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Reiners JJ, Mathieu PA, Gargano M, George I, Shen Y, Callaghan JF, Borch RF, Mattingly RR. Synergistic Suppression of NF1 Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cell Growth in Culture and Orthotopic Xenografts by Combinational Treatment with Statin and Prodrug Farnesyltransferase Inhibitor PAMAM G4 Dendrimers. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:89. [PMID: 38201517 PMCID: PMC10778372 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a disorder in which RAS is constitutively activated due to the loss of the Ras-GTPase-activating activity of neurofibromin. RAS must be prenylated (i.e., farnesylated or geranylgeranylated) to traffic and function properly. Previous studies showed that the anti-growth properties of farnesyl monophosphate prodrug farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs) on human NF1 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) cells are potentiated by co-treatment with lovastatin. Unfortunately, such prodrug FTIs have poor aqueous solubility. In this study, we synthesized a series of prodrug FTI polyamidoamine generation 4 (PAMAM G4) dendrimers that compete with farnesyl pyrophosphate for farnesyltransferase (Ftase) and assessed their effects on human NF1 MPNST S462TY cells. The prodrug 3-tert-butylfarnesyl monophosphate FTI-dendrimer (i.e., IG 2) exhibited improved aqueous solubility. Concentrations of IG 2 and lovastatin (as low as 0.1 μM) having little to no effect when used singularly synergistically suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, and induced N-RAS, RAP1A, and RAB5A deprenylation when used in combination. Combinational treatment had no additive or synergistic effects on the proliferation/viability of immortalized normal rat Schwann cells, primary rat hepatocytes, or normal human mammary epithelial MCF10A cells. Combinational, but not singular, in vivo treatment markedly suppressed the growth of S462TY xenografts established in the sciatic nerves of immune-deficient mice. Hence, prodrug farnesyl monophosphate FTIs can be rendered water-soluble by conjugation to PAMAM G4 dendrimers and exhibit potent anti-tumor activity when combined with clinically achievable statin concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J. Reiners
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (J.J.R.J.); (P.A.M.); (M.G.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Patricia A. Mathieu
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (J.J.R.J.); (P.A.M.); (M.G.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Mary Gargano
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (J.J.R.J.); (P.A.M.); (M.G.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Irene George
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (I.G.); (R.F.B.)
- Currently College of Arts and Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Yimin Shen
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA;
| | - John F. Callaghan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA;
| | - Richard F. Borch
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; (I.G.); (R.F.B.)
| | - Raymond R. Mattingly
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA;
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Muehlebach ME, Holstein SA. Geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase: Role in human health, disease and potential therapeutic target. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1167. [PMID: 36650113 PMCID: PMC9845123 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGDPS), an enzyme in the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway, is responsible for the production of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP). GGPP serves as a substrate for the post-translational modification (geranylgeranylation) of proteins, including those belonging to the Ras superfamily of small GTPases. These proteins play key roles in signalling pathways, cytoskeletal regulation and intracellular transport, and in the absence of the prenylation modification, cannot properly localise and function. Aberrant expression of GGDPS has been implicated in various human pathologies, including liver disease, type 2 diabetes, pulmonary disease and malignancy. Thus, this enzyme is of particular interest from a therapeutic perspective. Here, we review the physiological function of GGDPS as well as its role in pathophysiological processes. We discuss the current GGDPS inhibitors under development and the therapeutic implications of targeting this enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly E. Muehlebach
- Cancer Research Doctoral ProgramUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNebraskaUSA
| | - Sarah A. Holstein
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNebraskaUSA
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Guest M, Kriek N, Flemming AJ. Studies of an insecticidal inhibitor of acetyl-CoA carboxylase in the nematode C. elegans. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 169:104604. [PMID: 32828380 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2020.104604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We have studied the mode of action of the insecticide spirotetramat in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. A combination of symptomology, forward genetics and genome editing show that spirotetramat acts on acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in C. elegans, as it does in insects. We found C. elegans embryos exposed to spirotetramat show a cell division defect which closely resembles the phenotype of loss-of-function mutations in the gene pod-2, which encodes ACC. We then identified two mutations in the carboxyl transferase domain of pod-2 (ACC) which confer resistance and were confirmed using CRISPR/Cas9. One of these mutations substitutes an invertebrate-specific amino acid with one ubiquitous in other taxa; this residue may, therefore, be a determinant of the selectivity of spirotetramat for invertebrates. Such a mutation may also be the target of selection for resistance in the field. Our study is a further demonstration of the utility of C. elegans in studying bioactive chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Guest
- Syngenta, Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire RG42 6EY, UK
| | - N Kriek
- Syngenta, Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire RG42 6EY, UK
| | - A J Flemming
- Syngenta, Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire RG42 6EY, UK.
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4
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Wang LW, Wang Z, Ersing I, Nobre L, Guo R, Jiang S, Trudeau S, Zhao B, Weekes MP, Gewurz BE. Epstein-Barr virus subverts mevalonate and fatty acid pathways to promote infected B-cell proliferation and survival. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1008030. [PMID: 31518366 PMCID: PMC6760809 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes infectious mononucleosis and is associated with multiple human malignancies. EBV drives B-cell proliferation, which contributes to the pathogenesis of multiple lymphomas. Yet, knowledge of how EBV subverts host biosynthetic pathways to transform resting lymphocytes into activated lymphoblasts remains incomplete. Using a temporal proteomic dataset of EBV primary human B-cell infection, we identified that cholesterol and fatty acid biosynthetic pathways were amongst the most highly EBV induced. Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2), sterol response element binding protein (SREBP) and MYC each had important roles in cholesterol and fatty acid pathway induction. Unexpectedly, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor chemical epistasis experiments revealed that mevalonate pathway production of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP), rather than cholesterol, was necessary for EBV-driven B-cell outgrowth, perhaps because EBV upregulated the low-density lipoprotein receptor in newly infected cells for cholesterol uptake. Chemical and CRISPR genetic analyses highlighted downstream GGPP roles in EBV-infected cell small G protein Rab activation. Rab13 was highly EBV-induced in an EBNA3-dependent manner and served as a chaperone critical for latent membrane protein (LMP) 1 and 2A trafficking and target gene activation in newly infected and in lymphoblastoid B-cells. Collectively, these studies identify highlight multiple potential therapeutic targets for prevention of EBV-transformed B-cell growth and survival. EBV, the first human tumor virus identified, persistently infects >95% of adults worldwide. Upon infection of small, resting B-lymphocytes, EBV establishes a state of viral latency, where viral oncoproteins and non-coding RNAs activate host pathways to promote rapid B-cell proliferation. EBV’s growth-transforming properties are closely linked to the pathogenesis of multiple immunoblastic lymphomas, particularly in immunosuppressed hosts. While EBV oncogenes important for B-cell transformation have been identified, knowledge remains incomplete of how these EBV factors remodel cellular metabolism, a hallmark of human cancers. Using a recently established proteomic map of EBV-mediated B-cell growth transformation, we found that EBV induces biosynthetic pathways that convert acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) into isoprenoids, steroids, terpenoids, cholesterol, and long-chain fatty acids. Viral nuclear antigens cooperated with EBV-activated host transcription factors to upregulate rate-limiting enzymes of these biosynthetic pathways. The isoprenoid geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate was identified as a key product of the EBV-induced mevalonate pathway. Our studies highlighted GGPP roles in Rab protein activation, and Rab13 was identified as a highly EBV-upregulated GTPase critical for LMP1 and LMP2A trafficking and signaling. These studies identify multiple EBV-induced metabolic enzymes important for B-cell transformation, including potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Wei Wang
- Graduate Program in Virology, Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Zhonghao Wang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ina Ersing
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Luis Nobre
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rui Guo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sizun Jiang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Stephen Trudeau
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Bo Zhao
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Michael P. Weekes
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin E. Gewurz
