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Fasano C, Lepore Signorile M, Di Nicola E, Pantaleo A, Forte G, De Marco K, Sanese P, Disciglio V, Grossi V, Simone C. The chromatin remodeling factors EP300 and TRRAP are novel SMYD3 interactors involved in the emerging 'nonmutational epigenetic reprogramming' cancer hallmark. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:5240-5248. [PMID: 37954147 PMCID: PMC10632561 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
SMDY3 is a histone-lysine N-methyltransferase involved in several oncogenic processes and is believed to play a major role in various cancer hallmarks. Recently, we identified ATM, BRCA2, CHK2, MTOR, BLM, MET, AMPK, and p130 as direct SMYD3 interactors by taking advantage of a library of rare tripeptides, which we first tested for their in vitro binding affinity to SMYD3 and then used as in silico probes to systematically search the human proteome. Here, we used this innovative approach to identify further SMYD3-interacting proteins involved in crucial cancer pathways and found that the chromatin remodeling factors EP300 and TRRAP interact directly with SMYD3, thus linking SMYD3 to the emerging 'nonmutational epigenetic reprogramming' cancer hallmark. Of note, we validated these interactions in gastrointestinal cancer cell lines, including HCT-116 cells, which harbor a C-terminal truncating mutation in EP300, suggesting that EP300 binds to SMYD3 via its N-terminal region. While additional studies are required to ascertain the functional mechanisms underlying these interactions and their significance, the identification of two novel SMYD3 interactors involved in epigenetic cancer hallmark pathways adds important pieces to the puzzle of how SMYD3 exerts its oncogenic role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candida Fasano
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology - IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
| | - Martina Lepore Signorile
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology - IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Di Nicola
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology - IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
| | - Antonino Pantaleo
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology - IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanna Forte
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology - IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
| | - Katia De Marco
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology - IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
| | - Paola Sanese
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology - IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
| | - Vittoria Disciglio
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology - IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
| | - Valentina Grossi
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology - IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
| | - Cristiano Simone
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology - IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis” Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
- Medical Genetics, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Jonic Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
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2
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Short Linear Motifs in Colorectal Cancer Interactome and Tumorigenesis. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233739. [PMID: 36496998 PMCID: PMC9737320 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal tumorigenesis is driven by alterations in genes and proteins responsible for cancer initiation, progression, and invasion. This multistage process is based on a dense network of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) that become dysregulated as a result of changes in various cell signaling effectors. PPIs in signaling and regulatory networks are known to be mediated by short linear motifs (SLiMs), which are conserved contiguous regions of 3-10 amino acids within interacting protein domains. SLiMs are the minimum sequences required for modulating cellular PPI networks. Thus, several in silico approaches have been developed to predict and analyze SLiM-mediated PPIs. In this review, we focus on emerging evidence supporting a crucial role for SLiMs in driver pathways that are disrupted in colorectal cancer (CRC) tumorigenesis and related PPI network alterations. As a result, SLiMs, along with short peptides, are attracting the interest of researchers to devise small molecules amenable to be used as novel anti-CRC targeted therapies. Overall, the characterization of SLiMs mediating crucial PPIs in CRC may foster the development of more specific combined pharmacological approaches.
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3
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Fasano C, Lepore Signorile M, De Marco K, Forte G, Sanese P, Grossi V, Simone C. Identifying novel SMYD3 interactors on the trail of cancer hallmarks. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:1860-1875. [PMID: 35495117 PMCID: PMC9039736 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.03.037] [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: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
SMYD3 overexpression in several human cancers highlights its crucial role in carcinogenesis. Nonetheless, SMYD3 specific activity in cancer development and progression is currently under debate. Taking advantage of a library of rare tripeptides, which we first tested for their in vitro binding affinity to SMYD3 and then used as in silico probes, we recently identified BRCA2, ATM, and CHK2 as direct SMYD3 interactors. To gain insight into novel SMYD3 cancer-related roles, here we performed a comprehensive in silico analysis to cluster all potential SMYD3-interacting proteins identified by screening the human proteome for the previously tested tripeptides, based on their involvement in cancer hallmarks. Remarkably, we identified mTOR, BLM, MET, AMPK, and p130 as new SMYD3 interactors implicated in cancer processes. Further studies are needed to characterize the functional mechanisms underlying these interactions. Still, these findings could be useful to devise novel therapeutic strategies based on the combined inhibition of SMYD3 and its newly identified molecular partners. Of note, our in silico methodology may be useful to search for unidentified interactors of other proteins of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candida Fasano
- Medical Genetics, National Institute for Gastroenterology, IRCCS ‘S. de Bellis’ Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte (Ba), Italy
- Corresponding authors at: Medical Genetics, National Institute for Gastroenterology, IRCCS ‘S. de Bellis’ Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte (Ba), Italy (C.Fasano, C. Simone).
