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Jordan KL, Koss DJ, Outeiro TF, Giorgini F. Therapeutic Targeting of Rab GTPases: Relevance for Alzheimer’s Disease. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10051141. [PMID: 35625878 PMCID: PMC9138223 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rab GTPases (Rabs) are small proteins that play crucial roles in vesicle transport and membrane trafficking. Owing to their widespread functions in several steps of vesicle trafficking, Rabs have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several disorders, including cancer, diabetes, and multiple neurodegenerative diseases. As treatments for neurodegenerative conditions are currently rather limited, the identification and validation of novel therapeutic targets, such as Rabs, is of great importance. This review summarises proof-of-concept studies, demonstrating that modulation of Rab GTPases in the context of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can ameliorate disease-related phenotypes, and provides an overview of the current state of the art for the pharmacological targeting of Rabs. Finally, we also discuss the barriers and challenges of therapeutically targeting these small proteins in humans, especially in the context of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate L. Jordan
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK;
| | - David J. Koss
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK; (D.J.K.); (T.F.O.)
| | - Tiago F. Outeiro
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK; (D.J.K.); (T.F.O.)
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Natural Sciences, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Scientific Employee with a Honorary Contract at Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Flaviano Giorgini
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK;
- Correspondence:
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Kilian LS, Voran J, Frank D, Rangrez AY. RhoA: a dubious molecule in cardiac pathophysiology. J Biomed Sci 2021; 28:33. [PMID: 33906663 PMCID: PMC8080415 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-021-00730-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA) is the founding member of Rho GTPase superfamily originally studied in cancer cells where it was found to stimulate cell cycle progression and migration. RhoA acts as a master switch control of actin dynamics essential for maintaining cytoarchitecture of a cell. In the last two decades, however, RhoA has been coined and increasingly investigated as an essential molecule involved in signal transduction and regulation of gene transcription thereby affecting physiological functions such as cell division, survival, proliferation and migration. RhoA has been shown to play an important role in cardiac remodeling and cardiomyopathies; underlying mechanisms are however still poorly understood since the results derived from in vitro and in vivo experiments are still inconclusive. Interestingly its role in the development of cardiomyopathies or heart failure remains largely unclear due to anomalies in the current data available that indicate both cardioprotective and deleterious effects. In this review, we aimed to outline the molecular mechanisms of RhoA activation, to give an overview of its regulators, and the probable mechanisms of signal transduction leading to RhoA activation and induction of downstream effector pathways and corresponding cellular responses in cardiac (patho)physiology. Furthermore, we discuss the existing studies assessing the presented results and shedding light on the often-ambiguous data. Overall, we provide an update of the molecular, physiological and pathological functions of RhoA in the heart and its potential in cardiac therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Sophie Kilian
- Department of Internal Medicine III (Cardiology, Angiology, Intensive Care), University Medical Center Kiel, Rosalind-Franklin Str. 12, 24105, Kiel, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jakob Voran
- Department of Internal Medicine III (Cardiology, Angiology, Intensive Care), University Medical Center Kiel, Rosalind-Franklin Str. 12, 24105, Kiel, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Derk Frank
- Department of Internal Medicine III (Cardiology, Angiology, Intensive Care), University Medical Center Kiel, Rosalind-Franklin Str. 12, 24105, Kiel, Germany. .,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Ashraf Yusuf Rangrez
- Department of Internal Medicine III (Cardiology, Angiology, Intensive Care), University Medical Center Kiel, Rosalind-Franklin Str. 12, 24105, Kiel, Germany. .,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, 24105, Kiel, Germany. .,Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Amin E, Dubey BN, Zhang SC, Gremer L, Dvorsky R, Moll JM, Taha MS, Nagel-Steger L, Piekorz RP, Somlyo AV, Ahmadian MR. Rho-kinase: regulation, (dys)function, and inhibition. Biol Chem 2014; 394:1399-410. [PMID: 23950574 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2013-0181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2013] [Accepted: 08/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
In a variety of normal and pathological cell types, Rho-kinases I and II (ROCKI/II) play a pivotal role in the organization of the nonmuscle and smooth muscle cytoskeleton and adhesion plaques as well as in the regulation of transcription factors. Thus, ROCKI/II activity regulates cellular contraction, motility, morphology, polarity, cell division, and gene expression. Emerging evidence suggests that dysregulation of the Rho-ROCK pathways at different stages is linked to cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases as well as cancer. This review focuses on the current status of understanding the multiple functions of Rho-ROCK signaling pathways and various modes of regulation of Rho-ROCK activity, thereby orchestrating a concerted functional response.
