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Wang C, Zhang B, Cong Y, Du X, Chen S, Visser L, Ruiz-Moreno AJ, Zhang L, Reggiori F, Dömling ASS, Groves MR. Small-Molecule Allosteric Inhibitors of Human Aspartate Transcarbamoylase Suppress Proliferation of Bone Osteosarcoma Epithelial Cells. ChemMedChem 2024; 19:e202300688. [PMID: 38602859 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202300688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATC) is the first committed step in de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis in eukaryotes and plants. A potent transition state analog of human ATCase (PALA) has previously been assessed in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer, but was ultimately unsuccessful. Additionally, inhibition of this pathway has been proposed to be a target to suppress cell proliferation in E. coli, the malarial parasite and tuberculosis. In this manuscript we screened a 70-member library of ATC inhibitors developed against the malarial and tubercular ATCases for inhibitors of the human ATC. Four compounds showed low nanomolar inhibition (IC50 30-120 nM) in an in vitro activity assay. These compounds significantly outperform PALA, which has a triphasic inhibition response under identical conditions, in which significant activity remains at PALA concentrations above 10 μM. Evidence for a druggable allosteric pocket in human ATC is provided by both in vitro enzyme kinetic, homology modeling and in silico docking. These compounds also suppress the proliferation of U2OS osteoblastoma cells by promoting cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase. This report provides the first evidence for an allosteric pocket in human ATC, which greatly enhances its druggability and demonstrates the potential of this series in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- XB20 Drug Design, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9700AV, The, Netherlands
| | - Bidong Zhang
- XB20 Drug Design, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9700AV, The, Netherlands
| | - Yingying Cong
- XB20 Drug Design, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9700AV, The, Netherlands
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Alle' 4, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Xiaochen Du
- XB20 Drug Design, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9700AV, The, Netherlands
| | - Siyao Chen
- XB20 Drug Design, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9700AV, The, Netherlands
| | - Lidia Visser
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB, Groningen, The, Netherlands
| | - Angel J Ruiz-Moreno
- XB20 Drug Design, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9700AV, The, Netherlands
| | - Lili Zhang
- XB20 Drug Design, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9700AV, The, Netherlands
| | - Fulvio Reggiori
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Alle' 4, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Alexander S S Dömling
- XB20 Drug Design, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9700AV, The, Netherlands
- CATRIN, Department of Innovative Chemistry, Palack University, 779 00, Olomouc - Holice, Czech Republic
| | - Matthew R Groves
- XB20 Drug Design, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9700AV, The, Netherlands
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2
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del Caño-Ochoa F, Ng BG, Rubio-del-Campo A, Mahajan S, Wilson MP, Vilar M, Rymen D, Sánchez-Pintos P, Kenny J, Martos ML, Campos T, Wortmann SB, Freeze HH, Ramón-Maiques S. Beyond genetics: Deciphering the impact of missense variants in CAD deficiency. J Inherit Metab Dis 2023; 46:1170-1185. [PMID: 37540500 PMCID: PMC10838372 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
CAD is a large, 2225 amino acid multienzymatic protein required for de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis. Pathological CAD variants cause a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy which is highly responsive to uridine supplements. CAD deficiency is difficult to diagnose because symptoms are nonspecific, there is no biomarker, and the protein has over 1000 known variants. To improve diagnosis, we assessed the pathogenicity of 20 unreported missense CAD variants using a growth complementation assay that identified 11 pathogenic variants in seven affected individuals; they would benefit from uridine treatment. We also tested nine variants previously reported as pathogenic and confirmed the damaging effect of seven. However, we reclassified two variants as likely benign based on our assay, which is consistent with their long-term follow-up with uridine. We found that several computational methods are unreliable predictors of pathogenic CAD variants, so we extended the functional assay results by studying the impact of pathogenic variants at the protein level. We focused on CAD's dihydroorotase (DHO) domain because it accumulates the largest density of damaging missense changes. The atomic-resolution structures of eight DHO pathogenic variants, combined with functional and molecular dynamics analyses, provided a comprehensive structural and functional understanding of the activity, stability, and oligomerization of CAD's DHO domain. Combining our functional and protein structural analysis can help refine clinical diagnostic workflow for CAD variants in the genomics era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco del Caño-Ochoa
- Structure of Macromolecular Targets Unit. Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV), CSIC. Valencia, Spain
| | - Bobby G. Ng
- Human Genetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Antonio Rubio-del-Campo
- Structure of Macromolecular Targets Unit. Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV), CSIC. Valencia, Spain
| | - Sonal Mahajan
- Human Genetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Matthew P. Wilson
- Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis, Center for Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marçal Vilar
- Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration Unit. Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV), CSIC. Valencia, Spain
| | - Daisy Rymen
- Department of Pediatrics - Center for Metabolic Diseases, University Hospitals of Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paula Sánchez-Pintos
- Unidad de Diagnóstico y Tratamiento de Enfermedades Metabólicas Congénitas. C.S.U.R. de Enfermedades Metabólicas. MetabERN. Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, La Coruña, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), La Coruña, Spain
| | - Janna Kenny
- Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin, Ireland
| | - Myriam Ley Martos
- Pediatric Neurology Unit. Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Teresa Campos
- Reference Center of Inherited Metabolic Diseases of Hospital de São João, Porto, Portugal
| | - Saskia B. Wortmann
- University Children’s Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), Salzburg, Austria
- Amalia Children’s Hospital, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Hudson H. Freeze
- Human Genetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Santiago Ramón-Maiques
- Structure of Macromolecular Targets Unit. Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV), CSIC. Valencia, Spain
- Group 739, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)–Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Valencia, Spain
