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Zhang L, Lin S, Zhang Z, Yan C, Liu F. The role of p21-activated kinase 4 in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma by targeting PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Clin Transl Oncol 2023; 25:739-747. [PMID: 36593383 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-022-02980-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oral squamous carcinoma (OSCC), the most common head and neck malignancy, has a strong propensity for malignant proliferation and metastasis, which will decrease the survival of patients. P21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4), a classical serine/threonine protein kinase with multiple cellular functions, has an essential role in cancer cell migration and invasion. Here, we elucidated the function and possible molecular mechanisms of the effect of PAK4 on the biological behaviors of OSCC. METHODS The expression of genes and protein was detected by real-time PCR and western blotting. We used oral squamous carcinoma cell lines, Tca8117, Cal 27, SCC 4, and SCC 9 for validation of our cell function data. Flow cytometry, 3D cultures, and clone formation assay were used to detect proliferation of cells. RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis was performed to determine the potential function of PAK4. RESULTS Immunohistochemistry, western blotting and real-time PCR demonstrated that PAK4 expression was up-regulated in OSCC tissues. Overexpression of PAK4 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of OSCC cell lines. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) for the transcriptome-wide analysis of differential gene expression followed by bioinformatic analysis was performed to determine the potential function of PAK4. Based on the KEGG enrichment analysis and GO analysis of differential expression genes (DEGs) we found that PAK4 promotes the cell-cycle machinery, which associated with 44 regulated genes, thereby promoting cancer cell differentiation. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that the PAK4 regulates the biological behaviors of OSCC by PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, and these findings might provide a novel strategy for OSCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Zhang
- Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Shenyang, China.,Nosocomial Infection Management Office, School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Shenyang, China
| | - Shanfeng Lin
- Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Shenyang, China
| | - Zeying Zhang
- Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Shenyang, China.,Department of Endodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Shenyang, China
| | - Cong Yan
- Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Shenyang, China
| | - Fayu Liu
- Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Shenyang, China.
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The Inhibitory Mechanism of 7 H-Pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine Derivatives as Inhibitors of P21-Activated Kinase 4 through Molecular Dynamics Simulation. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 28:molecules28010413. [PMID: 36615619 PMCID: PMC9823812 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28010413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The overexpression of p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) is associated with a variety of cancers. In this paper, the binding modes and inhibitory mechanisms of four 7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine competitive inhibitors of PAK4 were investigated at the molecular level, mainly using molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy calculations. The results show that the inhibitors had strong interactions with the hinge region, the β-sheets, and the residues with charged side chains around the 4-substituent. The terminal amino group of the inhibitor 5n was different from the other three, which could cause the enhancement of hydrogen bonds or electrostatic interactions formed with the surrounding residues. Thus, inhibitor 5n had the strongest inhibition capacity. The different halogen atoms on the 2-substituents of the inhibitors 5h, 5g, and 5e caused differences in the positions of the 2-benzene rings and affected the interactions of the hinge region. It also affected to some extent the orientations of the 4-imino groups and consequently their affinities for the surrounding charged residues. The combined results lead to the weakest inhibitory capacity of inhibitor 5e.
