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Hazarika S, Yu T, Biswas A, Dube N, Villalona P, Okafor CD. Nuclear receptor interdomain communication is mediated by the hinge with ligand specificity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.10.579785. [PMID: 38405809 PMCID: PMC10888817 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.10.579785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Nuclear receptors are ligand-induced transcription factors that bind directly to target genes and regulate their expression. Ligand binding initiates conformational changes that propagate to other domains, allosterically regulating their activity. The nature of this interdomain communication in nuclear receptors is poorly understood, largely owing to the difficulty of experimentally characterizing full-length structures. We have applied computational modeling approaches to describe and study the structure of the full length farnesoid X receptor (FXR), approximated by the DNA binding domain (DBD) and ligand binding domain (LBD) connected by the flexible hinge region. Using extended molecular dynamics simulations (> 10 microseconds) and enhanced sampling simulations, we provide evidence that ligands selectively induce domain rearrangement, leading to interdomain contact. We use protein-protein interaction assays to provide experimental evidence of these interactions, identifying a critical role of the hinge in mediating interdomain contact. Our results illuminate previously unknown aspects of interdomain communication in FXR and provide a framework to enable characterization of other full length nuclear receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurov Hazarika
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Tracy Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Arumay Biswas
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Namita Dube
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Priscilla Villalona
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - C. Denise Okafor
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
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2
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Jiang L, Liu X, Liang X, Dai S, Wei H, Guo M, Chen Z, Xiao D, Chen Y. Structural characterization of the DNA binding mechanism of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma. Structure 2024; 32:467-475.e3. [PMID: 38309263 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma (RORγ) plays critical roles in regulating various biological processes and has been linked to immunodeficiency disorders and cancers. DNA recognition is essential for RORγ to exert its functions. However, the underlying mechanism of the DNA binding by RORγ remains unclear. In this study, we present the crystal structure of the complex of RORγ1 DNA-binding domain (RORγ1-DBD)/direct repeat DNA element DR2 at 2.3 Å resolution. We demonstrate that RORγ1-DBD binds the DR2 motif as a homodimer, with the C-terminal extension (CTE) region of RORγ1-DBD contributing to the DNA recognition and the formation of dimeric interface. Further studies reveal that REV-ERB-DBD and RXR-DBD, also bind the DR2 site as a homodimer, while NR4A2-DBD binds DR2 as a monomer. Our research uncovers a binding mechanism of RORγ1 to the DR2 site and provides insights into the biological functions of RORγ1 and the broader RORs subfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longying Jiang
- Department of Pathology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Department of Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xueke Liu
- Department of Pathology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Department of Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xujun Liang
- Department of Pathology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Department of Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Shuyan Dai
- Department of Pathology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Department of Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hudie Wei
- Department of Pathology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Department of Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ming Guo
- Department of Pathology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Department of Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhuchu Chen
- Department of Pathology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Department of Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Desheng Xiao
- Department of Pathology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Department of Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Yongheng Chen
- Department of Pathology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Department of Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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3
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Marino V, Phromkrasae W, Bertacchi M, Cassini P, Chakrabandhu K, Dell'Orco D, Studer M. Disrupted protein interaction dynamics in a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder revealed by structural bioinformatics and genetic code expansion. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4953. [PMID: 38511490 PMCID: PMC10955615 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Deciphering the structural effects of gene variants is essential for understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of genetic diseases. Using a neurodevelopmental disorder called Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf Optic Atrophy Syndrome (BBSOAS) as a genetic disease model, we applied structural bioinformatics and Genetic Code Expansion (GCE) strategies to assess the pathogenic impact of human NR2F1 variants and their binding with known and novel partners. While the computational analyses of the NR2F1 structure delineated the molecular basis of the impact of several variants on the isolated and complexed structures, the GCE enabled covalent and site-specific capture of transient supramolecular interactions in living cells. This revealed the variable quaternary conformations of NR2F1 variants and highlighted the disrupted interplay with dimeric partners and the newly identified co-factor, CRABP2. The disclosed consequence of the pathogenic mutations on the conformation, supramolecular interplay, and alterations in the cell cycle, viability, and sub-cellular localization of the different variants reflect the heterogeneous disease spectrum of BBSOAS and set up novel foundation for unveiling the complexity of neurodevelopmental diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Marino
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biological ChemistryUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | | | | | - Paul Cassini
- University Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, iBVNiceFrance
| | | | - Daniele Dell'Orco
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biological ChemistryUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
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Zhuang J, Shang Q, Rastinejad F, Wu D. Decoding Allosteric Control in Hypoxia-Inducible Factors. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168352. [PMID: 37935255 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian family of basic helix-loop-helix-PER-ARNT-SIM (bHLH-PAS) transcription factors possess the ability to sense and respond to diverse environmental and physiological cues. These proteins all share a common structural framework, comprising a bHLH domain, two PAS domains, and transcriptional activation or repression domain. To function effectively as transcription factors, members of the family must form dimers, bringing together bHLH segments to create a functional unit that allows for DNA response element binding. The significance of bHLH-PAS family is underscored by their involvement in many major human diseases, offering potential avenues for therapeutic intervention. Notably, the clear identification of ligand-binding cavities within their PAS domains enables the development of targeted small molecules. Two examples are Belzutifan, targeting hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α, and Tapinarof, targeting the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), both of which have gained regulatory approval recently. Here, we focus on the HIF subfamily. The crystal structures of all three HIF-α proteins have been elucidated, revealing their bHLH and tandem PAS domains are used to engage their dimerization partner aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT, also called HIF-1β). A broad range of recent findings point to a shared allosteric modulation mechanism among these proteins, whereby small-molecules at the PAS-B domains exert direct influence over the HIF-α transcriptional functions. As our understanding of the architectural and allosteric mechanisms of bHLH-PAS proteins continues to advance, the possibility of discovering new therapeutic drugs becomes increasingly promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zhuang
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China; Helmholtz International Lab, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Qinghong Shang
- Helmholtz International Lab, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Fraydoon Rastinejad
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK.
| | - Dalei Wu
- Helmholtz International Lab, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
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5
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Cai J, Wang J, Jiang C, Ye L, He X, Huang J, Sun X, Ren Z, Lai X, Qiu Y, Wang H, Lv G, Zheng J, Lu T, Chen H, Liu Y, Chen H, Guan Y, Wang Y, Wang T, Yao J, Sui X, Kang Y, Zhang Y, Li H, Wang J, Li W, Chen G, Yang Y, Xiang AP. Combined inhibition of surface CD51 and γ-secretase-mediated CD51 cleavage improves therapeutic efficacy in experimental metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol 2023; 79:1418-1434. [PMID: 37604269 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Integrin αv (ITGAV, CD51) is regarded as a key component in multiple stages of tumor progression. However, the clinical failure of cilengitide, a specific inhibitor targeting surface CD51, suggests the importance of yet-unknown mechanisms by which CD51 promotes tumor progression. METHODS In this study, we used several hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and murine hepatoma cell lines. To investigate the role of CD51 on HCC progression, we used a 3D invasion assay and in vivo bioluminescence imaging. We used periostin-knockout transgenic mice to uncover the role of the tumor microenvironment on CD51 cleavage. Moreover, we used several clinically relevant HCC models, including patient-derived organoids and patient-derived xenografts, to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of cilengitide in combination with the γ-secretase inhibitor LY3039478. RESULTS We found that CD51 could undergo transmembrane cleavage by γ-secretase to produce a functional intracellular domain (CD51-ICD). The cleaved CD51-ICD facilitated HCC invasion and metastasis by promoting the transcription of oxidative phosphorylation-related genes. Furthermore, we identified cancer-associated fibroblast-derived periostin as the major driver of CD51 cleavage. Lastly, we showed that cilengitide-based therapy led to a dramatic therapeutic effect when supplemented with LY3039478 in both patient-derived organoid and xenograft models. CONCLUSIONS In summary, we revealed previously unrecognized mechanisms by which CD51 is involved in HCC progression and uncovered the underlying cause of cilengitide treatment failure, as well as providing evidence supporting the translational prospects of combined CD51-targeted therapy in the clinic. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Integrin αv (CD51) is a widely recognized pro-tumoral molecule that plays a crucial role in various stages of tumor progression, making it a promising therapeutic target. However, despite early promising results, cilengitide, a specific antagonist of CD51, failed in a phase III clinical trial. This prompted further investigation into the underlying mechanisms of CD51's effects. This study reveals that the γ-secretase complex directly cleaves CD51 to produce an intracellular domain (CD51-ICD), which functions as a pro-tumoral transcriptional regulator and can bypass the inhibitory effects of cilengitide by entering the nucleus. Furthermore, the localization of CD51 in the nucleus is significantly associated with the prognosis of patients with HCC. These findings provide a theoretical basis for re-evaluating cilengitide in clinical settings and highlight the importance of identifying a more precise patient subpopulation for future clinical trials targeting CD51.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianye Cai
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China; Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiancheng Wang
- Scientific Research Centre, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China; Department of Hematology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chenhao Jiang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China; Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Linsen Ye
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China
| | - Xinyi He
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianyang Huang
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Sun
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhijun Ren
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaofan Lai
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan Qiu
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongmiao Wang
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guo Lv
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China
| | - Jun Zheng
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China
| | - Tongyu Lu
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China
| | - Haitian Chen
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China
| | - Yasong Liu
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China
| | - Huaxin Chen
- Biotherapy Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanjun Guan
- Core Facility Centre, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jia Yao
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China
| | - Xin Sui
- Surgical ICU, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, China
| | - Yinqian Kang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingcai Zhang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China
| | - Hua Li
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China
| | - Jinkai Wang
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weiqiang Li
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Histoembryology and Cell Biology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Guihua Chen
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation Centre, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory for Transplantation, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China.