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3
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Shin J, Mir H, Khurram MA, Fujihara KM, Dynlacht BD, Cardozo TJ, Possemato R. Allosteric regulation of CAD modulates de novo pyrimidine synthesis during the cell cycle. Nat Metab 2023; 5:277-293. [PMID: 36747088 PMCID: PMC10064490 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-023-00735-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Metabolism is a fundamental cellular process that is coordinated with cell cycle progression. Despite this association, a mechanistic understanding of cell cycle phase-dependent metabolic pathway regulation remains elusive. Here we report the mechanism by which human de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis is allosterically regulated during the cell cycle. Combining traditional synchronization methods and metabolomics, we characterize metabolites by their accumulation pattern during cell cycle phases and identify cell cycle phase-dependent regulation of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, aspartate transcarbamylase and dihydroorotase (CAD), the first, rate-limiting enzyme in de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis. Through systematic mutational scanning and structural modelling, we find allostery as a major regulatory mechanism that controls the activity change of CAD during the cell cycle. Specifically, we report evidence of two Animalia-specific loops in the CAD allosteric domain that involve sensing and binding of uridine 5'-triphosphate, a CAD allosteric inhibitor. Based on homology with a mitochondrial carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase homologue, we identify a critical role for a signal transmission loop in regulating the formation of a substrate channel, thereby controlling CAD activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong Shin
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hannan Mir
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maaz A Khurram
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kenji M Fujihara
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brian D Dynlacht
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Timothy J Cardozo
- Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard Possemato
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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4
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Biological Calorimetry: Old Friend, New Insights. BIOPHYSICA 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/biophysica3010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Calorimetry is an old experimental technique (first instrument developed in S. XVIII), but it is broadly used and still provides key information for understanding biological processes at the molecular level, particularly, cooperative phenomena in protein interactions. Here, we review and highlight some key aspects of biological calorimetry. Several biological systems will be described in which calorimetry was instrumental for modeling the behavior of the protein and obtaining further biological insight.
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del Caño-Ochoa F, Rubio-del-Campo A, Ramón-Maiques S. A Tailored Strategy to Crosslink the Aspartate Transcarbamoylase Domain of the Multienzymatic Protein CAD. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 28:molecules28020660. [PMID: 36677714 PMCID: PMC9863657 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28020660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
CAD is a 1.5 MDa hexameric protein with four enzymatic domains responsible for initiating de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidines nucleotides: glutaminase, carbamoyl phosphate synthetase, aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATC), and dihydroorotase. Despite its central metabolic role and implication in cancer and other diseases, our understanding of CAD is poor, and structural characterization has been frustrated by its large size and sensitivity to proteolytic cleavage. Recently, we succeeded in isolating intact CAD-like particles from the fungus Chaetomium thermophilum with high yield and purity, but their study by cryo-electron microscopy is hampered by the dissociation of the complex during sample grid preparation. Here we devised a specific crosslinking strategy to enhance the stability of this mega-enzyme. Based on the structure of the isolated C. thermophilum ATC domain, we inserted by site-directed mutagenesis two cysteines at specific locations that favored the formation of disulfide bridges and covalent oligomers. We further proved that this covalent linkage increases the stability of the ATC domain without damaging the structure or enzymatic activity. Thus, we propose that this cysteine crosslinking is a suitable strategy to strengthen the contacts between subunits in the CAD particle and facilitate its structural characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Santiago Ramón-Maiques
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV), CSIC, Jaime Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Group CB06/07/0077 at the Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV-CSIC) of CIBERER-ISCIII, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence:
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6
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Alqahtani SS, Koltai T, Ibrahim ME, Bashir AHH, Alhoufie STS, Ahmed SBM, Molfetta DD, Carvalho TMA, Cardone RA, Reshkin SJ, Hifny A, Ahmed ME, Alfarouk KO. Role of pH in Regulating Cancer Pyrimidine Synthesis. J Xenobiot 2022; 12:158-180. [PMID: 35893264 PMCID: PMC9326563 DOI: 10.3390/jox12030014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Replication is a fundamental aspect of cancer, and replication is about reproducing all the elements and structures that form a cell. Among them are DNA, RNA, enzymes, and coenzymes. All the DNA is doubled during each S (synthesis) cell cycle phase. This means that six billion nucleic acids must be synthesized in each cycle. Tumor growth, proliferation, and mutations all depend on this synthesis. Cancer cells require a constant supply of nucleotides and other macromolecules. For this reason, they must stimulate de novo nucleotide synthesis to support nucleic acid provision. When deregulated, de novo nucleic acid synthesis is controlled by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that enable increased synthesis and cell proliferation. Furthermore, cell duplication must be achieved swiftly (in a few hours) and in the midst of a nutrient-depleted and hypoxic environment. This also means that the enzymes participating in nucleic acid synthesis must work efficiently. pH is a critical factor in enzymatic efficiency and speed. This review will show that the enzymatic machinery working in nucleic acid synthesis requires a pH on the alkaline side in most cases. This coincides with many other pro-tumoral factors, such as the glycolytic phenotype, benefiting from an increased intracellular pH. An increased intracellular pH is a perfect milieu for high de novo nucleic acid production through optimal enzymatic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saad Saeed Alqahtani
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia;
- Pharmacy Practice Research Unit, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Muntaser E. Ibrahim
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Khartoum 11111, Sudan; (M.E.I.); (A.H.H.B.)
