Utilization of an in vivo reporter for high throughput identification of branched small molecule regulators of hypoxic adaptation

Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibition: robust new target or another big bust for stroke therapeutics?

A major challenge in developing stroke therapeutics that augment adaptive pathways to stress has been to identify targets that can activate compensatory programs without inducing or adding to the stress of injury. In this regard, hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylases (HIF PHDs) are central gatekeepers of posttranscriptional and transcriptional adaptation to hypoxia, oxidative stress, and excitotoxicity. Indeed, some of the known salutary effects of putative 'antioxidant' iron chelators in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke may derive from their abilities to inhibit this family of iron, 2-oxoglutarate, and oxygen-dependent enzymes. Evidence from a number of laboratories supports the notion that HIF PHD inhibition can improve histological and functional outcomes in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke models. In this review, we discuss this evidence and highlight important gaps in our understanding that render HIF PHD inhibition a promising but not yet preclinically validated target for protection and repair after stroke.

Screening chelating inhibitors of HIF-prolyl hydroxylase domain 2 (PHD2) and factor inhibiting HIF (FIH)

Two primary O(2)-sensors for humans are the HIF-hydroxylases, enzymes that hydroxylate specific residues of the hypoxia inducible factor-α (HIF). These enzymes are factor inhibiting HIF (FIH) and prolyl hydroxylase-2 (PHD2), each an α-ketoglutarate (αKG) dependent, non-heme Fe(II) dioxygenase. Although the two enzymes have similar active sites, FIH hydroxylates Asn(803) of HIF-1α while PHD2 hydroxylates Pro(402) and/or Pro(564) of HIF-1α. The similar structures but unique functions of FIH and PHD2 make them prime targets for selective inhibition leading to regulatory control of diseases such as cancer and stroke. Three classes of iron chelators were tested as inhibitors for FIH and PHD2: pyridines, hydroxypyrones/hydroxypyridinones and catechols. An initial screen of the ten small molecule inhibitors at varied [αKG] revealed a non-overlapping set of inhibitors for PHD2 and FIH. Dose response curves at moderate [αKG] ([αKG]~K(M)) showed that the hydroxypyrones/hydroxypyridinones were selective inhibitors, with IC(50) in the μM range, and that the catechols were generally strong inhibitors of both FIH and PHD2, with IC(50) in the low μM range. As support for binding at the active site of each enzyme as the mode of inhibition, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy were used to demonstrate inhibitor binding to the metal center of each enzyme. This work shows some selective inhibition between FIH and PHD2, primarily through the use of simple aromatic or pseudo-aromatic chelators, and suggests that hydroxypyrones and hydroxypyridones may be promising chelates for FIH or PHD2 inhibition.

Development of Neh2-luciferase reporter and its application for high throughput screening and real-time monitoring of Nrf2 activators

The NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key transcriptional regulator of antioxidant defense and detoxification. To directly monitor stabilization of Nrf2, we fused its Neh2 domain, responsible for the interaction with its nucleocytoplasmic regulator, Keap1, to firefly luciferase (Neh2-luciferase). We show that Neh2 domain is sufficient for recognition, ubiquitination, and proteasomal degradation of Neh2-luciferase fusion protein. The Neh2-luc reporter system allows direct monitoring of the adaptive response to redox stress and classification of drugs based on the time course of reporter activation. The reporter was used to screen the Spectrum library of 2000 biologically active compounds to identify activators of Nrf2. The most robust and yet nontoxic Nrf2 activators found--nordihydroguaiaretic acid, fisetin, and gedunin--induced astrocyte-dependent neuroprotection from oxidative stress via an Nrf2-dependent mechanism.

A photoreactive small-molecule probe for 2-oxoglutarate oxygenases

2-oxoglutarate (2-OG)-dependent oxygenases have diverse roles in human biology. The inhibition of several 2-OG oxygenases is being targeted for therapeutic intervention, including for cancer, anemia, and ischemic diseases. We report a small-molecule probe for 2-OG oxygenases that employs a hydroxyquinoline template coupled to a photoactivable crosslinking group and an affinity-purification tag. Following studies with recombinant proteins, the probe was shown to crosslink to 2-OG oxygenases in human crude cell extracts, including to proteins at endogenous levels. This approach is useful for inhibitor profiling, as demonstrated by crosslinking to the histone demethylase FBXL11 (KDM2A) in HEK293T nuclear extracts. The results also suggest that small-molecule probes may be suitable for substrate identification studies.

