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Zhang C, Liu Y, Li G, Yang Z, Han C, Sun X, Sheng C, Ding K, Rao Y. Targeting the undruggables-the power of protein degraders. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2024; 69:1776-1797. [PMID: 38614856 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2024.03.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Undruggable targets typically refer to a class of therapeutic targets that are difficult to target through conventional methods or have not yet been targeted, but are of great clinical significance. According to statistics, over 80% of disease-related pathogenic proteins cannot be targeted by current conventional treatment methods. In recent years, with the advancement of basic research and new technologies, the development of various new technologies and mechanisms has brought new perspectives to overcome challenging drug targets. Among them, targeted protein degradation technology is a breakthrough drug development strategy for challenging drug targets. This technology can specifically identify target proteins and directly degrade pathogenic target proteins by utilizing the inherent protein degradation pathways within cells. This new form of drug development includes various types such as proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC), molecular glue, lysosome-targeting Chimaera (LYTAC), autophagosome-tethering compound (ATTEC), autophagy-targeting chimera (AUTAC), autophagy-targeting chimera (AUTOTAC), degrader-antibody conjugate (DAC). This article systematically summarizes the application of targeted protein degradation technology in the development of degraders for challenging drug targets. Finally, the article looks forward to the future development direction and application prospects of targeted protein degradation technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhang
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yongbo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Guangchen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhouli Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Chi Han
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiuyun Sun
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Chunquan Sheng
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
| | - Ke Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Yu Rao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China.
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2
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Braun J, Hu Y, Jauch AT, Gronauer TF, Mergner J, Bach NC, Traube FR, Zahler S, Sieber SA. Neocarzilin Inhibits Cancer Cell Proliferation via BST-2 Degradation, Resulting in Lipid Raft-Trapped EGFR. JACS AU 2024; 4:1833-1840. [PMID: 38818080 PMCID: PMC11134574 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Neocarzilin (NCA) is a natural product exhibiting potent antimigratory as well as antiproliferative effects. While vesicle amine transport protein 1 (VAT-1) was previously shown to inhibit migration upon NCA binding, the molecular mechanisms responsible for impaired proliferation remained elusive. We here introduce a chemical probe closely resembling the structural and stereochemical features of NCA and unravel bone marrow stromal antigen 2 (BST-2) as one of the targets responsible for the antiproliferative effect of NCA in cancer cells. The antiproliferative mechanism of NCA was confirmed in corresponding BST-2 knockout (KO) HeLa cells, which were less sensitive to compound treatment. Vice versa, reconstitution of BST-2 in the KO cells again reduced proliferation upon NCA addition, comparable to that of wild-type (wt) HeLa cells. Whole proteome mass spectrometric (MS) analysis of NCA-treated wt and KO cancer cells revealed regulated pathways and showed reduced levels of BST-2 upon NCA treatment. In-depth analysis of BST-2 levels in response to proteasome and lysosome inhibitors unraveled a lysosomal degradation path upon NCA treatment. As BST-2 mediates the release of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) from lipid rafts to turn on proliferation signaling pathways, reduced BST-2 levels led to attenuated phosphorylation of STAT3. Furthermore, fluorescence microscopy confirmed increased colocalization of EGFR and lipid rafts in the presence of NCA. Overall, NCA represents a versatile anticancer natural product with a unique dual mode of action and unconventional inhibition of proliferation via BST-2 degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Braun
- TUM School of Natural Sciences, Department of Bioscience, Chair of Organic Chemistry II, Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA), Technical University of Munich (TUM), Ernst-Otto-Fischer Straße 8, Garching near Munich D-85748, Germany
| | - Yudong Hu
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich (LMU), Butenandtstraße 5-13, Munich D-81377, Germany
| | - Adrian T Jauch
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich (LMU), Butenandtstraße 5-13, Munich D-81377, Germany
| | - Thomas F Gronauer
- TUM School of Natural Sciences, Department of Bioscience, Chair of Organic Chemistry II, Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA), Technical University of Munich (TUM), Ernst-Otto-Fischer Straße 8, Garching near Munich D-85748, Germany
- Metabolomics and Proteomics Core (MPC), Helmholtz Zentrum München GmbH German Research Center for Environmental Health, Heidemannstr. 1, Munich D-80939, Germany
| | - Julia Mergner
- Bavarian Center for Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry at Klinikum rechts der Isar (BayBioMS@MRI), Technical University of Munich (TUM), Einsteinstraße 25 Munich, D-81675, Germany
| | - Nina C Bach
- TUM School of Natural Sciences, Department of Bioscience, Chair of Organic Chemistry II, Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA), Technical University of Munich (TUM), Ernst-Otto-Fischer Straße 8, Garching near Munich D-85748, Germany
| | - Franziska R Traube
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, Stuttgart D-70569, Germany
| | - Stefan Zahler
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich (LMU), Butenandtstraße 5-13, Munich D-81377, Germany
| | - Stephan A Sieber
- TUM School of Natural Sciences, Department of Bioscience, Chair of Organic Chemistry II, Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA), Technical University of Munich (TUM), Ernst-Otto-Fischer Straße 8, Garching near Munich D-85748, Germany
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3
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Gowans FA, Thach DQ, Zhu Z, Wang Y, Altamirano Poblano BE, Dovala D, Tallarico JA, McKenna JM, Schirle M, Maimone TJ, Nomura DK. Ophiobolin A Covalently Targets Mitochondrial Complex IV Leading to Metabolic Collapse in Cancer Cells. ACS Chem Biol 2024. [PMID: 38739449 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.4c00064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Ophiobolin A (OPA) is a sesterterpenoid fungal natural product with broad anticancer activity. While OPA possesses multiple electrophilic moieties that can covalently react with nucleophilic amino acids on proteins, the proteome-wide targets and mechanism of OPA remain poorly understood in many contexts. In this study, we used covalent chemoproteomic platforms to map the proteome-wide reactivity of the OPA in a highly sensitive lung cancer cell line. Among several proteins that OPA engaged, we focused on two targets: lysine-72 of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 5A (COX5A) and cysteine-53 of mitochondrial hypoxia induced gene 1 domain family member 2A (HIGD2A). These two subunit proteins are part of complex IV (cytochrome C oxidase) within the electron transport chain and contributed significantly to the antiproliferative activity of OPA. OPA activated mitochondrial respiration in a COX5A- and HIGD2A-dependent manner, leading to an initial spike in mitochondrial ATP and heightened mitochondrial oxidative stress. OPA compromised mitochondrial membrane potential, ultimately leading to ATP depletion. We have used chemoproteomic strategies to discover a unique anticancer mechanism of OPA through activation of complex IV leading to compromised mitochondrial energetics and rapid cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flor A Gowans
- Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, California 94704, United States
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720 United States
| | - Danny Q Thach
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Zhouyang Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Yangzhi Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, California 94704, United States
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel CH-4056, Switzerland
| | - Belen E Altamirano Poblano
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, California 94704, United States
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel CH-4056, Switzerland
| | - Dustin Dovala
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
| | - John A Tallarico
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jeffrey M McKenna
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel CH-4056, Switzerland
| | - Markus Schirle
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Thomas J Maimone
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Daniel K Nomura
- Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, California 94704, United States
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720 United States
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4
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Takahashi M, Chong HB, Zhang S, Yang TY, Lazarov MJ, Harry S, Maynard M, Hilbert B, White RD, Murrey HE, Tsou CC, Vordermark K, Assaad J, Gohar M, Dürr BR, Richter M, Patel H, Kryukov G, Brooijmans N, Alghali ASO, Rubio K, Villanueva A, Zhang J, Ge M, Makram F, Griesshaber H, Harrison D, Koglin AS, Ojeda S, Karakyriakou B, Healy A, Popoola G, Rachmin I, Khandelwal N, Neil JR, Tien PC, Chen N, Hosp T, van den Ouweland S, Hara T, Bussema L, Dong R, Shi L, Rasmussen MQ, Domingues AC, Lawless A, Fang J, Yoda S, Nguyen LP, Reeves SM, Wakefield FN, Acker A, Clark SE, Dubash T, Kastanos J, Oh E, Fisher DE, Maheswaran S, Haber DA, Boland GM, Sade-Feldman M, Jenkins RW, Hata AN, Bardeesy NM, Suvà ML, Martin BR, Liau BB, Ott CJ, Rivera MN, Lawrence MS, Bar-Peled L. DrugMap: A quantitative pan-cancer analysis of cysteine ligandability. Cell 2024; 187:2536-2556.e30. [PMID: 38653237 PMCID: PMC11143475 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Cysteine-focused chemical proteomic platforms have accelerated the clinical development of covalent inhibitors for a wide range of targets in cancer. However, how different oncogenic contexts influence cysteine targeting remains unknown. To address this question, we have developed "DrugMap," an atlas of cysteine ligandability compiled across 416 cancer cell lines. We unexpectedly find that cysteine ligandability varies across cancer cell lines, and we attribute this to differences in cellular redox states, protein conformational changes, and genetic mutations. Leveraging these findings, we identify actionable cysteines in NF-κB1 and SOX10 and develop corresponding covalent ligands that block the activity of these transcription factors. We demonstrate that the NF-κB1 probe blocks DNA binding, whereas the SOX10 ligand increases SOX10-SOX10 interactions and disrupts melanoma transcriptional signaling. Our findings reveal heterogeneity in cysteine ligandability across cancers, pinpoint cell-intrinsic features driving cysteine targeting, and illustrate the use of covalent probes to disrupt oncogenic transcription-factor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Takahashi
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
| | - Harrison B Chong
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Siwen Zhang
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Tzu-Yi Yang
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Matthew J Lazarov
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Stefan Harry
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Kira Vordermark
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Jonathan Assaad
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Magdy Gohar
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Benedikt R Dürr
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Marianne Richter
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Himani Patel
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | | | | | | | - Karla Rubio
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Antonio Villanueva
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Junbing Zhang
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Maolin Ge
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Farah Makram
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Hanna Griesshaber
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Drew Harrison
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Ann-Sophie Koglin
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Samuel Ojeda
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Barbara Karakyriakou
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Alexander Healy
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - George Popoola
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Inbal Rachmin
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Neha Khandelwal
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | | | - Pei-Chieh Tien
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Nicholas Chen
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Tobias Hosp
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Sanne van den Ouweland
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Toshiro Hara
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Lillian Bussema
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Rui Dong
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Lei Shi
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Martin Q Rasmussen
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Ana Carolina Domingues
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Aleigha Lawless
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jacy Fang
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Satoshi Yoda
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Linh Phuong Nguyen
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Sarah Marie Reeves
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Farrah Nicole Wakefield
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Adam Acker
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Sarah Elizabeth Clark
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Taronish Dubash
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - John Kastanos
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Eugene Oh
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - David E Fisher
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Shyamala Maheswaran
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Daniel A Haber
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Genevieve M Boland
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Moshe Sade-Feldman
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Russell W Jenkins
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Aaron N Hata
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Nabeel M Bardeesy
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Mario L Suvà
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | | | - Brian B Liau
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Christopher J Ott
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Miguel N Rivera
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Michael S Lawrence
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
| | - Liron Bar-Peled
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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5
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Li L, Liu S, Luo Y. Application of covalent modality in proximity-induced drug pharmacology: Early development, current strategy, and feature directions. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 271:116394. [PMID: 38643668 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
