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Wang C, Zhang Y, Yang S, Chen W, Xing D. PROTACs for BRDs proteins in cancer therapy: a review. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2022; 37:1694-1703. [PMID: 35702740 PMCID: PMC9225710 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2022.2081164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BRDs proteins that recognise chromatin acetylation regulate gene expression, are epigenetic readers and master transcription coactivators. BRDs proteins are now emerging as targets for new therapeutic development. Blocking the function of any of BRDs proteins can be a control agent for diseases, such as cancer. Traditional drugs like enzyme inhibitors and protein-protein inhibitors have many limitations. The therapeutic efficacy of them remains to be proven. Recently, Proteolysis-Targeting Chimaeras (PROTACs) have become an advanced tool in therapeutic intervention as they remove disease-causing proteins. Extremely potent and efficacious small-molecule PROTACs of the BRDs proteins, based on available, potent, and selective BRDs inhibitors, have been reported. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the development of PROTACs for BRDs proteins regulation in cancer, and the chances and challenges associated with this area are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Yujing Zhang
- The Affiliated Cardiovascular Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Shanbo Yang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Wujun Chen
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Dongming Xing
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, PR China
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He Y, Zan X, Miao J, Wang B, Wu Y, Shen Y, Chen X, Gou H, Zheng S, Huang N, Cheng Y, Ju Y, Fu X, Qian Z, Zhou P, Liu J, Gao X. Enhanced anti-glioma efficacy of doxorubicin with BRD4 PROTAC degrader using targeted nanoparticles. Mater Today Bio 2022; 16:100423. [PMID: 36157053 PMCID: PMC9489811 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Current treatment of glioma is hampered due to the physical blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the resistance to traditional chemotherapeutic agents. Herein, we proposed a combined treatment strategy based on Cyclo (Arg-Gly-Asp-d-Phe-Lys) (cRGDfk) peptides-modified nanoparticle named cRGD-P in a self-assembly method for the co-delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) and BRD4 PROTAC degrader ARV-825 (ARV). Molecular dynamics simulations showed that cRGD-P could change its conformation to provide interaction sites for perfectly co-loading DOX and ARV. The cRGD-P/ARV-DOX exhibited an average size of 39.95 nm and a zeta potential of −0.25 mV. Increased expression of BRD4 in glioma cells was observed after being stimulated by cRGD-P/DOX, confirming one of the possible mechanisms of DOX resistance and the synergistic tumor inhibition effect of BRD4 degrading ARV combined with DOX. In the study, the combination of DOX and ARV in the cRGD-P nanoparticle system exhibited synergistic suppression of tumor growth in glioma cells on account of cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and the activation of tumor cells apoptosis-related pathways including triggering caspase cascade and downregulating Bcl-2 as well as upregulating Bax. The cRGD-P/ARV-DOX system could effectively suppress the heterotopic and orthotopic growth of glioma by increasing tumor apoptosis, inhibiting tumor proliferation, and decreasing tumor angiogenesis in vivo. Therefore, the cRGD-modified nanoparticle to co-deliver DOX and ARV provides a potential platform for exploiting a more effective and safer combination therapy for glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihong He
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China.,Department of Pathophysiology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Xin Zan
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Junming Miao
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Bilan Wang
- West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Yin Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yangmei Shen
- West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Xinchuan Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Hongfeng Gou
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Songping Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ning Huang
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Yongzhong Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yan Ju
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xianghui Fu
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhiyong Qian
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Peizhi Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jiagang Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiang Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
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Du G, Jiang J, Henning NJ, Safaee N, Koide E, Nowak RP, Donovan KA, Yoon H, You I, Yue H, Eleuteri NA, He Z, Li Z, Huang HT, Che J, Nabet B, Zhang T, Fischer ES, Gray NS. Exploring the target scope of KEAP1 E3 ligase-based PROTACs. Cell Chem Biol 2022; 29:1470-1481.e31. [PMID: 36070758 PMCID: PMC9588736 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) uses small molecules to recruit E3 ubiquitin ligases into the proximity of proteins of interest, inducing ubiquitination-dependent degradation. A major bottleneck in the TPD field is the lack of accessible E3 ligase ligands for developing degraders. To expand the E3 ligase toolbox, we sought to convert the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) inhibitor KI696 into a recruitment handle for several targets. While we were able to generate KEAP1-recruiting degraders of BET family and murine focal adhesion kinase (FAK), we discovered that the target scope of KEAP1 was narrow, as targets easily degraded using a cereblon (CRBN)-recruiting degrader were refractory to KEAP1-mediated degradation. Linking the KEAP1-binding ligand to a CRBN-binding ligand resulted in a molecule that induced degradation of KEAP1 but not CRBN. In sum, we characterize tool compounds to explore KEAP1-mediated ubiquitination and delineate the challenges of exploiting new E3 ligases for generating bivalent degraders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyan Du
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jie Jiang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nathaniel J Henning
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nozhat Safaee
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eriko Koide
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Radosław P Nowak
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katherine A Donovan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hojong Yoon
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Inchul You
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Hong Yue
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas A Eleuteri
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhixiang He
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhengnian Li
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Hubert T Huang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jianwei Che
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Behnam Nabet
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Tinghu Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Eric S Fischer
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Yang J, Chang Y, Tien JCY, Wang Z, Zhou Y, Zhang P, Huang W, Vo J, Apel IJ, Wang C, Zeng VZ, Cheng Y, Li S, Wang GX, Chinnaiyan AM, Ding K. Discovery of a Highly Potent and Selective Dual PROTAC Degrader of CDK12 and CDK13. J Med Chem 2022; 65:11066-11083. [PMID: 35938508 PMCID: PMC9876424 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Selective degradation of the cyclin-dependent kinases 12 and 13 (CDK12/13) presents a novel therapeutic opportunity for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), but there is still a lack of dual CDK12/13 degraders. Here, we report the discovery of the first series of highly potent and selective dual CDK12/13 degraders by employing the proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology. The optimal compound 7f effectively degraded CDK12 and CDK13 with DC50 values of 2.2 and 2.1 nM, respectively, in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Global proteomic profiling demonstrated the target selectivity of 7f. In vitro, 7f suppressed expression of core DNA damage response (DDR) genes in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Further, 7f markedly inhibited proliferation of multiple TNBC cell lines including MFM223, with an IC50 value of 47 nM. Importantly, 7f displayed a significantly improved antiproliferative activity compared to the structurally similar inhibitor 4, suggesting the potential advantage of a CDK12/13 degrader for TNBC targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhang Yang
- International
Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization
and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE),
Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development,
College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 855 Xingye Avenue East, Guangzhou 511400, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu Chang
- International
Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization
and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE),
Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development,
College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 855 Xingye Avenue East, Guangzhou 511400, People’s Republic of China
- Michigan
Center for Translational Pathology, University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Jean Ching-Yi Tien
- Michigan
Center for Translational Pathology, University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department
of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Zhen Wang
- State
Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy
of Sciences, #345 Ling Ling Road, Shanghai 200032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yang Zhou
- International
Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization
and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE),
Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development,
College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 855 Xingye Avenue East, Guangzhou 511400, People’s Republic of China
| | - Pujuan Zhang
- State
Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy
of Sciences, #345 Ling Ling Road, Shanghai 200032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Weixue Huang
- State
Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy
of Sciences, #345 Ling Ling Road, Shanghai 200032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Josh Vo
- Michigan
Center for Translational Pathology, University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Ingrid J. Apel
- Michigan
Center for Translational Pathology, University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Cynthia Wang
- Michigan
Center for Translational Pathology, University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Victoria Zhixuan Zeng
- Michigan
Center for Translational Pathology, University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Yunhui Cheng
- Michigan
Center for Translational Pathology, University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Shuqin Li
- Michigan
Center for Translational Pathology, University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - George Xiaoju Wang
- Michigan
Center for Translational Pathology, University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department
of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department
of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Arul M. Chinnaiyan
- Michigan
Center for Translational Pathology, University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department
of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department
of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Howard Hughes
Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department
of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Ke Ding
- International
Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization
and Innovative Drug Discovery of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE),
Guangzhou City Key Laboratory of Precision Chemical Drug Development,
College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 855 Xingye Avenue East, Guangzhou 511400, People’s Republic of China
- State
Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy
of Sciences, #345 Ling Ling Road, Shanghai 200032, People’s Republic of China
- Institute
of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, People’s Republic of China
- The
First Affiliated Hospital (Huaqiao Hospital), Jinan University, 601
Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou 510632, China
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Graham H. The mechanism of action and clinical value of PROTACs: A graphical review. Cell Signal 2022; 99:110446. [PMID: 35995302 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2022.110446] [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: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The use of small molecule drugs to inhibit active protein targets has revolutionised the treatment options for many diseases in the past 30 years. The greatly improved pharmacokinetic properties of modern drugs combined with enhanced cell permeability and oral bioavailability has made these molecules ideal for reaching protein targets of interest in cells and inhibiting disease-driven signalling pathways. However, these small molecule drugs have several limitations which have opened the doors for the development of a new class of compounds, known as proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs). These next generation drugs actively and specifically degrade designated protein targets and hold the potential to greatly expand the druggable genome, including previously drug-resistant targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harriet Graham
- College of Veterinary, Medical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
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Developing New Treatment Options for Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer and Recurrent Disease. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081872. [PMID: 36009418 PMCID: PMC9405166 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081872] [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: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major diagnosed cancer among men globally, and about 20% of patients develop metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) in the initial diagnosis. PCa is a typical androgen-dependent disease; thus, hormonal therapy is commonly used as a standard care for mPCa by inhibiting androgen receptor (AR) activities, or androgen metabolism. Inevitably, almost all PCa will acquire resistance and become castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) that is associated with AR gene mutations or amplification, the presence of AR variants, loss of AR expression toward neuroendocrine phenotype, or other hormonal receptors. Treating CRPC poses a great challenge to clinicians. Research efforts in the last decade have come up with several new anti-androgen agents to prolong overall survival of CRPC patients. In addition, many potential targeting agents have been at the stage of being able to translate many preclinical discoveries into clinical practices. At this juncture, it is important to highlight the emerging strategies including small-molecule inhibitors to AR variants, DNA repair enzymes, cell survival pathway, neuroendocrine differentiation pathway, radiotherapy, CRPC-specific theranostics and immune therapy that are underway or have recently been completed.
