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Parashar S, Kaushik A, Ambasta RK, Kumar P. E2 conjugating enzymes: A silent but crucial player in ubiquitin biology. Ageing Res Rev 2025; 108:102740. [PMID: 40194666 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2025.102740] [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: 02/01/2025] [Revised: 03/14/2025] [Accepted: 03/19/2025] [Indexed: 04/09/2025]
Abstract
E2 conjugating enzymes serve as the linchpin of the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System (UPS), facilitating ubiquitin (Ub) transfer to substrate proteins and regulating diverse processes critical to cellular homeostasis. The interaction of E2s with E1 activating enzymes and E3 ligases singularly positions them as middlemen of the ubiquitin machinery that guides protein turnover. Structural determinants of E2 enzymes play a pivotal role in these interactions, enabling precise ubiquitin transfer and substrate specificity. Regulation of E2 enzymes is tightly controlled through mechanisms such as post-translational modifications (PTMs), allosteric control, and gene expression modulation. Specific residues that undergo PTMs highlight their impact on E2 function and their role in ubiquitin dynamics. E2 enzymes also cooperate with deubiquitinases (DUBs) to maintain proteostasis. Design of small molecule inhibitors to modulate E2 activity is emerging as promising avenue to restrict ubiquitination as a potential therapeutic intervention. Additionally, E2 enzymes have been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs), where their dysfunction contributes to disease mechanisms. In summary, examining E2 enzymes from structural and functional perspectives offers potential to advance our understanding of cellular processes and assist in discovery of new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somya Parashar
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University (Formerly Delhi College of Engineering), Shahbad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, Delhi 110042, India
| | - Aastha Kaushik
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University (Formerly Delhi College of Engineering), Shahbad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, Delhi 110042, India
| | - Rashmi K Ambasta
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Pravir Kumar
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University (Formerly Delhi College of Engineering), Shahbad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, Delhi 110042, India.
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Oyama S, Zhang H, Ferdous R, Tomochika Y, Chen B, Jiang S, Islam MS, Hasan MM, Zhai Q, Waliullah ASM, Ping Y, Yan J, Mimi MA, Zhang C, Aramaki S, Takanashi Y, Kahyo T, Hashizume Y, Kaneda D, Setou M. UBL3 Interacts with PolyQ-Expanded Huntingtin Fragments and Modifies Their Intracellular Sorting. Neurol Int 2024; 16:1175-1188. [PMID: 39449505 PMCID: PMC11503352 DOI: 10.3390/neurolint16060089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2024] [Revised: 10/05/2024] [Accepted: 10/17/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES UBL3 (Ubiquitin-like 3) is a protein that plays a crucial role in post-translational modifications, particularly in regulating protein transport within small extracellular vesicles. While previous research has predominantly focused on its interactions with α-synuclein, this study investigates UBL3's role in Huntington's disease (HD). HD is characterized by movement disorders and cognitive impairments, with its pathogenesis linked to toxic, polyglutamine (polyQ)-expanded mutant huntingtin fragments (mHTT). However, the mechanisms underlying the interaction between UBL3 and mHTT remain poorly understood. METHODS To elucidate this relationship, we performed hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) on postmortem brain tissue from HD patients. Gaussia princeps-based split-luciferase complementation assay and co-immunoprecipitation were employed to confirm the interaction between UBL3 and mHTT. Additionally, we conducted a HiBiT lytic detection assay to assess the influence of UBL3 on the intracellular sorting of mHTT. Finally, immunocytochemical staining was utilized to validate the colocalization and distribution of these proteins. RESULTS Our findings revealed UBL3-positive inclusions in the cytoplasm and nuclei of neurons throughout the striatum of HD patients. We discovered that UBL3 colocalizes and interacts with mHTT and modulates its intracellular sorting. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that UBL3 may play a significant role in the interaction and sorting of mHTT, contributing to the understanding of its potential implications in the pathophysiology of Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soho Oyama
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan; (S.O.); (H.Z.); (R.F.); (Y.T.); (B.C.); (S.J.); (M.S.I.); (M.M.H.); (Q.Z.); (A.S.M.W.); (Y.P.); (J.Y.); (M.A.M.); (C.Z.); (S.A.); (T.K.)
