Review of NEDDylation inhibition activity detection methods

Discovery of 1,2,4-Triazole-3-thione Derivatives as Potent and Selective DCN1 Inhibitors for Pathological Cardiac Fibrosis and Remodeling

DCN1, a critical co-E3 ligase during the neddylation process, is overactivated in many diseases, such as cancers, heart failure as well as fibrotic diseases, and has been regarded as a new target for drug development. Herein, we designed and synthesized a new class of 1,2,4-triazole-3-thione-based DCN1 inhibitors based the hit HD1 identified from high-throughput screening and optimized through numerous structure-activity-relationship (SAR) explorations. HD2 (IC50= 2.96 nM) was finally identified and represented a highly potent and selective DCN1 inhibitor with favorable PK properties and low toxicity. Amazingly, HD2 effectively relieved Ang II/TGFβ-induced cardiac fibroblast activation in vitro, and reduced ISO-induced cardiac fibrosis as well as remodeling in vivo, which was linked to the inhibition of cullin 3 neddylation and its substrate Nrf2 accumulation. Our findings unveil a novel 1,2,4-triazole-3-thione-based derivative HD2, which can be recognized as a promising lead compound targeting DCN1 for cardiac fibrosis and remodeling.

Insight into the role of IRF7 in skin and connective tissue diseases

Interferons (IFNs) are signalling proteins primarily involved in initiating innate immune responses against pathogens and promoting the maturation of immune cells. Interferon Regulatory Factor 7 (IRF7) plays a pivotal role in the IFNs signalling pathway. The activation process of IRF7 is incited by exogenous or abnormal nucleic acids, which is followed by the identification via pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and the ensuing signalling cascades. Upon activation, IRF7 modulates the expression of both IFNs and inflammatory gene regulation. As a multifunctional transcription factor, IRF7 is mainly expressed in immune cells, yet its presence is also detected in keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and various dermal cell types. In these cells, IRF7 is critical for skin immunity, inflammation, and fibrosis. IRF7 dysregulation may lead to autoimmune and inflammatory skin conditions, including systemic scleroderma (SSc), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Atopic dermatitis (AD) and Psoriasis. This comprehensive review aims to extensively elucidate the role of IRF7 and its signalling pathways in immune cells and keratinocytes, highlighting its significance in skin-related and connective tissue diseases.

Role of non-canonical post-translational modifications in gastrointestinal tumors

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins contribute to the occurrence and development of tumors. Previous studies have suggested that canonical PTMs such as ubiquitination, glycosylation, and phosphorylation are closely implicated in different aspects of gastrointestinal tumors. Recently, emerging evidence showed that non-canonical PTMs play an essential role in the carcinogenesis, metastasis and treatment of gastrointestinal tumors. Therefore, we summarized recent advances in sumoylation, neddylation, isoprenylation, succinylation and other non-canonical PTMs in gastrointestinal tumors, which comprehensively describe the mechanisms and functions of non-classical PTMs in gastrointestinal tumors. It is anticipated that targeting specific PTMs could benefit the treatment as well as improve the prognosis of gastrointestinal tumors.

Research progress on post-translational modification of proteins and cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as atherosclerosis, myocardial remodeling, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, heart failure, and oxidative stress are among the greatest threats to human health worldwide. Cardiovascular pathogenesis has been studied for decades, and the influence of epigenetic changes on CVDs has been extensively studied. Post-translational modifications (PTMs), including phosphorylation, glycosylation, methylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, ubiquitin-like and nitrification, play important roles in the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system. Over the past decade, with the application of high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), an increasing number novel acylation modifications have been discovered, including propionylation, crotonylation, butyrylation, succinylation, lactylation, and isonicotinylation. Each change in protein conformation has the potential to alter protein function and lead to CVDs, and this process is usually reversible. This article summarizes the mechanisms underlying several common PTMs involved in the occurrence and development of CVDs.

Targeting protein modifications in metabolic diseases: molecular mechanisms and targeted therapies

The ever-increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) represents a major public health burden worldwide. The most common form of NCD is metabolic diseases, which affect people of all ages and usually manifest their pathobiology through life-threatening cardiovascular complications. A comprehensive understanding of the pathobiology of metabolic diseases will generate novel targets for improved therapies across the common metabolic spectrum. Protein posttranslational modification (PTM) is an important term that refers to biochemical modification of specific amino acid residues in target proteins, which immensely increases the functional diversity of the proteome. The range of PTMs includes phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation, neddylation, glycosylation, palmitoylation, myristoylation, prenylation, cholesterylation, glutathionylation, S-nitrosylation, sulfhydration, citrullination, ADP ribosylation, and several novel PTMs. Here, we offer a comprehensive review of PTMs and their roles in common metabolic diseases and pathological consequences, including diabetes, obesity, fatty liver diseases, hyperlipidemia, and atherosclerosis. Building upon this framework, we afford a through description of proteins and pathways involved in metabolic diseases by focusing on PTM-based protein modifications, showcase the pharmaceutical intervention of PTMs in preclinical studies and clinical trials, and offer future perspectives. Fundamental research defining the mechanisms whereby PTMs of proteins regulate metabolic diseases will open new avenues for therapeutic intervention.

Discovery of 1,2,4-triazine dithiocarbamate derivatives as NEDDylation agonists to inhibit gastric cancers

NEDDylation process regulates multiple physiological functions and signaling pathways, which are still in an equilibrium that favors the survival and proliferation of tumor cells. Unlike inhibitors, NEDDylation agonists are rarely studied. In this work, novel 1,2,4-triazine-dithiocarbamate derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for antiproliferative activity against MGC-803, PC-3 and EC-109 cells. Among them, compound K3 displayed the most potent activity MGC-803, PC-3 and EC-109 cells with IC₅₀ values of 2.35, 5.71 and 10.1 μM, respectively, which were more potent than 5-FU. Further cellular mechanisms suggested that compound K3 inhibited the cell viability, induced proliferation inhibition, arrested cell cycle at G2/M phase and induced cell apoptosis in MGC-803 and HGC-27 cells. Importantly, compound K3 could interact with NAE1 to promote the NEDDylation of MGC-803 and HGC-27 cells. The promotion of NEDDylation resulted in the degradation of c-IAP and YAP/TAZ, which leads to the induction of cell apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation in MGC-803 and HGC-27 cells. Therefore, as a NEDDylation agonist, compound K3 could effectively inhibit gastric cancer cells. Here, we reported NEDDylation promotion induced by compound K3, which could inhibit the cancer cell lines MGC-803 and HGC-27 and induce the cancer cell apoptosis via prompting the degradation of c-IAP and YAP/TAZ.

Discovery of novel indole derivatives that inhibit NEDDylation and MAPK pathways against gastric cancer MGC803 cells

A series of novel indole derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against three selected cancer cell lines (MGC803, EC-109 and PC-3). Among these analogues, 2-(5-methoxy-1H-indol-1-yl)-N-(4-methoxybenzyl)-N-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)acetamide (V7) showed the best inhibitory activity against MGC803 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 1.59 μM. Cellular mechanisms elucidated that V7 inhibited colony formation, induced apoptosis and arrested cell cycle at G2/M phase. Importantly, indole analogue V7 inhibited NEDDylation pathway and MAPK pathway against MGC803 cells.