1
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Chen PH, Guo XS, Zhang HE, Dubey GK, Geng ZZ, Fierke CA, Xu S, Hampton JT, Liu WR. Leveraging a Phage-Encoded Noncanonical Amino Acid: A Novel Pathway to Potent and Selective Epigenetic Reader Protein Inhibitors. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2024; 10:782-792. [PMID: 38680566 PMCID: PMC11046469 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c01419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic reader proteins interpret histone epigenetic marks to regulate gene expression. Given their vital roles and the link between their dysfunction and various diseases, these proteins present compelling targets for therapeutic interventions. Nevertheless, designing selective inhibitors for these proteins poses significant challenges, primarily due to their unique properties such as shallow binding sites and similarities with homologous proteins. To overcome these challenges, we propose an innovative strategy that uses phage display with a genetically encoded noncanonical amino acid (ncAA) containing an epigenetic mark. This ncAA guides binding to the reader protein's active site, allowing the identification of peptide inhibitors with enhanced affinity and selectivity. In this study, we demonstrate this novel approach's effectiveness by identifying potent inhibitors for the ENL YEATS domain that plays a critical role in leukemogenesis. Our strategy involved genetically incorporating Nε-butyryl-l-lysine (BuK), known for its binding to ENL YEATS, into a phage display library for enriching the pool of potent inhibitors. One resultant hit was further optimized by substituting BuK with other pharmacophores to exploit a unique π-π-π stacking interaction with ENL YEATS. This led to the creation of selective ENL YEATS inhibitors with a KD value of 2.0 nM and a selectivity 28 times higher for ENL YEATS than its close homologue AF9 YEATS. One such inhibitor, tENL-S1f, demonstrated robust cellular target engagement and on-target effects to inhibit leukemia cell growth and suppress the expression of ENL target genes. As a pioneering study, this work opens up extensive avenues for the development of potent and selective peptidyl inhibitors for a broad spectrum of epigenetic reader proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Hsun
Chase Chen
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center and Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Xuejiao Shirley Guo
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center and Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Hanyuan Eric Zhang
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center and Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Gopal K. Dubey
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center and Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Zhi Zachary Geng
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center and Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Carol A. Fierke
- Department
of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02453, United States
| | - Shiqing Xu
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center and Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - J. Trae Hampton
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center and Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Wenshe Ray Liu
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center and Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Institute
of Biosciences and Technology and Department of Translational Medical
Sciences, College of Medicine, Texas A&M
University, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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2
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Travis CR, Kean KM, Albanese KI, Henriksen HC, Treacy JW, Chao EY, Houk KN, Waters ML. Trimethyllysine Reader Proteins Exhibit Widespread Charge-Agnostic Binding via Different Mechanisms to Cationic and Neutral Ligands. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:3086-3093. [PMID: 38266163 PMCID: PMC11140585 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c10031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
In the last 40 years, cation-π interactions have become part of the lexicon of noncovalent forces that drive protein binding. Indeed, tetraalkylammoniums are universally bound by aromatic cages in proteins, suggesting that cation-π interactions are a privileged mechanism for binding these ligands. A prominent example is the recognition of histone trimethyllysine (Kme3) by the conserved aromatic cage of reader proteins, dictating gene expression. However, two proteins have recently been suggested as possible exceptions to the conventional understanding of tetraalkylammonium recognition. To broadly interrogate the role of cation-π interactions in protein binding interactions, we report the first large-scale comparative evaluation of reader proteins for a neutral Kme3 isostere, experimental and computational mechanistic studies, and structural analysis. We find unexpected widespread binding of readers to a neutral isostere with the first examples of readers that bind the neutral isostere more tightly than Kme3. We find that no single factor dictates the charge selectivity, demonstrating the challenge of predicting such interactions. Further, readers that bind both cationic and neutral ligands differ in mechanism: binding Kme3 via cation-π interactions and the neutral isostere through the hydrophobic effect in the same aromatic cage. This discovery explains apparently contradictory results in previous studies, challenges traditional understanding of molecular recognition of tetraalkylammoniums by aromatic cages in myriad protein-ligand interactions, and establishes a new framework for selective inhibitor design by exploiting differences in charge dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R. Travis
