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Pokrywka K, Grzechowiak M, Sliwiak J, Worsztynowicz P, Loch JI, Ruszkowski M, Gilski M, Jaskolski M. Probing the active site of Class 3 L-asparaginase by mutagenesis. I. Tinkering with the zinc coordination site of ReAV. Front Chem 2024; 12:1381032. [PMID: 38638878 PMCID: PMC11024299 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1381032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
ReAV, the inducible Class-3 L-asparaginase from the nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacterium Rhizobium etli, is an interesting candidate for optimizing its enzymatic potential for antileukemic applications. Since it has no structural similarity to known enzymes with this activity, it may offer completely new ways of approach. Also, as an unrelated protein, it would evade the immunological response elicited by other asparaginases. The crystal structure of ReAV revealed a uniquely assembled protein homodimer with a highly specific C135/K138/C189 zinc binding site in each subunit. It was also shown before that the Zn2+ cation at low and optimal concentration boosts the ReAV activity and improves substrate specificity, which indicates its role in substrate recognition. However, the detailed catalytic mechanism of ReAV is still unknown. In this work, we have applied site-directed mutagenesis coupled with enzymatic assays and X-ray structural analysis to elucidate the role of the residues in the zinc coordination sphere in catalysis. Almost all of the seven ReAV muteins created in this campaign lost the ability to hydrolyze L-asparagine, confirming our predictions about the significance of the selected residues in substrate hydrolysis. We were able to crystallize five of the ReAV mutants and solve their crystal structures, revealing some intriguing changes in the active site area as a result of the mutations. With alanine substitutions of Cys135 or Cys189, the zinc coordination site fell apart and the mutants were unable to bind the Zn2+ cation. Moreover, the absence of Lys138 induced atomic shifts and conformational changes of the neighboring residues from two active-site Ser-Lys tandems. Ser48 from one of the tandems, which is hypothesized to be the catalytic nucleophile, usually changes its hydration pattern in response to the mutations. Taken together, the results provide many useful clues about the catalytic mechanism of the enzyme, allowing one to cautiously postulate a possible enzymatic scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Pokrywka
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Marta Grzechowiak
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Joanna Sliwiak
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | | | - Joanna I. Loch
- Department of Crystal Chemistry and Crystal Physics, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
| | - Milosz Ruszkowski
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Miroslaw Gilski
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
- Department of Crystallography, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Mariusz Jaskolski
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
- Department of Crystallography, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
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Cantallops Vilà P, Ravichandra A, Agirre Lizaso A, Perugorria MJ, Affò S. Heterogeneity, crosstalk, and targeting of cancer-associated fibroblasts in cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatology 2024; 79:941-958. [PMID: 37018128 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) comprises diverse tumors of the biliary tree and is characterized by late diagnosis, short-term survival, and chemoresistance. CCAs are mainly classified according to their anatomical location and include diverse molecular subclasses harboring inter-tumoral and intratumoral heterogeneity. Besides the tumor cell component, CCA is also characterized by a complex and dynamic tumor microenvironment where tumor cells and stromal cells crosstalk in an intricate network of interactions. Cancer-associated fibroblasts, one of the most abundant cell types in the tumor stroma of CCA, are actively involved in cholangiocarcinogenesis by participating in multiple aspects of the disease including extracellular matrix remodeling, immunomodulation, neo-angiogenesis, and metastasis. Despite their overall tumor-promoting role, recent evidence indicates the presence of transcriptional and functional heterogeneous CAF subtypes with tumor-promoting and tumor-restricting properties. To elucidate the complexity and potentials of cancer-associated fibroblasts as therapeutic targets in CCA, this review will discuss the origin of cancer-associated fibroblasts, their heterogeneity, crosstalk, and role during tumorigenesis, providing an overall picture of the present and future perspectives toward cancer-associated fibroblasts targeting CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aashreya Ravichandra
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Aloña Agirre Lizaso
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Maria J Perugorria
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
- CIBERehd, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
| | - Silvia Affò
- August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
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3
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Morilla MJ, Ghosal K, Romero EL. Nanomedicines against Chagas disease: a critical review. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 15:333-349. [PMID: 38590427 PMCID: PMC11000002 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.15.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is the most important endemic parasitosis in South America and represents a great socioeconomic burden for the chronically ill and their families. The only currently available treatment against CD is based on the oral administration of benznidazole, an agent, developed in 1971, of controversial effectiveness on chronically ill patients and toxic to adults. So far, conventional pharmacological approaches have failed to offer more effective and less toxic alternatives to benznidazole. Nanomedicines reduce toxicity and increase the effectiveness of current oncological therapies. Could nanomedicines improve the treatment of the neglected CD? This question will be addressed in this review, first by critically discussing selected reports on the performance of benznidazole and other molecules formulated as nanomedicines in in vitro and in vivo CD models. Taking into consideration the developmental barriers for nanomedicines and the degree of current technical preclinical efforts, a prospect of developing nanomedicines against CD will be provided. Not surprisingly, we conclude that structurally simpler formulations with minimal production cost, such as oral nanocrystals and/or parenteral nano-immunostimulants, have the highest chances of making it to the market to treat CD. Nonetheless, substantive political and economic decisions, key to facing technological challenges, are still required regarding a realistic use of nanomedicines effective against CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Jose Morilla
- Nanomedicine Research and Development Centre (NARD), Science and Technology Department, National University of Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Kajal Ghosal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, 188, Raja Subodh Chandra Mallick Rd., Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India
| | - Eder Lilia Romero
- Nanomedicine Research and Development Centre (NARD), Science and Technology Department, National University of Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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4