- Graduate Program in Virology, Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Goody RS, Müller MP, Rauh D. Mutant-Specific Targeting of Ras G12C Activity by Covalently Reacting Small Molecules. Cell Chem Biol 2019; 26:1338-1348. [PMID: 31378709 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2019.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In this review we discuss and compare recently introduced molecules that are able to react covalently with an oncogenic mutant of KRas, KRas G12C. Two different classes of compounds in question have been developed, both leading to the mutant being locked in the inactive (guanosine diphosphate [GDP]-bound) state. The first are compounds that interact reversibly with the switch-II pocket (S-IIP) before covalent interaction. The second class interact in a competitive manner with the GDP/guanosine triphosphate (GTP) binding site. The fundamental physico-chemical principles of the two inhibitor classes are evaluated. For GDP/GTP-competing molecules, we show that special attention must be paid to the influence of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and their elevated activity in cells harboring abnormally activated Ras mutants. A new approach is suggested involving compounds that interact with the guanine binding site of the GTPase, but in a manner that is independent of the interaction of the GTPase with its cognate GEF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger S Goody
- Department of Structural Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Matthias P Müller
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany; Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW), Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Daniel Rauh
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany; Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW), Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
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6
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Rab25 and RCP in cancer progression. Arch Pharm Res 2019; 42:101-112. [DOI: 10.1007/s12272-019-01129-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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7
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Kaminski A, Gupta KH, Goldufsky JW, Lee HW, Gupta V, Shafikhani SH. Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoS Induces Intrinsic Apoptosis in Target Host Cells in a Manner That is Dependent on its GAP Domain Activity. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14047. [PMID: 30232373 PMCID: PMC6145893 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32491-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that causes serious infections in immunocompromised individuals and cystic fibrosis patients. ExoS and ExoT are two homologous bifunctional Type III Secretion System (T3SS) virulence factors that induce apoptosis in target host cells. They possess a GTPase Activating Protein (GAP) domain at their N-termini, which share ~76% homology, and an ADP-ribosyltransferase (ADPRT) domain at their C-termini, which target non-overlapping substrates. Both the GAP and the ADPRT domains contribute to ExoT's cytotoxicity in target epithelial cells, whereas, ExoS-induced apoptosis is reported to be primarily due to its ADPRT domain. In this report, we demonstrate that ExoS/GAP domain is both necessary and sufficient to induce mitochondrial apoptosis. Our data demonstrate that intoxication with ExoS/GAP domain leads to enrichment of Bax and Bim into the mitochondrial outer-membrane, disruption of mitochondrial membrane and release of and cytochrome c into the cytosol, which activates initiator caspase-9 and effector caspase-3, that executes cellular death. We posit that the contribution of the GAP domain in ExoS-induced apoptosis was overlooked in prior studies due to its slower kinetics of cytotoxicity as compared to ADPRT. Our data clarify the field and reveal a novel virulence function for ExoS/GAP as an inducer of apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber Kaminski
- Department of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kajal H Gupta
- Department of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Josef W Goldufsky
- Department of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ha Won Lee
- Department of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Vineet Gupta
- Department of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sasha H Shafikhani
- Department of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Cancer Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Jiang H, Zhang X, Chen X, Aramsangtienchai P, Tong Z, Lin H. Protein Lipidation: Occurrence, Mechanisms, Biological Functions, and Enabling Technologies. Chem Rev 2018; 118:919-988. [PMID: 29292991 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 286] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Protein lipidation, including cysteine prenylation, N-terminal glycine myristoylation, cysteine palmitoylation, and serine and lysine fatty acylation, occurs in many proteins in eukaryotic cells and regulates numerous biological pathways, such as membrane trafficking, protein secretion, signal transduction, and apoptosis. We provide a comprehensive review of protein lipidation, including descriptions of proteins known to be modified and the functions of the modifications, the enzymes that control them, and the tools and technologies developed to study them. We also highlight key questions about protein lipidation that remain to be answered, the challenges associated with answering such questions, and possible solutions to overcome these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Jiang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Xiao Chen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Pornpun Aramsangtienchai
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Zhen Tong
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Hening Lin
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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Martinez-Carreres L, Nasrallah A, Fajas L. Cancer: Linking Powerhouses to Suicidal Bags. Front Oncol 2017; 7:204. [PMID: 28932704 PMCID: PMC5592205 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2017.00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane-bound organelles are integrated into cellular networks and work together for a common goal: regulating cell metabolism, cell signaling pathways, cell fate, cellular maintenance, and pathogen defense. Many of these interactions are well established, but little is known about the interplay between mitochondria and lysosomes, and their deregulation in cancer. The present review focuses on the common signaling pathways of both organelles, as well as the processes in which they both physically interact, their changes under pathological conditions, and the impact on targeting those organelles for treating cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Martinez-Carreres
- Cancer and Metabolism Laboratory, Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anita Nasrallah
- Cancer and Metabolism Laboratory, Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lluis Fajas
- Cancer and Metabolism Laboratory, Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Abdullah MI, Abed MN, Richardson A. Inhibition of the mevalonate pathway augments the activity of pitavastatin against ovarian cancer cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8090. [PMID: 28808351 PMCID: PMC5556066 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08649-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Only 40% of patients with advanced ovarian cancer survive more than 5 years. We have previously shown that pitavastatin induces regression of ovarian cancer xenografts in mice. To evaluate whether the response of ovarian cancer cells to pitavastatin is potentiated by farnesyl diphosphate synthase inhibitors or geranylgeraniol transferase I inhibitors, we evaluated combinations of pitavastatin with zoledronic acid, risedronate and GGTI-2133 in a panel of ovarian cancer cells. Pitavastatin (IC50 = 0.6–14 μM), zoledronic acid (IC50 = 21–57 μM), risedronate (IC50 > 100 μM) or GGTI-2133 (IC50 > 25 μM) inhibited the growth of ovarian cancer cell cultures. Combinations of pitavastatin with zoledronic acid displayed additive or synergistic effects in cell growth assays in 10 of 11 cell lines evaluated as well as in trypan blue exclusion, cellular ATP or caspase 3/7, 8 and 9 assays. Pitavastatin reduced levels of GGT-IIβ and the membrane localization of several small GTPases and this was potentiated by zoledronic acid. siRNA to GGT-Iβ and GGT-IIβ used in combination, but not when used individually, significantly increased the sensitivity of cells to pitavastatin. These data suggest that zoledronic acid, a drug already in clinical use, may be usefully combined with pitavastatin in the treatment of ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwan Ibrahim Abdullah
- Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Guy Hilton Research Centre, Keele University, Thornborrow Drive, Stoke-on-Trent, UK
| | - Mohammed Najim Abed
- Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Guy Hilton Research Centre, Keele University, Thornborrow Drive, Stoke-on-Trent, UK
| | - Alan Richardson
- Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Guy Hilton Research Centre, Keele University, Thornborrow Drive, Stoke-on-Trent, UK. .,School of Pharmacy, Keele University, Keele, United Kingdom.
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11
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Stress-Induced Sleep After Exposure to Ultraviolet Light Is Promoted by p53 in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2017; 207:571-582. [PMID: 28754659 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.300070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress-induced sleep (SIS) in Caenorhabditis elegans is important for restoration of cellular homeostasis and is a useful model to study the function and regulation of sleep. SIS is triggered when epidermal growth factor (EGF) activates the ALA neuron, which then releases neuropeptides to promote sleep. To further understand this behavior, we established a new model of SIS using irradiation by ultraviolet C (UVC) light. While UVC irradiation requires ALA signaling and leads to a sleep state similar to that induced by heat and other stressors, it does not induce the proteostatic stress seen with heat exposure. Based on the known genotoxic effects of UVC irradiation, we tested two genes, atl-1 and cep-1, which encode proteins that act in the DNA damage response pathway. Loss-of-function mutants of atl-1 had no defect in UVC-induced SIS but a partial loss-of-function mutant of cep-1, gk138, had decreased movement quiescence following UVC irradiation. Germline ablation experiments and tissue-specific RNA interference experiments showed that cep-1 is required somatically in neurons for its effect on SIS. The cep-1(gk138) mutant suppressed body movement quiescence controlled by EGF, indicating that CEP-1 acts downstream or in parallel to ALA activation to promote quiescence in response to ultraviolet light.
