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Curcio A, Rocca R, Alcaro S, Artese A. The Histone Deacetylase Family: Structural Features and Application of Combined Computational Methods. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:620. [PMID: 38794190 PMCID: PMC11124352 DOI: 10.3390/ph17050620] [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: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are crucial in gene transcription, removing acetyl groups from histones. They also influence the deacetylation of non-histone proteins, contributing to the regulation of various biological processes. Thus, HDACs play pivotal roles in various diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and inflammatory conditions, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets. This paper reviews the structure and function of the four classes of human HDACs. While four HDAC inhibitors are currently available for treating hematological malignancies, numerous others are undergoing clinical trials. However, their non-selective toxicity necessitates ongoing research into safer and more efficient class-selective or isoform-selective inhibitors. Computational methods have aided the discovery of HDAC inhibitors with the desired potency and/or selectivity. These methods include ligand-based approaches, such as scaffold hopping, pharmacophore modeling, three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships, and structure-based virtual screening (molecular docking). Moreover, recent developments in the field of molecular dynamics simulations, combined with Poisson-Boltzmann/molecular mechanics generalized Born surface area techniques, have improved the prediction of ligand binding affinity. In this review, we delve into the ways in which these methods have contributed to designing and identifying HDAC inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Curcio
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Campus “S. Venuta”, Università degli Studi “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.C.); (S.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Roberta Rocca
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Campus “S. Venuta”, Università degli Studi “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.C.); (S.A.); (A.A.)
- Net4Science S.r.l., Università degli Studi “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Stefano Alcaro
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Campus “S. Venuta”, Università degli Studi “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.C.); (S.A.); (A.A.)
- Net4Science S.r.l., Università degli Studi “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Anna Artese
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Campus “S. Venuta”, Università degli Studi “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.C.); (S.A.); (A.A.)
- Net4Science S.r.l., Università degli Studi “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
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2
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Guo NJ, Wang B, Zhang Y, Kang HQ, Nie HQ, Feng MK, Zhang XY, Zhao LJ, Wang N, Liu HM, Zheng YC, Li W, Gao Y. USP7 as an emerging therapeutic target: A key regulator of protein homeostasis. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 263:130309. [PMID: 38382779 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130309] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Maintaining protein balance within a cell is essential for proper cellular function, and disruptions in the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, which is responsible for degrading and recycling unnecessary or damaged proteins, can lead to various diseases. Deubiquitinating enzymes play a vital role in regulating protein homeostasis by removing ubiquitin chains from substrate proteins, thereby controlling important cellular processes, such as apoptosis and DNA repair. Among these enzymes, ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is of particular interest. USP7 is a cysteine protease consisting of a TRAF region, catalytic region, and C-terminal ubiquitin-like (UBL) region, and it interacts with tumor suppressors, transcription factors, and other key proteins involved in cell cycle regulation and epigenetic control. Moreover, USP7 has been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of various diseases, including cancer, inflammation, neurodegenerative conditions, and viral infections. Overall, characterizing the functions of USP7 is crucial for understanding the pathophysiology of diverse diseases and devising innovative therapeutic strategies. This article reviews the structure and function of USP7 and its complexes, its association with diseases, and its known inhibitors and thus represents a valuable resource for advancing USP7 inhibitor development and promoting potential future treatment options for a wide range of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning-Jie Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Bo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Hui-Qin Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Hai-Qian Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Meng-Kai Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Xi-Ya Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Li-Juan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Ning Wang
- The School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hong-Min Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Yi-Chao Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
| | - Wen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
| | - Ya Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
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3
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Wang L, Xiao Y, Luo Y, Master RP, Mo J, Kim MC, Liu Y, Maharjan CK, Patel UM, De U, Carelock ME, Tithi TI, Li X, Shaffer DR, Guertin KR, Zhuang H, Moser E, Smalley KS, Lv D, Zhou D, Zheng G, Zhang W. PROTAC-mediated NR4A1 degradation as a novel strategy for cancer immunotherapy. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20231519. [PMID: 38334978 PMCID: PMC10857906 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20231519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
An effective cancer therapy requires killing cancer cells and targeting the tumor microenvironment (TME). Searching for molecules critical for multiple cell types in the TME, we identified NR4A1 as one such molecule that can maintain the immune suppressive TME. Here, we establish NR4A1 as a valid target for cancer immunotherapy and describe a first-of-its-kind proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC, named NR-V04) against NR4A1. NR-V04 degrades NR4A1 within hours in vitro and exhibits long-lasting NR4A1 degradation in tumors with an excellent safety profile. NR-V04 inhibits and frequently eradicates established tumors. At the mechanistic level, NR-V04 induces the tumor-infiltrating (TI) B cells and effector memory CD8+ T (Tem) cells and reduces monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (m-MDSC), all of which are known to be clinically relevant immune cell populations in human melanomas. Overall, NR-V04-mediated NR4A1 degradation holds promise for enhancing anticancer immune responses and offers a new avenue for treating various types of cancers such as melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yufeng Xiao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yuewan Luo
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Rohan P. Master
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jiao Mo
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Myung-Chul Kim
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju-si, South Korea
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Chandra K. Maharjan
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Urvi M. Patel
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Umasankar De
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Madison E. Carelock
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Tanzia Islam Tithi
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | | | | | - Haoyang Zhuang
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Emily Moser
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Keiran S.M. Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Dongwen Lv
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Center of Innovative Drug Discovery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Daohong Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Center of Innovative Drug Discovery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Guangrong Zheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Weizhou Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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4
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Cheng B, Pan W, Xiao Y, Ding Z, Zhou Y, Fei X, Liu J, Su Z, Peng X, Chen J. HDAC-targeting epigenetic modulators for cancer immunotherapy. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 265:116129. [PMID: 38211468 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116129] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
HDAC inhibitors, which can inhibit the activity of HDAC enzymes, have been extensively studied in tumor immunotherapy and have shown potential therapeutic effects in cancer immunotherapy. To date, numerous small molecule HDAC inhibitors have been identified, but many of them suffer from limited clinical efficacy and serious toxicity. Hence, HDAC inhibitor-based combination therapies, and other HDAC modulators (e.g. PROTAC degraders, dual-acting agents) have attracted great attention with significant advancements achieved in the past few years due to their superior efficacy compared to single-target HDAC inhibitors. In this review, we overviewed the recent progress on HDAC-based drug discovery with a focus on HDAC inhibitor-based drug combination therapy and other HDAC-targeting strategies (e.g. selective HDAC inhibitors, HDAC-based dual-target inhibitors, and PROTAC HDAC degraders) for cancer immunotherapy. In addition, we also summarized the reported co-crystal structures of HDAC inhibitors in complex with their target proteins and the binding interactions. Finally, the challenges and future directions for HDAC-based drug discovery in cancer immunotherapy are also discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Cheng
- School of Medicine, Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi, 435003, PR China; Key Laboratory of Joint Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Liver Disease and Liver Cancer of Lishui, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui People's Hospital, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, PR China; Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, PR China
| | - Wei Pan
- CardioIogy Department, Geriatric Department, Foshan Women and Children Hospital, Foshan, Guangdong, 528000, PR China
| | - Yao Xiao
- Wuchang Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan Wuchang Hospital, Wuchang, 430063, PR China
| | - Zongbao Ding
- Department of Bioengineering, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, 519041, PR China
| | - Yingxing Zhou
- School of Medicine, Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi, 435003, PR China
| | - Xiaoting Fei
- School of Medicine, Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi, 435003, PR China
| | - Jin Liu
- School of Medicine, Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi, 435003, PR China
| | - Zhenhong Su
- School of Medicine, Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi, 435003, PR China.
| | - Xiaopeng Peng
- College of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 314000, PR China.
| | - Jianjun Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, PR China.
