1
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Zhang S, Guo L, Zhang Z, Liu X, Chen W, Wei Y, Wang X, Wu Q. Type-I protein arginine methyltransferase inhibition primes anti-programmed cell death protein 1 immunotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer. Cancer 2024; 130:1415-1423. [PMID: 38079306 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy shows promise for treating aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, only some patients benefit from ICB, revealing an urgent need for identifying novel strategies for sensitizing patients to ICB. Previously, the authors demonstrated that type-I protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) regulated antiviral innate-immune responses in TNBC by altering RNA splicing. This study aimed to explore the effects of targeting type-I PRMTs on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the efficacy of ICB therapy against TNBC. METHODS Single-cell transcriptomic analysis was performed to investigate the effects of type-I PRMT inhibition on the TME, especially T-cell subsets. Single-cell T-cell receptor sequencing was performed to analyze the diversity and dynamics of the T-cell repertoire. A syngeneic murine model of TNBC was used to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and immune memory effect of combining a type-I PRMT inhibitor (MS023) with an anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibody. RESULTS Type-I PRMT inhibition combined with anti-PD-1 therapy reduced tumor growth. Mechanistically, type-I PRMT inhibition reshaped the TME. Increased CD8 T-cell infiltration was verified using flow cytometry. Increased clonotypes and clonal diversity were also observed after MS023 treatment, which contributed to immune memory following combination treatment. CONCLUSIONS Targeting type-I PRMT can potentially improve immunotherapeutic efficacies in patients with TNBC. By enhancing the tumor immunogenicity and promoting a more favorable immune microenvironment, this combined approach may enable more patients with TNBC to benefit from immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheyu Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lu Guo
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ziwen Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology (Breast Cancer), Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xueying Liu
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenjun Chen
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yong Wei
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojia Wang
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Medical Oncology (Breast Cancer), Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qin Wu
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
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2
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Zhang K, Mishra A, Jagannath C. New insight into arginine and tryptophan metabolism in macrophage activation during tuberculosis. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1363938. [PMID: 38605962 PMCID: PMC11008464 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1363938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Arginine and tryptophan are pivotal in orchestrating cytokine-driven macrophage polarization and immune activation. Specifically, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) stimulates inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression), leading to the conversion of arginine into citrulline and nitric oxide (NO), while Interleukin-4 (IL4) promotes arginase activation, shifting arginine metabolism toward ornithine. Concomitantly, IFN-γ triggers indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and Interleukin-4 induced 1 (IL4i1), resulting in the conversion of tryptophan into kynurenine and indole-3-pyruvic acid. These metabolic pathways are tightly regulated by NAD+-dependent sirtuin proteins, with Sirt2 and Sirt5 playing integral roles. In this review, we present novel insights that augment our understanding of the metabolic pathways of arginine and tryptophan following Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, particularly their relevance in macrophage responses. Additionally, we discuss arginine methylation and demethylation and the role of Sirt2 and Sirt5 in regulating tryptophan metabolism and arginine metabolism, potentially driving macrophage polarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangling Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Abhishek Mishra
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Weill-Cornell Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Chinnaswamy Jagannath
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Weill-Cornell Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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3
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Zhang F, Bischof H, Burgstaller S, Bourgeois BMR, Malli R, Madl T. Genetically encoded fluorescent sensor to monitor intracellular arginine methylation. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY. B, BIOLOGY 2024; 252:112867. [PMID: 38368636 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2024.112867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Arginine methylation (ArgMet), as a post-translational modification, plays crucial roles in RNA processing, transcriptional regulation, signal transduction, DNA repair, apoptosis and liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Since arginine methylation is associated with cancer pathogenesis and progression, protein arginine methyltransferases have gained interest as targets for anti-cancer therapy. Despite considerable process made to elucidate (patho)physiological mechanisms regulated by arginine methylation, there remains a lack of tools to visualize arginine methylation with high spatiotemporal resolution in live cells. To address this unmet need, we generated an ArgMet-sensitive genetically encoded, Förster resonance energy transfer-(FRET) based biosensor, called GEMS, capable of quantitative real-time monitoring of ArgMet dynamics. We optimized these biosensors by using different ArgMet-binding domains, arginine-glycine-rich regions and adjusting the linkers within the biosensors to improve their performance. Using a set of mammalian cell lines and modulators, we demonstrated the applicability of GEMS for monitoring changes in arginine methylation with single-cell and temporal resolution. The GEMS can facilitate the in vitro screening to find potential protein arginine methyltransferase inhibitors and will contribute to a better understanding of the regulation of ArgMet related to differentiation, development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangrong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Cancer (Fujian Medical University), Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350122, China; Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Helmut Bischof
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Sandra Burgstaller
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Benjamin M R Bourgeois
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; Otto Loewi Research Center, Medicinal Chemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Roland Malli
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Tobias Madl
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; Otto Loewi Research Center, Medicinal Chemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria.
