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Liu F, Chen J, Li K, Li H, Zhu Y, Zhai Y, Lu B, Fan Y, Liu Z, Chen X, Jia X, Dong Z, Liu K. Ubiquitination and deubiquitination in cancer: from mechanisms to novel therapeutic approaches. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:148. [PMID: 39048965 PMCID: PMC11270804 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02046-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitination, a pivotal posttranslational modification of proteins, plays a fundamental role in regulating protein stability. The dysregulation of ubiquitinating and deubiquitinating enzymes is a common feature in various cancers, underscoring the imperative to investigate ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinases (DUBs) for insights into oncogenic processes and the development of therapeutic interventions. In this review, we discuss the contributions of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in all hallmarks of cancer and progress in drug discovery. We delve into the multiple functions of the UPS in oncology, including its regulation of multiple cancer-associated pathways, its role in metabolic reprogramming, its engagement with tumor immune responses, its function in phenotypic plasticity and polymorphic microbiomes, and other essential cellular functions. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive overview of novel anticancer strategies that leverage the UPS, including the development and application of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and molecular glues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Liu
- Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
| | - Jingyu Chen
- Department of Pediatric Medicine, School of Third Clinical Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Kai Li
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of First Clinical Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Haochen Li
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of First Clinical Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Yiyi Zhu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of First Clinical Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Yubo Zhai
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Bingbing Lu
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Yanle Fan
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
| | - Ziyue Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Xiaojie Chen
- School of Basic Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Xuechao Jia
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of TCM Syndrome and Prescription in Signaling, Traditional Chinese Medicine (Zhong Jing) School, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
| | - Zigang Dong
- Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China.
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China.
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China.
| | - Kangdong Liu
- Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China.
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China.
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2
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Xu M, Fu J, Pei Y, Li M, Kan W, Yan R, Xia C, Ma J, Wang P, Zhang Y, Gao Y, Yang Y, Zhou Y, Li J, Zhou B. Discovery of a Highly Potent, Selective and Efficacious USP7 Degrader for the Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 39028938 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
USP7 is an attractive therapeutic target for cancers, especially for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with wild-type p53. Herein, we report the discovery of XM-U-14 as a highly potent, selective and efficacious USP7 proteolysis-targeting chimera degrader. XM-U-14 achieves DC50 values of 0.74 nM and Dmax of 93% in inducing USP7 degradation in RS4;11 cell lines, and also significantly inhibits ALL cell growth. XM-U-14 even at 5 mg/kg dosed daily effectively inhibits RS4;11 tumor growth with 64.7% tumor regressions and causes no signs of toxicity in mice. XM-U-14 is a promising USP7 degrader for further optimization for ALL treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaomiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jingfeng Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuan Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Mengna Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Weijuan Kan
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ruyu Yan
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chaoyue Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jingkun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsuihang New District, Zhongshan, Guangdong 528400, China
| | - Peipei Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yue Gao
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yaxi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong 264117, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yubo Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsuihang New District, Zhongshan, Guangdong 528400, China
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jia Li
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong 264117, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsuihang New District, Zhongshan, Guangdong 528400, China
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Bing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong 264117, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
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3
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Patzke JV, Sauer F, Nair RK, Endres E, Proschak E, Hernandez-Olmos V, Sotriffer C, Kisker C. Structural basis for the bi-specificity of USP25 and USP28 inhibitors. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:2950-2973. [PMID: 38816515 PMCID: PMC11239673 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00167-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of cancer therapeutics is often hindered by the fact that specific oncogenes cannot be directly pharmaceutically addressed. Targeting deubiquitylases that stabilize these oncogenes provides a promising alternative. USP28 and USP25 have been identified as such target deubiquitylases, and several small-molecule inhibitors indiscriminately inhibiting both enzymes have been developed. To obtain insights into their mode of inhibition, we structurally and functionally characterized USP28 in the presence of the three different inhibitors AZ1, Vismodegib and FT206. The compounds bind into a common pocket acting as a molecular sink. Our analysis provides an explanation why the two enzymes are inhibited with similar potency while other deubiquitylases are not affected. Furthermore, a key glutamate residue at position 366/373 in USP28/USP25 plays a central structural role for pocket stability and thereby for inhibition and activity. Obstructing the inhibitor-binding pocket by mutation of this glutamate may provide a tool to accelerate future drug development efforts for selective inhibitors of either USP28 or USP25 targeting distinct binding pockets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Vincent Patzke
- Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, Institute for Structural Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Florian Sauer
- Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, Institute for Structural Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Radhika Karal Nair
- Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, Institute for Structural Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Erik Endres
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ewgenij Proschak
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Victor Hernandez-Olmos
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Christoph Sotriffer
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Caroline Kisker
- Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, Institute for Structural Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
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4
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Pandya MJ, Augustyniak W, Cliff MJ, Lindner I, Stinn A, Kahmann J, Temmerman K, Dannatt HRW, Waltho JP, Watson MJ. Backbone 1H, 13C and 15N resonance assignment of the ubiquitin specific protease 7 catalytic domain (residues 208-554) in complex with a small molecule ligand. BIOMOLECULAR NMR ASSIGNMENTS 2024; 18:33-44. [PMID: 38472728 DOI: 10.1007/s12104-024-10165-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The backbone 1H, 13C and 15N resonance assignment of Ubiquitin Specific Protease 7 catalytic domain (residues 208-554) was performed in its complex with a small molecule ligand and in its apo form as a reference. The amide 1H-15N signal intensities were boosted by an amide hydrogen exchange protocol, where expressed 2H, 13C, 15N-labeled protein was unfolded and re-folded to ensure exchange of amide deuterons to protons. The resonance assignments were used to determine chemical shift perturbations on ligand binding, which are consistent with the binding site observed by crystallography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya J Pandya
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- C4X Discovery Ltd, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD, United Kingdom
| | - Wojciech Augustyniak
- C4X Discovery Ltd, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD, United Kingdom.
| | - Matthew J Cliff
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ilka Lindner
- Biophysics Department, NMR and Protein Production, Evotec SE, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anne Stinn
- Biophysics Department, NMR and Protein Production, Evotec SE, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Kahmann
- Biophysics Department, NMR and Protein Production, Evotec SE, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Koen Temmerman
- Biophysics Department, NMR and Protein Production, Evotec SE, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hugh R W Dannatt
- C4X Discovery Ltd, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan P Waltho
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Martin J Watson
- C4X Discovery Ltd, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD, United Kingdom
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5
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Futran AS, Lu T, Amberg-Johnson K, Xu J, Yang X, He S, Boyce S, Bell JA, Pelletier R, Suzuki T, Huang X, Qian H, Fang L, Xing L, Xu Z, Kurtz SE, Tyner JW, Tang W, Guo T, Akinsanya K, Madge D, Jensen KK. Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 inhibitors reveal a differentiated mechanism of p53-driven anti-cancer activity. iScience 2024; 27:109693. [PMID: 38689642 PMCID: PMC11059122 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The USP7 deubiquitinase regulates proteins involved in the cell cycle, DNA repair, and epigenetics and has been implicated in cancer progression. USP7 inhibition has been pursued for the development of anti-cancer therapies. Here, we describe the discovery of potent and specific USP7 inhibitors exemplified by FX1-5303. FX1-5303 was used as a chemical probe to study the USP7-mediated regulation of p53 signaling in cells. It demonstrates mechanistic differences compared to MDM2 antagonists, a related class of anti-tumor agents that act along the same pathway. FX1-5303 synergizes with the clinically approved BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines and ex vivo patient samples and leads to strong tumor growth inhibition in in vivo mouse xenograft models of multiple myeloma and AML. This work introduces new USP7 inhibitors, differentiates their mechanism of action from MDM2 inhibition, and identifies specific opportunities for their use in the treatment of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan S. Futran
- Schrödinger, 1540 Broadway 24th Floor, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tao Lu
- WuXi AppTec, 288 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, China
| | | | - Jiayi Xu
- Schrödinger, 1540 Broadway 24th Floor, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiaoxiao Yang
- WuXi AppTec, 288 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Saidi He
- WuXi AppTec, 288 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Sarah Boyce
- Schrödinger, 1540 Broadway 24th Floor, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Takao Suzuki
- WuXi AppTec, 288 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Xianhai Huang
- Schrödinger, 1540 Broadway 24th Floor, New York, NY, USA
| | - Heng Qian
- WuXi AppTec, 288 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Liping Fang
- WuXi AppTec, 288 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Li Xing
- WuXi AppTec, 288 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Zhaowu Xu
- WuXi AppTec, 288 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Stephen E. Kurtz
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Jeffrey W. Tyner
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Wayne Tang
- Schrödinger, 1540 Broadway 24th Floor, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tao Guo
- WuXi AppTec, 288 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, China
| | | | - David Madge
- WuXi AppTec, 288 Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, China
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6
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Foster BM, Wang Z, Schmidt CK. DoUBLing up: ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteases in genome stability. Biochem J 2024; 481:515-545. [PMID: 38572758 PMCID: PMC11088880 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20230284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Maintaining stability of the genome requires dedicated DNA repair and signalling processes that are essential for the faithful duplication and propagation of chromosomes. These DNA damage response (DDR) mechanisms counteract the potentially mutagenic impact of daily genotoxic stresses from both exogenous and endogenous sources. Inherent to these DNA repair pathways is the activity of protein factors that instigate repair processes in response to DNA lesions. The regulation, coordination, and orchestration of these DDR factors is carried out, in a large part, by post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation, ubiquitylation, and modification with ubiquitin-like proteins (UBLs). The importance of ubiquitylation and UBLylation with SUMO in DNA repair is well established, with the modified targets and downstream signalling consequences relatively well characterised. However, the role of dedicated erasers for ubiquitin and UBLs, known as deubiquitylases (DUBs) and ubiquitin-like proteases (ULPs) respectively, in genome stability is less well established, particularly for emerging UBLs such as ISG15 and UFM1. In this review, we provide an overview of the known regulatory roles and mechanisms of DUBs and ULPs involved in genome stability pathways. Expanding our understanding of the molecular agents and mechanisms underlying the removal of ubiquitin and UBL modifications will be fundamental for progressing our knowledge of the DDR and likely provide new therapeutic avenues for relevant human diseases, such as cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M. Foster
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC), Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, 555 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4GJ, U.K
| | - Zijuan Wang
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC), Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, 555 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4GJ, U.K
| | - Christine K. Schmidt
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC), Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, 555 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4GJ, U.K