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Chetty AK, Ha BH, Boggon TJ. Rho family GTPase signaling through type II p21-activated kinases. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:598. [PMID: 36401658 PMCID: PMC10105373 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04618-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Signaling from the Rho family small GTPases controls a wide range of signaling outcomes. Key among the downstream effectors for many of the Rho GTPases are the p21-activated kinases, or PAK group. The PAK family comprises two types, the type I PAKs (PAK1, 2 and 3) and the type II PAKs (PAK4, 5 and 6), which have distinct structures and mechanisms of regulation. In this review, we discuss signal transduction from Rho GTPases with a focus on the type II PAKs. We discuss the role of PAKs in signal transduction pathways and selectivity of Rho GTPases for PAK family members. We consider the less well studied of the Rho GTPases and their PAK-related signaling. We then discuss the molecular basis for kinase domain recognition of substrates and for regulation of signaling. We conclude with a discussion of the role of PAKs in cross talk between Rho family small GTPases and the roles of PAKs in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwin K Chetty
- Yale College, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Byung Hak Ha
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Titus J Boggon
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
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Ma Y, Nikfarjam M, He H. The trilogy of P21 activated kinase, autophagy and immune evasion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Lett 2022; 548:215868. [PMID: 36027997 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most lethal types of cancer with a dismal prognosis. KRAS mutation is a commonly identified oncogene in PDA tumorigenesis and P21-activated kinases (PAKs) are its downstream mediator. While PAK1 is more well-studied, PAK4 also attracted increasing interest. In PDA, PAK inhibition not only reduces cancer cell viability but also sensitises it to chemotherapy. While PDA remains resistant to existing immunotherapies, PAK inhibition has been shown to increase cancer immunogenicity of melanoma, glioblastoma and PDA. Furthermore, autophagy plays an important role in PDA immune evasion, and accumulating evidence has pointed to a connection between PAK and cancer cell autophagy. In this literature review, we aim to summarize currently available studies that have assessed the potential connection between PAK, autophagy and immune evasion in PDA biology to guide future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Ma
- Department of Surgery, Austin Precinct, The University of Melbourne, 145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Mehrdad Nikfarjam
- Department of Surgery, Austin Precinct, The University of Melbourne, 145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia; Department of Hepatopancreatic-Biliary Surgery, Austin Health, 145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Hong He
- Department of Surgery, Austin Precinct, The University of Melbourne, 145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.
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Differential roles and regulation of the protein kinases PAK4, PAK5 and PAK6 in melanoma cells. Biochem J 2022; 479:1709-1725. [PMID: 35969127 PMCID: PMC9444074 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220184] [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: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The protein kinases PAK4, PAK5 and PAK6 comprise a family of ohnologues. In multiple cancers including melanomas PAK5 most frequently carries non-synonymous mutations; PAK6 and PAK4 have fewer; and PAK4 is often amplified. To help interpret these genomic data, initially we compared the cellular regulation of the sister kinases and their roles in melanoma cells. In common with many ohnologue protein kinases, PAK4, PAK5 and PAK6 each have two 14-3-3-binding phosphosites of which phosphoSer99 is conserved. PAK4 localises to the leading edge of cells in response to phorbol ester-stimulated binding of 14-3-3 to phosphoSer99 and phosphoSer181, which are phosphorylated by two different PKCs or PKDs. These phosphorylations of PAK4 are essential for its phorbol ester-stimulated phosphorylation of downstream substrates. In contrast, 14-3-3 interacts with PAK5 in response to phorbol ester-stimulated phosphorylation of Ser99 and epidermal growth factor-stimulated phosphorylation of Ser288; whereas PAK6 docks onto 14-3-3 and is prevented from localising to cell–cell junctions when Ser133 is phosphorylated in response to cAMP-elevating agents via PKA and insulin-like growth factor 1 via PKB/Akt. Silencing of PAK4 impairs viability, migration and invasive behaviour of melanoma cells carrying BRAFV600E or NRASQ61K mutations. These defects are rescued by ectopic expression of PAK4, more so by a 14-3-3-binding deficient PAK4, and barely by PAK5 or PAK6. Together these genomic, biochemical and cellular data suggest that the oncogenic properties of PAK4 are regulated by PKC–PKD signalling in melanoma, while PAK5 and PAK6 are dispensable in this cancer.