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Chemical biology and pharmacology of histone lysine methylation inhibitors. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2022; 1865:194840. [PMID: 35753676 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2022.194840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Histone lysine methylation is a post-translational modification that plays a key role in the epigenetic regulation of a broad spectrum of biological processes. Moreover, the dysregulation of histone lysine methyltransferases (KMTs) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases particularly cancer. Due to their pathobiological importance, KMTs have garnered immense attention over the last decade as attractive therapeutic targets. These endeavors have culminated in tens of chemical probes that have been used to interrogate many aspects of histone lysine methylation. Besides, over a dozen inhibitors have been advanced to clinical trials, including the EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat approved for the treatment of follicular lymphoma and advanced epithelioid sarcoma. In this Review, we highlight the chemical biology and pharmacology of KMT inhibitors and targeted protein degraders focusing on the clinical development of EZH1/2, DOT1L, Menin-MLL, and WDR5-MLL inhibitors. We also briefly discuss the pharmacologic targeting of other KMTs.
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An P, Lu D, Zhang L, Lan H, Yang H, Ge G, Liu W, Shen W, Ding X, Tang D, Zhang W, Luan X, Cheng H, Zhang H. Synergistic antitumor effects of compound-composed optimal formula from Aidi injection on hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal cancer. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 103:154231. [PMID: 35691079 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traditional Chinese medicine formula (TCMF) possesses unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of malignant tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the unclear chemical composition and mechanism lead to its unstable efficacy and adverse reactions occurring frequently, especially injection. We previously proposed the research idea and strategy for compound-composed Chinese medicine formula (CCMF). PURPOSE A demonstration study was performed through screening of the compound-composed optimal formula (COF) from Aidi injection, confirmation of the synergistic effect, and exploration of the related mechanism in the treatment of HCC and CRC. METHOD The feedback system control (FSC) technique was applied to screening of COF. CCK-8 and calcein-AM/PI assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation. Cell apoptosis was assessed using flow cytometry and DAPI staining. JC-1 probe and mitochondrial staining were employed to detect mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and the release of cytochrome c into cytoplasm, respective. Quantitative proteomics, drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) assay, bioinformatics, and molecular docking were carried out to explore the targets of the compounds and the synergistic mechanism involved. RESULTS COF was obtained from Aidi injection, which comprises cantharidin (CAN): calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (CAG): ginsenoside Rc: ginsenoside Rd = 1:12:12:8 (molar ratio). The monarch drug CAN in combination with minister medicines consisting of CAG, Rc and Rd (abbr. TD) displayed evidently synergistic effect, which inhibited cell viability, increased dead cell number, induced apoptosis, reduced MMP, promoted cytochrome c leakage of HCC and CRC cells, and suppressed the increases of tumor volume and weight in HCC and CRC bearing nude mice. TD probably antagonized CAN enhanced activity of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) to depress the degradation of cytotoxic proteins through binding to ubiquitin proteasome, thus exerting the synergistic effect with CAN activated protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) to activate the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. In addition, the CAN enhanced protein expression of UPS was also observed for the first time. CONCLUSION CAN and TD exert synergism through activation of PP2A and inhibition of UPS. It makes sense to elucidate the scientific nature of the compatibility theory of TCMF based on CCMF, which will be an important research direction of the modernization of traditional Chinese medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei An
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1200, Cailun Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Dong Lu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1200, Cailun Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Lijun Zhang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1200, Cailun Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Haiyue Lan
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1200, Cailun Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Hongxuan Yang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1200, Cailun Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Guangbo Ge
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1200, Cailun Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1200, Cailun Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Weixing Shen
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 138, Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Xianting Ding
- Institute for Personalized Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Dongxin Tang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Weidong Zhang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1200, Cailun Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xin Luan
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1200, Cailun Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Haibo Cheng
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 138, Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China.
| | - Hong Zhang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1200, Cailun Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China.
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Design, synthesis, and evaluation of PD-L1 degraders to enhance T cell killing activity against melanoma. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2022.107762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Qin L, Dai H, Wang J. Key Considerations in Targeted Protein Degradation Drug Discovery and Development. Front Chem 2022; 10:934337. [PMID: 35978859 PMCID: PMC9376879 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.934337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeting proteins' enzymatic functions with small molecule inhibitors, as well as functions of receptor proteins with small-molecule agonists and antagonists, were the major forms of small-molecule drug development. These small-molecule modulators are based on a conventional occupancy-driven pharmacological approach. For proteome space traditionally considered undruggable by small-molecule modulators, such as enzymes with scaffolding functions, transcription factors, and proteins that lack well-defined binding pockets for small molecules, targeted protein degraders offer the opportunity to drug the proteome with an event-driven pharmacological approach. A degrader molecule, either PROTAC or molecular glue, brings the protein of interest (POI) and E3 ubiquitin ligase in close proximity and engages the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), the cellular waste disposal system for the degradation of the POI. For the development of targeted protein degraders to meet therapeutic needs, several aspects will be considered, namely, the selective degradation of disease-causing proteins, the oral bioavailability of degraders beyond Lipinski's rule of five (bRo5) scope, demands of new E3 ubiquitin ligases and molecular glue degraders, and drug resistance of the new drug modality. This review will illustrate several under-discussed key considerations in targeted protein degradation drug discovery and development: 1) the contributing factors for the selectivity of PROTAC molecules and the design of PROTACs to selectively degrade synergistic pathological proteins; 2) assay development in combination with a multi-omics approach for the identification of new E3 ligases and their corresponding ligands, as well as molecular glue degraders; 3) a molecular design to improve the oral bioavailability of bRo5 PROTACs, and 4) drug resistance of degraders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liena Qin
- Insilico Medicine Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Han Dai
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Junfeng Wang
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
- International Magnetobiology Frontier Research Center, Hefei, China
- Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, China
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61
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Vique‐Sánchez JL, Benítez‐Cardoza CG. A Potential PIK3CA Inhibitor to Develop an Anticancer Drug. ChemistrySelect 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202202301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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62
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Generation of a live attenuated influenza A vaccine by proteolysis targeting. Nat Biotechnol 2022; 40:1370-1377. [PMID: 35788567 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-022-01381-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The usefulness of live attenuated virus vaccines has been limited by suboptimal immunogenicity, safety concerns or cumbersome manufacturing processes and techniques. Here we describe the generation of a live attenuated influenza A virus vaccine using proteolysis-targeting chimeric (PROTAC) technology to degrade viral proteins via the endogenous ubiquitin-proteasome system of host cells. We engineered the genome of influenza A viruses in stable cell lines engineered for virus production to introduce a conditionally removable proteasome-targeting domain, generating fully infective PROTAC viruses that were live attenuated by the host protein degradation machinery upon infection. In mouse and ferret models, PROTAC viruses were highly attenuated and able to elicit robust and broad humoral, mucosal and cellular immunity against homologous and heterologous virus challenges. PROTAC-mediated attenuation of viruses may be broadly applicable for generating live attenuated vaccines.