With a growing number of covalent drugs securing FDA approval as successful therapies across various indications, particularly in the realm of cancer treatment, the covalent modulating strategy is undergoing a resurgence. The renewed interest in covalent bioactive compounds has captured significant attention from both the academic and biopharmaceutical industry sectors. Covalent chemistry presents several advantages over traditional noncovalent proximity-induced drugs, including heightened potency, reduced molecular size, and the ability to target "undruggable" entities. Within this perspective, we have compiled a comprehensive overview of current covalent modalities applied to proximity-induced molecules, delving into their advantages and drawbacks. Our aim is to stimulate more profound insights and ideas within the scientific community, guiding future research endeavors in this dynamic field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linjie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Song Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Youfu Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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6
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Konstantinidou M, Arkin MR. Molecular glues for protein-protein interactions: Progressing toward a new dream. Cell Chem Biol 2024:S2451-9456(24)00130-2. [PMID: 38701786 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.04.002] [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: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
The modulation of protein-protein interactions with small molecules is one of the most rapidly developing areas in drug discovery. In this review, we discuss advances over the past decade (2014-2023) focusing on molecular glues (MGs)-monovalent small molecules that induce proximity, either by stabilizing native interactions or by inducing neomorphic interactions. We include both serendipitous and rational discoveries and describe the different approaches that were used to identify them. We classify the compounds in three main categories: degradative MGs, non-degradative MGs or PPI stabilizers, and MGs that induce self-association. Diverse, illustrative examples with structural data are described in detail, emphasizing the elements of molecular recognition and cooperative binding at the interface that are fundamental for a MG mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markella Konstantinidou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Small Molecule Discovery Center (SMDC), University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Michelle R Arkin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Small Molecule Discovery Center (SMDC), University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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7
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Thomas JR, Shelton C, Murphy J, Brittain S, Bray MA, Aspesi P, Concannon J, King FJ, Ihry RJ, Ho DJ, Henault M, Hadjikyriacou A, Neri M, Sigoillot FD, Pham HT, Shum M, Barys L, Jones MD, Martin EJ, Blechschmidt A, Rieffel S, Troxler TJ, Mapa FA, Jenkins JL, Jain RK, Kutchukian PS, Schirle M, Renner S. Enhancing the Small-Scale Screenable Biological Space beyond Known Chemogenomics Libraries with Gray Chemical Matter─Compounds with Novel Mechanisms from High-Throughput Screening Profiles. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:938-952. [PMID: 38565185 PMCID: PMC11040606 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Phenotypic assays have become an established approach to drug discovery. Greater disease relevance is often achieved through cellular models with increased complexity and more detailed readouts, such as gene expression or advanced imaging. However, the intricate nature and cost of these assays impose limitations on their screening capacity, often restricting screens to well-characterized small compound sets such as chemogenomics libraries. Here, we outline a cheminformatics approach to identify a small set of compounds with likely novel mechanisms of action (MoAs), expanding the MoA search space for throughput limited phenotypic assays. Our approach is based on mining existing large-scale, phenotypic high-throughput screening (HTS) data. It enables the identification of chemotypes that exhibit selectivity across multiple cell-based assays, which are characterized by persistent and broad structure activity relationships (SAR). We validate the effectiveness of our approach in broad cellular profiling assays (Cell Painting, DRUG-seq, and Promotor Signature Profiling) and chemical proteomics experiments. These experiments revealed that the compounds behave similarly to known chemogenetic libraries, but with a notable bias toward novel protein targets. To foster collaboration and advance research in this area, we have curated a public set of such compounds based on the PubChem BioAssay dataset and made it available for use by the scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R. Thomas
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Claude Shelton
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jason Murphy
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Scott Brittain
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Mark-Anthony Bray
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Peter Aspesi
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - John Concannon
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Frederick J. King
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Robert J. Ihry
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Daniel J. Ho
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Martin Henault
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | | | - Marilisa Neri
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Basel 4056, Switzerland
| | | | - Helen T. Pham
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Matthew Shum
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Louise Barys
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Basel 4056, Switzerland
| | - Michael D. Jones
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Eric J. Martin
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
| | | | | | | | - Felipa A. Mapa
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jeremy L. Jenkins
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Rishi K. Jain
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | | | - Markus Schirle
- Novartis
Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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8
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Kaushik A, Parashar S, Ambasta RK, Kumar P. Ubiquitin E3 ligases assisted technologies in protein degradation: Sharing pathways in neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 96:102279. [PMID: 38521359 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
E3 ligases, essential components of the ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated protein degradation system, play a critical role in cellular regulation. By covalently attaching ubiquitin (Ub) molecules to target proteins, these ligases mark them for degradation, influencing various bioprocesses. With over 600 E3 ligases identified, there is a growing realization of their potential as therapeutic candidates for addressing proteinopathies in cancer and neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs). Recent research has highlighted the need to delve deeper into the intricate roles of E3 ligases as nexus points in the pathogenesis of both cancer and NDDs. Their dysregulation is emerging as a common thread linking these seemingly disparate diseases, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of their molecular intricacies. Herein, we have discussed (i) the fundamental mechanisms through which different types of E3 ligases actively participate in selective protein degradation in cancer and NDDs, followed by an examination of common E3 ligases playing pivotal roles in both situations, emphasising common players. Moving to, (ii) the functional domains and motifs of E3 ligases involved in ubiquitination, we have explored their interactions with specific substrates in NDDs and cancer. Additionally, (iii) we have explored techniques like PROTAC, molecular glues, and other state-of-the-art methods for hijacking neurotoxic and oncoproteins. Lastly, (iv) we have provided insights into ongoing clinical trials, offering a glimpse into the evolving landscape of E3-based therapeutics for cancer and NDDs. Unravelling the intricate network of E3 ligase-mediated regulation holds the key to unlocking targeted therapies that address the specific molecular signatures of individual patients, heralding a new era in personalized medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aastha Kaushik
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University (Formerly DCE), Delhi 110042, India
| | - Somya Parashar
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University (Formerly DCE), Delhi 110042, India
| | - Rashmi K Ambasta
- Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, SRM University-Sonepat, Haryana, India
| | - Pravir Kumar
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University (Formerly DCE), Delhi 110042, India.
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9
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Tsumagari K, Isobe Y, Imami K, Arita M. Exploring protein lipidation by mass spectrometry-based proteomics. J Biochem 2024; 175:225-233. [PMID: 38102731 PMCID: PMC10908362 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvad109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein lipidation is a common co- or post-translational modification that plays a crucial role in regulating the localization, interaction and function of cellular proteins. Dysregulation of lipid modifications can lead to various diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and infectious diseases. Therefore, the identification of proteins undergoing lipidation and their lipidation sites should provide insights into many aspects of lipid biology, as well as providing potential targets for therapeutic strategies. Bottom-up proteomics using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry is a powerful technique for the global analysis of protein lipidation. Here, we review proteomic methods for profiling protein lipidation, focusing on the two major approaches: the use of chemical probes, such as lipid alkyne probes, and the use of enrichment techniques for endogenous lipid-modified peptides. The challenges facing these methods and the prospects for developing them further to achieve a comprehensive analysis of lipid modifications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuya Tsumagari
- Proteome Homeostasis Research Unit, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- Laboratory for Metabolomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- Laboratory for Integrative Genomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Yosuke Isobe
- Laboratory for Metabolomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- Division of Physiological Chemistry and Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8512, Japan
- Cellular and Molecular Epigenetics Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Koshi Imami
- Proteome Homeostasis Research Unit, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- Laboratory for Metabolomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- Laboratory for Integrative Genomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Makoto Arita
- Laboratory for Metabolomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- Division of Physiological Chemistry and Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8512, Japan
- Cellular and Molecular Epigenetics Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- Human Biology-Microbiome-Quantum Research Center (WPI-Bio2Q), Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
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10
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Holdgate GA, Bardelle C, Berry SK, Lanne A, Cuomo ME. Screening for molecular glues - Challenges and opportunities. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2024; 29:100136. [PMID: 38104659 DOI: 10.1016/j.slasd.2023.12.008] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Molecular glues are small molecules, typically smaller than PROTACs, and usually with improved physicochemical properties that aim to stabilise the interaction between two proteins. Most often this approach is used to improve or induce an interaction between the target and an E3 ligase, but other interactions which stabilise interactions to increase activity or to inhibit binding to a natural effector have also been demonstrated. This review will describe the effects of induced proximity, discuss current methods used to identify molecular glues and introduce approaches that could be adapted for molecular glue screening.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Catherine Bardelle
- High-throughput Screening, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, UK
| | - Sophia K Berry
- High-throughput Screening, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, UK
| | - Alice Lanne
- High-throughput Screening, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, UK
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11
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Peuget S, Zhou X, Selivanova G. Translating p53-based therapies for cancer into the clinic. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:192-215. [PMID: 38287107 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00658-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Inactivation of the most important tumour suppressor gene TP53 occurs in most, if not all, human cancers. Loss of functional wild-type p53 is achieved via two main mechanisms: mutation of the gene leading to an absence of tumour suppressor activity and, in some cases, gain-of-oncogenic function; or inhibition of the wild-type p53 protein mediated by overexpression of its negative regulators MDM2 and MDMX. Because of its high potency as a tumour suppressor and the dependence of at least some established tumours on its inactivation, p53 appears to be a highly attractive target for the development of new anticancer drugs. However, p53 is a transcription factor and therefore has long been considered undruggable. Nevertheless, several innovative strategies have been pursued for targeting dysfunctional p53 for cancer treatment. In mutant p53-expressing tumours, the predominant strategy is to restore tumour suppressor function with compounds acting either in a generic manner or otherwise selective for one or a few specific p53 mutations. In addition, approaches to deplete mutant p53 or to target vulnerabilities created by mutant p53 expression are currently under development. In wild-type p53 tumours, the major approach is to protect p53 from the actions of MDM2 and MDMX by targeting these negative regulators with inhibitors. Although the results of at least some clinical trials of MDM2 inhibitors and mutant p53-restoring compounds are promising, none of the agents has yet been approved by the FDA. Alternative strategies, based on a better understanding of p53 biology, the mechanisms of action of compounds and treatment regimens as well as the development of new technologies are gaining interest, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras for MDM2 degradation. Other approaches are taking advantage of the progress made in immune-based therapies for cancer. In this Review, we present these ongoing clinical trials and emerging approaches to re-evaluate the current state of knowledge of p53-based therapies for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Peuget
- Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xiaolei Zhou
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Galina Selivanova
- Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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12
