1
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Tan L, Li W, Su Q. The comprehensive analysis of the prognostic and functional role of N-terminal methyltransferases 1 in pan-cancer. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16263. [PMID: 37901469 PMCID: PMC10607204 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background NTMT1, a transfer methylase that adds methyl groups to the N-terminus of proteins, has been identified as a critical player in tumor development and progression. However, its precise function in pan-cancer is still unclear. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of its role in cancer, we performed a thorough bioinformatics analysis. Methods To conduct our analysis, we gathered data from multiple sources, including RNA sequencing and clinical data from the TCGA database, protein expression data from the UALCAN and HPA databases, and single-cell expression data from the CancerSEA database. Additionally, we utilized TISIDB to investigate the interaction between the tumor and the immune system. To assess the impact of NTMT1 on the proliferation of SNU1076 cells, we performed a CCK8 assay. We also employed cellular immunofluorescence to detect DNA damage and used flow cytometry to measure tumor cell apoptosis. Results Our analysis revealed that NTMT1 was significantly overexpressed in various types of tumors and that high levels of NTMT1 were associated with poor survival outcomes. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that NTMT1 may contribute to tumor development and progression by regulating pathways involved in cell proliferation and immune response. In addition, we found that knockdown of NTMT1 expression led to reduced cell proliferation, increased DNA damage, and enhanced apoptosis in HNSCC cells. Conclusion High expression of NTMT1 in tumors is associated with poor prognosis. The underlying regulatory mechanism of NTMT1 in cancer is complex, and it may be involved in both the promotion of tumor development and the inhibition of the tumor immune microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifan Tan
- Department of Otolaryngology, West China-Guang’an Hospital, Sichuan University, Guang’an, Sichuan, China
| | - Wensong Li
- Department of Otolaryngology, West China-Guang’an Hospital, Sichuan University, Guang’an, Sichuan, China
| | - Qin Su
- Department of Otolaryngology, The People’s Hospital of Dujiangyan, Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China
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2
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Chen P, Huang R, Hazbun TR. Unlocking the Mysteries of Alpha-N-Terminal Methylation and its Diverse Regulatory Functions. J Biol Chem 2023:104843. [PMID: 37209820 PMCID: PMC10293735 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104843] [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: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein post-translation modifications (PTMs) are a critical regulatory mechanism of protein function. Protein α-N-terminal (Nα) methylation is a conserved PTM across prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Studies of the Nα methyltransferases responsible for Να methylation and their substrate proteins have shown that the PTM involves diverse biological processes, including protein synthesis and degradation, cell division, DNA damage response, and transcription regulation. This review provides an overview of the progress toward the regulatory function of Να methyltransferases and their substrate landscape. More than 200 proteins in humans and 45 in yeast are potential substrates for protein Nα methylation based on the canonical recognition motif, XP[KR]. Based on recent evidence for a less stringent motif requirement, the number of substrates might be increased, but further validation is needed to solidify this concept. A comparison of the motif in substrate orthologs in selected eukaryotic species indicates intriguing gain and loss of the motif across the evolutionary landscape. We discuss the state of knowledge in the field that has provided insights into the regulation of protein Να methyltransferases and their role in cellular physiology and disease. We also outline the current research tools that are key to understanding Να methylation. Finally, challenges are identified and discussed that would aid in unlocking a system-level view of the roles of Να methylation in diverse cellular pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panyue Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Rong Huang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States; Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Tony R Hazbun
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States; Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States.
