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Patzke JV, Sauer F, Nair RK, Endres E, Proschak E, Hernandez-Olmos V, Sotriffer C, Kisker C. Structural basis for the bi-specificity of USP25 and USP28 inhibitors. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:2950-2973. [PMID: 38816515 PMCID: PMC11239673 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00167-w] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of cancer therapeutics is often hindered by the fact that specific oncogenes cannot be directly pharmaceutically addressed. Targeting deubiquitylases that stabilize these oncogenes provides a promising alternative. USP28 and USP25 have been identified as such target deubiquitylases, and several small-molecule inhibitors indiscriminately inhibiting both enzymes have been developed. To obtain insights into their mode of inhibition, we structurally and functionally characterized USP28 in the presence of the three different inhibitors AZ1, Vismodegib and FT206. The compounds bind into a common pocket acting as a molecular sink. Our analysis provides an explanation why the two enzymes are inhibited with similar potency while other deubiquitylases are not affected. Furthermore, a key glutamate residue at position 366/373 in USP28/USP25 plays a central structural role for pocket stability and thereby for inhibition and activity. Obstructing the inhibitor-binding pocket by mutation of this glutamate may provide a tool to accelerate future drug development efforts for selective inhibitors of either USP28 or USP25 targeting distinct binding pockets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Vincent Patzke
- Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, Institute for Structural Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Florian Sauer
- Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, Institute for Structural Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Radhika Karal Nair
- Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, Institute for Structural Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Erik Endres
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ewgenij Proschak
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Victor Hernandez-Olmos
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Christoph Sotriffer
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Caroline Kisker
- Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, Institute for Structural Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
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Cavalcante BRR, Freitas RD, Siquara da Rocha LO, Santos RSB, Souza BSDF, Ramos PIP, Rocha GV, Gurgel Rocha CA. In silico approaches for drug repurposing in oncology: a scoping review. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1400029. [PMID: 38919258 PMCID: PMC11196849 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1400029] [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: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Cancer refers to a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body. Due to its complexity, it has been hard to find an ideal medicine to treat all cancer types, although there is an urgent need for it. However, the cost of developing a new drug is high and time-consuming. In this sense, drug repurposing (DR) can hasten drug discovery by giving existing drugs new disease indications. Many computational methods have been applied to achieve DR, but just a few have succeeded. Therefore, this review aims to show in silico DR approaches and the gap between these strategies and their ultimate application in oncology. Methods: The scoping review was conducted according to the Arksey and O'Malley framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute recommendations. Relevant studies were identified through electronic searching of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, as well as the grey literature. We included peer-reviewed research articles involving in silico strategies applied to drug repurposing in oncology, published between 1 January 2003, and 31 December 2021. Results: We identified 238 studies for inclusion in the review. Most studies revealed that the United States, India, China, South Korea, and Italy are top publishers. Regarding cancer types, breast cancer, lymphomas and leukemias, lung, colorectal, and prostate cancer are the top investigated. Additionally, most studies solely used computational methods, and just a few assessed more complex scientific models. Lastly, molecular modeling, which includes molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, was the most frequently used method, followed by signature-, Machine Learning-, and network-based strategies. Discussion: DR is a trending opportunity but still demands extensive testing to ensure its safety and efficacy for the new indications. Finally, implementing DR can be challenging due to various factors, including lack of quality data, patient populations, cost, intellectual property issues, market considerations, and regulatory requirements. Despite all the hurdles, DR remains an exciting strategy for identifying new treatments for numerous diseases, including cancer types, and giving patients faster access to new medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Raphael Ribeiro Cavalcante
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Brazil
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine of the School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Raíza Dias Freitas
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Brazil
- Department of Social and Pediatric Dentistry of the School of Dentistry, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Leonardo de Oliveira Siquara da Rocha
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Brazil
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine of the School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | - Bruno Solano de Freitas Souza
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Brazil
- D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Pablo Ivan Pereira Ramos
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Brazil
- Center of Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Gisele Vieira Rocha
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Brazil
- D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Clarissa Araújo Gurgel Rocha
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Brazil
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine of the School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
- D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Salvador, Brazil
- Department of Propaedeutics, School of Dentistry of the Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
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Pandya MJ, Augustyniak W, Cliff MJ, Lindner I, Stinn A, Kahmann J, Temmerman K, Dannatt HRW, Waltho JP, Watson MJ. Backbone 1H, 13C and 15N resonance assignment of the ubiquitin specific protease 7 catalytic domain (residues 208-554) in complex with a small molecule ligand. BIOMOLECULAR NMR ASSIGNMENTS 2024; 18:33-44. [PMID: 38472728 DOI: 10.1007/s12104-024-10165-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The backbone 1H, 13C and 15N resonance assignment of Ubiquitin Specific Protease 7 catalytic domain (residues 208-554) was performed in its complex with a small molecule ligand and in its apo form as a reference. The amide 1H-15N signal intensities were boosted by an amide hydrogen exchange protocol, where expressed 2H, 13C, 15N-labeled protein was unfolded and re-folded to ensure exchange of amide deuterons to protons. The resonance assignments were used to determine chemical shift perturbations on ligand binding, which are consistent with the binding site observed by crystallography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya J Pandya
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- C4X Discovery Ltd, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD, United Kingdom
| | - Wojciech Augustyniak
- C4X Discovery Ltd, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD, United Kingdom.
