1
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Timofeev O, Giron P, Lawo S, Pichler M, Noeparast M. ERK pathway agonism for cancer therapy: evidence, insights, and a target discovery framework. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:70. [PMID: 38485987 PMCID: PMC10940698 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00554-5] [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: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
At least 40% of human cancers are associated with aberrant ERK pathway activity (ERKp). Inhibitors targeting various effectors within the ERKp have been developed and explored for over two decades. Conversely, a substantial body of evidence suggests that both normal human cells and, notably to a greater extent, cancer cells exhibit susceptibility to hyperactivation of ERKp. However, this vulnerability of cancer cells remains relatively unexplored. In this review, we reexamine the evidence on the selective lethality of highly elevated ERKp activity in human cancer cells of varying backgrounds. We synthesize the insights proposed for harnessing this vulnerability of ERK-associated cancers for therapeutical approaches and contextualize these insights within established pharmacological cancer-targeting models. Moreover, we compile the intriguing preclinical findings of ERK pathway agonism in diverse cancer models. Lastly, we present a conceptual framework for target discovery regarding ERKp agonism, emphasizing the utilization of mutual exclusivity among oncogenes to develop novel targeted therapies for precision oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Timofeev
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Philippe Giron
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Clinical Sciences, Research group Genetics, Reproduction and Development, Centre for Medical Genetics, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Steffen Lawo
- CRISPR Screening Core Facility, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Martin Pichler
- Translational Oncology, II. Med Clinics Hematology and Oncology, 86156, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Maxim Noeparast
- Translational Oncology, II. Med Clinics Hematology and Oncology, 86156, Augsburg, Germany.
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2
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Torres Robles J, Lou HJ, Shi G, Pan PL, Turk BE. Linear motif specificity in signaling through p38α and ERK2 mitogen-activated protein kinases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2316599120. [PMID: 37988460 PMCID: PMC10691213 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316599120] [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: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are essential for eukaryotic cells to integrate and respond to diverse stimuli. Maintaining specificity in signaling through MAPK networks is key to coupling distinct inputs to appropriate cellular responses. Docking sites-short linear motifs found in MAPK substrates, regulators, and scaffolds-can promote signaling specificity through selective interactions, but how they do so remains unresolved. Here, we screened a proteomic library for sequences interacting with the MAPKs extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) and p38α, identifying selective and promiscuous docking motifs. Sequences specific for p38α had high net charge and lysine content, and selective binding depended on a pair of acidic residues unique to the p38α docking interface. Finally, we validated a set of full-length proteins harboring docking sites selected in our screens to be authentic MAPK interactors and substrates. This study identifies features that help define MAPK signaling networks and explains how specific docking motifs promote signaling integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaylissa Torres Robles
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT06520
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
| | - Hua Jane Lou
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
| | - Guangda Shi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
| | | | - Benjamin E. Turk
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
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3
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Shvartsman SY, McFann S, Wühr M, Rubinstein BY. Phase plane dynamics of ERK phosphorylation. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105234. [PMID: 37690685 PMCID: PMC10616409 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105234] [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: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) controls multiple critical processes in the cell and is deregulated in human cancers, congenital abnormalities, immune diseases, and neurodevelopmental syndromes. Catalytic activity of ERK requires dual phosphorylation by an upstream kinase, in a mechanism that can be described by two sequential Michaelis-Menten steps. The estimation of individual reaction rate constants from kinetic data in the full mechanism has proved challenging. Here, we present an analytically tractable approach to parameter estimation that is based on the phase plane representation of ERK activation and yields two combinations of six reaction rate constants in the detailed mechanism. These combinations correspond to the ratio of the specificities of two consecutive phosphorylations and the probability that monophosphorylated substrate does not dissociate from the enzyme before the second phosphorylation. The presented approach offers a language for comparing the effects of mutations that disrupt ERK activation and function in vivo. As an illustration, we use phase plane representation to analyze dual phosphorylation under heterozygous conditions, when two enzyme variants compete for the same substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav Y Shvartsman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA; Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA; Center for Computational Biology, Flatiron Institute, New York, New York, USA.
