1
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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 2024:10.1038/s44319-024-00167-w. [PMID: 38816515 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00167-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [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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2
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Davis GJ, Omole AO, Jung Y, Rut W, Holewinski R, Suazo KF, Kim HR, Yang M, Andresson T, Drag M, Yoo E. Chemical tools to define and manipulate interferon-inducible Ubl protease USP18. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.08.588544. [PMID: 38645224 PMCID: PMC11030383 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.08.588544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific protease 18 (USP18) is a multifunctional cysteine protease primarily responsible for deconjugating interferon-inducible ubiquitin-like (Ubl) modifier ISG15 from protein substrates. Here, we report the design and synthesis of activity-based probes (ABPs) capable of selectively detecting USP18 activity over other ISG15 cross-reactive deubiquitinases (DUBs) by incorporating unnatural amino acids into the C-terminal tail of ISG15. Combining with a ubiquitin-based DUB ABP, the selective USP18 ABP is employed in a chemoproteomic screening platform to identify and assess inhibitors of DUBs including USP18. We further demonstrate that USP18 ABPs can be utilized to profile differential activities of USP18 in lung cancer cell lines, providing a strategy that will help define the activity-related landscape of USP18 in different disease states and unravel important (de)ISGylation-dependent biological processes.
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3
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Conole D, Cao F, Am Ende CW, Xue L, Kantesaria S, Kang D, Jin J, Owen D, Lohr L, Schenone M, Majmudar JD, Tate EW. Discovery of a Potent Deubiquitinase (DUB) Small-Molecule Activity-Based Probe Enables Broad Spectrum DUB Activity Profiling in Living Cells. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202311190. [PMID: 37779326 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202311190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Deubiquitinases (DUBs) are a family of >100 proteases that hydrolyze isopeptide bonds linking ubiquitin to protein substrates, often leading to reduced substrate degradation through the ubiquitin proteasome system. Deregulation of DUB activity has been implicated in many diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration and auto-inflammation, and several have been recognized as attractive targets for therapeutic intervention. Ubiquitin-derived covalent activity-based probes (ABPs) provide a powerful tool for DUB activity profiling, but their large recognition element impedes cellular permeability and presents an unmet need for small molecule ABPs which can account for regulation of DUB activity in intact cells or organisms. Here, through comprehensive chemoproteomic warhead profiling, we identify cyanopyrrolidine (CNPy) probe IMP-2373 (12) as a small molecule pan-DUB ABP to monitor DUB activity in physiologically relevant live cells. Through proteomics and targeted assays, we demonstrate that IMP-2373 quantitatively engages more than 35 DUBs across a range of non-toxic concentrations in diverse cell lines. We further demonstrate its application to quantification of changes in intracellular DUB activity during pharmacological inhibition and during MYC deregulation in a model of B cell lymphoma. IMP-2373 thus offers a complementary tool to ubiquitin ABPs to monitor dynamic DUB activity in the context of disease-relevant phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Conole
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, 82 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, United Kingdom
- Present address: Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand
| | - Fangyuan Cao
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, 82 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher W Am Ende
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Pfizer Inc., Eastern Point Road, Groton, Connecticut, 06340, USA
| | - Liang Xue
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Pfizer Inc., 1 Portland Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2139, USA
| | - Sheila Kantesaria
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Pfizer Inc., Eastern Point Road, Groton, Connecticut, 06340, USA
| | - Dahye Kang
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Pfizer Inc., 1 Portland Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2139, USA
| | - Jun Jin
- BioDuro, No.233 North FuTe Rd., WaiGaoQiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai, 200131, P.R. China
| | - Dafydd Owen
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Pfizer Inc., 1 Portland Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2139, USA
| | - Linda Lohr
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Pfizer Inc., Eastern Point Road, Groton, Connecticut, 06340, USA
| | - Monica Schenone
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Pfizer Inc., 1 Portland Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2139, USA
| | - Jaimeen D Majmudar
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Pfizer Inc., 1 Portland Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2139, USA
| | - Edward W Tate
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, 82 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, United Kingdom
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4
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Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases as Potential Therapeutic Targets in Bladder Cancer—In Vitro Evaluation of Degrasyn and PR-619 Activity Using Human and Canine Models. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11030759. [PMID: 36979739 PMCID: PMC10045593 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11030759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The inhibition of ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs) is a novel and promising direction in the development of molecularly targeted therapies in oncology. The aim of the present study was to examine whether Degrasyn could be a potential therapeutic agent against bladder cancer (BC). Also, we aimed to determine whether Degrasyn is more effective in terms of anti-cancer activity compared to the non-selective DUB inhibitor PR-619. To facilitate the translational value of the obtained results, our experiments were performed using both human and canine in vitro models of BC. Methods: Human T24 (urothelial grade III BC) and SV-HUC-1 (non-tumorigenic urothelial cell line), as well as canine K9TCC-PU-NK and RDSVS-TCC1 (both derived from invasive grade III urothelial bladder tumors) cell lines, were used in the present study. Cell proliferation was determined using the MTT assay and Ki-67 proliferation assay, and the level of apoptosis induced by Degrasyn and PR-619 was evaluated by Annexin V-FITC staining and caspase 3/7 activation assay. Western blot was used to assess DNA damage and key proteins involved in apoptosis. Results: Degrasyn inhibited the proliferation of all BC cell lines in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Lower concentrations of Degrasyn were more potent against human and canine BC cell lines compared to PR-619. Degrasyn induced caspase-dependent apoptosis and triggered DNA damage. PR-619 did not show a significant pro-apoptotic effect. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that Degrasyn significantly impairs the growth of in vitro models of human and canine BC. Selective USP inhibition with Degrasyn seems to be more effective in reducing BC cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis and DNA damage than non-selective USP inhibition with PR-619.