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12
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Marcuzzi A, Piscianz E, Vecchi Brumatti L, Tommasini A. Mevalonate kinase deficiency: therapeutic targets, treatments, and outcomes. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2017.1328308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Marcuzzi
- Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Elisa Piscianz
- Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Liza Vecchi Brumatti
- Scientific Direction, Institute for Maternal and Child Health – IRCCS ‘Burlo Garofolo,’ Trieste, Italy
| | - Alberto Tommasini
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS ‘Burlo Garofolo’, Trieste, Italy
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13
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Wang J, Yao X, Huang J. New tricks for human farnesyltransferase inhibitor: cancer and beyond. MEDCHEMCOMM 2017; 8:841-854. [PMID: 30108801 PMCID: PMC6072492 DOI: 10.1039/c7md00030h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Human protein farnesyltransferase (FTase) catalyzes the addition of a C15-farnesyl lipid group to the cysteine residue located in the COOH-terminal tetrapeptide motif of a variety of important substrate proteins, including well-known Ras protein superfamily. The farnesylation of Ras protein is required both for its normal physiological function, and for the transforming capacity of its oncogenic mutants. Over the last several decades, FTase inhibitors (FTIs) were developed to disrupt the farnesylation of oncogenic Ras as anti-cancer agents, and some of them have entered cancer clinical investigation. On the other hand, some substrates of FTase were demonstrated to be related with other human diseases, including Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, chronic hepatitis D, and cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we summarize the roles of FTase in malignant transformation, proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis of tumor cells, and the recently anticancer clinical research advances of FTIs. The therapeutic prospect of FTIs on several other human diseases is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyuan Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design , School of Pharmacy , East China University of Science and Technology , 130 Mei Long Road , Shanghai 200237 , China . ; Tel: (+86)21 64253681
| | - Xue Yao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design , School of Pharmacy , East China University of Science and Technology , 130 Mei Long Road , Shanghai 200237 , China . ; Tel: (+86)21 64253681
| | - Jin Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design , School of Pharmacy , East China University of Science and Technology , 130 Mei Long Road , Shanghai 200237 , China . ; Tel: (+86)21 64253681
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Qin X, Wang J, Wang X, Liu F, Jiang B, Zhang Y. Targeting Rabs as a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer therapy. Drug Discov Today 2017; 22:1139-1147. [PMID: 28390930 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2017.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Revised: 02/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Rab GTPases constitute the largest family of small GTPases. Rabs regulate not only membrane trafficking but also cell signaling, growth and survival, and development. Increasingly, Rabs and their effectors are shown to be overexpressed or subject to loss-of-function mutations in a variety of disease settings, including cancer progression. This review provides an overview of dysregulated Rab proteins in cancer, and highlights the signaling and secretory pathways in which they operate, with the aim of identifying potential avenues for therapeutic intervention. Recent progress and perspectives for direct and/or indirect targeting of Rabs are also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Qin
- Oncology Department, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201900, China
| | - Jiongyi Wang
- Oncology Department, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201900, China
| | - Xinxin Wang
- Oncology Department, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201900, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Oncology Department, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201900, China
| | - Bin Jiang
- Oncology Department, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201900, China.
| | - Yanjie Zhang
- Oncology Department, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201900, China.
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15
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Brock EJ, Ji K, Reiners JJ, Mattingly RR. How to Target Activated Ras Proteins: Direct Inhibition vs. Induced Mislocalization. Mini Rev Med Chem 2016; 16:358-69. [PMID: 26423696 DOI: 10.2174/1389557515666151001154002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Revised: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Oncogenic Ras proteins are a driving force in a significant set of human cancers and wildtype, unmutated Ras proteins likely contribute to the malignant phenotype of many more. The overall challenge of targeting activated Ras proteins has great promise to treat cancer, but this goal has yet to be achieved. Significant efforts and resources have been committed to inhibiting Ras, but these energies have so far made little impact in the clinic. Direct attempts to target activated Ras proteins have faced many obstacles, including the fundamental nature of the gain-of-function oncogenic activity being produced by a loss-of-function at the biochemical level. Nevertheless, there has been very promising recent pre-clinical progress. The major strategy that has so far reached the clinic aimed to inhibit activated Ras indirectly through blocking its post-translational modification and inducing its mislocalization. While these efforts to indirectly target Ras through inhibition of farnesyl transferase (FTase) were rationally designed, this strategy suffered from insufficient attention to the distinctions between the isoforms of Ras. This led to subsequent failures in large-scale clinical trials targeting K-Ras driven lung, colon, and pancreatic cancers. Despite these setbacks, efforts to indirectly target activated Ras through inducing its mislocalization have persisted. It is plausible that FTase inhibitors may still have some utility in the clinic, perhaps in combination with statins or other agents. Alternative approaches for inducing mislocalization of Ras through disruption of its palmitoylation cycle or interaction with chaperone proteins are in early stages of development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Raymond R Mattingly
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 540 East Canfield Ave, Detroit MI, USA.
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16
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Multiple Roles of the Small GTPase Rab7. Cells 2016; 5:cells5030034. [PMID: 27548222 PMCID: PMC5040976 DOI: 10.3390/cells5030034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 267] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Revised: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rab7 is a small GTPase that belongs to the Rab family and controls transport to late endocytic compartments such as late endosomes and lysosomes. The mechanism of action of Rab7 in the late endocytic pathway has been extensively studied. Rab7 is fundamental for lysosomal biogenesis, positioning and functions, and for trafficking and degradation of several signaling receptors, thus also having implications on signal transduction. Several Rab7 interacting proteins have being identified leading to the discovery of a number of different important functions, beside its established role in endocytosis. Furthermore, Rab7 has specific functions in neurons. This review highlights and discusses the role and the importance of Rab7 on different cellular pathways and processes.
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17
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Wang YC, Distefano MD. Synthetic isoprenoid analogues for the study of prenylated proteins: Fluorescent imaging and proteomic applications. Bioorg Chem 2016; 64:59-65. [PMID: 26709869 PMCID: PMC4731301 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Revised: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Protein prenylation is a posttranslational modification catalyzed by prenyltransferases involving the attachment of farnesyl or geranylgeranyl groups to residues near the C-termini of proteins. This irreversible covalent modification is important for membrane localization and proper signal transduction. Here, the use of isoprenoid analogues for studying prenylated proteins is reviewed. First, experiments with analogues containing small fluorophores that are alternative substrates for prenyltransferases are described. Those analogues have been useful for quantifying binding affinity and for the production of fluorescently labeled proteins. Next, the use of analogues that incorporate biotin, bioorthogonal groups or antigenic moieties is described. Such probes have been particularly useful for identifying proteins that are naturally prenylated within mammalian cells. Overall, the use of isoprenoid analogues has contributed significantly to the understanding of protein prenlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Chih Wang
- Departments of Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Mark D Distefano
- Departments of Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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18
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Abstract
One of the major challenges in the field of nucleic acid delivery is the design of delivery vehicles with attributes that render them safe as well as efficient in transfection. To this end, polycationic vectors have been intensely investigated with native polyethylenimines (PEIs) being the gold standard. PEIs are highly efficient transfectants, but depending on their architecture and size they induce cytotoxicity through different modes of cell death pathways. Here, we briefly review dynamic and integrated cell death processes and pathways, and discuss considerations in cell death assay design and their interpretation in relation to PEIs and PEI-based engineered vectors, which are also translatable for the design and studying the safety of other transfectants.
