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Abstract
A defining feature of many cancers is deregulated translational control. Typically, this occurs at the level of recruitment of the 40S ribosomes to the 5'-cap of cellular messenger RNAs (mRNAs), the rate-limiting step of protein synthesis, which is controlled by the heterotrimeric eukaryotic initiation complex eIF4F. Thus, eIF4F in particular, and translation initiation in general, represent an exploitable vulnerability and unique opportunity for therapeutic intervention in many transformed cells. In this article, we discuss the development, mode of action and biological activity of a number of small-molecule inhibitors that interrupt PI3K/mTOR signaling control of eIF4F assembly, as well as compounds that more directly block eIF4F activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abba Malina
- Department of Biochemistry and McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
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52
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Gladstone M, Frederick B, Zheng D, Edwards A, Yoon P, Stickel S, DeLaney T, Chan DC, Raben D, Su TT. A translation inhibitor identified in a Drosophila screen enhances the effect of ionizing radiation and taxol in mammalian models of cancer. Dis Model Mech 2012; 5:342-50. [PMID: 22344740 PMCID: PMC3339828 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.008722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We described previously a screening protocol in Drosophila melanogaster that allows us to identify small molecules that increase the killing effect of ionizing radiation in vivo in a multicellular context. The ability of this screen to identify agents that enhance the effect of radiation in human cancer models has been validated in published proof-of-concept studies. Here we describe an agent, identified by screening through two National Cancer Institute (NCI) small molecule libraries in Drosophila, that increases the effect of radiation. This agent, Bouvardin (NSC 259968), inhibits the elongation step of protein synthesis. We find that Bouvardin enhances the killing effect of X-rays in both Drosophila larvae and in human cancer cells. More detailed analysis showed that Bouvardin also increases the effect of radiation in clonogenic assays and in human cancer xenografts in mice. Finally, we present data that Bouvardin can also increase the efficacy of taxol. Regulation of translation is important to cancer biology. Current therapies target every aspect of cancer cell proliferation from growth factor signaling to cell division, with the exception of translation elongation. Our identification of Bouvardin as an enhancer of radio- and chemo-therapeutic agents suggests that targeting this niche has the potential to improve existing cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Gladstone
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, 347 UCB, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-80347, USA
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53
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Kim TD, Frick M, le Coutre P. Omacetaxine mepesuccinate for the treatment of leukemia. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2012; 12:2381-92. [PMID: 21916787 DOI: 10.1517/14656566.2011.613378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Omacetaxine mepesuccinate, formerly known as homoharringtonine, is a first-in-class cephalotaxine that has experienced phases of increasing and waning interest since its first use in traditional Chinese medicine. With activity being reported in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) resistant to currently available tyrosine kinase inhibitors, renewed interest has recently been generated. AREAS COVERED The development of omacetaxine mepesuccinate, with emphasis on synthesis and mode of administration, is addressed. An overview on current clinical results as a single agent or within combination regimens in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and CML is given. EXPERT OPINION Omacetaxine mepesuccinate has a unique mode of action and appreciable activity in AML and CML with generally mild nonhematologic toxicity. In patients with AML, results indicate a role within combination regimens in selected, possibly elderly patient populations. In CML, patients with resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, especially due to the T315I mutation, are the most intensively studied. Despite successful results in some patients, single-agent therapy with omacetaxine mepesuccinate has resulted in modest results. However, upfront combination with tyrosine kinase inhibitor represents an attractive option due their differing mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theo Daniel Kim
- Medizinische Klinik m.S. Hämatologie und Onkologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
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54
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Omacetaxine mepesuccinate prevents cytokine-dependent resistance to nilotinib in vitro: potential role of the common β-subunit c of cytokine receptors. Leukemia 2012; 26:1321-8. [DOI: 10.1038/leu.2011.380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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55
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McCubrey JA, Steelman LS, Kempf CR, Chappell WH, Abrams SL, Stivala F, Malaponte G, Nicoletti F, Libra M, Bäsecke J, Maksimovic-Ivanic D, Mijatovic S, Montalto G, Cervello M, Cocco L, Martelli AM. Therapeutic resistance resulting from mutations in Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways. J Cell Physiol 2011; 226:2762-81. [PMID: 21302297 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.22647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chemotherapy remains a commonly used therapeutic approach for many cancers. Indeed chemotherapy is relatively effective for treatment of certain cancers and it may be the only therapy (besides radiotherapy) that is appropriate for certain cancers. However, a common problem with chemotherapy is the development of drug resistance. Many studies on the mechanisms of drug resistance concentrated on the expression of membrane transporters and how they could be aberrantly regulated in drug resistant cells. Attempts were made to isolate specific inhibitors which could be used to treat drug resistant patients. Unfortunately most of these drug transporter inhibitors have not proven effective for therapy. Recently the possibilities of more specific, targeted therapies have sparked the interest of clinical and basic researchers as approaches to kill cancer cells. However, there are also problems associated with these targeted therapies. Two key signaling pathways involved in the regulation of cell growth are the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR pathways. Dysregulated signaling through these pathways is often the result of genetic alterations in critical components in these pathways as well as mutations in upstream growth factor receptors. Furthermore, these pathways may be activated by chemotherapeutic drugs and ionizing radiation. This review documents how their abnormal expression can contribute to drug resistance as well as resistance to targeted therapy. This review will discuss in detail PTEN regulation as this is a critical tumor suppressor gene frequently dysregulated in human cancer which contributes to therapy resistance. Controlling the expression of these pathways could improve cancer therapy and ameliorate human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA.