| | - Sarah McFann
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Martin Wühr
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA; Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
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4
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Martin-Vega A, Cobb MH. Navigating the ERK1/2 MAPK Cascade. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1555. [PMID: 37892237 PMCID: PMC10605237 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101555] [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: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The RAS-ERK pathway is a fundamental signaling cascade crucial for many biological processes including proliferation, cell cycle control, growth, and survival; common across all cell types. Notably, ERK1/2 are implicated in specific processes in a context-dependent manner as in stem cells and pancreatic β-cells. Alterations in the different components of this cascade result in dysregulation of the effector kinases ERK1/2 which communicate with hundreds of substrates. Aberrant activation of the pathway contributes to a range of disorders, including cancer. This review provides an overview of the structure, activation, regulation, and mutational frequency of the different tiers of the cascade; with a particular focus on ERK1/2. We highlight the importance of scaffold proteins that contribute to kinase localization and coordinate interaction dynamics of the kinases with substrates, activators, and inhibitors. Additionally, we explore innovative therapeutic approaches emphasizing promising avenues in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Martin-Vega
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6001 Forest Park Rd., Dallas, TX 75390, USA;
| | - Melanie H. Cobb
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6001 Forest Park Rd., Dallas, TX 75390, USA;
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6001 Forest Park Rd., Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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5
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Soudah N, Baskin A, Smorodinsky-Atias K, Beenstock J, Ganon Y, Hayouka R, Aboraya M, Livnah O, Ilouz R, Engelberg D. A conserved arginine within the αC-helix of Erk1/2 is a latch of autoactivation and of oncogenic capabilities. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105072. [PMID: 37474104 PMCID: PMC10458722 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic protein kinases (EPKs) adopt an active conformation following phosphorylation of a particular activation loop residue. Most EPKs spontaneously autophosphorylate this residue. While structure-function relationships of the active conformation are essentially understood, those of the "prone-to-autophosphorylate" conformation are unclear. Here, we propose that a site within the αC-helix of EPKs, occupied by Arg in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) Erk1/2 (Arg84/65), impacts spontaneous autophosphorylation. MAPKs lack spontaneous autoactivation, but we found that converting Arg84/65 of Erk1/2 to various residues enables spontaneous autophosphorylation. Furthermore, Erk1 molecules mutated in Arg84 are oncogenic. Arg84/65 thus obstructs the adoption of the "prone-to-autophosphorylate" conformation. All MAPKs harbor an Arg that is equivalent to Arg84/65 of Erks, whereas Arg is rarely found at the equivalent position in other EPKs. We observed that Arg84/65 of Erk1/2 interacts with the DFG motif, suggesting that autophosphorylation may be inhibited by the Arg84/65-DFG interactions. Erk1/2s mutated in Arg84/65 autophosphorylate not only the TEY motif, known as critical for catalysis, but also on Thr207/188. Our MS/MS analysis revealed that a large proportion of the Erk2R65H population is phosphorylated on Thr188 or on Tyr185 + Thr188, and a small fraction is phosphorylated on the TEY motif. No molecules phosphorylated on Thr183 + Thr188 were detected. Thus, phosphorylation of Thr183 and Thr188 is mutually exclusive suggesting that not only TEY-phosphorylated molecules are active but perhaps also those phosphorylated on Tyr185 + Thr188. The effect of mutating Arg84/65 may mimic a physiological scenario in which allosteric effectors cause Erk1/2 activation by autophosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Soudah
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Institute of Life Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Alexey Baskin
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Institute of Life Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Karin Smorodinsky-Atias
- School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
| | - Jonah Beenstock
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Institute of Life Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yifat Ganon
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Institute of Life Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ruchama Hayouka
- The Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Mohammed Aboraya
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Oded Livnah
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Institute of Life Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel; The Wolfson Centre for Applied Structural Biology, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ronit Ilouz
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - David Engelberg
