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Xu YM, Inacio MC, Liu MX, Gunatilaka AAL. Discovery of diminazene as a dual inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 human host proteases TMPRSS2 and furin using cell-based assays. CURRENT RESEARCH IN CHEMICAL BIOLOGY 2022; 2:100023. [PMID: 35815069 PMCID: PMC8920474 DOI: 10.1016/j.crchbi.2022.100023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The proteases TMPRSS2 (transmembrane protease serine 2) and furin are known to play important roles in viral infectivity including systematic COVID-19 infection through priming of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses. To discover small-molecules capable of inhibiting these host proteases, we established convenient and cost-effective cell-based assays employing Vero cells overexpressing TMPRSS2 and furin. A cell-based proteolytic assay for broad-spectrum protease inhibitors was also established using human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. Evaluation of camostat, nafamostat, and gabexate in these cell-based assays confirmed their known TMPRSS2 inhibitory activities. Diminazene, a veterinary medicinal agent and a known furin inhibitor was found to inhibit both TMPRSS2 and furin with IC50s of 1.35 and 13.2 μM, respectively. Establishment and the use of cell-based assays for evaluation TMPRSS2 and furin inhibitory activity and implications of dual activity of diminazene vs TMPRSS2 and furin are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Ming Xu
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85706, USA
| | - Marielle Cascaes Inacio
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85706, USA
| | - Manping X Liu
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85706, USA
| | - A A Leslie Gunatilaka
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85706, USA
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2
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Cheng YW, Chao TL, Li CL, Chiu MF, Kao HC, Wang SH, Pang YH, Lin CH, Tsai YM, Lee WH, Tao MH, Ho TC, Wu PY, Jang LT, Chen PJ, Chang SY, Yeh SH. Furin Inhibitors Block SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Cleavage to Suppress Virus Production and Cytopathic Effects. Cell Rep 2020; 33:108254. [PMID: 33007239 PMCID: PMC7510585 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of specific antiviral agents is an urgent unmet need for SARS-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. This study focuses on host proteases that proteolytically activate the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, critical for its fusion after binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), as antiviral targets. We first validate cleavage at a putative furin substrate motif at SARS-CoV-2 spikes by expressing it in VeroE6 cells and find prominent syncytium formation. Cleavage and the syncytium are abolished by treatment with the furin inhibitors decanoyl-RVKR-chloromethylketone (CMK) and naphthofluorescein, but not by the transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) inhibitor camostat. CMK and naphthofluorescein show antiviral effects on SARS-CoV-2-infected cells by decreasing virus production and cytopathic effects. Further analysis reveals that, similar to camostat, CMK blocks virus entry, but it further suppresses cleavage of spikes and the syncytium. Naphthofluorescein acts primarily by suppressing viral RNA transcription. Therefore, furin inhibitors may be promising antiviral agents for prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The furin cleavage site in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein mediates syncytium formation The SARS-CoV-2 spike-mediated syncytium is suppressed by specific furin inhibitors Furin inhibitors block SARS-CoV-2 virus entry and virus replication Furin inhibitors are potential antiviral agents for SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenesis
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Wen Cheng
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Tai-Ling Chao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Chiao-Ling Li
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Mu-Fan Chiu
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Han-Chieh Kao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Han Wang
- Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Hao Pang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hui Lin
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Min Tsai
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Hau Lee
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Mi-Hua Tao
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Ching Ho
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Yi Wu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Li-Ting Jang
- Biomedical Resource Core at the First Core Labs, Branch Office of Research and Development, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Jer Chen
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan; National Taiwan University Center for Genomic Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Sui-Yuan Chang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
| | - Shiou-Hwei Yeh
- Department of Microbiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan; National Taiwan University Center for Genomic Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
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3