| | - Martina Lepore Signorile
- Medical Genetics, National Institute for Gastroenterology, IRCCS ‘S. de Bellis’ Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte (Ba), Italy
| | - Katia De Marco
- Medical Genetics, National Institute for Gastroenterology, IRCCS ‘S. de Bellis’ Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte (Ba), Italy
| | - Giovanna Forte
- Medical Genetics, National Institute for Gastroenterology, IRCCS ‘S. de Bellis’ Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte (Ba), Italy
| | - Paola Sanese
- Medical Genetics, National Institute for Gastroenterology, IRCCS ‘S. de Bellis’ Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte (Ba), Italy
| | - Valentina Grossi
- Medical Genetics, National Institute for Gastroenterology, IRCCS ‘S. de Bellis’ Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte (Ba), Italy
| | - Cristiano Simone
- Medical Genetics, National Institute for Gastroenterology, IRCCS ‘S. de Bellis’ Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte (Ba), Italy
- Medical Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology (DIMO), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
- Corresponding authors at: Medical Genetics, National Institute for Gastroenterology, IRCCS ‘S. de Bellis’ Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte (Ba), Italy (C.Fasano, C. Simone).
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4
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Sanese P, Fasano C, Buscemi G, Bottino C, Corbetta S, Fabini E, Silvestri V, Valentini V, Disciglio V, Forte G, Lepore Signorile M, De Marco K, Bertora S, Grossi V, Guven U, Porta N, Di Maio V, Manoni E, Giannelli G, Bartolini M, Del Rio A, Caretti G, Ottini L, Simone C. Targeting SMYD3 to Sensitize Homologous Recombination-Proficient Tumors to PARP-Mediated Synthetic Lethality. iScience 2020; 23:101604. [PMID: 33205017 PMCID: PMC7648160 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
SMYD3 is frequently overexpressed in a wide variety of cancers. Indeed, its inactivation reduces tumor growth in preclinical in vivo animal models. However, extensive characterization in vitro failed to clarify SMYD3 function in cancer cells, although confirming its importance in carcinogenesis. Taking advantage of a SMYD3 mutant variant identified in a high-risk breast cancer family, here we show that SMYD3 phosphorylation by ATM enables the formation of a multiprotein complex including ATM, SMYD3, CHK2, and BRCA2, which is required for the final loading of RAD51 at DNA double-strand break sites and completion of homologous recombination (HR). Remarkably, SMYD3 pharmacological inhibition sensitizes HR-proficient cancer cells to PARP inhibitors, thereby extending the potential of the synthetic lethality approach in human tumors. SMYD3 phosphorylation by ATM favors the formation of HR complexes during DSB response SMYD3 mediates DSB repair by promoting RAD51 recruitment at DNA damage sites SMYD3 inhibition triggers a compensatory PARP-dependent DNA damage response Co-targeting SMYD3/PARP leads to synthetic lethality in HR-proficient cancer cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Sanese
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari 70013, Italy
| | - Candida Fasano
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari 70013, Italy
| | - Giacomo Buscemi
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, IGM "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", National Research Council (CNR), Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Cinzia Bottino
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Silvia Corbetta
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Edoardo Fabini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy.,BioChemoInformatics Unit, Institute of Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (ISOF), National Research Council (CNR), Bologna 40129, Italy
| | - Valentina Silvestri
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Roma "La Sapienza", Roma 00185, Italy
| | - Virginia Valentini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Roma "La Sapienza", Roma 00185, Italy
| | - Vittoria Disciglio
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari 70013, Italy
| | - Giovanna Forte
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari 70013, Italy
| | - Martina Lepore Signorile
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari 70013, Italy
| | - Katia De Marco
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari 70013, Italy
| | - Stefania Bertora
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari 70013, Italy
| | - Valentina Grossi
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari 70013, Italy
| | - Ummu Guven
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Natale Porta
- Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Polo Pontino University of Roma "La Sapienza", Latina 04100, Italy
| | - Valeria Di Maio
- Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Polo Pontino University of Roma "La Sapienza", Latina 04100, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Manoni
- BioChemoInformatics Unit, Institute of Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (ISOF), National Research Council (CNR), Bologna 40129, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Giannelli
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari 70013, Italy
| | - Manuela Bartolini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Alberto Del Rio
