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Sato T, Arakawa M, Tashima Y, Tsuboi E, Burdon G, Trojan J, Koyano T, Youn YN, Penov K, Pedroza AJ, Shabazzi M, Palmon I, Nguyen MN, Connolly AJ, Yamaguchi A, Fischbein MP. Statins Reduce Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Growth in Marfan Syndrome Mice via Inhibition of the Ras-Induced ERK (Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase) Signaling Pathway. J Am Heart Assoc 2019; 7:e008543. [PMID: 30571378 PMCID: PMC6404178 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.118.008543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Background Statins reduce aneurysm growth in mouse models of Marfan syndrome, although the mechanism is unknown. In addition to reducing cholesterol, statins block farnesylation and geranylgeranylation, which participate in membrane‐bound G‐protein signaling, including Ras. We dissected the prenylation pathway to define the effect of statins on aneurysm reduction. Methods and Results Fbn1C1039G/+ mice were treated with (1) pravastatin (HMG‐CoA [3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A] reductase inhibitor), (2) manumycin A (MA; FPT inhibitor), (3) perillyl alcohol (GGPT1 and ‐2 inhibitor), or (4) vehicle control from age 4 to 8 weeks and euthanized at 12 weeks. Histological characterization was performed. Protein analysis was completed on aortic specimens to measure ERK (extracellular signal‐regulated kinase) signaling. In vitro Fbn1C1039G/+ aortic smooth muscle cells were utilized to measure Ras‐dependent ERK signaling and MMP (matrix metalloproteinase) activity. Pravastatin and MA significantly reduced aneurysm growth compared with vehicle control (n=8 per group). In contrast, PA did not significantly decrease aneurysm size. Histology illustrated reduced elastin breakdown in MA‐treated mice compared with vehicle control (n=5 per group). Although elevated in control Marfan mice, both phosphorylated c‐Raf and phosphorylated ERK1/2 were significantly reduced in MA‐treated mice (4–5 per group). In vitro smooth muscle cell studies confirmed phosphorylated cRaf and phosphorylated ERK1/2 signaling was elevated in Fbn1C1039G/+ smooth muscle cells (n=5 per group). Fbn1C1039G/+ smooth muscle cell Ras‐dependent ERK signaling and MMP activity were reduced following MA treatment (n=5 per group). Corroborating in vitro findings, MMP activity was also decreased in pravastatin‐treated mice. Conclusions Aneurysm reduction in Fbn1C1039G/+ mice following pravastatin and MA treatment was associated with a decrease in Ras‐dependent ERK signaling. MMP activity can be reduced by diminishing Ras signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Sato
- 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University Stanford CA.,2 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery Jichi Medical University Saitama Medical Center Saitama Japan
| | - Mamoru Arakawa
- 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University Stanford CA.,2 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery Jichi Medical University Saitama Medical Center Saitama Japan
| | - Yasushi Tashima
- 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University Stanford CA.,2 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery Jichi Medical University Saitama Medical Center Saitama Japan
| | - Eitoshi Tsuboi
- 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University Stanford CA.,4 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery Iwaki Kyoritsu General Hospital Fukushima Japan
| | - Grayson Burdon
- 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University Stanford CA
| | - Jeffrey Trojan
- 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University Stanford CA
| | - Tiffany Koyano
- 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University Stanford CA
| | - Young-Nam Youn
- 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University Stanford CA.,3 Division of Cardiovascular Surgery Severance Cardiovascular Hospital Yonsei University College of Medicine Seoul Korea
| | - Kiril Penov
- 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University Stanford CA.,5 Department of Cardiac Surgery Heart Center Leipzig University of Leipzig Germany
| | - Albert J Pedroza
- 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University Stanford CA
| | - Mohammad Shabazzi
- 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University Stanford CA
| | - Itai Palmon
- 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University Stanford CA
| | - Marie Noel Nguyen
- 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University Stanford CA
| | | | - Atsushi Yamaguchi
- 2 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery Jichi Medical University Saitama Medical Center Saitama Japan
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152
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Abdelkarim H, Banerjee A, Grudzien P, Leschinsky N, Abushaer M, Gaponenko V. The Hypervariable Region of K-Ras4B Governs Molecular Recognition and Function. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20225718. [PMID: 31739603 PMCID: PMC6888304 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 11/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The flexible C-terminal hypervariable region distinguishes K-Ras4B, an important proto-oncogenic GTPase, from other Ras GTPases. This unique lysine-rich portion of the protein harbors sites for post-translational modification, including cysteine prenylation, carboxymethylation, phosphorylation, and likely many others. The functions of the hypervariable region are diverse, ranging from anchoring K-Ras4B at the plasma membrane to sampling potentially auto-inhibitory binding sites in its GTPase domain and participating in isoform-specific protein-protein interactions and signaling. Despite much research, there are still many questions about the hypervariable region of K-Ras4B. For example, mechanistic details of its interaction with plasma membrane lipids and with the GTPase domain require further clarification. The roles of the hypervariable region in K-Ras4B-specific protein-protein interactions and signaling are incompletely defined. It is also unclear why post-translational modifications frequently found in protein polylysine domains, such as acetylation, glycation, and carbamoylation, have not been observed in K-Ras4B. Expanding knowledge of the hypervariable region will likely drive the development of novel highly-efficient and selective inhibitors of K-Ras4B that are urgently needed by cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hazem Abdelkarim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Chicago, IL 60607, USA; (H.A.); (P.G.); (N.L.); (M.A.)
| | - Avik Banerjee
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
| | - Patrick Grudzien
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Chicago, IL 60607, USA; (H.A.); (P.G.); (N.L.); (M.A.)
| | - Nicholas Leschinsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Chicago, IL 60607, USA; (H.A.); (P.G.); (N.L.); (M.A.)
| | - Mahmoud Abushaer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Chicago, IL 60607, USA; (H.A.); (P.G.); (N.L.); (M.A.)
| | - Vadim Gaponenko
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Chicago, IL 60607, USA; (H.A.); (P.G.); (N.L.); (M.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +312-355-4839
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153
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Zhang C, Gao F, Wu W, Qiu WX, Zhang L, Li R, Zhuang ZN, Yu W, Cheng H, Zhang XZ. Enzyme-Driven Membrane-Targeted Chimeric Peptide for Enhanced Tumor Photodynamic Immunotherapy. ACS NANO 2019; 13:11249-11262. [PMID: 31566945 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b04315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Here, a protein farnesyltransferase (PFTase)-driven plasma membrane (PM)-targeted chimeric peptide, PpIX-C6-PEG8-KKKKKKSKTKC-OMe (PCPK), was designed for PM-targeted photodynamic therapy (PM-PDT) and enhanced immunotherapy via tumor cell PM damage and fast release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). The PM targeting ability of PCPK originates from the cellular K-Ras signaling, which occurs exclusively to drive the corresponding proteins to PM by PFTase. With the conjugation of the photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), PCPK could generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species to deactivate membrane-associated proteins, initiate lipid peroxidation, and destroy PM with an extremely low concentration (1 μM) under light irradiation. The specific PM damage further induced the fast release of DAMPs (high-mobility group box 1 and ATP), resulting in antitumor immune responses stronger than those of conventional cytoplasm-localized PDT. This immune-stimulating PM-PDT strategy also exhibited the inhibition effect for distant metastatic tumors when combined with programmed cell death receptor 1 blockade therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry and the Institute for Advanced Studies , Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072 , P.R. China
| | - Fan Gao
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry and the Institute for Advanced Studies , Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072 , P.R. China
| | - Wei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry and the Institute for Advanced Studies , Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072 , P.R. China
| | - Wen-Xiu Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry and the Institute for Advanced Studies , Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072 , P.R. China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry and the Institute for Advanced Studies , Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072 , P.R. China
| | - Runqing Li
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry and the Institute for Advanced Studies , Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072 , P.R. China
| | - Ze-Nan Zhuang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry and the Institute for Advanced Studies , Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072 , P.R. China
| | - Wuyang Yu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry and the Institute for Advanced Studies , Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072 , P.R. China
| | - Han Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry and the Institute for Advanced Studies , Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072 , P.R. China
| | - Xian-Zheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry and the Institute for Advanced Studies , Wuhan University , Wuhan 430072 , P.R. China
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154
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Zhu L, Li Y, Zhang L, Wen Y, Ju H, Lei J. Controlled assembly of AIEgens based on a super-quadruplex scaffold for detection of plasma membrane proteins. Anal Chim Acta 2019; 1094:130-135. [PMID: 31761039 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2019.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Quantification of plasma membrane proteins (PMPs) is crucial for understanding the fundamentals of cellular signaling systems and their related diseases. In this work, a super-quadruplex scaffold was designed to regulate assembly of oligonucleotide-grafted AIEgens for detection of PMPs. The nonfluorescence oligonucleotide-grafted AIEgen (Oligo-AIEgen) was firstly synthesized by attaching the AIEgen to 3'-terminus of the oligonucleotide through click chemistry. Meanwhile, the tetramolecular hairpin-conjugated super-quadruplex (THP-G4) as cleavage element and signal enhancement scaffold composited of three elements: a substrate sequence of DNAzyme in the loop region, partial hybridization region in the stem, and six guanine nucleotides to form G-quadruplex. Once the DNAzyme was anchored on the specific PMPs through aptamer-protein recognition, the substrate sequence on the loop of THP-G4 was cleaved by DNAzyme with the aid of cofactor MnII, resulting in the conformation switch of THP-G4 to the activated G-quadruplex scaffold. The latter could assemble Oligo-AIEgens to generate aggregation-induced emission (AIE) enhancement, resulting in a simple and sensitive strategy for detection of membrane proteins. Moreover, the DNAzyme continuously cut the next THP-G4 to achieve recycling amplification. Under the optimized conditions, this AIE-based strategy exhibited good linear relationship with the logarithm of MUC1 concentration from 0.01 to 10 μg mL-1 with the limit of detection down to 4.3 ng mL-1. The G4-assembled AIEgens provides a universal platform for detecting various biomolecules and a proof-of concept for AIE biosensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longyi Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Lei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Yunjie Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Huangxian Ju
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Jianping Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, PR China.