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56
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Ingolia NT, Lareau LF, Weissman JS. Ribosome profiling of mouse embryonic stem cells reveals the complexity and dynamics of mammalian proteomes. Cell 2011; 147:789-802. [PMID: 22056041 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1556] [Impact Index Per Article: 119.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2011] [Revised: 06/19/2011] [Accepted: 09/13/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The ability to sequence genomes has far outstripped approaches for deciphering the information they encode. Here we present a suite of techniques, based on ribosome profiling (the deep sequencing of ribosome-protected mRNA fragments), to provide genome-wide maps of protein synthesis as well as a pulse-chase strategy for determining rates of translation elongation. We exploit the propensity of harringtonine to cause ribosomes to accumulate at sites of translation initiation together with a machine learning algorithm to define protein products systematically. Analysis of translation in mouse embryonic stem cells reveals thousands of strong pause sites and unannotated translation products. These include amino-terminal extensions and truncations and upstream open reading frames with regulatory potential, initiated at both AUG and non-AUG codons, whose translation changes after differentiation. We also define a class of short, polycistronic ribosome-associated coding RNAs (sprcRNAs) that encode small proteins. Our studies reveal an unanticipated complexity to mammalian proteomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas T Ingolia
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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57
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Abstract
A challenge in cancer therapy is to selectively target activities that are essential for survival of malignant cells while sparing normal cells. Translational control represents a potential anti-neoplastic target because it is exerted by major signaling pathways that are often usurped in cancers. Herein we describe approaches being developed that target eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4F, a heterotrimeric complex that integrates multiple signaling inputs to the translation apparatus.
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58
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Abstract
The AKT signalling pathway is a major regulator of protein synthesis that impinges on multiple cellular processes frequently altered in cancer, such as proliferation, cell growth, survival, and angiogenesis. AKT controls protein synthesis by regulating the multistep process of mRNA translation at every stage from ribosome biogenesis to translation initiation and elongation. Recent studies have highlighted the ability of oncogenic AKT to drive cellular transformation by altering gene expression at the translational level. Oncogenic AKT signalling leads to both global changes in protein synthesis as well as specific changes in the translation of select mRNAs. New and developing technologies are significantly advancing our ability to identify and functionally group these translationally controlled mRNAs into gene networks based on their modes of regulation. How oncogenic AKT activates ribosome biogenesis, translation initiation, and translational elongation to regulate these translational networks is an ongoing area of research. Currently, the majority of therapeutics targeting translational control are focused on blocking translation initiation through inhibition of eIF4E hyperactivity. However, it will be important to determine whether combined inhibition of ribosome biogenesis, translation initiation, and translation elongation can demonstrate improved therapeutic efficacy in tumours driven by oncogenic AKT.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Hsieh
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, Helen Diller Family Cancer Research Building, Room 386, 1450 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94158-3110, USA
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59
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Targeting the translational apparatus to improve leukemia therapy: roles of the PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR pathway. Leukemia 2011; 25:1064-79. [PMID: 21436840 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2011.46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
It has become apparent that regulation of protein translation is an important determinant in controlling cell growth and leukemic transformation. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is often implicated in sensitivity and resistance to therapy. Dysregulated signaling through the PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR pathway is often the result of genetic alterations in critical components in this pathway as well as mutations at upstream growth factor receptors. Furthermore, this pathway is activated by autocrine transformation mechanisms. PTEN is a critical tumor suppressor gene and its dysregulation results in the activation of Akt. PTEN is often mutated, silenced and is often haploinsufficient. The mTOR complex1 (mTORC1) regulates the assembly of the eukaryotic initiation factor4F complex, which is critical for the translation of mRNAs that are important for cell growth, prevention of apoptosis and transformation. These mRNAs have long 5'-untranslated regions that are G+C rich, rendering them difficult to translate. Elevated mTORC1 activity promotes the translation of these mRNAs via the phosphorylation of 4E-BP1. mTORC1 is a target of rapamycin and novel active-site inhibitors that directly target the TOR kinase activity. Although rapamycin and novel rapalogs are usually cytostatic and not cytotoxic for leukemic cells, novel inhibitors that target the kinase activities of PI3K and mTOR may prove more effective for leukemia therapy.