- BioChemoInformatics Unit, Institute of Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (ISOF), National Research Council (CNR), Bologna 40129, Italy.,Innovamol Consulting Srl, Modena 41123, Italy
| | | | - Laura Ottini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Roma "La Sapienza", Roma 00185, Italy
| | - Cristiano Simone
- Medical Genetics, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari 70013, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology (DIMO), Medical Genetics; University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari 70124, Italy
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5
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Kanduc D. The comparative biochemistry of viruses and humans: an evolutionary path towards autoimmunity. Biol Chem 2019; 400:629-638. [PMID: 30504522 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2018-0271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Analyses of the peptide sharing between five common human viruses (Borna disease virus, influenza A virus, measles virus, mumps virus and rubella virus) and the human proteome highlight a massive viral vs. human peptide overlap that is mathematically unexpected. Evolutionarily, the data underscore a strict relationship between viruses and the origin of eukaryotic cells. Indeed, according to the viral eukaryogenesis hypothesis and in light of the endosymbiotic theory, the first eukaryotic cell (our lineage) originated as a consortium consisting of an archaeal ancestor of the eukaryotic cytoplasm, a bacterial ancestor of the mitochondria and a viral ancestor of the nucleus. From a pathologic point of view, the peptide sequence similarity between viruses and humans may provide a molecular platform for autoimmune crossreactions during immune responses following viral infections/immunizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darja Kanduc
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, I-70124 Bari, Italy
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6
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Global pentapeptide statistics are far away from expected distributions. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15178. [PMID: 30310110 PMCID: PMC6181984 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33433-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationships between polypeptide composition, sequence, structure and function have been puzzling biologists ever since first protein sequences were determined. Here, we study the statistics of occurrence of all possible pentapeptide sequences in known proteins. To compensate for the non-uniform distribution of individual amino acid residues in protein sequences, we investigate separately all possible permutations of every given amino acid composition. For the majority of permutation groups we find that pentapeptide occurrences deviate strongly from the expected binomial distributions, and that the observed distributions are also characterized by high numbers of outlier sequences. An analysis of identified outliers shows they often contain known motifs and rare amino acids, suggesting that they represent important functional elements. We further compare the pentapeptide composition of regions known to correspond to protein domains with that of non-domain regions. We find that a substantial number of pentapeptides is clearly strongly favored in protein domains. Finally, we show that over-represented pentapeptides are significantly related to known functional motifs and to predicted ancient structural peptides.
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7
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Capone G, Fasano C, Lucchese G, Calabrò M, Kanduc D. EBV-Associated Cancer and Autoimmunity: Searching for Therapies. Vaccines (Basel) 2015; 3:74-89. [PMID: 26344947 PMCID: PMC4494242 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines3010074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2014] [Revised: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects B-, T-, and NK cells and has been associated not only with a wide range of lymphoid malignancies but also with autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and, in particular, multiple sclerosis. Hence, effective immunotherapeutic approaches to eradicate EBV infection might overthrow cancer and autoimmunity incidence. However, currently no effective anti-EBV immunotherapy is available. Here we use the concept that protein immunogenicity is allocated in rare peptide sequences and search the Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) sequence for peptides unique to the viral protein and absent in the human host. We report on a set of unique EBV EBNA1 peptides that might be used in designing peptide-based therapies able to specifically hitting the virus or neutralizing pathogenic autoantibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Capone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari 70126, Italy.
| | - Candida Fasano
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari 70126, Italy.
| | - Guglielmo Lucchese
- Brain and Language Laboratory, Free University of Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Michele Calabrò
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari 70126, Italy.
| | - Darja Kanduc
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari 70126, Italy.