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5
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Li M, Peng T. Genetic Encoding of a Fluorescent Noncanonical Amino Acid as a FRET Donor for the Analysis of Deubiquitinase Activities. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2676:55-67. [PMID: 37277624 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3251-2_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The genetic code expansion technology enables the genetic encoding of fluorescent noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) for site-specific fluorescent labeling of proteins. These co-translational and internal fluorescent tags have been harnessed to establish genetically encoded Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) probes for studying protein structural changes and interactions. Here, we describe the protocols for site-specific incorporation of an aminocoumarin-derived fluorescent ncAA into proteins in E. coli and preparation of a fluorescent ncAA-based FRET probe for assaying the activities of deubiquitinases, a key class of enzymes involved in ubiquitination. We also describe the deployment of an in vitro fluorescence assay to screen and analyze small-molecule inhibitors against deubiquitinases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjia Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tao Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China.
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China.
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6
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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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7
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USP7 Inhibitors in Cancer Immunotherapy: Current Status and Perspective. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225539. [PMID: 36428632 PMCID: PMC9688046 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) regulates the stability of a plethora of intracellular proteins involved in the suppression of anti-tumor immune responses and its overexpression is associated with poor survival in many cancers. USP7 impairs the balance of the p53/MDM2 axis resulting in the proteasomal degradation of the p53 tumor suppressor, a process that can be reversed by small-molecule inhibitors of USP7. USP7 was shown to regulate the anti-tumor immune responses in several cases. Its inhibition impedes the function of regulatory T cells, promotes polarization of tumor-associated macrophages, and reduces programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in tumor cells. The efficacy of small-molecule USP7 inhibitors was demonstrated in vivo. The synergistic effect of combining USP7 inhibition with cancer immunotherapy is a promising therapeutic approach, though its clinical efficacy is yet to be proven. In this review, we focus on the recent developments in understanding the intrinsic role of USP7, its interplay with other molecular pathways, and the therapeutic potential of targeting USP7 functions.
