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Rizzo S, Sikorski E, Park S, Im W, Vasquez‐Montes V, Ladokhin AS, Thévenin D. Promoting the activity of a receptor tyrosine phosphatase with a novel pH-responsive transmembrane agonist inhibits cancer-associated phenotypes. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4742. [PMID: 37515426 PMCID: PMC10461461 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4742] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Cell signaling by receptor protein tyrosine kinases (RTKs) is tightly controlled by the counterbalancing actions of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (RPTPs). Due to their role in attenuating the signal-initiating potency of RTKs, RPTPs have long been viewed as therapeutic targets. However, the development of activators of RPTPs has remained limited. We previously reported that the homodimerization of a representative member of the RPTP family (protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor J or PTPRJ) is regulated by specific transmembrane (TM) residues. Disrupting this interaction by single point mutations promotes PTPRJ access to its RTK substrates (e.g., EGFR and FLT3), reduces RTK's phosphorylation and downstream signaling, and ultimately antagonizes RTK-driven cell phenotypes. Here, we designed and tested a series of first-in-class pH-responsive TM peptide agonists of PTPRJ that are soluble in aqueous solution but insert as a helical TM domain in lipid membranes when the pH is lowered to match that of the acidic microenvironment of tumors. The most promising peptide reduced EGFR's phosphorylation and inhibited cancer cell EGFR-driven migration and proliferation, similar to the PTPRJ's TM point mutations. Developing tumor-selective and TM-targeting peptide binders of critical RPTPs could afford a potentially transformative approach to studying RPTP's selectivity mechanism without requiring less specific inhibitors and represent a novel class of therapeutics against RTK-driven cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Rizzo
- Department of ChemistryLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Eden Sikorski
- Department of ChemistryLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Soohyung Park
- Department of Biological SciencesLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Wonpil Im
- Department of ChemistryLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Biological SciencesLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Victor Vasquez‐Montes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe University of Kansas Medical CenterKansas CityKansasUSA
| | - Alexey S. Ladokhin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe University of Kansas Medical CenterKansas CityKansasUSA
| | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of ChemistryLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
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2
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Li Z, Duan Y, Mao W, Chen C, Yuan W, Jin X, Shi S, Su XC, Ibáñez CF, Lin Z. Equilibrium between monomers and dimers of the death domain of the p75 neurotrophin receptor in solution. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 246:125710. [PMID: 37414319 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125710] [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: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) contains a C-terminal globular protein module known as the death domain (DD), which plays a central role in apoptotic and inflammatory signaling through the formation of oligomeric protein complexes. A monomeric state of the p75NTR-DD also exists depending on its chemical environment in vitro. However, studies on the oligomeric states of the p75NTR-DD have produced conflicting findings and sparked great controversy. Here we present new evidence from biophysical and biochemical studies to demonstrate the coexistence of symmetric and asymmetric dimers of the p75NTR-DD, which may equilibrate with the monomeric form in solution and in the absence of any other protein. The reversible close-open solution behavior may be important for the p75NTR-DD to serve as an intracellular signaling hub. This result supports an intrinsic ability of the p75NTR-DD to self-associate, in congruence with the oligomerization properties of all members of the DD superfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yajing Duan
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Wenhui Mao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Wensu Yuan
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xinghua Jin
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Shuo Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xun-Cheng Su
- State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Carlos F Ibáñez
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University School of Life Sciences and Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 100871, China; Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm 17177, Sweden.
