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Li F, Lei M, Xie J, Guo S, Li W, Ren X, Wang T, Lin S, Xie Q, Chen X. Discovery and Characteristics of a Novel Antitumor Cyclopeptide Derived from Shark. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:674. [PMID: 37370606 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10060674] [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: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptides pose a challenge in drug development due to their short half-lives in vivo. In this study, we conducted in vitro degradation experiments on SAIF, which is a shark-derived peptide that we previously studied. The degradation fragments were sequenced and a truncated peptide sequence was identified. The truncated peptide was then cloned and expressed via the E. coli system with traceless cloning to form a novel cyclic peptide in vitro oxidation condition via the formation of a disulfide bond between the N- and C-termini, which was named ctSAIF. ctSAIF exhibited high anti-HCC activity and enhanced enzymatic stability in vitro, and retained antitumor activity and good biocompatibility in systemic circulation in a HCC xenograft model. Our study discovered and characterized a novel shark-derived cyclic peptide with antitumor activity, laying a foundation for its further development as an antitumor drug candidate. The study also provided a new solution for peptide drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu Li
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Minghua Lei
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Junye Xie
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Shujun Guo
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Weicai Li
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiujuan Ren
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Teng Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Songxiong Lin
- Guangzhou Ocean Land Testing Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 511400, China
| | - Qiuling Xie
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiaojia Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou 510632, China
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Viral Proteins as Emerging Cancer Therapeutics. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13092199. [PMID: 34063663 PMCID: PMC8125098 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This review is focused on enlisting viral proteins from different host sources, irrespective of their origin, that may act as future cancer curatives. Unlike the viral proteins that are responsible for tumor progression, these newly emerged viral proteins function as tumor suppressors. Their ability to regulate various cell signaling mechanisms specifically in cancer cells makes them interesting candidates to explore their use in cancer therapy. The discussion about such viral components may provide new insights into cancer treatment in the absence of any adverse effects to normal cells. The study also highlights avian viral proteins as a substitute to human oncolytic viruses for their ability to evade pre-existing immunity. Abstract Viruses are obligatory intracellular parasites that originated millions of years ago. Viral elements cover almost half of the human genome sequence and have evolved as genetic blueprints in humans. They have existed as endosymbionts as they are largely dependent on host cell metabolism. Viral proteins are known to regulate different mechanisms in the host cells by hijacking cellular metabolism to benefit viral replication. Amicable viral proteins, on the other hand, from several viruses can participate in mediating growth retardation of cancer cells based on genetic abnormalities while sparing normal cells. These proteins exert discreet yet converging pathways to regulate events like cell cycle and apoptosis in human cancer cells. This property of viral proteins could be harnessed for their use in cancer therapy. In this review, we discuss viral proteins from different sources as potential anticancer therapeutics.