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Jurisic A, Sung P, Wappett M, Daubriac J, Lobb IT, Kung W, Crawford N, Page N, Cassidy E, Feutren‐Burton S, Rountree JSS, Helm MD, O'Dowd CR, Kennedy RD, Gavory G, Cranston AN, Longley DB, Jacq X, Harrison T. USP7 inhibitors suppress tumour neoangiogenesis and promote synergy with immune checkpoint inhibitors by downregulating fibroblast VEGF. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1648. [PMID: 38602256 PMCID: PMC11007818 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding how to modulate the microenvironment of tumors that are resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors represents a major challenge in oncology.Here we investigate the ability of USP7 inhibitors to reprogram the tumor microenvironment (TME) by inhibiting secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from fibroblasts. METHODS To understand the role played by USP7 in the TME, we systematically evaluated the effects of potent, selective USP7 inhibitors on co-cultures comprising components of the TME, using human primary cells. We also evaluated the effects of USP7 inhibition on tumor growth inhibition in syngeneic models when dosed in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). RESULTS Abrogation of VEGF secretion from fibroblasts in response to USP7 inhibition resulted in inhibition of tumor neoangiogenesis and increased tumor recruitment of CD8-positive T-lymphocytes, leading to significantly improved sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors. In syngeneic models, treatment with USP7 inhibitors led to striking tumor responses resulting in significantly improved survival. CONCLUSIONS USP7-mediated reprograming of the TME is not linked to its previously characterized role in modulating MDM2 but does require p53 and UHRF1 in addition to the well-characterized VEGF transcription factor, HIF-1α. This represents a function of USP7 that is unique to fibroblasts, and which is not observed in cancer cells or other components of the TME. Given the potential for USP7 inhibitors to transform "immune desert" tumors into "immune responsive" tumors, this paves the way for a novel therapeutic strategy combining USP7 inhibitors with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pei‐Ju Sung
- Almac Discovery Ltd., Health Science BuildingBelfastUK
| | - Mark Wappett
- Almac Discovery Ltd., Health Science BuildingBelfastUK
- Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer ResearchQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
| | | | - Ian T. Lobb
- Almac Discovery Ltd., Health Science BuildingBelfastUK
| | - Wei‐Wei Kung
- Almac Discovery Ltd., Health Science BuildingBelfastUK
| | | | - Natalie Page
- Almac Discovery Ltd., Health Science BuildingBelfastUK
| | - Eamon Cassidy
- Almac Discovery Ltd., Health Science BuildingBelfastUK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Gerald Gavory
- Almac Discovery Ltd., Health Science BuildingBelfastUK
| | | | - Daniel B. Longley
- Almac Discovery Ltd., Health Science BuildingBelfastUK
- Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer ResearchQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
| | - Xavier Jacq
- Almac Discovery Ltd., Health Science BuildingBelfastUK
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8
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Guo NJ, Wang B, Zhang Y, Kang HQ, Nie HQ, Feng MK, Zhang XY, Zhao LJ, Wang N, Liu HM, Zheng YC, Li W, Gao Y. USP7 as an emerging therapeutic target: A key regulator of protein homeostasis. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 263:130309. [PMID: 38382779 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Maintaining protein balance within a cell is essential for proper cellular function, and disruptions in the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, which is responsible for degrading and recycling unnecessary or damaged proteins, can lead to various diseases. Deubiquitinating enzymes play a vital role in regulating protein homeostasis by removing ubiquitin chains from substrate proteins, thereby controlling important cellular processes, such as apoptosis and DNA repair. Among these enzymes, ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is of particular interest. USP7 is a cysteine protease consisting of a TRAF region, catalytic region, and C-terminal ubiquitin-like (UBL) region, and it interacts with tumor suppressors, transcription factors, and other key proteins involved in cell cycle regulation and epigenetic control. Moreover, USP7 has been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of various diseases, including cancer, inflammation, neurodegenerative conditions, and viral infections. Overall, characterizing the functions of USP7 is crucial for understanding the pathophysiology of diverse diseases and devising innovative therapeutic strategies. This article reviews the structure and function of USP7 and its complexes, its association with diseases, and its known inhibitors and thus represents a valuable resource for advancing USP7 inhibitor development and promoting potential future treatment options for a wide range of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning-Jie Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Bo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Hui-Qin Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Hai-Qian Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Meng-Kai Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Xi-Ya Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Li-Juan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Ning Wang
- The School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hong-Min Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Yi-Chao Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
| | - Wen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
| | - Ya Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
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9
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Cheng YJ, Zhuang Z, Miao YL, Song SS, Bao XB, Yang CH, He JX. Identification of YCH2823 as a novel USP7 inhibitor for cancer therapy. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 222:116071. [PMID: 38387527 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Inhibition of the human ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7), the key deubiquitylating enzyme in regulating p53 protein levels, has been considered an attractive anticancer strategy. In order to enhance the cellular activity of FT671, scaffold hopping strategy was employed. This endeavor resulted in the discovery of YCH2823, a novel and potent USP7 inhibitor.YCH2823 demonstrated remarkable efficacy in inhibiting the growth of a specific subset of TP53 wild-type, -mutant, and MYCN-amplified cell lines, surpassing the potency of FT671 by approximately 5-fold. The mechanism of action of YCH2823 involves direct interaction with the catalytic domain of USP7, thereby impeding the cleavage of ubiquitinated substrates. An increase in the expression of p53 and p21, accompanied by G1 phase arrest and apoptosis, was observed upon treatment with YCH2823. Subsequently, the knockdown of p53 or p21 in CHP-212 cells exhibited a substantial reduction in sensitivity to YCH2823, as evidenced by a considerable increase in IC50 values up to 690-fold. Furthermore, YCH2823 treatment specifically enhanced the transcriptional and protein levels of BCL6 in sensitive cells. Moreover, a synergistic effect between USP7 inhibitors and mTOR inhibitors was observed, suggesting the possibility of novel therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. In conclusion, YCH2823 exhibits potential as an anticancer agent for the treatment of both TP53 wild-type and -mutant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Jun Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Cancer Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China; School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xian Lin Avenue, Nanjing 210046 China
| | - Zhen Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu-Ling Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Cancer Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shan-Shan Song
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Cancer Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xu-Bin Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Cancer Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chun-Hao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Jin-Xue He
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Cancer Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China; School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xian Lin Avenue, Nanjing 210046 China.
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10
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Zadi S, Javaid S, Atia-tul-Wahab, Zafar H, Awais M, Maslennikov I, Choudhary MI. Repurposing of US-FDA-approved drugs as negative modulators of ubiquitin specific protease-7 (USP7). Heliyon 2024; 10:e26345. [PMID: 38468948 PMCID: PMC10925992 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific protease7 (USP7) regulates the stability of the p53 tumor suppressor protein and several other proteins critical for tumor cell survival. Aberrant expression of USP7 facilitates human malignancies by altering the activity of proto-oncogenes/proteins, and tumor suppressor genes. Therefore, USP7 is a validated anti-cancer drug target. In this study, a drug repurposing approach was used to identify new hits against the USP7 enzyme. It is one of the most strategic approaches to find new uses for drugs in a cost- and time-effective way. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-based screening of 172 drugs identified 11 compounds that bind to the catalytic domain of USP7 with dissociation constant (Kd) values in the range of 0.6-1.49 mM. These 11 compounds could thermally destabilize the USP7 enzyme by decreasing its melting temperature up to 9 °C. Molecular docking and simulation studies provided structural insights into the ligand-protein complexes, suggesting that these compounds bind to the putative substrate binding pocket of USP7, and interact with its catalytically important residues. Among the identified 11 hits, compound 6 (oxybutynin), 7 (ketotifen), 10 (pantoprazole sodium), and 11 (escitalopram) also showed anti-cancer activity with an effect on the expression of proto-oncogenes and tumor-suppressor gene at mRNA level in HCT116 cells. The compounds identified in this study can serve as potential leads for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seema Zadi
- Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center of Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Sumaira Javaid
- Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center of Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Atia-tul-Wahab
- Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center of Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Humaira Zafar
- Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center of Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Awais
- Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center of Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | | | - M. Iqbal Choudhary
- Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center of Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
- H. E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 22252, Saudi Arabia
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11
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Zheng LL, Wang LT, Pang YW, Sun LP, Shi L. Recent advances in the development of deubiquitinases inhibitors as antitumor agents. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 266:116161. [PMID: 38262120 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Ubiquitination is a type of post-translational modification that covalently links ubiquitin to a target protein, which plays a critical role in modulating protein activity, stability, and localization. In contrast, this process is reversed by deubiquitinases (DUBs), which remove ubiquitin from ubiquitinated substrates. Dysregulation of DUBs is associated with several human diseases, such as cancer, inflammation, neurodegenerative disorders, and autoimmune diseases. Thus, DUBs have become promising targets for drug development. Although the physiological and pathological effects of DUBs are increasingly well understood, the clinical drug discovery of selective DUB inhibitors has been challenging. Herein, we summarize the structures and functions of main classes of DUBs and discuss the recent progress in developing selective small-molecule DUB inhibitors as antitumor agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Li Zheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Li-Ting Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Ye-Wei Pang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Li-Ping Sun
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
| | - Lei Shi
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
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12
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Cheron J, Beccari L, Hagué P, Icick R, Despontin C, Carusone T, Defrance M, Bhogaraju S, Martin-Garcia E, Capellan R, Maldonado R, Vorspan F, Bonnefont J, de Kerchove d'Exaerde A. USP7/Maged1-mediated H2A monoubiquitination in the paraventricular thalamus: an epigenetic mechanism involved in cocaine use disorder. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8481. [PMID: 38123574 PMCID: PMC10733359 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44120-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The risk of developing drug addiction is strongly influenced by the epigenetic landscape and chromatin remodeling. While histone modifications such as methylation and acetylation have been studied in the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens (NAc), the role of H2A monoubiquitination remains unknown. Our investigations, initially focused on the scaffold protein melanoma-associated antigen D1 (Maged1), reveal that H2A monoubiquitination in the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) significantly contributes to cocaine-adaptive behaviors and transcriptional repression induced by cocaine. Chronic cocaine use increases H2A monoubiquitination, regulated by Maged1 and its partner USP7. Accordingly, Maged1 specific inactivation in thalamic Vglut2 neurons, or USP7 inhibition, blocks cocaine-evoked H2A monoubiquitination and cocaine locomotor sensitization. Additionally, genetic variations in MAGED1 and USP7 are linked to altered susceptibility to cocaine addiction and cocaine-associated symptoms in humans. These findings unveil an epigenetic modification in a non-canonical reward pathway of the brain and a potent marker of epigenetic risk factors for drug addiction in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Cheron
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), ULB Neuroscience Institute, Neurophysiology Laboratory, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leonardo Beccari
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Pathophysiology and Genetics of Neuron and Muscle, CNRS UMR 5261, INSERM U1315, Lyon, France
| | - Perrine Hagué
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), ULB Neuroscience Institute, Neurophysiology Laboratory, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Romain Icick
- INSERM UMRS_1144, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Chloé Despontin
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), ULB Neuroscience Institute, Neurophysiology Laboratory, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Matthieu Defrance
- Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics in Brussels, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Elena Martin-Garcia
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology-Neurophar, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Psicobiologia i Metodologia de les Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roberto Capellan
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology-Neurophar, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Maldonado
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology-Neurophar, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Jérôme Bonnefont
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), ULB Neuroscience Institute, Institut de Recherches en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alban de Kerchove d'Exaerde
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), ULB Neuroscience Institute, Neurophysiology Laboratory, Brussels, Belgium.
