1
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Petruzzella A, Bruand M, Santamaria-Martínez A, Katanayeva N, Reymond L, Wehrle S, Georgeon S, Inel D, van Dalen FJ, Viertl D, Lau K, Pojer F, Schottelius M, Zoete V, Verdoes M, Arber C, Correia BE, Oricchio E. Antibody-peptide conjugates deliver covalent inhibitors blocking oncogenic cathepsins. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:1188-1198. [PMID: 38811854 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-024-01627-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Cysteine cathepsins are a family of proteases that are relevant therapeutic targets for the treatment of different cancers and other diseases. However, no clinically approved drugs for these proteins exist, as their systemic inhibition can induce deleterious side effects. To address this problem, we developed a modular antibody-based platform for targeted drug delivery by conjugating non-natural peptide inhibitors (NNPIs) to antibodies. NNPIs were functionalized with reactive warheads for covalent inhibition, optimized with deep saturation mutagenesis and conjugated to antibodies to enable cell-type-specific delivery. Our antibody-peptide inhibitor conjugates specifically blocked the activity of cathepsins in different cancer cells, as well as osteoclasts, and showed therapeutic efficacy in vitro and in vivo. Overall, our approach allows for the rapid design of selective cathepsin inhibitors and can be generalized to inhibit a broad class of proteases in cancer and other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Petruzzella
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Leman (SCCL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marine Bruand
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Leman (SCCL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Albert Santamaria-Martínez
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Leman (SCCL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Natalya Katanayeva
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Leman (SCCL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Luc Reymond
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC), Institute of Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Wehrle
- Laboratory of Protein Design and Immunoengineering, School of Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sandrine Georgeon
- Laboratory of Protein Design and Immunoengineering, School of Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Damla Inel
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Floris J van Dalen
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Institute for Chemical Immunology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - David Viertl
- Translational Radiopharmaceutical Sciences, Departments of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- In Vivo Imaging Facility, Department of Research and Training, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kelvin Lau
- Protein Production and Structure Core Facility, School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Florence Pojer
- Protein Production and Structure Core Facility, School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Margret Schottelius
- Translational Radiopharmaceutical Sciences, Departments of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- AGORA Pôle de Recherche sur le Cancer, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Zoete
- Swiss Cancer Center Leman (SCCL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Martijn Verdoes
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Institute for Chemical Immunology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Caroline Arber
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bruno E Correia
- Laboratory of Protein Design and Immunoengineering, School of Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Elisa Oricchio
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Swiss Cancer Center Leman (SCCL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
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2
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Lubinski B, Whittaker GR. Host Cell Proteases Involved in Human Respiratory Viral Infections and Their Inhibitors: A Review. Viruses 2024; 16:984. [PMID: 38932275 PMCID: PMC11209347 DOI: 10.3390/v16060984] [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: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Viral tropism is most commonly linked to receptor use, but host cell protease use can be a notable factor in susceptibility to infection. Here we review the use of host cell proteases by human viruses, focusing on those with primarily respiratory tropism, particularly SARS-CoV-2. We first describe the various classes of proteases present in the respiratory tract, as well as elsewhere in the body, and incorporate the targeting of these proteases as therapeutic drugs for use in humans. Host cell proteases are also linked to the systemic spread of viruses and play important roles outside of the respiratory tract; therefore, we address how proteases affect viruses across the spectrum of infections that can occur in humans, intending to understand the extrapulmonary spread of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey Lubinski
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA;
| | - Gary R. Whittaker
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology and Public & Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
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3
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Radisky ES. Extracellular proteolysis in cancer: Proteases, substrates, and mechanisms in tumor progression and metastasis. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107347. [PMID: 38718867 PMCID: PMC11170211 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107347] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
A vast ensemble of extracellular proteins influences the development and progression of cancer, shaped and reshaped by a complex network of extracellular proteases. These proteases, belonging to the distinct classes of metalloproteases, serine proteases, cysteine proteases, and aspartic proteases, play a critical role in cancer. They often become dysregulated in cancer, with increases in pathological protease activity frequently driven by the loss of normal latency controls, diminished regulation by endogenous protease inhibitors, and changes in localization. Dysregulated proteases accelerate tumor progression and metastasis by degrading protein barriers within the extracellular matrix (ECM), stimulating tumor growth, reactivating dormant tumor cells, facilitating tumor cell escape from immune surveillance, and shifting stromal cells toward cancer-promoting behaviors through the precise proteolysis of specific substrates to alter their functions. These crucial substrates include ECM proteins and proteoglycans, soluble proteins secreted by tumor and stromal cells, and extracellular domains of cell surface proteins, including membrane receptors and adhesion proteins. The complexity of the extracellular protease web presents a significant challenge to untangle. Nevertheless, technological strides in proteomics, chemical biology, and the development of new probes and reagents are enabling progress and advancing our understanding of the pivotal importance of extracellular proteolysis in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evette S Radisky
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
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4
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Falke S, Lieske J, Herrmann A, Loboda J, Karničar K, Günther S, Reinke PYA, Ewert W, Usenik A, Lindič N, Sekirnik A, Dretnik K, Tsuge H, Turk V, Chapman HN, Hinrichs W, Ebert G, Turk D, Meents A. Structural Elucidation and Antiviral Activity of Covalent Cathepsin L Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2024; 67:7048-7067. [PMID: 38630165 PMCID: PMC11089505 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/15/2024]
Abstract
Emerging RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, continue to be a major threat. Cell entry of SARS-CoV-2 particles via the endosomal pathway involves cysteine cathepsins. Due to ubiquitous expression, cathepsin L (CatL) is considered a promising drug target in the context of different viral and lysosome-related diseases. We characterized the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of a set of carbonyl- and succinyl epoxide-based inhibitors, which were previously identified as inhibitors of cathepsins or related cysteine proteases. Calpain inhibitor XII, MG-101, and CatL inhibitor IV possess antiviral activity in the very low nanomolar EC50 range in Vero E6 cells and inhibit CatL in the picomolar Ki range. We show a relevant off-target effect of CatL inhibition by the coronavirus main protease α-ketoamide inhibitor 13b. Crystal structures of CatL in complex with 14 compounds at resolutions better than 2 Å present a solid basis for structure-guided understanding and optimization of CatL inhibitors toward protease drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Falke
- Center
for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches
Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia Lieske
- Center
for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches
Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Herrmann
- Institute
of Virology, Helmholtz Munich, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Munich, Germany
| | - Jure Loboda
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katarina Karničar
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Centre
of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of
Proteins, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Sebastian Günther
- Center
for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches
Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Y. A. Reinke
- Center
for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches
Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Wiebke Ewert
- Center
for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches
Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Aleksandra Usenik
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Centre
of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of
Proteins, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nataša Lindič
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andreja Sekirnik
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Klemen Dretnik
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- The
Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Hideaki Tsuge
- Faculty of
Life Sciences, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto 603-8555, Japan
| | - Vito Turk
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Henry N. Chapman
- Center
for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches
Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg
Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität
Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee
149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Department
of Physics, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Winfried Hinrichs
- Institute
of Biochemistry, Universität Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 4, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Gregor Ebert
- Institute
of Virology, Helmholtz Munich, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Munich, Germany
- Institute
of Virology, Technical University of Munich, Trogerstraße 30, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Dušan Turk
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Centre
of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of
Proteins, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alke Meents
- Center
for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches
Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
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5
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Xu S, Xu X, Wang Z, Wu R. A Systematic Investigation of Proteoforms with N-Terminal Glycine and Their Dynamics Reveals Its Impacts on Protein Stability. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202315286. [PMID: 38117010 PMCID: PMC10981938 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202315286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The N-termini of proteins can regulate their degradation, and the same protein with different N-termini may have distinct dynamics. Recently, it was found that N-terminal glycine can serve as a degron recognized by two E3 ligases, but N-terminal glycine was also reported to stabilize proteins. Here we developed a chemoenzymatic method for selective enrichment of proteoforms with N-terminal glycine and integrated dual protease cleavage to further improve the enrichment specificity. Over 2000 unique peptides with protein N-terminal glycine were analyzed from >1000 proteins, and most of them are previously unknown, indicating the effectiveness of the current method to capture low-abundance proteoforms with N-terminal glycine. The degradation rates of proteoforms with N-terminal glycine were quantified along with those of proteins from the whole proteome. Bioinformatic analyses reveal that proteoforms with N-terminal glycine with the fastest and slowest degradation rates have different functions and localizations. Membrane proteins with N-terminal glycine and proteins with N-terminal glycine from the N-terminal methionine excision degrade more rapidly. Furthermore, the secondary structures, adjacent amino acid residues, and protease specificities for N-terminal glycine are also vital for protein degradation. The results advance our understanding of the effects of N-terminal glycine on protein properties and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senhan Xu
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | - Xing Xu
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | - Zeyu Wang
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | - Ronghu Wu
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
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6
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Lin QF, Wong CXL, Eaton HE, Pang X, Shmulevitz M. Reovirus genomic diversity confers plasticity for protease utility during adaptation to intracellular uncoating. J Virol 2023; 97:e0082823. [PMID: 37747236 PMCID: PMC10617468 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00828-23] [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: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Reoviruses infect many mammals and are widely studied as a model system for enteric viruses. However, most of our reovirus knowledge comes from laboratory strains maintained on immortalized L929 cells. Herein, we asked whether naturally circulating reoviruses possess the same genetic and phenotypic characteristics as laboratory strains. Naturally circulating reoviruses obtained from sewage were extremely diverse genetically. Moreover, sewage reoviruses exhibited poor fitness on L929 cells and relied heavily on gut proteases for viral uncoating and productive infection compared to laboratory strains. We then examined how naturally circulating reoviruses might adapt to cell culture conditions. Within three passages, virus isolates from the parental sewage population were selected, displaying improved fitness and intracellular uncoating in L929 cells. Remarkably, selected progeny clones were present at 0.01% of the parental population. Altogether, using reovirus as a model, our study demonstrates how the high genetic diversity of naturally circulating viruses results in rapid adaptation to new environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Feng Lin
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Casey X. L. Wong
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Heather E. Eaton
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Xiaoli Pang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Public Health Laboratories (ProvLab), Alberta Precision Laboratories (APL), Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Maya Shmulevitz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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7
