101
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El Marabti E, Abdel-Wahab O. Therapeutic Modulation of RNA Splicing in Malignant and Non-Malignant Disease. Trends Mol Med 2021; 27:643-659. [PMID: 33994320 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
RNA splicing is the enzymatic process by which non-protein coding sequences are removed from RNA to produce mature protein-coding mRNA. Splicing is thereby a major mediator of proteome diversity as well as a dynamic regulator of gene expression. Genetic alterations disrupting splicing of individual genes or altering the function of splicing factors contribute to a wide range of human genetic diseases as well as cancer. These observations have resulted in the development of therapies based on oligonucleotides that bind to RNA sequences and modulate splicing for therapeutic benefit. In parallel, small molecules that bind to splicing factors to alter their function or modify RNA processing of individual transcripts are being pursued for monogenic disorders as well as for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ettaib El Marabti
- Clinical Transplant Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Omar Abdel-Wahab
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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102
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Star E, Stevens M, Gooding C, Smith CWJ, Li L, Ayine ML, Harper SJ, Bates DO, Oltean S. A drug-repositioning screen using splicing-sensitive fluorescent reporters identifies novel modulators of VEGF-A splicing with anti-angiogenic properties. Oncogenesis 2021; 10:36. [PMID: 33941763 PMCID: PMC8093282 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-021-00323-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing of the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) terminal exon generates two protein families with differing functions. Pro-angiogenic VEGF-Axxxa isoforms are produced via selection of the proximal 3' splice site of the terminal exon. Use of an alternative distal splice site generates the anti-angiogenic VEGF-Axxxb proteins. A bichromatic splicing-sensitive reporter was designed to mimic VEGF-A alternative splicing and was used as a molecular tool to further investigate this alternative splicing event. Part of VEGF-A's terminal exon and preceding intron were inserted into a minigene construct followed by the coding sequences for two fluorescent proteins. A different fluorescent protein is expressed depending on which 3' splice site of the exon is used during splicing (dsRED denotes VEGF-Axxxa and EGFP denotes VEGF-Axxxb). The fluorescent output can be used to follow splicing decisions in vitro and in vivo. Following successful reporter validation in different cell lines and altering splicing using known modulators, a screen was performed using the LOPAC library of small molecules. Alterations to reporter splicing were measured using a fluorescent plate reader to detect dsRED and EGFP expression. Compounds of interest were further validated using flow cytometry and assessed for effects on endogenous VEGF-A alternative splicing at the mRNA and protein level. Ex vivo and in vitro angiogenesis assays were used to demonstrate the anti-angiogenic effect of the compounds. Furthermore, anti-angiogenic activity was investigated in a Matrigel in vivo model. To conclude, we have identified a set of compounds that have anti-angiogenic activity through modulation of VEGF-A terminal exon splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Star
- grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024Institute of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences, Medical School, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, St Luke’s Campus, Exeter, EX1 2LU UK
| | - Megan Stevens
- grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024Institute of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences, Medical School, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, St Luke’s Campus, Exeter, EX1 2LU UK
| | - Clare Gooding
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW UK
| | - Christopher W. J. Smith
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW UK
| | - Ling Li
- grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024Institute of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences, Medical School, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, St Luke’s Campus, Exeter, EX1 2LU UK
| | - Monica Lamici Ayine
- grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024Institute of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences, Medical School, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, St Luke’s Campus, Exeter, EX1 2LU UK
| | - Steve J. Harper
- grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024Institute of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences, Medical School, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, St Luke’s Campus, Exeter, EX1 2LU UK
| | - David O. Bates
- grid.415598.40000 0004 0641 4263Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Queen’s Medical Centre, West Block, D floor, Nottingham, NG7 2UH UK
| | - Sebastian Oltean
- grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024Institute of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences, Medical School, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, St Luke’s Campus, Exeter, EX1 2LU UK
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103
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RNA-Targeting Splicing Modifiers: Drug Development and Screening Assays. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26082263. [PMID: 33919699 PMCID: PMC8070285 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26082263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA splicing is an essential step in producing mature messenger RNA (mRNA) and other RNA species. Harnessing RNA splicing modifiers as a new pharmacological modality is promising for the treatment of diseases caused by aberrant splicing. This drug modality can be used for infectious diseases by disrupting the splicing of essential pathogenic genes. Several antisense oligonucleotide splicing modifiers were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Recently, a small-molecule splicing modifier, risdiplam, was also approved for the treatment of SMA, highlighting small molecules as important warheads in the arsenal for regulating RNA splicing. The cellular targets of these approved drugs are all mRNA precursors (pre-mRNAs) in human cells. The development of novel RNA-targeting splicing modifiers can not only expand the scope of drug targets to include many previously considered “undruggable” genes but also enrich the chemical-genetic toolbox for basic biomedical research. In this review, we summarized known splicing modifiers, screening methods for novel splicing modifiers, and the chemical space occupied by the small-molecule splicing modifiers.
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104
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Servais L, Baranello G, Scoto M, Daron A, Oskoui M. Therapeutic interventions for spinal muscular atrophy: preclinical and early clinical development opportunities. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2021; 30:519-527. [PMID: 33749510 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2021.1904889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative neuromuscular disease that presents primarily in children. Abnormalities in the SMN1 gene cause reduced levels of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein, while a second gene, SMN2, produces low levels of functional SMN protein. Currently available drugs do not cure, so a significant unmet need remains for patients treated after symptom onset. AREAS COVERED Drugs available in the clinic, investigational agents and key questions for researchers are discussed. A pragmatic search of the literature was performed to identify therapies in late stages of preclinical, or in early stages of clinical development. This list was compared to the CureSMA pipeline for completeness. Drugs approved for indications that have potential for impact for SMA were included. These drugs target the primary deficiency in SMN protein or other pathways involved in SMA pathophysiology that are not SMN-protein dependent. EXPERT OPINION Children treated after the onset of symptoms continue to have significant disability. Given the heterogeneity of the population phenotype evidenced by variable response to initial therapy, age at treatment onset and the need to demonstrate added value beyond approved therapeutics, the clinical development of new drugs will be challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Servais
- MDUK Neuromuscular Center, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Neuromuscular Reference Center Disease, Department of Paediatrics, Liege, Belgium and University of Liege, Liège, Belgium
| | - Giovanni Baranello
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mariacristina Scoto
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Aurore Daron
- Neuromuscular Reference Center Disease, Department of Paediatrics, Liege, Belgium and University of Liege, Liège, Belgium
| | - Maryam Oskoui
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology & Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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105
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Axford J, Sung MJ, Manchester J, Chin D, Jain M, Shin Y, Dix I, Hamann LG, Cheung AK, Sivasankaran R, Briner K, Dales NA, Hurley B. Use of Intramolecular 1,5-Sulfur-Oxygen and 1,5-Sulfur-Halogen Interactions in the Design of N-Methyl-5-aryl- N-(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amine SMN2 Splicing Modulators. J Med Chem 2021; 64:4744-4761. [PMID: 33822618 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c02173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a debilitating neuromuscular disease caused by low levels of functional survival motor neuron protein (SMN) resulting from a deletion or loss of function mutation of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Branaplam (1) elevates levels of full-length SMN protein in vivo by modulating the splicing of the related gene SMN2 to enhance the exon-7 inclusion and increase levels of the SMN. The intramolecular hydrogen bond present in the 2-hydroxyphenyl pyridazine core of 1 enforces a planar conformation of the biaryl system and is critical for the compound activity. Scaffold morphing revealed that the pyridazine could be replaced by a 1,3,4-thiadiazole, which provided additional opportunities for a conformational constraint of the biaryl through intramolecular 1,5-sulfur-oxygen (S···O) or 1,5-sulfur-halogen (S···X) noncovalent interactions. Compound 26, which incorporates a 2-fluorophenyl thiadiazole motif, demonstrated a greater than 50% increase in production of full-length SMN protein in a mouse model of SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jake Axford
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Moo Je Sung
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - John Manchester
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Donovan Chin
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Monish Jain
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Youngah Shin
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Ina Dix
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Lawrence G Hamann
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Atwood K Cheung
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Rajeev Sivasankaran
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Karin Briner
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Natalie A Dales
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Brian Hurley
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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106
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Zafferani M, Hargrove AE. Small molecule targeting of biologically relevant RNA tertiary and quaternary structures. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:594-609. [PMID: 33823146 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Initial successes in developing small molecule ligands for non-coding RNAs have underscored their potential as therapeutic targets. More recently, these successes have been aided by advances in biophysical and structural techniques for identification and characterization of more complex RNA structures; these higher-level folds present protein-like binding pockets that offer opportunities to design small molecules that could achieve a degree of selectivity often hard to obtain at the primary and secondary structure level. More specifically, identification and small molecule targeting of RNA tertiary and quaternary structures have allowed researchers to probe several human diseases and have resulted in promising clinical candidates. In this review we highlight a selection of diverse and exciting successes and the experimental approaches that led to their discovery. These studies include examples of recent developments in RNA-centric assays and ligands that provide insight into the features responsible for the affinity and biological outcome of RNA-targeted chemical probes. This report highlights the potential and emerging opportunities to selectively target RNA tertiary and quaternary structures as a route to better understand and, ultimately, treat many diseases.
