How does alendronate inhibit protein-tyrosine phosphatases?

Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in the Cytotoxicity of Arsenic Trioxide and Pamidronate for Human Prostate Cancer Cells

To examine whether combining arsenic trioxide (ARS) and pamidronate (PAM), anticancer drugs that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), enhanced targeting of redox sensitive growth signals, we studied cloning efficiency, protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) activity, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) phosphorylation in DU-145 and PC-3 human prostate cancer cells in response to treatment with ARS and/or PAM for 24 h. IC₅₀ concentrations in a clonogenic assay for ARS and PAM were 9 and 20 μM, respectively, in DU-145 cells; and 2 and 12 μM, in PC-3 cells. When combined, ARS and PAM demonstrated additive cytotoxicity in the DU-145 line (combination index [CI] of 1.10) and synergy for PC-3 cells (CI of 0.86). ARS (20 μM for 24 h) inhibited PTPase activity by 36 ± 7 %, p < 0.05 vs. untreated controls, in DU-145 cells; and by 58 ± 8%, p < 0.05, in the PC-3 line. PAM (20 μM for 24 h) decreased PTPase activity by 24 ± 9%, p = 0.06, and 8 ± 1%, p < 0.01, in DU-145 and PC-3 cells, respectively. Combining ARS and PAM significantly inhibited PTPase activity in both cell lines at lower concentrations of each drug. Pretreatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine reversed ARS- and PAM-induced inhibition of PTPase activity. PTPase inhibition by ARS and/or PAM treatment in both DU-145 and PC-3 cells was associated with prolonged EGFR activation. These experiments demonstrate additive or synergistic cell killing by the ARS/PAM combination in DU-145 or PC-3 cells and suggest that enhanced antitumor activity may be related to alterations in receptor tyrosine kinase signaling that occur, in part, due to ROS-mediated PTPase inhibition.

Synthesis and evaluation of alendronate-modified gelatin biopolymer as a novel osteotropic nanocarrier for gene therapy

AIM

To synthesize an osteotropic alendronate functionalized gelatin (ALN-gelatin) biopolymer for nanoparticle preparation and targeted delivery of DNA to osteoblasts for gene therapy applications.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Alendronate coupling to gelatin was confirmed using Fourier transform IR, (31)PNMR, x-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry. ALN-gelatin biopolymers prepared at various alendronate/gelatin ratios were utilized to prepare nanoparticles and were optimized in combination with DNA and gemini surfactant for transfecting both HEK-293 and MG-63 cell lines.

RESULTS

Gelatin functionalization was confirmed using the above methods. Uniform nanoparticles were obtained from a nanoprecipitation technique. ALN-gelatin/gemini/DNA complexes exhibited higher transfection efficiency in MG-63 osteosarcoma cell line compared with the positive control.

CONCLUSION

ALN-gelatin is a promising biopolymer for bone targeting of either small molecules or gene therapy applications.

Aminobisphosphonates Synergize with Human Cytomegalovirus To Activate the Antiviral Activity of Vγ9Vδ2 Cells

Human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells are activated through their TCR by neighboring cells producing phosphoantigens. Zoledronate (ZOL) treatment induces intracellular accumulation of the phosphoantigens isopentenyl pyrophosphate and ApppI. Few attempts have been made to use immunomanipulation of Vγ9Vδ2 lymphocytes in chronic viral infections. Although Vγ9Vδ2 T cells seem to ignore human CMV (HCMV)-infected cells, we examined whether they can sense HCMV when a TCR stimulus is provided with ZOL. Fibroblasts treated with ZOL activate Vγ9Vδ2 T cells to produce IFN-γ but not TNF. Following the same treatment, HCMV-infected fibroblasts stimulate TNF secretion and an increased production of IFN-γ, indicating that Vγ9Vδ2 cells can sense HCMV infection. Increased lymphokine production was observed with most clinical isolates and laboratory HCMV strains, HCMV-permissive astrocytoma, or dendritic cells, as well as "naive" and activated Vγ9Vδ2 cells. Quantification of intracellular isopentenyl pyrophosphate/ApppI following ZOL treatment showed that HCMV infection boosts their accumulation. This was explained by an increased capture of ZOL and by upregulation of HMG-CoA synthase and reductase transcription. Using an experimental setting where infected fibroblasts were cocultured with γδ cells in submicromolar concentrations of ZOL, we show that Vγ9Vδ2 cells suppressed substantially the release of infectious particles while preserving uninfected cells. Vγ9Vδ2 cytotoxicity was decreased by HCMV infection of targets whereas anti-IFN-γ and anti-TNF Abs significantly blocked the antiviral effect. Our experiments indicate that cytokines produced by Vγ9Vδ2 T cells have an antiviral potential in HCMV infection. This should lead to in vivo studies to explore the possible antiviral effect of immunostimulation with ZOL in this context.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases as novel targets in breast cancer therapy

Breast cancer is linked to hyperactivation of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), and recent studies have unveiled that selective tyrosine dephosphorylation by protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) of specific substrates, including PTKs, may activate or inactivate oncogenic pathways in human breast cancer cell growth-related processes. Here, we review the current knowledge on the involvement of PTPs in breast cancer, as major regulators of breast cancer therapy-targeted PTKs, such as HER1/EGFR, HER2/Neu, and Src. The functional interplay between PTKs and PTK-activating or -inactivating PTPs, and its implications in novel breast cancer therapies based on targeting of specific PTPs, are discussed.

