1
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Long MJC, Aye Y. Climbing into their Skin to Understand Contextual Protein-Protein Associations and Localizations: Functional Investigations in Transgenic Live Model Organisms. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400005. [PMID: 38511872 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Borrowing some quotes from Harper Lee's novel "To Kill A Mockingbird" to help frame our manuscript, we discuss methods to profile local proteomes. We initially focus on chemical biology regimens that function in live organisms and use reactive biotin species for this purpose. We then consider ways to add new dimensions to these experimental regimens, principally by releasing less reactive (i. e., more selective) (preter)natural electrophiles. Although electrophile release methods may have lower resolution and label fewer proteins than biotinylation methods, their ability to probe simultaneously protein function and locale raises new and interesting possibilities for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yimon Aye
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
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2
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Van Hall-Beauvais A, Poganik JR, Huang KT, Parvez S, Zhao Y, Lin HY, Liu X, Long MJC, Aye Y. Z-REX uncovers a bifurcation in function of Keap1 paralogs. eLife 2022; 11:e83373. [PMID: 36300632 PMCID: PMC9754640 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying electrophile signaling is marred by difficulties in parsing changes in pathway flux attributable to on-target, vis-à-vis off-target, modifications. By combining bolus dosing, knockdown, and Z-REX-a tool investigating on-target/on-pathway electrophile signaling, we document that electrophile labeling of one zebrafish-Keap1-paralog (zKeap1b) stimulates Nrf2- driven antioxidant response (AR) signaling (like the human-ortholog). Conversely, zKeap1a is a dominant-negative regulator of electrophile-promoted Nrf2-signaling, and itself is nonpermissive for electrophile-induced Nrf2-upregulation. This behavior is recapitulated in human cells: (1) zKeap1b-expressing cells are permissive for augmented AR-signaling through reduced zKeap1b-Nrf2 binding following whole-cell electrophile treatment; (2) zKeap1a-expressing cells are non-permissive for AR-upregulation, as zKeap1a-Nrf2 binding capacity remains unaltered upon whole-cell electrophile exposure; (3) 1:1 ZKeap1a:zKeap1b-co-expressing cells show no Nrf2-release from the Keap1-complex following whole-cell electrophile administration, rendering these cells unable to upregulate AR. We identified a zKeap1a-specific point-mutation (C273I) responsible for zKeap1a's behavior during electrophilic stress. Human-Keap1(C273I), of known diminished Nrf2-regulatory capacity, dominantly muted electrophile-induced Nrf2-signaling. These studies highlight divergent and interdependent electrophile signaling behaviors, despite conserved electrophile sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jesse R Poganik
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Kuan-Ting Huang
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Saba Parvez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Yi Zhao
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- BayRay Innovation Center, Shenzhen Bay LaboratoryShenzhenChina
| | - Hong-Yu Lin
- Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Xuyu Liu
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- School of Chemistry, The University of SydneySydneyAustralia
- The Heart Research Institute, NewtownNewtownAustralia
| | - Marcus John Curtis Long
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Yimon Aye
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
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3
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Long MJC, Miranda Herrera PA, Aye Y. Hitting the Bullseye: Endogenous Electrophiles Show Remarkable Nuance in Signaling Regulation. Chem Res Toxicol 2022; 35:1636-1648. [PMID: 35394758 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.2c00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Our bodies produce a host of electrophilic species that can label specific endogenous proteins in cells. The signaling roles of these molecules are under active debate. However, in our opinion, it is becoming increasingly likely that electrophiles can rewire cellular signaling processes at endogenous levels. Attention is turning more to understanding how nuanced electrophile signaling in cells is. In this Perspective, we describe recent work from our laboratory that has started to inform on different levels of context-specific regulation of proteins by electrophiles. We discuss the relevance of these data to the field and to the broader application of electrophile signaling to precision medicine development, beyond the traditional views of their pleiotropic cytotoxic roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus J C Long
- National Centre of Competence in Research Chemical Biology, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Pierre A Miranda Herrera
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.,National Centre of Competence in Research Chemical Biology, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yimon Aye
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.,National Centre of Competence in Research Chemical Biology, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
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4
