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Liu Y, Zhu Y, Xu W, Li P. A phase separation-fortified bi-specific adaptor for conditional tumor killing. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024; 67:1385-1397. [PMID: 38561483 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2490-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
A common approach in therapeutic protein development involves employing synthetic ligands with multivalency, enabling sophisticated control of signal transduction. Leveraging the emerging concept of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and its ability to organize cell surface receptors into functional compartments, we herein have designed modular ligands with phase-separation modalities to engineer programmable interreceptor communications and precise control of signal pathways, thus inducing the rapid, potent, and specific apoptosis of tumor cells. Despite their simplicity, these "triggers", named phase-separated Tumor Killers (hereafter referred to as psTK), are sufficient to yield interreceptor clustering of death receptors (represented by DR5) and tumor-associated receptors, with notable features: LLPS-mediated robust high-order organization, well-choreographed conditional activation, and broad-spectrum capacity to potently induce apoptosis in tumor cells. The development of novel therapeutic proteins with phase-separation modalities showcases the power of spatially reorganizing signal transduction. This approach facilitates the diversification of cell fate and holds promising potential for targeted therapies against challenging tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yuting Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Weifan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Pilong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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Kiang KM, Ahad L, Zhong X, Lu QR. Biomolecular condensates: hubs of Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling in cancer. Trends Cell Biol 2024:S0962-8924(24)00096-5. [PMID: 38806345 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2024.04.009] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates, the membraneless cellular compartments formed by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), represent an important mechanism for physiological and tumorigenic processes. Recent studies have advanced our understanding of how these condensates formed in the cytoplasm or nucleus regulate Hippo signaling, a central player in organogenesis and tumorigenesis. Here, we review recent findings on the dynamic formation and function of biomolecular condensates in regulating the Hippo-yes-associated protein (YAP)/transcription coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) signaling pathway under physiological and pathological processes. We further discuss how the nuclear condensates of YAP- or TAZ-fusion oncoproteins compartmentalize crucial transcriptional co-activators and alter chromatin architecture to promote oncogenic programs. Finally, we highlight key questions regarding how these findings may pave the way for novel therapeutics to target cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karrie M Kiang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - Leena Ahad
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Xiaowen Zhong
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Q Richard Lu
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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3
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Lin CC, Suen KM, Lidster J, Ladbury JE. The emerging role of receptor tyrosine kinase phase separation in cancer. Trends Cell Biol 2024; 34:371-379. [PMID: 37777392 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2023.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-mediated signal transduction is fundamental to cell function and drives important cellular outcomes which, when dysregulated, can lead to malignant tumour growth and metastasis. The initiation of signals from plasma membrane-bound RTKs is subjected to multiple regulatory mechanisms that control downstream effector protein recruitment and function. The high propensity of RTKs to condense via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) into membraneless organelles with downstream effector proteins provides a further fundamental mechanism for signal regulation. Herein we highlight how this phenomenon contributes to cancer signalling and consider the potential impact of LLPS on outcomes for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Chuan Lin
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
| | - Kin Man Suen
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Jessica Lidster
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - John E Ladbury
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
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Gorsheneva NA, Sopova JV, Azarov VV, Grizel AV, Rubel AA. Biomolecular Condensates: Structure, Functions, Methods of Research. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2024; 89:S205-S223. [PMID: 38621751 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297924140116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The term "biomolecular condensates" is used to describe membraneless compartments in eukaryotic cells, accumulating proteins and nucleic acids. Biomolecular condensates are formed as a result of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Often, they demonstrate properties of liquid-like droplets or gel-like aggregates; however, some of them may appear to have a more complex structure and high-order organization. Membraneless microcompartments are involved in diverse processes both in cytoplasm and in nucleus, among them ribosome biogenesis, regulation of gene expression, cell signaling, and stress response. Condensates properties and structure could be highly dynamic and are affected by various internal and external factors, e.g., concentration and interactions of components, solution temperature, pH, osmolarity, etc. In this review, we discuss variety of biomolecular condensates and their functions in live cells, describe their structure variants, highlight domain and primary sequence organization of the constituent proteins and nucleic acids. Finally, we describe current advances in methods that characterize structure, properties, morphology, and dynamics of biomolecular condensates in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia V Sopova
- St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia.