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155
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Wang Y, Zhang B, Gao G, Zhang Y, Xia Q. GEFT protein expression in digestive tract malignant tumors and its clinical significance. Oncol Lett 2019; 18:5577-5590. [PMID: 31620201 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.10915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Guanine nucleotide exchange factor T (GEFT), a member of the Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor family, is expressed in a variety of tumors. In the present study, the expression and clinical significance of GEFT in malignant digestive tract tumors was assessed. Tumor and adjacent control samples from 180 patients were tested. Positive GEFT expression rates were 80, 83.33 and 86.67% in esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESCC), gastric carcinoma (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC), respectively. GEFT expression was associated with diffuse type carcinoma according to the Lauren classification (χ2=12.525, P=0.002) and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stages III/IV (χ2=4.033, P=0.045) in GC, and with vessel carcinoma embolus (χ2=7.890, P=0.005) and lymph node metastasis (χ2=5.455, P=0.020) in CRC, but was not associated with other clinicopathological parameters. Patients with high levels of GEFT protein expression had a less favorable outcome compared with patients with low levels of GEFT expression in patients with CRC (χ2=3.876, P=0.049). However, a significant association was not found between GEFT expression and overall survival in patients with ESCC (χ2=0.040, P=0.842) or GC (χ2=0.501, P=0.479). The rate of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 upregulation in patients with GC was 13.33% and it was associated with nerve invasion (χ2=4.005, P=0.045) and TNM stages III/IV (χ2=5.600, P=0.018). Mismatch repair protein (MMRP) defect was observed in six cases, and the KRAS mutation rate was 26.67% in patients with CRC. GEFT expression was significantly correlated with MMRP (r=-0.285, P=0.027) and KRAS mutation in patients with CRC (r=0.697, P<0.001). These findings revealed frequent GEFT upregulation in malignant digestive tract tumors, which may have promoted tumor development. GEFT expression in CRC may be associated with microsatellite instability and KRAS mutation status, suggesting that GEFT may be a potential therapeutic target for patients with CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Wang
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, P.R. China
| | - Bing Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, P.R. China
| | - Ge Gao
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, P.R. China
| | - Yinping Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, P.R. China
| | - Qingxin Xia
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, P.R. China
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156
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Structural Insights into the Regulation Mechanism of Small GTPases by GEFs. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24183308. [PMID: 31514408 PMCID: PMC6767298 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24183308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Small GTPases are key regulators of cellular events, and their dysfunction causes many types of cancer. They serve as molecular switches by cycling between inactive guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-bound and active guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-bound states. GTPases are deactivated by GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) and are activated by guanine-nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). The intrinsic GTP hydrolysis activity of small GTPases is generally low and is accelerated by GAPs. GEFs promote GDP dissociation from small GTPases to allow for GTP binding, which results in a conformational change of two highly flexible segments, called switch I and switch II, that enables binding of the gamma phosphate and allows small GTPases to interact with downstream effectors. For several decades, crystal structures of many GEFs and GAPs have been reported and have shown tremendous structural diversity. In this review, we focus on the latest structural studies of GEFs. Detailed pictures of the variety of GEF mechanisms at atomic resolution can provide insights into new approaches for drug discovery.
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157
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Matheson EC, Thomas H, Case M, Blair H, Jackson RK, Masic D, Veal G, Halsey C, Newell DR, Vormoor J, Irving JAE. Glucocorticoids and selumetinib are highly synergistic in RAS pathway-mutated childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia through upregulation of BIM. Haematologica 2019; 104:1804-1811. [PMID: 30655370 PMCID: PMC6717586 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2017.185975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
New drugs are needed for the treatment of relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia and preclinical evaluation of the MEK inhibitor, selumetinib, has shown that this drug has excellent activity in those leukemias with RAS pathway mutations. The proapoptotic protein, BIM is pivotal in the induction of cell death by both selumetinib and glucocorticoids, suggesting the potential for synergy. Thus, combination indices for dexamethasone and selumetinib were determined in RAS pathway-mutated acute lymphoblastic leukemia primagraft cells in vitro and were indicative of strong synergism (combination index <0.2; n=5). Associated pharmacodynamic assays were consistent with the hypothesis that the drug combination enhanced BIM upregulation over that achieved by a single drug alone. Dosing of dexamethasone and selumetinib singly and in combination in mice engrafted with primary-derived RAS pathway-mutated leukemia cells resulted in a marked reduction in spleen size which was significantly greater with the drug combination. Assessment of the central nervous system leukemia burden showed a significant reduction in the drug-treated mice, with no detectable leukemia in those treated with the drug combination. These data suggest that a selumetinib-dexamethasone combination may be highly effective in RAS pathway-mutated acute lymphoblastic leukemia. An international phase I/II clinical trial of dexamethasone and selumetinib (Seludex trial) is underway in children with multiply relapsed/refractory disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth C Matheson
- Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
| | - Huw Thomas
- Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
| | - Marian Case
- Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
| | - Helen Blair
- Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
| | - Rosanna K Jackson
- Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
| | - Dino Masic
- Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
| | - Gareth Veal
- Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
| | - Chris Halsey
- Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow
| | - David R Newell
- Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
| | - Josef Vormoor
- Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Julie A E Irving
- Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
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158
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Liu P, Wang Y, Li X. Targeting the untargetable KRAS in cancer therapy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2019; 9:871-879. [PMID: 31649840 PMCID: PMC6804475 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
RAS is one of the most well-known proto-oncogenes. Its gain-of-function mutations occur in approximately 30% of all human cancers. As the most frequently mutated RAS isoform, KRAS is intensively studied in the past years. Despite its well-recognized importance in cancer malignancy, continuous efforts in the past three decades failed to develop approved therapies for KRAS mutant cancer. KRAS has thus long been considered to be undruggable. Encouragingly, recent studies have aroused renewed interest in the development of KRAS inhibitors either directly towards mutant KRAS or against the crucial steps required for KRAS activation. This review summarizes the most recent progress in the exploration of KRAS-targeted anticancer strategies and hopefully provides useful insights for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingyu Liu
- Pharmacy Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, China
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +86 25 58509955.
| | - Yijun Wang
- Pharmacy Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
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159
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Zhao T, Bao Y, Gan X, Wang J, Chen Q, Dai Z, Liu B, Wang A, Sun S, Yang F, Wang L. DNA methylation-regulated QPCT promotes sunitinib resistance by increasing HRAS stability in renal cell carcinoma. Theranostics 2019; 9:6175-6190. [PMID: 31534544 PMCID: PMC6735520 DOI: 10.7150/thno.35572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Although sunitinib has been shown to improve the survival rate of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients, poor drug response is a major challenge that reduces patient benefit. It is important to elucidate the underlying mechanism so that the therapeutic response to sunitinib can be restored. Methods: We used an Illumina HumanMethylation 850K microarray to find methylation-differentiated CpG sites between sunitinib-nonresponsive and -responsive RCC tissues and Sequenom MassARRAY methylation analysis to verify the methylation chip results. We verified glutaminyl peptide cyclotransferase (QPCT) expression in sunitinib-nonresponsive and -responsive RCC tissues via qRT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemical assays. Then, cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8), plate colony formation and flow cytometric assays were used to verify the function of QPCT in RCC sunitinib resistance after QPCT intervention or overexpression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) was performed to clarify the upstream regulatory mechanism of QPCT. A human proteome microarray assay was used to identify downstream proteins that interact with QPCT, and co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) and confocal laser microscopy were used to verify the protein chip results. Results: We found that the degree of methylation in the QPCT promoter region was significantly different between sunitinib-nonresponsive and -responsive RCC tissues. In the sunitinib-nonresponsive tissues, the degree of methylation in the QPCT promoter region was significantly reduced, and the expression of QPCT was upregulated, which correlated with a clinically poor response to sunitinib. A knockdown of QPCT conferred sunitinib sensitivity traits to RCC cells, whereas an overexpression of QPCT restored sunitinib resistance in RCC cells. Mechanistically, reducing the methylation degree of the QPCT promoter region by 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (decitabine) in RCC cells could increase the expression of QPCT and NF-κB (p65) bound to the QPCT promoter region, positively regulating its expression, while the hypermethylation in the QPCT promoter region could inhibit the binding of NF-κB (p65). QPCT could bind to HRAS and attenuate the ubiquitination of HRAS, thus increasing its stability and leading to the activation of the ERK pathway in RCC cells. Conclusion: QPCT may be a novel predictor of the response to sunitinib therapy in RCC patients and a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tangliang Zhao
- Department of Urology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Yi Bao
- Department of Urology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Xinxin Gan
- Department of Urology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of Urology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Qiong Chen
- Department of Urology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Zhihui Dai
- Department of Medical Genetics, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Bing Liu
- Department of Urology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Anbang Wang
- Department of Urology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Shuhan Sun
- Department of Medical Genetics, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Fu Yang
- Department of Medical Genetics, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Linhui Wang
- Department of Urology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
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160
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Yoshino H, Yin G, Kawaguchi R, Popov KI, Temple B, Sasaki M, Kofuji S, Wolfe K, Kofuji K, Okumura K, Randhawa J, Malhotra A, Majd N, Ikeda Y, Shimada H, Kahoud ER, Haviv S, Iwase S, Asara JM, Campbell SL, Sasaki AT. Identification of lysine methylation in the core GTPase domain by GoMADScan. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219436. [PMID: 31390367 PMCID: PMC6685615 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
RAS is the founding member of a superfamily of GTPases and regulates signaling pathways involved in cellular growth control. While recent studies have shown that the activation state of RAS can be controlled by lysine ubiquitylation and acetylation, the existence of lysine methylation of the RAS superfamily GTPases remains unexplored. In contrast to acetylation, methylation does not alter the side chain charge and it has been challenging to deduce its impact on protein structure by conventional amino acid substitutions. Herein, we investigate lysine methylation on RAS and RAS-related GTPases. We developed GoMADScan (Go language-based Modification Associated Database Scanner), a new user-friendly application that scans and extracts posttranslationally modified peptides from databases. The GoMADScan search on PhosphoSitePlus databases identified methylation of conserved lysine residues in the core GTPase domain of RAS superfamily GTPases, including residues corresponding to RAS Lys-5, Lys-16, and Lys-117. To follow up on these observations, we immunoprecipitated endogenous RAS from HEK293T cells, conducted mass spectrometric analysis and found that RAS residues, Lys-5 and Lys-147, undergo dimethylation and monomethylation, respectively. Since mutations of Lys-5 have been found in cancers and RASopathies, we set up molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to assess the putative impact of Lys-5 dimethylation on RAS structure. Results from our MD analyses predict that dimethylation of Lys-5 does not significantly alter RAS conformation, suggesting that Lys-5 methylation may alter existing protein interactions or create a docking site to foster new interactions. Taken together, our findings uncover the existence of lysine methylation as a novel posttranslational modification associated with RAS and the RAS superfamily GTPases, and putative impact of Lys-5 dimethylation on RAS structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirofumi Yoshino
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Guowei Yin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Risa Kawaguchi
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Konstantin I. Popov
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Brenda Temple
- University of North Carolina, R. L. Juliano Structural Bioinformatics Core Facility, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Mika Sasaki
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Satoshi Kofuji
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Kara Wolfe
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Kaori Kofuji
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Koichi Okumura
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Jaskirat Randhawa
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Akshiv Malhotra
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Nazanin Majd
- Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Yoshiki Ikeda
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Hiroko Shimada
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Emily Rose Kahoud
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Medicine and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Division of Signal Transduction, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sasson Haviv
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Medicine and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Division of Signal Transduction, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Shigeki Iwase
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, 5815 Medical Science II, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - John M. Asara
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Medicine and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Division of Signal Transduction, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sharon L. Campbell
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Atsuo T. Sasaki
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio, United States of America
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center at UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
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161
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Kuchay S, Wang H, Marzio A, Jain K, Homer H, Fehrenbacher N, Philips MR, Zheng N, Pagano M. GGTase3 is a newly identified geranylgeranyltransferase targeting a ubiquitin ligase. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2019; 26:628-636. [PMID: 31209342 PMCID: PMC6609460 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-019-0249-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Protein prenylation is believed to be catalyzed by three heterodimeric enzymes: FTase, GGTase1 and GGTase2. Here we report the identification of a previously unknown human prenyltransferase complex consisting of an orphan prenyltransferase α-subunit, PTAR1, and the catalytic β-subunit of GGTase2, RabGGTB. This enzyme, which we named GGTase3, geranylgeranylates FBXL2 to allow its localization at cell membranes, where this ubiquitin ligase mediates the polyubiquitylation of membrane-anchored proteins. In cells, FBXL2 is specifically recognized by GGTase3 despite having a typical carboxy-terminal CaaX prenylation motif that is predicted to be recognized by GGTase1. Our crystal structure analysis of the full-length GGTase3-FBXL2-SKP1 complex reveals an extensive multivalent interface specifically formed between the leucine-rich repeat domain of FBXL2 and PTAR1, which unmasks the structural basis of the substrate-enzyme specificity. By uncovering a missing prenyltransferase and its unique mode of substrate recognition, our findings call for a revision of the 'prenylation code'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shafi Kuchay
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Perlmutter NYU Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Antonio Marzio
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Perlmutter NYU Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kunj Jain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Perlmutter NYU Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Harrison Homer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Perlmutter NYU Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicole Fehrenbacher
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Perlmutter NYU Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mark R Philips
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Perlmutter NYU Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ning Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Michele Pagano
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Perlmutter NYU Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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162
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Murugan AK, Grieco M, Tsuchida N. RAS mutations in human cancers: Roles in precision medicine. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 59:23-35. [PMID: 31255772 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Ras proteins play a crucial role as a central component of the cellular networks controlling a variety of signaling pathways that regulate growth, proliferation, survival, differentiation, adhesion, cytoskeletal rearrangements and motility of a cell. Almost, 4 decades passed since Ras research was started and ras genes were originally discovered as retroviral oncogenes. Later on, mutations of the human RAS genes were linked to tumorigenesis. Genetic analyses found that RAS is one of the most deregulated oncogenes in human cancers. In this review, we summarize the pioneering works which allowed the discovery of RAS oncogenes, the finding of frequent mutations of RAS in various human cancers, the role of these mutations in tumorigenesis and mutation-activated signaling networks. We further describe the importance of RAS mutations in personalized or precision medicine particularly in molecular targeted therapy, as well as their use as diagnostic and prognostic markers as therapeutic determinants in human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avaniyapuram Kannan Murugan
- Department of Molecular Cellular Oncology and Microbiology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549 Japan.