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Tsegaye K, Tsehai BA, Getie B. Desirable L-asparaginases for treating cancer and current research trends. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1269282. [PMID: 38591038 PMCID: PMC11001194 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1269282] [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: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Amino acid depletion therapy is a promising approach for cancer treatment. It exploits the differences in the metabolic processes between healthy and cancerous cells. Certain microbial enzymes induce cancer cell apoptosis by removing essential amino acids. L-asparaginase is an enzyme approved by the FDA for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The enzymes currently employed in clinics come from two different sources: Escherichia coli and Erwinia chrysanthemi. Nevertheless, the search for improved enzymes and other sources continues because of several factors, including immunogenicity, in vivo instability, and protease degradation. Before determining whether L-asparaginase is clinically useful, research should consider the Michaelis constant, turnover number, and maximal velocity. The identification of L-asparaginase from microbial sources has been the subject of various studies. The primary goals of this review are to explore the most current approaches used in the search for therapeutically useful L-asparaginases and to establish whether these investigations identified the crucial characteristics of L-asparaginases before declaring their therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kindu Tsegaye
- Department of Industrial Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | | | - Birhan Getie
- Department of Industrial Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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de Lima JY, de Castro Andreassa E, Venturi Biembengut Í, de Arruda Campos Brasil de Souza T. Dissecting dual specificity: Identifying key residues in L-asparaginase for enhanced acute lymphoid leukemia therapy and reduced adverse effects. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 254:127998. [PMID: 37949271 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127998] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
L-asparaginase from Escherichia coli (EcA) has been used for the treatment of acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) since the 1970s. Nevertheless, the enzyme has a second specificity that results in glutaminase breakdown, resulting in depletion from the patient's body, causing severe adverse effects. Despite the huge interest in the use of this enzyme, the exact process of glutamine depletion is still unknown and there is no consensus regarding L-asparagine hydrolysis. Here, we investigate the role of T12, Y25, and T89 in asparaginase and glutaminase activities. We obtained individual clones containing mutations in the T12, Y25 or T89 residues. After the recombinant production of wild-type and mutated EcA, The purified samples were subjected to structural analysis using Nano Differential Scanning Fluorimetry, which revealed that all samples contained thermostable molecules in their active structural conformation, the homotetramer conformation. The quaternary conformation was confirmed by DLS and SEC. The activity enzymatic assay combined with molecular dynamics simulation identified the contribution of T12, Y25, and T89 residues in EcA glutaminase and asparaginase activities. Our results mapped the enzymatic behavior paving the way for the designing of improved EcA enzymes, which is important in the treatment of ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhenifer Yonara de Lima
- Structural and Computational Proteomics Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, FIOCRUZ-PR, Curitiba, PR 80320-290, Brazil.
| | - Emanuella de Castro Andreassa
- Structural and Computational Proteomics Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, FIOCRUZ-PR, Curitiba, PR 80320-290, Brazil
| | - Ísis Venturi Biembengut
- Structural and Computational Proteomics Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, FIOCRUZ-PR, Curitiba, PR 80320-290, Brazil
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Xiao B, Zhang C, Zhou J, Wang S, Meng H, Wu M, Zheng Y, Yu R. Design of SC PEP with enhanced stability against pepsin digestion and increased activity by machine learning and structural parameters modeling. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 250:125933. [PMID: 37482154 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125933] [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: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Prolyl endopeptidases from Sphingomonas capsulata (SC PEP) has attracted much attention as promising oral therapy candidate for celiac sprue, however, its low stability in the gastric environment leads to unsatisfactory clinical results. Therefore, improving its stability against pepsin digestion at low pH is crucial for clinical applications, but challenging. In this study, machine learning and physical parameter model were combined to design SC PEP mutants. After iterations, 20 mutants had higher hydrolysis activity in stomach environment, which was up to 14.1-fold compared with wild-type SC PEP. Mutant M24 involving stable and active mutations and pegylated M24 (M24-PEG) had higher activity of hydrolyzing immunogen in bread than wild-type SC PEP in vitro and in vivo, and residual immunogens in simulated gastric environment were only 1/8 and 1/10 of that in the wild-type SC PEP group. The total residual immunogens in the gastrointestinal tract of mice in the M24 and M24-PEG groups were <20 ppm, reaching the standard of non-toxic food. Our results indicate that the combination of M24 (or M24-PEG) with EP-B2 may be a promising candidate for celiac disease, and the strategies developed in this study provide a paradigm for the design of SC PEP stability mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Xiao
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Chun Zhang
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Junxiu Zhou
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Sa Wang
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Huan Meng
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Miao Wu
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Yongxiang Zheng
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
| | - Rong Yu
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
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Nguyen TN, Do TP, Nguyen TC, Trieu HP, Nguyen TGA, Do TT. Cinchonain Ia Shows Promising Antitumor Effects in Combination with L-Asparaginase-Loaded Nanoliposomes. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15051537. [PMID: 37242779 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15051537] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide, with no effective and safe treatment to date. This study is the first to co-conjugate the natural compound cinchonain Ia, which has promising anti-inflammatory activity, and L-asparaginase (ASNase), which has anticancer potential, to manufacture nanoliposomal particles (CALs). The CAL nanoliposomal complex had a mean size of approximately 118.7 nm, a zeta potential of -47.00 mV, and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.120. ASNase and cinchonain Ia were encapsulated into liposomes with approximately 93.75% and 98.53% efficiency, respectively. The CAL complex presented strong synergistic anticancer potency, with a combination index (CI) < 0.32 in two-dimensional culture and 0.44 in a three-dimensional model, as tested on NTERA-2 cancer stem cells. Importantly, the CAL nanoparticles demonstrated outstanding antiproliferative efficiency on cell growth in NTERA-2 cell spheroids, with greater than 30- and 2.5-fold increases in cytotoxic activity compared to either cinchonain Ia or ASNase liposomes, respectively. CALs also presented extremely enhanced antitumor effects, reaching approximately 62.49% tumor growth inhibition. Tumorized mice under CALs treatment showed a survival rate of 100%, compared to 31.2% in the untreated control group (p < 0.01), after 28 days of the experiment. Thus, CALs may represent an effective material for anticancer drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi Nga Nguyen
- Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
| | - Thi Phuong Do
- Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
| | - Thi Cuc Nguyen
- Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
| | - Ha Phuong Trieu
- Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
| | - Thi Giang An Nguyen
- Faculty of Biology, College of Education, Vinh University, 182 Le Duan St., Vinh City 460000, Vietnam
| | - Thi Thao Do
- Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
- Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Graduate University of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
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Sánchez L, Medina FE, Mendoza F, Febres-Molina C, Jaña GA. Elucidation of the Reaction Mechanism of Cavia porcellus l-Asparaginase: A QM/MM Study. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:270-280. [PMID: 36469738 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The l-asparaginase (l-ASNase) enzyme catalyzes the conversion of the non-essential amino acid l-asparagine into l-aspartic acid and ammonia. Importantly, the l-ASNases are used as a key part of the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); however, despite their benefits, they trigger severe side effects because they have their origin in bacterial species (Escherichia coli and Erwinia chrysanthemi). Therefore, one way to solve these side effects is the use of l-ASNases with characteristics similar to those of bacterial types, but from different sources. In this sense, Cavia porcellus l-ASNase (CpA) of mammalian origin is a promising enzyme because it possesses similarities with bacterial species. In this work, the hydrolysis reaction for C. porcellus l-asparaginase was studied from an atomistic point of view. The QM/MM methodology was employed to describe the reaction, from which it was found that the conversion mechanism of l-asparagine into l-aspartic acid occurs in four steps. It was identified that the nucleophilic attack and release of the ammonia group is the rate-limiting step of the reaction. In this step, the nucleophile (Thr19) attacks the substrate (ASN) leading to the formation of a covalent intermediate and release of the leaving group (ammonia). The calculated energy barrier is 18.9 kcal mol-1, at the M06-2X+D3(0)/6-311+G(2d,2p)//CHARMM36 level of theory, which is in agreement with the kinetic data available in the literature, 15.9 kcal mol-1 (derived from the kcat value of 38.6 s-1). These catalytic aspects will hopefully pave the way toward enhanced forms of CpA. Finally, our work emphasizes that computational calculations may enhance the rational design of mutations to improve the catalytic properties of the CpA enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie Sánchez
- Doctorado en Fisicoquímica Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Andres Bello, República 275, Santiago 8370136, Chile.,Departamento de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Andres Bello, Autopista Concepción-Talcahuano 7100, Talcahuano 4260000, Chile
| | - Fabiola E Medina
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Concepción 4051381, Chile
| | - Fernanda Mendoza
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Andres Bello, Autopista Concepción-Talcahuano 7100, Talcahuano 4260000, Chile.,Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de la Frontera, Av Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco 4780000, Chile
| | - Camilo Febres-Molina
- Doctorado en Fisicoquímica Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Andres Bello, República 275, Santiago 8370136, Chile.,Departamento de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Andres Bello, Autopista Concepción-Talcahuano 7100, Talcahuano 4260000, Chile
| | - Gonzalo A Jaña
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Andres Bello, Autopista Concepción-Talcahuano 7100, Talcahuano 4260000, Chile
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Chen HP, Chen CI, Liu KW, Chen TJ, Tian YF, Kuo YH, Li WS, Tsai HH, Wu LC, Yeh CF, Li CF, Chou CL, Lai HY. High SLC28A2 expression endows an inferior survival for rectal cancer patients managed by neoadjuvant CCRT. Pathol Res Pract 2022; 239:154158. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.154158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Johnson S, Dhamne C, Sankaran H, Gandhi KA, Rane P, Moulik NR, Jadhav SM, Gurjar M, Narula G, Banavali S, Gota V. A prospective, open-label, randomised, parallel design study of 4 generic formulations of intramuscular L-asparaginase in childhood precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2022; 90:445-453. [PMID: 36251032 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-022-04482-8] [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: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AIMS L-asparaginase is an essential medicine for childhood ALL. The quality of generic L-asparaginase available in India is a matter of concern. We compared four commonly used generic formulations of L-asparaginase in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a prospective, open-label, randomised trial of four generic formulations of asparaginase for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed intermediate-risk B-ALL. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to receive generic asparaginase at a dose of at 10,000 IU/m 2 on days 9, 12, 15, and 18 of a 35-day cycle (Induction treatment). The primary end points were to determine the difference in the asparaginase activity and asparagine depletion. Historical patients who received L-asparaginase Medac (innovator) served as controls. RESULTS A total of 48 patients underwent randomization; 12 patients each in the four arms. Failure to achieve predefined activity threshold of 100 IU/L was observed in 9/40 samples of Generic A (22·5%), 23/40 of Generic B (57·5%), and 43/44 (98%) each of Generic C and D. All 27 samples from seven historical patients who were administered Medac had activity > 100 IU/L. The average activity was significantly higher for Genericm A, 154 (70·3, 285·4) IU/L followed by Generic B 84·5(44·2, 289·1) IU/L, Generic C 45(14·4, 58·4) IU/L, and Generic D 20·4(13, 35) IU/L. Only 6 patients had asparaginase activity > 100 IU/L on each of the four occasions (Generic A = 5; Generic B = 1), and none of them developed Anti-Asparaginase Antibodies (AAA). On the other hand, AAA was observed in 12/36 patients who had at least one level < 100 IU/L (P < 0·05): Generic A 3/5, Generic B = 3/9, Generic D (4/11), and Generic C (5/11). CONCLUSION Generic A and B had better trough asparaginase activity compared to Generic D and C. Overall, generic formulations had lower asparaginase activity which raises serious clinical concerns regarding their quality. Until strict regulatory enforcement improves the quality of these generics, dose adaptive approaches coupled with therapeutic drug monitoring need to be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suja Johnson
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, 410210, India
| | - Chetan Dhamne
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Hari Sankaran
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India
| | - Khushboo A Gandhi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, 410210, India
| | - Pallavi Rane
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, 410210, India
| | - Nirmaly Roy Moulik
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, 410210, India
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India
| | - Shraddha Mahesh Jadhav
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, 410210, India
| | - Murari Gurjar
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, 410210, India
| | - Gaurav Narula
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Shripad Banavali
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Vikram Gota
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, 410210, India.
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India.