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Fernández-de-la-Pradilla A, Royo S, Schirmeister T, Barthels F, Świderek K, González FV, Moliner V. Impact of the Warhead of Dipeptidyl Keto Michael Acceptors on the Inhibition Mechanism of Cysteine Protease Cathepsin L. ACS Catal 2023; 13:13354-13368. [PMID: 37881790 PMCID: PMC10594577 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.3c02748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Cathepsin L (CatL) is a lysosomal cysteine protease whose activity has been related to several human pathologies. However, although preclinical trials using CatL inhibitors were promising, clinical trials have been unsuccessful up to now. We are presenting a study of two designed dipeptidyl keto Michael acceptor potential inhibitors of CatL with either a keto vinyl ester or a keto vinyl sulfone (KVS) warhead. The compounds were synthesized and experimentally assayed in vitro, and their inhibition molecular mechanism was explored based on molecular dynamics simulations at the density functional theory/molecular mechanics level. The results confirm that both compounds inhibit CatL in the nanomolar range and show a time-dependent inhibition. Interestingly, despite both presenting almost equivalent equilibrium constants for the reversible formation of the noncovalent enzyme/inhibitor complex, differences are observed in the chemical step corresponding to the enzyme-inhibitor covalent bond formation, results that are mirrored by the computer simulations. Theoretically determined kinetic and thermodynamic results, which are in very good agreement with the experiments, afford a detailed explanation of the relevance of the different structural features of both compounds having a significant impact on enzyme inhibition. The unprecedented binding interactions of both inhibitors in the P1' site of CatL represent valuable information for the design of inhibitors. In particular, the peptidyl KVS can be used as a starting lead compound in the development of drugs with medical applications for the treatment of cancerous pathologies since sulfone warheads have previously shown promising cell stability compared to other functions such as carboxylic esters. Future improvements can be guided by the atomistic description of the enzyme-inhibitor interactions established along the inhibition reaction derived from computer simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Santiago Royo
- Departament
de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló, Spain
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Fabian Barthels
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Katarzyna Świderek
- BioComp
Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló, Spain
| | - Florenci V. González
- Departament
de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló, Spain
| | - Vicent Moliner
- BioComp
Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló, Spain
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8
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Reinke PYA, de Souza EE, Günther S, Falke S, Lieske J, Ewert W, Loboda J, Herrmann A, Rahmani Mashhour A, Karničar K, Usenik A, Lindič N, Sekirnik A, Botosso VF, Santelli GMM, Kapronezai J, de Araújo MV, Silva-Pereira TT, Filho AFDS, Tavares MS, Flórez-Álvarez L, de Oliveira DBL, Durigon EL, Giaretta PR, Heinemann MB, Hauser M, Seychell B, Böhler H, Rut W, Drag M, Beck T, Cox R, Chapman HN, Betzel C, Brehm W, Hinrichs W, Ebert G, Latham SL, Guimarães AMDS, Turk D, Wrenger C, Meents A. Calpeptin is a potent cathepsin inhibitor and drug candidate for SARS-CoV-2 infections. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1058. [PMID: 37853179 PMCID: PMC10584882 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05317-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Several drug screening campaigns identified Calpeptin as a drug candidate against SARS-CoV-2. Initially reported to target the viral main protease (Mpro), its moderate activity in Mpro inhibition assays hints at a second target. Indeed, we show that Calpeptin is an extremely potent cysteine cathepsin inhibitor, a finding additionally supported by X-ray crystallography. Cell infection assays proved Calpeptin's efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. Treatment of SARS-CoV-2-infected Golden Syrian hamsters with sulfonated Calpeptin at a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight reduces the viral load in the trachea. Despite a higher risk of side effects, an intrinsic advantage in targeting host proteins is their mutational stability in contrast to highly mutable viral targets. Here we show that the inhibition of cathepsins, a protein family of the host organism, by calpeptin is a promising approach for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 and potentially other viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Y A Reinke
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Edmarcia Elisa de Souza
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sebastian Günther
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sven Falke
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia Lieske
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Wiebke Ewert
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jure Loboda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jamova 39, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Aida Rahmani Mashhour
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Katarina Karničar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Aleksandra Usenik
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nataša Lindič
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andreja Sekirnik
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Viviane Fongaro Botosso
- Virology Laboratory, Center of Development and Innovation, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gláucia Maria Machado Santelli
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Josana Kapronezai
- Virology Laboratory, Center of Development and Innovation, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Valdemir de Araújo
- Virology Laboratory, Center of Development and Innovation, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Taiana Tainá Silva-Pereira
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Mariana Silva Tavares
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lizdany Flórez-Álvarez
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Edison Luiz Durigon
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paula Roberta Giaretta
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4474 TAMU, School Station, TX, USA
| | - Marcos Bryan Heinemann
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maurice Hauser
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and BMWZ, Leibniz University of Hannover, Schneiderberg 38, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - Brandon Seychell
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Universität Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hendrik Böhler
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Universität Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Wioletta Rut
- Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Marcin Drag
- Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Tobias Beck
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Universität Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Russell Cox
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and BMWZ, Leibniz University of Hannover, Schneiderberg 38, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - Henry N Chapman
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Physics, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Betzel
- Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, c/o DESY, Universität Hamburg, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Brehm
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Winfried Hinrichs
- Universität Greifswald, Institute of Biochemistry, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 4, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Gregor Ebert
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sharissa L Latham
- The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- St Vincent's Hospital Clinical School, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ana Marcia de Sá Guimarães
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dusan Turk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Carsten Wrenger
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Alke Meents
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
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9
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Hartley B, Bassiouni W, Schulz R, Julien O. The roles of intracellular proteolysis in cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury. Basic Res Cardiol 2023; 118:38. [PMID: 37768438 DOI: 10.1007/s00395-023-01007-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Ischemic heart disease remains a leading cause of human mortality worldwide. One form of ischemic heart disease is ischemia-reperfusion injury caused by the reintroduction of blood supply to ischemic cardiac muscle. The short and long-term damage that occurs due to ischemia-reperfusion injury is partly due to the proteolysis of diverse protein substrates inside and outside of cardiomyocytes. Ischemia-reperfusion activates several diverse intracellular proteases, including, but not limited to, matrix metalloproteinases, calpains, cathepsins, and caspases. This review will focus on the biological roles, intracellular localization, proteolytic targets, and inhibitors of these proteases in cardiomyocytes following ischemia-reperfusion injury. Recognition of the intracellular function of each of these proteases includes defining their activation, proteolytic targets, and their inhibitors during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. This review is a step toward a better understanding of protease activation and involvement in ischemic heart disease and developing new therapeutic strategies for its treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridgette Hartley
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Wesam Bassiouni
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Richard Schulz
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
- Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
- Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
| | - Olivier Julien
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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10
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Francis WR, Eitel M, Vargas S, Garcia-Escudero CA, Conci N, Deister F, Mah JL, Guiglielmoni N, Krebs S, Blum H, Leys SP, Wörheide G. The genome of the reef-building glass sponge Aphrocallistes vastus provides insights into silica biomineralization. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230423. [PMID: 37351491 PMCID: PMC10282587 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Well-annotated and contiguous genomes are an indispensable resource for understanding the evolution, development, and metabolic capacities of organisms. Sponges, an ecologically important non-bilaterian group of primarily filter-feeding sessile aquatic organisms, are underrepresented with respect to available genomic resources. Here we provide a high-quality and well-annotated genome of Aphrocallistes vastus, a glass sponge (Porifera: Hexactinellida) that forms large reef structures off the coast of British Columbia (Canada). We show that its genome is approximately 80 Mb, small compared to most other metazoans, and contains nearly 2500 nested genes, more than other genomes. Hexactinellida is characterized by a unique skeletal architecture made of amorphous silicon dioxide (SiO2), and we identified 419 differentially expressed genes between the osculum, i.e. the vertical growth zone of the sponge, and the main body. Among the upregulated ones, mineralization-related genes such as glassin, as well as collagens and actins, dominate the expression profile during growth. Silicateins, suggested being involved in silica mineralization, especially in demosponges, were not found at all in the A. vastus genome and suggests that the underlying mechanisms of SiO2 deposition in the Silicea sensu stricto (Hexactinellida + Demospongiae) may not be homologous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warren R. Francis
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Paleontology and Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Eitel
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Paleontology and Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Sergio Vargas
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Paleontology and Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Catalina A. Garcia-Escudero
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Paleontology and Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Nicola Conci
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Paleontology and Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Fabian Deister
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Paleontology and Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Jasmine L. Mah
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada T6G 2E9
| | - Nadège Guiglielmoni
- Service Evolution Biologique et Ecologie, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefan Krebs
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Helmut Blum
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Sally P. Leys
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada T6G 2E9
| | - Gert Wörheide
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Paleontology and Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- GeoBio-Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns (SNSB)–Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie, Munich, Germany
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11
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Goodswen SJ, Kennedy PJ, Ellis JT. A state-of-the-art methodology for high-throughput in silico vaccine discovery against protozoan parasites and exemplified with discovered candidates for Toxoplasma gondii. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8243. [PMID: 37217589 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34863-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccine discovery against eukaryotic parasites is not trivial as highlighted by the limited number of known vaccines compared to the number of protozoal diseases that need one. Only three of 17 priority diseases have commercial vaccines. Live and attenuated vaccines have proved to be more effective than subunit vaccines but adversely pose more unacceptable risks. One promising approach for subunit vaccines is in silico vaccine discovery, which predicts protein vaccine candidates given thousands of target organism protein sequences. This approach, nonetheless, is an overarching concept with no standardised guidebook on implementation. No known subunit vaccines against protozoan parasites exist as a result of this approach, and consequently none to emulate. The study goal was to combine current in silico discovery knowledge specific to protozoan parasites and develop a workflow representing a state-of-the-art approach. This approach reflectively integrates a parasite's biology, a host's immune system defences, and importantly, bioinformatics programs needed to predict vaccine candidates. To demonstrate the workflow effectiveness, every Toxoplasma gondii protein was ranked in its capacity to provide long-term protective immunity. Although testing in animal models is required to validate these predictions, most of the top ranked candidates are supported by publications reinforcing our confidence in the approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Goodswen
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Paul J Kennedy
- School of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology and the Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - John T Ellis
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
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12
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Homan EJ, Bremel RD. Determinants of tumor immune evasion: the role of T cell exposed motif frequency and mutant amino acid exposure. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1155679. [PMID: 37215122 PMCID: PMC10196236 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1155679] [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: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Few neoepitopes detected in tumor biopsies are immunogenic. Tumor-specific T cell responses require both the presentation of an epitope that differs from wildtype and the presence of T cells with neoepitope-cognate receptors. We show that mutations detected in tumor biopsies result in an increased frequency of rare amino acid combinations compared to the human proteome and gastrointestinal microorganisms. Mutations in a large data set of oncogene and tumor suppressor gene products were compared to wildtype, and to the count of corresponding amino acid motifs in the human proteome and gastrointestinal microbiome. Mutant amino acids in T cell exposed positions of potential neoepitopes consistently generated amino acid motifs that are less common in both proteome reference datasets. Approximately 10% of the mutant amino acid motifs are absent from the human proteome. Motif frequency does not change when mutants were positioned in the MHC anchor positions hidden from T cell receptors. Analysis of neoepitopes in GBM and LUSC cases showed less common T cell exposed motifs, and HLA binding preferentially placing mutant amino acids in an anchor position for both MHC I and MHC II. Cross-presentation of mutant exposed neoepitopes by MHC I and MHC II was particularly uncommon. Review of a tumor mutation dataset known to generate T cell responses showed immunogenic epitopes were those with mutant amino acids exposed to the T cell receptor and with exposed pentamer motifs present in the human and microbiome reference databases. The study illustrates a previously unrecognized mechanism of tumor immune evasion, as rare T cell exposed motifs produced by mutation are less likely to have cognate T cells in the T cell repertoire. The complex interactions of HLA genotype, binding positions, and mutation specific changes in T cell exposed motif underscore the necessity of evaluating potential neoepitopes in each individual patient.