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Long MJC, Ly P, Aye Y. A primer on harnessing non-enzymatic post-translational modifications for drug design. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:1797-1807. [PMID: 34825181 PMCID: PMC8597429 DOI: 10.1039/d1md00157d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Of the manifold concepts in drug discovery and design, covalent drugs have re-emerged as one of the most promising over the past 20-or so years. All such drugs harness the ability of a covalent bond to drive an interaction between a target biomolecule, typically a protein, and a small molecule. Formation of a covalent bond necessarily prolongs target engagement, opening avenues to targeting shallower binding sites, protein complexes, and other difficult to drug manifolds, amongst other virtues. This opinion piece discusses frameworks around which to develop covalent drugs. Our argument, based on results from our research program on natural electrophile signaling, is that targeting specific residues innately involved in native signaling programs are ideally poised to be targeted by covalent drugs. We outline ways to identify electrophile-sensing residues, and discuss how studying ramifications of innate signaling by endogenous molecules can provide a means to predict drug mechanism and function and assess on- versus off-target behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Phillippe Ly
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Yimon Aye
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
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5
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Long MJC, Rogg C, Aye Y. An Oculus to Profile and Probe Target Engagement In Vivo: How T-REX Was Born and Its Evolution into G-REX. Acc Chem Res 2021; 54:618-631. [PMID: 33228351 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.0c00537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Here we provide a personal account of innovation and design principles underpinning a method to interrogate precision electrophile signaling that has come to be known as "REX technologies". This Account is framed in the context of trying to improve methods of target mining and understanding of individual target-ligand engagement by a specific natural electrophile and the ramifications of this labeling event in cells and organisms. We start by explaining from a practical standpoint why gleaning such understanding is critical: we are constantly assailed by a battery of electrophilic molecules that exist as a consequence of diet, food preparation, ineluctable endogenous metabolic processes, and potentially disease. The resulting molecules, which are detectable in the body, appear to be able to modify function of specific proteins. Aside from potentially being biologically relevant in their own right, these labeling events are essentially identical to protein-covalent drug interactions. Thus, on what proteins and even in what ways a covalent drug will work can be understood through the eyes of natural electrophiles; extending this logic leads to the postulate that target identification of specific electrophiles can inform on drug design. However, when we entered this field, there was no way to interrogate how a specific labeling event impacted a specific protein in an unperturbed cell. Methods to evaluate stoichiometry of labeling, and even chemospecificity of a specific phenotype were limited. There were further no generally accepted ways to study electrophile signaling that did not hugely disturb physiology.We developed T-REX, a method to study single-protein-specific electrophile engagement, to interrogate how single-protein electrophile labeling shapes pathway flux. Using T-REX, we discovered that labeling of several proteins by a specific electrophile, even at low occupancy, leads to biologically relevant signaling outputs. Further experimentation using T-REX showed that in some instances, single-protein isoforms were electrophile responsive against other isoforms, such as Akt3. Selective electrophile-labeling of Akt3 elicited inhibition of Akt-pathway flux in cells and in zebrafish embryos. Using these data, we rationally designed a molecule to selectively target Akt3. This was a fusion of the naturally derived electrophile and an isoform-nonspecific, reversible Akt inhibitor in phase-II trials, MK-2206. The resulting molecule was a selective inhibitor of Akt3 and was shown to fare better than MK-2206 in breast cancer xenograft mouse models. Recently, we have also developed a means to screen electrophile sensors that is unbiased and uses a precise burst of electrophiles. Using this method, dubbed G-REX, in conjunction with T-REX, we discovered new DNA-damage response upregulation pathways orchestrated by simple natural electrophiles. We thus emphasize how deriving a quantitative understanding of electrophile signaling that is linked to thorough and precise mechanistic studies can open doors to numerous medicinally and biologically relevant insights, from gleaning better understanding of target engagement and target mining to rational design of targeted covalent medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus J. C. Long
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Geneva, 30 quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Chloé Rogg
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Route Cantonale, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yimon Aye
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Route Cantonale, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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6