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Institute of Life Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel; Singapore-HUJ Alliance for Research and Enterprise, Mechanisms of Liver Inflammatory Diseases Program, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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6
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Kugler V, Lieb A, Guerin N, Donald BR, Stefan E, Kaserer T. Disruptor: Computational identification of oncogenic mutants disrupting protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. Commun Biol 2023; 6:720. [PMID: 37443295 PMCID: PMC10344873 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05089-2] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
We report an Osprey-based computational protocol to prospectively identify oncogenic mutations that act via disruption of molecular interactions. It is applicable to analyse both protein-protein and protein-DNA interfaces and it is validated on a dataset of clinically relevant mutations. In addition, it is used to predict previously uncharacterised patient mutations in CDK6 and p16 genes, which are experimentally confirmed to impair complex formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Kugler
- Institute of Biochemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andreas Lieb
- Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nathan Guerin
- Department of Computer Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Bruce R Donald
- Department of Computer Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Mathematics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Eduard Stefan
- Institute of Biochemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Tyrolean Cancer Research Institute (TKFI), Innrain 66, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Teresa Kaserer
- Institute of Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
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7
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Marsh L, Dufresne E, Byrne HM, Harrington HA. Algebra, Geometry and Topology of ERK Kinetics. Bull Math Biol 2022; 84:137. [PMID: 36273372 PMCID: PMC9588486 DOI: 10.1007/s11538-022-01088-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The MEK/ERK signalling pathway is involved in cell division, cell specialisation, survival and cell death (Shaul and Seger in Biochim Biophys Acta (BBA)-Mol Cell Res 1773(8):1213–1226, 2007). Here we study a polynomial dynamical system describing the dynamics of MEK/ERK proposed by Yeung et al. (Curr Biol 2019, 10.1016/j.cub.2019.12.052) with their experimental setup, data and known biological information. The experimental dataset is a time-course of ERK measurements in different phosphorylation states following activation of either wild-type MEK or MEK mutations associated with cancer or developmental defects. We demonstrate how methods from computational algebraic geometry, differential algebra, Bayesian statistics and computational algebraic topology can inform the model reduction, identification and parameter inference of MEK variants, respectively. Throughout, we show how this algebraic viewpoint offers a rigorous and systematic analysis of such models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis Marsh
- Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | | | - Helen M Byrne
- Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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8
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Pan X, Pei J, Wang A, Shuai W, Feng L, Bu F, Zhu Y, Zhang L, Wang G, Ouyang L. Development of small molecule extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) inhibitors for cancer therapy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:2171-2192. [PMID: 35646548 PMCID: PMC9136582 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway is widely activated by a variety of extracellular stimuli, and its dysregulation is associated with the proliferation, invasion, and migration of cancer cells. ERK1/2 is located at the distal end of this pathway and rarely undergoes mutations, making it an attractive target for anticancer drug development. Currently, an increasing number of ERK1/2 inhibitors have been designed and synthesized for antitumor therapy, among which representative compounds have entered clinical trials. When ERK1/2 signal transduction is eliminated, ERK5 may provide a bypass route to rescue proliferation, and weaken the potency of ERK1/2 inhibitors. Therefore, drug research targeting ERK5 or based on the compensatory mechanism of ERK5 for ERK1/2 opens up a new way for oncotherapy. This review provides an overview of the physiological and biological functions of ERKs, focuses on the structure-activity relationships of small molecule inhibitors targeting ERKs, with a view to providing guidance for future drug design and optimization, and discusses the potential therapeutic strategies to overcome drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Junping Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Aoxue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Wen Shuai
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lu Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Faqian Bu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yumeng Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lan Zhang
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
- Corresponding authors. Tel./fax: +86 28 85503817.
| | - Guan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Corresponding authors. Tel./fax: +86 28 85503817.
| | - Liang Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Corresponding authors. Tel./fax: +86 28 85503817.