| | - Zhi Lin
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
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3
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Papadopoulou MA, Rogdakis T, Charou D, Peteinareli M, Ntarntani K, Gravanis A, Chanoumidou K, Charalampopoulos I. Neurotrophin Analog ENT-A044 Activates the p75 Neurotrophin Receptor, Regulating Neuronal Survival in a Cell Context-Dependent Manner. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11683. [PMID: 37511441 PMCID: PMC10380564 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal cell fate is predominantly controlled based on the effects of growth factors, such as neurotrophins, and the activation of a variety of signaling pathways acting through neurotrophin receptors, namely Trk and p75 (p75NTR). Despite their beneficial effects on brain function, their therapeutic use is compromised due to their polypeptidic nature and blood-brain-barrier impermeability. To overcome these limitations, our previous studies have proven that DHEA-derived synthetic analogs can act like neurotrophins, as they lack endocrine side effects. The present study focuses on the biological characterization of a newly synthesized analog, ENT-A044, and its role in inducing cell-specific functions of p75NTR. We show that ENT-A044 can induce cell death and phosphorylation of JNK protein by activating p75NTR. Additionally, ENT-A044 can induce the phosphorylation of TrkB receptor, indicating that our molecule can activate both neurotrophin receptors, enabling the protection of neuronal populations that express both receptors. Furthermore, the present study demonstrates, for the first time, the expression of p75NTR in human-induced Pluripotent Stem Cells-derived Neural Progenitor Cells (hiPSC-derived NPCs) and receptor-dependent cell death induced via ENT-A044 treatment. In conclusion, ENT-A044 is proposed as a lead molecule for the development of novel pharmacological agents, providing new therapeutic approaches and research tools, by controlling p75NTR actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Anna Papadopoulou
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Thanasis Rogdakis
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Despoina Charou
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Maria Peteinareli
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Katerina Ntarntani
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Achille Gravanis
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Konstantina Chanoumidou
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Ioannis Charalampopoulos
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), 70013 Heraklion, Greece
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4
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Lopes-Rodrigues V, Boxy P, Sim E, Park DI, Habeck M, Carbonell J, Andersson A, Fernández-Suárez D, Nissen P, Nykjær A, Kisiswa L. AraC interacts with p75 NTR transmembrane domain to induce cell death of mature neurons. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:440. [PMID: 37460457 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05979-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Cytosine arabinoside (AraC) is one of the main therapeutic treatments for several types of cancer, including acute myeloid leukaemia. However, after a high-dose AraC chemotherapy regime, patients develop severe neurotoxicity and cell death in the central nervous system leading to cerebellar ataxia, dysarthria, nystagmus, somnolence and drowsiness. AraC induces apoptosis in dividing cells. However, the mechanism by which it leads to neurite degeneration and cell death in mature neurons remains unclear. We hypothesise that the upregulation of the death receptor p75NTR is responsible for AraC-mediated neurodegeneration and cell death in leukaemia patients undergoing AraC treatment. To determine the role of AraC-p75NTR signalling in the cell death of mature neurons, we used mature cerebellar granule neurons' primary cultures from p75NTR knockout and p75NTRCys259 mice. Evaluation of neurite degeneration, cell death and p75NTR signalling was done by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. To assess the interaction between AraC and p75NTR, we performed cellular thermal shift and AraTM assays as well as Homo-FRET anisotropy imaging. We show that AraC induces neurite degeneration and programmed cell death of mature cerebellar granule neurons in a p75NTR-dependent manner. Mechanistically, Proline 252 and Cysteine 256 residues facilitate AraC interaction with the transmembrane domain of p75NTR resulting in uncoupling of p75NTR from the NFκB survival pathway. This, in turn, exacerbates the activation of the cell death/JNK pathway by recruitment of TRAF6 to p75NTR. Our findings identify p75NTR as a novel molecular target to develop treatments for counteract AraC-mediated cell death of mature neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Lopes-Rodrigues
- Department of Physiology and Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
| | - Pia Boxy
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE)-Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- The Danish National Research Foundation Center, PROMEMO, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Eunice Sim
- Department of Physiology and Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
| | - Dong Ik Park
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE)-Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- The Danish National Research Foundation Center, PROMEMO, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Michael Habeck
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE)-Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- The Danish National Research Foundation Center, PROMEMO, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Josep Carbonell
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, S-17177, Sweden
| | - Annika Andersson
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, S-17177, Sweden
| | | | - Poul Nissen
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE)-Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- The Danish National Research Foundation Center, PROMEMO, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anders Nykjær
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE)-Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- The Danish National Research Foundation Center, PROMEMO, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lilian Kisiswa
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE)-Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- The Danish National Research Foundation Center, PROMEMO, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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5