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107
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Natua S, Ashok C, Shukla S. Hypoxia-induced alternative splicing in human diseases: the pledge, the turn, and the prestige. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:2729-2747. [PMID: 33386889 PMCID: PMC11072330 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03727-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Maintenance of oxygen homeostasis is an indispensable criterion for the existence of multicellular life-forms. Disruption of this homeostasis due to inadequate oxygenation of the respiring tissues leads to pathological hypoxia, which acts as a significant stressor in several pathophysiological conditions including cancer, cardiovascular defects, bacterial infections, and neurological disorders. Consequently, the hypoxic tissues develop necessary adaptations both at the tissue and cellular level. The cellular adaptations involve a dramatic alteration in gene expression, post-transcriptional and post-translational modification of gene products, bioenergetics, and metabolism. Among the key responses to oxygen-deprivation is the skewing of cellular alternative splicing program. Herein, we discuss the current concepts of oxygen tension-dependent alternative splicing relevant to various pathophysiological conditions. Following a brief description of cellular response to hypoxia and the pre-mRNA splicing mechanism, we outline the impressive number of hypoxia-elicited alternative splicing events associated with maladies like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. Furthermore, we discuss how manipulation of hypoxia-induced alternative splicing may pose promising strategies for novel translational diagnosis and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhashis Natua
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal, 462066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Cheemala Ashok
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal, 462066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Sanjeev Shukla
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal, 462066, Madhya Pradesh, India.
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108
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Falese JP, Donlic A, Hargrove AE. Targeting RNA with small molecules: from fundamental principles towards the clinic. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:2224-2243. [PMID: 33458725 PMCID: PMC8018613 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs01261k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in our understanding of RNA biology have uncovered crucial roles for RNA in multiple disease states, ranging from viral and bacterial infections to cancer and neurological disorders. As a result, multiple laboratories have become interested in developing drug-like small molecules to target RNA. However, this development comes with multiple unique challenges. For example, RNA is inherently dynamic and has limited chemical diversity. In addition, promiscuous RNA-binding ligands are often identified during screening campaigns. This Tutorial Review overviews important considerations and advancements for generating RNA-targeted small molecules, ranging from fundamental chemistry to promising small molecule examples with demonstrated clinical efficacy. Specifically, we begin by exploring RNA functional classes, structural hierarchy, and dynamics. We then discuss fundamental RNA recognition principles along with methods for small molecule screening and RNA structure determination. Finally, we review unique challenges and emerging solutions from both the RNA and small molecule perspectives for generating RNA-targeted ligands before highlighting a selection of the "Greatest Hits" to date. These molecules target RNA in a variety of diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration, and viral infection, in cellular and animal model systems. Additionally, we explore the recently FDA-approved small molecule regulator of RNA splicing, risdiplam, for treatment of spinal muscular atrophy. Together, this Tutorial Review showcases the fundamental role of chemical and molecular recognition principles in enhancing our understanding of RNA biology and contributing to the rapidly growing number of RNA-targeted probes and therapeutics. In particular, we hope this widely accessible review will serve as inspiration for aspiring small molecule and/or RNA researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Falese
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
| | - Anita Donlic
- Princeton University, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Amanda E Hargrove
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Durham, North Carolina, USA. and Duke University, Department of Chemistry, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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109
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Gong M, Zhang X, Wang Y, Mao G, Ou Y, Wei C, Hu X, Xiang S. DDX21 interacts with nuclear AGO2 and regulates the alternative splicing of SMN2. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2021; 85:272-279. [PMID: 33604619 DOI: 10.1093/bbb/zbaa029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
AGO2 is the only member of mammalian Ago protein family that possesses the catalytic activity and plays a central role in gene silencing. Recently researches reported that multiple gene silencing factors, including AGO2, function in the nuclei. The molecular mechanisms of the gene silencing factors functioning in nuclei are conducive to comprehend the roles of gene silencing in pretranslational regulation of gene expression. Here, we report that AGO2 interacts with DDX21 indirectly in an RNA-dependent manner by Co-IP and GST-Pulldown assays and the 2 proteins present nuclei foci in the immunofluorescence experiments. We found that DDX21 up-regulated the protein level of AGO2 and participated in target gene, SNM2, alternative splicing involved in AGO2 by the indirect interaction with AGO2, which produced different transcripts of SMN2 in discrepant expression level. This study laid important experiment foundation for the further analysis of the nuclear functions of gene silencing components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengting Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.,College of Physical Education, Hunan University of Finance and Economics, Changsha, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Yaru Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Guiyan Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Yangqi Ou
- State Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Chenxi Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Shuanglin Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
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110
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Ravi B, Chan-Cortés MH, Sumner CJ. Gene-Targeting Therapeutics for Neurological Disease: Lessons Learned from Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Annu Rev Med 2021; 72:1-14. [PMID: 33502897 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-med-070119-115459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The last few decades have seen an explosion in identification of genes that cause monogenetic neurological diseases, as well as advances in gene-targeting therapeutics. Neurological conditions that were once considered incurable are now increasingly tractable. At the forefront is the motor neuron disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), historically the leading inherited cause of infant mortality. In the last 5 years, three SMA treatments have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA): intrathecally delivered splice-switching antisense oligonucleotide (nusinersen), systemically delivered AAV9-based gene replacement therapy (onasemnogene abeparvovec), and an orally bioavailable, small-molecule, splice-switching drug (risdiplam). Despite this remarkable progress, clinical outcomes in patients are variable. Therapeutic optimization will require improved understanding of drug pharmacokinetics and target engagement in neurons, potential toxicities, and long-term effects. We review current progress in SMA therapeutics, clinical trials, shortcomings of current treatments, and implications for the treatment of other neurogenetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavya Ravi
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA;
| | | | - Charlotte J Sumner
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA; .,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, USA
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111
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Nucleobase-Modified Triplex-Forming Peptide Nucleic Acids for Sequence-Specific Recognition of Double-Stranded RNA. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2105:157-172. [PMID: 32088869 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0243-0_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Because of the important roles noncoding RNAs play in gene expression, their sequence-specific recognition is important for both fundamental science and the pharmaceutical industry. However, most noncoding RNAs fold in complex helical structures that are challenging problems for molecular recognition. Herein, we describe a method for sequence-specific recognition of double-stranded RNA using peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) that form triple helices in the major grove of RNA under physiologically relevant conditions. We also outline methods for solid-phase conjugation of PNA with cell-penetrating peptides and fluorescent dyes. Protocols for PNA preparation and binding studies using isothermal titration calorimetry are described in detail.
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112
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Binas O, de Jesus V, Landgraf T, Völklein AE, Martins J, Hymon D, Kaur Bains J, Berg H, Biedenbänder T, Fürtig B, Lakshmi Gande S, Niesteruk A, Oxenfarth A, Shahin Qureshi N, Schamber T, Schnieders R, Tröster A, Wacker A, Wirmer‐Bartoschek J, Wirtz Martin MA, Stirnal E, Azzaoui K, Richter C, Sreeramulu S, José Blommers MJ, Schwalbe H. 19 F NMR-Based Fragment Screening for 14 Different Biologically Active RNAs and 10 DNA and Protein Counter-Screens. Chembiochem 2021; 22:423-433. [PMID: 32794266 PMCID: PMC7436455 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We report here the nuclear magnetic resonance 19 F screening of 14 RNA targets with different secondary and tertiary structure to systematically assess the druggability of RNAs. Our RNA targets include representative bacterial riboswitches that naturally bind with nanomolar affinity and high specificity to cellular metabolites of low molecular weight. Based on counter-screens against five DNAs and five proteins, we can show that RNA can be specifically targeted. To demonstrate the quality of the initial fragment library that has been designed for easy follow-up chemistry, we further show how to increase binding affinity from an initial fragment hit by chemistry that links the identified fragment to the intercalator acridine. Thus, we achieve low-micromolar binding affinity without losing binding specificity between two different terminator structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Binas
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Vanessa de Jesus
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Tom Landgraf
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Albrecht Eduard Völklein
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Jason Martins
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Daniel Hymon
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Jasleen Kaur Bains
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Hannes Berg
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Thomas Biedenbänder
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Boris Fürtig
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Santosh Lakshmi Gande
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Anna Niesteruk
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Andreas Oxenfarth
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Nusrat Shahin Qureshi
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Tatjana Schamber
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Robbin Schnieders
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Alix Tröster
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Anna Wacker
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Julia Wirmer‐Bartoschek
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Maria Alexandra Wirtz Martin
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Elke Stirnal
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Kamal Azzaoui
- Saverna TherapeuticsGewerbestrasse 244123AllschwilSwitzerland
| | - Christian Richter
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Sridhar Sreeramulu
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | | | - Harald Schwalbe
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue Strasse 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
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113
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Shibata T, Nagano K, Ueyama M, Ninomiya K, Hirose T, Nagai Y, Ishikawa K, Kawai G, Nakatani K. Small molecule targeting r(UGGAA) n disrupts RNA foci and alleviates disease phenotype in Drosophila model. Nat Commun 2021; 12:236. [PMID: 33431896 PMCID: PMC7801683 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20487-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic small molecules modulating RNA structure and function have therapeutic potential for RNA diseases. Here we report our discovery that naphthyridine carbamate dimer (NCD) targets disease-causing r(UGGAA)n repeat RNAs in spinocerebellar ataxia type 31 (SCA31). Structural analysis of the NCD-UGGAA/UGGAA complex by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy clarifies the mode of binding that recognizes four guanines in the UGGAA/UGGAA pentad by hydrogen bonding with four naphthyridine moieties of two NCD molecules. Biological studies show that NCD disrupts naturally occurring RNA foci built on r(UGGAA)n repeat RNA known as nuclear stress bodies (nSBs) by interfering with RNA–protein interactions resulting in the suppression of nSB-mediated splicing events. Feeding NCD to larvae of the Drosophila model of SCA31 alleviates the disease phenotype induced by toxic r(UGGAA)n repeat RNA. These studies demonstrate that small molecules targeting toxic repeat RNAs are a promising chemical tool for studies on repeat expansion diseases. Synthetic small molecules modulating RNA structure and function have therapeutic potential for RNA diseases. Here the authors show the mechanism by which a small molecule targets the disease-causing r(UGGAA)n repeat RNAs in spinocerebellar ataxia type 31.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomonori Shibata
- Department of Regulatory Bioorganic Chemistry, The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (ISIR), Osaka University, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Konami Nagano
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Chiba Institute of Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Morio Ueyama
- Department of Neurotherapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Kensuke Ninomiya
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Hirose
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.,Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Nagai
- Department of Neurotherapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Kinya Ishikawa
- Center for Personalized Medicine for Healthy Aging, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gota Kawai
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Chiba Institute of Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Nakatani
- Department of Regulatory Bioorganic Chemistry, The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (ISIR), Osaka University, Ibaraki, Japan.
