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Zajkowski T, Lee MD, Sharma S, Vallota-Eastman A, Kuska M, Malczewska M, Rothschild LJ. Conserved functions of prion candidates suggest a primeval role of protein self-templating. Proteins 2023; 91:1298-1315. [PMID: 37519023 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26558] [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: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid-based prions have simple structures, a wide phylogenetic distribution, and a plethora of functions in contemporary organisms, suggesting they may be an ancient phenomenon. However, this hypothesis has yet to be addressed with a systematic, computational, and experimental approach. Here we present a framework to help guide future experimental verification of candidate prions with conserved functions to understand their role in the early stages of evolution and potentially in the origins of life. We identified candidate prions in all high-quality proteomes available in UniProt computationally, assessed their phylogenomic distributions, and analyzed candidate-prion functional annotations. Of the 27 980 560 proteins scanned, 228 561 were identified as candidate prions (~0.82%). Among these candidates, there were 84 Gene Ontology (GO) terms conserved across the three domains of life. We found that candidate prions with a possible role in adaptation were particularly well-represented within this group. We discuss unifying features of candidate prions to elucidate the primeval roles of prions and their associated functions. Candidate prions annotated as transcription factors, DNA binding, and kinases are particularly well suited to generating diverse responses to changes in their environment and could allow for adaptation and population expansion into more diverse environments. We hypothesized that a relationship between these functions and candidate prions could be evolutionarily ancient, even if individual prion domains themselves are not evolutionarily conserved. Candidate prions annotated with these universally occurring functions potentially represent the oldest extant prions on Earth and are therefore excellent experimental targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Zajkowski
- Universities Space Research Association at NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California, USA
- Polish Astrobiology Society, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michael D Lee
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- KBR, NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California, USA
| | - Siddhant Sharma
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Alec Vallota-Eastman
- Department of Earth Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Mikołaj Kuska
- Polish Astrobiology Society, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Malczewska
- Polish Astrobiology Society, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Lynn J Rothschild
- Space Science and Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California, USA
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2
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Siebert V, Silber M, Heuten E, Muhle-Goll C, Lemberg MK. Cleavage of mitochondrial homeostasis regulator PGAM5 by the intramembrane protease PARL is governed by transmembrane helix dynamics and oligomeric state. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102321. [PMID: 35921890 PMCID: PMC9436811 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The intramembrane protease PARL acts as a crucial mitochondrial safeguard by cleaving the mitophagy regulators PINK1 and PGAM5. Depending on the stress level, PGAM5 can either stimulate cell survival or cell death. In contrast to PINK1, which is constantly cleaved in healthy mitochondria and only active when the inner mitochondrial membrane is depolarized, PGAM5 processing is inversely regulated. However, determinants of PGAM5 that indicate it as a conditional substrate for PARL have not been rigorously investigated, and it is unclear how uncoupling the mitochondrial membrane potential affects its processing compared to that of PINK1. Here, we show that several polar transmembrane residues in PGAM5 distant from the cleavage site serve as determinants for its PARL-catalyzed cleavage. Our NMR analysis indicates that a short N-terminal amphipathic helix, followed by a kink and a C-terminal transmembrane helix harboring the scissile peptide bond are key for a productive interaction with PARL. Furthermore, we also show that PGAM5 is stably inserted into the inner mitochondrial membrane until uncoupling the membrane potential triggers its disassembly into monomers, which are then cleaved by PARL. In conclusion, we propose a model in which PGAM5 is slowly processed by PARL-catalyzed cleavage that is influenced by multiple hierarchical substrate features, including a membrane potential–dependent oligomeric switch.