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Long MJC, Wang L, Aye Y. Getting the Right Grip? How Understanding Electrophile Selectivity Profiles Could Illuminate Our Understanding of Redox Signaling. Antioxid Redox Signal 2020; 33:1077-1091. [PMID: 31578876 PMCID: PMC7583342 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2019.7894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Significance: Electrophile signaling is coming into focus as a bona fide cell signaling mechanism. The electrophilic regulation occurs typically through a sensing event (i.e., labeling of a protein) and a signaling event (the labeling event having an effect of the proteins activity, association, etc.). Recent Advances: Herein, we focus on the first step of this process, electrophile sensing. Electrophile sensing is typically a deceptively simple reaction between the thiol of a protein cysteine, of which there are around 200,000 in the human proteome, and a Michael acceptor, of which there are numerous flavors, including enals and enones. Recent data overall paint a picture that despite being a simple chemical reaction, electrophile sensing is a discerning process, showing labeling preferences that are often not in line with reactivity of the electrophile. Critical Issues: With a view to trying to decide what brings about highly electrophile-reactive protein cysteines, and how reactive these sensors may be, we discuss aspects of the thermodynamics and kinetics of covalent/noncovalent binding. Data made available by several laboratories indicate that it is likely that specific proteins exhibit highly stereo- and chemoselective electrophile sensing, which we take as good evidence for recognition between the electrophile and the protein before forming a covalent bond. Future Directions: We propose experiments that could help us gain a better and more quantitative understanding of the mechanisms through which sensing comes about. We further extoll the importance of performing more detailed experiments on labeling and trying to standardize the way we assess protein-specific electrophile sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus J C Long
- 47 Pudding Gate, Bishop Burton, Beverley East Riding of Yorkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Lingxi Wang
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yimon Aye
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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7
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Long MJ, Liu X, Aye Y. Genie in a bottle: controlled release helps tame natural polypharmacology? Curr Opin Chem Biol 2019; 51:48-56. [PMID: 30913473 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Ability to faithfully report drug-target interactions constitutes a major critical parameter in preclinical/clinical settings. Yet the assessment of target engagement remains challenging, particularly for promiscuous and/or polypharmacologic ligands. Drawing from our improved insights into native electrophile signaling and emerging technologies that profile and interrogate these non-enzyme-assisted signaling subsystems, we posit that 'trained' polypharmocologic covalent inhibitors can be designed. Accumulating evidence indicates that electrophile-modified states at fractional occupancy can alter cell fate. Thus, by understanding sensing preferences and ligandable regions favored by the natural electrophilic signals at individual protein-ligand resolution, we can better evaluate target engagement and develop a function-guided understanding of polypharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Jc Long
- 47 Pudding Gate, Bishop Burton, Beverley East Riding of Yorkshire, HU17 8QH, UK
| | - Xuyu Liu
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yimon Aye
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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8
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Long MJC, Liu X, Aye Y. Chemical Biology Gateways to Mapping Location, Association, and Pathway Responsivity. Front Chem 2019; 7:125. [PMID: 30949469 PMCID: PMC6437114 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2019.00125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we discuss, how by applying chemical concepts to biological problems, methods have been developed to map spatiotemporal regulation of proteins and small-molecule modulation of proteome signaling responses. We outline why chemical-biology platforms are ideal for such purposes. We further discuss strengths and weaknesses of chemical-biology protocols, contrasting them against classical genetic and biochemical approaches. We make these evaluations based on three parameters: occupancy; functional information; and spatial restriction. We demonstrate how the specific choice of chemical reagent and experimental set-up unite to resolve biological problems. Potential improvements/extensions as well as specific controls that in our opinion are often overlooked or employed incorrectly are also considered. Finally, we discuss some of the latest emerging methods to illuminate how chemical-biology innovations provide a gateway toward information hitherto inaccessible by conventional genetic/biochemical means. Finally, we also caution against solely relying on chemical-biology strategies and urge the field to undertake orthogonal validations to ensure robustness of results.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xuyu Liu
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yimon Aye
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Lausanne, Switzerland
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9
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Long MJC, Urul DA, Aye Y. REX technologies for profiling and decoding the electrophile signaling axes mediated by Rosetta Stone proteins. Methods Enzymol 2019; 633:203-230. [PMID: 32046846 PMCID: PMC7027669 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2019.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
