1
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Mohr I, Mirzaiebadizi A, Sanyal SK, Chuenban P, Ahmadian MR, Ivanov R, Bauer P. Characterization of the small Arabidopsis thaliana GTPase and ADP-ribosylation factor-like 2 protein TITAN 5. J Cell Sci 2024; 137:jcs262315. [PMID: 39056156 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.262315] [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: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Small GTPases switch between GDP- and GTP-bound states during cell signaling. The ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) family of small GTPases is involved in vesicle trafficking. Although evolutionarily well conserved, little is known about ARF and ARF-like GTPases in plants. We characterized biochemical properties and cellular localization of the essential small ARF-like GTPase TITAN 5 (TTN5; also known as HALLIMASCH, ARL2 and ARLC1) from Arabidopsis thaliana, and two TTN5 proteins with point mutants in conserved residues, TTN5T30N and TTN5Q70L, that were expected to be unable to perform nucleotide exchange and GTP hydrolysis, respectively. TTN5 exhibited very rapid intrinsic nucleotide exchange and remarkably low GTP hydrolysis activity, functioning as a non-classical small GTPase being likely present in a GTP-loaded active form. We analyzed signals from YFP-TTN5 and HA3-TTN5 by in situ immunolocalization in Arabidopsis seedlings and through use of a transient expression system. Colocalization with endomembrane markers and pharmacological treatments suggests that TTN5 can be present at the plasma membrane and that it dynamically associates with membranes of vesicles, Golgi stacks and multivesicular bodies. Although TTN5Q70L mirrored wild-type TTN5 behavior, the TTN5T30N mutant differed in some aspects. Hence, the unusual rapid nucleotide exchange activity of TTN5 is linked with its membrane dynamics, and TTN5 likely has a role in vesicle transport within the endomembrane system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga Mohr
- Institute of Botany, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Amin Mirzaiebadizi
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sibaji K Sanyal
- Institute of Botany, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Pichaporn Chuenban
- Institute of Botany, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Center for Plant Genome Engineering, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Mohammad R Ahmadian
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Rumen Ivanov
- Institute of Botany, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Petra Bauer
- Institute of Botany, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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2
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Trogdon M, Abbott K, Arang N, Lande K, Kaur N, Tong M, Bakhoum M, Gutkind JS, Stites EC. Systems modeling of oncogenic G-protein and GPCR signaling reveals unexpected differences in downstream pathway activation. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2024; 10:75. [PMID: 39013872 PMCID: PMC11252164 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-024-00400-1] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Mathematical models of biochemical reaction networks are an important and emerging tool for the study of cell signaling networks involved in disease processes. One promising potential application of such mathematical models is the study of how disease-causing mutations promote the signaling phenotype that contributes to the disease. It is commonly assumed that one must have a thorough characterization of the network readily available for mathematical modeling to be useful, but we hypothesized that mathematical modeling could be useful when there is incomplete knowledge and that it could be a tool for discovery that opens new areas for further exploration. In the present study, we first develop a mechanistic mathematical model of a G-protein coupled receptor signaling network that is mutated in almost all cases of uveal melanoma and use model-driven explorations to uncover and explore multiple new areas for investigating this disease. Modeling the two major, mutually-exclusive, oncogenic mutations (Gαq/11 and CysLT2R) revealed the potential for previously unknown qualitative differences between seemingly interchangeable disease-promoting mutations, and our experiments confirmed oncogenic CysLT2R was impaired at activating the FAK/YAP/TAZ pathway relative to Gαq/11. This led us to hypothesize that CYSLTR2 mutations in UM must co-occur with other mutations to activate FAK/YAP/TAZ signaling, and our bioinformatic analysis uncovers a role for co-occurring mutations involving the plexin/semaphorin pathway, which has been shown capable of activating this pathway. Overall, this work highlights the power of mechanism-based computational systems biology as a discovery tool that can leverage available information to open new research areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Trogdon
- Integrative Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Pfizer, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Kodye Abbott
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Nadia Arang
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Kathryn Lande
- Razavi Newman Integrative Genomics and Bioinformatics Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Navneet Kaur
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Melinda Tong
- Integrative Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Mathieu Bakhoum
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - J Silvio Gutkind
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Edward C Stites
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
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3
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Wilson PG, Abdelmoti L, Gao T, Galperin E. The expression of congenital Shoc2 variants induces AKT-dependent crosstalk activation of the ERK1/2 pathway. Hum Mol Genet 2024:ddae100. [PMID: 38881369 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddae100] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The Shoc2 scaffold protein is crucial in transmitting signals within the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-mediated Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK1/2) pathway. While the significance of Shoc2 in this pathway is well-established, the precise mechanisms through which Shoc2 governs signal transmission remain to be fully elucidated. Hereditary variants in Shoc2 are responsible for Noonan Syndrome with Loose anagen Hair (NSLH). However, due to the absence of known enzymatic activity in Shoc2, directly assessing how these variants affect its function is challenging. ERK1/2 phosphorylation is used as a primary parameter of Shoc2 function, but the impact of Shoc2 mutants on the pathway activation is unclear. This study investigates how the NSLH-associated Shoc2 variants influence EGFR signals in the context of the ERK1/2 and AKT downstream signaling pathways. We show that when the ERK1/2 pathway is a primary signaling pathway activated downstream of EGFR, Shoc2 variants cannot upregulate ERK1/2 phosphorylation to the level of the WT Shoc2. Yet, when the AKT and ERK1/2 pathways were activated, in cells expressing Shoc2 variants, ERK1/2 phosphorylation was higher than in cells expressing WT Shoc2. In cells expressing the Shoc2 NSLH mutants, we found that the AKT signaling pathway triggers the PAK activation, followed by phosphorylation of Raf-1/MEK1/2 and activation of the ERK1/2 signaling axis. Hence, our studies reveal a previously unrecognized feedback regulation downstream of the EGFR and provide additional evidence for the role of Shoc2 as a "gatekeeper" in controlling the selection of downstream effectors within the EGFR signaling network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia G Wilson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, 741 S Limestone St, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Lina Abdelmoti
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, 741 S Limestone St, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Tianyan Gao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, 741 S Limestone St, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Emilia Galperin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, 741 S Limestone St, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
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4
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Weiss EM, Guhathakurta D, Petrušková A, Hundrup V, Zenker M, Fejtová A. Developmental effect of RASopathy mutations on neuronal network activity on a chip. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1388409. [PMID: 38910965 PMCID: PMC11190344 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1388409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
RASopathies are a group of genetic disorders caused by mutations in genes encoding components and regulators of the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway, resulting in overactivation of signaling. RASopathy patients exhibit distinctive facial features, cardiopathies, growth and skeletal abnormalities, and varying degrees of neurocognitive impairments including neurodevelopmental delay, intellectual disabilities, or attention deficits. At present, it is unclear how RASopathy mutations cause neurocognitive impairment and what their neuron-specific cellular and network phenotypes are. Here, we investigated the effect of RASopathy mutations on the establishment and functional maturation of neuronal networks. We isolated cortical neurons from RASopathy mouse models, cultured them on multielectrode arrays and performed longitudinal recordings of spontaneous activity in developing networks as well as recordings of evoked responses in mature neurons. To facilitate the analysis of large and complex data sets resulting from long-term multielectrode recordings, we developed MATLAB-based tools for data processing, analysis, and statistical evaluation. Longitudinal analysis of spontaneous network activity revealed a convergent developmental phenotype in neurons carrying the gain-of-function Noonan syndrome-related mutations Ptpn11 D61Y and Kras V14l. The phenotype was more pronounced at the earlier time points and faded out over time, suggesting the emergence of compensatory mechanisms during network maturation. Nevertheless, persistent differences in excitatory/inhibitory balance and network excitability were observed in mature networks. This study improves the understanding of the complex relationship between genetic mutations and clinical manifestations in RASopathies by adding insights into functional network processes as an additional piece of the puzzle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Weiss
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Debarpan Guhathakurta
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Aneta Petrušková
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
- National Institute of Mental Health, Prague, Czechia
| | - Verena Hundrup
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Martin Zenker
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Magdeburg, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Anna Fejtová
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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5
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Chippalkatti R, Parisi B, Kouzi F, Laurini C, Ben Fredj N, Abankwa DK. RAS isoform specific activities are disrupted by disease associated mutations during cell differentiation. Eur J Cell Biol 2024; 103:151425. [PMID: 38795504 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2024.151425] [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: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The RAS-MAPK-pathway is aberrantly regulated in cancer and developmental diseases called RASopathies. While typically the impact of Ras on the proliferation of various cancer cell lines is assessed, it is poorly established how Ras affects cellular differentiation. Here we implement the C2C12 myoblast cell line to systematically study the effect of Ras mutants and Ras-pathway drugs on differentiation. We first provide evidence that a minor pool of Pax7+ progenitors replenishes a major pool of transit amplifying cells that are ready to differentiate. Our data indicate that Ras isoforms have distinct roles in the differentiating culture, where K-Ras depletion increases and H-Ras depletion decreases terminal differentiation. This assay could therefore provide significant new insights into Ras biology and Ras-driven diseases. In line with this, we found that all oncogenic Ras mutants block terminal differentiation of transit amplifying cells. By contrast, RASopathy associated K-Ras variants were less able to block differentiation. Profiling of eight targeted Ras-pathway drugs on seven oncogenic Ras mutants revealed their allele-specific activities and distinct abilities to restore normal differentiation as compared to triggering cell death. In particular, the MEK-inhibitor trametinib could broadly restore differentiation, while the mTOR-inhibitor rapamycin broadly suppressed differentiation. We expect that this quantitative assessment of the impact of Ras-pathway mutants and drugs on cellular differentiation has great potential to complement cancer cell proliferation data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohan Chippalkatti
- Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette 4362, Luxembourg
| | - Bianca Parisi
- Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette 4362, Luxembourg
| | - Farah Kouzi
- Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette 4362, Luxembourg
| | - Christina Laurini
- Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette 4362, Luxembourg
| | - Nesrine Ben Fredj
- Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette 4362, Luxembourg
| | - Daniel Kwaku Abankwa
- Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette 4362, Luxembourg.
