1
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Yi M, Ashton-Rickardt G, Tan W, Liu Z, He H, Hsieh JT, Xu B. Accelerating Cellular Uptake with Unnatural Amino Acid for Inhibiting Immunosuppressive Cancer Cells. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202400691. [PMID: 38527252 PMCID: PMC11132931 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202400691] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Targeting immunosuppressive metastatic cancer cells is a key challenge in therapy. We recently have shown that a rigid-rod aromatic, pBP-NBD, that responds to enzymes and kill immunosuppressive metastatic osteosarcoma (mOS) and castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cells in mimetic bone microenvironment. However, pBP-NBD demonstrated moderate efficacy against CRPC cells. To enhance activity, we incorporated the unnatural amino acid L- or D-4,4'-biphenylalanine (L- or D-BiP) into pBP-NBD, drastically increasing cellular uptake and CRPC inhibition. Specifically, we inserted BiP into pBP-NBD to target mOS (Saos2 and SJSA1) and CRPC (VCaP and PC3) cells with overexpressed phosphatases. Our results show that the D-peptide backbone with an aspartate methyl diester at the C-terminal offers the highest activity against these immunosuppressive mOS and CRPC cells. Importantly, imaging shows that the peptide assemblies almost instantly enter the cells and accumulate primarily within the endoplasmic reticulum of Saos2, SJSA1, and PC3 cells and at the lysosomes of VCaP cells. By using BiP to boost cellular uptake and self-assembly within cancer cells, this work illustrates an unnatural hydrophobic amino acid as a versatile and effective residue to boost endocytosis of synthetic peptides for intracellular self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meihui Yi
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | | | - Weiyi Tan
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Zhiyu Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Hongjian He
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Jer-Tsong Hsieh
- Department of Urology, Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
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2
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Zhang Q, Tan W, Liu Z, Zhang Y, Wei WS, Fraden S, Xu B. Unnatural Peptide Assemblies Rapidly Deplete Cholesterol and Potently Inhibit Cancer Cells. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:12901-12906. [PMID: 38701349 PMCID: PMC11223060 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c03101] [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: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Cholesterol-rich membranes play a pivotal role in cancer initiation and progression, necessitating innovative approaches to target these membranes for cancer inhibition. Here we report the first case of unnatural peptide (1) assemblies capable of depleting cholesterol and inhibiting cancer cells. Peptide 1 self-assembles into micelles and is rapidly taken up by cancer cells, especially when combined with an acute cholesterol-depleting agent (MβCD). Click chemistry has confirmed that 1 depletes cell membrane cholesterol. It localizes in membrane-rich organelles, including the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and lysosomes. Furthermore, 1 potently inhibits malignant cancer cells, working synergistically with cholesterol-lowering agents. Control experiments have confirmed that C-terminal capping and unnatural amino acid residues (i.e., BiP) are essential for both cholesterol depletion and potent cancer cell inhibition. This work highlights unnatural peptide assemblies as a promising platform for targeting the cell membrane in controlling cell fates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuxin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Weiyi Tan
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Zhiyu Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Yichi Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Wei-Shao Wei
- Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Seth Fraden
- Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
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3
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Tyagi K, Venkatesh V. Emerging potential approaches in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activatable cancer theranostics. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:1148-1160. [PMID: 38665831 PMCID: PMC11042160 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00565h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is known as one of the most crucial members of the phosphatase family and encompasses the enormous ability to hydrolyze the phosphate group in various biomolecules; by this, it regulates several events in the pool of biological medium. Owing to its overexpression in various cancer cells, recently, its potential has evolved as a prominent biomarker in cancer research. In this article, we have underlined the recent advances (2019 onwards) of alkaline phosphatase in the arena of emerging cancer theranostics. Herein, we mainly focused on phosphate-locked molecular systems such as peptides, prodrugs, and aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-based molecules. When these theranostics encounter cancer cell-overexpressed ALP, it results in the hydrolysis of the phosphate group, which leads to the release of highly cytotoxic agents along with turn-on fluorophore/pre-existing fluorophore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kartikay Tyagi
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Uttarakhand-247667 India
| | - V Venkatesh
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Uttarakhand-247667 India
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4
