DNA-dependent protein kinase plays a central role in transformation of breast epithelial cells following alkylation damage.

DNA alkylating agents form the first line of cancer chemotherapy. They not only kill cells but also behave as potential carcinogens. MNU, a DNA methylating agent, is well known to induce mammary tumours in rodents. However, the mechanism of tumorigenesis is not well understood. Our study reports a novel role played by DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) in methylation damage-induced transformation using three-dimensional breast acinar cultures. Here, we report that exposure of breast epithelial cells to MNU inhibited polarisation at the basolateral domain, increased dispersal of the Golgi at the apical domain and induced an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like phenotype as well as invasion. This altered Golgi phenotype correlated with impaired intracellular trafficking. Inhibition of DNA-PK resulted in almost complete reversal of the altered Golgi phenotype and partial rescue of the polarity defect and EMT-like phenotype. The results confirm that methylation damage-induced activation of DNA-PK is a major mechanism in mediating cellular transformation.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.