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3
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Bohg C, Öster C, Utesch T, Bischoff S, Lange S, Shi C, Sun H, Lange A. A combination of solid-state NMR and MD simulations reveals the binding mode of a rhomboid protease inhibitor. Chem Sci 2021; 12:12754-12762. [PMID: 34703562 PMCID: PMC8494044 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc02146j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Intramembrane proteolysis plays a fundamental role in many biological and pathological processes. Intramembrane proteases thus represent promising pharmacological targets, but few selective inhibitors have been identified. This is in contrast to their soluble counterparts, which are inhibited by many common drugs, and is in part explained by the inherent difficulty to characterize the binding of drug-like molecules to membrane proteins at atomic resolution. Here, we investigated the binding of two different inhibitors to the bacterial rhomboid protease GlpG, an intramembrane protease characterized by a Ser–His catalytic dyad, using solid-state NMR spectroscopy. H/D exchange of deuterated GlpG can reveal the binding position while chemical shift perturbations additionally indicate the allosteric effects of ligand binding. Finally, we determined the exact binding mode of a rhomboid protease-inhibitor using a combination of solid-state NMR and molecular dynamics simulations. We believe this approach can be widely adopted to study the structure and binding of other poorly characterized membrane protein–ligand complexes in a native-like environment and under physiological conditions. Proton-detected solid-state NMR in combination with molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations allow the study of rhomboid protease inhibition under native-like conditions.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Bohg
- Department of Molecular Biophysics, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) Robert-Rössle-Straße 10 13125 Berlin Germany
| | - Carl Öster
- Department of Molecular Biophysics, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) Robert-Rössle-Straße 10 13125 Berlin Germany
| | - Tillmann Utesch
- Structural Chemistry and Computational Biophysics Group, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) Robert-Rössle-Straße 10 13125 Berlin Germany
| | - Susanne Bischoff
- Department of Molecular Biophysics, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) Robert-Rössle-Straße 10 13125 Berlin Germany
| | - Sascha Lange
- Department of Molecular Biophysics, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) Robert-Rössle-Straße 10 13125 Berlin Germany
| | - Chaowei Shi
- Department of Molecular Biophysics, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) Robert-Rössle-Straße 10 13125 Berlin Germany .,Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China Huangshan Road 443 Hefei 230027 People's Republic of China
| | - Han Sun
- Structural Chemistry and Computational Biophysics Group, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) Robert-Rössle-Straße 10 13125 Berlin Germany
| | - Adam Lange
- Department of Molecular Biophysics, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) Robert-Rössle-Straße 10 13125 Berlin Germany .,Institut für Biologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Invalidenstraße 42 10115 Berlin Germany
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4
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Welter BH, Walters HA, Temesvari LA. Reduced expression of a rhomboid protease, EhROM1, correlates with changes in the submembrane distribution and size of the Gal/GalNAc lectin subunits in the human protozoan parasite, Entamoeba histolytica. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0219870. [PMID: 32134930 PMCID: PMC7058331 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Entamoeba histolytica is a food- and waterborne parasite that causes amebic dysentery and amoebic liver abscesses. Adhesion is one of the most important virulence functions as it facilitates motility, colonization of host, destruction of host tissue, and uptake of nutrients by the parasite. The parasite cell surface adhesin, the Gal/GalNAc lectin, facilitates parasite-host interaction by binding to galactose or N-acetylgalactosamine residues on host components. It is composed of heavy (Hgl), intermediate (Igl), and light (Lgl) subunits. Igl is constitutively localized to lipid rafts (cholesterol-rich membrane domains), whereas Hgl and Lgl transiently associate with rafts. When all three subunits are localized to rafts, galactose-sensitive adhesion is enhanced. Thus, submembrane location may regulate the function of this adhesion. Rhomboid proteases are a conserved family of intramembrane proteases that also participate in the regulation of parasite-host interactions. In E. histolytica, one rhomboid protease, EhROM1, cleaves Hgl as a substrate, and knockdown of its expression inhibits parasite-host interactions. Since rhomboid proteases are found within membranes, it is not surprising that lipid composition regulates their activity and enzyme-substrate binding. Given the importance of the lipid environment for both rhomboid proteases and the Gal/GalNAc lectin, we sought to gain insight into the relationship between rhomboid proteases and submembrane location of the lectin in E. histolytica. We demonstrated that EhROM1, itself, is enriched in highly buoyant triton-insoluble membranes reminiscent of rafts. Reducing rhomboid protease activity, either pharmacologically or genetically, correlated with an enrichment of Hgl and Lgl in rafts. In a mutant cell line with reduced EhROM1 expression, there was also a significant augmentation of the level of all three Gal/GalNAc subunits on the cell surface and an increase in the molecular weight of Hgl and Lgl. Overall, the study provides insight into the molecular mechanisms governing parasite-host adhesion for this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda H. Welter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovations Center (EPIC), Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Heather A. Walters