It is now clear that some cysteines on some proteins are highly tuned to react with electrophiles. Based on numerous studies, it is also established that electrophile sensing underpins rewiring of several critical signaling processes. These electrophile-sensing proteins, or privileged first responders (PFRs), are likely critically relevant for drug design. However, identifying PFRs remains a challenging and unsolved problem, despite the development of several high-throughput methods to ID proteins that react with electrophiles. More importantly, we remain unable to rank how different PFRs identified under different conditions relate to one another, in terms of sensing or signaling capacity. Here we evaluate different methods to assay sensing functions of proteins and discuss these methods in the context of developing a "ranking scheme." Based on theoretical and experimental evidence, we propose that T-REX-the only targeted-electrophile delivery tool presently available-is a reliable method to rank PFRs. Finally, we address to what extent electrophile sensing and downstream signaling are correlated. Based on our current data, we observe that such behaviors are indeed correlated. It is our hope that through this manuscript researchers from various arms of the stress signaling fields will focus on developing a quantitative understanding of precision electrophile labeling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel A Urul
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Yimon Aye
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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10
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Poganik JR, Long MJC, Aye Y. Interrogating Precision Electrophile Signaling. Trends Biochem Sci 2019; 44:380-381. [PMID: 30765181 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2019.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the targets and signaling roles of reactive electrophilic species (RES) at a specific cellular space and time has long been hampered by the reliance of the field on the bulk administration of excess RES from outside of cells and/or animals. Uncontrolled bolus methods provide limited understanding of target engagement for these individual nonenzymatic RES-modification events. REX technologies [targetable reactive electrophiles and oxidants (T-REX) and its genome-wide variant (G-REX)] were developed as a gateway to address these limitations. These protocols offer a new ability to both profile kinetically privileged sensors (KPSs) of RES at a systems level (G-REX™ profiling) and monitor signaling responses at the sensor protein-of-interest (POI)-specific level (T-REX™ delivery) with high spatiotemporal resolution. REX technologies are compatible with several model systems and are built on a HaloTag-targetable small-molecule photocaged precursor to a native RES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse R Poganik
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | | | - Yimon Aye
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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11
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Proteomics and Beyond: Cell Decision-Making Shaped by Reactive Electrophiles. Trends Biochem Sci 2018; 44:75-89. [PMID: 30327250 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2018.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Revolutionary proteomic strategies have enabled rapid profiling of the cellular targets of electrophilic small molecules. However, precise means to directly interrogate how these individual electrophilic modifications at low occupancy functionally reshape signaling networks have until recently been largely limited. We highlight here new methods that transcend proteomic platforms to forge a quantitative link between protein target-selective engagement and downstream signaling. We focus on recent progress in the study of non-enzyme-assisted signaling mechanisms and crosstalk choreographed by native reactive electrophilic species (RES). Using this as a model, we offer a long-term vision of how these toolsets together with fundamental biochemical knowledge of precision electrophile signaling may be harnessed to assist covalent ligand-target matching and ultimately amend disease-specific signaling dysfunction.
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12
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Abstract
The concept of cell signaling in the context of nonenzyme-assisted protein modifications by reactive electrophilic and oxidative species, broadly known as redox signaling, is a uniquely complex topic that has been approached from numerous different and multidisciplinary angles. Our Review reflects on five aspects critical for understanding how nature harnesses these noncanonical post-translational modifications to coordinate distinct cellular activities: (1) specific players and their generation, (2) physicochemical properties, (3) mechanisms of action, (4) methods of interrogation, and (5) functional roles in health and disease. Emphasis is primarily placed on the latest progress in the field, but several aspects of classical work likely forgotten/lost are also recollected. For researchers with interests in getting into the field, our Review is anticipated to function as a primer. For the expert, we aim to stimulate thought and discussion about fundamentals of redox signaling mechanisms and nuances of specificity/selectivity and timing in this sophisticated yet fascinating arena at the crossroads of chemistry and biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saba Parvez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of
Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell
University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA
| | - Marcus J. C. Long
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell
University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA
| | - Jesse R. Poganik
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne,
Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell
University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA
| | - Yimon Aye
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne,
Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell
University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New
York, New York, 10065, USA
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13