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114
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Splicing mutations in inherited retinal diseases. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100874
expr 921883647 + 833887994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
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115
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Kelly ML, Chu CC, Shi H, Ganser LR, Bogerd HP, Huynh K, Hou Y, Cullen BR, Al-Hashimi HM. Understanding the characteristics of nonspecific binding of drug-like compounds to canonical stem-loop RNAs and their implications for functional cellular assays. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 27:12-26. [PMID: 33028652 PMCID: PMC7749633 DOI: 10.1261/rna.076257.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Identifying small molecules that selectively bind an RNA target while discriminating against all other cellular RNAs is an important challenge in RNA-targeted drug discovery. Much effort has been directed toward identifying drug-like small molecules that minimize electrostatic and stacking interactions that lead to nonspecific binding of aminoglycosides and intercalators to many stem-loop RNAs. Many such compounds have been reported to bind RNAs and inhibit their cellular activities. However, target engagement and cellular selectivity assays are not routinely performed, and it is often unclear whether functional activity directly results from specific binding to the target RNA. Here, we examined the propensities of three drug-like compounds, previously shown to bind and inhibit the cellular activities of distinct stem-loop RNAs, to bind and inhibit the cellular activities of two unrelated HIV-1 stem-loop RNAs: the transactivation response element (TAR) and the rev response element stem IIB (RREIIB). All compounds bound TAR and RREIIB in vitro, and two inhibited TAR-dependent transactivation and RRE-dependent viral export in cell-based assays while also exhibiting off-target interactions consistent with nonspecific activity. A survey of X-ray and NMR structures of RNA-small molecule complexes revealed that aminoglycosides and drug-like molecules form hydrogen bonds with functional groups commonly accessible in canonical stem-loop RNA motifs, in contrast to ligands that specifically bind riboswitches. Our results demonstrate that drug-like molecules can nonspecifically bind stem-loop RNAs most likely through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions and reinforce the importance of assaying for off-target interactions and RNA selectivity in vitro and in cells when assessing novel RNA-binders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Kelly
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Virology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Chia-Chieh Chu
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Virology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Honglue Shi
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Virology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Laura R Ganser
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Virology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Hal P Bogerd
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for Virology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Kelly Huynh
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Virology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Yuze Hou
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Virology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Bryan R Cullen
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for Virology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Hashim M Al-Hashimi
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Virology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Virology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
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116
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Schneider-Poetsch T, Chhipi-Shrestha JK, Yoshida M. Splicing modulators: on the way from nature to clinic. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 2021; 74:603-616. [PMID: 34345042 PMCID: PMC8472923 DOI: 10.1038/s41429-021-00450-1] [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: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Over the course of more than two decades, natural products isolated from various microorganisms and plants have built the foundation for chemical biology research into the mechanism of pre-mRNA splicing. Hand in hand with advances in scientific methodology small molecule splicing modulators have become powerful tools for investigating, not just the splicing mechanism, but also the cellular effect of altered mRNA processing. Based on thorough structure-activity studies, synthetic analogues have moved on from scientific tool compounds to experimental drugs. With current advances in drug discovery methodology and new means of attacking targets previously thought undruggable, we can expect further advances in both research and therapeutics based on small molecule splicing modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tilman Schneider-Poetsch
- grid.509461.fChemical Genomics Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama Japan
| | | | - Minoru Yoshida
- grid.509461.fChemical Genomics Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama Japan ,grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XDepartment of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Japan ,grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XCollaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Japan
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117
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Meng F, Liang Z, Zhao K, Luo C. Drug design targeting active posttranslational modification protein isoforms. Med Res Rev 2020; 41:1701-1750. [PMID: 33355944 DOI: 10.1002/med.21774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Modern drug design aims to discover novel lead compounds with attractable chemical profiles to enable further exploration of the intersection of chemical space and biological space. Identification of small molecules with good ligand efficiency, high activity, and selectivity is crucial toward developing effective and safe drugs. However, the intersection is one of the most challenging tasks in the pharmaceutical industry, as chemical space is almost infinity and continuous, whereas the biological space is very limited and discrete. This bottleneck potentially limits the discovery of molecules with desirable properties for lead optimization. Herein, we present a new direction leveraging posttranslational modification (PTM) protein isoforms target space to inspire drug design termed as "Post-translational Modification Inspired Drug Design (PTMI-DD)." PTMI-DD aims to extend the intersections of chemical space and biological space. We further rationalized and highlighted the importance of PTM protein isoforms and their roles in various diseases and biological functions. We then laid out a few directions to elaborate the PTMI-DD in drug design including discovering covalent binding inhibitors mimicking PTMs, targeting PTM protein isoforms with distinctive binding sites from that of wild-type counterpart, targeting protein-protein interactions involving PTMs, and hijacking protein degeneration by ubiquitination for PTM protein isoforms. These directions will lead to a significant expansion of the biological space and/or increase the tractability of compounds, primarily due to precisely targeting PTM protein isoforms or complexes which are highly relevant to biological functions. Importantly, this new avenue will further enrich the personalized treatment opportunity through precision medicine targeting PTM isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanwang Meng
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, the Center for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zhongjie Liang
- Center for Systems Biology, Department of Bioinformatics, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Kehao Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai, China
| | - Cheng Luo
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, the Center for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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118
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Chiu W, Hsun YH, Chang KJ, Yarmishyn AA, Hsiao YJ, Chien Y, Chien CS, Ma C, Yang YP, Tsai PH, Chiou SH, Lin TY, Cheng HM. Current Genetic Survey and Potential Gene-Targeting Therapeutics for Neuromuscular Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9589. [PMID: 33339321 PMCID: PMC7767109 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) belong to a class of functional impairments that cause dysfunctions of the motor neuron-muscle functional axis components. Inherited monogenic neuromuscular disorders encompass both muscular dystrophies and motor neuron diseases. Understanding of their causative genetic defects and pathological genetic mechanisms has led to the unprecedented clinical translation of genetic therapies. Challenged by a broad range of gene defect types, researchers have developed different approaches to tackle mutations by hijacking the cellular gene expression machinery to minimize the mutational damage and produce the functional target proteins. Such manipulations may be directed to any point of the gene expression axis, such as classical gene augmentation, modulating premature termination codon ribosomal bypass, splicing modification of pre-mRNA, etc. With the soar of the CRISPR-based gene editing systems, researchers now gravitate toward genome surgery in tackling NMDs by directly correcting the mutational defects at the genome level and expanding the scope of targetable NMDs. In this article, we will review the current development of gene therapy and focus on NMDs that are available in published reports, including Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD), X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM), Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), and Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy Type 2C (LGMD2C).
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Chiu
- Department of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; (W.C.); (K.-J.C.); (Y.-J.H.); (Y.C.); (Y.-P.Y.); (S.-H.C.)
| | - Ya-Hsin Hsun
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4, Canada;
- Department of Biological Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Kao-Jung Chang
- Department of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; (W.C.); (K.-J.C.); (Y.-J.H.); (Y.C.); (Y.-P.Y.); (S.-H.C.)