| | - Adil H. H. Bashir
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Khartoum 11111, Sudan; (M.E.I.); (A.H.H.B.)
| | - Sari T. S. Alhoufie
- Medical Laboratories Technology Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Medina 42353, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Samrein B. M. Ahmed
- Department of Biosciences and Chemistry, College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK;
| | - Daria Di Molfetta
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies, and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.D.M.); (T.M.A.C.); (R.A.C.); (S.J.R.)
| | - Tiago M. A. Carvalho
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies, and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.D.M.); (T.M.A.C.); (R.A.C.); (S.J.R.)
| | - Rosa Angela Cardone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies, and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.D.M.); (T.M.A.C.); (R.A.C.); (S.J.R.)
| | - Stephan Joel Reshkin
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies, and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.D.M.); (T.M.A.C.); (R.A.C.); (S.J.R.)
| | | | - Mohamed E. Ahmed
- Research Center, Zamzam University College, Khartoum 11123, Sudan;
| | - Khalid Omer Alfarouk
- Research Center, Zamzam University College, Khartoum 11123, Sudan;
- Alfarouk Biomedical Research LLC, Temple Terrace, FL 33617, USA
- Hala Alfarouk Cancer Center, Khartoum 11123, Sudan
- Correspondence:
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7
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Wang C, Krüger A, Du X, Wrenger C, Groves MR. Novel Highlight in Malarial Drug Discovery: Aspartate Transcarbamoylase. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:841833. [PMID: 35310840 PMCID: PMC8931299 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.841833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains one of the most prominent and dangerous tropical diseases. While artemisinin and analogs have been used as first-line drugs for the past decades, due to the high mutational rate and rapid adaptation to the environment of the parasite, it remains urgent to develop new antimalarials. The pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway plays an important role in cell growth and proliferation. Unlike human host cells, the malarial parasite lacks a functional pyrimidine salvage pathway, meaning that RNA and DNA synthesis is highly dependent on the de novo synthesis pathway. Thus, direct or indirect blockage of the pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway can be lethal to the parasite. Aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase), catalyzes the second step of the pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway, the condensation of L-aspartate and carbamoyl phosphate to form N-carbamoyl aspartate and inorganic phosphate, and has been demonstrated to be a promising target both for anti-malaria and anti-cancer drug development. This is highlighted by the discovery that at least one of the targets of Torin2 – a potent, yet unselective, antimalarial – is the activity of the parasite transcarbamoylase. Additionally, the recent discovery of an allosteric pocket of the human homology raises the intriguing possibility of species selective ATCase inhibitors. We recently exploited the available crystal structures of the malarial aspartate transcarbamoylase to perform a fragment-based screening to identify hits. In this review, we summarize studies on the structure of Plasmodium falciparum ATCase by focusing on an allosteric pocket that supports the catalytic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- Department of Drug Design, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Arne Krüger
- Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Xiaochen Du
- Department of Drug Design, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Carsten Wrenger
- Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Matthew R. Groves, ; Carsten Wrenger,
| | - Matthew R. Groves
- Department of Drug Design, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Matthew R. Groves, ; Carsten Wrenger,
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8
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Pyrimidine Biosynthetic Enzyme CAD: Its Function, Regulation, and Diagnostic Potential. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910253. [PMID: 34638594 PMCID: PMC8508918 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
CAD (Carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, Aspartate transcarbamoylase, and Dihydroorotase) is a multifunctional protein that participates in the initial three speed-limiting steps of pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. Over the past two decades, extensive investigations have been conducted to unmask CAD as a central player for the synthesis of nucleic acids, active intermediates, and cell membranes. Meanwhile, the important role of CAD in various physiopathological processes has also been emphasized. Deregulation of CAD-related pathways or CAD mutations cause cancer, neurological disorders, and inherited metabolic diseases. Here, we review the structure, function, and regulation of CAD in mammalian physiology as well as human diseases, and provide insights into the potential to target CAD in future clinical applications.