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Löw K, Hardes K, Fedeli C, Seidah NG, Constam DB, Pasquato A, Steinmetzer T, Roulin A, Kunz S. A novel cell-based sensor detecting the activity of individual basic proprotein convertases. FEBS J 2019; 286:4597-4620. [PMID: 31276291 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The basic proprotein convertases (PCs) furin, PC1/3, PC2, PC5/6, PACE4, PC4, and PC7 are promising drug targets for human diseases. However, developing selective inhibitors remains challenging due to overlapping substrate recognition motifs and limited structural information. Classical drug screening approaches for basic PC inhibitors involve homogeneous biochemical assays using soluble recombinant enzymes combined with fluorogenic substrate peptides that may not accurately recapitulate the complex cellular context of the basic PC-substrate interaction. Herein we report basic PC sensor (BPCS), a novel cell-based molecular sensor that allows rapid screening of candidate inhibitors and their selectivity toward individual basic PCs within mammalian cells. BPCS consists of Gaussia luciferase linked to a sortilin-1 membrane anchor via a cleavage motif that allows efficient release of luciferase specifically if individual basic PCs are provided in the same membrane. Screening of selected candidate peptidomimetic inhibitors revealed that BPCS can readily distinguish between general and selective PC inhibitors in a high-throughput screening format. The robust and cost-effective assay format of BPCS makes it suitable to identify novel specific small-molecule inhibitors against basic PCs for therapeutic application. Its cell-based nature will allow screening for drug targets in addition to the catalytically active mature enzyme, including maturation, transport, and cellular factors that modulate the enzyme's activity. This broadened 'target range' will enhance the likelihood to identify novel small-molecule compounds that inhibit basic PCs in a direct or indirect manner and represents a conceptual advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Löw
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kornelia Hardes
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Germany
| | - Chiara Fedeli
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nabil G Seidah
- Laboratory of Biochemical Neuroendocrinology, Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, (Affiliated to the University of Montreal), Canada
| | - Daniel B Constam
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) SV ISREC, Switzerland
| | - Antonella Pasquato
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Torsten Steinmetzer
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Germany
| | - Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Kunz
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
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Osadchuk TV, Shybyryn OV, Kibirev VK. Chemical structure and properties of low-molecular furin inhibitors. UKRAINIAN BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL 2018; 88:5-25. [PMID: 29235831 DOI: 10.15407/ubj88.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The review is devoted to the analysis of the relationship between a chemical structure and properties of low-molecular weight inhibitors of furin, the most studied proprotein convertase, which is involved in the development of some pathologies, such as oncologic diseases, viral and bacterial infections, etc. The latest data concerning the influence of peptides, pseudo-peptides, aromatic and heterocyclic compounds, some natural ones such as flavonoids, coumarins, and others on enzyme inactivation are considered. The power of furin inhibition is shown to rise with the increasing number of positively charged groups in the structure of these compounds. Peptidomimetics (Ki = 5-8 pM) are shown to be the most effective furin inhibitors. The synthesized substances, however, have not been used in practical application yet. Nowadays it is very important to find more selective inhibitors, improve their stability, bioavailability and safety for the human organism.
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Roveri M, Pfohl A, Jaaks P, Alijaj N, Leroux JC, Luciani P, Bernasconi M. Prolonged circulation and increased tumor accumulation of liposomal vincristine in a mouse model of rhabdomyosarcoma. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2017; 12:1135-1151. [PMID: 28447920 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2017-0430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM Our goal was to improve vincristine (VCR) based rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) therapy by encapsulating the drug into liposomes. A targeting strategy was attempted to enhance tumor accumulation. MATERIALS & METHODS VCR was loaded in control and peptide-decorated liposomes via an active method. The interaction of an RMS-specific peptide with the presumed target furin and the cellular uptake of both liposomal groups were studied in vitro. Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of VCR-containing liposomes were assessed in an RMS xenograft mouse model. RESULTS Liposomes ensured high VCR concentration in plasma and in the tumor. Peptide-decorated liposomes showed modest uptake in RMS cells. CONCLUSION The investigated peptide-modified liposomal formulation may not be optimal for furin-mediated RMS targeting. Nevertheless, VCR-loaded liposomes could serve as a delivery platform for experimental RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Roveri
- Experimental Infectious Diseases & Cancer Research, University Children's Hospital Zurich, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland.,Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Chemistry & Applied Biosciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alice Pfohl
- Experimental Infectious Diseases & Cancer Research, University Children's Hospital Zurich, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland.,Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Chemistry & Applied Biosciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patricia Jaaks
- Experimental Infectious Diseases & Cancer Research, University Children's Hospital Zurich, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland.,Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nagjie Alijaj
- Experimental Infectious Diseases & Cancer Research, University Children's Hospital Zurich, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland.,Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Christophe Leroux
- Department of Chemistry & Applied Biosciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Paola Luciani