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8
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Kanduc D, Fasano C, Bavaro SL, Novello G, Lucchese G, Capone G. Peptide profiling of the route from Mahoney to Sabin, and return. J Basic Microbiol 2014; 54:369-77. [DOI: 10.1002/jobm.201200642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2012] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Darja Kanduc
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Pharmacological Sciences; University of Bari; Bari Italy
| | - Candida Fasano
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Pharmacological Sciences; University of Bari; Bari Italy
| | - Simona Lucia Bavaro
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Pharmacological Sciences; University of Bari; Bari Italy
| | - Giuseppe Novello
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Pharmacological Sciences; University of Bari; Bari Italy
| | - Guglielmo Lucchese
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Pharmacological Sciences; University of Bari; Bari Italy
| | - Giovanni Capone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Pharmacological Sciences; University of Bari; Bari Italy
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9
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Lucchese G, Capone G, Kanduc D. Peptide sharing between influenza A H1N1 hemagglutinin and human axon guidance proteins. Schizophr Bull 2014; 40:362-75. [PMID: 23378012 PMCID: PMC3932078 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbs197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiologic data suggest that maternal microbial infections may cause fetal neurodevelopmental disorders, potentially increasing susceptibility to heavy psychopathologies such as schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, autism, pervasive developmental disorders, bipolar disorders, psychosis, epilepsy, language and speech disorders, and cognitive impairment in adult offspring. However, the molecular pathomechanisms underlying such a relationship are not clear. Here we analyze the potential role of the maternal immune response to viral infection in determining fetal brain injuries that increase the risk of neurological disorders in the adult. We use influenza infection as a disease model and human axon guidance pathway, a key process in the formation of neural network during midgestation, as a potential fetal target of immune insults. Specifically, we examined influenza A H1N1 hemagglutinin (HA), an antigenic viral protein, for amino acid sequence similarity to a random library of 188 axon guidance proteins. We obtain the results that (1) contrary to any theoretical expectations, 45 viral pentapeptide matches are distributed throughout a subset of 36 guidance molecules; (2) in 24 guidance proteins, the peptide sharing with HA antigen involves already experimentally validated influenza HA epitopes; and (3) most of the axon guidance vs HA peptide overlap is conserved among influenza A viral strains and subsets. Taken together, our data indicate that immune cross-reactivity between influenza HA and axon guidance molecules is possible and may well represent a pathologic mechanism capable of determining neurodevelopmental disruption in the fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guglielmo Lucchese
- To whom correspondence should be addressed; tel: +39.080.544.3321, fax: +39.080.544.3317, e-mail:
| | - Giovanni Capone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Darja Kanduc
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy,To whom correspondence should be addressed; tel: +39.080.544.3321, fax: +39.080.544.3317, e-mail:
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10
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Capone G, Kanduc D. Peptide sharing between Bordetella pertussis proteome and human sudden death proteins: a hypothesis for a causal link. Future Microbiol 2014; 8:1039-48. [PMID: 23902149 DOI: 10.2217/fmb.13.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To explore the molecular basis of the relationship between Bordetella pertussis infection and sudden death. METHODS B. pertussis proteins were analyzed for amino acid sequence identity to a set of 67 human proteins that, when altered, have been associated with sudden death. RESULTS More than 82,000 pentapeptides are shared between B. pertussis proteins and sudden death-associated antigens. CONCLUSION Results suggest that a possible link between B. pertussis infection and sudden death might be represented by potential immunological cross-reactions occurring between B. pertussis proteins and human proteins associated to sudden death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Capone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies & Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
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11