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5
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Peng X, Hu Z, Zeng L, Zhang M, Xu C, Lu B, Tao C, Chen W, Hou W, Cheng K, Bi H, Pan W, Chen J. Overview of epigenetic degraders based on PROTAC, molecular glue, and hydrophobic tagging technologies. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:533-578. [PMID: 38322348 PMCID: PMC10840439 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.09.003] [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: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic pathways play a critical role in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of cancer. Over the past few decades, significant progress has been made in the development of targeted epigenetic modulators (e.g., inhibitors). However, epigenetic inhibitors have faced multiple challenges, including limited clinical efficacy, toxicities, lack of subtype selectivity, and drug resistance. As a result, the design of new epigenetic modulators (e.g., degraders) such as PROTACs, molecular glue, and hydrophobic tagging (HyT) degraders has garnered significant attention from both academia and pharmaceutical industry, and numerous epigenetic degraders have been discovered in the past decade. In this review, we aim to provide an in-depth illustration of new degrading strategies (2017-2023) targeting epigenetic proteins for cancer therapy, focusing on the rational design, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, clinical status, and crystal structure information of these degraders. Importantly, we also provide deep insights into the potential challenges and corresponding remedies of this approach to drug design and development. Overall, we hope this review will offer a better mechanistic understanding and serve as a useful guide for the development of emerging epigenetic-targeting degraders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Peng
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Zhihao Hu
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Limei Zeng
- College of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Meizhu Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Congcong Xu
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Benyan Lu
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Chengpeng Tao
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Weiming Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Wen Hou
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Kui Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Huichang Bi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Wanyi Pan
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Jianjun Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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Dai XJ, Ji SK, Fu MJ, Liu GZ, Liu HM, Wang SP, Shen L, Wang N, Herdewijn P, Zheng YC, Wang SQ, Chen XB. Degraders in epigenetic therapy: PROTACs and beyond. Theranostics 2024; 14:1464-1499. [PMID: 38389844 PMCID: PMC10879860 DOI: 10.7150/thno.92526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics refers to the reversible process through which changes in gene expression occur without changing the nucleotide sequence of DNA. The process is currently gaining prominence as a pivotal objective in the treatment of cancers and other ailments. Numerous drugs that target epigenetic mechanisms have obtained approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the therapeutic intervention of diverse diseases; many have drawbacks, such as limited applicability, toxicity, and resistance. Since the discovery of the first proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) in 2001, studies on targeted protein degradation (TPD)-encompassing PROTACs, molecular glue (MG), hydrophobic tagging (HyT), degradation TAG (dTAG), Trim-Away, a specific and non-genetic inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP)-dependent protein eraser (SNIPER), antibody-PROTACs (Ab-PROTACs), and other lysosome-based strategies-have achieved remarkable progress. In this review, we comprehensively highlight the small-molecule degraders beyond PROTACs that could achieve the degradation of epigenetic proteins (including bromodomain-containing protein-related targets, histone acetylation/deacetylation-related targets, histone methylation/demethylation related targets, and other epigenetic targets) via proteasomal or lysosomal pathways. The present difficulties and forthcoming prospects in this domain are also deliberated upon, which may be valuable for medicinal chemists when developing more potent, selective, and drug-like epigenetic drugs for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Jie Dai
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment; Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation; Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shi-Kun Ji
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment; Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation; Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Meng-Jie Fu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment; Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation; Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Gao-Zhi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment; Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation; Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hui-Min Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment; Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation; Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shao-Peng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment; Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation; Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Liang Shen
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment; Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation; Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ning Wang
- The School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Piet Herdewijn
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment; Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation; Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- XNA platform, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49-Box 1041, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yi-Chao Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment; Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation; Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- XNA platform, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Sai-Qi Wang
- Department of Oncology, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Oncology, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer & Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Bing Chen
- Department of Oncology, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Oncology, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer & Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
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Smalley J, Cowley SM, Hodgkinson JT. MDM2 Antagonist Idasanutlin Reduces HDAC1/2 Abundance and Corepressor Partners but Not HDAC3. ACS Med Chem Lett 2024; 15:93-98. [PMID: 38229760 PMCID: PMC10788946 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Histone deacetylases 1-3 (HDAC1, HDAC2, and HDAC3) and their associated corepressor complexes play important roles in regulating chromatin structure and gene transcription. HDAC enzymes are also validated drug targets for oncology and offer promise toward new drugs for neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular diseases. We synthesized four novel heterobifunctional molecules designed to recruit the mouse double minute 2 homologue (MDM2) E3 ligase to degrade HDAC1-3 utilizing the MDM2 inhibitor idasanutlin, known as proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs). Idasanutlin inhibits the MDM2-P53 protein-protein interaction and is in clinical trials. Although two MDM2-recruiting heterobifunctional molecules reduced HDAC1 and HDAC2 abundance with complete selectivity over HDAC3 and reduced HDAC1/2 corepressor components LSD1 and SIN3A, we were surprised to observe that idasanutlin alone was also capable of this effect. This finding suggests an association between the MDM2 E3 ligase and HDAC1/2 corepressor complexes, which could be important for designing future dual/bifunctional HDAC- and MDM2-targeting therapeutics, such as PROTACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua
P. Smalley
- Leicester
Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
| | - Shaun M. Cowley
- Department
of Molecular and Cell Biology, University
of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
| | - James T. Hodgkinson
- Leicester
Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
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8
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Peterson JJ, Lewis CA, Burgos SD, Manickam A, Xu Y, Rowley AA, Clutton G, Richardson B, Zou F, Simon JM, Margolis DM, Goonetilleke N, Browne EP. A histone deacetylase network regulates epigenetic reprogramming and viral silencing in HIV-infected cells. Cell Chem Biol 2023; 30:1617-1633.e9. [PMID: 38134881 PMCID: PMC10754471 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.11.009] [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: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
A long-lived latent reservoir of HIV-1-infected CD4 T cells persists with antiretroviral therapy and prevents cure. We report that the emergence of latently infected primary CD4 T cells requires the activity of histone deacetylase enzymes HDAC1/2 and HDAC3. Data from targeted HDAC molecules, an HDAC3-directed PROTAC, and CRISPR-Cas9 knockout experiments converge on a model where either HDAC1/2 or HDAC3 targeting can prevent latency, whereas all three enzymes must be targeted to achieve latency reversal. Furthermore, HDACi treatment targets features of memory T cells that are linked to proviral latency and persistence. Latency prevention is associated with increased H3K9ac at the proviral LTR promoter region and decreased H3K9me3, suggesting that this epigenetic switch is a key proviral silencing mechanism that depends on HDAC activity. These findings support further mechanistic work on latency initiation and eventual clinical studies of HDAC inhibitors to interfere with latency initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson J Peterson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; University of North Carolina HIV Cure Center, Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Catherine A Lewis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; University of North Carolina HIV Cure Center, Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Samuel D Burgos
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; University of North Carolina HIV Cure Center, Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Ashokkumar Manickam
- University of North Carolina HIV Cure Center, Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Yinyan Xu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; University of North Carolina HIV Cure Center, Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Allison A Rowley
- University of North Carolina HIV Cure Center, Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Genevieve Clutton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; University of North Carolina HIV Cure Center, Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Brian Richardson
- Department of Biostatistics, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Fei Zou
- Department of Biostatistics, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Jeremy M Simon
- Department of Genetics, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; UNC Neuroscience Center, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - David M Margolis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; University of North Carolina HIV Cure Center, Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; Department of Medicine, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; Department of Epidemiology, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Nilu Goonetilleke
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; University of North Carolina HIV Cure Center, Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Edward P Browne
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; University of North Carolina HIV Cure Center, Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA.
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9
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Feller F, Hansen FK. Targeted Protein Degradation of Histone Deacetylases by Hydrophobically Tagged Inhibitors. ACS Med Chem Lett 2023; 14:1863-1868. [PMID: 38116436 PMCID: PMC10726458 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00468] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a growing interest in alternative strategies for targeted protein degradation. In this work, we present the development of histone deacetylase (HDAC) degraders based on hydrophobic tagging technology. To this end, a library of hydrophobically tagged HDAC inhibitors was synthesized via efficient solid-phase protocols utilizing pre-loaded resins. The subsequent biological evaluation led to the identification of our best degrader, 1a, which significantly decreased HDAC1 levels in MM.1S multiple myeloma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Feller
- Department of Pharmaceutical
and Cell Biological Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Finn K. Hansen
- Department of Pharmaceutical
and Cell Biological Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53121 Bonn, Germany
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10
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Ru J, Wang Y, Li Z, Wang J, Ren C, Zhang J. Technologies of targeting histone deacetylase in drug discovery: Current progress and emerging prospects. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 261:115800. [PMID: 37708798 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Histone deacetylases (HDACs) catalyze the hydrolysis of acetyl-l-lysine side chains in histones and non-histones, which are key to epigenetic regulation in humans. Targeting HDACs has emerged as a promising strategy for treating various types of cancer, including myeloma and hematologic malignancies. At present, numerous small molecule inhibitors targeting HDACs are actively being investigated in clinical trials. Despite their potential efficacy in cancer treatment, HDAC inhibitors suffer from multi-directional selectivity and preclinical resistance issues. Hence, developing novel inhibitors based on cutting-edge medicinal chemistry techniques is essential to overcome these limitations and improve clinical outcomes. This manuscript presents an extensive overview of the properties and biological functions of HDACs in cancer, provides an overview of the current state of development and limitations of clinical HDAC inhibitors, and analyzes a range of innovative medicinal chemistry techniques that are applied. These techniques include selective inhibitors, dual-target inhibitors, proteolysis targeting chimeras, and protein-protein interaction inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxiao Ru
- Department of Neurology, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuxi Wang
- Department of Neurology, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu, 610212, Sichuan, China
| | - Zijia Li
- Department of Neurology, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiaxing Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, 38163, Tennessee, USA
| | - Changyu Ren
- Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Jifa Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu, 610212, Sichuan, China.
