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Bashore F, Annor-Gyamfi J, Du Y, Katis V, Nwogbo F, Flax RG, Frye SV, Pearce KH, Fu H, Willson TM, Drewry DH, Axtman AD. Fused Tetrahydroquinolines Are Interfering with Your Assay. J Med Chem 2023; 66:14434-14446. [PMID: 37874947 PMCID: PMC10641811 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01277] [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: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Tricyclic tetrahydroquinolines (THQs) have been repeatedly reported as hits across a diverse range of high-throughput screening (HTS) campaigns. The activities of these compounds, however, are likely due to reactive byproducts that interfere with the assay. As a lesser studied class of pan-assay interference compounds, the mechanism by which fused THQs react with protein targets remains largely unknown. During HTS follow-up, we characterized the behavior and stability of several fused tricyclic THQs. We synthesized key analogues to pinpoint the cyclopentene ring double bond as a source of reactivity of fused THQs. We found that these compounds degrade in solution under standard laboratory conditions in days. Importantly, these observations make it likely that fused THQs, which are ubiquitously found within small molecule screening libraries, are unlikely the intact parent compounds. We urge deprioritization of tricylic THQ hits in HTS follow-up and caution against the investment of resources to follow-up on these problematic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances
M. Bashore
- Structural
Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Joel Annor-Gyamfi
- Structural
Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Yuhong Du
- Department
of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory
University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Emory
Chemical Biology Discovery Center, Emory
University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Vittorio Katis
- Alzheimer’s
Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute, Centre for Medicines
Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, Old
Road Campus, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FZ, U.K.
| | - Felix Nwogbo
- UNC
Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal
Chemistry, Center for Integrative Chemical
Biology and Drug Discovery, Chapel
Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Raymond G. Flax
- Structural
Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Stephen V. Frye
- UNC
Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal
Chemistry, Center for Integrative Chemical
Biology and Drug Discovery, Chapel
Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Kenneth H. Pearce
- UNC
Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal
Chemistry, Center for Integrative Chemical
Biology and Drug Discovery, Chapel
Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Haian Fu
- Department
of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory
University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Emory
Chemical Biology Discovery Center, Emory
University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Timothy M. Willson
- Structural
Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - David H. Drewry
- Structural
Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- UNC Lineberger
Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Alison D. Axtman
- Structural
Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
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2
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Schmeing S, Amrahova G, Bigler K, Chang JY, Openy J, Pal S, Posada L, Gasper R, 't Hart P. Rationally designed stapled peptides allosterically inhibit PTBP1-RNA-binding. Chem Sci 2023; 14:8269-8278. [PMID: 37564416 PMCID: PMC10411625 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc00985h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The diverse role of the splicing factor PTBP1 in human cells has been widely studied and was found to be a driver for several diseases. PTBP1 binds RNA through its RNA-recognition motifs which lack obvious pockets for inhibition. A unique transient helix has been described to be part of its first RNA-recognition motif and to be important for RNA binding. In this study, we further confirmed the role of this helix and envisioned its dynamic nature as a unique opportunity to develop stapled peptide inhibitors of PTBP1. The peptides were found to be able to inhibit RNA binding via fluorescence polarization assays and directly occupy the helix binding site as observed by protein crystallography. These cell-permeable inhibitors were validated in cellulo to alter the regulation of alternative splicing events regulated by PTBP1. Our study demonstrates transient secondary structures of a protein can be mimicked by stapled peptides to inhibit allosteric mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Schmeing
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Gulshan Amrahova
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Katrin Bigler
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Jen-Yao Chang
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Joseph Openy
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Sunit Pal
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Laura Posada
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Raphael Gasper
- Crystallography and Biophysics Unit, Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Physiology Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Peter 't Hart
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11 44227 Dortmund Germany
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3