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Du G, Zhao L, Zheng Y, Belfetmi A, Cai T, Xu B, Heyninck K, Van Den Heede K, Buyse MA, Fontana P, Bowman M, Lin LL, Wu H, Chou JJ. Autoinhibitory structure of preligand association state implicates a new strategy to attain effective DR5 receptor activation. Cell Res 2023; 33:131-146. [PMID: 36604598 PMCID: PMC9892523 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-022-00755-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) are important therapeutic targets that can be activated to induce death of cancer cells or stimulate proliferation of immune cells. Although it has long been implicated that these receptors assemble preligand associated states that are required for dominant interference in human disease, such states have so far eluded structural characterization. Here, we find that the ectodomain of death receptor 5 (DR5-ECD), a representative member of TNFRSF, can specifically self-associate when anchored to lipid bilayer, and we report this self-association structure determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Unexpectedly, two non-overlapping interaction interfaces are identified that could propagate to higher-order clusters. Structure-guided mutagenesis indicates that the observed preligand association structure is represented on DR5-expressing cells. The DR5 preligand association serves an autoinhibitory role as single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) that partially dissociate the preligand cluster can sensitize the receptor to its ligand TRAIL and even induce substantial receptor signaling in the absence of TRAIL. Unlike most agonistic antibodies that require multivalent binding to aggregate receptors for activation, these agonistic sdAbs are monovalent and act specifically on an oligomeric, autoinhibitory configuration of the receptor. Our data indicate that receptors such as DR5 can form structurally defined preclusters incompatible with signaling and that true agonists should disrupt the preligand cluster while converting it to signaling-productive cluster. This mechanism enhances our understanding of a long-standing question in TNFRSF signaling and suggests a new opportunity for developing agonistic molecules by targeting receptor preligand clustering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Du
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Linlin Zhao
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yumei Zheng
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anissa Belfetmi
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tiantian Cai
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Boying Xu
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | | | | | | | - Pietro Fontana
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Bowman
- Checkpoint Immunology, Immunology & Inflammation, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lih-Ling Lin
- Checkpoint Immunology, Immunology & Inflammation, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - James Jeiwen Chou
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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6
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Zhang Z, Wan X, Li X, Wan C. Effects of a Shift of the Signal Peptide Cleavage Site in Signal Peptide Variant on the Synthesis and Secretion of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27196688. [PMID: 36235223 PMCID: PMC9570739 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27196688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is caused by SARS-CoV-2; the spike protein is a key structural protein that mediates infection of the host by SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of signal peptide on the secretion and release of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Therefore, we constructed a signal peptide deletion mutant and three signal peptide site-directed mutants. The (H) region and (C) region in the signal peptide of L5F-S13I mutant have changed significantly, compared with wild type, L5F and S13I. We demonstrated the effects of signal peptide on the secretion and synthesis of RBD protein, finding that mutation of S13 to I13 on the signal peptide is more conducive to the secretion of RBD protein, which was mainly due to the shift of the signal peptide cleavage site in the mutant S13I. Here, we not only investigated the structure of the N-terminal signal peptide of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein but also considered possible secretory pathways. We suggest that the development of drugs that target the signal peptide of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein may have potential to treat COVID-19 in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhikai Zhang
- BSL-3 Laboratory (Guangdong), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xuan Wan
- Chronic Airways Diseases Laboratory, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xinyue Li
- BSL-3 Laboratory (Guangdong), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Chengsong Wan
- BSL-3 Laboratory (Guangdong), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Correspondence:
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7
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Ren X, Lin Z, Yuan W. A Structural and Functional Perspective of Death Receptor 6. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:836614. [PMID: 35401228 PMCID: PMC8987162 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.836614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF), death receptor 6 (DR6) has a similar structural architecture to other family members. The extracellular region of DR6 contains four cysteine-rich domains, followed by a single-pass transmembrane domain and an intracellular region. Since its discovery, DR6 has become an orphan receptor ubiquitously expressed to transduce unique signaling pathways. Although the free ectodomains of β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) can bind to DR6 to induce apoptotic signals, the natural ligands of DR6 still remain largely unknown. In this review, we focus on recent research progress of structural and functional studies on DR6 for better understanding DR6-mediated signaling and the treatment of DR6-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zhi Lin
- *Correspondence: Wensu Yuan, ; Zhi Lin,
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8
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In vivo functions of p75 NTR: challenges and opportunities for an emerging therapeutic target. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2021; 42:772-788. [PMID: 34334250 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) functions at the molecular nexus of cell death, survival, and differentiation. In addition to its contribution to neurodegenerative diseases and nervous system injuries, recent studies have revealed unanticipated roles of p75NTR in liver repair, fibrinolysis, lung fibrosis, muscle regeneration, and metabolism. Linking these various p75NTR functions more precisely to specific mechanisms marks p75NTR as an emerging candidate for therapeutic intervention in a wide range of disorders. Indeed, small molecule inhibitors of p75NTR binding to neurotrophins have shown efficacy in models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and neurodegeneration. Here, we outline recent advances in understanding p75NTR pleiotropic functions in vivo, and propose an integrated view of p75NTR and its challenges and opportunities as a pharmacological target.