- Department of Chemistry & Applied Biosciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Institute of Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Michele Bernasconi
- Experimental Infectious Diseases & Cancer Research, University Children's Hospital Zurich, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland.,Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
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6
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Aubert JD, Juillerat-Jeanneret L. Endothelin-Receptor Antagonists beyond Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Cancer and Fibrosis. J Med Chem 2016; 59:8168-88. [PMID: 27266371 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The endothelin axis and in particular the two endothelin receptors, ETA and ETB, are targets for therapeutic intervention in human diseases. Endothelin-receptor antagonists are in clinical use to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension and have been under clinical investigation for the treatment of several other diseases, such as systemic hypertension, cancer, vasospasm, and fibrogenic diseases. In this Perspective, we review the molecules that have been evaluated in human clinical trials for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, as well as other cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and fibrosis. We will also discuss the therapeutic consequences of receptor selectivity with regard to ETA-selective, ETB-selective, or dual ETA/ETB antagonists. We will also consider which chemical characteristics are relevant to clinical use and the properties of molecules necessary for efficacy in treating diseases against which known molecules displayed suboptimal efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- John-David Aubert
- Pneumology Division and Transplantation Center, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) , CH1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lucienne Juillerat-Jeanneret
- University Institute of Pathology and Transplantation Center, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), and University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
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7
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Kumar R, Juillerat-Jeanneret L, Golshayan D. Notch Antagonists: Potential Modulators of Cancer and Inflammatory Diseases. J Med Chem 2016; 59:7719-37. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Kumar
- Transplantation
Center and Transplantation Immunopathology Laboratory, Department
of Medicine and ‡University Institute of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lucienne Juillerat-Jeanneret
- Transplantation
Center and Transplantation Immunopathology Laboratory, Department
of Medicine and ‡University Institute of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dela Golshayan
- Transplantation
Center and Transplantation Immunopathology Laboratory, Department
of Medicine and ‡University Institute of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
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8
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Gunkel M, Erfle H, Starkuviene V. High-Content Analysis of the Golgi Complex by Correlative Screening Microscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2016; 1496:111-21. [PMID: 27632005 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6463-5_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The Golgi complex plays a central role in a number of diverse cellular processes, and numerous regulators that control these functions and/or morphology of the Golgi complex are known by now. Many of them were identified by large-scale experiments, such as RNAi-based screening. However, high-throughput experiments frequently provide only initial information that a particular protein might play a role in regulating structure and function of the Golgi complex. Multiple follow-up experiments are necessary to functionally characterize the selected hits. In order to speed up the discovery, we have established a system for correlative screening microscopy that combines rapid data collection and high-resolution imaging in one experiment. We describe here a combination of wide-field microscopy and dual-color direct stochastical optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM). We apply the technique to simultaneously capture and differentiate alterations of the cis- and trans-Golgi network when depleting several proteins in a singular and combinatorial manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Gunkel
- BioQuant, University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Holger Erfle
- BioQuant, University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Vytaute Starkuviene
- BioQuant, University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Joint Life Sciences Center, University of Vilnius, Vilnius, Lithuania
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9
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Cationic Cell-Penetrating Peptides Are Potent Furin Inhibitors. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0130417. [PMID: 26110264 PMCID: PMC4482483 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cationic cell-penetrating peptides have been widely used to enhance the intracellular delivery of various types of cargoes, such as drugs and proteins. These reagents are chemically similar to the multi-basic peptides that are known to be potent proprotein convertase inhibitors. Here, we report that both HIV-1 TAT47-57 peptide and the Chariot reagent are micromolar inhibitors of furin activity in vitro. In agreement, HIV-1 TAT47-57 reduced HT1080 cell migration, thought to be mediated by proprotein convertases, by 25%. In addition, cyclic polyarginine peptides containing hydrophobic moieties which have been previously used as transfection reagents also exhibited potent furin inhibition in vitro and also inhibited intracellular convertases. Our finding that cationic cell-penetrating peptides exert potent effects on cellular convertase activity should be taken into account when biological effects are assessed.
