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Nguyen T, Kirsch BJ, Asaka R, Nabi K, Quinones A, Tan J, Antonio MJ, Camelo F, Li T, Nguyen S, Hoang G, Nguyen K, Udupa S, Sazeides C, Shen YA, Elgogary A, Reyes J, Zhao L, Kleensang A, Chaichana KL, Hartung T, Betenbaugh MJ, Marie SK, Jung JG, Wang TL, Gabrielson E, Le A. Uncovering the Role of N-Acetyl-Aspartyl-Glutamate as a Glutamate Reservoir in Cancer. Cell Rep 2020; 27:491-501.e6. [PMID: 30970252 PMCID: PMC6472703 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate (NAAG) is a peptide-based neurotransmitter that has been extensively studied in many neurological diseases. In this study, we show a specific role of NAAG in cancer. We found that NAAG is more abundant in higher grade cancers and is a source of glutamate in cancers expressing glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII), the enzyme that hydrolyzes NAAG to glutamate and N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA). Knocking down GCPII expression through genetic alteration or pharmacological inhibition of GCPII results in a reduction of both glutamate concentrations and cancer growth. Moreover, targeting GCPII in combination with glutaminase inhibition accentuates these effects. These findings suggest that NAAG serves as an important reservoir to provide glutamate to cancer cells through GCPII when glutamate production from other sources is limited. Thus, GCPII is a viable target for cancer therapy, either alone or in combination with glutaminase inhibition. Nguyen et al. show that NAAG is more abundant in higher grade cancers and a source of glutamate in cancers expressing GCPII, the enzyme that hydrolyzes NAAG to glutamate and NAA. The results suggest that GCPII is a viable target for cancer therapy, either alone or in combination with glutaminase inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tu Nguyen
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Brian James Kirsch
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Ryoichi Asaka
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Karim Nabi
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Addison Quinones
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jessica Tan
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | | | - Felipe Camelo
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ting Li
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Stephanie Nguyen
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Giang Hoang
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Kiet Nguyen
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Sunag Udupa
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Christos Sazeides
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Yao-An Shen
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Amira Elgogary
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Juvenal Reyes
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Liang Zhao
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Andre Kleensang
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Kaisorn Lee Chaichana
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Thomas Hartung
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Michael J Betenbaugh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Suely K Marie
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jin G Jung
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Tian-Li Wang
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Edward Gabrielson
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Anne Le
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Blank BR, Alayoglu P, Engen W, Choi JK, Berkman CE, Anderson MO. N-substituted glutamyl sulfonamides as inhibitors of glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCP2). Chem Biol Drug Des 2011; 77:241-7. [PMID: 21219587 DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-0285.2011.01085.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCP2) is a membrane-bound cell-surface peptidase which is implicated in several neurological disorders and is also over-expressed in prostate tumor cells. There is a significant interest in the inhibition of GCP2 as a means of neuroprotection, while GCP2 inhibition as a method to treat prostate cancer remains a topic of further investigation. The key zinc-binding functional group of the well-characterized classes of GCP2 inhibitors (phosphonates and phosphoramidates) is tetrahedral and negatively charged at neutral pH, while glutamyl urea class of inhibitors possesses a planar and neutral zinc-binding group. This study introduces a new class of GCP2 inhibitors, N-substituted glutamyl sulfonamides, which possess a neutral tetrahedral zinc-binding motif. A library containing 15 secondary sulfonamides and 4 tertiary (N-methyl) sulfonamides was prepared and evaluated for inhibitory potency against purified GCP2 enzyme activity. While most inhibitors lacked potency at 100 μm, short alkyl sulfonamides exhibited promising low micromolar potency, with the optimal inhibitor in this series being glutamyl N-(propylsulfonamide) (2g). Lastly, molecular docking was used to develop a model to formulate an explanation for the relative inhibitory potencies employed for this class of inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian R Blank
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
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Hlouchová K, Barinka C, Klusák V, Sácha P, Mlcochová P, Majer P, Rulísek L, Konvalinka J. Biochemical characterization of human glutamate carboxypeptidase III. J Neurochem 2007; 101:682-96. [PMID: 17241121 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2006.04341.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Human glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) is a transmembrane metallopeptidase found mainly in the brain, small intestine, and prostate. In the brain, it cleaves N-acetyl-L-aspartyl-glutamate, liberating free glutamate. Inhibition of GCPII has been shown to be neuroprotective in models of stroke and other neurodegenerations. In prostate, it is known as prostate-specific membrane antigen, a cancer marker. Recently, human glutamate carboxypeptidase III (GCPIII), a GCPII homolog with 67% amino acid identity, was cloned. While GCPII is recognized as an important pharmaceutical target, no biochemical study of human GCPIII is available at present. Here, we report the cloning, expression, and characterization of recombinant human GCPIII. We show that GCPIII lacks dipeptidylpeptidase IV-like activity, its activity is dependent on N-glycosylation, and it is effectively inhibited by several known inhibitors of GCPII. In comparison to GCPII, GCPIII has lower N-acetyl-L-aspartyl-glutamate-hydrolyzing activity, different pH and salt concentration dependence, and distinct substrate specificity, indicating that these homologs might play different biological roles. Based on a molecular model, we provide interpretation of the distinct substrate specificity of both enzymes, and examine the amino acid residues responsible for the differences by site-directed mutagenesis. These results may help to design potent and selective inhibitors of both enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klára Hlouchová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
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Zhou J, Neale JH, Pomper MG, Kozikowski AP. NAAG peptidase inhibitors and their potential for diagnosis and therapy. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2005; 4:1015-26. [PMID: 16341066 DOI: 10.1038/nrd1903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Modulation of N-acetyl-L-aspartyl-L-glutamate peptidase activity with small-molecule inhibitors holds promise for a wide variety of diseases that involve glutamatergic transmission, and has implications for the diagnosis and therapy of cancer. This new class of compounds, of which at least one has entered clinical trials and proven to be well tolerated, has demonstrated efficacy in experimental models of pain, schizophrenia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, traumatic brain injury and, when appropriately functionalized, can image prostate cancer. Further investigation of these promising drug candidates will be needed to bring them to the marketplace. The recent publication of the X-ray crystal structure for the enzymatic target of these compounds should facilitate the development of other new agents with enhanced activity that could improve both the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Zhou
- Acenta Discovery, Inc., 9030 South Rita Road, Suite 300, Tucson, Arizona 85747, USA.
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