- WELBIO, Wavre, Belgium.
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13
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Tan H, Li C, Lai T, Luo L. In Silico Analysis of USP7 Inhibitors Based on Building QSAR Models and Fragment Design for Screening Marine Compound Libraries. Mar Drugs 2023; 22:1. [PMID: 38276639 PMCID: PMC10817464 DOI: 10.3390/md22010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
USP7 is highly expressed in a variety of tumors and is thought to play a major role in cancer development. However, there are no drugs available to target USP7, so there is a need to develop new USP7 inhibitors. In this study, AutoQSAR, multiple linear regression, and Naive Bayesian models were constructed using 543 compounds and used to analyze marine compounds. After selecting 240 small molecules for molecular docking with Maestro, MOE, and GOLD, better small molecules than the positive compound P217564 were screened. The molecular structure of "1, 2-dibromobenzene" was optimized to improve the binding effect of the protein, and 10 optimized compounds in ADMET performed well during the screening process. To study the dynamic combination of protein-ligand effect consistency with static molecular docking, 100ns molecular dynamics simulations of candidate compound 1008-1, reference compound P217564, and negative-positive GNE2917 were conducted. The results of molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation analysis showed that compound 1008-1 maintained a stable conformation with the target protein. Thus, the comprehensive analysis suggests that compound 1008-1 could provide new possibilities for USP7 covalent inhibitor candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiting Tan
- The First Clinical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, China; (H.T.); (C.L.); (T.L.)
| | - Chenying Li
- The First Clinical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, China; (H.T.); (C.L.); (T.L.)
| | - Tianli Lai
- The First Clinical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, China; (H.T.); (C.L.); (T.L.)
| | - Lianxiang Luo
- The Marine Biomedical Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, China
- The Marine Biomedical Research Institute of Guangdong Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524023, China
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14
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Ren J, Yu P, Liu S, Li R, Niu X, Chen Y, Zhang Z, Zhou F, Zhang L. Deubiquitylating Enzymes in Cancer and Immunity. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2303807. [PMID: 37888853 PMCID: PMC10754134 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) maintain relative homeostasis of the cellular ubiquitome by removing the post-translational modification ubiquitin moiety from substrates. Numerous DUBs have been demonstrated specificity for cleaving a certain type of ubiquitin linkage or positions within ubiquitin chains. Moreover, several DUBs perform functions through specific protein-protein interactions in a catalytically independent manner, which further expands the versatility and complexity of DUBs' functions. Dysregulation of DUBs disrupts the dynamic equilibrium of ubiquitome and causes various diseases, especially cancer and immune disorders. This review summarizes the Janus-faced roles of DUBs in cancer including proteasomal degradation, DNA repair, apoptosis, and tumor metastasis, as well as in immunity involving innate immune receptor signaling and inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. The prospects and challenges for the clinical development of DUB inhibitors are further discussed. The review provides a comprehensive understanding of the multi-faced roles of DUBs in cancer and immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Ren
- The Eighth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhen518033P. R. China
| | - Peng Yu
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug DiscoveryShanghai Institute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of SciencesZhongshanGuangdongP. R. China
| | - Sijia Liu
- International Biomed‐X Research CenterSecond Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhou310058China
| | - Ran Li
- The Eighth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhen518033P. R. China
| | - Xin Niu
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling NetworkLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058P. R. China
| | - Yan Chen
- The Eighth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhen518033P. R. China
| | - Zhenyu Zhang
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenan450003P. R. China
| | - Fangfang Zhou
- Institutes of Biology and Medical ScienceSoochow UniversitySuzhou215123P. R. China
| | - Long Zhang
- The Eighth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhen518033P. R. China
- International Biomed‐X Research CenterSecond Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouP. R. China
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling NetworkLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058P. R. China
- Cancer CenterZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058P. R. China
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15
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Jiang Y, Ni S, Xiao B, Jia L. Function, mechanism and drug discovery of ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like modification with multiomics profiling for cancer therapy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:4341-4372. [PMID: 37969742 PMCID: PMC10638515 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin (Ub) and ubiquitin-like (Ubl) pathways are critical post-translational modifications that determine whether functional proteins are degraded or activated/inactivated. To date, >600 associated enzymes have been reported that comprise a hierarchical task network (e.g., E1-E2-E3 cascade enzymatic reaction and deubiquitination) to modulate substrates, including enormous oncoproteins and tumor-suppressive proteins. Several strategies, such as classical biochemical approaches, multiomics, and clinical sample analysis, were combined to elucidate the functional relations between these enzymes and tumors. In this regard, the fundamental advances and follow-on drug discoveries have been crucial in providing vital information concerning contemporary translational efforts to tailor individualized treatment by targeting Ub and Ubl pathways. Correspondingly, emphasizing the current progress of Ub-related pathways as therapeutic targets in cancer is deemed essential. In the present review, we summarize and discuss the functions, clinical significance, and regulatory mechanisms of Ub and Ubl pathways in tumorigenesis as well as the current progress of small-molecular drug discovery. In particular, multiomics analyses were integrated to delineate the complexity of Ub and Ubl modifications for cancer therapy. The present review will provide a focused and up-to-date overview for the researchers to pursue further studies regarding the Ub and Ubl pathways targeted anticancer strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Biying Xiao
- Cancer Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Lijun Jia
- Cancer Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
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16
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Shin SC, Park J, Kim KH, Yoon JM, Cho J, Ha BH, Oh Y, Choo H, Song EJ, Kim EE. Structural and functional characterization of USP47 reveals a hot spot for inhibitor design. Commun Biol 2023; 6:970. [PMID: 37740002 PMCID: PMC10516900 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05345-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
USP47 is widely involved in tumor development, metastasis, and other processes while performing a more regulatory role in inflammatory responses, myocardial infarction, and neuronal development. In this study, we investigate the functional and biochemical properties of USP47, whereby depleting USP47 inhibited cancer cell growth in a p53-dependent manner-a phenomenon that enhances during the simultaneous knockdown of USP7. Full-length USP47 shows higher deubiquitinase activity than the catalytic domain. The crystal structures of the catalytic domain, in its free and ubiquitin-bound states, reveal that the misaligned catalytic triads, ultimately, become aligned upon ubiquitin-binding, similar to USP7, thereby becoming ready for catalysis. Yet, the composition and lengths of BL1, BL2, and BL3 of USP47 differ from those for USP7, and they contribute to the observed selectivity. Our study provides molecular details of USP47 regulation, substrate recognition, and the hotspots for drug discovery by targeting USP47.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Chul Shin
- Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- Research Resources Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinyoung Park
- Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio‑Medical Science and Technology, KIST‑School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, 02792, Korea
| | - Kyung Hee Kim
- Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Min Yoon
- Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinhong Cho
- Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung Hak Ha
- Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Yeonji Oh
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunah Choo
- Division of Bio‑Medical Science and Technology, KIST‑School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, 02792, Korea
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Joo Song
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.
| | - Eunice EunKyeong Kim
- Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea.