In vitro enzymatic assays of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B

Many hormone or growth factor receptors signal via the activation of protein-tyrosine kinases and phosphatases. Alteration of the phosphorylation state of tyrosine residues in certain proteins can directly regulate enzyme activity or cause formation of protein complexes necessary for transducing intracellular signals. Genetic and biochemical evidence also implicates protein-tyrosine phosphatases in several disease processes, including negative regulation of insulin receptor signaling at the level of the insulin receptor and perhaps in signaling at the IRS-1 level. The expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP1B) is elevated in muscle and adipose tissue in insulin-resistant states both in man and rodents suggesting that PTP1B may play a role in the insulin-resistant state associated with diabetes and obesity. As described in this unit, PTP1B activity can be determined with the small molecule substrate, p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP), in which the cleavage of the phosphate results in production of p-nitrophenol (pNP) and an increase in absorbance at 405 nm. Alternatively, PTP1B activity can be measured as described using model phosphotyrosyl-containing peptide substrates in which the release of free phosphate from the peptide is determined using a malachite green colorimetric assay.

Purification and characterization of ZmRIP1, a novel reductant-inhibited protein tyrosine phosphatase from maize

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) have long been thought to be activated by reductants and deactivated by oxidants, owing to the presence of a crucial sulfhydryl group in their catalytic centers. In this article, we report the purification and characterization of Reductant-Inhibited PTPase1 (ZmRIP1) from maize (Zea mays) coleoptiles, and show that this PTPase has a unique mode of redox regulation and signaling. Surprisingly, ZmRIP1 was found to be deactivated by a reductant. A cysteine (Cys) residue (Cys-181) near the active center was found to regulate this unique mode of redox regulation, as mutation of Cys-181 to arginine-181 allowed ZmRIP1 to be activated by a reductant. In response to oxidant treatment, ZmRIP1 was translocated from the chloroplast to the nucleus. Expression of ZmRIP1 in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants and maize protoplasts altered the expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in antioxidant catabolism, such as At1g02950, which encodes a glutathione transferase. Thus, the novel PTPase identified in this study is predicted to function in redox signaling in maize.

Bisphosphonates' antitumor activity: an unravelled side of a multifaceted drug class

Bisphosphonates, especially nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs), are widely used to preserve and improve bone health in patients with cancer because they inhibit osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. In addition to their effects on bone, preclinical evidence strongly suggests that N-BPs exert anticancer activity without the involvement of osteoclasts by interacting with macrophages, endothelial cells and tumor cells, and by stimulating the cytotoxicity of γδ T cells, a subset of human T cells. This review examines the current insights and fronts of ongoing preclinical research on N-BPs' antitumor activity.

Protein phosphatases: possible bisphosphonate binding sites mediating stimulation of osteoblast proliferation

We investigated the existence of a bisphosphonate (BP) target site in osteoblasts. Binding assays using [³H]-olpadronate ([³H]OPD) in whole cells showed the presence of specific, saturable and high affinity binding for OPD (K(d)=1.39 ± 0.33 μM) in osteoblasts. [³H]OPD was displaced from its binding site by micromolar concentrations of lidadronate, alendronate and etidronate (K(d)=1.42 ± 0.15 μM, 2.00 ± 0.2 μM and 2.4 ± 0.4 μM, respectively), and by millimolar concentrations of the non-permeant protein phosphatase (PP) substrates p-nitrophenylphosphate and α-naphtylphosphate. PP inhibitors orthovanadate, NaF or vpb(bipy) did not displace [³H]OPD. As expected, specific OPD binding was detected in the plasma membrane of ROS 17/2.8 cells, although significant BP binding was also found intracellularly. Moreover, OPD increased DNA synthesis in these cells with a temporal profile similar to the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) inhibitors, Na₃VO₄ and vpb(bipy); but different from a general PP inhibitor (NaF). The stimulatory effect of OPD and PTP inhibitors on osteoblast proliferation was inhibited by the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and geldanamycin. These results provide new evidence on the existence of a BP target in osteoblastic cells, presumably a PTP, which may be involved in the stimulatory action of BPs on osteoblast proliferation.

How do bisphosphonates inhibit bone metastasis in vivo?

Bisphosphonates are potent inhibitors of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and have demonstrated clinical utility in the treatment of patients with osteolytic bone metastases. They also exhibit direct antitumor activity in vitro and can reduce skeletal tumor burden and inhibit the formation of bone metastases in vivo. However, whether such effects are caused by a direct action of bisphosphonates on tumor cells or indirectly through inhibition of bone resorption remains unclear. To address this question, we used here a structural analog of the bisphosphonate risedronate, NE-58051, which has a bone mineral affinity similar to that of risedronate, but a 3000-fold lower bone antiresorptive activity. In vitro, risedronate and NE-58051 inhibited proliferation of breast cancer and melanoma cell lines. In vivo, risedronate and NE-58051 did not inhibit the growth of subcutaneous B02 breast tumor xenografts or the formation of B16F10 melanoma lung metastasis. In contrast to NE-58051, risedronate did inhibit B02 breast cancer bone metastasis formation by reducing both bone destruction and skeletal tumor burden, indicating that the antitumor effect of bisphosphonates is achieved mainly through inhibition of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption.

A protected l-bromophosphonomethylphenylalanine amino acid derivative (BrPmp) for synthesis of irreversible protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are important therapeutic targets for medicinal chemists and biochemists. General strategies for the development of inhibitors of these enzymes are needed. Several modular strategies which rely on phosphotyrosine mimics are known for PTP inhibitors. Previous strategies include phosphonomethylphenylalanine (Pmp) derivatives which act as competitive inhibitors. Pmp amino acid derivatives have been used to develop specific inhibitors by incorporation into sequences recognized by the PTP of interest. We report the synthesis of a new phosphonotyrosine analog, l-phosphonobromomethylphenylalanine (BrPmp), which acts as an inhibitor of PTPs. The BrPmp derivative was prepared as an Fmoc-protected amino acid which can be used in standard solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) methods. The synthesis of the protected amino acid derivative requires 11 steps from tyrosine with a 30% overall yield. Enzyme inhibition studies with the PTP CD45 demonstrate that BrPmp derivatives are irreversible inhibitors of the enzyme. A tripeptide which incorporated BrPmp had increased inhibitory potency against PTP relative to BrPmp alone, confirming that the incorporation of BrPmp into peptide sequences provides additional context to improve enzyme binding.