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11
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Ibrahim M, Ramadan E, Elsadek NE, Emam SE, Shimizu T, Ando H, Ishima Y, Elgarhy OH, Sarhan HA, Hussein AK, Ishida T. Polyethylene glycol (PEG): The nature, immunogenicity, and role in the hypersensitivity of PEGylated products. J Control Release 2022; 351:215-230. [PMID: 36165835 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a versatile polymer that is widely used as an additive in foods and cosmetics, and as a carrier in PEGylated therapeutics. Even though PEG is thought to be less immunogenic, or perhaps even non-immunogenic, with a variety of physicochemical properties, there is mounting evidence that PEG causes immunogenic responses when conjugated with other materials such as proteins and nanocarriers. Under these conditions, PEG with other materials can result in the production of anti-PEG antibodies after administration. The antibodies that are induced seem to have a deleterious impact on the therapeutic efficacy of subsequently administered PEGylated formulations. In addition, hypersensitivity to PEGylated formulations could be a significant barrier to the utility of PEGylated products. Several reports have linked the presence of anti-PEG antibodies to incidences of complement activation-related pseudoallergy (CARPA) following the administration of PEGylated formulations. The use of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, which are composed mainly of PEGylated lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), has recently gained wide acceptance, although many cases of post-vaccination hypersensitivity have been documented. Therefore, our review focuses not only on the importance of PEGs and its great role in improving the therapeutic efficacy of various medications, but also on the hypersensitivity reactions attributed to the use of PEGylated products that include PEG-based mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, 1-78-1 Sho-machi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan; Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, 61519 Minia, Egypt
| | - Eslam Ramadan
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, 1-78-1 Sho-machi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan; Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, 61519 Minia, Egypt
| | - Nehal E Elsadek
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, 1-78-1 Sho-machi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Sherif E Emam
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, 1-78-1 Sho-machi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan; Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | - Taro Shimizu
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, 1-78-1 Sho-machi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Hidenori Ando
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, 1-78-1 Sho-machi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Yu Ishima
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, 1-78-1 Sho-machi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Omar Helmy Elgarhy
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, 61519 Minia, Egypt
| | - Hatem A Sarhan
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, 61519 Minia, Egypt
| | - Amal K Hussein
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, 61519 Minia, Egypt
| | - Tatsuhiro Ishida
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, 1-78-1 Sho-machi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan.
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12
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Raggi C, Taddei ML, Rae C, Braconi C, Marra F. Metabolic reprogramming in cholangiocarcinoma. J Hepatol 2022; 77:849-864. [PMID: 35594992 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.04.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer and allows tumour cells to meet the increased energy demands required for rapid proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Indeed, many tumour cells acquire distinctive metabolic and bioenergetic features that enable them to survive in resource-limited conditions, mainly by harnessing alternative nutrients. Several recent studies have explored the metabolic plasticity of cancer cells with the aim of identifying new druggable targets, while therapeutic strategies to limit the access to nutrients have been successfully applied to the treatment of some tumours. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a highly heterogeneous tumour, is the second most common form of primary liver cancer. It is characterised by resistance to chemotherapy and poor prognosis, with 5-year survival rates of below 20%. Deregulation of metabolic pathways have been described during the onset and progression of CCA. Increased aerobic glycolysis and glutamine anaplerosis provide CCA cells with the ability to generate biosynthetic intermediates. Other metabolic alterations involving carbohydrates, amino acids and lipids have been shown to sustain cancer cell growth and dissemination. In this review, we discuss the complex metabolic rewiring that occurs during CCA development and leads to unique nutrient addiction. The possible role of therapeutic interventions based on metabolic changes is also thoroughly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Raggi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
| | - Maria Letizia Taddei
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Colin Rae
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, The University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Chiara Braconi
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, The University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Fabio Marra
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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13
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Van Trimpont M, Schalk AM, De Visser Y, Nguyen HA, Reunes L, Vandemeulebroecke K, Peeters E, Su Y, Lee H, Lorenzi PL, Chan WK, Mondelaers V, De Moerloose B, Lammens T, Goossens S, Van Vlierberghe P, Lavie A. In vivo stabilization of a less toxic asparaginase variant leads to a durable antitumor response in acute leukemia. Haematologica 2022; 108:409-419. [PMID: 35979719 PMCID: PMC9890011 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2022.281390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2002] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Asparagine is a non-essential amino acid since it can either be taken up via the diet or synthesized by asparagine synthetase. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells do not express asparagine synthetase or express it only minimally, which makes them completely dependent on extracellular asparagine for their growth and survival. This dependency makes ALL cells vulnerable to treatment with L-asparaginase, an enzyme that hydrolyzes asparagine. To date, all clinically approved L-asparaginases have significant L-glutaminase co-activity, associated with non-immune related toxic side effects observed during therapy. Therefore, reduction of L-glutaminase co-activity with concomitant maintenance of its anticancer L-asparaginase effect may effectively improve the tolerability of this unique drug. Previously, we designed a new alternative variant of Erwinia chrysanthemi (ErA; Erwinaze) with decreased L-glutaminase co-activity, while maintaining its L-asparaginase activity, by the introduction of three key mutations around the active site (ErA-TM). However, Erwinaze and our ErA-TM variant have very short half-lives in vivo. Here, we show that the fusion of ErA-TM with an albumin binding domain (ABD)-tag significantly increases its in vivo persistence. In addition, we evaluated the in vivo therapeutic efficacy of ABD-ErA-TM in a B-ALL xenograft model of SUP-B15. Our results show a comparable long-lasting durable antileukemic effect between the standard-of-care pegylated-asparaginase and ABD-ErA-TM L-asparaginase, but with fewer co-glutaminase-related acute side effects. Since the toxic side effects of current L-asparaginases often result in treatment discontinuation in ALL patients, this novel ErA-TM variant with ultra-low L-glutaminase co-activity and long in vivo persistence may have great clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike Van Trimpont