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Ma S, Ji J, Tong Y, Zhu Y, Dou J, Zhang X, Xu S, Zhu T, Xu X, You Q, Jiang Z. Non-small molecule PROTACs (NSM-PROTACs): Protein degradation kaleidoscope. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:2990-3005. [PMID: 35865099 PMCID: PMC9293674 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) technology has been rapidly developed since its birth in 2001, attracting rapidly growing attention of scientific institutes and pharmaceutical companies. At present, a variety of small molecule PROTACs have entered the clinical trial. However, as small molecule PROTACs flourish, non-small molecule PROTACs (NSM-PROTACs) such as peptide PROTACs, nucleic acid PROTACs and antibody PROTACs have also advanced considerably over recent years, exhibiting the unique characters beyond the small molecule PROTACs. Here, we briefly introduce the types of NSM-PROTACs, describe the advantages of NSM-PROTACs, and summarize the development of NSM-PROTACs so far in detail. We hope this article could not only provide useful insights into NSM-PROTACs, but also expand the research interest of NSM-PROTACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiang Su Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jianai Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiang Su Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuanyuan Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiang Su Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuxuan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiang Su Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Junwei Dou
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiang Su Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiang Su Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Shicheng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiang Su Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Tianbao Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiang Su Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiaoli Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiang Su Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Qidong You
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiang Su Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Zhengyu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiang Su Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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Wang C, Chen X, Liu X, Lu D, Li S, Qu L, Yin F, Luo H, Zhang Y, Luo Z, Cui N, Kong L, Wang X. Discovery of precision targeting EZH2 degraders for triple-negative breast cancer. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 238:114462. [PMID: 35623249 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
EZH2 is usually overexpressed in TNBC and other tumors, which has a great influence on the occurrence, development and prognosis of tumors. However, current EZH2 inhibitors, including Tazemetostat and GSK126, affect the methyl catalytic capacity of EZH2 and have little effect on the tumorigenic activity of EZH2 itself, resulting in poor efficacy against most solid tumors. Herein, we designed and optimized proteolytic targeting chimeras (PROTACs) precision targeting EZH2. The most active PROTAC molecule U3i has a high affinity for PRC2 complex (KD = 16.19 nM) and show good inhibitory effects on MDA-MB-231 (IC50 = 0.57 μM) and MDA-MB-468 (IC50 = 0.38 μM) cells. Compared with that of the GSK126, the growth inhibitory activities of U3i against these two TNBC cells increased by approximately 20- and 30-fold. Further studies showed that U3i can degrade PRC2 complex in TNBC cells, induce apoptosis, and cause little damage to normal cells. Therefore, U3i is a potential anticancer molecule for TNBC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinye Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingchen Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Dehua Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Shang Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Lailiang Qu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Fucheng Yin
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Heng Luo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonglei Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongwen Luo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Ningjie Cui
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingyi Kong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaobing Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China.
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Minatel BC, Cohn DE, Pewarchuk ME, Barros-Filho MC, Sage AP, Stewart GL, Marshall EA, Telkar N, Martinez VD, Reis PP, Robinson WP, Lam WL. Genetic and Epigenetic Mechanisms Deregulate the CRL2pVHL Complex in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Genet 2022; 13:910221. [PMID: 35664333 PMCID: PMC9159809 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.910221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway genes through copy number alteration, promoter hypomethylation, and miRNA deregulation is involved in cancer development and progression. Further characterizing alterations in these genes may uncover novel drug targets across a range of diseases in which druggable alterations are uncommon, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We analyzed 377 HCC and 59 adjacent non-malignant liver tissue samples, focusing on alterations to component genes of the widely studied CRL2pVHL E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. mRNA upregulation of the component genes was common, and was correlated with DNA hypomethylation and copy number increase, but many tumours displayed overexpression that was not explained by either mechanism. Interestingly, we found 66 miRNAs, including 39 previously unannotated miRNAs, that were downregulated in HCC and predicted to target one or more CRL2pVHL components. Several miRNAs, including hsa-miR-101-3p and hsa-miR-139-5p, were negatively correlated with multiple component genes, suggesting that miRNA deregulation may contribute to CRL2pVHL overexpression. Combining miRNA and mRNA expression, DNA copy number, and methylation status into one multidimensional survival analysis, we found a significant association between greater numbers of alterations and poorer overall survival for multiple component genes. While the intricacies of CRL2pVHL complex gene regulation require additional research, it is evident that multiple causes for the deregulation of these genes must be considered in HCC, including non-traditional mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda C. Minatel
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - David E. Cohn
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: David E. Cohn,
| | - Michelle E. Pewarchuk
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mateus C. Barros-Filho
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Hospital Sírio-Libanes, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adam P. Sage
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Greg L. Stewart
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Erin A. Marshall
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nikita Telkar
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Victor D. Martinez
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Patricia P. Reis
- Department of Surgery and Orthopedics and Experimental Research Unity (UNIPEX), Faculty of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Wendy P. Robinson
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Wan L. Lam
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Chen L, Wan X, Shan X, Zha W, Fan R. Smart PROTACs Enable Controllable Protein Degradation for Precision Cancer Therapy. Mol Diagn Ther 2022; 26:283-291. [PMID: 35471699 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-022-00586-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are heterobifunctional chemicals that degrade proteins at the post-translational level, which represent an emerging therapeutic modality to fight cancer and other diseases. Although several PROTACs have now entered clinical trials, potential off-tissue side effects have resulted from nonspecific accumulation at non-cancerous sites after systemic administration, and this remains a major challenge. To this end, in the past 3 years, activatable PROTACs whose activity can only be launched on demand have gained tremendous momentum. In this review, we provide an overview of these new smart activatable PROTACs, which exert protein degradation action only in response to internal or external stimuli. We categorize these activatable PROTACs according to their activation mechanism contributed by different stimuli, including reduction-activatable, hypoxia-activatable, and enzyme-activatable PROTACs and photo-caged or photo-switchable PROTACs. The use of stimuli-responsive chemical blocks in these activatable PROTACs allows local activation of the antitumor effects while reducing the incidence of off-site side effects for precision cancer therapy. The design principle and category of smart PROTACs are introduced along with an overview of their therapeutic prospects and challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixia Chen
- Medical College of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xinqiang Wan
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, The First People's Hospital of Yancheng, Yancheng, China
| | - Xiangxiang Shan
- Department of Geraeology, Yancheng City No. 1 People's Hospital, Yancheng, China
| | - Wenzhang Zha
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, The First People's Hospital of Yancheng, 166 Yulong Road, Yancheng, 224001, China
| | - Rengen Fan
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, The First People's Hospital of Yancheng, 166 Yulong Road, Yancheng, 224001, China.
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67
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Memon H, Patel BM. PROTACs: Novel approach for cancer breakdown by breaking proteins. Life Sci 2022; 300:120577. [PMID: 35487303 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Ubiquitination defects have been reported in various diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders and cancer. Balance between degradation and synthesis of the proteins to treat cancer can be managed by designing a chimeric molecule, known as Proteolysis Targeting Chimeric molecule (Lee, Kim et al. 2021). Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) acts as a tool for conducting therapeutic intervention. It eradicates or reduces the proteins that are responsible for causing diseases. Each PROTAC contains a target warhead, an E3 ligand and a linker. E3 ligases are recruited by these bifunctional molecules, and the Ubiquitin (Ub) Proteasome System (UPS) is used to target the degradation of specific proteins. As compared to inhibition, this degradation offers several advantages in the drug resistance, selectivity, and potency. Thus, numerous small molecule PROTACs are identified so far. In this review, the development of PROTACs, historical milestones, the biological mechanism, advantages and recent progress, and role of PROTAC in prostate cancer, breast cancer, non-hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Humera Memon
- Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, India
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68
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Abstract
B-Raf is a protein kinase participating to the regulation of many biological processes in cells. Several studies have demonstrated that this protein is frequently upregulated in human cancers, especially when it bears activating mutations. In the last years, few ATP-competitive inhibitors of B-Raf have been marketed for the treatment of melanoma and are currently under clinical evaluation on a variety of other types of cancer. Although the introduction of drugs targeting B-Raf has provided significant advances in cancer treatment, responses to ATP-competitive inhibitors remain limited, mainly due to selectivity issues, side effects, narrow therapeutic windows, and the insurgence of drug resistance. Impressive research efforts have been made so far towards the identification of novel ATP-competitive modulators with improved efficacy against cancers driven by mutant Raf monomers and dimers, some of them showing good promises. However, several limitations could still be envisioned for these compounds, according to literature data. Besides, increased attentions have arisen around approaches based on the design of allosteric modulators, polypharmacology, proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and drug repurposing for the targeting of B-Raf proteins. The design of compounds acting through such innovative mechanisms is rather challenging. However, valuable therapeutic opportunities can be envisioned on these drugs, as they act through innovative mechanisms in which limitations typically observed for approved ATP-competitive B-Raf inhibitors are less prone to emerge. In this article, current approaches adopted for the design of non-ATP competitive inhibitors targeting B-Raf are described, discussing also on the possibilities, ligands acting through such innovative mechanisms could provide for the obtainment of more effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Pinzi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Giuseppe Campi 103, 41125, Modena, Italy
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69
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Liao J, Nie X, Unarta IC, Ericksen SS, Tang W. In Silico Modeling and Scoring of PROTAC-Mediated Ternary Complex Poses. J Med Chem 2022; 65:6116-6132. [PMID: 35412837 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c02155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are molecules that induce protein degradation via formation of ternary complexes between an E3 ubiquitin ligase and a target protein. The rational design of PROTACs requires accurate knowledge of the native configuration of the PROTAC-induced ternary complex. This study demonstrates that native and non-native ternary complex poses can be distinguished based on the pose occupancy time in MD, where native poses exhibit longer occupancy times at both room and higher temperatures. Candidate poses are generated by MD sampling and pre-ranked by classic MM/GBSA. A specific heating scheme is then applied to accelerate ternary pose departure, with the pose occupancy time and fraction being measured. This scoring identifies the native pose in all systems tested. Its success is partially attributed to the dynamic nature of pose departure analyses, which accounts for entropic effects typically neglected in the faster static scoring methods, while entropy plays a greater role in protein-protein than in protein-ligand systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junzhuo Liao
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
| | - Xueqing Nie
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
| | - Ilona Christy Unarta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Spencer S Ericksen
- Drug Development Core, UW Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
| | - Weiping Tang
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States.,Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States.,Drug Development Core, UW Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
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70
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Proteolysis-targeting chimeras: A promising technique in cancer therapy for gaining insights into tumor development. Cancer Lett 2022; 539:215716. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Targeted Degradation of 53BP1 Using Ubiquitin Variant Induced Proximity. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12040479. [PMID: 35454069 PMCID: PMC9029692 DOI: 10.3390/biom12040479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, researchers have leveraged the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) to induce selective degradation of proteins by E3 ubiquitin ligases, which has great potential as novel therapeutics for human diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. However, despite extensive efforts, only a handful of ~600 human E3 ligases were utilized, and numerous protein–protein interaction surfaces on E3 ligases were not explored. To tackle these problems, we leveraged a structure-based protein engineering technology to develop a multi-domain fusion protein bringing functional E3 ligases to the proximity of a target protein to trigger its proteasomal degradation, which we termed Ubiquitin Variant Induced Proximity (UbVIP). We first generated non-inhibitory synthetic UbV binders for a selected group of human E3 ligases. With these UbVs employed as E3 ligase engagers, we designed a library of UbVIPs targeting a DNA damage response protein 53BP1. We observed that two UbVIPs recruiting RFWD3 and NEDD4L could effectively induce proteasome degradation of 53BP1 in human cell lines. This provides a proof-of-principle that UbVs can act as a means of targeted degradation for nucleus-localized proteins. Our work demonstrated that UbV technology is suitable to develop protein-based molecules for targeted degradation and can help identify novel E3 ligases for future therapeutic development.