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Aliaksandr A. Yarmishyn
- Division of Basic Research, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112201, Taiwan; (A.A.Y.); (P.-H.T.)
| | - Yu-Jer Hsiao
- Department of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; (W.C.); (K.-J.C.); (Y.-J.H.); (Y.C.); (Y.-P.Y.); (S.-H.C.)
| | - Yueh Chien
- Department of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; (W.C.); (K.-J.C.); (Y.-J.H.); (Y.C.); (Y.-P.Y.); (S.-H.C.)
- Division of Basic Research, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112201, Taiwan; (A.A.Y.); (P.-H.T.)
| | - Chian-Shiu Chien
- Department of Medical Research and Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112201, Taiwan;
- Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Chun Ma
- Department of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan;
| | - Yi-Ping Yang
- Department of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; (W.C.); (K.-J.C.); (Y.-J.H.); (Y.C.); (Y.-P.Y.); (S.-H.C.)
- Division of Basic Research, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112201, Taiwan; (A.A.Y.); (P.-H.T.)
- Institute of Food Safety and Health Risk Assessment, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Hsing Tsai
- Division of Basic Research, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112201, Taiwan; (A.A.Y.); (P.-H.T.)
- Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Hwa Chiou
- Department of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; (W.C.); (K.-J.C.); (Y.-J.H.); (Y.C.); (Y.-P.Y.); (S.-H.C.)
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research and Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112201, Taiwan;
- Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
- Institute of Food Safety and Health Risk Assessment, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
- Genomic Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices (IDS2B), National Chiao-Tung University, Hsinchu 1001, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Yi Lin
- Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Min Cheng
- Department of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; (W.C.); (K.-J.C.); (Y.-J.H.); (Y.C.); (Y.-P.Y.); (S.-H.C.)
- Department of Medical Research and Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112201, Taiwan;
- Center for Evidence-based Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112201, Taiwan
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119
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Auslander N, Ramos DM, Zelaya I, Karathia H, Crawford TO, Schäffer AA, Sumner CJ, Ruppin E. The GENDULF algorithm: mining transcriptomics to uncover modifier genes for monogenic diseases. Mol Syst Biol 2020; 16:e9701. [PMID: 33438800 PMCID: PMC7754056 DOI: 10.15252/msb.20209701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Modifier genes are believed to account for the clinical variability observed in many Mendelian disorders, but their identification remains challenging due to the limited availability of genomics data from large patient cohorts. Here, we present GENDULF (GENetic moDULators identiFication), one of the first methods to facilitate prediction of disease modifiers using healthy and diseased tissue gene expression data. GENDULF is designed for monogenic diseases in which the mechanism is loss of function leading to reduced expression of the mutated gene. When applied to cystic fibrosis, GENDULF successfully identifies multiple, previously established disease modifiers, including EHF, SLC6A14, and CLCA1. It is then utilized in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and predicts U2AF1 as a modifier whose low expression correlates with higher SMN2 pre-mRNA exon 7 retention. Indeed, knockdown of U2AF1 in SMA patient-derived cells leads to increased full-length SMN2 transcript and SMN protein expression. Taking advantage of the increasing availability of transcriptomic data, GENDULF is a novel addition to existing strategies for prediction of genetic disease modifiers, providing insights into disease pathogenesis and uncovering novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Auslander
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory (CDSL)National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
- National Center for Biotechnology InformationNational Library of MedicineNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Daniel M Ramos
- Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Ivette Zelaya
- Interdepartmental Program in BioinformaticsUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Hiren Karathia
- Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene ExpressionNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthMDUSA
| | - Thomas O. Crawford
- Department of PediatricsJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
- Department of NeurologyJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Alejandro A Schäffer
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory (CDSL)National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Charlotte J Sumner
- Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
- Department of NeurologyJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Eytan Ruppin
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory (CDSL)National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
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120
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Abstract
The structural and regulatory elements in therapeutically relevant RNAs offer many opportunities for targeting by small molecules, yet fundamental understanding of what drives selectivity in small molecule:RNA recognition has been a recurrent challenge. In particular, RNAs tend to be more dynamic and offer less chemical functionality than proteins, and biologically active ligands must compete with the highly abundant and highly structured RNA of the ribosome. Indeed, the only small molecule drug targeting RNA other than the ribosome was just approved in August 2020, and our recent survey of the literature revealed fewer than 150 reported chemical probes that target non-ribosomal RNA in biological systems. This Feature outlines our efforts to improve small molecule targeting strategies and gain fundamental insights into small molecule:RNA recognition by analyzing patterns in both RNA-biased small molecule chemical space and RNA topological space privileged for differentiation. First, we synthesized libraries based on RNA binding scaffolds that allowed us to reveal general principles in small molecule:recognition and to ask precise chemical questions about drivers of affinity and selectivity. Elaboration of these scaffolds has led to recognition of medicinally relevant RNA targets, including viral and long noncoding RNA structures. More globally, we identified physicochemical, structural, and spatial properties of biologically active RNA ligands that are distinct from those of protein-targeted ligands, and we have provided the dataset and associated analytical tools as part of a publicly available online platform to facilitate RNA ligand discovery. At the same time, we used pattern recognition protocols to identify RNA topologies that can be differentially recognized by small molecules and have elaborated this technique to visualize conformational changes in RNA secondary structure. These fundamental insights into the drivers of RNA recognition in vitro have led to functional targeting of RNA structures in biological systems. We hope that these initial guiding principles, as well as the approaches and assays developed in their pursuit, will enable rapid progress toward the development of RNA-targeted chemical probes and ultimately new therapeutic approaches to a wide range of deadly human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E Hargrove
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Box 90346, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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121
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Rietz A, Hodgetts KJ, Lusic H, Quist KM, Osman EY, Lorson CL, Androphy EJ. Short-duration splice promoting compound enables a tunable mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy. Life Sci Alliance 2020; 4:4/1/e202000889. [PMID: 33234679 PMCID: PMC7723287 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202000889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe drug treatment paradigms that allow investigation of cellular and molecular pathogenesis at different stages of spinal muscular atrophy in a mouse model. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a motor neuron disease and the leading genetic cause of infant mortality. SMA results from insufficient survival motor neuron (SMN) protein due to alternative splicing. Antisense oligonucleotides, gene therapy and splicing modifiers recently received FDA approval. Although severe SMA transgenic mouse models have been beneficial for testing therapeutic efficacy, models mimicking milder cases that manifest post-infancy have proven challenging to develop. We established a titratable model of mild and moderate SMA using the splicing compound NVS-SM2. Administration for 30 d prevented development of the SMA phenotype in severe SMA mice, which typically show rapid weakness and succumb by postnatal day 11. Furthermore, administration at day eight resulted in phenotypic recovery. Remarkably, acute dosing limited to the first 3 d of life significantly enhanced survival in two severe SMA mice models, easing the burden on neonates and demonstrating the compound as suitable for evaluation of follow-on therapies without potential drug–drug interactions. This pharmacologically tunable SMA model represents a useful tool to investigate cellular and molecular pathogenesis at different stages of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Rietz
- Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Kevin J Hodgetts
- Laboratory for Drug Discovery in Neurodegeneration, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hrvoje Lusic
- Laboratory for Drug Discovery in Neurodegeneration, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kevin M Quist
- Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Erkan Y Osman
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Bond Life Sciences Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Christian L Lorson
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Bond Life Sciences Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Elliot J Androphy
- Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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122
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Gebauer F, Schwarzl T, Valcárcel J, Hentze MW. RNA-binding proteins in human genetic disease. Nat Rev Genet 2020; 22:185-198. [PMID: 33235359 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-020-00302-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 309] [Impact Index Per Article: 77.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are critical effectors of gene expression, and as such their malfunction underlies the origin of many diseases. RBPs can recognize hundreds of transcripts and form extensive regulatory networks that help to maintain cell homeostasis. System-wide unbiased identification of RBPs has increased the number of recognized RBPs into the four-digit range and revealed new paradigms: from the prevalence of structurally disordered RNA-binding regions with roles in the formation of membraneless organelles to unsuspected and potentially pervasive connections between intermediary metabolism and RNA regulation. Together with an increasingly detailed understanding of molecular mechanisms of RBP function, these insights are facilitating the development of new therapies to treat malignancies. Here, we provide an overview of RBPs involved in human genetic disorders, both Mendelian and somatic, and discuss emerging aspects in the field with emphasis on molecular mechanisms of disease and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fátima Gebauer
