The objective of this Ph.D. research was to identify new and novel mechanisms of wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum L.) resistance to photosystem II (PSII) inhibitors, auxinics, and acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) inhibitors. PSIIinhibitor resistance was demonstrated to be target-site based, and conferred by a Ser264 to Gly substitution of the D1 protein. Auxinic resistance was associated with reduced herbicide translocation to the meristematic regions of resistant wild radish plants. Two new resistance mutations of wild radish AHAS were discovered, including one encoding the globally rare Asp376 to Glu substitution, and another encoding an Ala122 to Tyr substitution, which has never been identified or assessed for resistance in plants previously. Characterization of the frequency and distribution of AHAS resistance mutations in wild radish from the WA wheatbelt revealed that Glu376 was widespread, and that some mutations of AHAS are more common than others. Computer simulation was used to examine the molecular basis of resistance-endowing AHAS target-site mutations. Furthermore, through the computer-aided analysis, residues were identified with the potential to confer resistance upon substitution, but which have not previously been assessed for this possibility. Results from this Ph.D. research demonstrate that diverse, unrelated mechanisms of resistance to PSII inhibitors, auxinics, and AHAS inhibitors have evolved in wild radish of the WA wheatbelt, and that these mechanisms have accumulated in some populations.

<p>PPO inhibitors are a valuable group of herbicides that provide soil-residual and foliar control of glyphosate resistant <em>Amaranthus</em> species. The ΔG210 mutation in the <em>PPX2</em> gene confers PPO-inhibitor resistance and has been present in the Midwest for more than a decade. Until recently, PPO-inhibitor resistance in waterhemp was attributable to just the ΔG210 mutation in the <em>PPX2</em> gene, but recently, several new PPO-resistant biotypes have been discovered in waterhemp and Palmer amaranth. A possible explanation is a change in PPO-inhibitor use patterns and commonly used active ingredients.</p> <p>A direct comparison of the ΔG210 mutation and a new mutation, R128G, was conducted in the greenhouse. Results indicate that the R128G mutation in waterhemp is not substantially better than the ΔG210 mutation with respect to conferring resistance to PPO inhibitors applied preemergence. Furthermore, there is no evidence that the utility of PPO inhibitors applied preemergence will diminish any further as a result of the R128G mutation increasing in frequency. A set of field trials was conducted to investigate how a new PPO inhibitor, trifludimoxazin, will select for resistant biotypes in the field. Overall, a greater number of resistant plants survived the foliar herbicide applications than emerged through soil applications. Trifludimoxazin did not increase the frequency of PPO-resistant individuals when applied to soil, but when applied to foliage, increased the frequency of PPO-resistant individuals by 2.5 to 2.6-fold, similar to other PPO inhibitors applied to foliage. In other experiments, investigations of waterhemp populations with unique resistance phenotypes were conducted. In populations that were more resistant than others, yet had the same ΔG210 mutation, there was no evidence of herbicide metabolism contributing to the greater resistance phenotype. In resistant populations that had no target site mutations, target site expression experiments and lipid peroxidation experiments were inconclusive. However, there was some evidence of increased target-site expression or increased antioxidant capacity as being causal mechanisms, although no mechanisms have been fully ruled out.</p>

No description available.

La résistance aux anti-aromatases (AAs) constitue un obstacle thérapeutique majeur dans le traitement des cancers du sein RE+. Les objectifs de ce travail étaient : (i) de caractériser les événements moléculaires associés à la résistance acquise aux AAs ; (ii) d’identifier de manière globale de nouveaux profils de miRNAs spécifiquement associés à la résistance aux AAs. Notre étude a mis en évidence le rôle central de la voie Akt/mTOR dans la résistance acquise et de novo aux AAs dans des modèles cellulaires, mais également dans des échantillons de patientes ayant récidivé sous anastrozole. La combinaison d’un AA avec le MK-2206, inhibiteur d’Akt ou avec la rapamycine, inhibiteur de mTOR, augmente la sensibilité à l’AA dans les cellules contrôles et est suffisante pour surmonter la résistance et restaurer la sensibilité à l'hormonothérapie dans les cellules résistantes. Notre travail propose également un modèle de résistance acquise aux AAs basé sur la sélection de cellules « cancer-initiating-like » dotées de propriétés d'auto-renouvellement, d’une résistance intrinsèque aux AAs et d’une sensibilité au MK-2206. Notre étude à grande échelle des miRNAs a identifié la voie Akt/mTOR comme une des cibles privilégiées de ces miRNAs. Nous avons identifié et validé trois miRNAs dérégulés capables de moduler le statut d’activation de la voie Akt/mTOR, qui représentent des cibles potentielles. En conclusion, notre projet a mis en évidence de nouvelles voies de signalisations ciblées par ces miRNAs et de nouveaux évènements moléculaires, qui représentent des candidats potentiels dans la résistance aux AAs / Resistance to aromatase inhibitors (AIs) remains a major drawback in the treatment of ER+ breast cancers. Our objectives were (i) to characterize molecular events associated with acquired AI resistance (ii) to capture a global view of the miRNA expression profiles associated with AI resistance. Our results showed the major role of the Akt/mTOR pathway in both de novo and acquired resistance to AI in cellular models and also in breast tumors of patients who relapsed under anastrozole. Combining AI with the Akt inhibitor MK-2206 or with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin increased sensitivity to this AI in the control cells and was sufficient to overcome resistance and restore sensitivity to endocrine therapy in the resistant cells. Our findings propose a model of AI-acquired resistance based on the selection of cancer-initiating-like cells possessing self-renewing properties, intrinsic resistance to AI and sensitivity to MK-2206. Our large-scale study identified the Akt/mTOR pathway as one of the main targets of the deregulated miRNAs. We identified and validated three miRNAs able to modulate the Akt/mTOR activation status, suggesting these miRNAs as potential targets. To conclude, our project identified new miRNA-targeted signaling pathways and new molecular events, representing strong candidates in the mediation of AI resistance