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Tang Z, Li J, Peng L, Xu F, Tan Y, He X, Zhu C, Zhang ZM, Zhang Z, Sun P, Ding K, Li Z. Novel Covalent Probe Selectively Targeting Glutathione Peroxidase 4 In Vivo: Potential Applications in Pancreatic Cancer Therapy. J Med Chem 2024; 67:1872-1887. [PMID: 38265413 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) emerges as a promising target for the treatment of therapy-resistant cancer through ferroptosis. Thus, there is a broad interest in the development of GPX4 inhibitors. However, a majority of reported GPX4 inhibitors utilize chloroacetamide as a reactive electrophilic warhead, and the selectivity and pharmacokinetic properties still need to be improved. Herein, we developed a compound library based on a novel electrophilic warhead, the sulfonyl ynamide, and executed phenotypic screening against pancreatic cancer cell lines. Notably, one compound A16 exhibiting potent cell toxicity was identified. Further chemical proteomics investigations have demonstrated that A16 specifically targets GPX4 under both in situ and in vivo conditions, inducing ferroptosis. Importantly, A16 exhibited superior selectivity and potency compared to reported GPX4 inhibitors, ML210 and ML162. This provides the structural diversity of tool probes for unraveling the fundamental biology of GPX4 and exploring the therapeutic potential of pancreatic cancer via ferroptosis induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zifeng Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development (MOE), Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development (MOE), Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Lijie Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development (MOE), Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Fang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development (MOE), Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yi Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development (MOE), Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiaoqiang He
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development (MOE), Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Chengjun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development (MOE), Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zhi-Min Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development (MOE), Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zhang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development (MOE), Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Pinghua Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development (MOE), Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Ke Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development (MOE), Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zhengqiu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development (MOE), Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
- School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
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13
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Giurini EF, Godla A, Gupta KH. Redefining bioactive small molecules from microbial metabolites as revolutionary anticancer agents. Cancer Gene Ther 2024; 31:187-206. [PMID: 38200347 PMCID: PMC10874892 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-023-00715-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Cancer treatment remains a significant challenge due to issues such as acquired resistance to conventional therapies and the occurrence of adverse treatment-related toxicities. In recent years, researchers have turned their attention to the microbial world in search of novel and effective drugs to combat this devastating disease. Microbial derived secondary metabolites have proven to be a valuable source of biologically active compounds, which exhibit diverse functions and have demonstrated potential as treatments for various human diseases. The exploration of these compounds has provided valuable insights into their mechanisms of action against cancer cells. In-depth studies have been conducted on clinically established microbial metabolites, unraveling their anticancer properties, and shedding light on their therapeutic potential. This review aims to comprehensively examine the anticancer mechanisms of these established microbial metabolites. Additionally, it highlights the emerging therapies derived from these metabolites, offering a glimpse into the immense potential they hold for anticancer drug discovery. Furthermore, this review delves into approved treatments and major drug candidates currently undergoing clinical trials, focusing on specific molecular targets. It also addresses the challenges and issues encountered in the field of anticancer drug research and development. It also presents a comprehensive exposition of the contemporary panorama concerning microbial metabolites serving as a reservoir for anticancer agents, thereby illuminating their auspicious prospects and the prospect of forthcoming strides in the domain of cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileena F Giurini
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Aishvarya Godla
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Kajal H Gupta
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
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14
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Bracken AK, Gekko CE, Suss NO, Lueders EE, Cui Q, Fu Q, Lui ACW, Anderson ET, Zhang S, Abbasov ME. Biomimetic Synthesis and Chemical Proteomics Reveal the Mechanism of Action and Functional Targets of Phloroglucinol Meroterpenoids. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:2524-2548. [PMID: 38230968 PMCID: PMC11000255 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c10741] [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] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Natural products perennially serve as prolific sources of drug leads and chemical probes, fueling the development of numerous therapeutics. Despite their scarcity, natural products that modulate protein function through covalent interactions with lysine residues hold immense potential to unlock new therapeutic interventions and advance our understanding of the biological processes governed by these modifications. Phloroglucinol meroterpenoids constitute one of the most expansive classes of natural products, displaying a plethora of biological activities. However, their mechanism of action and cellular targets have, until now, remained elusive. In this study, we detail the concise biomimetic synthesis, computational mechanistic insights, physicochemical attributes, kinetic parameters, molecular mechanism of action, and functional cellular targets of several phloroglucinol meroterpenoids. We harness synthetic clickable analogues of natural products to probe their disparate proteome-wide reactivity and subcellular localization through in-gel fluorescence scanning and cell imaging. By implementing sample multiplexing and a redesigned lysine-targeting probe, we streamline a quantitative activity-based protein profiling, enabling the direct mapping of global reactivity and ligandability of proteinaceous lysines in human cells. Leveraging this framework, we identify numerous lysine-meroterpenoid interactions in breast cancer cells at tractable protein sites across diverse structural and functional classes, including those historically deemed undruggable. We validate that phloroglucinol meroterpenoids perturb biochemical functions through stereoselective and site-specific modification of lysines in proteins vital for breast cancer metabolism, including lipid signaling, mitochondrial respiration, and glycolysis. These findings underscore the broad potential of phloroglucinol meroterpenoids for targeting functional lysines in the human proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy K Bracken
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Colby E Gekko
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Nina O Suss
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Emma E Lueders
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Qi Cui
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Qin Fu
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Andy C W Lui
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Elizabeth T Anderson
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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15
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Jiang W, Jiang Y, Luo Y, Qiao W, Yang T. Facilitating the development of molecular glues: Opportunities from serendipity and rational design. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 263:115950. [PMID: 37984298 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Molecular glues can specifically induce interactions between two or more proteins to modulate biological functions and have been proven to be a powerful therapeutic modality in drug discovery. It plays a variety of vital roles in several biological processes, such as complex stabilization, interactome modulation and transporter inhibition, thus enabling challenging therapeutic targets to be druggable. Most known molecular glues were identified serendipitously, such as IMiDs, auxin, and rapamycin. In recent years, more rational strategies were explored with the development of chemical biology and a deep understanding of the interaction between molecular glues and proteins, which led to the rational discovery of several molecular glues. Thus, in this review, we aim to highlight the discovery strategies of molecular glues from three aspects: serendipitous discovery, screening methods and rational design principles. We expect that this review will provide a reasonable reference and insights for the discovery of molecular glues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqing Jiang
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapies, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yunhan Jiang
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapies, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Cardiovascular Surgery Research Laboratory, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Youfu Luo
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapies, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Wenliang Qiao
- Lung Cancer Center, Laboratory of Lung Cancer, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Tao Yang
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapies, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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16
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Punzalan C, Wang L, Bajrami B, Yao X. Measurement and utilization of the proteomic reactivity by mass spectrometry. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2024; 43:166-192. [PMID: 36924435 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Chemical proteomics, which involves studying the covalent modifications of proteins by small molecules, has significantly contributed to our understanding of protein function and has become an essential tool in drug discovery. Mass spectrometry (MS) is the primary method for identifying and quantifying protein-small molecule adducts. In this review, we discuss various methods for measuring proteomic reactivity using MS and covalent proteomics probes that engage through reactivity-driven and proximity-driven mechanisms. We highlight the applications of these methods and probes in live-cell measurements, drug target identification and validation, and characterizing protein-small molecule interactions. We conclude the review with current developments and future opportunities in the field, providing our perspectives on analytical considerations for MS-based analysis of the proteomic reactivity landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clodette Punzalan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
- AD Bio US, Takeda, Lexington, Massachusetts, 02421, USA
| | - Bekim Bajrami
- Chemical Biology & Proteomics, Biogen, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Xudong Yao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
- Institute for Systems Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
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17
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Xue G, Xie J, Hinterndorfer M, Cigler M, Dötsch L, Imrichova H, Lampe P, Cheng X, Adariani SR, Winter GE, Waldmann H. Discovery of a Drug-like, Natural Product-Inspired DCAF11 Ligand Chemotype. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7908. [PMID: 38036533 PMCID: PMC10689823 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43657-6] [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] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted proteasomal and autophagic protein degradation, often employing bifunctional modalities, is a new paradigm for modulation of protein function. In an attempt to explore protein degradation by means of autophagy we combine arylidene-indolinones reported to bind the autophagy-related LC3B-protein and ligands of the PDEδ lipoprotein chaperone, the BRD2/3/4-bromodomain containing proteins and the BTK- and BLK kinases. Unexpectedly, the resulting bifunctional degraders do not induce protein degradation by means of macroautophagy, but instead direct their targets to the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Target and mechanism identification reveal that the arylidene-indolinones covalently bind DCAF11, a substrate receptor in the CUL4A/B-RBX1-DDB1-DCAF11 E3 ligase. The tempered α, β-unsaturated indolinone electrophiles define a drug-like DCAF11-ligand class that enables exploration of this E3 ligase in chemical biology and medicinal chemistry programs. The arylidene-indolinone scaffold frequently occurs in natural products which raises the question whether E3 ligand classes can be found more widely among natural products and related compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Xue
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Jianing Xie
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Matthias Hinterndorfer
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marko Cigler
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lara Dötsch
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
- Technical University Dortmund, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Hana Imrichova
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Philipp Lampe
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Xiufen Cheng
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Soheila Rezaei Adariani
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Georg E Winter
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Herbert Waldmann
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany.
- Technical University Dortmund, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Dortmund, Germany.
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18
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Julio AR, Shikwana F, Truong C, Burton NR, Dominguez E, Turmon AC, Cao J, Backus K. Pervasive aggregation and depletion of host and viral proteins in response to cysteine-reactive electrophilic compounds. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.30.564067. [PMID: 38014036 PMCID: PMC10680658 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.30.564067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Protein homeostasis is tightly regulated, with damaged or misfolded proteins quickly eliminated by the proteasome and autophagosome pathways. By co-opting these processes, targeted protein degradation technologies enable pharmacological manipulation of protein abundance. Recently, cysteine-reactive molecules have been added to the degrader toolbox, which offer the benefit of unlocking the therapeutic potential of 'undruggable' protein targets. The proteome-wide impact of these molecules remains to be fully understood and given the general reactivity of many classes of cysteine-reactive electrophiles, on- and off-target effects are likely. Using chemical proteomics, we identified a cysteine-reactive small molecule degrader of the SARS-CoV-2 non- structural protein 14 (nsp14), which effects degradation through direct modification of cysteines in both nsp14 and in host chaperones together with activation of global cell stress response pathways. We find that cysteine-reactive electrophiles increase global protein ubiquitylation, trigger proteasome activation, and result in widespread aggregation and depletion of host proteins, including components of the nuclear pore complex. Formation of stress granules was also found to be a remarkably ubiquitous cellular response to nearly all cysteine-reactive compounds and degraders. Collectively, our study sheds light on complexities of covalent target protein degradation and highlights untapped opportunities in manipulating and characterizing proteostasis processes via deciphering the cysteine-centric regulation of stress response pathways.
