1
|
Lagunas-Rangel FA. Sequence Analysis and Comparison of TCTP Proteins from Human Protozoan Parasites. Acta Parasitol 2022; 67:1024-1031. [PMID: 35138574 PMCID: PMC9165267 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-022-00521-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Translational controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is a functionally important protein in most eukaryotes because it participates in a wide variety of processes, the most representative being proliferation, differentiation, histamine release, cell death, protein synthesis and response to stress conditions. In the present work, we analyze the sequence, structure and phylogeny of TCTP orthologs in a group of human parasitic protozoan species. Methods The complete sequences of TCTP orthologs in protozoan parasites were identified with the NCBI BLAST tool in the database of the EuPathDB Bioinformatics Resource Center. The sequences were aligned and important regions of the protein were identified, and later phylogenetic trees and 3D models were built with different bioinformatic tools. Results Our results show evolutionarily and structurally conserved sites that could be exploited to create new therapeutic strategies given the increase in the number of strains resistant to current drugs. Conclusion TCTP orthologs in protozoan parasites have been little studied but have been shown to be important in parasite growth, proliferation, reproduction, and response to changes in the environment. For all this, TCTP can be considered as a possible therapeutic target. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11686-022-00521-9.
Collapse
|
2
|
Qian XK, Zhang J, Song PF, Zhao YS, Ma HY, Jin Q, Wang DD, Guan XQ, Li SY, Bao X, Zou LW. Discovery of pyrazolones as novel carboxylesterase 2 inhibitors that potently inhibit the adipogenesis in cells. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 40:116187. [PMID: 33965840 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Carboxylesterase 2 (CES2) is one of the most important Phase I drug metabolizing enzymes in the carboxylesterase family. It plays crucial roles in the bioavailability of oral ester prodrugs and the therapeutic effect of some anticancer drugs such as irinotecan (CPT11) and capecitabine. In addition to the well-known roles of CES2 in xenobiotic metabolism, the enzyme also participates in endogenous metabolism and the production of lipids. In this study, we synthesized a series of pyrazolones and assayed their inhibitory effects against CES2 in vitro. Structure-activity relationship analysis of these pyrazolones reveals that the introduction of 4-methylphenyl unit (R1), 4-methylbenzyl (R2) and cyclohexyl (R3) moieties are beneficial for CES2 inhibition. Guided by these SARs results, 1-cyclohexyl-4-(4-methylbenzyl)-3-p-tolyl-1H- pyrazol-5(4H)-one (27) was designed and synthesized. Further investigations demonstrated that the compound 27 exhibited stronger CES2 inhibition activity with a lower IC50 value (0.13 μM). The inhibition kinetic study demonstrated that compound 27 inhibited the hydrolysis of CES2-fluorescein diacetate (FD) through non-competitive inhibition. In addition, the molecular docking showed that the core of pyrazolone, the cyclohexane moiety, 4-methylbenzyl and 4-methylphenyl groups in compound 27 all played important roles with the amino acid residues of CSE2. Also, compound 27 could inhibit adipocyte adipogenesis induced by mouse preadipocytes. In brief, we designed and synthesized a novel pyrazolone compound with a strong inhibitory ability on CES2 and could inhibit the adipogenesis induced by mouse preadipocytes, which can be served as a promising lead compound for the development of more potent pyrazolone-type CES2 inhibitors, and also used as a potential tool for exploring the biological functions of CES2 in human being.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Kai Qian
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Pei-Fang Song
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yi-Su Zhao
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Hong-Ying Ma
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qiang Jin
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Dan-Dan Wang
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiao-Qing Guan
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Shi-Yang Li
- Analytical Central Laboratory, Shengyang Harmony Health Medical Laboratory Co Ltd, 19 Wen Hui Road Shenyang 210112, China
| | - XiaoZe Bao
- College of Pharmaceutical Science & Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.