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6
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Mohr I, Mirzaiebadizi A, Sanyal SK, Chuenban P, Ahmadian MR, Ivanov R, Bauer P. Characterization of the small Arabidopsis thaliana GTPase and ADP-ribosylation factor-like 2 protein TITAN 5. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.04.27.538563. [PMID: 37162876 PMCID: PMC10168340 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.27.538563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Small GTPases function by conformational switching ability between GDP- and GTP-bound states in rapid cell signaling events. The ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) family is involved in vesicle trafficking. Though evolutionarily well conserved, little is known about ARF and ARF-like GTPases in plants. Here, we characterized biochemical properties and cellular localization of the essential small ARF-like GTPase TITAN 5/HALLIMASCH/ARL2/ARLC1 (hereafter termed TTN5) from Arabidopsis thaliana. Two TTN5 variants were included in the study with point mutations at conserved residues, suspected to be functional for nucleotide exchange and GTP hydrolysis, TTN5T30N and TTN5Q70L. We found that TTN5 had a very rapid intrinsic nucleotide exchange capacity with a conserved nucleotide switching mechanism. TTN5 acted as a non-classical small GTPase with a remarkably low GTP hydrolysis activity, suggesting it is likely present in GTP-loaded active form in the cell. We analyzed signals from yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-tagged TTN5 and from in situ immunolocalization of hemagglutine-tagged HA3-TTN5 in Arabidopsis seedlings and in a transient expression system. Together with colocalization using endomembrane markers and pharmacological treatments the microscopic analysis suggests that TTN5 can be present at the plasma membrane and dynamically associated with membranes of vesicles, Golgi stacks and multivesicular bodies. While the TTN5Q70L variant showed similar GTPase activities and localization behavior as wild-type TTN5, the TTN5T30N mutant differed in some aspects. Hence, the unusual capacity of rapid nucleotide exchange activity of TTN5 is linked with cell membrane dynamics, likely associated with vesicle transport pathways in the endomembrane system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga Mohr
- Institute of Botany, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Amin Mirzaiebadizi
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sibaji K Sanyal
- Institute of Botany, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Pichaporn Chuenban
- Institute of Botany, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Mohammad R Ahmadian
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Rumen Ivanov
- Institute of Botany, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Petra Bauer
- Institute of Botany, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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7
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Pagba CV, Gupta AK, Dilsha K, Sadrpour P, Jakubec J, Prakash P, van der Hoeven D, Cho KJ, Gilbertson S, Gorfe AA. Biophysical and Biochemical Characterization of Structurally Diverse Small Molecule Hits for KRAS Inhibition. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300827. [PMID: 38349283 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300827] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
We describe six compounds as early hits for the development of direct inhibitors of KRAS, an important anticancer drug target. We show that these compounds bind to KRAS with affinities in the low micromolar range and exert different effects on its interactions with binding partners. Some of the compounds exhibit selective binding to the activated form of KRAS and inhibit signal transduction through both the MAPK or the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase PI3K-protein kinase B (AKT) pathway in cells expressing mutant KRAS. Most inhibit intrinsic and/or SOS-mediated KRAS activation while others inhibit RAS-effector interaction. We propose these compounds as starting points for the development of non-covalent allosteric KRAS inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia V Pagba
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St., Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Amit K Gupta
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St., Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Kasuni Dilsha
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, 3585 Cullen Blvd., Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Parisa Sadrpour
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
| | - Jacob Jakubec
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St., Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Priyanka Prakash
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St., Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Dharini van der Hoeven
- Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 7500 Cambridge St., Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Kwang-Jin Cho
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
| | - Scott Gilbertson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, 3585 Cullen Blvd., Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Alemayehu A Gorfe
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St., Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology Program & Therapeutics and Pharmacology Program, UTHealth MD Anderson Cancer Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, 6431 Fannin St., Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
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8
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Whitley MJ, Tran TH, Rigby M, Yi M, Dharmaiah S, Waybright TJ, Ramakrishnan N, Perkins S, Taylor T, Messing S, Esposito D, Nissley DV, McCormick F, Stephen AG, Turbyville T, Cornilescu G, Simanshu DK. Comparative analysis of KRAS4a and KRAS4b splice variants reveals distinctive structural and functional properties. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj4137. [PMID: 38354232 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj4137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
KRAS, the most frequently mutated oncogene in human cancer, produces two isoforms, KRAS4a and KRAS4b, through alternative splicing. These isoforms differ in exon 4, which encodes the final 15 residues of the G-domain and hypervariable regions (HVRs), vital for trafficking and membrane localization. While KRAS4b has been extensively studied, KRAS4a has been largely overlooked. Our multidisciplinary study compared the structural and functional characteristics of KRAS4a and KRAS4b, revealing distinct structural properties and thermal stability. Position 151 influences KRAS4a's thermal stability, while position 153 affects binding to RAF1 CRD protein. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis identified localized structural differences near sequence variations and provided a solution-state conformational ensemble. Notably, KRAS4a exhibits substantial transcript abundance in bile ducts, liver, and stomach, with transcript levels approaching KRAS4b in the colon and rectum. Functional disparities were observed in full-length KRAS variants, highlighting the impact of HVR variations on interaction with trafficking proteins and downstream effectors like RAF and PI3K within cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Whitley
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Timothy H Tran
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Megan Rigby
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Ming Yi
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Srisathiyanarayanan Dharmaiah
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Timothy J Waybright
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Nitya Ramakrishnan
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Shelley Perkins
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Troy Taylor
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Simon Messing
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Dominic Esposito
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Dwight V Nissley
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Frank McCormick
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, 1450 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Andrew G Stephen
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Thomas Turbyville
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Gabriel Cornilescu
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Dhirendra K Simanshu
- NCI RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
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9
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Wilson P, Abdelmoti L, Gao T, Galperin E. The expression of congenital Shoc2 variants induces AKT-dependent feedback activation of the ERK1/2 pathway. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.23.573219. [PMID: 38187642 PMCID: PMC10769455 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.23.573219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The Shoc2 scaffold protein is crucial in transmitting signals within the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-mediated Extracellular signal-regulated Kinase (ERK1/2) pathway. While the significance of Shoc2 in this pathway is well-established, the precise mechanisms through which Shoc2 governs signal transmission remain to be fully elucidated. Hereditary mutations in Shoc2 are responsible for Noonan Syndrome with Loose anagen Hair (NSLH). However, due to the absence of known enzymatic activity in Shoc2, directly assessing how these mutations affect its function is challenging. ERK1/2 phosphorylation is used as a primary parameter of Shoc2 function, but the impact of Shoc2 mutants on the pathway activation is unclear. This study investigates how the NSLH-associated Shoc2 variants influence EGFR signals in the context of the ERK1/2 and AKT downstream signaling pathways. We show that when the ERK1/2 pathway is a primary signaling pathway activated downstream of EGFR, Shoc2 variants cannot upregulate ERK1/2 phosphorylation to the level of the WT Shoc2. Yet, when the AKT and ERK1/2 pathways were activated, in cells expressing Shoc2 variants, ERK1/2 phosphorylation was higher than in cells expressing WT Shoc2. We found that, in cells expressing the Shoc2 NSLH mutants, the AKT signaling pathway triggers the PAK activation, followed by phosphorylation and Raf-1/MEK1/2 /ERK1/2 signaling axis activation. Hence, our studies reveal a previously unrecognized feedback regulation downstream of the EGFR and provide evidence for the Shoc2 role as a "gatekeeper" in controlling the selection of downstream effectors within the EGFR signaling network.
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10
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Bohn E, Lau TTY, Wagih O, Masud T, Merico D. A curated census of pathogenic and likely pathogenic UTR variants and evaluation of deep learning models for variant effect prediction. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1257550. [PMID: 37745687 PMCID: PMC10517338 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1257550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Variants in 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTR) contribute to rare disease. While predictive algorithms to assist in classifying pathogenicity can potentially be highly valuable, the utility of these tools is often unclear, as it depends on carefully selected training and validation conditions. To address this, we developed a high confidence set of pathogenic (P) and likely pathogenic (LP) variants and assessed deep learning (DL) models for predicting their molecular effects. Methods: 3' and 5' UTR variants documented as P or LP (P/LP) were obtained from ClinVar and refined by reviewing the annotated variant effect and reassessing evidence of pathogenicity following published guidelines. Prediction scores from sequence-based DL models were compared between three groups: P/LP variants acting though the mechanism for which the model was designed (model-matched), those operating through other mechanisms (model-mismatched), and putative benign variants. PhyloP was used to compare conservation scores between P/LP and putative benign variants. Results: 295 3' and 188 5' UTR variants were obtained from ClinVar, of which 26 3' and 68 5' UTR variants were classified as P/LP. Predictions by DL models achieved statistically significant differences when comparing modelmatched P/LP variants to both putative benign variants and modelmismatched P/LP variants, as well as when comparing all P/LP variants to putative benign variants. PhyloP conservation scores were significantly higher among P/LP compared to putative benign variants for both the 3' and 5' UTR. Discussion: In conclusion, we present a high-confidence set of P/LP 3' and 5' UTR variants spanning a range of mechanisms and supported by detailed pathogenicity and molecular mechanism evidence curation. Predictions from DL models further substantiate these classifications. These datasets will support further development and validation of DL algorithms designed to predict the functional impact of variants that may be implicated in rare disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Bohn
- Deep Genomics Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Daniele Merico
- Deep Genomics Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Centre for Applied Genomics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
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11
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Chen PY, Huang BJ, Harris M, Boone C, Wang W, Carias H, Mesiona B, Mavrici D, Kohler AC, Bollag G, Zhang C, Zhang Y, Shannon K. Structural and functional analyses of a germline KRAS T50I mutation provide insights into Raf activation. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e168445. [PMID: 37681415 PMCID: PMC10544224 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.168445] [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: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