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Li Y, Huang X, Tang J. Inhibiting the growth of ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo by a small molecular inhibitor targeting La-RNA interactions. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 940:175471. [PMID: 36549502 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175471] [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: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify small molecules blocking La-RNA interactions by using structural dynamics, molecular biology, and in vivo efficacy experiments. METHODS A docking virtual assay on the Chemdiv database was used to screen La binders, and their affinity were measured by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). A novel fluorescence polarization (FP) assay referring to the binding of La protein and 3'UUUOH was established to identify the inhibitors. Their activity on ovarian cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle were evaluated using Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8) and flow cytometry assay, respectively. Their in vivo efficacy against ovarian cancer growth were evaluated in a cell line-derived xenograft (CDX) model of A2780 cells. RESULTS From a total of 20 compounds with high potential binding activity with La protein, two small molecule compounds 4424-1120 and 8017-5932 with relatively stronger inhibition ability on La-RNA interactions were identified. These two compounds shared the same active centers with hydroxyimidazole and hydroxybenzene to interact with La protein through residues ARG57, GLN20 and GLN136. The in vitro assays showed that 4424-1120 and 8017-5932 effectively cause G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, inhibit cell proliferation, reduce cell invasion and promote apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. In a CDX model on BALB/C Nude mice, we found that the growth rate of the tumor was inhibited by 4424-1120. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrated compound 4424-1120 shows good antitumor activity and safety in vitro and in vivo, and it provides a new idea for the discovery of antitumor lead compounds from small drug-like molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueyan Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuan Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Tang
- Department of Pharmacy, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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4
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Wallis N, Oberman F, Shurrush K, Germain N, Greenwald G, Gershon T, Pearl T, Abis G, Singh V, Singh A, Sharma AK, Barr HM, Ramos A, Spiegelman VS, Yisraeli JK. Small molecule inhibitor of Igf2bp1 represses Kras and a pro-oncogenic phenotype in cancer cells. RNA Biol 2021; 19:26-43. [PMID: 34895045 PMCID: PMC8794255 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2021.2010983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Igf2bp1 is an oncofetal RNA binding protein whose expression in numerous types of cancers is associated with upregulation of key pro-oncogenic RNAs, poor prognosis, and reduced survival. Importantly, Igf2bp1 synergizes with mutations in Kras to enhance signalling and oncogenic activity, suggesting that molecules inhibiting Igf2bp1 could have therapeutic potential. Here, we isolate a small molecule that interacts with a hydrophobic surface at the boundary of Igf2bp1 KH3 and KH4 domains, and inhibits binding to Kras RNA. In cells, the compound reduces the level of Kras and other Igf2bp1 mRNA targets, lowers Kras protein, and inhibits downstream signalling, wound healing, and growth in soft agar, all in the absence of any toxicity. This work presents an avenue for improving the prognosis of Igf2bp1-expressing tumours in lung, and potentially other, cancer(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadav Wallis
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, IMRIC, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Froma Oberman
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, IMRIC, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Khriesto Shurrush
- The Wohl Drug Discovery Institute of the Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Nicolas Germain
- The Wohl Drug Discovery Institute of the Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gila Greenwald
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, IMRIC, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tehila Gershon
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, IMRIC, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Talia Pearl
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, IMRIC, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Giancarlo Abis
- Division of Biosciences, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Vikash Singh
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Amandeep Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Arun K. Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Haim M. Barr
- The Wohl Drug Discovery Institute of the Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Andres Ramos
- Division of Biosciences, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Vladimir S. Spiegelman
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Joel K. Yisraeli
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, IMRIC, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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5
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Padilla-Coley S, Rudebeck EE, Smith BD, Pfeffer FM. Intracellular fluorescence competition assay for inhibitor engagement of histone deacetylase. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2021; 47:128207. [PMID: 34146703 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.128207] [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: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
An intracellular fluorescence competition assay was developed to assess the capability of inhibitor candidates to engage histone deacetylase (HDAC) inside living cells and thus diminish cell uptake and staining by the HDAC-targeted fluorescent probe APS. Fluorescence cell microscopy and flow cytometry showed that pre-incubation of living cells with candidate inhibitors led to diminished cell uptake of the fluorescent probe. The assay was effective because the fluorescent probe (APS) possessed the required performance properties, including bright fluorescence, ready membrane diffusion, selective intracellular HDAC affinity, and negligible acute cytotoxicity. The concept of an intracellular fluorescence competition assay is generalizable and has broad applicability since it obviates the requirement to use the isolated biomacromolecule target for screening of molecular candidates with target affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasha Padilla-Coley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States
| | - Elley E Rudebeck
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Bradley D Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States
| | - Frederick M Pfeffer
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia.