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9
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Sayılgan JF, Haliloğlu T, Gönen M. Protein dynamics analysis identifies candidate cancer driver genes and mutations in TCGA data. Proteins 2021; 89:721-730. [PMID: 33550612 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Recently, it has been showed that cancer missense mutations selectively target the neighborhood of hinge residues, which are key sites in protein dynamics. Here, we show that this approach can be extended to find previously unknown candidate mutations and genes. To this aim, we developed a computational pipeline to detect significantly enriched three-dimensional (3D) clustering of missense mutations around hinge residues. The hinge residues were detected by applying a Gaussian network model. By systematically analyzing the PanCancer compendium of somatic mutations in nearly 10 000 tumors from the Cancer Genome Atlas, we identified candidate genes and mutations in addition to well known ones. For instance, we found significantly enriched 3D clustering of missense mutations in known cancer genes including CDK4, CDKN2A, TCL1A, and MAPK1. Beside these known genes, we also identified significantly enriched 3D clustering of missense mutations around hinge residues in PLA2G4A, which may lead to excessive phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases. Furthermore, we demonstrated that hinge-based features improves pathogenicity prediction for missense mutations. Our results show that the consideration of clustering around hinge residues can help us explain the functional role of the mutations in known cancer genes and identify candidate genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Fehmi Sayılgan
- Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering, Koç University, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Türkan Haliloğlu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Boğaziçi University, İstanbul, Turkey.,Polymer Research Center, Boğaziçi University, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Gönen
- Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Koç University, İstanbul, Turkey.,School of Medicine, Koç University, İstanbul, Turkey
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10
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Marmion RA, Yang L, Goyal Y, Jindal GA, Wetzel JL, Singh M, Schüpbach T, Shvartsman SY. Molecular mechanisms underlying cellular effects of human MEK1 mutations. Mol Biol Cell 2021; 32:974-983. [PMID: 33476180 PMCID: PMC8108529 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e20-10-0625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Terminal regions of Drosophila embryos are patterned by signaling through ERK, which is genetically deregulated in multiple human diseases. Quantitative studies of terminal patterning have been recently used to investigate gain-of-function variants of human MEK1, encoding the MEK kinase that directly activates ERK by dual phosphorylation. Unexpectedly, several mutations reduced ERK activation by extracellular signals, possibly through a negative feedback triggered by signal-independent activity of the mutant variants. Here we present experimental evidence supporting this model. Using a MEK variant that combines a mutation within the negative regulatory region with alanine substitutions in the activation loop, we prove that pathogenic variants indeed acquire signal-independent kinase activity. We also demonstrate that signal-dependent activation of these variants is independent of kinase suppressor of Ras, a conserved adaptor that is indispensable for activation of normal MEK. Finally, we show that attenuation of ERK activation by extracellular signals stems from transcriptional induction of Mkp3, a dual specificity phosphatase that deactivates ERK by dephosphorylation. These findings in the Drosophila embryo highlight its power for investigating diverse effects of human disease mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Marmion
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Liu Yang
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Yogesh Goyal
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Granton A Jindal
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544.,Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Joshua L Wetzel
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544.,Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540
| | - Mona Singh
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544.,Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540
| | - Trudi Schüpbach
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Stanislav Y Shvartsman
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544.,Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544.,Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation, New York, NY 10010
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11
