712428

Figure Lengend Snippet: A) CRPC cell lines C4-2 and 22Rv1 were treated with BLU-222 or Tagtociclib for 48 hours. mRNA levels of AR and AR target genes were measured by qPCR. For C4-2 cells, AR, KLK3, and TMPRSS2 expression were analyzed, whereas for 22RV1 cells, AR, KLK3, and GAPDH expression were analyzed. Boxplots represent data from 2-3 biological replicates. Error bars represent the SEM. B) mRNA levels of AR and AR target genes, KLK3, and GAPDH were quantified by qPCR in parental and BLU-222-resistant C4-2 cells. Data is from four biological replicates with SEM. C) Pathology classification of prostate tumors over-expressing CDK2 and / or CCNE1 and / or CCNE2 (exp > 2) accessed through the cBioPortal in the Metastatic Prostate Adenocarcinoma (SU2C/PCF Dream Team, PNAS 2019).

Article Snippet: LNCaP, C4-2, 22RV1, and RWPE-1 cell lines were obtained from the American Tissue Culture Collection, while PNT1 cells were obtained from Sigma; all were maintained in the RPMI media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS).

Techniques: Expressing

Journal: Nucleic Acids Research

Article Title: The CDK5 repressor CDK5RAP1 is a methylthiotransferase acting on nuclear and mitochondrial RNA

doi: 10.1093/nar/gks240

Figure Lengend Snippet: Subcelluar distribution of CDK5RAP1 variants. ( a ) Representation of the two investigated CDK5RAP1 variants with mitochondrial import sequence and catalytic domain. ( b ) Live-cell images of HeLa cells transfected with C-terminally GFP-tagged CDK5RAP1-v1 and CDK5RAP1-v2. For the counterstain of mitochondria, cells were incubated with MitoTracker Red dye. The merge shows that CDK5RAP1-v1 colocalizes with mitochondria, while CDK5RAP1-v2 is distributed in both cytoplasm and nucleus. ( c ) Formaldehyde-fixed HeLa cells were stained with an antibody against the N-terminal region of CDK5RAP1-v2 (Alexa-488, green) and against CDK5 (Alexa-555, red). The localization of CDK5RAP1 is predominantly nuclear with little overlap to CDK5. ( d ) Again, fixed HeLa cells were stained with anti-CDK5RAP1 (green). For localization of nucleic acids, propidium iodide (red) was used. CDK5RAP1 shows an association with the mitotic spindle.

Article Snippet: GFP-reporter plasmids for the subcellular localization of the human CDK5RAP1 variants were obtained from Origene (RG216600 and RG208724).

Techniques: Sequencing, Transfection, Incubation, Staining

Journal: Nucleic Acids Research

Article Title: The CDK5 repressor CDK5RAP1 is a methylthiotransferase acting on nuclear and mitochondrial RNA

doi: 10.1093/nar/gks240

Figure Lengend Snippet: CDK5RAP1 is the human homolog of the bacterial protein MiaB. ( a ) Complementation assay in E. coli. Quantification of m 6 A, i 6 A and ms 2 i 6 A in tRNA of wild-type E. coli , a MiaB-deficient strain and a MiaB-deficient strain complemented with CDK5RAP1. m 6 A was used as internal standard and levels did not change during the experiment. i 6 A level increased in ΔMiaB and compared to WT, because of lack of conversion to ms 2 i 6 A. ΔMiaB + CDK5RAP1 shows a decreased i 6 A level in comparison to ΔMiaB, generated by the complementation. By the expression of CDK5RAP1, the ms 2 i 6 A level increases 15-fold in comparison to ΔMiaB. ( b ) siRNA knockdown in HeLa cells. Cells were transfected twice with esiRNA against CDK5RAP1. Non-coding esiRNA against EGFP served as a control. After 72 h, total RNA was extracted and the modification content was determined by LC-MS. m 6 A and i 6 A remain constant, while ms 2 i 6 A decreased ∼78%.

Article Snippet: GFP-reporter plasmids for the subcellular localization of the human CDK5RAP1 variants were obtained from Origene (RG216600 and RG208724).