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9
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Del Caño-Ochoa F, Ramón-Maiques S. Deciphering CAD: Structure and function of a mega-enzymatic pyrimidine factory in health and disease. Protein Sci 2021; 30:1995-2008. [PMID: 34288185 PMCID: PMC8442968 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
CAD is a 1.5 MDa particle formed by hexameric association of a 250 kDa protein divided into different enzymatic domains, each catalyzing one of the initial reactions for de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides: glutaminase‐dependent Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase, Aspartate transcarbamoylase, and Dihydroorotase. The pathway for de novo pyrimidine synthesis is essential for cell proliferation and is conserved in all living organisms, but the covalent linkage of the first enzymatic activities into a multienzymatic CAD particle is unique to animals. In other organisms, these enzymatic activities are encoded as monofunctional proteins for which there is abundant structural and biochemical information. However, the knowledge about CAD is scarce and fragmented. Understanding CAD requires not only to determine the three‐dimensional structures and define the catalytic and regulatory mechanisms of the different enzymatic domains, but also to comprehend how these domains entangle and work in a coordinated and regulated manner. This review summarizes significant progress over the past 10 years toward the characterization of CAD's architecture, function, regulatory mechanisms, and cellular compartmentalization, as well as the recent finding of a new and rare neurometabolic disorder caused by defects in CAD activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Del Caño-Ochoa
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV-CSIC), Valencia, Spain.,Group 739, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER) - Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Valencia, Spain
| | - Santiago Ramón-Maiques
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV-CSIC), Valencia, Spain.,Group 739, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER) - Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Valencia, Spain
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10
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Mechanisms of feedback inhibition and sequential firing of active sites in plant aspartate transcarbamoylase. Nat Commun 2021; 12:947. [PMID: 33574254 PMCID: PMC7878868 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21165-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATC), an essential enzyme for de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis, is uniquely regulated in plants by feedback inhibition of uridine 5-monophosphate (UMP). Despite its importance in plant growth, the structure of this UMP-controlled ATC and the regulatory mechanism remain unknown. Here, we report the crystal structures of Arabidopsis ATC trimer free and bound to UMP, complexed to a transition-state analog or bearing a mutation that turns the enzyme insensitive to UMP. We found that UMP binds and blocks the ATC active site, directly competing with the binding of the substrates. We also prove that UMP recognition relies on a loop exclusively conserved in plants that is also responsible for the sequential firing of the active sites. In this work, we describe unique regulatory and catalytic properties of plant ATCs that could be exploited to modulate de novo pyrimidine synthesis and plant growth.
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11
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Del Caño-Ochoa F, Ng BG, Abedalthagafi M, Almannai M, Cohn RD, Costain G, Elpeleg O, Houlden H, Karimiani EG, Liu P, Manzini MC, Maroofian R, Muriello M, Al-Otaibi A, Patel H, Shimon E, Sutton VR, Toosi MB, Wolfe LA, Rosenfeld JA, Freeze HH, Ramón-Maiques S. Cell-based analysis of CAD variants identifies individuals likely to benefit from uridine therapy. Genet Med 2020; 22:1598-1605. [PMID: 32461667 PMCID: PMC7521996 DOI: 10.1038/s41436-020-0833-2] [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: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Pathogenic autosomal recessive variants in CAD, encoding the multienzymatic protein initiating pyrimidine de novo biosynthesis, cause a severe inborn metabolic disorder treatable with a dietary supplement of uridine. This condition is difficult to diagnose given the large size of CAD with over 1000 missense variants and the nonspecific clinical presentation. We aimed to develop a reliable and discerning assay to assess the pathogenicity of CAD variants and to select affected individuals that might benefit from uridine therapy. Methods Using CRISPR/Cas9, we generated a human CAD-knockout cell line that requires uridine supplements for survival. Transient transfection of the knockout cells with recombinant CAD restores growth in absence of uridine. This system determines missense variants that inactivate CAD and do not rescue the growth phenotype. Results We identified 25 individuals with biallelic variants in CAD and a phenotype consistent with a CAD deficit. We used the CAD-knockout complementation assay to test a total of 34 variants, identifying 16 as deleterious for CAD activity. Combination of these pathogenic variants confirmed 11 subjects with a CAD deficit, for whom we describe the clinical phenotype. Conclusions We designed a cell-based assay to test the pathogenicity of CAD variants, identifying 11 CAD-deficient individuals who could benefit from uridine therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Del Caño-Ochoa
- Genome Dynamics and Function Program, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain.,Group 739, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Valencia, Spain.,Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV-CSIC), Valencia, Spain
| | - Bobby G Ng
- Human Genetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Malak Abedalthagafi
- Genomics Research Department, Saudi Human Genome Project, King Fahad Medical City and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Almannai
- Section of Medical Genetics, Children's Hospital, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ronald D Cohn
- Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Paediatric Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gregory Costain
- Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Centre for Genetic Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Orly Elpeleg
- Department of Genetics, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Henry Houlden
- Department of Neuromuscular disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology University College, London, UK
| | - Ehsan Ghayoor Karimiani
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, UK
| | - Pengfei Liu
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, TX, USA
| | - M Chiara Manzini
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology and Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Reza Maroofian
- Department of Neuromuscular disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology University College, London, UK
| | - Michael Muriello
- Department of Pediatrics/Division of Genetics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.,Genomic Science and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Ali Al-Otaibi
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hema Patel
- Department of Neurology (Section of pediatric neurology) Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Medical of College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Edvardson Shimon
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - V Reid Sutton
- Department of Molecular, Human Genetics Baylor College of Medicine & Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mehran Beiraghi Toosi
- Department of Pediatric Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Lynne A Wolfe
- Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jill A Rosenfeld
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hudson H Freeze
- Human Genetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Santiago Ramón-Maiques
- Genome Dynamics and Function Program, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain. .,Group 739, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Valencia, Spain. .,Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV-CSIC), Valencia, Spain.
