1
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Rawal CC, Loubiere V, Butova NL, Gracia J, Parreno V, Merigliano C, Martinez AM, Cavalli G, Chiolo I. Sustained inactivation of the Polycomb PRC1 complex induces DNA repair defects and genomic instability in epigenetic tumors. Histochem Cell Biol 2024; 162:133-147. [PMID: 38888809 PMCID: PMC11227471 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-024-02302-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Cancer initiation and progression are typically associated with the accumulation of driver mutations and genomic instability. However, recent studies demonstrated that cancer can also be driven purely by epigenetic alterations, without driver mutations. Specifically, a 24-h transient downregulation of polyhomeotic (ph-KD), a core component of the Polycomb complex PRC1, is sufficient to induce epigenetically initiated cancers (EICs) in Drosophila, which are proficient in DNA repair and characterized by a stable genome. Whether genomic instability eventually occurs when PRC1 downregulation is performed for extended periods of time remains unclear. Here, we show that prolonged depletion of PH, which mimics cancer initiating events, results in broad dysregulation of DNA replication and repair genes, along with the accumulation of DNA breaks, defective repair, and widespread genomic instability in the cancer tissue. A broad misregulation of H2AK118 ubiquitylation and to a lesser extent of H3K27 trimethylation also occurs and might contribute to these phenotypes. Together, this study supports a model where DNA repair and replication defects accumulate during the tumorigenic transformation epigenetically induced by PRC1 loss, resulting in genomic instability and cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chetan C Rawal
- Department of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, 1050 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Vincent Loubiere
- Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nadejda L Butova
- Department of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, 1050 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Juliette Gracia
- Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Victoria Parreno
- Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Chiara Merigliano
- Department of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, 1050 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Anne-Marie Martinez
- Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
| | - Giacomo Cavalli
- Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
| | - Irene Chiolo
- Department of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, 1050 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
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2
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Ni S, Takada Y, Ando T, Yu S, Yamashita Y, Takahashi Y, Sawada M, Oba M, Itoh Y, Suzuki T. Identification of a novel histone H2A mono-ubiquitination-inhibiting cell-active small molecule. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2024; 105:129759. [PMID: 38636717 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2024.129759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Histone H2A mono-ubiquitination plays important roles in epigenetic gene expression and is also involved in tumorigenesis. Small molecules controlling H2A ubiquitination are of interest as potential chemical tools and anticancer drugs. To identify novel small molecule inhibitors of H2A ubiquitination, we synthesized and evaluated several compounds designed based on PRT4165 (1), which is a reported histone ubiquitin ligase RING1A inhibitor. We found that compound 11b strongly inhibited the viability and reduced histone H2A mono-ubiquitination in human osteosarcoma U2OS cells. Therefore, compound 11b is a promising lead compound for the development of H2A histone ubiquitination-inhibiting small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyao Ni
- SANKEN, Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan
| | - Yuri Takada
- SANKEN, Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan
| | - Takaaki Ando
- SANKEN, Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan
| | - Shengwang Yu
- SANKEN, Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan
| | | | - Yukari Takahashi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 1-5 Shimogamohangi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0823, Japan
| | - Miho Sawada
- SANKEN, Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan
| | - Makoto Oba
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 1-5 Shimogamohangi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0823, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Itoh
- SANKEN, Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
| | - Takayoshi Suzuki
- SANKEN, Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
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3