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9
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Ibáñez CF. Regulation of metabolic homeostasis by the TGF-β superfamily receptor ALK7. FEBS J 2021; 289:5776-5797. [PMID: 34173336 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
ALK7 (Activin receptor-like kinase 7) is a member of the TGF-β receptor superfamily predominantly expressed by cells and tissues involved in endocrine functions, such as neurons of the hypothalamus and pituitary, pancreatic β-cells and adipocytes. Recent studies have begun to delineate the processes regulated by ALK7 in these tissues and how these become integrated with the homeostatic regulation of mammalian metabolism. The picture emerging indicates that ALK7's primary function in metabolic regulation is to limit catabolic activities and preserve energy. Aside of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, the function of ALK7 elsewhere in the brain, particularly in the cerebellum, where it is abundantly expressed, remains to be elucidated. Although our understanding of the basic molecular events underlying ALK7 signaling has benefited from the vast knowledge available on TGF-β receptor mechanisms, how these connect to the physiological functions regulated by ALK7 in different cell types is still incompletely understood. Findings of missense and nonsense variants in the Acvr1c gene, encoding ALK7, of some mouse strains and human subjects indicate a tolerance to ALK7 loss of function. Recent discoveries suggest that specific inhibitors of ALK7 may have therapeutic applications in obesity and metabolic syndrome without overt adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos F Ibáñez
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University School of Life Sciences and Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.,Department of Physiology and Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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10
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Zhong M, Wang Y, Muhammad FN, Gao J, Bian C. The p75 NTR and its carboxyl-terminal fragment exert opposing effects on melanoma cell proliferation and apoptosis via modulation of the NF-κB pathway. FEBS Open Bio 2020; 11:226-236. [PMID: 33247998 PMCID: PMC7780107 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR ), a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily of receptors, is sensitive to proteolysis and has been observed to be expressed in various cancers. However, the roles of p75NTR and its proteolytic fragments in tumorigenesis remain incompletely understood. Here, we report that the proportion of the p75NTR carboxyl-terminal fragment (p75NTR -CTF) is much higher than that of the full-length p75NTR (p75NTR -FL) in melanoma cells. Whereas p75NTR -FL positively regulates apoptosis, p75NTR -CTF promotes cell proliferation and survival, as well as increasing sorafenib resistance in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, p75NTR -CTF activates the nuclear factor kappa B pathway and enhances the mRNA and protein levels of its downstream genes c-IAP1/2, FLIP, bFGF, IL8 and VEGF. On the contrary, p75NTR -FL inhibits these processes. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that p75NTR -CTF and p75NTR -FL have opposing functions in melanoma cells, suggesting that the ratio of the two proteins affects the balance between cell death and survival. The presence of distinct p75NTR proteolytic fragments may affect biological outcomes in tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maojiao Zhong
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology and Biopharmaceutics, School of Life Science and Technology, Mianyang Normal University, China.,Department of Endodontics, Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China
| | - Yingying Wang
- Department of Stomatology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Farrukh Nisar Muhammad
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CUVAS), Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Jing Gao
- Department of Endodontics, Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China
| | - Chunxiang Bian
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology and Biopharmaceutics, School of Life Science and Technology, Mianyang Normal University, China
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11
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Yi C, Goh KY, Wong LW, Ramanujan A, Tanaka K, Sajikumar S, Ibáñez CF. Inactive variants of death receptor p75 NTR reduce Alzheimer's neuropathology by interfering with APP internalization. EMBO J 2020; 40:e104450. [PMID: 33258176 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020104450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A prevalent model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis postulates the generation of neurotoxic fragments derived from the amyloid precursor protein (APP) after its internalization to endocytic compartments. The molecular pathways that regulate APP internalization and intracellular trafficking in neurons are incompletely understood. Here, we report that 5xFAD mice, an animal model of AD, expressing signaling-deficient variants of the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR ) show greater neuroprotection from AD neuropathology than animals lacking this receptor. p75NTR knock-in mice lacking the death domain or transmembrane Cys259 showed lower levels of Aβ species, amyloid plaque burden, gliosis, mitochondrial