| | - Andy Peng Xiang
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Histoembryology and Cell Biology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
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6
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Rastinejad F. The protein architecture and allosteric landscape of HNF4α. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1219092. [PMID: 37732120 PMCID: PMC10507258 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1219092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4α) is a multi-faceted nuclear receptor responsible for governing the development and proper functioning of liver and pancreatic islet cells. Its transcriptional functions encompass the regulation of vital metabolic processes including cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism, and glucose sensing and control. Various genetic mutations and alterations in HNF4α are associated with diabetes, metabolic disorders, and cancers. From a structural perspective, HNF4α is one of the most comprehensively understood nuclear receptors due to its crystallographically observed architecture revealing interconnected DNA binding domains (DBDs) and ligand binding domains (LBDs). This review discusses key properties of HNF4α, including its mode of homodimerization, its binding to fatty acid ligands, the importance of post-translational modifications, and the mechanistic basis for allosteric functions. The surfaces linking HNF4α's DBDs and LBDs create a convergence zone that allows signals originating from any one domain to influence distant domains. The HNF4α-DNA complex serves as a prime illustration of how nuclear receptors utilize individual domains for specific functions, while also integrating these domains to create cohesive higher-order architectures that allow signal responsive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fraydoon Rastinejad
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Target Discovery Institute (NDMRB), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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7
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Choi WJ, Haratipour Z, Blind RD. Full-length nuclear receptor allosteric regulation. J Lipid Res 2023; 64:100406. [PMID: 37356665 PMCID: PMC10388211 DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2023.100406] [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: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear receptors are a superfamily of transcription factors regulated by a wide range of lipids that include phospholipids, fatty acids, heme-based metabolites, and cholesterol-based steroids. Encoded as classic two-domain modular transcription factors, nuclear receptors possess a DNA-binding domain (DBD) and a lipid ligand-binding domain (LBD) containing a transcriptional activation function. Decades of structural studies on the isolated LBDs of nuclear receptors established that lipid-ligand binding allosterically regulates the conformation of the LBD, regulating transcriptional coregulator recruitment and thus nuclear receptor function. These structural studies have aided the development of several FDA-approved drugs, highlighting the importance of understanding the structure-function relationships between lipids and nuclear receptors. However, there are few published descriptions of full-length nuclear receptor structure and even fewer descriptions of how lipids might allosterically regulate full-length structure. Here, we examine multidomain interactions based on the published full-length nuclear receptor structures, evaluating the potential of interdomain interfaces within these nuclear receptors to act as inducible sites of allosteric regulation by lipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woong Jae Choi
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Zeinab Haratipour
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Center for Structural Biology, Nashville, TN, USA; Program in Precision Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Raymond D Blind
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Center for Structural Biology, Nashville, TN, USA; Program in Precision Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA; Diabetes Research and Training Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
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8
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Bhimsaria D, Rodríguez-Martínez JA, Mendez-Johnson JL, Ghoshdastidar D, Varadarajan A, Bansal M, Daniels DL, Ramanathan P, Ansari AZ. Hidden modes of DNA binding by human nuclear receptors. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4179. [PMID: 37443151 PMCID: PMC10345098 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39577-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Human nuclear receptors (NRs) are a superfamily of ligand-responsive transcription factors that have central roles in cellular function. Their malfunction is linked to numerous diseases, and the ability to modulate their activity with synthetic ligands has yielded 16% of all FDA-approved drugs. NRs regulate distinct gene networks, however they often function from genomic sites that lack known binding motifs. Here, to annotate genomic binding sites of known and unexamined NRs more accurately, we use high-throughput SELEX to comprehensively map DNA binding site preferences of all full-length human NRs, in complex with their ligands. Furthermore, to identify non-obvious binding sites buried in DNA-protein interactomes, we develop MinSeq Find, a search algorithm based on the MinTerm concept from electrical engineering and digital systems design. The resulting MinTerm sequence set (MinSeqs) reveal a constellation of binding sites that more effectively annotate NR-binding profiles in cells. MinSeqs also unmask binding sites created or disrupted by 52,106 single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with human diseases. By implicating druggable NRs as hidden drivers of multiple human diseases, our results not only reveal new biological roles of NRs, but they also provide a resource for drug-repurposing and precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devesh Bhimsaria
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, India.
| | | | | | | | - Ashwin Varadarajan
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Manju Bansal
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Danette L Daniels
- Promega Corporation, Madison, WI, 53711, USA
- Foghorn Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Parameswaran Ramanathan
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - Aseem Z Ansari
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.
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9
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Shindo S, Kakizaki S, Sakaki T, Kawasaki Y, Sakuma T, Negishi M, Shizu R. Phosphorylation of nuclear receptors: Novelty and therapeutic implications. Pharmacol Ther 2023:108477. [PMID: 37330113 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear receptors (NR) collectively regulate several biological functions in various organs. While NRs can be characterized by activation of the transcription of their signature genes, they also have other diverse roles. Although most NRs are directly activated by ligand binding, which induces cascades of events leading to gene transcription, some NRs are also phosphorylated. Despite extensive investigations, primarily focusing on unique phosphorylation of amino acid residues in different NRs, the role of phosphorylation in the biological activity of NRs in vivo has not been firmly established. Recent studies on the phosphorylation of conserved phosphorylation motifs within the DNA- and ligand-binding domains confirmed has indicated the physiologically relevance of NR phosphorylation. This review focuses on estrogen and androgen receptors, and highlights the concept of phosphorylation as a drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sawako Shindo
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1 Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo 204-8588, Japan
| | - Satoru Kakizaki
- Department of Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Takasaki General Medical Center, 36 Takamatsu-cho, Takasaki, Gunma 370-0829, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Sakaki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama 939-0398, Japan
| | - Yuki Kawasaki
- Laboratory of Public Health, Faculty of Pharmacy, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare, 60 Nakaourui-machi, Takasaki, Gunma 370-0033, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Sakuma
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ohu University, Koriyama, Fukushima 963-8611, Japan
| | - Masahiko Negishi
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Ryota Shizu
- Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan.
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10
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Jiang L, Liu X, Liang X, Dai S, Wei H, Guo M, Chen Z, Xiao D, Chen Y. Structural basis of the farnesoid X receptor/retinoid X receptor heterodimer on inverted repeat DNA. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:3149-3157. [PMID: 37287811 PMCID: PMC10242635 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor known as bile acid receptor (BAR). FXR plays critical roles in various biological processes, including metabolism, immune inflammation, liver regeneration and liver carcinogenesis. FXR forms a heterodimer with the retinoid X receptor (RXR) and binds to diverse FXR response elements (FXREs) to exert its various biological functions. However, the mechanism by which the FXR/RXR heterodimer binds the DNA elements remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to use structural, biochemical and bioinformatics analyses to study the mechanism of FXR binding to the typical FXRE, such as the IR1 site, and the heterodimer interactions in the FXR-DBD/RXR-DBD complex. Further biochemical assays showed that RAR, THR and NR4A2 do not form heterodimers with RXR when bound to the IR1 sites, which indicates that IR1 may be a unique binding site for the FXR/RXR heterodimer. Our studies may provide a further understanding of the dimerization specificity of nuclear receptors.