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12
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Bosch SS, Lunev S, Batista FA, Linzke M, Kronenberger T, Dömling ASS, Groves MR, Wrenger C. Molecular Target Validation of Aspartate Transcarbamoylase from Plasmodium falciparum by Torin 2. ACS Infect Dis 2020; 6:986-999. [PMID: 32129597 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a tropical disease that kills about half a million people around the world annually. Enzymatic reactions within pyrimidine biosynthesis have been proven to be essential for Plasmodium proliferation. Here we report on the essentiality of the second enzymatic step of the pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway, catalyzed by aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATC). Crystallization experiments using a double mutant ofPlasmodium falciparum ATC (PfATC) revealed the importance of the mutated residues for enzyme catalysis. Subsequently, this mutant was employed in protein interference assays (PIAs), which resulted in inhibition of parasite proliferation when parasites transfected with the double mutant were cultivated in medium lacking an excess of nutrients, including aspartate. Addition of 5 or 10 mg/L of aspartate to the minimal medium restored the parasites' normal growth rate. In vitro and whole-cell assays in the presence of the compound Torin 2 showed inhibition of specific activity and parasite growth, respectively. In silico analyses revealed the potential binding mode of Torin 2 to PfATC. Furthermore, a transgenic ATC-overexpressing cell line exhibited a 10-fold increased tolerance to Torin 2 compared with control cultures. Taken together, our results confirm the antimalarial activity of Torin 2, suggesting PfATC as a target of this drug and a promising target for the development of novel antimalarials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soraya S. Bosch
- Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 1374, 05508-000 São Paulo-SP, Brazil
- Structural Biology Unit, XB20 Drug Design, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sergey Lunev
- Structural Biology Unit, XB20 Drug Design, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Fernando A. Batista
- Structural Biology Unit, XB20 Drug Design, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marleen Linzke
- Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 1374, 05508-000 São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Thales Kronenberger
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alexander S. S. Dömling
- Structural Biology Unit, XB20 Drug Design, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew R. Groves
- Structural Biology Unit, XB20 Drug Design, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Carsten Wrenger
- Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 1374, 05508-000 São Paulo-SP, Brazil
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13
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Del Caño-Ochoa F, Moreno-Morcillo M, Ramón-Maiques S. CAD, A Multienzymatic Protein at the Head of de Novo Pyrimidine Biosynthesis. Subcell Biochem 2020; 93:505-538. [PMID: 31939163 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-28151-9_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
CAD is a 1.5 MDa particle formed by hexameric association of a 250 kDa protein that carries the enzymatic activities for the first three steps in the de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides: glutamine-dependent Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase, Aspartate transcarbamoylase and Dihydroorotase. This metabolic pathway is essential for cell growth and proliferation and is conserved in all living organisms. However, the fusion of the first three enzymatic activities of the pathway into a single multienzymatic protein only occurs in animals. In prokaryotes, by contrast, these activities are encoded as distinct monofunctional enzymes that function independently or by forming more or less transient complexes. Whereas the structural information about these enzymes in bacteria is abundant, the large size and instability of CAD has only allowed a fragmented characterization of its structure. Here we retrace some of the most significant efforts to decipher the architecture of CAD and to understand its catalytic and regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Del Caño-Ochoa
- Department of Genome Dynamics and Function, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Nicolas Cabrera 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Moreno-Morcillo
- Department of Genome Dynamics and Function, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Nicolas Cabrera 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Santiago Ramón-Maiques
- Department of Genome Dynamics and Function, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Nicolas Cabrera 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
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14
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Del Caño-Ochoa F, Ramón-Maiques S. The multienzymatic protein CAD leading the de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidines localizes exclusively in the cytoplasm and does not translocate to the nucleus. NUCLEOSIDES NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 2020; 39:1320-1334. [PMID: 31997698 DOI: 10.1080/15257770.2019.1706743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