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Wang C, Xia J, Lei Y, Lu R, Zhang M, Lv H, Hong Q, Lu T, Chen Y, Li H. Synthesis and biological evaluation of 7H-pyrrolo [2,3-d] pyrimidine derivatives as potential p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem 2022; 60:116700. [PMID: 35272236 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2022.116700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
PAK4 has been validated as a crucial effector of various signal pathways and play an important role in driving tumor progression. Here, we developed a series of 7H-pyrrolo [2,3-d] pyrimidine derivatives as PAK4 inhibitors. Compounds 5n and 5o showed higher enzymatic inhibitory activities (IC50 = 2.7 and 20.2 nM, respectively) and potent activity (IC50 = 7.8 and 38.3 nM, respectively) against MV4-11 cell line. Further flow cytometry assay revealed that the compound 5n can arrest MV4-11 cells at G0/G1 phase and induce cell apoptosis. Molecular mechanism study indicated that compound 5n regulated the phosphorylation of PAK4 in vitro. The docking study supported that compound 5n binds to PAK4 through various hydrogen bonding interactions and hydrophobic interactions. Thus, compound 5n represents a promising lead for the discovery of PAK4 directed therapeutic agents and may be considered for further drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Design and Drug Discovery, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Jiawei Xia
- Laboratory of Molecular Design and Drug Discovery, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Yan Lei
- Laboratory of Molecular Design and Drug Discovery, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Rui Lu
- Laboratory of Molecular Design and Drug Discovery, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Mingliang Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Design and Drug Discovery, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - He Lv
- Laboratory of Molecular Design and Drug Discovery, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Qianqian Hong
- Laboratory of Molecular Design and Drug Discovery, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Tao Lu
- Laboratory of Molecular Design and Drug Discovery, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Yadong Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Design and Drug Discovery, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Hongmei Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Design and Drug Discovery, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China.
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Yoon HR, Chai CC, Kim CH, Kang NS. A Study on the Effect of the Substituent against PAK4 Inhibition Using In Silico Methods. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063337. [PMID: 35328758 PMCID: PMC8953563 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The intrinsic inductive properties of atoms or functional groups depend on the chemical properties of either electron-withdrawing groups (EWGs) or electron-donating groups (EDGs). This study aimed to evaluate in silico methods to determine whether changes in chemical properties of the compound by single atomic substitution affect the biological activity of target proteins and whether the results depend on the properties of the functional groups. We found an imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine-based PAK4 inhibitor, compound 1, as an initial hit compound with the well-defined binding mode for PAK4. In this study, we used both experimental and in silico methods to investigate the effect of atomic substitution on biological activity to optimize the initial hit compound. In biological assays, in the case of EWG, as the size of the halogen atom became smaller and the electronegativity increased, the biological activity IC50 value ranged from 5150 nM to inactive; in the case of EDG, biological activity was inactive. Furthermore, we analyzed the interactions of PAK4 with compounds, focusing on the hinge region residues, L398 and E399, and gatekeeper residues, M395 and K350, of the PAK4 protein using molecular docking studies and fragment molecular orbital (FMO) methods to determine the differences between the effect of EWG and EDG on the activity of target proteins. These results of the docking score and binding energy did not explain the differences in biological activity. However, the pair-interaction energy obtained from the results of the FMO method indicated that there was a difference in the interaction energy between the EWG and EDG in the hinge region residues, L398 and E399, as well as in M395 and K350. The two groups with different properties exhibited opposite electrostatic energy and charge transfer energy between L398 and E399. Additionally, we investigated the electron distribution of the parts interacting with the hinge region by visualizing the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surface of the compounds. In conclusion, we described the properties of functional groups that affect biological activity using an in silico method, FMO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Ree Yoon
- Graduate School of New Drug Discovery and Development, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea;
| | - Chong Chul Chai
- Pharos iBio Co., Ltd. #1408, 38 Heungan-daero 427, Dongan-gu, Anyang-si 14059, Korea; (C.C.C.); (C.H.K.)
| | - Cheol Hee Kim
- Pharos iBio Co., Ltd. #1408, 38 Heungan-daero 427, Dongan-gu, Anyang-si 14059, Korea; (C.C.C.); (C.H.K.)
| | - Nam Sook Kang
- Graduate School of New Drug Discovery and Development, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-42-821-8626
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