A T50I substitution in the K-Ras interswitch domain causes Noonan syndrome and emerged as a third-site mutation that restored the in vivo transforming activity and constitutive MAPK pathway activation by an attenuated KrasG12D,E37G oncogene in a mouse leukemia model. Biochemical and crystallographic data suggested that K-RasT50I increases MAPK signal output through a non-GTPase mechanism, potentially by promoting asymmetric Ras:Ras interactions between T50 and E162. We generated a "switchable" system in which K-Ras mutant proteins expressed at physiologic levels supplant the fms like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) dependency of MOLM-13 leukemia cells lacking endogenous KRAS and used this system to interrogate single or compound G12D, T50I, D154Q, and E162L mutations. These studies support a key role for the asymmetric lateral assembly of K-Ras in a plasma membrane-distal orientation that promotes the formation of active Ras:Raf complexes in a membrane-proximal conformation. Disease-causing mutations such as T50I are a valuable starting point for illuminating normal Ras function, elucidating mechanisms of disease, and identifying potential therapeutic opportunities for Rasopathy disorders and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan-Yu Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Max Harris
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Weijie Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Heidi Carias
- Plexxikon Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Brian Mesiona
- Plexxikon Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | | - Gideon Bollag
- Plexxikon Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Chao Zhang
- Plexxikon Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Ying Zhang
- Plexxikon Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kevin Shannon
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
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12
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Pagba CV, Gupta AK, Gorfe AA. Small-Molecule Inhibition of KRAS through Conformational Selection. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:31419-31426. [PMID: 37663463 PMCID: PMC10468774 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in KRAS account for about 20% of human cancers. Despite the major progress in recent years toward the development of KRAS inhibitors, including the discovery of covalent inhibitors of the G12C KRAS variant for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer, much work remains to be done to discover broad-acting inhibitors to treat many other KRAS-driven cancers. In a previous report, we showed that a 308.4 Da small-molecule ligand [(2R)-2-(N'-(1H-indole-3-carbonyl)hydrazino)-2-phenyl-acetamide] binds to KRAS with low micro-molar affinity [Chem. Biol. Drug Des.2019; 94(2):1441-1456]. Binding of this ligand, which we call ACA22, to the p1 pocket of KRAS and its interactions with residues at beta-strand 1 and the switch loops have been supported by data from nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and microscale thermophoresis experiments. However, the inhibitory potential of the compound was not demonstrated. Here, we show that ACA22 inhibits KRAS-mediated signal transduction in cells expressing wild type (WT) and G12D mutant KRAS and reduces levels of guanosine triphosphate-loaded WT KRAS more effectively than G12D KRAS. We ruled out the direct effect on nucleotide exchange or effector binding as possible mechanisms of inhibition using a variety of biophysical assays. Combining these observations with binding data that show comparable affinities of the compound for the active and inactive forms of the mutant but not the WT, we propose conformational selection as a possible mechanism of action of ACA22.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia V Pagba
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Amit K Gupta
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Alemayehu A Gorfe
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
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13
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Constantin M, Mătanie C, Petrescu L, Bolocan A, Andronic O, Bleotu C, Mitache MM, Tudorache S, Vrancianu CO. Landscape of Genetic Mutations in Appendiceal Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3591. [PMID: 37509254 PMCID: PMC10377024 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143591] [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: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In appendiceal cancers, the most frequently mutated genes are (i) KRAS, which, when reactivated, restores signal transduction via the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway and stimulates cell proliferation in the early stages of tumor transformation, and then angiogenesis; (ii) TP53, whose inactivation leads to the inhibition of programmed cell death; (iii) GNAS, which, when reactivated, links the cAMP pathway to the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway, stimulating cell proliferation and angiogenesis; (iv) SMAD4, exhibiting typical tumor-suppressive activity, blocking the transmission of oncogenic TGFB signals via the SMAD2/SMAD3 heterodimer; and (v) BRAF, which is part of the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway. Diverse mutations are reported in other genes, which are part of secondary or less critical signaling pathways for tumor progression, but which amplify the phenotypic diversity of appendiceal cancers. In this review, we will present the main genetic mutations involved in appendix tumors and their roles in cell proliferation and survival, and in tumor invasiveness, angiogenesis, and acquired resistance to anti-growth signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian Constantin
- Institute of Biology of Romanian Academy, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), 050095 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cristina Mătanie
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics (DAFAB), Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Livia Petrescu
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics (DAFAB), Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alexandra Bolocan
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Octavian Andronic
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Coralia Bleotu
- Life, Environmental and Earth Sciences Division, The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), 050095 Bucharest, Romania
- Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, 030304 Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Sorin Tudorache
- Faculty of Medicine, "Titu Maiorescu" University, 040441 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Corneliu Ovidiu Vrancianu
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), 050095 Bucharest, Romania
- Microbiology-Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
- National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
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14
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Priolo M, Zara E, Radio FC, Ciolfi A, Spadaro F, Bellacchio E, Mancini C, Pantaleoni F, Cordeddu V, Chiriatti L, Niceta M, Africa E, Mammì C, Melis D, Coppola S, Tartaglia M. Clinical profiling of MRD48 and functional characterization of two novel pathogenic RAC1 variants. Eur J Hum Genet 2023; 31:805-814. [PMID: 37059841 PMCID: PMC10326044 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-023-01351-7] [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: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
RAC1 is a member of the Rac/Rho GTPase subfamily within the RAS superfamily of small GTP-binding proteins, comprising 3 paralogs playing a critical role in actin cytoskeleton remodeling, cell migration, proliferation and differentiation. De novo missense variants in RAC1 are associated with a rare neurodevelopmental disorder (MRD48) characterized by DD/ID and brain abnormalities coupled with a wide range of additional features. Structural and functional studies have documented either a dominant negative or constitutively active behavior for a subset of mutations. Here, we describe two individuals with previously unreported de novo missense RAC1 variants. We functionally demonstrate their pathogenicity proving a gain-of-function (GoF) effect for both. By reviewing the clinical features of these two individuals and the previously published MRD48 subjects, we further delineate the clinical profile of the disorder, confirming its phenotypic variability. Moreover, we compare the main features of MRD48 with the neurodevelopmental disease caused by GoF variants in the paralog RAC3, highlighting similarities and differences. Finally, we review all previously reported variants in RAC proteins and in the closely related CDC42, providing an updated overview of the spectrum and hotspots of pathogenic variants affecting these functionally related GTPases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Priolo
- USD Genetica Medica, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli, 89124, Reggio Calabria, Italy.
| | - Erika Zara
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza University, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Ciolfi
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Emanuele Bellacchio
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Cecilia Mancini
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Pantaleoni
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Viviana Cordeddu
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Chiriatti
- USD Genetica Medica, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli, 89124, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Marcello Niceta
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Emilio Africa
- USD Neuroradiologia, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli, 89124, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Corrado Mammì
- USD Genetica Medica, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli, 89124, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Daniela Melis
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", Università di Salerno, 84084, Salerno, Italy
| | - Simona Coppola
- National Center for Rare Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Tartaglia
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy.
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15
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Liu C, Ye D, Yang H, Chen X, Su Z, Li X, Ding M, Liu Y. RAS-targeted cancer therapy: Advances in drugging specific mutations. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e285. [PMID: 37250144 PMCID: PMC10225044 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Rat sarcoma (RAS), as a frequently mutated oncogene, has been studied as an attractive target for treating RAS-driven cancers for over four decades. However, it is until the recent success of kirsten-RAS (KRAS)G12C inhibitor that RAS gets rid of the title "undruggable". It is worth noting that the therapeutic effect of KRASG12C inhibitors on different RAS allelic mutations or even different cancers with KRASG12C varies significantly. Thus, deep understanding of the characteristics of each allelic RAS mutation will be a prerequisite for developing new RAS inhibitors. In this review, the structural and biochemical features of different RAS mutations are summarized and compared. Besides, the pathological characteristics and treatment responses of different cancers carrying RAS mutations are listed based on clinical reports. In addition, the development of RAS inhibitors, either direct or indirect, that target the downstream components in RAS pathway is summarized as well. Hopefully, this review will broaden our knowledge on RAS-targeting strategies and trigger more intensive studies on exploiting new RAS allele-specific inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cen Liu
- Beijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Danyang Ye
- Beijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Hongliu Yang
- Beijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Xu Chen
- Beijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Zhijun Su
- Beijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Xia Li
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Mei Ding
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yonggang Liu
- Beijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
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16
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Nussinov R, Yavuz BR, Arici MK, Demirel HC, Zhang M, Liu Y, Tsai CJ, Jang H, Tuncbag N. Neurodevelopmental disorders, like cancer, are connected to impaired chromatin remodelers, PI3K/mTOR, and PAK1-regulated MAPK. Biophys Rev 2023; 15:163-181. [PMID: 37124926 PMCID: PMC10133437 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-023-01054-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractNeurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and cancer share proteins, pathways, and mutations. Their clinical symptoms are different. However, individuals with NDDs have higher probabilities of eventually developing cancer. Here, we review the literature and ask how the shared features can lead to different medical conditions and why having an NDD first can increase the chances of malignancy. To explore these vital questions, we focus on dysregulated PI3K/mTOR, a major brain cell growth pathway in differentiation, and MAPK, a critical pathway in proliferation, a hallmark of cancer. Differentiation is governed by chromatin organization, making aberrant chromatin remodelers highly likely agents in NDDs. Dysregulated chromatin organization and accessibility influence the lineage of specific cell brain types at specific embryonic development stages. PAK1, with pivotal roles in brain development and in cancer, also regulates MAPK. We review, clarify, and connect dysregulated pathways with dysregulated proliferation and differentiation in cancer and NDDs and highlight PAK1 role in brain development and MAPK regulation. Exactly how PAK1 activation controls brain development, and why specific chromatin remodeler components, e.g., BAF170 encoded by SMARCC2 in autism, await clarification.