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10
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Ramos-Molina B, Lick AN, Blanco EH, Posada-Salgado JA, Martinez-Mayorga K, Johnson AT, Jiao GS, Lindberg I. Identification of potent and compartment-selective small molecule furin inhibitors using cell-based assays. Biochem Pharmacol 2015; 96:107-18. [PMID: 26003844 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2015.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The proprotein convertase furin is implicated in a variety of pathogenic processes such as bacterial toxin activation, viral propagation, and cancer. Several groups have identified non-peptide compounds with high inhibitory potency against furin in vitro, although their efficacy in various cell-based assays is largely unknown. In this study we show that certain guanidinylated 2,5-dideoxystreptamine derivatives exhibit interesting ex vivo properties. Compound 1b (1,1'-(4-((2,4-diguanidino-5-(4-guanidinophenoxy)cyclohexyl)oxy)-1,3-phenylene)diguanidine) is a potent and cell-permeable inhibitor of cellular furin, since it was able to retard tumor cell migration, block release of a Golgi reporter, and protect cells against Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa intoxication, with no evident cell toxicity. Other compounds based on the 2,5-dideoxystreptamine scaffold, such as compound 1g (1,1'-(4,6-bis(4-guanidinophenoxy)cyclohexane-1,3-diyl)diguanidine) also efficiently protected cells against anthrax, but displayed only moderate protection against Pseudomonas exotoxin A and did not inhibit cell migration, suggesting poor cell permeability. Certain bis-guanidinophenyl ether derivatives such as 2f (1,3-bis(2,4-diguanidinophenoxy) benzene) exhibited micromolar potency against furin in vitro, low cell toxicity, and highly efficient protection against anthrax toxin; this compound only slightly inhibited intracellular furin. Thus, compounds 1g and 2f both represent potent furin inhibitors at the cell surface with low intracellular inhibitory action, and these particular compounds might therefore be of preferred therapeutic interest in the treatment of certain bacterial and viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Ramos-Molina
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland-Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Adam N Lick
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland-Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elias H Blanco
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland-Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Alan T Johnson
- Department of Chemistry, Hawaii Biotech, Inc., Aiea, HI, USA
| | - Guan-Sheng Jiao
- Department of Chemistry, Hawaii Biotech, Inc., Aiea, HI, USA.
| | - Iris Lindberg
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland-Baltimore, MD, USA.
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11
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Stolp ZD, Stotland A, Diaz S, Hilton BJ, Burford W, Wolkowicz R. A Novel Two-Tag System for Monitoring Transport and Cleavage through the Classical Secretory Pathway - Adaptation to HIV Envelope Processing. PLoS One 2013; 8:e68835. [PMID: 23840860 PMCID: PMC3686725 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2013] [Accepted: 06/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The classical secretory pathway is essential for the transport of a host of proteins to the cell surface and/or extracellular matrix. While the pathway is well-established, many factors still remain to be elucidated. One of the most relevant biological processes that occur during transport involves the cleavage of pro-proteins by enzymes residing in the endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi/TransGolgi Network compartment. Teasing out the requirements involved in the classical secretory pathway and cleavage during transport would shed new light into mis-regulation leading to disease. Current methodologies fail to link transport and cleavage at the single cell level. Here, we describe a cell-based assay that relies on an engineered protein scaffold that can discriminate between transport to the cell surface, in the absence or presence of cleavage. Our novel two-tag system works in a robust and quantitative manner and distinguishes between cleaved and non-cleaved events based on cell surface expression of one or two epitope tags, respectively. Here, we have used the HIV-1 envelope as a substrate, which is cleaved during transport, as proof of principle. Importantly, this assay can be easily coupled to existing siRNA-based screens to identify novel regulators and effectors involved in transport and/or cleavage of cell surface proteins. In addition, unlike other in vivo based assays, the assay described here can also be easily adapted to drug discovery purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary D. Stolp
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Aleksandr Stotland
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Samantha Diaz
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Brett J. Hilton
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Wesley Burford
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Roland Wolkowicz
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
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Shiozaki K, Takeshita K, Ikeda M, Ikeda A, Harasaki Y, Komatsu M, Yamada S, Yamaguchi K, Miyagi T. Molecular cloning and biochemical characterization of two novel Neu3 sialidases, neu3a and neu3b, from medaka (Oryzias latipes). Biochimie 2013; 95:280-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2012.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2012] [Accepted: 09/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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13
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Abstract
The PC (proprotein convertase) furin cleaves a large variety of proproteins and hence plays a major role in many pathologies. Therefore furin inhibition might be a good strategy for therapeutic intervention, and several furin inhibitors have been generated, although none are entirely furin-specific. To reduce potential side effects caused by cross-reactivity with other proteases, dromedary heavy-chain-derived nanobodies against catalytically active furin were developed as specific furin inhibitors. The nanobodies bound only to furin but not to other PCs. Upon overexpression in cell lines, they inhibited the cleavage of two different furin substrates, TGFβ (transforming growth factor β) and GPC3 (glypican 3). Purified nanobodies could inhibit the cleavage of diphtheria toxin into its enzymatically active A fragment, but did not inhibit cleavage of a small synthetic peptide-based substrate, suggesting a mode-of-action based on steric hindrance. The dissociation constant of purified nanobody 14 is in the nanomolar range. The nanobodies were non-competitive inhibitors with an inhibitory constant in the micromolar range as demonstrated by Dixon plot. Furthermore, anti-furin nanobodies could protect HEK (human embryonic kidney)-293T cells from diphtheria-toxin-induced cytotoxicity as efficiently as the PC inhibitor nona-D-arginine. In conclusion, these antibody-based single-domain nanobodies represent the first generation of highly specific non-competitive furin inhibitors.