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium,Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium,Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Amanda M. Schalk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yanti De Visser
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium,Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium,Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hien Anh Nguyen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lindy Reunes
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium,Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katrien Vandemeulebroecke
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium,Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium,Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Evelien Peeters
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium,Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ying Su
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hyun Lee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Chicago, IL, USA,Biophysics Core at Research Resources Center, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Philip L. Lorenzi
- Metabolomics Core Facility, Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wai-Kin Chan
- Metabolomics Core Facility, Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Veerle Mondelaers
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium,Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Barbara De Moerloose
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium,Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium,Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tim Lammens
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium,Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium,Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Steven Goossens
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium,Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pieter Van Vlierberghe
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium,Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium,#PVV and AL contributed equally as co-senior authors
| | - Arnon Lavie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA; The Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
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14
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Biswas P, Berry AM, Zawaydeh Q, Bartsch DUG, Raghavendra PB, Hejtmancik JF, Khan NW, Riazuddin SA, Ayyagari R. A Mouse Model with Ablated Asparaginase and Isoaspartyl Peptidase 1 ( Asrgl1) Develops Early Onset Retinal Degeneration (RD) Recapitulating the Human Phenotype. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:1461. [PMID: 36011372 PMCID: PMC9408336 DOI: 10.3390/genes13081461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously identified a homozygous G178R mutation in human ASRGL1 (hASRGL1) through whole-exome analysis responsible for early onset retinal degeneration (RD) in patients with cone-rod dystrophy. The mutant G178R ASRGL1 expressed in Cos-7 cells showed altered localization, while the mutant ASRGL1 in E. coli lacked the autocatalytic activity needed to generate the active protein. To evaluate the effect of impaired ASRGL1 function on the retina in vivo, we generated a mouse model with c.578_579insAGAAA (NM_001083926.2) mutation (Asrgl1mut/mut) through the CRISPR/Cas9 methodology. The expression of ASGRL1 and its asparaginase activity were undetectable in the retina of Asrgl1mut/mut mice. The ophthalmic evaluation of Asrgl1mut/mut mice showed a significant and progressive decrease in scotopic electroretinographic (ERG) response observed at an early age of 3 months followed by a decrease in photopic response around 5 months compared with age-matched wildtype mice. Immunostaining and RT-PCR analyses with rod and cone cell markers revealed a loss of cone outer segments and a significant decrease in the expression of Rhodopsin, Opn1sw, and Opn1mw at 3 months in Asrgl1mut/mut mice compared with age-matched wildtype mice. Importantly, the retinal phenotype of Asrgl1mut/mut mice is consistent with the phenotype observed in patients harboring the G178R mutation in ASRGL1 confirming a critical role of ASRGL1 in the retina and the contribution of ASRGL1 mutations in retinal degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Biswas
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- School of Biotechnology, REVA University, Bengaluru 560064, India
| | - Anne Marie Berry
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Qais Zawaydeh
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Dirk-Uwe G. Bartsch
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Pongali B. Raghavendra
- School of Biotechnology, REVA University, Bengaluru 560064, India
- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani 741251, India
| | | | - Naheed W. Khan
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan Health, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - S. Amer Riazuddin
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 20817, USA
| | - Radha Ayyagari
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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15
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Gregorio JD, Petricca S, Iorio R, Toniato E, Flati V. MITOCHONDRIAL AND METABOLIC ALTERATIONS IN CANCER CELLS. Eur J Cell Biol 2022; 101:151225. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2022.151225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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16
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Pokrovskaya MV, Pokrovsky VS, Aleksandrova SS, Sokolov NN, Zhdanov DD. Molecular Analysis of L-Asparaginases for Clarification of the Mechanism of Action and Optimization of Pharmacological Functions. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14030599. [PMID: 35335974 PMCID: PMC8948990 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14030599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
L-asparaginases (EC 3.5.1.1) are a family of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of L-asparagine to L-aspartic acid and ammonia. These proteins with different biochemical, physicochemical and pharmacological properties are found in many organisms, including bacteria, fungi, algae, plants and mammals. To date, asparaginases from E. coli and Dickeya dadantii (formerly known as Erwinia chrysanthemi) are widely used in hematology for the treatment of lymphoblastic leukemias. However, their medical use is limited by side effects associated with the ability of these enzymes to hydrolyze L-glutamine, as well as the development of immune reactions. To solve these issues, gene-editing methods to introduce amino-acid substitutions of the enzyme are implemented. In this review, we focused on molecular analysis of the mechanism of enzyme action and to optimize the antitumor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina V. Pokrovskaya
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Str. 10/8, 119121 Moscow, Russia; (M.V.P.); (S.S.A.); (N.N.S.)
| | - Vadim S. Pokrovsky
- Department of Biochemistry, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 6, 117198 Moscow, Russia;
- Laboratory of Combined Treatment, N.N. Blokhin Cancer Research Center, Kashirskoe Shosse 24, 115478 Moscow, Russia
- Center of Genetics and Life Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Federal Territory Sirius, Olimpiisky Prospect 1, 354340 Sochi, Russia
| | - Svetlana S. Aleksandrova
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Str. 10/8, 119121 Moscow, Russia; (M.V.P.); (S.S.A.); (N.N.S.)
| | - Nikolay N. Sokolov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Str. 10/8, 119121 Moscow, Russia; (M.V.P.); (S.S.A.); (N.N.S.)