| | - Michele Grieco
- DiSTABiF, Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università di Napoli, via Vivaldi 43, Caserta 81100 Italy
| | - Nobuo Tsuchida
- Department of Molecular Cellular Oncology and Microbiology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549 Japan.
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163
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Zhang M, Jang H, Nussinov R. The structural basis for Ras activation of PI3Kα lipid kinase. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:12021-12028. [PMID: 31135801 PMCID: PMC6556208 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp00101h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
PI3Kα is a principal Ras effector that phosphorylates PIP2 to PIP3 in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. How Ras activates PI3K has been unclear: is Ras' role confined to PI3K recruitment to the membrane or does Ras activation also involve allostery? Recently, we determined the mechanism of PI3Kα activation at the atomic level. We showed the vital role and significance of conformational change in PI3Kα activation. Here, by a 'best-match for hydrogen-bonding pair' (BMHP) computational protocol and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we model the atomic structure of KRas4B in complex with the Ras binding domain (RBD) of PI3Kα, striving to understand the mechanism of PI3Kα activation by Ras. Point mutations T208D, K210E, and K227E disrupt the KRas4B-RBD interface in the models, in line with the experiments. We identify allosteric signaling pathways connecting Ras to RBD in the p110α subunit. However, the observed weak allosteric signals coupled with the detailed mechanism of PI3Kα activation make us conclude that the dominant mechanistic role of Ras is likely to be recruitment and restriction of the PI3Kα population at the membrane. Thus, RTK recruits the PI3Kα to the membrane and activates it by relieving its autoinhibition exerted by the nSH2 domain, leading to exposure of the kinase domain, which permits PIP2 binding. Ras recruitment can shift the PI3Kα ensemble toward a population where the kinase domain surface and the active site position and orientation favor PIP2 insertion. This work helps elucidate Ras-mediated PI3K activation and explores the structural basis for Ras-PI3Kα drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhen Zhang
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
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164
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Abstract
RAS genes are the most commonly mutated oncogenes in cancer, but effective therapeutic strategies to target RAS-mutant cancers have proved elusive. A key aspect of this challenge is the fact that direct inhibition of RAS proteins has proved difficult, leading researchers to test numerous alternative strategies aimed at exploiting RAS-related vulnerabilities or targeting RAS effectors. In the past few years, we have witnessed renewed efforts to target RAS directly, with several promising strategies being tested in clinical trials at different stages of completion. Important advances have also been made in approaches designed to indirectly target RAS by improving inhibition of RAS effectors, exploiting synthetic lethal interactions or metabolic dependencies, using therapeutic combination strategies or harnessing the immune system. In this Review, we describe historical and ongoing efforts to target RAS-mutant cancers and outline the current therapeutic landscape in the collective quest to overcome the effects of this crucial oncogene.
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165
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Qu L, Pan C, He SM, Lang B, Gao GD, Wang XL, Wang Y. The Ras Superfamily of Small GTPases in Non-neoplastic Cerebral Diseases. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:121. [PMID: 31213978 PMCID: PMC6555388 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The small GTPases from the Ras superfamily play crucial roles in basic cellular processes during practically the entire process of neurodevelopment, including neurogenesis, differentiation, gene expression, membrane and protein traffic, vesicular trafficking, and synaptic plasticity. Small GTPases are key signal transducing enzymes that link extracellular cues to the neuronal responses required for the construction of neuronal networks, as well as for synaptic function and plasticity. Different subfamilies of small GTPases have been linked to a number of non-neoplastic cerebral diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), intellectual disability, epilepsy, drug addiction, Huntington’s disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and a large number of idiopathic cerebral diseases. Here, we attempted to make a clearer illustration of the relationship between Ras superfamily GTPases and non-neoplastic cerebral diseases, as well as their roles in the neural system. In future studies, potential treatments for non-neoplastic cerebral diseases which are based on small GTPase related signaling pathways should be explored further. In this paper, we review all the available literature in support of this possibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Qu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chao Pan
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Shi-Ming He
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, Xi'an International Medical Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Bing Lang
- The School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.,Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Guo-Dong Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xue-Lian Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
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166
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Tseng YT, Kumar R, Wang HC. LvRas and LvRap are both important for WSSV replication in Litopenaeus vannamei. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 88:150-160. [PMID: 30794934 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2019.02.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The white Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) is a pathogen that causes huge economic losses in the shrimp-farming industry globally. At the WSSV genome replication stage (12 hpi) in WSSV-infected shrimp hemocytes, activation of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway triggers metabolic changes that resemble the Warburg effect. In shrimp, the upstream regulators of this pathway are still unknown, and in the present study, we isolate, characterize and investigate two candidate factors, i.e. the shrimp Ras GTPase isoforms LvRas and LvRap, both of which are upregulated after WSSV infection. dsRNA silencing experiments show that virus replication is significantly reduced when expression of either of these genes is suppressed. Pretreatment with the Ras inhibitor Salirasib further suggests that LvRas, which is a homolog to a commonly overexpressed human oncoprotein, may be involved in regulating the WSSV-induced Warburg effect. We also show that while both the PI3K-Akt-mTOR and Raf-MEK-ERK pathways are activated by WSSV infection, LvRas appears to be involved only in the regulation of the mTOR pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ting Tseng
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, College of Biosciences and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan
| | - Ramya Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, College of Biosciences and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan
| | - Han-Ching Wang
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, College of Biosciences and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan; International Center for the Scientific Development of Shrimp Aquaculture, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan.