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19
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Najumudeen AK, Guzmán C, Posada IMD, Abankwa D. Rab-NANOPS: FRET biosensors for Rab membrane nanoclustering and prenylation detection in mammalian cells. Methods Mol Biol 2015; 1298:29-45. [PMID: 25800830 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2569-8_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Rab proteins constitute the largest subfamily of Ras-like small GTPases. They are central to vesicular transport and organelle definition in eukaryotic cells. Unlike their Ras counterparts, they are not a hallmark of cancer. However, a number of diseases, including cancer, show a misregulation of Rab protein activity. As for all membrane-anchored signaling proteins, correct membrane organization is critical for Rabs to operate. In this chapter, we provide a detailed protocol for the use of a flow cytometry-based Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-biosensors assay, which allows to detect changes in membrane anchorage, subcellular distribution, and of the nanoscale organization of Rab-GTPases in mammalian cell lines. This assay is high-throughput amenable and can therefore be utilized in chemical-genomic and drug discovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arafath Kaja Najumudeen
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6B, 20520, Turku, Finland
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20
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Swartling FJ, Čančer M, Frantz A, Weishaupt H, Persson AI. Deregulated proliferation and differentiation in brain tumors. Cell Tissue Res 2015; 359:225-54. [PMID: 25416506 PMCID: PMC4286433 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-014-2046-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Neurogenesis, the generation of new neurons, is deregulated in neural stem cell (NSC)- and progenitor-derived murine models of malignant medulloblastoma and glioma, the most common brain tumors of children and adults, respectively. Molecular characterization of human malignant brain tumors, and in particular brain tumor stem cells (BTSCs), has identified neurodevelopmental transcription factors, microRNAs, and epigenetic factors known to inhibit neuronal and glial differentiation. We are starting to understand how these factors are regulated by the major oncogenic drivers in malignant brain tumors. In this review, we will focus on the molecular switches that block normal neuronal differentiation and induce brain tumor formation. Genetic or pharmacological manipulation of these switches in BTSCs has been shown to restore the ability of tumor cells to differentiate. We will discuss potential brain tumor therapies that will promote differentiation in order to reduce treatment resistance, suppress tumor growth, and prevent recurrence in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik J Swartling
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-751 85, Sweden
| | - Matko Čančer
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-751 85, Sweden
| | - Aaron Frantz
- Departments of Neurology and Neurological Surgery, Sandler Neurosciences Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Brain Tumor Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Holger Weishaupt
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-751 85, Sweden
| | - Anders I Persson
- Departments of Neurology and Neurological Surgery, Sandler Neurosciences Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Brain Tumor Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
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21
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Köhnke M, Schmitt S, Ariotti N, Piggott AM, Parton RG, Lacey E, Capon RJ, Alexandrov K, Abankwa D. Design and application of in vivo FRET biosensors to identify protein prenylation and nanoclustering inhibitors. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 19:866-74. [PMID: 22840774 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2012.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2012] [Revised: 05/25/2012] [Accepted: 05/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Protein prenylation is required for membrane anchorage of small GTPases. Correct membrane targeting is essential for their biological activity. Signal output of the prenylated proto-oncogene Ras in addition critically depends on its organization into nanoscale proteolipid assemblies of the plasma membrane, so called nanoclusters. While protein prenylation is an established drug target, only a handful of nanoclustering inhibitors are known, partially due to the lack of appropriate assays to screen for such compounds. Here, we describe three cell-based high-throughput screening amenable Förster resonance energy transfer NANOclustering and Prenylation Sensors (NANOPS) that are specific for Ras, Rho, and Rab proteins. Rab-NANOPS provides the first evidence for nanoclustering of Rab proteins. Using NANOPS in a cell-based chemical screen, we now identify macrotetrolides, known ionophoric antibiotics, as submicromolar disruptors of Ras nanoclustering and MAPK signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Köhnke
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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22
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Schweizer L, Zhang L. Enhancing Cancer Drug Discovery through Novel Cell Signaling Pathway Panel Strategy. CANCER GROWTH AND METASTASIS 2013; 6:53-9. [PMID: 24665207 PMCID: PMC3941151 DOI: 10.4137/cgm.s11134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The link between signaling pathways and diseases suggests the importance of pathway analysis for drug discovery. This includes target identification and validation, compound mode of action and drug candidate optimization. Here, we propose to apply cell signaling pathway panel approaches for oncology drug discovery. The strategies and guiding principles of the pathway panel approach are discussed. 2 pathway analysis examples with related processes and technology platforms are illustrated to identify cancer drugs that target cancer growth and metastasis. Finally, we highlight potential challenges and opportunities presented by the pathway panel approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Schweizer
- Lead Evaluation and Mechanistic Biochemistry, Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ
| | - Litao Zhang
- Lead Evaluation and Mechanistic Biochemistry, Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ
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23
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Abstract
Rab GTPases are master regulators of intracellular trafficking and, in recent years, their role in the control of different aspects of tumour progression has emerged. In the present review, we show that Rab GTPases are disregulated in many cancers and have central roles in tumour cell migration, invasion, proliferation, communication with stromal cells and the development of drug resistance. As a consequence, Rab proteins may be novel potential candidates for the development of anticancer drugs and, in this context, the preliminary results obtained with an inhibitor of Rab function are also discussed.
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24
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Liu D, Zhi D, Zhou T, Yu Q, Wan F, Bai Y, Li H. Realgar bioleaching solution is a less toxic arsenic agent in suppressing the Ras/MAPK pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2013; 35:292-299. [PMID: 23376179 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2013.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2012] [Revised: 12/29/2012] [Accepted: 01/02/2013] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
To explore other arsenic derivatives with anticancer effects and fewer adverse effects, realgar bioleaching solution (RBS) has been found to be a viable approach. Here we used C. elegans as a model organism to its possible efficacy for anti-cancer effect of RBS. Our results indicated that RBS significantly suppressed the multivulva (Muv) phenotype of let-60 ras(gf) mutant that was positive correlated to arsenic concentrations in worms and also inhibited Muv phenotype of lin-15(lf) upstream of Ras/MAPK pathway, but did not affect the Muv phenotype resulting from loss-of-function mutations of lin-l(lf) downstream of Ras/MAPK pathway, which may be mechanism-based. In toxicity tests, RBS did not lead to reduction resulting from arsenic trioxide (ATO) in the number of pharyngeal pumping which was orthologous to vertebrate heart beating in wild type C. elegans. Overall, RBS was likely to be a potential anti-cancer drug candidate with high efficiency and low toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongling Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life sciences, Lanzhou University, Tianshui Road No. 222, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
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25
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Ochocki JD, Distefano MD. Prenyltransferase Inhibitors: Treating Human Ailments from Cancer to Parasitic Infections. MEDCHEMCOMM 2013; 4:476-492. [PMID: 25530833 DOI: 10.1039/c2md20299a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The posttranslational modification of protein prenylation is a covalent lipid modification on the C-terminus of substrate proteins that serves to enhance membrane affinity. Oncogenic proteins such as Ras have this modification and significant effort has been placed into developing inhibitors of the prenyltransferase enzymes for clinical therapy. In addition to cancer therapy, prenyltransferase inhibitors have begun to find important therapeutic uses in other diseases, including progeria, hepatitis C and D, parasitic infections, and other maladies. This review will trace the evolution of prenyltransferase inhibitors from their initial use as cancer therapeutics to their expanded applications for other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Ochocki
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (USA)
| | - Mark D Distefano
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (USA)
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26
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Stigter EA, Guo Z, Bon RS, Wu YW, Choidas A, Wolf A, Menninger S, Waldmann H, Blankenfeldt W, Goody RS. Development of Selective, Potent RabGGTase Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2012; 55:8330-40. [DOI: 10.1021/jm300624s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Anouk Stigter
- Fakultät Chemie, Fachbereich Chemische
Biologie, Technische Universität Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 6, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Axel Choidas