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Spinosa JP, Kanduc D. Ovarian cancer: designing effective vaccines and specific diagnostic tools. Immunotherapy 2014; 6:35-41. [DOI: 10.2217/imt.13.144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Notwithstanding a renewed interest in the application of immunotherapy as an alternative to chemotherapy and radiotherapy for the treatment of ovarian cancer (OC), and in spite of the available knowledge about ovarian tumor-associated-antigens, the search for a vaccine against OC remains a scientific and clinical challenge. Likewise, immunodiagnostics can detect only a late stage of the disease. Thus, the development of new therapeutic and diagnostic options is highly desirable. Methods: Based on the low-similarity hypothesis, which supports the concept that immunogenicity is preferentially associated to sequences with no/low-similarity to the host proteome, and using Protein Information Resource peptide match program, we searched the ovarian tumor antigen CA125 for amino acid sequences unique to CA125 and absent in the remaining human proteins. Results & conclusion: We identified a set of 159 pentapeptides unique to CA125 that might be used to design specific and effective immunological tools for diagnosis and treatment of OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Pierre Spinosa
- Department Biosciences, Biotechnologies & Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
- Faculty of Biology & Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Darja Kanduc
- Department Biosciences, Biotechnologies & Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
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12
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Capone G, Lucchese G, Calabrò M, Kanduc D. West Nile virus diagnosis and vaccination: using unique viral peptide sequences to evoke specific immune responses. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2012; 35:64-70. [DOI: 10.3109/08923973.2012.736521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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13
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Capone G, Pagoni M, Delfino AP, Kanduc D. Evidence for a vast peptide overlap between West Nile virus and human proteomes. J Basic Microbiol 2012; 53:800-7. [PMID: 22961336 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.201200204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2012] [Accepted: 06/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The primary amino acid sequence of West Nile virus (WNV) polyprotein, GenBank accession number M12294, was analyzed by computional biology. WNV is a mosquito-borne neurotropic flavivirus that has emerged globally as a significant cause of viral encephalitis in humans. Using pentapeptides as scanning units and the perfect peptide match program from PIR International Protein Sequence Database, we compared the WNV polyprotein and the human proteome. WNV polyprotein showed significant sequence similarities to a number of human proteins. Several of these proteins are involved in embryogenesis, neurite outgrowth, cortical neuron branching, formation of mature synapses, semaphorin interactions, and voltage dependent L-type calcium channel subunits. The biocomputional study suggest that common amino acid segments might represent a potential platform for further studies on the neurological pathophysiology of WNV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Capone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
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14
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Pentamers not found in the universal proteome can enhance antigen specific immune responses and adjuvant vaccines. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43802. [PMID: 22937099 PMCID: PMC3427150 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2012] [Accepted: 07/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Certain short peptides do not occur in humans and are rare or non-existent in the universal proteome. Antigens that contain rare amino acid sequences are in general highly immunogenic and may activate different arms of the immune system. We first generated a list of rare, semi-common, and common 5-mer peptides using bioinformatics tools to analyze the UniProtKB database. Experimental observations indicated that rare and semi-common 5-mers generated stronger cellular responses in comparison with common-occurring sequences. We hypothesized that the biological process responsible for this enhanced immunogenicity could be used to positively modulate immune responses with potential application for vaccine development. Initially, twelve rare 5-mers, 9-mers, and 13-mers were incorporated in frame at the end of an H5N1 hemagglutinin (HA) antigen and expressed from a DNA vaccine. The presence of some 5-mer peptides induced improved immune responses. Adding one 5-mer peptide exogenously also offered improved clinical outcome and/or survival against a lethal H5N1 or H1N1 influenza virus challenge in BALB/c mice and ferrets, respectively. Interestingly, enhanced anti-HBsAg antibody production by up to 25-fold in combination with a commercial Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B, GSK) was also observed in BALB/c mice. Mechanistically, NK cell activation and dependency was observed with enhancing peptides ex vivo and in NK-depleted mice. Overall, the data suggest that rare or non-existent oligopeptides can be developed as immunomodulators and supports the further evaluation of some 5-mer peptides as potential vaccine adjuvants.