Enabling Lead Discovery for Histone Lysine Demethylases by High-Throughput RapidFire Mass Spectrometry

A high-throughput RapidFire mass spectrometry assay is described for the JMJD2 family of Fe2+, O2, and α-ketoglutarate-dependent histone lysine demethylases. The assay employs a short amino acid peptide substrate, corresponding to the first 15 amino acid residues of histone H3, but mutated at two positions to increase assay sensitivity. The assay monitors the direct formation of the dimethylated-Lys9 product from the trimethylated-Lys9 peptide substrate. Monitoring the formation of the monomethylated and des-methylated peptide products is also possible. The assay was validated using known inhibitors of the histone lysine demethylases, including 2,4-pyridinedicarboxylic acid and an α-ketoglutarate analogue. With a sampling rate of 7 s per well, the RapidFire technology permitted the single-concentration screening of 101 226 compounds against JMJD2C in 10 days using two instruments, typically giving Z′ values of 0.75 to 0.85. Several compounds were identified of the 8-hydroxyquinoline chemotype, a known series of inhibitors of the Lys9-specific histone demethylases. The peptide also functions as a substrate for JMJD2A, JMJD2D, and JMJD2E, thus enabling the development of assays for all 3 enzymes to monitor progress in compound selectivity. The assay represents the first report of a RapidFire mass spectrometry assay for an epigenetics target.

Roles for HIF-1α in neural stem cell function and the regenerative response to stroke

Stroke represents a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, with few therapeutic options available for improving behavioral recovery. Identification of endogenous neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) that are capable of promoting reparative responses following brain injury and stroke make these cells attractive therapeutic targets for stimulating cell replacement and neuronal plasticity. Interest in the mechanisms that support NSPC survival and replenishment of damaged cells within the ischemic brain has led to elucidation of new roles for hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in NSPC function. HIF-1α is a well-studied mediator of adaptive cellular responses to hypoxia through direct transcriptional regulation of cellular metabolism and angiogenesis. Recent evidence also indicates novel roles for HIF-1α in stem cell differentiation through modulation of Notch and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. In this review, we will explore the hypothesis that HIF-1α represents an important mediator of NSPC function under both non-pathological conditions and stroke; and plays a central role in the regulation of NSPC response to hypoxia, metabolism and maintenance of the vascular environment of the neural stem cell niche.

Inhibition of 2-oxoglutarate dependent oxygenases

2-Oxoglutarate (2OG) dependent oxygenases are ubiquitous iron enzymes that couple substrate oxidation to the conversion of 2OG to succinate and carbon dioxide. In humans their roles include collagen biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolism, DNA repair, RNA and chromatin modifications, and hypoxic sensing. Commercial applications of 2OG oxygenase inhibitors began with plant growth retardants, and now extend to a clinically used pharmaceutical compound for cardioprotection. Several 2OG oxygenases are now being targeted for therapeutic intervention for diseases including anaemia, inflammation and cancer. In this critical review, we describe studies on the inhibition of 2OG oxygenases, focusing on small molecules, and discuss the potential of 2OG oxygenases as therapeutic targets (295 references).

Quantitative high-throughput screening identifies 8-hydroxyquinolines as cell-active histone demethylase inhibitors

Background

Small molecule modulators of epigenetic processes are currently sought as basic probes for biochemical mechanisms, and as starting points for development of therapeutic agents. N^ε-Methylation of lysine residues on histone tails is one of a number of post-translational modifications that together enable transcriptional regulation. Histone lysine demethylases antagonize the action of histone methyltransferases in a site- and methylation state-specific manner. N^ε-Methyllysine demethylases that use 2-oxoglutarate as co-factor are associated with diverse human diseases, including cancer, inflammation and X-linked mental retardation; they are proposed as targets for the therapeutic modulation of transcription. There are few reports on the identification of templates that are amenable to development as potent inhibitors in vivo and large diverse collections have yet to be exploited for the discovery of demethylase inhibitors.

Principal Findings

High-throughput screening of a ∼236,000-member collection of diverse molecules arrayed as dilution series was used to identify inhibitors of the JMJD2 (KDM4) family of 2-oxoglutarate-dependent histone demethylases. Initial screening hits were prioritized by a combination of cheminformatics, counterscreening using a coupled assay enzyme, and orthogonal confirmatory detection of inhibition by mass spectrometric assays. Follow-up studies were carried out on one of the series identified, 8-hydroxyquinolines, which were shown by crystallographic analyses to inhibit by binding to the active site Fe(II) and to modulate demethylation at the H3K9 locus in a cell-based assay.

Conclusions

These studies demonstrate that diverse compound screening can yield novel inhibitors of 2OG dependent histone demethylases and provide starting points for the development of potent and selective agents to interrogate epigenetic regulation.