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De UC, Mishra P, Pal PR, Dinda B, Basak A. Non-peptide Inhibitors of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin Kexins (PCSKs): An Overall Review of Existing and New Data. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.4199/c00066ed1v01y201209pac003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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15
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Jacob RT, Larsen MJ, Larsen SD, Kirchhoff PD, Sherman DH, Neubig RR. MScreen: an integrated compound management and high-throughput screening data storage and analysis system. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 17:1080-7. [PMID: 22706349 DOI: 10.1177/1087057112450186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
High-throughput screening (HTS) has historically been used by the pharmaceutical industry to rapidly test hundreds of thousands of compounds to identify potential drug candidates. More recently, academic groups have used HTS to identify new chemical probes or small interfering RNA (siRNA) that can serve as experimental tools to examine the biology or physiology of novel proteins, processes, or interactions. HTS presents a significant challenge with the vast and complex nature of data generated. This report describes MScreen, a Web-based, open-source cheminformatics application for chemical library and siRNA plate management, primary HTS and dose-response data handling, structure search, and administrative functions. Each project in MScreen can be secured with passwords or shared in an open-information environment that enables collaborators to easily compare data from many screens, providing a useful means to identify compounds with desired selectivity. Unique features include compound, substance, mixture, and siRNA plate creation and formatting; automated dose-response fitting and quality control (QC); and user, target, and assay method administration. MScreen provides an effective means to facilitate HTS information handling and analysis in the academic setting so that users can efficiently view their screening data and evaluate results for follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renju T Jacob
- Center for Chemical Genomics, Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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Couture F, D'Anjou F, Day R. On the cutting edge of proprotein convertase pharmacology: from molecular concepts to clinical applications. Biomol Concepts 2011; 2:421-438. [PMID: 22308173 DOI: 10.1515/bmc.2011.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing interest in the therapeutic targeting of proteases for the treatment of important diseases. Additionally new protein-based therapeutic strategies have the potential to widen the available treatments against these pathologies. In the last decade, accumulated evidence has confirmed that the family of proteases known as proprotein convertases (PCs) are potential targets for viral infections, osteoarthritis, cancer and cardiovascular disease, among others. Nevertheless, there are still many unanswered questions about the relevance of targeting PCs in a therapeutic context, especially regarding the anticipated secondary effects of treatment, considering the observed embryonic lethality of some PC knockout mice. In this review, the benefits of PCs as pharmacological targets will be discussed, with focus on concepts and strategies, as well as on the state of advancement of actual and future inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Couture
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke J1H 5N4, Québec, Canada
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17
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Applications of molecular imaging. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2011; 95:237-98. [PMID: 21075334 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-385071-3.00009-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Today molecular imaging technologies play a central role in clinical oncology. The use of imaging techniques in early cancer detection, treatment response, and new therapy development is steadily growing and has already significantly impacted on clinical management of cancer. In this chapter, we overview three different molecular imaging technologies used for the understanding of disease biomarkers, drug development, or monitoring therapeutic outcome. They are (1) optical imaging (bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging), (2) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and (3) nuclear imaging (e.g., single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET)). We review the use of molecular reporters of biological processes (e.g., apoptosis and protein kinase activity) for high-throughput drug screening and new cancer therapies, diffusion MRI as a biomarker for early treatment response and PET and SPECT radioligands in oncology.