- Department of Chemistry, CB 3290, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kelsey M. Kean
- Department of Chemistry, CB 3290, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Katherine I. Albanese
- Department of Chemistry, CB 3290, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Hanne C. Henriksen
- Department of Chemistry, CB 3290, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Joseph W. Treacy
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569, USA
| | - Elaine Y. Chao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569, USA
| | - K. N. Houk
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569, USA
| | - Marcey L. Waters
- Department of Chemistry, CB 3290, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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3
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Erb MA. Small-molecule tools for YEATS domain proteins. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2023; 77:102404. [PMID: 37924571 PMCID: PMC10842393 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.102404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Chromatin reader domains are protein folds that bind to post-translational modifications of histones and other chromatin-associated proteins. Compared to other families of reader domains, the discovery that YEATS domains bind to acylated lysines is relatively recent. Four human proteins harbor a YEATS domain, and each is present in protein complexes that regulate chromatin and transcription (ENL, AF9, YEATS2, and YEATS4). Without chemical tools to enable temporally resolved perturbations, it is often unclear how reader domains contribute to protein function. Here, we will discuss recent progress in developing small-molecule tools for YEATS domains and highlight their usefulness for making biological discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Erb
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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4
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Shell DJ, Foley CA, Wang Q, Smith CM, Guduru SKR, Zeng H, Dong A, Norris-Drouin JL, Axtman M, Hardy PB, Gupta G, Halabelian L, Frye SV, James LI, Pearce KH. Discovery of a 53BP1 Small Molecule Antagonist Using a Focused DNA-Encoded Library Screen. J Med Chem 2023; 66:14133-14149. [PMID: 37782247 PMCID: PMC10630848 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Methyl-lysine reader p53 binding protein 1 (53BP1) is a central mediator of DNA break repair and is associated with various human diseases, including cancer. Thus, high-quality 53BP1 chemical probes can aid in further understanding the role of 53BP1 in genome repair pathways. Herein, we utilized focused DNA-encoded library screening to identify the novel hit compound UNC8531, which binds the 53BP1 tandem Tudor domain (TTD) with an IC50 of 0.47 ± 0.09 μM in a TR-FRET assay and Kd values of 0.85 ± 0.17 and 0.79 ± 0.52 μM in ITC and SPR, respectively. UNC8531 was cocrystallized with the 53BP1 TTD to guide further optimization efforts, leading to UNC9512. NanoBRET and 53BP1-dependent foci formation experiments confirmed cellular target engagement. These results show that UNC9512 is a best-in-class small molecule 53BP1 antagonist that can aid further studies investigating the role of 53BP1 in DNA repair, gene editing, and oncogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devan J Shell
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Caroline A Foley
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Qinhong Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Chelsea M Smith
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Shiva K R Guduru
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Hong Zeng
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Aiping Dong
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Jacqueline L Norris-Drouin
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Matthew Axtman
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - P Brian Hardy
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Gaorav Gupta
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Levon Halabelian
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Stephen V Frye
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Lindsey I James
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Kenneth H Pearce
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
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5
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Han H, Lv F, Liu Z, Chen T, Xue T, Liang W, Liu M. BcTaf14 regulates growth and development, virulence, and stress responses in the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2023; 24:849-865. [PMID: 37026690 PMCID: PMC10346378 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