High-resolution mass spectrometry analysis of protein oxidations and resultant loss of function

MS, with or without pre-analysis peptide fractionation, can be used to decipher the residues on proteins where oxidative modifications caused by peroxynitrite, singlet oxygen or electrophilic lipids have occurred. Peroxynitrite nitrates tyrosine and tryptophan residues on the surface of actin. Singlet oxygen, formed by the interaction of UVA light with tryptophan, can oxidize neighbouring cysteine, histidine, methionine, tyrosine and tryptophan residues. Dose-response inactivation by 4HNE (4-hydroxynonenal) of hBAT (human bile acid CoA:amino acid N-acyltransferase) and CKBB (cytosolic brain isoform of creatine kinase) is associated with site-specific modifications. FT-ICR (Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance)-MS using nanoLC (nano-liquid chromatography)-ESI (electrospray ionization)-MS or direct-infusion ESI-MS with gas-phase fractionation identified 14 4HNE adducts on hBAT and 17 on CKBB respectively. At 4HNE concentrations in the physiological range, one member of the catalytic triad of hBAT (His362) was modified; for CKBB, although all four residues in the active site that were modifiable by 4HNE were ultimately modified, only one, Cys283, occurred at physiological concentrations of 4HNE. These results suggest that future in vivo studies should carefully assess the critical sites that are modified rather than using antibodies that do not distinguish between different modified sites.

Breast cancer bone metastasis and current small therapeutics

Patients with advanced breast cancer frequently develop metastasis to bone. Bone metastasis results in intractable pain and a high risk of fractures due to tumor-driven bone loss (osteolysis), which is caused by increased osteoclast activity. Osteolysis releases bone-bound growth factors including transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). The widely accepted model of osteolytic bone metastasis in breast cancer is based on the hypothesis that the TGF-beta released during osteolytic lesion development stimulates tumor cell parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP), causing stromal cells to secrete receptor activator of NFkappaB ligand (RANKL), thus increasing osteoclast differentiation. Elevated osteoclast numbers results in increased bone resorption, leading to more TGF-beta being released from bone. This interaction between tumor cells and the bone microenvironment results in a vicious cycle of bone destruction and tumor growth. Bisphosphonates are commonly prescribed small molecule therapeutics that target tumor-driven osteoclastic activity in osteolytic breast cancers. In addition to bisphosphonate therapies, steroidal and non-steroidal antiestrogen and adjuvant therapies with aromatase inhibitors are additional small molecule therapies that may add to the arsenal for treatment of osteolytic breast cancer. This review focuses on a brief discussion of tumor-driven osteolysis and the effects of small molecule therapies in reducing osteolytic tumor progression.

Alendronate induces anti-migratory effects and inhibition of neutral phosphatases in UMR106 osteosarcoma cells

Bisphosphonates are nonhydrolysable pyrophosphate analogues that prevent bone loss in several types of cancer. However, the mechanisms of anticancer action of bisphosphonates are not completely known. We have previously shown that nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates directly inhibit alkaline phosphatase of UMR106 rat osteosarcoma cells. In this study, we evaluated the effects of alendronate on the migration of UMR106 osteosarcoma using a model of multicellular cell spheroids, as well as the alendronate effect on neutral phosphatases. Alendronate significantly inhibited the migration of osteoblasts in a dose-dependent manner (10(-6)-10(-4) M). This effect was also dependent on calcium availability. The spheroid morphology and distribution of actin fibers were also affected by alendronate treatment. Alendronate dose-dependently inhibited neutral phosphatase activity in cell-free osteoblastic extracts as well as in osteoblasts in culture. Our results show that alendronate inhibits cell migration through mechanisms dependent on calcium, and that seem to involve inhibition of phosphotyrosine-neutral-phosphatases and disassembly of actin stress fibers.

Bifunctional role of the leishmanial antimonate reductase LmACR2 as a protein tyrosine phosphatase

LmACR2 is the first identified antimonate reductase responsible for the reduction of pentavalent antimony in pentostam to the active trivalent form of the drug in Leishmania. LmACR2 is a homologue of the yeast arsenate reductase Acr2p and Cdc25 phosphatases and has the HC[X]5R phosphatase motif. Purified LmACR2 exhibited phosphatase activity in vitro and was able to dephosphorylate a phosphotyrosine residue from a synthetic peptide. This phosphatase activity was inhibited by classical inhibitors such as orthovanadate. LmACR2-catalyzed phosphatase activity was inhibited by either antimonate or arsenate. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments showed that the H74C[X]5R81 motif was involved in catalysis. This is the first report of a metalloid reductase with a bifunctional role in protein tyrosine phosphatase activity. Leishmania is never exposed to metalloids during its life cycle. It is therefore unlikely that it would evolve an enzyme exclusively for drug activation. We propose that the physiological function of LmACR2 is to dephosphorylate phosphotyrosine residues in leishmanial proteins.