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Malla WA, Arora R, Khan RIN, Mahajan S, Tiwari AK. Apoptin as a Tumor-Specific Therapeutic Agent: Current Perspective on Mechanism of Action and Delivery Systems. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:524. [PMID: 32671070 PMCID: PMC7330108 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00524] [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: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide in humans and animals. Conventional treatment regimens often fail to produce the desired outcome due to disturbances in cell physiology that arise during the process of transformation. Additionally, development of treatment regimens with no or minimum side-effects is one of the thrust areas of modern cancer research. Oncolytic viral gene therapy employs certain viral genes which on ectopic expression find and selectively destroy malignant cells, thereby achieving tumor cell death without harming the normal cells in the neighborhood. Apoptin, encoded by Chicken Infectious Anemia Virus' VP3 gene, is a proline-rich protein capable of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells in a selective manner. In normal cells, the filamentous Apoptin becomes aggregated toward the cell margins, but is eventually degraded by proteasomes without harming the cells. In malignant cells, after activation by phosphorylation by a cancer cell-specific kinase whose identity is disputed, Apoptin accumulates in the nucleus, undergoes aggregation to form multimers, and prevents the dividing cancer cells from repairing their DNA lesions, thereby forcing them to undergo apoptosis. In this review, we discuss the present knowledge about the structure of Apoptin protein, elaborate on its mechanism of action, and summarize various strategies that have been used to deliver it as an anticancer drug in various cancer models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waseem Akram Malla
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
| | - Richa Arora
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
| | - Raja Ishaq Nabi Khan
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
| | - Sonalika Mahajan
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
| | - Ashok Kumar Tiwari
- Division of Biological Standardisation, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
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Pavesi A. New insights into the evolutionary features of viral overlapping genes by discriminant analysis. Virology 2020; 546:51-66. [PMID: 32452417 PMCID: PMC7157939 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2020.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Overlapping genes originate by a mechanism of overprinting, in which nucleotide substitutions in a pre-existing frame induce the expression of a de novo protein from an alternative frame. In this study, I assembled a dataset of 319 viral overlapping genes, which included 82 overlaps whose expression is experimentally known and the respective 237 homologs. Principal component analysis revealed that overlapping genes have a common pattern of nucleotide and amino acid composition. Discriminant analysis separated overlapping from non-overlapping genes with an accuracy of 97%. When applied to overlapping genes with known genealogy, it separated ancestral from de novo frames with an accuracy close to 100%. This high discriminant power was crucial to computationally design variants of de novo viral proteins known to possess selective anticancer toxicity (apoptin) or protection against neurodegeneration (X protein), as well as to detect two new potential overlapping genes in the genome of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Pavesi
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area Delle Scienze 23/A, I-43124, Parma, Italy.
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Zhao L, Zhu J, Wang T, Liu C, Song N, Wu S, Qiao W, Yang J, Zhu M, Zhao J. A novel Buthus martensii Karsch chlorotoxin derivative for glioma SPECT imaging. NEW J CHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/d0nj03302b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
An increasing number of studies show the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of scorpion venoms and toxins in cancer, including malignant glioma that represents the most fatal primary brain tumors.
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Song X, Shu XH, Wu ML, Zheng X, Jia B, Kong QY, Liu J, Li H. Postoperative resveratrol administration improves prognosis of rat orthotopic glioblastomas. BMC Cancer 2018; 18:871. [PMID: 30176837 PMCID: PMC6122735 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-018-4771-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although our previous study revealed lumbar punctured resveratrol could remarkably prolong the survival of rats bearing orthotopic glioblastomas, it also suggested the administration did not completely suppress rapid tumour growth. These evidences led us to consider that the prognosis of tumour-bearing rats may be further improved if this treatment is used in combination with neurosurgery. Therefore, we investigated the effectiveness of the combined treatment on rat orthotopic glioblastomas. Methods Rat RG2 glioblastoma cells were inoculated into the brains of 36 rats. The rats were subjected to partial tumour removal after they showed symptoms of intracranial hypertension. There were 28 rats that survived the surgery, and these animals were randomly and equally divided into the control group without postoperative treatment and the LP group treated with 100 μl of 300 μM resveratrol via the LP route. Resveratrol was administered 24 h after tumour resection in 3-day intervals, and the animals received 7 treatments. The intracranial tumour sizes, average life span, cell apoptosis and STAT3 signalling were evaluated by multiple experimental approaches in the tumour tissues harvested from both groups. Results The results showed that 5 of the 14 (35.7%) rats in the LP group remained alive over 60 days without any sign of recurrence. The remaining nine animals had a longer mean postoperative survival time (11.0 ± 2.9 days) than that of the (7.3 + 1.3 days; p < 0.05) control group. The resveratrol-treated tumour tissues showed less Ki67 labelling, widely distributed apoptotic regions, upregulated PIAS3 expression and reduced p-STAT3 nuclear translocation. Conclusions This study demonstrates that postoperative resveratrol administration efficiently improves the prognosis of rat advanced orthotopic glioblastoma via inhibition of growth, induction of apoptosis and inactivation of STAT3 signalling. Therefore, this therapeutic approach could be of potential practical value in the management of glioblastomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Song
- Liaoning Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics and Department of Cell Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Shu
- Liaoning Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics and Department of Cell Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Mo-Li Wu
- Liaoning Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics and Department of Cell Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Xu Zheng
- Liaoning Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics and Department of Cell Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Bin Jia
- Liaoning Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics and Department of Cell Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Qing-You Kong
- Liaoning Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics and Department of Cell Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Liaoning Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics and Department of Cell Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China. .,South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, 520006, China.