Techniques: Generated, Expressing, Transfection, esiRNA, Modification, Liquid Chromatography with Mass Spectroscopy

Journal: Oncotarget

Article Title: CAMK2N1 inhibits prostate cancer progression through androgen receptor-dependent signaling

doi:

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) In Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients with tumors expressing high levels of AR (N = 39) had poor recurrence-free survival ( p = 0.0006 ). (B) In Kaplan-Meier analysis, there was a significant trend toward improved survival in cases showing high expression of CAMK2N1 (N = 19) as opposed to cases showing low expression of CAMK2N1 (N = 20) in recurrent patients with high AR expression ( p = 0.023 ). (C) IHC was also conducted to determine CAMK2N1 and AR expression in the prostate cancer specimens (N = 70). AR and CAMK2N1 were inversely correlated in human prostate cancers ( r = −0.384, p = 0.0027).

Article Snippet: 2 × 10 6 C4-2 cells knockdown CAMK2N1 were implanted subcutaneously into 4-6-week-old castrated mal nude mice purchased from Beijing HFK Bio-Technology.co., LTD. Tumor growth was measured using a digital caliper every 5 days for 4-5 weeks.

Techniques: Expressing

Journal: Oncotarget

Article Title: CAMK2N1 inhibits prostate cancer progression through androgen receptor-dependent signaling

doi:

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A-B) LNCaP cells were treated with 1-100 nM R1881 for 6-10 hrs. CAMK2N1 mRNA levels were determined by qRT-PCR. (C-E) CAMK2N1, AR protein and mRNA levels were determined by Western blot and qRT-PCR in LNCaP cells with stably knockdown of AR. LNCaP cells were treated with 10 nM R1881 for 10 hrs. (F-H) CAMK2N1 promoter reporters (−39~−1011, −1112~−2006) were assessed in AR-positive LNCaP cells and AR-negative PC3 cells. R1881 repressed activity of CAMK2N1 gene reporters (−39~−1011) in the presence of AR.

Article Snippet: 2 × 10 6 C4-2 cells knockdown CAMK2N1 were implanted subcutaneously into 4-6-week-old castrated mal nude mice purchased from Beijing HFK Bio-Technology.co., LTD. Tumor growth was measured using a digital caliper every 5 days for 4-5 weeks.

Techniques: Quantitative RT-PCR, Western Blot, Stable Transfection, Activity Assay

Journal: Oncotarget

Article Title: CAMK2N1 inhibits prostate cancer progression through androgen receptor-dependent signaling

doi:

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) CAMK2N1, AR and p21 protein levels were determined by Western blot in LNCaP cells with stably knockdown of CAMK2N1. LNCaP cells were treated with 10 nM R1881 for 10 hrs. (B-F) CAMK2N1, AR, PSA, TMPRSS2 and p21 mRNA levels were determined by qRT-PCR in LNCaP cells with stably knockdown of CAMK2N1. LNCaP cells were treated with 10 nM R1881 for 10 hrs. (G-J) Androgen-responsive luciferase reporter genes (PSA-Luc, MMTV-Luc) were assessed for AR activity. LNCaP cells with CAMK2N1 overexpression or knockdown were treated with R1881 for 24 hrs. (K) CHIP analysis of AR for PSA promoter region in LNCaP cells with stable knockdown of CAMK2N1. LNCaP cells were treated with R1881 or vehicle for 10 hrs. CHIP assay was performed using an anti-AR antibody.

Article Snippet: 2 × 10 6 C4-2 cells knockdown CAMK2N1 were implanted subcutaneously into 4-6-week-old castrated mal nude mice purchased from Beijing HFK Bio-Technology.co., LTD. Tumor growth was measured using a digital caliper every 5 days for 4-5 weeks.

Techniques: Western Blot, Stable Transfection, Quantitative RT-PCR, Luciferase, Activity Assay, Over Expression

Journal: Oncotarget

Article Title: CAMK2N1 inhibits prostate cancer progression through androgen receptor-dependent signaling

doi:

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) Expression levels of pAKT ser473 , AKT, AR, Bcl-2, BAX, and p21 were determined by Western blot in LNCaP cells with stable CAMK2N1 knockdown. (B) Expression levels of pAKT ser473 , AKT and AR were determined by Western blot in LNCaP cells with stable CAMK2N1 overexpression. (C-D) CAMK2N1 knockdown cells treated with 10 nM R1881 and/or 20μM KN-93 inhibitor. PSA-Luc was assessed for AR activity. CAMKIIβ and AR protein levels were determined by Western blot. (E-F) LNCaP cells transiently transfected with CAMK2N1 and/or CAMKIIβ while treated with 10 nM R1881. PSA-Luc was assessed for AR activity. CAMK2N1 and CAMKIIβ protein levels were determined by Western blot. (G-H) CAMK2N1 knockdown cells treated with 10 nM R1881 and/or 20 μM AKT VIII. PSA-Luc was assessed for AR activity. pAKT ser473 , AKT and AR β protein levels were determined by Western blot. (I-J) LNCaP cells transiently transfected with CAMK2N1 and/or m-AKT. PSA-Luc was assessed for AR activity. CAMK2N1 and CAMKIIβ protein levels were determined by Western blot.