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13
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Sampognaro PJ, Arya S, Knudsen GM, Gunderson EL, Sandoval-Perez A, Hodul M, Bowles K, Craik CS, Jacobson MP, Kao AW. Mutations in α-synuclein, TDP-43 and tau prolong protein half-life through diminished degradation by lysosomal proteases. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:29. [PMID: 37131250 PMCID: PMC10155372 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00621-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autosomal dominant mutations in α-synuclein, TDP-43 and tau are thought to predispose to neurodegeneration by enhancing protein aggregation. While a subset of α-synuclein, TDP-43 and tau mutations has been shown to increase the structural propensity of these proteins toward self-association, rates of aggregation are also highly dependent on protein steady state concentrations, which are in large part regulated by their rates of lysosomal degradation. Previous studies have shown that lysosomal proteases operate precisely and not indiscriminately, cleaving their substrates at very specific linear amino acid sequences. With this knowledge, we hypothesized that certain coding mutations in α-synuclein, TDP-43 and tau may lead to increased protein steady state concentrations and eventual aggregation by an alternative mechanism, that is, through disrupting lysosomal protease cleavage recognition motifs and subsequently conferring protease resistance to these proteins. RESULTS To test this possibility, we first generated comprehensive proteolysis maps containing all of the potential lysosomal protease cleavage sites for α-synuclein, TDP-43 and tau. In silico analyses of these maps indicated that certain mutations would diminish cathepsin cleavage, a prediction we confirmed utilizing in vitro protease assays. We then validated these findings in cell models and induced neurons, demonstrating that mutant forms of α-synuclein, TDP-43 and tau are degraded less efficiently than wild type despite being imported into lysosomes at similar rates. CONCLUSIONS Together, this study provides evidence that pathogenic mutations in the N-terminal domain of α-synuclein (G51D, A53T), low complexity domain of TDP-43 (A315T, Q331K, M337V) and R1 and R2 domains of tau (K257T, N279K, S305N) directly impair their own lysosomal degradation, altering protein homeostasis and increasing cellular protein concentrations by extending the degradation half-lives of these proteins. These results also point to novel, shared, alternative mechanism by which different forms of neurodegeneration, including synucleinopathies, TDP-43 proteinopathies and tauopathies, may arise. Importantly, they also provide a roadmap for how the upregulation of particular lysosomal proteases could be targeted as potential therapeutics for human neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J. Sampognaro
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA USA
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Shruti Arya
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA USA
| | | | - Emma L. Gunderson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Angelica Sandoval-Perez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Molly Hodul
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Kathryn Bowles
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Medical School, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Charles S. Craik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Matthew P. Jacobson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Aimee W. Kao
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA USA
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14
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Zabiegala A, Kim Y, Chang KO. Roles of host proteases in the entry of SARS-CoV-2. ANIMAL DISEASES 2023; 3:12. [PMID: 37128508 PMCID: PMC10125864 DOI: 10.1186/s44149-023-00075-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The spike protein (S) of SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for viral attachment and entry, thus a major factor for host susceptibility, tissue tropism, virulence and pathogenicity. The S is divided with S1 and S2 region, and the S1 contains the receptor-binding domain (RBD), while the S2 contains the hydrophobic fusion domain for the entry into the host cell. Numerous host proteases have been implicated in the activation of SARS-CoV-2 S through various cleavage sites. In this article, we review host proteases including furin, trypsin, transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and cathepsins in the activation of SARS-CoV-2 S. Many betacoronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2 have polybasic residues at the S1/S2 site which is subjected to the cleavage by furin. The S1/S2 cleavage facilitates more assessable RBD to the receptor ACE2, and the binding triggers further conformational changes and exposure of the S2' site to proteases such as type II transmembrane serine proteases (TTPRs) including TMPRSS2. In the presence of TMPRSS2 on the target cells, SARS-CoV-2 can utilize a direct entry route by fusion of the viral envelope to the cellular membrane. In the absence of TMPRSS2, SARS-CoV-2 enter target cells via endosomes where multiple cathepsins cleave the S for the successful entry. Additional host proteases involved in the cleavage of the S were discussed. This article also includes roles of 3C-like protease inhibitors which have inhibitory activity against cathepsin L in the entry of SARS-CoV-2, and discussed the dual roles of such inhibitors in virus replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandria Zabiegala
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506 USA
| | - Yunjeong Kim
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506 USA
| | - Kyeong-Ok Chang
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506 USA
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15
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Tušar L, Loboda J, Impens F, Sosnowski P, Van Quickelberghe E, Vidmar R, Demol H, Sedeyn K, Saelens X, Vizovišek M, Mihelič M, Fonović M, Horvat J, Kosec G, Turk B, Gevaert K, Turk D. Proteomic data and structure analysis combined reveal interplay of structural rigidity and flexibility on selectivity of cysteine cathepsins. Commun Biol 2023; 6:450. [PMID: 37095140 PMCID: PMC10124925 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04772-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Addressing the elusive specificity of cysteine cathepsins, which in contrast to caspases and trypsin-like proteases lack strict specificity determining P1 pocket, calls for innovative approaches. Proteomic analysis of cell lysates with human cathepsins K, V, B, L, S, and F identified 30,000 cleavage sites, which we analyzed by software platform SAPS-ESI (Statistical Approach to Peptidyl Substrate-Enzyme Specific Interactions). SAPS-ESI is used to generate clusters and training sets for support vector machine learning. Cleavage site predictions on the SARS-CoV-2 S protein, confirmed experimentally, expose the most probable first cut under physiological conditions and suggested furin-like behavior of cathepsins. Crystal structure analysis of representative peptides in complex with cathepsin V reveals rigid and flexible sites consistent with analysis of proteomics data by SAPS-ESI that correspond to positions with heterogeneous and homogeneous distribution of residues. Thereby support for design of selective cleavable linkers of drug conjugates and drug discovery studies is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livija Tušar
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins (CIPKeBiP), Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jure Loboda
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- The Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Francis Impens
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology and UGent Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Piotr Sosnowski
- Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins (CIPKeBiP), Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Emmy Van Quickelberghe
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology and UGent Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Robert Vidmar
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Hans Demol
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology and UGent Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Koen Sedeyn
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology and, Department for Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Xavier Saelens
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology and, Department for Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Matej Vizovišek
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marko Mihelič
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marko Fonović
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jaka Horvat
- Acies Bio d.o.o., Tehnološki park 21, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Kosec
- Acies Bio d.o.o., Tehnološki park 21, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Boris Turk
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 113, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Kris Gevaert
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology and UGent Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Dušan Turk
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins (CIPKeBiP), Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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16
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Khramtsov YV, Georgiev GP, Sobolev AS. Selection of an Amino Acid Site with One of the Fastest Cleavage Kinetics by the Endosomal Protease Cathepsin B for Potential Use in Drug Delivery Systems. DOKL BIOCHEM BIOPHYS 2023; 509:78-80. [PMID: 37340298 DOI: 10.1134/s1607672922600221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
On the basis of known published data, six peptide sequences were selected that are potentially capable of being rapidly cleaved by the endosomal protease cathepsin B. For comparison, the cleavage of common linker sequences, polyglycine and polyglycine-serine, by cathepsin B was also studied. Different ends of these peptides were labeled with sulfoCyanine3 and sulfoCyanine5 fluorescent dyes, between which Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET) is possible. The kinetics of cleavage of peptides by cathepsin B was studied on a multimodal plate reader by FRET signal reduction. FKFL and FRRG cleavage sites have been shown to be the most suitable for potential use in various drug delivery systems. These sites are much more efficiently cleaved under slightly acidic conditions of endosomes than at neutral extracellular pH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y V Khramtsov
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
| | - G P Georgiev
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - A S Sobolev
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
- Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
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17
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Brewitz L, Dumjahn L, Zhao Y, Owen CD, Laidlaw SM, Malla TR, Nguyen D, Lukacik P, Salah E, Crawshaw AD, Warren AJ, Trincao J, Strain-Damerell C, Carroll MW, Walsh MA, Schofield CJ. Alkyne Derivatives of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibitors Including Nirmatrelvir Inhibit by Reacting Covalently with the Nucleophilic Cysteine. J Med Chem 2023; 66:2663-2680. [PMID: 36757959 PMCID: PMC9924091 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Nirmatrelvir (PF-07321332) is a nitrile-bearing small-molecule inhibitor that, in combination with ritonavir, is used to treat infections by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Nirmatrelvir interrupts the viral life cycle by inhibiting the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), which is essential for processing viral polyproteins into functional nonstructural proteins. We report studies which reveal that derivatives of nirmatrelvir and other Mpro inhibitors with a nonactivated terminal alkyne group positioned similarly to the electrophilic nitrile of nirmatrelvir can efficiently inhibit isolated Mpro and SARS-CoV-2 replication in cells. Mass spectrometric and crystallographic evidence shows that the alkyne derivatives inhibit Mpro by apparent irreversible covalent reactions with the active site cysteine (Cys145), while the analogous nitriles react reversibly. The results highlight the potential for irreversible covalent inhibition of Mpro and other nucleophilic cysteine proteases by alkynes, which, in contrast to nitriles, can be functionalized at their terminal position to optimize inhibition and selectivity, as well as pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Brewitz
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Leo Dumjahn
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Yilin Zhao
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - C. David Owen
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
- Research
Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and
Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, United
Kingdom
| | - Stephen M. Laidlaw
- Wellcome
Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
| | - Tika R. Malla
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Dung Nguyen
- Wellcome
Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
| | - Petra Lukacik
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
- Research
Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and
Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, United
Kingdom
| | - Eidarus Salah
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Adam D. Crawshaw
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Anna J. Warren
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Jose Trincao
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Strain-Damerell
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
- Research
Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and
Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, United
Kingdom
| | - Miles W. Carroll
- Wellcome
Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
| | - Martin A. Walsh
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
- Research
Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and
Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, United
Kingdom
| | - Christopher J. Schofield
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
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18
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Biasizzo M, Javoršek U, Vidak E, Zarić M, Turk B. Cysteine cathepsins: A long and winding road towards clinics. Mol Aspects Med 2022; 88:101150. [PMID: 36283280 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2022.101150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Biomedical research often focuses on properties that differentiate between diseased and healthy tissue; one of the current focuses is elevated expression and altered localisation of proteases. Among these proteases, dysregulation of cysteine cathepsins can frequently be observed in inflammation-associated diseases, which tips the functional balance from normal physiological to pathological manifestations. Their overexpression and secretion regularly exhibit a strong correlation with the development and progression of such diseases, making them attractive pharmacological targets. But beyond their mostly detrimental role in inflammation-associated diseases, cysteine cathepsins are physiologically highly important enzymes involved in various biological processes crucial for maintaining homeostasis and responding to different stimuli. Consequently, several challenges have emerged during the efforts made to translate basic research data into clinical applications. In this review, we present both physiological and pathological roles of cysteine cathepsins and discuss the clinical potential of cysteine cathepsin-targeting strategies for disease management and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Biasizzo
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jozef Stefan, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Urban Javoršek
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jozef Stefan, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Eva Vidak
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jozef Stefan, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miki Zarić
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jozef Stefan, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Boris Turk
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Vecna pot 113, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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19
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Raghuram S, Mackeyev Y, Symons J, Zahra Y, Gonzalez V, Mahadevan KK, Requejo KI, Liopo A, Derry P, Zubarev E, Sahin O, Byung-Kyu Kim J, Singh PK, Cho SH, Krishnan S. Uncloaking cell-impermeant gold nanorods via tumor microenvironmental cathepsin B facilitates cancer cell penetration and potent radiosensitization. Biomaterials 2022; 291:121887. [PMID: 36368139 PMCID: PMC10032210 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Major impediments to conveyance of intravenously administered drugs to tumors are biofouling, opsonization, and rapid clearance from the circulation by macrophages and reticuloendothelial phagocytes. Cloaking nanoparticles with stealth epilayers partly overcomes these hurdles but it also foils interactions with tumor cells. Here, we describe the synthesis, characterization, and validation of smart gold nanorods (GNRs) that spontaneously transform from inert passengers in the blood stream to active cell-penetrating nanoparticles within tumors to potently sensitize tumors to radiation therapy. Intrinsically cationic and cell-penetrating GNRs were shielded from phagocytosis with a cloaking polyethylene glycol epilayer containing an intervening cleavable peptide. In the absence of an external trigger, this epilayer is clipped off by the tumor microenvironmental protease, cathepsin B, in colorectal cancers to uncloak and expose the free-circulating native unPEGylated GNR that is readily internalized by cancer cells and turn into immovable small clusters of GNRs. Selective uncloaking of GNRs in the tumor reduced off-target toxicity confirmed by hematologic, biochemical, and histopathological analysis of blood, serum, and normal organs, respectively. Subsequent irradiation led to significant tumor growth delay and improved survival of mice. By addressing multiple barriers to efficient transport and cellular internalization of nanoparticles, our results demonstrate that clinically meaningful radiosensitization can be achieved with rationally designed GNRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhiksha Raghuram
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yuri Mackeyev
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jessica Symons
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center-UT Health Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yasmin Zahra
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Valeria Gonzalez
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Krishnan K Mahadevan
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Anton Liopo
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA; Institute of Bioscience and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Paul Derry
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Eugene Zubarev
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Onur Sahin
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Materials Science & NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joseph Byung-Kyu Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA; Department of Therapeutics and Pharmacology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center-UT Health Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Pankaj K Singh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Sang Hyun Cho
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sunil Krishnan
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
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20
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Ćwilichowska N, Świderska KW, Dobrzyń A, Drąg M, Poręba M. Diagnostic and therapeutic potential of protease inhibition. Mol Aspects Med 2022; 88:101144. [PMID: 36174281 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2022.101144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Proteases are enzymes that hydrolyze peptide bonds in proteins and peptides; thus, they control virtually all biological processes. Our understanding of protease function has advanced considerably from nonselective digestive enzymes to highly specialized molecular scissors that orchestrate complex signaling networks through a limited proteolysis. The catalytic activity of proteases is tightly regulated at several levels, ranging from gene expression through trafficking and maturation to posttranslational modifications. However, when this delicate balance is disturbed, many diseases develop, including cancer, inflammatory disorders, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. This new understanding of the role of proteases in pathologic physiology indicates that these enzymes represent excellent molecular targets for the development of therapeutic inhibitors, as well as for the design of chemical probes to visualize their redundant activity. Recently, numerous platform technologies have been developed to identify and optimize protease substrates and inhibitors, which were further used as lead structures for the development of chemical probes and therapeutic drugs. Due to this considerable success, the clinical potential of proteases in therapeutics and diagnostics is rapidly growing and is still not completely explored. Therefore, small molecules that can selectively target aberrant protease activity are emerging in diseases cells. In this review, we describe modern trends in the design of protease drugs as well as small molecule activity-based probes to visualize selected proteases in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Ćwilichowska
- Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wyb, Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Karolina W Świderska
- Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wyb, Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Dobrzyń
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Ludwika Pasteura 3, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marcin Drąg
- Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wyb, Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Marcin Poręba
- Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wyb, Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland.