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18
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Molecular Validation of PACE4 as a Target in Prostate Cancer. Transl Oncol 2011; 4:157-72. [PMID: 21633671 DOI: 10.1593/tlo.10295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2010] [Revised: 02/02/2011] [Accepted: 02/14/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer remains the single most prevalent cancer in men. Standard therapies are still limited and include androgen ablation that initially causes tumor regression. However, tumor cells eventually relapse and develop into a hormone-refractory prostate cancer. One of the current challenges in this disease is to define new therapeutic targets, which have been virtually unchanged in the past 30 years. Recent studies have suggested that the family of enzymes known as the proprotein convertases (PCs) is involved in various types of cancers and their progression. The present study examined PC expression in prostate cancer and validates one PC, namely PACE4, as a target. The evidence includes the observed high expression of PACE4 in all different clinical stages of human prostate tumor tissues. Gene silencing studies targeting PACE4 in the DU145 prostate cancer cell line produced cells (cell line 4-2) with slower proliferation rates, reduced clonogenic activity, and inability to grow as xenografts in nude mice. Gene expression and proteomic profiling of the 4-2 cell line reveals an increased expression of known cancer-related genes (e.g., GJA1, CD44, IGFBP6) that are downregulated in prostate cancer. Similarly, cancer genes whose expression is decreased in the 4-2 cell line were upregulated in prostate cancer (e.g., MUC1, IL6). The direct role of PACE4 in prostate cancer is most likely through the upregulated processing of growth factors or through the aberrant processing of growth factors leading to sustained cancer progression, suggesting that PACE4 holds a central role in prostate cancer.
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19
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Bernot D, Stalin J, Stocker P, Bonardo B, Scroyen I, Alessi MC, Peiretti F. Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 is an intracellular inhibitor of furin proprotein convertase. J Cell Sci 2011; 124:1224-30. [PMID: 21406565 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.079889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Proprotein convertases (PCs) are a family of serine proteases that are involved in the post-translational processing and activation of a wide range of regulatory proteins. The upstream role of PCs in the control of many physiological and pathological processes generates a growing interest in understanding their regulation. Here, we demonstrate that the serine protease inhibitor plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) forms an SDS-stable complex with the PC furin, which leads to the inhibition of the intra-Golgi activity of furin. It is known that elevated PAI-1 plasma levels are correlated with the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, and we show that PAI-1 reduces the furin-dependent maturation and activity of the insulin receptor and ADAM17: two proteins involved in the onset of these metabolic disorders. In addition to demonstrating that PAI-1 is an intracellular inhibitor of furin, this study also provides arguments in favor of an active role for PAI-1 in the development of metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Bernot
- Inserm, U626, Université de Méditerranée, Faculté de Médecine, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseilles Cedex 5, France
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20
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Mesnard D, Constam DB. Imaging proprotein convertase activities and their regulation in the implanting mouse blastocyst. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 191:129-39. [PMID: 20876279 PMCID: PMC2953431 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201005026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The CLIP biosensor reveals the spatiotemporal activity of the Nodal proprotein convertases Furin and Pace4 during embryonic development. Axis formation and allocation of pluripotent progenitor cells to the germ layers are governed by the TGF-β–related Nodal precursor and its secreted proprotein convertases (PCs) Furin and Pace4. However, when and where Furin and Pace4 first become active have not been determined. To study the distribution of PCs, we developed a novel cell surface–targeted fluorescent biosensor (cell surface–linked indicator of proteolysis [CLIP]). Live imaging of CLIP in wild-type and Furin- and Pace4-deficient embryonic stem cells and embryos revealed that Furin and Pace4 are already active at the blastocyst stage in the inner cell mass and can cleave membrane-bound substrate both cell autonomously and nonautonomously. CLIP was also cleaved in the epiblast of implanted embryos, in part by a novel activity in the uterus that is independent of zygotic Furin and Pace4, suggesting a role for maternal PCs during embryonic development. The unprecedented sensitivity and spatial resolution of CLIP opens exciting new possibilities to elucidate PC functions in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Mesnard
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, School of Life Sciences, Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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21