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17
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Leini R, Pantsar T. In Silico Evaluation of the Thr58-Associated Conserved Water with KRAS Switch-II Pocket Binders. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:1490-1505. [PMID: 36854010 PMCID: PMC10015465 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
The KRAS switch-II pocket (SII-P) has proven to be one of the most successful tools for targeting KRAS with small molecules to date. This has been demonstrated with several KRAS(G12C)-targeting covalent inhibitors, already resulting in two FDA-approved drugs. Several earlier-stage compounds have also been reported to engage KRAS SII-P with other position 12 mutants, including G12D, G12S, and G12R. A highly conserved water molecule exists in the KRAS SII-P, linking Thr58 of switch-II and Gly10 of β1 sheet. This conserved water is also present in the cocrystal structures of most of the disclosed small-molecule inhibitors but is only displaced by a handful of SII-P binders. Here, we evaluated the conserved water molecule energetics by the WaterMap for the SII-P binders with publicly disclosed structures and studied the water behavior in the presence of selected inhibitors by microsecond timescale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using two water models (total simulation time of 120 μs). Our data revealed the high-energy nature of this hydration site when coexisting with an SII-P binder and that there is a preference for a single isolated hydration site in this location within the most advanced compounds. Furthermore, water displacement was only achieved with a few disclosed compounds and was suboptimal, as for instance a cyanomethyl group as a water displacer appears to introduce repulsion with the native conformation of Thr58. These results suggested that this conserved water should be considered more central when designing new inhibitors, especially in the design of noncovalent inhibitors targeting the SII-P.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renne Leini
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1C, 70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tatu Pantsar
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1C, 70210 Kuopio, Finland
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18
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D’Antona L, Amato R, Brescia C, Rocca V, Colao E, Iuliano R, Blazer-Yost BL, Perrotti N. Kinase Inhibitors in Genetic Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065276. [PMID: 36982349 PMCID: PMC10048847 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the years, several studies have shown that kinase-regulated signaling pathways are involved in the development of rare genetic diseases. The study of the mechanisms underlying the onset of these diseases has opened a possible way for the development of targeted therapies using particular kinase inhibitors. Some of these are currently used to treat other diseases, such as cancer. This review aims to describe the possibilities of using kinase inhibitors in genetic pathologies such as tuberous sclerosis, RASopathies, and ciliopathies, describing the various pathways involved and the possible targets already identified or currently under study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia D’Antona
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” at Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Medical Genetics Unit, University Hospital “Mater Domini” at Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Rosario Amato
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” at Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Medical Genetics Unit, University Hospital “Mater Domini” at Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Carolina Brescia
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” at Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Valentina Rocca
- Medical Genetics Unit, University Hospital “Mater Domini” at Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University “Magna Graecia” at Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Emma Colao
- Medical Genetics Unit, University Hospital “Mater Domini” at Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Iuliano
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” at Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Medical Genetics Unit, University Hospital “Mater Domini” at Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Bonnie L. Blazer-Yost
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Nicola Perrotti
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” at Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Medical Genetics Unit, University Hospital “Mater Domini” at Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Correspondence:
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19
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Wu Z, Fang ZX, Hou YY, Wu BX, Deng Y, Wu HT, Liu J. Review of ferroptosis in colorectal cancer: Friends or foes? World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:469-486. [PMID: 36688016 PMCID: PMC9850932 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i3.469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a newly discovered type of cell-regulated death. It is characterized by the accumulation of iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and can be distinguished from other forms of cell-regulated death by different morphology, biochemistry, and genetics. Recently, studies have shown that ferroptosis is associated with a variety of diseases, including liver, kidney and neurological diseases, as well as cancer. Ferroptosis has been shown to be associated with colorectal epithelial disorders, which can lead to cancerous changes in the gut. However, the potential role of ferroptosis in the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer (CRC) is still controversial. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of ferroptosis in CRC, this article systematically reviews ferroptosis, and its cellular functions in CRC, for furthering the understanding of the pathogenesis of CRC to aid clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ze-Xuan Fang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yan-Yu Hou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Bing-Xuan Wu
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yu Deng
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hua-Tao Wu
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
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20
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Stites EC. Computational Random Mutagenesis to Investigate RAS Mutant Signaling. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2634:329-335. [PMID: 37074586 PMCID: PMC10530643 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3008-2_15] [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] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
This chapter describes how mathematical models can be used to investigate the possible range of behaviors for mutant forms of a protein. A mathematical model of the RAS signaling network that has previously been developed and applied to specific RAS mutants will be adapted for the process of computational random mutagenesis. By using this model to computationally investigate the range of RAS signaling outputs that would be anticipated over a wide range of the relevant parameter space, one can gain intuition about the types of behaviors that would be demonstrated by biological RAS mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward C Stites
- Integrative Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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21
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Meng XL, Lu JC, Zeng HY, Chen Z, Guo XJ, Gao C, Pei YZ, Hu SY, Ye M, Sun QM, Yang GH, Cai JB, Huang PX, Yv L, Zhang L, Shi YH, Ke AW, Zhou J, Fan J, Chen Y, Huang XY, Shi GM. The clinical implications and molecular features of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with perineural invasion. Hepatol Int 2022; 17:63-76. [PMID: 36418844 PMCID: PMC9895046 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-022-10445-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perineural invasion (PNI) is associated with metastasis in malignancies, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), and is correlated with poor prognosis. METHODS The study included three large cohorts: ZS-ICC and TMA cohorts from our team, MSK cohort from a public database, and a small cohort named cohort 4. Prognostic implications of PNI were investigated in MSK cohort and TMA cohort. PNI-related genomic and transcriptomic profiles were analyzed in MSK and ZS-ICC cohorts. GO, KEGG, and ssGSEA analyses were performed. Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the relationship between PNI and markers of neurons, hydrolases, and immune cells. The efficacy of adjuvant therapy in ICC patients with PNI was also assessed. RESULTS A total of 30.6% and 20.7% ICC patients had PNI in MSK and TMA cohorts respectively. Patients with PNI presented with malignant phenotypes such as high CA19-9, the large bile duct type, lymph node invasion, and shortened overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). Nerves involved in PNI positively express tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a marker of sympathetic nerves. Patients with PNI showed high mutation frequency of KRAS and an immune suppressive metastasis prone niche of decreased NK cell, increased neutrophil, and elevated PD-L1, CD80, and CD86 expression. Patients with PNI had an extended OS after adjuvant therapy with TEGIO, GEMOX, or capecitabine. CONCLUSION Our study deciphered the genomic features and the immune suppressive metastasis-prone niche in ICC with PNI. Patients with PNI showed a poor prognosis after surgery but a good response to adjuvant chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-Long Meng
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Liver Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jia-Cheng Lu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Liver Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hai-Ying Zeng
- Department of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zhen Chen
- Clinical Research Unit, Institute of Clinical Science, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Guo
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Liver Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Chao Gao
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yan-Zi Pei
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shu-Yang Hu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Mu Ye
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qi-Man Sun
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Guo-Huang Yang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jia-Bin Cai
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Pei-Xin Huang
- Liver Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Lei Yv
- Clinical Research Unit, Institute of Clinical Science, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Lv Zhang
- Clinical Research Unit, Institute of Clinical Science, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ying-Hong Shi
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Liver Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ai-Wu Ke
- Liver Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Liver Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jia Fan
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Liver Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Liver Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Xiao-Yong Huang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Liver Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Guo-Ming Shi
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Liver Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Clinical Research Unit, Institute of Clinical Science, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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22
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Pudewell S, Lissy J, Nakhaeizadeh H, Mosaddeghzadeh N, Nakhaei-Rad S, Dvorsky R, Ahmadian MR. New mechanistic insights into the RAS-SIN1 interaction at the membrane. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:987754. [PMID: 36274845 PMCID: PMC9583166 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.987754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress-activated MAP kinase-interacting protein 1 (SIN1) is a central member of the mTORC2 complex that contains an N-terminal domain (NTD), a conserved region in the middle (CRIM), a RAS-binding domain (RBD), and a pleckstrin homology domain. Recent studies provided valuable structural and functional insights into the interactions of SIN1 and the RAS-binding domain of RAS proteins. However, the mechanism for a reciprocal interaction of the RBD-PH tandem with RAS proteins and the membrane as an upstream event to spatiotemporal mTORC2 regulation is not clear. The biochemical assays in this study led to the following results: 1) all classical RAS paralogs, including HRAS, KRAS4A, KRAS4B, and NRAS, can bind to SIN1-RBD in biophysical and SIN1 full length (FL) in cell biology experiments; 2) the SIN1-PH domain modulates interactions with various types of membrane phosphoinositides and constantly maintains a pool of SIN1 at the membrane; and 3) a KRAS4A-dependent decrease in membrane binding of the SIN1-RBD-PH tandem was observed, suggesting for the first time a mechanistic influence of KRAS4A on SIN1 membrane association. Our study strengthens the current mechanistic understanding of SIN1-RAS interaction and suggests membrane interaction as a key event in the control of mTORC2-dependent and mTORC2-independent SIN1 function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Pudewell
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jana Lissy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hossein Nakhaeizadeh
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Niloufar Mosaddeghzadeh
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Saeideh Nakhaei-Rad
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Institute of Biotechnology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Radovan Dvorsky
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Center for Interdisciplinary Biosciences, P. J. Šafárik University, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Mohammad R. Ahmadian
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- *Correspondence: Mohammad R. Ahmadian,
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23
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The current state of the art and future trends in RAS-targeted cancer therapies. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2022; 19:637-655. [PMID: 36028717 PMCID: PMC9412785 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-022-00671-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 73.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Despite being the most frequently altered oncogenic protein in solid tumours, KRAS has historically been considered ‘undruggable’ owing to a lack of pharmacologically targetable pockets within the mutant isoforms. However, improvements in drug design have culminated in the development of inhibitors that are selective for mutant KRAS in its active or inactive state. Some of these inhibitors have proven efficacy in patients with KRASG12C-mutant cancers and have become practice changing. The excitement associated with these advances has been tempered by drug resistance, which limits the depth and/or duration of responses to these agents. Improvements in our understanding of RAS signalling in cancer cells and in the tumour microenvironment suggest the potential for several novel combination therapies, which are now being explored in clinical trials. Herein, we provide an overview of the RAS pathway and review the development and current status of therapeutic strategies for targeting oncogenic RAS, as well as their potential to improve outcomes in patients with RAS-mutant malignancies. We then discuss challenges presented by resistance mechanisms and strategies by which they could potentially be overcome. The RAS oncogenes are among the most common drivers of tumour development and progression but have historically been considered undruggable. The development of direct KRAS inhibitors has changed this paradigm, although currently clinical use of these novel therapeutics is limited to a select subset of patients, and intrinsic or acquired resistance presents an inevitable challenge to cure. Herein, the authors provide an overview of the RAS pathway in cancer and review the ongoing efforts to develop effective therapeutic strategies for RAS-mutant cancers. They also discuss the current understanding of mechanisms of resistance to direct KRAS inhibitors and strategies by which they might be overcome. Owing to intrinsic and extrinsic factors, KRAS and other RAS isoforms have until recently been impervious to targeting with small-molecule inhibitors. Inhibitors of the KRASG12C variant constitute a potential breakthrough in the treatment of many cancer types, particularly non-small-cell lung cancer, for which such an agent has been approved by the FDA. Several forms of resistance to KRAS inhibitors have been defined, including primary, adaptive and acquired resistance; these resistance mechanisms are being targeted in studies that combine KRAS inhibitors with inhibitors of horizontal or vertical signalling pathways. Mutant KRAS has important effects on the tumour microenvironment, including the immunological milieu; these effects must be considered to fully understand resistance to KRAS inhibitors and when designing novel treatment strategies.