Post-translational regulation of mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase via a low redox potential cysteine-sulfenate in the maintenance of redox homeostasis

3-Mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MST) (EC 2.8.1.2), a multifunctional enzyme, catalyzes a transsulfuration from mercaptopyruvate to pyruvate in the degradation process of cysteine. A stoichiometric concentration of hydrogen peroxide and of tetrathionate (S(4)O(6)(2-)) inhibited rat MST (k(i) = 3.3 min(-1), K(i) = 120.5 microM and k(i) = 2.5 min(-1), K(i) = 178.6 microM, respectively). The activity was completely restored by dithiothreitol or thioredoxin with a reducing system containing thioredoxin reductase and NADPH, but glutathione did not restore the activity. On the other hand, an excess molar ratio dose of hydrogen peroxide inactivated MST. Oxidation with a stoichiometric concentration of hydrogen peroxide protected the enzyme against reaction by iodoacetate, which modifies a catalytic Cys(247), suggesting that Cys(247) is a target of the oxidants. A matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis revealed that hydrogen peroxide- and tetrathionate-inhibited MSTs were increased in molecular mass consistent with the addition of atomic oxygen and with a thiosulfate (S(2)O(3)(-)), respectively. Treatment with dithiothreitol restored modified MST to the original mass. These findings suggested that there was no nearby cysteine with which to form a disulfide, and mild oxidation of MST resulted in formation of a sulfenate (SO(-)) at Cys(247), which exhibited exceptional stability and a lower redox potential than that of glutathione. Oxidative stress decreases MST activity so as to increase the amount of cysteine, a precursor of thioredoxin or glutathione, and furthermore, these cellular reductants restore the activity. Thus the redox state regulates MST activity at the enzymatic level, and on the other hand, MST controls redox to maintain cellular redox homeostasis.

Sensitivity of protein tyrosine phosphatase activity to the redox environment, cytochrome C, and microperoxidase

Protein tyrosine phosphatase activity depends on a catalytic thiolate group on an acidic cysteine residue that is sensitive to reactive oxygen species. Representative of this family of enzymes is protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), a major target for type 2 diabetes therapy. PTP1B is sensitive to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in vitro and in cells. It is also sensitive to glutathionylation by glutathione disulfide (GSSG). The sensitivity of PTP1B to the redox state of its environment was partially characterized in vitro by examination of phosphatase activity in the presence of various concentrations of glutathione (GSH) and GSSG. Enzyme sensitivity to glutathionylation was dependent on the amount of available thiol groups and increased as GSH concentration was increased. The half-inhibitory concentration for H2O2 was much less than that of GSSG in the presence of low concentrations of GSH, indicating that reaction with H2O2 is much more likely than is glutathionylation by GSSG. PTP1B and a related oxidant-sensitive phosphatase, PTEN, were also sensitive to the lipid peroxidation by-product 4-hydroxynonenal. Furthermore, PTP1B was inhibited by cytochrome c and microperoxidase. Taken together, these data suggest that not only H2O2, but also a variety of redox-active metabolites and hemes can oxidatively inactivate PTPs with potentially profound implications for signal transduction.

Modulation of TNF-alpha gene expression by IFN-gamma and pamidronate in murine macrophages: regulation by STAT1-dependent pathways

Aminobisphosphonates are drugs used in the treatment of hypercalcemia, Paget's disease, osteoporosis, and malignancy. Some patients treated with aminobisphosphonates have a transient febrile reaction that may be caused by an increased serum concentration of proinflammatory cytokines. Aminobisphosphonates induce the production of certain proinflammatory cytokines in vitro, especially in cells of monocytic lineage. A unique feature of aminobisphosphonates is that they bind the Vgamma2Vdelta2 class of T cells, which are found only in primates, and stimulate cytokine production. The effects of aminobisphosphonates on other cells, including macrophages, are incompletely understood. We show in this study that treatment of murine macrophages with pamidronate, a second generation aminobisphosphonate, induces TNF-alpha production. Furthermore, pretreatment of murine macrophages with pamidronate before stimulation with IFN-gamma significantly augments IFN-gamma-dependent production of TNF-alpha. This pamidronate-mediated augmentation of TNF-alpha production results in sustained phosphorylation of the tyrosine residue at position 701 of STAT1 after IFN-gamma treatment. Our data suggest that this sustained phosphorylation results from inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase activity. We also show that pamidronate treatment increases TNF-alpha production in vivo in mice. Pamidronate-augmented TNF-alpha production by macrophages might be a useful strategy for cytokine-based anticancer therapy.

Redox paradox: insulin action is facilitated by insulin-stimulated reactive oxygen species with multiple potential signaling targets

Propelled by the identification of a small family of NADPH oxidase (Nox) enzyme homologs that produce superoxide in response to cellular stimulation with various growth factors, renewed interest has been generated in characterizing the signaling effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in relation to insulin action. Two key observations made >30 years ago-that oxidants can facilitate or mimic insulin action and that H(2)O(2) is generated in response to insulin stimulation of its target cells-have led to the hypothesis that ROS may serve as second messengers in the insulin action cascade. Specific molecular targets of insulin-induced ROS include enzymes whose signaling activity is modified via oxidative biochemical reactions, leading to enhanced insulin signal transduction. These positive responses to cellular ROS may seem "paradoxical" because chronic exposure to relatively high levels of ROS have also been associated with functional beta-cell impairment and the chronic complications of diabetes. The best-characterized molecular targets of ROS are the protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) because these important signaling enzymes require a reduced form of a critical cysteine residue for catalytic activity. PTPs normally serve as negative regulators of insulin action via the dephosphorylation of the insulin receptor and its tyrosine-phosphorylated cellular substrates. However, ROS can rapidly oxidize the catalytic cysteine of target PTPs, effectively blocking their enzyme activity and reversing their inhibitory effect on insulin signaling. Among the cloned Nox homologs, we have recently provided evidence that Nox4 may mediate the insulin-stimulated generation of cellular ROS and is coupled to insulin action via the oxidative inhibition of PTP1B, a PTP known to be a major regulator of the insulin signaling cascade. Further characterization of the molecular components of this novel signaling cascade, including the mechanism of ROS generated by insulin and the identification of various oxidation-sensitive signaling targets in insulin-sensitive cells, may provide a novel means of facilitating insulin action in states of insulin resistance.