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RNA-Binding Protein La Mediates TGFβ-Induced Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition and Cancer Stem Cell Properties. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13020343. [PMID: 33477794 PMCID: PMC7832410 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Reversible epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in establishing a malignant phenotype by assuring cancer cell plasticity critical for cancer progression by allowing a small fraction of cancer cells to detach from primary lesions and outgrow at metastatic sites. Cancer cell plasticity is associated with cancer stem cell properties contributing to chemoresistance, metastasis, and poor clinical outcomes. Dysregulated RNA-binding proteins are key players in controlling the RNA metabolism, including mRNA processing, export, and translation, and have been implicated in cancer cell plasticity. In this study, we demonstrated that aberrantly expressed RNA-binding protein La is critical for transforming growth factor β-induced EMT and for gaining cancer stem cell properties. Understanding the function of aberrant RNA-binding protein expression in cancer cell plasticity reveals prospects for identifying novel therapeutic targets. Abstract Background: the aberrant overexpression of predominantly nuclear localizing RNA-binding protein (RBP) La contributes to proliferation, mobility, and chemoresistance of cancer cells and tumor growth in mice. Methods: studies included cancer tissue microarrays (TMAs) analyses, cancer tissue data mining, transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)-induced cancer cell plasticity studies, three dimensional sphere growth, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) assays, analysis of cancer stem cell (CSC) marker expression, and post-translational modification of cancer-associated La protein. Results: we demonstrated that significant overexpression of RBP La in lung and head and neck cancer tissue correlates with poor overall survival. Furthermore, small interfering RNA-mediated depletion of La reduced proliferation and migration of cancer cells, blocked TGFβ-induced EMT, and diminished both EMT and CSC marker expression. Rescue experiments with La wildtype but not RNA chaperone domain activity-defective La mutant increased the expression of those cancer progression markers, suggesting a critical role of La’s RNA chaperone activity in this process. La depletion in cancer cells also significantly decreased sphere growth in the presence of TGFβ. Interestingly, TGFβ treatment induced phosphorylation of La at threonine 389 (pLaT389) only in adherents but not in 3D growing cultures. Conclusion: our study suggests that the TGFβ/AKT/pLaT389 signaling pathway regulates cancer cell plasticity.
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7
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Kaliatsi EG, Argyriou AI, Bouras G, Apostolidi M, Konstantinidou P, Shaukat AN, Spyroulias GA, Stathopoulos C. Functional and Structural Aspects of La Protein Overexpression in Lung Cancer. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:166712. [PMID: 33197462 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
La is an abundant phosphoprotein that protects polymerase III transcripts from 3'-5' exonucleolytic degradation and facilitates their folding. Consisting of the evolutionary conserved La motif (LAM) and two consecutive RNA Recognition Motifs (RRMs), La was also found to bind additional RNA transcripts or RNA domains like internal ribosome entry site (IRES), through sequence-independent binding modes which are poorly understood. Although it has been reported overexpressed in certain cancer types and depletion of its expression sensitizes cancer cells to certain chemotherapeutic agents, its role in cancer remains essentially uncharacterized. Herein, we study the effects of La overexpression in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells, which leads to increased cell proliferation and motility. Expression profiling of several transcription and translation factors indicated that La overexpression leads to downregulation of global translation through hypophosphorylation of 4E-BPs and upregulation of IRES-mediated translation. Moreover, analysis of La localization after nutrition deprivation of the transfected cells showed a normal distribution in the nucleus and nucleoli. Although the RNA binding capacity of La has been primarily linked to the synergy between the conserved LAM and RRM1 domains which act as a module, we show that recombinant stand-alone LAM can specifically bind a pre-tRNA ligand, based on binding experiments combined with NMR analysis. We propose that LAM RNA binding properties could support the expanding and diverse RNA ligand repertoire of La, thus promoting its modulatory role, both under normal and pathogenic conditions like cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni G Kaliatsi
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | | | - Georgios Bouras
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Maria Apostolidi
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
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8
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Abstract