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11
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Yamashita Y, Gohda K, Iguchi Y, Fujimori K, Oda K, Masuda A, Une M, Teno N. Discovery of FXR/PPARγ dual partial agonist. Bioorg Med Chem 2023; 85:117238. [PMID: 37028120 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2023.117238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ are nuclear receptor 1 superfamily of transcription factors. FXR and PPARγ agonists have been individually investigated in clinical trial of anti-diabetic agents in the patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Regarding recent agonist development, the partial agonists for FXR and PPARγ are drawing attention from the standpoint of avoiding overactive responses caused by full agonists. In this article, we report that 18 with a benzimidazole scaffold possesses FXR/PPARγ dual partial agonistic activity. In addition, 18 shares the ability to reduce cyclin-dependent kinase 5-mediated phosphorylation of PPARγ-Ser273 and the metabolic stability in mouse liver microsome assay. To date, there are no published reports on FXR/PPARγ dual partial agonists with biological profiles similar to 18. Thus, the analog would be a feasible candidate as an unprecedented approach to NAFLD associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
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12
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Yu D, Lu Z, Wang R, Xiang Y, Li H, Lu J, Zhang L, Chen H, Li W, Luan X, Chen L. FXR agonists for colorectal and liver cancers, as a stand-alone or in combination therapy. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 212:115570. [PMID: 37119860 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Farnesoid X receptor (FXR, NR1H4) is generally considered as a tumor suppressor of colorectal and liver cancers. The interaction between FXR, bile acids (BAs) and gut microbiota is closely associated with an increased risk of colorectal and liver cancers. Increasing evidence shows that FXR agonists may be potential therapeutic agents for colorectal and liver cancers. However, FXR agonists alone do not produce the desired results due to the complicated pathogenesis and single therapeutic mechanism, which suggests that effective treatments will require a multimodal approach. Based on the principle of improvingefficacy andreducingside effects, combination therapy is currently receiving considerable attention. In this review, colorectal and liver cancers are grouped together to discuss the effects of FXR agonists alone or in combination for combating the two cancers. We hope that this review will provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of novel FXR agonists or combination with FXR agonists against colorectal and liver cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danmei Yu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Zhou Lu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Ruyu Wang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yusen Xiang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Hongtao Li
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jiani Lu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Lijun Zhang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Hongzhuan Chen
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Weihua Li
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xin Luan
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Lili Chen
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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13
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Dube N, Khan SH, Sasse R, Okafor CD. Identification of an Evolutionarily Conserved Allosteric Network in Steroid Receptors. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:571-582. [PMID: 36594606 PMCID: PMC9875803 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Allosteric pathways in proteins describe networks comprising amino acid residues which may facilitate the propagation of signals between distant sites. Through inter-residue interactions, dynamic and conformational changes can be transmitted from the site of perturbation to an allosteric site. While sophisticated computational methods have been developed to characterize such allosteric pathways linking specific sites on proteins, few attempts have been made to apply these approaches toward identifying new allosteric sites. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations and suboptimal path analysis to discover new allosteric networks in steroid receptors with a focus on evolutionarily conserved pathways. Using modern receptors and a reconstructed ancestral receptor, we identify networks connecting several sites to the activation function surface 2 (AF-2), the site of coregulator recruitment. One of these networks is conserved across the entire family, connecting a predicted allosteric site located between helices 9 and 10 of the ligand-binding domain. We investigate the basis of this conserved network as well as the importance of this site, discovering that the site lies in a region of the ligand-binding domain characterized by conserved inter-residue contacts. This study suggests an evolutionarily importance of the helix 9-helix 10 site in steroid receptors and identifies an approach that may be applied to discover previously unknown allosteric sites in proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namita Dube
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania
State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Sabab Hasan Khan
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania
State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Riley Sasse
- Department
of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - C. Denise Okafor
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania
State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
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14
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Interactions governing transcriptional activity of nuclear receptors. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:1941-1952. [DOI: 10.1042/bst20220338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The key players in transcriptional regulation are transcription factors (TFs), proteins that bind specific DNA sequences. Several mechanisms exist to turn TFs ‘on’ and ‘off’, including ligand binding which induces conformational changes within TFs, subsequently influencing multiple inter- and intramolecular interactions to drive transcriptional responses. Nuclear receptors are a specific family of ligand-regulated TFs whose activity relies on interactions with DNA, coregulator proteins and other receptors. These multidomain proteins also undergo interdomain interactions on multiple levels, further modulating transcriptional outputs. Cooperation between these distinct interactions is critical for appropriate transcription and remains an intense area of investigation. In this review, we report and summarize recent findings that continue to advance our mechanistic understanding of how interactions between nuclear receptors and diverse partners influence transcription.
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15
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Rastinejad F. Retinoic acid receptor structures: the journey from single domains to full-length complex. J Mol Endocrinol 2022; 69:T25-T36. [PMID: 36069789 DOI: 10.1530/jme-22-0113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The retinoic acid receptors (RARα, β, and γ) are multi-domain polypeptides that heterodimerize with retinoid X receptors (RXRα, β, and γ) to form functional transcription factors. Understanding the three-dimensional molecular organization of these nuclear receptors (NRs) began with RAR and RXR DNA-binding domains (DBDs), and were followed with studies on isolated ligand-binding domains (LBDs). The more complete picture emerged in 2017 with the multi-domain crystal structure of RXRα-RARβ on its response element with retinoic acid molecules and coactivator segments on both proteins. The analysis of that structure and its complementary studies have clarified the direct communication pathways within RXR-RAR polypeptides, through which DNA binding, protein-ligand, and protein-protein interactions are integrated for overall functional responses. Understanding the molecular connections in the RXR-RAR complex has benefited from direct observations of the multi-domain structures of RXRα-PPARγ, RXRα-LXRβ, HNF-4α homodimer, and androgen receptor homodimer, each bound to its response element. These comprehensive NR structures show unique quaternary architectures, yet all have DBD-DBD, LBD-LBD, and DBD-LBD domain-domain contacts within them. These convergence zones allow signals from discrete domains of their polypeptides to be propagated and integrated across their entire complex, shaping their overall responses in an allosteric fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fraydoon Rastinejad
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Target Discovery Institute (NDM RB), Oxford, UK
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16
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Verma S, Chakraborti S, Singh OP, Pande V, Dixit R, Pandey AV, Pandey KC. Recognition of fold- and function-specific sites in the ligand-binding domain of the thyroid hormone receptor-like family. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:981090. [PMID: 36246927 PMCID: PMC9559826 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.981090] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The thyroid hormone receptor-like (THR-like) family is the largest transcription factors family belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily, which directly binds to DNA and regulates the gene expression and thereby controls various metabolic processes in a ligand-dependent manner. The THR-like family contains receptors THRs, RARs, VDR, PPARs, RORs, Rev-erbs, CAR, PXR, LXRs, and others. THR-like receptors are involved in many aspects of human health, including development, metabolism and homeostasis. Therefore, it is considered an important therapeutic target for various diseases such as osteoporosis, rickets, diabetes, etc. METHODS In this study, we have performed an extensive sequence and structure analysis of the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the THR-like family spanning multiple taxa. We have use different computational tools (information-theoretic measures; relative entropy) to predict the key residues responsible for fold and functional specificity in the LBD of the THR-like family. The MSA of THR-like LBDs was further used as input in conservation studies and phylogenetic clustering studies. RESULTS Phylogenetic analysis of the LBD domain of THR-like proteins resulted in the clustering of eight subfamilies based on their sequence homology. The conservation analysis by relative entropy (RE) revealed that structurally important residues are conserved throughout the LBDs in the THR-like family. The multi-harmony conservation analysis further predicted specificity in determining residues in LBDs of THR-like subfamilies. Finally, fold and functional specificity determining residues (residues critical for ligand, DBD and coregulators binding) were mapped on the three-dimensional structure of thyroid hormone receptor protein. We then compiled a list of natural mutations in THR-like LBDs and mapped them along with fold and function-specific mutations. Some of the mutations were found to have a link with severe diseases like hypothyroidism, rickets, obesity, lipodystrophy, epilepsy, etc. CONCLUSION Our study identifies fold and function-specific residues in THR-like LBDs. We believe that this study will be useful in exploring the role of these residues in the binding of different drugs, ligands, and protein-protein interaction among partner proteins. So this study might be helpful in the rational design of either ligands or receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Verma
- Parasite-Host Biology Group, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Metabolism, University Children’s Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Hormone Research Cluster, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Om P. Singh
- Parasite-Host Biology Group, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Veena Pande
- Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttrakhand, India
| | - Rajnikant Dixit
- Parasite-Host Biology Group, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Amit V. Pandey
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Metabolism, University Children’s Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Hormone Research Cluster, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Kailash C. Pandey, ; Amit V. Pandey,
| | - Kailash C. Pandey
- Parasite-Host Biology Group, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
- *Correspondence: Kailash C. Pandey, ; Amit V. Pandey,
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17
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de Vink PJ, Koops AA, D'Arrigo G, Cruciani G, Spyrakis F, Brunsveld L. Cooperativity as quantification and optimization paradigm for nuclear receptor modulators. Chem Sci 2022; 13:2744-2752. [PMID: 35340861 PMCID: PMC8890100 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc06426f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A cooperativity framework describes the formation of nuclear receptor ternary complexes and deconvolutes ligand and cofactor binding into intrinsic affinities and a cooperativity factor, providing a conceptually new understanding of NR modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pim J. de Vink