| | - Hengsen Zhang
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan; (S.O.); (H.Z.); (R.F.); (Y.T.); (B.C.); (S.J.); (M.S.I.); (M.M.H.); (Q.Z.); (A.S.M.W.); (Y.P.); (J.Y.); (M.A.M.); (C.Z.); (S.A.); (T.K.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214000, China
| | - Rafia Ferdous
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan; (S.O.); (H.Z.); (R.F.); (Y.T.); (B.C.); (S.J.); (M.S.I.); (M.M.H.); (Q.Z.); (A.S.M.W.); (Y.P.); (J.Y.); (M.A.M.); (C.Z.); (S.A.); (T.K.)
| | - Yuna Tomochika
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan; (S.O.); (H.Z.); (R.F.); (Y.T.); (B.C.); (S.J.); (M.S.I.); (M.M.H.); (Q.Z.); (A.S.M.W.); (Y.P.); (J.Y.); (M.A.M.); (C.Z.); (S.A.); (T.K.)
| | - Bin Chen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan; (S.O.); (H.Z.); (R.F.); (Y.T.); (B.C.); (S.J.); (M.S.I.); (M.M.H.); (Q.Z.); (A.S.M.W.); (Y.P.); (J.Y.); (M.A.M.); (C.Z.); (S.A.); (T.K.)
| | - Shuyun Jiang
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan; (S.O.); (H.Z.); (R.F.); (Y.T.); (B.C.); (S.J.); (M.S.I.); (M.M.H.); (Q.Z.); (A.S.M.W.); (Y.P.); (J.Y.); (M.A.M.); (C.Z.); (S.A.); (T.K.)
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Md. Shoriful Islam
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan; (S.O.); (H.Z.); (R.F.); (Y.T.); (B.C.); (S.J.); (M.S.I.); (M.M.H.); (Q.Z.); (A.S.M.W.); (Y.P.); (J.Y.); (M.A.M.); (C.Z.); (S.A.); (T.K.)
| | - Md. Mahmudul Hasan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan; (S.O.); (H.Z.); (R.F.); (Y.T.); (B.C.); (S.J.); (M.S.I.); (M.M.H.); (Q.Z.); (A.S.M.W.); (Y.P.); (J.Y.); (M.A.M.); (C.Z.); (S.A.); (T.K.)
| | - Qing Zhai
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan; (S.O.); (H.Z.); (R.F.); (Y.T.); (B.C.); (S.J.); (M.S.I.); (M.M.H.); (Q.Z.); (A.S.M.W.); (Y.P.); (J.Y.); (M.A.M.); (C.Z.); (S.A.); (T.K.)
| | - A. S. M. Waliullah
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan; (S.O.); (H.Z.); (R.F.); (Y.T.); (B.C.); (S.J.); (M.S.I.); (M.M.H.); (Q.Z.); (A.S.M.W.); (Y.P.); (J.Y.); (M.A.M.); (C.Z.); (S.A.); (T.K.)
| | - Yashuang Ping
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan; (S.O.); (H.Z.); (R.F.); (Y.T.); (B.C.); (S.J.); (M.S.I.); (M.M.H.); (Q.Z.); (A.S.M.W.); (Y.P.); (J.Y.); (M.A.M.); (C.Z.); (S.A.); (T.K.)
| | - Jing Yan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan; (S.O.); (H.Z.); (R.F.); (Y.T.); (B.C.); (S.J.); (M.S.I.); (M.M.H.); (Q.Z.); (A.S.M.W.); (Y.P.); (J.Y.); (M.A.M.); (C.Z.); (S.A.); (T.K.)
| | - Mst. Afsana Mimi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan; (S.O.); (H.Z.); (R.F.); (Y.T.); (B.C.); (S.J.); (M.S.I.); (M.M.H.); (Q.Z.); (A.S.M.W.); (Y.P.); (J.Y.); (M.A.M.); (C.Z.); (S.A.); (T.K.)
| | - Chi Zhang
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan; (S.O.); (H.Z.); (R.F.); (Y.T.); (B.C.); (S.J.); (M.S.I.); (M.M.H.); (Q.Z.); (A.S.M.W.); (Y.P.); (J.Y.); (M.A.M.); (C.Z.); (S.A.); (T.K.)
| | - Shuhei Aramaki
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan; (S.O.); (H.Z.); (R.F.); (Y.T.); (B.C.); (S.J.); (M.S.I.); (M.M.H.); (Q.Z.); (A.S.M.W.); (Y.P.); (J.Y.); (M.A.M.); (C.Z.); (S.A.); (T.K.)
| | - Yusuke Takanashi
- First Department of Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan;
| | - Tomoaki Kahyo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan; (S.O.); (H.Z.); (R.F.); (Y.T.); (B.C.); (S.J.); (M.S.I.); (M.M.H.); (Q.Z.); (A.S.M.W.); (Y.P.); (J.Y.); (M.A.M.); (C.Z.); (S.A.); (T.K.)