- Gene Regulation, Stem Cells and Cancer Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain. .,University Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Thomas Schwarzl
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Juan Valcárcel
- Gene Regulation, Stem Cells and Cancer Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.,University Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
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123
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Singh RN, Ottesen EW, Singh NN. The First Orally Deliverable Small Molecule for the Treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Neurosci Insights 2020; 15:2633105520973985. [PMID: 33283185 PMCID: PMC7691903 DOI: 10.1177/2633105520973985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is 1 of the leading causes of infant mortality. SMA
is mostly caused by low levels of Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein due to
deletion of or mutation in the SMN1 gene. Its nearly identical
copy, SMN2, fails to compensate for the loss of
SMN1 due to predominant skipping of exon 7. Correction of
SMN2 exon 7 splicing by an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO),
nusinersen (Spinraza™), that targets the intronic splicing silencer N1 (ISS-N1)
became the first approved therapy for SMA. Restoration of SMN levels using gene
therapy was the next. Very recently, an orally deliverable small molecule,
risdiplam (Evrysdi™), became the third approved therapy for SMA. Here we discuss
how these therapies are positioned to meet the needs of the broad phenotypic
spectrum of SMA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravindra N Singh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Eric W Ottesen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Natalia N Singh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
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Menduti G, Rasà DM, Stanga S, Boido M. Drug Screening and Drug Repositioning as Promising Therapeutic Approaches for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Treatment. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:592234. [PMID: 33281605 PMCID: PMC7689316 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.592234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the most common genetic disease affecting infants and young adults. Due to mutation/deletion of the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene, SMA is characterized by the SMN protein lack, resulting in motor neuron impairment, skeletal muscle atrophy and premature death. Even if the genetic causes of SMA are well known, many aspects of its pathogenesis remain unclear and only three drugs have been recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (Nusinersen-Spinraza; Onasemnogene abeparvovec or AVXS-101-Zolgensma; Risdiplam-Evrysdi): although assuring remarkable results, the therapies show some important limits including high costs, still unknown long-term effects, side effects and disregarding of SMN-independent targets. Therefore, the research of new therapeutic strategies is still a hot topic in the SMA field and many efforts are spent in drug discovery. In this review, we describe two promising strategies to select effective molecules: drug screening (DS) and drug repositioning (DR). By using compounds libraries of chemical/natural compounds and/or Food and Drug Administration-approved substances, DS aims at identifying new potentially effective compounds, whereas DR at testing drugs originally designed for the treatment of other pathologies. The drastic reduction in risks, costs and time expenditure assured by these strategies make them particularly interesting, especially for those diseases for which the canonical drug discovery process would be long and expensive. Interestingly, among the identified molecules by DS/DR in the context of SMA, besides the modulators of SMN2 transcription, we highlighted a convergence of some targeted molecular cascades contributing to SMA pathology, including cell death related-pathways, mitochondria and cytoskeleton dynamics, neurotransmitter and hormone modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Marina Boido
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi Montalcini, Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Identification of phenothiazine derivatives as UHM-binding inhibitors of early spliceosome assembly. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5621. [PMID: 33159082 PMCID: PMC7648758 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19514-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions between U2AF homology motifs (UHMs) and U2AF ligand motifs (ULMs) play a crucial role in early spliceosome assembly in eukaryotic gene regulation. UHM-ULM interactions mediate heterodimerization of the constitutive splicing factors U2AF65 and U2AF35 and between other splicing factors that regulate spliceosome assembly at the 3′ splice site, where UHM domains of alternative splicing factors, such as SPF45 and PUF60, contribute to alternative splicing regulation. Here, we performed high-throughput screening using fluorescence polarization assays with hit validation by NMR and identified phenothiazines as general inhibitors of UHM-ULM interactions. NMR studies show that these compounds occupy the tryptophan binding pocket of UHM domains. Co-crystal structures of the inhibitors with the PUF60 UHM domain and medicinal chemistry provide structure-activity-relationships and reveal functional groups important for binding. These inhibitors inhibit early spliceosome assembly on pre-mRNA substrates in vitro. Our data show that spliceosome assembly can be inhibited by targeting UHM-ULM interactions by small molecules, thus extending the toolkit of splicing modulators for structural and biochemical studies of the spliceosome and splicing regulation. So far only a few compounds have been reported as splicing modulators. Here, the authors combine high-throughput screening, chemical synthesis, NMR, X-ray crystallography with functional studies and develop phenothiazines as inhibitors for the U2AF Homology Motif (UHM) domains of proteins that regulate splicing and show that they inhibit early spliceosome assembly on pre-mRNA substrates in vitro.
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Vincent F, Loria PM, Weston AD, Steppan CM, Doyonnas R, Wang YM, Rockwell KL, Peakman MC. Hit Triage and Validation in Phenotypic Screening: Considerations and Strategies. Cell Chem Biol 2020; 27:1332-1346. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2020.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Busby SA, Carbonneau S, Concannon J, Dumelin CE, Lee Y, Numao S, Renaud N, Smith TM, Auld DS. Advancements in Assay Technologies and Strategies to Enable Drug Discovery. ACS Chem Biol 2020; 15:2636-2648. [PMID: 32880443 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Assays drive drug discovery from the exploratory phases to the clinical testing of drug candidates. As such, numerous assay technologies and methodologies have arisen to support drug discovery efforts. Robust identification and characterization of tractable chemical matter requires biochemical, biophysical, and cellular approaches and often benefits from high-throughput methods. To increase throughput, efforts have been made to provide assays in miniaturized volumes which can be arrayed in microtiter plates to support the testing of as many as 100,000 samples/day. Alongside these efforts has been the growth of microtiter plate-free formats with encoded libraries that can support the screening of billions of compounds, a hunt for new drug modalities, as well as emphasis on more disease relevant formats using complex cell models of disease states. This review will focus on recent developments in high-throughput assay technologies applied to identify starting points for drug discovery. We also provide recommendations on strategies for implementing various assay types to select high quality leads for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A. Busby
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Seth Carbonneau
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | - John Concannon
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | | | - YounKyoung Lee
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Shin Numao
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Renaud
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Thomas M. Smith
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Douglas S. Auld
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
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Ando S, Suzuki S, Okubo S, Ohuchi K, Takahashi K, Nakamura S, Shimazawa M, Fuji K, Hara H. Discovery of a CNS penetrant small molecule SMN2 splicing modulator with improved tolerability for spinal muscular atrophy. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17472. [PMID: 33060681 PMCID: PMC7562719 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74346-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a motor neuron disease, typically resulting from loss-of-function mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Nusinersen/SPINRAZA, a splice-switching oligonucleotide that modulates SMN2 (a paralog of SMN1) splicing and consequently increases SMN protein levels, has a therapeutic effect for SMA. Previously reported small-molecule SMN2 splicing modulators such as risdiplam/EVRYSDI and its analog SMN-C3 modulate not only the splicing of SMN2 but also that of secondary splice targets, including forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1). Through screening SMA patient-derived fibroblasts, a novel small molecule, designated TEC-1, was identified that selectively modulates SMN2 splicing over three secondary splice targets. TEC-1 did not strongly affect the splicing of FOXM1, and unlike risdiplam, did not induce micronucleus formation. In addition, TEC-1 showed higher selectively on galactosylceramidase and huntingtin gene expression compared to previously reported compounds (e.g., SMN-C3) due to off-target effects on cryptic exon inclusion and nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Moreover, TEC-1 significantly ameliorated the disease phenotype in an SMA murine model in vivo. Thus, TEC-1 may have promising therapeutic potential for SMA, and our study demonstrates the feasibility of RNA-targeting small-molecule drug development with an improved tolerability profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiori Ando
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan
| | | | | | - Kazuki Ohuchi
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan
| | - Kei Takahashi
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Nakamura
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan
| | - Masamitsu Shimazawa
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan
| | - Koji Fuji
- Reborna Biosciences Inc., Kanagawa, 251-0012, Japan
| | - Hideaki Hara
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan.