| | - Li-Wei Zou
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bommer UA. The Translational Controlled Tumour Protein TCTP: Biological Functions and Regulation. Results Probl Cell Differ 2017; 64:69-126. [PMID: 29149404 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-67591-6_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The Translational Controlled Tumour Protein TCTP (gene symbol TPT1, also called P21, P23, Q23, fortilin or histamine-releasing factor, HRF) is a highly conserved protein present in essentially all eukaryotic organisms and involved in many fundamental cell biological and disease processes. It was first discovered about 35 years ago, and it took an extended period of time for its multiple functions to be revealed, and even today we do not yet fully understand all the details. Having witnessed most of this history, in this chapter, I give a brief overview and review the current knowledge on the structure, biological functions, disease involvements and cellular regulation of this protein.TCTP is able to interact with a large number of other proteins and is therefore involved in many core cell biological processes, predominantly in the response to cellular stresses, such as oxidative stress, heat shock, genotoxic stress, imbalance of ion metabolism as well as other conditions. Mechanistically, TCTP acts as an anti-apoptotic protein, and it is involved in DNA-damage repair and in cellular autophagy. Thus, broadly speaking, TCTP can be considered a cytoprotective protein. In addition, TCTP facilitates cell division through stabilising the mitotic spindle and cell growth through modulating growth signalling pathways and through its interaction with the proteosynthetic machinery of the cell. Due to its activities, both as an anti-apoptotic protein and in promoting cell growth and division, TCTP is also essential in the early development of both animals and plants.Apart from its involvement in various biological processes at the cellular level, TCTP can also act as an extracellular protein and as such has been involved in modulating whole-body defence processes, namely in the mammalian immune system. Extracellular TCTP, typically in its dimerised form, is able to induce the release of cytokines and other signalling molecules from various types of immune cells. There are also several examples, where TCTP was shown to be involved in antiviral/antibacterial defence in lower animals. In plants, the protein appears to have a protective effect against phytotoxic stresses, such as flooding, draught, too high or low temperature, salt stress or exposure to heavy metals. The finding for the latter stress condition is corroborated by earlier reports that TCTP levels are considerably up-regulated upon exposure of earthworms to high levels of heavy metals.Given the involvement of TCTP in many biological processes aimed at maintaining cellular or whole-body homeostasis, it is not surprising that dysregulation of TCTP levels may promote a range of disease processes, foremost cancer. Indeed a large body of evidence now supports a role of TCTP in at least the most predominant types of human cancers. Typically, this can be ascribed to both the anti-apoptotic activity of the protein and to its function in promoting cell growth and division. However, TCTP also appears to be involved in the later stages of cancer progression, such as invasion and metastasis. Hence, high TCTP levels in tumour tissues are often associated with a poor patient outcome. Due to its multiple roles in cancer progression, TCTP has been proposed as a potential target for the development of new anti-cancer strategies in recent pilot studies. Apart from its role in cancer, TCTP dysregulation has been reported to contribute to certain processes in the development of diabetes, as well as in diseases associated with the cardiovascular system.Since cellular TCTP levels are highly regulated, e.g. in response to cell stress or to growth signalling, and because deregulation of this protein contributes to many disease processes, a detailed understanding of regulatory processes that impinge on TCTP levels is required. The last section of this chapter summarises our current knowledge on the mechanisms that may be involved in the regulation of TCTP levels. Essentially, expression of the TPT1 gene is regulated at both the transcriptional and the translational level, the latter being particularly advantageous when a rapid adjustment of cellular TCTP levels is required, for example in cell stress responses. Other regulatory mechanisms, such as protein stability regulation, may also contribute to the regulation of overall TCTP levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich-Axel Bommer
- School of Medicine, Graduate Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lucibello M, Adanti S, Antelmi E, Dezi D, Ciafrè S, Carcangiu ML, Zonfrillo M, Nicotera G, Sica L, De Braud F, Pierimarchi P. Phospho-TCTP as a therapeutic target of Dihydroartemisinin for aggressive breast cancer cells. Oncotarget 2016; 6:5275-91. [PMID: 25779659 PMCID: PMC4467148 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Upregulation of Translationally Controlled Tumor Protein (TCTP) is associated with poorly differentiated aggressive tumors, including breast cancer, but the underlying mechanism(s) are still debated. Here, we show that in breast cancer cell lines TCTP is primarily localized in the nucleus, mostly in the phosphorylated form. The effects of Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), an anti-malaria agent that binds TCTP, were tested on breast cancer cells. DHA decreases cell proliferation and induces apoptotic cell death by targeting the phosphorylated form of