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11
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Pichlak M, Sobierajski T, Błażewska KM, Gendaszewska-Darmach E. Targeting reversible post-translational modifications with PROTACs: a focus on enzymes modifying protein lysine and arginine residues. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2023; 38:2254012. [PMID: 37667522 PMCID: PMC10481767 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2023.2254012] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PROTACs represent an emerging field in medicinal chemistry, which has already led to the development of compounds that reached clinical studies. Posttranslational modifications contribute to the complexity of proteomes, with 2846 disease-associated sites. PROTAC field is very advanced in targeting kinases, while its use for enzymes mediating posttranslational modifications of the basic amino acid residues, started to be developed recently. Therefore, we bring together this less popular class of PROTACs, targeting lysine acetyltransferases/deacetylases, lysine and arginine methyltransferases, ADP-ribosyltransferases, E3 ligases, and ubiquitin-specific proteases. We put special emphasis on structural aspects of PROTAC elements to facilitate the lengthy experimental endeavours directed towards developing PROTACs. We will cover the period from the inception of the field, 2017, to April 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Pichlak
- Institute of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Lodz University of Technology, Łódź, Poland
| | - Tomasz Sobierajski
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Łódź, Poland
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12
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Xiao Y, Hale S, Awasthee N, Meng C, Zhang X, Liu Y, Ding H, Huo Z, Lv D, Zhang W, He M, Zheng G, Liao D. HDAC3 and HDAC8 PROTAC dual degrader reveals roles of histone acetylation in gene regulation. Cell Chem Biol 2023; 30:1421-1435.e12. [PMID: 37572669 PMCID: PMC10802846 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
HDAC3 and HDAC8 have critical biological functions and represent highly sought-after therapeutic targets. Because histone deacetylases (HDACs) have a very conserved catalytic domain, developing isozyme-selective inhibitors remains challenging. HDAC3/8 also have deacetylase-independent activity, which cannot be blocked by conventional enzymatic inhibitors. Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) can selectively degrade a target enzyme, abolishing both enzymatic and scaffolding function. Here, we report a novel HDAC3/8 dual degrader YX968 that induces highly potent, rapid, and selective degradation of both HDAC3/8 without triggering pan-HDAC inhibitory effects. Unbiased quantitative proteomic experiments confirmed its high selectivity. HDAC3/8 degradation by YX968 does not induce histone hyperacetylation and broad transcriptomic perturbation. Thus, histone hyperacetylation may be a major factor for altering transcription. YX968 promotes apoptosis and kills cancer cells with a high potency in vitro. YX968 thus represents a new probe for dissecting the complex biological functions of HDAC3/8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Xiao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Seth Hale
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Nikee Awasthee
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Chengcheng Meng
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Haocheng Ding
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Zhiguang Huo
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Dongwen Lv
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Weizhou Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Mei He
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Guangrong Zheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| | - Daiqing Liao
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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13
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Chen S, Zheng Y, Liang B, Yin Y, Yao J, Wang Q, Liu Y, Neamati N. The application of PROTAC in HDAC. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 260:115746. [PMID: 37607440 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Inducing protein degradation by proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) has provided great opportunities for scientific research and industrial applications. Histone deacetylase (HDAC)-PROTAC has been widely developed since the first report of its ability to induce the degradation of SIRT2 in 2017. To date, ten of the eighteen HDACs (HDACs 1-8, HDAC10, and SIRT2) have been successfully targeted and degraded by HDAC-PROTACs. HDAC-PROTACs surpass traditional HDAC inhibitors in many aspects, such as higher selectivity, more potent antiproliferative activity, and the ability to disrupt the enzyme-independent functions of a multifunctional protein and overcome drug resistance. Rationally designing HDAC-PROTACs is a main challenge in development because slight variations in chemical structure can lead to drastic effects on the efficiency and selectivity of the degradation. In the future, HDAC-PROTACs can potentially be involved in clinical research with the support of the increased amount of in vivo data, pharmacokinetic evaluation, and pharmacological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoting Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Collaborative Innovation Center for Guangxi Ethnic Medicine, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, PR China
| | - Yuxiang Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Collaborative Innovation Center for Guangxi Ethnic Medicine, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, PR China
| | - Benji Liang
- State Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Collaborative Innovation Center for Guangxi Ethnic Medicine, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, PR China
| | - Yudong Yin
- State Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Collaborative Innovation Center for Guangxi Ethnic Medicine, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, PR China
| | - Jian Yao
- State Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Collaborative Innovation Center for Guangxi Ethnic Medicine, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, PR China
| | - Quande Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Collaborative Innovation Center for Guangxi Ethnic Medicine, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, PR China.
| | - Yanghan Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Collaborative Innovation Center for Guangxi Ethnic Medicine, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, PR China.
| | - Nouri Neamati
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, United States.
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14
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Zhao C, Chen S, Chen D, Río-Bergé C, Zhang J, Van Der Wouden PE, Daemen T, Dekker FJ. Histone Deacetylase 3-Directed PROTACs Have Anti-inflammatory Potential by Blocking Polarization of M0-like into M1-like Macrophages. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202310059. [PMID: 37638390 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202310059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Macrophage polarization plays a crucial role in inflammatory processes. The histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) has a deacetylase-independent function that can activate pro-inflammatory gene expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated M1-like macrophages and cannot be blocked by traditional small-molecule HDAC3 inhibitors. Here we employed the proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology to target the deacetylase-independent function of HDAC3. We developed a potent and selective HDAC3-directed PROTAC, P7, which induces nearly complete HDAC3 degradation at low micromolar concentrations in both THP-1 cells and human primary macrophages. P7 increases the anti-inflammatory cytokine secretion in THP-1-derived M1-like macrophages. Importantly, P7 decreases the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in M1-like macrophages derived from human primary macrophages. This can be explained by the observed inhibition of macrophage polarization from M0-like into M1-like macrophage. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the HDAC3-directed PROTAC P7 has anti-inflammatory activity and blocks macrophage polarization, demonstrating that this molecular mechanism can be targeted with small molecule therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunlong Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen, Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP), University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Shipeng Chen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Tumor Virology and Cancer Immunotherapy, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Deng Chen
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen, Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP), University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Clàudia Río-Bergé
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Tumor Virology and Cancer Immunotherapy, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jianqiu Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen, Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP), University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Petra E Van Der Wouden
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen, Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP), University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Toos Daemen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Tumor Virology and Cancer Immunotherapy, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Frank J Dekker
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen, Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP), University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
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15
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Bhole RP, Kute PR, Chikhale RV, Bonde CG, Pant A, Gurav SS. Unlocking the potential of PROTACs: A comprehensive review of protein degradation strategies in disease therapy. Bioorg Chem 2023; 139:106720. [PMID: 37480814 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
The technology known asPROTACs (PROteolysisTArgeting Chimeras) is a method of protein degradation. Utilising bifunctional small molecules, the ubiquitin-proteosome system (UPS) is used to induce the ubiquitination and degradation of target proteins. In addition to being novel chemical knockdown agents for biological studies that are catalytic, reversible, and rapid, PROTACs used in the treatment for disorders like cancer, immunological disorders, viral diseases, and neurological disorders. The protein degradation field has advanced quickly over the last two years, with a significant rise in research articles on the subject as well as a quick rise in smallmolecule degraders that are currently in or will soon enter the clinical stage. Other new degrading technologies, in addition to PROTAC and molecular glue technology, are also emerging rapidly. In this review article, we mainly focuses on various PROTAC molecules designed with special emphasis on targeted cellular pathways for different diseases i.e., cancer, Viral diseases Immune disorders, Neurodegenerative diseases, etc. We discussed about new technologies based on PROTACs such as Antibody PROTAC, Aptamers, Dual target, Folate caged, TF PROTAC, etc. Also, we listed out the PROTACs which are in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritesh P Bhole
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Dr. D. Y. Patil Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra 411018, India.
| | - Payal R Kute
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Dr. D. Y. Patil Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra 411018, India
| | | | - C G Bonde
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM's NMIMS, Shirpur Campus 425 405, India.
| | - Amit Pant
- School of Medicine Creighton University, Omaha, Neraska, USA.
| | - Shailendra S Gurav
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Goa College of Pharmacy, Panaji, Goa University, Goa 403001, India.
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16
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Patel U, Smalley JP, Hodgkinson JT. PROTAC chemical probes for histone deacetylase enzymes. RSC Chem Biol 2023; 4:623-634. [PMID: 37654508 PMCID: PMC10467623 DOI: 10.1039/d3cb00105a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past three decades, we have witnessed the progression of small molecule chemical probes designed to inhibit the catalytic active site of histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes into FDA approved drugs. However, it is only in the past five years we have witnessed the emergence of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) capable of promoting the proteasome mediated degradation of HDACs. This is a field still in its infancy, however given the current progress of PROTACs in clinical trials and the fact that FDA approved HDAC drugs are already in the clinic, there is significant potential in developing PROTACs to target HDACs as therapeutics. Beyond therapeutics, PROTACs also serve important applications as chemical probes to interrogate fundamental biology related to HDACs via their unique degradation mode of action. In this review, we highlight some of the key findings to date in the discovery of PROTACs targeting HDACs by HDAC class and HDAC isoenzyme, current gaps in PROTACs to target HDACs and future outlooks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urvashi Patel
- Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Leicester Leicester LE1 7RH UK
| | - Joshua P Smalley
- Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Leicester Leicester LE1 7RH UK
| | - James T Hodgkinson
- Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Leicester Leicester LE1 7RH UK
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17
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Wang L, Xiao Y, Luo Y, Master RP, Mo J, Kim MC, Liu Y, Patel UM, Li X, Shaffer D, Guertin KR, Moser E, Smalley KS, Zhou D, Zheng G, Zhang W. Unleashing the Power of NR4A1 Degradation as a Novel Strategy for Cancer Immunotherapy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.09.552650. [PMID: 37609171 PMCID: PMC10441411 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.09.552650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
An effective cancer therapy requires both killing cancer cells and targeting tumor-promoting pathways or cell populations within the tumor microenvironment (TME). We purposely search for molecules that are critical for multiple tumor-promoting cell types and identified nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1 (NR4A1) as one such molecule. NR4A1 has been shown to promote the aggressiveness of cancer cells and maintain the immune suppressive TME. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches, we establish NR4A1 as a valid therapeutic target for cancer therapy. Importantly, we have developed the first-of-its kind proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC, named NR-V04) against NR4A1. NR-V04 effectively degrades NR4A1 within hours of treatment in vitro and sustains for at least 4 days in vivo, exhibiting long-lasting NR4A1-degradation in tumors and an excellent safety profile. NR-V04 leads to robust tumor inhibition and sometimes eradication of established melanoma tumors. At the mechanistic level, we have identified an unexpected novel mechanism via significant induction of tumor-infiltrating (TI) B cells as well as an inhibition of monocytic myeloid derived suppressor cells (m-MDSC), two clinically relevant immune cell populations in human melanomas. Overall, NR-V04-mediated NR4A1 degradation holds promise for enhancing anti-cancer immune responses and offers a new avenue for treating various types of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Yufeng Xiao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Yuewan Luo