CAD, the multienzymatic protein that initiates and controls the de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidines, plays a major role in nucleotide homeostasis, cell growth and proliferation. Despite its interest as a potential antitumoral target, there is a lack of understanding on CAD's structure and functioning mechanisms. Although mainly identified as a cytosolic complex, different studies support the translocation of CAD into the nucleus, where it could have a yet undefined function. Here, we track the subcellular localization of CAD by using fluorescent chimeras, cell fractionation and immunoblotting with specific antibodies. Contradicting previous studies, we demonstrate that CAD is exclusively localized at the cytosol and discard a possible translocation to the nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Del Caño-Ochoa
- Genome Dynamics and Function Program, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Santiago Ramón-Maiques
- Genome Dynamics and Function Program, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
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15
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Lei Z, Wang B, Lu Z, Wang N, Tan H, Zheng J, Jia Z. New regulatory mechanism-based inhibitors of aspartate transcarbamoylase for potential anticancer drug development. FEBS J 2020; 287:3579-3599. [PMID: 31967710 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase) is a key enzyme which regulates and catalyzes the second step of de novo pyrimidine synthesis in all organisms. Escherichia coli ATCase is a prototypic enzyme regulated by both product feedback and substrate cooperativity, whereas human ATCase is a potential anticancer target. Through structural and biochemical analyses, we revealed that R167/130's loop region in ATCase serves as a gatekeeper for the active site, playing a new and unappreciated regulatory role in the catalytic cycle of ATCase. Based on virtual compound screening simultaneously targeting the new regulatory region and active site of human ATCase, two compounds were identified to exhibit strong inhibition of ATCase activity, proliferation of multiple cancer cell lines, and growth of xenograft tumors. Our work has not only revealed a previously unknown regulatory region of ATCase that helps uncover the catalytic and regulatory mechanism of ATCase, but also successfully guided the identification of new ATCase inhibitors for anticancer drug development using a dual-targeting strategy. DATABASE: Structure data are available in Protein Data Bank under the accession numbers: 6KJ7 (G166P ecATCase), 6KJ8 (G166P ecATCase-holo), 6KJ9 (G128/130A ecATCase), and 6KJA (G128/130A ecATCase-holo).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Lei
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, China
| | - Biying Wang
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, China
| | - Zhifang Lu
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, China
| | - Nan Wang
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, China
| | - Hongwei Tan
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, China
| | - Jimin Zheng
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, China
| | - Zongchao Jia
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
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16
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Lei Z, Wang N, Tan H, Zheng J, Jia Z. Conformational Plasticity of the Active Site Entrance in E. coli Aspartate Transcarbamoylase and Its Implication in Feedback Regulation. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21010320. [PMID: 31947715 PMCID: PMC6981877 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase) has been studied for decades and Escherichia coli ATCase is referred as a “textbook example” for both feedback regulation and cooperativity. However, several critical questions about the catalytic and regulatory mechanisms of E. coli ATCase remain unanswered, especially about its remote feedback regulation. Herein, we determined a structure of E. coli ATCase in which a key residue located (Arg167) at the entrance of the active site adopted an uncommon open conformation, representing the first wild-type apo-form E. coli ATCase holoenzyme that features this state. Based on the structure and our results of enzymatic characterization, as well as molecular dynamic simulations, we provide new insights into the feedback regulation of E. coli ATCase. We speculate that the binding of pyrimidines or purines would affect the hydrogen bond network at the interface of the catalytic and regulatory subunit, which would further influence the stability of the open conformation of Arg167 and the enzymatic activity of ATCase. Our results not only revealed the importance of the previously unappreciated open conformation of Arg167 in the active site, but also helped to provide rationalization for the mechanism of the remote feedback regulation of ATCase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Lei
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (Z.L.); (N.W.); (H.T.)
| | - Nan Wang
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (Z.L.); (N.W.); (H.T.)
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Hongwei Tan
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (Z.L.); (N.W.); (H.T.)
| | - Jimin Zheng
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (Z.L.); (N.W.); (H.T.)
- Correspondence: (J.Z.); (Z.J.); Tel.: +86-010-58806002 (J.Z.); +1-613-5336277 (Z.J.)
| | - Zongchao Jia
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L3N6, Canada
- Correspondence: (J.Z.); (Z.J.); Tel.: +86-010-58806002 (J.Z.); +1-613-5336277 (Z.J.)