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3
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Deng Y, Dong G, Meng Y, Noinaj N, Huang R. Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of Venglustat on NTMT1 Inhibition. J Med Chem 2023; 66:1601-1615. [PMID: 36634151 PMCID: PMC9892271 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The protein N-terminal methyltransferase 1 (NTMT1) is implicated in neurogenesis, retinoblastoma, and cervical cancer. However, its pharmacological potentials have not been elucidated due to the lack of drug-like inhibitors. Here, we report the discovery of the first NTMT1 in vivo chemical probe GD433 by structure-guided optimization of our previously reported lead compound venglustat. GD433 (IC50 = 27 ± 1.1 nM) displays improved potency and selectivity than venglustat across biochemical, biophysical, and cellular assays. GD433 also displays good oral bioavailability and can serve as an in vivo chemical probe to dissect the pharmacological roles of Nα methylation. In addition, we also identified a close analogue (YD2160) that is inactive against NTMT1. The active inhibitor and negative control will serve as valuable tools to examine the physiological and pharmacological functions of NTMT1 catalytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youchao Deng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Guangping Dong
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Ying Meng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Nicholas Noinaj
- Department of Biological Sciences, Markey Center for Structural Biology, and the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Rong Huang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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4
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Conner MM, Schaner Tooley CE. Three's a crowd - why did three N-terminal methyltransferases evolve for one job? J Cell Sci 2023; 136:jcs260424. [PMID: 36647772 PMCID: PMC10022744 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.260424] [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] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
N-terminal methylation of the α-amine group (Nα-methylation) is a post-translational modification (PTM) that was discovered over 40 years ago. Although it is not the most abundant of the Nα-PTMs, there are more than 300 predicted substrates of the three known mammalian Nα-methyltransferases, METTL11A and METTL11B (also known as NTMT1 and NTMT2, respectively) and METTL13. Of these ∼300 targets, the bulk are acted upon by METTL11A. Only one substrate is known to be Nα-methylated by METTL13, and METTL11B has no proven in vivo targets or predicted targets that are not also methylated by METTL11A. Given that METTL11A could clearly handle the entire substrate burden of Nα-methylation, it is unclear why three distinct Nα-methyltransferases have evolved. However, recent evidence suggests that many methyltransferases perform important biological functions outside of their catalytic activity, and the Nα-methyltransferases might be part of this emerging group. Here, we describe the distinct expression, localization and physiological roles of each Nα-methyltransferase, and compare these characteristics to other methyltransferases with non-catalytic functions, as well as to methyltransferases with both catalytic and non-catalytic functions, to give a better understanding of the global roles of these proteins. Based on these comparisons, we hypothesize that these three enzymes do not just have one common function but are actually performing three unique jobs in the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan M. Conner
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Christine E. Schaner Tooley
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
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5
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Zhou Q, Wu W, Jia K, Qi G, Sun XS, Li P. Design and characterization of PROTAC degraders specific to protein N-terminal methyltransferase 1. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 244:114830. [PMID: 36228414 PMCID: PMC10520980 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Protein N-terminal methylation catalyzed by N-terminal methyltransferase 1 (NTMT1) is an emerging methylation present in eukaryotes, playing important regulatory roles in various biological and cellular processes. Although dysregulation of NTMT1 has been linked to many diseases such as colorectal cancer, their molecular and cellular mechanisms remain elusive due to inaccessibility to an effective cellular probe. Here we report the design, synthesis, and characterization of the first-in-class NTMT1 degraders based on proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) strategy. Through a brief structure-activity relationship (SAR) study of linker length, a cell permeable degrader 1 involving a von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) E3 ligase ligand was developed and demonstrated to reduce NTMT1 protein levels effectively and selectively in time- and dose-dependent manners in colorectal carcinoma cell lines HCT116 and HT29. Degrader 1 displayed DC50 = 7.53 μM and Dmax > 90% in HCT116 (cellular IC50 > 100 μM for its parent inhibitor DC541). While degrader 1 had marginal cytotoxicity, it displayed anti-proliferative activity in 2D and 3D culture environment, resulting from cell cycle arrested at G0/G1 phase in HCT116. Label-free global proteomic analysis revealed that degrader 1 induced overexpression of calreticulin (CALR), an immunogenic cell death (ICD) signal protein that is known to elicit antitumor immune response and clinically linked to a high survival rate of patients with colorectal cancer upon its upregulation. Collectively, degrader 1 offers the first selective cellular probe for NTMT1 exploration and a new drug discovery modality for NTMT1-related oncology and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qilong Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA; Laboratory of Ethnopharmacology, Tissue-orientated Property of Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China School of Medicine
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Kaimin Jia
- Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Guangyan Qi
- Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Xiuzhi Susan Sun
- Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA; Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
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6
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Dong G, Deng Y, Yasgar A, Yadav R, Talley D, Zakharov AV, Jain S, Rai G, Noinaj N, Simeonov A, Huang R. Venglustat Inhibits Protein N-Terminal Methyltransferase 1 in a Substrate-Competitive Manner. J Med Chem 2022; 65:12334-12345. [PMID: 36074125 PMCID: PMC9813856 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01050] [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] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Venglustat is a known allosteric inhibitor for ceramide glycosyltransferase, investigated in diseases caused by lysosomal dysfunction. Here, we identified venglustat as a potent inhibitor (IC50 = 0.42 μM) of protein N-terminal methyltransferase 1 (NTMT1) by screening 58,130 compounds. Furthermore, venglustat exhibited selectivity for NTMT1 over 36 other methyltransferases. The crystal structure of NTMT1-venglustat and inhibition mechanism revealed that venglustat competitively binds at the peptide substrate site. Meanwhile, venglustat potently inhibited protein N-terminal methylation levels in cells (IC50 = 0.5 μM). Preliminary structure-activity relationships indicated that the quinuclidine and fluorophenyl parts of venglustat are important for NTMT1 inhibition. In summary, we confirmed that venglustat is a bona fide NTMT1 inhibitor, which would advance the study on the biological roles of NTMT1. Additionally, this is the first disclosure of NTMT1 as a new molecular target of venglustat, which would cast light on its mechanism of action to guide the clinical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangping Dong
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Youchao Deng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Adam Yasgar
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Ravi Yadav
- Department of Biological Sciences, Markey Center for Structural Biology, and the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States
| | - Daniel Talley
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Alexey V. Zakharov
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Sankalp Jain
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Ganesha Rai
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Nicholas Noinaj
- Department of Biological Sciences, Markey Center for Structural Biology, and the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States
| | - Anton Simeonov
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Rong Huang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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7
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Abdelraheem E, Thair B, Varela RF, Jockmann E, Popadić D, Hailes HC, Ward JM, Iribarren AM, Lewkowicz ES, Andexer JN, Hagedoorn PL, Hanefeld U. Methyltransferases, functions and applications. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200212. [PMID: 35691829 PMCID: PMC9539859 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In this review the current state‐of‐the‐art of S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM)‐dependent methyltransferases and SAM are evaluated. Their structural classification and diversity is introduced and key mechanistic aspects presented which are then detailed further. Then, catalytic SAM as a target for drugs, and approaches to utilise SAM as a cofactor in synthesis are introduced with different supply and regeneration approaches evaluated. The use of SAM analogues are also described. Finally O‐, N‐, C‐ and S‐MTs, their synthetic applications and potential for compound diversification is given.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin Thair
- University College London Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, department of Chemistry, UNITED KINGDOM
| | - Romina Fernández Varela
- Universidad nacional di Quilmes, 3Laboratorio de Biotransformaciones y Química de Ácidos Nucleicos, ARGENTINA
| | - Emely Jockmann
- Albert-Ludwigs-Universitat Freiburg Universitatsbibliothek Freiburg, Pharmacie, GERMANY
| | | | - Helen C Hailes
- University College London Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, department of Chemistry, UNITED KINGDOM
| | - John M Ward
- University College London, Department of Biochemical Engineering, UNITED KINGDOM
| | - Adolfo M Iribarren
- Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, 3Laboratorio de Biotransformaciones y Química de Ácidos Nucleicos, ARGENTINA
| | - Elizabeth S Lewkowicz
- Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Laboratorio de Biotransformaciones y Química de Ácidos Nucleicos, ARGENTINA
| | | | | | - Ulf Hanefeld
- Technische Universiteit Delft, Gebouw voor Scheikunde, Julianalaan 136, 2628 BL, Delft, NETHERLANDS
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8
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Improved Cell-Potent and Selective Peptidomimetic Inhibitors of Protein N-Terminal Methyltransferase 1. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27041381. [PMID: 35209173 PMCID: PMC8874984 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27041381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein N-terminal methyltransferase 1 (NTMT1) recognizes a unique N-terminal X-P-K/R motif (X represents any amino acid other than D/E) and transfers 1–3 methyl groups to the N-terminal region of its substrates. Guided by the co-crystal structures of NTMT1 in complex with the previously reported peptidomimetic inhibitor DC113, we designed and synthesized a series of new peptidomimetic inhibitors. Through a focused optimization of DC113, we discovered a new cell-potent peptidomimetic inhibitor GD562 (IC50 = 0.93 ± 0.04 µM). GD562 exhibited improved inhibition of the cellular N-terminal methylation levels of both the regulator of chromosome condensation 1 and the oncoprotein SET with an IC50 value of ~50 µM in human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells. Notably, the inhibitory activity of GD562 for the SET protein increased over 6-fold compared with the previously reported cell-potent inhibitor DC541. Furthermore, GD562 also exhibited over 100-fold selectivity for NTMT1 against several other methyltransferases. Thus, this study provides a valuable probe to investigate the biological functions of NTMT1.