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60
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Hao Y, Kong X, Ruan Y, Gan H, Chen H, Zhang C, Ren S, Gu J. CDK11p46 and RPS8 associate with each other and suppress translation in a synergistic manner. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2011; 407:169-74. [PMID: 21371428 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.02.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2011] [Accepted: 02/26/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
CDK11p46, a 46kDa isoform of the PITSLRE kinase family, is a key mediator of cell apoptosis, while the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. By using His pull-down and mass spectrometry analysis, we identified the ribosomal protein S8 (RPS8), a member of the small subunit ribosome, as an interacting partner of CDK11p46. Further analysis confirmed the association of CDK11p46 and RPS8 in vitro and in vivo, and revealed that RPS8 was not a substrate of CDK11p46. Moreover, RPS8 and CDK11p46 synergize to inhibit the translation process both in cap- and internal ribosomal entry site (IRES)-dependent way, and sensitize cells to Fas ligand-induced apoptosis. Taken together, our results provide evidence for the novel role of CDK11p46 in the regulation of translation and cell apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Hao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanghai, Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
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62
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Abstract
Pim oncogenes are overexpressed in a wide range of tumours from a haematological and epithelial origin. Pim genes encode serine/threonine kinases that have been shown to counteract the increased sensitivity to apoptosis induction that is associated with MYC-driven tumorigenesis. Recently, considerable progress has been made in characterizing the pathways of PIM-mediated survival signalling. Given the unique structure of their active site and the minimal phenotype of mice mutant for all Pim family members, these oncogenes might be promising targets for highly specific and selective drugs with favourable toxicity profiles. In this Review, we discuss the physiological functions and oncogenic activities of Pim kinases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn C Nawijn
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
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63
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Lindqvist L, Robert F, Merrick W, Kakeya H, Fraser C, Osada H, Pelletier J. Inhibition of translation by cytotrienin A--a member of the ansamycin family. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2010; 16:2404-2413. [PMID: 20943818 PMCID: PMC2995401 DOI: 10.1261/rna.2307710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2010] [Accepted: 09/17/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The ansamycins are a diverse and often physiologically active group of compounds that include geldanamycin and rifamycin, inhibitors of heat shock protein 90 and prokaryotic DNA-dependent RNA synthesis, respectively. Cytotrienin A is an ansamycin-type small molecule with potent antiproliferative and proapoptotic properties. Here, we report that this compound inhibits eukaryotic protein synthesis by targeting translation elongation and interfering with eukaryotic elongation factor 1A function. We also find that cytotrienin A prevents HUVEC tube formation and diminishes microvessel formation in the chorioallantoic membrane assay. These results provide a molecular understanding into cytotrienin A's previously reported properties as an anticancer apoptosis-inducing drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Lindqvist
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada
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64
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Homoharringtonine reduced Mcl-1 expression and induced apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 2010; 117:156-64. [PMID: 20971952 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2010-01-262808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Homoharringtonine (HHT) is a plant alkaloid that inhibits the elongation phase of translation that is currently in clinical trials. Because the intrinsically short-lived antiapoptotic protein myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) has been reported to support the survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells, we hypothesized that inhibition of protein synthesis by HHT would decrease Mcl-1 expression and induce apoptosis in CLL. In primary CLL cells, HHT induced significant apoptosis independent of the prognostic characteristics of the patients. This was associated with inhibition of translation and decreased Mcl-1 levels in CLL cells. Mcl-1 reduction was evident as early as 2 hours and continued to decrease in the next 6-8 hours, whereas cell death started in 2 hours and continued to increase for 24 hours. Reduction of the Mcl-1 level was due to translation inhibition and proteasome degradation rather than to transcription inhibition or caspase cleavage. HHT and the transcription inhibitor SNS-032 induced synergistic cell killing. Although stromal cells induced Mcl-1 expression and protected CLL cells from the toxicity of fludarabine, this induction was reversed by HHT, which overcame stromal cell-mediated protection. Thus, these results provide a rationale for clinical development of HHT in CLL as single agent or in combinations.