- Lead Discovery Center GmbH, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 15, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Alexander Wolf
- Lead Discovery Center GmbH, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 15, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | | | - Herbert Waldmann
- Fakultät Chemie, Fachbereich Chemische
Biologie, Technische Universität Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 6, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
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27
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Bae YK, Sung JY, Kim YN, Kim S, Hong KM, Kim HT, Choi MS, Kwon JY, Shim J. An in vivo C. elegans model system for screening EGFR-inhibiting anti-cancer drugs. PLoS One 2012; 7:e42441. [PMID: 22957020 PMCID: PMC3434183 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [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: 03/20/2012] [Accepted: 07/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a well-established target for cancer treatment. EGFR tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitors, such as gefinitib and erlotinib, have been developed as anti-cancer drugs. Although non-small cell lung carcinoma with an activating EGFR mutation, L858R, responds well to gefinitib and erlotinib, tumors with a doubly mutated EGFR, T790M-L858R, acquire resistance to these drugs. The C. elegans EGFR homolog LET-23 and its downstream signaling pathway have been studied extensively to provide insight into regulatory mechanisms conserved from C. elegans to humans. To develop an in vivo screening system for potential cancer drugs targeting specific EGFR mutants, we expressed three LET-23 chimeras in which the TK domain was replaced with either the human wild-type TK domain (LET-23::hEGFR-TK), a TK domain with the L858R mutation (LET-23::hEGFR-TK[L858R]), or a TK domain with the T790M-L858R mutations (LET-23::hEGFR-TK[T790M-L858R]) in C. elegans vulval cells using the let-23 promoter. The wild-type hEGFR-TK chimeric protein rescued the let-23 mutant phenotype, and the activating mutant hEGFR-TK chimeras induced a multivulva (Muv) phenotype in a wild-type C. elegans background. The anti-cancer drugs gefitinib and erlotinib suppressed the Muv phenotype in LET-23::hEGFR-TK[L858R]-expressing transgenic animals, but not in LET-23::hEGFR-TK[T790M-L858R] transgenic animals. As a pilot screen, 8,960 small chemicals were tested for Muv suppression, and AG1478 (an EGFR-TK inhibitor) and U0126 (a MEK inhibitor) were identified as potential inhibitors of EGFR-mediated biological function. In conclusion, transgenic C. elegans expressing chimeric LET-23::hEGFR-TK proteins are a model system that can be used in mutation-specific screens for new anti-cancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Ki Bae
- Comparative Biomedicine Research Branch, National Cancer Center, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Jee Young Sung
- Pediatric Oncology Research Branch, National Cancer Center, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Yong-Nyun Kim
- Comparative Biomedicine Research Branch, National Cancer Center, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Sunshin Kim
- New Experimental Therapeutics Branch, National Cancer Center, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Kyeong Man Hong
- Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology Branch, National Cancer Center, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Heung Tae Kim
- Center for Lung Cancer, National Cancer Center, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Min Sung Choi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Jae Young Kwon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Jaegal Shim
- Comparative Biomedicine Research Branch, National Cancer Center, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
- * E-mail:
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28
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Wotske M, Wu Y, Wolters DA. Liquid Chromatographic Analysis and Mass Spectrometric Identification of Farnesylated Peptides. Anal Chem 2012; 84:6848-55. [DOI: 10.1021/ac301437m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marina Wotske
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Yaowen Wu
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund,
Germany
| | - Dirk A. Wolters
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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29
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Deraeve C, Guo Z, Bon RS, Blankenfeldt W, DiLucrezia R, Wolf A, Menninger S, Stigter EA, Wetzel S, Choidas A, Alexandrov K, Waldmann H, Goody RS, Wu YW. Psoromic acid is a selective and covalent Rab-prenylation inhibitor targeting autoinhibited RabGGTase. J Am Chem Soc 2012; 134:7384-91. [PMID: 22480322 DOI: 10.1021/ja211305j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Post-translational attachment of geranylgeranyl isoprenoids to Rab GTPases, the key organizers of intracellular vesicular transport, is essential for their function. Rab geranylgeranyl transferase (RabGGTase) is responsible for prenylation of Rab proteins. Recently, RabGGTase inhibitors have been proposed to be potential therapeutics for treatment of cancer and osteoporosis. However, the development of RabGGTase selective inhibitors is complicated by its structural and functional similarity to other protein prenyltransferases. Herein we report identification of the natural product psoromic acid (PA) that potently and selectively inhibits RabGGTase with an IC(50) of 1.3 μM. Structure-activity relationship analysis suggested a minimal structure involving the depsidone core with a 3-hydroxyl and 4-aldehyde motif for binding to RabGGTase. Analysis of the crystal structure of the RabGGTase:PA complex revealed that PA forms largely hydrophobic interactions with the isoprenoid binding site of RabGGTase and that it attaches covalently to the N-terminus of the α subunit. We found that in contrast to other protein prenyltransferases, RabGGTase is autoinhibited through N-terminal (α)His2 coordination with the catalytic zinc ion. Mutation of (α)His dramatically enhances the reaction rate, indicating that the activity of RabGGTase is likely regulated in vivo. The covalent binding of PA to the N-terminus of the RabGGTase α subunit seems to potentiate its interaction with the active site and explains the selectivity of PA for RabGGTase. Therefore, psoromic acid provides a new starting point for the development of selective RabGGTase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Deraeve
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
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30
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Wang T, Zhang M, Ma Z, Guo K, Tergaonkar V, Zeng Q, Hong W. A role of Rab7 in stabilizing EGFR-Her2 and in sustaining Akt survival signal. J Cell Physiol 2012; 227:2788-97. [PMID: 21928319 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.23023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Rab7 plays an important role in regulating endocytic traffic. In view of an emerging role of membrane traffic in signaling and diseases, we have examined the possible role of Rab7 in oncogenesis. The role of Rab7 was investigated using shRNA-mediated knockdown in A431 and MCF7 cancer cells. To our surprise, Rab7 knockdown effectively suppressed anchorage-independent growth of cancer cells in soft agar. Anoikis (matrix-detachment triggered apoptosis) was enhanced, while the level of phosphorylated (active) Akt (which is a key survival factor) was significantly reduced. Also intriguing was the observation that EGFR and Her2 levels were significantly reduced when Rab7 was knocked-down. More robust reduction of EGFR and Her2 levels was observed when knocked-down cells were treated with HSP90 inhibitor geldanamycin (GA). Low concentration of GA (50-100 nm)-induced apoptosis of the Rab7 knocked-down cells but not control cells, suggesting that Rab7 and HSP90 together contribute to the optimal stability of EGFR and Her2 as well as to protect cancer cells from apoptosis. Rab7 seems to protect EGFR and Her2 from proteosome-mediated degradation. These results suggest that Rab7 is likely involved in protecting EGFR and Her2 from being degraded by the proteosome and in maintaining optimal Akt survival signal (especially during cell detachment or when HSP90 is inhibited). Rab7 is potentially a novel target for combinatory therapy with Hsp90 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuanlao Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute for Biomedical Research, Xiamen University, Fujian, China.
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31
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Functional analysis of VPS41-mediated neuroprotection in Caenorhabditis elegans and mammalian models of Parkinson's disease. J Neurosci 2012; 32:2142-53. [PMID: 22323726 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2606-11.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Disruption of the lysosomal system has emerged as a key cellular pathway in the neurotoxicity of α-synuclein (α-syn) and the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). A large-scale RNA interference (RNAi) screen using Caenorhabditis elegans identified VPS-41, a multidomain protein involved in lysosomal protein trafficking, as a modifier of α-syn accumulation and dopaminergic neuron degeneration (Hamamichi et al., 2008). Previous studies have shown a conserved neuroprotective function of human VPS41 (hVPS41) against PD-relevant toxins in mammalian cells and C. elegans neurons (Ruan et al., 2010). Here, we report that both the AP-3 (heterotetrameric adaptor protein complex) interaction domain and clathrin heavy-chain repeat domain are required for protecting C. elegans dopaminergic neurons from α-syn-induced neurodegeneration, as well as to prevent α-syn inclusion formation in an H4 human neuroglioma cell model. Using mutant C. elegans and neuron-specific RNAi, we revealed that hVPS41 requires both a functional AP-3 (heterotetrameric adaptor protein complex) and HOPS (homotypic fusion and vacuole protein sorting)-tethering complex to elicit neuroprotection. Interestingly, two nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms found within the AP-3 interacting domain of hVPS41 attenuated the neuroprotective property, suggestive of putative susceptibility factors for PD. Furthermore, we observed a decrease in α-syn protein level when hVPS41 was overexpressed in human neuroglioma cells. Thus, the neuroprotective capacity of hVPS41 may be a consequence of enhanced clearance of misfolded and aggregated proteins, including toxic α-syn species. These data reveal the importance of lysosomal trafficking in maintaining cellular homeostasis in the presence of enhanced α-syn expression and toxicity. Our results support hVPS41 as a potential novel therapeutic target for the treatment of synucleinopathies like PD.