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21
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Structure determinants defining the specificity of papain-like cysteine proteases. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:6552-6569. [DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.11.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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22
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Espeseth AS, Yuan M, Citron M, Reiserova L, Morrow G, Wilson A, Horton M, Rukhman M, Kinek K, Hou F, Li SL, Li F, Choi Y, Heidecker G, Luo B, Wu G, Zhang L, Strable E, DeStefano J, Secore S, Mukhopadhyay TK, Richardson DD, Sayeed E, Welch LS, Bett AJ, Feinberg MB, Gupta SB, Cooper CL, Parks CL. Preclinical immunogenicity and efficacy of a candidate COVID-19 vaccine based on a vesicular stomatitis virus-SARS-CoV-2 chimera. EBioMedicine 2022; 82:104203. [PMID: 35915046 PMCID: PMC9338221 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To investigate a vaccine technology with potential to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and reduce transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with a single vaccine dose, we developed a SARS-CoV-2 candidate vaccine using the live vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) chimeric virus approach previously used to develop a licensed Ebola virus vaccine. Methods We generated a replication-competent chimeric VSV-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate by replacing the VSV glycoprotein (G) gene with coding sequence for the SARS-CoV-2 Spike glycoprotein (S). Immunogenicity of the lead vaccine candidate (VSV∆G-SARS-CoV-2) was evaluated in cotton rats and golden Syrian hamsters, and protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection also was assessed in hamsters. Findings VSV∆G-SARS-CoV-2 delivered with a single intramuscular (IM) injection was immunogenic in cotton rats and hamsters and protected hamsters from weight loss following SARS-CoV-2 challenge. When mucosal vaccination was evaluated, cotton rats did not respond to the vaccine, whereas mucosal administration of VSV∆G-SARS-CoV-2 was found to be more immunogenic than IM injection in hamsters and induced immunity that significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 challenge virus loads in both lung and nasal tissues. Interpretation VSV∆G-SARS-CoV-2 delivered by IM injection or mucosal administration was immunogenic in golden Syrian hamsters, and both vaccination methods effectively protected the lung from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Hamsters vaccinated by mucosal application of VSV∆G-SARS-CoV-2 also developed immunity that controlled SARS-CoV-2 replication in nasal tissue. Funding The study was funded by Merck Sharp & Dohme, Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, and The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), New York, USA. Parts of this research was supported by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) of the US Department of Defense.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maoli Yuan
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | | | - Lucia Reiserova
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | - Gavin Morrow
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | - Aaron Wilson
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | | | - Mark Rukhman
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | | | - Fuxiang Hou
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | - Shui L Li
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | | | - Yesle Choi
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | | | - Bin Luo
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Guoxin Wu
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Lan Zhang
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Joanne DeStefano
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | | | | | | | - Eddy Sayeed
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), New York, USA
| | - Lisa S Welch
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), New York, USA; Currently at Clover Biopharmaceuticals, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Mark B Feinberg
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), New York, USA
| | - Swati B Gupta
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), New York, USA
| | - Christopher L Cooper
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | - Christopher L Parks
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA.
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23
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Liu D, Liu S, Li J, Liu X, Wu X, Peng Y, Shen Q. Proteome-Wide Analysis of the Hippocampus in Adult Mice with Learning and Memory Impairment Caused by Chronic Ethanol Exposure. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2022; 194:107661. [PMID: 35878712 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2022.107661] [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: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol consumption may cause various impairments in the brain. The hippocampus is particularly vulnerable to alcohol exposure, which may cause learning and memory deficits. Recently, proteomics analysis has become a popular approach to explore the pathogenesis of various diseases. The present study was conducted to investigate protein expression alteration in the hippocampus and to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying ethanol-induced learning and memory impairments. Mouse models of chronic ethanol intoxication were established by intragastrical administration for 28 consecutive days, and hippocampal neuronal damage was assessed by Nissl staining. Recognition memory was evaluated by Novel object recognition and Morris water maze tests, and hippocampus tissues were collected for label-free quantitative proteomics and analyzed using bioinformatics methods. Our study showed that chronic ethanol exposure prompted marked changes in protein expression in the hippocampus. We identified 32 differentially expressed proteins, of which 21 were upregulated and 11 downregulated. Gene Ontology analysis suggested that the identified differentially proteins were mainly involved in cytoskeleton and signal transduction mechanisms. Further verification using Western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR revealed that the hippocampal CTSL (cathepsin L), and PVALB (Parvalbumin) showed strongest expression changes, the latter being specifically expressed in GABAergic interneurons. These two proteins might serve as candidate protein biomarkers, providing new prospects for the diagnosis and treatment of ethanol-induced learning and memory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Liu
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuqiong Liu
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiande Li
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaohuan Liu
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Wu
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Peng
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Qingyu Shen
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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24
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Hu L, Liu S, Xia L, Cong X, Xu C, Wang L, Li Y. CHO cathepsin B identified as the protease responsible for a target bispecific antibody fragmentation. Protein Expr Purif 2022; 199:106144. [PMID: 35839975 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2022.106144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In a previous work we demonstrated that CHO protease caused fragmentation of an expressed bispecific antibody (bsAb) and this detrimental host cell protein (HCP) can be effectively removed through an optimized Protein A wash step. In addition, preliminary evidence suggested that the responsible protease belongs to the threonine or cysteine protease family. In the current study, this protease was further identified as cathepsin B. First, we identified several CHO proteases in the further fractionated Protein A wash using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and this allowed us to select four candidate proteases. Next, by examining the cleavage pattern of each individual protease and comparing it with that observed during purification, cathepsin B was identified as the protease responsible for the observed bsAb fragmentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixia Hu
- Technology and Process Development (TPD), WuXi Biologics, 288 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai, 200131, China
| | - Shanshan Liu
- ,Analytical Sciences (AS), WuXi Biologics, 288 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai, 200131, China
| | - Lisha Xia
- Technology and Process Development (TPD), WuXi Biologics, 288 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai, 200131, China
| | - Xiaoji Cong
- Technology and Process Development (TPD), WuXi Biologics, 288 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai, 200131, China
| | - Chu Xu
- ,Analytical Sciences (AS), WuXi Biologics, 288 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai, 200131, China
| | - Li Wang
- Technology and Process Development (TPD), WuXi Biologics, 288 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai, 200131, China
| | - Yifeng Li
- Technology and Process Development (TPD), WuXi Biologics, 288 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai, 200131, China.
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25
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Fé LXSGM, Cipolatti EP, Pinto MCC, Branco S, Nogueira FCS, Ortiz GMD, Pinheiro ADS, Manoel EA. Enzymes in the time of COVID-19: An overview about the effects in the human body, enzyme market, and perspectives for new drugs. Med Res Rev 2022; 42:2126-2167. [PMID: 35762498 PMCID: PMC9350392 DOI: 10.1002/med.21919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The rising pandemic caused by a coronavirus, resulted in a scientific quest to discover some effective treatments against its etiologic agent, the severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). This research represented a significant scientific landmark and resulted in many medical advances. However, efforts to understand the viral mechanism of action and how the human body machinery is subverted during the infection are still ongoing. Herein, we contributed to this field with this compilation of the roles of both viral and human enzymes in the context of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. In this sense, this overview reports that proteases are vital for the infection to take place: from SARS‐CoV‐2 perspective, the main protease (Mpro) and papain‐like protease (PLpro) are highlighted; from the human body, angiotensin‐converting enzyme‐2, transmembrane serine protease‐2, and cathepsins (CatB/L) are pointed out. In addition, the influence of the virus on other enzymes is reported as the JAK/STAT pathway and the levels of lipase, enzymes from the cholesterol metabolism pathway, amylase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and glyceraldehyde 3‐phosphate dehydrogenase are also be disturbed in SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Finally, this paper discusses the importance of detailed enzymatic studies for future treatments against SARS‐CoV‐2, and how some issues related to the syndrome treatment can create opportunities in the biotechnological market of enzymes and the development of new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Xavier Soares Gomes Moura Fé
- Departamento de Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eliane Pereira Cipolatti
- Departamento de Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto de Tecnologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Martina Costa Cerqueira Pinto
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Centro de Tecnologia (CT), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Chemical Engineering Program, Instituto Alberto Luiz Coimbra de Pós-graduação e Pesquisa de Engenharia (COPPE), Centro de Tecnologia (CT), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Suema Branco
- Biofísica Ambiental, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fábio César Sousa Nogueira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Centro de Tecnologia (CT), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gisela Maria Dellamora Ortiz
- Departamento de Fármacos e Medicamentos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Anderson de Sá Pinheiro
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Centro de Tecnologia (CT), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Evelin Andrade Manoel
- Departamento de Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Centro de Tecnologia (CT), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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26
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Novel cleavage sites identified in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein reveal mechanism for cathepsin L-facilitated viral infection and treatment strategies. Cell Discov 2022; 8:53. [PMID: 35668062 PMCID: PMC9167920 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-022-00419-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an important target for vaccine and drug development. However, the rapid emergence of variant strains with mutated S proteins has rendered many treatments ineffective. Cleavage of the S protein by host proteases is essential for viral infection. Here, we discovered that the S protein contains two previously unidentified Cathepsin L (CTSL) cleavage sites (CS-1 and CS-2). Both sites are highly conserved among all known SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our structural studies revealed that CTSL cleavage promoted S to adopt receptor-binding domain (RBD) “up” activated conformations, facilitating receptor-binding and membrane fusion. We confirmed that CTSL cleavage is essential during infection of all emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants (including the recently emerged Omicron variant) by pseudovirus (PsV) infection experiment. Furthermore, we found CTSL-specific inhibitors not only blocked infection of PsV/live virus in cells but also reduced live virus infection of ex vivo lung tissues of both human donors and human ACE2-transgenic mice. Finally, we showed that two CTSL-specific inhibitors exhibited excellent In vivo effects to prevent live virus infection in human ACE2-transgenic mice. Our work demonstrated that inhibition of CTSL cleavage of SARS-CoV-2 S protein is a promising approach for the development of future mutation-resistant therapy.