| | - Dmitry D. Zhdanov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Str. 10/8, 119121 Moscow, Russia; (M.V.P.); (S.S.A.); (N.N.S.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 6, 117198 Moscow, Russia;
- Correspondence:
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17
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Shan X, Gong X, Li J, Wen J, Li Y, Zhang Z. Current approaches of nanomedicines in the market and various stage of clinical translation. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:3028-3048. [PMID: 35865096 PMCID: PMC9293719 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
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18
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Fan K, Liu Z, Gao M, Tu K, Xu Q, Zhang Y. Targeting Nutrient Dependency in Cancer Treatment. Front Oncol 2022; 12:820173. [PMID: 35178349 PMCID: PMC8846368 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.820173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is one of the hallmarks of tumor. Growing evidence suggests metabolic changes that support oncogenic progression may cause selective vulnerabilities that can be exploited for cancer treatment. Increasing demands for certain nutrients under genetic determination or environmental challenge enhance dependency of tumor cells on specific nutrient, which could be therapeutically developed through targeting such nutrient dependency. Various nutrients including several amino acids and glucose have been found to induce dependency in genetic alteration- or context-dependent manners. In this review, we discuss the extensively studied nutrient dependency and the biological mechanisms behind such vulnerabilities. Besides, existing applications and strategies to target nutrient dependency in different cancer types, accompanied with remaining challenges to further exploit these metabolic vulnerabilities to improve cancer therapies, are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexin Fan
- The Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhan Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinjiang Second Medical College, Karamay, China
| | - Min Gao
- The Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Kangsheng Tu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qiuran Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.,Research Center of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology for Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yilei Zhang
- The Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
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19
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Mahdi WA, Absar MS, Choi S, Yang VC, Kwon YM. Enhanced control of bioactivity of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) through domain-directed enzymatic oxidation of terminal galactose. BIOIMPACTS : BI 2022; 12:479-486. [PMID: 36644546 PMCID: PMC9809136 DOI: 10.34172/bi.2022.23477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: In targeted enzyme prodrug constructs, it is critical to control the bioactivity of the drug in its prodrug form. The preparation of such constructs often involves conjugation reactions directed to functional groups on amino acid side chains of the protein, which result in random conjugation and incomplete control of bioactivity of a prodrug, which may result in significant nontarget effect. Thus, more specific method of modification is desired. If the drug is a glycoprotein, enzymatic oxidation may offer an alternative approach for therapeutic glycoproteins. Methods: Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a model glycoprotein enzyme, was treated with galactose oxidase (GO) and horseradish peroxidase, followed by thiolation reaction and conjugation with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). The LMWH-tPA conjugate was isolated by ion-exchange chromatography followed by centrifugal filtration. The conjugate was characterized for its fibrinolytic activity and for its plasminogen activation through an indirect amidolytic assay with a plasmin-specific substrate S-2251 when LMWH-tPA conjugate is complexed with protamine-albumin conjugate, followed by triggered activation in the presence of heparin. Results: LMWH-tPA conjugate prepared via enzymatic oxidation retained ~95% of its fibrinolytic activity with respect to native tPA. Upon complexation with protamine-albumin conjugate, the activity of LMWH-tPA was effectively inhibited (~90%) whereas the LMWH-tPA prepared by random thiolation exhibited ~55% inhibition. Addition of heparin fully generated the activities of both conjugates. Conclusion: The tPA was successfully modified via enzymatic oxidation by GO, resulting in enhanced control of its activity in the prodrug construct. This approach can be applied to other therapeutic glycoproteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wael A. Mahdi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad S. Absar
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), School of Pharmacy, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Suna Choi
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), School of Pharmacy, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Victor C. Yang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnosis, School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University Tianjin 300070, China
,University of Michigan, College of Pharmacy, MI 48109-1065, USA
| | - Young M. Kwon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
,Corresponding author: Young M. Kwon, ykwon1nova.edu
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20
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Xu Y, Shi T, Cui X, Yan L, Wang Q, Xu X, Zhao Q, Xu X, Tang QQ, Tang H, Pan D. Asparagine reinforces mTORC1 signaling to boost thermogenesis and glycolysis in adipose tissues. EMBO J 2021; 40:e108069. [PMID: 34704268 PMCID: PMC8672174 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021108069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Brown and beige fat are specialized for energy expenditure by dissipating energy from glucose and fatty acid oxidation as heat. While glucose and fatty acid metabolism have been extensively studied in thermogenic adipose tissues, the involvement of amino acids in regulating adaptive thermogenesis remains little studied. Here, we report that asparagine supplementation in brown and beige adipocytes drastically upregulated the thermogenic transcriptional program and lipogenic gene expression, so that asparagine‐fed mice showed better cold tolerance. In mice with diet‐induced obesity, the asparagine‐fed group was more responsive to β3‐adrenergic receptor agonists, manifesting in blunted body weight gain and improved glucose tolerance. Metabolomics and 13C‐glucose flux analysis revealed that asparagine supplement spurred glycolysis to fuel thermogenesis and lipogenesis in adipocytes. Mechanistically, asparagine stimulated the mTORC1 pathway, which promoted expression of thermogenic genes and key enzymes in glycolysis. These findings show that asparagine bioavailability affects glycolytic and thermogenic activities in adipose tissues, providing a possible nutritional strategy for improving systemic energy homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjiang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ting Shi
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuan Cui
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Linyu Yan
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Human Phenome Institute, Metabonomics and Systems Biology Laboratory at Shanghai International Centre for Molecular Phenomics, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Human Phenome Institute, Metabonomics and Systems Biology Laboratory at Shanghai International Centre for Molecular Phenomics, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingwen Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi-Qun Tang
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huiru Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Human Phenome Institute, Metabonomics and Systems Biology Laboratory at Shanghai International Centre for Molecular Phenomics, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongning Pan
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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21
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El-Shaqanqery HE, Mohamed RH, Sayed AA. Mitochondrial Effects on Seeds of Cancer Survival in Leukemia. Front Oncol 2021; 11:745924. [PMID: 34692527 PMCID: PMC8529120 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.745924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cancer metabolic alteration is considered a hallmark and fast becoming a road for therapeutic intervention. Mitochondria have been regarded as essential cell elements that fuel the metabolic needs of most cancer cell types. Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) are a heterogeneous, highly self-renewing, and pluripotent cell population within leukemic cells. The most important source of ATP and metabolites to fulfill the bioenergetics and biosynthetic needs of most cancer stem cells is the mitochondria. In addition, mitochondria have a core role in autophagy and cell death and are the main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Overall, growing evidence now shows that mitochondrial activities and pathways have changed to adapt with different types of leukemia, thus mitochondrial metabolism could be targeted for blood malignancy therapy. This review focuses on the function of mitochondria in LSC of the different leukemia types.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rania Hassan Mohamed
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed A. Sayed
- Genomics Program, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
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22
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Sharma D, Mishra A. L-asparaginase production in solid-state fermentation using Aspergillus niger: process modeling by artificial neural network approach. Prep Biochem Biotechnol 2021; 52:549-560. [PMID: 34528863 DOI: 10.1080/10826068.2021.1972426] [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
L-asparaginase has proven itself as a potential anti-cancer drug and in the mitigation of acrylamide formation in the food industry. In the present investigation, a novel utilization of niger (Guizotia abyssinica) de-oiled cake as the sole source for the cost-effective production of L-asparaginase was evaluated and compared with different agro-substrates in solid-state fermentation. The substrate provided a favorable C/N content for the L-asparaginase production as evident from the chemical composition (CHNS analysis) of the substrate. The influential process parameters viz; autoclaving time, moisture content, temperature and pH were optimized and modeled using machine-learning based artificial neural network (ANN) and statistical-based response surface methodology (RSM). The maximum enzyme activity of 34.65 ± 2.18 IU/gds was observed at 30.3 min of autoclaving time, 62% moisture content, 30 °C temperature and 6.2 pH in 96 h. A 1.36 fold improvement in enzyme activity was observed on utilizing optimized parameters. In comparison with RSM, the ANN model showed superior prediction with a low mean squared error of 0.072, low root mean squared error of 0.268 and 0.99 value of regression coefficient. The present study demonstrates the novel utilization of inexpensive and readily available agro-industrial waste for the development of cost-effective L-asparaginase production process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepankar Sharma
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, India
| | - Abha Mishra
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, India
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23
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Enzyme Therapy: Current Challenges and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179181. [PMID: 34502086 PMCID: PMC8431097 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, enzymes have risen as promising therapeutic tools for different pathologies, from metabolic deficiencies, such as fibrosis conditions, ocular pathologies or joint problems, to cancer or cardiovascular diseases. Treatments based on the catalytic activity of enzymes are able to convert a wide range of target molecules to restore the correct physiological metabolism. These treatments present several advantages compared to established therapeutic approaches thanks to their affinity and specificity properties. However, enzymes present some challenges, such as short in vivo half-life, lack of targeted action and, in particular, patient immune system reaction against the enzyme. For this reason, it is important to monitor serum immune response during treatment. This can be achieved by conventional techniques (ELISA) but also by new promising tools such as microarrays. These assays have gained popularity due to their high-throughput analysis capacity, their simplicity, and their potential to monitor the immune response of patients during enzyme therapies. In this growing field, research is still ongoing to solve current health problems such as COVID-19. Currently, promising therapeutic alternatives using the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) are being studied to treat COVID-19.