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Abstract
Many signaling proteins such as the members of the Ras superfamily of GTPases are posttranslationally modified by covalent attachment of lipid groups, which is crucial for the correct localization and function of these proteins. Numerous lipidated proteins are oncogens often found mutated in several human cancers. Therefore, several therapeutic strategies have been developed based on the inhibition of the enzymes involved in these lipidation steps. Here, we will summarize the results on protein lipidation inhibition, mainly focusing on the small molecules targeting the isoprenylation and acylation of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Triola
- Abteilung
Chemische Biologie, Max-Planck-Institut für molekulare Physiologie, Otto-Hahn-Str. 11,
44227 Dortmund, Germany, and Fakultät Chemie, Lehrbereich Chemische
Biologie, Technische Universität Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Str. 6, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Herbert Waldmann
- Abteilung
Chemische Biologie, Max-Planck-Institut für molekulare Physiologie, Otto-Hahn-Str. 11,
44227 Dortmund, Germany, and Fakultät Chemie, Lehrbereich Chemische
Biologie, Technische Universität Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Str. 6, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Christian Hedberg
- Abteilung
Chemische Biologie, Max-Planck-Institut für molekulare Physiologie, Otto-Hahn-Str. 11,
44227 Dortmund, Germany, and Fakultät Chemie, Lehrbereich Chemische
Biologie, Technische Universität Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Str. 6, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
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Wu YW, Goody RS, Alexandrov K. Intein-mediated construction of a library of fluorescent Rab GTPase probes. Chembiochem 2011; 12:2813-21. [PMID: 22086656 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201100377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Rab GTPases play a key role in the regulation of membrane trafficking. Post-translational geranylgeranylation is critical for their biological activity and is conferred by Rab geranylgeranyl transferease (RabGGTase), together with an accessory factor, Rab escort protein (REP). Mechanistic studies of Rab prenylation and identification of RabGGTase inhibitors require sensitive reporters of Rab prenylation. In the present work, a combination of protein engineering and expressed protein ligation was used to construct a library of semisynthetic Rab7 fluorescent conjugates. In order to avoid synthesis of a large number of fluorescently labeled peptides, we developed a strategy that combined thiol-reactive dye-labeling of cysteine with in vitro protein ligation. Application of this strategy required optimization of labeling and ligation conditions to promote thiol labeling and disfavor intramolecular cyclization. Using this approach, we constructed 46 fluorescent sensors with different spectral properties that reported on the interaction of Rab7 with RabGGTase, REP-1, and the overall prenylation reaction. Two constructs, Rab7Δ3CCK(NBD) and Rab7Δ2SCCC-dans, displayed 2.5- and 1.5-fold increase in fluorescence, respectively, upon prenylation. Moreover, dansyl-, NBD (4-nitro-benzofurazan)-, I-BA-, and I-SO-labeled Rab7 conjugates exhibited two- to tenfold change in fluorescence upon binding to REP or RabGGTase. These fluorescent sensors allowed us to monitor Rab prenylation in real time and to investigate the assembly of Rab-REP binary and Rab-REP-RabGGTase ternary complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Wen Wu
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany.
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Abstract
Ras genes are frequently activated in cancer. Attempts to develop drugs that target mutant Ras proteins have, so far, been unsuccessful. Tumors bearing these mutations, therefore, remain among the most difficult to treat. Most efforts to block activated Ras have focused on pathways downstream. Drugs that inhibit Raf kinase have shown clinical benefit in the treatment of malignant melanoma. However, these drugs have failed to show clinical benefit in Ras mutant tumors. It remains unclear to what extent Ras depends on Raf kinase for transforming activity, even though Raf proteins bind directly to Ras and are certainly major effectors of Ras action in normal cells and in development. Furthermore, Raf kinase inhibitors can lead to paradoxical activation of the MAPK pathway. MEK inhibitors block the Ras-MAPK pathway, but often activate the PI3'-kinase, and have shown little clinical benefit as single agents. This activation is mediated by EGF-R and other receptor tyrosine kinases through relief of a negative feedback loop from ERK. Drug combinations that target multiple points within the Ras signaling network are likely to be necessary to achieve substantial clinical benefit. Other effectors may also contribute to Ras signaling and provide a source of targets. In addition, unbiased screens for genes necessary for Ras transformation have revealed new potential targets and have added to our understanding of Ras cancer biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Gysin
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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35
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Abstract
Protein farnesylation and geranylgeranylation, together referred to as prenylation, are lipid post-translational modifications that are required for the transforming activity of many oncogenic proteins, including some RAS family members. This observation prompted the development of inhibitors of farnesyltransferase (FT) and geranylgeranyl-transferase 1 (GGT1) as potential anticancer drugs. In this Review, we discuss the mechanisms by which FT and GGT1 inhibitors (FTIs and GGTIs, respectively) affect signal transduction pathways, cell cycle progression, proliferation and cell survival. In contrast to their preclinical efficacy, only a small subset of patients responds to FTIs. Identifying tumours that depend on farnesylation for survival remains a challenge, and strategies to overcome this are discussed. One GGTI has recently entered the clinic, and the safety and efficacy of GGTIs await results from clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norbert Berndt
- Drug Discovery Department, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA
| | - Andrew D. Hamilton
- University of Oxford, Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK
| | - Saïd M. Sebti
- Drug Discovery Department, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA
- Departments of Oncologic Sciences and Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA
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Wagner BK, Gilbert TJ, Hanai JI, Imamura S, Bodycombe NE, Bon RS, Waldmann H, Clemons PA, Sukhatme VP, Mootha VK. A small-molecule screening strategy to identify suppressors of statin myopathy. ACS Chem Biol 2011; 6:900-4. [PMID: 21732624 DOI: 10.1021/cb200206w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The reduction of plasma low-density lipoprotein levels by HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins, has had a revolutionary impact in medicine, but muscle-related side effects remain a dose-limiting toxicity in many patients. We describe a chemical epistasis approach that can be useful in refining the mechanism of statin muscle toxicity, as well as in screening for agents that suppress muscle toxicity while preserving the ability of statins to increase the expression of the low-density lipoprotein receptor. Using this approach, we identified one compound that attenuates the muscle side effects in both cellular and animal models of statin toxicity, likely by influencing Rab prenylation. Our proof-of-concept screen lays the foundation for truly high-throughput screens that could help lead to the development of clinically useful adjuvants that can one day be co-administered with statins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget K. Wagner
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Tamara J. Gilbert
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Jun-ichi Hanai
- Renal Division and Division of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Biotechnology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Shintaro Imamura
- Food Technology and Biochemistry Division, National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Yokohama, Japan
| | | | - Robin S. Bon
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Herbert Waldmann
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Paul A. Clemons
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Vikas P. Sukhatme
- Renal Division and Division of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Biotechnology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Vamsi K. Mootha
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
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37
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Coxon FP, Taylor A, Stewart CA, Baron R, Seabra MC, Ebetino FH, Rogers MJ. The gunmetal mouse reveals Rab geranylgeranyl transferase to be the major molecular target of phosphonocarboxylate analogues of bisphosphonates. Bone 2011; 49:111-21. [PMID: 21419243 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2011.03.686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2011] [Revised: 03/09/2011] [Accepted: 03/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The described ability of phosphonocarboxylate analogues of bisphosphonates (BPs) to inhibit Rab geranylgeranyl transferase (RGGT) is thought to be the mechanism underlying their cellular effects, including their ability to reduce macrophage cell viability and to inhibit osteoclast-mediated resorption. However, until now the possibility that at least some of the effects of these drugs may be mediated through other targets has not been excluded. Since RGGT is the most distal enzyme in the process of Rab prenylation, it has not proved possible to confirm the mechanism underlying the effects of these drugs by adding back downstream intermediates of the mevalonate pathway, the approach used to demonstrate that bisphosphonates act through this pathway. We now confirm that RGGT is the major pharmacological target of phosphonocarboxylates by using several alternative approaches. Firstly, analysis of several different phosphonocarboxylate drugs demonstrates a very good correlation between the ability of these drugs to inhibit RGGT with their ability to: (a) reduce macrophage cell viability; (b) induce apoptosis; and (c) induce vacuolation in rabbit osteoclasts. Secondly, we have found that cells from the gunmetal (gm/gm) mouse, which bear a homozygous mutation in RGGT that results in ~80% reduced activity of this enzyme compared to wild-type or heterozygous mice, are more sensitive to the effects of active phosphonocarboxylates (including reducing macrophage cell viability, inhibiting osteoclast formation and inhibiting fluid-phase endocytosis), confirming that these effects are mediated through inhibition of RGGT. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that all of the pharmacological effects of phosphonocarboxylates found thus far appear to be mediated through the specific inhibition of RGGT, highlighting the potential therapeutic value of this class of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fraser P Coxon
- Musculoskeletal Programme, Division of Applied Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, UK.