stress, and neurite dystrophy than global knock-outs. Strikingly, long-term synaptic plasticity and memory, which are completely disrupted in 5xFAD mice, were fully recovered in the knock-in mice. Mechanistically, we found that p75NTR interacts with APP at the plasma membrane and regulates its internalization and intracellular trafficking in hippocampal neurons. Inactive p75NTR variants internalized considerably slower than wild-type p75NTR and showed increased association with the recycling pathway, thereby reducing APP internalization and co-localization with BACE1, the critical protease for generation of neurotoxic APP fragments, favoring non-amyloidogenic APP cleavage. These results reveal a novel pathway that directly and specifically regulates APP internalization, amyloidogenic processing, and disease progression, and suggest that inhibitors targeting the p75NTR transmembrane domain may be an effective therapeutic strategy in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenju Yi
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.,Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Ket Yin Goh
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.,Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Lik-Wei Wong
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.,Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Ajeena Ramanujan
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.,Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Kazuhiro Tanaka
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.,Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Sreedharan Sajikumar
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.,Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Carlos F Ibáñez
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.,Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.,Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, Wallenberg Research Centre at Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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12
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Zhao L, Fu Q, Pan L, Piai A, Chou JJ. The Diversity and Similarity of Transmembrane Trimerization of TNF Receptors. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:569684. [PMID: 33163490 PMCID: PMC7591462 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.569684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Receptors in the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) regulate proliferation of immune cells or induce programmed cell death, and many of them are candidates for antibody-based immunotherapy. Previous studies on several death receptors in the TNFRSF including Fas, p75NTR, and DR5 showed that the transmembrane helix (TMH) of these receptors can specifically oligomerize and their oligomeric states have direct consequences on receptor activation, suggesting a much more active role of TMH in receptor signaling than previously appreciated. Here, we report the structure of the TMH of TNFR1, another well studied member of the TNFRSF, in neutral bicelles that mimic a lipid bilayer. We find that TNFR1 TMH forms a defined trimeric complex in bicelles, and no evidences of higher-order clustering of trimers have been detected. Unexpectedly, a conserved proline, which is critical for Fas TMH trimerization, does not appear to play an important role in TNFR1 TMH trimerization, which is instead mediated by a glycine near the middle of the TMH. Further, TNFR1 TMH trimer shows a larger hydrophobic core than that of Fas or DR5, with four layers of hydrophobic interaction along the threefold axis. Comparison of the TNFR1 TMH structure with that of Fas and DR5 reveals reassuring similarities that have functional implications but also significant structural diversity that warrants systematic investigation of TMH oligomerization property for other members of the TNFRSF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Zhao
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Qingshan Fu
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Liqiang Pan
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Alessandro Piai
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - James J Chou
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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13
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Barrett CT, Dutch RE. Viral Membrane Fusion and the Transmembrane Domain. Viruses 2020; 12:v12070693. [PMID: 32604992 PMCID: PMC7412173 DOI: 10.3390/v12070693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Initiation of host cell infection by an enveloped virus requires a viral-to-host cell membrane fusion event. This event is mediated by at least one viral transmembrane glycoprotein, termed the fusion protein, which is a key therapeutic target. Viral fusion proteins have been studied for decades, and numerous critical insights into their function have been elucidated. However, the transmembrane region remains one of the most poorly understood facets of these proteins. In the past ten years, the field has made significant advances in understanding the role of the membrane-spanning region of viral fusion proteins. We summarize developments made in the past decade that have contributed to the understanding of the transmembrane region of viral fusion proteins, highlighting not only their critical role in the membrane fusion process, but further demonstrating their involvement in several aspects of the viral lifecycle.