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129
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Meyer SM, Williams CC, Akahori Y, Tanaka T, Aikawa H, Tong Y, Childs-Disney JL, Disney MD. Small molecule recognition of disease-relevant RNA structures. Chem Soc Rev 2020; 49:7167-7199. [PMID: 32975549 PMCID: PMC7717589 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs00560f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Targeting RNAs with small molecules represents a new frontier in drug discovery and development. The rich structural diversity of folded RNAs offers a nearly unlimited reservoir of targets for small molecules to bind, similar to small molecule occupancy of protein binding pockets, thus creating the potential to modulate human biology. Although the bacterial ribosome has historically been the most well exploited RNA target, advances in RNA sequencing technologies and a growing understanding of RNA structure have led to an explosion of interest in the direct targeting of human pathological RNAs. This review highlights recent advances in this area, with a focus on the design of small molecule probes that selectively engage structures within disease-causing RNAs, with micromolar to nanomolar affinity. Additionally, we explore emerging RNA-target strategies, such as bleomycin A5 conjugates and ribonuclease targeting chimeras (RIBOTACs), that allow for the targeted degradation of RNAs with impressive potency and selectivity. The compounds discussed in this review have proven efficacious in human cell lines, patient-derived cells, and pre-clinical animal models, with one compound currently undergoing a Phase II clinical trial and another that recently garnerd FDA-approval, indicating a bright future for targeted small molecule therapeutics that affect RNA function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Meyer
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
| | - Christopher C Williams
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
| | - Yoshihiro Akahori
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
| | - Toru Tanaka
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
| | - Haruo Aikawa
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
| | - Yuquan Tong
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
| | - Jessica L Childs-Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
| | - Matthew D Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
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130
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Yu AM, Choi YH, Tu MJ. RNA Drugs and RNA Targets for Small Molecules: Principles, Progress, and Challenges. Pharmacol Rev 2020; 72:862-898. [PMID: 32929000 PMCID: PMC7495341 DOI: 10.1124/pr.120.019554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-based therapies, including RNA molecules as drugs and RNA-targeted small molecules, offer unique opportunities to expand the range of therapeutic targets. Various forms of RNAs may be used to selectively act on proteins, transcripts, and genes that cannot be targeted by conventional small molecules or proteins. Although development of RNA drugs faces unparalleled challenges, many strategies have been developed to improve RNA metabolic stability and intracellular delivery. A number of RNA drugs have been approved for medical use, including aptamers (e.g., pegaptanib) that mechanistically act on protein target and small interfering RNAs (e.g., patisiran and givosiran) and antisense oligonucleotides (e.g., inotersen and golodirsen) that directly interfere with RNA targets. Furthermore, guide RNAs are essential components of novel gene editing modalities, and mRNA therapeutics are under development for protein replacement therapy or vaccination, including those against unprecedented severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus pandemic. Moreover, functional RNAs or RNA motifs are highly structured to form binding pockets or clefts that are accessible by small molecules. Many natural, semisynthetic, or synthetic antibiotics (e.g., aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, macrolides, oxazolidinones, and phenicols) can directly bind to ribosomal RNAs to achieve the inhibition of bacterial infections. Therefore, there is growing interest in developing RNA-targeted small-molecule drugs amenable to oral administration, and some (e.g., risdiplam and branaplam) have entered clinical trials. Here, we review the pharmacology of novel RNA drugs and RNA-targeted small-molecule medications, with a focus on recent progresses and strategies. Challenges in the development of novel druggable RNA entities and identification of viable RNA targets and selective small-molecule binders are discussed. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: With the understanding of RNA functions and critical roles in diseases, as well as the development of RNA-related technologies, there is growing interest in developing novel RNA-based therapeutics. This comprehensive review presents pharmacology of both RNA drugs and RNA-targeted small-molecule medications, focusing on novel mechanisms of action, the most recent progress, and existing challenges.
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MESH Headings
- Aptamers, Nucleotide/pharmacology
- Aptamers, Nucleotide/therapeutic use
- Betacoronavirus
- COVID-19
- Chemistry Techniques, Analytical/methods
- Chemistry Techniques, Analytical/standards
- Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats
- Coronavirus Infections/drug therapy
- Drug Delivery Systems/methods
- Drug Development/organization & administration
- Drug Discovery
- Humans
- MicroRNAs/pharmacology
- MicroRNAs/therapeutic use
- Oligonucleotides, Antisense/pharmacology
- Oligonucleotides, Antisense/therapeutic use
- Pandemics
- Pneumonia, Viral/drug therapy
- RNA/adverse effects
- RNA/drug effects
- RNA/pharmacology
- RNA, Antisense/pharmacology
- RNA, Antisense/therapeutic use
- RNA, Messenger/drug effects
- RNA, Messenger/pharmacology
- RNA, Ribosomal/drug effects
- RNA, Ribosomal/pharmacology
- RNA, Small Interfering/pharmacology
- RNA, Small Interfering/therapeutic use
- RNA, Viral/drug effects
- Ribonucleases/metabolism
- Riboswitch/drug effects
- SARS-CoV-2
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai-Ming Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California (A.-M.Y., Y.H.C., M.-J.T.) and College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang-si, Gyonggi-do, Republic of Korea (Y.H.C.)
| | - Young Hee Choi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California (A.-M.Y., Y.H.C., M.-J.T.) and College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang-si, Gyonggi-do, Republic of Korea (Y.H.C.)
| | - Mei-Juan Tu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California (A.-M.Y., Y.H.C., M.-J.T.) and College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang-si, Gyonggi-do, Republic of Korea (Y.H.C.)
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131
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Mukherjee H, Blain JC, Vandivier LE, Chin DN, Friedman JE, Liu F, Maillet A, Fang C, Kaplan JB, Li J, Chenoweth DM, Christensen AB, Petersen LK, Hansen NJV, Barrera L, Kubica N, Kumaravel G, Petter JC. PEARL-seq: A Photoaffinity Platform for the Analysis of Small Molecule-RNA Interactions. ACS Chem Biol 2020; 15:2374-2381. [PMID: 32804474 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
RNA is emerging as a valuable target for the development of novel therapeutic agents. The rational design of RNA-targeting small molecules, however, has been hampered by the relative lack of methods for the analysis of small molecule-RNA interactions. Here, we present our efforts to develop such a platform using photoaffinity labeling. This technique, termed Photoaffinity Evaluation of RNA Ligation-Sequencing (PEARL-seq), enables the rapid identification of small molecule binding locations within their RNA targets and can provide information on ligand selectivity across multiple different RNAs. These data, when supplemented with small molecule SAR data and RNA probing data enable the construction of a computational model of the RNA-ligand structure, thereby enabling the rational design of novel RNA-targeted ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herschel Mukherjee
- Arrakis Therapeutics, 830 Winter Street, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
| | - J. Craig Blain
- Arrakis Therapeutics, 830 Winter Street, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Lee E. Vandivier
- Arrakis Therapeutics, 830 Winter Street, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Donovan N. Chin
- Arrakis Therapeutics, 830 Winter Street, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Jessica E. Friedman
- Arrakis Therapeutics, 830 Winter Street, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Fei Liu
- Arrakis Therapeutics, 830 Winter Street, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Ashley Maillet
- Arrakis Therapeutics, 830 Winter Street, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Chao Fang
- Arrakis Therapeutics, 830 Winter Street, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Jenifer B. Kaplan
- Arrakis Therapeutics, 830 Winter Street, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Jinxing Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - David M. Chenoweth
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | | | | | | | - Luis Barrera
- Arrakis Therapeutics, 830 Winter Street, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Neil Kubica
- Arrakis Therapeutics, 830 Winter Street, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
| | | | - Jennifer C. Petter
- Arrakis Therapeutics, 830 Winter Street, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
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132
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Bennett CF, Krainer AR, Cleveland DW. Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapies for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Annu Rev Neurosci 2020; 42:385-406. [PMID: 31283897 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-070918-050501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides represent a novel therapeutic platform for the discovery of medicines that have the potential to treat most neurodegenerative diseases. Antisense drugs are currently in development for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and Alzheimer's disease, and multiple research programs are underway for additional neurodegenerative diseases. One antisense drug, nusinersen, has been approved for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy. Importantly, nusinersen improves disease symptoms when administered to symptomatic patients rather than just slowing the progression of the disease. In addition to the benefit to spinal muscular atrophy patients, there are discoveries from nusinersen that can be applied to other neurological diseases, including method of delivery, doses, tolerability of intrathecally delivered antisense drugs, and the biodistribution of intrathecal dosed antisense drugs. Based in part on the early success of nusinersen, antisense drugs hold great promise as a therapeutic platform for the treatment of neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adrian R Krainer
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA
| | - Don W Cleveland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
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133
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Haniff HS, Knerr L, Chen JL, Disney MD, Lightfoot HL. Target-Directed Approaches for Screening Small Molecules against RNA Targets. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2020; 25:869-894. [PMID: 32419578 PMCID: PMC7442623 DOI: 10.1177/2472555220922802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
RNA molecules have a variety of cellular functions that can drive disease pathologies. They are without a doubt one of the most intriguing yet controversial small-molecule drug targets. The ability to widely target RNA with small molecules could be revolutionary, once the right tools, assays, and targets are selected, thereby defining which biomolecules are targetable and what constitutes drug-like small molecules. Indeed, approaches developed over the past 5-10 years have changed the face of small molecule-RNA targeting by addressing historic concerns regarding affinity, selectivity, and structural dynamics. Presently, selective RNA-protein complex stabilizing drugs such as branaplam and risdiplam are in clinical trials for the modulation of SMN2 splicing, compounds identified from phenotypic screens with serendipitous outcomes. Fully developing RNA as a druggable target will require a target engagement-driven approach, and evolving chemical collections will be important for the industrial development of this class of target. In this review we discuss target-directed approaches that can be used to identify RNA-binding compounds and the chemical knowledge we have today of small-molecule RNA binders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hafeez S. Haniff
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Laurent Knerr
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jonathan L. Chen
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Matthew D. Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
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134
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Abstract
There is a great need for innovative new medicines to treat unmet medical needs. The discovery and development of innovative new medicines is extremely difficult, costly, and inefficient. In the last decade, phenotypic drug discovery (PDD) was reintroduced as a strategy to provide first-in-class medicines. PDD uses empirical, target-agnostic lead generation to identify pharmacologically active molecules and novel therapeutics which work through unprecedented drug mechanisms. The economic and scientific value of PDD is exemplified through game-changing medicines for hepatitis C virus, spinal muscular atrophy, and cystic fibrosis. In this short review, recent advances are noted for the implementation and de-risking of PDD (for compound library selection, biomarker development, mechanism identification, and safety studies) and the potential for artificial intelligence. A significant barrier in the decision to implement PDD is balancing the potential impact of a novel mechanism of drug action with an under-defined scientific path forward, with the desire to provide infrastructure and metrics to optimize return on investment, which a known mechanism provides. A means to address this knowledge gap in the future is to empower precompetitive research utilizing the empirical concepts of PDD to identify new mechanisms and pharmacologically active compounds.