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72
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Nalawansha DA, Li K, Hines J, Crews CM. Hijacking Methyl Reader Proteins for Nuclear-Specific Protein Degradation. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:5594-5605. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c00874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dhanusha A. Nalawansha
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Ke Li
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - John Hines
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Craig M. Crews
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
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73
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Function-guided proximity mapping unveils electrophilic-metabolite sensing by proteins not present in their canonical locales. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2120687119. [PMID: 35082156 PMCID: PMC8812531 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2120687119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Enzyme-assisted posttranslational modifications (PTMs) constitute a major means of signaling across different cellular compartments. However, how nonenzymatic PTMs-despite their direct relevance to covalent drug development-impinge on cross-compartment signaling remains inaccessible as current target-identification (target-ID) technologies offer limited spatiotemporal resolution, and proximity mapping tools are also not guided by specific, biologically-relevant, ligand chemotypes. Here we establish a quantitative and direct profiling platform (Localis-rex) that ranks responsivity of compartmentalized subproteomes to nonenzymatic PTMs. In a setup that contrasts nucleus- vs. cytoplasm-specific responsivity to reactive-metabolite modification (hydroxynonenylation), ∼40% of the top-enriched protein sensors investigated respond in compartments of nonprimary origin or where the canonical activity of the protein sensor is inoperative. CDK9-a primarily nuclear-localized kinase-was hydroxynonenylated only in the cytoplasm. Site-specific CDK9 hydroxynonenylation-which we identified in untreated cells-drives its nuclear translocation, downregulating RNA-polymerase-II activity, through a mechanism distinct from that of commonly used CDK9 inhibitors. Taken together, this work documents an unmet approach to quantitatively profile and decode localized and context-specific signaling/signal-propagation programs orchestrated by reactive covalent ligands.
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Liu L, Shi L, Wang Z, Zeng J, Wang Y, Xiao H, Zhu Y. Targeting Oncoproteins for Degradation by Small Molecule-Based Proteolysis-Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) in Sex Hormone-Dependent Cancers. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:839857. [PMID: 35370971 PMCID: PMC8971670 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.839857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex hormone-dependent cancers, including breast, ovary, and prostate cancer, contribute to the high number of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Steroid hormones promote tumor occurrence, development, and metastasis by acting on receptors, such as estrogen receptors (ERs), androgen receptors (ARs), and estrogen-related receptors (ERRs). Therefore, endocrine therapy targeting ERs, ARs, and ERRs represents the potential and pivotal therapeutic strategy in sex hormone-dependent cancers. Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are a novel strategy that can harness the potential of the endogenous ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) to target and degrade specific proteins, rather than simply inhibiting the activity of target proteins. Small molecule PROTACs degrade a variety of proteins in cells, mice, and humans and are an emerging approach for novel drug development. PROTACs targeting ARs, ERs, ERRs, and other proteins in sex hormone-dependent cancers have been reported and may overcome the problem of resistance to existing endocrine therapy and receptor antagonist treatments. This review briefly introduces the PROTAC strategy and summarizes the progress on the development of small molecule PROTACs targeting oncoproteins in sex hormone-dependent cancers, focusing on breast and prostate cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Lihong Shi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhaodi Wang
- Department of Gynecology, People’s Hospital of Henan University, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jun Zeng
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Gynecology, People’s Hospital of Henan University, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hongtao Xiao
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yongxia Zhu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Yongxia Zhu,
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75
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Yu X, Xu J, Xie L, Wang L, Shen Y, Cahuzac KM, Chen X, Liu J, Parsons RE, Jin J. Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Potent, Selective, and Bioavailable AKT Kinase Degraders. J Med Chem 2021; 64:18054-18081. [PMID: 34855399 PMCID: PMC8819633 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The serine/threonine kinase AKT functions as a critical node of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (m-TOR) signaling pathway. Aberrant activation and overexpression of AKT are strongly correlated with numerous human cancers. To date, only two AKT degraders with no structure-activity relationship (SAR) results have been reported. Through extensive SAR studies on various linkers, E3 ligase ligands, and AKT binding moieties, we identified two novel and potent AKT proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) degraders: von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)-recruiting degrader 13 (MS98) and cereblon (CRBN)-recruiting degrader 25 (MS170). These two compounds selectively induced robust AKT protein degradation, inhibited downstream signaling, and suppressed cancer cell proliferation. Moreover, these two degraders exhibited good plasma exposure levels in mice through intraperitoneal injection. Overall, our comprehensive SAR studies led to the discovery of degraders 13 and 25, which are potentially useful chemical tools to investigate biological and pathogenic functions of AKT in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ling Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Yudao Shen
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States; Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Kaitlyn M. Cahuzac
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Xian Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Jing Liu
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States; Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Ramon E. Parsons
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States; Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
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76
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Qu L, Li S, Ji L, Luo S, Ding M, Yin F, Wang C, Luo H, Lu D, Liu X, Peng W, Kong L, Wang X. Discovery of PT-65 as a highly potent and selective Proteolysis-targeting chimera degrader of GSK3 for treating Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 226:113889. [PMID: 34649182 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
GSK3 is a promising target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Here, we describe the design and synthesize of a series of GSK3 degraders based on a click chemistry platform. A series of highly potent GSK3 degraders were obtained. Among them, PT-65 exhibited most potent degradation potency against GSK3α (DC50 = 28.3 nM) and GSK3β (DC50 = 34.2 nM) in SH-SY5Y cells. SPR assay confirmed that PT-65 binds to GSK3β with high affinity (KD = 12.41 nM). The proteomic study indicated that PT-65 could selectively induced GSK3 degradation. Moreover, PT-65 could effectively suppress GSK3β and Aβ mediated tau hyperphosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner and protect SH-SY5Y cells from Aβ caused cell damage. We also confirmed that PT-65 could suppress OA induced tau hyperphosphorylation and ameliorate learning and memory impairments in vivo model of AD. In summary, PT-65 might be a promising candidate for the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lailiang Qu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Shang Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Limei Ji
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Si Luo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Ming Ding
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Fucheng Yin
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Heng Luo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Dehua Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xingchen Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Wan Peng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Lingyi Kong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Xiaobing Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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77
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Ye P, Chi X, Cha JH, Luo S, Yang G, Yan X, Yang WH. Potential of E3 Ubiquitin Ligases in Cancer Immunity: Opportunities and Challenges. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123309. [PMID: 34943817 PMCID: PMC8699390 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and immune pathway–targeted therapies, are promising clinical strategies for treating cancer. However, drug resistance and adverse reactions remain the main challenges for immunotherapy management. The future direction of immunotherapy is mainly to reduce side effects and improve the treatment response rate by finding new targets and new methods of combination therapy. Ubiquitination plays a crucial role in regulating the degradation of immune checkpoints and the activation of immune-related pathways. Some drugs that target E3 ubiquitin ligases have exhibited beneficial effects in preclinical and clinical antitumor treatments. In this review, we discuss mechanisms through which E3 ligases regulate tumor immune checkpoints and immune-related pathways as well as the opportunities and challenges for integrating E3 ligases targeting drugs into cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Ye
- Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis and Cancer Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 910095, China; (P.Y.); (X.C.); (S.L.); (G.Y.)
| | - Xiaoxia Chi
- Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis and Cancer Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 910095, China; (P.Y.); (X.C.); (S.L.); (G.Y.)
| | - Jong-Ho Cha
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Graduate School, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea;
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Shahang Luo
- Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis and Cancer Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 910095, China; (P.Y.); (X.C.); (S.L.); (G.Y.)
| | - Guanghui Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis and Cancer Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 910095, China; (P.Y.); (X.C.); (S.L.); (G.Y.)
| | - Xiuwen Yan
- Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis and Cancer Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 910095, China; (P.Y.); (X.C.); (S.L.); (G.Y.)