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Wang H, Hou MJ, Liao L, Li P, Chen T, Wang P, Zhu BT. Strong Protection by 4-Hydroxyestrone against Erastin-Induced Ferroptotic Cell Death in Estrogen Receptor-Negative Human Breast Cancer Cells: Evidence for Protein Disulfide Isomerase as a Mechanistic Target for Protection. Biochemistry 2024; 63:984-999. [PMID: 38569593 PMCID: PMC11025120 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00261] [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] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a recently identified form of regulated cell death, characterized by excessive iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Recent studies have demonstrated that protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is an important mediator of chemically induced ferroptosis and also a new target for protection against ferroptosis-associated cell death. In the present study, we identified that 4-hydroxyestrone (4-OH-E1), a metabolic derivative of endogenous estrogen, is a potent small-molecule inhibitor of PDI, and can strongly protect against chemically induced ferroptotic cell death in the estrogen receptor-negative MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Pull-down and CETSA assays demonstrated that 4-OH-E1 can directly bind to PDI both in vitro and in intact cells. Computational modeling analysis revealed that 4-OH-E1 forms two hydrogen bonds with PDI His256, which is essential for its binding interaction and thus inhibition of PDI's catalytic activity. Additionally, PDI knockdown attenuates the protective effect of 4-OH-E1 as well as cystamine (a known PDI inhibitor) against chemically induced ferroptosis in human breast cancer cells. Importantly, inhibition of PDI by 4-OH-E1 and cystamine or PDI knockdown by siRNAs each markedly reduces iNOS activity and NO accumulation, which has recently been demonstrated to play an important role in erastin-induced ferroptosis. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that 4-OH-E1 is a novel inhibitor of PDI and can strongly inhibit ferroptosis in human breast cancer cells in an estrogen receptor-independent manner. The mechanistic understanding gained from the present study may also aid in understanding the estrogen receptor-independent cytoprotective actions of endogenous estrogen metabolites in many noncancer cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongge Wang
- Shenzhen
Key Laboratory of Steroid Drug Discovery and Development, School of
Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
- School
of Life Sciences, University of Science
and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Ming-Jie Hou
- Shenzhen
Key Laboratory of Steroid Drug Discovery and Development, School of
Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Lixi Liao
- Shenzhen
Key Laboratory of Steroid Drug Discovery and Development, School of
Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Peng Li
- Shenzhen
Key Laboratory of Steroid Drug Discovery and Development, School of
Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Tongxiang Chen
- Shenzhen
Key Laboratory of Steroid Drug Discovery and Development, School of
Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Pan Wang
- Shenzhen
Key Laboratory of Steroid Drug Discovery and Development, School of
Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Bao Ting Zhu
- Shenzhen
Key Laboratory of Steroid Drug Discovery and Development, School of
Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
- Shenzhen
Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518055, China
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5
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Ren K, Feng J, Bi H, Sun Q, Li X, Han D. AFM-Based Poroelastic@Membrane Analysis of Cells and its Opportunities for Translational Medicine. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2303610. [PMID: 37403276 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202303610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Cell mechanics is an emerging field of research for translational medicine. Here, the cell is modeled as poroelastic cytoplasm wrapped by tensile membrane (poroelastic@membrane model) and is characterized by the atomic force microscopy (AFM). The parameters of cytoskeleton network modulus EC , cytoplasmic apparent viscosity ηC , and cytoplasmic diffusion coefficient DC are used to describe the mechanical behavior of cytoplasm, and membrane tension γ is used to evaluate the cell membrane. Poroelastic@membrane analysis of breast cells and urothelial cells show that non-cancer cells and cancer cells have different distribution regions and distribution trends in the four-dimensional space composed of EC , ηC . From non-cancer to cancer cells, there is often a trend of γ, EC , ηC decreases and DC increases. Patients with urothelial carcinoma at different malignant stages can be distinguished at high sensitivity and specificity by analyzing the urothelial cells from tissue or urine. However, sampling directly from tumor tissues is an invasive method, may lead to undesirable consequences. Thus, AFM-based poroelastic@membrane analysis of urothelial cells from urine may provide a non-invasive and no-bio-label method to detecting urothelial carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keli Ren
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, No.11 ZhongGuanCun BeiYiTiao, Haidian, Beijing, 100191, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 Yanqihu East Rd, Huairou Distric, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Jiantao Feng
- Artemisinin Research Center and Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No.16, Nanxiao street, Dongzhimen, Dongcheng, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Hai Bi
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Rd., Haidian, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Quanmei Sun
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, No.11 ZhongGuanCun BeiYiTiao, Haidian, Beijing, 100191, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 Yanqihu East Rd, Huairou Distric, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Xiang Li
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, No.11 ZhongGuanCun BeiYiTiao, Haidian, Beijing, 100191, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 Yanqihu East Rd, Huairou Distric, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Dong Han