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Kanduc D. Homology, similarity, and identity in peptide epitope immunodefinition. J Pept Sci 2012; 18:487-94. [PMID: 22696298 DOI: 10.1002/psc.2419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2012] [Revised: 04/10/2012] [Accepted: 04/25/2012] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The tendency to use the terms homology, similarity, and identity interchangeably persists in comparative biology. When translated to immunology, overlapping the concepts of homology, similarity, and identity complicates the exact definition of the self-nonself dichotomy and, in particular, affects immunopeptidomics, an emerging field aimed at cataloging and distinguishing immunoreactive peptide epitopes from silent nonreactive amino acid sequences. The definition of similar/dissimilar peptides in immunology is discussed with special attention to the analysis of immunological (dis)similarity between two or more protein sequences that equates to measuring sequence similarity with the use of a proper measurement unit such as a length determinant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darja Kanduc
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
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16
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Capone G, Novello G, Bavaro SL, Fasano C, Pesce Delfino A, Polito AN, Kanduc D. A qualitative description of the peptide sharing between poliovirus and Homo sapiens. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2012; 34:779-85. [PMID: 22303874 DOI: 10.3109/08923973.2012.654610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
In a companion paper, we reported that pentapeptides from human poliovirus 1, Mahoney strain, occur repeatedly in human proteins for a total of more than 18,000 overlaps. In the present study, we describe the distribution of the polio pentapeptides throughout biochemical pathways and networks characterizing functions and tissues in the human host. The present study might be of help to better define the poliovirus-host relationships as well as for designing peptide modules with anti-polio activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Capone
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universityof Bari, Bari, Italy
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17
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Novello G, Capone G, Fasano C, Bavaro SL, Polito AN, Kanduc D. A quantitative description of the peptide sharing between poliovirus and Homo sapiens. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2011; 34:373-8. [PMID: 22145926 DOI: 10.3109/08923973.2011.608360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, we analyze the peptide commonality between poliovirus polyprotein and the human proteins. We report on the following findings: (1) the extent of polio peptide overlap on the human proteome is high, and involves the entire viral polyprotein; (2) viral peptide matching affects human proteins linked to fundamental cellular functions. The data may help to further our understanding of the relationships between poliovirus and the human host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Novello
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bari, Italy
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18
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Fasano C, Kanduc D. Selfness-nonselfness in designing an anti-B19 erythrovirus vaccine. SELF/NONSELF 2011; 2:114-119. [PMID: 22299063 PMCID: PMC3268997 DOI: 10.4161/self.2.2.16190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2011] [Revised: 06/14/2011] [Accepted: 06/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Although B19 erythrovirus infection may be associated with severe clinical outcomes, especially in early infancy, pregnancy and in immunocompromised or hemolytic subjects, no vaccine is currently available. Using the concept that effective immune responses to an infectious agent may be restricted to the specific peptidome unique to that agent, we analyzed primary amino acid sequence of B19 erythrovirus, searching for peptide motifs to be used in vaccine formulations. Here, we identify and describe a set of unique viral peptides that may guarantee both high efficacy and practically no cross-reactive autoimmune responses in anti-B19 immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candida Fasano
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; University of Bari; Bari, Italy
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19
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Lucchese G, Stufano A, Kanduc D. Searching for an effective, safe and universal anti-HIV vaccine: Finding the answer in just one short peptide. SELF/NONSELF 2011; 2:49-54. [PMID: 21776335 PMCID: PMC3136904 DOI: 10.4161/self.2.1.14762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2010] [Revised: 01/06/2011] [Accepted: 01/07/2011] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
We explore the pentapeptide overlapping between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) proteins and the human proteome. Our intent was to define viral peptides to be used in vaccines effective against different HIV strains, vaccines that are able to overcome the difficulties posed by the tendency of HIV to mutate, and that are also exempt from harmful collateral cross-reactions, as well as being repeatedly administrable to the global population. Analysis of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein 160 (Env gp160) sequences revealed a set of 15 pentapeptides highly conserved among a number of retroviral sequences, and absent in the human proteome, thus representing unique molecular retroviral signatures. Use of these short viral peptide modules may represent the first concrete step toward the goal of a universal, safe and effective anti-HIV vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guglielmo Lucchese
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; University of Bari; Bari, Italy