| | | | - Anastasia V Grizel
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
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Liu Y, Zhang W, Jang H, Nussinov R. SHP2 clinical phenotype, cancer, or RASopathies, can be predicted by mutant conformational propensities. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 81:5. [PMID: 38085330 PMCID: PMC11072105 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-05052-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
SHP2 phosphatase promotes full activation of the RTK-dependent Ras/MAPK pathway. Its mutations can drive cancer and RASopathies, a group of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Here we ask how same residue mutations in SHP2 can lead to both cancer and NDD phenotypes, and whether we can predict what the outcome will be. We collected and analyzed mutation data from the literature and cancer databases and performed molecular dynamics simulations of SHP2 mutants. We show that both cancer and Noonan syndrome (NS, a RASopathy) mutations favor catalysis-prone conformations. As to cancer versus RASopathies, we demonstrate that cancer mutations are more likely to accelerate SHP2 activation than the NS mutations at the same genomic loci, in line with NMR data for K-Ras4B more aggressive mutations. The compiled experimental data and dynamic features of SHP2 mutants lead us to propose that different from strong oncogenic mutations, SHP2 activation by NS mutations is less likely to induce a transition of the ensemble from the SHP2 inactive state to the active state. Strong signaling promotes cell proliferation, a hallmark of cancer. Weak, or moderate signals are associated with differentiation. In embryonic neural cells, dysregulated differentiation is connected to NDDs. Our innovative work offers structural guidelines for identifying and correlating mutations with clinical outcomes, and an explanation for why bearers of RASopathy mutations may have a higher probability of cancer. Finally, we propose a drug strategy against SHP2 variants-promoting cancer and RASopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonglan Liu
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Wengang Zhang
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Hyunbum Jang
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Ruth Nussinov
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA.
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Gao XK, Sheng ZK, Lu YH, Sun YT, Rao XS, Shi LJ, Cong XX, Chen X, Wu HB, Huang M, Zheng Q, Guo JS, Jiang LJ, Zheng LL, Zhou YT. VAPB-mediated ER-targeting stabilizes IRS-1 signalosomes to regulate insulin/IGF signaling. Cell Discov 2023; 9:83. [PMID: 37528084 PMCID: PMC10394085 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-023-00576-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The scaffold protein IRS-1 is an essential node in insulin/IGF signaling. It has long been recognized that the stability of IRS-1 is dependent on its endomembrane targeting. However, how IRS-1 targets the intracellular membrane, and what type of intracellular membrane is actually targeted, remains poorly understood. Here, we found that the phase separation-mediated IRS-1 puncta attached to endoplasmic reticulum (ER). VAPB, an ER-anchored protein that mediates tethers between ER and membranes of other organelles, was identified as a direct interacting partner of IRS-1. VAPB mainly binds active IRS-1 because IGF-1 enhanced the VAPB-IRS-1 association and replacing of the nine tyrosine residues of YXXM motifs disrupted the VAPB-IRS-1 association. We further delineated that the Y745 and Y746 residues in the FFAT-like motif of IRS-1 mediated the association with VAPB. Notably, VAPB targeted IRS-1 to the ER and subsequently maintained its stability. Consistently, ablation of VAPB in mice led to downregulation of IRS-1, suppression of insulin signaling, and glucose intolerance. The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-derived VAPB P56S mutant also impaired IRS-1 stability by interfering with the ER-tethering of IRS-1. Our findings thus revealed a previously unappreciated condensate-membrane contact (CMC), by which VAPB stabilizes the membraneless IRS-1 signalosome through targeting it to ER membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu Kui Gao
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- International Institutes of Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China.
- Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Zu Kang Sheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ye Hong Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yu Ting Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xi Sheng Rao
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lin Jing Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiao Xia Cong
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiao Chen
- Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hao Bo Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Man Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of General Intensive Care Unit of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejinag, China
- Key Laboratory of Multiple Organ Failure (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qiang Zheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jian-Sheng Guo
- Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Center of Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liang Jun Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Li Ling Zheng
- Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of General Intensive Care Unit of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejinag, China.
- Key Laboratory of Multiple Organ Failure (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Yi Ting Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Key Laboratory of Multiple Organ Failure (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- ZJU-UoE Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Hyeon B, Lee H, Kim N, Heo WD. Optogenetic dissection of RET signaling reveals robust activation of ERK and enhanced filopodia-like protrusions of regenerating axons. Mol Brain 2023; 16:56. [PMID: 37403137 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-023-01046-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
RET (REarranged during Transfection) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that transduces various external stimuli into biological functions, such as survival and differentiation, in neurons. In the current study, we developed an optogenetic tool for modulating RET signaling, termed optoRET, combining the cytosolic region of human RET with a blue-light-inducible homo-oligomerizing protein. By varying the duration of photoactivation, we were able to dynamically modulate RET signaling. Activation of optoRET recruited Grb2 (growth factor receptor-bound protein 2) and stimulated AKT and ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) in cultured neurons, evoking robust and efficient ERK activation. By locally activating the distal part of the neuron, we were able to retrogradely transduce the AKT and ERK signal to the soma and trigger formation of filopodia-like F-actin structures at stimulated regions through Cdc42 (cell division control 42) activation. Importantly, we successfully modulated RET signaling in dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra in the mouse brain. Collectively, optoRET has the potential to be developed as a future therapeutic intervention, modulating RET downstream signaling with light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bobae Hyeon
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Heeyoung Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Nury Kim
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Do Heo
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea.
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), KAIST Institute for the BioCentury, 291 Daehak-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea.
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