Article Snippet: 2 × 10 6 C4-2 cells knockdown CAMK2N1 were implanted subcutaneously into 4-6-week-old castrated mal nude mice purchased from Beijing HFK Bio-Technology.co., LTD. Tumor growth was measured using a digital caliper every 5 days for 4-5 weeks.

Techniques: Expressing, Western Blot, Over Expression, Activity Assay, Transfection

Journal: Oncotarget

Article Title: CAMK2N1 inhibits prostate cancer progression through androgen receptor-dependent signaling

doi:

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) LNCaP cells with stable knockdown of CAMK2N1 were treated with or without R1881. Cells were analyzed for cell proliferation by MTT assay. (B) LNCaP cells with stable knockdown of CAMK2N1 followed by treatment with or without Casodex (10 μM) were analyzed for cell proliferation by MTT assay. (C) LNCaP cells with stable knockdown of CAMK2N1 were treated with or without R1881. Cells were then analyzed for cell cycle by flow cytometry.

Article Snippet: 2 × 10 6 C4-2 cells knockdown CAMK2N1 were implanted subcutaneously into 4-6-week-old castrated mal nude mice purchased from Beijing HFK Bio-Technology.co., LTD. Tumor growth was measured using a digital caliper every 5 days for 4-5 weeks.

Techniques: MTT Assay, Flow Cytometry

Journal: Oncotarget

Article Title: CAMK2N1 inhibits prostate cancer progression through androgen receptor-dependent signaling

doi:

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) Expression levels of pAKT ser473 , AKT, AR, Bcl-2, BAX, and p21 were determined by Western blot in C4-2 cells with stable CAMK2N1 knockdown. (B) Expression levels of pAKT ser473 , AR Bcl-2, BAX, and p21 were determined by Western blot in C4-2 cells with stable CAMK2N1 overexpression. (C) C4-2 cells with stable overexpression of CAMK2N1 and AR knockdown. Cells were analyzed for cell proliferation by MTT assay. CAMK2N1 and AR protein levels were determined by Western blot. (D) C4-2 cells with stable overexpression of CAMK2N1 followed by treatment with or without Casodex (10 μM) were analyzed for cell proliferation by MTT. (E) C4-2 cells with stable knockdown of CAMK2N1 were analyzed for cell cycle by flow cytometry. (F) C4-2 cells with stable overexpression of CAMK2N1 and AR knockdown. Cells were analyzed for cell apoptosis by Annexin V staining.

Article Snippet: 2 × 10 6 C4-2 cells knockdown CAMK2N1 were implanted subcutaneously into 4-6-week-old castrated mal nude mice purchased from Beijing HFK Bio-Technology.co., LTD. Tumor growth was measured using a digital caliper every 5 days for 4-5 weeks.

Techniques: Expressing, Western Blot, Over Expression, MTT Assay, Flow Cytometry, Staining

Journal: Oncotarget

Article Title: CAMK2N1 inhibits prostate cancer progression through androgen receptor-dependent signaling

doi:

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A-C) C4-2 tumors with stable CAMK2N1 knockdown were injected into nude mice. Tumor size was measured every 5 days. The data was shown as mean ± SEM for N > 6 separate tumors for each group. (A) Images of tumors dissected from the mice. (B) The tumor size (mm 3 ) versus days of post injection. (C) Tumor was weighted after resection at the end of experiment. (D) mRNA levels of AR, PSA, P21, BAX and BCL2 were determined by qRT-PCR in tumors. (E) IHC staining detected the protein expression of CAMK2N1, AR, p21, Ki67, pAKT ser473 and BCL2 in C4-2 tumor tissues derived from mice. Data for quantified IHC was shown as mean ± SEM for N = 4 tumors in each group.

Article Snippet: 2 × 10 6 C4-2 cells knockdown CAMK2N1 were implanted subcutaneously into 4-6-week-old castrated mal nude mice purchased from Beijing HFK Bio-Technology.co., LTD. Tumor growth was measured using a digital caliper every 5 days for 4-5 weeks.

Techniques: Injection, Quantitative RT-PCR, Immunohistochemistry, Expressing, Derivative Assay