| | - Hong Li
- Liaoning Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics and Department of Cell Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
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Zhou D, Liu W, Liang S, Sun B, Liu A, Cui Z, Han X, Yuan L. Apoptin-derived peptide reverses cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer through the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Cancer Med 2018; 7:1369-1383. [PMID: 29522284 PMCID: PMC5911602 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.1380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Revised: 01/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) remains poor due to clinical drug resistance, and novel drugs are urgently needed. Apoptin-derived peptide (AdP) is an antitumor polypeptide constructed in our laboratory that has been used to combat cisplatin (CDDP) resistance in GC cells. MTT and colony-formation assays and Hoechst 33342 staining were used to measure the cytotoxicity of CDDP and AdP in GC cells. Cell apoptosis was measured using an Annexin-V-FITC/PI dual staining assay. Western blot analysis was conducted to detect the expression of proteins in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and resistance-related markers. AdP exerted a specific cytotoxic effect on GC cells and CDDP-resistant GC cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. AdP also suppressed cell invasion and migration. Additionally, AdP inhibited the expression of p85, AKT, p-p85, p-AKT, multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1), and aryl hydrocarbon nuclear translocator (ARNT) in the PI3K/AKT/ARNT signaling pathway, which promoted apoptosis and necrosis in GC cells. AdP promoted apoptosis in CDDP-resistant GC cells by suppressing the PI3K/AKT/ARNT signaling pathway and might be considered a candidate agent for the clinical treatment of cisplatin-resistant GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyang Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyHarbin Medical UniversityDaqing CampusDaqingHeilongjiang163319China
| | - Wenjing Liu
- Clinical Laboratory of Daqing People’s Hospital DaqigHelongjiang163310China
| | - Songhe Liang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyHarbin Medical UniversityDaqing CampusDaqingHeilongjiang163319China
| | - Banghao Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyHarbin Medical UniversityDaqing CampusDaqingHeilongjiang163319China
| | - Anqi Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyHarbin Medical UniversityDaqing CampusDaqingHeilongjiang163319China
| | - Zhongqi Cui
- Department of Clinical Laboratory MedicineShanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji UniversityShanghai200072China
| | - Xue Han
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyHarbin Medical UniversityDaqing CampusDaqingHeilongjiang163319China
| | - Lijie Yuan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyHarbin Medical UniversityDaqing CampusDaqingHeilongjiang163319China
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Identification of the interaction and interaction domains of chicken anemia virus VP2 and VP3 proteins. Virology 2017; 513:188-194. [PMID: 29100148 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2017.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Chicken anemia virus (CAV) is a small, single-stranded DNA virus of Anelloviridae family. Its genome segments encode three proteins, VP1, VP2, and VP3. This study identified an interaction between VP2 and VP3 and mapped the interaction domains. Through the yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) system, VP2 was found to interact with VP3. The presence of the VP2-VP3 complex in CAV-infected chicken cells was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation. Confocal microscopy showed that VP2 and VP3 were expressed in the cytoplasm in cotransfected Vero cells. In the Y2H system, the interaction domains were identified as being within the N-terminal aa 1-30 and C-terminal aa 17-60 for VP2 and the N-terminal aa 46-60 and C-terminal aa 1-7 for VP3. This study showed the interaction between VP2 and VP3 of CAV and identified multiple independent interactive domains within the two proteins. This provides novel information for investigating the biological functions of these proteins.
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