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Current: Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Department of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, Copenhagen N DK-2200, Denmark
| | - Rohan P Master
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Current: College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Jiao Mo
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Current: R & D, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Myung-Chul Kim
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea 63243
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Urvi M Patel
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | | | | | - Kevin R Guertin
- Sanofi Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA 01890
| | - Emily Moser
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, the College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Keiran S Smalley
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Current: Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Department of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, Copenhagen N DK-2200, Denmark
- Current: College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
- Current: R & D, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea 63243
- Sanofi Oncology, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA 01890
- Sanofi Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA 01890
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, the College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 12902
- Department of Biochemistry & Structural Biology, Center of innovative Drug Discovery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Daohong Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry & Structural Biology, Center of innovative Drug Discovery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Guangrong Zheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Weizhou Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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18
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Bülbül EF, Robaa D, Sun P, Mahmoudi F, Melesina J, Zessin M, Schutkowski M, Sippl W. Application of Ligand- and Structure-Based Prediction Models for the Design of Alkylhydrazide-Based HDAC3 Inhibitors as Novel Anti-Cancer Compounds. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:968. [PMID: 37513880 PMCID: PMC10386743 DOI: 10.3390/ph16070968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Histone deacetylases (HDAC) represent promising epigenetic targets for several diseases including different cancer types. The HDAC inhibitors approved to date are pan-HDAC inhibitors and most show a poor selectivity profile, side effects, and in particular hydroxamic-acid-based inhibitors lack good pharmacokinetic profiles. Therefore, the development of isoform-selective non-hydroxamic acid HDAC inhibitors is a highly regarded field in medicinal chemistry. In this study, we analyzed different ligand-based and structure-based drug design techniques to predict the binding mode and inhibitory activity of recently developed alkylhydrazide HDAC inhibitors. Alkylhydrazides have recently attracted more attention as they have shown promising effects in various cancer cell lines. In this work, pharmacophore models and atom-based quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models were generated and evaluated. The binding mode of the studied compounds was determined using molecular docking as well as molecular dynamics simulations and compared with known crystal structures. Calculated free energies of binding were also considered to generate QSAR models. The created models show a good explanation of in vitro data and were used to develop novel HDAC3 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre F Bülbül
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Dina Robaa
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Ping Sun
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Fereshteh Mahmoudi
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jelena Melesina
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Matthes Zessin
- Department of Enzymology, Institute of Biotechnology, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Mike Schutkowski
- Department of Enzymology, Institute of Biotechnology, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Wolfgang Sippl
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
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19
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Han B, Wang M, Li J, Chen Q, Sun N, Yang X, Zhang Q. Perspectives and new aspects of histone deacetylase inhibitors in the therapy of CNS diseases. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 258:115613. [PMID: 37399711 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115613] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Many populations worldwide are suffering from central nervous system (CNS) diseases such as brain tumors, neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease) and stroke. There is a shortage of effective drugs for most CNS diseases. As one of the regulatory mechanisms of epigenetics, the particular role and therapeutic benefits of histone deacetylases (HDACs) in the CNS have been extensively studied. In recent years, HDACs have attracted increasing attention as potential drug targets for CNS diseases. In this review, we summarize the recent applications of representative histone deacetylases inhibitors (HDACis) in CNS diseases and discuss the challenges in developing HDACis with different structures and better blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, hoping to promote the development of more effective bioactive HDACis for the treatment of CNS diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Han
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Mengfei Wang
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jiayi Li
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, 201203, China; School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Qiushi Chen
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, 201203, China; School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Niubing Sun
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, 201203, China; School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Xuezhi Yang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Qingwei Zhang
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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20
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Zhao C, Chen D, Suo F, Setroikromo R, Quax WJ, Dekker FJ. Discovery of highly potent HDAC8 PROTACs with anti-tumor activity. Bioorg Chem 2023; 136:106546. [PMID: 37098288 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106546] [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: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Various diseases are deeply associated with aberrations in HDAC8 functions. These aberrations can be assigned to either structural functions or catalytic functions of HDAC8. Therefore, development of HDAC8 degradation inducers might be more promising than HDAC8 inhibitors. We employed the proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) strategy to develop a selective and potent HDAC8 degradation inducer CT-4 with single-digit nanomolar DC50 values and over 95% Dmax in both triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and T-cell leukemia cells. Notably, CT-4 demonstrated potent anti-migration activity and limited anti-proliferative activity in MDA-MB-231 cells. In contrast, CT-4 effectively induced apototic cell death in Jurkat cells, as assessed by a caspase 3/7 activity assay and flow cytometry. Our findings suggest that the development of HDAC8 degradation inducers holds great potential for the treatment of HDAC8-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunlong Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP), University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Deng Chen
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP), University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Fengzhi Suo
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP), University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rita Setroikromo
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP), University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Wim J Quax
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP), University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Frank J Dekker
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP), University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
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21
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Li S, Chen T, Liu J, Zhang H, Li J, Wang Z, Shang G. PROTACs: Novel tools for improving immunotherapy in cancer. Cancer Lett 2023; 560:216128. [PMID: 36933781 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Posttranslational modifications (PTMs), such as phosphorylation, methylation, ubiquitination, and acetylation, are important in governing protein expression levels. Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are novel structures designed to target a protein of interest (POI) for ubiquitination and degradation, leading to the selective reduction in the expression levels of the POI. PROTACs have exhibited great promise due to their ability to target undruggable proteins, including several transcription factors. Recently, PROTACs have been characterized to improve anticancer immunotherapy via the regulation of specific proteins. In this review, we describe how the PROTACs target several molecules, including HDAC6, IDO1, EGFR, FoxM1, PD-L1, SHP2, HPK1, BCL-xL, BET proteins, NAMPT, and COX-1/2, to regulate immunotherapy in human cancers. PROTACs may provide potential treatment benefits by enhancing immunotherapy in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizhe Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110004, China.
| | - Ting Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110004, China.
| | - Jinxin Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110004, China.
| | - He Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110004, China.
| | - Jiatong Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110004, China.
| | - Zhiwei Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Anhui, 233030, China; The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China.
| | - Guanning Shang
- Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110004, China.
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22
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Wang C, Zhang Y, Deng J, Liang B, Xing D. Developments of PROTACs technology in immune-related diseases. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 249:115127. [PMID: 36724631 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Traditional chemotherapy and immunotherapy are primary disease-treatment strategies. However, they face numerous challenges, including limited therapeutic benefits, off-target effects, serious adverse effects, drug resistance, long half-life time, poor oral bioavailability, and drugging undruggable proteins. Proteolytic targeted chimeras (PROTACs) were suggested to solve these problems. PROTACs are heterogeneous functional molecules linked by a chemical linker and contain a binding ligand for the protein of interest and a recruiting ligand for the E3 ligand. The binding of a PROTAC to a target protein brings the E3 ligand enzyme into proximity, initiating polyubiquitination of the target protein, followed by protease-mediated degradation. To date, PROTACs against dozens of immunological targets have been successfully developed, many of which have been clinically validated drug targets, and several have entered clinical trials for immune-related diseases. This article reviews the role of PROTACs-mediated degradation of critical proteins in immune disorders and cancer immunotherapy. Chemical structures, cellular and in vivo activities, and pharmacodynamics of these PROTACs are summarized. Lastly, we also discuss the prospects and potential limitations that PROTACs face.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China; Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China.
| | - Yujing Zhang
- The Affiliated Cardiovascular Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China.
| | - Junwen Deng
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China; Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China
| | - Bing Liang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China; Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China
| | - Dongming Xing
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China; Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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23
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Epigenetic regulation in hematopoiesis and its implications in the targeted therapy of hematologic malignancies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:71. [PMID: 36797244 PMCID: PMC9935927 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01342-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hematologic malignancies are one of the most common cancers, and the incidence has been rising in recent decades. The clinical and molecular features of hematologic malignancies are highly heterogenous, and some hematologic malignancies are incurable, challenging the treatment, and prognosis of the patients. However, hematopoiesis and oncogenesis of hematologic malignancies are profoundly affected by epigenetic regulation. Studies have found that methylation-related mutations, abnormal methylation profiles of DNA, and abnormal histone deacetylase expression are recurrent in leukemia and lymphoma. Furthermore, the hypomethylating agents and histone deacetylase inhibitors are effective to treat acute myeloid leukemia and T-cell lymphomas, indicating that epigenetic regulation is indispensable to hematologic oncogenesis. Epigenetic regulation mainly includes DNA modifications, histone modifications, and noncoding RNA-mediated targeting, and regulates various DNA-based processes. This review presents the role of writers, readers, and erasers of DNA methylation and histone methylation, and acetylation in hematologic malignancies. In addition, this review provides the influence of microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs on hematologic malignancies. Furthermore, the implication of epigenetic regulation in targeted treatment is discussed. This review comprehensively presents the change and function of each epigenetic regulator in normal and oncogenic hematopoiesis and provides innovative epigenetic-targeted treatment in clinical practice.