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24
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Schötz S, Reisbeck F, Schmitt AC, Dimde M, Quaas E, Achazi K, Haag R. Tunable Polyglycerol-Based Redox-Responsive Nanogels for Efficient Cytochrome C Delivery. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13081276. [PMID: 34452237 PMCID: PMC8397965 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13081276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The sensitivity of therapeutic proteins is a challenge for their use in biomedical applications, as they are prone to degradation and opsonization, thus limiting their potential. This demands for the development of drug delivery systems shielding proteins and releasing them at the site of action. Here, we describe the synthesis of novel polyglycerol-based redox-responsive nanogels and report on their potential as nanocarrier systems for the delivery of cytochrome C (CC). This system is based on an encapsulation protocol of the therapeutic protein into the polymer network. NGs were formed via inverse nanoprecipitation using inverse electron-demand Diels–Alder cyclizations (iEDDA) between methyl tetrazines and norbornenes. Coprecipitation of CC led to high encapsulation efficiencies. Applying physiological reductive conditions of l-glutathione (GSH) led to degradation of the nanogel network, releasing 80% of the loaded CC within 48 h while maintaining protein functionality. Cytotoxicity measurements revealed high potency of CC-loaded NGs for various cancer cell lines with low IC50 values (up to 30 μg·mL−1), whereas free polymer was well tolerated up to a concentration of 1.50 mg·mL−1. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to monitor internalization of free and CC-loaded NGs and demonstrate the protein cargo’s release into the cytosol.
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25
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Jia R, Wan X, Geng X, Xue D, Xie Z, Chen C. Microbial L-asparaginase for Application in Acrylamide Mitigation from Food: Current Research Status and Future Perspectives. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9081659. [PMID: 34442737 PMCID: PMC8400838 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
L-asparaginase (E.C.3.5.1.1) hydrolyzes L-asparagine to L-aspartic acid and ammonia, which has been widely applied in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Microbes have advantages for L-asparaginase production, and there are several commercially available forms of L-asparaginase, all of which are derived from microbes. Generally, L-asparaginase has an optimum pH range of 5.0-9.0 and an optimum temperature of between 30 and 60 °C. However, the optimum temperature of L-asparaginase from hyperthermophilic archaea is considerable higher (between 85 and 100 °C). The native properties of the enzymes can be enhanced by using immobilization techniques. The stability and recyclability of immobilized enzymes makes them more suitable for food applications. This current work describes the classification, catalytic mechanism, production, purification, and immobilization of microbial L-asparaginase, focusing on its application as an effective reducer of acrylamide in fried potato products, bakery products, and coffee. This highlights the prospects of cost-effective L-asparaginase, thermostable L-asparaginase, and immobilized L-asparaginase as good candidates for food application in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiying Jia
- Institute of Nursing and Health, College of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China; (R.J.); (X.W.)
| | - Xiao Wan
- Institute of Nursing and Health, College of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China; (R.J.); (X.W.)
| | - Xu Geng
- School of Basic Medicine, Henan University, Jinming Avenue, Kaifeng 475004, China;
- Correspondence: (X.G.); (C.C.)
| | - Deming Xue
- School of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China;
| | - Zhenxing Xie
- School of Basic Medicine, Henan University, Jinming Avenue, Kaifeng 475004, China;
| | - Chaoran Chen
- Institute of Nursing and Health, College of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China; (R.J.); (X.W.)
- Correspondence: (X.G.); (C.C.)