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17
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Winter H, Kaisaki PJ, Harvey J, Giacopuzzi E, Ferla MP, Pentony MM, Knight SJ, Sharma RA, Taylor JC, McCullagh JS. Identification of Circulating Genomic and Metabolic Biomarkers in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E1895. [PMID: 31795195 PMCID: PMC6966597 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11121895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is an aggressive cancer arising from the bile ducts with a need for earlier diagnosis and a greater range of treatment options. KRAS/NRAS mutations are common in ICC tumours and 6-32% of patients also have isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1 and IDH2) gene mutations associated with metabolic changes. This feasibility study investigated sequencing circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) combined with metabolite profiling of plasma as a method for biomarker discovery in ICC patients. Plasma was collected from four ICC patients receiving radio-embolisation and healthy controls at multiple time points. ctDNA was sequenced using Ampliseq cancer hotspot panel-v2 on Ion Torrent PGM for single nucleotide variants (SNV) detection and with Illumina whole genome sequencing for copy number variants (CNV) and further targeted examination for SNVs. Untargeted analysis of metabolites from patient and control plasma was performed using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Metabolite identification was performed using multi-parameter comparisons with analysis of authentic standards, and univariate statistical analysis was performed to identify differences in metabolite abundance between patient and control samples. Recurrent somatic SNVs and CNVs were identified in ctDNA from three out of four patients that included both NRAS and IDH1 mutations linked to ICC. Plasma metabolite analysis revealed biomarker metabolites associated with ICC and in particular 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) levels were elevated in both samples from the only patient showing a variant allele in IDH1. A reduction in the number of CNVs was observed with treatment. This study demonstrates that ctDNA and metabolite levels can be identified and correlated in ICC patient blood samples and differentiated from healthy controls. We conclude that combining genomic and metabolic analysis of plasma offers an effective approach to biomarker identification with potential for disease stratification and early detection studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Winter
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK; (H.W.); (P.J.K.); (E.G.); (M.P.F.); (M.M.P.); (J.C.T.)
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK;
- Bristol Cancer Institute, Horfield Rd, Bristol BS2 8ED, UK
| | - Pamela J. Kaisaki
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK; (H.W.); (P.J.K.); (E.G.); (M.P.F.); (M.M.P.); (J.C.T.)
| | - Joe Harvey
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK;
| | - Edoardo Giacopuzzi
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK; (H.W.); (P.J.K.); (E.G.); (M.P.F.); (M.M.P.); (J.C.T.)
| | - Matteo P. Ferla
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK; (H.W.); (P.J.K.); (E.G.); (M.P.F.); (M.M.P.); (J.C.T.)
| | - Melissa M. Pentony
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK; (H.W.); (P.J.K.); (E.G.); (M.P.F.); (M.M.P.); (J.C.T.)
| | - Samantha J.L. Knight
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK; (H.W.); (P.J.K.); (E.G.); (M.P.F.); (M.M.P.); (J.C.T.)
| | - Ricky A. Sharma
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK;
- NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Jenny C. Taylor
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK; (H.W.); (P.J.K.); (E.G.); (M.P.F.); (M.M.P.); (J.C.T.)
| | - James S.O. McCullagh
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK;
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18
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Kairys V, Baranauskiene L, Kazlauskiene M, Matulis D, Kazlauskas E. Binding affinity in drug design: experimental and computational techniques. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2019; 14:755-768. [DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2019.1623202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Visvaldas Kairys
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Lina Baranauskiene
- Department of Biothermodynamics and Drug Design, Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Daumantas Matulis
- Department of Biothermodynamics and Drug Design, Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Egidijus Kazlauskas
- Department of Biothermodynamics and Drug Design, Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
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19
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Abstract
The CAD complex catalyzes the first four reactions of the pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway. CAD exhibits allosteric regulaton, both negative and positive, covalent regulation by phosphorylation, and metabolite channeling. In this issue of Structure, Moreno-Morcillo et al. (2017) show that the dihydroorotase domain plays a crucial role in the establishment of the quaternary structure of this complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Hervé
- IBPS/Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France.