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38
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Bon RS, Guo Z, Stigter EA, Wetzel S, Menninger S, Wolf A, Choidas A, Alexandrov K, Blankenfeldt W, Goody RS, Waldmann H. Structure-Guided Development of Selective RabGGTase Inhibitors. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2011; 50:4957-61. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201101210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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39
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Bon RS, Guo Z, Stigter EA, Wetzel S, Menninger S, Wolf A, Choidas A, Alexandrov K, Blankenfeldt W, Goody RS, Waldmann H. Structure-Guided Development of Selective RabGGTase Inhibitors. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201101210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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40
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Ageberg M, Rydström K, Lindén O, Linderoth J, Jerkeman M, Drott K. Inhibition of geranylgeranylation mediates sensitivity to CHOP-induced cell death of DLBCL cell lines. Exp Cell Res 2011; 317:1179-91. [PMID: 21324313 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2011.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2010] [Revised: 02/08/2011] [Accepted: 02/09/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Prenylation is a post-translational hydrophobic modification of proteins, important for their membrane localization and biological function. The use of inhibitors of prenylation has proven to be a useful tool in the activation of apoptotic pathways in tumor cell lines. Rab geranylgeranyl transferase (Rab GGT) is responsible for the prenylation of the Rab family. Overexpression of Rab GGTbeta has been identified in CHOP refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Using a cell line-based model for CHOP resistant DLBCL, we show that treatment with simvastatin, which inhibits protein farnesylation and geranylgeranylation, sensitizes DLBCL cells to cytotoxic treatment. Treatment with the farnesyl transferase inhibitor FTI-277 or the geranylgeranyl transferase I inhibitor GGTI-298 indicates that the reduction in cell viability was restricted to inhibition of geranylgeranylation. In addition, treatment with BMS1, a combined inhibitor of farnesyl transferase and Rab GGT, resulted in a high cytostatic effect in WSU-NHL cells, demonstrated by reduced cell viability and decreased proliferation. Co-treatment of BMS1 or GGTI-298 with CHOP showed synergistic effects with regard to markers of apoptosis. We propose that inhibition of protein geranylgeranylation together with conventional cytostatic therapy is a potential novel strategy for treating patients with CHOP refractory DLBCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin Ageberg
- Division of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
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41
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Wojtkowiak JW, Sane KM, Kleinman M, Sloane BF, Reiners JJ, Mattingly RR. Aborted autophagy and nonapoptotic death induced by farnesyl transferase inhibitor and lovastatin. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2011; 337:65-74. [PMID: 21228063 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.110.174573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure of the human malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor cell lines STS-26T, ST88-14, and NF90-8 to nanomolar concentrations of both lovastatin and farnesyl transferase inhibitor (FTI)-1 but not to either drug alone induced cell death. ST88-14 and NF90-8 cells underwent apoptosis, yet dying STS-26T cells did not. FTI-1 cotreatment induced a strong and sustained autophagic response as indicated by analyses of microtubule-associated protein-1 light chain 3 (LC3)-II accumulation in STS-26T cultures. Extensive colocalization of LC3-positive punctate spots was observed with both lysosome-associated membrane protein (LAMP)-1 and LAMP-2 (markers of late endosomes/lysosomes) in solvent or FTI-1 or lovastatin-treated STS-26T cultures but very little colocalization in lovastatin/FTI-1-cotreated cultures. The absence of colocalization in the cotreatment protocol correlated with loss of LAMP-2 expression. Autophagic flux studies indicated that lovastatin/FTI-1 cotreatment inhibited the completion of the autophagic program. In contrast, rapamycin induced an autophagic response that was associated with cytostasis but maintenance of viability. These studies indicate that cotreatment of STS-26T cells with lovastatin and FTI-1 induces an abortive autophagic program and nonapoptotic cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan W Wojtkowiak
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA
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42
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Castaneda C, Meadows KL, Truax R, Morse MA, Kaufmann SH, Petros WP, Zhu Y, Statkevich P, Cutler DL, Hurwitz HI. Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of lonafarnib, SCH 66336, using a 2-week on, 2-week off schedule in patients with advanced solid tumors. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2010; 67:455-63. [DOI: 10.1007/s00280-010-1488-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2010] [Accepted: 10/05/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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43
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Nguyen UTT, Goody RS, Alexandrov K. Understanding and exploiting protein prenyltransferases. Chembiochem 2010; 11:1194-201. [PMID: 20432425 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.200900727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Uyen T T Nguyen
- Laboratory of Synthetic Protein Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
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44
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McKenna CE, Kashemirov BA, Błazewska KM, Mallard-Favier I, Stewart CA, Rojas J, Lundy MW, Ebetino FH, Baron RA, Dunford JE, Kirsten ML, Seabra MC, Bala JL, Marma MS, Rogers MJ, Coxon FP. Synthesis, chiral high performance liquid chromatographic resolution and enantiospecific activity of a potent new geranylgeranyl transferase inhibitor, 2-hydroxy-3-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl-2-phosphonopropionic acid. J Med Chem 2010; 53:3454-64. [PMID: 20394422 DOI: 10.1021/jm900232u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
3-(3-Pyridyl)-2-hydroxy-2-phosphonopropanoic acid (3-PEHPC, 1) is a phosphonocarboxylate (PC) analogue of 2-(3-pyridyl)-1-hydroxyethylidenebis(phosphonic acid) (risedronic acid, 2), an osteoporosis drug that decreases bone resorption by inhibiting farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS) in osteoclasts, preventing protein prenylation. 1 has lower bone affinity than 2 and weakly inhibits Rab geranylgeranyl transferase (RGGT), selectively preventing prenylation of Rab GTPases. We report here the synthesis and biological studies of 2-hydroxy-3-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl-2-phosphonopropionic acid (3-IPEHPC, 3), the PC analogue of minodronic acid 4. Like 1, 3 selectively inhibited Rab11 vs. Rap 1A prenylation in J774 cells, and decreased cell viability, but was 33-60x more active in these assays. After resolving 3 by chiral HPLC (>98% ee), we found that (+)-3-E1 was much more potent than (-)-3-E2 in an isolated RGGT inhibition assay, approximately 17x more potent (LED 3 microM) than (-)-3-E2 in inhibiting Rab prenylation in J774 cells and >26x more active in the cell viability assay. The enantiomers of 1 exhibited a 4-fold or smaller potency difference in the RGGT and prenylation inhibition assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E McKenna
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-0744, USA.