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17
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Carreira LD, Oliveira RI, Moreira VM, Salvador JAR. Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7): an emerging drug target for cancer treatment. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:1043-1058. [PMID: 37789645 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2266571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) also known as herpesvirus-associated ubiquitin-specific protease (HAUSP) is a well-characterized cysteine protease that belongs to the largest subfamily of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). It is involved in multiple signaling pathways, some of them dysregulated in malignant tumors. USP7 inhibition can lead to cell growth arrest and apoptosis through inhibition of tumor promoters and stabilization of tumor suppressors, making it a promising druggable target for cancer therapy. AREAS COVERED This review covers the structure of USP7, its function in multiple signaling pathways and relevance in cancer, as well as recent advances and future perspectives in the development of USP7 inhibitors for cancer therapy. EXPERT OPINION Literature reports display the multiple antitumor activities of USP7 inhibitors, both in vitro and in vivo. Nonetheless, none have entered clinical trials so far, highlighting the need to delve into a deeper understanding of USP7 binding sites and the development of more accurate compound screening methods. Despite these challenges, further development of USP7 inhibitors is promising as a valuable new approach for cancer treatment, including the ability to address chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura D Carreira
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rita I Oliveira
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Vânia M Moreira
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jorge A R Salvador
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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18
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Saha G, Roy S, Basu M, Ghosh MK. USP7 - a crucial regulator of cancer hallmarks. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188903. [PMID: 37127084 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Over the course of three decades of study, the deubiquitinase Herpesvirus associated Ubiquitin-Specific Protease/Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 7 (HAUSP/USP7) has gradually come to be recognized as a crucially important molecule in cellular physiology. The fact that USP7 is overexpressed in a number of cancers, including breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancers, supports the idea that USP7 is also an important regulator of tumorigenesis. In this review, we discuss USP7's function in relation to the cancer hallmarks described by Hanahan and Weinberg. This post-translational modifier can support increased proliferation, block unfavorable growth signals, stop cell death, and support an unstable cellular genome by manipulating key players in the pertinent signalling circuit. It is interesting to note that USP7 also aids in the stabilization of molecules that support angiogenesis and metastasis. Targeting USP7 has now emerged as a crucial component of USP7 research because pharmacological inhibition of USP7 supports p53-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Efficacious USP7 inhibition is currently being investigated in both synthetic and natural compounds, but issues with selectivity and a lack of co-crystal structure have hindered USP7 inhibition from being tested in clinical settings. Moreover, the development of new, more effective USP7 inhibitors and their encouraging implications by numerous groups give us a glimmer of hope for USP7-targeting medications as effective substitutes for hazardous cancer chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gouranga Saha
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB), TRUE Campus, CN-6, Sector-V, Salt Lake, Kolkata-700091 & 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, PIN - 700032, India
| | - Srija Roy
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB), TRUE Campus, CN-6, Sector-V, Salt Lake, Kolkata-700091 & 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, PIN - 700032, India
| | - Malini Basu
- Department of Microbiology, Dhruba Chand Halder College, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, PIN - 743372, India
| | - Mrinal K Ghosh
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB), TRUE Campus, CN-6, Sector-V, Salt Lake, Kolkata-700091 & 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, PIN - 700032, India.
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19
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Song Y, Wang S, Zhao M, Yu B. Development of a robust HTRF assay with USP7 full length protein expressed in E. coli prokaryotic system for the identification of USP7 inhibitors. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2023; 227:115305. [PMID: 36812797 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is a promising therapeutic target. Several USP7 inhibitors accommodated in the catalytic triad of USP7 have been reported with the aid of high-throughput screening (HTS) methods using USP7 catalytic domain truncation. However, the drawbacks of previously reported biochemical cleavage assays, including poor stability, fluorescence interference, time-consuming, expensive, more importantly the selectivity issue, have challenged the USP7-targeted drug discovery. In this work, we demonstrated the functional heterogeneity and essential role of different structural elements in the USP7 full activation, highlighting the necessity of USP7 full length in drug discovery. Apart from reported two pockets in the catalytic triad, five additional ligandable pockets were predicted based on the proposed USP7 full length models by AlphaFold and homology modelling. A reliable homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) HTS method was established based on the cleavage mechanism of USP7 towards the ubiquitin precursor UBA10. The USP7 full length protein was successfully expressed in the relatively cost-effective E. coli prokaryotic system and used to simulate the auto-activated USP7 in nature. Via screening our in-house library (∼ 1500 compounds), 19 hit compounds with >20% of inhibition rate were identified for further optimization. This assay will enrich the toolbox for the identification of highly potent and selective USP7 inhibitors for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihui Song
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
| | - Shu Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Min Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Bin Yu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
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20
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Santelices J, Ou M, Maegawa GHB, Hercik K, Edelmann MJ. USP8 inhibition regulates autophagy flux and controls Salmonella infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1070271. [PMID: 37026055 PMCID: PMC10072284 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1070271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Ubiquitination is an important protein modification that regulates various essential cellular processes, including the functions of innate immune cells. Deubiquitinases are enzymes responsible for removing ubiquitin modification from substrates, and the regulation of deubiquitinases in macrophages during infection with Salmonella Typhimurium and Yersinia enterocolitica remains unknown. Methods To identify deubiquitinases regulated in human macrophages during bacterial infection, an activity-based proteomics screen was conducted. The effects of pharmacological inhibition of the identified deubiquitinase, USP8, were examined, including its impact on bacterial survival within macrophages and its role in autophagy regulation during Salmonella infection. Results Several deubiquiitnases were differentially regulated in infected macrophages. One of the deubiquitinases identified was USP8, which was downregulated upon Salmonella infection. Inhibition of USP8 was associated with a decrease in bacterial survival within macrophages, and it was found to play a distinct role in regulating autophagy during Salmonella infection. The inhibition of USP8 led to the downregulation of the p62 autophagy adaptor. Discussion The findings of this study suggest a novel role of USP8 in regulating autophagy flux, which restricts intracellular bacteria, particularly during Salmonella infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Santelices
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Mark Ou
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Gustavo H. B. Maegawa
- Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Vagelos Physicians and Surgeons College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kamil Hercik
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czechia
- Department of Molecular Pathology and Biology, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defense, Hradec Kralove, Czechia
| | - Mariola J. Edelmann
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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21
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Göricke F, Vu V, Smith L, Scheib U, Böhm R, Akkilic N, Wohlfahrt G, Weiske J, Bömer U, Brzezinka K, Lindner N, Lienau P, Gradl S, Beck H, Brown PJ, Santhakumar V, Vedadi M, Barsyte-Lovejoy D, Arrowsmith CH, Schmees N, Petersen K. Discovery and Characterization of BAY-805, a Potent and Selective Inhibitor of Ubiquitin-Specific Protease USP21. J Med Chem 2023; 66:3431-3447. [PMID: 36802665 PMCID: PMC10009755 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
USP21 belongs to the ubiquitin-specific protease (USP) subfamily of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). Due to its relevance in tumor development and growth, USP21 has been reported as a promising novel therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Herein, we present the discovery of the first highly potent and selective USP21 inhibitor. Following high-throughput screening and subsequent structure-based optimization, we identified BAY-805 to be a non-covalent inhibitor with low nanomolar affinity for USP21 and high selectivity over other DUB targets as well as kinases, proteases, and other common off-targets. Furthermore, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and cellular thermal shift assays (CETSA) demonstrated high-affinity target engagement of BAY-805, resulting in strong NF-κB activation in a cell-based reporter assay. To the best of our knowledge, BAY-805 is the first potent and selective USP21 inhibitor and represents a valuable high-quality in vitro chemical probe to further explore the complex biology of USP21.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Göricke
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 42096 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Victoria Vu
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Leanna Smith
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Ulrike Scheib
- Nuvisan Innovation Campus Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Raphael Böhm
- Nuvisan Innovation Campus Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Namik Akkilic
- Nuvisan Innovation Campus Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gerd Wohlfahrt
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jörg Weiske
- Nuvisan Innovation Campus Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulf Bömer
- Nuvisan Innovation Campus Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Niels Lindner
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 42096 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Philip Lienau
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Gradl
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hartmut Beck
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 42096 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Peter J Brown
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | | | - Masoud Vedadi
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Dalia Barsyte-Lovejoy
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Cheryl H Arrowsmith
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | | | - Kirstin Petersen
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
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22
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Chi L, Wang H, Yu F, Gao C, Dai H, Si X, Liu L, Wang Z, Zheng J, Ke Y, Liu H, Zhang Q. Recent Progress of Ubiquitin-Specific-Processing Protease 7 Inhibitors. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2023. [DOI: 10.1134/s1068162023020073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
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23
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Chan WC, Liu X, Magin RS, Girardi NM, Ficarro SB, Hu W, Tarazona Guzman MI, Starnbach CA, Felix A, Adelmant G, Varca AC, Hu B, Bratt AS, DaSilva E, Schauer NJ, Jaen Maisonet I, Dolen EK, Ayala AX, Marto JA, Buhrlage SJ. Accelerating inhibitor discovery for deubiquitinating enzymes. Nat Commun 2023; 14:686. [PMID: 36754960 PMCID: PMC9908924 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36246-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are an emerging drug target class of ~100 proteases that cleave ubiquitin from protein substrates to regulate many cellular processes. A lack of selective chemical probes impedes pharmacologic interrogation of this important gene family. DUBs engage their cognate ligands through a myriad of interactions. We embrace this structural complexity to tailor a chemical diversification strategy for a DUB-focused covalent library. Pairing our library with activity-based protein profiling as a high-density primary screen, we identify selective hits against 23 endogenous DUBs spanning four subfamilies. Optimization of an azetidine hit yields a probe for the understudied DUB VCPIP1 with nanomolar potency and in-family selectivity. Our success in identifying good chemical starting points as well as structure-activity relationships across the gene family from a modest but purpose-build library challenges current paradigms that emphasize ultrahigh throughput in vitro or virtual screens against an ever-increasing scope of chemical space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wai Cheung Chan
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xiaoxi Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert S Magin
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas M Girardi
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott B Ficarro
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wanyi Hu
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria I Tarazona Guzman
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cara A Starnbach
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alejandra Felix
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Guillaume Adelmant
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anthony C Varca
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bin Hu
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ariana S Bratt
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ethan DaSilva
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nathan J Schauer
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Isabella Jaen Maisonet
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emma K Dolen
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anthony X Ayala
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jarrod A Marto