- Correspondence: (X.Y.); (W.-H.Y.)
| | - Wen-Hao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis and Cancer Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes and Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 910095, China; (P.Y.); (X.C.); (S.L.); (G.Y.)
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (X.Y.); (W.-H.Y.)
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78
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Mathien S, Tesnière C, Meloche S. Regulation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathways by the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System and Its Pharmacological Potential. Pharmacol Rev 2021; 73:263-296. [PMID: 34732541 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.120.000170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways that play essential roles in transducing extracellular environmental signals into diverse cellular responses to maintain homeostasis. These pathways are classically organized into an architecture of three sequentially acting protein kinases: a MAPK kinase kinase that phosphorylates and activates a MAPK kinase, which in turn phosphorylates and activates the effector MAPK. The activity of MAPKs is tightly regulated by phosphorylation of their activation loop, which can be modulated by positive and negative feedback mechanisms to control the amplitude and duration of the signal. The signaling outcomes of MAPK pathways are further regulated by interactions of MAPKs with scaffolding and regulatory proteins. Accumulating evidence indicates that, in addition to these mechanisms, MAPK signaling is commonly regulated by ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS)-mediated control of the stability and abundance of MAPK pathway components. Notably, the biologic activity of some MAPKs appears to be regulated mainly at the level of protein turnover. Recent studies have started to explore the potential of targeted protein degradation as a powerful strategy to investigate the biologic functions of individual MAPK pathway components and as a new therapeutic approach to overcome resistance to current small-molecule kinase inhibitors. Here, we comprehensively review the mechanisms, physiologic importance, and pharmacological potential of UPS-mediated protein degradation in the control of MAPK signaling. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Accumulating evidence highlights the importance of targeted protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system in regulating and fine-tuning the signaling output of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Manipulating protein levels of MAPK cascade components may provide a novel approach for the development of selective pharmacological tools and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Mathien
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (S.Ma., C.T., S.Me.); and Molecular Biology Program, Faculty of Medicine (C.T., S.Me.) and Department of Pharmacology and Physiology (S.Me.), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Chloé Tesnière
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (S.Ma., C.T., S.Me.); and Molecular Biology Program, Faculty of Medicine (C.T., S.Me.) and Department of Pharmacology and Physiology (S.Me.), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sylvain Meloche
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (S.Ma., C.T., S.Me.); and Molecular Biology Program, Faculty of Medicine (C.T., S.Me.) and Department of Pharmacology and Physiology (S.Me.), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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79
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Juillerat-Jeanneret L, Tafelmeyer P, Golshayan D. Regulation of Fibroblast Activation Protein-α Expression: Focus on Intracellular Protein Interactions. J Med Chem 2021; 64:14028-14045. [PMID: 34523930 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The prolyl-specific peptidase fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP-α) is expressed at very low or undetectable levels in nondiseased human tissues but is selectively induced in activated (myo)fibroblasts at sites of tissue remodeling in fibrogenic processes. In normal regenerative processes involving transient fibrosis FAP-α+(myo)fibroblasts disappear from injured tissues, replaced by cells with a normal FAP-α- phenotype. In chronic uncontrolled pathological fibrosis FAP-α+(myo)fibroblasts permanently replace normal tissues. The mechanisms of regulation and elimination of FAP-α expression in(myo)fibroblasts are unknown. According to a yeast two-hybrid screen and protein databanks search, we propose that the intracellular (co)-chaperone BAG6/BAT3 can interact with FAP-α, mediated by the BAG6/BAT3 Pro-rich domain, inducing proteosomal degradation of FAP-α protein under tissue homeostasis. In this Perspective, we discuss our findings in the context of current knowledge on the regulation of FAP-α expression and comment potential therapeutic strategies for uncontrolled fibrosis, including small molecule degraders (PROTACs)-modified FAP-α targeted inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucienne Juillerat-Jeanneret
- Transplantation Center and Transplantation Immunopathology Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.,University Institute of Pathology, CHUV and UNIL, CH1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Petra Tafelmeyer
- Hybrigenics Services, Laboratories and Headquarters-Paris, 1 rue Pierre Fontaine, 91000 Evry, France.,Hybrigenics Corporation, Cambridge Innovation Center, 50 Milk Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Dela Golshayan
- Transplantation Center and Transplantation Immunopathology Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
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80
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Bellail AC, Jin HR, Lo HY, Jung SH, Hamdouchi C, Kim D, Higgins RK, Blanck M, le Sage C, Cross BCS, Li J, Mosley AL, Wijeratne AB, Jiang W, Ghosh M, Zhao YQ, Hauck PM, Shekhar A, Hao C. Ubiquitination and degradation of SUMO1 by small-molecule degraders extends survival of mice with patient-derived tumors. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:eabh1486. [PMID: 34644148 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abh1486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita C Bellail
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.,Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.,HB Therapeutics Inc., Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Hong Ri Jin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Ho-Yin Lo
- Synovel Laboratory LLC, Danbury, CT 06811, USA
| | - Sung Han Jung
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Chafiq Hamdouchi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Daeho Kim
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Ryan K Higgins
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jing Li
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Amber L Mosley
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Aruna B Wijeratne
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Markey Center for Structural Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Manali Ghosh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Markey Center for Structural Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Yin Quan Zhao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Paula M Hauck
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Anantha Shekhar
- Department of Psychiatry and Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Chunhai Hao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.,Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.,Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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81
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Reboud-Ravaux M. [Induced degradation of proteins by PROTACs and other strategies: towards promising drugs]. Biol Aujourdhui 2021; 215:25-43. [PMID: 34397373 DOI: 10.1051/jbio/2021007] [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: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD), discovered twenty years ago through the PROTAC technology, is rapidly developing thanks to the implication of many scientists from industry and academia. PROTAC chimeras are heterobifunctional molecules able to link simultaneously a protein to be degraded and an E3 ubiquitin ligase. This allows the protein ubiquitination and its degradation by 26S proteasome. PROTACs have evolved from small peptide molecules to small non-peptide and orally available molecules. It was shown that PROTACs are capable to degrade proteins considered as "undruggable" i.e. devoid of well-defined pockets and deep grooves possibly occupied by small molecules. Among these "hard to drug" proteins, several can be degraded by PROTACs: scaffold proteins, BAF complex, transcription factors, Ras family proteins. Two PROTACs are clinically tested for breast (ARV471) and prostate (ARV110) cancers. The protein degradation by proteasome is also induced by other types of molecules: molecular glues, hydrophobic tagging (HyT), HaloPROTACs and homo-PROTACs. Other cellular constituents are eligible to induced degradation: RNA-PROTACs for RNA binding proteins and RIBOTACs for degradation of RNA itself (SARS-CoV-2 RNA). TPD has recently moved beyond the proteasome with LYTACs (lysosome targeting chimeras) and MADTACs (macroautophagy degradation targeting chimeras). Several techniques such as screening platforms together with mathematical modeling and computational design are now used to improve the discovery of new efficient PROTACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michèle Reboud-Ravaux
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (IBPS), CNRS UMR 8256, Inserm ERL U1164, 7 quai Saint-Bernard, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France
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82
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Sternicki LM, Nonomiya J, Liu M, Mulvihill MM, Quinn RJ. Native Mass Spectrometry for the Study of PROTAC GNE-987-Containing Ternary Complexes. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:2206-2210. [PMID: 33792163 PMCID: PMC8359942 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202100113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) promote the degradation, rather than inhibition, of a drug target as a mechanism for therapeutic treatment. Bifunctional PROTAC molecules allow simultaneous binding of both the target protein and an E3-Ubiquitin ligase, bringing the two proteins into close spatial proximity to allow ubiquitinylation and degradation of the target protein via the cell's endogenous protein degradation pathway. We utilized native mass spectrometry (MS) to study the ternary complexes promoted by the previously reported PROTAC GNE-987 between Brd4 bromodomains 1 and 2, and Von Hippel Lindeau E3-Ubiquitin Ligase. Native MS at high resolution allowed us to measure ternary complex formation as a function of PROTAC concentration to provide a measure of complex affinity and stability, whilst simultaneously measuring other intermediate protein species. Native MS provides a high-throughput, low sample consumption, direct screening method to measure ternary complexes for PROTAC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise M. Sternicki
- Griffith Institute for Drug DiscoveryGriffith University46 Don Young RoadNathanQLD 4111Australia
| | - Jim Nonomiya
- Genentech Inc.1 DNA WaySouth San FranciscoCA 94080USA
| | - Miaomiao Liu
- Griffith Institute for Drug DiscoveryGriffith University46 Don Young RoadNathanQLD 4111Australia
| | | | - Ronald J. Quinn
- Griffith Institute for Drug DiscoveryGriffith University46 Don Young RoadNathanQLD 4111Australia
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83
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Ahn G, Banik SM, Bertozzi CR. Degradation from the outside in: Targeting extracellular and membrane proteins for degradation through the endolysosomal pathway. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:1072-1080. [PMID: 33770486 PMCID: PMC8286304 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) is a promising strategy to remove deleterious proteins for therapeutic benefit and to probe biological pathways. The past two decades have witnessed a surge in the development of technologies that rely on intracellular machinery to degrade challenging cytosolic targets. However, these TPD platforms leave the majority of extracellular and membrane proteins untouched. To enable degradation of these classes of proteins, internalizing receptors can be co-opted to traffic extracellular proteins to the lysosome. Sweeping antibodies and Seldegs use Fc receptors in conjunction with engineered antibodies to degrade soluble proteins. Recently, lysosome-targeting chimeras (LYTACs) have emerged as a strategy to degrade both secreted and membrane-anchored targets. Together with other newcomer technologies, including antibody-based proteolysis-targeting chimeras, modalities that degrade extracellular proteins have promising translational potential. This perspective will give an overview of TPD platforms that degrade proteins via outside-in approaches and focus on the recent development of LYTACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Green Ahn