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4
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Bhandari K, Kong JS, Morris K, Xu C, Ding WQ. Protein Arginine Methylation Patterns in Plasma Small Extracellular Vesicles Are Altered in Patients with Early-Stage Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:654. [PMID: 38339405 PMCID: PMC10854811 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) contain lipids, proteins and nucleic acids, which often resemble their cells of origin. Therefore, plasma sEVs are considered valuable resources for cancer biomarker development. However, previous efforts have been largely focused on the level of proteins and miRNAs in plasma sEVs, and the post-translational modifications of sEV proteins, such as arginine methylation, have not been explored. Protein arginine methylation, a relatively stable post-translational modification, is a newly described molecular feature of PDAC. The present study examined arginine methylation patterns in plasma sEVs derived from patients with early-stage PDAC (n = 23) and matched controls. By utilizing the arginine methylation-specific antibodies for western blotting, we found that protein arginine methylation patterns in plasma sEVs are altered in patients with early-stage PDAC. Specifically, we observed a reduction in the level of symmetric dimethyl arginine (SDMA) in plasma sEV proteins derived from patients with early- and late-stage PDAC. Importantly, immunoprecipitation followed by proteomics analysis identified a number of arginine-methylated proteins exclusively present in plasma sEVs derived from patients with early-stage PDAC. These results indicate that arginine methylation patterns in plasma sEVs are potential indicators of PDAC, a new concept meriting further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kritisha Bhandari
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (K.B.); (J.S.K.)
| | - Jeng Shi Kong
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (K.B.); (J.S.K.)
| | - Katherine Morris
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Chao Xu
- Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA;
| | - Wei-Qun Ding
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (K.B.); (J.S.K.)
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5
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Somarathne RP, Misra SK, Kariyawasam CS, Kessl JJ, Sharp JS, Fitzkee NC. Exploring Residue-Level Interactions between the Biofilm-Driving R2ab Protein and Polystyrene Nanoparticles. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:1213-1222. [PMID: 38174900 PMCID: PMC10843815 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c02609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
In biological systems, proteins can bind to nanoparticles to form a "corona" of adsorbed molecules. The nanoparticle corona is of significant interest because it impacts an organism's response to a nanomaterial. Understanding the corona requires knowledge of protein structure, orientation, and dynamics at the surface. A residue-level mapping of protein behavior on nanoparticle surfaces is needed, but this mapping is difficult to obtain with traditional approaches. Here, we have investigated the interaction between R2ab and polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNPs) at the level of individual residues. R2ab is a bacterial surface protein from Staphylococcus epidermidis and is known to interact strongly with polystyrene, leading to biofilm formation. We have used mass spectrometry after lysine methylation and hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) NMR spectroscopy to understand how the R2ab protein interacts with PSNPs of different sizes. Lysine methylation experiments reveal subtle but statistically significant changes in methylation patterns in the presence of PSNPs, indicating altered protein surface accessibility. HDX rates become slower overall in the presence of PSNPs. However, some regions of the R2ab protein exhibit faster than average exchange rates in the presence of PSNPs, while others are slower than the average behavior, suggesting conformational changes upon binding. HDX rates and methylation ratios support a recently proposed "adsorbotope" model for PSNPs, wherein adsorbed proteins consist of unfolded anchor points interspersed with partially structured regions. Our data also highlight the challenges of characterizing complex protein-nanoparticle interactions using these techniques, such as fast exchange rates. While providing insights into how R2ab adsorbs onto PSNP surfaces, this research emphasizes the need for advanced methods to comprehend residue-level interactions in the nanoparticle corona.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radha P Somarathne
- Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762, United States
| | - Sandeep K Misra
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Chathuri S Kariyawasam
- Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762, United States
| | - Jacques J Kessl
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, United States
| | - Joshua S Sharp
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Nicholas C Fitzkee
- Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762, United States
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6
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Azhar M, Xu C, Jiang X, Li W, Cao Y, Zhu X, Xing X, Wu L, Zou J, Meng L, Cheng Y, Han W, Bao J. The arginine methyltransferase Prmt1 coordinates the germline arginine methylome essential for spermatogonial homeostasis and male fertility. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:10428-10450. [PMID: 37739418 PMCID: PMC10602896 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Arginine methylation, catalyzed by the protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs), is a common post-translational protein modification (PTM) that is engaged in a plethora of biological events. However, little is known about how the methylarginine-directed signaling functions in germline development. In this study, we discover that Prmt1 is predominantly distributed in the nuclei of spermatogonia but weakly in the spermatocytes throughout mouse spermatogenesis. By exploiting a combination of three Cre-mediated Prmt1 knockout mouse lines, we unravel that Prmt1 is essential for spermatogonial establishment and maintenance, and that Prmt1-catalyzed asymmetric methylarginine coordinates inherent transcriptional homeostasis within spermatogonial cells. In conjunction with high-throughput CUT&Tag profiling and modified mini-bulk Smart-seq2 analyses, we unveil that the Prmt1-deposited H4R3me2a mark is permissively enriched at promoter and exon/intron regions, and sculpts a distinctive transcriptomic landscape as well as the alternative splicing pattern, in the mouse spermatogonia. Collectively, our study provides the genetic and mechanistic evidence that connects the Prmt1-deposited methylarginine signaling to the establishment and maintenance of a high-fidelity transcriptomic identity in orchestrating spermatogonial development in the mammalian germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Azhar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Anhui, China
| | - Caoling Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Anhui, China
| | - Xue Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Anhui, China
| | - Wenqing Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Anhui, China
| | - Yuzhu Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoli Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Anhui, China