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, No.11 ZhongGuanCun BeiYiTiao, Haidian, Beijing, 100191, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 Yanqihu East Rd, Huairou Distric, Beijing, 100190, China
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6
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Yi M, Wang F, Tan W, Hsieh JT, Egelman EH, Xu B. Enzyme Responsive Rigid-Rod Aromatics Target "Undruggable" Phosphatases to Kill Cancer Cells in a Mimetic Bone Microenvironment. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:13055-13059. [PMID: 35849554 PMCID: PMC9339482 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c05491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Bone metastasis remains a challenge in cancer treatment. Here we show enzymatic responsive rigid-rod aromatics acting as the substrates of "undruggable" phosphatases to kill cancer cells in a mimetic bone microenvironment. By phosphorylation and conjugating nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD) to hydroxybiphenylcarboxylate (BP), we obtained pBP-NBD (1P) as a substrate of both acid and alkaline phosphatases. 1P effectively kills both metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer cells (mCRPCs) and osteoblast mimic cells in their coculture. 1P enters Saos2 almost instantly to target the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the cells. Co-culturing with Saos2 cells boosts the cellular uptake of 1P by mCRPCs. Cryo-EM reveals the nanotube structures of both 1P (2.4 Å resolution, pH 5.6) and 1 (2.2 Å resolution, pH 7.4). The helical packing of both nanotubes is identical, held together by strong pi-stacking interactions. Besides reporting the atomistic structure of nanotubes formed by the assembly of rigid-rod aromatics, this work expands the pool of molecules for designing EISA substrates that selectively target TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meihui Yi
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02453, United States
| | - Fengbin Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, United States
| | - Weiyi Tan
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02453, United States
| | - Jer-Tsong Hsieh
- Department of Urology, Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas, Dallas, Texas 75235, United States
| | - Edward H Egelman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, United States
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02453, United States
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7
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Zhang Q, Tan W, Xu B. Enzymatic Noncovalent Synthesis for Targeting Subcellular Organelles. Chempluschem 2022; 87:e202200060. [PMID: 35420712 PMCID: PMC9508291 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202200060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Enzymatic noncovalent synthesis (ENS) exploits enzymatic reactions to produce spatially organized higher-order supramolecular assemblies that modulate cellular processes. While ENS is a general mechanism to create higher-order assemblies of proteins for diverse cellular functions, the exploration of ENS of other bioactive molecules, such as peptides or small organic molecules, is rather limited. Since ENS generates non-diffusive supramolecular assemblies locally, it provides a unique approach to targeting subcellular organelles. In this Review, we highlight the recent progress of the application of ENS of peptide assemblies for targeting subcellular organelles. After a brief introduction of the concept of ENS, we introduce the case of generating artificial filaments by ENS in cell cytosol, then discuss the use of ENS for targeting endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, and lysosomes, and finally we describe the targeting of nucleus by ENS. We hope to illustrate the promise of ENS, as a localized molecular process in an open system, for understanding diseases, controlling cell behaviors, and developing new therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuxin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Weiyi Tan
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
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8
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Zhang Q, Tan W, Xu B. Synthesis and bioactivity of pyrrole-conjugated phosphopeptides. Beilstein J Org Chem 2022; 18:159-166. [PMID: 35186152 PMCID: PMC8822458 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.18.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Here we report the synthesis and effect on the cell viability of pyrrole-conjugated phosphopeptides. Encouraged by the selective inhibition of cancer cells by a naphthyl-capped phosphopeptide (Nap-ffpy, 1), we conjugated the heteroaromatic dipyrrole or tripyrrole motif at the N-terminal of short peptides containing phosphotyrosine or phosphoserine and examined the bioactivity of the resulting phosphopeptides (2-10). Although most of the phosphopeptides exhibit comparable activities with that of 1 against HeLa cells at 200 μM, they, differing from 1, are largely compatible with HeLa cells at 400 μM. Enzymatic dephosphorylation of 2-10, at 400 μM is unable to induce a dramatic morphological transition of the peptide assemblies observed in the case of 1. These results suggest that a heteroaromatic motif at the N-terminal of peptides likely disfavors the formation of extensive nanofibers or morphological changes during enzymatic self-assembly, thus provide useful insights for the development of phosphopeptides as substrates of phosphatases for controlling cell fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuxin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Weiyi Tan
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
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9