- Department of Chemistry and Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Steven M Banik
- Department of Chemistry and Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Carolyn R Bertozzi
- Department of Chemistry and Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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84
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Samarasinghe KTG, Crews CM. Targeted protein degradation: A promise for undruggable proteins. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:934-951. [PMID: 34004187 PMCID: PMC8286327 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Protein homeostasis, or "proteostasis," is indispensable for a balanced, healthy environment within the cell. However, when natural proteostasis mechanisms are overwhelmed from excessive loads of dysregulated proteins, their accumulation can lead to disease initiation and progression. Recently, the induced degradation of such disease-causing proteins by heterobifunctional molecules, i.e., PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs), is emerging as a potential therapeutic modality. In the 2 decades since the PROTAC concept was proposed, several additional Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) strategies have also been explored to target previously undruggable proteins, such as transcription factors. In this review, we discuss the progress and evolution of the TPD field, the breadth of the proteins targeted by PROTACs and the biological effects of their degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kusal T G Samarasinghe
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Craig M Crews
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
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85
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Chemical-Mediated Targeted Protein Degradation in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11070607. [PMID: 34202541 PMCID: PMC8305580 DOI: 10.3390/life11070607] [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] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease, are a class of diseases that lead to dysfunction of cognition and mobility. Aggregates of misfolded proteins such as β-amyloid, tau, α-synuclein, and polyglutamates are known to be among the main causes of neurodegenerative diseases; however, they are considered to be some of the most challenging drug targets because they cannot be modulated by conventional small-molecule agents. Recently, the degradation of target proteins by small molecules has emerged as a new therapeutic modality and has garnered the interest of the researchers in the pharmaceutical industry. Bifunctional molecules that recruit target proteins to a cellular protein degradation machinery, such as the ubiquitin–proteasome system and autophagy–lysosome pathway, have been designed. The representative targeted protein degradation technologies include molecular glues, proteolysis-targeting chimeras, hydrophobic tagging, autophagy-targeting chimeras, and autophagosome-tethering compounds. Although these modalities have been shown to degrade many disease-related proteins, such technologies are expected to be potentially important for neurogenerative diseases caused by protein aggregation. Herein, we review the recent progress in chemical-mediated targeted protein degradation toward the discovery of drugs for neurogenerative diseases.
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86
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Barghout SH. Targeted Protein Degradation: An Emerging Therapeutic Strategy in Cancer. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 21:214-230. [PMID: 32275492 DOI: 10.2174/1871520620666200410082652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Drug discovery in the scope of cancer therapy has been focused on conventional agents that nonselectively induce DNA damage or selectively inhibit the activity of key oncogenic molecules without affecting their protein levels. An emerging therapeutic strategy that garnered attention in recent years is the induction of Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) of cellular targets by hijacking the intracellular proteolysis machinery. This novel approach offers several advantages over conventional inhibitors and introduces a paradigm shift in several pharmacological aspects of drug therapy. While TPD has been found to be the major mode of action of clinically approved anticancer agents such as fulvestrant and thalidomide, recent years have witnessed systematic endeavors to expand the repertoire of proteins amenable to therapeutic ablation by TPD. Such endeavors have led to three major classes of agents that induce protein degradation, including molecular glues, Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) and Hydrophobic Tag (HyT)-based degraders. Here, we briefly highlight agents in these classes and key advances made in the field with a focus on clinical translation in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir H Barghout
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
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87
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Meng Y, Qiu L, Zhang S, Han J. The emerging roles of E3 ubiquitin ligases in ovarian cancer chemoresistance. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2021; 4:365-381. [PMID: 35582023 PMCID: PMC9019267 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2020.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial cancer of the ovary exhibits the highest mortality rate of all gynecological malignancies in women today, since the disease is often diagnosed in advanced stages. While the treatment of cancer with specific chemical agents or drugs is the favored treatment regimen, chemotherapy resistance greatly impedes successful ovarian cancer chemotherapy. Thus, chemoresistance becomes one of the most critical clinical issues confronted when treating patients with ovarian cancer. Convincing evidence hints that dysregulation of E3 ubiquitin ligases is a key factor in the development and maintenance of ovarian cancer chemoresistance. This review outlines recent advancement in our understanding of the emerging roles of E3 ubiquitin ligases in ovarian cancer chemoresistance. We also highlight currently available inhibitors targeting E3 ligase activities and discuss their potential for clinical applications in treating chemoresistant ovarian cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Meng
- Research Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics and Genomics, Department of General Surgery, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Cancer Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Yang Meng and Lei Qiu equally contributed to this manuscript
| | - Lei Qiu
- Research Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics and Genomics, Department of General Surgery, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Cancer Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Yang Meng and Lei Qiu equally contributed to this manuscript
| | - Su Zhang
- Research Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics and Genomics, Department of General Surgery, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Cancer Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Junhong Han
- Research Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics and Genomics, Department of General Surgery, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Cancer Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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88
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Ding L, Wang R, Shen D, Cheng S, Wang H, Lu Z, Zheng Q, Wang L, Xia L, Li G. Role of noncoding RNA in drug resistance of prostate cancer. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:590. [PMID: 34103477 PMCID: PMC8187453 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03854-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer around the world. Androgen-deprivation treatment and chemotherapy are the curative approaches used to suppress prostate cancer progression. However, drug resistance is extensively and hard to overcome even though remarkable progress has been made in recent decades. Noncoding RNAs, such as miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, are a group of cellular RNAs which participate in various cellular processes and diseases. Recently, accumulating evidence has highlighted the vital role of non-coding RNA in the development of drug resistance in prostate cancer. In this review, we summarize the important roles of these three classes of noncoding RNA in drug resistance and the potential therapeutic applications in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifeng Ding
- Department of Urology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ruyue Wang
- Department of Urology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Danyang Shen
- Department of Urology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sheng Cheng
- Department of Urology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huan Wang
- Department of Urology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zeyi Lu
- Department of Urology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiming Zheng
- Department of Urology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liya Wang
- Department of Urology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liqun Xia
- Department of Urology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Gonghui Li
- Department of Urology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
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89
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Wang Y, Zhou Y, Cao S, Sun Y, Dong Z, Li C, Wang H, Yao Y, Yu H, Song X, Li M, Wang J, Wei M, Yang G, Yang C. In vitro and in vivo degradation of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) by a proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC). Bioorg Chem 2021; 111:104833. [PMID: 33839580 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.104833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy via immune checkpoints blockade has aroused the attention of researchers worldwide. Inhibition of the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) interaction has been one of the most promising immunotherapy strategies. Several neutralizing antibodies targeting this interaction have been developed, which have already achieved considerable clinical success. Additionally, numerous pharmaceutical companies have been committed to develop small molecules which could block the interaction between PD-1 and PD-L1. In this study, a novel PROTAC molecule 21a was developed, and effectively induced the degradation of PD-L1 protein in various malignant cells in a proteasome-dependent manner. Moreover, compound 21a could significantly reduce PD-L1 protein levels of MC-38 cancer cells in vivo, by which promoted the invasion of CD8+ T cells and inhibited the growth of MC-38 in vivo. This PROTAC molecule could be used as a novel and alternative strategy for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubo Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhou
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Sheng Cao
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Yue Sun
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Zhiqiang Dong
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Chen Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Haoran Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Yuhong Yao
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Haiyan Yu
- Tianjin Pacific Chemical & Pharmaceutical Co., LTD, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Xiangyi Song
- Tianjin Pacific Chemical & Pharmaceutical Co., LTD, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Ming Li
- Cangzhou Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Cangzhou 061000, PR China
| | - Jiefu Wang
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin 300060, PR China.