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9
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Campeanu IJ, Jiang Y, Liu L, Pilecki M, Najor A, Cobani E, Manning M, Zhang XM, Yang ZQ. Multi-omics integration of methyltransferase-like protein family reveals clinical outcomes and functional signatures in human cancer. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14784. [PMID: 34285249 PMCID: PMC8292347 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94019-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Human methyltransferase-like (METTL) proteins transfer methyl groups to nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and other small molecules, subsequently playing important roles in various cellular processes. In this study, we performed integrated genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and clinicopathological analyses of 34 METTLs in a large cohort of primary tumor and cell line data. We identified a subset of METTL genes, notably METTL1, METTL7B, and NTMT1, with high frequencies of genomic amplification and/or up-regulation at both the mRNA and protein levels in a spectrum of human cancers. Higher METTL1 expression was associated with high-grade tumors and poor disease prognosis. Loss-of-function analysis in tumor cell lines indicated the biological importance of METTL1, an m7G methyltransferase, in cancer cell growth and survival. Furthermore, functional annotation and pathway analysis of METTL1-associated proteins revealed that, in addition to the METTL1 cofactor WDR4, RNA regulators and DNA packaging complexes may be functionally interconnected with METTL1 in human cancer. Finally, we generated a crystal structure model of the METTL1–WDR4 heterodimeric complex that might aid in understanding the key functional residues. Our results provide new information for further functional study of some METTL alterations in human cancer and might lead to the development of small inhibitors that target cancer-promoting METTLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ion John Campeanu
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Jiang
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Lanxin Liu
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Maksymilian Pilecki
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Alvina Najor
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Era Cobani
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Morenci Manning
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Xiaohong Mary Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R Street, HWCRC 815, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Zeng-Quan Yang
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA. .,Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R Street, HWCRC 815, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
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10
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Past, present, and perspectives of protein N-terminal methylation. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2021; 63:115-122. [PMID: 33839647 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The posttranslational methylation of the α-N-terminal amino group of proteins was first documented over 40 years ago, but the functional significance of this modification has been underexplored relative to lysine and arginine methylation. Increasing reports implicates α-N-terminal methylation as a widespread and critical regulator of mitosis, chromatin interactions, DNA repair, and translation fidelity. Here, we summarize advances in the current understanding of protein α-N-terminal methylation biological functions and mechanisms across eukaryotic organisms. Also, we describe the recent literature on substrate recognition and the discovery of potent and selective inhibitors for protein N-terminal methyltransferases. Finally, we summarize the emergent crosstalk between α-N-terminal methylation and other N-terminal modifications.
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11
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Chen D, Dong G, Deng Y, Noinaj N, Huang R. Structure-based Discovery of Cell-Potent Peptidomimetic Inhibitors for Protein N-Terminal Methyltransferase 1. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:485-493. [PMID: 33738076 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein N-terminal methyltransferases (NTMTs) catalyze the methylation of the α-N-terminal amines of proteins starting with an X-P-K/R motif. NTMT1 has been implicated in various cancers and in aging, implying its role as a potential therapeutic target. Through structural modifications of a lead NTMT1 inhibitor, BM30, we designed and synthesized a diverse set of inhibitors to probe the NTMT1 active site. The incorporation of a naphthyl group at the N-terminal region and an ortho-aminobenzoic amide at the C-terminal region of BM30 generates the top cell-potent inhibitor DC541, demonstrating increased activity on both purified NTMT1 (IC50 of 0.34 ± 0.02 μM) and the cellular α-N-terminal methylation level of regulator of chromosome condensation 1 (RCC1, IC50 value of 30 μM) in human colorectal cancer HT29 cells. Furthermore, DC541 exhibits over 300-fold selectivity to several methyltransferases. This study points out the direction for the development of more cell-potent inhibitors for NTMT1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongxing Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Guangping Dong
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Youchao Deng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Nicholas Noinaj
- Department of Biological Sciences, Markey Center for Structural Biology, and the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Rong Huang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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