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65
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Veremieva MV, Malysheva TA, Zozulya YP, Rozumenko VD, Sidorik LL, Kavsan VM, Negrutskii BS, El'skaya AV. Multisubunit complex eEF1H in human glial tumors: from mRNA to protein. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.7124/bc.000166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. V. Veremieva
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
| | - T. A. Malysheva
- Institute of neurosurgery named after A. P. Romodanov, AMS of Ukraine
| | - Y. P. Zozulya
- Institute of neurosurgery named after A. P. Romodanov, AMS of Ukraine
| | - V. D. Rozumenko
- Institute of neurosurgery named after A. P. Romodanov, AMS of Ukraine
| | - L. L. Sidorik
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
| | - V. M. Kavsan
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
| | - B. S. Negrutskii
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
| | - A. V. El'skaya
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
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DCB-3503, a tylophorine analog, inhibits protein synthesis through a novel mechanism. PLoS One 2010; 5:e11607. [PMID: 20657652 PMCID: PMC2904705 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2010] [Accepted: 06/22/2010] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background DCB-3503, a tylophorine analog, inhibits the growth of PANC-1 (human pancreatic ductal cancer cell line) and HepG2 (human hepatocellular cancer cell line) tumor xenografts in nude mice. The inhibition of growth leads to cancer cell differentiation instead of cell death. However, the mechanisms of action of tylophorine analogs is unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, we show that DCB-3503 suppresses the expression of pro-oncogenic or pro-survival proteins with short half-lives, including cyclin D1, survivin, β-catenin, p53, and p21, without decreasing their mRNA levels. Proteasome inhibitor reversed the inhibitory effect of DCB-3503 on expression of these proteins. DCB-3503 inhibited the incorporation of radiolabeled amino acid and thymidine, and to a much lesser degree of uridine, in a panel of cell lines. The mechanism of inhibition of protein synthesis is different from that of cycloheximide (CHX) as assayed in cell culture and HeLa in vitro translation system. Furthermore, in contrast to rapamycin, DCB-3503 does not affect protein synthesis through the mTOR pathway. DCB-3503 treatment shifts the sedimentation profiles of ribosomes and mRNAs towards the polysomal fractions while diminishing monosome abundance, indicative of the inhibition of the elongation step of protein synthesis. Preferential down regulation of several studied proteins under these conditions is likely due to the relative short half-lives of these proteins. Conclusion/Significance The inhibitory effect of DCB-3503 on translation is apparently distinct from any of the current anticancer compounds targeting protein synthesis. Translation inhibitors with novel mechanism could complement current chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of human cancers and suppress the occurrence of drug resistance.
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67
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Abstract
Following transcription, genomic information begins a long journey toward translation of its nucleotide sequence into the amino acids of a protein. In eukaryotes, synthesized pre-mRNAs become processed to mature mRNAs by 5'-end capping, splicing, 3'-end cleavage and polyadenylation in the nucleus, before being scrutinized for premature stop codons. Each step requires high precision and control to ensure that an intact and readable message is exported to the cytoplasm before finally becoming translated. Two important aspects of these processes are accurately managed by ribonucleoprotein machineries-the spliceosome and the ribosome. Recently, several natural products targeting these macromolecular assemblies have been reported. For the first time in eukaryotes, these molecules allow chemical disruption and dissection of the sophisticated machinery that regulates post-transcriptional events. Beyond their great potential as bioprobes for investigating mRNA regulation and protein synthesis, these compounds also show promise in opening new therapeutic approaches.
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68
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Inhibition of eukaryotic translation elongation by cycloheximide and lactimidomycin. Nat Chem Biol 2010; 6:209-217. [PMID: 20118940 PMCID: PMC2831214 DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 671] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2009] [Accepted: 12/15/2009] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Although the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) has been known for decades, its precise mechanism of action remains incompletely understood. The glutarimide portion of CHX is seen in a family of structurally related natural products including migrastatin, isomigrastatin and lactimidomycin (LTM). We found that LTM, isomigrastatin and analogs have a potent antiproliferative effect on tumor cell lines and selectively inhibit translation. A systematic comparative study of the effects of CHX and LTM on protein synthesis revealed both similarities and differences between the two inhibitors. Both LTM and CHX were found to block the translocation step in elongation. Footprinting experiments revealed protection of a single cytidine nucleotide (C3993) in the E-site of the 60S ribosomal subunit, thus defining a common binding pocket for the two inhibitors in the ribosome. These results shed new light on the molecular mechanism of inhibition of translation elongation by both CHX and LTM.
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69
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Targeting the translational machinery as a novel treatment strategy for hematologic malignancies. Blood 2010; 115:2127-35. [PMID: 20075156 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2009-09-220020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The dysregulation of protein synthesis evident in the transformed phenotype has opened up a burgeoning field of research in cancer biology. Translation initiation has recently been shown to be a common downstream target of signal transduction pathways deregulated in cancer and initiated by mutated/overexpressed oncogenes and tumor suppressors. The overexpression and/or activation of proteins involved in translation initiation such as eIF4E, mTOR, and eIF4G have been shown to induce a malignant phenotype. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms that control protein synthesis is emerging as an exciting new research area with significant potential for developing innovative therapies. This review highlights molecules that are activated or dysregulated in hematologic malignancies, and promotes the transformed phenotype through the deregulation of protein synthesis. Targeting these proteins with small molecule inhibitors may constitute a novel therapeutic approach in the treatment of cancer.
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