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Kabir M, Qin L, Luo K, Xiong Y, Sidi RA, Park KS, Jin J. Discovery and Characterization of a Novel Cereblon-Recruiting PRC1 Bridged PROTAC Degrader. J Med Chem 2024; 67:6880-6892. [PMID: 38607318 PMCID: PMC11069391 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Bridged PROTAC is a novel protein complex degrader strategy that exploits the target protein's binding partner to degrade undruggable proteins by inducing proximity to an E3 ubiquitin ligase. In this study, we discovered for the first time that cereblon (CRBN) can be employed for the bridged PROTAC approach and report the first-in-class CRBN-recruiting and EED-binding polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) degrader, compound 1 (MS181). We show that 1 induces preferential degradation of PRC1 components, BMI1 and RING1B, in an EED-, CRBN-, and ubiquitin-proteosome system (UPS)-dependent manner. Compound 1 also has superior antiproliferative activity in multiple metastatic cancer cell lines over EED-binding PRC2 degraders and can be efficacious in VHL-defective cancer cells. Altogether, compound 1 is a valuable chemical biology tool to study the role of PRC1 in cancer. Importantly, we show that CRBN can be utilized to develop bridged PROTACs, expanding the bridged PROTAC technology for degrading undruggable proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Kabir
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Lihuai Qin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Kaixiu Luo
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Yan Xiong
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Rebecca A Sidi
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Kwang-Su Park
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
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4
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Rawal CC, Loubiere V, Butova NL, Garcia J, Parreno V, Martinez AM, Cavalli G, Chiolo I. Sustained inactivation of the Polycomb PRC1 complex induces DNA repair defects and genomic instability in epigenetic tumors. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4289524. [PMID: 38746379 PMCID: PMC11092839 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4289524/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Cancer initiation and progression are typically associated with the accumulation of driver mutations and genomic instability. However, recent studies demonstrated that cancers can also be purely initiated by epigenetic alterations, without driver mutations. Specifically, a 24-hours transient down-regulation of polyhomeotic (ph-KD), a core component of the Polycomb complex PRC1, is sufficient to drive epigenetically initiated cancers (EICs) in Drosophila, which are proficient in DNA repair and are characterized by a stable genome. Whether genomic instability eventually occurs when PRC1 down-regulation is performed for extended periods of time remains unclear. Here we show that prolonged depletion of a PRC1 component, which mimics cancer initiating events, results in broad dysregulation of DNA replication and repair genes, along with the accumulation of DNA breaks, defective repair, and widespread genomic instability in the cancer tissue. A broad mis-regulation of H2AK118 ubiquitylation and to a lesser extent of H3K27 trimethylation also occurs, and might contribute to these phenotypes. Together, this study supports a model where DNA repair and replication defects amplify the tumorigenic transformation epigenetically induced by PRC1 loss, resulting in genomic instability and cancer progression.
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5
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Velez J, Dale B, Park KS, Kaniskan HÜ, Yu X, Jin J. Discovery of a novel, highly potent EZH2 PROTAC degrader for targeting non-canonical oncogenic functions of EZH2. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 267:116154. [PMID: 38295690 PMCID: PMC10901292 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Aberrant expression of EZH2, the main catalytic subunit of PRC2, has been implicated in numerous cancers, including leukemia, breast, and prostate. Recent studies have highlighted non-catalytic oncogenic functions of EZH2, which EZH2 catalytic inhibitors cannot attenuate. Therefore, proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) degraders have been explored as an alternative therapeutic approach to suppress both canonical and non-canonical oncogenic activity. Here we present MS8847, a novel, highly potent EZH2 PROTAC degrader that recruits the E3 ligase von Hippel-Lindau (VHL). MS8847 degrades EZH2 in a concentration-, time-, and ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS)-dependent manner. Notably, MS8847 induces superior EZH2 degradation and anti-proliferative effects in MLL-rearranged (MLL-r) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells compared to previously published EZH2 PROTAC degraders. Moreover, MS8847 degrades EZH2 and inhibits cell growth in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines, displays efficacy in a 3D TNBC in vitro model, and has a pharmacokinetic (PK) profile suitable for in vivo efficacy studies. Overall, MS8847 is a valuable chemical tool for the biomedical community to investigate canonical and non-canonical oncogenic functions of EZH2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Velez
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Science, Oncological Science and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Brandon Dale
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Science, Oncological Science and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Kwang-Su Park
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Science, Oncological Science and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - H Ümit Kaniskan
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Science, Oncological Science and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Xufen Yu
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Science, Oncological Science and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Science, Oncological Science and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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6