| | - Matthew J Cliff
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ilka Lindner
- Biophysics Department, NMR and Protein Production, Evotec SE, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anne Stinn
- Biophysics Department, NMR and Protein Production, Evotec SE, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Kahmann
- Biophysics Department, NMR and Protein Production, Evotec SE, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Koen Temmerman
- Biophysics Department, NMR and Protein Production, Evotec SE, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hugh R W Dannatt
- C4X Discovery Ltd, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan P Waltho
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Martin J Watson
- C4X Discovery Ltd, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD, United Kingdom
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4
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Foster BM, Wang Z, Schmidt CK. DoUBLing up: ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteases in genome stability. Biochem J 2024; 481:515-545. [PMID: 38572758 PMCID: PMC11088880 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20230284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Maintaining stability of the genome requires dedicated DNA repair and signalling processes that are essential for the faithful duplication and propagation of chromosomes. These DNA damage response (DDR) mechanisms counteract the potentially mutagenic impact of daily genotoxic stresses from both exogenous and endogenous sources. Inherent to these DNA repair pathways is the activity of protein factors that instigate repair processes in response to DNA lesions. The regulation, coordination, and orchestration of these DDR factors is carried out, in a large part, by post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation, ubiquitylation, and modification with ubiquitin-like proteins (UBLs). The importance of ubiquitylation and UBLylation with SUMO in DNA repair is well established, with the modified targets and downstream signalling consequences relatively well characterised. However, the role of dedicated erasers for ubiquitin and UBLs, known as deubiquitylases (DUBs) and ubiquitin-like proteases (ULPs) respectively, in genome stability is less well established, particularly for emerging UBLs such as ISG15 and UFM1. In this review, we provide an overview of the known regulatory roles and mechanisms of DUBs and ULPs involved in genome stability pathways. Expanding our understanding of the molecular agents and mechanisms underlying the removal of ubiquitin and UBL modifications will be fundamental for progressing our knowledge of the DDR and likely provide new therapeutic avenues for relevant human diseases, such as cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M. Foster
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC), Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, 555 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4GJ, U.K
| | - Zijuan Wang
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC), Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, 555 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4GJ, U.K
| | - Christine K. Schmidt
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC), Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, 555 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4GJ, U.K
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5
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Guo NJ, Wang B, Zhang Y, Kang HQ, Nie HQ, Feng MK, Zhang XY, Zhao LJ, Wang N, Liu HM, Zheng YC, Li W, Gao Y. USP7 as an emerging therapeutic target: A key regulator of protein homeostasis. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 263:130309. [PMID: 38382779 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130309] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Maintaining protein balance within a cell is essential for proper cellular function, and disruptions in the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, which is responsible for degrading and recycling unnecessary or damaged proteins, can lead to various diseases. Deubiquitinating enzymes play a vital role in regulating protein homeostasis by removing ubiquitin chains from substrate proteins, thereby controlling important cellular processes, such as apoptosis and DNA repair. Among these enzymes, ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is of particular interest. USP7 is a cysteine protease consisting of a TRAF region, catalytic region, and C-terminal ubiquitin-like (UBL) region, and it interacts with tumor suppressors, transcription factors, and other key proteins involved in cell cycle regulation and epigenetic control. Moreover, USP7 has been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of various diseases, including cancer, inflammation, neurodegenerative conditions, and viral infections. Overall, characterizing the functions of USP7 is crucial for understanding the pathophysiology of diverse diseases and devising innovative therapeutic strategies. This article reviews the structure and function of USP7 and its complexes, its association with diseases, and its known inhibitors and thus represents a valuable resource for advancing USP7 inhibitor development and promoting potential future treatment options for a wide range of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning-Jie Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Bo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Hui-Qin Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Hai-Qian Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Meng-Kai Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Xi-Ya Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Li-Juan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Ning Wang
- The School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hong-Min Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Yi-Chao Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
| | - Wen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
| | - Ya Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Henan Province, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
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Ren J, Yu P, Liu S, Li R, Niu X, Chen Y, Zhang Z, Zhou F, Zhang L. Deubiquitylating Enzymes in Cancer and Immunity. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2303807. [PMID: 37888853 PMCID: PMC10754134 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) maintain relative homeostasis of the cellular ubiquitome by removing the post-translational modification ubiquitin moiety from substrates. Numerous DUBs have been demonstrated specificity for cleaving a certain type of ubiquitin linkage or positions within ubiquitin chains. Moreover, several DUBs perform functions through specific protein-protein interactions in a catalytically independent manner, which further expands the versatility and complexity of DUBs' functions. Dysregulation of DUBs disrupts the dynamic equilibrium of ubiquitome and causes various diseases, especially cancer and immune disorders. This review summarizes the Janus-faced roles of DUBs in cancer including proteasomal degradation, DNA repair, apoptosis, and tumor metastasis, as well as in immunity involving innate immune receptor signaling and inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. The prospects and challenges for the clinical development of DUB inhibitors are further discussed. The review provides a comprehensive understanding of the multi-faced roles of DUBs in cancer and immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Ren
- The Eighth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhen518033P. R. China
| | - Peng Yu
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug DiscoveryShanghai Institute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of SciencesZhongshanGuangdongP. R. China
| | - Sijia Liu
- International Biomed‐X Research CenterSecond Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhou310058China
| | - Ran Li
- The Eighth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhen518033P. R. China
| | - Xin Niu
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling NetworkLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058P. R. China
| | - Yan Chen
- The Eighth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhen518033P. R. China
| | - Zhenyu Zhang
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenan450003P. R. China
| | - Fangfang Zhou
- Institutes of Biology and Medical ScienceSoochow UniversitySuzhou215123P. R. China
| | - Long Zhang
- The Eighth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhen518033P. R. China
- International Biomed‐X Research CenterSecond Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouP. R. China
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling NetworkLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058P. R. China
- Cancer CenterZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058P. R. China