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135
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Abstract
Protein-RNA interactions have crucial roles in various cellular activities, which, when dysregulated, can lead to a range of human diseases. The identification of small molecules that target the interaction between RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and RNA is progressing rapidly and represents a novel strategy for the discovery of chemical probes that facilitate understanding of the cellular functions of RBPs and of therapeutic agents with new mechanisms of action. In this Review, I present a current overview of targeting emerging RBPs using small-molecule inhibitors and recent progress in this burgeoning field. Small-molecule inhibitors that were reported for three representative emerging classes of RBPs, the microRNA-binding protein LIN28, the single-stranded or double-stranded RNA-binding Toll-like receptors and the CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins, are highlighted from a medicinal-chemistry and chemical-biology perspective. However, although this field is burgeoning, challenges remain in the discovery and characterization of small-molecule inhibitors of RBPs.
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136
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Angelbello AJ, Chen JL, Disney MD. Small molecule targeting of RNA structures in neurological disorders. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2020; 1471:57-71. [PMID: 30964958 PMCID: PMC6785366 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant RNA structure and function operate in neurological disease progression and severity. As RNA contributes to disease pathology in a complex fashion, that is, via various mechanisms, it has become an attractive therapeutic target for small molecules and oligonucleotides. In this review, we discuss the identification of RNA structures that cause or contribute to neurological diseases as well as recent progress toward the development of small molecules that target them, including small molecule modulators of pre-mRNA splicing and RNA repeat expansions that cause microsatellite disorders such as Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The use of oligonucleotide-based modalities is also discussed. There are key differences between small molecule and oligonucleotide targeting of RNA. The former targets RNA structure, while the latter prefers unstructured regions. Thus, some targets will be preferentially targeted by oligonucleotides and others by small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonathan L Chen
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida
| | - Matthew D Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida
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137
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Singh RN, Seo J, Singh NN. RNA in spinal muscular atrophy: therapeutic implications of targeting. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:731-743. [PMID: 32538213 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1783241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by low levels of the Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein due to deletions of or mutations in the SMN1 gene. Humans carry another nearly identical gene, SMN2, which mostly produces a truncated and less stable protein SMNΔ7 due to predominant skipping of exon 7. Elevation of SMN upon correction of SMN2 exon 7 splicing and gene therapy have been proven to be the effective treatment strategies for SMA. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes existing and potential SMA therapies that are based on RNA targeting.We also discuss the mechanistic basis of RNA-targeting molecules. EXPERT OPINION The discovery of intronic splicing silencer N1 (ISS-N1) was the first major step towards developing the currently approved antisense-oligonucleotide (ASO)-directed therapy (SpinrazaTM) based on the correction of exon 7 splicing of the endogenous SMN2pre-mRNA. Recently, gene therapy (Zolgensma) has become the second approved treatment for SMA. Small compounds (currently in clinical trials) capable of restoring SMN2 exon 7 inclusion further expand the class of the RNA targeting molecules for SMA therapy. Endogenous RNA targets, such as long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs, microRNAs and ribonucleoproteins, could be potentially exploited for developing additional SMA therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravindra N Singh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University , Ames, IA, USA
| | - Joonbae Seo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University , Ames, IA, USA
| | - Natalia N Singh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University , Ames, IA, USA
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138
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Villalón E, Kline RA, Smith CE, Lorson ZC, Osman EY, O'Day S, Murray LM, Lorson CL. AAV9-Stathmin1 gene delivery improves disease phenotype in an intermediate mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:3742-3754. [PMID: 31363739 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating infantile genetic disorder caused by the loss of survival motor neuron (SMN) protein that leads to premature death due to loss of motor neurons and muscle atrophy. The approval of an antisense oligonucleotide therapy for SMA was an important milestone in SMA research; however, effective next-generation therapeutics will likely require combinatorial SMN-dependent therapeutics and SMN-independent disease modifiers. A recent cross-disease transcriptomic analysis identified Stathmin-1 (STMN1), a tubulin-depolymerizing protein, as a potential disease modifier across different motor neuron diseases, including SMA. Here, we investigated whether viral-based delivery of STMN1 decreased disease severity in a well-characterized SMA mouse model. Intracerebroventricular delivery of scAAV9-STMN1 in SMA mice at P2 significantly increased survival and weight gain compared to untreated SMA mice without elevating Smn levels. scAAV9-STMN1 improved important hallmarks of disease, including motor function, NMJ pathology and motor neuron cell preservation. Furthermore, scAAV9-STMN1 treatment restored microtubule networks and tubulin expression without affecting tubulin stability. Our results show that scAAV9-STMN1 treatment improves SMA pathology possibly by increasing microtubule turnover leading to restored levels of stable microtubules. Overall, these data demonstrate that STMN1 can significantly reduce the SMA phenotype independent of restoring SMN protein and highlight the importance of developing SMN-independent therapeutics for the treatment of SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Villalón
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - R A Kline
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - C E Smith
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Z C Lorson
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - E Y Osman
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - S O'Day
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - L M Murray
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - C L Lorson
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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139
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Splicing mutations in inherited retinal diseases. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 80:100874. [PMID: 32553897 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Mutations which induce aberrant transcript splicing represent a distinct class of disease-causing genetic variants in retinal disease genes. Such mutations may either weaken or erase regular splice sites or create novel splice sites which alter exon recognition. While mutations affecting the canonical GU-AG dinucleotides at the splice donor and splice acceptor site are highly predictive to cause a splicing defect, other variants in the vicinity of the canonical splice sites or those affecting additional cis-acting regulatory sequences within exons or introns are much more difficult to assess or even to recognize and require additional experimental validation. Splicing mutations are unique in that the actual outcome for the transcript (e.g. exon skipping, pseudoexon inclusion, intron retention) and the encoded protein can be quite different depending on the individual mutation. In this article, we present an overview on the current knowledge about and impact of splicing mutations in inherited retinal diseases. We introduce the most common sub-classes of splicing mutations including examples from our own work and others and discuss current strategies for the identification and validation of splicing mutations, as well as therapeutic approaches, open questions, and future perspectives in this field of research.
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140
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Rahman MA, Nasrin F, Bhattacharjee S, Nandi S. Hallmarks of Splicing Defects in Cancer: Clinical Applications in the Era of Personalized Medicine. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061381. [PMID: 32481522 PMCID: PMC7352608 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing promotes proteome diversity by using limited number of genes, a key control point of gene expression. Splicing is carried out by large macromolecular machineries, called spliceosome, composed of small RNAs and proteins. Alternative splicing is regulated by splicing regulatory cis-elements in RNA and trans-acting splicing factors that are often tightly regulated in a tissue-specific and developmental stage-specific manner. The biogenesis of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes is strictly regulated to ensure that correct complements of RNA and proteins are coordinated in the right cell at the right time to support physiological functions. Any perturbations that impair formation of functional spliceosomes by disrupting the cis-elements, or by compromising RNA-binding or function of trans-factors can be deleterious to cells and result in pathological consequences. The recent discovery of oncogenic mutations in splicing factors, and growing evidence of the perturbed splicing in multiple types of cancer, underscores RNA processing defects as a critical driver of oncogenesis. These findings have resulted in a growing interest in targeting RNA splicing as a therapeutic approach for cancer treatment. This review summarizes our current understanding of splicing alterations in cancer, recent therapeutic efforts targeting splicing defects in cancer, and future potentials to develop novel cancer therapies.