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167
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Conceição PM, Chaves AFA, Navarro MV, Castilho DG, Calado JCP, Haniu AECJ, Xander P, Batista WL. Cross-talk between the Ras GTPase and the Hog1 survival pathways in response to nitrosative stress in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Nitric Oxide 2019; 86:1-11. [PMID: 30772503 DOI: 10.1016/j.niox.2019.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is a temperature-dependent dimorphic fungus that cause paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), the major systemic mycosis in Latin America. The capacity to evade the innate immune response of the host is due to P. brasiliensis ability to respond and to survive the nitrosative stress caused by phagocytic cells. However, the regulation of signal transduction pathways associated to nitrosative stress response are poorly understood. Ras GTPase play an important role in the various cellular events in many fungi. Ras, in its activated form (Ras-GTP), interacts with effector proteins and can initiate a kinase cascade. In this report, we investigated the role of Ras GTPase in P. brasiliensis after in vitro stimulus with nitric oxide (NO). We observed that low concentrations of NO induced cell proliferation in P. brasiliensis, while high concentrations promoted decrease in fungal viability, and both events were reversed in the presence of a NO scavenger. We observed that high levels of NO induced Ras activation and its S-nitrosylation. Additionally, we showed that Ras modulated the expression of antioxidant genes in response to nitrosative stress. We find that the Hog1 MAP kinase contributed to nitrosative stress response in P. brasiliensis in a Ras-dependent manner. Taken together, our data demonstrate the relationship between Ras-GTPase and Hog1 MAPK pathway allowing for the P. brasiliensis adaptation to nitrosative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Palloma Mendes Conceição
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | - Alison Felipe Alencar Chaves
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marina Valente Navarro
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Daniele Gonçalves Castilho
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliana Cristina P Calado
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Eliza Coronel Janu Haniu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Patricia Xander
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | - Wagner L Batista
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Campus Diadema, SP, Brazil; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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168
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Ghosh AK, Samanta I, Mondal A, Liu WR. Covalent Inhibition in Drug Discovery. ChemMedChem 2019; 14:889-906. [PMID: 30816012 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201900107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Although covalent inhibitors have been used as therapeutics for more than a century, there has been general resistance in the pharmaceutical industry against their further development due to safety concerns. This inclination has recently been reverted after the development of a wide variety of covalent inhibitors to address human health conditions along with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of several covalent therapeutics for use in humans. Along with this exciting resurrection of an old drug discovery concept, this review surveys enzymes that can be targeted by covalent inhibitors for the treatment of human diseases. We focus on protein kinases, RAS proteins, and a few other enzymes that have been studied extensively as targets for covalent inhibition, with the aim to address challenges in designing effective covalent drugs and to provide suggestions in the area that have yet to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avick Kumar Ghosh
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, Corner of Ross and Spence Streets, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Indranil Samanta
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, Corner of Ross and Spence Streets, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Anushree Mondal
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, Corner of Ross and Spence Streets, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Wenshe Ray Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, Corner of Ross and Spence Streets, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
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169
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Park JY. New Concept of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment with the Tumor Suppressor 'WDR76' through 'RAS' Degradation. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY 2019; 73:190-191. [PMID: 31013564 DOI: 10.4166/kjg.2019.73.3.190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yong Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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170
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Liu Y, Feng W, Gu S, Wang H, Zhang Y, Chen W, Xu W, Lin C, Gong A, Xu M. The UCA1/KRAS axis promotes human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma stem cell properties and tumor growth. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:496-510. [PMID: 30949406 PMCID: PMC6448060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence indicates that the long noncoding RNA UCA1 is upregulated in multiple cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and plays a critical role in various complex biological processes. However, the functional roles of UCA1 in PDAC remain to be clarified. In the current study, we showed that UCA1 significantly promoted cell proliferation and tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo, and enhanced stemness maintenance of PDAC cell lines. Moreover, we found that UCA1 overexpression increased the activity and expression of oncogenic KRAS. Mechanistically, upregulated UCA1 increased phospho-KRAS protein levels by interacting with hnRNPA2B1, and KRAS facilitated high cytoplasmic accumulation of hnRNPA2B1. Additionally, we identified that UCA1 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to increase the expression of KRAS via sponging miR-590-3p, and in turn, KRAS promoted UCA1 expression. Collectively, these findings suggest that the UCA1-KRAS axis plays a crucial role in PDAC progression and that UCA1 may serve as a target for new PDAC therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yawen Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu UniversityZhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wen Feng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu UniversityZhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Songjiang Hospital Affiliated Shanghai First People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai 201600, China
| | - Shumin Gu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu UniversityZhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Huizhi Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu UniversityZhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Youli Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu UniversityZhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu UniversityZhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu UniversityZhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Chen Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu UniversityZhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Aihua Gong
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu UniversityZhenjiang 212003, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Min Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu UniversityZhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
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171
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Cao S, Chung S, Kim S, Li Z, Manor D, Buck M. K-Ras G-domain binding with signaling lipid phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-phosphate (PIP2): membrane association, protein orientation, and function. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:7068-7084. [PMID: 30792310 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.004021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ras genes potently drive human cancers, with mutated proto-oncogene GTPase KRAS4B (K-Ras4B) being the most abundant isoform. Targeted inhibition of oncogenic gene products is considered the "holy grail" of present-day cancer therapy, and recent discoveries of small-molecule KRas4B inhibitors were made thanks to a deeper understanding of the structure and dynamics of this GTPase. Because interactions with biological membranes are key for Ras function, Ras-lipid interactions have become a major focus, especially because such interactions evidently involve both the Ras C terminus for lipid anchoring and its G-protein domain. Here, using NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations complemented by biophysical- and cell-biology assays, we investigated the interaction between K-Ras4B with the signaling lipid phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-phosphate (PIP2). We discovered that the β2 and β3 strands as well as helices 4 and 5 of the GTPase G-domain bind to PIP2 and identified the specific residues in these structural elements employed in these interactions, likely occurring in two K-Ras4B orientation states relative to the membrane. Importantly, we found that some of these residues known to be oncogenic when mutated (D47K, D92N, K104M, and D126N) are critical for K-Ras-mediated transformation of fibroblast cells, but do not substantially affect basal and assisted nucleotide hydrolysis and exchange. Moreover, the K104M substitution abolished localization of K-Ras to the plasma membrane. The findings suggest that specific G-domain residues can critically regulate Ras function by mediating interactions with membrane-associated PIP2 lipids; these insights that may inform the future design of therapeutic reagents targeting Ras activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shufen Cao
- From the Departments of Physiology and Biophysics
| | | | | | - Zhenlu Li
- From the Departments of Physiology and Biophysics
| | - Danny Manor
- Nutrition, .,Pharmacology, and.,the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and
| | - Matthias Buck
- From the Departments of Physiology and Biophysics, .,the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and.,Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106 and.,Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
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172
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Wan XB, Wang AQ, Cao J, Dong ZC, Li N, Yang S, Sun MM, Li Z, Luo SX. Relationships among KRAS mutation status, expression of RAS pathway signaling molecules, and clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer. World J Gastroenterol 2019; 25:808-823. [PMID: 30809081 PMCID: PMC6385012 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i7.808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways all belong to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, Mutations in any one of the upstream genes (such as the RAS gene or the BRAF gene) may be transmitted to the protein through transcription or translation, resulting in abnormal activation of the signaling pathway. This study investigated the relationship between the KRAS gene mutation and the clinicopathological features and prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC), and the effect of KRAS mutations on its associated proteins in CRC, with an aim to clarify the cause of tumor progression and drug resistance caused by mutation of the KRAS gene.
AIM To investigate the KRAS gene and RAS pathway signaling molecules in CRC and to analyze their relationship with clinicopathological features and prognosis
METHODS Colorectal cancer tissue specimens from 196 patients were analyzed for KRAS mutations using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and for KRAS, BRAF, MEK, and ERK protein expression levels using immunohistochemistry of tumor microarrays. To analyze differences of RAS pathway signaling molecule expression levels in different KRAS gene status, the relationships between these parameters and clinicopathological features, 4-year progression-free survival, and overall survival were analyzed by independent sample t test, Kaplan-Meier plots, and the log-rank test. Predictors of overall and disease-free survival were assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model.
RESULTS Of the 196 patients, 62 (32%) carried mutations in codon 12 (53/62) or codon 13 (9/62) in exon 2 of the KRAS gene. KRAS, BRAF, ERK, and MEK protein expression was detected in 71.4%, 78.8%, 64.3%, and 50.8% of CRC tissues, respectively. There were no significant differences between KRAS mutation status and KRAS, BRAF, MEK, or ERK protein levels. Positive expression of KRAS and ERK was associated with poor tumor differentiation, and KRAS expression was also associated with age < 56 years. MEK expression was significantly associated with distant metastasis (P < 0.05). The 4-year progression-free survival rate, but not overall survival rate, was significantly higher in patients with KRAS-negative tumors than in those with KRAS-positive tumors (P < 0.05), whereas BRAF, MEK, and ERK expression was unrelated to survival. Multivariate analysis showed that only the expression of KRAS protein was a risk factor for tumor recurrence (P < 0.05). No other clinicopathological factors correlated with KRAS, BRAF, MEK, or ERK expression.
CONCLUSION KRAS gene mutations do not affect downstream protein expression in CRC. KRAS protein is associated with poor tumor differentiation, older age, and a risk of tumor recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Bin Wan
- Department of General Surgery, the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450008, Henan Province, China
| | - Ai-Qin Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453002, Henan Province, China
| | - Jian Cao
- Department of General Surgery, the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450008, Henan Province, China
| | - Zhi-Chuang Dong
- Department of General Surgery, the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450008, Henan Province, China
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450008, Henan Province, China
| | - Sen Yang
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Miao-Miao Sun
- Department of Pathology, the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450008, Henan Province, China
| | - Zhi Li
- Department of General Surgery, the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450008, Henan Province, China
| | - Su-Xia Luo
- Department of Medical Oncology, the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450008, Henan Province, China
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173
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Curbing Lipids: Impacts ON Cancer and Viral Infection. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20030644. [PMID: 30717356 PMCID: PMC6387424 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipids play a fundamental role in maintaining normal function in healthy cells. Their functions include signaling, storing energy, and acting as the central structural component of cell membranes. Alteration of lipid metabolism is a prominent feature of cancer, as cancer cells must modify their metabolism to fulfill the demands of their accelerated proliferation rate. This aberrant lipid metabolism can affect cellular processes such as cell growth, survival, and migration. Besides the gene mutations, environmental factors, and inheritance, several infectious pathogens are also linked with human cancers worldwide. Tumor viruses are top on the list of infectious pathogens to cause human cancers. These viruses insert their own DNA (or RNA) into that of the host cell and affect host cellular processes such as cell growth, survival, and migration. Several of these cancer-causing viruses are reported to be reprogramming host cell lipid metabolism. The reliance of cancer cells and viruses on lipid metabolism suggests enzymes that can be used as therapeutic targets to exploit the addiction of infected diseased cells on lipids and abrogate tumor growth. This review focuses on normal lipid metabolism, lipid metabolic pathways and their reprogramming in human cancers and viral infection linked cancers and the potential anticancer drugs that target specific lipid metabolic enzymes. Here, we discuss statins and fibrates as drugs to intervene in disordered lipid pathways in cancer cells. Further insight into the dysregulated pathways in lipid metabolism can help create more effective anticancer therapies.
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174
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Su P, Gao L, Liu S, Guan H, Wang J, Zhang Y, Zhao Y, Hu T, Tu L, Zhou J, Ma B, Liu X, Huang L, Gao W. Probing the function of protein farnesyltransferase in Tripterygium wilfordii. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2019; 38:211-220. [PMID: 30506368 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-018-2363-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We found two subunits FTase/GGTaseI-α and FTase-β formed a heterodimer to transfer a farnesyl group from FPP to protein N-dansyl-GCVLS, confirming they are responsible for protein farnesylation in planta. Tripterygium wilfordii is a medicinal plant with a broad spectrum of anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and anti-cancer activities. Recently, a number of studies have focused on investigating the biosynthetic pathways of its bioactive compounds, whereas little attention has been paid to the enzymes which play important roles in regulating diverse developmental processes of T. wilfordii. In this study, we report for the first time the identification and characterization of two subunits of farnesyltransferase (FTase), farnesyltransferase/geranylgeranyltransferase I-α (TwFTase/GGTase I-α) and farnesyltransferase-β (TwFTase-β), in this important medicinal plant. Cell-free in vivo assays, yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and pull-down assays showed that the two subunits interact with each other to form a heterodimer to perform the role of specifically transferring a farnesyl group from FPP to the CAAX-box protein N-dansyl-GCVLS. Furthermore, we discovered that the two subunits had the same cytoplasmic localization pattern and displayed the same tissue expression pattern. These results indicated that we identified a functional TwFTase enzyme which contains two functionally complementary subunits TwFTase/GGTase I-α and TwFTase-β, which provides us promising genetic targets to construct transgenic plants or screen for more adaptable T. wilfordii mutants, which are able to survive in changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Su
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10069, China
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Linhui Gao
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10069, China
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Hongyu Guan
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10069, China
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10069, China
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Yujun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Tianyuan Hu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10069, China
| | - Lichan Tu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10069, China
| | - Jiawei Zhou
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10069, China
| | - Baowei Ma
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10069, China
| | - Xihong Liu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10069, China
| | - Luqi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Wei Gao
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10069, China.