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27
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Insight towards the effect of the multi basic cleavage site of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein on cellular proteases. Virus Res 2022; 318:198845. [PMID: 35680004 PMCID: PMC9170277 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2022.198845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection presents an immense global health problem. Spike (S) protein of coronavirus is the primary determinant of its entry into the host as it consists of both receptor binding and fusion domain. Besides tissue tropism, and host range, coronavirus pathogenesis are primarily controlled by the interaction of S protein with the cell receptor. Moreover, the proteolytic activation of S protein by host cell proteases plays a decisive role. The host-cell proteases have shown to be involved in the proteolysis of S protein and cleaving it into two functional subunits, S1 and S2, during the maturation process. In the present study, the interaction of the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 with different host proteases like furin, cathepsin B, and plasmin has been analyzed using molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Incorporation of the furin cleavage site (R-R-A-R) in the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 has been studied by mutating the individual amino acid. MD simulation results suggest the polytropic nature of the S protein. Our analysis indicated that a single amino acid substitution in the polybasic cleavage site of S protein perturb the binding of cellular proteases. This mutation study might help to generate an attenuated SARS-CoV-2. Besides, targeting host proteases by inhibitors may result in a practical approach to stop the cellular spread of SARS-CoV-2 and develop its antiviral.
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28
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Saudenova M, Promnitz J, Ohrenschall G, Himmerkus N, Böttner M, Kunke M, Bleich M, Theilig F. Behind every smile there's teeth: Cathepsin B's function in health and disease with a kidney view. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2022; 1869:119190. [PMID: 34968578 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2021.119190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cathepsin B (CatB) is a very abundant lysosomal protease with endo- and carboxydipeptidase activities and even ligase features. In this review, we will provide a general characterization of CatB and describe structure, structure-derived properties and location-dependent proteolytic actions. We depict CatB action within lysosome and its important roles in lysosomal biogenesis, lysosomal homeostasis and autophagy rendering this protease a key player in orchestrating lysosomal functions. Lysosomal leakage and subsequent escape of CatB into the cytosol lead to harmful actions, e.g. the role in activating the NLPR3 inflammasome, affecting immune responses and cell death. The second focus of this review addresses CatB functions in the kidney, i.e. the glomerulus, the proximal tubule and collecting duct with strong emphasis of its role in pathology of the respective segment. Finally, observations regarding CatB functions that need to be considered in cell culture will be discussed. In conclusion, CatB a physiologically important molecule may, upon aberrant expression in different cellular context, become a harmful player effectively showing its teeth behind its smile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makhabbat Saudenova
- Institute of Anatomy, Department of Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Germany
| | - Jessica Promnitz
- Institute of Anatomy, Department of Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Germany
| | - Gerrit Ohrenschall
- Institute of Anatomy, Department of Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Germany
| | - Nina Himmerkus
- Institute of Physiology, Department of Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Germany
| | - Martina Böttner
- Institute of Anatomy, Department of Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Germany
| | - Madlen Kunke
- Institute of Anatomy, Department of Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Germany
| | - Markus Bleich
- Institute of Physiology, Department of Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Germany
| | - Franziska Theilig
- Institute of Anatomy, Department of Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Germany.
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29
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Danziger O, Patel RS, DeGrace EJ, Rosen MR, Rosenberg BR. Inducible CRISPR activation screen for interferon-stimulated genes identifies OAS1 as a SARS-CoV-2 restriction factor. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010464. [PMID: 35421191 PMCID: PMC9041830 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Interferons establish an antiviral state through the induction of hundreds of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). The mechanisms and viral specificities for most ISGs remain incompletely understood. To enable high-throughput interrogation of ISG antiviral functions in pooled genetic screens while mitigating potentially confounding effects of endogenous interferon and antiproliferative/proapoptotic ISG activities, we adapted a CRISPR-activation (CRISPRa) system for inducible ISG expression in isogenic cell lines with and without the capacity to respond to interferons. We used this platform to screen for ISGs that restrict SARS-CoV-2. Results included ISGs previously described to restrict SARS-CoV-2 and novel candidate antiviral factors. We validated a subset of these by complementary CRISPRa and cDNA expression experiments. OAS1, a top-ranked hit across multiple screens, exhibited strong antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2, which required OAS1 catalytic activity. These studies demonstrate a high-throughput approach to assess antiviral functions within the ISG repertoire, exemplified by identification of multiple SARS-CoV-2 restriction factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oded Danziger
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Roosheel S. Patel
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Emma J. DeGrace
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Mikaela R. Rosen
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Brad R. Rosenberg
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
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30
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Bai B, Belovodskiy A, Hena M, Kandadai AS, Joyce MA, Saffran HA, Shields JA, Khan MB, Arutyunova E, Lu J, Bajwa SK, Hockman D, Fischer C, Lamer T, Vuong W, van Belkum MJ, Gu Z, Lin F, Du Y, Xu J, Rahim M, Young HS, Vederas JC, Tyrrell DL, Lemieux MJ, Nieman JA. Peptidomimetic α-Acyloxymethylketone Warheads with Six-Membered Lactam P1 Glutamine Mimic: SARS-CoV-2 3CL Protease Inhibition, Coronavirus Antiviral Activity, and in Vitro Biological Stability. J Med Chem 2022; 65:2905-2925. [PMID: 34242027 PMCID: PMC8291138 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recurring coronavirus outbreaks, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, establish a necessity to develop direct-acting antivirals that can be readily administered and are active against a broad spectrum of coronaviruses. Described in this Article are novel α-acyloxymethylketone warhead peptidomimetic compounds with a six-membered lactam glutamine mimic in P1. Compounds with potent SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease and in vitro viral replication inhibition were identified with low cytotoxicity and good plasma and glutathione stability. Compounds 15e, 15h, and 15l displayed selectivity for SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease over CatB and CatS and superior in vitro SARS-CoV-2 antiviral replication inhibition compared with the reported peptidomimetic inhibitors with other warheads. The cocrystallization of 15l with SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease confirmed the formation of a covalent adduct. α-Acyloxymethylketone compounds also exhibited antiviral activity against an alphacoronavirus and non-SARS betacoronavirus strains with similar potency and a better selectivity index than remdesivir. These findings demonstrate the potential of the substituted heteroaromatic and aliphatic α-acyloxymethylketone warheads as coronavirus inhibitors, and the described results provide a basis for further optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Bai
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Alexandr Belovodskiy
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Mostofa Hena
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Appan Srinivas Kandadai
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Michael A. Joyce
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Holly A. Saffran
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Justin A. Shields
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Muhammad Bashir Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Elena Arutyunova
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Jimmy Lu
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Sardeev K. Bajwa
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Darren Hockman
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Conrad Fischer
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Tess Lamer
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Wayne Vuong
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Marco J. van Belkum
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Zhengxian Gu
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.,
G Warehouse #101, No. 10 Building, #227 Meisheng Road, WaiGaoQiao Free Trade Zone,
Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Fusen Lin
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.,
G Warehouse #101, No. 10 Building, #227 Meisheng Road, WaiGaoQiao Free Trade Zone,
Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Yanhua Du
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.,
G Warehouse #101, No. 10 Building, #227 Meisheng Road, WaiGaoQiao Free Trade Zone,
Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Jia Xu
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.,
G Warehouse #101, No. 10 Building, #227 Meisheng Road, WaiGaoQiao Free Trade Zone,
Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Mohammad Rahim
- Rane Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
4290 91a Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6E 5V2, Canada
| | - Howard S. Young
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - John C. Vederas
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - D. Lorne Tyrrell
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - M. Joanne Lemieux
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - James A. Nieman
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
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31
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Ma XR, Alugubelli YR, Ma Y, Vatansever EC, Scott DA, Qiao Y, Yu G, Xu S, Liu WR. MPI8 is Potent against SARS-CoV-2 by Inhibiting Dually and Selectively the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease and the Host Cathepsin L. ChemMedChem 2022; 17:e202100456. [PMID: 34242492 PMCID: PMC8427127 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202100456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
A number of inhibitors have been developed for the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (MPro ) as potential COVID-19 medications but little is known about their selectivity. Using enzymatic assays, we characterized inhibition of TMPRSS2, furin, and cathepsins B/K/L by more than a dozen of previously developed MPro inhibitors including MPI1-9, GC376, 11a, 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3. MPI1-9, GC376 and 11a all contain an aldehyde for the formation of a reversible covalent hemiacetal adduct with the MPro active site cysteine and 10-1, 10-2 and 10-3 contain a labile ester to exchange with the MPro active site cysteine for the formation of a thioester. Our data revealed that all these inhibitors are inert toward TMPRSS2 and furin. Diaryl esters also showed low inhibition of cathepsins. However, all aldehyde inhibitors displayed high potency in inhibiting three cathepsins. Their determined IC50 values vary from 4.1 to 380 nM for cathepsin B, 0.079 to 2.3 nM for cathepsin L, and 0.35 to 180 nM for cathepsin K. All aldehyde inhibitors showed similar inhibition levels toward cathepsin L. A cellular analysis indicated high potency of MPI5 and MPI8 in inhibiting lysosomal activity, which is probably attributed to their inhibition of cathepsins. Among all aldehyde inhibitors, MPI8 shows the best selectivity toward cathepsin L. With respect to cathepsins B and K, the selective indices are 192 and 150, respectively. MPI8 is the most potent compound among all aldehyde inhibitors in cellular MPro inhibition potency and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in Vero E6 cells. Cathepsin L has been demonstrated to play a critical role in the SARS-CoV-2 cell entry. By selectively inhibiting both SARS-CoV-2 MPro and the host cathepsin L, MPI8 potentiates dual inhibition effects to synergize its overall antiviral potency and efficacy. Due to its high selectivity toward cathepsin L that reduces potential toxicity toward host cells and high cellular and antiviral potency, we urge serious consideration of MPI8 for preclinical and clinical investigations for treating COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu R. Ma
- Texas A&M Drug Discovery LaboratoryDepartment of ChemistryTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTX 77843USA
| | - Yugendar R. Alugubelli
- Texas A&M Drug Discovery LaboratoryDepartment of ChemistryTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTX 77843USA
| | - Yuying Ma
- Texas A&M Drug Discovery LaboratoryDepartment of ChemistryTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTX 77843USA
| | - Erol C. Vatansever
- Texas A&M Drug Discovery LaboratoryDepartment of ChemistryTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTX 77843USA
| | - Danielle A. Scott
- Texas A&M Drug Discovery LaboratoryDepartment of ChemistryTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTX 77843USA
| | - Yuchen Qiao
- Texas A&M Drug Discovery LaboratoryDepartment of ChemistryTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTX 77843USA
| | - Ge Yu
- Texas A&M Drug Discovery LaboratoryDepartment of ChemistryTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTX 77843USA
| | - Shiqing Xu
- Texas A&M Drug Discovery LaboratoryDepartment of ChemistryTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTX 77843USA
| | - Wenshe Ray Liu
- Texas A&M Drug Discovery LaboratoryDepartment of ChemistryTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTX 77843USA
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology and Department of Translational Medical SciencesCollege of MedicineTexas A&M UniversityHoustonTX 77030USA
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTX 77843USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular MedicineCollege of MedicineTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTX 77843USA
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32
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Abstract
The intimate involvement of pathogens with the heightened risk for developing certain cancers is an area of research that has captured a great deal of attention over the last 10 years. One firmly established paradigm that highlights this aspect of disease progression is in the instance of Helicobacter pylori infection and the contribution it makes in elevating the risk for developing gastric cancer. Whilst the molecular mechanisms that pinpoint the contribution that this microorganism inflicts towards host cells during gastric cancer initiation have come into greater focus, another picture that has also emerged is one that implicates the host's immune system, and the chronic inflammation that can arise therefrom, as being a central contributory factor in disease progression. Consequently, when taken with the underlying role that the extracellular matrix plays in the development of most cancers, and how this dynamic can be modulated by proteases expressed from the tumor or inflammatory cells, a complex and detailed relationship shared between the individual cellular components and their surroundings is coming into focus. In this review article, we draw attention to the emerging role played by the cathepsin proteases in modulating the stage-specific progression of Helicobacter pylori-initiated gastric cancer and the underlying immune response, while highlighting the therapeutic significance of this dynamic and how it may be amenable for novel intervention strategies within a basic research or clinical setting.