Mass spectrometric approaches for the investigation of dynamic processes in condensed phase

Mass spectrometry (MS) offers many advantages over other established spectroscopic techniques employed for the investigation of processes in condensed phase. The sensitivity, specificity, and speed afforded by MS-based methods enable to obtain very valuable insights into the mechanism of complex dynamic processes. Off-line methods rely on quenching to halt the progress of the reaction of interest and allow for the implementation of a broad range of analytical procedures for sample fractionation, isolation, or desalting. On the contrary, on-line methods are designed to carry out the real-time monitoring of dynamic processes through a continuous uninterrupted analysis of reaction mixtures, with the only caveat that the sample solutions be directly amenable to the available ionization technique. The utilization of rapid mixing devices in direct connection with a mass spectrometer or included in off-line schemes provides access to the initial moments of a reaction, which can offer very important information about the reaction mechanism. This report summarizes the different off- and on-line strategies developed to study chemical and biochemical reactions in solution and obtain kinetic/mechanistic information. The merits of the various experimental designs, the characteristics of the different instrumental setups, and the factors affecting time resolution are discussed with the aid of specific examples, which highlight the contributions of MS to the different facets of the investigation of dynamic processes in condensed phase.

From molds and macrophages to mevalonate: a decade of progress in understanding the molecular mode of action of bisphosphonates

Although bisphosphonates were first used as therapeutic agents to inhibit bone resorption in the early 1970s, their mode of action at the molecular level has only become fully clear within the last few years. One of the reasons for this lack of understanding was the difficulty in isolating large numbers of pure osteoclasts for biochemical studies. In the last decade, the identification of appropriate surrogate models that reflected the antiresorptive potencies of bisphosphonates, such as Dictyostelium slime molds and macrophages, helped overcome this problem and proved to be instrumental in elucidating the molecular pathways by which these compounds inhibit osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. This brief review summarizes our current understanding of these pathways.

Mechanism of action of pyridazine analogues on protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B)

The inhibitory effect on PTP1B caused by the addition of pyridazine analogues has been investigated. Biophysical techniques, that is, mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) were used for the characterization. Pyridazine analogues cause catalytic oxidation of the reducing agent, generating hydrogen peroxide that oxidizes the active site cysteine on the enzyme, leading to enzyme inactivation. Two additional compound classes show the same effect. We found one common structural feature in these molecules that allows the reaction with triplet molecular oxygen to be less endothermic. A proposed mechanism for the catalytic redox cycle is described.

In vitro toxicity of bisphosphonates on human neuroblastoma cell lines

Neuroblastoma is the commonest extracranial solid tumor of childhood and frequently metastasizes to the bone. Bisphosphonates are standard treatment of osteolytic lesions by bone metastasis. Since recent studies suggested direct antitumor effects of bisphosphonates, we screened the toxicity of different bisphosphonates on neuroblastoma cell lines. The nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate pamidronate was significantly more toxic on a panel of eight neuroblastoma cell lines than the non-nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates, clodronate and tiludronate. After 72 h, GI50 concentrations (inhibiting cell growth by 50% compared to untreated controls) for pamidronate ranged from 12.8 to >500 microM. CHLA-90 and SH-SY5Y were the most sensitive cell lines. In CHLA-90, zoledronate was the most cytotoxic bisphosphonate, followed by alendronate, pamidronate and ibandronate. In SH-SY5Y, alendronate was the most cytotoxic bisphosphonate, followed by ibandronate, pamidronate and zoledronate. The GI50 values after 72 h were 34.1 (SH-SY5Y) and 3.97 microM (CHLA-90) for zoledronate, and 22.4 (SH-SY5Y) and 9.55 microM (CHLA-90) for alendronate. Neuroblastoma cells treated with bisphosphonates showed signs of differentiation and finally underwent apoptosis. The observed GI50 concentrations suggest that local nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate concentrations at the bone interface can directly target neuroblastoma cell penetration into the bone matrix. In summary, these observations warrant the investigation of adjuvant bisphosphonate treatment in controlled clinical trials.

The oxidative mechanism of action of ortho-quinone inhibitors of protein-tyrosine phosphatase α is mediated by hydrogen peroxide

Here, we report the identification and characterization of five ortho-quinone inhibitors of PTPalpha. We observed that the potency of these compounds in biochemical assays was markedly enhanced by the presence of DTT. A kinetic analysis suggested that they were functioning as irreversible inhibitors and that the inhibition was targeted to the catalytic site of PTPalpha. The inhibition observed by these compounds was sensitive to superoxide dismutase and catalase, suggesting that reactive oxygen species may be mediators of their inhibition. We observed that in the presence of DTT, these compounds would produce up to 2.5mM hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). The levels of H(2)O(2) produced were sufficient to completely inactivate PTPalpha. In contrast, without a reducing agent the compounds did not generate H(2)O(2) and showed little activity towards PTPalpha. In addition, these compounds inhibited PTPalpha-dependent cell spreading in NIH 3T3 cells at concentrations that were similar to their activity in biochemical assays. The biological implications of these results are discussed as they support growing evidence that H(2)O(2) is a key regulator of PTPs.

Structure-based Design of Selective and Potent Inhibitors of Protein-tyrosine Phosphatase β

Protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are considered important therapeutic targets because of their pivotal role as regulators of signal transduction and thus their implication in several human diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and autoimmunity. In particular, PTP1B has been the focus of many academic and industrial laboratories because it was found to be an important negative regulator of insulin and leptin signaling, and hence a potential therapeutic target in diabetes and obesity. As a result, significant progress has been achieved in the design of highly selective and potent PTP1B inhibitors. In contrast, little attention has been given to other potential drug targets within the PTP family. Guided by x-ray crystallography, molecular modeling, and enzyme kinetic analyses with wild type and mutant PTPs, we describe the development of a general, low molecular weight, non-peptide, non-phosphorus PTP inhibitor into an inhibitor that displays more than 100-fold selectivity for PTPbeta over PTP1B. Of note, our structure-based design principles, which are based on extensive bioinformatics analyses of the PTP family, are general in nature. Therefore, we anticipate that this strategy, here applied to PTPbeta, in principle can be used in the design and development of selective inhibitors of many, if not most PTPs.