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovations Center (EPIC), Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Lesly A. Temesvari
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovations Center (EPIC), Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
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5
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Cho S, Baker RP, Ji M, Urban S. Ten catalytic snapshots of rhomboid intramembrane proteolysis from gate opening to peptide release. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2019; 26:910-918. [PMID: 31570873 PMCID: PMC6858540 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-019-0296-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Protein cleavage inside the cell membrane triggers various patho-physiological signaling pathways, but the mechanism of catalysis is poorly understood. We solved ten structures of the Escherichia coli rhomboid protease in a bicelle membrane undergoing time-resolved steps that encompass the entire proteolytic reaction on a transmembrane substrate and an aldehyde inhibitor. Extensive gate opening accompanied substrate, but not inhibitor, binding, revealing that substrates and inhibitors take different paths to the active site. Catalysis unexpectedly commenced with, and was guided through subsequent catalytic steps by, motions of an extracellular loop, with local contributions from active site residues. We even captured the elusive tetrahedral intermediate that is uncleaved but covalently attached to the catalytic serine, around which the substrate was forced to bend dramatically. This unexpectedly stable intermediate indicates rhomboid catalysis uses an unprecedented reaction coordinate that may involve mechanically stressing the peptide bond, and could be selectively targeted by inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangwoo Cho
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rosanna P Baker
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ming Ji
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Siniša Urban
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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6
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The Rhomboid Superfamily: Structural Mechanisms and Chemical Biology Opportunities. Trends Biochem Sci 2018; 43:726-739. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2018.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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7
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Merilahti JAM, Elenius K. Gamma-secretase-dependent signaling of receptor tyrosine kinases. Oncogene 2018; 38:151-163. [PMID: 30166589 PMCID: PMC6756091 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-018-0465-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Human genome harbors 55 receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK). At least half of the RTKs have been reported to be cleaved by gamma-secretase-mediated regulated intramembrane proteolysis. The two-step process involves releasing the RTK ectodomain to the extracellular space by proteolytic cleavage called shedding, followed by cleavage in the RTK transmembrane domain by the gamma-secretase complex resulting in release of a soluble RTK intracellular domain. This intracellular domain, including the tyrosine kinase domain, can in turn translocate to various cellular compartments, such as the nucleus or proteasome. The soluble intracellular domain may interact with transcriptional regulators and other proteins to induce specific effects on cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation, establishing an additional signaling mode for the cleavable RTKs. On the other hand, the same process can facilitate RTK turnover and proteasomal degradation. In this review we focus on the regulation of RTK shedding and gamma-secretase cleavage, as well as signaling promoted by the soluble RTK ICDs. In addition, therapeutic implications of increased knowledge on RTK cleavage on cancer drug development are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes A M Merilahti
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, 20520, Turku, Finland.,Medicity Research Laboratory, University of Turku, 20520, Turku, Finland.,Turku Doctoral Programme of Molecular Medicine, University of Turku, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Klaus Elenius
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, 20520, Turku, Finland. .,Medicity Research Laboratory, University of Turku, 20520, Turku, Finland. .,Department of Oncology, Turku University Hospital, 20520, Turku, Finland.