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19
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Luo Y, Liu C, Luo Y, Zhang X, Li J, Hu C, Yang S. Thiostrepton alleviates experimental colitis by promoting RORγt ubiquitination and modulating dysbiosis. Cell Mol Immunol 2023; 20:1352-1366. [PMID: 37752225 PMCID: PMC10616104 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-023-01085-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Thiostrepton (TST) is a natural antibiotic with pleiotropic properties. This study aimed to elucidate the therapeutic effect of TST on experimental colitis and identify its targets. The effect of TST on colon inflammation was evaluated in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model and a T-cell transfer colitis model. The therapeutic targets of TST were investigated by cytokine profiling, immunophenotyping and biochemical approaches. The effect of TST on the gut microbiota and its contribution to colitis were evaluated in mice with DSS-induced colitis that were subjected to gut microbiota depletion and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Alterations in the gut microbiota caused by TST were determined by 16S rDNA and metagenomic sequencing. Here, we showed that TST treatment significantly ameliorated colitis in the DSS-induced and T-cell transfer models. Specifically, TST targeted the retinoic acid-related orphan nuclear receptor RORγt to reduce the production of IL-17A by γδ T cells, type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) and Th17 cells in mice with DSS-induced colitis. Similarly, TST selectively prevented the development of Th17 cells in the T-cell transfer colitis model and the differentiation of naïve CD4+ T cells into Th17 cells in vitro. Mechanistically, TST induced the ubiquitination and degradation of RORγt by promoting the binding of Itch to RORγt. Moreover, TST also reversed dysbiosis to control colonic inflammation. Taken together, these results from our study describe the previously unexplored role of TST in alleviating colonic inflammation by reducing IL-17A production and modulating dysbiosis, suggesting that TST is a promising candidate drug for the treatment of IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Luo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563006, China
| | - Cheng Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Yuan Luo
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xianglian Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Changjiang Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
| | - Shiming Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
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20
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Takahashi M, Chong HB, Zhang S, Lazarov MJ, Harry S, Maynard M, White R, Murrey HE, Hilbert B, Neil JR, Gohar M, Ge M, Zhang J, Durr BR, Kryukov G, Tsou CC, Brooijmans N, Alghali ASO, Rubio K, Vilanueva A, Harrison D, Koglin AS, Ojeda S, Karakyriakou B, Healy A, Assaad J, Makram F, Rachman I, Khandelwal N, Tien PC, Popoola G, Chen N, Vordermark K, Richter M, Patel H, Yang TY, Griesshaber H, Hosp T, van den Ouweland S, Hara T, Bussema L, Dong R, Shi L, Rasmussen MQ, Domingues AC, Lawless A, Fang J, Yoda S, Nguyen LP, Reeves SM, Wakefield FN, Acker A, Clark SE, Dubash T, Fisher DE, Maheswaran S, Haber DA, Boland G, Sade-Feldman M, Jenkins R, Hata A, Bardeesy N, Suva ML, Martin B, Liau B, Ott C, Rivera MN, Lawrence MS, Bar-Peled L. DrugMap: A quantitative pan-cancer analysis of cysteine ligandability. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.20.563287. [PMID: 37961514 PMCID: PMC10634688 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.20.563287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Cysteine-focused chemical proteomic platforms have accelerated the clinical development of covalent inhibitors of a wide-range of targets in cancer. However, how different oncogenic contexts influence cysteine targeting remains unknown. To address this question, we have developed DrugMap , an atlas of cysteine ligandability compiled across 416 cancer cell lines. We unexpectedly find that cysteine ligandability varies across cancer cell lines, and we attribute this to differences in cellular redox states, protein conformational changes, and genetic mutations. Leveraging these findings, we identify actionable cysteines in NFκB1 and SOX10 and develop corresponding covalent ligands that block the activity of these transcription factors. We demonstrate that the NFκB1 probe blocks DNA binding, whereas the SOX10 ligand increases SOX10-SOX10 interactions and disrupts melanoma transcriptional signaling. Our findings reveal heterogeneity in cysteine ligandability across cancers, pinpoint cell-intrinsic features driving cysteine targeting, and illustrate the use of covalent probes to disrupt oncogenic transcription factor activity.
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21
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Dewey JA, Delalande C, Azizi SA, Lu V, Antonopoulos D, Babnigg G. Molecular Glue Discovery: Current and Future Approaches. J Med Chem 2023; 66:9278-9296. [PMID: 37437222 PMCID: PMC10805529 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The intracellular interactions of biomolecules can be maneuvered to redirect signaling, reprogram the cell cycle, or decrease infectivity using only a few dozen atoms. Such "molecular glues," which can drive both novel and known interactions between protein partners, represent an enticing therapeutic strategy. Here, we review the methods and approaches that have led to the identification of small-molecule molecular glues. We first classify current FDA-approved molecular glues to facilitate the selection of discovery methods. We then survey two broad discovery method strategies, where we highlight the importance of factors such as experimental conditions, software packages, and genetic tools for success. We hope that this curation of methodologies for directed discovery will inspire diverse research efforts targeting a multitude of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey A Dewey
- Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Clémence Delalande
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Saara-Anne Azizi
- Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Vivian Lu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Dionysios Antonopoulos
- Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Gyorgy Babnigg
- Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
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22
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Gowans FA, Thach DQ, Wang Y, Altamirano Poblano BE, Dovala D, Tallarico JA, McKenna JM, Schirle M, Maimone TJ, Nomura DK. Ophiobolin A Covalently Targets Complex IV Leading to Mitochondrial Metabolic Collapse in Cancer Cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.09.531918. [PMID: 36945520 PMCID: PMC10029012 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.09.531918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Ophiobolin A (OPA) is a sesterterpenoid fungal natural product with broad anti-cancer activity. While OPA possesses multiple electrophilic moieties that can covalently react with nucleophilic amino acids on proteins, the proteome-wide targets and mechanism of OPA remain poorly understood in many contexts. In this study, we used covalent chemoproteomic platforms to map the proteome-wide reactivity of OPA in a highly sensitive lung cancer cell line. Among several proteins that OPA engaged, we focused on two targets-cysteine C53 of HIG2DA and lysine K72 of COX5A-that are part of complex IV of the electron transport chain and contributed significantly to the anti-proliferative activity. OPA activated mitochondrial respiration in a HIG2DA and COX5A-dependent manner, led to an initial spike in mitochondrial ATP, but then compromised mitochondrial membrane potential leading to ATP depletion. We have used chemoproteomic strategies to discover a unique anti-cancer mechanism of OPA through activation of complex IV leading to compromised mitochondrial energetics and rapid cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flor A. Gowans
- Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA 94704 USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | - Danny Q. Thach
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | - Yangzhi Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA 94704 USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Belen E. Altamirano Poblano
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA 94704 USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dustin Dovala
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA 94608 USA
| | - John A. Tallarico
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
| | - Jeffrey M. McKenna
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus Schirle
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
| | - Thomas J. Maimone
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | - Daniel K. Nomura
- Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA 94704 USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
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23
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Amycolatopsis from Desert Specialist Fungus-Growing Ants Suppresses Contaminant Fungi Using the Antibiotic ECO-0501. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0183822. [PMID: 36700628 PMCID: PMC9972958 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01838-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Symbiotic Actinobacteria help fungus-growing ants suppress fungal pathogens through the production of antifungal compounds. Trachymyrmex ants of the southwest desert of the United States inhabit a unique niche far from the tropical rainforests in which most fungus-growing ant species are found. These ants may not encounter the specialist fungal pathogen Escovopsis known to threaten colonies of other fungus-growing ants. It is unknown whether Actinobacteria associated with these ants antagonize contaminant fungi and, if so, what the chemical basis of such antagonism is. We find that Pseudonocardia and Amycolatopsis strains isolated from three desert specialist Trachymyrmex species do antagonize diverse contaminant fungi isolated from field-collected ant colonies. We did not isolate the specialist fungal pathogen Escovopsis in our sampling. We trace strong antifungal activity from Amycolatopsis isolates to the molecule ECO-0501, an antibiotic that was previously under preclinical development as an antibacterial agent. In addition to suppression of contaminant fungi, we find that this molecule has strong activity against ant-associated Actinobacteria and may also play a role in bacterial competition in this niche. By studying interspecies interactions in a previously unexplored niche, we have uncovered novel bioactivity for a structurally unique antibiotic. IMPORTANCE Animal hosts often benefit from chemical defenses provided by microbes. These molecular defenses are a potential source of novel antibiotics and offer opportunities for understanding how antibiotics are used in ecological contexts with defined interspecies interactions. Here, we recover contaminant fungi from nests of Trachymyrmex fungus-growing ants of the southwest desert of the United States and find that they are suppressed by Actinobacteria isolated from these ants. The antibiotic ECO-0501 is an antifungal agent used by some of these Amycolatopsis bacterial isolates. This antibiotic was previously investigated in preclinical studies and known only for antibacterial activity.