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P. O. Box 513, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Auke A. Koops
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P. O. Box 513, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Giulia D'Arrigo
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P. O. Box 513, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, via Giuria 9, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Gabriele Cruciani
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesca Spyrakis
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, via Giuria 9, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Luc Brunsveld
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P. O. Box 513, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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18
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Tan H, Chen Q, Hong H, Benfenati E, Gini GC, Zhang X, Yu H, Shi W. Structures of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Correlate with the Activation of 12 Classic Nuclear Receptors. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:16552-16562. [PMID: 34859678 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can inadvertently interact with 12 classic nuclear receptors (NRs) that disrupt the endocrine system and cause adverse effects. There is no widely accepted understanding about what structural features make thousands of EDCs able to activate different NRs as well as how these structural features exert their functions and induce different outcomes at the cellular level. This paper applies the hierarchical characteristic fragment methodology and high-throughput screening molecular docking to comprehensively explore the structural and functional features of EDCs for the 12 NRs based on more than 7000 chemicals from curated datasets. EDCs share three levels of key fragments. The primary and secondary fragments are associated with the binding of EDCs to four groups of receptors: steroidal nuclear receptors (SNRs, including androgen, estrogen, glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid, and progesterone), retinoic acid receptors, thyroid hormone receptors, and vitamin D receptors. The tertiary fragments determine the activity type by interacting with two key locations in the ligand-binding domains of NRs (N-H5-H3-C and N-H7-H11-C for SNRs and N-H5-H5'-H2'-H3-C and N-H6'-H11-C for non-SNRs). The resulting compiled structural fragments of EDCs together with elucidated compound NR binding modes provide a framework for understanding the interactions between EDCs and NRs, facilitating faster and more accurate screening of EDCs for multiple NRs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyue Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 210023 Nanjing, China
| | - Qinchang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 210023 Nanjing, China
| | - Huixiao Hong
- National Center for Toxicological Research, U. S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road., Jefferson, Arkansas 72079, United States
| | - Emilio Benfenati
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppina C Gini
- Department of Electronics and Information, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 210023 Nanjing, China
| | - Hongxia Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 210023 Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 210023 Nanjing, China
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19
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Lv C, Wei Z, Yue B, Xia N, Huang W, Yue Y, Li Z, Li T, Zhang X, Wang Y. Characterization of diphenyl phthalate as an agonist for estrogen receptor: an in vitro and in silico study. Toxicol Mech Methods 2021; 32:280-287. [PMID: 34697989 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2021.1998276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Phthalate esters (PAEs) are important pollutants in the environment, which can interfere with the endocrine system by mimicking estrogen. However, limited information is available on modulating the estrogen receptor (ER) of five PAEs including di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), diphenyl phthalate (DPhP) and dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP). This study evaluated the agonistic effects of PAEs on human ER. The cytotoxicity assay showed that there were a significant inhibition of the cell proliferation with treatment of five PAEs. Moreover, DPhP does-dependently enhanced ER-mediated transcriptional activity in the reporter gene assay. The increased expression of estrogen-responsive genes (TFF1, CTSD, and GREB1) was also observed in MCF-7 cells treated with DPhP. The result of molecular docking showed that DPhP tended to bind to the agonist conformation of ER compared with the antagonist conformation of ER, demonstrating its agonist characteristic that has been confirmed in the reporter gene assay. Thus, we found that DPhP may be evaluated as an ER agonist in vitro and it can interfere with the normal function of human ER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengyu Lv
- Institute of Agro-Food Technology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Zhengyi Wei
- Institute of Agro-Food Technology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Benjie Yue
- College of Foreign Languages, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Ning Xia
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Institute of Agro-Food Technology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Yulan Yue
- Institute of Agro-Food Technology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Zhuolin Li
- Institute of Agro-Food Technology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Tiezhu Li
- Institute of Agro-Food Technology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Xiuxia Zhang
- Office of Retirement Affairs, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Yongjun Wang
- Institute of Agro-Food Technology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
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20
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Somatic Alterations Impact AR Transcriptional Activity and Efficacy of AR-Targeting Therapies in Prostate Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13163947. [PMID: 34439101 PMCID: PMC8393938 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13163947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary For patients whose prostate cancer spreads beyond the confines of the prostate, treatment options continue to increase. However, we are missing the information that is needed to choose for each patient the best treatment at each step of his cancer progression so we can ensure that maximal remissions and prolonged survival are achieved. In this review, we examine whether a better understanding of how the activity of the target for the default first treatment, the androgen receptor, is regulated in prostate cancer tissues can improve prostate cancer treatment plans. We consider the evidence for variability of androgen receptor activity among patients and examine the molecular basis for this variable action. We summarize clinical evidence supporting that information on a prostate cancer’s genomic composition may inform on its level of androgen receptor action, which may facilitate choice for the most effective first-line therapy and ultimately improve prostate cancer treatment plans overall. Abstract Inhibiting the activity of the ligand-activated transcription factor androgen receptor (AR) is the default first-line treatment for metastatic prostate cancer (CaP). Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) induces remissions, however, their duration varies widely among patients. The reason for this heterogeneity is not known. A better understanding of its molecular basis may improve treatment plans and patient survival. AR’s transcriptional activity is regulated in a context-dependent manner and relies on an interplay between its associated transcriptional regulators, DNA recognition motifs, and ligands. Alterations in one or more of these factors induce shifts in the AR cistrome and transcriptional output. Significant variability in AR activity is seen in both castration-sensitive (CS) and castration-resistant CaP (CRPC). Several AR transcriptional regulators undergo somatic alterations that impact their function in clinical CaPs. Some alterations occur in a significant fraction of cases, resulting in CaP subtypes, while others affect only a few percent of CaPs. Evidence is emerging that these alterations may impact the response to CaP treatments such as ADT, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Here, we review the contribution of recurring somatic alterations on AR cistrome and transcriptional output and the efficacy of CaP treatments and explore strategies to use these insights to improve treatment plans and outcomes for CaP patients.
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21
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Willems S, Zaienne D, Merk D. Targeting Nuclear Receptors in Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation. J Med Chem 2021; 64:9592-9638. [PMID: 34251209 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear receptors, also known as ligand-activated transcription factors, regulate gene expression upon ligand signals and present as attractive therapeutic targets especially in chronic diseases. Despite the therapeutic relevance of some nuclear receptors in various pathologies, their potential in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation is insufficiently established. This perspective gathers preclinical and clinical data for a potential role of individual nuclear receptors as future targets in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis, and concomitantly evaluates the level of medicinal chemistry targeting these proteins. Considerable evidence suggests the high promise of ligand-activated transcription factors to counteract neurodegenerative diseases with a particularly high potential of several orphan nuclear receptors. However, potent tools are lacking for orphan receptors, and limited central nervous system exposure or insufficient selectivity also compromises the suitability of well-studied nuclear receptor ligands for functional studies. Medicinal chemistry efforts are needed to develop dedicated high-quality tool compounds for the therapeutic validation of nuclear receptors in neurodegenerative pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Willems
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Daniel Zaienne
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Daniel Merk
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
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22
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Kilu W, Merk D, Steinhilber D, Proschak E, Heering J. Heterodimer formation with retinoic acid receptor RXRα modulates coactivator recruitment by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor PPARγ. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:100814. [PMID: 34081964 PMCID: PMC8258697 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear receptors (NRs) activate transcription of target genes in response to binding of ligands to their ligand-binding domains (LBDs). Typically, in vitro assays use either gene expression or the recruitment of coactivators to the isolated LBD of the NR of interest to measure NR activation. However, this approach ignores that NRs function as homo- as well as heterodimers and that the LBD harbors the main dimerization interface. Cofactor recruitment is thereby interconnected with oligomerization status as well as ligand occupation of the partnering LBD through allosteric cross talk. Here we present a modular set of homogeneous time-resolved FRET-based assays through which we investigated the activation of PPARγ in response to ligands and the formation of heterodimers with its obligatory partner RXRα. We introduced mutations into the RXRα LBD that prevent coactivator binding but do not interfere with LBD dimerization or ligand binding. This enabled us to specifically detect PPARγ coactivator recruitment to PPARγ:RXRα heterodimers. We found that the RXRα agonist SR11237 destabilized the RXRα homodimer but promoted formation of the PPARγ:RXRα heterodimer, while being inactive on PPARγ itself. Of interest, incorporation of PPARγ into the heterodimer resulted in a substantial gain in affinity for coactivator CBP-1, even in the absence of ligands. Consequently, SR11237 indirectly promoted coactivator binding to PPARγ by shifting the oligomerization preference of RXRα toward PPARγ:RXRα heterodimer formation. These results emphasize that investigation of ligand-dependent NR activation should take NR dimerization into account. We envision these assays as the necessary assay tool kit for investigating NRs that partner with RXRα.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney Kilu
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Daniel Merk
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Dieter Steinhilber
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany; Assay development and screening, Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ewgenij Proschak
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany; Assay development and screening, Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jan Heering
- Assay development and screening, Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Frankfurt, Germany.
