1
|
Tang Q, Khvorova A. RNAi-based drug design: considerations and future directions. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2024; 23:341-364. [PMID: 38570694 PMCID: PMC11144061 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-024-00912-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
More than 25 years after its discovery, the post-transcriptional gene regulation mechanism termed RNAi is now transforming pharmaceutical development, proved by the recent FDA approval of multiple small interfering RNA (siRNA) drugs that target the liver. Synthetic siRNAs that trigger RNAi have the potential to specifically silence virtually any therapeutic target with unprecedented potency and durability. Bringing this innovative class of medicines to patients, however, has been riddled with substantial challenges, with delivery issues at the forefront. Several classes of siRNA drug are under clinical evaluation, but their utility in treating extrahepatic diseases remains limited, demanding continued innovation. In this Review, we discuss principal considerations and future directions in the design of therapeutic siRNAs, with a particular emphasis on chemistry, the application of informatics, delivery strategies and the importance of careful target selection, which together influence therapeutic success.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Tang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Dermatology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Narykov O, Zhu Y, Brettin T, Evrard YA, Partin A, Shukla M, Xia F, Clyde A, Vasanthakumari P, Doroshow JH, Stevens RL. Integration of Computational Docking into Anti-Cancer Drug Response Prediction Models. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:50. [PMID: 38201477 PMCID: PMC10777918 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a heterogeneous disease in that tumors of the same histology type can respond differently to a treatment. Anti-cancer drug response prediction is of paramount importance for both drug development and patient treatment design. Although various computational methods and data have been used to develop drug response prediction models, it remains a challenging problem due to the complexities of cancer mechanisms and cancer-drug interactions. To better characterize the interaction between cancer and drugs, we investigate the feasibility of integrating computationally derived features of molecular mechanisms of action into prediction models. Specifically, we add docking scores of drug molecules and target proteins in combination with cancer gene expressions and molecular drug descriptors for building response models. The results demonstrate a marginal improvement in drug response prediction performance when adding docking scores as additional features, through tests on large drug screening data. We discuss the limitations of the current approach and provide the research community with a baseline dataset of the large-scale computational docking for anti-cancer drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oleksandr Narykov
- Computing, Environment and Life Sciences, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA; (Y.Z.); (T.B.); (A.P.); (M.S.); (F.X.); (P.V.); (R.L.S.)
| | - Yitan Zhu
- Computing, Environment and Life Sciences, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA; (Y.Z.); (T.B.); (A.P.); (M.S.); (F.X.); (P.V.); (R.L.S.)
| | - Thomas Brettin
- Computing, Environment and Life Sciences, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA; (Y.Z.); (T.B.); (A.P.); (M.S.); (F.X.); (P.V.); (R.L.S.)
| | - Yvonne A. Evrard
- Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA;
| | - Alexander Partin
- Computing, Environment and Life Sciences, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA; (Y.Z.); (T.B.); (A.P.); (M.S.); (F.X.); (P.V.); (R.L.S.)
| | - Maulik Shukla
- Computing, Environment and Life Sciences, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA; (Y.Z.); (T.B.); (A.P.); (M.S.); (F.X.); (P.V.); (R.L.S.)
| | - Fangfang Xia
- Computing, Environment and Life Sciences, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA; (Y.Z.); (T.B.); (A.P.); (M.S.); (F.X.); (P.V.); (R.L.S.)
| | - Austin Clyde
- Computing, Environment and Life Sciences, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA; (Y.Z.); (T.B.); (A.P.); (M.S.); (F.X.); (P.V.); (R.L.S.)
- Department of Computer Science, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Priyanka Vasanthakumari
- Computing, Environment and Life Sciences, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA; (Y.Z.); (T.B.); (A.P.); (M.S.); (F.X.); (P.V.); (R.L.S.)
| | - James H. Doroshow
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Rick L. Stevens
- Computing, Environment and Life Sciences, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA; (Y.Z.); (T.B.); (A.P.); (M.S.); (F.X.); (P.V.); (R.L.S.)
- Department of Computer Science, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Castaldi PJ, Abood A, Farber CR, Sheynkman GM. Bridging the splicing gap in human genetics with long-read RNA sequencing: finding the protein isoform drivers of disease. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:R123-R136. [PMID: 35960994 PMCID: PMC9585682 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant splicing underlies many human diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders. Genome-wide mapping of splicing quantitative trait loci (sQTLs) has shown that genetic regulation of alternative splicing is widespread. However, identification of the corresponding isoform or protein products associated with disease-associated sQTLs is challenging with short-read RNA-seq, which cannot precisely characterize full-length transcript isoforms. Furthermore, contemporary sQTL interpretation often relies on reference transcript annotations, which are incomplete. Solutions to these issues may be found through integration of newly emerging long-read sequencing technologies. Long-read sequencing offers the capability to sequence full-length mRNA transcripts and, in some cases, to link sQTLs to transcript isoforms containing disease-relevant protein alterations. Here, we provide an overview of sQTL mapping approaches, the use of long-read sequencing to characterize sQTL effects on isoforms, the linkage of RNA isoforms to protein-level functions and comment on future directions in the field. Based on recent progress, long-read RNA sequencing promises to be part of the human disease genetics toolkit to discover and treat protein isoforms causing rare and complex diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Castaldi
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Abdullah Abood
- Center for Public Health Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Charles R Farber
- Center for Public Health Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Gloria M Sheynkman
- Center for Public Health Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| |
Collapse
|