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24
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Belcher BP, Ward CC, Nomura DK. Ligandability of E3 Ligases for Targeted Protein Degradation Applications. Biochemistry 2023; 62:588-600. [PMID: 34473924 PMCID: PMC8928483 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) using proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and molecular glue degraders has arisen as a powerful therapeutic modality for eliminating disease-causing proteins from cells. PROTACs and molecular glue degraders employ heterobifunctional or monovalent small molecules, respectively, to chemically induce the proximity of target proteins with E3 ubiquitin ligases to ubiquitinate and degrade specific proteins via the proteasome. Whereas TPD is an attractive therapeutic strategy for expanding the druggable proteome, only a relatively small number of E3 ligases out of the >600 E3 ligases encoded by the human genome have been exploited by small molecules for TPD applications. Here we review the existing E3 ligases that have thus far been successfully exploited for TPD and discuss chemoproteomics-enabled covalent screening strategies for discovering new E3 ligase recruiters. We also provide a chemoproteomic map of reactive cysteines within hundreds of E3 ligases that may represent potential ligandable sites that can be pharmacologically interrogated to uncover additional E3 ligase recruiters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget P. Belcher
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA,Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA 94720,Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | - Carl C. Ward
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA,Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA 94720,Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | - Daniel K. Nomura
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA,Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA 94720,Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA,correspondence to
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25
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Feng Y, Han Y, Hu A, Qu Y, Hu Y, Wu H, Wang X, He L. Heliangin acts as a covalent ligand of RPS2 that disrupts pre-rRNA metabolic processes in NPM1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:598-617. [PMID: 36873185 PMCID: PMC9979090 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.10.018] [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: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Although NPM1 mutations are frequently found in acute myeloid leukemia patients, therapeutic strategies are scarce and unsuitable for those who cannot tolerate intensive chemotherapy. Here we demonstrated that heliangin, a natural sesquiterpene lactone, exerts favorable therapeutic responses in NPM1 mutant acute myeloid leukemia cells, with no apparent toxicity to normal hematogenous cells, by inhibiting their proliferation, inducing apoptosis, causing cell cycle arrest, and promoting differentiation. In-depth studies on its mode of action using quantitative thiol reactivity platform screening and subsequent molecular biology validation showed that the ribosomal protein S2 (RPS2) is the main target of heliangin in treating NPM1 mutant AML. Upon covalent binding to the C222 site of RPS2, the electrophilic moieties of heliangin disrupt pre-rRNA metabolic processes, leading to nucleolar stress, which in turn regulates the ribosomal proteins-MDM2-p53 pathway and stabilizes p53. Clinical data shows that the pre-rRNA metabolic pathway is dysregulated in acute myeloid leukemia patients with the NPM1 mutation, leading to a poor prognosis. We found that RPS2 plays a critical role in regulating this pathway and may be a novel treatment target. Our findings suggest a novel treatment strategy and lead compound for acute myeloid leukemia patients, especially those with NPM1 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Feng
- College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, China.,China Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Research and Development in Marine Bio-resource Pharmaceutics, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Yefan Han
- College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, China.,China Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Research and Development in Marine Bio-resource Pharmaceutics, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Anni Hu
- College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, China.,China Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Research and Development in Marine Bio-resource Pharmaceutics, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Yi Qu
- College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, China.,China Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Research and Development in Marine Bio-resource Pharmaceutics, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Yili Hu
- Experiment Center for Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Hao Wu
- College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Xinzhi Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, China.,China Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Research and Development in Marine Bio-resource Pharmaceutics, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Li He
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
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26
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Ma S, Barr T, Yu J. Recent Advances of RNA m 6A Modifications in Cancer Immunoediting and Immunotherapy. Cancer Treat Res 2023; 190:49-94. [PMID: 38112999 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-45654-1_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy, which modulates immune responses against tumors using immune-checkpoint inhibitors or adoptive cell transfer, has emerged as a novel and promising therapy for tumors. However, only a minority of patients demonstrate durable responses, while the majority of patients are resistant to immunotherapy. The immune system can paradoxically constrain and promote tumor development and progression. This process is referred to as cancer immunoediting. The mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapy seem to be that cancer cells undergo immunoediting to evade recognition and elimination by the immune system. RNA modifications, specifically N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation, have emerged as a key regulator of various post-transcriptional gene regulatory processes, such as RNA export, splicing, stability, and degradation, which play unappreciated roles in various physiological and pathological processes, including immune system development and cancer pathogenesis. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which RNA modifications impact the cancer immunoediting process can provide insight into the mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapies and the strategies that can be used to overcome such resistance. In this chapter, we briefly introduce the background of cancer immunoediting and immunotherapy. We also review and discuss the roles and mechanisms of RNA m6A modifications in fine-tuning the innate and adaptive immune responses, as well as in regulating tumor escape from immunosurveillance. Finally, we summarize the current strategies targeting m6A regulators for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoubao Ma
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Tasha Barr
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Jianhua Yu
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
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27
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Li Y, Jia Y, Wang X, Shang H, Tian Y. Protein-Targeted Degradation Agents Based on Natural Products. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 16:ph16010046. [PMID: 36678543 PMCID: PMC9865760 DOI: 10.3390/ph16010046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural products are an important source of drug lead compounds, and natural products with significant biological activity are constantly being discovered and used in clinical practice. At present, natural products play an important role in the targeted therapy of cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, nervous system diseases, and autoimmune diseases. Meanwhile, in recent years, the rise of protein-targeted degradation technologies, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and molecular glues, has provided a new solution for drug resistance caused by clinical molecular-targeting drugs. It is noteworthy that natural products and their derivatives, as important components of PROTACs and molecular glues, play an important role in the development of protein-targeting drugs. Hence, this review summarized the protein-targeted degradation agents based on natural products, such as PROTACs and molecular glues. More natural products with the potential to be used in the development of PROTACs and molecular glues as targeted protein degradation agents are still being investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Yu Tian
- Correspondence: (H.S.); (Y.T.)
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28
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Zhao L, Kang M, Liu X, Wang Z, Wang Y, Chen H, Liu W, Liu S, Li B, Li C, Chang A, Tang B. UBR7 inhibits HCC tumorigenesis by targeting Keap1/Nrf2/Bach1/HK2 and glycolysis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2022; 41:330. [PMID: 36419136 PMCID: PMC9686014 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02528-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glycolysis metabolism is an attractive target for cancer therapy. Reprogramming metabolic pathways could improve the ability of metabolic inhibitors to suppress cancers with limited treatment options. The ubiquitin-proteasome system facilitates the turnover of most intracellular proteins with E3 ligase conferring the target selection and specificity. Ubiquitin protein ligase E3 component N-recognin 7 (UBR7), among the least studied E3 ligases, recognizes its substrate through a plant homeodomain (PHD) finger. Here, we bring into focus on its suppressive role in glycolysis and HCC tumorigenesis, dependent on its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity toward monoubiquitination of histone H2B at lysine 120 (H2BK120ub). METHODS In this study, we carried out high-throughput RNAi screening to identify epigenetic candidates in regulating lactic acid and investigated its possible roles in HCC progression. RESULTS UBR7 loss promotes HCC tumorigenesis both in vitro and in vivo. UBR7 inhibits glycolysis by indirectly suppressing HK2 expression, a downstream target of Nrf2/Bach1 axis. Mechanically, UBR7 regulates H2BK120ub to bind to Keap1 promoter through H2BK120ub monoubiquitination, thereby modulating Keap1 expression and downstream Nrf2/Bach1/HK2 signaling. Pharmaceutical and genetic inhibition of glycolytic enzymes attenuate the promoting effect of UBR7 deficiency on tumor growth. In addition, methyltransferase ALKBH5, downregulated in HCC, regulated UBR7 expression in an m6A-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS These results collectively establish UBR7 as a critical negative regulator of aerobic glycolysis and HCC tumorigenesis through regulation of the Keap1/Nrf2/Bach1/HK2 axis, providing a potential clinical and therapeutic target for the HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhao
- grid.412594.f0000 0004 1757 2961Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021 Guangxi People’s Republic of China
| | - Min Kang
- grid.412594.f0000 0004 1757 2961Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021 Guangxi People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaomeng Liu
- grid.412594.f0000 0004 1757 2961Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021 Guangxi People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhenran Wang
- grid.412594.f0000 0004 1757 2961Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021 Guangxi People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Wang
- grid.412594.f0000 0004 1757 2961Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021 Guangxi People’s Republic of China
| | - Haiqiang Chen
- grid.412594.f0000 0004 1757 2961Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021 Guangxi People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenhui Liu
- grid.412594.f0000 0004 1757 2961Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021 Guangxi People’s Republic of China
| | - Shiqian Liu
- grid.412594.f0000 0004 1757 2961Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021 Guangxi People’s Republic of China
| | - Baibei Li
- grid.412594.f0000 0004 1757 2961Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021 Guangxi People’s Republic of China
| | - Chong Li
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Antao Chang
- grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060 China
| | - Bo Tang
- grid.412594.f0000 0004 1757 2961Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021 Guangxi People’s Republic of China
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Liu TT, Yang H, Zhuo FF, Yang Z, Zhao MM, Guo Q, Liu Y, Liu D, Zeng KW, Tu PF. Atypical E3 ligase ZFP91 promotes small-molecule-induced E2F2 transcription factor degradation for cancer therapy. EBioMedicine 2022; 86:104353. [PMID: 36375317 PMCID: PMC9667253 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The E2F family of transcription factors play a crucial role in the development of various cancers. However, E2F members lack targetable binding pockets and are typically considered "undruggable". Unlike canonical small-molecule therapeutics, molecular glues mediate new E3 ligase-protein interactions to induce selective proteasomal degradation, which represents an attractive option to overcome these limitations. METHODS Human proteome microarray was utilized to identify a natural product-derived molecular glue for targeting E2F2 degradation. Co-IP analysis with stable isotope labeling of amino acids in cell culture (SILAC)-based quantitative proteomics was carried out to further explore the E3 ligase for E2F2 degradation. FINDINGS In this study, we identified a molecular glue bufalin, which significantly promoted E2F2 degradation. Unexpectedly, E2F2 underwent ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation via a previously undisclosed atypical E3 ligase, zinc finger protein 91 (ZFP91). In particular, we observed that bufalin markedly promoted E2F2-ZFP91 complex formation, thereby leading to E2F2 polyubiquitination via K48-linked ubiquitin chains for degradation. E2F2 degradation subsequently caused transcriptional suppression of multiple oncogenes including c-Myc, CCNE1, CCNE2, MCM5 and CDK1, and inhibited hepatocellular carcinoma growth in vitro and in vivo. INTERPRETATION Collectively, our findings open up a new direction for transcription factors degradation by targeting atypical E3 ligase ZFP91. Meanwhile, the chemical knockdown strategy with molecular glue may promote innovative transcription factor degrader development in cancer therapy. FUNDING This work was financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Project of China (2022YFC3501601), National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (81973505, 82174008, 82030114), and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2019M650396), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Ting Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Heng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Fang-Fang Zhuo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zhuo Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Mei-Mei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Qiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Proteomics Laboratory, Medical and Healthy Analytical Center, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Ke-Wu Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China,Corresponding author.
| | - Peng-Fei Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China,Corresponding author.
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30
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Srivastava R, Fernández-Ginés R, Encinar JA, Cuadrado A, Wells G. The current status and future prospects for therapeutic targeting of KEAP1-NRF2 and β-TrCP-NRF2 interactions in cancer chemoresistance. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 192:246-260. [PMID: 36181972 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Drug resistance is one of the biggest challenges in cancer treatment and limits the potential to cure patients. In many tumors, sustained activation of the protein NRF2 makes tumor cells resistant to chemo- and radiotherapy. Thus, blocking inappropriate NRF2 activity in cancers has been shown to reduce resistance in models of the disease. There is a growing scientific interest in NRF2 inhibitors. However, the compounds developed so far are not target-specific and are associated with a high degree of toxicity, hampering clinical applications. Compounds that can enhance the binding of NRF2 to its ubiquitination-facilitating regulator proteins, either KEAP1 or β-TrCP, have the potential to increase NRF2 degradation and may be of value as potential chemosensitising agents in cancer treatment. Approaches based on molecular glue-type mechanisms, in which ligands stabilise a ternary complex between a protein and its binding partner have shown to enhance β-catenin degradation by stabilising its interaction with β-TrCP. This strategy could be applied to rationally discover degradative β-TrCP-NRF2 and KEAP1-NRF2 protein-protein interaction enhancers. We are proposing a novel approach to selectively suppress NRF2 activity in tumors. It is based on recent methodology and has the potential to be a promising new addition to the arsenal of anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohini Srivastava
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29/39 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Raquel Fernández-Ginés
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Paz (IdiPaz), Department of Biochemistry and Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols UAM-CSIC, Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Antonio Encinar
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), Miguel Hernández University (UMH), Avda. Universidad s/n, Elche, 03202, Spain
| | - Antonio Cuadrado
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Paz (IdiPaz), Department of Biochemistry and Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols UAM-CSIC, Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Geoff Wells
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29/39 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AX, UK.