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20
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Bavaro SL, Kanduc D. Pentapeptide commonality between Corynebacterium diphtheriae toxin and the Homo sapiens proteome. Immunotherapy 2010; 3:49-58. [PMID: 21174557 DOI: 10.2217/imt.10.83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cross-reactivity may affect diagnostic tests and cause harmful autoimmune reactions following immunotherapy. To predict potential cross-reactivity and search for safe immunotherapeutic approaches, we analyzed sequence identity between microbial antigens and the human proteome. Using diphtheria toxin (DT) as a model, we examined its patterns of identity with human proteins at the pentapeptide level. DT shares 503 pentapeptides with the human proteome, while only 31 pentapeptides are unique to the toxin. DT pentapeptide identity involves multiple/repeated matches in human proteins (a total of 4966 occurrences). Human proteins containing bacterial peptide matches include antigens linked to fundamental cellular functions, such as cell cycle control, proliferation, development and differentiation. The data presented in this article offer a rational basis for designing peptide-based vaccines that specifically target DT and thus eliminate the potential risk of cross-reactivity with human proteins. More generally, this study proposes a methodological approach for avoiding cross-reactivity in immune reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Lucia Bavaro
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Bari, Bari 70126, Italy
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21
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Bavaro SL, Calabrò M, Kanduc D. Pentapeptide sharing between Corynebacterium diphtheria toxin and the human neural protein network. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2010; 33:360-72. [PMID: 20874613 DOI: 10.3109/08923973.2010.518618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
We describe the pentapeptides shared between the Corynebacterium diphtheria toxin and the human proteins associated with fundamental neural functions. We report that diphtheria toxin pentapeptides are spread among human antigens such as tuberous sclerosis proteins 1 and 2, reelin, contactin-4, neuroligins, semaphorin-5A, sodium channel protein type 1 subunit α, Williams-Beuren syndrome chromosomal region 1 protein, Williams-Beuren syndrome chromosomal region 20A protein. Williams-Beuren syndrome chromosomal region 8 protein, Bardet-Biedl syndrome 9 protein, Bardet-Biedl syndrome 10 protein, oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein, neurofibromin-2, and periaxin. The data are discussed in relation to the bacterial immune escape phenomenon, and in the context of potential cross-reactions in diagnostic tests and immune therapies.
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22
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Capone G, Novello G, Fasano C, Trost B, Bickis M, Kusalik A, Kanduc D. The oligodeoxynucleotide sequences corresponding to never-expressed peptide motifs are mainly located in the non-coding strand. BMC Bioinformatics 2010; 11:383. [PMID: 20646284 PMCID: PMC2919516 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2105-11-383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2010] [Accepted: 07/20/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We study the usage of specific peptide platforms in protein composition. Using the pentapeptide as a unit of length, we find that in the universal proteome many pentapeptides are heavily repeated (even thousands of times), whereas some are quite rare, and a small number do not appear at all. To understand the physico-chemical-biological basis underlying peptide usage at the proteomic level, in this study we analyse the energetic costs for the synthesis of rare and never-expressed versus frequent pentapeptides. In addition, we explore residue bulkiness, hydrophobicity, and codon number as factors able to modulate specific peptide frequencies. Then, the possible influence of amino acid composition is investigated in zero- and high-frequency pentapeptide sets by analysing the frequencies of the corresponding inverse-sequence pentapeptides. As a final step, we analyse the pentadecamer oligodeoxynucleotide sequences corresponding to the never-expressed pentapeptides. RESULTS We find that only DNA context-dependent constraints (such as oligodeoxynucleotide sequence location in the minus strand, introns, pseudogenes, frameshifts, etc.) provide a coherent mechanistic platform to explain the occurrence of never-expressed versus frequent pentapeptides in the protein world. CONCLUSIONS This study is of importance in cell biology. Indeed, the rarity (or lack of expression) of specific 5-mer peptide modules implies the rarity (or lack of expression) of the corresponding n-mer peptide sequences (with n < 5), so possibly modulating protein compositional trends. Moreover the data might further our understanding of the role exerted by rare pentapeptide modules as critical biological effectors in protein-protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Capone
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology "Ernesto Quagliariello", University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Novello
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology "Ernesto Quagliariello", University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Candida Fasano
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology "Ernesto Quagliariello", University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Brett Trost
- Department of Computer Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Mik Bickis
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Anthony Kusalik
- Department of Computer Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Darja Kanduc
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology "Ernesto Quagliariello", University of Bari, Bari, Italy
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