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Assies L, García-Calvo J, Piazzolla F, Sanchez S, Kato T, Reymond L, Goujon A, Colom A, López-Andarias J, Straková K, Mahecic D, Mercier V, Riggi M, Jiménez-Rojo N, Roffay C, Licari G, Tsemperouli M, Neuhaus F, Fürstenberg A, Vauthey E, Hoogendoorn S, Gonzalez-Gaitan M, Zumbuehl A, Sugihara K, Gruenberg J, Riezman H, Loewith R, Manley S, Roux A, Winssinger N, Sakai N, Pitsch S, Matile S. Flipper Probes for the Community. Chimia (Aarau) 2021; 75:1004-1011. [PMID: 34920768 DOI: 10.2533/chimia.2021.1004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This article describes four fluorescent membrane tension probes that have been designed, synthesized, evaluated, commercialized and applied to current biology challenges in the context of the NCCR Chemical Biology. Their names are Flipper-TR®, ER Flipper-TR®, Lyso Flipper-TR®, and Mito Flipper-TR®. They are available from Spirochrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Assies
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 CH-Geneva, Switzerland
| | - José García-Calvo
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 CH-Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Piazzolla
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 CH-Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Samantha Sanchez
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 CH-Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Takehiro Kato
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 CH-Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Luc Reymond
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Spirochrome AG, Chalberwiesenstrasse 4, CH-8260 Stein am Rhein, Switzerland
| | - Antoine Goujon
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 CH-Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Adai Colom
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva
| | - Javier López-Andarias
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 CH-Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Karolína Straková
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 CH-Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dora Mahecic
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne - EPFL, SB Cubotron 427, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Mercier
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva
| | - Margot Riggi
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva; Department of Molecular Biology, University of Geneva
| | - Noemi Jiménez-Rojo
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva
| | - Chloé Roffay
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva
| | | | - Maria Tsemperouli
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, 9 Chemin du Musée, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Frederik Neuhaus
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, 9 Chemin du Musée, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Fürstenberg
- Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Geneva; Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Geneva
| | - Eric Vauthey
- Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Geneva
| | - Sascha Hoogendoorn
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 CH-Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marcos Gonzalez-Gaitan
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva
| | - Andreas Zumbuehl
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, 9 Chemin du Musée, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Kaori Sugihara
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Geneva
| | - Jean Gruenberg
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva
| | - Howard Riezman
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva
| | - Robbie Loewith
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Molecular Biology, University of Geneva
| | - Suliana Manley
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne - EPFL, SB Cubotron 427, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aurelien Roux
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva
| | - Nicolas Winssinger
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 CH-Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Naomi Sakai
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 CH-Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Pitsch
- Spirochrome AG, Chalberwiesenstrasse 4, CH-8260 Stein am Rhein, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Matile
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 CH-Geneva, Switzerland;,
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10
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Ren K, Gao J, Han D. AFM Force Relaxation Curve Reveals That the Decrease of Membrane Tension Is the Essential Reason for the Softening of Cancer Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:663021. [PMID: 34055793 PMCID: PMC8152666 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.663021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Differences in stiffness constitute an extremely important aspect of the mechanical differences between cancer cells and normal cells, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) is the most commonly used tool to characterize the difference in stiffness. However, the process of mechanical characterization using AFM has been controversial and the influence of the membrane tension on AFM measurement results was often ignored. Here, a physical model involving a simultaneous consideration of the effects of the cell membrane, cytoskeleton network and cytosol was proposed. We carried out a theoretical analysis of AFM force relaxation curves, and as a result solved many of the remaining controversial issues regarding AFM-based mechanical characterization of cells, and provided a quantitative solution for the membrane tension measured using AFM indentation experiments for the first time. From the results of experiments on cells with different adherent shapes and different pairs of normal cells and cancer cells, we found additional force provided by membrane tension to be the main component of the force applied to the AFM probe, with decreased cell membrane tension being the essential reason for the greater softness of cancer cells than of normal cells. Hence, regulating membrane tension may become an important method for regulating the behavior of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keli Ren
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, China.,National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jingwei Gao