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175
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Esposito D, Stephen AG, Turbyville TJ, Holderfield M. New weapons to penetrate the armor: Novel reagents and assays developed at the NCI RAS Initiative to enable discovery of RAS therapeutics. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 54:174-182. [PMID: 29432816 PMCID: PMC6085166 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2018.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Development of therapeutic strategies against RAS-driven cancers has been challenging due in part to a lack of understanding of the biology of the system and the ability to design appropriate assays and reagents for targeted drug discovery efforts. Recent developments in the field have opened up new avenues for exploration both through advances in the number and quality of reagents as well as the introduction of novel biochemical and cell-based assay technologies which can be used for high-throughput screening of compound libraries. The reagents and assays developed at the NCI RAS Initiative offer a suite of new weapons that could potentially be used to enable the next generation of RAS drug discovery efforts with the hope of finding novel therapeutics for a target once deemed undruggable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Esposito
- NCI RAS Initiative, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. PO Box B, Frederick, MD, USA.
| | - Andrew G Stephen
- NCI RAS Initiative, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. PO Box B, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Thomas J Turbyville
- NCI RAS Initiative, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. PO Box B, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Matthew Holderfield
- NCI RAS Initiative, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. PO Box B, Frederick, MD, USA
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176
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Pharmacological Targeting of STK19 Inhibits Oncogenic NRAS-Driven Melanomagenesis. Cell 2019; 176:1113-1127.e16. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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177
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WDR76 is a RAS binding protein that functions as a tumor suppressor via RAS degradation. Nat Commun 2019; 10:295. [PMID: 30655611 PMCID: PMC6336889 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08230-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Stability regulation of RAS that can affect its activity, in addition to the oncogenic mutations, occurs in human cancer. However, the mechanisms for stability regulation of RAS involved in their activity and its roles in tumorigenesis are poorly explored. Here, we identify WD40-repeat protein 76 (WDR76) as one of the HRAS binding proteins using proteomic analyses of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) tissue. WDR76 plays a role as an E3 linker protein and mediates the polyubiquitination-dependent degradation of RAS. WDR76-mediated RAS destabilization results in the inhibition of proliferation, transformation, and invasion of liver cancer cells. WDR76-/- mice are more susceptible to diethylnitrosamine-induced liver carcinogenesis. Liver-specific WDR76 induction destabilizes Ras and markedly reduces tumorigenesis in HRasG12V mouse livers. The clinical relevance of RAS regulation by WDR76 is indicated by the inverse correlation of their expressions in HCC tissues. Our study demonstrates that WDR76 functions as a tumor suppressor via RAS degradation.
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178
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Small GTPase peripheral binding to membranes: molecular determinants and supramolecular organization. Biochem Soc Trans 2018; 47:13-22. [PMID: 30559268 DOI: 10.1042/bst20170525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Small GTPases regulate many aspects of cell logistics by alternating between an inactive, GDP-bound form and an active, GTP-bound form. This nucleotide switch is coupled to a cytosol/membrane cycle, such that GTP-bound small GTPases carry out their functions at the periphery of endomembranes. A global understanding of the molecular determinants of the interaction of small GTPases with membranes and of the resulting supramolecular organization is beginning to emerge from studies of model systems. Recent studies highlighted that small GTPases establish multiple interactions with membranes involving their lipid anchor, their lipididated hypervariable region and elements in their GTPase domain, which combine to determine the strength, specificity and orientation of their association with lipids. Thereby, membrane association potentiates small GTPase interactions with GEFs, GAPs and effectors through colocalization and positional matching. Furthermore, it leads to small GTPase nanoclustering and to lipid demixing, which drives the assembly of molecular platforms in which proteins and lipids co-operate in producing high-fidelity signals through feedback and feedforward loops. Although still fragmentary, these observations point to an integrated model of signaling by membrane-attached small GTPases that involves a diversity of direct and indirect interactions, which can inspire new therapeutic strategies to block their activities in diseases.
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179
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Perspectives of RAS and RHEB GTPase Signaling Pathways in Regenerating Brain Neurons. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19124052. [PMID: 30558189 PMCID: PMC6321366 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19124052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular activation of RAS GTPases into the GTP-binding “ON” state is a key switch for regulating brain functions. Molecular protein structural elements of rat sarcoma (RAS) and RAS homolog protein enriched in brain (RHEB) GTPases involved in this switch are discussed including their subcellular membrane localization for triggering specific signaling pathways resulting in regulation of synaptic connectivity, axonal growth, differentiation, migration, cytoskeletal dynamics, neural protection, and apoptosis. A beneficial role of neuronal H-RAS activity is suggested from cellular and animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. Recent experiments on optogenetic regulation offer insights into the spatiotemporal aspects controlling RAS/mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) or phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) pathways. As optogenetic manipulation of cellular signaling in deep brain regions critically requires penetration of light through large distances of absorbing tissue, we discuss magnetic guidance of re-growing axons as a complementary approach. In Parkinson’s disease, dopaminergic neuronal cell bodies degenerate in the substantia nigra. Current human trials of stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons must take into account the inability of neuronal axons navigating over a large distance from the grafted site into striatal target regions. Grafting dopaminergic precursor neurons directly into the degenerating substantia nigra is discussed as a novel concept aiming to guide axonal growth by activating GTPase signaling through protein-functionalized intracellular magnetic nanoparticles responding to external magnets.
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180
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Chen TC, da Fonseca CO, Schönthal AH. Intranasal Perillyl Alcohol for Glioma Therapy: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Development. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E3905. [PMID: 30563210 PMCID: PMC6321279 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19123905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracranial malignancies, such as primary brain cancers and brain-localized metastases derived from peripheral cancers, are particularly difficult to treat with therapeutic agents, because the blood-brain barrier (BBB) effectively minimizes brain entry of the vast majority of agents arriving from the systemic circulation. Intranasal administration of cancer drugs has the potential to reach the brain via direct nose-to-brain transport, thereby circumventing the obstacle posed by the BBB. However, in the field of cancer therapy, there is a paucity of studies reporting positive results with this type of approach. A remarkable exception is the natural compound perillyl alcohol (POH). Its potent anticancer activity was convincingly established in preclinical studies, but it nonetheless failed in subsequent clinical trials, where it was given orally and displayed hard-to-tolerate gastrointestinal side effects. Intriguingly, when switched to intranasal delivery, POH yielded highly promising activity in recurrent glioma patients and was well tolerated. As of 2018, POH is the only intranasally delivered compound in the field of cancer therapy (outside of cancer pain) that has advanced to active clinical trials. In the following, we will introduce this compound, summarize its molecular mechanisms of action, and present the latest data on its clinical evaluation as an intranasally administered agent for glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C Chen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
| | - Clovis O da Fonseca
- Department of General and Specialized Surgery, Antonio Pedro University Hospital, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, RJ 24220, Brazil.
| | - Axel H Schönthal
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
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181
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Xu Z, Duan F, Lu H, Abdulkadhim Dragh M, Xia Y, Liang H, Hong L. UBIAD1 suppresses the proliferation of bladder carcinoma cells by regulating H-Ras intracellular trafficking via interaction with the C-terminal domain of H-Ras. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:1170. [PMID: 30518913 PMCID: PMC6281600 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-1215-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Revised: 10/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
UbiA prenyltransferase domain-containing protein 1 (UBIAD1) plays a key role in biosynthesis of vitamin K2 and coenzyme Q10 using geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP). However, the mechanism by which UBIAD1 participates in tumorigenesis remains unknown. This study show that UBIAD1 interacts with H-Ras, retains H-Ras in the Golgi apparatus, prevents H-Ras trafficking from the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane, blocks the aberrant activation of Ras/MAPK signaling, and inhibits the proliferation of bladder cancer cells. In addition, GGPP was required to maintain the function of UBIAD1 in regulating the Ras/ERK signaling pathway. A Drosophila model was employed to confirm the function of UBIAD1/HEIX in vivo. The activation of Ras/ERK signaling at the plasma membrane induced melanotic masses in Drosophila larvae. Our study suggests that UBIAD1 serves as a tumor suppressor in cancer and tentatively reveals the underlying mechanism of melanotic mass formation in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiliang Xu
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Fengsen Duan
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Huiai Lu
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Maytham Abdulkadhim Dragh
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanzhi Xia
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Huageng Liang
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Hong
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
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182
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Abstract
The three RAS genes - HRAS, NRAS and KRAS - are collectively mutated in one-third of human cancers, where they act as prototypic oncogenes. Interestingly, there are rather distinct patterns to RAS mutations; the isoform mutated as well as the position and type of substitution vary between different cancers. As RAS genes are among the earliest, if not the first, genes mutated in a variety of cancers, understanding how these mutation patterns arise could inform on not only how cancer begins but also the factors influencing this event, which has implications for cancer prevention. To this end, we suggest that there is a narrow window or 'sweet spot' by which oncogenic RAS signalling can promote tumour initiation in normal cells. As a consequence, RAS mutation patterns in each normal cell are a product of the specific RAS isoform mutated, as well as the position of the mutation and type of substitution to achieve an ideal level of signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Allan Balmain
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Christopher M Counter
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
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183
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Alizad-Rahvar AR, Sadeghi M. Ambiguity in logic-based models of gene regulatory networks: An integrative multi-perturbation analysis. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0206976. [PMID: 30458000 PMCID: PMC6245684 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Most studies of gene regulatory network (GRN) inference have focused extensively on identifying the interaction map of the GRNs. However, in order to predict the cellular behavior, modeling the GRN in terms of logic circuits, i.e., Boolean networks, is necessary. The perturbation techniques, e.g., knock-down and over-expression, should be utilized for identifying the underlying logic behind the interactions. However, we will show that by using only transcriptomic data obtained by single-perturbation experiments, we cannot observe all regulatory interactions, and this invisibility causes ambiguity in our model. Consequently, we need to employ the data of multiple omics layers (genome, transcriptome, and proteome) as well as multiple perturbation experiments to reduce or eliminate ambiguity in our modeling. In this paper, we introduce a multi-step perturbation experiment to deal with ambiguity. Moreover, we perform a thorough analysis to investigate which types of perturbations and omics layers play the most important role in the unambiguous modeling of the GRNs and how much ambiguity will be eliminated by considering more perturbations and more omics layers. Our analysis shows that performing both knock-down and over-expression is necessary in order to achieve the least ambiguous model. Moreover, the more steps of the perturbation are taken, the more ambiguity is eliminated. In addition, we can even achieve an unambiguous model of the GRN by using multi-step perturbation and integrating transcriptomic, protein-protein interaction, and cis-element data. Finally, we demonstrate the effect of utilizing different types of perturbation experiment and integrating multi-omics data on identifying the logic behind the regulatory interactions in a synthetic GRN. In conclusion, relying on the results of only knock-down experiments and not including as many omics layers as possible in the GRN inference, makes the results ambiguous, unreliable, and less accurate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Reza Alizad-Rahvar