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33
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Costanzi E, Kuzikov M, Esposito F, Albani S, Demitri N, Giabbai B, Camasta M, Tramontano E, Rossetti G, Zaliani A, Storici P. Structural and Biochemical Analysis of the Dual Inhibition of MG-132 against SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (Mpro/3CLpro) and Human Cathepsin-L. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11779. [PMID: 34769210 PMCID: PMC8583849 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
After almost two years from its first evidence, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to afflict people worldwide, highlighting the need for multiple antiviral strategies. SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro/3CLpro) is a recognized promising target for the development of effective drugs. Because single target inhibition might not be sufficient to block SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication, multi enzymatic-based therapies may provide a better strategy. Here we present a structural and biochemical characterization of the binding mode of MG-132 to both the main protease of SARS-CoV-2, and to the human Cathepsin-L, suggesting thus an interesting scaffold for the development of double-inhibitors. X-ray diffraction data show that MG-132 well fits into the Mpro active site, forming a covalent bond with Cys145 independently from reducing agents and crystallization conditions. Docking of MG-132 into Cathepsin-L well-matches with a covalent binding to the catalytic cysteine. Accordingly, MG-132 inhibits Cathepsin-L with nanomolar potency and reversibly inhibits Mpro with micromolar potency, but with a prolonged residency time. We compared the apo and MG-132-inhibited structures of Mpro solved in different space groups and we identified a new apo structure that features several similarities with the inhibited ones, offering interesting perspectives for future drug design and in silico efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Costanzi
- Elettra—Sincrotrone Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (E.C.); (N.D.); (B.G.)
| | - Maria Kuzikov
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), 22525 Hamburg, Germany; (M.K.); (A.Z.)
- Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University Bremen GmbH, 28759 Bremen, Germany
| | - Francesca Esposito
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; (F.E.); (M.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Simone Albani
- Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9) and Institute for Advanced Simulations (IAS-5) “Computational Biomedicine”, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (S.A.); (G.R.)
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Nicola Demitri
- Elettra—Sincrotrone Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (E.C.); (N.D.); (B.G.)
| | - Barbara Giabbai
- Elettra—Sincrotrone Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (E.C.); (N.D.); (B.G.)
| | - Marianna Camasta
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; (F.E.); (M.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Enzo Tramontano
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; (F.E.); (M.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Giulia Rossetti
- Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9) and Institute for Advanced Simulations (IAS-5) “Computational Biomedicine”, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (S.A.); (G.R.)
- Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Andrea Zaliani
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), 22525 Hamburg, Germany; (M.K.); (A.Z.)
| | - Paola Storici
- Elettra—Sincrotrone Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (E.C.); (N.D.); (B.G.)
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34
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Bai B, Arutyunova E, Khan MB, Lu J, Joyce MA, Saffran HA, Shields JA, Kandadai AS, Belovodskiy A, Hena M, Vuong W, Lamer T, Young HS, Vederas JC, Tyrrell DL, Lemieux MJ, Nieman JA. Peptidomimetic nitrile warheads as SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease inhibitors. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:1722-1730. [PMID: 34778773 PMCID: PMC8529539 DOI: 10.1039/d1md00247c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tragically, the death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rise, and with variants being observed around the globe new therapeutics, particularly direct-acting antivirals that are easily administered, are desperately needed. Studies targeting the SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease, which is critical for viral replication, with different peptidomimetics and warheads is an active area of research for development of potential drugs. To date, however, only a few publications have evaluated the nitrile warhead as a viral 3CL protease inhibitor, with only modest activity reported. This article describes our investigation of P3 4-methoxyindole peptidomimetic analogs with select P1 and P2 groups with a nitrile warhead that are potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease and demonstrate in vitro SARS-CoV-2 antiviral activity. A selectivity for SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease over human cathepsins B, S and L was also observed with the nitrile warhead, which was superior to that with the aldehyde warhead. A co-crystal structure with SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease and a reversibility study indicate that a reversible, thioimidate adduct is formed when the catalytic sulfur forms a covalent bond with the carbon of the nitrile. This effort also identified efflux as a property limiting antiviral activity of these compounds, and together with the positive attributes described these results provide insight for further drug development of novel nitrile peptidomimetics targeting SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Bai
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Elena Arutyunova
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2H7 Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Muhammad Bashir Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2H7 Canada
| | - Jimmy Lu
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Michael A Joyce
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Holly A Saffran
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Justin A Shields
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Appan Srinivas Kandadai
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Alexandr Belovodskiy
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Mostofa Hena
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Wayne Vuong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2G2 Canada
| | - Tess Lamer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2G2 Canada
| | - Howard S Young
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - John C Vederas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2G2 Canada
| | - D Lorne Tyrrell
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - M Joanne Lemieux
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2H7 Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - James A Nieman
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
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35
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Meyer B, Chiaravalli J, Gellenoncourt S, Brownridge P, Bryne DP, Daly LA, Grauslys A, Walter M, Agou F, Chakrabarti LA, Craik CS, Eyers CE, Eyers PA, Gambin Y, Jones AR, Sierecki E, Verdin E, Vignuzzi M, Emmott E. Characterising proteolysis during SARS-CoV-2 infection identifies viral cleavage sites and cellular targets with therapeutic potential. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5553. [PMID: 34548480 PMCID: PMC8455558 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25796-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent behind the COVID-19 pandemic, responsible for over 170 million infections, and over 3.7 million deaths worldwide. Efforts to test, treat and vaccinate against this pathogen all benefit from an improved understanding of the basic biology of SARS-CoV-2. Both viral and cellular proteases play a crucial role in SARS-CoV-2 replication. Here, we study proteolytic cleavage of viral and cellular proteins in two cell line models of SARS-CoV-2 replication using mass spectrometry to identify protein neo-N-termini generated through protease activity. We identify previously unknown cleavage sites in multiple viral proteins, including major antigens S and N: the main targets for vaccine and antibody testing efforts. We discover significant increases in cellular cleavage events consistent with cleavage by SARS-CoV-2 main protease, and identify 14 potential high-confidence substrates of the main and papain-like proteases. We show that siRNA depletion of these cellular proteins inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication, and that drugs targeting two of these proteins: the tyrosine kinase SRC and Ser/Thr kinase MYLK, show a dose-dependent reduction in SARS-CoV-2 titres. Overall, our study provides a powerful resource to understand proteolysis in the context of viral infection, and to inform the development of targeted strategies to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 and treat COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bjoern Meyer
- Viral Populations and Pathogenesis Unit, CNRS, UMR 3569, Institut Pasteur, CEDEX 15, Paris, France
| | - Jeanne Chiaravalli
- Chemogenomic and Biological Screening Core Facility, C2RT, Departments of Cell Biology & Infection and of Structural Biology & Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, CEDEX 15, Paris, France
| | - Stacy Gellenoncourt
- CIVIC Group, Virus & Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur and CNRS, UMR 3569, Paris, France
| | - Philip Brownridge
- Centre for Proteome Research, Department of Biochemistry & Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Dominic P Bryne
- Department of Biochemistry & Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Leonard A Daly
- Centre for Proteome Research, Department of Biochemistry & Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Arturas Grauslys
- Computational Biology Facility, LIV-SRF, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Marius Walter
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | - Fabrice Agou
- Chemogenomic and Biological Screening Core Facility, C2RT, Departments of Cell Biology & Infection and of Structural Biology & Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, CEDEX 15, Paris, France
| | - Lisa A Chakrabarti
- CIVIC Group, Virus & Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur and CNRS, UMR 3569, Paris, France
| | - Charles S Craik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Claire E Eyers
- Centre for Proteome Research, Department of Biochemistry & Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Patrick A Eyers
- Department of Biochemistry & Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Yann Gambin
- EMBL Australia Node for Single Molecule Sciences, and School of Medical Sciences, Botany Road, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Andrew R Jones
- Department of Biochemistry & Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Emma Sierecki
- EMBL Australia Node for Single Molecule Sciences, and School of Medical Sciences, Botany Road, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Eric Verdin
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | - Marco Vignuzzi
- Viral Populations and Pathogenesis Unit, CNRS, UMR 3569, Institut Pasteur, CEDEX 15, Paris, France
| | - Edward Emmott
- Centre for Proteome Research, Department of Biochemistry & Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK.