| | - Mingming Wei
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China.
| | - Guang Yang
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China.
| | - Cheng Yang
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
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90
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Cresser-Brown JO, Marsh GP, Maple HJ. Reviewing the toolbox for degrader development in oncology. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2021; 59:43-51. [PMID: 34058637 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2021.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The field of targeted protein degradation encompasses a growing number of modalities that achieve potent and selective knockdown of target proteins at the post-translational level. Among the most clinically advanced are bifunctional small-molecule degraders, also referred to as PROteolysis Targeting Chimeras, Degronimids, SNIPERs, or uSMITEs. Although applicable to many disease indications, oncology stands to be the first to benefit from this promising therapeutic approach, with the first investigational new drugs (INDs) filed in 2019 and a proliferation of research specifically focused on harnessing degraders for cancer treatment. In this review, we consider the toolbox of guidelines, reagents, and technologies that has evolved alongside the field to support degrader research and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel O Cresser-Brown
- Bio-Techne (Tocris), The Watkins Building, Atlantic Road, Avonmouth, Bristol, UK
| | - Graham P Marsh
- Bio-Techne (Tocris), The Watkins Building, Atlantic Road, Avonmouth, Bristol, UK
| | - Hannah J Maple
- Bio-Techne (Tocris), The Watkins Building, Atlantic Road, Avonmouth, Bristol, UK.
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91
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Zhang C, Zeng Z, Cui D, He S, Jiang Y, Li J, Huang J, Pu K. Semiconducting polymer nano-PROTACs for activatable photo-immunometabolic cancer therapy. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2934. [PMID: 34006860 PMCID: PMC8131624 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23194-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 68.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunometabolic intervention has been applied to treat cancer via inhibition of certain enzymes associated with intratumoral metabolism. However, small-molecule inhibitors and genetic modification often suffer from insufficiency and off-target side effects. Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) provide an alternative way to modulate protein homeostasis for cancer therapy; however, the always-on bioactivity of existing PROTACs potentially leads to uncontrollable protein degradation at non-target sites, limiting their in vivo therapeutic efficacy. We herein report a semiconducting polymer nano-PROTAC (SPNpro) with phototherapeutic and activatable protein degradation abilities for photo-immunometabolic cancer therapy. SPNpro can remotely generate singlet oxygen (1O2) under NIR photoirradiation to eradicate tumor cells and induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) to enhance tumor immunogenicity. Moreover, the PROTAC function of SPNpro is specifically activated by a cancer biomarker (cathepsin B) to trigger targeted proteolysis of immunosuppressive indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) in the tumor of living mice. The persistent IDO degradation blocks tryptophan (Trp)-catabolism program and promotes the activation of effector T cells. Such a SPNpro-mediated in-situ immunometabolic intervention synergizes immunogenic phototherapy to boost the antitumor T-cell immunity, effectively inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis. Thus, this study provides a polymer platform to advance PROTAC in cancer therapy.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Drug Delivery Systems/methods
- Humans
- Immunotherapy/methods
- Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase/antagonists & inhibitors
- Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase/metabolism
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/therapy
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
- Molecular Targeted Therapy/methods
- Nanoparticles/chemistry
- Nanoparticles/ultrastructure
- Photochemotherapy/methods
- Polymers/chemistry
- Semiconductors
- Spectrophotometry/methods
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Zhang
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ziling Zeng
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Dong Cui
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shasha He
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yuyan Jiang
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jingchao Li
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jiaguo Huang
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kanyi Pu
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
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92
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Yan S, Yan J, Liu D, Li X, Kang Q, You W, Zhang J, Wang L, Tian Z, Lu W, Liu W, He W. A nano-predator of pathological MDMX construct by clearable supramolecular gold(I)-thiol-peptide complexes achieves safe and potent anti-tumor activity. Theranostics 2021; 11:6833-6846. [PMID: 34093856 PMCID: PMC8171083 DOI: 10.7150/thno.59020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
As alternatives to small-molecular proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTAC), peptide-based molecular glues (MG) are a broad range of dual-functional ligands that simultaneously bind with targetable proteins and E3 ligases by mimicking proteinprotein interaction (PPI) partners. Methods: Herein, we design a peptide-derived MG to target a tumor-driving protein, MDMX, for degradation, and nanoengineered it into a supramolecular gold(I)-thiol-peptide complex (Nano-MP) to implement the proteolysis recalcitrance, cellular internalization, and glutathione-triggered release. To optimize the tumor targeting, a pH-responsive macromolecule termed polyacryl sulfydryl imidazole (PSI) was synthesized to coat Nano-MP. Results: As expected, Nano-MP@PSI induced the MDMX degradation by ubiquitination and subsequently restored the anti-cancer function of p53 and p73. Nano-MP@PSI revealed potent anti-cancer activities in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model of retinoblastoma by intraocular injection and a patient-derived xenograft model of malignant pancreatic cancer by systemic injection, while maintaining a favorable safety profile and showing a highly favorable clearable profile of excretion from the living body. Conclusion: Collectively, this work not only provided a clinically viable paradigm for the treatment of a wide variety of tumors by multiple administration types, but, more importantly, it bridged the chasm between peptides and PROTACs, and likely reinvigorated the development of peptide-derived proteolysis-targeting chimeras for a great variety of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Yan
- Department of Talent Highland, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
- Ophthalmology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Jin Yan
- National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnosis and Biotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Department of Talent Highland, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Xiang Li
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Qianyan Kang
- Ophthalmology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Weiming You
- National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnosis and Biotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China
| | - Jinghua Zhang
- School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China
| | - Zhiqi Tian
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, 45267 OH, USA
| | - Wuyuan Lu
- School of Basic Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai 20433, China
| | - Wenjia Liu
- Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China
| | - Wangxiao He
- Department of Talent Highland, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
- Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China
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93
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Identification of ubiquitination-related genes in human glioma as indicators of patient prognosis. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250239. [PMID: 33914773 PMCID: PMC8084191 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitination is a dynamic and reversible process of a specific modification of target proteins catalyzed by a series of ubiquitination enzymes. Because of the extensive range of substrates, ubiquitination plays a crucial role in the localization, metabolism, regulation, and degradation of proteins. Although the treatment of glioma has been improved, the survival rate of patients is still not satisfactory. Therefore, we explore the role of ubiquitin proteasome in glioma. Survival-related ubiquitination related genes (URGs) were obtained through analysis of the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Cox analysis was performed to construct risk model. The accuracy of risk model is verified by survival, Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and Cox analysis. We obtained 36 differentially expressed URGs and found that 25 URGs were related to patient prognosis. We used the 25 URGs to construct a model containing 8 URGs to predict glioma patient risk by Cox analysis. ROC showed that the accuracy rate of this model is 85.3%. Cox analysis found that this model can be used as an independent prognostic factor. We also found that this model is related to molecular typing markers. Patients in the high-risk group were enriched in multiple tumor-related signaling pathways. In addition, we predicted TFs that may regulate the risk model URGs and found that the risk model is related to B cells, CD4 T cells, and neutrophils.
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94
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Maneiro M, De Vita E, Conole D, Kounde CS, Zhang Q, Tate EW. PROTACs, molecular glues and bifunctionals from bench to bedside: Unlocking the clinical potential of catalytic drugs. PROGRESS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2021; 60:67-190. [PMID: 34147206 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmch.2021.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The vast majority of currently marketed drugs rely on small molecules with an 'occupancy-driven' mechanism of action (MOA). Therefore, the efficacy of these therapeutics depends on a high degree of target engagement, which often requires high dosages and enhanced drug exposure at the target site, thus increasing the risk of off-target toxicities (Churcher, 2018 [1]). Although small molecule drugs have been successfully used as treatments for decades, tackling a variety of disease-relevant targets with a defined binding site, many relevant therapeutic targets remain challenging to drug due, for example, to lack of well-defined binding pockets or large protein-protein interaction (PPI) interfaces which resist interference (Dang et al., 2017 [2]). In the quest for alternative therapeutic approaches to address different pathologies and achieve enhanced efficacy with reduced side effects, ligand-induced targeted protein degradation (TPD) has gained the attention of many research groups both in academia and in industry in the last two decades. This therapeutic modality represents a novel paradigm compared to conventional small-molecule inhibitors. To pursue this strategy, heterobifunctional small molecule degraders, termed PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) have been devised to artificially redirect a protein of interest (POI) to the cellular protein homeostasis machinery for proteasomal degradation (Chamberlain et al., 2019 [3]). In this chapter, the development of PROTACs will first be discussed providing a historical perspective in parallel to the experimental progress made to understand this novel therapeutic modality. Furthermore, common strategies for PROTAC design, including assays and troubleshooting tips will be provided for the reader, before presenting a compendium of all PROTAC targets reported in the literature to date. Due to the recent advancement of these molecules into clinical trials, consideration of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic properties will be introduced, together with the biotech landscape that has developed from the success of PROTACs. Finally, an overview of subsequent strategies for targeted protein degradation will be presented, concluding with further scientific quests triggered by the invention of PROTACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Maneiro
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - E De Vita
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - D Conole
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - C S Kounde
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Q Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - E W Tate
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
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95
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EGFR mutation mediates resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in NSCLC: From molecular mechanisms to clinical research. Pharmacol Res 2021; 167:105583. [PMID: 33775864 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
With the development of precision medicine, molecular targeted therapy has been widely used in the field of cancer, especially in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a well-recognized and effective target for NSCLC therapies, targeted EGFR therapy with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) has achieved ideal clinical efficacy in recent years. Unfortunately, resistance to EGFR-TKIs inevitably occurs due to various mechanisms after a period of therapy. EGFR mutations, such as T790M and C797S, are the most common mechanism of EGFR-TKI resistance. Here, we discuss the mechanisms of EGFR-TKIs resistance induced by secondary EGFR mutations, highlight the development of targeted drugs to overcome EGFR mutation-mediated resistance, and predict the promising directions for development of novel candidates.