- Quantum Imaging Laboratory, Division of Research and Development in Photonics Technology, Institute of Photonics Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan;
| | - Yoshio Hashizume
- Choju Medical Institute, Fukushimura Hospital, Yamanaka-19-14 Noyoricho, Toyohashi 441-8124, Aichi, Japan;
| | - Daita Kaneda
- Quantum Imaging Laboratory, Division of Research and Development in Photonics Technology, Institute of Photonics Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan;
| | - Mitsutoshi Setou
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan; (S.O.); (H.Z.); (R.F.); (Y.T.); (B.C.); (S.J.); (M.S.I.); (M.M.H.); (Q.Z.); (A.S.M.W.); (Y.P.); (J.Y.); (M.A.M.); (C.Z.); (S.A.); (T.K.)
- International Mass Imaging and Spatial Omics Center, Institute of Photonics Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Shizuoka, Japan
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Ramazi S, Dadzadi M, Darvazi M, Seddigh N, Allahverdi A. Protein modification in neurodegenerative diseases. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e674. [PMID: 39105197 PMCID: PMC11298556 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Posttranslational modifications play a crucial role in governing cellular functions and protein behavior. Researchers have implicated dysregulated posttranslational modifications in protein misfolding, which results in cytotoxicity, particularly in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, and Huntington disease. These aberrant posttranslational modifications cause proteins to gather in certain parts of the brain that are linked to the development of the diseases. This leads to neuronal dysfunction and the start of neurodegenerative disease symptoms. Cognitive decline and neurological impairments commonly manifest in neurodegenerative disease patients, underscoring the urgency of comprehending the posttranslational modifications' impact on protein function for targeted therapeutic interventions. This review elucidates the critical link between neurodegenerative diseases and specific posttranslational modifications, focusing on Tau, APP, α-synuclein, Huntingtin protein, Parkin, DJ-1, and Drp1. By delineating the prominent aberrant posttranslational modifications within Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, and Huntington disease, the review underscores the significance of understanding the interplay among these modifications. Emphasizing 10 key abnormal posttranslational modifications, this study aims to provide a comprehensive framework for investigating neurodegenerative diseases holistically. The insights presented herein shed light on potential therapeutic avenues aimed at modulating posttranslational modifications to mitigate protein aggregation and retard neurodegenerative disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahin Ramazi
- Department of BiophysicsFaculty of Biological SciencesTarbiat Modares UniversityTehranIran
| | - Maedeh Dadzadi
- Department of BiotechnologyFaculty of Advanced Science and TechnologyTehran Medical SciencesIslamic Azad UniversityTehranIran
| | - Mona Darvazi
- Department of BiophysicsFaculty of Biological SciencesTarbiat Modares UniversityTehranIran
| | - Nasrin Seddigh
- Department of BiochemistryFaculty of Advanced Science and TechnologyTehran Medical SciencesIslamic Azad UniversityTehranIran
| | - Abdollah Allahverdi
- Department of BiophysicsFaculty of Biological SciencesTarbiat Modares UniversityTehranIran
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Sun H, Li M, Li Y, Zheng N, Li J, Li X, Liu Y, Ji Q, Zhou L, Su J, Huang W, Liu Z, Liu P, Zou L. Gastrodin Improves the Activity of the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System and the Autophagy-Lysosome Pathway to Degrade Mutant Huntingtin. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7709. [PMID: 39062952 PMCID: PMC11277377 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastrodin (GAS) is the main chemical component of the traditional Chinese herb Gastrodia elata (called "Tianma" in Chinese), which has been used to treat neurological conditions, including headaches, epilepsy, stroke, and memory loss. To our knowledge, it is unclear whether GAS has a therapeutic effect on Huntington's disease (HD). In the present study, we evaluated the effect of GAS on the degradation of mutant huntingtin protein (mHtt) by using PC12 cells transfected with N-terminal mHtt Q74. We found that 0.1-100 μM GAS had no effect on the survival rate of Q23 and Q74 PC12 cells after 24-48 h of incubation. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is the main system that clears misfolded proteins in eukaryotic cells. Mutated Htt significantly upregulated total ubiquitinated protein (Ub) expression, decreased chymotrypsin-like, trypsin-like and caspase-like peptidase activity, and reduced the colocalization of the 20S proteasome with mHtt. GAS (25 μM) attenuated all of the abovementioned pathological changes, and the regulatory effect of GAS on mHtt was found to be abolished by MG132, a proteasome inhibitor. The autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP) is another system for misfolded protein degradation. Although GAS downregulated the expression of autophagy markers (LC3II and P62), it increased the colocalization of LC3II with lysosomal associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1), which indicates that ALP was activated. Moreover, GAS prevented mHtt-induced neuronal damage in PC12 cells. GAS has a selective effect on mHtt in Q74 PC12 cells and has no effect on Q23 and proteins encoded by other genes containing long CAGs, such as Rbm33 (10 CAG repeats) and Hcn1 (>30 CAG repeats). Furthermore, oral administration of 100 mg/kg GAS increased grip strength and attenuated mHtt aggregates in B6-hHTT130-N transgenic mice. This is a high dose (100 mg/kg GAS) when compared with experiments on HD mice with other small molecules. We will design more doses to evaluate the dose-response relationship of the inhibition effect of GAS on mHtt in our next study. In summary, GAS can promote the degradation of mHtt by activating the UPS and ALP, making it a potential therapeutic agent for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; (H.S.); (M.L.); (N.Z.); (Y.L.); (Q.J.); (L.Z.)