TATA box-binding protein (TBP)-associated factor 14 (Taf14), a transcription-associated factor containing a conserved YEATS domain and an extra-terminal (ET) domain, is a multifunctional protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, the role of Taf14 in filamentous phytopathogenic fungi is not well understood. In this study, the homologue of ScTaf14 in Botrytis cinerea (named BcTaf14), a destructive phytopathogen causing grey mould, was investigated. The BcTaf14 deletion strain (ΔBcTaf14) showed pleiotropic defects, including slow growth, abnormal colony morphology, reduced conidiation, abnormal conidial morphology, reduced virulence, and altered responses to various stresses. The ΔBcTaf14 strain also exhibited differential expression of numerous genes compared to the wild-type strain. BcTaf14 could interact with the crotonylated H3K9 peptide, and mutation of two key sites (G80 and W81) in the YEATS domain disrupted this interaction. The mutation of G80 and W81 affected the regulatory effect of BcTaf14 on mycelial growth and virulence but did not affect the production and morphology of conidia. The absence of the ET domain at the C-terminus rendered BcTaf14 unable to localize to the nucleus, and the defects of ΔBcTaf14 were not recovered to wild-type levels when BcTaf14 without the ET domain was expressed. Our results provide insight into the regulatory roles of BcTaf14 and its two conserved domains in B. cinerea and will be helpful for understanding the function of the Taf14 protein in plant-pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjia Han
- College of Plant Health and MedicineQingdao Agricultural UniversityQingdao266109China
| | - Fangjiao Lv
- College of Plant Health and MedicineQingdao Agricultural UniversityQingdao266109China
| | - Zhishan Liu
- College of Plant Health and MedicineQingdao Agricultural UniversityQingdao266109China
| | - Tongge Chen
- College of Plant Health and MedicineQingdao Agricultural UniversityQingdao266109China
| | - Tianzi Xue
- College of Plant Health and MedicineQingdao Agricultural UniversityQingdao266109China
| | - Wenxing Liang
- College of Plant Health and MedicineQingdao Agricultural UniversityQingdao266109China
| | - Mengjie Liu
- College of Plant Health and MedicineQingdao Agricultural UniversityQingdao266109China
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6
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Coleman OD, Macdonald J, Thomson B, Ward JA, Stubbs CJ, McAllister TE, Clark S, Amin S, Cao Y, Abboud MI, Zhang Y, Sanganee H, Huber KVM, Claridge TDW, Kawamura A. Cyclic peptides target the aromatic cage of a PHD-finger reader domain to modulate epigenetic protein function. Chem Sci 2023; 14:7136-7146. [PMID: 37416723 PMCID: PMC10321576 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc05944d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant homeodomain fingers (PHD-fingers) are a family of reader domains that can recruit epigenetic proteins to specific histone modification sites. Many PHD-fingers recognise methylated lysines on histone tails and play crucial roles in transcriptional regulation, with their dysregulation linked to various human diseases. Despite their biological importance, chemical inhibitors for targeting PHD-fingers are very limited. Here we report a potent and selective de novo cyclic peptide inhibitor (OC9) targeting the Nε-trimethyllysine-binding PHD-fingers of the KDM7 histone demethylases, developed using mRNA display. OC9 disrupts PHD-finger interaction with histone H3K4me3 by engaging the Nε-methyllysine-binding aromatic cage through a valine, revealing a new non-lysine recognition motif for the PHD-fingers that does not require cation-π interaction. PHD-finger inhibition by OC9 impacted JmjC-domain mediated demethylase activity at H3K9me2, leading to inhibition of KDM7B (PHF8) but stimulation of KDM7A (KIAA1718), representing a new approach for selective allosteric modulation of demethylase activity. Chemoproteomic analysis showed selective engagement of OC9 with KDM7s in T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma SUP T1 cells. Our results highlight the utility of mRNA-display derived cyclic peptides for targeting challenging epigenetic reader proteins to probe their biology, and the broader potential of this approach for targeting protein-protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver D Coleman
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences - Chemistry, Newcastle University Newcastle NE1 7RU UK
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford Roosevelt Drive Old Road Campus Oxford OX3 7BN UK
| | - Jessica Macdonald
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Ben Thomson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Jennifer A Ward
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford Old Road Campus Oxford OX3 7FZ UK
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford Oxford OX3 7FZ UK
| | - Christopher J Stubbs
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca Cambridge CB4 0WG UK
| | - Tom E McAllister
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences - Chemistry, Newcastle University Newcastle NE1 7RU UK
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford Roosevelt Drive Old Road Campus Oxford OX3 7BN UK