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23
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Jiang L, Zhang H, Xiao D, Wei H, Chen Y. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR): Structures and ligands. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:2148-2159. [PMID: 33995909 PMCID: PMC8091178 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a bile acid activated nuclear receptor (BAR) and is mainly expressed in the liver and intestine. Upon ligand binding, FXR regulates key genes involved in the metabolic process of bile acid synthesis, transport and reabsorption and is also involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids. Because of its important functions, FXR is considered as a promising drug target for the therapy of bile acid-related liver diseases. With the approval of obeticholic acid (OCA) as the first small molecule to target FXR, many other small molecules are being evaluated in clinical trials. This review summarizes the structures of FXR, especially its ligand binding domain, and the development of small molecules (including agonists and antagonists) targeting FXR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longying Jiang
- Department of Pathology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Huajun Zhang
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Desheng Xiao
- Department of Pathology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Hudie Wei
- Department of Pathology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Yongheng Chen
- Department of Pathology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
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24
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Kaupang Å, Hansen TV. The PPAR Ω Pocket: Renewed Opportunities for Drug Development. PPAR Res 2020; 2020:9657380. [PMID: 32695150 PMCID: PMC7351019 DOI: 10.1155/2020/9657380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The past decade of PPARγ research has dramatically improved our understanding of the structural and mechanistic bases for the diverging physiological effects of different classes of PPARγ ligands. The discoveries that lie at the heart of these developments have enabled the design of a new class of PPARγ ligands, capable of isolating central therapeutic effects of PPARγ modulation, while displaying markedly lower toxicities than previous generations of PPARγ ligands. This review examines the emerging framework around the design of these ligands and seeks to unite its principles with the development of new classes of ligands for PPARα and PPARβ/δ. The focus is on the relationships between the binding modes of ligands, their influence on PPAR posttranslational modifications, and gene expression patterns. Specifically, we encourage the design and study of ligands that primarily bind to the Ω pockets of PPARα and PPARβ/δ. In support of this development, we highlight already reported ligands that if studied in the context of this new framework may further our understanding of the gene programs regulated by PPARα and PPARβ/δ. Moreover, recently developed pharmacological tools that can be utilized in the search for ligands with new binding modes are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Åsmund Kaupang
- Section for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Trond Vidar Hansen
- Section for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway
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25
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Chen Y, Li J, Wu Z, Liu G, Li H, Tang Y, Li W. Computational Insight into the Allosteric Activation Mechanism of Farnesoid X Receptor. J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:1540-1550. [PMID: 32097559 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.9b00914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a bile acid-sensing transcription factor with indispensable roles in regulating metabolic processes. Nowadays, FXR has become a highly promising drug target for severe liver disorders, especially nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). A recent study showed that imatinib and its analogues were able to allosterically enhance agonist-induced FXR activation and its target gene expression. However, the allosteric modulation mechanism of FXR by these compounds remains unclear. In this work, the most effective imatinib analogue, P16, was used as a probe to explore this issue by computational approaches. Our results identified one potential allosteric site surrounded by residues Ile335, Phe336, Lys338, Glu339, Leu340, and Leu348, which could efficiently accommodate P16. In addition, the long-time molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the binding of P16 could significantly decrease the fluctuation of the co-activator and enhance the communications between the endogenous ligand chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and FXR. By analyzing the residue interaction network, we observed two unique communication pathways connecting P16 and CDCA through three key residues, Arg331, Ser332, and Phe336. The communications of network organization in the P16-bound complex may allow the synergistic effect of the two compounds via robust signal transmission between the binding sites and global network bridges, which coordinate allosteric transitions and modulate the receptor activity. Our study offers insights into the allosteric modulation occurring in FXR and would be helpful for discovery of new allosteric modulators targeting FXR for further clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Junhao Li
- Department of Theoretical Chemistry and Biology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zengrui Wu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Guixia Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Honglin Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yun Tang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Weihua Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
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26
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A phosphorylation-deficient mutant of retinoid X receptor α at Thr 167 alters fasting response and energy metabolism in mice. J Transl Med 2019; 99:1470-1483. [PMID: 31152145 PMCID: PMC6759383 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-019-0266-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 04/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) has a conserved phosphorylation motif at threonine 162 (humans) and threonine 167 (mice) within the DNA-binding domain. Here we have generated RXRα knock-in mice (RxrαT167A) bearing a single mutation of Thr 167 to alanine and examined the roles of Thr 167 in the regulation of energy metabolism within adipose, muscle, and liver tissues. RxrαT167A mice exhibited down-regulation of metabolic pathways converting glucose to fatty acids, such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase in the white adipose tissue (WAT) and ATP citrate lyase in the muscle. They also reduced gene expression for genes related to fatty acid catabolism and triglyceride synthesis in WAT and controlled heat factors such as adrenergic receptor β1 in muscles. In contrast, hepatic gluconeogenic pathways and synthetic pathways related to fatty acids remained unaffected by this mutation. Expression of multiple genes that were affected by the Thr 167 mutation in adipose tissue exhibited clear response to LG100268, a synthetic RXR agonist. Thus, the altered gene expression in mutant mice adipose appeared to be a direct effect of RXRα Thr 167 mutation and by some secondary effect of the mutation. Blood glucose levels remained normal in RxrαT167A during feeding, as observed with RXRα wild-type mice. However, RxrαT167A mice exhibited an attenuated decrease of blood glucose levels that occurred after fasting. This attenuation correlated with a concomitant down-regulation of lipid metabolism in WAT and was associated with RXRα phosphorylation at Thr 167. Thus, Thr 167 enabled RXRα to coordinate these three organs for regulation of energy metabolism and maintenance of glucose homeostasis.
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27
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Schierle S, Merk D. Therapeutic modulation of retinoid X receptors – SAR and therapeutic potential of RXR ligands and recent patents. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2019; 29:605-621. [DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2019.1643322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Schierle
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Daniel Merk
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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28
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Abstract
Nuclear receptors (NRs) are ligand-inducible transcription factors that play an essential role in a multitude of physiological processes as well as diseases, rendering them attractive drug targets. Crystal structures revealed the binding site of NRs to be buried in the core of the protein, with no obvious route for ligands to access this cavity. The process of ligand binding is known to be an often-neglected contributor to the efficacy of drug candidates and is thought to influence the selectivity and specificity of NRs. While experimental methods generally fail to highlight the dynamic processes of ligand access or egress on the atomistic scale, computational methods have provided fundamental insight into the pathways connecting the buried binding pocket to the surrounding environment. Methods based on molecular dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo simulations have been applied to identify pathways and quantify their capability to transport ligands. Here, we systematically review findings of more than 20 years of research in the field, including the applied methodology and controversies. Further, we establish a unified nomenclature to describe the pathways with respect to their location relative to protein secondary structure elements and summarize findings relevant to drug design. Lastly, we discuss the effect of NR interaction partners such as coactivators and corepressors, as well as mutations on the pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Fischer
- Molecular Modeling, Pharmacenter of the University of Basel , University of Basel , Klingelbergstrasse 50 , 4056 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Martin Smieško
- Molecular Modeling, Pharmacenter of the University of Basel , University of Basel , Klingelbergstrasse 50 , 4056 Basel , Switzerland
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29
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Merk D, Sreeramulu S, Kudlinzki D, Saxena K, Linhard V, Gande SL, Hiller F, Lamers C, Nilsson E, Aagaard A, Wissler L, Dekker N, Bamberg K, Schubert-Zsilavecz M, Schwalbe H. Molecular tuning of farnesoid X receptor partial agonism. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2915. [PMID: 31266946 PMCID: PMC6606567 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10853-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The bile acid-sensing transcription factor farnesoid X receptor (FXR) regulates multiple metabolic processes. Modulation of FXR is desired to overcome several metabolic pathologies but pharmacological administration of full FXR agonists has been plagued by mechanism-based side effects. We have developed a modulator that partially activates FXR in vitro and in mice. Here we report the elucidation of the molecular mechanism that drives partial FXR activation by crystallography- and NMR-based structural biology. Natural and synthetic FXR agonists stabilize formation of an extended helix α11 and the α11-α12 loop upon binding. This strengthens a network of hydrogen bonds, repositions helix α12 and enables co-activator recruitment. Partial agonism in contrast is conferred by a kink in helix α11 that destabilizes the α11-α12 loop, a critical determinant for helix α12 orientation. Thereby, the synthetic partial agonist induces conformational states, capable of recruiting both co-repressors and co-activators leading to an equilibrium of co-activator and co-repressor binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Merk
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University, Frankfurt, 60348, Germany.
| | - Sridhar Sreeramulu
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, 60438, Germany
| | - Denis Kudlinzki
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, 60438, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, 69120, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
| | - Krishna Saxena
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, 60438, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, 69120, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
| | - Verena Linhard
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, 60438, Germany
| | - Santosh L Gande
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, 60438, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, 69120, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
| | - Fabian Hiller
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, 60438, Germany
| | - Christina Lamers
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University, Frankfurt, 60348, Germany
| | - Ewa Nilsson
- Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, 43183, Sweden
| | - Anna Aagaard
- Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, 43183, Sweden
| | - Lisa Wissler
- Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, 43183, Sweden
| | - Niek Dekker
- Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, 43183, Sweden
| | - Krister Bamberg
- Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, 43183, Sweden
| | | | - Harald Schwalbe
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, 60438, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, 69120, Germany. .,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, 69120, Germany.