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31
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Ruan J, Liang D, Yan W, Zhong Y, Talley DC, Rai G, Tao D, LeClair CA, Simeonov A, Zhang Y, Chen F, Quinney NL, Boyles SE, Cholon DM, Gentzsch M, Henderson MJ, Xue F, Fang S. A small-molecule inhibitor and degrader of the RNF5 ubiquitin ligase. Mol Biol Cell 2022; 33:ar120. [PMID: 36074076 PMCID: PMC9634977 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e22-06-0233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
RNF5 E3 ubiquitin ligase has multiple biological roles and has been linked to the development of severe diseases such as cystic fibrosis, acute myeloid leukemia, and certain viral infections, emphasizing the importance of discovering small-molecule RNF5 modulators for research and drug development. The present study describes the synthesis of a new benzo[b]thiophene derivative, FX12, that acts as a selective small-molecule inhibitor and degrader of RNF5. We initially identified the previously reported STAT3 inhibitor, Stattic, as an inhibitor of dislocation of misfolded proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen to the cytosol in ER-associated degradation. A concise structure-activity relationship campaign (SAR) around the Stattic chemotype led to the synthesis of FX12, which has diminished activity in inhibition of STAT3 activation and retains dislocation inhibitory activity. FX12 binds to RNF5 and inhibits its E3 activity in vitro as well as promoting proteasomal degradation of RNF5 in cells. RNF5 as a molecular target for FX12 was supported by the facts that FX12 requires RNF5 to inhibit dislocation and negatively regulates RNF5 function. Thus, this study developed a small-molecule inhibitor and degrader of the RNF5 ubiquitin ligase, providing a chemical biology tool for RNF5 research and therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Ruan
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Department of Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201,First Affiliated Hospital and
| | - Dongdong Liang
- University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201
| | - Wenjing Yan
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Department of Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201
| | - Yongwang Zhong
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Department of Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201
| | - Daniel C. Talley
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Ganesha Rai
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Dingyin Tao
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Christopher A. LeClair
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Anton Simeonov
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Yinghua Zhang
- Center for Innovative Biomedical Resources, Biosensor Core, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201
| | - Feihu Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | | | | | | | - Martina Gentzsch
- Marsico Lung Institute and Cystic Fibrosis Research Center,Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, and,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Mark J. Henderson
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850,*Address corespondence to: Shengyun Fang (lead contact) (); Mark J. Henderson (); Fengtian Xue ()
| | - Fengtian Xue
- University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201,*Address corespondence to: Shengyun Fang (lead contact) (); Mark J. Henderson (); Fengtian Xue ()
| | - Shengyun Fang
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Department of Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201,*Address corespondence to: Shengyun Fang (lead contact) (); Mark J. Henderson (); Fengtian Xue ()
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32
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Novel Self-Forming Nanosized DDS Particles for BNCT: Utilizing A Hydrophobic Boron Cluster and Its Molecular Glue Effect. Cells 2022; 11:cells11203307. [PMID: 36291173 PMCID: PMC9600043 DOI: 10.3390/cells11203307] [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: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BNCT is a non-invasive cancer therapy that allows for cancer cell death without harming adjacent cells. However, the application is limited, owing to the challenges of working with clinically approved boron (B) compounds and drug delivery systems (DDS). To address the issues, we developed self-forming nanoparticles consisting of a biodegradable polymer, namely, “AB-type Lactosome (AB-Lac)” loaded with B compounds. Three carborane isomers (o-, m-, and p-carborane) and three related alkylated derivatives, i.e., 1,2-dimethy-o-carborane (diC1-Carb), 1,2-dihexyl-o-carborane (diC6-Carb), and 1,2-didodecyl-o-carborane (diC12-Carb), were separately loaded. diC6-Carb was highly loaded with AB-Lac particles, and their stability indicated the “molecular glue” effect. The efficiency of in vitro B uptake of diC6-Carb for BNCT was confirmed at non-cytotoxic concentration in several cancer cell lines. In vivo/ex vivo biodistribution studies indicated that the AB-Lac particles were remarkably accumulated within 72 h post-injection in the tumor lesions of mice bearing syngeneic breast cancer (4T1) cells, but the maximum accumulation was reached at 12 h. In ex vivo B biodistribution, the ratios of tumor/normal tissue (T/N) and tumor/blood (T/Bl) of the diC6-Carb-loaded particles remained stably high up to 72 h. Therefore, we propose the diC6-Carb-loaded AB-Lac particles as a promising candidate medicine for BNCT.
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33
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Perez M, Nance KD, Bak DW, Gamage ST, Najera SS, Conte AN, Linehan WM, Weerapana E, Meier JL. Conditional Covalent Lethality Driven by Oncometabolite Accumulation. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:2789-2800. [PMID: 36190452 PMCID: PMC10612128 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00384] [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] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC) is a cancer predisposition syndrome driven by mutation of the tumor suppressor fumarate hydratase (FH). Inactivation of FH causes accumulation of the electrophilic oncometabolite fumarate. In the absence of methods for reactivation, tumor suppressors can be targeted via identification of synthetic lethal interactions using genetic screens. Inspired by recent advances in chemoproteomic target identification, here, we test the hypothesis that the electrophilicity of the HLRCC metabolome may produce unique susceptibilities to covalent small molecules, a phenomenon we term conditional covalent lethality. Screening a panel of chemically diverse electrophiles, we identified a covalent ligand, MP-1, that exhibits FH-dependent cytotoxicity. Synthesis and structure-activity profiling identified key molecular determinants underlying the molecule's effects. Chemoproteomic profiling of cysteine reactivity together with clickable probes validated the ability of MP-1 to engage an array of functional cysteines, including one lying in the Zn-finger domain of the tRNA methyltransferase enzyme TRMT1. TRMT1 overexpression rescues tRNA methylation from inhibition by MP-1 and partially attenuates the covalent ligand's cytotoxicity. Our studies highlight the potential for covalent metabolites and small molecules to synergistically produce novel synthetic lethal interactions and raise the possibility of applying phenotypic screening with chemoproteomic target identification to identify new functional oncometabolite targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minervo Perez
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, 21072, USA
| | - Kellie D. Nance
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, 21072, USA
| | - Daniel W. Bak
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, 02467, USA
| | | | - Susana S. Najera
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, 21072, USA
- Urologic Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Amy N. Conte
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, 21072, USA
| | - W. Marston Linehan
- Urologic Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Eranthie Weerapana
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, 02467, USA
| | - Jordan L. Meier
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, 21072, USA
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34
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Li J, Cai Z, Li XW, Zhuang C. Natural Product-Inspired Targeted Protein Degraders: Advances and Perspectives. J Med Chem 2022; 65:13533-13560. [PMID: 36205223 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD), a promising therapeutic strategy in drug discovery, has great potential to regulate the endogenous degradation of undruggable targets with small molecules. As vital resources that provide diverse structural templates for drug discovery, natural products (NPs) are a rising and robust arsenal for the development of therapeutic TPD. The first proof-of-concept study of proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) was a natural polyketide ovalicin-derived degrader; since then, NPs have shown great potential to promote TPD technology. The use of NP-inspired targeted protein degraders has been confirmed to be a promising strategy to treat many human conditions, including cancer, inflammation, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Nevertheless, the development of NP-inspired degraders is challenging, and the field is currently in its infancy. In this review, we summarize the bioactivities and mechanisms of NP-inspired degraders and discuss the associated challenges and future opportunities in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Li
- Clinical Medicine Scientific and Technical Innovation Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China.,School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zhenyu Cai
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xu-Wen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai 201203, China.,Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong 264117, China
| | - Chunlin Zhuang
- Clinical Medicine Scientific and Technical Innovation Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China.,School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
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35
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Xu F, Zhang X, Chen Z, He S, Guo J, Yu L, Wang Y, Hou C, Ai-Furas H, Zheng Z, Smaill JB, Patterson AV, Zhang ZM, Chen L, Ren X, Ding K. Discovery of Isoform-Selective Akt3 Degraders Overcoming Osimertinib-Induced Resistance in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells. J Med Chem 2022; 65:14032-14048. [PMID: 36173763 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
EGFR inhibitor therapies have brought significant benefit to NSCLC patients. However, all patients gradually progress to acquired resistance via diverse mechanisms. Akt3 overexpression but not Akt1/2 is one of the found molecular events that mediate osimertinib (1) resistance in NSCLC patients. Here, we report 12l as the first bona fide isoform-selective Akt3 degrader which potently induced proteasomal degradation of the target both in vitro and in vivo, whereas its effects on Akt1/2 were minimal. Using 12l as a tool, non-canonical function of Akt3 was validated to contribute greatly to survival of 1-resistant H1975OR NSCLC cells. Degrader 12l potently suppressed the growth of H1975OR as well as several NSCLC cell lines with low nanomolar IC50 values and demonstrated promising in vivo antitumor efficacy in nude mice bearing H1975OR or PC9 NSCLC xenograft models. Selective degradation of Akt3 may be considered as a novel strategy for human cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Xu
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MOE) of PR China, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital (Huaqiao Hospital), Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MOE) of PR China, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital (Huaqiao Hospital), Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zhipeng Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Sheng He
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MOE) of PR China, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jing Guo
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MOE) of PR China, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Lei Yu
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MOE) of PR China, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yongjin Wang
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MOE) of PR China, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Caiyun Hou
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MOE) of PR China, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Hawaa Ai-Furas
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MOE) of PR China, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zongyao Zheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jeff B Smaill
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Adam V Patterson
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Zhi-Min Zhang
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MOE) of PR China, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Liang Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiaomei Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 210530, China
| | - Ke Ding
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development, Ministry of Education (MOE) of PR China, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital (Huaqiao Hospital), Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 210530, China
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36
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Targeting Mutant p53 for Cancer Treatment: Moving Closer to Clinical Use? Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14184499. [PMID: 36139658 PMCID: PMC9496879 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14184499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancer is largely caused by genetic alterations such as mutations in a group of genes known as cancer driver genes. Many of the key advances in cancer treatment in recent years have involved blocking these driver genes using a new generation of anti-cancer drugs. Although p53 is the most frequently mutated gene in human cancers, historically, it has proved difficult to develop drugs against it. However, recently, several new drugs have become available for neutralizing the cancer-promoting effects of mutant p53. The aim of this article is to discuss the most promising of these drugs, especially those that are being investigated in clinical trials. Abstract Mutant p53 is one of the most attractive targets for new anti-cancer drugs. Although traditionally regarded as difficult to drug, several new strategies have recently become available for targeting the mutant protein. One of the most promising of these involves the use of low molecular weight compounds that promote refolding and reactivation of mutant p53 to its wild-type form. Several such reactivating drugs are currently undergoing evaluation in clinical trials, including eprenetapopt (APR-246), COTI-2, arsenic trioxide and PC14586. Of these, the most clinically advanced for targeting mutant p53 is eprenetapopt which has completed phase I, II and III clinical trials, the latter in patients with mutant TP53 myelodysplastic syndrome. Although no data on clinical efficacy are currently available for eprenetapopt, preliminary results suggest that the drug is relatively well tolerated. Other strategies for targeting mutant p53 that have progressed to clinical trials involve the use of drugs promoting degradation of the mutant protein and exploiting the mutant protein for the development of anti-cancer vaccines. With all of these ongoing trials, we should soon know if targeting mutant p53 can be used for cancer treatment. If any of these trials show clinical efficacy, it may be a transformative development for the treatment of patients with cancer since mutant p53 is so prevalent in this disease.