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Gao H, Yin J, Ji C, Yu X, Xue J, Guan X, Zhang S, Liu X, Xing F. Targeting ubiquitin specific proteases (USPs) in cancer immunotherapy: from basic research to preclinical application. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:225. [PMID: 37658402 PMCID: PMC10472646 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02805-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumors have evolved in various mechanisms to evade the immune system, hindering the antitumor immune response and facilitating tumor progression. Immunotherapy has become a potential treatment strategy specific to different cancer types by utilizing multifarious molecular mechanisms to enhance the immune response against tumors. Among these mechanisms, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a significant non-lysosomal pathway specific to protein degradation, regulated by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) that counterbalance ubiquitin signaling. Ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs), the largest DUB family with the strongest variety, play critical roles in modulating immune cell function, regulating immune response, and participating in antigen processing and presentation during tumor progression. According to recent studies, the expressions of some USP family members in tumor cells are involved in tumor immune escape and immune microenvironment. This review explores the potential of targeting USPs as a new approach for cancer immunotherapy, highlighting recent basic and preclinical studies investigating the applications of USP inhibitors. By providing insights into the structure and function of USPs in cancer immunity, this review aims at assisting in developing new therapeutic approaches for enhancing the immunotherapy efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongli Gao
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Jianqiao Yin
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Ce Ji
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Xiaopeng Yu
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Jinqi Xue
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Xin Guan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Shuang Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Xun Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
| | - Fei Xing
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
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Xu J, Wang Y, Zhang J, Abdelmoneim AA, Liang Z, Wang L, Jin J, Dai Q, Ye F. Elastic network models and molecular dynamic simulations reveal the molecular basis of allosteric regulation in ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7). Comput Biol Med 2023; 162:107068. [PMID: 37290391 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107068] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is one of the most abundant deubiquitinases and plays an important role in various malignant tumors. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying USP7's structures, dynamics, and biological significance are yet to be investigated. In this study, we constructed the full-length models of USP7 in both the extended and compact state, and applied elastic network models (ENM), molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, perturbation response scanning (PRS) analysis, residue interaction networks as well as allosteric pocket prediction to investigate allosteric dynamics in USP7. Our analysis of intrinsic and conformational dynamics revealed that the structural transition between the two states is characterized by global clamp motions, during which the catalytic domain (CD) and UBL4-5 domain exhibit strong negative correlations. The PRS analysis, combined with the analysis of disease mutations and post-translational modifications (PTMs) further highlighted the allosteric potential of the two domains. The residue interaction network based on MD simulations captured an allosteric communication path which starts at CD domain and ends at UBL4-5 domain. Moreover, we identified a pocket at the TRAF-CD interface as a high-potential allosteric site for USP7. Overall, our studies not only provide molecular insights into the conformational changes of USP7, but also aid in the design of allosteric modulators that target USP7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Xu
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Yiran Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiali Zhang
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Amr Abbas Abdelmoneim
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Zhongjie Liang
- Center for Systems Biology, Department of Bioinformatics, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Lei Wang
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Jia Jin
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Qi Dai
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Fei Ye
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.
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9
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Carreira LD, Oliveira RI, Moreira VM, Salvador JAR. Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7): an emerging drug target for cancer treatment. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:1043-1058. [PMID: 37789645 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2266571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) also known as herpesvirus-associated ubiquitin-specific protease (HAUSP) is a well-characterized cysteine protease that belongs to the largest subfamily of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). It is involved in multiple signaling pathways, some of them dysregulated in malignant tumors. USP7 inhibition can lead to cell growth arrest and apoptosis through inhibition of tumor promoters and stabilization of tumor suppressors, making it a promising druggable target for cancer therapy. AREAS COVERED This review covers the structure of USP7, its function in multiple signaling pathways and relevance in cancer, as well as recent advances and future perspectives in the development of USP7 inhibitors for cancer therapy. EXPERT OPINION Literature reports display the multiple antitumor activities of USP7 inhibitors, both in vitro and in vivo. Nonetheless, none have entered clinical trials so far, highlighting the need to delve into a deeper understanding of USP7 binding sites and the development of more accurate compound screening methods. Despite these challenges, further development of USP7 inhibitors is promising as a valuable new approach for cancer treatment, including the ability to address chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura D Carreira
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rita I Oliveira
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Vânia M Moreira
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jorge A R Salvador
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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10
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Saha G, Roy S, Basu M, Ghosh MK. USP7 - a crucial regulator of cancer hallmarks. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188903. [PMID: 37127084 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Over the course of three decades of study, the deubiquitinase Herpesvirus associated Ubiquitin-Specific Protease/Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 7 (HAUSP/USP7) has gradually come to be recognized as a crucially important molecule in cellular physiology. The fact that USP7 is overexpressed in a number of cancers, including breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancers, supports the idea that USP7 is also an important regulator of tumorigenesis. In this review, we discuss USP7's function in relation to the cancer hallmarks described by Hanahan and Weinberg. This post-translational modifier can support increased proliferation, block unfavorable growth signals, stop cell death, and support an unstable cellular genome by manipulating key players in the pertinent signalling circuit. It is interesting to note that USP7 also aids in the stabilization of molecules that support angiogenesis and metastasis. Targeting USP7 has now emerged as a crucial component of USP7 research because pharmacological inhibition of USP7 supports p53-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Efficacious USP7 inhibition is currently being investigated in both synthetic and natural compounds, but issues with selectivity and a lack of co-crystal structure have hindered USP7 inhibition from being tested in clinical settings. Moreover, the development of new, more effective USP7 inhibitors and their encouraging implications by numerous groups give us a glimmer of hope for USP7-targeting medications as effective substitutes for hazardous cancer chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gouranga Saha
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB), TRUE Campus, CN-6, Sector-V, Salt Lake, Kolkata-700091 & 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, PIN - 700032, India
| | - Srija Roy
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB), TRUE Campus, CN-6, Sector-V, Salt Lake, Kolkata-700091 & 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, PIN - 700032, India
| | - Malini Basu
- Department of Microbiology, Dhruba Chand Halder College, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, PIN - 743372, India
| | - Mrinal K Ghosh
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB), TRUE Campus, CN-6, Sector-V, Salt Lake, Kolkata-700091 & 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, PIN - 700032, India.