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30
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Strutzenberg TS, Garcia-Ordonez RD, Novick SJ, Park H, Chang MR, Doebellin C, He Y, Patouret R, Kamenecka TM, Griffin PR. HDX-MS reveals structural determinants for RORγ hyperactivation by synthetic agonists. eLife 2019; 8:47172. [PMID: 31172947 PMCID: PMC6579513 DOI: 10.7554/elife.47172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily regulate both physiological and pathophysiological processes ranging from development and metabolism to inflammation and cancer. Synthetic small molecules targeting NRs are often deployed as therapeutics to correct aberrant NR signaling or as chemical probes to explore the role of the receptor in physiology. Nearly half of NRs do not have specific cognate ligands (termed orphan NRs) and it’s unclear if they possess ligand dependent activities. Here we demonstrate that ligand-dependent action of the orphan RORγ can be defined by selectively disrupting putative endogenous—but not synthetic—ligand binding. Furthermore, the characterization of a library of RORγ modulators reveals that structural dynamics of the receptor assessed by HDX-MS correlate with activity in biochemical and cell-based assays. These findings, corroborated with X-ray co-crystallography and site-directed mutagenesis, collectively reveal the structural determinants of RORγ activation, which is critical for designing RORγ agonists for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy S Strutzenberg
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
| | - Ruben D Garcia-Ordonez
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
| | - Scott J Novick
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
| | - HaJeung Park
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
| | - Mi Ra Chang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
| | - Christelle Doebellin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
| | - Yuanjun He
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
| | - Rémi Patouret
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
| | - Theodore M Kamenecka
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
| | - Patrick R Griffin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
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31
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de Almeida NR, Conda-Sheridan M. A review of the molecular design and biological activities of RXR agonists. Med Res Rev 2019; 39:1372-1397. [PMID: 30941786 DOI: 10.1002/med.21578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Revised: 03/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
An attractive approach to combat disease is to target theregulation of cell function. At the heart of this task are nuclear receptors (NRs); which control functions such as gene transcription. Arguably, the key player in this regulatory machinery is the retinoid X receptor (RXR). This NR associates with a third of the NRs found in humans. Scientists have hypothesized that controlling the activity of RXR is an attractive approach to control cellular functions that modulate diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. In this review, we will describe the key features of the RXR, present a historic perspective of the first RXR agonists, and discuss various templates that have been reported to activate RXR with a focus on their molecular structure, biological activity, and limitations. Finally, we will present an outlook of the field and future directions and considerations to synthesize or modulate RXR agonists to make these compounds a clinical reality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin Conda-Sheridan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
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32
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Veras Ribeiro Filho H, Tambones IL, Mariano Gonçalves Dias M, Bernardi Videira N, Bruder M, Amorim Amato A, Migliorini Figueira AC. Modulation of nuclear receptor function: Targeting the protein-DNA interface. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 484:1-14. [PMID: 30703486 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear receptors (NRs) are a superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors that modulate several biological processes. Traditionally, modulation of NRs has been focused on the development of ligands that recognize and bind to the ligand binding domain (LBD), resulting in activation or repression of transcription through the recruitment of coregulators. However, for more severe diseases, such as breast and prostate cancer, the conventional treatment addressing LBD modulation is not always successful, due to tumor resistance. To overcome these challenges and aiming to modulate NR activity by inhibiting the NR-DNA interaction, new studies focus on the development of molecules targeting alternative sites and domains on NRs. Here, we discuss two different approaches for this alternative NR modulation: one targeting the NR DNA binding domain (DBD); and the other targeting the DNA sites recognized by NRs. Our aim is to present the challenges and perspectives for developing specific inhibitors for each purpose, alongside with already reported examples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helder Veras Ribeiro Filho
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biosciences and Technology of Bioactive Products, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Izabella Luisa Tambones
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biosciences and Technology of Bioactive Products, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Marieli Mariano Gonçalves Dias
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil; Graduate Program in Molecular and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Natalia Bernardi Videira
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Marjorie Bruder
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Angélica Amorim Amato
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Migliorini Figueira
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil.
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33
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Ko HL, Zhuo Z, Ren EC. HNF4α Combinatorial Isoform Heterodimers Activate Distinct Gene Targets that Differ from Their Corresponding Homodimers. Cell Rep 2019; 26:2549-2557.e3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.02.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
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34
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The Phosphorylated Estrogen Receptor α (ER) Cistrome Identifies a Subset of Active Enhancers Enriched for Direct ER-DNA Binding and the Transcription Factor GRHL2. Mol Cell Biol 2019; 39:MCB.00417-18. [PMID: 30455249 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00417-18] [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: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Posttranslational modifications are key regulators of protein function, providing cues that can alter protein interactions and cellular location. Phosphorylation of estrogen receptor α (ER) at serine 118 (pS118-ER) occurs in response to multiple stimuli and is involved in modulating ER-dependent gene transcription. While the cistrome of ER is well established, surprisingly little is understood about how phosphorylation impacts ER-DNA binding activity. To define the pS118-ER cistrome, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing was performed on pS118-ER and ER in MCF-7 cells treated with estrogen. pS118-ER occupied a subset of ER binding sites which were associated with an active enhancer mark, acetylated H3K27. Unlike ER, pS118-ER sites were enriched in GRHL2 DNA binding motifs, and estrogen treatment increased GRHL2 recruitment to sites occupied by pS118-ER. Additionally, pS118-ER occupancy sites showed greater enrichment of full-length estrogen response elements relative to ER sites. In an in vitro DNA binding array of genomic binding sites, pS118-ER was more commonly associated with direct DNA binding events than indirect binding events. These results indicate that phosphorylation of ER at serine 118 promotes direct DNA binding at active enhancers and is a distinguishing mark for associated transcription factor complexes on chromatin.
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35
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Wang YJ, Lee SC, Hsu CH, Kuo YH, Yang CC, Lin FJ. Antcins, triterpenoids from Antrodia cinnamomea, as new agonists for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α. J Food Drug Anal 2019; 27:295-304. [PMID: 30648583 PMCID: PMC9298643 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfda.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) is a nuclear hormone receptor that transcriptionally regulates lipid metabolism and inflammation; therefore, PPARα agonists are promising agents to treat dyslipidemia and metabolic disorders. PPARα full agonists, such as fibrates, are effective anti-hypertriglyceride agents, but their use is limited by adverse side effects. Hence, the aim of this study was to identify small molecules that can activate PPARα while minimizing the adverse effects. Antrodia cinnamomea, a rare medical mushroom, has been used widely in Asian countries for the treatment of various diseases, including liver diseases. Antcin B, H and K (antcins) and ergostatrien-3β-ol (EK100) are bioactive compounds isolated from A. cinnamomea with anti-inflammatory actions. Antcins, ergostane-type triterpenoids, contain the polar head with carboxylate group and the sterol-based body. Here, we showed at the first time that sterol-based compounds, antcins, but not EK100, activate PPARα in a cell-based transactivation study. The in silico docking studies presented several significant molecular interactions of antcins, including Tyr314, and His440 in the ligand-binding domain of PPARα, and these interactions are required for helix 12 (H12) stabilization. We propose that PPARα activation activity of antcins is related to their binding mode which requires conventional H12 stabilization, and that antcins can be developed as safe selective PPARα modulators.
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In Silico and In Vitro Considerations of Keratinocyte Nuclear Receptor Protein Structural Order for Improving Experimental Analysis. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 2109:93-111. [PMID: 31124000 DOI: 10.1007/7651_2019_240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear receptors (NR) regulate gene expression critical in keratinocyte replication and differentiation. In addition to a ligand-binding domain, NR like other transcription factor families have a DNA-binding domain that must attain a particular conformation for effective interaction with the three-dimensional structure in promoters of target genes for control of their expression. Such protein-DNA assemblies extend the classic "lock and key" idea typified by protein-protein interactions. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that multi-subdomain transcription factors like NR frequently range along the length of the protein from structured, ordered regions expected for interaction with a preset partner to more flexible, intrinsically disordered regions which are more available for diverse posttranslational modifications and/or interaction with differing partners. The extended amino terminus of NR (the A/B subdomain) is one such intrinsically disordered region. Here we provide a primer on in silico-based recognition of amino acid composition and order associated with such conformational flexibility along with adaptations of readily accessible laboratory techniques (e.g., considerations for recombinant expression, sensitivity to protease and proteasome digestion) to facilitate initial prediction and testing for intrinsic disorder in various proteins of interest to keratinocyte biologists, like NR and other transcription factors.