Tyrosine phosphatase epsilon is a positive regulator of osteoclast function in vitro and in vivo

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation is a major regulator of bone metabolism. Tyrosine phosphatases participate in regulating phosphorylation, but roles of specific phosphatases in bone metabolism are largely unknown. We demonstrate that young (<12 weeks) female mice lacking tyrosine phosphatase epsilon (PTPepsilon) exhibit increased trabecular bone mass due to cell-specific defects in osteoclast function. These defects are manifested in vivo as reduced association of osteoclasts with bone and as reduced serum concentration of C-terminal collagen telopeptides, specific products of osteoclast-mediated bone degradation. Osteoclast-like cells are generated readily from PTPepsilon-deficient bone-marrow precursors. However, cultures of these cells contain few mature, polarized cells and perform poorly in bone resorption assays in vitro. Podosomes, structures by which osteoclasts adhere to matrix, are disorganized and tend to form large clusters in these cells, suggesting that lack of PTPepsilon adversely affects podosomal arrangement in the final stages of osteoclast polarization. The gender and age specificities of the bone phenotype suggest that it is modulated by hormonal status, despite normal serum levels of estrogen and progesterone in affected mice. Stimulation of bone resorption by RANKL and, surprisingly, Src activity and Pyk2 phosphorylation are normal in PTPepsilon-deficient osteoclasts, indicating that loss of PTPepsilon does not cause widespread disruption of these signaling pathways. These results establish PTPepsilon as a phosphatase required for optimal structure, subcellular organization, and function of osteoclasts in vivo and in vitro.

Directed evolution of a yeast arsenate reductase into a protein-tyrosine phosphatase

Arsenic, which is ubiquitous in the environment and comes from both geochemical and anthropogenic sources, has become a worldwide public health problem. Every organism studied has intrinsic or acquired mechanisms for arsenic detoxification. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae arsenate is detoxified by Acr2p, an arsenate reductase. Acr2p is not a phosphatase but is a homologue of CDC25 phosphatases. It has the HCX5R phosphatase motif but not the glycine-rich phosphate binding motif (GXGXXG) that is found in protein-tyrosine phosphatases. Here we show that creation of a phosphate binding motif through the introduction of glycines at positions 79, 81, and 84 in Acr2p resulted in a gain of phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity and a loss of arsenate reductase activity. Arsenate likely achieved geochemical abundance only after the atmosphere became oxidizing, creating pressure for the evolution of an arsenate reductase from a protein-tyrosine phosphatase. The ease by which an arsenate reductase can be converted into a protein-tyrosine phosphatase supports this hypothesis.

Bisphosphonate mechanism of action

The nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs), alendronate and risedronate, are the only pharmacologic agents shown to prevent spine and nonvertebral fractures associated with postmenopausal and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. At the tissue level, this is achieved through osteoclast inhibition, which leads to reduced bone turnover, increased bone mass, and improved mineralization. The molecular targets of bisphosphonates (BPs) have recently been identified. This review will discuss the mechanism of action of BPs, focusing on alendronate and risedronate, which are the two agents most widely studied. They act on the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway enzyme, farnesyl diphosphate synthase. By inhibiting this enzyme in the osteoclast, they interfere with geranylgeranylation (attachment of the lipid to regulatory proteins), which causes osteoclast inactivation. This mechanism is responsible for N-BP suppression of osteoclastic bone resorption and reduction of bone turnover, which leads to fracture prevention.

Development of a robust scintillation proximity assay for protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B using the catalytically inactive (C215S) mutant

Protein tyrosine phosphatases are a class of enzymes that function to modulate tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins and play an essential role in regulating cell function. PTP1B has been implicated in the negative regulation of the insulin signaling pathway by dephosphorylating the activated insulin receptor. Inhibiting this phosphatase and preventing the insulin-receptor downregulation has been suggested as a target for the treatment of Type II diabetes. A high-throughput screen for inhibitors of PTP1B was developed using a scintillation proximity assay (SPA) with GST-- or FLAG--PTP1B((1-320)) and a potent [(3)H]-tripeptide inhibitor. The problem of interference from extraneous oxidizing and alkylating agents which react with the cysteine active-site nucleophile was overcome by the use of the catalytically inactive C215S form of the native enzyme (GST--PTP1B(C215S)). The GST--PTP1B was linked to the protein A scintillation bead via GST antibody. The radiolabeled inhibitor when bound to the enzyme gave a radioactive signal that was competed away by the unknown competitive compounds. Further utility of PTP1B(C215S) was demonstrated by mixing in the same well both the catalytically inactive GST--PTP1B(C215S) and the catalytically active FLAG--CD45 with an inhibitor. Both a binding and kinetic assay was then performed in the same 96-well plate with the inhibition results determined for the PTP1B(C215S) (binding assay) and CD45 (activity assay). In this way inhibitors could be differentiated between the two phosphatases under identical assay conditions in one 96-well assay plate. The use of a mutant to reduce interference in a binding assay and compare with activity assays is also amenable for most cysteine active-site proteases.