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran
- * E-mail: (ARA); (MS)
| | - Mehdi Sadeghi
- National Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
- * E-mail: (ARA); (MS)
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184
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Choi BH, Philips MR, Chen Y, Lu L, Dai W. K-Ras Lys-42 is crucial for its signaling, cell migration, and invasion. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:17574-17581. [PMID: 30228186 PMCID: PMC6231119 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.003723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ras proteins participate in multiple signal cascades, regulating crucial cellular processes, including cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. We have previously reported that Ras proteins are modified by sumoylation and that Lys-42 plays an important role in mediating the modification. In the current study, we further investigated the role of Lys-42 in regulating cellular activities of K-Ras. Inducible expression of K-RasV12 led to the activation of downstream components, including c-RAF, MEK1, and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), whereas expression of K-RasV12/R42 mutant compromised the activation of the RAF/MEK/ERK signaling axis. Expression of K-RasV12/R42 also led to reduced phosphorylation of several other protein kinases, including c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), Chk2, and focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Significantly, K-RasV12/R42 expression inhibited cellular migration and invasion in vitro in multiple cell lines, including transformed pancreatic cells. Given that K-Ras plays a crucial role in mediating oncogenesis in the pancreas, we treated transformed pancreatic cells of both BxPC-3 and MiaPaCa-2 with 2-D08, a small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) E2 inhibitor. Treatment with the compound inhibited cell migration in a concentration-dependent manner, which was correlated with a reduced level of K-Ras sumoylation. Moreover, 2-D08 suppressed expression of ZEB1 (a mesenchymal cell marker) with concomitant induction of ZO-1 (an epithelial cell marker). Combined, our studies strongly suggest that posttranslational modification(s), including sumoylation mediated by Lys-42, plays a crucial role in K-Ras activities in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark R Philips
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Medical Center, Tuxedo Park, New York 10987
| | - Yuan Chen
- City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010, and
| | - Lou Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, and
| | - Wei Dai
- From the Department of Environmental Medicine .,the Department of Molecular Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California 90509
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185
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Structural basis of Gip1 for cytosolic sequestration of G protein in wide-range chemotaxis. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4635. [PMID: 30401901 PMCID: PMC6219514 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07035-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
G protein interacting protein 1 (Gip1) binds and sequesters heterotrimeric G proteins in the cytosolic pool, thus regulating G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signalling for eukaryotic chemotaxis. Here, we report the underlying structural basis of Gip1 function. The crystal structure reveals that the region of Gip1 that binds to the G protein has a cylinder-like fold with a central hydrophobic cavity composed of six α-helices. Mutagenesis and biochemical analyses indicate that the hydrophobic cavity and the hydrogen bond network at the entrance of the cavity are essential for complex formation with the geranylgeranyl modification on the Gγ subunit. Mutations of the cavity impair G protein sequestration and translocation to the membrane from the cytosol upon receptor stimulation, leading to defects in chemotaxis at higher chemoattractant concentrations. These results demonstrate that the Gip1-dependent regulation of G protein shuttling ensures wide-range gradient sensing in eukaryotic chemotaxis. Gip1 sequesters heterotrimeric G proteins in the cytosolic pool which regulates G protein-coupled receptor signalling for eukaryotic chemotaxis. Here the authors provide the crystal structure of Gip1's G protein-binding region and show that mutations in this region lead to G protein sequestration and ultimately chemotaxis defects.
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Vairy S, Jouan L, Bilodeau M, Dormoy-Raclet V, Gendron P, Couture F, Léveillé F, Tihy F, Lemyre E, Bouron-Dal Soglio D, Jabado N, Kleinman CL, Marzouki M, Cellot S. Novel PDE10A-BRAF Fusion With Concomitant NF1 Mutation Identified in an Undifferentiated Sarcoma of Infancy With Sustained Response to Trametinib. JCO Precis Oncol 2018; 2:1-13. [DOI: 10.1200/po.18.00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Vairy
- Stéphanie Vairy, Mélanie Bilodeau, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Center; Stéphanie Vairy, Loubna Jouan, Mélanie Bilodeau, Françoise Couture, France Léveillé, Frédérique Tihy, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine; Patrick Gendron, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Université de Montréal; Nada Jabado and Claudia L. Kleinman, McGill University
| | - Loubna Jouan
- Stéphanie Vairy, Mélanie Bilodeau, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Center; Stéphanie Vairy, Loubna Jouan, Mélanie Bilodeau, Françoise Couture, France Léveillé, Frédérique Tihy, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine; Patrick Gendron, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Université de Montréal; Nada Jabado and Claudia L. Kleinman, McGill University
| | - Mélanie Bilodeau
- Stéphanie Vairy, Mélanie Bilodeau, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Center; Stéphanie Vairy, Loubna Jouan, Mélanie Bilodeau, Françoise Couture, France Léveillé, Frédérique Tihy, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine; Patrick Gendron, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Université de Montréal; Nada Jabado and Claudia L. Kleinman, McGill University
| | - Virginie Dormoy-Raclet
- Stéphanie Vairy, Mélanie Bilodeau, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Center; Stéphanie Vairy, Loubna Jouan, Mélanie Bilodeau, Françoise Couture, France Léveillé, Frédérique Tihy, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine; Patrick Gendron, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Université de Montréal; Nada Jabado and Claudia L. Kleinman, McGill University
| | - Patrick Gendron
- Stéphanie Vairy, Mélanie Bilodeau, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Center; Stéphanie Vairy, Loubna Jouan, Mélanie Bilodeau, Françoise Couture, France Léveillé, Frédérique Tihy, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine; Patrick Gendron, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Université de Montréal; Nada Jabado and Claudia L. Kleinman, McGill University
| | - Françoise Couture
- Stéphanie Vairy, Mélanie Bilodeau, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Center; Stéphanie Vairy, Loubna Jouan, Mélanie Bilodeau, Françoise Couture, France Léveillé, Frédérique Tihy, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine; Patrick Gendron, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Université de Montréal; Nada Jabado and Claudia L. Kleinman, McGill University
| | - France Léveillé
- Stéphanie Vairy, Mélanie Bilodeau, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Center; Stéphanie Vairy, Loubna Jouan, Mélanie Bilodeau, Françoise Couture, France Léveillé, Frédérique Tihy, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine; Patrick Gendron, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Université de Montréal; Nada Jabado and Claudia L. Kleinman, McGill University
| | - Frédérique Tihy
- Stéphanie Vairy, Mélanie Bilodeau, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Center; Stéphanie Vairy, Loubna Jouan, Mélanie Bilodeau, Françoise Couture, France Léveillé, Frédérique Tihy, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine; Patrick Gendron, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Université de Montréal; Nada Jabado and Claudia L. Kleinman, McGill University
| | - Emmanuelle Lemyre
- Stéphanie Vairy, Mélanie Bilodeau, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Center; Stéphanie Vairy, Loubna Jouan, Mélanie Bilodeau, Françoise Couture, France Léveillé, Frédérique Tihy, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine; Patrick Gendron, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Université de Montréal; Nada Jabado and Claudia L. Kleinman, McGill University
| | - Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio
- Stéphanie Vairy, Mélanie Bilodeau, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Center; Stéphanie Vairy, Loubna Jouan, Mélanie Bilodeau, Françoise Couture, France Léveillé, Frédérique Tihy, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine; Patrick Gendron, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Université de Montréal; Nada Jabado and Claudia L. Kleinman, McGill University
| | - Nada Jabado
- Stéphanie Vairy, Mélanie Bilodeau, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Center; Stéphanie Vairy, Loubna Jouan, Mélanie Bilodeau, Françoise Couture, France Léveillé, Frédérique Tihy, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine; Patrick Gendron, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Université de Montréal; Nada Jabado and Claudia L. Kleinman, McGill University
| | - Claudia L. Kleinman
- Stéphanie Vairy, Mélanie Bilodeau, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Center; Stéphanie Vairy, Loubna Jouan, Mélanie Bilodeau, Françoise Couture, France Léveillé, Frédérique Tihy, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine; Patrick Gendron, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Université de Montréal; Nada Jabado and Claudia L. Kleinman, McGill University
| | - Monia Marzouki
- Stéphanie Vairy, Mélanie Bilodeau, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Center; Stéphanie Vairy, Loubna Jouan, Mélanie Bilodeau, Françoise Couture, France Léveillé, Frédérique Tihy, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine; Patrick Gendron, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Université de Montréal; Nada Jabado and Claudia L. Kleinman, McGill University
| | - Sonia Cellot
- Stéphanie Vairy, Mélanie Bilodeau, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Center; Stéphanie Vairy, Loubna Jouan, Mélanie Bilodeau, Françoise Couture, France Léveillé, Frédérique Tihy, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine; Patrick Gendron, Emmanuelle Lemyre, Dorothée Bouron-Dal Soglio, Monia Marzouki, and Sonia Cellot, Université de Montréal; Nada Jabado and Claudia L. Kleinman, McGill University
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187
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Comprehensive Validation of Snapback Primer-Based Melting Curve Analysis to Detect Nucleotide Variation in the Codon 12 and 13 of KRAS Gene. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:8727941. [PMID: 30406144 PMCID: PMC6199860 DOI: 10.1155/2018/8727941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Background KRAS genotyping in tumor samples is a decisive clinical test for the anti-EGFR therapy management. However, the complexity of KRAS mutation landscape across different cancer types and the mosaic effect caused by cancer cellularity and heterogeneity make the choice of KRAS genotyping method a challenging topic in the clinical practice. Methods We depicted the landscape of somatic KRAS mutation in 7,844 primary tumors and 10,336 metastatic tumors across over 30 types of cancer using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets (MSKCC-IMPACT) databases, respectively. A snapback primer assay based on melting curve analysis was developed to detect the most common somatic mutations in KRAS codons 12 and 13. The sensitivity and accuracy of the method was validated by genotyping 100 colorectal cancer (CRC) samples, in comparison with Sanger sequencing and T-A cloning sequencing. Results Pancreas adenocarcinoma (somatic mutation frequency 90.6%), colorectal adenocarcinoma (42.5%), and lung adenocarcinoma (32.6%) are the top three most KRAS mutant primary cancer types. The metastatic tumors showed a higher prevalence (90.99% versus 66.31%) and diversity of KRAS mutation compared with the primary tumors. Mutations in codons 12 and 13 are the predominant genetic alteration in KRAS (84.15% for TCGA and 86.13% for MSK-IMPACT). Moreover, KRAS mutation is highly correlated with the overall survival of patients with metastatic cancer. The snapback primer assay showed a more favorable performance in enriching and detecting the KRAS codon 12 and 13 mutation (1% mutation load) compared with Sanger sequencing (20% mutation load and 7% false-negative rate). Conclusions KRAS mutation pattern is highly diverse among different cancer types and is associated with the survival of patients with metastatic cancers. The snapback primer assay is a reliable, sensitive method to detect the major mutant KRAS alleles, which might facilitate the effective cancer treatment decisions.