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Sara J Buhrlage
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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24
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Yang H, Zhang X, Lao M, Sun K, He L, Xu J, Duan Y, Chen Y, Ying H, Li M, Guo C, Lu Q, Wang S, Su W, Liang T, Bai X. Targeting ubiquitin-specific protease 8 sensitizes anti-programmed death-ligand 1 immunotherapy of pancreatic cancer. Cell Death Differ 2023; 30:560-575. [PMID: 36539510 PMCID: PMC9950432 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-022-01102-z] [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: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) help tumor cells evade immune surveillance, and are regarded as important targets of anti-tumor immunotherapy. Post-translational modification of PD-L1 has potential value in immunosuppression. Here, we identified that ubiquitin-specific protease 8 (USP8) deubiquitinates PD-L1. Pancreatic cancer tissues exhibited significantly increased USP8 levels compared with those in normal tissues. Clinically, the expression of USP8 showed a significant association with the tumor-node-metastasis stage in multiple patient-derived cohorts of pancreatic cancer. Meanwhile, USP8 deficiency could reduce tumor invasion and migration and tumor size in an immunity-dependent manner, and improve anti-tumor immunogenicity. USP8 inhibitor pretreatment led to reduced tumorigenesis and immunocompetent mice with Usp8 knockdown tumors exhibited extended survival. Moreover, USP8 interacted positively with PD-L1 and upregulated its expression by inhibiting the ubiquitination-regulated proteasome degradation pathway in pancreatic cancer. Combination therapy with a USP8 inhibitor and anti-PD-L1 effectively suppressed pancreatic tumor growth by activation of cytotoxic T-cells and the anti-tumor immunity was mainly dependent on the PD-L1 pathway and CD8 + T cells. Our findings highlight the importance of targeting USP8, which can sensitize PD-L1-targeted pancreatic cancer to immunotherapy and might represent a novel therapeutic strategy to treat patients with pancreatic tumors in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanshen Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaozhen Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mengyi Lao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kang Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lihong He
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yi Duan
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Honggang Ying
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Muchun Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chengxiang Guo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qingsong Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Sicheng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wei Su
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tingbo Liang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Xueli Bai
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Research Center for Healthcare Data Science, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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25
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Scherpe S, Sapmaz A, Mulder MPC. Plate-Based Screening for DUB Inhibitors. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2706:89-96. [PMID: 37558943 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3397-7_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
The evolutionally conserved and abundant post-translational modifier ubiquitin (Ub) is involved in a vast number of cellular processes. Imbalanced ubiquitination is associated with a range of diseases. Consequently, components of the ubiquitylation machinery, such as deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) that control the removal of Ub, are emerging as therapeutic targets. Here, we describe a robust assay suitable for small-molecule inhibitor screening. This assay has the potential to drive the development of small-molecule compounds that can selectively target DUBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Scherpe
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Aysegul Sapmaz
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Monique P C Mulder
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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26
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Gorka M, Magnussen HM, Kulathu Y. Chemical biology tools to study Deubiquitinases and Ubl proteases. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 132:86-96. [PMID: 35216867 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The reversible attachment of ubiquitin (Ub) and ubiquitin like modifiers (Ubls) to proteins are crucial post-translational modifications (PTMs) for many cellular processes. Not only do cells possess hundreds of ligases to mediate substrate specific modification with Ub and Ubls, but they also have a repertoire of more than 100 dedicated enzymes for the specific removal of ubiquitin (Deubiquitinases or DUBs) and Ubl modifications (Ubl-specific proteases or ULPs). Over the past two decades, there has been significant progress in our understanding of how DUBs and ULPs function at a molecular level and many novel DUBs and ULPs, including several new DUB classes, have been identified. Here, the development of chemical tools that can bind and trap active DUBs has played a key role. Since the introduction of the first activity-based probe for DUBs in 1986, several innovations have led to the development of more sophisticated tools to study DUBs and ULPs. In this review we discuss how chemical biology has led to the development of activity-based probes and substrates that have been invaluable to the study of DUBs and ULPs. We summarise our currently available toolbox, highlight the main achievements and give an outlook of how these tools may be applied to gain a better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of DUBs and ULPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Gorka
- Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation & Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC-PPU), School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Helge Magnus Magnussen
- Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation & Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC-PPU), School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Yogesh Kulathu
- Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation & Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC-PPU), School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
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27
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Recent advances in the pharmacological targeting of ubiquitin-regulating enzymes in cancer. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 132:213-229. [PMID: 35184940 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
As a post-translational modification that has pivotal roles in protein degradation, ubiquitination ensures that intracellular proteins act in a precise spatial and temporal manner to regulate diversified cellular processes. Perturbation of the ubiquitin system contributes directly to the onset and progression of a wide variety of diseases, including various subtypes of cancer. This highly regulated system has been for years an active research area for drug discovery that is exemplified by several approved drugs. In this review, we will provide an update of the main breakthrough scientific discoveries that have been leading the clinical development of ubiquitin-targeting therapies in the last decade, with a special focus on E1 and E3 modulators. We will further discuss the unique challenges of identifying new potential therapeutic targets within this ubiquitous and highly complex machinery, based on available crystallographic structures, and explore chemical approaches by which these challenges might be met.
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28
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MYC multimers shield stalled replication forks from RNA polymerase. Nature 2022; 612:148-155. [PMID: 36424410 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05469-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Oncoproteins of the MYC family drive the development of numerous human tumours1. In unperturbed cells, MYC proteins bind to nearly all active promoters and control transcription by RNA polymerase II2,3. MYC proteins can also coordinate transcription with DNA replication4,5 and promote the repair of transcription-associated DNA damage6, but how they exert these mechanistically diverse functions is unknown. Here we show that MYC dissociates from many of its binding sites in active promoters and forms multimeric, often sphere-like structures in response to perturbation of transcription elongation, mRNA splicing or inhibition of the proteasome. Multimerization is accompanied by a global change in the MYC interactome towards proteins involved in transcription termination and RNA processing. MYC multimers accumulate on chromatin immediately adjacent to stalled replication forks and surround FANCD2, ATR and BRCA1 proteins, which are located at stalled forks7,8. MYC multimerization is triggered in a HUWE16 and ubiquitylation-dependent manner. At active promoters, MYC multimers block antisense transcription and stabilize FANCD2 association with chromatin. This limits DNA double strand break formation during S-phase, suggesting that the multimerization of MYC enables tumour cells to proliferate under stressful conditions.
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29
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The equilibrium of tumor suppression: DUBs as active regulators of PTEN. Exp Mol Med 2022; 54:1814-1821. [PMID: 36385557 PMCID: PMC9723170 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-022-00887-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
PTEN is among the most commonly lost or mutated tumor suppressor genes in human cancer. PTEN, a bona fide lipid phosphatase that antagonizes the highly oncogenic PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway, is considered a major dose-dependent tumor suppressor. Although PTEN function can be compromised by genetic mutations in inherited syndromes and cancers, posttranslational modifications of PTEN may also play key roles in the dynamic regulation of its function. Notably, deregulated ubiquitination and deubiquitination lead to detrimental impacts on PTEN levels and subcellular partitioning, promoting tumorigenesis. While PTEN can be targeted by HECT-type E3 ubiquitin ligases for nuclear import and proteasomal degradation, studies have shown that several deubiquitinating enzymes, including HAUSP/USP7, USP10, USP11, USP13, OTUD3 and Ataxin-3, can remove ubiquitin from ubiquitinated PTEN in cancer-specific contexts and thus reverse ubiquitination-mediated PTEN regulation. Researchers continue to reveal the precise molecular mechanisms by which cancer-specific deubiquitinases of PTEN regulate its roles in the pathobiology of cancer, and new methods of pharmacologically for modulating PTEN deubiquitinases are critical areas of investigation for cancer treatment and prevention. Here, we assess the mechanisms and functions of deubiquitination as a recently appreciated mode of PTEN regulation and review the link between deubiquitinases and PTEN reactivation and its implications for therapeutic strategies.
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30
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Diamanti E, Méndez M, Ross T, Kuttruff CA, Lefranc J, Klingler FM, von Nussbaum F, Jung M, Gehringer M. Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry 2022 Goes Virtual. ChemMedChem 2022; 17:e202200419. [PMID: 36198574 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202200419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry (FiMC) meeting, which represents the largest international medicinal chemistry conference in Germany, took place from March 14th to 16th 2022 in a fully virtual format. Organized by the Division of Medicinal Chemistry of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) together with the Division of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry of the German Pharmaceutical Society (DPhG) and a "local" organization committee from the University of Freiburg headed by Manfred Jung, the meeting brought together 271 participants from around 20 countries. The program included 33 lectures by leading scientists from industry and academia as well as early career investigators. 67 posters were presented in two poster sessions and with over 20.000 poster abstract downloads. The general organization and the time-shift function were very much appreciated as demonstrated by almost 600 on-demand contents retrieved. The online format fitted perfectly to bring together medicinal chemists from academia and industry across the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Diamanti
- HIPS - Helmholtz-Institut für Pharmazeutische Forschung Saarland, Campus E8 1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - María Méndez
- Sanofi R&D, Integrated Drug Discovery, Industriepark Höchst, Blg. G838, 65926, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Tatjana Ross
- Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Christian A Kuttruff
- Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88397, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Julien Lefranc
- Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany
| | | | - Franz von Nussbaum
- NUVISAN Innovation Campus Berlin, NUVISAN ICB GmbH, Muellerstr. 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Manfred Jung
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Albertstraße 25, 79104, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Matthias Gehringer
- University of Tübingen, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry Department, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
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31
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Valles G, Pozhidaeva A, Korzhnev DM, Bezsonova I. Backbone and ILV side-chain NMR resonance assignments of the catalytic domain of human deubiquitinating enzyme USP7. BIOMOLECULAR NMR ASSIGNMENTS 2022; 16:197-203. [PMID: 35536398 PMCID: PMC9529858 DOI: 10.1007/s12104-022-10079-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ubiquitin specific protease 7 (USP7) is a deubiquitinating enzyme, which removes ubiquitin tag from numerous protein substrates involved in diverse cellular processes such as cell cycle regulation, apoptosis and DNA damage response. USP7 affects stability, interaction network and cellular localization of its cellular and viral substrates by controlling their ubiquitination status. The large 41 kDa catalytic domain of USP7 harbors the active site of the enzyme. Here we present a nearly complete (93%) NMR resonance assignment of isoleucine, leucine and valine (ILV) side-chains of the USP7 catalytic domain along with a refined nearly complete (93%) assignment of its backbone resonances. The reported ILV methyl group assignment will facilitate further NMR investigations of structure, interactions and conformational dynamics of the USP7 enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Valles
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexandra Pozhidaeva
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
| | - Dmitry M Korzhnev
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA.
| | - Irina Bezsonova
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA.