Malgré les thérapies anti-cancéreuses ciblées, beaucoup de patients récidivent à cause de la résistance aux traitements qui constitue un problème clinique majeur. Cette résistance est soutenue par la reprogrammation métabolique et traductionnelle. La synthèse des protéines oncogéniques fait appel au complexe d’initiation de la traduction eucaryote 4F (eIF4F), compris des facteurs : eIF4A, eIF4E et eIF4G. Il est ainsi possible de cibler la synthèse protéique spécifique aux cellules cancéreuses par des inhibiteurs de l’initiation de la traduction. Nous proposons que le ciblage de la machinerie traductionnelle, via l’inhibition du eIF4A (eIF4Ai), affecte particulièrement les cellules cancéreuses. Mais est-ce qu’il est en mesure d’atténuer la résistance aux inhibiteurs de kinase (IKs) et d’en empêcher l’adaptation et la reprogrammation métabolique? L’efficacité des eIF4Ais est vérifiée par l’évaluation de la croissance et de la mort cellulaire (Annexine V) dans des cellules de mélanome, sensibles et résistantes aux IKs. Celle-ci est accompagnée de la réduction de la synthèse protéique évaluée par profilage polysomique, de la baisse des cibles de l'eIF4Ai (BCL-2, CDK4...) quantifiées par western-blots, d’un important stress bioénergétique mesuré par Seahorse et du contrôle des principales voies métaboliques analysées par GCMS. L’analyse du profilage polysomique, de l’ARNseq et du métabolome permettront de mettre en évidence les réseaux qui soutiennent l’efficacité des eIF4Ais et les mécanismes moléculaires sous-jacents à l’efficacité de cette thérapie. Ces derniers seront par la suite validés par des approches génétiques évaluant les principaux gènes et voies métaboliques qui y sont impliqués. Cette étude comblera de grosses lacunes dans les connaissances relatives aux mécanismes moléculaires qui soutiennent la résistance aux IKs afin d’améliorer leur efficacité en clinique. / Despite advances in research and development of targeted cancer therapies, many patients relapse due to treatment resistance. This is the case of melanoma resistant to BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi). 40-50% of melanoma cancer cells express the constitutively active oncoprotein BRAFV600E, leading to metabolic and translational reprogramming that is proposed to support resistance to cancer therapies. Studies have shown the importance of the eukaryotic translation initiation complex 4F (eIF4F), including factors: eIF4A, eIF4E and eIF4G, in the oncogenic proteins’ synthesis (e.g. growth factors, metabolic factors, etc.). The cancer cells translatome is distinct from the normal cells translatome. It is thus possible to target protein synthesis specific to cancer cells using molecules that inhibit translation initiation, the limiting phase in this process, affecting the cancer cells specifically. We propose that targeting the translational machinery via eIF4A inhibitors (eIF4Ai) would attenuate resistance to kinase inhibitors (KIs) and we seek to dissect the underlying molecular mechanisms. The efficacy of eIF4Ais in BRAFi sensitive and/or resistant melanoma is evaluated showing that eIF4Ais inhibit cell growth and induce melanoma cells death, using growth curves and FACS (Annexin_V). This is accompanied by a protein synthesis reduction, evaluated by polysome profiling showing a decrease in eIF4Ais treated cells and western-blots showing a decrease in translational targets of eIF4Ai (BCL-2, CDK4, etc.). A significant bioenergetic stress is measured by Seahorse and the control of the main metabolic pathways including glycolysis, TCA cycle and amino acids metabolism is analyzed by GCMS. Then the analysis of the translatome by polysome profiling and RNAseq and of the metabolome by GCMS/LCMS and Seahorse shed light on the translational networks that dictate metabolic reprogramming supporting eIF4Ai efficacy. Finally, the molecular mechanisms underlying the efficacy of eIF4Ai will be identified using genetic approaches to validate the main genes and metabolites and/or corresponding metabolic pathways involved in the response to eIF4Ai of the kinase inhibitor resistant melanoma. This study will fill large gaps in knowledge about the molecular mechanisms that support resistance to KIs in order to improve their clinical efficacy.