| | - Miao Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; (H.S.); (M.L.); (N.Z.); (Y.L.); (Q.J.); (L.Z.)
| | - Yunling Li
- Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; (Y.L.); (W.H.)
| | - Na Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; (H.S.); (M.L.); (N.Z.); (Y.L.); (Q.J.); (L.Z.)
| | - Jiaxin Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China;
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China;
| | - Yingying Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; (H.S.); (M.L.); (N.Z.); (Y.L.); (Q.J.); (L.Z.)
| | - Qianyun Ji
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; (H.S.); (M.L.); (N.Z.); (Y.L.); (Q.J.); (L.Z.)
| | - Liping Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; (H.S.); (M.L.); (N.Z.); (Y.L.); (Q.J.); (L.Z.)
| | - Jingwen Su
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China;
| | - Wanxu Huang
- Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; (Y.L.); (W.H.)
| | - Zhongbo Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China;
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; (H.S.); (M.L.); (N.Z.); (Y.L.); (Q.J.); (L.Z.)
| | - Libo Zou
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; (H.S.); (M.L.); (N.Z.); (Y.L.); (Q.J.); (L.Z.)
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Kuemper S, Cairns AG, Birchall K, Yao Z, Large JM. Targeted protein degradation in CNS disorders: a promising route to novel therapeutics? Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1370509. [PMID: 38685916 PMCID: PMC11057381 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1370509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) is a rapidly expanding field, with various PROTACs (proteolysis-targeting chimeras) in clinical trials and molecular glues such as immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiDs) already well established in the treatment of certain blood cancers. Many current approaches are focused on oncology targets, leaving numerous potential applications underexplored. Targeting proteins for degradation offers a novel therapeutic route for targets whose inhibition remains challenging, such as protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases. This mini review focuses on the prospect of utilizing TPD for neurodegenerative disease targets, particularly PROTAC and molecular glue formats and opportunities for novel CNS E3 ligases. Some key challenges of utilizing such modalities including molecular design of degrader molecules, drug delivery and blood brain barrier penetrance will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Kuemper
- LifeArc, Accelerator Building, Open Innovation Campus, Stevenage, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew G. Cairns
- LifeArc, Accelerator Building, Open Innovation Campus, Stevenage, United Kingdom
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Liu Z, Hu M, Yang Y, Du C, Zhou H, Liu C, Chen Y, Fan L, Ma H, Gong Y, Xie Y. An overview of PROTACs: a promising drug discovery paradigm. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2022; 3:46. [PMID: 36536188 PMCID: PMC9763089 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-022-00112-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) technology has emerged as a novel therapeutic paradigm in recent years. PROTACs are heterobifunctional molecules that degrade target proteins by hijacking the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Currently, about 20-25% of all protein targets are being studied, and most works focus on their enzymatic functions. Unlike small molecules, PROTACs inhibit the whole biological function of the target protein by binding to the target protein and inducing subsequent proteasomal degradation. PROTACs compensate for limitations that transcription factors, nuclear proteins, and other scaffolding proteins are difficult to handle with traditional small-molecule inhibitors. Currently, PROTACs have successfully degraded diverse proteins, such as BTK, BRD4, AR, ER, STAT3, IRAK4, tau, etc. And ARV-110 and ARV-471 exhibited excellent efficacy in clinical II trials. However, what targets are appropriate for PROTAC technology to achieve better benefits than small-molecule inhibitors are not fully understood. And how to rationally design an efficient PROTACs and optimize it to be orally effective poses big challenges for researchers. In this review, we summarize the features of PROTAC technology, analyze the detail of general principles for designing efficient PROTACs, and discuss the typical application of PROTACs targeting different protein categories. In addition, we also introduce the progress of relevant clinical trial results of representative PROTACs and assess the challenges and limitations that PROTACs may face. Collectively, our studies provide references for further application of PROTACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi Liu
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Mingxing Hu
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Yu Yang
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Chenghao Du
- grid.42505.360000 0001 2156 6853Department of Biological Sciences, USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Los Angeles, 90089 USA
| | - Haoxuan Zhou
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Chengyali Liu
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Yuanwei Chen
- Hinova Pharmaceuticals Inc., Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Lei Fan
- Hinova Pharmaceuticals Inc., Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Hongqun Ma