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24
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O’Herin C, Moriuchi YW, Bemis TA, Kohlbrand AJ, Burkart MD, Cohen SM. Development of Human Carbonic Anhydrase II Heterobifunctional Degraders. J Med Chem 2023; 66:2789-2803. [PMID: 36735827 PMCID: PMC9969396 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Human carbonic anhydrase II (hCAII) is a metalloenzyme essential to critical physiological processes in the body. hCA inhibitors are used clinically for the treatment of indications ranging from glaucoma to epilepsy. Targeted protein degraders have emerged as a promising means of inducing the degradation of disease-implicated proteins by using the endogenous quality control mechanisms of a cell. Here, a series of heterobifunctional degrader candidates targeting hCAII were developed from a simple aryl sulfonamide fragment. Degrader candidates were functionalized to produce either cereblon E3 ubiquitin ligase (CRBN) recruiting proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) or adamantyl-based hydrophobic tags (HyTs). Screens in HEK293 cells identified two PROTAC small-molecule degraders of hCA. Optimization of linker length and composition yielded a degrader with sub-nanomolar potency and sustained depletion of hCAII over prolonged treatments. Mechanistic studies suggest that this optimized degrader depletes hCAII through the same mechanism as previously reported CRBN-recruiting heterobifunctional degraders.
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25
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Targeting histone deacetylases for cancer therapy: Trends and challenges. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
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26
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Liu X, Wang A, Shi Y, Dai M, Liu M, Cai HB. PROTACs in Epigenetic Cancer Therapy: Current Status and Future Opportunities. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28031217. [PMID: 36770884 PMCID: PMC9919707 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The epigenetic regulation of gene functions has been proven to be strongly associated with the development and progression of cancer. Reprogramming the cancer epigenome landscape is one of the most promising target therapies in both treatments and in reversing drug resistance. Proteolytic targeted chimeras (PROTACs) are an emerging therapeutic modality for selective degradation via the native ubiquitin-proteasome system. Rapid advances in PROTACs have facilitated the exploration of targeting epigenetic proteins, a lot of PROTAC degraders have already been designed in the field of epigenetic cancer therapy, and PROTACs targeting epigenetic proteins can better exploit target druggability and improve the mechanistic understanding of the epigenetic regulation of cancer. Thus, this review focuses on the progress made in the development of PROTAC degraders and PROTAC drugs targeting epigenetics in cancer and discusses challenges and future opportunities for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelian Liu
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Anjin Wang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yuying Shi
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Mengyuan Dai
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan 430071, China
- Correspondence: (M.D.); (H.-B.C.)
| | - Miao Liu
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Hong-Bing Cai
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan 430071, China
- Correspondence: (M.D.); (H.-B.C.)
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27
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Zhao HY, Xin M, Zhang SQ. Progress of small molecules for targeted protein degradation: PROTACs and other technologies. Drug Dev Res 2023; 84:337-394. [PMID: 36606428 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.22026] [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: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent years have witnessed the rapid development of targeted protein degradation (TPD), especially proteolysis targeting chimeras. These degraders have manifested many advantages over small molecule inhibitors. To date, a huge number of degraders have been excavated against over 70 disease-related targets. In particular, degraders against estrogen receptor and androgen receptor have crowded into phase II clinical trial. TPD technologies largely expand the scope of druggable targets, and provide powerful tools for addressing intractable problems that can not be tackled by traditional small molecule inhibitors. In this review, we mainly focus on the structures and biological activities of small molecule degraders as well as the elucidation of mechanisms of emerging TPD technologies. We also propose the challenges that exist in the TPD field at present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Yi Zhao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Minhang Xin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - San-Qi Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
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28
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Mustafa AHM, Krämer OH. Pharmacological Modulation of the Crosstalk between Aberrant Janus Kinase Signaling and Epigenetic Modifiers of the Histone Deacetylase Family to Treat Cancer. Pharmacol Rev 2023; 75:35-61. [PMID: 36752816 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.122.000612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyperactivated Janus kinase (JAK) signaling is an appreciated drug target in human cancers. Numerous mutant JAK molecules as well as inherent and acquired drug resistance mechanisms limit the efficacy of JAK inhibitors (JAKi). There is accumulating evidence that epigenetic mechanisms control JAK-dependent signaling cascades. Like JAKs, epigenetic modifiers of the histone deacetylase (HDAC) family regulate the growth and development of cells and are often dysregulated in cancer cells. The notion that inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACi) abrogate oncogenic JAK-dependent signaling cascades illustrates an intricate crosstalk between JAKs and HDACs. Here, we summarize how structurally divergent, broad-acting as well as isoenzyme-specific HDACi, hybrid fusion pharmacophores containing JAKi and HDACi, and proteolysis targeting chimeras for JAKs inactivate the four JAK proteins JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and tyrosine kinase-2. These agents suppress aberrant JAK activity through specific transcription-dependent processes and mechanisms that alter the phosphorylation and stability of JAKs. Pharmacological inhibition of HDACs abrogates allosteric activation of JAKs, overcomes limitations of ATP-competitive type 1 and type 2 JAKi, and interacts favorably with JAKi. Since such findings were collected in cultured cells, experimental animals, and cancer patients, we condense preclinical and translational relevance. We also discuss how future research on acetylation-dependent mechanisms that regulate JAKs might allow the rational design of improved treatments for cancer patients. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Reversible lysine-ɛ-N acetylation and deacetylation cycles control phosphorylation-dependent Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling. The intricate crosstalk between these fundamental molecular mechanisms provides opportunities for pharmacological intervention strategies with modern small molecule inhibitors. This could help patients suffering from cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Al-Hassan M Mustafa
- Department of Toxicology, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany (A.-H.M.M., O.H.K.) and Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt (A.-H.M.M.)
| | - Oliver H Krämer
- Department of Toxicology, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany (A.-H.M.M., O.H.K.) and Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt (A.-H.M.M.)
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29
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Sinatra L, Yang J, Schliehe-Diecks J, Dienstbier N, Vogt M, Gebing P, Bachmann LM, Sönnichsen M, Lenz T, Stühler K, Schöler A, Borkhardt A, Bhatia S, Hansen FK. Solid-Phase Synthesis of Cereblon-Recruiting Selective Histone Deacetylase 6 Degraders (HDAC6 PROTACs) with Antileukemic Activity. J Med Chem 2022; 65:16860-16878. [PMID: 36473103 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In this work, we utilized the proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology to achieve the chemical knock-down of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6). Two series of cereblon-recruiting PROTACs were synthesized via a solid-phase parallel synthesis approach, which allowed the rapid preparation of two HDAC6 degrader mini libraries. The PROTACs were either based on an unselective vorinostat-like HDAC ligand or derived from a selective HDAC6 inhibitor. Notably, both PROTAC series demonstrated selective degradation of HDAC6 in leukemia cell lines. The best degraders from each series (denoted A6 and B4) were capable of degrading HDAC6 via ternary complex formation and the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, with DC50 values of 3.5 and 19.4 nM, respectively. PROTAC A6 demonstrated promising antiproliferative activity via inducing apoptosis in myeloid leukemia cell lines. These findings highlight the potential of this series of degraders as effective pharmacological tools for the targeted degradation of HDAC6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sinatra
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Brüderstrasse 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.,Department of Medicine, Yangzhou Polytechnic College, West Wenchang Road 458, Yangzhou, 225009, P.R. China
| | - Julian Schliehe-Diecks
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Niklas Dienstbier
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Melina Vogt
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Philip Gebing
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Luisa M Bachmann
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Brüderstrasse 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Melf Sönnichsen
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Thomas Lenz
- Molecular Proteomics Laboratory, Biological Medical Research Center, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Kai Stühler
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, Proteome Research, University Hospital and Medical Faculty, Hein-rich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Andrea Schöler
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Brüderstrasse 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Arndt Borkhardt
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sanil Bhatia
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Finn K Hansen
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical and Cell Biological Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53121 Bonn, Germany
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30
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Sun P, Wang J, Khan KS, Yang W, Ng BWL, Ilment N, Zessin M, Bülbül EF, Robaa D, Erdmann F, Schmidt M, Romier C, Schutkowski M, Cheng ASL, Sippl W. Development of Alkylated Hydrazides as Highly Potent and Selective Class I Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors with T cell Modulatory Properties. J Med Chem 2022; 65:16313-16337. [PMID: 36449385 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are epigenetic regulators and additionally control the activity of non-histone substrates. We recently demonstrated that inhibition of HDAC8 overexpressed in various of cancers reduces hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenicity in a T cell-dependent manner. Here, we present alkylated hydrazide-based class I HDAC inhibitors in which the n-hexyl side chain attached to the hydrazide moiety shows HDAC8 selectivity in vitro. Analysis of the mode of inhibition of the most promising compound 7d against HDAC8 revealed a substrate-competitive binding mode. 7d marked induced acetylation of the HDAC8 substrates H3K27 and SMC3 but not tubulin in CD4+ T lymphocytes, and significantly upregulated gene expressions for memory and effector functions. Furthermore, intraperitoneal injection of 7d (10 mg/kg) in C57BL/6 mice increased interleukin-2 expression in CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cell proportion with no apparent toxicity. This study expands a novel chemotype of HDAC8 inhibitors with T cell modulatory properties for future therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Sun
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Jing Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077 Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Khadija S Khan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077 Hong Kong SAR, China.,School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077 Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Weiqin Yang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077 Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Billy Wai-Lung Ng
- School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077 Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Nikita Ilment
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Matthes Zessin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Emre F Bülbül
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Dina Robaa
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Frank Erdmann
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Matthias Schmidt
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Christophe Romier
- Département de Biologie Structurale Intégrative, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, 67404 Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - Mike Schutkowski
- Department of Enzymology, Institute of Biotechnology, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Alfred Sze-Lok Cheng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077 Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wolfgang Sippl