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Pichlak M, Sobierajski T, Błażewska KM, Gendaszewska-Darmach E. Targeting reversible post-translational modifications with PROTACs: a focus on enzymes modifying protein lysine and arginine residues. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2023; 38:2254012. [PMID: 37667522 PMCID: PMC10481767 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2023.2254012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PROTACs represent an emerging field in medicinal chemistry, which has already led to the development of compounds that reached clinical studies. Posttranslational modifications contribute to the complexity of proteomes, with 2846 disease-associated sites. PROTAC field is very advanced in targeting kinases, while its use for enzymes mediating posttranslational modifications of the basic amino acid residues, started to be developed recently. Therefore, we bring together this less popular class of PROTACs, targeting lysine acetyltransferases/deacetylases, lysine and arginine methyltransferases, ADP-ribosyltransferases, E3 ligases, and ubiquitin-specific proteases. We put special emphasis on structural aspects of PROTAC elements to facilitate the lengthy experimental endeavours directed towards developing PROTACs. We will cover the period from the inception of the field, 2017, to April 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Pichlak
- Institute of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Lodz University of Technology, Łódź, Poland
| | - Tomasz Sobierajski
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Łódź, Poland
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Kabir M, Sun N, Hu X, Martin TC, Yi J, Zhong Y, Xiong Y, Kaniskan HÜ, Gu W, Parsons R, Jin J. Acetylation Targeting Chimera Enables Acetylation of the Tumor Suppressor p53. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:14932-14944. [PMID: 37365684 PMCID: PMC10357929 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c04640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
With advances in chemically induced proximity technologies, heterobifunctional modalities such as proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have been successfully advanced to clinics for treating cancer. However, pharmacologic activation of tumor-suppressor proteins for cancer treatment remains a major challenge. Here, we present a novel Acetylation Targeting Chimera (AceTAC) strategy to acetylate the p53 tumor suppressor protein. We discovered and characterized the first p53Y220C AceTAC, MS78, which recruits histone acetyltransferase p300/CBP to acetylate the p53Y220C mutant. MS78 effectively acetylated p53Y220C lysine 382 (K382) in a concentration-, time-, and p300-dependent manner and suppressed proliferation and clonogenicity of cancer cells harboring the p53Y220C mutation with little toxicity in cancer cells with wild-type p53. RNA-seq studies revealed novel p53Y220C-dependent upregulation of TRAIL apoptotic genes and downregulation of DNA damage response pathways upon acetylation induced by MS78. Altogether, the AceTAC strategy could provide a generalizable platform for targeting proteins, such as tumor suppressors, via acetylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Kabir
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Ning Sun
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Xiaoping Hu
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Tiphaine C Martin
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Jingjie Yi
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Yue Zhong
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Yan Xiong
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - H Ümit Kaniskan
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Wei Gu
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Ramon Parsons
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
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8
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Abstract
Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are heterobifunctional small molecules that induce the ternary complex formation between a protein-of-interest (POI) and an E3 ligase, leading to targeted polyubiquitination and degradation of the POI. Particularly, PROTACs have the distinct advantage of targeting both canonical and noncanonical functions of epigenetic targets over traditional inhibitors, which typically target canonical functions only, resulting in greater therapeutic efficacy. In this review, we methodically analyze published PROTAC degraders of epigenetic writer, reader, and eraser proteins and their in vitro and in vivo effects. We highlight the mechanism of action of these degraders and their advantages in targeting both canonical and noncanonical functions of epigenetic targets in the context of cancer treatment. Furthermore, we present a future outlook for this exciting field. Overall, pharmacological degradation of epigenetic targets has emerged as an effective and attractive strategy to thwart cancer progression and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Kabir
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA.
| | - Xufen Yu
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA.
| | - H Ümit Kaniskan
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA.
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA.
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