TCTP. Remarkably, DHA enhances the anti-tumor effects of Doxorubicin in triple negative breast cancer cells resulting in an increased level of apoptosis. DHA also synergizes with Trastuzumab, used to treat HER2/neu positive breast cancers, to induce apoptosis of tumor cells. Finally, we present new clinical data that nuclear phospho-TCTP overexpression in primary breast cancer tissue is associated with high histological grade, increase expression of Ki-67 and with ER-negative breast cancer subtypes. Notably, phospho-TCTP expression levels increase in trastuzumab-resistant breast tumors, suggesting a possible role of phospho-TCTP as a new prognostic marker. In conclusion, the anti-tumor effect of DHA in vitro with conventional chemotherapeutics suggests a novel therapeutic strategy and identifies phospho-TCTP as a new promising target for advanced breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lucibello
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Adanti
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Ester Antelmi
- Medical Oncology Department, Pathology and Molecular Biology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Dario Dezi
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Ciafrè
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Carcangiu
- Medical Oncology Department, Pathology and Molecular Biology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Manuela Zonfrillo
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Nicotera
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Sica
- Medical Oncology Department, Pathology and Molecular Biology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Filippo De Braud
- Medical Oncology Department, Pathology and Molecular Biology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Siwo GH, Smith RS, Tan A, Button-Simons KA, Checkley LA, Ferdig MT. An integrative analysis of small molecule transcriptional responses in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:1030. [PMID: 26637195 PMCID: PMC4670519 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-2165-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Transcriptional responses to small molecules can provide insights into drug mode of action (MOA). The capacity of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, to respond specifically to transcriptional perturbations has been unclear based on past approaches. Here, we present the most extensive profiling to date of the parasite’s transcriptional responsiveness to thirty-one chemically and functionally diverse small molecules. Methods We exposed two laboratory strains of the human malaria parasite P. falciparum to brief treatments of thirty-one chemically and functionally diverse small molecules associated with biological effects across multiple pathways based on various levels of evidence. We investigated the impact of chemical composition and MOA on gene expression similarities that arise between perturbations by various compounds. To determine the target biological pathways for each small molecule, we developed a novel framework for encoding small molecule effects on a spectra of biological processes or GO functions that are enriched in the differentially expressed genes of a given small molecule perturbation. Results We find that small molecules associated with similar transcriptional responses contain similar chemical features, and/ or have a shared MOA. The approach also revealed complex relationships between drugs and biological pathways that are missed by most exisiting approaches. For example, the approach was able to partition small molecule responses into drug-specific effects versus non-specific effects. Conclusions Our work provides a new framework for linking transcriptional responses to drug MOA in P. falciparum and can be generalized for the same purpose in other organisms. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-2165-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey H Siwo
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA.,Current Address: IBM TJ Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY, 10598, USA.,Current Address: IBM Research-Africa, South Africa Lab, Sandton, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa
| | - Roger S Smith
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA.,Current Address: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Asako Tan
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA.,Epicenter, Madison, WI, 53719, USA
| | - Katrina A Button-Simons
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Lisa A Checkley
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Michael T Ferdig
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Taylor KJ, Van TTH, MacDonald SM, Meshnick SR, Fernley RT, Macreadie IG, Smooker PM. Immunization of mice with Plasmodium TCTP delays establishment of Plasmodium infection. Parasite Immunol 2015; 37:23-31. [PMID: 25376500 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Accepted: 10/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Translationally controlled tumour protein (TCTP) may play an important role in the establishment or maintenance of parasitemia in a malarial infection. In this study, the potential of TCTP as a malaria vaccine was investigated in two trials. In the initial vaccine trial, Plasmodium falciparum TCTP (PfTCTP) was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and used to immunize BALB/c mice. Following challenge with Plasmodium yoelii YM, parasitemia was significantly reduced during the early stages of infection. In the second vaccine trial, the TCTP from P. yoelii and P. berghei was expressed in Escherichia coli and used in several mouse malaria models. A significant reduction in parasitemia in the early stages of infection was observed in BALB/c mice challenged with P. yoelii YM. A significantly reduced parasitemia at each day leading up to a delayed and reduced peak parasitemia was also observed in BALB/c mice challenged with the nonlethal Plasmodium chabaudi (P.c.) chabaudi AS. These results suggest that TCTP has an important role for parasite establishment and may be important for pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K J Taylor