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11
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Song Y, Wang S, Zhao M, Yu B. Development of a robust HTRF assay with USP7 full length protein expressed in E. coli prokaryotic system for the identification of USP7 inhibitors. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2023; 227:115305. [PMID: 36812797 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115305] [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: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is a promising therapeutic target. Several USP7 inhibitors accommodated in the catalytic triad of USP7 have been reported with the aid of high-throughput screening (HTS) methods using USP7 catalytic domain truncation. However, the drawbacks of previously reported biochemical cleavage assays, including poor stability, fluorescence interference, time-consuming, expensive, more importantly the selectivity issue, have challenged the USP7-targeted drug discovery. In this work, we demonstrated the functional heterogeneity and essential role of different structural elements in the USP7 full activation, highlighting the necessity of USP7 full length in drug discovery. Apart from reported two pockets in the catalytic triad, five additional ligandable pockets were predicted based on the proposed USP7 full length models by AlphaFold and homology modelling. A reliable homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) HTS method was established based on the cleavage mechanism of USP7 towards the ubiquitin precursor UBA10. The USP7 full length protein was successfully expressed in the relatively cost-effective E. coli prokaryotic system and used to simulate the auto-activated USP7 in nature. Via screening our in-house library (∼ 1500 compounds), 19 hit compounds with >20% of inhibition rate were identified for further optimization. This assay will enrich the toolbox for the identification of highly potent and selective USP7 inhibitors for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihui Song
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
| | - Shu Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Min Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Bin Yu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
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12
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Chi L, Wang H, Yu F, Gao C, Dai H, Si X, Liu L, Wang Z, Zheng J, Ke Y, Liu H, Zhang Q. Recent Progress of Ubiquitin-Specific-Processing Protease 7 Inhibitors. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2023. [DOI: 10.1134/s1068162023020073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
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13
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Chan WC, Liu X, Magin RS, Girardi NM, Ficarro SB, Hu W, Tarazona Guzman MI, Starnbach CA, Felix A, Adelmant G, Varca AC, Hu B, Bratt AS, DaSilva E, Schauer NJ, Jaen Maisonet I, Dolen EK, Ayala AX, Marto JA, Buhrlage SJ. Accelerating inhibitor discovery for deubiquitinating enzymes. Nat Commun 2023; 14:686. [PMID: 36754960 PMCID: PMC9908924 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36246-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are an emerging drug target class of ~100 proteases that cleave ubiquitin from protein substrates to regulate many cellular processes. A lack of selective chemical probes impedes pharmacologic interrogation of this important gene family. DUBs engage their cognate ligands through a myriad of interactions. We embrace this structural complexity to tailor a chemical diversification strategy for a DUB-focused covalent library. Pairing our library with activity-based protein profiling as a high-density primary screen, we identify selective hits against 23 endogenous DUBs spanning four subfamilies. Optimization of an azetidine hit yields a probe for the understudied DUB VCPIP1 with nanomolar potency and in-family selectivity. Our success in identifying good chemical starting points as well as structure-activity relationships across the gene family from a modest but purpose-build library challenges current paradigms that emphasize ultrahigh throughput in vitro or virtual screens against an ever-increasing scope of chemical space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wai Cheung Chan
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xiaoxi Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert S Magin
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas M Girardi
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott B Ficarro
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wanyi Hu
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria I Tarazona Guzman
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cara A Starnbach
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alejandra Felix
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Guillaume Adelmant
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anthony C Varca
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bin Hu
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ariana S Bratt
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ethan DaSilva
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nathan J Schauer
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Isabella Jaen Maisonet
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emma K Dolen
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anthony X Ayala
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jarrod A Marto
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Sara J Buhrlage
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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14
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Activation Dynamics of Ubiquitin Specific Protease 7. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.11.523550. [PMID: 36711877 PMCID: PMC9882073 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.11.523550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is a deubiquitinating enzyme responsible for the regulation of key human oncoproteins and tumor suppressors including Mdm2 and p53, respectively. Unlike other members of the USP family of proteases, the isolated catalytic domain of USP7 adopts an enzymatically inactive conformation that has been well characterized using X-ray crystallography. The catalytic domain also samples an active conformation, which has only been captured upon USP7 substrate-binding. Here, we utilized CPMG NMR relaxation dispersion studies to observe the dynamic motions of USP7 in solution. Our results reveal that the catalytic domain of USP7 exchanges between two distinct conformations, the inactive conformation populated at 95% and the active conformation at 5%. The largest structural changes are localized within functionally important regions of the enzyme including the active site, the ubiquitin-binding fingers, and the allosteric helix of the enzyme, suggesting that USP7 can adopt its active conformation in the absence of a substrate. Furthermore, we show that the allosteric L299A activating mutation disturbs this equilibrium, slows down the exchange, and increases the residence time of USP7 in its active conformation, thus, explaining the elevated activity of the mutant. Overall, this work shows that the isolated USP7 catalytic domain pre-samples its "invisible" active conformation in solution, which may contribute to its activation mechanism.