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Ancient MAPK ERK7 is regulated by an unusual inhibitory scaffold required for Toxoplasma apical complex biogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:12164-12173. [PMID: 32409604 PMCID: PMC7275706 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1921245117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites include organisms that cause widespread and devastating human diseases such as malaria, cryptosporidiosis, and toxoplasmosis. These parasites are named for a structure, called the “apical complex,” that organizes their invasion and secretory machinery. We found that two proteins, apical cap protein 9 (AC9) and an enzyme called ERK7, work together to facilitate apical complex assembly. Intriguingly, ERK7 is an ancient molecule that is found throughout Eukaryota, though its regulation and function are poorly understood. AC9 is a scaffold that concentrates ERK7 at the base of the developing apical complex. In addition, AC9 binding likely confers substrate selectivity upon ERK7. This simple competitive regulatory model may be a powerful but largely overlooked mechanism throughout biology. Apicomplexan parasites use a specialized cilium structure called the apical complex to organize their secretory organelles and invasion machinery. The apical complex is integrally associated with both the parasite plasma membrane and an intermediate filament cytoskeleton called the inner-membrane complex (IMC). While the apical complex is essential to the parasitic lifestyle, little is known about the regulation of apical complex biogenesis. Here, we identify AC9 (apical cap protein 9), a largely intrinsically disordered component of the Toxoplasma gondii IMC, as essential for apical complex development, and therefore for host cell invasion and egress. Parasites lacking AC9 fail to successfully assemble the tubulin-rich core of their apical complex, called the conoid. We use proximity biotinylation to identify the AC9 interaction network, which includes the kinase extracellular signal-regulated kinase 7 (ERK7). Like AC9, ERK7 is required for apical complex biogenesis. We demonstrate that AC9 directly binds ERK7 through a conserved C-terminal motif and that this interaction is essential for ERK7 localization and function at the apical cap. The crystal structure of the ERK7–AC9 complex reveals that AC9 is not only a scaffold but also inhibits ERK7 through an unusual set of contacts that displaces nucleotide from the kinase active site. ERK7 is an ancient and autoactivating member of the mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK) family and its regulation is poorly understood in all organisms. We propose that AC9 dually regulates ERK7 by scaffolding and concentrating it at its site of action while maintaining it in an “off” state until the specific binding of a true substrate.
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12
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Akella R, Drozdz MA, Humphreys JM, Jiou J, Durbacz MZ, Mohammed ZJ, He H, Liwocha J, Sekulski K, Goldsmith EJ. A Phosphorylated Intermediate in the Activation of WNK Kinases. Biochemistry 2020; 59:1747-1755. [PMID: 32314908 PMCID: PMC7914002 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
WNK kinases autoactivate by autophosphorylation. Crystallography of the kinase domain of WNK1 phosphorylated on the primary activating site (pWNK1) in the presence of AMP-PNP reveals a well-ordered but inactive configuration. This new pWNK1 structure features specific and unique interactions of the phosphoserine, less hydration, and smaller cavities compared with those of unphosphorylated WNK1 (uWNK1). Because WNKs are activated by osmotic stress in cells, we addressed whether the structure was influenced directly by osmotic pressure. pWNK1 crystals formed in PEG3350 were soaked in the osmolyte sucrose. Suc-WNK1 crystals maintained X-ray diffraction, but the lattice constants and pWNK1 structure changed. Differences were found in the activation loop and helix C, common switch loci in kinase activation. On the basis of these structural changes, we tested for effects on in vitro activity of two WNKs, pWNK1 and pWNK3. The osmolyte PEG400 enhanced ATPase activity. Our data suggest multistage activation of WNKs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radha Akella
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8816, USA
| | - Mateusz A. Drozdz
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8816, USA
| | - John M. Humphreys
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8816, USA
| | - Jenny Jiou
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8816, USA
| | - Mateusz Z. Durbacz
- Faculty of Agronomy and Bioengineering, University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-624 Poznan, Poland
| | - Zuhair J. Mohammed
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Haixia He
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8816, USA
| | - Joanna Liwocha
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Kamil Sekulski
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8816, USA
| | - Elizabeth J. Goldsmith
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8816, USA
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13
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Weaver BP, Weaver YM, Omi S, Yuan W, Ewbank JJ, Han M. Non-Canonical Caspase Activity Antagonizes p38 MAPK Stress-Priming Function to Support Development. Dev Cell 2020; 53:358-369.e6. [PMID: 32302544 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have revealed non-canonical activities of apoptotic caspases involving specific modulation of gene expression, such as limiting asymmetric divisions of stem-like cell types. Here we report that CED-3 caspase negatively regulates an epidermal p38 stress-responsive MAPK pathway to promote larval development in C. elegans. We show that PMK-1 (p38 MAPK) primes animals for encounters with hostile environments at the expense of retarding post-embryonic development. CED-3 counters this function by directly cleaving PMK-1 to promote development. Moreover, we found that CED-3 and PMK-1 oppose each other to balance developmental and stress-responsive gene expression programs. Specifically, expression of more than 300 genes is inversely regulated by CED-3 and PMK-1. Analyses of these genes showed enrichment for epidermal stress-responsive factors, including the fatty acid synthase FASN-1, anti-microbial peptides, and genes involved in lethargus states. Our findings demonstrate a non-canonical role for a caspase in promoting development by limiting epidermal stress response programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin P Weaver