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Čaval T, Hecht ES, Tang W, Uy‐Gomez M, Nichols A, Kil YJ, Sandoval W, Bern M, Heck AJR. The lysosomal endopeptidases Cathepsin D and L are selective and effective proteases for the middle-down characterization of antibodies. FEBS J 2021; 288:5389-5405. [PMID: 33713388 PMCID: PMC8518856 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Mass spectrometry is gaining momentum as a method of choice to de novo sequence antibodies (Abs). Adequate sequence coverage of the hypervariable regions remains one of the toughest identification challenges by either bottom-up or top-down workflows. Methods that efficiently generate mid-size Ab fragments would further facilitate top-down MS and decrease data complexity. Here, we explore the proteases Cathepsins L and D for forming protein fragments from three IgG1s, one IgG2, and one bispecific, knob-and-hole IgG1. We demonstrate that high-resolution native MS provides a sensitive method for the detection of clipping sites. Both Cathepsins produced multiple, albeit specific cleavages. The Abs were cleaved immediately after the CDR3 region, yielding ~ 12 kDa fragments, that is, ideal sequencing-sized. Cathepsin D, but not Cathepsin L, also cleaved directly below the Ab hinge, releasing the F(ab')2. When constrained by the different disulfide bonds found in the IgG2 subtype or by the tertiary structure of the hole-containing bispecific IgG1, the hinge region digest product was not produced. The Cathepsin L and Cathepsin D clipping motifs were related to sequences of neutral amino acids and the tertiary structure of the Ab. A single pot (L + D) digestion protocol was optimized to achieve 100% efficiency. Nine protein fragments, corresponding to the VL, VH, CL, CH1, CH2, CH3, CL + CH1, and F(ab')2, constituted ~ 70% of the summed intensities of all deconvolved proteolytic products. Cleavage sites were confirmed by the Edman degradation and validated with top-down sequencing. The described work offers a complementary method for middle-down analysis that may be applied to top-down Ab sequencing. ENZYMES: Cathepsin L-EC 3.4.22.15, Cathepsin D-EC 3.4.23.5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomislav Čaval
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and ProteomicsBijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical SciencesUtrecht UniversityThe Netherlands
- Netherlands Proteomics CentreUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth Sara Hecht
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics, and Lipidomics & Next Generation SequencingGenentech, Inc.South San FranciscoCAUSA
| | | | - Maelia Uy‐Gomez
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics, and Lipidomics & Next Generation SequencingGenentech, Inc.South San FranciscoCAUSA
| | | | | | - Wendy Sandoval
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics, and Lipidomics & Next Generation SequencingGenentech, Inc.South San FranciscoCAUSA
| | | | - Albert J. R. Heck
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and ProteomicsBijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical SciencesUtrecht UniversityThe Netherlands
- Netherlands Proteomics CentreUtrechtThe Netherlands
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Phan HAT, Giannakoulias SG, Barrett TM, Liu C, Petersson EJ. Rational design of thioamide peptides as selective inhibitors of cysteine protease cathepsin L. Chem Sci 2021; 12:10825-10835. [PMID: 35355937 PMCID: PMC8901119 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc00785h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant levels of cathepsin L (Cts L), a ubiquitously expressed endosomal cysteine protease, have been implicated in many diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Significantly, Cts L has been identified as a potential target for the treatment of COVID-19 due to its recently unveiled critical role in SARS-CoV-2 entry into the host cells. However, there are currently no clinically approved specific inhibitors of Cts L, as it is often challenging to obtain specificity against the many highly homologous cathepsin family cysteine proteases. Peptide-based agents are often promising protease inhibitors as they offer high selectivity and potency, but unfortunately are subject to degradation in vivo. Thioamide substitution, a single-atom O-to-S modification in the peptide backbone, has been shown to improve the proteolytic stability of peptides addressing this issue. Utilizing this approach, we demonstrate herein that good peptidyl substrates can be converted into sub-micromolar inhibitors of Cts L by a single thioamide substitution in the peptide backbone. We have designed and scanned several thioamide stabilized peptide scaffolds, in which one peptide, RS 1A, was stabilized against proteolysis by all five cathepsins (Cts L, Cts V, Cts K, Cts S, and Cts B) while inhibiting Cts L with >25-fold specificity against the other cathepsins. We further showed that this stabilized RS 1A peptide could inhibit Cts L in human liver carcinoma lysates (IC50 = 19 μM). Our study demonstrates that one can rationally design a stabilized, specific peptidyl protease inhibitor by strategic placement of a thioamide and reaffirms the place of this single-atom modification in the toolbox of peptide-based rational drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoang Anh T Phan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19104 USA
| | - Sam G Giannakoulias
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19104 USA
| | - Taylor M Barrett
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19104 USA
| | - Chunxiao Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19104 USA
- Key Laboratory for Northern Urban Agriculture of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing University of Agriculture Beijing 102206 P. R. China
| | - E James Petersson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19104 USA
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Abstract
Cysteine cathepsins are proteases critical in physiopathological processes and show potential as targets or biomarkers for diseases and medical conditions. The 11 members of the cathepsin family are redundant in some cases but remarkably independent of others, demanding the development of both pan-cathepsin targeting tools as well as probes that are selective for specific cathepsins with little off-target activity. This review addresses the diverse design strategies that have been employed to accomplish this tailored selectivity among cysteine cathepsin targets and the imaging modalities incorporated. The power of these diverse tools is contextualized by briefly highlighting the nature of a few prominent cysteine cathepsins, their involvement in select diseases, and the application of cathepsin imaging probes in research spanning basic biochemical studies to clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelton A Schleyer
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, 1345 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| | - Lina Cui
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, 1345 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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Jiang Z, Lietz CB, Podvin S, Yoon MC, Toneff T, Hook V, O’Donoghue AJ. Differential Neuropeptidomes of Dense Core Secretory Vesicles (DCSV) Produced at Intravesicular and Extracellular pH Conditions by Proteolytic Processing. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:2385-2398. [PMID: 34153188 PMCID: PMC8267839 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
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Neuropeptides mediate
cell–cell signaling in the nervous
and endocrine systems. The neuropeptidome is the spectrum of peptides
generated from precursors by proteolysis within dense core secretory
vesicles (DCSV). DCSV neuropeptides and contents are released to the
extracellular environment where further processing for neuropeptide
formation may occur. To assess the DCSV proteolytic capacity for production
of neuropeptidomes at intravesicular pH 5.5 and extracellular pH 7.2,
neuropeptidomics, proteomics, and protease assays were conducted using
chromaffin granules (CG) purified from adrenal medulla. CG are an
established model of DCSV. The CG neuropeptidome consisted of 1239
unique peptides derived from 15 proneuropeptides that were colocalized
with 64 proteases. Distinct CG neuropeptidomes were generated at the
internal DCSV pH of 5.5 compared to the extracellular pH of 7.2. Class-specific
protease inhibitors differentially regulated neuropeptidome production
involving aspartic, cysteine, serine, and metallo proteases. The substrate
cleavage properties of CG proteases were assessed by multiplex substrate
profiling by mass spectrometry (MSP-MS) that uses a synthetic peptide
library containing diverse cleavage sites for endopeptidases and exopeptidases.
Parallel inhibitor-sensitive cleavages for neuropeptidome production
and peptide library proteolysis led to elucidation of six CG proteases
involved in neuropeptidome production, represented by cathepsins A,
B, C, D, and L and carboxypeptidase E (CPE). The MSP-MS profiles of
these six enzymes represented the majority of CG proteolytic cleavages
utilized for neuropeptidome production. These findings provide new
insight into the DCSV proteolytic system for production of distinct
neuropeptidomes at the internal CG pH of 5.5 and at the extracellular
pH of 7.2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenze Jiang
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Christopher B. Lietz
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Sonia Podvin
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Michael C. Yoon
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Thomas Toneff
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Vivian Hook
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department of Neuroscience and Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Anthony J. O’Donoghue
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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Di Spiezio A, Marques ARA, Schmidt L, Thießen N, Gallwitz L, Fogh J, Bartsch U, Saftig P. Analysis of cathepsin B and cathepsin L treatment to clear toxic lysosomal protein aggregates in neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2021; 1867:166205. [PMID: 34214607 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Proteolysis mediated by lysosomal cathepsin proteases maintains a physiological flow in autophagy, phagocytosis and endocytosis. Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL) is a childhood neurodegenerative disorder characterized by disturbed autophagic flow and pathological accumulation of proteins. We demonstrated a therapeutic clearance of protein aggregates after dosing NCL10 mice with recombinant human pro-cathepsin-D. Prompted by these results and speculating that cathepsins may act in a redundant and in an hierarchical manner we envisaged that a treatment with human recombinant cysteine proteases pro-cathepsin-L (proCTSL) and pro-cathepsin-B (proCTSB) could similarly be used to induce protein degradation. Both enzymes were taken up by mannose 6-phosphate receptor- and LRP-receptor-mediated endocytosis and processed to the lysosomal mature cathepsins. In murine NCL10 astrocytes an abnormal increase in LAMP1 and saposin expression was revealed. Although proCTSB application did not improve this phenotype, proCTSL treatment led to reduced saposin-C levels in this model as well as in an acute brain slice model. Intracerebral dosing in a NCL10 mouse model revealed cellular and lysosomal uptake of both enzymes. Only proCTSL mildly reduced saposin-C levels and attenuated reactive astrogliosis. Application of both proteases did not improve weight loss and mortality of mutant mice. Our data reveal that although recombinant lysosomal proteases can be efficiently delivered to neuronal lysosomes cysteine proteases are less efficient in protein aggregates clearance as compared to the cathepsin-D treatment. Our data including in vitro degradation assays support the idea that bulk proteolysis requires a hierarchical process in which both aspartyl and cysteine hydrolases play a role.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - André R A Marques
- Chronic Diseases Research Centre (CEDOC), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1150-082 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Lina Schmidt
- Institute of Biochemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Niklas Thießen
- Institute of Biochemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Lisa Gallwitz
- Institute of Biochemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Udo Bartsch
- Department of Ophthalmology, Experimental Opthalmology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Paul Saftig
- Institute of Biochemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany.
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Arora M, Pandey G, Chauhan SS. Cysteine Cathepsins and Their Prognostic and Therapeutic Relevance in Leukemia. ANNALS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES (INDIA) 2021. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1726151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractCysteine cathepsins are lysosomal proteases that require Cys-His ion pair in their catalytic site for enzymatic activity. While their aberrant expression and oncogenic functions have been widely reported in solid tumors, recent findings suggest that these proteases also play an important role in the pathogenesis of hematological malignancies. In this review, we summarize the potential clinical implications of cysteine cathepsins as diagnostic and prognostic markers in leukemia, and present evidences which supports the utility of these proteases as potential therapeutic targets in hematological malignancies. We also highlight the available information on the expression patterns, regulation, and potential functions of cysteine cathepsins in normal hematopoiesis and hematological malignancies. In hematopoiesis, cysteine cathepsins play a variety of physiological roles including regulation of hematopoietic stem cell adhesion in the bone marrow, trafficking, and maturation. They are also involved in several functions of immune cells which include the selection of lymphocytes in the thymus, antigen processing, and presentation. However, the expression of cysteine cathepsins is dysregulated in hematological malignancies where they have been shown to play diverse functions. Interestingly, several pieces of evidence over the past few years have demonstrated overexpression of cathepsins in leukemia and their association with worst survival outcomes in patients. Strategies aimed at altering the expression, activity, and subcellular localization of these cathepsins are emerging as potential therapeutic modalaties in the management of hematological malignancies. Recent findings also suggest the involvement of these proteases in modulating the immune response in leukemia and lymphomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Arora
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Garima Pandey
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Shyam S. Chauhan
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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Impact of DJ-1 and Helix 8 on the Proteome and Degradome of Neuron-Like Cells. Cells 2021; 10:cells10020404. [PMID: 33669258 PMCID: PMC7920061 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
DJ-1 is an abundant and ubiquitous component of cellular proteomes. DJ-1 supposedly exerts a wide variety of molecular functions, ranging from enzymatic activities as a deglycase, protease, and esterase to chaperone functions. However, a consensus perspective on its molecular function in the cellular context has not yet been reached. Structurally, the C-terminal helix 8 of DJ-1 has been proposed to constitute a propeptide whose proteolytic removal transforms a DJ-1 zymogen to an active hydrolase with potential proteolytic activity. To better understand the cell-contextual functionality of DJ-1 and the role of helix 8, we employed post-mitotically differentiated, neuron-like SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with stable over-expression of full length DJ-1 or DJ-1 lacking helix 8 (ΔH8), either with a native catalytically active site (C106) or an inactive site (C106A active site mutation). Global proteome comparison of cells over-expressing DJ-1 ΔH8 with native or mutated active site cysteine indicated a strong impact on mitochondrial biology. N-terminomic profiling however did not highlight direct protease substrate candidates for DJ-1 ΔH8, but linked DJ-1 to elevated levels of activated lysosomal proteases, albeit presumably in an indirect manner. Finally, we show that DJ-1 ΔH8 loses the deglycation activity of full length DJ-1. Our study further establishes DJ-1 as deglycation enzyme. Helix 8 is essential for the deglycation activity but dispensable for the impact on lysosomal and mitochondrial biology; further illustrating the pleiotropic nature of DJ-1.