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15
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Shen WF, Tang HW, Li JB, Li X, Chen S. Multimodal data fusion for supervised learning-based identification of USP7 inhibitors: a systematic comparison. J Cheminform 2023; 15:5. [PMID: 36631899 PMCID: PMC9835315 DOI: 10.1186/s13321-022-00675-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific-processing protease 7 (USP7) is a promising target protein for cancer therapy, and great attention has been given to the identification of USP7 inhibitors. Traditional virtual screening methods have now been successfully applied to discover USP7 inhibitors aiming at reducing costs and speeding up time in several studies. However, due to their unsatisfactory accuracy, it is still a difficult task to develop USP7 inhibitors. In this study, multiple supervised learning classifiers were built to distinguish active USP7 inhibitors from inactive ligands. Physicochemical descriptors, MACCS keys, ECFP4 fingerprints and SMILES were first calculated to represent the compounds in our in-house dataset. Two deep learning (DL) models and nine classical machine learning (ML) models were then constructed based on different combinations of the above molecular representations under three activity cutoff values, and a total of 15 groups of experiments (75 experiments) were implemented. The performance of the models in these experiments was evaluated, compared and discussed using a variety of metrics. The optimal models are ensemble learning models when the dataset is balanced or severely imbalanced, and SMILES-based DL performs the best when the dataset is slightly imbalanced. Meanwhile, multimodal data fusion in some cases can improve the performance of ML and DL models. In addition, SMOTE, unbiased decoy selection and SMILES enumeration can improve the performance of ML and DL models when the dataset is severely imbalanced, and SMOTE works the best. Our study established highly accurate supervised learning classification models, which would accelerate the development of USP7 inhibitors. Some guidance was also provided for drug researchers in selecting supervised models and molecular representations as well as handling imbalanced datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-feng Shen
- grid.39436.3b0000 0001 2323 5732School of Medicine & School of Computer Engineering and Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China
| | - He-wei Tang
- grid.39436.3b0000 0001 2323 5732School of Medicine & School of Computer Engineering and Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China
| | - Jia-bo Li
- grid.39436.3b0000 0001 2323 5732School of Medicine & School of Computer Engineering and Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China
| | - Xiang Li
- grid.73113.370000 0004 0369 1660School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433 China
| | - Si Chen
- grid.39436.3b0000 0001 2323 5732School of Medicine & School of Computer Engineering and Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China
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16
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Recent advances in the pharmacological targeting of ubiquitin-regulating enzymes in cancer. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 132:213-229. [PMID: 35184940 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
As a post-translational modification that has pivotal roles in protein degradation, ubiquitination ensures that intracellular proteins act in a precise spatial and temporal manner to regulate diversified cellular processes. Perturbation of the ubiquitin system contributes directly to the onset and progression of a wide variety of diseases, including various subtypes of cancer. This highly regulated system has been for years an active research area for drug discovery that is exemplified by several approved drugs. In this review, we will provide an update of the main breakthrough scientific discoveries that have been leading the clinical development of ubiquitin-targeting therapies in the last decade, with a special focus on E1 and E3 modulators. We will further discuss the unique challenges of identifying new potential therapeutic targets within this ubiquitous and highly complex machinery, based on available crystallographic structures, and explore chemical approaches by which these challenges might be met.
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17
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USP7 Inhibitors in Cancer Immunotherapy: Current Status and Perspective. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225539. [PMID: 36428632 PMCID: PMC9688046 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) regulates the stability of a plethora of intracellular proteins involved in the suppression of anti-tumor immune responses and its overexpression is associated with poor survival in many cancers. USP7 impairs the balance of the p53/MDM2 axis resulting in the proteasomal degradation of the p53 tumor suppressor, a process that can be reversed by small-molecule inhibitors of USP7. USP7 was shown to regulate the anti-tumor immune responses in several cases. Its inhibition impedes the function of regulatory T cells, promotes polarization of tumor-associated macrophages, and reduces programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in tumor cells. The efficacy of small-molecule USP7 inhibitors was demonstrated in vivo. The synergistic effect of combining USP7 inhibition with cancer immunotherapy is a promising therapeutic approach, though its clinical efficacy is yet to be proven. In this review, we focus on the recent developments in understanding the intrinsic role of USP7, its interplay with other molecular pathways, and the therapeutic potential of targeting USP7 functions.
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18
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Valles G, Pozhidaeva A, Korzhnev DM, Bezsonova I. Backbone and ILV side-chain NMR resonance assignments of the catalytic domain of human deubiquitinating enzyme USP7. BIOMOLECULAR NMR ASSIGNMENTS 2022; 16:197-203. [PMID: 35536398 PMCID: PMC9529858 DOI: 10.1007/s12104-022-10079-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ubiquitin specific protease 7 (USP7) is a deubiquitinating enzyme, which removes ubiquitin tag from numerous protein substrates involved in diverse cellular processes such as cell cycle regulation, apoptosis and DNA damage response. USP7 affects stability, interaction network and cellular localization of its cellular and viral substrates by controlling their ubiquitination status. The large 41 kDa catalytic domain of USP7 harbors the active site of the enzyme. Here we present a nearly complete (93%) NMR resonance assignment of isoleucine, leucine and valine (ILV) side-chains of the USP7 catalytic domain along with a refined nearly complete (93%) assignment of its backbone resonances. The reported ILV methyl group assignment will facilitate further NMR investigations of structure, interactions and conformational dynamics of the USP7 enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Valles
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexandra Pozhidaeva
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
| | - Dmitry M Korzhnev
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA.
| | - Irina Bezsonova
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA.
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19
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Kennedy C, McPhie K, Rittinger K. Targeting the ubiquitin system by fragment-based drug discovery. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:1019636. [PMID: 36275626 PMCID: PMC9580268 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1019636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitin system contains a wealth of potential drug targets for many diseases and conditions, including neurodegenerative, immune, metabolic and developmental diseases, as well as multiple cancers. Despite years of research, relatively few clinical inhibitors or specific chemical probes for proteins within the ubiquitin system exist, with many interesting target proteins yet to be explored. Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) offers efficient and broad coverage of chemical space with small libraries, using covalent and non-covalent approaches. Coupled with advances in structural biology and proteomics, FBDD now provides a thorough screening platform for inhibitor discovery within the ubiquitin system. In this mini review, we summarise the current scope of FBDD and how it has been applied to ubiquitin-activating (E1), ubiquitin-conjugating (E2), ubiquitin ligase (E3) and deubiquitinating (DUB) enzymes. We also discuss the newest frontiers of FBDD and how they could be applied to enable inhibitor and novel chemical probe discovery and provide functional insight into the ubiquitin system.
