Cancer-associated mutations in chromatin remodeler hSNF5 promote chromosomal instability by compromising the mitotic checkpoint

The hSNF5 subunit of human SWI/SNF ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes is a tumor suppressor that is inactivated in malignant rhabdoid tumors (MRTs). Here, we report that loss of hSNF5 function in MRT-derived cells leads to polyploidization and chromosomal instability. Re-expression of hSNF5 restored the coupling between cell cycle progression and ploidy checkpoints. In contrast, cancer-associated hSNF5 mutants harboring specific single amino acid substitutions exacerbated poly- and aneuploidization, due to abrogated chromosome segregation. We found that hSNF5 activates the mitotic checkpoint through the p16INK4a-cyclinD/CDK4-pRb-E2F pathway. These results establish that poly- and aneuploidy of tumor cells can result from mutations in a chromatin remodeler.