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20
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Shi D, Caldovic L, Tuchman M. Sources and Fates of Carbamyl Phosphate: A Labile Energy-Rich Molecule with Multiple Facets. BIOLOGY 2018; 7:biology7020034. [PMID: 29895729 PMCID: PMC6022934 DOI: 10.3390/biology7020034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Carbamyl phosphate (CP) is well-known as an essential intermediate of pyrimidine and arginine/urea biosynthesis. Chemically, CP can be easily synthesized from dihydrogen phosphate and cyanate. Enzymatically, CP can be synthesized using three different classes of enzymes: (1) ATP-grasp fold protein based carbamyl phosphate synthetase (CPS); (2) Amino-acid kinase fold carbamate kinase (CK)-like CPS (anabolic CK or aCK); and (3) Catabolic transcarbamylase. The first class of CPS can be further divided into three different types of CPS as CPS I, CPS II, and CPS III depending on the usage of ammonium or glutamine as its nitrogen source, and whether N-acetyl-glutamate is its essential co-factor. CP can donate its carbamyl group to the amino nitrogen of many important molecules including the most well-known ornithine and aspartate in the arginine/urea and pyrimidine biosynthetic pathways. CP can also donate its carbamyl group to the hydroxyl oxygen of a variety of molecules, particularly in many antibiotic biosynthetic pathways. Transfer of the carbamyl group to the nitrogen group is catalyzed by the anabolic transcarbamylase using a direct attack mechanism, while transfer of the carbamyl group to the oxygen group is catalyzed by a different class of enzymes, CmcH/NodU CTase, using a different mechanism involving a three-step reaction, decomposition of CP to carbamate and phosphate, transfer of the carbamyl group from carbamate to ATP to form carbamyladenylate and pyrophosphate, and transfer of the carbamyl group from carbamyladenylate to the oxygen group of the substrate. CP is also involved in transferring its phosphate group to ADP to generate ATP in the fermentation of many microorganisms. The reaction is catalyzed by carbamate kinase, which may be termed as catabolic CK (cCK) in order to distinguish it from CP generating CK. CP is a thermally labile molecule, easily decomposed into phosphate and cyanate, or phosphate and carbamate depending on the pH of the solution, or the presence of enzyme. Biological systems have developed several mechanisms including channeling between enzymes, increased affinity of CP to enzymes, and keeping CP in a specific conformation to protect CP from decomposition. CP is highly important for our health as both a lack of, or decreased, CP production and CP accumulation results in many disease conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dashuang Shi
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
| | - Ljubica Caldovic
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
| | - Mendel Tuchman
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
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21
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Identification of a non-competitive inhibitor of Plasmodium falciparum aspartate transcarbamoylase. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 497:835-842. [PMID: 29476738 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.02.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Aspartate transcarbamoylase catalyzes the second step of de-novo pyrimidine biosynthesis. As malarial parasites lack pyrimidine salvage machinery and rely on de-novo production for growth and proliferation, this pathway is a target for drug discovery. Previously, an apo crystal structure of aspartate transcarbamoylase from Plasmodium falciparum (PfATC) in its T-state has been reported. Here we present crystal structures of PfATC in the liganded R-state as well as in complex with the novel inhibitor, 2,3-napthalenediol, identified by high-throughput screening. Our data shows that 2,3-napthalediol binds in close proximity to the active site, implying an allosteric mechanism of inhibition. Furthermore, we report biophysical characterization of 2,3-napthalenediol. These data provide a promising starting point for structure based drug design targeting PfATC and malarial de-novo pyrimidine biosynthesis.
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22
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Moreno-Morcillo M, Grande-García A, Ruiz-Ramos A, Del Caño-Ochoa F, Boskovic J, Ramón-Maiques S. Structural Insight into the Core of CAD, the Multifunctional Protein Leading De Novo Pyrimidine Biosynthesis. Structure 2017; 25:912-923.e5. [PMID: 28552578 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2017.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
CAD, the multifunctional protein initiating and controlling de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidines in animals, self-assembles into ∼1.5 MDa hexamers. The structures of the dihydroorotase (DHO) and aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATC) domains of human CAD have been previously determined, but we lack information on how these domains associate and interact with the rest of CAD forming a multienzymatic unit. Here, we prove that a construct covering human DHO and ATC oligomerizes as a dimer of trimers and that this arrangement is conserved in CAD-like from fungi, which holds an inactive DHO-like domain. The crystal structures of the ATC trimer and DHO-like dimer from the fungus Chaetomium thermophilum confirm the similarity with the human CAD homologs. These results demonstrate that, despite being inactive, the fungal DHO-like domain has a conserved structural function. We propose a model that sets the DHO and ATC complex as the central element in the architecture of CAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Moreno-Morcillo
- Structural Bases of Genome Integrity Group, Structural Biology and Biocomputing Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Araceli Grande-García
- Structural Bases of Genome Integrity Group, Structural Biology and Biocomputing Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Alba Ruiz-Ramos
- Structural Bases of Genome Integrity Group, Structural Biology and Biocomputing Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Francisco Del Caño-Ochoa
- Structural Bases of Genome Integrity Group, Structural Biology and Biocomputing Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Jasminka Boskovic
- Electron Microscopy Unit, Structural Biology and Biocomputing Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Santiago Ramón-Maiques
- Structural Bases of Genome Integrity Group, Structural Biology and Biocomputing Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3, Madrid 28029, Spain; Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Madrid 28049, Spain.
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23
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Claveria-Gimeno R, Vega S, Abian O, Velazquez-Campoy A. A look at ligand binding thermodynamics in drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2017; 12:363-377. [DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2017.1297418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Claveria-Gimeno
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), IQFR-CSIC-BIFI and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI Joint Units, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sonia Vega
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), IQFR-CSIC-BIFI and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI Joint Units, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Olga Abian
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), IQFR-CSIC-BIFI and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI Joint Units, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adrian Velazquez-Campoy
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), IQFR-CSIC-BIFI and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI Joint Units, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Barcelona, Spain
- Fundación ARAID, Government of Aragon, Zaragoza, Spain
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