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20
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Oliveira RI, Guedes RA, Salvador JAR. Highlights in USP7 inhibitors for cancer treatment. Front Chem 2022; 10:1005727. [PMID: 36186590 PMCID: PMC9520255 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.1005727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is a member of one of the most largely studied families of deubiquitylating enzymes. It plays a key role modulating the levels of multiple proteins, including tumor suppressors, transcription factors, epigenetic modulators, DNA repair proteins, and regulators of the immune response. The abnormal expression of USP7 is found in various malignant tumors and a high expression signature generally indicates poor tumor prognosis. This suggests USP7 as a promising prognostic and druggable target for cancer therapy. Nonetheless, no approved drugs targeting USP7 have already entered clinical trials. Therefore, the development of potent and selective USP7 inhibitors still requires intensive research and development efforts before the pre-clinical benefits translate into the clinic. This mini review systematically summarizes the role of USP7 as a drug target for cancer therapeutics, as well as the scaffolds, activities, and binding modes of some of the most representative small molecule USP7 inhibitors reported in the scientific literature. To wind up, development challenges and potential combination therapies using USP7 inhibitors for less tractable tumors are also disclosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita I. Oliveira
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Romina A. Guedes
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jorge A. R. Salvador
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Jorge A. R. Salvador,
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21
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Xu X, Wang M, Xu H, Liu N, Chen K, Luo C, Chen S, Chen H. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-aminopyridine derivatives as USP7 inhibitors. Bioorg Chem 2022; 129:106128. [PMID: 36113266 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.106128] [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: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
A series of novel 2-aminopyridine derivatives 1-26 have been designed and synthesized by structural modifications on a lead USP7 inhibitor, GNE6640. All the compounds were evaluated for their USP7 inhibitory activities. The results showed that most of the compounds have good USP7 inhibitory activities at the concentration of 50 μM. Among them, compounds 7, 14 and 21 are the most potential ones from each category with the IC50 values of 7.6 ± 0.1 μM, 17.0 ± 0.2 μM and 11.6 ± 0.5 μM, respectively. Compounds 7 and 21 expressed significant binding interactions with USP7 by surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based binding assay, but both of them presented moderate antiproliferative activities against HCT116 cells. They could effectively promote MDM2 degradation, p53 stabilization and p21 gene expression in the western blot analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Xu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Mingchen Wang
- The Center for Chemical Biology, Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hailong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Na Liu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Kaixian Chen
- The Center for Chemical Biology, Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Cheng Luo
- The Center for Chemical Biology, Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Shijie Chen
- The Center for Chemical Biology, Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Hua Chen
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China.
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22
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Verzella D, Cornice J, Arboretto P, Vecchiotti D, Di Vito Nolfi M, Capece D, Zazzeroni F, Franzoso G. The NF-κB Pharmacopeia: Novel Strategies to Subdue an Intractable Target. Biomedicines 2022; 10:2233. [PMID: 36140335 PMCID: PMC9496094 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10092233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
NF-κB transcription factors are major drivers of tumor initiation and progression. NF-κB signaling is constitutively activated by genetic alterations or environmental signals in many human cancers, where it contributes to almost all hallmarks of malignancy, including sustained proliferation, cell death resistance, tumor-promoting inflammation, metabolic reprogramming, tissue invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. As such, the NF-κB pathway is an attractive therapeutic target in a broad range of human cancers, as well as in numerous non-malignant diseases. Currently, however, there is no clinically useful NF-κB inhibitor to treat oncological patients, owing to the preclusive, on-target toxicities of systemic NF-κB blockade. In this review, we discuss the principal and most promising strategies being developed to circumvent the inherent limitations of conventional IκB kinase (IKK)/NF-κB-targeting drugs, focusing on new molecules that target upstream regulators or downstream effectors of oncogenic NF-κB signaling, as well as agents targeting individual NF-κB subunits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Verzella
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences (DISCAB), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Jessica Cornice
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Paola Arboretto
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Davide Vecchiotti
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences (DISCAB), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Mauro Di Vito Nolfi
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences (DISCAB), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Daria Capece
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences (DISCAB), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Francesca Zazzeroni
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences (DISCAB), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Guido Franzoso
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
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Chao Gao, Dai H, Si X, Zhang Y, Liu L, Wang Z, Meng Y, Zhang Y, Wang T, Zheng J, Shan L, Liu H, Zhang Q. Synthesis and Antitumor Activity Evaluation of Novel 2-Amino-5-Ethylpyrimidine Derivatives. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1068162022020066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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24
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Li P, Liu Y, Liu HM. A patent review of ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) inhibitors (2014-present). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2022; 32:753-767. [PMID: 35343357 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2022.2058873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) plays a critical role in multiple signaling pathways, and many recent studies have proved its association with many diseases. The USP7-murine double minute 2-p53 pathway and the relationship between USP7 and the important immune protein PD-L1 in cancer progression and metastasis have been clarified. Recently, USP7 has emerged as a promising and potent therapeutic target for cancer and has attracted both academic and industrial attention. AREAS COVERED This review focuses on the structure, activity, and applications of USP7 inhibitors in cancer therapy. It also focuses on patents reported since 2014. EXPERT OPINION Recently, USP7 has attracted considerable attention owing to its physiological and pathophysiological roles in cancer progression, and few studies have focused on the development of USP7 inhibitors. Compared with micromolar first-generation USP7 inhibitors, second-generation USP7 inhibitors exhibit higher potency (at nanomolar level for both USP7 and cell inhibitory activities), higher selectivity, and better pharmacokinetic properties, and they largely broaden the range of candidites for further clinical tests. However, there is still a need for a more precise description of compounds with receptors, the structural diversity of these compounds, and screening methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Li
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies & School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
| | - Ying Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 1 eastern Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Hong-Min Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies & School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
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25
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Gao C, Si X, Chi L, Wang H, Dai H, Liu L, Wang Z, Zhang Y, Wang T, Zhou Y, Zheng J, Ke Y, Liu H, Zhang Q. Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activity of 2,4,5,6-Tetrasubstituted Pyrimidine Derivatives Containing Anisole. CHINESE J ORG CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.6023/cjoc202201048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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26