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Pardal AJ, Bowman AJ. A specific role for importin-5 and NASP in the import and nuclear hand-off of monomeric H3. eLife 2022; 11:e81755. [PMID: 36066346 PMCID: PMC9560165 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Core histones package chromosomal DNA and regulate genomic transactions, with their nuclear import and deposition involving importin-β proteins and a dedicated repertoire of histone chaperones. Previously, a histone H3-H4 dimer has been isolated bound to importin-4 (Imp4) and the chaperone ASF1, suggesting that H3 and H4 fold together in the cytoplasm before nuclear import. However, other studies have shown the existence of monomeric H3 in the nucleus, indicating a post-import folding pathway. Here, we report that the predominant importin associated with cytoplasmic H3 is importin-5 (Imp5), which hands off its monomeric cargo to nuclear sNASP. Imp5, in contrast to Imp4, binds to both H3 and H4 containing constitutively monomeric mutations and binds to newly synthesised, monomeric H3 tethered in the cytoplasm. Constitutively monomeric H3 retains its interaction with NASP, whereas monomeric H4 retains interactions specifically with HAT1 and RBBP7. High-resolution separation of NASP interactors shows the 's' isoform but not the 't' isoform associates with monomeric H3, whilst both isoforms associate with H3-H4 dimers in at least three discrete multi-chaperoning complexes. In vitro binding experiments show mutual exclusivity between sNASP and Imp5 in binding H3, suggesting direct competition for interaction sites, with the GTP-bound form of Ran required for histone transfer. Finally, using pulse-chase analysis, we show that cytoplasm-tethered histones do not interact with endogenous NASP until they reach the nucleus, whereupon they bind rapidly. We propose an Imp5-specific import pathway for monomeric H3 that hands off to sNASP in the nucleus, with a parallel H4 pathway involving Imp5 and the HAT1-RBBP7 complex, followed by nuclear folding and hand-off to deposition factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alonso Javier Pardal
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of WarwickCoventryUnited Kingdom
| | - Andrew James Bowman
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of WarwickCoventryUnited Kingdom
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Qi J, Jia S, Kang X, Wu X, Hong Y, Shan K, Kong X, Wang Z, Ding D. Semiconducting Polymer Nanoparticles with Surface-Mimicking Protein Secondary Structure as Lysosome-Targeting Chimaeras for Self-Synergistic Cancer Immunotherapy. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2203309. [PMID: 35704513 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202203309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has received tremendous attention for tumor treatment, but the efficacy is greatly hindered by insufficient tumor-infiltration of immune cells and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The strategy that can efficiently activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes and inhibit negative immune regulators will greatly amplify immunotherapy outcome, which is however very rare. Herein, a new kind of semiconducting polymer (SP) nanoparticles is developed, featured with surface-mimicking protein secondary structure (SPSS NPs) for self-synergistic cancer immunotherapy by combining immunogenic cell death (ICD) and immune checkpoint blockade therapy. The SPs with excellent photodynamic property are synthesized by rational fluorination, which can massively induce ICD. Additionally, the peptide antagonists are introduced and self-assembled into β-sheet protein secondary structures on the photodynamic NP surface via preparation process optimization, which function as efficient lysosome-targeting chimaeras (LYTACs) to mediate the degradation of programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) in lysosome. In vivo experiments demonstrate that SPSS NPs can not only elicit strong antitumor immunity to suppress both primary tumor and distant tumor, but also evoke long-term immunological memory against tumor rechallenge. This work introduces a new kind of robust immunotherapy agents by combining well-designed photosensitizer-based ICD induction and protein secondary structures-mediated LYTAC-like multivalence PD-L1 blockade, rendering great promise for synergistic immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Qi
- Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Shaorui Jia
- Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Xiaoying Kang
- Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Xinying Wu
- Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Yuning Hong
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Ke Shan
- Shandong Artificial intelligence Institute and Shandong Computer Science Center, Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, Shandong, 250353, China
| | - Xianglong Kong
- Shandong Artificial intelligence Institute and Shandong Computer Science Center, Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, Shandong, 250353, China
| | - Zhiming Wang
- AIE Institute, Center for Aggregation-Induced Emission, Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates of Guangdong Province, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510640, China
| | - Dan Ding
- Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221002, China
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Lin Z, Woo CM. Methods to characterize and discover molecular degraders in cells. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:7115-7137. [PMID: 35899832 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00261b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Cells use many post-translational modifications (PTMs) to tailor proteins and transduce cellular signals. Recent years have witnessed the rapid growth of small molecule and enzymatic strategies to purposely manipulate one particular PTM, ubiquitination, on desired target proteins in cells. These approaches typically act by induced proximity between an E3 ligase and a target protein resulting in ubiquitination and degradation of the substrate in cells. In this review, we cover recent approaches to study molecular degraders and discover their induced substrates in vitro and in live cells. Methods that have been adapted and applied to the development of molecular degraders are described, including global proteomics, affinity-purification, chemical proteomics and enzymatic strategies. Extension of these strategies to edit additional PTMs in cells is also discussed. This review is intended to assist researchers who are interested in editing PTMs with new modalities to select suitable method(s) and guide their studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Lin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
| | - Christina M Woo
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
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Domostegui A, Nieto-Barrado L, Perez-Lopez C, Mayor-Ruiz C. Chasing molecular glue degraders: screening approaches. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:5498-5517. [PMID: 35723413 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00197g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) govern all biological processes. Some small molecules modulate PPIs through induced protein proximity. In particular, molecular glue degraders are monovalent compounds that orchestrate interactions between a target protein and an E3 ubiquitin ligase, prompting the proteasomal degradation of the former. This and other pharmacological strategies of targeted protein degradation (e.g. proteolysis-targeting chimeras - PROTACs) overcome some limitations of traditional occupancy-based therapeutics. Here, we provide an overview of the "molecular glue" concept, with a special focus on natural and synthetic inducers of proximity to E3s. We then briefly highlight the serendipitous discoveries of some clinical and preclinical molecular glue degraders, and discuss the first examples of intentional discoveries. Specifically, we outline the different screening strategies reported in this rapidly evolving arena and our thoughts on future perspectives. By mastering the ability to influence PPIs, molecular glue degraders can induce the degradation of unligandable proteins, thus providing an exciting path forward to broaden the targetable proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Domostegui
- IRB Barcelona - Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Luis Nieto-Barrado
- IRB Barcelona - Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Carles Perez-Lopez
- IRB Barcelona - Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Cristina Mayor-Ruiz
- IRB Barcelona - Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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Li F, Aljahdali IAM, Ling X. Molecular Glues: Capable Protein-Binding Small Molecules That Can Change Protein-Protein Interactions and Interactomes for the Potential Treatment of Human Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116206. [PMID: 35682885 PMCID: PMC9181451 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular glue (MG) compounds are a type of unique small molecule that can change the protein–protein interactions (PPIs) and interactomes by degrading, stabilizing, or activating the target protein after their binging. These small-molecule MGs are gradually being recognized for their potential application in treating human diseases, including cancer. Evidence suggests that small-molecule MG compounds could essentially target any proteins, which play critical roles in human disease etiology, where many of these protein targets were previously considered undruggable. Intriguingly, most MG compounds with high efficacy for cancer treatment can glue on and control multiple key protein targets. On the other hand, a single key protein target can also be glued by multiple MG compounds with distinct chemical structures. The high flexibility of MG–protein interaction profiles provides rich soil for the growth and development of small-molecule MG compounds that can be used as molecular tools to assist in unraveling disease mechanisms, and they can also facilitate drug development for the treatment of human disease, especially human cancer. In this review, we elucidate this concept by using various types of small-molecule MG compounds and their corresponding protein targets that have been documented in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengzhi Li
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (I.A.M.A.); (X.L.)
- Developmental Therapeutics (DT) Program, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
- Gastrointestinal Translational Research Group (GI TRG), Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(716)-845-4398; Fax: +1-(716)-845-8857
| | - Ieman A. M. Aljahdali
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (I.A.M.A.); (X.L.)
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Xiang Ling
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA; (I.A.M.A.); (X.L.)
- Canget BioTekpharma LLC, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
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Abstract
AbstractThe druggable genome is limited by structural features that can be targeted by small molecules in disease-relevant proteins. While orthosteric and allosteric protein modulators have been well studied, they are limited to antagonistic/agonistic functions. This approach to protein modulation leaves many disease-relevant proteins as undruggable targets. Recently, protein-protein interaction modulation has emerged as a promising therapeutic field for previously undruggable protein targets. Molecular glues and heterobifunctional degraders such as PROTACs can facilitate protein interactions and bring the proteasome into proximity to induce targeted protein degradation. In this review, we discuss the function and rational design of molecular glues, heterobifunctional degraders, and hydrophobic tag degraders. We also review historic and novel molecular glues and targets and discuss the challenges and opportunities in this new therapeutic field.