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188
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Autoinhibition in Ras effectors Raf, PI3Kα, and RASSF5: a comprehensive review underscoring the challenges in pharmacological intervention. Biophys Rev 2018; 10:1263-1282. [PMID: 30269291 PMCID: PMC6233353 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-018-0461-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autoinhibition is an effective mechanism that guards proteins against spurious activation. Despite its ubiquity, the distinct organizations of the autoinhibited states and their release mechanisms differ. Signaling is most responsive to the cell environment only if a small shift in the equilibrium is required to switch the system from an inactive (occluded) to an active (exposed) state. Ras signaling follows this paradigm. This underscores the challenge in pharmacological intervention to exploit and enhance autoinhibited states. Here, we review autoinhibition and release mechanisms at the membrane focusing on three representative Ras effectors, Raf protein kinase, PI3Kα lipid kinase, and NORE1A (RASSF5) tumor suppressor, and point to the ramifications to drug discovery. We further touch on Ras upstream and downstream signaling, Ras activation, and the Ras superfamily in this light, altogether providing a broad outlook of the principles and complexities of autoinhibition.
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189
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Adhikari H, Counter CM. Interrogating the protein interactomes of RAS isoforms identifies PIP5K1A as a KRAS-specific vulnerability. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3646. [PMID: 30194290 PMCID: PMC6128905 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05692-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In human cancers, oncogenic mutations commonly occur in the RAS genes KRAS, NRAS, or HRAS, but there are no clinical RAS inhibitors. Mutations are more prevalent in KRAS, possibly suggesting a unique oncogenic activity mediated by KRAS-specific interaction partners, which might be targeted. Here, we determine the specific protein interactomes of each RAS isoform by BirA proximity-dependent biotin identification. The combined interactomes are screened by CRISPR-Cas9 loss-of-function assays for proteins required for oncogenic KRAS-dependent, NRAS-dependent, or HRAS-dependent proliferation and censored for druggable proteins. Using this strategy, we identify phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase PIP5K1A as a KRAS-specific interactor and show that PIP5K1A binds to a unique region in KRAS. Furthermore, PIP5K1A depletion specifically reduces oncogenic KRAS signaling and proliferation, and sensitizes pancreatic cancer cell lines to a MAPK inhibitor. These results suggest PIP5K1A as a potential target in KRAS signaling for the treatment of KRAS-mutant cancers. RAS isoforms are frequently mutated in cancer but their inhibition remains challenging. By comparing the protein interactomes of the highly similar isoforms HRAS, NRAS and KRAS, the authors here identify PIP5K1A as a KRAS-specific interactor and a target to inhibit KRAS-driven cell growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hema Adhikari
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC-3813, Durham, NC, 27713, USA
| | - Christopher M Counter
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC-3813, Durham, NC, 27713, USA. .,Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC-3813, Durham, NC, 27713, USA.
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190
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GEF mechanism revealed by the structure of SmgGDS-558 and farnesylated RhoA complex and its implication for a chaperone mechanism. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:9563-9568. [PMID: 30190425 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1804740115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
SmgGDS has dual functions in cells and regulates small GTPases as both a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for the Rho family and a molecular chaperone for small GTPases possessing a C-terminal polybasic region followed by four C-terminal residues called the CaaX motif, which is posttranslationally prenylated at its cysteine residue. Our recent structural work revealed that SmgGDS folds into tandem copies of armadillo-repeat motifs (ARMs) that are not present in other GEFs. However, the precise mechanism of GEF activity and recognition mechanism for the prenylated CaaX motif remain unknown because SmgGDS does not have a typical GEF catalytic domain and lacks a pocket to accommodate a prenyl group. Here, we aimed to determine the crystal structure of the SmgGDS/farnesylated RhoA complex. We found that SmgGDS induces a significant conformational change in the switch I and II regions that opens up the nucleotide-binding site, with the prenyl group fitting into the cryptic pocket in the N-terminal ARMs. Taken together, our findings could advance the understanding of the role of SmgGDS and enable drug design strategies for targeting SmgGDS and small GTPases.
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191
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Dang EV, Cyster JG. Loss of sterol metabolic homeostasis triggers inflammasomes - how and why. Curr Opin Immunol 2018; 56:1-9. [PMID: 30172069 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Proper regulation of sterol biosynthesis is critical for eukaryotic cellular homeostasis. Cholesterol and isoprenoids serve key roles in eukaryotic cells by regulating membrane fluidity and correct localization of proteins. It is becoming increasingly appreciated that dysregulated sterol metabolism engages pathways that lead to inflammation. Of particular importance are inflammasomes, which are multiplatform protein complexes that activate caspase-1 in order to process the pro-inflammatory and pyrogenic cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. In this review, we highlight recent research that links altered sterol biosynthetic pathway activity to inflammasome activation. We discuss how clues from human genetics have led to new insights into how alterations in isoprenoid biosynthesis connect to inflammation. We also discuss new mechanisms that show how macrophage cholesterol buildup can lead to inflammasome activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric V Dang
- Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Jason G Cyster
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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192
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Parker JA, Mattos C. The K-Ras, N-Ras, and H-Ras Isoforms: Unique Conformational Preferences and Implications for Targeting Oncogenic Mutants. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2018; 8:cshperspect.a031427. [PMID: 29038336 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a031427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Ras controls a multitude of cellular signaling processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Deregulation of Ras cycling often promotes tumorigenesis and various other developmental disorders, termed RASopothies. Although the structure of Ras has been known for many decades, it is still one of the most highly sought-after drug targets today, and is often referred to as "undruggable." At the center of this paradoxical protein is a lack of understanding of fundamental differences in the G domains between the highly similar Ras isoforms and common oncogenic mutations, despite the immense wealth of knowledge accumulated about this protein to date. A shift in the field during the past few years toward a high-resolution understanding of the structure confirms the hypothesis that each isoform and oncogenic mutation must be considered individually, and that not all Ras mutations are created equal. For the first time in Ras history, we have the ability to directly compare the structures of each wild-type isoform to construct a "base-line" understanding, which can then be used as a springboard for analyzing the effects of oncogenic mutations on the structure-function relationship in Ras. This is a fundamental and large step toward the goal of developing personalized therapies for patients with Ras-driven cancers and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian A Parker
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Carla Mattos
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
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194
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Sasine JP, Himburg HA, Termini CM, Roos M, Tran E, Zhao L, Kan J, Li M, Zhang Y, de Barros SC, Rao DS, Counter CM, Chute JP. Wild-type Kras expands and exhausts hematopoietic stem cells. JCI Insight 2018; 3:98197. [PMID: 29875320 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.98197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncogenic Kras expression specifically in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) induces a rapidly fatal myeloproliferative neoplasm in mice, suggesting that Kras signaling plays a dominant role in normal hematopoiesis. However, such a conclusion is based on expression of an oncogenic version of Kras. Hence, we sought to determine the effect of simply increasing the amount of endogenous wild-type Kras on HSC fate. To this end, we utilized a codon-optimized version of the murine Kras gene (Krasex3op) that we developed, in which silent mutations in exon 3 render the encoded mRNA more efficiently translated, leading to increased protein expression without disruption to the normal gene architecture. We found that Kras protein levels were significantly increased in bone marrow (BM) HSCs in Krasex3op/ex3op mice, demonstrating that the translation of Kras in HSCs is normally constrained by rare codons. Krasex3op/ex3op mice displayed expansion of BM HSCs, progenitor cells, and B lymphocytes, but no evidence of myeloproliferative disease or leukemia in mice followed for 12 months. BM HSCs from Krasex3op/ex3op mice demonstrated increased multilineage repopulating capacity in primary competitive transplantation assays, but secondary competitive transplants revealed exhaustion of long-term HSCs. Following total body irradiation, Krasex3op/ex3op mice displayed accelerated hematologic recovery and increased survival. Mechanistically, HSCs from Krasex3op/ex3op mice demonstrated increased proliferation at baseline, with a corresponding increase in Erk1/2 phosphorylation and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (Cdk4/6) activation. Furthermore, both the enhanced colony-forming capacity and in vivo repopulating capacity of HSCs from Krasex3op/ex3op mice were dependent on Cdk4/6 activation. Finally, BM transplantation studies revealed that augmented Kras expression produced expansion of HSCs, progenitor cells, and B cells in a hematopoietic cell-autonomous manner, independent from effects on the BM microenvironment. This study provides fundamental demonstration of codon usage in a mammal having a biological consequence, which may speak to the importance of codon usage in mammalian biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua P Sasine
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine.,Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology.,Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Stem Cell Research, and
| | | | | | - Martina Roos
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine.,Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Stem Cell Research, and
| | - Evelyn Tran
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine
| | - Liman Zhao
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine
| | - Jenny Kan
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine
| | - Michelle Li
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine
| | - Yurun Zhang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine
| | | | - Dinesh S Rao
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine.,Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Stem Cell Research, and.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Christopher M Counter
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, North California, USA
| | - John P Chute
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine.,Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Stem Cell Research, and
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195
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Shin W, Lee SK, Hwang JH, Park JC, Cho YH, Ro EJ, Song Y, Seo HR, Choi KY. Identification of Ras-degrading small molecules that inhibit the transformation of colorectal cancer cells independent of β-catenin signaling. Exp Mol Med 2018; 50:1-10. [PMID: 29884842 PMCID: PMC5994827 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-018-0102-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the development of drugs that control Ras is an emerging topic in cancer therapy, no clinically applicable drug is currently available. We have previously utilized knowledge of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling-dependent mechanism of Ras protein stability regulation to identify small molecules that inhibit the proliferation and transformation of various colorectal cancer (CRC) cells via degradation of both β-catenin and Ras. Due to the absence of Ras degradation in cells expressing a nondegradable mutant form of β-catenin and the need to determine an alternative mechanism of Ras degradation, we designed a cell-based system to screen compounds that degrade Ras independent of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. A cell-based high-content screening (HCS) system that monitors the levels of EGFP-K-RasG12V was established using HCT-116 cells harboring a nondegradable mutant CTNNB1 (ΔS45). Through HCS of a chemical library composed of 10,000 compounds and subsequent characterization of hits, we identified several compounds that degrade Ras without affecting the β-catenin levels. KY7749, one of the most effective compounds, inhibited the proliferation and transformation of CRC cells, especially KRAS-mutant cells that are resistant to the EGFR monoclonal antibody cetuximab. Small molecules that degrade Ras independent of β-catenin may able to be used in treatments for cancers caused by aberrant EGFR and Ras. Mutations in KRAS, a gene regulating cell proliferation, occur in 40–50% of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. These cancers are usually insensitive to antibody drugs targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on cancer cells. Kang-Yell Choi at Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea and co-workers had previously identified small molecules that inhibited CRC by degrading the signaling proteins β-catenin and Ras. However, CRC cells with β-catenin mutations are resistant to Ras-degrading compounds. In this study, they screened 10,000 small molecules that could degrade Ras in CRC cells expressing nondegradable mutant β-catenin. They identified small molecules that inhibited growth of CRC cells resistant to EGFR-mediated antibody therapy. Further investigation of these molecules may help develop new drugs for treating CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wookjin Shin