| | - Shane Clark
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Siddique Amin
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences - Chemistry, Newcastle University Newcastle NE1 7RU UK
| | - Yimang Cao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Martine I Abboud
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Yijia Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Hitesh Sanganee
- Emerging Innovations Unit, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca Cambridge UK
| | - Kilian V M Huber
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford Old Road Campus Oxford OX3 7FZ UK
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford Oxford OX3 7FZ UK
| | - Tim D W Claridge
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Akane Kawamura
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences - Chemistry, Newcastle University Newcastle NE1 7RU UK
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford Roosevelt Drive Old Road Campus Oxford OX3 7BN UK
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7
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Vadla R, Miki S, Taylor B, Kawauchi D, Jones BM, Nathwani N, Pham P, Tsang J, Nathanson DA, Furnari FB. Glioblastoma Mesenchymal Transition and Invasion are Dependent on a NF-κB/BRD2 Chromatin Complex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.03.546613. [PMID: 37461511 PMCID: PMC10349949 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.03.546613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) represents the most aggressive subtype of glioma, noted for its profound invasiveness and molecular heterogeneity. The mesenchymal (MES) transcriptomic subtype is frequently associated with therapy resistance, rapid recurrence, and increased tumor-associated macrophages. Notably, activation of the NF-κB pathway and alterations in the PTEN gene are both associated with this malignant transition. Although PTEN aberrations have been shown to be associated with enhanced NF-κB signaling, the relationships between PTEN, NF-κB and MES transition are poorly understood in GBM. Here, we show that PTEN regulates the chromatin binding of bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family proteins, BRD2 and BRD4, mediated by p65/RelA localization to the chromatin. By utilizing patient-derived glioblastoma stem cells and CRISPR gene editing of the RELA gene, we demonstrate a crucial role for RelA lysine 310 acetylation in recruiting BET proteins to chromatin for MES gene expression and GBM cell invasion upon PTEN loss. Remarkably, we found that BRD2 is dependent on chromatin associated acetylated RelA for its recruitment to MES gene promoters and their expression. Furthermore, loss of BRD2 results in the loss of MES signature, accompanied by an enrichment of proneural signature and enhanced therapy responsiveness. Finally, we demonstrate that disrupting the NFκB/BRD2 interaction with a brain penetrant BET-BD2 inhibitor reduces mesenchymal gene expression, GBM invasion, and therapy resistance in GBM models. This study uncovers the role of hitherto unexplored PTEN-NF-κB-BRD2 pathway in promoting MES transition and suggests inhibiting this complex with BET-BD2 specific inhibitors as a therapeutic approach to target the MES phenotype in GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghavendra Vadla
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Shunichiro Miki
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Brett Taylor
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Daisuke Kawauchi
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Brandon M Jones
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nidhi Nathwani
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Philip Pham
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jonathan Tsang
- Departments of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - David A Nathanson
- Departments of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Frank B Furnari
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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8
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Shell DJ, Rectenwald JM, Buttery PH, Johnson RL, Foley CA, Guduru SKR, Uguen M, Rubiano JS, Zhang X, Li F, Norris-Drouin JL, Axtman M, Brian Hardy P, Vedadi M, Frye SV, James LI, Pearce KH. Discovery of hit compounds for methyl-lysine reader proteins from a target class DNA-encoded library. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2022; 27:428-439. [PMID: 36272689 DOI: 10.1016/j.slasd.2022.