2-(oxalylamino)-benzoic acid is a general, competitive inhibitor of protein-tyrosine phosphatases

Protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are critically involved in regulation of signal transduction processes. Members of this class of enzymes are considered attractive therapeutic targets in several disease states, e.g. diabetes, cancer, and inflammation. However, most reported PTP inhibitors have been phosphorus-containing compounds, tight binding inhibitors, and/or inhibitors that covalently modify the enzymes. We therefore embarked on identifying a general, reversible, competitive PTP inhibitor that could be used as a common scaffold for lead optimization for specific PTPs. We here report the identification of 2-(oxalylamino)-benzoic acid (OBA) as a classical competitive inhibitor of several PTPs. X-ray crystallography of PTP1B complexed with OBA and related non-phosphate low molecular weight derivatives reveals that the binding mode of these molecules to a large extent mimics that of the natural substrate including hydrogen bonding to the PTP signature motif. In addition, binding of OBA to the active site of PTP1B creates a unique arrangement involving Asp(181), Lys(120), and Tyr(46). PTP inhibitors are essential tools in elucidating the biological function of specific PTPs and they may eventually be developed into selective drug candidates. The unique enzyme kinetic features and the low molecular weight of OBA makes it an ideal starting point for further optimization.

Inhibition of hepatoma cell growth in vitro by arylating and non-arylating K vitamin analogs. Significance of protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibition

We recently found that a thioether analog of K vitamin (Cpd 5) inhibited the activity of protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) and induced protein-tyrosine phosphorylation in a human hepatoma cell line (Hep3B). We have now examined the structural requirements for induction of protein-tyrosine phosphorylation and PTPase inhibition by several K vitamin analogs. Thioether analogs with sulfhydryl arylation capacity, especially those with a hydroxy (Cpd 5) or a methoxy group at the end of the side chain, induced protein-tyrosine phosphorylation, but non-arylating analogs, such as those with an all-carbon or O-ether side chain, did not. Among the receptor-tyrosine kinases, epidermal growth factor receptors were tyrosine-phosphorylated by treatment with thioether analogs, whereas insulin and hepatocyte growth factor receptors were not. An increase in tyrosine-phosphorylated ERK2 mitogen-activated protein kinase was also observed. The activity of purified T cell PTPase was inhibited only by the thioether analogs, but not by non-arylating analogs. Furthermore, the epidermal growth factor receptor dephosphorylation activity of Hep3B cell lysates was inhibited by Cpd 5 treatment. A similar induction of protein-tyrosine phosphorylation by Cpd 5 was seen in other human hepatoma cell lines together with growth inhibition. However, one cell line (HepG2), which was relatively resistant to growth inhibition by Cpd 5, did not increase its phosphorylation levels upon Cpd 5 treatment. These results suggest that cell growth inhibition by thioether analogs is closely associated with inhibition of PTPases by sulfhydryl arylation and with tyrosine phosphorylation of selected proteins.

MMP inhibition and downregulation by bisphosphonates

Bisphosphonates are a group of drugs capable of inhibiting bone resorption, and are thus used for the treatment of bone diseases, such as Paget's disease, osteoporosis, and for bone metastases of malignant tumors. Their primary cellular target is considered to be the osteoclast. The molecular mechanisms responsible for the downregulation of bone resorption by bisphosphonates have remain unclear. We have discovered that various matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are inhibited in vitro by several bisphosphonates. This novel finding may, in part, explain the efficacy of bisphosphonates in their current indications in humans. In enzyme activity tests using purified and recombinant enzymes, we have observed the inhibition of MMP-1, -2, -3, -7, -8, -9, -12, -13, and -14 by clondronate, alendronate, pamidronate, zolendronate, nedrinate, and clodrinate. The IC50s range from 50 to 150 microM. We have also shown that clodronate can downregulate the expression of MT1-MMP protein and mRNA in several cell lines. Additionally, several bisphosphonates decrease the degree of invasion of malignant melanoma (C8161) and fibrosarcoma (HT1080) cells through artificial basement membrane (Matrigel) in cell cultures at IC50s of 50-150 microM and below. Having low toxicity and proven to be well tolerated after several years in human use, bisphosphonates have the potential to become one of the main MMP-inhibitors for MMP-related human soft and hard tissue-destructive diseases in the near future.

Pharmacokinetics of alendronate

Alendronate (alendronic acid; 4-amino-1-hydroxybutylidene bisphosphonate) has demonstrated effectiveness orally in the treatment and prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis, corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis and Paget's disease of the bone. Its primary mechanism of action involves the inhibition of osteoclastic bone resorption. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of alendronate must be interpreted in the context of its unique properties, which include targeting to the skeleton and incorporation into the skeletal matrix. Preclinically, alendronate is not metabolised in animals and is cleared from the plasma by uptake into bone and elimination via renal excretion. Although soon after administration the drug distributes widely in the body, this transient state is rapidly followed by a nonsaturable redistribution to skeletal tissues. Oral bioavailability is about 0.9 to 1.8%, and food markedly inhibits oral absorption. Removal of the drug from bone reflects the underlying rate of turnover of the skeleton. Renal clearance appears to involve both glomerular filtration and a specialised secretory pathway. Clinically, the pharmacokinetics of alendronate have been characterised almost exclusively based on urinary excretion data because of the extremely low concentrations achieved after oral administration. After intravenous administration of radiolabelled alendronate to women, no metabolites of the drug were detectable and urinary excretion was the sole means of elimination. About 40 to 60% of the dose is retained for a long time in the body, presumably in the skeleton, with no evidence of saturation or influence of one intravenous dose on the pharmacokinetics of subsequent doses. The oral bioavailability of alendronate in the fasted state is about 0.7%, with no significant difference between men and women. Absorption and disposition appear independent of dose. Food substantially reduces the bioavailability of oral alendronate; otherwise, no substantive drug interactions have been identified. The pharmacokinetic properties of alendronate are evident pharmacodynamically. Alendronate treatment results in an early and dose-dependent inhibition of skeletal resorption, which can be followed clinically with biochemical markers, and which ultimately reaches a plateau and is slowly reversible upon discontinuation of the drug. These findings reflect the uptake of the drug into bone, where it exerts its pharmacological activity, and a time course that results from the long residence time in the skeleton. The net result is that alendronate corrects the underlying imbalance in skeletal turnover characteristic of several disease states. In women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, for example, alendronate treatment results in increases in bone mass and a reduction in fracture incidence, including at the hip.