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
| | - Yi M Weaver
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Shizue Omi
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Wang Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jonathan J Ewbank
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Min Han
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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14
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Tomasovic A, Brand T, Schanbacher C, Kramer S, Hümmert MW, Godoy P, Schmidt-Heck W, Nordbeck P, Ludwig J, Homann S, Wiegering A, Shaykhutdinov T, Kratz C, Knüchel R, Müller-Hermelink HK, Rosenwald A, Frey N, Eichler J, Dobrev D, El-Armouche A, Hengstler JG, Müller OJ, Hinrichs K, Cuello F, Zernecke A, Lorenz K. Interference with ERK-dimerization at the nucleocytosolic interface targets pathological ERK1/2 signaling without cardiotoxic side-effects. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1733. [PMID: 32265441 PMCID: PMC7138859 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15505-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) is linked to several diseases including heart failure, genetic syndromes and cancer. Inhibition of ERK1/2, however, can cause severe cardiac side-effects, precluding its wide therapeutic application. ERKT188-autophosphorylation was identified to cause pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Here we report that interference with ERK-dimerization, a prerequisite for ERKT188-phosphorylation, minimizes cardiac hypertrophy without inducing cardiac adverse effects: an ERK-dimerization inhibitory peptide (EDI) prevents ERKT188-phosphorylation, nuclear ERK1/2-signaling and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, protecting from pressure-overload-induced heart failure in mice whilst preserving ERK1/2-activity and cytosolic survival signaling. We also examine this alternative ERK1/2-targeting strategy in cancer: indeed, ERKT188-phosphorylation is strongly upregulated in cancer and EDI efficiently suppresses cancer cell proliferation without causing cardiotoxicity. This powerful cardio-safe strategy of interfering with ERK-dimerization thus combats pathological ERK1/2-signaling in heart and cancer, and may potentially expand therapeutic options for ERK1/2-related diseases, such as heart failure and genetic syndromes. Drugs targeting dysregulated ERK1/2 signaling can cause severe cardiac side effects, precluding their wide therapeutic application. Here, a new and cardio-safe targeting strategy is presented that interferes with ERK dimerization to prevent pathological ERK1/2 signaling in the heart and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Tomasovic
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.,Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Theresa Brand
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.,Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Constanze Schanbacher
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.,Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Sofia Kramer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin W Hümmert
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Patricio Godoy
- IfADo-Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at the Technical University Dortmund, 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Schmidt-Heck
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology -Hans Knoell Institute-, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Peter Nordbeck
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Ludwig
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Susanne Homann
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Armin Wiegering
- Department of General, Visceral, Transplant, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Würzburg, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Timur Shaykhutdinov
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Kratz
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ruth Knüchel
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Andreas Rosenwald
- Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Norbert Frey
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Kiel, 24105, Kiel, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jutta Eichler
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dobromir Dobrev
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Ali El-Armouche
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jan G Hengstler
- IfADo-Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at the Technical University Dortmund, 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Oliver J Müller
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Kiel, 24105, Kiel, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Kiel, Germany
| | - Karsten Hinrichs
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Friederike Cuello
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alma Zernecke
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital Würzburg, University of Würzburg, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kristina Lorenz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany. .,Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 44139, Dortmund, Germany. .,Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.