| | - Xuemei Xing
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
| | - Limin Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
| | - Jiaqi Zou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Anhui, China
| | - Lan Meng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Anhui, China
| | - Yu Cheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Anhui, China
| | - Wenjie Han
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Anhui, China
| | - Jianqiang Bao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Anhui, China
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7
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Somarathne RP, Misra SK, Kariyawasam CS, Kessl JJ, Sharp JS, Fitzkee NC. Exploring the Residue-Level Interactions between the R2ab Protein and Polystyrene Nanoparticles. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.28.554951. [PMID: 37693402 PMCID: PMC10491123 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.28.554951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
In biological systems, proteins can bind to nanoparticles to form a "corona" of adsorbed molecules. The nanoparticle corona is of high interest because it impacts the organism's response to the nanomaterial. Understanding the corona requires knowledge of protein structure, orientation, and dynamics at the surface. Ultimately, a residue-level mapping of protein behavior on nanoparticle surfaces is needed, but this mapping is difficult to obtain with traditional approaches. Here, we have investigated the interaction between R2ab and polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNPs) at the level of individual residues. R2ab is a bacterial surface protein from Staphylococcus epidermidis and is known to interact strongly with polystyrene, leading to biofilm formation. We have used mass spectrometry after lysine methylation and hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) NMR spectroscopy to understand how the R2ab protein interacts with PSNPs of different sizes. Through lysine methylation, we observe subtle but statistically significant changes in methylation patterns in the presence of PSNPs, indicating altered protein surface accessibility. HDX measurements reveal that certain regions of the R2ab protein undergo faster exchange rates in the presence of PSNPs, suggesting conformational changes upon binding. Both results support a recently proposed "adsorbotope" model, wherein adsorbed proteins consist of unfolded anchor points interspersed with regions of partial structure. Our data also highlight the challenges of characterizing complex protein-nanoparticle interactions using these techniques, such as fast exchange rates. While providing insights into how proteins respond to nanoparticle surfaces, this research emphasizes the need for advanced methods to comprehend these intricate interactions fully at the residue level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radha P. Somarathne
- Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762
| | - Sandeep K. Misra
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677
| | | | - Jacques J. Kessl
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406
| | - Joshua S. Sharp
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677
| | - Nicholas C. Fitzkee
- Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762
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8
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Brown T, Nguyen T, Zhou B, Zheng YG. Chemical probes and methods for the study of protein arginine methylation. RSC Chem Biol 2023; 4:647-669. [PMID: 37654509 PMCID: PMC10467615 DOI: 10.1039/d3cb00018d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein arginine methylation is a widespread post-translational modification (PTM) in eukaryotic cells. This chemical modification in proteins functionally modulates diverse cellular processes from signal transduction, gene expression, and DNA damage repair to RNA splicing. The chemistry of arginine methylation entails the transfer of the methyl group from S-adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet, SAM) onto a guanidino nitrogen atom of an arginine residue of a target protein. This reaction is catalyzed by about 10 members of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). With impacts on a variety of cellular processes, aberrant expression and activity of PRMTs have been shown in many disease conditions. Particularly in oncology, PRMTs are commonly overexpressed in many cancerous tissues and positively correlated with tumor initiation, development and progression. As such, targeting PRMTs is increasingly recognized as an appealing therapeutic strategy for new drug discovery. In the past decade, a great deal of research efforts has been invested in illuminating PRMT functions in diseases and developing chemical probes for the mechanistic study of PRMTs in biological systems. In this review, we provide a brief developmental history of arginine methylation along with some key updates in arginine methylation research, with a particular emphasis on the chemical aspects of arginine methylation. We highlight the research endeavors for the development and application of chemical approaches and chemical tools for the study of functions of PRMTs and arginine methylation in regulating biology and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Brown
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia Athens GA 30602 USA +1-(706) 542-5358 +1-(706) 542-0277
| | - Terry Nguyen
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia Athens GA 30602 USA +1-(706) 542-5358 +1-(706) 542-0277
| | - Bo Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia Athens GA 30602 USA +1-(706) 542-5358 +1-(706) 542-0277
| | - Y George Zheng
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia Athens GA 30602 USA +1-(706) 542-5358 +1-(706) 542-0277
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9
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Brobbey C, Yin S, Liu L, Ball LE, Howe PH, Delaney JR, Gan W. Autophagy dictates sensitivity to PRMT5 inhibitor in breast cancer. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10752. [PMID: 37400460 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37706-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) catalyzes mono-methylation and symmetric di-methylation on arginine residues and has emerged as a potential antitumor target with inhibitors being tested in clinical trials. However, it remains unknown how the efficacy of PRMT5 inhibitors is regulated. Here we report that autophagy blockage enhances cellular sensitivity to PRMT5 inhibitor in triple negative breast cancer cells. Genetic ablation or pharmacological inhibition of PRMT5 triggers cytoprotective autophagy. Mechanistically, PRMT5 catalyzes monomethylation of ULK1 at R532 to suppress ULK1 activation, leading to attenuation of autophagy. As a result, ULK1 inhibition blocks PRMT5 deficiency-induced autophagy and sensitizes cells to PRMT5 inhibitor. Our study not only identifies autophagy as an inducible factor that dictates cellular sensitivity to PRMT5 inhibitor, but also unearths a critical molecular mechanism by which PRMT5 regulates autophagy through methylating ULK1, providing a rationale for the combination of PRMT5 and autophagy inhibitors in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Brobbey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Shasha Yin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Liu Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Lauren E Ball