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
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31
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Liu Z, Hu M, Yang Y, Du C, Zhou H, Liu C, Chen Y, Fan L, Ma H, Gong Y, Xie Y. An overview of PROTACs: a promising drug discovery paradigm. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2022; 3:46. [PMID: 36536188 PMCID: PMC9763089 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-022-00112-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) technology has emerged as a novel therapeutic paradigm in recent years. PROTACs are heterobifunctional molecules that degrade target proteins by hijacking the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Currently, about 20-25% of all protein targets are being studied, and most works focus on their enzymatic functions. Unlike small molecules, PROTACs inhibit the whole biological function of the target protein by binding to the target protein and inducing subsequent proteasomal degradation. PROTACs compensate for limitations that transcription factors, nuclear proteins, and other scaffolding proteins are difficult to handle with traditional small-molecule inhibitors. Currently, PROTACs have successfully degraded diverse proteins, such as BTK, BRD4, AR, ER, STAT3, IRAK4, tau, etc. And ARV-110 and ARV-471 exhibited excellent efficacy in clinical II trials. However, what targets are appropriate for PROTAC technology to achieve better benefits than small-molecule inhibitors are not fully understood. And how to rationally design an efficient PROTACs and optimize it to be orally effective poses big challenges for researchers. In this review, we summarize the features of PROTAC technology, analyze the detail of general principles for designing efficient PROTACs, and discuss the typical application of PROTACs targeting different protein categories. In addition, we also introduce the progress of relevant clinical trial results of representative PROTACs and assess the challenges and limitations that PROTACs may face. Collectively, our studies provide references for further application of PROTACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi Liu
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Mingxing Hu
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Yu Yang
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Chenghao Du
- grid.42505.360000 0001 2156 6853Department of Biological Sciences, USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Los Angeles, 90089 USA
| | - Haoxuan Zhou
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Chengyali Liu
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Yuanwei Chen
- Hinova Pharmaceuticals Inc., Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Lei Fan
- Hinova Pharmaceuticals Inc., Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Hongqun Ma
- Hinova Pharmaceuticals Inc., Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Youling Gong
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Department of Thoracic Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Yongmei Xie
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041 China
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32
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Cross JM, Coulson ME, Smalley JP, Pytel WA, Ismail O, Trory JS, Cowley SM, Hodgkinson JT. A 'click' chemistry approach to novel entinostat (MS-275) based class I histone deacetylase proteolysis targeting chimeras. RSC Med Chem 2022; 13:1634-1639. [PMID: 36545434 PMCID: PMC9749924 DOI: 10.1039/d2md00199c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Click chemistry was utilised to prepare a library of PROTACs based on entinostat a class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor in clinical trials. A novel PROTAC JMC-137 was identified as a HDAC1/2 and HDAC3 degrader in HCT116 cells. However, potency was compromised compared to previously identified class I HDAC PROTACs highlighting the importance in the choice of HDAC ligand, functional group for linker attachment and positioning in PROTAC design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine M. Cross
- Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of LeicesterLeicesterLE1 7RHUK
| | - Megan E. Coulson
- Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of LeicesterLeicesterLE1 7RHUK,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of LeicesterLeicesterLE1 7RHUK
| | - Joshua P. Smalley
- Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of LeicesterLeicesterLE1 7RHUK
| | - Wiktoria A. Pytel
- Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of LeicesterLeicesterLE1 7RHUK,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of LeicesterLeicesterLE1 7RHUK
| | - Ozair Ismail
- Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of LeicesterLeicesterLE1 7RHUK
| | - Justin S. Trory
- Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of LeicesterLeicesterLE1 7RHUK
| | - Shaun M. Cowley
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of LeicesterLeicesterLE1 7RHUK
| | - James T. Hodgkinson
- Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of LeicesterLeicesterLE1 7RHUK
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33
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Li D, Yu D, Li Y, Yang R. A bibliometric analysis of PROTAC from 2001 to 2021. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 244:114838. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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34
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Macabuag N, Esmieu W, Breccia P, Jarvis R, Blackaby W, Lazari O, Urbonas L, Eznarriaga M, Williams R, Strijbosch A, Van de Bospoort R, Matthews K, Clissold C, Ladduwahetty T, Vater H, Heaphy P, Stafford DG, Wang HJ, Mangette JE, McAllister G, Beaumont V, Vogt TF, Wilkinson HA, Doherty EM, Dominguez C. Developing HDAC4-Selective Protein Degraders To Investigate the Role of HDAC4 in Huntington's Disease Pathology. J Med Chem 2022; 65:12445-12459. [PMID: 36098485 PMCID: PMC9512014 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a lethal autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder resulting from a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. The product of translation of this gene is a highly aggregation-prone protein containing a polyglutamine tract >35 repeats (mHTT) that has been shown to colocalize with histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) in cytoplasmic inclusions in HD mouse models. Genetic reduction of HDAC4 in an HD mouse model resulted in delayed aggregation of mHTT, along with amelioration of neurological phenotypes and extended lifespan. To further investigate the role of HDAC4 in cellular models of HD, we have developed bifunctional degraders of the protein and report the first potent and selective degraders of HDAC4 that show an effect in multiple cell lines, including HD mouse model-derived cortical neurons. These degraders act via the ubiquitin-proteasomal pathway and selectively degrade HDAC4 over other class IIa HDAC isoforms (HDAC5, HDAC7, and HDAC9).
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsuko Macabuag
- Discovery
from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K.
| | - William Esmieu
- Discovery
from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K.
| | - Perla Breccia
- Discovery
from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K.
| | - Rebecca Jarvis
- Discovery
from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K.
| | - Wesley Blackaby
- Discovery
from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K.
| | - Ovadia Lazari
- Discovery
from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K.
| | - Liudvikas Urbonas
- Discovery
from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K.
| | - Maria Eznarriaga
- Discovery
from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K.
| | - Rachel Williams
- Discovery
from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K.
| | | | | | - Kim Matthews
- Discovery
from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K.
| | - Cole Clissold
- Discovery
from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K.
| | - Tammy Ladduwahetty
- Discovery
from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K.
| | - Huw Vater
- Discovery
from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K.
| | - Patrick Heaphy
- Curia, The Conventus Building, 1001 Main
Street, Buffalo, New York 14203, United States
| | - Douglas G. Stafford
- Curia, The Conventus Building, 1001 Main
Street, Buffalo, New York 14203, United States
| | - Hong-Jun Wang
- Curia, The Conventus Building, 1001 Main
Street, Buffalo, New York 14203, United States
| | - John E. Mangette
- Curia, The Conventus Building, 1001 Main
Street, Buffalo, New York 14203, United States
| | - George McAllister
- CHDI
Management/CHDI Foundation, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045, United States
| | - Vahri Beaumont
- CHDI
Management/CHDI Foundation, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045, United States
| | - Thomas F. Vogt
- CHDI
Management/CHDI Foundation, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045, United States
| | - Hilary A. Wilkinson
- CHDI
Management/CHDI Foundation, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045, United States
| | - Elizabeth M. Doherty
- CHDI
Management/CHDI Foundation, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045, United States
| | - Celia Dominguez
- CHDI
Management/CHDI Foundation, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045, United States
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35
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Recent Advances in PROTACs for Drug Targeted Protein Research. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810328. [PMID: 36142231 PMCID: PMC9499226 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) is a heterobifunctional molecule. Typically, PROTAC consists of two terminals which are the ligand of the protein of interest (POI) and the specific ligand of E3 ubiquitin ligase, respectively, via a suitable linker. PROTAC degradation of the target protein is performed through the ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS). The general process is that PROTAC binds to the target protein and E3 ligase to form a ternary complex and label the target protein with ubiquitination. The ubiquitinated protein is recognized and degraded by the proteasome in the cell. At present, PROTAC, as a new type of drug, has been developed to degrade a variety of cancer target proteins and other disease target proteins, and has shown good curative effects on a variety of diseases. For example, PROTACs targeting AR, BR, BTK, Tau, IRAK4, and other proteins have shown unprecedented clinical efficacy in cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, inflammations, and other fields. Recently, PROTAC has entered a phase of rapid development, opening a new field for biomedical research and development. This paper reviews the various fields of targeted protein degradation by PROTAC in recent years and summarizes and prospects the hot targets and indications of PROTAC.
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36
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Liu Z, Zhang Y, Xiang Y, Kang X. Small-Molecule PROTACs for Cancer Immunotherapy. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27175439. [PMID: 36080223 PMCID: PMC9458232 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Unsatisfactory physicochemical properties of macromolecular drugs seriously hinder their application in tumor immunotherapy. However, these problems can be effectively solved by small-molecule compounds. In the promising field of small-molecule drug development, proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) offers a novel mode of action in the interactions between small molecules and therapeutic targets (mainly proteins). This revolutionary technology has shown considerable impact on several proteins related to tumor survival but is rarely exploited in proteins associated with immuno-oncology up until now. This review attempts to comprehensively summarize the well-studied and less-developed immunological targets available for PROTAC technology, as well as some targets to be explored, aiming to provide more options and opportunities for the development of small-molecule-based tumor immunotherapy. In addition, some novel directions that can magnify and broaden the protein degradation efficiency are mentioned to improve PROTAC design in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Xin Kang
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-19138939183
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37
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Design, Synthesis and Biological Characterization of Histone Deacetylase 8 (HDAC8) Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) with Anti-Neuroblastoma Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147535. [PMID: 35886887 PMCID: PMC9322761 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In addition to involvement in epigenetic gene regulation, histone deacetylases (HDACs) regulate multiple cellular processes through mediating the activity of non-histone protein substrates. The knockdown of HDAC8 isozyme is associated with the inhibition of cell proliferation and apoptosis enhancement in several cancer cell lines. As shown in several studies, HDAC8 can be considered a potential target in the treatment of cancer forms such as childhood neuroblastoma. The present work describes the development of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) of HDAC8 based on substituted benzhydroxamic acids previously reported as potent and selective HDAC8 inhibitors. Within this study, we investigated the HDAC8-degrading profiles of the synthesized PROTACs and their effect on the proliferation of neuroblastoma cells. The combination of in vitro screening and cellular testing demonstrated selective HDAC8 PROTACs that show anti-neuroblastoma activity in cells.