Three distinct mechanisms for translocation and activation of the delta subspecies of protein kinase C

We expressed delta subspecies of protein kinase C (delta-PKC) fused with green fluorescent protein (GFP) in CHO-K1 cells and observed the movement of this fusion protein in living cells after three different stimulations. The delta-PKC-GFP fusion protein had enzymological characteristics very similar to those of the native delta-PKC and was present throughout the cytoplasm in CHO-K1 cells. ATP at 1 mM caused a transient translocation of delta-PKC-GFP to the plasma membrane approximately 30 s after the stimulation and a sequent retranslocation to the cytoplasm within 3 min. A tumor-promoting phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA; 1 microM), induced a slower translocation of delta-PKC-GFP, and the translocation was unidirectional. Concomitantly, the kinase activity of delta-PKC-GFP was increased by these two stimulations, when the kinase activity of the immunoprecipitated delta-PKC-GFP was measured in vitro in the absence of PKC activators such as phosphatidylserine and diacylglycerol. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2; 5 mM) failed to translocate delta-PKC-GFP but increased its kinase activity more than threefold. delta-PKC-GFP was strongly tyrosine phosphorylated when treated with H2O2 but was tyrosine phosphorylated not at all by ATP stimulation and only slightly by TPA treatment. Both TPA and ATP induced the translocation of delta-PKC-GFP even after treatment with H2O2. Simultaneous treatment with TPA and H2O2 further activated delta-PKC-GFP up to more than fivefold. TPA treatment of cells overexpressing delta-PKC-GFP led to an increase in the number of cells in G2/M phase and of dikaryons, while stimulation with H2O2 increased the number of cells in S phase and induced no significant change in cell morphology. These results indicate that at least three different mechanisms are involved in the translocation and activation of delta-PKC.

Reversible inactivation of protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B in A431 cells stimulated with epidermal growth factor

Stimulation of various cells with growth factors results in a transient increase in the intracellular concentration of H2O2 that is required for growth factor-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation. The effect of H2O2 produced in response to epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the activity of protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) was investigated in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells. H2O2 inactivated recombinant PTP1B in vitro by oxidizing its catalytic site cysteine, most likely to sulfenic acid. The oxidized enzyme was reactivated more effectively by thioredoxin than by glutaredoxin or glutathione at their physiological concentrations. Oxidation by H2O2 prevented modification of the catalytic cysteine of PTP1B by iodoacetic acid, suggesting that it should be possible to monitor the oxidation state of PTP1B in cells by measuring the incorporation of radioactivity into the enzyme after lysis of the cells in the presence of radiolabeled iodoacetic acid. The amount of such radioactivity associated with PTP1B immunoprecipitated from A431 cells that had been stimulated with EGF for 10 min was 27% less than that associated with PTP1B from unstimulated cells. The amount of iodoacetic acid-derived radioactivity associated with PTP1B reached a minimum 10 min after stimulation of cells with EGF and returned to base line values by 40 min, suggesting that the oxidation of PTP1B is reversible in cells. These results indicate that the activation of a receptor tyrosine kinase by binding of the corresponding growth factor may not be sufficient to increase the steady state level of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in cells and that concurrent inhibition of protein-tyrosine phosphatases by H2O2 might also be required.

Inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatases PTP1B and CD45 by sulfotyrosyl peptides

Sulfotyrosyl peptides corresponding to the known high-affinity substrate phosphotyrosyl peptide sequences in casein and the autophosphorylation sites of insulin receptor and EGF receptor were investigated as inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatases PTP1B and CD45. These peptides inhibit both PTP1B and CD45 in the micromolar range competitively and reversibly. The elements required for inhibition were investigated by truncation and substitution of these peptides. Acidic residues N-terminal to the sulfotyrosyl residues are essential for high-affinity binding to PTP1B. The recognition elements required for inhibition of PTP1B and CD45 are different and this suggests the possibility of identifying selective active-site-directed inhibitors for these enzymes.

Specific and reversible inactivation of protein tyrosine phosphatases by hydrogen peroxide: evidence for a sulfenic acid intermediate and implications for redox regulation

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphotyrosine from specific signal-transducing proteins. Although regulatory mechanisms for protein kinases have been described, no general mechanism for controlling PTPs has been demonstrated. Numerous reports have shown that cellular redox status plays an important role in tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent signal transduction pathways. This study explores the proposal that PTPs may be regulated by reversible reduction/oxidation involving cellular oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Recent reports indicated that H2O2 is transiently generated during growth factor stimulation and that H2O2 production is concomitant with relevant tyrosine phosphorylation. By use of recombinant enzymes, the effects of H2O2 on three PTPs [PTP1, LAR (leukocyte antigen-related), and VHR (vaccinia H1-related)] and three distinct serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PPs: PP2Calpha, calcineurin, and lambda phosphatase) were determined. Hydrogen peroxide had no apparent effect on PP activity. In contrast, PTPs were rapidly inactivated (kinact = 10-20 M-1 s-1) with low micromolar concentrations of H2O2 but not with large alkyl hydroperoxides. PTP inactivation was fully reversible with glutathione and other thiols. Because of the slower rate of reduction, modification occurred even in the presence of physiological thiol concentrations. By utilization of a variety of biochemical techniques including chemical modification, pH kinetic studies, and mutagenesis, the catalytic cysteine thiolate of PTPs was determined to be the selective target of oxidation by H2O2. By use of the electrophilic reagent 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1, 3-diazole (NBD-Cl), it was shown that a cysteine sulfenic acid intermediate (Cys-SOH) is formed after attack of the catalytic thiolate on H2O2. A chemical mechanism for reversible inactivation involving a cysteine sulfenic acid intermediate is proposed.