- School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIc., Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kobayashi D, Hirayama M, Komohara Y, Mizuguchi S, Wilson Morifuji M, Ihn H, Takeya M, Kuramochi A, Araki N. Translationally controlled tumor protein is a novel biological target for neurofibromatosis type 1-associated tumors. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:26314-26326. [PMID: 25092287 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.568253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disease that predisposes individuals to develop benign neurofibromas and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs). Due to the lack of information on the molecular mechanism of NF1-associated tumor pathogenesis or biomarkers/therapeutic targets, an effective treatment for NF1 tumors has not been established. In this study, the novel NF1-associated protein, translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP), was identified by integrated proteomics and found to be up-regulated via activated MAPK/PI3K-AKT signaling in response to growth factors in NF1-deficient Schwann cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of NF1-associated tumors revealed that the TCTP expression level correlated with tumorigenicity. In NF1-deficient MPNST cells, TCTP protein but not mRNA was down-regulated by NF1 GTPase-activating protein-related domain or MAPK/PI3K inhibitors, and this correlated with suppression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. mTOR inhibition by rapamycin also down-regulated TCTP protein expression, whereas knockdown or overexpression of TCTP suppressed or activated mTOR signaling, respectively, and affected cell viability. These results suggest that a positive feedback loop between TCTP and mTOR contributes to NF1-associated tumor formation. Last, the anti-tumor effect of artesunate, which binds to and degrades TCTP, was evaluated. Artesunate significantly suppressed the viability of MPNST cells but not normal Schwann cells, and the TCTP level inversely correlated with artesunate sensitivity. Moreover, combinational use of artesunate and rapamycin enhanced the cytotoxic effect on MPNST cells. These findings suggest that TCTP is functionally implicated in the progression of NF1-associated tumors and could serve as a biological target for their therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Kobayashi
- Department of Tumor Genetics and Biology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Mio Hirayama
- Department of Tumor Genetics and Biology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Komohara
- Department of Cell Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, and Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Souhei Mizuguchi
- Department of Tumor Genetics and Biology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | | | - Hironobu Ihn
- Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan and
| | - Motohiro Takeya
- Department of Cell Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, and Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Akira Kuramochi
- Department of Dermatology, Saitama Medical University, Saitama 350-0495, Japan
| | - Norie Araki
- Department of Tumor Genetics and Biology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Eichhorn T, Winter D, Büchele B, Dirdjaja N, Frank M, Lehmann WD, Mertens R, Krauth-Siegel RL, Simmet T, Granzin J, Efferth T. Molecular interaction of artemisinin with translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) of Plasmodium falciparum. Biochem Pharmacol 2013; 85:38-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2012.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2012] [Revised: 10/07/2012] [Accepted: 10/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
|
9
|
Biological actions of artemisinin: insights from medicinal chemistry studies. Molecules 2010; 15:1378-97. [PMID: 20335987 PMCID: PMC6257283 DOI: 10.3390/molecules15031378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2010] [Revised: 02/23/2010] [Accepted: 03/02/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemisinins have become essential antimalarial drugs for increasingly widespread drug-resistant malaria strains. Although tremendous efforts have been devoted to decipher how this class of molecules works, their exact antimalarial mechanism is still an enigma. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain their actions, including alkylation of heme by carbon-centered free radicals, interference with proteins such as the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic calcium ATPase (SERCA), as well as damaging of normal mitochondrial functions. Besides artemisinins, other endoperoxides with various backbones have also been synthesized, some of which showed comparable or even higher antimalarial effects. It is noteworthy that among these artemisinin derivatives, some enantiomers displayed similar in vitro malaria killing efficacy. In this article, the proposed mechanisms of action of artemisinins are reviewed in light of medicinal chemistry findings characterized by efficacy-structure studies, with the hope of gaining more insight into how these potent drugs work.
Collapse
|