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24
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Lindsey-Temple S, Edwards M, Rickassel V, Nauth T, Rosenberger G. A novel HRAS c.466C>T p.(Phe156Leu) variant in two patients with attenuated features of Costello syndrome. Eur J Hum Genet 2022; 30:1088-1093. [PMID: 35764878 PMCID: PMC9437031 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-022-01139-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Costello syndrome (CS) is caused by heterozygous HRAS germline mutations. Most patients share the HRAS variant p.Gly12Ser that is associated with a typical, homogeneous phenotype. Rarer pathogenic HRAS variants (e.g., p.Thr56Ile) were identified in individuals with attenuated CS phenotypes. The obvious phenotypical variability reflects different dysfunctional consequences of distinct HRAS variants. We report on two boys with the novel de novo HRAS variant c.466 C > T p.(Phe156Leu). Both had severe feeding difficulties, airway obstruction and developmental delay, which are typical findings in CS. They showed subtle facial and dermatologic features consistent with attenuated CS. They significantly differed in their musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and endocrinologic manifestations underscoring the clinical variability of individuals with identical, in particular rarer pathogenic HRAS variants. Functional studies revealed enhanced effector-binding, increased downstream signaling activation and impaired growth factor-induced signaling dynamics in cells expressing HRASPhe156Leu. Our data further illustrate the molecular and phenotypic variability of CS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanna Lindsey-Temple
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Matt Edwards
- Paediatrics, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Hunter Genetics, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Verena Rickassel
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Theresa Nauth
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Georg Rosenberger
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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25
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Cao Y, Chau M, Zheng Y, Zhao YL, Kwan A, Hui A, Lam YH, Tan T, Tse WT, Wong L, Leung TY, Dong Z, Choy KW. Exploring the diagnostic utility of genome sequencing for fetal congenital heart defects. Prenat Diagn 2022; 42:862-872. [PMID: 35441720 DOI: 10.1002/pd.6151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The diagnostic yield for congenital heart defects (CHD) with routine genetic testing is around 10-20% when considering the pathogenic CNVs or aneuploidies as positive findings. This is a pilot study to investigate the utility of genome sequencing (GS) for prenatal diagnosis of CHD. METHODS Genome sequencing (GS, 30X) was performed on 13 trios with CHD for which karyotyping and/or chromosomal microarray results were non-diagnostic. RESULTS Trio GS provided a diagnosis for 4/13 (30.8%) fetuses with complex CHDs and other structural anomalies. Findings included pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in DNAH5, COL4A1, PTPN11, and KRAS. Of nine cases without a possibly genetic etiology by GS, we had follow-up on eight. For five of them (60%), the parents chose to keep the pregnancy. A balanced translocation [46,XX,t(14;22)(q32.33;q13.31)mat] was detected in a trio with biallelic DNAH5 mutations, which together explained the recurrent fetal situs inversus and dextrocardia that was presumably due to de novo Phelan-McDermid syndrome. A secondary finding of a BRCA2 variant and carrier status of HBB, USH2A, HBA1/HBA2 were detected in the trio. CONCLUSIONS GS expands the diagnostic scope of mutation types over conventional testing, revealing the genetic etiology for fetal heart anomalies. Patients without a known genetic abnormality indicated by GS likely opted to keep pregnancy especially if the heart issue could be repaired. We provide evidence to support the application of GS for fetuses with CHD. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Cao
- Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Laboratory Genetics and Genomics, Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China.,Fertility Preservation Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mhk Chau
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Laboratory Genetics and Genomics, Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China.,Fertility Preservation Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Y Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Y L Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ahw Kwan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Asy Hui
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Y H Lam
- OB GYN ULTRASOUND, Henley Building, 5 Queen's Road C, Central, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tyt Tan
- Tony Tan Women and Fetal Clinic, Mount Alvernia Hospital, Singapore
| | - W T Tse
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - L Wong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - T Y Leung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Laboratory Genetics and Genomics, Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China.,The Chinese University of Hong Kong-Baylor College of Medicine Joint Center for Medical Genetics, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Z Dong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Laboratory Genetics and Genomics, Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China.,Fertility Preservation Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - K W Choy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Laboratory Genetics and Genomics, Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China.,Fertility Preservation Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,The Chinese University of Hong Kong-Baylor College of Medicine Joint Center for Medical Genetics, Hong Kong SAR, China
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26
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Beyens A, Dequeker L, Brems H, Janssens S, Syryn H, D’Hooghe A, De Paepe P, Vanwalleghem L, Stockman A, Vankwikelberge E, De Schepper S, Goeteyn M, Delbeke P, Callewaert B. Identification of Codon 146 KRAS Variants in Isolated Epidermal Nevus and Multiple Lesions in Oculoectodermal Syndrome: Confirmation of the Phenotypic Continuum of Mosaic RASopathies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23074036. [PMID: 35409398 PMCID: PMC8999796 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23074036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Mosaic RASopathies are a molecularly heterogeneous group of (neuro)cutaneous syndromes with high phenotypical variability. Postzygotic variants in KRAS have been described in oculoectodermal syndrome (OES), encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis (ECCL) and epidermal nevus syndrome (ENS). This study confirms the continuum of mosaic neurocutaneous RASopathies showing codon 146 KRAS variants in an individual with OES and, for the first time, in an individual with (isolated) epidermal nevus. The presence of a nevus psiloliparus in individuals with OES indicates that this finding is not specific for ECCL and highlights the phenotypical overlap between ECCL and OES. The presence of the somatic KRAS variant in the nevus psiloliparus resolves the underlying molecular etiology of this fatty-tissue nevus. In addition, this finding refutes the theory of non-allelic twin-spotting as an underlying hypothesis to explain the concurrent presence of two different mosaicisms in one individual. The identification of codon 146 KRAS variants in isolated epidermal nevus introduces a new hot spot for this condition, which is useful for increasing molecular genetic testing using targeted gene sequencing panels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aude Beyens
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (A.B.); (S.J.); (H.S.)
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (E.V.); (S.D.S.)
| | - Laure Dequeker
- Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende, 8000 Bruges, Belgium; (L.D.); (P.D.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hilde Brems
- Department of Human Genetics, University Hospital Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Sandra Janssens
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (A.B.); (S.J.); (H.S.)
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hannes Syryn
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (A.B.); (S.J.); (H.S.)
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Anne D’Hooghe
- Department of Pediatrics, General Hospital Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
| | - Pascale De Paepe
- Department of Pathology, General Hospital Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende, 8000 Bruges, Belgium; (P.D.P.); (L.V.)
| | - Lieve Vanwalleghem
- Department of Pathology, General Hospital Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende, 8000 Bruges, Belgium; (P.D.P.); (L.V.)
| | - Annelies Stockman
- Department of Dermatology, General Hospital Delta Roeselare-Menen-Torhout, 8820 Torhout, Belgium;
| | - Elena Vankwikelberge
- Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (E.V.); (S.D.S.)
| | - Sofie De Schepper
- Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (E.V.); (S.D.S.)
| | - Marleen Goeteyn
- Department of Dermatology, General Hospital Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende, 8000 Bruges, Belgium;
| | - Patricia Delbeke
- Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende, 8000 Bruges, Belgium; (L.D.); (P.D.)
| | - Bert Callewaert
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (A.B.); (S.J.); (H.S.)
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Correspondence:
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27
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Johnson C, Burkhart DL, Haigis KM. Classification of KRAS-Activating Mutations and the Implications for Therapeutic Intervention. Cancer Discov 2022; 12:913-923. [PMID: 35373279 PMCID: PMC8988514 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-22-0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Members of the family of RAS proto-oncogenes, discovered just over 40 years ago, were among the first cancer-initiating genes to be discovered. Of the three RAS family members, KRAS is the most frequently mutated in human cancers. Despite intensive biological and biochemical study of RAS proteins over the past four decades, we are only now starting to devise therapeutic strategies to target their oncogenic properties. Here, we highlight the distinct biochemical properties of common and rare KRAS alleles, enabling their classification into functional subtypes. We also discuss the implications of this functional classification for potential therapeutic avenues targeting mutant subtypes. SIGNIFICANCE Efforts in the recent past to inhibit KRAS oncogenicity have focused on kinases that function in downstream signal transduction cascades, although preclinical successes have not translated to patients with KRAS-mutant cancer. Recently, clinically effective covalent inhibitors of KRASG12C have been developed, establishing two principles that form a foundation for future efforts. First, KRAS is druggable. Second, each mutant form of KRAS is likely to have properties that make it uniquely druggable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Johnson
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Deborah L Burkhart
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kevin M Haigis
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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28
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Guiffre D, Brien E, Shon W, Geffner ME. A Rare Case of Diffuse-type Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor in a Teenager With Noonan Syndrome. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2022; 44:e557-e560. [PMID: 34133387 DOI: 10.1097/mph.0000000000002233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Noonan syndrome is a common autosomal dominant disorder associated with an increased risk of malignancy. We report a 16-year-old female with Noonan syndrome (KRAS gene variant, Q22R) and diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumor, a proliferative disorder that has been rarely reported in this population. These tumors may represent a complication of the dysregulated RAS/MAPK signaling pathway that underlies Noonan syndrome. They lack typical clinical features, causing misdiagnosis and delays in management, which could lead to osseous invasion requiring more complicated surgical procedures. Increased awareness of this association will improve the clinical outcomes of patients with Noonan syndrome who develop diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Guiffre
- Center For Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Keck School of Medicine of USC
| | - Earl Brien
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Wonwoo Shon
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Mitchell E Geffner
- Center For Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Keck School of Medicine of USC.,Saban Research Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC
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29
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Chi SG, Minami Y. Emerging Targeted Therapy for Specific Genomic Abnormalities in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:2362. [PMID: 35216478 PMCID: PMC8879537 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe recent updates of existing molecular-targeting agents and emerging novel gene-specific strategies. FLT3 and IDH inhibitors are being tested in combination with conventional chemotherapy for both medically fit patients and patients who are ineligible for intensive therapy. FLT3 inhibitors combined with non-cytotoxic agents, such as BCL-2 inhibitors, have potential therapeutic applicability. The menin-MLL complex pathway is an emerging therapeutic target. The pathway accounts for the leukemogenesis in AML with MLL-rearrangement, NPM1 mutation, and NUP98 fusion genes. Potent menin-MLL inhibitors have demonstrated promising anti-leukemic effects in preclinical studies. The downstream signaling molecule SYK represents an additional target. However, the TP53 mutation continues to remain a challenge. While the p53 stabilizer APR-246 in combination with azacitidine failed to show superiority compared to azacitidine monotherapy in a phase 3 trial, next-generation p53 stabilizers are now under development. Among a number of non-canonical approaches to TP53-mutated AML, the anti-CD47 antibody magrolimab in combination with azacitidine showed promising results in a phase 1b trial. Further, the efficacy was somewhat better in patients with the TP53 mutation. Although clinical evidence has not been accumulated sufficiently, targeting activating KIT mutations and RAS pathway-related molecules can be a future therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yosuke Minami
- Department of Hematology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa 2778577, Japan;
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30
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Physical Interaction between Embryonic Stem Cell-Expressed Ras (ERas) and Arginase-1 in Quiescent Hepatic Stellate Cells. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030508. [PMID: 35159317 PMCID: PMC8834437 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cell-expressed Ras (ERas) is an atypical constitutively active member of the Ras family and controls distinct signaling pathways, which are critical, for instance, for the maintenance of quiescent hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Unlike classical Ras paralogs, ERas has a unique N-terminal extension (Nex) with as yet unknown function. In this study, we employed affinity pull-down and quantitative liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analyses and identified 76 novel binding proteins for human and rat ERas Nex peptides, localized in different subcellular compartments and involved in various cellular processes. One of the identified Nex-binding proteins is the nonmitochondrial, cytosolic arginase 1 (ARG1), a key enzyme of the urea cycle and involved in the de novo synthesis of polyamines, such as spermidine and spermine. Here, we show, for the first time, a high-affinity interaction between ERas Nex and purified ARG1 as well as their subcellular colocalization. The inhibition of ARG1 activity strikingly accelerates the activation of HSCs ex vivo, suggesting a central role of ARG1 activity in the maintenance of HSC quiescence.