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141
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Chen JL, Zhang P, Abe M, Aikawa H, Zhang L, Frank AJ, Zembryski T, Hubbs C, Park H, Withka J, Steppan C, Rogers L, Cabral S, Pettersson M, Wager TT, Fountain MA, Rumbaugh G, Childs-Disney JL, Disney MD. Design, Optimization, and Study of Small Molecules That Target Tau Pre-mRNA and Affect Splicing. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:8706-8727. [PMID: 32364710 PMCID: PMC7357857 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c00768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 95% of human genes are alternatively spliced, and aberrant splicing events can cause disease. One pre-mRNA that is alternatively spliced and linked to neurodegenerative diseases is tau (microtubule-associated protein tau), which can cause frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17) and can contribute to Alzheimer's disease. Here, we describe the design of structure-specific lead small molecules that directly target tau pre-mRNA from sequence. This was followed by hit expansion and analogue synthesis to further improve upon these initial lead molecules. The emergent compounds were assessed for functional activity in a battery of assays, including binding assays and an assay that mimics molecular recognition of tau pre-mRNA by a U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) splicing factor. Compounds that emerged from these studies had enhanced potency and selectivity for the target RNA relative to the initial hits, while also having significantly improved drug-like properties. The compounds are shown to directly target tau pre-mRNA in cells, via chemical cross-linking and isolation by pull-down target profiling, and to rescue disease-relevant splicing of tau pre-mRNA in a variety of cellular systems, including primary neurons. More broadly, this study shows that lead, structure-specific compounds can be designed from sequence and then further optimized for their physicochemical properties while at the same time enhancing their activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan L. Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Peiyuan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Masahito Abe
- Department of Chemistry and Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Haruo Aikawa
- Department of Chemistry and Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Liying Zhang
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Alexander J. Frank
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, State University of New York at Fredonia, Fredonia, New York 14063, United States
| | - Timothy Zembryski
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, State University of New York at Fredonia, Fredonia, New York 14063, United States
| | - Christopher Hubbs
- Department of Chemistry and Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - HaJeung Park
- Department of Chemistry and Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Jane Withka
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Claire Steppan
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Lucy Rogers
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Shawn Cabral
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Martin Pettersson
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Travis T. Wager
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Matthew A. Fountain
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, State University of New York at Fredonia, Fredonia, New York 14063, United States
| | - Gavin Rumbaugh
- Department of Chemistry and Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Jessica L. Childs-Disney
- Department of Chemistry and Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Matthew D. Disney
- Department of Chemistry and Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter
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142
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New and Developing Therapies in Spinal Muscular Atrophy: From Genotype to Phenotype to Treatment and Where Do We Stand? Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21093297. [PMID: 32392694 PMCID: PMC7246502 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a congenital neuromuscular disorder characterized by motor neuron loss, resulting in progressive weakness. SMA is notable in the health care community because it accounts for the most common cause of infant death resulting from a genetic defect. SMA is caused by low levels of the survival motor neuron protein (SMN) resulting from SMN1 gene mutations or deletions. However, patients always harbor various copies of SMN2, an almost identical but functionally deficient copy of the gene. A genotype–phenotype correlation suggests that SMN2 is a potent disease modifier for SMA, which also represents the primary target for potential therapies. Increasing comprehension of SMA pathophysiology, including the characterization of SMN1 and SMN2 genes and SMN protein functions, has led to the development of multiple therapeutic approaches. Until the end of 2016, no cure was available for SMA, and management consisted of supportive measures. Two breakthrough SMN-targeted treatments, either using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) or virus-mediated gene therapy, have recently been approved. These two novel therapeutics have a common objective: to increase the production of SMN protein in MNs and thereby improve motor function and survival. However, neither therapy currently provides a complete cure. Treating patients with SMA brings new responsibilities and unique dilemmas. As SMA is such a devastating disease, it is reasonable to assume that a unique therapeutic solution may not be sufficient. Current approaches under clinical investigation differ in administration routes, frequency of dosing, intrathecal versus systemic delivery, and mechanisms of action. Besides, emerging clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of either SMN-dependent or SMN-independent approaches are ongoing. This review aims to address the different knowledge gaps between genotype, phenotypes, and potential therapeutics.
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143
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RNA-Targeted Therapies and High-Throughput Screening Methods. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082996. [PMID: 32340368 PMCID: PMC7216119 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are involved in regulating all aspects of RNA metabolism, including processing, transport, translation, and degradation. Dysregulation of RNA metabolism is linked to a plethora of diseases, such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and neuromuscular disorders. Recent years have seen a dramatic shift in the knowledge base, with RNA increasingly being recognised as an attractive target for precision medicine therapies. In this article, we are going to review current RNA-targeted therapies. Furthermore, we will scrutinise a range of drug discoveries targeting protein-RNA interactions. In particular, we will focus on the interplay between Lin28 and let-7, splicing regulatory proteins and survival motor neuron (SMN) pre-mRNA, as well as HuR, Musashi, proteins and their RNA targets. We will highlight the mechanisms RBPs utilise to modulate RNA metabolism and discuss current high-throughput screening strategies. This review provides evidence that we are entering a new era of RNA-targeted medicine.
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144
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Boer RE, Torrey ZR, Schneekloth JS. Chemical Modulation of Pre-mRNA Splicing in Mammalian Systems. ACS Chem Biol 2020; 15:808-818. [PMID: 32191432 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
RNA splicing is a key component of gene expression and proteomic diversity in humans. The spliceosome assembles on and processes individual nascent pre-mRNA transcripts into distinct mature mRNAs that can code for different proteins. Splicing programs can be affected by somatic mutations and changes in response to exogenous stimuli. Importantly, alterations in splicing can be direct drivers of diseases including cancers. This Review describes recent advances and the potential for targeting and controlling pre-mRNA splicing in humans with small molecules, ranging from targeting spliceosomal proteins to direct targeting of individual RNA transcripts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E. Boer
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick Maryland 21702, United States
| | - Zachary R. Torrey
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick Maryland 21702, United States
| | - John S. Schneekloth
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick Maryland 21702, United States
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145
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Deshaies RJ. Multispecific drugs herald a new era of biopharmaceutical innovation. Nature 2020; 580:329-338. [DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2168-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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146
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Ravi B, Antonellis A, Sumner CJ, Lieberman AP. Genetic approaches to the treatment of inherited neuromuscular diseases. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:R55-R64. [PMID: 31227836 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited neuromuscular diseases are a heterogeneous group of developmental and degenerative disorders that affect motor unit function. Major challenges toward developing therapies for these diseases include heterogeneity with respect to clinical severity, age of onset and the primary cell type that is affected (e.g. motor neurons, skeletal muscle and Schwann cells). Here, we review recent progress toward the establishment of genetic therapies to treat inherited neuromuscular disorders that affect both children and adults with a focus on spinal muscular atrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. We discuss clinical features, causative mutations and emerging approaches that are undergoing testing in preclinical models and in patients or that have received recent approval for clinical use. Many of these efforts employ antisense oligonucleotides to alter pre-mRNA splicing or diminish target gene expression and use viral vectors to replace expression of mutant genes. Finally, we discuss remaining challenges for optimizing the delivery and effectiveness of these approaches. In sum, therapeutic strategies for neuromuscular diseases have shown encouraging results, raising hope that recent strides will translate into significant clinical benefits for patients with these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavya Ravi
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anthony Antonellis
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Charlotte J Sumner
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrew P Lieberman
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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147
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Zhang JD, Sach-Peltason L, Kramer C, Wang K, Ebeling M. Multiscale modelling of drug mechanism and safety. Drug Discov Today 2020; 25:519-534. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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148
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Ramdas S, Servais L. New treatments in spinal muscular atrophy: an overview of currently available data. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2020; 21:307-315. [PMID: 31973611 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2019.1704732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is one of the most common inherited neuromuscular disorders. It causes progressive muscle weakness and results in significant disability. Until recently, there were no drugs available for the treatment of SMA. Several phase 1-3 studies, including three double-blind randomized placebo-controlled studies have demonstrated the efficacy of disease-modifying approaches including gene replacement therapy, antisense oligonucleotides, and splicing modifiers.Areas covered: This article covers the publically available data on therapeutic strategies that address the underlying cause of SMA and clinical data available on approved treatments and drugs in the pipeline.Expert opinion: The newer therapeutic options in SMA have a good safety profile and deliver a therapeutic benefit in most patients. It is essential that the recommended standards of care are delivered along with the drugs for the best outcomes. No biomarkers to distinguish responders from non-responders are available; it is important that biomarkers be identified. Early treatment is essential for the maximum efficacy of the newly available treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sithara Ramdas
- MDUK Neuromuscular Center, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Laurent Servais
- MDUK Neuromuscular Center, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Division of Child Neurology, Centre de Références des Maladies Neuromusculaires, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Liège & University of Liège, Belgium
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149
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Swalley SE. Expanding therapeutic opportunities for neurodegenerative diseases: A perspective on the important role of phenotypic screening. Bioorg Med Chem 2020; 28:115239. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.115239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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150
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Wirth B, Karakaya M, Kye MJ, Mendoza-Ferreira N. Twenty-Five Years of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Research: From Phenotype to Genotype to Therapy, and What Comes Next. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2020; 21:231-261. [PMID: 32004094 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-102319-103602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Twenty-five years ago, the underlying genetic cause for one of the most common and devastating inherited diseases in humans, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), was identified. Homozygous deletions or, rarely, subtle mutations of SMN1 cause SMA, and the copy number of the nearly identical copy gene SMN2 inversely correlates with disease severity. SMA has become a paradigm and a prime example of a monogenic neurological disorder that can be efficiently ameliorated or nearly cured by novel therapeutic strategies, such as antisense oligonucleotide or gene replacement therapy. These therapies enable infants to survive who might otherwise have died before the age of two and allow individuals who have never been able to sit or walk to do both. The major milestones on the road to these therapies were to understand the genetic cause and splice regulation of SMN genes, the disease's phenotype-genotype variability, the function of the protein and the main affected cellular pathways and tissues, the disease's pathophysiology through research on animal models, the windows of opportunity for efficient treatment, and how and when to treat patients most effectively.This review aims to bridge our knowledge from phenotype to genotype to therapy, not only highlighting the significant advances so far but also speculating about the future of SMA screening and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brunhilde Wirth
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne and Center for Rare Diseases, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Mert Karakaya
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne and Center for Rare Diseases, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Min Jeong Kye
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne and Center for Rare Diseases, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Natalia Mendoza-Ferreira
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne and Center for Rare Diseases, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany;
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