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, China.,National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dong Han
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, China.,National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Wang J, Li H, Xu B. Biological functions of supramolecular assemblies of small molecules in cellular environment. RSC Chem Biol 2021; 2:289-305. [PMID: 34423303 PMCID: PMC8341129 DOI: 10.1039/d0cb00219d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Like biomacromolecules, certain small molecules (e.g., aggregators) are able to self-assemble in aqueous phase to form nanoscale aggregates. Though it is well-established that the aggregates may interact with enzymes in vitro, the study of the biological activities of the assemblies of small molecules in cellular environment is only at its beginning. This review summarizes the recent progresses in exploring the biological functions of supramolecular assemblies of small molecules (SASMs). We first discuss the use of SASMs to inhibit pathogenic cells, such as cancer cells and bacteria. The use of SASMs to target different parts of cancer cells, such as pericellular space, cytosol, and subcellular organelles, and to combine with other bioactive entities (e.g., proteins and clinically used drugs), is particularly promising for addressing the challenge of acquired multidrug resistance in cancer therapy. Then, we describe the use of SASMs to sustain physiological functions of normal cells, that is, promoting cells proliferation and differentiation for tissue regeneration. After that, we show the use of SASMs as a basic tool to research cell behaviors, for instance, identifying the specific cells, improving enzyme probes, revealing membrane dynamics, enhancing molecular imaging, and mimicking context-dependent signaling. Finally, we give the outlook of the research of SASMs. We expect that this review, by highlighting the biological functions of SASMs, provides a starting point to explore the chemical biology of SASMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyu Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin 300070P. R. China
| | - Hui Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin 300070P. R. China
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis UniversityWalthamMassachusetts 02454USA
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Guo J, Tian C, Xu B. Biomaterials based on noncovalent interactions of small molecules. EXCLI JOURNAL 2020; 19:1124-1140. [PMID: 33088250 PMCID: PMC7573174 DOI: 10.17179/excli2020-2656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Unlike conventional materials that covalent bonds connecting atoms as the major force to hold the materials together, supramolecular biomaterials rely on noncovalent intermolecular interactions to assemble. The reversibility and biocompatibility of supramolecular biomaterials render them with diverse range of functions and lead to rapid development in the past two decades. This review focuses on the noncovalent and enzymatic control of supramolecular biomaterials, with the introduction to various triggering mechanism to initiate self-assembly. Representative applications of supramolecular biomaterials are highlighted in four categories: tissue engineering, cancer therapy, drug delivery, and molecular imaging. By introducing various applications, we intend to show enzymatic control and noncovalent interactions as a powerful tool for achieving spatiotemporal control of biomaterials both invitro and in vivo for biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Guo
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South St., Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Changhao Tian
- Department of Physics, Nanjing University, 22 Hankou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South St., Waltham, MA 02453, USA
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13
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Abstract
Enzymatic reactions and noncovalent (i.e., supramolecular) interactions are two fundamental nongenetic attributes of life. Enzymatic noncovalent synthesis (ENS) refers to a process where enzymatic reactions control intermolecular noncovalent interactions for spatial organization of higher-order molecular assemblies that exhibit emergent properties and functions. Like enzymatic covalent synthesis (ECS), in which an enzyme catalyzes the formation of covalent bonds to generate individual molecules, ENS is a unifying theme for understanding the functions, morphologies, and locations of molecular ensembles in cellular environments. This review intends to provide a summary of the works of ENS within the past decade and emphasize ENS for functions. After comparing ECS and ENS, we describe a few representative examples where nature uses ENS, as a rule of life, to create the ensembles of biomacromolecules for emergent properties/functions in a myriad of cellular processes. Then, we focus on ENS of man-made (synthetic) molecules in cell-free conditions, classified by the types of enzymes. After that, we introduce the exploration of ENS of man-made molecules in the context of cells by discussing intercellular, peri/intracellular, and subcellular ENS for cell morphogenesis, molecular imaging, cancer therapy, and other applications. Finally, we provide a perspective on the promises of ENS for developing molecular assemblies/processes for functions. This review aims to be an updated introduction for researchers who are interested in exploring noncovalent synthesis for developing molecular science and technologies to address societal needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjian He
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454, United States
| | - Weiyi Tan
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454, United States
| | - Jiaqi Guo
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454, United States
| | - Meihui Yi
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454, United States
| | - Adrianna N Shy
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454, United States
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454, United States
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