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32
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Oliveira RI, Guedes RA, Salvador JAR. Highlights in USP7 inhibitors for cancer treatment. Front Chem 2022; 10:1005727. [PMID: 36186590 PMCID: PMC9520255 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.1005727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is a member of one of the most largely studied families of deubiquitylating enzymes. It plays a key role modulating the levels of multiple proteins, including tumor suppressors, transcription factors, epigenetic modulators, DNA repair proteins, and regulators of the immune response. The abnormal expression of USP7 is found in various malignant tumors and a high expression signature generally indicates poor tumor prognosis. This suggests USP7 as a promising prognostic and druggable target for cancer therapy. Nonetheless, no approved drugs targeting USP7 have already entered clinical trials. Therefore, the development of potent and selective USP7 inhibitors still requires intensive research and development efforts before the pre-clinical benefits translate into the clinic. This mini review systematically summarizes the role of USP7 as a drug target for cancer therapeutics, as well as the scaffolds, activities, and binding modes of some of the most representative small molecule USP7 inhibitors reported in the scientific literature. To wind up, development challenges and potential combination therapies using USP7 inhibitors for less tractable tumors are also disclosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita I. Oliveira
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Romina A. Guedes
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jorge A. R. Salvador
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Jorge A. R. Salvador,
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33
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Srivastava M, Mittal L, Kumari A, Agrahari AK, Singh M, Mathur R, Asthana S. Characterizing (un)binding mechanism of USP7 inhibitors to unravel the cause of enhanced binding potencies at allosteric checkpoint. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4398. [PMID: 36629250 PMCID: PMC9835771 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The ability to predict the intricate mechanistic behavior of ligands and associated structural determinants during protein-ligand (un)binding is of great practical importance in drug discovery. Ubiquitin specific protease-7 (USP7) is a newly emerging attractive cancer therapeutic target with bound allosteric inhibitors. However, none of the inhibitors have reached clinical trials, allowing opportunities to examine every aspect of allosteric modulation. The crystallographic insights reveal that these inhibitors have common properties such as chemical scaffolds, binding site and interaction fingerprinting. However, they still possess a broader range of binding potencies, ranging from 22 nM to 1,300 nM. Hence, it becomes more critical to decipher the structural determinants guiding the enhanced binding potency of the inhibitors. In this regard, we elucidated the atomic-level insights from both interacting partners, that is, protein-ligand perspective, and established the structure-activity link between USP7 inhibitors by using classical and advanced molecular dynamics simulations combined with linear interaction energy and molecular mechanics-Poisson Boltzmann surface area. We revealed the inhibitor potency differences by examining the contributions of chemical moieties and USP7 residues, the involvement of water-mediated interactions, and the thermodynamic landscape alterations. Additionally, the dissociation profiles aided in the establishment of a correlation between experimental potencies and structural determinants. Our study demonstrates the critical role of blocking loop 1 in allosteric inhibition and enhanced binding affinity. Comprehensively, our findings provide a constructive expansion of experimental outcomes and show the basis for varying binding potency using in-silico approaches. We expect this atomistic approach to be useful for effective drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitul Srivastava
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI)FaridabadIndia
- Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University (DPSRU)New DelhiIndia
| | - Lovika Mittal
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI)FaridabadIndia
| | - Anita Kumari
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI)FaridabadIndia
| | | | - Mrityunjay Singh
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI)FaridabadIndia
| | - Rajani Mathur
- Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (DIPSAR)New DelhiIndia
| | - Shailendra Asthana
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI)FaridabadIndia
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34
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Zhang XW, Feng N, Liu YC, Guo Q, Wang JK, Bai YZ, Ye XM, Yang Z, Yang H, Liu Y, Yang MM, Wang YH, Shi XM, Liu D, Tu PF, Zeng KW. Neuroinflammation inhibition by small-molecule targeting USP7 noncatalytic domain for neurodegenerative disease therapy. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo0789. [PMID: 35947662 PMCID: PMC9365288 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo0789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a fundamental contributor to progressive neuronal damage, which arouses a heightened interest in neurodegenerative disease therapy. Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) has a crucial role in regulating protein stability in multiple biological processes; however, the potential role of USP7 in neurodegenerative progression is poorly understood. Here, we discover the natural small molecule eupalinolide B (EB), which targets USP7 to inhibit microglia activation. Cocrystal structure reveals a previously undisclosed covalent allosteric site, Cys576, in a unique noncatalytic HUBL domain. By selectively modifying Cys576, EB allosterically inhibits USP7 to cause a ubiquitination-dependent degradation of Keap1. Keap1 function loss further results in an Nrf2-dependent transcription activation of anti-neuroinflammation genes in microglia. In vivo, pharmacological USP7 inhibition attenuates microglia activation and resultant neuron injury, thereby notably improving behavioral deficits in dementia and Parkinson's disease mouse models. Collectively, our findings provide an attractive future direction for neurodegenerative disease therapy by inhibiting microglia-mediated neuroinflammation by targeting USP7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Wen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Na Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yan-Chen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Qiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jing-Kang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yi-Zhen Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zhuo Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Heng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Mi-Mi Yang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yan-Hang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xiao-Meng Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Proteomics Laboratory, Medical and Healthy Analytical Center, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Peng-Fei Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Corresponding author. (P.-F.T.); (K.-W.Z.)
| | - Ke-Wu Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Corresponding author. (P.-F.T.); (K.-W.Z.)
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35
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Murgai A, Sosič I, Gobec M, Lemnitzer P, Proj M, Wittenburg S, Voget R, Gütschow M, Krönke J, Steinebach C. Targeting the deubiquitinase USP7 for degradation with PROTACs. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:8858-8861. [PMID: 35852517 PMCID: PMC9710854 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc02094g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Targeting deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach in several human cancers and other diseases. DUB inhibitors are exciting pharmacological tools but often exhibit limited cellular potency. Here we report PROTACs based on a ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) inhibitor scaffold to degrade USP7. By investigating several linker and E3 ligand types, including novel cereblon recruiters, we discovered a highly selective USP7 degrader tool compound that induced apoptosis of USP7-dependent cancer cells. This work represents one of the first DUB degraders and unlocks a new drug target class for protein degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arunima Murgai
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Berlin and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Izidor Sosič
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Martina Gobec
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Patricia Lemnitzer
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Matic Proj
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Sophie Wittenburg
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, D-53121, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Rabea Voget
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, D-53121, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Michael Gütschow
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, D-53121, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Jan Krönke
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Berlin and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Steinebach
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, D-53121, Bonn, Germany.
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36
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Zhu H, Mellors JS, Chan WC, Thompson JW, Ficarro SB, Tavares I, Bratt AS, Decker J, Krause M, Kruppa G, Buhrlage SJ, Marto JA. On-Chip Preconcentration Microchip Capillary Electrophoresis Based CE-PRM-LIVE for High-Throughput Selectivity Profiling of Deubiquitinase Inhibitors. Anal Chem 2022; 94:9508-9513. [PMID: 35729701 PMCID: PMC10654755 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c01337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The family of deubiquitinases (DUBs) comprises ∼100 enzymes that cleave ubiquitin from substrate proteins and thereby regulate key aspects of human physiology. DUBs have recently emerged as disease-relevant and chemically tractable, although currently there are no approved DUB-targeting drugs and most preclinical small molecules are low-potency and/or multitargeted. We paired a novel capillary electrophoresis microchip containing an integrated, "on-chip" C18 bed (SPE-ZipChip) with a TMT version of our recently described PRM-LIVE acquisition scheme on a timsTOF Pro mass spectrometer to facilitate rapid activity-based protein profiling of DUB inhibitors. We demonstrate the ability of the SPE-ZipChip to improve proteome coverage of complex samples as well as the quantitation integrity of CE-PRM-LIVE for TMT labeled samples. These technologies provide a platform to accurately quantify competitive binding of covalent and reversible inhibitors in a multiplexed assay that spans 49 endogenous DUBs in less than 15 min.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Zhu
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - J Scott Mellors
- 908 Devices Inc., Boston, Massachusetts 02210, United States
| | - Wai Cheung Chan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - J Will Thompson
- 908 Devices Inc., Boston, Massachusetts 02210, United States
| | - Scott B Ficarro
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Isidoro Tavares
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Ariana S Bratt
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Jens Decker
- Bruker Daltonics GmbH & Co. KG, Bremen 28359, Germany
| | | | - Gary Kruppa
- Bruker S.R.O., District Brno-City 61900 Czech Republic
| | - Sara J Buhrlage
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Jarrod A Marto
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
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Doherty LM, Mills CE, Boswell SA, Liu X, Hoyt CT, Gyori B, Buhrlage SJ, Sorger PK. Integrating multi-omics data reveals function and therapeutic potential of deubiquitinating enzymes. eLife 2022; 11:72879. [PMID: 35737447 PMCID: PMC9225015 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), ~100 of which are found in human cells, are proteases that remove ubiquitin conjugates from proteins, thereby regulating protein turnover. They are involved in a wide range of cellular activities and are emerging therapeutic targets for cancer and other diseases. Drugs targeting USP1 and USP30 are in clinical development for cancer and kidney disease respectively. However, the majority of substrates and pathways regulated by DUBs remain unknown, impeding efforts to prioritize specific enzymes for research and drug development. To assemble a knowledgebase of DUB activities, co-dependent genes, and substrates, we combined targeted experiments using CRISPR libraries and inhibitors with systematic mining of functional genomic databases. Analysis of the Dependency Map, Connectivity Map, Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia, and multiple protein-protein interaction databases yielded specific hypotheses about DUB function, a subset of which were confirmed in follow-on experiments. The data in this paper are browsable online in a newly developed DUB Portal and promise to improve understanding of DUBs as a family as well as the activities of incompletely characterized DUBs (e.g. USPL1 and USP32) and those already targeted with investigational cancer therapeutics (e.g. USP14, UCHL5, and USP7).