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8
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Paschkowsky S, Recinto SJ, Young JC, Bondar AN, Munter LM. Membrane cholesterol as regulator of human rhomboid protease RHBDL4. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:15556-15568. [PMID: 30143535 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.002640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 08/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, intramembrane proteases have gained increasing attention because of their many links to various diseases. Nevertheless, our understanding as to how they function or how they are regulated is still limited, especially when it comes to human homologues. In this regard, here we sought to unravel mechanisms of regulation of the protease rhomboid-like protein-4 (RHBDL4), one of five active human serine intramembrane proteases. In view of our recent finding that human RHBDL4 efficiently cleaves the amyloid precursor protein (APP), a key protein in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease, we used established reagents to modulate the cellular cholesterol content and analyzed the effects of this modulation on RHBDL4-mediated processing of endogenous APP. We discovered that lowering membrane cholesterol levels increased the levels of RHBDL4-specific endogenous APP fragments, whereas high cholesterol levels had the opposite effect. Direct binding of cholesterol to APP did not mediate these modulating effects of cholesterol. Instead, using homology modeling, we identified two potential cholesterol-binding motifs in the transmembrane helices 3 and 6 of RHBDL4. Substitution of the essential tyrosine residues of the potential cholesterol-binding motifs to alanine increased the levels of endogenous APP C-terminal fragments, reflecting enhanced RHBDL4 activity. In summary, we provide evidence that the activity of RHBDL4 is regulated by cholesterol likely through a direct binding of cholesterol to the enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Paschkowsky
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics and Cell Information Systems Group and
| | | | - Jason C Young
- Department of Biochemistry and Groupe de Recherche Axé sur la Structure des Protéines, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 0B1, Canada and
| | - Ana-Nicoleta Bondar
- the Department of Physics, Theoretical Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Lisa Marie Munter
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics and Cell Information Systems Group and
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9
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Membrane properties that shape the evolution of membrane enzymes. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2018; 51:80-91. [PMID: 29597094 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2018.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Spectacular recent progress in structural biology has led to determination of the structures of many integral membrane enzymes that catalyze reactions in which at least one substrate also is membrane bound. A pattern of results seems to be emerging in which the active site chemistry of these enzymes is usually found to be analogous to what is observed for water soluble enzymes catalyzing the same reaction types. However, in light of the chemical, structural, and physical complexity of cellular membranes plus the presence of transmembrane gradients and potentials, these enzymes may be subject to membrane-specific regulatory mechanisms that are only now beginning to be uncovered. We review the membrane-specific environmental traits that shape the evolution of membrane-embedded biocatalysts.
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10
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Embedded in the Membrane: How Lipids Confer Activity and Specificity to Intramembrane Proteases. J Membr Biol 2017; 251:369-378. [PMID: 29260282 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-017-0008-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Proteases, sharp yet unforgivable tools of every cell, require tight regulation to ensure specific non-aberrant cleavages. The relatively recent discovered class of intramembrane proteases has gained increasing interest due to their involvement in important signaling pathways linking them to diseases including Alzheimer's disease and cancer. Despite tremendous efforts, their regulatory mechanisms have only started to unravel. There is evidence that the membrane composition itself can regulate intramembrane protease activity and specificity. In this review, we highlight the work on γ-secretase and rhomboid proteases and summarize several studies as to how different lipids impact on enzymatic activity.
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11
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Verhelst SHL. Intramembrane proteases as drug targets. FEBS J 2017; 284:1489-1502. [PMID: 27889944 DOI: 10.1111/febs.13979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Revised: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Proteases are considered attractive drug targets. Various drugs targeting classical, soluble proteases have been approved for treatment of human disease. Intramembrane proteases (IMPs) are a more recently discovered group of proteolytic enzymes. They are embedded in lipid bilayers and their active sites are located in the plane of a membrane. All four mechanistic families of IMPs have been linked to disease, but currently, no drugs against IMPs have entered the market. In this review, I will outline the function of IMPs with a focus on the ones involved in human disease, which includes Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and infectious diseases by microorganisms. Inhibitors of IMPs are known for all mechanistic classes, but are not yet very potent or selective - aside from those targeting γ-secretase. I will here describe the different features of IMP inhibitors and discuss a list of issues that need attention in the near future in order to improve the drug development for IMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven H L Verhelst
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Belgium.,AG Chemical Proteomics, Leibniz Institute for Analytical Sciences ISAS, Dortmund, Germany
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12
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Bondar AN. Biophysical mechanism of rhomboid proteolysis: Setting a foundation for therapeutics. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2016; 60:46-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2016] [Revised: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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13
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Abstract
Intramembrane serine proteases of the rhomboid family are widespread, and their gradually uncovered functions in different organisms already suggest medical relevance for infectious diseases and cancer. However, selective inhibitors that could serve as research tools for rhomboids, for validation of their disease relevance, or as templates for drug development are lacking. Here I summarize the current knowledge about rhomboid protease mechanism and specificity, overview the currently used inhibitors, and conclude by proposing avenues for future development of rhomboid protease inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Strisovsky
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic.