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Methyl-lysine (Kme) reader domains are prevalent in chromatin regulatory proteins which bind post-translational modification sites to recruit repressive and activating factors; therefore, these proteins play crucial roles in cellular signaling and epigenetic regulation. Proteins that contain Kme domains are implicated in various diseases, including cancer, making them attractive therapeutic targets for drug and chemical probe discovery. Herein, we report on expanding the utility of a previously reported, Kme-focused DNA-encoded library (DEL), UNCDEL003, as a screening tool for hit discovery through the specific targeting of Kme reader proteins. As an efficient method for library generation, focused DELs are designed based on structural and functional features of a specific class of proteins with the intent of novel hit discovery. To broadly assess the applicability of our library, UNCDEL003 was screened against five diverse Kme reader protein domains (53BP1 TTD, KDM7B JmjC-PHD, CDYL2 CD, CBX2 CD, and LEDGF PWWP) with varying structures and functions. From these screening efforts, we identified hit compounds which contain unique chemical scaffolds distinct from previously reported ligands. The selected hit compounds were synthesized off-DNA and confirmed using primary and secondary assays and assessed for binding selectivity. Hit compounds from these efforts can serve as starting points for additional development and optimization into chemical probes to aid in further understanding the functionality of these therapeutically relevant proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devan J Shell
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Justin M Rectenwald
- School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Peter H Buttery
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Rebecca L Johnson
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Caroline A Foley
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Shiva K R Guduru
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Mélanie Uguen
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Juanita Sanchez Rubiano
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Xindi Zhang
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Fengling Li
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Jacqueline L Norris-Drouin
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Matthew Axtman
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - P Brian Hardy
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Masoud Vedadi
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Stephen V Frye
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Lindsey I James
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kenneth H Pearce
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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9
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Verhelst S, Van Puyvelde B, Willems S, Daled S, Cornelis S, Corveleyn L, Willems E, Deforce D, De Clerck L, Dhaenens M. A large scale mass spectrometry-based histone screening for assessing epigenetic developmental toxicity. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1256. [PMID: 35075221 PMCID: PMC8786925 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05268-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxicoepigenetics is an emerging field that studies the toxicological impact of compounds on protein expression through heritable, non-genetic mechanisms, such as histone post-translational modifications (hPTMs). Due to substantial progress in the large-scale study of hPTMs, integration into the field of toxicology is promising and offers the opportunity to gain novel insights into toxicological phenomena. Moreover, there is a growing demand for high-throughput human-based in vitro assays for toxicity testing, especially for developmental toxicity. Consequently, we developed a mass spectrometry-based proof-of-concept to assess a histone code screening assay capable of simultaneously detecting multiple hPTM-changes in human embryonic stem cells. We first validated the untargeted workflow with valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor. These results demonstrate the capability of mapping the hPTM-dynamics, with a general increase in acetylations as an internal control. To illustrate the scalability, a dose–response study was performed on a proof-of-concept library of ten compounds (1) with a known effect on the hPTMs (BIX-01294, 3-Deazaneplanocin A, Trichostatin A, and VPA), (2) classified as highly embryotoxic by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) (Methotrexate, and All-trans retinoic acid), (3) classified as non-embryotoxic by ECVAM (Penicillin G), and (4) compounds of abuse with a presumed developmental toxicity (ethanol, caffeine, and nicotine).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigrid Verhelst
- ProGenTomics, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart Van Puyvelde
- ProGenTomics, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sander Willems
- Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Simon Daled
- ProGenTomics, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Senne Cornelis
- ProGenTomics, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Laura Corveleyn
- ProGenTomics, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ewoud Willems
- ProGenTomics, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dieter Deforce
- ProGenTomics, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Laura De Clerck
- ProGenTomics, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Maarten Dhaenens