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Philip H Howe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Joe R Delaney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Wenjian Gan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
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10
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Hamey JJ, Wilkins MR. The protein methylation network in yeast: A landmark in completeness for a eukaryotic post-translational modification. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2215431120. [PMID: 37252976 PMCID: PMC10265986 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2215431120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Defining all sites for a post-translational modification in the cell, and identifying their upstream modifying enzymes, is essential for a complete understanding of a modification's function. However, the complete mapping of a modification in the proteome and definition of its associated enzyme-substrate network is rarely achieved. Here, we present the protein methylation network for Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Through a formal process of defining and quantifying all potential sources of incompleteness, for both the methylation sites in the proteome and also protein methyltransferases, we prove that this protein methylation network is now near-complete. It contains 33 methylated proteins and 28 methyltransferases, comprising 44 enzyme-substrate relationships, and a predicted further three enzymes. While the precise molecular function of most methylation sites is unknown, and it remains possible that other sites and enzymes remain undiscovered, the completeness of this protein modification network is unprecedented and allows us to holistically explore the role and evolution of protein methylation in the eukaryotic cell. We show that while no single protein methylation event is essential in yeast, the vast majority of methylated proteins are themselves essential, being primarily involved in the core cellular processes of transcription, RNA processing, and translation. This suggests that protein methylation in lower eukaryotes exists to fine-tune proteins whose sequences are evolutionarily constrained, providing an improvement in the efficiency of their cognate processes. The approach described here, for the construction and evaluation of post-translational modification networks and their constituent enzymes and substrates, defines a formal process of utility for other post-translational modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J. Hamey
- Systems Biology Initiative, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW2052, Australia
| | - Marc R. Wilkins
- Systems Biology Initiative, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW2052, Australia
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11
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Khalil MI, Ismail HM, Panasyuk G, Bdzhola A, Filonenko V, Gout I, Pardo OE. Asymmetric Dimethylation of Ribosomal S6 Kinase 2 Regulates Its Cellular Localisation and Pro-Survival Function. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108806. [PMID: 37240151 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Ribosomal S6 kinases (S6Ks) are critical regulators of cell growth, homeostasis, and survival, with dysregulation of these kinases found to be associated with various malignancies. While S6K1 has been extensively studied, S6K2 has been neglected despite its clear involvement in cancer progression. Protein arginine methylation is a widespread post-translational modification regulating many biological processes in mammalian cells. Here, we report that p54-S6K2 is asymmetrically dimethylated at Arg-475 and Arg-477, two residues conserved amongst mammalian S6K2s and several AT-hook-containing proteins. We demonstrate that this methylation event results from the association of S6K2 with the methyltransferases PRMT1, PRMT3, and PRMT6 in vitro and in vivo and leads to nuclear the localisation of S6K2 that is essential to the pro-survival effects of this kinase to starvation-induced cell death. Taken together, our findings highlight a novel post-translational modification regulating the function of p54-S6K2 that may be particularly relevant to cancer progression where general Arg-methylation is often elevated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud I Khalil
- Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21568, Egypt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, Beirut P.O. Box 11-5020, Lebanon
| | - Heba M Ismail
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
- Healthy Lifespan Institute (HELSI), University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Ganna Panasyuk
- Institut Necker-Enfants Malades (INEM), 75015 Paris, France
- INSERM U1151/CNRS UMR 8253, Université de Paris Cité, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Anna Bdzhola
- Department of Cell Signaling, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 03143 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Valeriy Filonenko
- Department of Cell Signaling, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 03143 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Ivan Gout
- Department of Cell Signaling, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 03143 Kyiv, Ukraine
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Olivier E Pardo
- Division of Cancer, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
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12
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Liu L, Yin S, Gan W. TRAF6 Promotes PRMT5 Activity in a Ubiquitination-Dependent Manner. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2501. [PMID: 37173967 PMCID: PMC10177089 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is the primary enzyme generating symmetric dimethylarginine (sDMA) on numerous substrates, through which it regulates many cellular processes, such as transcription and DNA repair. Aberrant expression and activation of PRMT5 is frequently observed in various human cancers and associated with poor prognosis and survival. However, the regulatory mechanisms of PRMT5 remain poorly understood. Here, we report that TRAF6 serves as an upstream E3 ubiquitin ligase to promote PRMT5 ubiquitination and activation. We find that TRAF6 catalyzes K63-linked ubiquitination of PRMT5 and interacts with PRMT5 in a TRAF6-binding-motif-dependent manner. Moreover, we identify six lysine residues located at the N-terminus as the primarily ubiquitinated sites. Disruption of TRAF6-mediated ubiquitination decreases PRMT5 methyltransferase activity towards H4R3 in part by impairing PRMT5 interaction with its co-factor MEP50. As a result, mutating the TRAF6-binding motifs or the six lysine residues significantly suppresses cell proliferation and tumor growth. Lastly, we show that TRAF6 inhibitor enhances cellular sensitivity to PRMT5 inhibitor. Therefore, our study reveals a critical regulatory mechanism of PRMT5 in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wenjian Gan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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13