RNA-binding proteins are important regulators of RNA metabolism and are of critical importance in all steps of the gene expression cascade. The role of aberrantly expressed RBPs in human disease is an exciting research field and the potential application of RBPs as a therapeutic target or a diagnostic marker represents a fast-growing area of research.Aberrant overexpression of the human RNA-binding protein La has been found in various cancer entities including lung, cervical, head and neck, and chronic myelogenous leukaemia. Cancer-associated La protein supports tumour-promoting processes such as proliferation, mobility, invasiveness and tumour growth. Moreover, the La protein maintains the survival of cancer cells by supporting an anti-apoptotic state that may cause resistance to chemotherapeutic therapy.The human La protein represents a multifunctional post-translationally modified RNA-binding protein with RNA chaperone activity that promotes processing of non-coding precursor RNAs but also stimulates the translation of selective messenger RNAs encoding tumour-promoting and anti-apoptotic factors. In our model, La facilitates the expression of those factors and helps cancer cells to cope with cellular stress. In contrast to oncogenes, able to initiate tumorigenesis, we postulate that the aberrantly elevated expression of the human La protein contributes to the non-oncogenic addiction of cancer cells. In this review, we summarize the current understanding about the implications of the RNA-binding protein La in cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. The concept of exploiting the RBP La as a cancer drug target will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunhild Sommer
- Department for Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Tilman Heise
- Department for Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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9
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McGovern-Gooch KR, Baird NJ. Fluorescence-based investigations of RNA-small molecule interactions. Methods 2019; 167:54-65. [PMID: 31129289 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2019.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Interrogating non-coding RNA structures and functions with small molecules is an area of rapidly increasing interest among biochemists and chemical biologists. However, many biochemical approaches to monitoring RNA structures are time-consuming and low-throughput, and thereby are only of limited utility for RNA-small molecule studies. Fluorescence-based techniques are powerful tools for rapid investigation of RNA conformations, dynamics, and interactions with small molecules. Many fluorescence methods are amenable to high-throughput analysis, enabling library screening for small molecule binders. In this review, we summarize numerous fluorescence-based approaches for identifying and characterizing RNA-small molecule interactions. We describe in detail a high-information content dual-reporter FRET assay we developed to characterize small molecule-induced conformational and stability changes. Our assay is uniquely suited as a platform for both small molecule discovery and thorough characterization of RNA-small molecule binding mechanisms. Given the growing recognition of non-coding RNAs as attractive targets for therapeutic intervention, we anticipate our FRET assay and other fluorescence-based techniques will be indispensable for the development of potent and specific small molecule inhibitors targeting RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayleigh R McGovern-Gooch
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA 19104 United States
| | - Nathan J Baird
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA 19104 United States.
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10
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D'Agostino VG, Sighel D, Zucal C, Bonomo I, Micaelli M, Lolli G, Provenzani A, Quattrone A, Adami V. Screening Approaches for Targeting Ribonucleoprotein Complexes: A New Dimension for Drug Discovery. SLAS DISCOVERY 2019; 24:314-331. [PMID: 30616427 DOI: 10.1177/2472555218818065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are pleiotropic factors that control the processing and functional compartmentalization of transcripts by binding primarily to mRNA untranslated regions (UTRs). The competitive and/or cooperative interplay between RBPs and an array of coding and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) determines the posttranscriptional control of gene expression, influencing protein production. Recently, a variety of well-recognized and noncanonical RBP domains have been revealed by modern system-wide analyses, underlying an evolving classification of ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) and their importance in governing physiological RNA metabolism. The possibility of targeting selected RNA-protein interactions with small molecules is now expanding the concept of protein "druggability," with new implications for medicinal chemistry and for a deeper characterization of the mechanism of action of bioactive compounds. Here, taking SF3B1, HuR, LIN28, and Musashi proteins as paradigmatic case studies, we review the strategies applied for targeting RBPs, with emphasis on the technological advancements to study protein-RNA interactions and on the requirements of appropriate validation strategies to parallel high-throughput screening (HTS) efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Giuseppe D'Agostino
- 1 University of Trento, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
| | - Denise Sighel
- 1 University of Trento, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
| | - Chiara Zucal
- 1 University of Trento, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
| | - Isabelle Bonomo
- 1 University of Trento, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Micaelli
- 1 University of Trento, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
| | - Graziano Lolli
- 1 University of Trento, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
| | - Alessandro Provenzani
- 1 University of Trento, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
| | - Alessandro Quattrone
- 1 University of Trento, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
| | - Valentina Adami
- 2 University of Trento, HTS Core Facility, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
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