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37
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Usanov SA, Kliuchenovich AV, Strushkevich NV. Drug design strategies for Cushing's syndrome. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2018; 14:143-151. [PMID: 30572739 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2019.1559146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a metabolic disorder caused by chronic hypercortisolism. CS is associated with cardiovascular, metabolic, skeletal and psychological dysfunctions and can be fatal if left untreated. The first-line treatment for all forms of CS is a surgery. However, medical therapy has to be chosen if surgical resection is not an option or is deemed ineffective. Currently available therapeutics are either not selective and have side effects or are only available as an injection (pasireotide). Areas covered: The authors discuss the recent drug developments for the medical treatment of CS through two validated molecular targets. Specifically, the authors look at selective inhibitors of CYP11B1 that reduce cortisol production by inhibiting steroid 11beta-hydroxylase and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonists that interrupt cortisol-mediating transcriptional regulation of related genes. Expert opinion: Patients with CS have limited treatment options; indeed, there is an unmet need for new compounds that target CYP11B1 selectively versus several steroidogenic enzymes and/or GR-signaling pathways. The complexity of steroid biosynthesis and signaling requires the application of structure-based drug discovery techniques that use molecular targets and highly similar off-targets. Significant differences in steroidogenesis between humans and other species necessitates caution over the choice of in vivo model for the preclinical evaluation of future potential compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Usanov
- a Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the National Academy of Science of Belarus , Minsk , Republic of Belarus
| | - A V Kliuchenovich
- b Target Medicals LLC , Skolkovo Innovation Center (Technopark) , Moscow , Russian Federation
| | - N V Strushkevich
- a Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the National Academy of Science of Belarus , Minsk , Republic of Belarus
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38
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Zhang T, Zhong S, Wang Y, Dong S, Guan T, Hou L, Xing X, Zhang J, Li T. In vitro and in silico perspectives on estrogenicity of tanshinones from Salvia miltiorrhiza. Food Chem 2018; 270:281-286. [PMID: 30174047 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.07.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2018] [Revised: 07/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
This work aims to investigate the structure-activity relationship for binding and activation of human estrogen receptor α ligand binding domain (hERα-LBD) with tanshinones by a combination of in vitro and in silico approaches. The recombinant hERα-LBD was expressed in E. coli strain. The direct binding interactions of tanshinones with hERα-LBD and their ERα agonistic potency were investigated by fluorescence polarization (FP) and reporter gene assays, respectively. FP assay suggested that the tested tanshinones can bind to hERα-LBD as affinity ligands. Tanshinones acted as agonists of hERα as demonstrated by transactivation of estrogen response element (ERE) in transiently transfected MCF-7 cells and by molecular docking of these compounds into the hydrophobic binding pocket of hERα-LBD. Interestingly, comparison of the calculated binding energies versus Connolly solvent-excluded volume and experimental binding affinities showed a good correlation. This work may provide insight into chemical and pharmacological characterization of novel bioactive compounds from Salvia miltiorrhiza.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiehua Zhang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Shuning Zhong
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Yongjun Wang
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Shuyue Dong
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Tianzhu Guan
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Ligang Hou
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130033, China
| | - XiaoJia Xing
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China.
| | - Tiezhu Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China.
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39
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Chandra V, Wu D, Li S, Potluri N, Kim Y, Rastinejad F. The quaternary architecture of RARβ-RXRα heterodimer facilitates domain-domain signal transmission. Nat Commun 2017; 8:868. [PMID: 29021580 PMCID: PMC5636793 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00981-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Assessing the physical connections and allosteric communications in multi-domain nuclear receptor (NR) polypeptides has remained challenging, with few crystal structures available to show their overall structural organizations. Here we report the quaternary architecture of multi-domain retinoic acid receptor β-retinoic X receptor α (RARβ-RXRα) heterodimer bound to DNA, ligands and coactivator peptides, examined through crystallographic, hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, mutagenesis and functional studies. The RARβ ligand-binding domain (LBD) and DNA-binding domain (DBD) are physically connected to foster allosteric signal transmission between them. Direct comparisons among all the multi-domain NRs studied crystallographically to date show significant variations within their quaternary architectures, rather than a common architecture adhering to strict rules. RXR remains flexible and adaptive by maintaining loosely organized domains, while its heterodimerization partners use a surface patch on their LBDs to form domain-domain interactions with DBDs.Nuclear receptors (NR) are multidomain proteins, which makes their crystallization challenging. Here the authors present the crystal structure of the retinoic acid receptor β-retinoic X receptor α (RARβ-RXRα) heterodimer bound to DNA, ligands and coactivator peptides, which shows that NR quaternary architectures are variable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Chandra
- Integrative Metabolism Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Orlando, FL, 32827, USA
| | - Dalei Wu
- Integrative Metabolism Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Orlando, FL, 32827, USA
- Shandong University-Helmholtz Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266237, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Department of Medicine and UCSD DXMS Proteomics Resource, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92023, USA
| | - Nalini Potluri
- Integrative Metabolism Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Orlando, FL, 32827, USA
| | - Youngchang Kim
- Structural Biology Center, Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439, USA
| | - Fraydoon Rastinejad
- Integrative Metabolism Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Orlando, FL, 32827, USA.
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40
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Festuccia N, Owens N, Navarro P. Esrrb, an estrogen-related receptor involved in early development, pluripotency, and reprogramming. FEBS Lett 2017; 592:852-877. [DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Festuccia
- Epigenetics of Stem Cells; Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology; Institut Pasteur; CNRS UMR3738; Paris France
| | - Nick Owens
- Epigenetics of Stem Cells; Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology; Institut Pasteur; CNRS UMR3738; Paris France
| | - Pablo Navarro
- Epigenetics of Stem Cells; Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology; Institut Pasteur; CNRS UMR3738; Paris France
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41
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Signalling assemblies: the odds of symmetry. Biochem Soc Trans 2017; 45:599-611. [PMID: 28620024 DOI: 10.1042/bst20170009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The assembly of proteins into complexes is fundamental to nearly all biological signalling processes. Symmetry is a dominant feature of the structures of experimentally determined protein complexes, observed in the vast majority of homomers and many heteromers. However, some asymmetric structures exist, and asymmetry also often forms transiently, intractable to traditional structure determination methods. Here, we explore the role of protein complex symmetry and asymmetry in cellular signalling, focusing on receptors, transcription factors and transmembrane channels, among other signalling assemblies. We highlight a recurrent tendency for asymmetry to be crucial for signalling function, often being associated with activated states. We conclude with a discussion of how consideration of protein complex symmetry and asymmetry has significant potential implications and applications for pharmacology and human disease.
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42
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Li X, Anderson M, Collin D, Muegge I, Wan J, Brennan D, Kugler S, Terenzio D, Kennedy C, Lin S, Labadia ME, Cook B, Hughes R, Farrow NA. Structural studies unravel the active conformation of apo RORγt nuclear receptor and a common inverse agonism of two diverse classes of RORγt inhibitors. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:11618-11630. [PMID: 28546429 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.789024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The nuclear receptor retinoid acid receptor-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt) is a master regulator of the Th17/IL-17 pathway that plays crucial roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. RORγt has recently emerged as a highly promising target for treatment of a number of autoimmune diseases. Through high-throughput screening, we previously identified several classes of inverse agonists for RORγt. Here, we report the crystal structures for the ligand-binding domain of RORγt in both apo and ligand-bound states. We show that apo RORγt adopts an active conformation capable of recruiting coactivator peptides and present a detailed analysis of the structural determinants that stabilize helix 12 (H12) of RORγt in the active state in the absence of a ligand. The structures of ligand-bound RORγt reveal that binding of the inverse agonists disrupts critical interactions that stabilize H12. This destabilizing effect is supported by ab initio calculations and experimentally by a normalized crystallographic B-factor analysis. Of note, the H12 destabilization in the active state shifts the conformational equilibrium of RORγt toward an inactive state, which underlies the molecular mechanism of action for the inverse agonists reported here. Our findings highlight that nuclear receptor structure and function are dictated by a dynamic conformational equilibrium and that subtle changes in ligand structures can shift this equilibrium in opposite directions, leading to a functional switch from agonists to inverse agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Li
- Departments of Small Molecule Discovery Research, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877-0368.