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Van Hall-Beauvais A, Zhao Y, Urul DA, Long MJC, Aye Y. Single-Protein-Specific Redox Targeting in Live Mammalian Cells and C. elegans. CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN CHEMICAL BIOLOGY 2018; 10:e43. [PMID: 30085412 PMCID: PMC6125161 DOI: 10.1002/cpch.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
T-REX (targetable reactive electrophiles and oxidants) enables electrophile targeting in living systems with high spatiotemporal precision and at single-protein-target resolution. T-REX allows functional consequences of individual electrophile signaling events to be directly linked to on-target modifications. T-REX is accomplished by expressing a HaloTagged protein of interest (POI) and introducing a Halo-targetable bioinert photocaged precursor to a reactive electrophilic signal (RES). Light exposure releases the unfettered RES on demand, enabling precision modification of the POI due to proximity. Using alkyne-functionalized 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) as a representative RES, this protocol delineates optimized strategies to (1) execute T-REX in live human cells and C. elegans, (2) quantitate the POI's RES-sensitivity by either azido-fluorescent-dye conjugation or (3) enrich using biotin-azide/streptavidin pulldown procedure in both model systems, and (4) identify the site of RES-labeling on the POI using proteomics. Built-in T-REX controls that allow users to directly confirm on-target/on-site specificity of RES-sensing are also described. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yi Zhao
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Daniel A. Urul
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Marcus J. C. Long
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Yimon Aye
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
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Surya SL, Long MJC, Urul DA, Zhao Y, Mercer EJ, EIsaid IM, Evans T, Aye Y. Cardiovascular Small Heat Shock Protein HSPB7 Is a Kinetically Privileged Reactive Electrophilic Species (RES) Sensor. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:1824-1831. [PMID: 29397684 PMCID: PMC6260788 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.7b00925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Small heat shock protein (sHSP)-B7 (HSPB7) is a muscle-specific member of the non-ATP-dependent sHSPs. The precise role of HSPB7 is enigmatic. Here, we disclose that zebrafish Hspb7 is a kinetically privileged sensor that is able to react rapidly with native reactive electrophilic species (RES), when only substoichiometric amounts of RES are available in proximity to Hspb7 expressed in living cells. Among the two Hspb7-cysteines, this RES sensing is fulfilled by a single cysteine (C117). Purification and characterizations in vitro reveal that the rate for RES adduction is among the most efficient reported for protein-cysteines with native carbonyl-based RES. Covalent-ligand binding is accompanied by structural changes (increase in β-sheet-content), based on circular dichroism analysis. Among the two cysteines, only C117 is conserved across vertebrates; we show that the human ortholog is also capable of RES sensing in cells. Furthermore, a cancer-relevant missense mutation reduces this RES-sensing property. This evolutionarily conserved cysteine-biosensor may play a redox-regulatory role in cardioprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjna L. Surya
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Marcus J. C. Long
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Daniel A. Urul
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Yi Zhao
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Emily J. Mercer
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Islam M. EIsaid
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Todd Evans
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Yimon Aye
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10065, United States
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15
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Poganik JR, Long MJC, Aye Y. Getting the Message? Native Reactive Electrophiles Pass Two Out of Three Thresholds to be Bona Fide Signaling Mediators. Bioessays 2018; 40:e1700240. [PMID: 29603288 PMCID: PMC6488019 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201700240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Revised: 02/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Precision cell signaling activities of reactive electrophilic species (RES) are arguably among the most poorly-understood means to transmit biological messages. Latest research implicates native RES to be a chemically-distinct subset of endogenous redox signals that influence cell decision making through non-enzyme-assisted modifications of specific proteins. Yet, fundamental questions remain regarding the role of RES as bona fide second messengers. Here, we lay out three sets of criteria we feel need to be met for RES to be considered as true cellular signals that directly mediate information transfer by modifying "first-responding" sensor proteins. We critically assess the available evidence and define the extent to which each criterion has been fulfilled. Finally, we offer some ideas on the future trajectories of the electrophile signaling field taking inspiration from work that has been done to understand canonical signaling mediators. Also see the video abstract here: https://youtu.be/rG7o0clVP0c.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse R. Poganik
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Marcus J. C. Long
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Yimon Aye
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Department of Biochemistry Weill Cornell Medicine New York, NY 10065, USA
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