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14
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Urban S. A guide to the rhomboid protein superfamily in development and disease. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2016; 60:1-4. [PMID: 27751777 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Rhomboid proteins are considered to be the most widespread membrane proteins across all forms of life. This superfamily comprises both active intramembrane serine proteases that catalyze the release of factors from the membrane, and a eukaryotic subset of non-catalytic members in which rhomboid architecture supports deviating functions. Although rhomboid was discovered in genetic studies of insect development, rhomboid research has broadened dramatically over the past 15 years; rhomboid enzymes are now the best biophysically understood of all intramembrane proteases, and are considered promising therapeutic targets for diseases ranging from parasitic infections to Parkinsonian neurodegeneration. Perhaps the most rapid progress has come with the catalytically inert rhomboid proteins, some of which regulate protein trafficking and/or function, and their prominence is underscored by clinical mutations. Such a diverse collection of advances mark an excellent point to review the state of this vibrant area of research, not because central questions have been answered, but instead because a firm grip in key areas has been established, and the field is now poised for breakthroughs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siniša Urban
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Room 507 PCTB, 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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15
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Strisovsky K. Rhomboid protease inhibitors: Emerging tools and future therapeutics. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2016; 60:52-62. [PMID: 27567709 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Revised: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Rhomboid-family intramembrane serine proteases are evolutionarily widespread. Their functions in different organisms are gradually being uncovered and already suggest medical relevance for infectious diseases and cancer. In contrast to these advances, selective inhibitors that could serve as efficient tools for investigation of physiological functions of rhomboids, validation of their disease relevance or as templates for drug development are lacking. In this review I extract what is known about rhomboid protease mechanism and specificity, examine the currently used inhibitors, their mechanism of action and limitations, and conclude by proposing routes for future development of rhomboid protease inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kvido Strisovsky
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 166 10, Czech Republic.
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16
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Noy PJ, Swain RK, Khan K, Lodhia P, Bicknell R. Sprouting angiogenesis is regulated by shedding of the C-type lectin family 14, member A (CLEC14A) ectodomain, catalyzed by rhomboid-like 2 protein (RHBDL2). FASEB J 2016; 30:2311-23. [PMID: 26939791 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201500122r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
C-type lectin family 14, member A (CLEC14A), is a single-pass transmembrane glycoprotein that is overexpressed in tumor endothelial cells, and it promotes sprouting angiogenesis and modulates endothelial function via interactions with extracellular matrix proteins. Here, we show that CLEC14A is cleaved by rhomboid-like protein 2 (RHBDL2), one of 3 catalytic mammalian rhomboid-like (RHBDL) proteases, but that it is not cleaved by RHBDL1 or -3. Site-directed mutagenesis identified the precise site at which RHBDL2 cleaves CLEC14A, and targeted, small interfering RNAs that knockdown endogenous CLEC14A and RHBDL2 in human endothelial cells validated the specificity of CLEC14A shedding by RHBDL2. Loss of endogenous cleaved CLEC14A increased endothelial migration 2-fold, whereas that addition of recombinant cleaved CLEC14A inhibited the sprouting of human and murine endothelial cells 3-fold in several in vitro models. We assessed the in vivo role of cleaved CLEC14A in angiogenesis by using the rodent subcutaneous sponge implant model, and we found that CLEC14A protein inhibited vascular density by >50%. Finally, we show that cleaved CLEC14A binds to sprouting endothelial tip cells. Our data show that the ectodomain of CLEC14A regulates sprouting angiogenesis and suggests a role for RHBDL2 in endothelial function.-Noy, P. J., Swain, R. K., Khan, K., Lodhia, P., Bicknell, R. Sprouting angiogenesis is regulated by shedding of the C-type lectin family 14, member A (CLEC14A) ectodomain, catalyzed by rhomboid-like 2 protein (RHBDL2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Noy
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Institutes for Cardiovascular Sciences and Biomedical Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Rajeeb K Swain
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Institutes for Cardiovascular Sciences and Biomedical Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Kabir Khan