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Doherty
- Harvard Medical School (HMS) Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) Center, Cambridge, United States.,Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States.,Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Program in Therapeutic Science, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Caitlin E Mills
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Program in Therapeutic Science, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Sarah A Boswell
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Program in Therapeutic Science, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Xiaoxi Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Charles Tapley Hoyt
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Program in Therapeutic Science, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Benjamin Gyori
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Program in Therapeutic Science, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Sara J Buhrlage
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Peter K Sorger
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Program in Therapeutic Science, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
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On the Study of Deubiquitinases: Using the Right Tools for the Job. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12050703. [PMID: 35625630 PMCID: PMC9139131 DOI: 10.3390/biom12050703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Deubiquitinases (DUBs) have been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent years. Many of their diverse enzymatic mechanisms are well characterized in vitro; however, our understanding of these enzymes at the cellular level lags due to the lack of quality tool reagents. DUBs play a role in seemingly every biological process and are central to many human pathologies, thus rendering them very desirable and challenging therapeutic targets. This review aims to provide researchers entering the field of ubiquitination with knowledge of the pharmacological modulators and tool molecules available to study DUBs. A focus is placed on small molecule inhibitors, ubiquitin variants (UbVs), and activity-based probes (ABPs). Leveraging these tools to uncover DUB biology at the cellular level is of particular importance and may lead to significant breakthroughs. Despite significant drug discovery efforts, only approximately 15 chemical probe-quality small molecule inhibitors have been reported, hitting just 6 of about 100 DUB targets. UbV technology is a promising approach to rapidly expand the library of known DUB inhibitors and may be used as a combinatorial platform for structure-guided drug design.
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Li P, Liu Y, Liu HM. A patent review of ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) inhibitors (2014-present). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2022; 32:753-767. [PMID: 35343357 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2022.2058873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) plays a critical role in multiple signaling pathways, and many recent studies have proved its association with many diseases. The USP7-murine double minute 2-p53 pathway and the relationship between USP7 and the important immune protein PD-L1 in cancer progression and metastasis have been clarified. Recently, USP7 has emerged as a promising and potent therapeutic target for cancer and has attracted both academic and industrial attention. AREAS COVERED This review focuses on the structure, activity, and applications of USP7 inhibitors in cancer therapy. It also focuses on patents reported since 2014. EXPERT OPINION Recently, USP7 has attracted considerable attention owing to its physiological and pathophysiological roles in cancer progression, and few studies have focused on the development of USP7 inhibitors. Compared with micromolar first-generation USP7 inhibitors, second-generation USP7 inhibitors exhibit higher potency (at nanomolar level for both USP7 and cell inhibitory activities), higher selectivity, and better pharmacokinetic properties, and they largely broaden the range of candidites for further clinical tests. However, there is still a need for a more precise description of compounds with receptors, the structural diversity of these compounds, and screening methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Li
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies & School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
| | - Ying Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 1 eastern Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Hong-Min Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies & School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
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40
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Tu R, Ma J, Zhang P, Kang Y, Xiong X, Zhu J, Li M, Zhang C. The emerging role of deubiquitylating enzymes as therapeutic targets in cancer metabolism. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:130. [PMID: 35307036 PMCID: PMC8935717 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02524-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractCancer cells must rewire cellular metabolism to satisfy the unbridled proliferation, and metabolic reprogramming provides not only the advantage for cancer cell proliferation but also new targets for cancer treatment. However, the plasticity of the metabolic pathways makes them very difficult to target. Deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) are proteases that cleave ubiquitin from the substrate proteins and process ubiquitin precursors. While the molecular mechanisms are not fully understood, many DUBs have been shown to be involved in tumorigenesis and progression via controlling the dysregulated cancer metabolism, and consequently recognized as potential drug targets for cancer treatment. In this article, we summarized the significant progress in understanding the key roles of DUBs in cancer cell metabolic rewiring and the opportunities for the application of DUBs inhibitors in cancer treatment, intending to provide potential implications for both research purpose and clinical applications.
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Xu X, Zhang S, Wang Y, Zhao G, Sun Y, Wang J, Liu L, Liu F, Wang P, Yang J. Virtual Screening Inhibitors of Ubiquitin-specific Protease 7 combining Pharmacophore Modeling and Molecular Docking. Mol Inform 2022; 41:e2100273. [PMID: 35037416 DOI: 10.1002/minf.202100273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is one of the most extensively studied deubiquitinases. USP7 exhibits a high expression signature in various malignant tumors, suggesting that it is a marker of tumor prognosis and a potential drug target for anti-tumor therapy. In this study, virtual screening based on pharmacophore model and biological evaluation have been applied for the discovery of novel USP7 inhibitors targeting the catalytic active site. The TS-4 was screened from 215,480 small molecules and was found to have USP7 inhibitory activity. Preliminary in vitro studies disclosed its antiproliferative activity on human colon cancer cell lines (HCT-116 and RKO), compared with normal colon cell line (CCD841CoN). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation revealed the combine mechanism between USP7 with the TS-4. The TS-4 formed stable interactions with Asp295, Phe409 and Tyr514, which were critical to enhance its biological activity. This compound will serve as a promising hit compound for facilitating the further design of novel USP7 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Fang Liu
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, CHINA
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Varca AC, Casalena D, Auld D, Buhrlage SJ. Identification of deubiquitinase inhibitors via high-throughput screening using a fluorogenic ubiquitin-rhodamine assay. STAR Protoc 2021; 2:100896. [PMID: 34723213 PMCID: PMC8536791 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Identification of selective deubiquitinase (DUB) inhibitors is critical for probe development to further understand and explore DUB biological function. Here, we detail the optimization and deployment of an in vitro fluorogenic ubiquitin-rhodamine assay to conduct high-throughput screening of a small molecule library against a panel of DUBs. In screening the compound library against multiple DUBs in parallel, we describe an approach for identifying selective DUB inhibitors and provide a roadmap for enabling selective DUB inhibitor discovery. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Varca et al. (2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C Varca
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dominick Casalena
- FAST Lab, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Douglas Auld
- FAST Lab, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sara J Buhrlage
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Varca AC, Casalena D, Chan WC, Hu B, Magin RS, Roberts RM, Liu X, Zhu H, Seo HS, Dhe-Paganon S, Marto JA, Auld D, Buhrlage SJ. Identification and validation of selective deubiquitinase inhibitors. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:1758-1771.e13. [PMID: 34129829 PMCID: PMC9473745 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are a class of isopeptidases that regulate ubiquitin dynamics through catalytic cleavage of ubiquitin from protein substrates and ubiquitin precursors. Despite growing interest in DUB biological function and potential as therapeutic targets, few selective small-molecule inhibitors and no approved drugs currently exist. To identify chemical scaffolds targeting specific DUBs and establish a broader framework for future inhibitor development across the gene family, we performed high-throughput screening of a chemically diverse small-molecule library against eight different DUBs, spanning three well-characterized DUB families. Promising hit compounds were validated in a series of counter-screens and orthogonal assays, as well as further assessed for selectivity across expanded panels of DUBs. Through these efforts, we have identified multiple highly selective DUB inhibitors and developed a roadmap for rapidly identifying and validating selective inhibitors of related enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C Varca
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dominick Casalena
- FAST Lab, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Wai Cheung Chan
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Bin Hu
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Robert S Magin
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rebekka M Roberts
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Xiaoxi Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - He Zhu
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Hyuk-Soo Seo
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sirano Dhe-Paganon
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jarrod A Marto
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Douglas Auld
- FAST Lab, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sara J Buhrlage
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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44
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Lange SM, Armstrong LA, Kulathu Y. Deubiquitinases: From mechanisms to their inhibition by small molecules. Mol Cell 2021; 82:15-29. [PMID: 34813758 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Deubiquitinases (DUBs) are specialized proteases that remove ubiquitin from substrates or cleave within ubiquitin chains to regulate ubiquitylation and therefore play important roles in eukaryotic biology. Dysregulation of DUBs is implicated in several human diseases, highlighting the importance of DUB function. In addition, many pathogenic bacteria and viruses encode and deploy DUBs to manipulate host immune responses and establish infectious diseases in humans and animals. Hence, therapeutic targeting of DUBs is an increasingly explored area that requires an in-depth mechanistic understanding of human and pathogenic DUBs. In this review, we summarize the multiple layers of regulation that control autoinhibition, activation, and substrate specificity of DUBs. We discuss different strategies to inhibit DUBs and the progress in developing selective small-molecule DUB inhibitors. Finally, we propose a classification system of DUB inhibitors based on their mode of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven M Lange
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation & Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Lee A Armstrong
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation & Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Yogesh Kulathu
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation & Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
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45
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Giovannucci TA, Salomons FA, Haraldsson M, Elfman LHM, Wickström M, Young P, Lundbäck T, Eirich J, Altun M, Jafari R, Gustavsson AL, Johnsen JI, Dantuma NP. Inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome system by an NQO1-activatable compound. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:914. [PMID: 34615851 PMCID: PMC8494907 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04191-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Malignant cells display an increased sensitivity towards drugs that reduce the function of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), which is the primary proteolytic system for destruction of aberrant proteins. Here, we report on the discovery of the bioactivatable compound CBK77, which causes an irreversible collapse of the UPS, accompanied by a general accumulation of ubiquitylated proteins and caspase-dependent cell death. CBK77 caused accumulation of ubiquitin-dependent, but not ubiquitin-independent, reporter substrates of the UPS, suggesting a selective effect on ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis. In a genome-wide CRISPR interference screen, we identified the redox enzyme NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) as a critical mediator of CBK77 activity, and further demonstrated its role as the compound bioactivator. Through affinity-based proteomics, we found that CBK77 covalently interacts with ubiquitin. In vitro experiments showed that CBK77-treated ubiquitin conjugates were less susceptible to disassembly by deubiquitylating enzymes. In vivo efficacy of CBK77 was validated by reduced growth of NQO1-proficient human adenocarcinoma cells in nude mice treated with CBK77. This first-in-class NQO1-activatable UPS inhibitor suggests that it may be possible to exploit the intracellular environment in malignant cells for leveraging the impact of compounds that impair the UPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana A Giovannucci