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Yin S, Liu L, Ball LE, Wang Y, Bedford MT, Duncan SA, Wang H, Gan W. CDK5-PRMT1-WDR24 signaling cascade promotes mTORC1 signaling and tumor growth. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112316. [PMID: 36995937 PMCID: PMC10539482 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin complex1 (mTORC1) is a central regulator of metabolism and cell growth by sensing diverse environmental signals, including amino acids. The GATOR2 complex is a key component linking amino acid signals to mTORC1. Here, we identify protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) as a critical regulator of GATOR2. In response to amino acids, cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) phosphorylates PRMT1 at S307 to promote PRMT1 translocation from nucleus to cytoplasm and lysosome, which in turn methylates WDR24, an essential component of GATOR2, to activate the mTORC1 pathway. Disruption of the CDK5-PRMT1-WDR24 axis suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell proliferation and xenograft tumor growth. High PRMT1 protein expression is associated with elevated mTORC1 signaling in patients with HCC. Thus, our study dissects a phosphorylation- and arginine methylation-dependent regulatory mechanism of mTORC1 activation and tumor growth and provides a molecular basis to target this pathway for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shasha Yin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Liu Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Lauren E Ball
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Yalong Wang
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 78957, USA
| | - Mark T Bedford
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 78957, USA
| | - Stephen A Duncan
- Department of Regenerative Medicine & Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Haizhen Wang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Wenjian Gan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
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14
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Cao X, Guo Y, Feng Y, Liu X, Yao F, Chen T, Tian L, Kang X. Recognition Receptor for Methylated Arginine at the Single Molecular Level. Anal Chem 2023; 95:6989-6995. [PMID: 37083370 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c00406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Among the various types of post-translational modifications (PTMs), methylation is the simple functionalized one that regulates the functions of proteins and affects interactions of protein-protein and protein-DNA/RNA, which will further influence diverse cellular processes. The methylation modification has only a slight effect on the size and hydrophobicity of proteins or peptides, and it cannot change their net charges at all, so the methods for recognizing methylated protein are still limited. Here, we designed a recognition receptor consisting of a α-hemolysin (α-HL) nanopore and polyamine decorated γ-cyclodextrin (am8γ-CD) to differentiate the methylation of peptide derived from a heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein at the single molecule level. The results indicate that the modification of a methyl group enhances the interaction between the peptide and the recognition receptor. The results of molecular simulations were consistent with the experiments; the methylated peptide interacts with the receptor strongly due to the more formation of hydrogen bonds. This proposed strategy also can be used to detect PTM in real biological samples and possesses the advantages of low-cost and high sensitivity and is label-free. Furthermore, the success in the construction of this recognition receptor will greatly facilitate the investigation of pathogenesis related to methylated arginine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueying Cao
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecular Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, P. R. China
| | - Yanli Guo
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecular Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, P. R. China
| | - Yanhua Feng
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecular Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, P. R. China
| | - Xingtong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecular Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, P. R. China
| | - Fujun Yao
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecular Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, P. R. China
| | - Tingting Chen
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecular Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, P. R. China
| | - Lei Tian
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecular Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, P. R. China
| | - Xiaofeng Kang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecular Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, P. R. China
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15
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Zhang F, Rakhimbekova A, Lashley T, Madl T. Brain regions show different metabolic and protein arginine methylation phenotypes in frontotemporal dementias and Alzheimer's disease. Prog Neurobiol 2023; 221:102400. [PMID: 36581185 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disease with multiple histopathological subtypes. FTD patients share similar symptoms with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Hence, FTD patients are commonly misdiagnosed as AD, despite the consensus clinical diagnostic criteria. It is therefore of great clinical need to identify a biomarker that can distinguish FTD from AD and control individuals, and potentially further differentiate between FTD pathological subtypes. We conducted a metabolomic analysis on post-mortem human brain tissue from three regions: cerebellum, frontal cortex and occipital cortex from control, FTLD-TDP type A, type A-C9, type C and AD. Our results indicate that the brain subdivisions responsible for different functions show different metabolic patterns. We further explored the region-specific metabolic characteristics of different FTD subtypes and AD patients. Different FTD subtypes and AD share similar metabolic phenotypes in the cerebellum, but AD exhibited distinct metabolic patterns in the frontal and occipital regions compared to FTD. The identified brain region-specific metabolite biomarkers could provide a tool for distinguishing different FTD subtypes and AD and provide the first insights into the metabolic changes of FTLD-TDP type A, type A-C9, type C and AD in different regions of the brain. The importance of protein arginine methylation in neurodegenerative disease has come to light, so we investigated whether the arginine methylation level contributes to disease pathogenesis. Our findings provide new insights into the relationship between arginine methylation and metabolic changes in FTD subtypes and AD that could be further explored, to study the molecular mechanism of pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangrong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Cancer (Fujian Medical University), Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China; Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Research Unit Integrative Structural Biology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Anastasia Rakhimbekova
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Research Unit Integrative Structural Biology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK; Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
| | - Tobias Madl
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Research Unit Integrative Structural Biology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria.