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26
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Loch JI, Jaskolski M. Structural and biophysical aspects of l-asparaginases: a growing family with amazing diversity. IUCRJ 2021; 8:514-531. [PMID: 34258001 PMCID: PMC8256714 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252521006011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
l-Asparaginases have remained an intriguing research topic since their discovery ∼120 years ago, especially after their introduction in the 1960s as very efficient antileukemic drugs. In addition to bacterial asparaginases, which are still used to treat childhood leukemia, enzymes of plant and mammalian origin are now also known. They have all been structurally characterized by crystallography, in some cases at outstanding resolution. The structural data have also shed light on the mechanistic details of these deceptively simple enzymes. Yet, despite all this progress, no better therapeutic agents have been found to beat bacterial asparaginases. However, a new option might arise with the discovery of yet another type of asparaginase, those from symbiotic nitrogen-fixing Rhizobia, and with progress in the protein engineering of enzymes with desired properties. This review surveys the field of structural biology of l-asparaginases, focusing on the mechanistic aspects of the well established types and speculating about the potential of the new members of this amazingly diversified family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna I. Loch
- Department of Crystal Chemistry and Crystal Physics, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
| | - Mariusz Jaskolski
- Department of Crystallography, Faculty of Chemistry, A. Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
- Center for Biocrystallographic Research, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
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27
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Martelli AM, Evangelisti C, Paganelli F, Chiarini F, McCubrey JA. GSK-3: a multifaceted player in acute leukemias. Leukemia 2021; 35:1829-1842. [PMID: 33811246 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-021-01243-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) consists of two isoforms (α and β) that were originally linked to glucose metabolism regulation. However, GSK-3 is also involved in several signaling pathways controlling many different key functions in healthy cells. GSK-3 is a unique kinase in that its isoforms are constitutively active, while they are inactivated mainly through phosphorylation at Ser residues by a variety of upstream kinases. In the early 1990s, GSK-3 emerged as a key player in cancer cell pathophysiology. Since active GSK-3 promotes destruction of multiple oncogenic proteins (e.g., β-catenin, c-Myc, Mcl-1) it was considered to be a tumor suppressor. Accordingly, GSK-3 is frequently inactivated in human cancer via aberrant regulation of upstream signaling pathways. More recently, however, it has emerged that GSK-3 isoforms display also oncogenic properties, as they up-regulate pathways critical for neoplastic cell proliferation, survival, and drug-resistance. The regulatory roles of GSK-3 isoforms in cell cycle, apoptosis, DNA repair, tumor metabolism, invasion, and metastasis reflect the therapeutic relevance of these kinases and provide the rationale for combining GSK-3 inhibitors with other targeted drugs. Here, we discuss the multiple and often conflicting roles of GSK-3 isoforms in acute leukemias. We also review the current status of GSK-3 inhibitor development for innovative leukemia therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto M Martelli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Camilla Evangelisti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Paganelli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,CNR Institute of Molecular Genetics "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza" Unit of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Chiarini
- CNR Institute of Molecular Genetics "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza" Unit of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
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28
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Lubkowski J, Wlodawer A. Structural and biochemical properties of L-asparaginase. FEBS J 2021; 288:4183-4209. [PMID: 34060231 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
l-Asparaginase (a hydrolase converting l-asparagine to l-aspartic acid) was the first enzyme to be used in clinical practice as an anticancer agent after its approval in 1978 as a component of a treatment protocol for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Structural and biochemical properties of l-asparaginases have been extensively investigated during the last half-century, providing an accurate structural description of the enzyme isolated from a variety of sources, as well as clarifying the mechanism of its activity. This review provides a critical assessment of the current state of knowledge of primarily structural, but also selected biochemical properties of 'bacterial-type' l-asparaginases from different organisms. The most extensively studied members of this enzyme family are l-asparaginases highly homologous to one of the two enzymes from Escherichia coli (usually referred to as EcAI and EcAII). Members of this enzyme family, although often called bacterial-type l-asparaginases, have been also identified in such divergent organisms as archaea or eukarya. Over 100 structural models of l-asparaginases have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank during the last 30 years. One of the prime achievements of structure-centered approaches was the elucidation of the details of the mechanism of enzymatic action of this unique hydrolase that utilizes a side chain of threonine as the primary nucleophile. The molecular basis of other important properties of these enzymes, such as their substrate specificity, is still being evaluated. Results of structural and mechanistic studies of l-asparaginases are being utilized in efforts to improve the clinical properties of this important anticancer drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacek Lubkowski
- Center for Structural Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Alexander Wlodawer
- Center for Structural Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
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29
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Ardalan N, Akhavan Sepahi A, Khavari-Nejad RA. Development of Escherichia coli asparaginase II for the Treatment of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia: In Silico Reduction of asparaginase II Side Effects by a Novel Mutant (V27F). Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2021; 22:1137-1147. [PMID: 33906306 PMCID: PMC8325130 DOI: 10.31557/apjcp.2021.22.4.1137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a common blood disease in children that is accountable for many deaths. Due to major improvements in treatment procedures in the past 50 years, the survivability of this disease has risen dramatically to about 90 percent today. L-asparaginase (ASNase) has been used to treat ALL. The glutaminase (GLNase) activity of this enzyme causes some side effects and is unnecessary for anticancer activity. This study investigated mutagenesis in Escherichia coli ASNase II to find a mutant with lower GLNase activity via molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Residues with low binding energy to asparagine (Asn) and high binding energy to glutamine (Gln) were chosen for mutagenesis. A mutant with low free binding energy to Gln was then selected for molecular docking and MD studies. The results showed that V27F is a good candidate for reducing GLNase activity and that it has little effect on enzyme ASNase activity. A simulation analysis showed that the V27F mutant was more stable than the WT ASNase and that mutagenesis was quite successful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noeman Ardalan
- Department of Microbiology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Abbas Akhavan Sepahi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, North Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
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30
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Kuo MT, Chen HHW, Feun LG, Savaraj N. Targeting the Proline-Glutamine-Asparagine-Arginine Metabolic Axis in Amino Acid Starvation Cancer Therapy. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14010072. [PMID: 33477430 PMCID: PMC7830038 DOI: 10.3390/ph14010072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Proline, glutamine, asparagine, and arginine are conditionally non-essential amino acids that can be produced in our body. However, they are essential for the growth of highly proliferative cells such as cancers. Many cancers express reduced levels of these amino acids and thus require import from the environment. Meanwhile, the biosynthesis of these amino acids is inter-connected but can be intervened individually through the inhibition of key enzymes of the biosynthesis of these amino acids, resulting in amino acid starvation and cell death. Amino acid starvation strategies have been in various stages of clinical applications. Targeting asparagine using asparaginase has been approved for treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Targeting glutamine and arginine starvations are in various stages of clinical trials, and targeting proline starvation is in preclinical development. The most important obstacle of these therapies is drug resistance, which is mostly due to reactivation of the key enzymes involved in biosynthesis of the targeted amino acids and reprogramming of compensatory survival pathways via transcriptional, epigenetic, and post-translational mechanisms. Here, we review the interactive regulatory mechanisms that control cellular levels of these amino acids for amino acid starvation therapy and how drug resistance is evolved underlying treatment failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macus Tien Kuo
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Helen H. W. Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70428, Taiwan;
| | - Lynn G. Feun
- Department of Medicine, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Niramol Savaraj
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Miami Veterans Affairs Heaithcare System, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
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