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45
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González-Pérez V, Reiner DJ, Alan JK, Mitchell C, Edwards LJ, Khazak V, Der CJ, Cox AD. Genetic and functional characterization of putative Ras/Raf interaction inhibitors in C. elegans and mammalian cells. J Mol Signal 2010; 5:2. [PMID: 20178605 PMCID: PMC2848644 DOI: 10.1186/1750-2187-5-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2010] [Accepted: 02/23/2010] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Activation of the mammalian Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK MAPK signaling cascade promotes cellular proliferation, and activating Ras mutations are implicated in cancer onset and maintenance. This pathway, a therapeutic target of interest, is highly conserved and required for vulval development in C. elegans. Gain-of-function mutations in the Ras ortholog lead to constitutive pathway signaling and a multivulva (Muv) phenotype. MCP compounds were identified in a yeast two-hybrid screen for their ability to disrupt Ras-Raf interactions. However, this had not been confirmed in another system, and conflicting results were reported regarding selective MCP-mediated blockade of Ras- and Raf-mediated biological activities in mammalian cells. Here we used the easily-scored Muv phenotype as an in vivo readout to characterize the selectivity of MCP110 and its analogs, and performed biochemical studies in mammalian cells to determine whether MCP treatment results in impaired interaction between Ras and its effector Raf. Results Our genetic analyses showed significant dose-dependent MCP-mediated reduction of Muv in C. elegans strains with activating mutations in orthologs of Ras (LET-60) or Raf (LIN-45), but not MAP kinases or an Ets-like transcription factor. Thus, these inhibitors selectively impair pathway function downstream of Ras and upstream of or at the level of Raf, consistent with disruption of the Ras/Raf interaction. Our biochemical analyses of MCP110-mediated disruption of Ras-Raf interactions in mammalian cells showed that MCP110 dose-dependently reduced Raf-RBD pulldown of Ras, displaced a fluorescently-tagged Raf-RBD probe from plasma membrane locations of active Ras to the cytosol and other compartments, and decreased active, phosphorylated ERK1/2. Conclusions We have effectively utilized C. elegans as an in vivo genetic system to evaluate the activity and selectivity of inhibitors intended to target the Ras-Raf-MAPK pathway. We demonstrated the ability of MCP110 to disrupt, at the level of Ras/Raf, the Muv phenotype induced by chronic activation of this pathway in C. elegans. In mammalian cells, we not only demonstrated MCP-mediated blockade of the physical interaction between Ras and Raf, but also narrowed the site of interaction on Raf to the RBD, and showed consequent functional impairment of the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway in both in vivo and cell-based systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa González-Pérez
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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46
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Ruan Q, Harrington AJ, Caldwell KA, Caldwell GA, Standaert DG. VPS41, a protein involved in lysosomal trafficking, is protective in Caenorhabditis elegans and mammalian cellular models of Parkinson's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2010; 37:330-8. [PMID: 19850127 PMCID: PMC2818321 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2009.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2009] [Revised: 10/09/2009] [Accepted: 10/10/2009] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
VPS41 is a protein identified as a potential therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease (PD) as a result of a high-throughput RNAi screen in Caenorhabditis elegans. VPS41 has a plausible mechanistic link to the pathogenesis of PD, as in yeast it is known to participate in trafficking of proteins to the lysosomal system and several recent lines of evidence have pointed to the importance of lysosomal system dysfunction in the neurotoxicity of alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn). We found that expression of the human form of VPS41 (hVPS41) prevents dopamine (DA) neuron loss induced by alpha-syn overexpression and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) neurotoxicity in C. elegans. In SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell lines stably transfected with hVPS41, we determined that presence of this protein conferred protection against the neurotoxins 6-OHDA and rotenone. Overexpression of hVPS41 did not alter the mitochondrial membrane depolarization induced by these neurotoxins. hVPS41 did, however, block downstream events in the apoptotic cascade including activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and PARP cleavage. We also observed that hVPS41 reduced the accumulation of insoluble high-molecular weight forms of alpha-syn in SH-SY5Y cells after treatment with rotenone. These data show that hVPS41 is protective against both alpha-syn and neurotoxic-mediated injury in invertebrate and cellular models of PD. These protective functions may be related to enhanced clearance of misfolded or aggregated protein, including alpha-syn. Our studies indicate that hVPS41 may be a useful target for developing therapeutic strategies for human PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingmin Ruan
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Adam J. Harrington
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
| | - Kim A. Caldwell
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
| | - Guy A. Caldwell
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
| | - David G. Standaert
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
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47
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Onono FO, Morgan MA, Spielmann HP, Andres DA, Subramanian T, Ganser A, Reuter CWM. A tagging-via-substrate approach to detect the farnesylated proteome using two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled with Western blotting. Mol Cell Proteomics 2010; 9:742-51. [PMID: 20103566 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m900597-mcp200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenylation is a post-translational modification critical for the proper function of multiple physiologically important proteins, including small G-proteins, such as Ras. Methods allowing rapid and selective detection of protein farnesylation and geranylgeranylation are fundamental for the understanding of prenylated protein function and for monitoring efficacy of drugs such as farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs). Although the natural substrates for prenyltransferases are farnesyl pyrophosphate and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, farnesyltransferase has been shown to incorporate isoprenoid analogues into protein substrates. In this study, protein prenyltransferase targets were labeled using anilinogeraniol, the alcohol precursor to the unnatural farnesyl pyrophosphate analogue 8-anilinogeranyl diphosphate in a tagging-via-substrate approach. Antibodies specific for the anilinogeranyl moiety were used to detect the anilinogeranyl-modified proteins. Coupling this highly effective labeling/detection method with two-dimensional electrophoresis and subsequent Western blotting allowed simple, rapid analysis of the complex farnesylated proteome. For example, this method elucidated the differential effects induced by two chemically distinct FTIs, BMS-214,662 and L-778,123. Although both FTIs strongly inhibited farnesylation of many proteins such as Lamins, NAP1L1, N-Ras, and H-Ras, only the dual prenylation inhibitor L-778,123 blocked prenylation of Pex19, RhoB, K-Ras, Cdc42, and Rap1. This snapshot approach has significant advantages over traditional techniques, including radiolabeling, anti-farnesyl antibodies, or mass spectroscopy, and enables dynamic analysis of the farnesylated proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrick O Onono
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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48
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Sane KM, Mynderse M, Lalonde DT, Dean IS, Wojtkowiak JW, Fouad F, Borch RF, Reiners JJ, Gibbs RA, Mattingly RR. A novel geranylgeranyl transferase inhibitor in combination with lovastatin inhibits proliferation and induces autophagy in STS-26T MPNST cells. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2010; 333:23-33. [PMID: 20086055 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.109.160192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenylation inhibitors have gained increasing attention as potential therapeutics for cancer. Initial work focused on inhibitors of farnesylation, but more recently geranylgeranyl transferase inhibitors (GGTIs) have begun to be evaluated for their potential antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we have developed a nonpeptidomimetic GGTI, termed GGTI-2Z [(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)methyl-(2Z,6E,10E)-3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadeca-2,6,10,14-tetraenyl 4-chlorobutyl(methyl)phosphoramidate], which in combination with lovastatin inhibits geranylgeranyl transferase I (GGTase I) and GGTase II/RabGGTase, without affecting farnesylation. The combination treatment results in a G(0)/G(1) arrest and synergistic inhibition of proliferation of cultured STS-26T malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor cells. We also show that the antiproliferative activity of drugs in combination occurs in the context of autophagy. The combination treatment also induces autophagy in the MCF10.DCIS model of human breast ductal carcinoma in situ and in 1c1c7 murine hepatoma cells, where it also reduces proliferation. At the same time, there is no detectable toxicity in normal immortalized Schwann cells. These studies establish GGTI-2Z as a novel geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate derivative that may work through a new mechanism involving the induction of autophagy and, in combination with lovastatin, may serve as a valuable paradigm for developing more effective strategies in this class of antitumor therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Komal M Sane
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
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Chen L, Hu J, Yun Y, Wang T. Rab36 regulates the spatial distribution of late endosomes and lysosomes through a similar mechanism to Rab34. Mol Membr Biol 2010; 27:23-30. [PMID: 19961360 DOI: 10.3109/09687680903417470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Small GTPase Rab36 is homologous to Rab34 with 56% amino acid sequence identity. Rab34 was characterized as a Golgi-associated Rab protein and regulates lysosomal positioning through interaction with RILP; however, the properties and functions of Rab36 have not been investigated. To investigate Rab36, we constructed EGFP-Rab36 wild type, the active GTP-bound mutant EGFP-Rab36Q116L and negative GDP-bound mutant EGFP-Rab36T71N. Expression of EGFP-Rab36 wild type revealed that Rab36 co-localized with Golgi markers GM130, Syntaxin 5 and TGN46 in Hela cells, indicating Rab36 is associated with Golgi apparatus. Over-expression of Rab36 induced late endosome and lysosome clustering around the Golgi apparatus, marked by LBPA, CD63, Lamp1 and Lamp2, without effects on early endosomal compartment marked by EEA1. GST-pulldown assay demonstrated that Rab36 can also interact with RILP. In addition, the binding region for Rab36 is in the C-terminal region (aa199-401) of RILP. Our data suggested that Rab36 may regulate the spatial distribution of late endosomes and lysosomes through a similar mechanism to Rab34.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Chen
- Institute for Biomedical Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China 361005
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50
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Tan KT, Guiu-Rozas E, Bon RS, Guo Z, Delon C, Wetzel S, Arndt S, Alexandrov K, Waldmann H, Goody RS, Wu YW, Blankenfeldt W. Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Peptide-Based Rab Geranylgeranyl Transferase Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2009; 52:8025-37. [DOI: 10.1021/jm901117d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kirill Alexandrov
- Department of Physical Biochemistry
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 306 Carmody Road, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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