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31
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Abstract
The RASopathies are a group of disorders caused by a germline mutation in one of the genes encoding a component of the RAS/MAPK pathway. These disorders, including neurofibromatosis type 1, Noonan syndrome, cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome, Costello syndrome and Legius syndrome, among others, have overlapping clinical features due to RAS/MAPK dysfunction. Although several of the RASopathies are very rare, collectively, these disorders are relatively common. In this Review, we discuss the pathogenesis of the RASopathy-associated genetic variants and the knowledge gained about RAS/MAPK signaling that resulted from studying RASopathies. We also describe the cell and animal models of the RASopathies and explore emerging RASopathy genes. Preclinical and clinical experiences with targeted agents as therapeutics for RASopathies are also discussed. Finally, we review how the recently developed drugs targeting RAS/MAPK-driven malignancies, such as inhibitors of RAS activation, direct RAS inhibitors and RAS/MAPK pathway inhibitors, might be leveraged for patients with RASopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie E Hebron
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Edjay Ralph Hernandez
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Marielle E Yohe
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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32
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Nussinov R, Tsai CJ, Jang H. How can same-gene mutations promote both cancer and developmental disorders? SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm2059. [PMID: 35030014 PMCID: PMC8759737 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm2059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The question of how same-gene mutations can drive both cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders has been puzzling. It has also been puzzling why those with neurodevelopmental disorders have a high risk of cancer. Ras, MEK, PI3K, PTEN, and SHP2 are among the oncogenic proteins that can harbor mutations that encode diseases other than cancer. Understanding why some of their mutations can promote cancer, whereas others promote neurodevelopmental diseases, and why even the same mutations may promote both phenotypes, has important clinical ramifications. Here, we review the literature and address these tantalizing questions. We propose that cell type–specific expression of the mutant protein, and of other proteins in the respective pathway, timing of activation (during embryonic development or sporadic emergence), and the absolute number of molecules that the mutations activate, alone or in combination, are pivotal in determining the pathological phenotypes—cancer and (or) developmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Nussinov
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research in the Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Chung-Jung Tsai
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research in the Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Hyunbum Jang
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research in the Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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Development of a versatile HPLC-based method to evaluate the activation status of small GTPases. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101428. [PMID: 34801548 PMCID: PMC8668980 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Small GTPases cycle between an inactive GDP-bound and an active GTP-bound state to control various cellular events, such as cell proliferation, cytoskeleton organization, and membrane trafficking. Clarifying the guanine nucleotide-bound states of small GTPases is vital for understanding the regulation of small GTPase functions and the subsequent cellular responses. Although several methods have been developed to analyze small GTPase activities, our knowledge of the activities for many small GTPases is limited, partly because of the lack of versatile methods to estimate small GTPase activity without unique probes and specialized equipment. In the present study, we developed a versatile and straightforward HPLC-based assay to analyze the activation status of small GTPases by directly quantifying the amounts of guanine nucleotides bound to them. This assay was validated by analyzing the RAS-subfamily GTPases, including HRAS, which showed that the ratios of GTP-bound forms were comparable with those obtained in previous studies. Furthermore, we applied this assay to the investigation of psychiatric disorder-associated mutations of RHEB (RHEB/P37L and RHEB/S68P), revealing that both mutations cause an increase in the ratio of the GTP-bound form in cells. Mechanistically, loss of sensitivity to TSC2 (a GTPase-activating protein for RHEB) for RHEB/P37L, as well as both decreased sensitivity to TSC2 and accelerated guanine-nucleotide exchange for RHEB/S68P, is involved in the increase of their GTP-bound forms, respectively. In summary, the HPLC-based assay developed in this study provides a valuable tool for analyzing small GTPases for which the activities and regulatory mechanisms are less well understood.
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34
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The genomic landscape of lung adenocarcinoma—insights towards personalized medicine. PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL SCIENCE ACADEMY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s43538-021-00054-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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35
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Nagai K, Niihori T, Okamoto N, Kondo A, Suga K, Ohhira T, Hayabuchi Y, Homma Y, Nakagawa R, Ifuku T, Abe T, Mizuguchi T, Matsumoto N, Aoki Y. Duplications in the G3 domain or switch II region in HRAS identified in patients with Costello syndrome. Hum Mutat 2021; 43:3-15. [PMID: 34618388 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Costello syndrome (CS) is an autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by distinctive facial features, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, skeletal abnormalities, intellectual disability, and predisposition to cancers. Germline variants in HRAS have been identified in patients with CS. Intragenic HRAS duplications have been reported in three patients with a milder phenotype of CS. In this study, we identified two known HRAS variants, p.(Glu63_Asp69dup), p.(Glu62_Arg68dup), and one novel HRAS variant, p.(Ile55_Asp57dup), in patients with CS, including a patient with craniosynostosis. These intragenic duplications are located in the G3 domain and the switch II region. Cells expressing cDNA with these three intragenic duplications showed an increase in ELK-1 transactivation. Injection of wild-type or mutant HRAS mRNAs with intragenic duplications in zebrafish embryos showed significant elongation of the yolk at 11 h postfertilization, which was improved by MEK inhibitor treatment, and a variety of developmental abnormalities at 3 days post fertilization was observed. These results indicate that small in-frame duplications affecting the G3 domain and switch II region of HRAS increase the activation of the ERK pathway, resulting in developmental abnormalities in zebrafish or patients with CS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koki Nagai
- Department of Medical Genetics, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Niihori
- Department of Medical Genetics, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Okamoto
- Department of Medical Genetics, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akane Kondo
- Perinatal Medical Center, Shikoku Medical Center for Children and Adults, National Hospital Organization, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Kenichi Suga
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Tomoko Ohhira
- Department of Pediatrics, Miyazaki Prefectural Miyazaki Hospital, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Yasunobu Hayabuchi
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Yukako Homma
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Ryuji Nakagawa
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Toshinobu Ifuku
- Department of Pediatrics, Miyazaki Prefectural Miyazaki Hospital, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Taiki Abe
- Department of Medical Genetics, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Takeshi Mizuguchi
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Naomichi Matsumoto
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yoko Aoki
- Department of Medical Genetics, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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36
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Montazeri H, Coto-Llerena M, Bianco G, Zangene E, Taha-Mehlitz S, Paradiso V, Srivatsa S, de Weck A, Roma G, Lanzafame M, Bolli M, Beerenwinkel N, von Flüe M, Terracciano L, Piscuoglio S, Ng CKY. Systematic identification of novel cancer genes through analysis of deep shRNA perturbation screens. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:8488-8504. [PMID: 34313788 PMCID: PMC8421231 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Systematic perturbation screens provide comprehensive resources for the elucidation of cancer driver genes. The perturbation of many genes in relatively few cell lines in such functional screens necessitates the development of specialized computational tools with sufficient statistical power. Here we developed APSiC (Analysis of Perturbation Screens for identifying novel Cancer genes) to identify genetic drivers and effectors in perturbation screens even with few samples. Applying APSiC to the shRNA screen Project DRIVE, APSiC identified well-known and novel putative mutational and amplified cancer genes across all cancer types and in specific cancer types. Additionally, APSiC discovered tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressive effectors, respectively, for individual cancer types, including genes involved in cell cycle control, Wnt/β-catenin and hippo signalling pathways. We functionally demonstrated that LRRC4B, a putative novel tumor-suppressive effector, suppresses proliferation by delaying cell cycle and modulates apoptosis in breast cancer. We demonstrate APSiC is a robust statistical framework for discovery of novel cancer genes through analysis of large-scale perturbation screens. The analysis of DRIVE using APSiC is provided as a web portal and represents a valuable resource for the discovery of novel cancer genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hesam Montazeri
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mairene Coto-Llerena
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Visceral Surgery and Precision Medicine Research laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gaia Bianco
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Visceral Surgery and Precision Medicine Research laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ehsan Zangene
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Stephanie Taha-Mehlitz
- Visceral Surgery and Precision Medicine Research laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Viola Paradiso
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sumana Srivatsa
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Antoine de Weck
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Guglielmo Roma
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Manuela Lanzafame
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Bolli
- Clarunis, Department of Visceral Surgery, University Centre for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, St. Clara Hospital and University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
| | - Niko Beerenwinkel
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus von Flüe
- Clarunis, Department of Visceral Surgery, University Centre for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, St. Clara Hospital and University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
| | - Luigi M Terracciano
- Department of Pathology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Salvatore Piscuoglio
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Visceral Surgery and Precision Medicine Research laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Charlotte K Y Ng
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
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37
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Fedele C, Li S, Teng KW, Foster CJR, Peng D, Ran H, Mita P, Geer MJ, Hattori T, Koide A, Wang Y, Tang KH, Leinwand J, Wang W, Diskin B, Deng J, Chen T, Dolgalev I, Ozerdem U, Miller G, Koide S, Wong KK, Neel BG. SHP2 inhibition diminishes KRASG12C cycling and promotes tumor microenvironment remodeling. J Exp Med 2021; 218:211451. [PMID: 33045063 PMCID: PMC7549316 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20201414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
KRAS is the most frequently mutated human oncogene, and KRAS inhibition has been a longtime goal. Recently, inhibitors were developed that bind KRASG12C-GDP and react with Cys-12 (G12C-Is). Using new affinity reagents to monitor KRASG12C activation and inhibitor engagement, we found that an SHP2 inhibitor (SHP2-I) increases KRAS-GDP occupancy, enhancing G12C-I efficacy. The SHP2-I abrogated RTK feedback signaling and adaptive resistance to G12C-Is in vitro, in xenografts, and in syngeneic KRASG12C-mutant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SHP2-I/G12C-I combination evoked favorable but tumor site-specific changes in the immune microenvironment, decreasing myeloid suppressor cells, increasing CD8+ T cells, and sensitizing tumors to PD-1 blockade. Experiments using cells expressing inhibitor-resistant SHP2 showed that SHP2 inhibition in PDAC cells is required for PDAC regression and remodeling of the immune microenvironment but revealed direct inhibitory effects on tumor angiogenesis and vascularity. Our results demonstrate that SHP2-I/G12C-I combinations confer a substantial survival benefit in PDAC and NSCLC and identify additional potential combination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmine Fedele
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Shuai Li
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Kai Wen Teng
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Connor J R Foster
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - David Peng
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Hao Ran
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Paolo Mita
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Mitchell J Geer
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Takamitsu Hattori
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Akiko Koide
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY.,Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Yubao Wang
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Kwan Ho Tang
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Joshua Leinwand
- S. Arthur Localio Laboratory, Department of Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Wei Wang
- S. Arthur Localio Laboratory, Department of Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Brian Diskin
- S. Arthur Localio Laboratory, Department of Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Jiehui Deng
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Ting Chen
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Igor Dolgalev