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8
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Wang T, Li C, Wang M, Zhang J, Zheng Q, Liang L, Chu G, Tian X, Deng H, He W, Liu L, Li J. Expedient Synthesis of Ubiquitin‐like Protein ISG15 Tools through Chemo‐Enzymatic Ligation Catalyzed by a Viral Protease Lb
pro. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202206205. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202206205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tian Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 P. R. China
| | - Chuntong Li
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 P. R. China
| | - Meijing Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 P. R. China
| | - Jiachen Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 P. R. China
| | - Qingyun Zheng
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 P. R. China
| | - Lujun Liang
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 P. R. China
| | - Guochao Chu
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 P. R. China
| | - Xiaolin Tian
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics School of Life Sciences Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 P. R. China
| | - Haiteng Deng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics School of Life Sciences Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 P. R. China
| | - Wei He
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 P. R. China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 P. R. China
- Center for BioAnalytical Chemistry Hefei National Laboratory of Physical Science at Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 P. R. China
| | - Jinghong Li
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 P. R. China
- Center for BioAnalytical Chemistry Hefei National Laboratory of Physical Science at Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 P. R. China
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9
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Wang T, Li C, Wang M, Zhang J, Zheng Q, Liang L, Chu G, Tian X, Deng H, He W, Liu L, Li J. Expedient Synthesis of Ubiquitin‐like Protein ISG15 Tools Through Chemo‐Enzymatic Ligation Catalyzed by a Viral Protease Lbpro. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202206205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tian Wang
- Tsinghua University Department of Chemistry CHINA
| | - Chuntong Li
- Tsinghua University Department of Chemistry CHINA
| | - Meijing Wang
- Tsinghua University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences CHINA
| | | | | | - Lujun Liang
- Tsinghua University Department of Chemistry CHINA
| | - Guochao Chu
- Tsinghua University Department of Chemistry CHINA
| | - Xiaolin Tian
- Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences CHINA
| | - Haiteng Deng
- Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences CHINA
| | - Wei He
- Tsinghua University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences CHINA
| | - Lei Liu
- Tsinghua University Chemistry Tsinghua University 100084 Beijing CHINA
| | - Jinghong Li
- Tsinghua University Department of Chemistry CHINA
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10
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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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11
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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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12
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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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13
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Mann MK, Zepeda-Velázquez CA, González-Álvarez H, Dong A, Kiyota T, Aman AM, Loppnau P, Li Y, Wilson B, Arrowsmith CH, Al-Awar R, Harding RJ, Schapira M. Structure-Activity Relationship of USP5 Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2021; 64:15017-15036. [PMID: 34648286 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
USP5 is a deubiquitinase that has been implicated in a range of diseases, including cancer, but no USP5-targeting chemical probe has been reported to date. Here, we present the progression of a chemical series that occupies the C-terminal ubiquitin-binding site of a poorly characterized zinc-finger ubiquitin binding domain (ZnF-UBD) of USP5 and competitively inhibits the catalytic activity of the enzyme. Exploration of the structure-activity relationship, complemented with crystallographic characterization of the ZnF-UBD bound to multiple ligands, led to the identification of 64, which binds to the USP5 ZnF-UBD with a KD of 2.8 μM and is selective over nine proteins containing structurally similar ZnF-UBD domains. 64 inhibits the USP5 catalytic cleavage of a di-ubiquitin substrate in an in vitro assay. This study provides a chemical and structural framework for the discovery of a chemical probe to delineate USP5 function in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandeep K Mann
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | | | - Héctor González-Álvarez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada.,Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Aiping Dong
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Taira Kiyota
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Ahmed M Aman
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A3, Canada.,Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Peter Loppnau
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Yanjun Li
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Brian Wilson
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Cheryl H Arrowsmith
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada.,Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Rima Al-Awar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada.,Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Rachel J Harding
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Matthieu Schapira
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
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Sen E, Kota KP, Panchal RG, Bavari S, Kiris E. Screening of a Focused Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway Inhibitor Library Identifies Small Molecules as Novel Modulators of Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A Toxicity. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:763950. [PMID: 34646144 PMCID: PMC8503599 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.763950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are known as the most potent bacterial toxins, which can cause potentially deadly disease botulism. BoNT Serotype A (BoNT/A) is the most studied serotype as it is responsible for most human botulism cases, and its formulations are extensively utilized in clinics for therapeutic and cosmetic applications. BoNT/A has the longest-lasting effect in neurons compared to other serotypes, and there has been high interest in understanding how BoNT/A manages to escape protein degradation machinery in neurons for months. Recent work demonstrated that an E3 ligase, HECTD2, leads to efficient ubiquitination of the BoNT/A Light Chain (A/LC); however, the dominant activity of a deubiquitinase (DUB), VCIP135, inhibits the degradation of the enzymatic component. Another DUB, USP9X, was also identified as a potential indirect contributor to A/LC degradation. In this study, we screened a focused ubiquitin-proteasome pathway inhibitor library, including VCIP135 and USP9X inhibitors, and identified ten potential lead compounds affecting BoNT/A mediated SNAP-25 cleavage in neurons in pre-intoxication conditions. We then tested the dose-dependent effects of the compounds and their potential toxic effects in cells. A subset of the lead compounds demonstrated efficacy on the stability and ubiquitination of A/LC in cells. Three of the compounds, WP1130 (degrasyn), PR-619, and Celastrol, further demonstrated efficacy against BoNT/A holotoxin in an in vitro post-intoxication model. Excitingly, PR-619 and WP1130 are known inhibitors of VCIP135 and USP9X, respectively. Modulation of BoNT turnover in cells by small molecules can potentially lead to the development of effective countermeasures against botulism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edanur Sen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Krishna P Kota
- Therapeutic Discovery Branch, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Rekha G Panchal
- Therapeutic Discovery Branch, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Sina Bavari
- Edge BioInnovation and Healion Bio, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Erkan Kiris
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
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