- ProGenTomics, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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Zhang MY, Yang H, Ortiz G, Trnka MJ, Petronikolou N, Burlingame AL, DeGrado WF, Fujimori DG. Covalent labeling of a chromatin reader domain using proximity-reactive cyclic peptides. Chem Sci 2022; 13:6599-6609. [PMID: 35756531 PMCID: PMC9172573 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc00555g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical probes for chromatin reader proteins are valuable tools for investigating epigenetic regulatory mechanisms and evaluating whether the target of interest holds therapeutic potential. Developing potent inhibitors for the plant homeodomain (PHD) family of methylation readers remains a difficult task due to the charged, shallow and extended nature of the histone binding site that precludes effective engagement of conventional small molecules. Herein, we describe the development of novel proximity-reactive cyclopeptide inhibitors for PHD3—a trimethyllysine reader domain of histone demethylase KDM5A. Guided by the PHD3–histone co-crystal structure, we designed a sidechain-to-sidechain linking strategy to improve peptide proteolytic stability whilst maintaining binding affinity. We have developed an operationally simple solid-phase macrocyclization pathway, capitalizing on the inherent reactivity of the dimethyllysine ε-amino group to generate scaffolds bearing charged tetraalkylammonium functionalities that effectively engage the shallow aromatic ‘groove’ of PHD3. Leveraging a surface-exposed lysine residue on PHD3 adjacent to the ligand binding site, cyclic peptides were rendered covalent through installation of an arylsulfonyl fluoride warhead. The resulting lysine-reactive cyclic peptides demonstrated rapid and efficient labeling of the PHD3 domain in HEK293T lysates, showcasing the feasibility of employing proximity-induced reactivity for covalent labeling of this challenging family of reader domains. We describe the development of covalent cyclic peptide ligands which target a chromatin methylation reader domain using a proximity-reactive sulfonyl fluoride moiety.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Yao Zhang
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA 94158 USA
| | - Hyunjun Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA 94158 USA
| | - Gloria Ortiz
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA 94158 USA
| | - Michael J Trnka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA 94158 USA
| | - Nektaria Petronikolou
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA 94158 USA
| | - Alma L Burlingame
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA 94158 USA
| | - William F DeGrado
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA 94158 USA
| | - Danica Galonić Fujimori
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA 94158 USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA 94158 USA
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA 94158 USA
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11
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Betlem P, Maas MN, Middelburg J, Pieters BJGE, Mecinović J. Recognition of stapled histone H3K4me3 peptides by epigenetic reader proteins. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:12196-12199. [DOI: 10.1039/d2cc04294k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic reader proteins can display stronger or weaker binding affinities for cyclic histone peptides relative to linear histones, indicating that selectivity of biomolecular recognition can be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Betlem
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marijn N. Maas
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Jim Middelburg
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bas J. G. E. Pieters
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jasmin Mecinović
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark
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12
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Abstract
Protozoan parasites continue to cause a significant health and economic burden worldwide. As infectious organisms, they pose unique and difficult challenges due to a level of conservation of critical eukaryotic cellular pathways with their hosts. Gene regulation has been pinpointed as an essential pathway with enough divergence to warrant investigation into therapeutically targeting. Examination of human parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum, Toxoplasma gondii, and kinetoplastids have revealed that epigenetic mechanisms play a key role in their gene regulation. The enzymes involved in adding and removing epigenetic posttranslational modifications (PTMs) have historically been the focus of study. However, the reader proteins that recognize and bind PTMs, initiating recruitment of chromatin-modifying and transcription complexes, are now being realized for their critical role in regulation and their potential as drug targets. In this review, we highlight the current knowledge on epigenetic reader proteins in model parasitic protozoa, focusing on the histone acyl- and methyl-reading domains. With this knowledge base, we compare differences between medically relevant parasites, discuss conceivable functions of these understudied proteins, indicate gaps in knowledge, and provide current progress in drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista Fleck
- Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Malorie Nitz
- Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Victoria Jeffers
- Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America
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