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16
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Karner C, Anders I, Vejzovic D, Szkandera J, Scheipl S, Deutsch AJA, Weiss L, Vierlinger K, Kolb D, Kühberger S, Heitzer E, Habisch H, Zhang F, Madl T, Reininger-Gutmann B, Liegl-Atzwanger B, Rinner B. Targeting epigenetic features in clear cell sarcomas based on patient-derived cell lines. J Transl Med 2023; 21:54. [PMID: 36710341 PMCID: PMC9884415 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03843-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clear cell sarcomas (CCSs) are translocated aggressive malignancies, most commonly affecting young adults with a high incidence of metastases and a poor prognosis. Research into the disease is more feasible when adequate models are available. By establishing CCS cell lines from a primary and metastatic lesion and isolating healthy fibroblasts from the same patient, the in vivo process is accurately reflected and aspects of clinical multistep carcinogenesis recapitulated. METHODS Isolated tumor cells and normal healthy skin fibroblasts from the same patient were compared in terms of growth behavior and morphological characteristics using light and electron microscopy. Tumorigenicity potential was determined by soft agar colony formation assay and in vivo xenograft applications. While genetic differences between the two lineages were examined by copy number alternation profiles, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy determined arginine methylation as epigenetic features. Potential anti-tumor effects of a protein arginine N-methyltransferase type I (PRMT1) inhibitor were elicited in 2D and 3D cell culture experiments using cell viability and apoptosis assays. Statistical significance was calculated by one-way ANOVA and unpaired t-test. RESULTS The two established CCS cell lines named MUG Lucifer prim and MUG Lucifer met showed differences in morphology, genetic and epigenetic data, reflecting the respective original tissue. The detailed cell line characterization especially in regards to the epigenetic domain allows investigation of new innovative therapies. Based on the epigenetic data, a PRMT1 inhibitor was used to demonstrate the targeted antitumor effect; normal tissue cells isolated and immortalized from the same patient were not affected with the IC50 used. CONCLUSIONS MUG Lucifer prim, MUG Lucifer met and isolated and immortalized fibroblasts from the same patient represent an ideal in vitro model to explore the biology of CCS. Based on this cell culture model, novel therapies could be tested in the form of PRMT1 inhibitors, which drive tumor cells into apoptosis, but show no effect on fibroblasts, further supporting their potential as promising treatment options in the combat against CCS. The data substantiate the importance of tailored therapies in the advanced metastatic stage of CCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Karner
- Division of Biomedical Research, Core Facility Alternative Biomodels and Preclinical Imaging, Medical University of Graz, Roseggerweg 48, 8036, Graz, Austria
| | - Ines Anders
- Division of Biomedical Research, Core Facility Alternative Biomodels and Preclinical Imaging, Medical University of Graz, Roseggerweg 48, 8036, Graz, Austria
| | - Djenana Vejzovic
- Division of Biomedical Research, Core Facility Alternative Biomodels and Preclinical Imaging, Medical University of Graz, Roseggerweg 48, 8036, Graz, Austria
| | - Joanna Szkandera
- Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Susanne Scheipl
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Larissa Weiss
- Institute for Health Care Engineering With European Testing Center of Medical Devices, University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | - Klemens Vierlinger
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dagmar Kolb
- Core Facility Ultrastructure Analysis, Center for Medical Research, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Stefan Kühberger
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Human Genetics, Diagnostic and Research Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Ellen Heitzer
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Human Genetics, Diagnostic and Research Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Hansjörg Habisch
- Research Unit Integrative Structural Biology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Fangrong Zhang
- Research Unit Integrative Structural Biology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Tobias Madl
- Research Unit Integrative Structural Biology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Birgit Reininger-Gutmann
- Division of Biomedical Research, Core Facility Alternative Biomodels and Preclinical Imaging, Medical University of Graz, Roseggerweg 48, 8036, Graz, Austria
| | - Bernadette Liegl-Atzwanger
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010, Graz, Austria.
| | - Beate Rinner
- Division of Biomedical Research, Core Facility Alternative Biomodels and Preclinical Imaging, Medical University of Graz, Roseggerweg 48, 8036, Graz, Austria.