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Leichner GS, Avner R, Harats D, Roitelman J. Metabolically regulated endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase: evidence for requirement of a geranylgeranylated protein. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:32150-61. [PMID: 21778231 PMCID: PMC3173168 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.278036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2011] [Revised: 07/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammalian cells, the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGR), which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the mevalonate pathway, is ubiquitylated and degraded by the 26 S proteasome when mevalonate-derived metabolites accumulate, representing a case of metabolically regulated endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD). Here, we studied which mevalonate-derived metabolites signal for HMGR degradation and the ERAD step(s) in which these metabolites are required. In HMGR-deficient UT-2 cells that stably express HMGal, a chimeric protein between β-galactosidase and the membrane region of HMGR, which is necessary and sufficient for the regulated ERAD, we tested inhibitors specific to different steps in the mevalonate pathway. We found that metabolites downstream of farnesyl pyrophosphate but upstream to lanosterol were highly effective in initiating ubiquitylation, dislocation, and degradation of HMGal. Similar results were observed for endogenous HMGR in cells that express this protein. Ubiquitylation, dislocation, and proteasomal degradation of HMGal were severely hampered when production of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate was inhibited. Importantly, inhibition of protein geranylgeranylation markedly attenuated ubiquitylation and dislocation, implicating for the first time a geranylgeranylated protein(s) in the metabolically regulated ERAD of HMGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gil S. Leichner
- From the Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978 and
- the Bert W. Strassburger Lipid Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel
| | - Rachel Avner
- the Bert W. Strassburger Lipid Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel
| | - Dror Harats
- the Bert W. Strassburger Lipid Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel
| | - Joseph Roitelman
- From the Department of Human Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978 and
- the Bert W. Strassburger Lipid Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel
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DeGraw AJ, Palsuledesai C, Ochocki JD, Dozier JK, Lenevich S, Rashidian M, Distefano MD. Evaluation of alkyne-modified isoprenoids as chemical reporters of protein prenylation. Chem Biol Drug Des 2010; 76:460-71. [PMID: 21040496 DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-0285.2010.01037.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Protein prenyltransferases catalyze the attachment of C15 (farnesyl) and C20 (geranylgeranyl) groups to proteins at specific sequences localized at or near the C-termini of specific proteins. Determination of the specific protein prenyltransferase substrates affected by the inhibition of these enzymes is critical for enhancing knowledge of the mechanism of such potential drugs. Here, we investigate the utility of alkyne-containing isoprenoid analogs for chemical proteomics experiments by showing that these compounds readily penetrate mammalian cells in culture and become incorporated into proteins that are normally prenylated. Derivatization via Cu(I) catalyzed click reaction with a fluorescent azide reagent allows the proteins to be visualized and their relative levels to be analyzed. Simultaneous treatment of cells with these probes and inhibitors of prenylation reveals decreases in the levels of some but not all of the labeled proteins. Two-dimensional electrophoretic separation of these labeled proteins followed by mass spectrometric analysis allowed several labeled proteins to be unambiguously identified. Docking experiments and density functional theory calculations suggest that the substrate specificity of protein farnesyl transferase may vary depending on whether azide- or alkyne-based isoprenoid analogs is employed. These results demonstrate the utility of alkyne-containing analogs for chemical proteomic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J DeGraw
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Abstract
The development and spread of breast and other human cancers are caused by the overexpression, mutation, and/or deletion of specific genes that drive these events. Finding genetic and molecular differences between cancerous and healthy cells can reveal the genetic determinants of cancer. This knowledge results in a better understanding of the carcinogenic process and improved predictive power, with implications for identifying new drug targets, designing novel therapies, and improving preclinical and clinical studies. We review the concepts of biomarker, genetic marker, and genetic determinant in cancer, with particular focus on the most aggressive and lethal form of breast cancer, termed inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Using IBC as an example, we describe in detail the approaches to identify the genes that are responsible for-and not merely associated with-this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra C Ventura
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0948, USA
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Abstract
The RAS oncogenes were identified almost 20 years ago. Since then, we have learnt that they are members of a large family of small GTPases that bind GTP and hydrolyse it to GDP. This is then exchanged for GTP and the cycle is repeated. The switching between these two states regulates a wide range of cellular processes. A branch of the RAS family--the RHO proteins--is also involved in cancer, but what is the role of these proteins and would they make good therapeutic targets?
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Sahai
- Institute of Cancer Research, 237 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JB, UK.
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