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Ugur Ozerdem
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - George Miller
- S. Arthur Localio Laboratory, Department of Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Shohei Koide
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Kwok-Kin Wong
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | - Benjamin G Neel
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
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38
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Motta M, Sagi-Dain L, Krumbach OHF, Hahn A, Peleg A, German A, Lissewski C, Coppola S, Pantaleoni F, Kocherscheid L, Altmüller F, Schanze D, Logeswaran T, Chahrokh-Zadeh S, Munzig A, Nakhaei-Rad S, Cavé H, Ahmadian MR, Tartaglia M, Zenker M. Activating MRAS mutations cause Noonan syndrome associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:1772-1783. [PMID: 31108500 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The RASopathies are a group of genetic syndromes caused by upregulated RAS signaling. Noonan syndrome (NS), the most common entity among the RASopathies, is characterized mainly by short stature, cardiac anomalies and distinctive facial features. Mutations in multiple RAS-MAPK pathway-related genes have been associated with NS and related phenotypes. We describe two unrelated patients presenting with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and dysmorphic features suggestive of NS. One of them died in the neonatal period because of cardiac failure. Targeted sequencing revealed de novo MRAS variants, c.203C > T (p.Thr68Ile) and c.67G > C (p.Gly23Arg) as causative events. MRAS has only recently been related to NS based on the observation of two unrelated affected individuals with de novo variants involving the same codons here found mutated. Gly23 and Thr68 are highly conserved residues, and the corresponding codons are known hotspots for RASopathy-associated mutations in other RAS proteins. Functional analyses documented high level of activation of MRAS mutants due to impaired GTPase activity, which was associated with constitutive plasma membrane targeting, prolonged localization in non-raft microdomains, enhanced binding to PPP1CB and SHOC2 protein, and variably increased MAPK and PI3K-AKT activation. This report provides additional evidence that a narrow spectrum of activating mutations in MRAS represents another rare cause of NS, and that MRAS has to be counted among the RASopathy genes predisposing to HCM. Moreover, our findings further emphasize the relevance of the MRAS-SHOC2-PPP1CB axis in the control of MAPK signaling, and the contribution of both MAPK and PI3K-AKT pathways in MRAS functional upregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialetizia Motta
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Lena Sagi-Dain
- The Human Genetic institute, Carmel Medical Center, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Oliver H F Krumbach
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty of the Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Andreas Hahn
- Department of Child Neurology, University Hospital, Gießen, Germany
| | - Amir Peleg
- The Human Genetic institute, Carmel Medical Center, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Alina German
- Pediatric Department, Bnai-Zion Medical Center and Clalit Health Maintenance Organization, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Simona Coppola
- National Centre for Rare Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Pantaleoni
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Denny Schanze
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital, Magdeburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Anna Munzig
- Center of Human Genetics and Laboratory Diagnostics, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Saeideh Nakhaei-Rad
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty of the Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hélène Cavé
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Robert Debré, Département de Génétique, 75019 Paris, France.,INSERM UMR 1131, Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Université de Paris, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Mohammad R Ahmadian
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty of the Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marco Tartaglia
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Martin Zenker
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital, Magdeburg, Germany
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39
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Gillies TE, Pargett M, Silva JM, Teragawa CK, McCormick F, Albeck JG. Oncogenic mutant RAS signaling activity is rescaled by the ERK/MAPK pathway. Mol Syst Biol 2021; 16:e9518. [PMID: 33073539 PMCID: PMC7569415 DOI: 10.15252/msb.20209518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Activating mutations in RAS are present in ~ 30% of human tumors, and the resulting aberrations in ERK/MAPK signaling play a central role in oncogenesis. However, the form of these signaling changes is uncertain, with activating RAS mutants linked to both increased and decreased ERK activation in vivo. Rationally targeting the kinase activity of this pathway requires clarification of the quantitative effects of RAS mutations. Here, we use live‐cell imaging in cells expressing only one RAS isoform to quantify ERK activity with a new level of accuracy. We find that despite large differences in their biochemical activity, mutant KRAS isoforms within cells have similar ranges of ERK output. We identify roles for pathway‐level effects, including variation in feedback strength and feedforward modulation of phosphatase activity, that act to rescale pathway sensitivity, ultimately resisting changes in the dynamic range of ERK activity while preserving responsiveness to growth factor stimuli. Our results reconcile seemingly inconsistent reports within the literature and imply that the signaling changes induced by RAS mutations early in oncogenesis are subtle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taryn E Gillies
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Michael Pargett
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jillian M Silva
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Carolyn K Teragawa
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Frank McCormick
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - John G Albeck
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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40
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Osaka N, Hirota Y, Ito D, Ikeda Y, Kamata R, Fujii Y, Chirasani VR, Campbell SL, Takeuchi K, Senda T, Sasaki AT. Divergent Mechanisms Activating RAS and Small GTPases Through Post-translational Modification. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:707439. [PMID: 34307463 PMCID: PMC8295990 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.707439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
RAS is a founding member of the RAS superfamily of GTPases. These small 21 kDa proteins function as molecular switches to initialize signaling cascades involved in various cellular processes, including gene expression, cell growth, and differentiation. RAS is activated by GTP loading and deactivated upon GTP hydrolysis to GDP. Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) accelerate GTP loading and hydrolysis, respectively. These accessory proteins play a fundamental role in regulating activities of RAS superfamily small GTPase via a conserved guanine binding (G)-domain, which consists of five G motifs. The Switch regions lie within or proximal to the G2 and G3 motifs, and undergo dynamic conformational changes between the GDP-bound "OFF" state and GTP-bound "ON" state. They play an important role in the recognition of regulatory factors (GEFs and GAPs) and effectors. The G4 and G5 motifs are the focus of the present work and lie outside Switch regions. These motifs are responsible for the recognition of the guanine moiety in GTP and GDP, and contain residues that undergo post-translational modifications that underlie new mechanisms of RAS regulation. Post-translational modification within the G4 and G5 motifs activates RAS by populating the GTP-bound "ON" state, either through enhancement of intrinsic guanine nucleotide exchange or impairing GAP-mediated down-regulation. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of post-translational modifications in the RAS G4 and G5 motifs, and describe the role of these modifications in RAS activation as well as potential applications for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsuki Osaka
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Hirota
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Bioscience and Engineering, College of Systems Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Saitama, Japan
| | - Doshun Ito
- Structural Biology Research Center, Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Tsukuba, Japan
- Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Ikeda
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Science, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryo Kamata
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Japan
| | - Yuki Fujii
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Venkat R. Chirasani
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Sharon L. Campbell
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Koh Takeuchi
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiya Senda
- Structural Biology Research Center, Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Tsukuba, Japan
- Department of Accelerator Science, School of High Energy Accelerator Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Tsukuba, Japan
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Atsuo T. Sasaki
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Japan
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center at UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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Miao BB, Niu SF, Wu RX, Liang ZB, Tang BG, Zhai Y, Xu XQ. Gene Expression Profile and Co-Expression Network of Pearl Gentian Grouper under Cold Stress by Integrating Illumina and PacBio Sequences. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061745. [PMID: 34208015 PMCID: PMC8230743 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In this study, we investigated the liver transcriptomic responses of pearl gentian grouper towards cold stress. Some cold-related key genes and biological pathways were screened, of which energy-related metabolic pathways and genes had higher expression levels under cold stress. This suggested that energy homeostasis plays a crucial role in the physiological adjustments of pearl gentian grouper when exposed to the cold stress environment. Our results will expedite the understanding of different fishes adaptive mechanisms to profound environmental temperature changes and provide insights into the molecular breeding of cold-tolerant pearl gentian grouper varieties. Abstract Pearl gentian grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂) is a fish of high commercial value in the aquaculture industry in Asia. However, this hybrid fish is not cold-tolerant, and its molecular regulation mechanism underlying cold stress remains largely elusive. This study thus investigated the liver transcriptomic responses of pearl gentian grouper by comparing the gene expression of cold stress groups (20, 15, 12, and 12 °C for 6 h) with that of control group (25 °C) using PacBio SMRT-Seq and Illumina RNA-Seq technologies. In SMRT-Seq analysis, a total of 11,033 full-length transcripts were generated and used as reference sequences for further RNA-Seq analysis. In RNA-Seq analysis, 3271 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), two low-temperature specific modules (tan and blue modules), and two significantly expressed gene sets (profiles 0 and 19) were screened by differential expression analysis, weighted gene co-expression networks analysis (WGCNA), and short time-series expression miner (STEM), respectively. The intersection of the above analyses further revealed some key genes, such as PCK, ALDOB, FBP, G6pC, CPT1A, PPARα, SOCS3, PPP1CC, CYP2J, HMGCR, CDKN1B, and GADD45Bc. These genes were significantly enriched in carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, signal transduction, and endocrine system pathways. All these pathways were linked to biological functions relevant to cold adaptation, such as energy metabolism, stress-induced cell membrane changes, and transduction of stress signals. Taken together, our study explores an overall and complex regulation network of the functional genes in the liver of pearl gentian grouper, which could benefit the species in preventing damage caused by cold stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben-Ben Miao
- College of Fisheries, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (B.-B.M.); (S.-F.N.); (Z.-B.L.); (B.-G.T.); (Y.Z.); (X.-Q.X.)
| | - Su-Fang Niu
- College of Fisheries, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (B.-B.M.); (S.-F.N.); (Z.-B.L.); (B.-G.T.); (Y.Z.); (X.-Q.X.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang 524025, China
| | - Ren-Xie Wu
- College of Fisheries, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (B.-B.M.); (S.-F.N.); (Z.-B.L.); (B.-G.T.); (Y.Z.); (X.-Q.X.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang 524025, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Zhen-Bang Liang
- College of Fisheries, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (B.-B.M.); (S.-F.N.); (Z.-B.L.); (B.-G.T.); (Y.Z.); (X.-Q.X.)
| | - Bao-Gui Tang
- College of Fisheries, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (B.-B.M.); (S.-F.N.); (Z.-B.L.); (B.-G.T.); (Y.Z.); (X.-Q.X.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang 524025, China
| | - Yun Zhai
- College of Fisheries, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (B.-B.M.); (S.-F.N.); (Z.-B.L.); (B.-G.T.); (Y.Z.); (X.-Q.X.)
| | - Xue-Qi Xu
- College of Fisheries, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (B.-B.M.); (S.-F.N.); (Z.-B.L.); (B.-G.T.); (Y.Z.); (X.-Q.X.)
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42
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Analysis of the genomic landscape of yolk sac tumors reveals mechanisms of evolution and chemoresistance. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3579. [PMID: 34117242 PMCID: PMC8196104 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23681-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Yolk sac tumors (YSTs) are a major histological subtype of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors with a relatively poor prognosis. The molecular basis of this disease has not been thoroughly characterized at the genomic level. Here we perform whole-exome and RNA sequencing on 41 clinical tumor samples from 30 YST patients, with distinct responses to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. We show that microsatellite instability status and mutational signatures are informative of chemoresistance. We identify somatic driver candidates, including significantly mutated genes KRAS and KIT and copy-number alteration drivers, including deleted ARID1A and PARK2, and amplified ZNF217, CDKN1B, and KRAS. YSTs have very infrequent TP53 mutations, whereas the tumors from patients with abnormal gonadal development contain both KRAS and TP53 mutations. We further reveal a role of OVOL2 overexpression in YST resistance to cisplatin. This study lays a critical foundation for understanding key molecular aberrations in YSTs and developing related therapeutic strategies.