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Al-Eidan A, Wang Y, Skipp P, Ewing RM. The USP7 protein interaction network and its roles in tumorigenesis. Genes Dis 2022; 9:41-50. [PMID: 35005106 PMCID: PMC8720671 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2020.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific protease (USP7), also known as Herpesvirus-associated ubiquitin-specific protease (HAUSP), is a deubiquitinase. There has been significant recent attention on USP7 following the discovery that USP7 is a key regulator of the p53-MDM2 pathway. The USP7 protein is 130 kDa in size and has multiple domains which bind to a diverse set of proteins. These interactions mediate key developmental and homeostatic processes including the cell cycle, immune response, and modulation of transcription factor and epigenetic regulator activity and localization. USP7 also promotes carcinogenesis through aberrant activation of the Wnt signalling pathway and stabilization of HIF-1α. These findings have shown that USP7 may induce tumour progression and be a therapeutic target. Together with interest in developing USP7 as a target, several studies have defined new protein interactions and the regulatory networks within which USP7 functions. In this review, we focus on the protein interactions of USP7 that are most important for its cancer-associated roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahood Al-Eidan
- School of Biological Sciences, B85 Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yihua Wang
- School of Biological Sciences, B85 Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Paul Skipp
- School of Biological Sciences, B85 Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Rob M. Ewing
- School of Biological Sciences, B85 Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
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27
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Fragment-to-lead tailored in silico design. DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY. TECHNOLOGIES 2021; 40:44-57. [PMID: 34916022 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) emerged as a disruptive technology and became established during the last two decades. Its rationality and low entry costs make it appealing, and the numerous examples of approved drugs discovered through FBDD validate the approach. However, FBDD still faces numerous challenges. Perhaps the most important one is the transformation of the initial fragment hits into viable leads. Fragment-to-lead (F2L) optimization is resource-intensive and is therefore limited in the possibilities that can be actively pursued. In silico strategies play an important role in F2L, as they can perform a deeper exploration of chemical space, prioritize molecules with high probabilities of being active and generate non-obvious ideas. Here we provide a critical overview of current in silico strategies in F2L optimization and highlight their remarkable impact. While very effective, most solutions are target- or fragment- specific. We propose that fully integrated in silico strategies, capable of automatically and systematically exploring the fast-growing available chemical space can have a significant impact on accelerating the release of fragment originated drugs.
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28
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Lange SM, Armstrong LA, Kulathu Y. Deubiquitinases: From mechanisms to their inhibition by small molecules. Mol Cell 2021; 82:15-29. [PMID: 34813758 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Deubiquitinases (DUBs) are specialized proteases that remove ubiquitin from substrates or cleave within ubiquitin chains to regulate ubiquitylation and therefore play important roles in eukaryotic biology. Dysregulation of DUBs is implicated in several human diseases, highlighting the importance of DUB function. In addition, many pathogenic bacteria and viruses encode and deploy DUBs to manipulate host immune responses and establish infectious diseases in humans and animals. Hence, therapeutic targeting of DUBs is an increasingly explored area that requires an in-depth mechanistic understanding of human and pathogenic DUBs. In this review, we summarize the multiple layers of regulation that control autoinhibition, activation, and substrate specificity of DUBs. We discuss different strategies to inhibit DUBs and the progress in developing selective small-molecule DUB inhibitors. Finally, we propose a classification system of DUB inhibitors based on their mode of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven M Lange
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation & Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Lee A Armstrong
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation & Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Yogesh Kulathu
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation & Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
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29
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LaPlante G, Zhang W. Targeting the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System for Cancer Therapeutics by Small-Molecule Inhibitors. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3079. [PMID: 34203106 PMCID: PMC8235664 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13123079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a critical regulator of cellular protein levels and activity. It is, therefore, not surprising that its dysregulation is implicated in numerous human diseases, including many types of cancer. Moreover, since cancer cells exhibit increased rates of protein turnover, their heightened dependence on the UPS makes it an attractive target for inhibition via targeted therapeutics. Indeed, the clinical application of proteasome inhibitors in treatment of multiple myeloma has been very successful, stimulating the development of small-molecule inhibitors targeting other UPS components. On the other hand, while the discovery of potent and selective chemical compounds can be both challenging and time consuming, the area of targeted protein degradation through utilization of the UPS machinery has seen promising developments in recent years. The repertoire of proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), which employ E3 ligases for the degradation of cancer-related proteins via the proteasome, continues to grow. In this review, we will provide a thorough overview of small-molecule UPS inhibitors and highlight advancements in the development of targeted protein degradation strategies for cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel LaPlante
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada;
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada;
- CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, MaRS Centre West Tower, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G1M1, Canada
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30
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Pawge G, Khatik GL. p53 regulated senescence mechanism and role of its modulators in age-related disorders. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 190:114651. [PMID: 34118220 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Multiple co-morbidities are associated with age, and there is a need for the broad-spectrum drug to prevent multiple regimens that may cause an adverse effect in the geriatric population. Cellular senescence is a primary mechanism for ageing in various tissues. p53, a tumor suppressor protein, plays a significant role in forming DNA damage foci and post different stress responses. DNA damage foci can be transient or persistent that can progress to DNA-SCARS inducing senescence. p53 also plays a role in apoptosis and negative regulation of SASP. Few upstream targets like FOXO4, MDM2, MDM4, USP7 control the availability of p53 for apoptosis. Hence, the senolytic therapies, modulating p53 upstream targets, can be a good approach for preventing age-related disorders. This review discusses the insights on the role of p53 in the formation of DNA-SCARS, various upstream target proteins, and pathways involved in p53 regulation. Further, the review aimed to include recently discovered small molecules acting on these upstream targets, and those can be modified using medicinal chemistry approaches to give successful senotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girija Pawge
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research- Raebareli, New Transit Campus, Bijnor-Sisendi Road, Sarojini Nagar, Near CRPF Base Camp, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226301, India
| | - Gopal L Khatik
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research- Raebareli, New Transit Campus, Bijnor-Sisendi Road, Sarojini Nagar, Near CRPF Base Camp, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226301, India.