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15
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Abstract
MEK, a central component of the Ras/MAPK cascade, is mutated in human tumors and developmental disorders. Recent studies are beginning to dissect the mechanisms that make these MEK mutants hyperactive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Bardwell
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, 2208 Natural Sciences I, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2300, USA.
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16
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Yeung E, McFann S, Marsh L, Dufresne E, Filippi S, Harrington HA, Shvartsman SY, Wühr M. Inference of Multisite Phosphorylation Rate Constants and Their Modulation by Pathogenic Mutations. Curr Biol 2020; 30:877-882.e6. [PMID: 32059766 PMCID: PMC7085240 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.12.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Multisite protein phosphorylation plays a critical role in cell regulation [1-3]. It is widely appreciated that the functional capabilities of multisite phosphorylation depend on the order and kinetics of phosphorylation steps, but kinetic aspects of multisite phosphorylation remain poorly understood [4-6]. Here, we focus on what appears to be the simplest scenario, when a protein is phosphorylated on only two sites in a strict, well-defined order. This scenario describes the activation of ERK, a highly conserved cell-signaling enzyme. We use Bayesian parameter inference in a structurally identifiable kinetic model to dissect dual phosphorylation of ERK by MEK, a kinase that is mutated in a large number of human diseases [7-12]. Our results reveal how enzyme processivity and efficiencies of individual phosphorylation steps are altered by pathogenic mutations. The presented approach, which connects specific mutations to kinetic parameters of multisite phosphorylation mechanisms, provides a systematic framework for closing the gap between studies with purified enzymes and their effects in the living organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eyan Yeung
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Carl Icahn Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Sarah McFann
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Carl Icahn Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Engineering Quad, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Lewis Marsh
- Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Andrew Wiles Building, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Emilie Dufresne
- Department of Mathematics, James College, Campus West, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Sarah Filippi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College London, Medical School Building, St Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK; Department of Mathematics, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Heather A Harrington
- Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Andrew Wiles Building, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Stanislav Y Shvartsman
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Carl Icahn Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation, New York, NY 10010, USA.
| | - Martin Wühr
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Carl Icahn Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
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17
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Mutations That Confer Drug-Resistance, Oncogenicity and Intrinsic Activity on the ERK MAP Kinases-Current State of the Art. Cells 2020; 9:cells9010129. [PMID: 31935908 PMCID: PMC7016714 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Unique characteristics distinguish extracellular signal-regulated kinases (Erks) from other eukaryotic protein kinases (ePKs). Unlike most ePKs, Erks do not autoactivate and they manifest no basal activity; they become catalysts only when dually phosphorylated on neighboring Thr and Tyr residues and they possess unique structural motifs. Erks function as the sole targets of the receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs)-Ras-Raf-MEK signaling cascade, which controls numerous physiological processes and is mutated in most cancers. Erks are therefore the executers of the pathway’s biology and pathology. As oncogenic mutations have not been identified in Erks themselves, combined with the tight regulation of their activity, Erks have been considered immune against mutations that would render them intrinsically active. Nevertheless, several such mutations have been generated on the basis of structure-function analysis, understanding of ePK evolution and, mostly, via genetic screens in lower eukaryotes. One of the mutations conferred oncogenic properties on Erk1. The number of interesting mutations in Erks has dramatically increased following the development of Erk-specific pharmacological inhibitors and identification of mutations that cause resistance to these compounds. Several mutations have been recently identified in cancer patients. Here we summarize the mutations identified in Erks so far, describe their properties and discuss their possible mechanism of action.
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