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria.
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17
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Gui T, Burgering BMT. FOXOs: masters of the equilibrium. FEBS J 2022; 289:7918-7939. [PMID: 34610198 PMCID: PMC10078705 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factors (TFs) are a subclass of the larger family of forkhead TFs. Mammalians express four members FOXO1, FOXO3, FOXO4, and FOXO6. The interest in FOXO function stems mostly from their observed role in determining lifespan, where in model organisms, increased FOXO activity results in extended lifespan. FOXOs act as downstream of several signaling pathway and are extensively regulated through post-translational modifications. The transcriptional program activated by FOXOs in various cell types, organisms, and under various conditions has been described and has shed some light on what the critical transcriptional targets are in mediating FOXO function. At the cellular level, these studies have revealed a role for FOXOs in cell metabolism, cellular redox, cell proliferation, DNA repair, autophagy, and many more. The general picture that emerges hereof is that FOXOs act to preserve equilibrium, and they are important for cellular homeostasis. Here, we will first briefly summarize the general knowledge of FOXO regulation and possible functions. We will use genomic stability to illustrate how FOXOs ensure homeostasis. Genomic stability is critical for maintaining genetic integrity, and therefore preventing disease. However, genomic mutations need to occur during lifetime to enable evolution, yet their accumulation is believed to be causative to aging. Therefore, the role of FOXO in genomic stability may underlie its role in lifespan and aging. Finally, we will come up with questions on some of the unknowns in FOXO function, the answer(s) to which we believe will further our understanding of FOXO function and ultimately may help to understand lifespan and its consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianshu Gui
- Molecular Cancer Research, Center Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht and the Oncode Institute, The Netherlands
| | - Boudewijn M T Burgering
- Molecular Cancer Research, Center Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht and the Oncode Institute, The Netherlands
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18
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Brobbey C, Liu L, Yin S, Gan W. The Role of Protein Arginine Methyltransferases in DNA Damage Response. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179780. [PMID: 36077176 PMCID: PMC9456308 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In response to DNA damage, cells have developed a sophisticated signaling pathway, consisting of DNA damage sensors, transducers, and effectors, to ensure efficient and proper repair of damaged DNA. During this process, posttranslational modifications (PTMs) are central events that modulate the recruitment, dissociation, and activation of DNA repair proteins at damage sites. Emerging evidence reveals that protein arginine methylation is one of the common PTMs and plays critical roles in DNA damage response. Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) either directly methylate DNA repair proteins or deposit methylation marks on histones to regulate their transcription, RNA splicing, protein stability, interaction with partners, enzymatic activities, and localization. In this review, we summarize the substrates and roles of each PRMTs in DNA damage response and discuss the synergistic anticancer effects of PRMTs and DNA damage pathway inhibitors, providing insight into the significance of arginine methylation in the maintenance of genome integrity and cancer therapies.
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19
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Wang C, Dong L, Zhao Z, Zhang Z, Sun Y, Li C, Li G, You X, Yang X, Wang H, Hong W. Design and Synthesis of Novel PRMT1 Inhibitors and Investigation of Their Effects on the Migration of Cancer Cell. Front Chem 2022; 10:888727. [PMID: 35755248 PMCID: PMC9214036 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.888727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) can catalyze the protein arginine methylation by transferring the methyl group from S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) to the guanidyl nitrogen atom of protein arginine, which influences a variety of biological processes including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and EMT-mediated mobility of cancer cells. The upregulation of PRMT1 is involved in a diverse range of cancer, such as lung cancer, and there is an urgent need to develop novel and potent PRMT1 inhibitors. In this article, a series of 2,5-substituted furan derivatives and 2,4-substituted thiazole derivatives were designed and synthesized by targeting at the substrate arginine-binding site on PRMT1, and 10 compounds demonstrated significant inhibitory effects against PRMT1. Among them, the most potent inhibitor, compound 1r (WCJ-394), significantly affected the expression of PRMT1-related proteins in A549 cells and downregulated the expression of mesenchymal markers, by which WCJ-394 inhibited the TGF-β1-induced EMT in A549 cells and prevented the cancer cell migration. The current study demonstrated that WCJ-394 was a potent PRMT1 inhibitor, which could be used as the leading compound for further drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caijiao Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Luyao Dong
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Agents/Laboratory of Pharmacology, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ziqi Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Zeqing Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yutong Sun
- School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Chonglong Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Guoqing Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Agents/Laboratory of Pharmacology, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xuefu You
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Agents/Laboratory of Pharmacology, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyi Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Agents/Laboratory of Pharmacology, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine, Minzu University of China, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.,Institute of National Security, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Hong
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan, China.,Jingjinji National Center of Technology Innovation, Beijing, China
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20
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EGCG Promotes FUS Condensate Formation in a Methylation-Dependent Manner. Cells 2022; 11:cells11040592. [PMID: 35203243 PMCID: PMC8870583 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Millions of people worldwide are affected by neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), and to date, no effective treatment has been reported. The hallmark of these diseases is the formation of pathological aggregates and fibrils in neural cells. Many studies have reported that catechins, polyphenolic compounds found in a variety of plants, can directly interact with amyloidogenic proteins, prevent the formation of toxic aggregates, and in turn play neuroprotective roles. Besides harboring amyloidogenic domains, several proteins involved in NDs possess arginine-glycine/arginine-glycine-glycine (RG/RGG) regions that contribute to the formation of protein condensates. Here, we aimed to assess whether epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) can play a role in neuroprotection via direct interaction with such RG/RGG regions. We show that EGCG directly binds to the RG/RGG region of fused in sarcoma (FUS) and that arginine methylation enhances this interaction. Unexpectedly, we found that low micromolar amounts of EGCG were sufficient to restore RNA-dependent condensate formation of methylated FUS, whereas, in the absence of EGCG, no phase separation could be observed. Our data provide new mechanistic roles of EGCG in the regulation of phase separation of RG/RGG-containing proteins, which will promote understanding of the intricate function of EGCG in cells.