- Translational Research Center for Protein Function Control, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Kyu Lee
- Translational Research Center for Protein Function Control, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Ha Hwang
- Translational Research Center for Protein Function Control, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Chan Park
- Translational Research Center for Protein Function Control, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Hee Cho
- Translational Research Center for Protein Function Control, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Ji Ro
- Translational Research Center for Protein Function Control, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeonhwa Song
- Cancer Biology Research Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Haeng Ran Seo
- Cancer Biology Research Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Kang-Yell Choi
- Translational Research Center for Protein Function Control, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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196
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Zhang L, Zhang P, Wang G, Zhang H, Zhang Y, Yu Y, Zhang M, Xiao J, Crespo P, Hell JW, Lin L, Huganir RL, Zhu JJ. Ras and Rap Signal Bidirectional Synaptic Plasticity via Distinct Subcellular Microdomains. Neuron 2018; 98:783-800.e4. [PMID: 29706584 PMCID: PMC6192044 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.03.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
How signaling molecules achieve signal diversity and specificity is a long-standing cell biology question. Here we report the development of a targeted delivery method that permits specific expression of homologous Ras-family small GTPases (i.e., Ras, Rap2, and Rap1) in different subcellular microdomains, including the endoplasmic reticulum, lipid rafts, bulk membrane, lysosomes, and Golgi complex, in rodent hippocampal CA1 neurons. The microdomain-targeted delivery, combined with multicolor fluorescence protein tagging and high-resolution dual-quintuple simultaneous patch-clamp recordings, allows systematic analysis of microdomain-specific signaling. The analysis shows that Ras signals long-term potentiation via endoplasmic reticulum PI3K and lipid raft ERK, whereas Rap2 and Rap1 signal depotentiation and long-term depression via bulk membrane JNK and lysosome p38MAPK, respectively. These results establish an effective subcellular microdomain-specific targeted delivery method and unveil subcellular microdomain-specific signaling as the mechanism for homologous Ras and Rap to achieve signal diversity and specificity to control multiple forms of synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Guangfu Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Huaye Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Center for Cell Signaling, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Yajun Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Yilin Yu
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Mingxu Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Jian Xiao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Piero Crespo
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabriaand CIBERONC, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad de Cantabria, Santander 39011, Spain
| | - Johannes W Hell
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Li Lin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
| | - Richard L Huganir
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - J Julius Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China; School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315010, China; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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197
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Parker JA, Volmar AY, Pavlopoulos S, Mattos C. K-Ras Populates Conformational States Differently from Its Isoform H-Ras and Oncogenic Mutant K-RasG12D. Structure 2018; 26:810-820.e4. [PMID: 29706533 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2018.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 02/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Structures of wild-type K-Ras from crystals obtained in the presence of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) or its analogs have remained elusive. Of the K-Ras mutants, only K-RasG12D and K-RasQ61H are available in the PDB representing the activated form of the GTPase not in complex with other proteins. We present the crystal structure of wild-type K-Ras bound to the GTP analog GppCH2p, with K-Ras in the state 1 conformation. Signatures of conformational states obtained by one-dimensional proton NMR confirm that K-Ras has a more substantial population of state 1 in solution than H-Ras, which predominantly favors state 2. The oncogenic mutant K-RasG12D favors state 2, changing the balance of conformational states in favor of interactions with effector proteins. Differences in the population of conformational states between K-Ras and H-Ras, as well as between K-Ras and its mutants, can provide a structural basis for focused targeting of the K-Ras isoform in cancer-specific strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian A Parker
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alicia Y Volmar
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Spiro Pavlopoulos
- Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Carla Mattos
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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198
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Al Abdallah Q, Martin-Vicente A, Souza ACO, Ge W, Fortwendel JR. C-terminus Proteolysis and Palmitoylation Cooperate for Optimal Plasma Membrane Localization of RasA in Aspergillus fumigatus. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:562. [PMID: 29632525 PMCID: PMC5879109 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
RasA is a major regulator of fungal morphogenesis and virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus. The proper localization of RasA to the plasma membrane is essential for the formation of invasive hyphae during infection. In yeast, the localization of Ras2p to the plasma membrane is orchestrated by several post-translational modifications (PTM) at the C-terminal CAAX box that are thought to occur in sequential order. These PTMs include: (1) CAAX motif farnesylation by the farnesyltransferase complex composed of Ram1p and Ram2p; (2) proteolysis of the -AAX residues by Rce1p or Ste24p; (3) methylation of the remaining prenylated cysteine residue by Ste14p, and; (4) palmitoylation at a single conserved cysteine residue mediated by the Erf2p/Erf4p palmitoyltransferase. We previously reported that homologs of each RasA PTM enzyme are conserved in A. fumigatus. Additionally, we delineated a major role for protein farnesylation in A. fumigatus growth and virulence. In this work, we characterize the post-prenylation processing enzymes of RasA in A. fumigatus. The genes encoding the RasA post-prenylation enzymes were first deleted and examined for their roles in growth and regulation of RasA. Only when strains lacked cppB, the A. fumigatus homologue of yeast RCE1, there was a significant reduction in fungal growth and conidial germination. In addition, cppB-deletion mutants displayed hypersensitivity to the cell wall-perturbing agents Calcofluor White and Congo Red and the cell wall biosynthesis inhibitor Caspofungin. In contrast to the previously published data in yeast, the deletion of post-prenylation modifying enzymes did not alter the plasma membrane localization or activation of RasA. To delineate the molecular mechanisms underlying these differences, we investigated the interplay between dual-palmitoylation of the RasA hypervariable region and CAAX proteolysis for stabilization of RasA at the plasma membrane. Our data indicate that, in the absence of proper CAAX proteolysis, RasA accumulation at the plasma membrane is stabilized by dual palmitoyl groups on the dual cysteine residues. Therefore, we conclude CAAX proteolysis and dual-palmitoylation of the hypervariable region is important for maintaining a stable attachment association of RasA with the plasma membrane to support optimal fungal growth and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qusai Al Abdallah
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Adela Martin-Vicente
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Ana Camila Oliveira Souza
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Wenbo Ge
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Jarrod R Fortwendel
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
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199
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Robinson SW, Bourgognon JM, Spiers JG, Breda C, Campesan S, Butcher A, Mallucci GR, Dinsdale D, Morone N, Mistry R, Smith TM, Guerra-Martin M, Challiss RAJ, Giorgini F, Steinert JR. Nitric oxide-mediated posttranslational modifications control neurotransmitter release by modulating complexin farnesylation and enhancing its clamping ability. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2003611. [PMID: 29630591 PMCID: PMC5890968 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2003611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) regulates neuronal function and thus is critical for tuning neuronal communication. Mechanisms by which NO modulates protein function and interaction include posttranslational modifications (PTMs) such as S-nitrosylation. Importantly, cross signaling between S-nitrosylation and prenylation can have major regulatory potential. However, the exact protein targets and resulting changes in function remain elusive. Here, we interrogated the role of NO-dependent PTMs and farnesylation in synaptic transmission. We found that NO compromises synaptic function at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in a cGMP-independent manner. NO suppressed release and reduced the size of available vesicle pools, which was reversed by glutathione (GSH) and occluded by genetic up-regulation of GSH-generating and de-nitrosylating glutamate-cysteine-ligase and S-nitroso-glutathione reductase activities. Enhanced nitrergic activity led to S-nitrosylation of the fusion-clamp protein complexin (cpx) and altered its membrane association and interactions with active zone (AZ) and soluble N-ethyl-maleimide-sensitive fusion protein Attachment Protein Receptor (SNARE) proteins. Furthermore, genetic and pharmacological suppression of farnesylation and a nitrosylation mimetic mutant of cpx induced identical physiological and localization phenotypes as caused by NO. Together, our data provide evidence for a novel physiological nitrergic molecular switch involving S-nitrosylation, which reversibly suppresses farnesylation and thereby enhances the net-clamping function of cpx. These data illustrate a new mechanistic signaling pathway by which regulation of farnesylation can fine-tune synaptic release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan W. Robinson
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jereme G. Spiers
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Carlo Breda
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Susanna Campesan
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian Butcher
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Giovanna R. Mallucci
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - David Dinsdale
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Nobuhiro Morone
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Raj Mistry
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Tim M. Smith
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | | | - R. A. John Challiss
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Flaviano Giorgini
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Joern R. Steinert
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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200
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Iommelli F, De Rosa V, Terlizzi C, Monti M, Panico M, Fonti R, Del Vecchio S. Inositol Trisphosphate Receptor Type 3-mediated Enhancement of EGFR and MET Cotargeting Efficacy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Detected by 18F-fluorothymidine. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:3126-3136. [PMID: 29618618 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-3657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Revised: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Our aim was to test whether imaging with 18F-fluorothymidine (18F-FLT) PET/CT was able to detect the combined effects of EGFR and MET inhibitors in oncogene-driven non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the enhanced efficacy of drug combination.Experimental Design: NSCLC cells bearing MET amplification (H1993 and H820) were treated with EGFR and MET inhibitors either alone or in combination and then tested for cell viability and inhibition of signaling. Nude mice bearing H1993 tumors underwent 18F-FLT PET/CT scan before and after treatment with erlotinib and crizotinib alone or in combination (1:1 ratio) and posttreatment changes of 18F-FLT uptake in tumors were determined. The role of inositol trisphosphate receptor type 3 (IP3R3) in mediating the combined action of EGFR and MET inhibitors was tested by transfecting NSCLC cells with IP3R3-targeted siRNA.Results: Imaging studies showed a significant reduction of 18F-FLT uptake in response to combined treatment with EGFR and MET inhibitors that was higher than that obtained with single agents (ANOVA, F-ratio = 6.215, P = 0.001). Imaging findings were confirmed by analysis of surgically excised tumors. Levels of IP3R3 were significantly reduced in both cells and tumors after treatment with crizotinib, whereas EGFR inhibitors caused a reduction of IP3R3 interaction with K-Ras mainly through dephosphorylation of serine residues of K-Ras.Conclusions: Our findings indicate that 18F-FLT PET/CT is able to detect the enhanced efficacy of EGFR and MET inhibitors in oncogene-driven NSCLC and that such enhancement is mediated by IP3R3 through its interaction with K-Ras. Clin Cancer Res; 24(13); 3126-36. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Iommelli
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Naples, Italy.,CEINGE-Advanced Biotechnologies, Naples Italy
| | - Viviana De Rosa
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Naples, Italy.,CEINGE-Advanced Biotechnologies, Naples Italy
| | - Cristina Terlizzi
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Marcello Monti
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Panico
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosa Fonti
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Silvana Del Vecchio
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Naples, Italy. .,Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II", Naples, Italy
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