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Ketteler R. The Feynman trajectories: determining the path of a protein using fixed-endpoint assays. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 15:321-6. [PMID: 20130209 DOI: 10.1177/1087057109357116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Richard Feynman postulated in 1948 that the path of an electron can be best described by the sum or functional integral of all possible trajectories rather than by the notion of a single, unique trajectory. As a consequence, the position of an electron does not harbor any information about the paths that contributed to this position. This observation constitutes a classical endpoint observation. The endpoint assay is the desired type of experiment for high-throughput screening applications, mainly because of limitations in data acquisition and handling. Quite contrary to electrons, it is possible to extract information about the path of a protein using endpoint assays, and these types of applications are reviewed in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Ketteler
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
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22
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Basak A, Khatib AM, Mohottalage D, Basak S, Kolajova M, Bag SS, Basak A. A novel enediynyl peptide inhibitor of furin that blocks processing of proPDGF-A, B and proVEGF-C. PLoS One 2009; 4:e7700. [PMID: 19956642 PMCID: PMC2778948 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2009] [Accepted: 09/28/2009] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Furin represents a crucial member of secretory mammalian subtilase, the Proprotein Convertase (PC) or Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin (PCSK) superfamily. It has been linked to cancer, tumorgenesis, viral and bacterial pathogenesis. As a result it is considered a major target for intervention of these diseases. Methodology/Principal Findings Herein, we report, for the first time, the synthesis and biological evaluation of a newly designed potent furin inhibitor that contains a highly reactive beta-turn inducing and radical generating “enediynyl amino acid” (Eda) moiety. “Eda” was inserted between P1 and P1′ residues of hfurin98–112 peptide, derived from the primary cleavage site of furin's own prodomain. The resulting hexadecapeptide derivative inhibited furin in vitro with IC50 ∼40 nM when measured against the fluorogenic substrate Boc-RVRR-MCA. It also inhibited furin-mediated cleavage of a fluorogenic peptide derived from hSARS-CoV spike protein with IC50 ∼193 nM. Additionally it also blocked furin-processing of growth factors proPDGF-A, B and VEGF-C that are linked to tumor genesis and cancer. Circular dichroism study showed that this inhibitor displayed a predominantly beta-turn structure while western blots confirmed its ability to protect furin protein from self degradation. Conclusion/Significance These findings imply its potential as a therapeutic agent for intervention of cancer and other furin-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajoy Basak
- Department of Biochemistry, Chronic Diseases Program, Regional Protein Chemistry Center, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottowa, Ottawa, Canada.
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23
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Komiyama T, Coppola JM, Larsen MJ, van Dort ME, Ross BD, Day R, Rehemtulla A, Fuller RS. Inhibition of furin/proprotein convertase-catalyzed surface and intracellular processing by small molecules. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:15729-38. [PMID: 19332539 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m901540200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Furin is a ubiquitously expressed proprotein convertase (PC) that plays a vital role in numerous disease processes including cancer metastasis, bacterial toxin activation (e.g. anthrax and Pseudomonas), and viral propagation (e.g. avian influenza and human immunodeficiency virus). To identify small molecule inhibitors of furin and related processing enzymes, we performed high-throughput screens of chemical diversity libraries utilizing both enzyme-based and cell-based assays. The screens identified partially overlapping sets of compounds that were further characterized for affinity, mechanism, and efficacy in additional cellular processing assays. Dicoumarols were identified as a class of compounds that inhibited furin non-competitively and reversibly with Ki values in the micromolar range. These compounds inhibited furin/furin-like activity both at the cell surface (protecting against anthrax toxin) and in the secretory pathway (blocking processing of the metastasis factor membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase/MT1-MMP) at concentrations close to Ki values. Compounds tested exhibited distinct patterns of inhibition of other furin-family PCs (rat PACE4, human PC5/6 and human PC7), showing that dicoumarol derivatives might be developed as either generic or selective inhibitors of the PCs. The extensive clinical use, high bioavailability and relatively low toxicity of dicoumarols suggests that the dicoumarol structure will be a good starting point for development of drug-like inhibitors of furin and other PCs that can act both intracellularly and at the cell surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Komiyama
- Departments of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0606, USA
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24
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Kowalska D, Liu J, Appel JR, Ozawa A, Nefzi A, Mackin RB, Houghten RA, Lindberg I. Synthetic small-molecule prohormone convertase 2 inhibitors. Mol Pharmacol 2008; 75:617-25. [PMID: 19074544 DOI: 10.1124/mol.108.051334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The proprotein convertases are believed to be responsible for the proteolytic maturation of a large number of peptide hormone precursors. Although potent furin inhibitors have been identified, thus far, no small-molecule prohormone convertase 1/3 or prohormone convertase 2 (PC2) inhibitors have been described. After screening 38 small-molecule positional scanning libraries against recombinant mouse PC2, two promising chemical scaffolds were identified: bicyclic guanidines, and pyrrolidine bis-piperazines. A set of individual compounds was designed from each library and tested against PC2. Pyrrolidine bis-piperazines were irreversible, time-dependent inhibitors of PC2, exhibiting noncompetitive inhibition