| | - Marie Anderson
- Departments of Small Molecule Discovery Research, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877-0368
| | - Delphine Collin
- Departments of Small Molecule Discovery Research, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877-0368
| | - Ingo Muegge
- Departments of Small Molecule Discovery Research, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877-0368
| | - John Wan
- Departments of Small Molecule Discovery Research, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877-0368
| | - Debra Brennan
- Departments of Small Molecule Discovery Research, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877-0368
| | - Stanley Kugler
- Departments of Small Molecule Discovery Research, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877-0368
| | - Donna Terenzio
- Departments of Small Molecule Discovery Research, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877-0368
| | - Charles Kennedy
- Departments of Small Molecule Discovery Research, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877-0368
| | - Siqi Lin
- Departments of Small Molecule Discovery Research, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877-0368
| | - Mark E Labadia
- Immunology and Respiratory Diseases, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877-0368
| | - Brian Cook
- Departments of Small Molecule Discovery Research, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877-0368
| | - Robert Hughes
- Departments of Small Molecule Discovery Research, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877-0368
| | - Neil A Farrow
- Departments of Small Molecule Discovery Research, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877-0368
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43
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Malinina L, Patel DJ, Brown RE. How α-Helical Motifs Form Functionally Diverse Lipid-Binding Compartments. Annu Rev Biochem 2017; 86:609-636. [PMID: 28375742 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-061516-044445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Lipids are produced site-specifically in cells and then distributed nonrandomly among membranes via vesicular and nonvesicular trafficking mechanisms. The latter involves soluble amphitropic proteins extracting specific lipids from source membranes to function as molecular solubilizers that envelope their insoluble cargo before transporting it to destination sites. Lipid-binding and lipid transfer structural motifs range from multi-β-strand barrels, to β-sheet cups and baskets covered by α-helical lids, to multi-α-helical bundles and layers. Here, we focus on how α-helical proteins use amphipathic helical layering and bundling to form modular lipid-binding compartments and discuss the functional consequences. Preformed compartments generally rely on intramolecular disulfide bridging to maintain conformation (e.g., albumins, nonspecific lipid transfer proteins, saposins, nematode polyprotein allergens/antigens). Insights into nonpreformed hydrophobic compartments that expand and adapt to accommodate a lipid occupant are few and provided mostly by the three-layer, α-helical ligand-binding domain of nuclear receptors. The simple but elegant and nearly ubiquitous two-layer, α-helical glycolipid transfer protein (GLTP)-fold now further advances understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Malinina
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota 55912; ,
| | - Dinshaw J Patel
- Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065;
| | - Rhoderick E Brown
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota 55912; ,
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44
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Kumar R. Steroid hormone receptors and prostate cancer: role of structural dynamics in therapeutic targeting. Asian J Androl 2017; 18:682-6. [PMID: 27364545 PMCID: PMC5000788 DOI: 10.4103/1008-682x.183380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Steroid hormone receptors (SHRs) act in cell type- and gene-specific manner through interactions with coregulatory proteins to regulate numerous physiological and pathological processes at the level of gene regulation. Binding of steroid receptor modulator (SRM) ligand leads to allosteric changes in SHR to exert positive or negative effects on the expression of target genes. Due, in part, to the fact that current SRMs generally target ligand binding domain (LBD)/AF2 and neglect intrinsically disordered (ID) N-terminal domain (NTD)/AF1, clinically relevant SRMs lack selectivity and are also prone to the development of resistance over time. Therefore, to maximize the efficacy of SHR-based therapeutics, the possibility of developing unique modulators that act to control AF1 activity must be considered. Recent studies targeting androgen receptor's (AR's) ID AF1 domain for the castration-resistant prostate cancer has provided the possibility of therapeutically targeting ID NTD/AF1 surfaces by allosteric modulations to achieve desired effects. In this review article, we discuss how inter- and intra- molecular allosteric regulations controlled by AR's structural flexibility and dynamics particularly the ID NTD/AF1 is an emerging area of investigation, which could be exploited for drug development and therapeutic targeting of prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Kumar
- Department of Basic Sciences, The Commonwealth Medical College, Scranton, PA, USA
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45
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Structure of the homodimeric androgen receptor ligand-binding domain. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14388. [PMID: 28165461 PMCID: PMC5303882 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR) plays a crucial role in normal physiology, development and metabolism as well as in the aetiology and treatment of diverse pathologies such as androgen insensitivity syndromes (AIS), male infertility and prostate cancer (PCa). Here we show that dimerization of AR ligand-binding domain (LBD) is induced by receptor agonists but not by antagonists. The 2.15-Å crystal structure of homodimeric, agonist- and coactivator peptide-bound AR-LBD unveils a 1,000-Å2 large dimerization surface, which harbours over 40 previously unexplained AIS- and PCa-associated point mutations. An AIS mutation in the self-association interface (P767A) disrupts dimer formation in vivo, and has a detrimental effect on the transactivating properties of full-length AR, despite retained hormone-binding capacity. The conservation of essential residues suggests that the unveiled dimerization mechanism might be shared by other nuclear receptors. Our work defines AR-LBD homodimerization as an essential step in the proper functioning of this important transcription factor. The androgen receptor is crucial for the development and physiology of reproductive organs. Here the authors present the structure of the androgen receptor ligand-binding domain bound to dihydrotestosterone, identifying a homodimerization interface that is crucial for receptor activity in vivo.
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46
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Comparing the rules of engagement of androgen and glucocorticoid receptors. Cell Mol Life Sci 2017; 74:2217-2228. [PMID: 28168446 PMCID: PMC5425506 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2467-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Despite the diverse physiological activities of androgens and glucocorticoids, the corresponding receptors are very close members of the nuclear-receptor super family. Their action mechanisms show striking similarities, since both receptors recognize very similar DNA-response elements and recruit the same coactivators to their target genes. The specificity of the responses lies mainly in the tissue-specific expression of the receptors and in their ligand specificity. In cells, where both receptors are expressed, the mechanisms leading to the difference in target genes are less obvious. They lie in part in subtle variations of the DNA-binding sites, in cooperativity with other transcription factors and in differential allosteric signals from the DNA and ligand to other receptor domains. We will highlight the different suggestions that might explain the DNA sequence selectivity and will compare the possible allosteric routes between the response elements and the different functions in the transactivation process. The interplay of androgen and glucocorticoid receptors is also highly relevant in clinical settings, where both receptors are therapeutically targeted. We will discuss the possibility that the glucocorticoid and androgen receptors can play partially redundant roles in castration-resistant prostate cancer.
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47
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SMiLE-seq identifies binding motifs of single and dimeric transcription factors. Nat Methods 2017; 14:316-322. [DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.4143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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48
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Amber-Vitos O, Chaturvedi N, Nachliel E, Gutman M, Tsfadia Y. The effect of regulating molecules on the structure of the PPAR-RXR complex. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2016; 1861:1852-1863. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2016.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Revised: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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49
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Abstract
Nuclear receptors (NRs) are master regulators of broad genetic programs in metazoans. These programs are regulated in part by the small-molecule ligands that bind NRs and modulate their interactions with transcriptional coregulatory factors. X-ray crystallography is now delivering more complete pictures of how the multidomain architectures of NR homo- and heterodimers are physically arranged on their DNA elements and how ligands and coactivator peptides act through these complexes. Complementary studies are also pointing to a variety of novel mechanisms by which NRs access their DNA-response elements within chromatin. Here, we review the new structural advances together with proteomic discoveries that shape our understanding of how NRs form a variety of functional interactions with collaborating factors in chromatin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fraydoon Rastinejad
- Integrative Metabolism Program, SBP Medical Discovery Institute, Orlando, Florida 32827
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50
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Tee WV, Ripen AM, Mohamad SB. The conformational dynamics of H2-H3n and S2-H6 in gating ligand entry into the buried binding cavity of vitamin D receptor. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35937. [PMID: 27786277 PMCID: PMC5081507 DOI: 10.1038/srep35937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Crystal structures of holo vitamin D receptor (VDR) revealed a canonical conformation in which the ligand is entrapped in a hydrophobic cavity buried in the ligand-binding domain (LBD). The mousetrap model postulates that helix 12 is positioned away from the domain to expose the interior cavity. However, the extended form of helix 12 is likely due to artifacts during crystallization. In this study, we set out to investigate conformational dynamics of apo VDR using molecular dynamics simulation on microsecond timescale. Here we show the neighboring backbones of helix 2-helix 3n and beta strand 2-helix 6 of LBD, instead of the helix 12, undergo large-scale motion, possibly gating the entrance of ligand to the ligand binding domain. Docking analysis to the simulated open structure of VDR with the estimated free energy of -37.0 kJ/mol, would emphasise the role of H2-H3n and S2-H6 in facilitating the entrance of calcitriol to the LBD of VDR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Ven Tee
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Adiratna Mat Ripen
- Allergy and Immunology Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Saharuddin Bin Mohamad
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Centre of Research for Computational Sciences and Informatics in Biology, Bioindustry, Environment, Agriculture and Healthcare (CRYSTAL), University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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