- Hinova Pharmaceuticals Inc., Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Youling Gong
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Department of Thoracic Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Yongmei Xie
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041 China
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Fang Y, Wang J, Zhao M, Zheng Q, Ren C, Wang Y, Zhang J. Progress and Challenges in Targeted Protein Degradation for Neurodegenerative Disease Therapy. J Med Chem 2022; 65:11454-11477. [PMID: 36006861 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are currently incurable diseases that cause progressive degeneration of nerve cells. Many of the disease-causing proteins of NDs are "undruggable" for traditional small-molecule inhibitors (SMIs). None of the compounds that attenuated the amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation process have entered clinical practice, and many phase III clinical trials of SMIs for Alzheimer's disease (AD) have failed. In recent years, emerging targeted protein degradation (TPD) technologies such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), lysosome-targeting chimaeras (LYTACs), and autophagy-targeting chimeras (AUTACs) with TPD-assistive technologies such as click-formed proteolysis-targeting chimeras (CLIPTACs) and deubiquitinase-targeting chimera (DUBTAC) have developed rapidly. In vitro and in vivo experiments have also confirmed that TPD technology can target the degradation of ND pathogenic proteins, bringing hope for the treatment of NDs. Herein, we review the latest TPD technologies, introduce their targets and technical characteristics, and discuss the emerging TPD technologies with potential in ND research, with the hope of providing a new perspective for the development of TPD technology in the NDs field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxu Fang
- Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.,Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiaxing Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
| | - Min Zhao
- Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.,Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.,Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Qinwen Zheng
- Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Changyu Ren
- Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuxi Wang
- Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.,Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.,Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jifa Zhang
- Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.,Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.,Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
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Podvin S, Rosenthal SB, Poon W, Wei E, Fisch KM, Hook V. Mutant Huntingtin Protein Interaction Map Implicates Dysregulation of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Neurodegeneration of Huntington's Disease. J Huntingtons Dis 2022; 11:243-267. [PMID: 35871359 PMCID: PMC9484122 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-220538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetic neurodegenerative disease caused by trinucleotide repeat (CAG) expansions in the human HTT gene encoding the huntingtin protein (Htt) with an expanded polyglutamine tract. OBJECTIVE HD models from yeast to transgenic mice have investigated proteins interacting with mutant Htt that may initiate molecular pathways of cell death. There is a paucity of datasets of published Htt protein interactions that include the criteria of 1) defining fragments or full-length Htt forms, 2) indicating the number of poly-glutamines of the mutant and wild-type Htt forms, and 3) evaluating native Htt interaction complexes. This research evaluated such interactor data to gain understanding of Htt dysregulation of cellular pathways. METHODS Htt interacting proteins were compiled from the literature that meet our criteria and were subjected to network analysis via clustering, gene ontology, and KEGG pathways using rigorous statistical methods. RESULTS The compiled data of Htt interactors found that both mutant and wild-type Htt interact with more than 2,971 proteins. Application of a community detection algorithm to all known Htt interactors identified significant signal transduction, membrane trafficking, chromatin, and mitochondrial clusters, among others. Binomial analyses of a subset of reported protein interactor information determined that chromatin organization, signal transduction and endocytosis were diminished, while mitochondria, translation and membrane trafficking had enriched overall edge effects. CONCLUSION The data support the hypothesis that mutant Htt disrupts multiple cellular processes causing toxicity. This dataset is an open resource to aid researchers in formulating hypotheses of HD mechanisms of pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Podvin
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sara Brin Rosenthal
- Center for Computational Biology & Bioinformatics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - William Poon
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Enlin Wei
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kathleen M Fisch
- Center for Computational Biology & Bioinformatics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Vivian Hook
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Department of Neuroscience and Dept of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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