kinetics; the most potent inhibitor exhibited a K(i) value for PC2 of 0.54 microM. In contrast, the most potent bicyclic guanidine inhibitor exhibited a K(i) value of 3.3 microM. Cross-reactivity with other convertases was limited: pyrrolidine bis-piperazines exhibited K(i) values greater than 25 microM for PC1/3 or furin, whereas the K(i) values of bicyclic guanidines for these other convertases were more than 15 microM. We conclude that pyrrolidine bis-piperazines and bicyclic guanidines represent promising initial leads for the optimization of therapeutically active PC2 inhibitors. PC2-specific inhibitors may be useful in the pharmacological blockade of PC2-dependent cleavage events, such as glucagon production in the pancreas and ectopic peptide production in small-cell carcinoma, and to study PC2-dependent proteolytic events, such as opioid peptide production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Kowalska
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA
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25
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Coppola JM, Ross BD, Rehemtulla A. Noninvasive imaging of apoptosis and its application in cancer therapeutics. Clin Cancer Res 2008; 14:2492-501. [PMID: 18413842 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-07-0782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Activation of the apoptotic cascade plays an important role in the response of tumors to therapy. Noninvasive imaging of apoptosis facilitates optimization of therapeutic protocols regarding dosing and schedule and enables identification of efficacious combination therapies. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We describe a hybrid polypeptide that reports on caspase-3 activity in living cells and animals in a noninvasive manner. This reporter, ANLucBCLuc, constitutes a fusion of small interacting peptides, peptide A and peptide B, with the NLuc and CLuc fragments of luciferase with a caspase-3 cleavage site (DEVD) between pepANLuc (ANLuc) and pepBCLuc (BCLuc). During apoptosis, caspase-3 cleaves the reporter, enabling separation of ANLuc from BCLuc. A high-affinity interaction between peptide A and peptide B restores luciferase activity by NLuc and CLuc complementation. Using a D54 glioma model, we show the utility of the reporter in imaging of apoptosis in living subjects in response to various chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimens. RESULTS Treatment of live cells and mice carrying D54 tumor xenografts with chemotherapeutic agents such as temozolomide and perifosine resulted in induction of bioluminescence activity, which correlated with activation of caspase-3. Treatment of mice with combination therapy of temozolomide and radiation resulted in increased bioluminescence activity over individual treatments and increased therapeutic response due to enhanced apoptosis. CONCLUSION The data provided show the utility of the ANLucBCLuc reporter in dynamic, noninvasive imaging of apoptosis and provides a rationale for use of this technology to optimize dose and schedule of novel therapies or to develop novel combination therapies using existing drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M Coppola
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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26
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Coppola JM, Bhojani MS, Ross BD, Rehemtulla A. A small-molecule furin inhibitor inhibits cancer cell motility and invasiveness. Neoplasia 2008; 10:363-70. [PMID: 18392131 PMCID: PMC2288536 DOI: 10.1593/neo.08166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2008] [Revised: 01/15/2008] [Accepted: 01/16/2008] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Furin, a member the proprotein convertase (PC) family, processes inactive precursor proteins to functional proteins within the Golgi/trans-Golgi network secretory pathway. Furin and other PC family members (furin/PCs) activate proteins vital to proper physiological functioning, including growth factors and hormones, receptors, plasma proteins, and matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). Additionally, the expression and activity of furin/PC are necessary for processing substrates important for cell transformation and tumor progression, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Furin processing of the remodeling protease membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) enhances cellular motility and invasiveness, contributing to aggression and metastatic potential cancer cells. Whereas overexpression and activity of furin/PC exacerbate the cancer phenotype, inhibition of its activity decreases or nullifies furin/PC-mediated effects, and thus, inhibition of furin may be a viable route to cancer therapy. Recently, we identified a small-molecule inhibitor of furin, named B3, by high-throughput screening with a K(i) and IC(50) of 12 microM. Here, we show that this cell-permeable, small-molecule compound inhibits furin-mediated cleavage of proMT1-MMP, resulting in decreased MMP-2 activation and cell motility in CHO cells expressing proMT1-MMP. Additionally, this molecule inhibited proMT1-MMP processing, complete MMP-2 maturation, and invasiveness of human fibrosarcoma cells (HT1080).
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M Coppola
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
| | - Mahaveer S Bhojani
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
| | - Brian D Ross
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
| | - Alnawaz Rehemtulla
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
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27
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Auld D, Simeonov A, Thomas C. Literature Search and Review. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2007. [DOI: 10.1089/adt.2007.9993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Doug Auld
- National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
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