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Yan X, Zhang J, Tan H, Liu Z, Jiang K, Tian W, Zheng M, Lin Z, Deng Z, Qu X. A Pair of Atypical KAS III Homologues with Initiation and Elongation Functions Program the Polyketide Biosynthesis in Asukamycin. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202200879. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202200879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Yan
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery Ministry of Education School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Wuhan University 1 Luojiashan Rd. Wuhan 430071 China
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology Shanghai Jiao Tong University 800 Dongchuan Rd. Shanghai 200240 China
| | - Jun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology Shanghai Jiao Tong University 800 Dongchuan Rd. Shanghai 200240 China
| | - Hongqun Tan
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery Ministry of Education School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Wuhan University 1 Luojiashan Rd. Wuhan 430071 China
| | - Zhihao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery Ministry of Education School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Wuhan University 1 Luojiashan Rd. Wuhan 430071 China
| | - Kai Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology Shanghai Jiao Tong University 800 Dongchuan Rd. Shanghai 200240 China
| | - Wenya Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology Shanghai Jiao Tong University 800 Dongchuan Rd. Shanghai 200240 China
| | - Mengmeng Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery Ministry of Education School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Wuhan University 1 Luojiashan Rd. Wuhan 430071 China
| | - Zhi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology Shanghai Jiao Tong University 800 Dongchuan Rd. Shanghai 200240 China
| | - Zixin Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology Shanghai Jiao Tong University 800 Dongchuan Rd. Shanghai 200240 China
| | - Xudong Qu
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery Ministry of Education School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Wuhan University 1 Luojiashan Rd. Wuhan 430071 China
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology Shanghai Jiao Tong University 800 Dongchuan Rd. Shanghai 200240 China
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Bradley NP, Wahl KL, Steenwyk JL, Rokas A, Eichman BF. Resistance-Guided Mining of Bacterial Genotoxins Defines a Family of DNA Glycosylases. mBio 2022; 13:e0329721. [PMID: 35311535 PMCID: PMC9040887 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03297-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Unique DNA repair enzymes that provide self-resistance against therapeutically important, genotoxic natural products have been discovered in bacterial biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Among these, the DNA glycosylase AlkZ is essential for azinomycin B production and belongs to the HTH_42 superfamily of uncharacterized proteins. Despite their widespread existence in antibiotic producers and pathogens, the roles of these proteins in production of other natural products are unknown. Here, we determine the evolutionary relationship and genomic distribution of all HTH_42 proteins from Streptomyces and use a resistance-based genome mining approach to identify homologs associated with known and uncharacterized BGCs. We find that AlkZ-like (AZL) proteins constitute one distinct HTH_42 subfamily and are highly enriched in BGCs and variable in sequence, suggesting each has evolved to protect against a specific secondary metabolite. As a validation of the approach, we show that the AZL protein, HedH4, associated with biosynthesis of the alkylating agent hedamycin, excises hedamycin-DNA adducts with exquisite specificity and provides resistance to the natural product in cells. We also identify a second, phylogenetically and functionally distinct subfamily whose proteins are never associated with BGCs, are highly conserved with respect to sequence and genomic neighborhood, and repair DNA lesions not associated with a particular natural product. This work delineates two related families of DNA repair enzymes-one specific for complex alkyl-DNA lesions and involved in self-resistance to antimicrobials and the other likely involved in protection against an array of genotoxins-and provides a framework for targeted discovery of new genotoxic compounds with therapeutic potential. IMPORTANCE Bacteria are rich sources of secondary metabolites that include DNA-damaging genotoxins with antitumor/antibiotic properties. Although Streptomyces produce a diverse number of therapeutic genotoxins, efforts toward targeted discovery of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) producing DNA-damaging agents is lacking. Moreover, work on toxin-resistance genes has lagged behind our understanding of those involved in natural product synthesis. Here, we identified over 70 uncharacterized BGCs producing potentially novel genotoxins through resistance-based genome mining using the azinomycin B-resistance DNA glycosylase AlkZ. We validate our analysis by characterizing the enzymatic activity and cellular resistance of one AlkZ ortholog in the BGC of hedamycin, a potent DNA alkylating agent. Moreover, we uncover a second, phylogenetically distinct family of proteins related to Escherichia coli YcaQ, a DNA glycosylase capable of unhooking interstrand DNA cross-links, which differs from the AlkZ-like family in sequence, genomic location, proximity to BGCs, and substrate specificity. This work defines two families of DNA glycosylase for specialized repair of complex genotoxic natural products and generalized repair of a broad range of alkyl-DNA adducts and provides a framework for targeted discovery of new compounds with therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah P. Bradley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Katherine L. Wahl
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jacob L. Steenwyk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Brandt F. Eichman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Henning NJ, Boike L, Spradlin JN, Ward CC, Liu G, Zhang E, Belcher BP, Brittain SM, Hesse MJ, Dovala D, McGregor LM, Valdez Misiolek R, Plasschaert LW, Rowlands DJ, Wang F, Frank AO, Fuller D, Estes AR, Randal KL, Panidapu A, McKenna JM, Tallarico JA, Schirle M, Nomura DK. Deubiquitinase-targeting chimeras for targeted protein stabilization. Nat Chem Biol 2022; 18:412-421. [PMID: 35210618 PMCID: PMC10125259 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-022-00971-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Many diseases are driven by proteins that are aberrantly ubiquitinated and degraded. These diseases would be therapeutically benefited by targeted protein stabilization (TPS). Here we present deubiquitinase-targeting chimeras (DUBTACs), heterobifunctional small molecules consisting of a deubiquitinase recruiter linked to a protein-targeting ligand, to stabilize the levels of specific proteins degraded in a ubiquitin-dependent manner. Using chemoproteomic approaches, we discovered the covalent ligand EN523 that targets a non-catalytic allosteric cysteine C23 in the K48-ubiquitin-specific deubiquitinase OTUB1. We showed that a DUBTAC consisting of our EN523 OTUB1 recruiter linked to lumacaftor, a drug used to treat cystic fibrosis that binds ΔF508-cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), robustly stabilized ΔF508-CFTR protein levels, leading to improved chloride channel conductance in human cystic fibrosis bronchial epithelial cells. We also demonstrated stabilization of the tumor suppressor kinase WEE1 in hepatoma cells. Our study showcases covalent chemoproteomic approaches to develop new induced proximity-based therapeutic modalities and introduces the DUBTAC platform for TPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel J Henning
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Lydia Boike
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jessica N Spradlin
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Carl C Ward
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Gang Liu
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Erika Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Bridget P Belcher
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Scott M Brittain
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Matthew J Hesse
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Dustin Dovala
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Lynn M McGregor
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Feng Wang
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Andreas O Frank
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Fuller
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Abigail R Estes
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Katelyn L Randal
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Anoohya Panidapu
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey M McKenna
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - John A Tallarico
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Markus Schirle
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Daniel K Nomura
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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Fischer F, Grigolon G, Benner C, Ristow M. Evolutionarily conserved transcription factors as regulators of longevity and targets for geroprotection. Physiol Rev 2022; 102:1449-1494. [PMID: 35343830 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00017.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is the single largest risk factor for many debilitating conditions, including heart diseases, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. While far from understood in its full complexity, it is scientifically well-established that aging is influenced by genetic and environmental factors, and can be modulated by various interventions. One of aging's early hallmarks are aberrations in transcriptional networks, controlling for example metabolic homeostasis or the response to stress. Evidence in different model organisms abounds that a number of evolutionarily conserved transcription factors, which control such networks, can affect lifespan and healthspan across species. These transcription factors thus potentially represent conserved regulators of longevity and are emerging as important targets in the challenging quest to develop treatments to mitigate age-related diseases, and possibly even to slow aging itself. This review provides an overview of evolutionarily conserved transcription factors that impact longevity or age-related diseases in at least one multicellular model organism (nematodes, flies, or mice), and/or are tentatively linked to human aging. Discussed is the general evidence for transcriptional regulation of aging and disease, followed by a more detailed look at selected transcription factor families, the common metabolic pathways involved, and the targeting of transcription factors as a strategy for geroprotective interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Fischer
- Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Giovanna Grigolon
- Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Benner
- Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Michael Ristow
- Energy Metabolism Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
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47
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Yan X, Zhang J, Tan H, Liu Z, Jiang K, Tian W, Zheng M, Lin Z, Deng Z, Qu X. A Pair of Atypical KAS III Homologues with Initiation and Elongation Functions Program the Polyketide Biosynthesis in Asukamycin. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202200879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Yan
- Wuhan University School of pharmaceutical Sciences CHINA
| | - Jun Zhang
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology CHINA
| | - Hongqun Tan
- Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences CHINA
| | - Zhihao Liu
- Wuhan University School of pharmaceutical Sciences CHINA
| | - Kai Jiang
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology CHINA
| | - Wenya Tian
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology CHINA
| | - Mengmeng Zheng
- Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences CHINA
| | - Zhi Lin
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology CHINA
| | - Zixin Deng
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology CHINA
| | - Xudong Qu
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology 800 Dongchuan Rd. 200240 Shanghai CHINA
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48
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Rothweiler EM, Brennan PE, Huber KVM. Covalent fragment-based ligand screening approaches for identification of novel ubiquitin proteasome system modulators. Biol Chem 2022; 403:391-402. [PMID: 35191283 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2021-0396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ubiquitination is a key regulatory mechanism vital for maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Protein degradation is induced by E3 ligases via attachment of ubiquitin chains to substrates. Pharmacological exploitation of this phenomenon via targeted protein degradation (TPD) can be achieved with molecular glues or bifunctional molecules facilitating the formation of ternary complexes between an E3 ligase and a given protein of interest (POI), resulting in ubiquitination of the substrate and subsequent proteolysis by the proteasome. Recently, the development of novel covalent fragment screening approaches has enabled the identification of first-in-class ligands for E3 ligases and deubiquitinases revealing so far unexplored binding sites which highlights the potential of these methods to uncover and expand druggable space for new target classes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth M Rothweiler
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, Target Discovery Institute, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Paul E Brennan
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, Target Discovery Institute, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, Alzheimer's Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Kilian V M Huber
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, Target Discovery Institute, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
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49
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Kung CP, Weber JD. It’s Getting Complicated—A Fresh Look at p53-MDM2-ARF Triangle in Tumorigenesis and Cancer Therapy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:818744. [PMID: 35155432 PMCID: PMC8833255 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.818744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-tumorigenic mechanisms mediated by the tumor suppressor p53, upon oncogenic stresses, are our bodies’ greatest weapons to battle against cancer onset and development. Consequently, factors that possess significant p53-regulating activities have been subjects of serious interest from the cancer research community. Among them, MDM2 and ARF are considered the most influential p53 regulators due to their abilities to inhibit and activate p53 functions, respectively. MDM2 inhibits p53 by promoting ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation of p53, while ARF activates p53 by physically interacting with MDM2 to block its access to p53. This conventional understanding of p53-MDM2-ARF functional triangle have guided the direction of p53 research, as well as the development of p53-based therapeutic strategies for the last 30 years. Our increasing knowledge of this triangle during this time, especially through identification of p53-independent functions of MDM2 and ARF, have uncovered many under-appreciated molecular mechanisms connecting these three proteins. Through recognizing both antagonizing and synergizing relationships among them, our consideration for harnessing these relationships to develop effective cancer therapies needs an update accordingly. In this review, we will re-visit the conventional wisdom regarding p53-MDM2-ARF tumor-regulating mechanisms, highlight impactful studies contributing to the modern look of their relationships, and summarize ongoing efforts to target this pathway for effective cancer treatments. A refreshed appreciation of p53-MDM2-ARF network can bring innovative approaches to develop new generations of genetically-informed and clinically-effective cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che-Pei Kung
- ICCE Institute, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Department of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
- *Correspondence: Che-Pei Kung, ; Jason D. Weber,
| | - Jason D. Weber
- ICCE Institute, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Department of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
- *Correspondence: Che-Pei Kung, ; Jason D. Weber,
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50
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Liu B, Zhou Z, Jin Y, Lu J, Feng D, Peng R, Sun H, Mu X, Li C, Chen Y. Hepatic stellate cell activation and senescence induced by intrahepatic microbiota disturbances drive progression of liver cirrhosis toward hepatocellular carcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-003069. [PMID: 34996812 PMCID: PMC8744134 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The significance of the relationship between the microbiota and diseases is increasingly being recognized. However, the characterization of tumor microbiome and their precise molecular mechanisms through which microbiota promotes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development are still unclear. METHODS The intrahepatic microbiota was investigated from tumor, normal adjacent tissues in 46 patients with HCC and normal hepatic tissues in 33 patients with hemangioma by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Taxonomic composition differences in patients were evaluated using Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LefSe) and Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) to predict microbial functional pathways. Associations between the most relevant taxa and clinical characteristics of HCC patients were analyzed by Spearman rank correlations. The effects of microbe on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation and HCC progression were examined. RESULTS We observed intrahepatic microbiota disturbances by reduced microbial diversity in HCC. The tumor microbiota of the HCC patients with cirrhosis showed higher abundance of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia). S. maltophilia provoked senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in HSCs by activating TLR-4-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway, which in turn induced NLRP3 inflammasome complex formation and secreted various inflammatory factors in the liver, thus facilitating HCC progression in mice. Moreover, signs of SASP were also observed in the HSCs in the area of HCC with higher S. maltophilia enrichment arising in patients with cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis of the hepatic microbiota revealed for the first time that patients with HCC exhibited a dysbiotic microbial community with higher S. maltophilia abundance, which induced the expression SASP factors of HSCs and cirrhosis in the liver, concurring in the process of hepatocarcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyuan Liu
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zewei Zhou
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yu Jin
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jinying Lu
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Dongju Feng
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rui Peng
- Department of General Surgery, Research Center for Clinical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Hua Sun
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Xiaoxin Mu
- Liver Transplantation Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Changxian Li
- Liver Transplantation Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun Chen
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China .,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of General Surgery, Research Center for Clinical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China
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