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43
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Rezaei Adariani S, Kazemein Jasemi NS, Bazgir F, Wittich C, Amin E, Seidel CAM, Dvorsky R, Ahmadian MR. A comprehensive analysis of RAS-effector interactions reveals interaction hotspots and new binding partners. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100626. [PMID: 33930461 PMCID: PMC8163975 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
RAS effectors specifically interact with GTP-bound RAS proteins to link extracellular signals to downstream signaling pathways. These interactions rely on two types of domains, called RAS-binding (RB) and RAS association (RA) domains, which share common structural characteristics. Although the molecular nature of RAS-effector interactions is well-studied for some proteins, most of the RA/RB-domain-containing proteins remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we searched through human proteome databases, extracting 41 RA domains in 39 proteins and 16 RB domains in 14 proteins, each of which can specifically select at least one of the 25 members in the RAS family. We next comprehensively investigated the sequence–structure–function relationship between different representatives of the RAS family, including HRAS, RRAS, RALA, RAP1B, RAP2A, RHEB1, and RIT1, with all members of RA domain family proteins (RASSFs) and the RB-domain-containing CRAF. The binding affinity for RAS-effector interactions, determined using fluorescence polarization, broadly ranged between high (0.3 μM) and very low (500 μM) affinities, raising interesting questions about the consequence of these variable binding affinities in the regulation of signaling events. Sequence and structural alignments pointed to two interaction hotspots in the RA/RB domains, consisting of an average of 19 RAS-binding residues. Moreover, we found novel interactions between RRAS1, RIT1, and RALA and RASSF7, RASSF9, and RASSF1, respectively, which were systematically explored in sequence–structure–property relationship analysis, and validated by mutational analysis. These data provide a set of distinct functional properties and putative biological roles that should now be investigated in the cellular context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soheila Rezaei Adariani
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Neda S Kazemein Jasemi
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Farhad Bazgir
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christoph Wittich
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ehsan Amin
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany; Medical Faculty, Institute of Neural and Sensory Physiology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Claus A M Seidel
- Chair of Molecular Physical Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Radovan Dvorsky
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Mohammad R Ahmadian
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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44
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Cui Y, Ma L, Schacke S, Yin JC, Hsueh YP, Jin H, Morrison H. Merlin cooperates with neurofibromin and Spred1 to suppress the Ras-Erk pathway. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 29:3793-3806. [PMID: 33331896 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ras-Erk pathway is frequently overactivated in human tumors. Neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2 (NF1, NF2) are characterized by multiple tumors of Schwann cell origin. The NF1 tumor suppressor neurofibromin is a principal Ras-GAP accelerating Ras inactivation, whereas the NF2 tumor suppressor merlin is a scaffold protein coordinating multiple signaling pathways. We have previously reported that merlin interacts with Ras and p120RasGAP. Here, we show that merlin can also interact with the neurofibromin/Spred1 complex via merlin-binding sites present on both proteins. Further, merlin can directly bind to the Ras-binding domain (RBD) and the kinase domain (KiD) of Raf1. As the third component of the neurofibromin/Spred1 complex, merlin cannot increase the Ras-GAP activity; rather, it blocks Ras binding to Raf1 by functioning as a 'selective Ras barrier'. Merlin-deficient Schwann cells require the Ras-Erk pathway activity for proliferation. Accordingly, suppression of the Ras-Erk pathway likely contributes to merlin's tumor suppressor activity. Taken together, our results, and studies by others, support targeting or co-targeting of this pathway as a therapy for NF2 inactivation-related tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Cui
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Lin Ma
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), 07745 Jena, Germany.,College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Stephan Schacke
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Jiani C Yin
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Yi-Ping Hsueh
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Hongchuan Jin
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China
| | - Helen Morrison
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), 07745 Jena, Germany.,Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743, Germany
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45
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Engler M, Fidan M, Nandi S, Cirstea IC. Senescence in RASopathies, a possible novel contributor to a complex pathophenoype. Mech Ageing Dev 2020; 194:111411. [PMID: 33309600 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2020.111411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Senescence is a biological process that induces a permanent cell cycle arrest and a specific gene expression program in response to various stressors. Following studies over the last few decades, the concept of senescence has evolved from an antiproliferative mechanism in cancer (oncogene-induced senescence) to a critical component of physiological processes associated with embryonic development, tissue regeneration, ageing and its associated diseases. In somatic cells, oncogenic mutations in RAS-MAPK pathway genes are associated with oncogene-induced senescence and cancer, while germline mutations in the same pathway are linked to a group of monogenic developmental disorders generally termed RASopathies. Here, we consider that in these disorders, senescence induction may result in opposing outcomes, a tumour protective effect and a possible contributor to a premature ageing phenotype identified in Costello syndrome, which belongs to the RASopathy group. In this review, we will highlight the role of senescence in organismal homeostasis and we will describe the current knowledge about senescence in RASopathies. Additionally, we provide a perspective on examples of experimentally characterised RASopathy mutations that, alone or in combination with various stressors, may also trigger an age-dependent chronic senescence, possibly contributing to the age-dependent worsening of RASopathy pathophenotype and the reduction of lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Engler
- Institute of Comparative Molecular Endocrinology, Ulm University, Helmholtzstr. 8/1, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Miray Fidan
- Institute of Comparative Molecular Endocrinology, Ulm University, Helmholtzstr. 8/1, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sayantan Nandi
- Institute of Comparative Molecular Endocrinology, Ulm University, Helmholtzstr. 8/1, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ion Cristian Cirstea
- Institute of Comparative Molecular Endocrinology, Ulm University, Helmholtzstr. 8/1, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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46
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Abstract
The genetic alterations in cancer cells are tightly linked to signaling pathway dysregulation. Ras is a key molecule that controls several tumorigenesis-related processes, and mutations in RAS genes often lead to unbiased intensification of signaling networks that fuel cancer progression. In this article, we review recent studies that describe mutant Ras-regulated signaling routes and their cross-talk. In addition to the two main Ras-driven signaling pathways, i.e., the RAF/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways, we have also collected emerging data showing the importance of Ras in other signaling pathways, including the RAC/PAK, RalGDS/Ral, and PKC/PLC signaling pathways. Moreover, microRNA-regulated Ras-associated signaling pathways are also discussed to highlight the importance of Ras regulation in cancer. Finally, emerging data show that the signal alterations in specific cell types, such as cancer stem cells, could promote cancer development. Therefore, we also cover the up-to-date findings related to Ras-regulated signal transduction in cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamás Takács
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gyöngyi Kudlik
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anita Kurilla
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bálint Szeder
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Buday
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Semmelweis University Medical School, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Virag Vas
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.
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47
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Wong JC, Perez-Mancera PA, Huang TQ, Kim J, Grego-Bessa J, Del Pilar Alzamora M, Kogan SC, Sharir A, Keefe SH, Morales CE, Schanze D, Castel P, Hirose K, Huang GN, Zenker M, Sheppard D, Klein OD, Tuveson DA, Braun BS, Shannon K. KrasP34R and KrasT58I mutations induce distinct RASopathy phenotypes in mice. JCI Insight 2020; 5:140495. [PMID: 32990679 PMCID: PMC7710308 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.140495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Somatic KRAS mutations are highly prevalent in many cancers. In addition, a distinct spectrum of germline KRAS mutations causes developmental disorders called RASopathies. The mutant proteins encoded by these germline KRAS mutations are less biochemically and functionally activated than those in cancer. We generated mice harboring conditional KrasLSL-P34Rand KrasLSL-T58I knock-in alleles and characterized the consequences of each mutation in vivo. Embryonic expression of KrasT58I resulted in craniofacial abnormalities reminiscent of those seen in RASopathy disorders, and these mice exhibited hyperplastic growth of multiple organs, modest alterations in cardiac valvulogenesis, myocardial hypertrophy, and myeloproliferation. By contrast, embryonic KrasP34R expression resulted in early perinatal lethality from respiratory failure due to defective lung sacculation, which was associated with aberrant ERK activity in lung epithelial cells. Somatic Mx1-Cre–mediated activation in the hematopoietic compartment showed that KrasP34R and KrasT58I expression had distinct signaling effects, despite causing a similar spectrum of hematologic diseases. These potentially novel strains are robust models for investigating the consequences of expressing endogenous levels of hyperactive K-Ras in different developing and adult tissues, for comparing how oncogenic and germline K-Ras proteins perturb signaling networks and cell fate decisions, and for performing preclinical therapeutic trials. Mouse models are developed to accurately recapitulate multiple features of RASopathy disorders caused by germline KRASP34R and KRAST581 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine C Wong
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Pedro A Perez-Mancera
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Tannie Q Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jangkyung Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Joaquim Grego-Bessa
- Intercellular Signaling in Cardiovascular Development and Disease Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Del Pilar Alzamora
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Amnon Sharir
- Program in Craniofacial Biology and Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Susan H Keefe
- Program in Craniofacial Biology and Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Carolina E Morales
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Denny Schanze
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Pau Castel
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | - Kentaro Hirose
- Cardiovascular Research Institute.,Department of Physiology, and
| | - Guo N Huang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute.,Department of Physiology, and
| | - Martin Zenker
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Dean Sheppard
- Cardiovascular Research Institute.,Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Ophir D Klein
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.,Program in Craniofacial Biology and Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - David A Tuveson
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA.,Lustgarten Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
| | - Benjamin S Braun
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kevin Shannon
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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48
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Neuron type-specific expression of a mutant KRAS impairs hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17730. [PMID: 33082413 PMCID: PMC7575532 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74610-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
KRAS mutations are associated with rare cases of neurodevelopmental disorders that can cause intellectual disabilities. Previous studies showed that mice expressing a mutant KRAS have impaired the development and function of GABAergic inhibitory neurons, which may contribute to behavioural deficits in the mutant mice. However, the underlying cellular mechanisms and the role of excitatory neurons in these behavioural deficits in adults are not fully understood. Herein, we report that neuron type-specific expression of a constitutively active mutant KRASG12V in either excitatory or inhibitory neurons resulted in spatial memory deficits in adult mice. In inhibitory neurons, KRASG12V induced ERK activation and enhanced GABAergic synaptic transmission. Expressing KRASG12V in inhibitory neurons also impaired long-term potentiation in the hippocampal Shaffer-collateral pathway, which could be rescued by picrotoxin treatment. In contrast, KRASG12V induced ERK activation and neuronal cell death in excitatory neurons, which might have contributed to the severe behavioural deficits. Our results showed that both excitatory and inhibitory neurons are involved in mutant KRAS-associated learning deficits in adults via distinct cellular mechanisms.
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49
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Gasper R, Wittinghofer F. The Ras switch in structural and historical perspective. Biol Chem 2020; 401:143-163. [PMID: 31600136 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2019-0330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Since its discovery as an oncogene more than 40 years ago, Ras has been and still is in the focus of many academic and pharmaceutical labs around the world. A huge amount of work has accumulated on its biology. However, many questions about the role of the different Ras isoforms in health and disease still exist and a full understanding will require more intensive work in the future. Here we try to survey some of the structural findings in a historical perspective and how it has influenced our understanding of structure-function and mechanistic relationships of Ras and its interactions. The structures show that Ras is a stable molecular machine that uses the dynamics of its switch regions for the interaction with all regulators and effectors. This conformational flexibility has been used to create small molecule drug candidates against this important oncoprotein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Gasper
- Max-Planck-Institut für molekulare Physiologie, Otto-Hahn-Str. 11, D-44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Fred Wittinghofer
- Max-Planck-Institut für molekulare Physiologie, Otto-Hahn-Str. 11, D-44227 Dortmund, Germany
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50
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Abstract
One of the mechanisms potentially explaining the discrepancy between the number of human genes and the functional complexity of organisms is generating alternative splice variants, an attribute of the vast majority of multi-exon genes. Members of the RAS family, such as NRAS, KRAS and HRAS, all of which are of significant importance in cancer biology, are no exception. The structural and functional differences of these splice variants, particularly if they contain the canonical (and therefore routinely targeted for diagnostic purposes) hot spot mutations, pose a significant challenge for targeted therapies. We must therefore consider whether these alternative splice variants constitute a minor component as originally thought and how therapies targeting the canonical isoforms affect these alternative splice variants and their overall functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erzsébet Rásó
- 2nd Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
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