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38
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Sun Z, Deng B, Yang Z, Mai R, Huang J, Ma Z, Chen T, Chen J. Discovery of pomalidomide-based PROTACs for selective degradation of histone deacetylase 8. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 239:114544. [PMID: 35759908 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114544] [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] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression of histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8) is associated with various diseases such as cancer. Thus, compounds that can modulate HDAC8 levels have therapeutic potential for these diseases. Based on the proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) strategy, we designed and synthesized a series of HDAC8 degraders by tethering an HDAC6/8 dual inhibitor with pomalidomide (a cereblon ligand). Among them, compound ZQ-23 exhibited significant and selective degradation of HDAC8 with DC50 of 147 nM and Dmax of 93%, and exhibited no effects on HDAC1 and HDAC3. Interestingly, we found that the degradation of target protein started at ∼2 h after treatment with ZQ-23 and the maximal degradation effect was achieved at 10 h. The HDAC8 level was partially recovered within 24 h. In addition, ZQ-23 had no degrading effects on HDAC1 and HDAC3 at all concentrations, but could dose-dependently increase the levels of acetylated SMC-3 (HDAC8 substrate). Mechanism study demonstrated that ZQ-23 degraded HDAC8 through the ubiquitin-protease pathway, rather than lysosome system. Collectively, these results suggest that ZQ-23 represents a novel PROTAC-based HDAC8 degrader worthy of further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Sun
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Bulian Deng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Zichao Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Ruiyao Mai
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Junli Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Zeli Ma
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jianjun Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Department of General Surgery & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China.
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39
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He M, Cao C, Ni Z, Liu Y, Song P, Hao S, He Y, Sun X, Rao Y. PROTACs: great opportunities for academia and industry (an update from 2020 to 2021). Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:181. [PMID: 35680848 PMCID: PMC9178337 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-00999-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) technology is a new protein-degradation strategy that has emerged in recent years. It uses bifunctional small molecules to induce the ubiquitination and degradation of target proteins through the ubiquitin–proteasome system. PROTACs can not only be used as potential clinical treatments for diseases such as cancer, immune disorders, viral infections, and neurodegenerative diseases, but also provide unique chemical knockdown tools for biological research in a catalytic, reversible, and rapid manner. In 2019, our group published a review article “PROTACs: great opportunities for academia and industry” in the journal, summarizing the representative compounds of PROTACs reported before the end of 2019. In the past 2 years, the entire field of protein degradation has experienced rapid development, including not only a large increase in the number of research papers on protein-degradation technology but also a rapid increase in the number of small-molecule degraders that have entered the clinical and will enter the clinical stage. In addition to PROTAC and molecular glue technology, other new degradation technologies are also developing rapidly. In this article, we mainly summarize and review the representative PROTACs of related targets published in 2020–2021 to present to researchers the exciting developments in the field of protein degradation. The problems that need to be solved in this field will also be briefly introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming He
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Chaoguo Cao
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China.,Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Zhihao Ni
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yongbo Liu
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Peilu Song
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Shuang Hao
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yuna He
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Xiuyun Sun
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yu Rao
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China. .,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 450001, Zhengzhou, China.
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40
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HDAC Inhibitors for the Therapy of Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15060667. [PMID: 35745586 PMCID: PMC9230362 DOI: 10.3390/ph15060667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an urgent as well as huge medical challenge, which is associated with poor prognosis and responsiveness to chemotherapies. Since epigenetic changes are highly implicated in TNBC tumorigenesis and development, inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACIs) could represent a promising therapeutic strategy. Although clinical trials involving single HDACIs showed disappointing results against TNBC, recent studies emphasize the high potential impact of HDACIs in controlling TNBC. In addition, encouraging results stem from new compounds designed to obtain isoform selectivity and/or polypharmacological HDAC approach. The present review provides a discussion of the HDACIs pharmacophoric models and of the structural modifications, leading to compounds with a potent activity against TNBC progression.
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41
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Xie Y, Du S, Liu Z, Liu M, Xu Z, Wang X, Kee JX, Yi F, Sun H, Yao SQ. Chemical Biology Tools for Protein Lysine Acylation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202200303. [PMID: 35302274 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202200303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Lysine acylation plays pivotal roles in cell physiology, including DNA transcription and repair, signal transduction, immune defense, metabolism, and many other key cellular processes. Molecular mechanisms of dysregulated lysine acylation are closely involved in the pathophysiological progress of many human diseases, most notably cancers. In recent years, chemical biology tools have become instrumental in studying the function of post-translational modifications (PTMs), identifying new "writers", "erasers" and "readers", and in targeted therapies. Here, we describe key developments in chemical biology approaches that have advanced the study of lysine acylation and its regulatory proteins (2016-2021). We further discuss the discovery of ligands (inhibitors and PROTACs) that are capable of targeting regulators of lysine acylation. Next, we discuss some current challenges of these chemical biology probes and suggest how chemists and biologists can utilize chemical probes with more discriminating capacity. Finally, we suggest some critical considerations in future studies of PTMs from our perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusheng Xie
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Shubo Du
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 4 Science Drive 2, Singapore, 117544, Singapore
| | - Zhiyang Liu
- Department of Chemistry, COSDAF (Centre of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films), City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Zhiqiang Xu
- Department of Chemistry, COSDAF (Centre of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films), City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Jia Xuan Kee
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 4 Science Drive 2, Singapore, 117544, Singapore
| | - Fan Yi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Hongyan Sun
- Department of Chemistry, COSDAF (Centre of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films), City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shao Q Yao
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 4 Science Drive 2, Singapore, 117544, Singapore
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Smalley JP, Baker IM, Pytel WA, Lin LY, Bowman KJ, Schwabe JWR, Cowley SM, Hodgkinson JT. Optimization of Class I Histone Deacetylase PROTACs Reveals that HDAC1/2 Degradation is Critical to Induce Apoptosis and Cell Arrest in Cancer Cells. J Med Chem 2022; 65:5642-5659. [PMID: 35293758 PMCID: PMC9014412 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c02179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes 1, 2, and 3 organize chromatin as the catalytic subunits within seven distinct multiprotein corepressor complexes and are established drug targets. We report optimization studies of benzamide-based Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) E3-ligase proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and for the first time describe transcriptome perturbations resulting from these degraders. By modifying the linker and VHL ligand, we identified PROTACs 7, 9, and 22 with submicromolar DC50 values for HDAC1 and/or HDAC3 in HCT116 cells. A hook effect was observed for HDAC3 that could be negated by modifying the position of attachment of the VHL ligand to the linker. The more potent HDAC1/2 degraders correlated with greater total differentially expressed genes and enhanced apoptosis in HCT116 cells. We demonstrate that HDAC1/2 degradation by PROTACs correlates with enhanced global gene expression and apoptosis, important for the development of more efficacious HDAC therapeutics with reduced side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua P Smalley
- Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K
| | - India M Baker
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K
| | - Wiktoria A Pytel
- Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K
| | - Li-Ying Lin
- Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K
| | - Karen J Bowman
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K
| | - John W R Schwabe
- Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K
| | - Shaun M Cowley
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K
| | - James T Hodgkinson
- Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K
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Li X, Pu W, Zheng Q, Ai M, Chen S, Peng Y. Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) in cancer therapy. Mol Cancer 2022; 21:99. [PMID: 35410300 PMCID: PMC8996410 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-021-01434-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractProteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are engineered techniques for targeted protein degradation. A bifunctional PROTAC molecule with two covalently-linked ligands recruits target protein and E3 ubiquitin ligase together to trigger proteasomal degradation of target protein by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. PROTAC has emerged as a promising approach for targeted therapy in various diseases, particularly in cancers. In this review, we introduce the principle and development of PROTAC technology, as well as the advantages of PROTACs over traditional anti-cancer therapies. Moreover, we summarize the application of PROTACs in targeting critical oncoproteins, provide the guidelines for the molecular design of PROTACs and discuss the challenges in the targeted degradation by PROTACs.