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Sala V, Cnudde SJ, Murabito A, Massarotti A, Hirsch E, Ghigo A. Therapeutic peptides for the treatment of cystic fibrosis: Challenges and perspectives. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 213:113191. [PMID: 33493828 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common amongst rare genetic diseases, affecting more than 70.000 people worldwide. CF is characterized by a dysfunctional chloride channel, termed cystic fibrosis conductance regulator (CFTR), which leads to the production of a thick and viscous mucus layer that clogs the lungs of CF patients and traps pathogens, leading to chronic infections and inflammation and, ultimately, lung damage. In recent years, the use of peptides for the treatment of respiratory diseases, including CF, has gained growing interest. Therapeutic peptides for CF include antimicrobial peptides, inhibitors of proteases, and modulators of ion channels, among others. Peptides display unique features that make them appealing candidates for clinical translation, like specificity of action, high efficacy, and low toxicity. Nevertheless, the intrinsic properties of peptides, together with the need of delivering these compounds locally, e.g. by inhalation, raise a number of concerns in the development of peptide therapeutics for CF lung disease. In this review, we discuss the challenges related to the use of peptides for the treatment of CF lung disease through inhalation, which include retention within mucus, proteolysis, immunogenicity and aggregation. Strategies for overcoming major shortcomings of peptide therapeutics will be presented, together with recent developments in peptide design and optimization, including computational analysis and high-throughput screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Sala
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Sophie Julie Cnudde
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Alessandra Murabito
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Alberto Massarotti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Piemonte Orientale "A. Avogadro", Largo Donegani 2, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Emilio Hirsch
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy; Kither Biotech S.r.l., Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Alessandra Ghigo
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy; Kither Biotech S.r.l., Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy.
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Abstract
Proteases comprise a variety of enzymes defined by their ability to catalytically hydrolyze the peptide bonds of other proteins, resulting in protein lysis. Cathepsins, specifically, encompass a class of at least twenty proteases with potent endopeptidase activity. They are located subcellularly in lysosomes, organelles responsible for the cell’s degradative and autophagic processes, and are vital for normal lysosomal function. Although cathepsins are involved in a multitude of cell signaling activities, this chapter will focus on the role of cathepsins (with a special emphasis on Cathepsin B) in neuronal plasticity. We will broadly define what is known about regulation of cathepsins in the central nervous system and compare this with their dysregulation after injury or disease. Importantly, we will delineate what is currently known about the role of cathepsins in axon regeneration and plasticity after spinal cord injury. It is well established that normal cathepsin activity is integral to the function of lysosomes. Without normal lysosomal function, autophagy and other homeostatic cellular processes become dysregulated resulting in axon dystrophy. Furthermore, controlled activation of cathepsins at specialized neuronal structures such as axonal growth cones and dendritic spines have been positively implicated in their plasticity. This chapter will end with a perspective on the consequences of cathepsin dysregulation versus controlled, localized regulation to clarify how cathepsins can contribute to both neuronal plasticity and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Phuong Tran
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jerry Silver
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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45
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Eleocarpanthraquinone, a novel anthraquinone from Rhamnidium elaeocarpum (Rhamnaceae). Tetrahedron Lett 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2020.152489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Heinz A. Elastases and elastokines: elastin degradation and its significance in health and disease. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2020; 55:252-273. [PMID: 32530323 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2020.1768208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Elastin is an important protein of the extracellular matrix of higher vertebrates, which confers elasticity and resilience to various tissues and organs including lungs, skin, large blood vessels and ligaments. Owing to its unique structure, extensive cross-linking and durability, it does not undergo significant turnover in healthy tissues and has a half-life of more than 70 years. Elastin is not only a structural protein, influencing the architecture and biomechanical properties of the extracellular matrix, but also plays a vital role in various physiological processes. Bioactive elastin peptides termed elastokines - in particular those of the GXXPG motif - occur as a result of proteolytic degradation of elastin and its non-cross-linked precursor tropoelastin and display several biological activities. For instance, they promote angiogenesis or stimulate cell adhesion, chemotaxis, proliferation, protease activation and apoptosis. Elastin-degrading enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases, serine proteases and cysteine proteases slowly damage elastin over the lifetime of an organism. The destruction of elastin and the biological processes triggered by elastokines favor the development and progression of various pathological conditions including emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome and cancer. This review gives an overview on types of human elastases and their action on human elastin, including the formation, structure and biological activities of elastokines and their role in common biological processes and severe pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Heinz
- Department of Pharmacy, LEO Foundation Center for Cutaneous Drug Delivery, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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47
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Tang T, Bidon M, Jaimes JA, Whittaker GR, Daniel S. Coronavirus membrane fusion mechanism offers a potential target for antiviral development. Antiviral Res 2020. [PMID: 32272173 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has focused attention on the need to develop effective therapies against the causative agent, SARS-CoV-2, and also against other pathogenic coronaviruses (CoV) that have emerged in the past or might appear in future. Researchers are therefore focusing on steps in the CoV replication cycle that may be vulnerable to inhibition by broad-spectrum or specific antiviral agents. The conserved nature of the fusion domain and mechanism across the CoV family make it a valuable target to elucidate and develop pan-CoV therapeutics. In this article, we review the role of the CoV spike protein in mediating fusion of the viral and host cell membranes, summarizing the results of research on SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and recent peer-reviewed studies of SARS-CoV-2, and suggest that the fusion mechanism be investigated as a potential antiviral target. We also provide a supplemental file containing background information on the biology, epidemiology, and clinical features of all human-infecting coronaviruses, along with a phylogenetic tree of these coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Tang
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Miya Bidon
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Javier A Jaimes
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Gary R Whittaker
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Susan Daniel
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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48
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Tang T, Bidon M, Jaimes JA, Whittaker GR, Daniel S. Coronavirus membrane fusion mechanism offers a potential target for antiviral development. Antiviral Res 2020; 178:104792. [PMID: 32272173 PMCID: PMC7194977 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 521] [Impact Index Per Article: 130.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has focused attention on the need to develop effective therapies against the causative agent, SARS-CoV-2, and also against other pathogenic coronaviruses (CoV) that have emerged in the past or might appear in future. Researchers are therefore focusing on steps in the CoV replication cycle that may be vulnerable to inhibition by broad-spectrum or specific antiviral agents. The conserved nature of the fusion domain and mechanism across the CoV family make it a valuable target to elucidate and develop pan-CoV therapeutics. In this article, we review the role of the CoV spike protein in mediating fusion of the viral and host cell membranes, summarizing the results of research on SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and recent peer-reviewed studies of SARS-CoV-2, and suggest that the fusion mechanism be investigated as a potential antiviral target. We also provide a supplemental file containing background information on the biology, epidemiology, and clinical features of all human-infecting coronaviruses, along with a phylogenetic tree of these coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Tang
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Miya Bidon
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Javier A Jaimes
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Gary R Whittaker
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Susan Daniel
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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49
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Reynisson B, Barra C, Kaabinejadian S, Hildebrand WH, Peters B, Nielsen M. Improved Prediction of MHC II Antigen Presentation through Integration and Motif Deconvolution of Mass Spectrometry MHC Eluted Ligand Data. J Proteome Res 2020; 19:2304-2315. [PMID: 32308001 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.9b00874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 224] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Major histocompatibility complex II (MHC II) molecules play a vital role in the onset and control of cellular immunity. In a highly selective process, MHC II presents peptides derived from exogenous antigens on the surface of antigen-presenting cells for T cell scrutiny. Understanding the rules defining this presentation holds critical insights into the regulation and potential manipulation of the cellular immune system. Here, we apply the NNAlign_MA machine learning framework to analyze and integrate large-scale eluted MHC II ligand mass spectrometry (MS) data sets to advance prediction of CD4+ epitopes. NNAlign_MA allows integration of mixed data types, handling ligands with multiple potential allele annotations, encoding of ligand context, leveraging information between data sets, and has pan-specific power allowing accurate predictions outside the set of molecules included in the training data. Applying this framework, we identified accurate binding motifs of more than 50 MHC class II molecules described by MS data, particularly expanding coverage for DP and DQ beyond that obtained using current MS motif deconvolution techniques. Furthermore, in large-scale benchmarking, the final model termed NetMHCIIpan-4.0 demonstrated improved performance beyond current state-of-the-art predictors for ligand and CD4+ T cell epitope prediction. These results suggest that NNAlign_MA and NetMHCIIpan-4.0 are powerful tools for analysis of immunopeptidome MS data, prediction of T cell epitopes, and development of personalized immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birkir Reynisson
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Carolina Barra
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | | | - William H Hildebrand
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104, United States
| | - Bjoern Peters
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, California 92037, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - Morten Nielsen
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby 2800, Denmark.,Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín CP1650, Argentina
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50
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Vizovišek M, Vidak E, Javoršek U, Mikhaylov G, Bratovš A, Turk B. Cysteine cathepsins as therapeutic targets in inflammatory diseases. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:573-588. [PMID: 32228244 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1746765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Cysteine cathepsins are involved in the development and progression of numerous inflammation-associated diseases such as cancer, arthritis, bone and immune disorders. Consequently, there is a drive to progress research efforts focused on cathepsin use in diagnostics and as therapeutic targets in disease.Areas covered: This review discusses the potential of cysteine cathepsins as therapeutic targets in inflammation-associated diseases and recent advances in preclinical and clinical research. We describe direct targeting of cathepsins for treatment purposes and their indirect use in diagnostics.Expert opinion: The targeting of cysteine cathepsins has not translated into the clinic; this failure is attributed to off- and on-target side effects and/or the lack of companion biomarkers. This field now embraces developments in diagnostic imaging, the activation of prodrugs and antibody-drug conjugates for targeted drug delivery. The future lies in improved molecular tools and therapeutic concepts that will find a wide spectrum of uses in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matej Vizovišek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Eva Vidak
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Jozef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Urban Javoršek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Jozef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Georgy Mikhaylov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andreja Bratovš
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Jozef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Boris Turk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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