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Florian A Salomons
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Haraldsson
- Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden (CBCS), Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lotta H M Elfman
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Malin Wickström
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Patrick Young
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Lundbäck
- Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden (CBCS), Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
- Mechanistic & Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jürgen Eirich
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Clinical Proteomics Mass Spectrometry, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics (MBB), Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Muenster, 48143, Muenster, Germany
| | - Mikael Altun
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rozbeh Jafari
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Clinical Proteomics Mass Spectrometry, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna-Lena Gustavsson
- Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden (CBCS), Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John Inge Johnsen
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nico P Dantuma
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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46
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Clancy A, Heride C, Pinto-Fernández A, Elcocks H, Kallinos A, Kayser-Bricker KJ, Wang W, Smith V, Davis S, Fessler S, McKinnon C, Katz M, Hammonds T, Jones NP, O'Connell J, Follows B, Mischke S, Caravella JA, Ioannidis S, Dinsmore C, Kim S, Behrens A, Komander D, Kessler BM, Urbé S, Clague MJ. The deubiquitylase USP9X controls ribosomal stalling. J Cell Biol 2021; 220:211735. [PMID: 33507233 PMCID: PMC7849821 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202004211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
When a ribosome stalls during translation, it runs the risk of collision with a trailing ribosome. Such an encounter leads to the formation of a stable di-ribosome complex, which needs to be resolved by a dedicated machinery. The initial stalling and the subsequent resolution of di-ribosomal complexes requires activity of Makorin and ZNF598 ubiquitin E3 ligases, respectively, through ubiquitylation of the eS10 and uS10 subunits of the ribosome. We have developed a specific small-molecule inhibitor of the deubiquitylase USP9X. Proteomics analysis, following inhibitor treatment of HCT116 cells, confirms previous reports linking USP9X with centrosome-associated protein stability but also reveals a loss of Makorin 2 and ZNF598. We show that USP9X interacts with both these ubiquitin E3 ligases, regulating their abundance through the control of protein stability. In the absence of USP9X or following chemical inhibition of its catalytic activity, levels of Makorins and ZNF598 are diminished, and the ribosomal quality control pathway is impaired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Clancy
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Cell Signaling, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Claire Heride
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Cell Signaling, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,Cancer Research UK Therapeutic Discovery Laboratories, London Bioscience Innovation Centre, London, UK
| | - Adán Pinto-Fernández
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Hannah Elcocks
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Cell Signaling, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Andreas Kallinos
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Cell Signaling, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | | | - Victoria Smith
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Cell Signaling, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Simon Davis
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | | | - Tim Hammonds
- Cancer Research UK Therapeutic Discovery Laboratories, London Bioscience Innovation Centre, London, UK
| | - Neil P Jones
- Cancer Research UK Therapeutic Discovery Laboratories, London Bioscience Innovation Centre, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Axel Behrens
- Adult Stem Cell Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - David Komander
- Ubiquitin Signalling Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Benedikt M Kessler
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sylvie Urbé
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Cell Signaling, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Michael J Clague
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Cell Signaling, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Harakandi C, Nininahazwe L, Xu H, Liu B, He C, Zheng YC, Zhang H. Recent advances on the intervention sites targeting USP7-MDM2-p53 in cancer therapy. Bioorg Chem 2021; 116:105273. [PMID: 34474304 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7)-murine double minute 2 (MDM2)-p53 network plays an important role in the regulation of p53, a tumor suppressor which plays critical roles in regulating cell growth, proliferation, cell cycle progression, apoptosis and immune response. The overexpression of USP7 and MDM2 in human cancers contributes to cancer initiation and progression, and their inhibition reactivates p53 signalings and causes cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Herein, the current state of pharmacological characterization, potential applications in cancer treatment and mechanism of action of small molecules used to target and inhibit MDM2 and USP7 proteins are highlighted, along with the outcomes in clinical and preclinical settings. Moreover, challenges and advantages of these strategies, as well as perspectives in USP7-MDM2-p53 field are analyzed in detail. The investigation and application of MDM2 and USP7 inhibitors will deepen our understanding of the function of USP7-MDM2-p53 network, and feed in the development of effective and safe cancer therapies where USP7-MDM2-p53 network is implicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrisanta Harakandi
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R & D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Lauraine Nininahazwe
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R & D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R & D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Bingrui Liu
- College of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063503, China
| | - Chenghua He
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yi-Chao Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R & D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Hang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R & D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
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Lei H, Wang J, Hu J, Zhu Q, Wu Y. Deubiquitinases in hematological malignancies. Biomark Res 2021; 9:66. [PMID: 34454635 PMCID: PMC8401176 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-021-00320-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Deubiquitinases (DUBs) are enzymes that control the stability, interactions or localization of most cellular proteins by removing their ubiquitin modification. In recent years, some DUBs, such as USP7, USP9X and USP10, have been identified as promising therapeutic targets in hematological malignancies. Importantly, some potent inhibitors targeting the oncogenic DUBs have been developed, showing promising inhibitory efficacy in preclinical models, and some have even undergone clinical trials. Different DUBs perform distinct function in diverse hematological malignancies, such as oncogenic, tumor suppressor or context-dependent effects. Therefore, exploring the biological roles of DUBs and their downstream effectors will provide new insights and therapeutic targets for the occurrence and development of hematological malignancies. We summarize the DUBs involved in different categories of hematological malignancies including leukemia, multiple myeloma and lymphoma. We also present the recent development of DUB inhibitors and their applications in hematological malignancies. Together, we demonstrate DUBs as potential therapeutic drug targets in hematological malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Lei
- Department of Pathophysiology, International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Faculty of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Jiaqi Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Faculty of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jiacheng Hu
- Department of Pathophysiology, International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Faculty of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Qian Zhu
- Department of Pathophysiology, International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Faculty of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yingli Wu
- Department of Pathophysiology, International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Faculty of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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Cruz L, Soares P, Correia M. Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases: Players in Cancer Cellular Processes. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14090848. [PMID: 34577547 PMCID: PMC8469789 DOI: 10.3390/ph14090848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitination represents a post-translational modification (PTM) essential for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Ubiquitination is involved in the regulation of protein function, localization and turnover through the attachment of a ubiquitin molecule(s) to a target protein. Ubiquitination can be reversed through the action of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). The DUB enzymes have the ability to remove the mono- or poly-ubiquitination signals and are involved in the maturation, recycling, editing and rearrangement of ubiquitin(s). Ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs) are the biggest family of DUBs, responsible for numerous cellular functions through interactions with different cellular targets. Over the past few years, several studies have focused on the role of USPs in carcinogenesis, which has led to an increasing development of therapies based on USP inhibitors. In this review, we intend to describe different cellular functions, such as the cell cycle, DNA damage repair, chromatin remodeling and several signaling pathways, in which USPs are involved in the development or progression of cancer. In addition, we describe existing therapies that target the inhibition of USPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Cruz
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (L.C.); (P.S.)
- Ipatimup—Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, 4250-475 Porto, Portugal
- FCUP—Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Soares
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (L.C.); (P.S.)
- Ipatimup—Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, 4250-475 Porto, Portugal
- FCUP—Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Do Porto, 4200-139 Porto, Portugal
| | - Marcelo Correia
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (L.C.); (P.S.)
- Ipatimup—Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, 4250-475 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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Do HA, Baek KH. Cellular functions regulated by deubiquitinating enzymes in neurodegenerative diseases. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 69:101367. [PMID: 34023421 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are one of the most common diseases in mankind. Although there are reports of several candidates that cause neurodegenerative diseases, the exact mechanism of pathogenesis is poorly understood. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is an important posttranslational modification for protein degradation and control of homeostasis. Enzymes such as E1, E2, E3 ligases, and deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) participating in UPS, regulate disease-inducing proteins by controlling the degree of ubiquitination. Therefore, the development of treatments targeting enzymes for degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is emerging as an attractive perspective. In particular, as DUBs are able to regulate one or more degenerative disease-related proteins, the potential as a therapeutic target is even more evident. DUBs influence the regulation of toxic proteins that cause neurodegenerative diseases by not only their removal, but also by regulating signals associated with mitophagy, autophagy, and endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD). In this review, we analyze not only the cellular processes of DUBs, which control neurodegenerative disease-inducing proteins, but also their potentials as a therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases.
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