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Chotitumnavee J, Yamashita Y, Takahashi Y, Takada Y, Iida T, Oba M, Itoh Y, Suzuki T. Selective degradation of histone deacetylase 8 mediated by a proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC). Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:4635-4638. [PMID: 35311871 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc00272h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
We developed a first-in-class proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) for selective degradation of histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8). The PROTAC induced degradation of HDAC8 without affecting the levels of other HDACs in cellular assays, and inhibited the growth of T-cell leukemia Jurkat cells more potently than a conventional HDAC8 inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiranan Chotitumnavee
- SANKEN, Osaka University, Mihogaoka, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka 567-0047, Japan. .,Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 1-5 Shimogamohangi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0823, Japan
| | - Yasunobu Yamashita
- SANKEN, Osaka University, Mihogaoka, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
| | - Yukari Takahashi
- Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 1-5 Shimogamohangi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0823, Japan
| | - Yuri Takada
- SANKEN, Osaka University, Mihogaoka, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
| | - Tetsuya Iida
- SANKEN, Osaka University, Mihogaoka, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka 567-0047, Japan. .,Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 1-5 Shimogamohangi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0823, Japan
| | - Makoto Oba
- Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 1-5 Shimogamohangi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0823, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Itoh
- SANKEN, Osaka University, Mihogaoka, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka 567-0047, Japan. .,Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 1-5 Shimogamohangi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0823, Japan
| | - Takayoshi Suzuki
- SANKEN, Osaka University, Mihogaoka, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka 567-0047, Japan. .,Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 1-5 Shimogamohangi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0823, Japan
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Xie Y, Du S, Liu Z, Liu M, Xu Z, Wang X, Kee JX, Yi F, Sun H, Yao SQ. Chemical Biology Tools for Protein Lysine Acylation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202200303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yusheng Xie
- Shandong University School of Basic Medical Science 250012 Jinan CHINA
| | - Shubo Du
- National University of Singapore Department of Chemistry SINGAPORE
| | - Zhiyang Liu
- City University of Hong Kong chemistry HONG KONG
| | - Min Liu
- Shandong University School of Basic Medical Sciences CHINA
| | - Zhiqiang Xu
- City University of Hong Kong Department of Chemistry HONG KONG
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- Shandong University School of Basic Medical Sciences CHINA
| | - Jia Xuan Kee
- National University of Singapore Chemistry SINGAPORE
| | - Fan Yi
- Shandong University School of basic medical sciences CHINA
| | - Hongyan Sun
- City University of Hong Kong department of chemistry HONG KONG
| | - Shao Q. Yao
- National University of Singapore Department of Chemistry 3 Science Dr. 117543 Singapore SINGAPORE
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Daśko M, de Pascual-Teresa B, Ortín I, Ramos A. HDAC Inhibitors: Innovative Strategies for Their Design and Applications. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27030715. [PMID: 35163980 PMCID: PMC8837987 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27030715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a large family of epigenetic metalloenzymes that are involved in gene transcription and regulation, cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and death, as well as angiogenesis. Particularly, disorders of the HDACs expression are linked to the development of many types of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, making them interesting molecular targets for the design of new efficient drugs and imaging agents that facilitate an early diagnosis of these diseases. Thus, their selective inhibition or degradation are the basis for new therapies. This is supported by the fact that many HDAC inhibitors (HDACis) are currently under clinical research for cancer therapy, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already approved some of them. In this review, we will focus on the recent advances and latest discoveries of innovative strategies in the development and applications of compounds that demonstrate inhibitory or degradation activity against HDACs, such as PROteolysis-TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs), tumor-targeted HDACis (e.g., folate conjugates and nanoparticles), and imaging probes (positron emission tomography (PET) and fluorescent ligands).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Daśko
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland;
- Departamento de Química y Bioquímica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, 28925 Alcorcón, Spain;
| | - Beatriz de Pascual-Teresa
- Departamento de Química y Bioquímica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, 28925 Alcorcón, Spain;
| | - Irene Ortín
- Departamento de Química y Bioquímica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, 28925 Alcorcón, Spain;
- Correspondence: (I.O.); (A.R.)
| | - Ana Ramos
- Departamento de Química y Bioquímica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, 28925 Alcorcón, Spain;
- Correspondence: (I.O.); (A.R.)
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Moreno-Yruela C, Zhang D, Wei W, Bæk M, Liu W, Gao J, Danková D, Nielsen AL, Bolding JE, Yang L, Jameson ST, Wong J, Olsen CA, Zhao Y. Class I histone deacetylases (HDAC1-3) are histone lysine delactylases. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabi6696. [PMID: 35044827 PMCID: PMC8769552 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abi6696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Lysine L-lactylation [K(L-la)] is a newly discovered histone mark stimulated under conditions of high glycolysis, such as the Warburg effect. K(L-la) is associated with functions that are different from the widely studied histone acetylation. While K(L-la) can be introduced by the acetyltransferase p300, histone delactylases enzymes remained unknown. Here, we report the systematic evaluation of zinc- and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide–dependent histone deacetylases (HDACs) for their ability to cleave ε-N-L-lactyllysine marks. Our screens identified HDAC1–3 and SIRT1–3 as delactylases in vitro. HDAC1–3 show robust activity toward not only K(L-la) but also K(D-la) and diverse short-chain acyl modifications. We further confirmed the de-L-lactylase activity of HDACs 1 and 3 in cells. Together, these data suggest that histone lactylation is installed and removed by regulatory enzymes as opposed to spontaneous chemical reactivity. Our results therefore represent an important step toward full characterization of this pathway’s regulatory elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Moreno-Yruela
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals and Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Di Zhang
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Wei Wei
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Michael Bæk
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals and Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Wenchao Liu
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jinjun Gao
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Daniela Danková
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals and Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alexander L. Nielsen
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals and Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Julie E. Bolding
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals and Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lu Yang
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Samuel T. Jameson
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals and Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jiemin Wong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Christian A. Olsen
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals and Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Corresponding author. (Y.Z.); (C.A.O.)
| | - Yingming Zhao
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Corresponding author. (Y.Z.); (C.A.O.)
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Ruzic D, Djoković N, Srdić-Rajić T, Echeverria C, Nikolic K, Santibanez JF. Targeting Histone Deacetylases: Opportunities for Cancer Treatment and Chemoprevention. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14010209. [PMID: 35057104 PMCID: PMC8778744 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14010209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The dysregulation of gene expression is a critical event involved in all steps of tumorigenesis. Aberrant histone and non-histone acetylation modifications of gene expression due to the abnormal activation of histone deacetylases (HDAC) have been reported in hematologic and solid types of cancer. In this sense, the cancer-associated epigenetic alterations are promising targets for anticancer therapy and chemoprevention. HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) induce histone hyperacetylation within target proteins, altering cell cycle and proliferation, cell differentiation, and the regulation of cell death programs. Over the last three decades, an increasing number of synthetic and naturally derived compounds, such as dietary-derived products, have been demonstrated to act as HDACi and have provided biological and molecular insights with regard to the role of HDAC in cancer. The first part of this review is focused on the biological roles of the Zinc-dependent HDAC family in malignant diseases. Accordingly, the small-molecules and natural products such as HDACi are described in terms of cancer therapy and chemoprevention. Furthermore, structural considerations are included to improve the HDACi selectivity and combinatory potential with other specific targeting agents in bifunctional inhibitors and proteolysis targeting chimeras. Additionally, clinical trials that combine HDACi with current therapies are discussed, which may open new avenues in terms of the feasibility of HDACi’s future clinical applications in precision cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dusan Ruzic
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia; (D.R.); (N.D.); (K.N.)
| | - Nemanja Djoković
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia; (D.R.); (N.D.); (K.N.)
| | - Tatjana Srdić-Rajić
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Pasterova 14, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Cesar Echeverria
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Atacama, Copayapu 485, Copiapo 1531772, Chile;
| | - Katarina Nikolic
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia; (D.R.); (N.D.); (K.N.)
| | - Juan F. Santibanez
- Group for Molecular Oncology, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Dr. Subotica 4, POB 102, 11129 Belgrade, Serbia
- Centro Integrativo de Biología y Química Aplicada (CIBQA), Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins, Santiago 8370854, Chile
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +381-11-2685-788; Fax: +381-11-2643-691
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Wang C, Zhang Y, Wang J, Xing D. VHL-based PROTACs as potential therapeutic agents: Recent progress and perspectives. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 227:113906. [PMID: 34656901 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), which hijack proteins of interest (POIs) and recruit E3 ligases for target degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, are a novel drug discovery paradigm that has been widely used as biological tools and medicinal molecules with the potential of clinical application value. To date, a wide variety of small molecule PROTACs have been developed. Importantly, VHL-based PROTACs have emerged to be a promising approach for proteins, including those non-druggable ones, such as transcriptional factors and scaffold proteins. VHL-based PRTOACs have been developed for the treatment of diseases that are difficult to be dealt with by conventional methods, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and small molecule inhibitors. In this review, the recent advances of VHL-based PRTOACs were summarized, and the chances and challenges associated with this area were also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China.
| | - Yujing Zhang
- The Affiliated Cardiovascular Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China; School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266021, Shandong, China.
| | - Jie Wang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China.
| | - Dongming Xing
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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50
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He X, Hui Z, Xu L, Bai R, Gao Y, Wang Z, Xie T, Ye XY. Medicinal chemistry updates of novel HDACs inhibitors (2020 to present). Eur J Med Chem 2022; 227:113946. [PMID: 34775332 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Epigentic enzymes histone deacetylases (HDACs) catalyze the removal of acetyl groups from the ε-N-acetylated lysine residues of various protein substrates including both histone and non-histone proteins. Different HDACs have distinct biological functions and are recruited to specific regions of the genome. Due to their important biological functions, HDACs have been validated in clinics for anticancer therapy, and are being explored for potential treatment of several other diseases such as Alzheimer disease (AD), metabolic disease, viral infection, and multiple sclerosis, etc. Besides five approved drugs, there are more than thirty HDACs inhibitors currently being investigated in clinical trials. Centering on the advances of drug discovery programs in this field since 2020, this review discusses HDACs inhibitors from the aspects of the structure-based rational design, isoform selectivity, pharmacology, and toxicology of the compounds of interest. The hope is to provide the medicinal chemistry community with up-to-date information and to accelerate the drug discovery programs in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingrui He
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, China; School of Pharmacy, Liaocheng University, Shandong, 252000, China; Hunan Engineering Technology Research Center for Comprehensive Development and Utilization of Biomass Resources, Hunan University of Science and Engineering, Yongzhou, 425199, China
| | - Zi Hui
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, China
| | - Li Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, China
| | - Renren Bai
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200000, China
| | - Zongcheng Wang
- Hunan Engineering Technology Research Center for Comprehensive Development and Utilization of Biomass Resources, Hunan University of Science and Engineering, Yongzhou, 425199, China.
| | - Tian Xie
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, China.
| | - Xiang-Yang Ye
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, China.
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