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21
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Lenard AJ, Hutten S, Zhou Q, Usluer S, Zhang F, Bourgeois BMR, Dormann D, Madl T. Phosphorylation Regulates CIRBP Arginine Methylation, Transportin-1 Binding and Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:689687. [PMID: 34738012 PMCID: PMC8562343 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.689687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Arginine-glycine(-glycine) (RG/RGG) regions are highly abundant in RNA-binding proteins and involved in numerous physiological processes. Aberrant liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and stress granule (SGs) association of RG/RGG regions in the cytoplasm have been implicated in several neurodegenerative disorders. LLPS and SG association of these proteins is regulated by the interaction with nuclear import receptors, such as transportin-1 (TNPO1), and by post-translational arginine methylation. Strikingly, many RG/RGG proteins harbour potential phosphorylation sites within or close to their arginine methylated regions, indicating a regulatory role. Here, we studied the role of phosphorylation within RG/RGG regions on arginine methylation, TNPO1-binding and LLPS using the cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRBP) as a paradigm. We show that the RG/RGG region of CIRBP is in vitro phosphorylated by serine-arginine protein kinase 1 (SRPK1), and discovered two novel phosphorylation sites in CIRBP. SRPK1-mediated phosphorylation of the CIRBP RG/RGG region impairs LLPS and binding to TNPO1 in vitro and interferes with SG association in cells. Furthermore, we uncovered that arginine methylation of the CIRBP RG/RGG region regulates in vitro phosphorylation by SRPK1. In conclusion, our findings indicate that LLPS and TNPO1-mediated chaperoning of RG/RGG proteins is regulated through an intricate interplay of post-translational modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneta J Lenard
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Saskia Hutten
- Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (JGU) Mainz, Faculty of Biology, Mainz, Germany.,BioMedical Center, Cell Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) München, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Qishun Zhou
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Sinem Usluer
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Fangrong Zhang
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Benjamin M R Bourgeois
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Dorothee Dormann
- Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (JGU) Mainz, Faculty of Biology, Mainz, Germany.,BioMedical Center, Cell Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) München, Martinsried, Germany.,Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany.,Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Madl
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
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Halabelian L, Barsyte-Lovejoy D. Structure and Function of Protein Arginine Methyltransferase PRMT7. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:768. [PMID: 34440512 PMCID: PMC8399567 DOI: 10.3390/life11080768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PRMT7 is a member of the protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) family, which methylates a diverse set of substrates. Arginine methylation as a posttranslational modification regulates protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions, and as such, has been implicated in various biological functions. PRMT7 is a unique, evolutionarily conserved PRMT family member that catalyzes the mono-methylation of arginine. The structural features, functional aspects, and compounds that inhibit PRMT7 are discussed here. Several studies have identified physiological substrates of PRMT7 and investigated the substrate methylation outcomes which link PRMT7 activity to the stress response and RNA biology. PRMT7-driven substrate methylation further leads to the biological outcomes of gene expression regulation, cell stemness, stress response, and cancer-associated phenotypes such as cell migration. Furthermore, organismal level phenotypes of PRMT7 deficiency have uncovered roles in muscle cell physiology, B cell biology, immunity, and brain function. This rapidly growing information on PRMT7 function indicates the critical nature of context-dependent functions of PRMT7 and necessitates further investigation of the PRMT7 interaction partners and factors that control PRMT7 expression and levels. Thus, PRMT7 is an important cellular regulator of arginine methylation in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levon Halabelian
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada;
| | - Dalia Barsyte-Lovejoy
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada;
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
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