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14
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Bloch E, Sikorski EL, Pontoriero D, Day EK, Berger BW, Lazzara MJ, Thévenin D. Disrupting the transmembrane domain-mediated oligomerization of protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor J inhibits EGFR-driven cancer cell phenotypes. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:18796-18806. [PMID: 31676686 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.010229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (RPTPs) play critical regulatory roles in mammalian signal transduction. However, the structural basis for the regulation of their catalytic activity is not fully understood, and RPTPs are generally not therapeutically targetable. This knowledge gap is partially due to the lack of known natural ligands or selective agonists of RPTPs. Contrary to what is known from structure-function studies of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), RPTP activities have been reported to be suppressed by dimerization, which may prevent RPTPs from accessing their RTK substrates. We report here that homodimerization of protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor J (PTPRJ, also known as DEP-1) is regulated by specific transmembrane (TM) residues. We found that disrupting these interactions destabilizes homodimerization of full-length PTPRJ in cells, reduces the phosphorylation of the known PTPRJ substrate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and of other downstream signaling effectors, antagonizes EGFR-driven cell phenotypes, and promotes substrate access. We demonstrate these observations in human cancer cells using mutational studies and identified a peptide that binds to the PTPRJ TM domain and represents the first example of an allosteric agonist of RPTPs. The results of our study provide fundamental structural and functional insights into how PTPRJ activity is tuned by TM interactions in cells. Our findings also open up opportunities for developing peptide-based agents that could be used as tools to probe RPTPs' signaling mechanisms or to manage cancers driven by RTK signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Bloch
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015
| | - Eden L Sikorski
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015
| | - David Pontoriero
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
| | - Evan K Day
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
| | - Bryan W Berger
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
| | - Matthew J Lazzara
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
| | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015.
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15
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A Hydrophobic Target: Using the Paramyxovirus Fusion Protein Transmembrane Domain To Modulate Fusion Protein Stability. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.00863-19. [PMID: 31217248 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00863-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Enveloped viruses utilize surface glycoproteins to bind and fuse with a target cell membrane. The zoonotic Hendra virus (HeV), a member of the family Paramyxoviridae, utilizes the attachment protein (G) and the fusion protein (F) to perform these critical functions. Upon triggering, the trimeric F protein undergoes a large, irreversible conformation change to drive membrane fusion. Previously, we have shown that the transmembrane (TM) domain of the F protein, separate from the rest of the protein, is present in a monomer-trimer equilibrium. This TM-TM association contributes to the stability of the prefusion form of the protein, supporting a role for TM-TM interactions in the control of F protein conformational changes. To determine the impact of disrupting TM-TM interactions, constructs expressing the HeV F TM with limited flanking sequences were synthesized. Coexpression of these constructs with HeV F resulted in dramatic reductions in the stability of F protein expression and fusion activity. In contrast, no effects were observed when the HeV F TM constructs were coexpressed with the nonhomologous parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) fusion protein, indicating a requirement for specific interactions. To further examine this, a TM peptide homologous to the PIV5 F TM domain was synthesized. Addition of the peptide prior to infection inhibited infection with PIV5 but did not significantly affect infection with human metapneumovirus, a related virus. These results indicate that targeted disruption of TM-TM interactions significantly impact viral fusion protein stability and function, presenting these interactions as a novel target for antiviral development.IMPORTANCE Enveloped viruses require virus-cell membrane fusion to release the viral genome and replicate. The viral fusion protein triggers from the pre- to the postfusion conformation, an essentially irreversible change, to drive membrane fusion. We found that small proteins containing the TM and a limited flanking region homologous to the fusion protein of the zoonotic Hendra virus reduced protein expression and fusion activity. The introduction of exogenous TM peptides may displace a TM domain, disrupting native TM-TM interactions and globally destabilizing the fusion protein. Supporting this hypothesis, we showed that a sequence-specific transmembrane peptide dramatically reduced viral infection in another enveloped virus model, suggesting a broader inhibitory mechanism. Viral fusion protein TM-TM interactions are important for protein function, and disruption of these interactions dramatically reduces protein stability.
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