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Institutes for Cardiovascular Sciences and Biomedical Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Puja Lodhia
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Institutes for Cardiovascular Sciences and Biomedical Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Roy Bicknell
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Institutes for Cardiovascular Sciences and Biomedical Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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17
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Purushothaman S, Cama J, Keyser UF. Dependence of norfloxacin diffusion across bilayers on lipid composition. SOFT MATTER 2016; 12:2135-2144. [PMID: 26768751 DOI: 10.1039/c5sm02371h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern in medicine and raises the need to develop and design new drug molecules that can efficiently inhibit bacterial replication. Spurring the passive uptake of the drug molecules is an obvious solution. However our limited understanding of drug-membrane interactions due to the presence of an overwhelming variety of lipids constituting cellular membranes and the lack of facile tools to probe the bio-physical interactions between drugs and lipids imposes a major challenge towards developing new drug molecules that can enter the cell via passive diffusion. Here, we used a label-free micro-fluidic platform combined with giant unilamellar lipid vesicles to investigate the permeability of membranes containing mixtures of DOPE and DOPG in DOPC, leading to a label-free measurement of passive membrane-permeability of autofluorescent antibiotics. A fluoroquinolone drug, norfloxacin was used as a case study. Our results indicate that the diffusion of norfloxacin is strongly dependent on the lipid composition which is not expected from the traditional octanol-lipid partition co-efficient assay. The anionic lipid, DOPG, slows the diffusion process whereas the diffusion across liposomes containing DOPE increases with higher DOPE concentration. Our findings emphasise the need to investigate drug-membrane interactions with focus on the specificity of drugs to lipids for efficient drug delivery, drug encapsulation and targeted drug-delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sowmya Purushothaman
- Biological and Soft Systems, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK.
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18
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Cho S, Dickey SW, Urban S. Crystal Structures and Inhibition Kinetics Reveal a Two-Stage Catalytic Mechanism with Drug Design Implications for Rhomboid Proteolysis. Mol Cell 2016; 61:329-340. [PMID: 26805573 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2015.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Revised: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Intramembrane proteases signal by releasing proteins from the membrane, but despite their importance, their enzymatic mechanisms remain obscure. We probed rhomboid proteases with reversible, mechanism-based inhibitors that allow precise kinetic analysis and faithfully mimic the transition state structurally. Unexpectedly, inhibition by peptide aldehydes is non-competitive, revealing that in the Michaelis complex, substrate does not contact the catalytic center. Structural analysis in a membrane revealed that all extracellular loops of rhomboid make stabilizing interactions with substrate, but mainly through backbone interactions, explaining rhomboid's broad sequence selectivity. At the catalytic site, the tetrahedral intermediate lies covalently attached to the catalytic serine alone, with the oxyanion stabilized by unusual tripartite interactions with the side chains of H150, N154, and the backbone of S201. We also visualized unexpected substrate-enzyme interactions at the non-essential P2/P3 residues. These "extra" interactions foster potent rhomboid inhibition in living cells, thereby opening avenues for rational design of selective rhomboid inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangwoo Cho
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Room 507 PCTB, 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, 21205
| | - Seth W Dickey
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Room 507 PCTB, 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, 21205
| | - Siniša Urban
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Room 507 PCTB, 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, 21205
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19
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Strisovsky K. Why cells need intramembrane proteases - a mechanistic perspective. FEBS J 2016; 283:1837-45. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.13638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Revised: 12/19/2015] [Accepted: 12/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kvido Strisovsky
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry; Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Prague Czech Republic
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