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96
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Bond MJ, Crews CM. Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) come of age: entering the third decade of targeted protein degradation. RSC Chem Biol 2021; 2:725-742. [PMID: 34212149 PMCID: PMC8190915 DOI: 10.1039/d1cb00011j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
With the discovery of PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) twenty years ago, targeted protein degradation (TPD) has changed the landscape of drug development. PROTACs have evolved from cell-impermeable peptide-small molecule chimeras to orally bioavailable clinical candidate drugs that degrade oncogenic proteins in humans. As we move into the third decade of TPD, the pace of discovery will only accelerate. Improved technologies are enabling the development of ligands for "undruggable" proteins and the recruitment of new E3 ligases. Moreover, enhanced computing power will expedite identification of active degraders. Here we discuss the strides made in these areas and what advances we can look forward to as the next decade in this exciting field begins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Bond
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University New Haven CT 06511 USA
| | - Craig M Crews
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University New Haven CT 06511 USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University New Haven CT 06511 USA
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University New Haven CT 06511 USA
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Liu Z, Hu X, Wang Q, Wu X, Zhang Q, Wei W, Su X, He H, Zhou S, Hu R, Ye T, Zhu Y, Wang N, Yu L. Design and Synthesis of EZH2-Based PROTACs to Degrade the PRC2 Complex for Targeting the Noncatalytic Activity of EZH2. J Med Chem 2021; 64:2829-2848. [PMID: 33606537 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c02234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
EZH2 mediates both PRC2-dependent gene silencing via catalyzing H3K27me3 and PRC2-independent transcriptional activation in various cancers. Given its oncogenic role in cancers, EZH2 has constituted a compelling target for anticancer therapy. However, current EZH2 inhibitors only target its methyltransferase activity to downregulate H3K27me3 levels and show limited efficacy because of inadequate suppression of the EZH2 oncogenic activity. Therefore, therapeutic strategies to completely block the oncogenic activity of EZH2 are urgently needed. Herein, we report a series of EZH2-targeted proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) that induce proteasomal degradation of PRC2 components, including EZH2, EED, SUZ12, and RbAp48. Preliminary assessment identified E7 as the most active PROTAC molecule, which decreased PRC2 subunits and H3K27me2/3 levels in various cancer cells. Furthermore, E7 strongly inhibited transcriptional silencing mediated by EZH2 dependent on PRC2 and transcriptional activation mediated by EZH2 independent of PRC2, showing significant antiproliferative activities against cancer cell lines dependent on the enzymatic and nonenzymatic activities of EZH2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xi Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qiwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiuli Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qiangsheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Wei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xingping Su
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Hualong He
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Shuyan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Rong Hu
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Tinghong Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yongxia Zhu
- Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Ningyu Wang
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Luoting Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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Alabi S, Jaime-Figueroa S, Yao Z, Gao Y, Hines J, Samarasinghe KTG, Vogt L, Rosen N, Crews CM. Mutant-selective degradation by BRAF-targeting PROTACs. Nat Commun 2021; 12:920. [PMID: 33568647 PMCID: PMC7876048 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21159-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Over 300 BRAF missense mutations have been identified in patients, yet currently approved drugs target V600 mutants alone. Moreover, acquired resistance inevitably emerges, primarily due to RAF lesions that prevent inhibition of BRAF V600 with current treatments. Therefore, there is a need for new therapies that target other mechanisms of activated BRAF. In this study, we use the Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC) technology, which promotes ubiquitination and degradation of neo-substrates, to address the limitations of BRAF inhibitor-based therapies. Using vemurafenib-based PROTACs, we achieve low nanomolar degradation of all classes of BRAF mutants, but spare degradation of WT RAF family members. Our lead PROTAC outperforms vemurafenib in inhibiting cancer cell growth and shows in vivo efficacy in a Class 2 BRAF xenograft model. Mechanistic studies reveal that BRAFWT is spared due to weak ternary complex formation in cells owing to its quiescent inactivated conformation, and activation of BRAFWT sensitizes it to degradation. This study highlights the degree of selectivity achievable with degradation-based approaches by targeting mutant BRAF-driven cancers while sparing BRAFWT, providing an anti-tumor drug modality that expands the therapeutic window. Hundreds of BRAF mutations have been identified in patients with cancer but currently approved drugs only target BRAF V600 mutants. Here, the authors develop a vemurafenib-based PROTAC that induces degradation of all classes of BRAF mutants without affecting wild-type RAF proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saul Jaime-Figueroa
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Zhan Yao
- Program in Molecular Pharmacology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yijun Gao
- Program in Molecular Pharmacology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - John Hines
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Lea Vogt
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Neal Rosen
- Program in Molecular Pharmacology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Craig M Crews
- Department of Pharmacology, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
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99
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Huang X, Liu Y, Wang Y, Bailey C, Zheng P, Liu Y. Dual Targeting Oncoproteins MYC and HIF1α Regresses Tumor Growth of Lung Cancer and Lymphoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040694. [PMID: 33572152 PMCID: PMC7914643 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
MYC and HIF1α are among the most important oncoproteins whose pharmacologic inhibition has been challenging for the diverse mechanisms driving their abnormal expression and because of the challenge in blocking protein-DNA interactions. Surprisingly, we found that MYC and HIF1α proteins in echinomycin-treated cells were degraded through proteasome dependent pathways, respectively by the β-TrCP- or VHL-dependent mechanisms. The degradation is induced in a variety of cancer types, including those with mutations in the p53 tumor and LKB tumor suppressors and the KRAS oncogene. Consistent with inhibition of MYC and HIF1α, administration of echinomycin inhibited growth of lung adenocarcinoma xenograft and a syngeneic lymphoma model in mice. Furthermore, echinomycin efficiently induced regression of syngeneic mouse lymphoma driven by MYC over-expression. Our data demonstrated a new mechanism by which echinomycin simultaneously targets MYC and HIF1α for degradation to inhibit growth of lung cancer and lymphoma. Given the broad impact of β-TrCP or VHL in stability of oncogenic proteins, echinomycin may emerge as a non-PROTAC (proteolysis targeting chimera) degrader of oncogenic proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohu Huang
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Correspondence: (X.H.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yan Liu
- Division of Immunotherapy, University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (C.B.); (P.Z.)
| | - Yin Wang
- Division of Immunotherapy, University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (C.B.); (P.Z.)
| | - Christopher Bailey
- Division of Immunotherapy, University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (C.B.); (P.Z.)
| | - Pan Zheng
- Division of Immunotherapy, University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (C.B.); (P.Z.)
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- OncoImmune, Inc., Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- Division of Immunotherapy, University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (Y.L.); (Y.W.); (C.B.); (P.Z.)
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- OncoImmune, Inc., Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- Correspondence: (X.H.); (Y.L.)
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100
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Zhao CX, Zeng CM, Wang K, He QJ, Yang B, Zhou FF, Zhu H. Ubiquitin-proteasome system-targeted therapy for uveal melanoma: what is the evidence? Acta Pharmacol Sin 2021; 42:179-188. [PMID: 32601365 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-020-0441-3] [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: 03/08/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is a rare ocular tumor. The loss of BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) and the aberrant activation of G protein subunit alpha q (GNAQ)/G protein subunit alpha 11 (GNA11) contribute to the frequent metastasis of UM. Thus far, limited molecular-targeted therapies have been developed for the clinical treatment of UM. However, an increasing number of studies have revealed the close relationship between the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) and the malignancy of UM. UPS consists of a three-enzyme cascade, i.e. ubiquitin-activating enzymes (E1s); ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s); and ubiquitin-protein ligases (E3s), as well as 26S proteasome and deubiquitinases (DUBs), which work coordinately to dictate the fate of intracellular proteins through regulating ubiquitination, thus influencing cell viability. Due to the critical role of UPS in tumors, we here provide an overview of the crosstalk between UPS and the malignancy of UM, discuss the current UPS-targeted therapies in UM and highlight its potential in developing novel regimens for UM.
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