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31
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Small molecules as tools for functional assessment of deubiquitinating enzyme function. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:1090-1100. [PMID: 34089649 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are a largely understudied and untapped resource in the toolkit of protein degradation functionalities. They comprise a large repertoire of enzymes that remove ubiquitin from substrates in a variety of cellular and pathophysiological contexts, and have enormous potential for research and clinical use. It is only within the last 5 years that potent, selective, and well-characterized small-molecule inhibitors of DUBs have been described. These compounds are now being used to study the biological roles of DUBs. Here, we describe downstream applications of small-molecule inhibitors for studying DUBs and provide a framework for future studies. We highlight recent examples of using these inhibitors to confirm and explore the role of these enzymes in both normal and pathological contexts. These studies represent the first steps in the burgeoning field of pharmacological and chemoproteomic studies of DUBs, which will be critical for the continued advancement of DUB field.
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32
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Advances in the Development Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase (USP) Inhibitors. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094546. [PMID: 33925279 PMCID: PMC8123678 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitylation and deubiquitylation are reversible protein post-translational modification (PTM) processes involving the regulation of protein degradation under physiological conditions. Loss of balance in this regulatory system can lead to a wide range of diseases, such as cancer and inflammation. As the main members of the deubiquitinases (DUBs) family, ubiquitin-specific peptidases (USPs) are closely related to biological processes through a variety of molecular signaling pathways, including DNA damage repair, p53 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathways. Over the past decade, increasing attention has been drawn to USPs as potential targets for the development of therapeutics across diverse therapeutic areas. In this review, we summarize the crucial roles of USPs in different signaling pathways and focus on advances in the development of USP inhibitors, as well as the methods of screening and identifying USP inhibitors.
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33
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Lu J, Zhao H, Yu C, Kang Y, Yang X. Targeting Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 7 (USP7) in Cancer: A New Insight to Overcome Drug Resistance. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:648491. [PMID: 33967786 PMCID: PMC8101550 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.648491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemoresistance is one of the leading causes for the failure of tumor treatment. Hence, it is necessary to study further and understand the potential mechanisms of tumor resistance to design and develop novel anti-tumor drugs. Post-translational modifications are critical for proteins’ function under physiological and pathological conditions, among which ubiquitination is the most common one. The protein degradation process mediated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system is the most well-known function of ubiquitination modification. However, ubiquitination also participates in the regulation of many other biological processes, such as protein trafficking and protein-protein interaction. A group of proteins named deubiquitinases can hydrolyze the isopeptide bond and disassemble the ubiquitin-protein conjugates, thus preventing substrate proteins form degradation or other outcomes. Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is one of the most extensively studied deubiquitinases. USP7 exhibits a high expression signature in various malignant tumors, and increased USP7 expression often indicates the poor tumor prognosis, suggesting that USP7 is a marker of tumor prognosis and a potential drug target for anti-tumor therapy. In this review, we first discussed the structure and function of USP7. Further, we summarized the underlying mechanisms by which tumor cells develop resistance to anti-tumor therapies, provided theoretical support for targeting USP7 to overcome drug resistance, and some inspiration for the design and development of USP7 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiabin Lu
- Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - He Zhao
- Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Caini Yu
- Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Kang
- Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaochun Yang
- Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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34
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Caplin MJ, Foley DJ. Emergent synthetic methods for the modular advancement of sp 3-rich fragments. Chem Sci 2021; 12:4646-4660. [PMID: 34168751 PMCID: PMC8179648 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc00161b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragment-based drug discovery is an important and increasingly reliable technology for the delivery of clinical candidates. Notably, however, sp3-rich fragments are a largely untapped resource in molecular discovery, in part due to the lack of general and suitably robust chemical methods available to aid their development into higher affinity lead and drug compounds. This Perspective describes the challenges associated with developing sp3-rich fragments, and succinctly highlights recent advances in C(sp3)-H functionalisations of high potential value towards advancing fragment hits by 'growing' functionalised rings and chains from unconventional, carbon-centred vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max J Caplin
- School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury Christchurch New Zealand
| | - Daniel J Foley
- School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury Christchurch New Zealand
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35
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Li P, Liu Y, Yang H, Liu HM. Design, synthesis, biological evaluation and structure-activity relationship study of quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives as novel USP7 inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 216:113291. [PMID: 33684824 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Recent research has indicated that the abnormal expression of the deubiquitinase USP7 induces tumorigenesis via multiple cell pathways, and in particular, the p53-MDM2-USP7 pathway is well understood. USP7 is emerging as a promising target for cancer therapy. However, there are limited reports on USP7 inhibitors. Here we report design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives as potent USP7 inhibitors. Our results indicated that the compounds C9 and C19 exhibited the greatest potency against the USP7 catalytic domain, with IC50 values of 4.86 μM and 1.537 μM, respectively. Ub-AMC assays further confirmed IC50 values of 5.048 μM for C9 and 0.595 μM for C19. MTT assays indicated that gastric cancer MGC-803 cells were more sensitive to these compounds than BGC-823 cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that C9 restricted cancer cell growth at the G0/G1 and S phases and inhibited the proliferation and clone formation of MGC-803 cells. Further biochemical experiments indicated that C9 decreased the MDM2 protein level and increased the levels of the tumour suppressors p53 and p21 in a dose-dependent manner. Docking studies predicted that solvent exposure of the side chains of C9 and C19 would uniquely form hydrogen bonds with Met407 of USP7. Additionally, C9 exhibited a remarkable anticancer effect in a zebrafish gastric cancer MGC-803 cell model. Our results demonstrated that quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives were suitable as leads for the development of novel USP7 inhibitors and especially for anti-gastric cancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
| | - Ying Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
| | - Hua Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China.
| | - Hong-Min Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China.
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36
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Diethelm-Varela B. Using NMR Spectroscopy in the Fragment-Based Drug Discovery of Small-Molecule Anticancer Targeted Therapies. ChemMedChem 2020; 16:725-742. [PMID: 33236493 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Against the challenge of providing personalized cancer care, the development of targeted therapies stands as a promising approach. The discovery of these agents can benefit from fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) methods that help guide ligand design and provide key structural information on the targets of interest. In particular, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a promising biophysical tool in fragment discovery due to its detection capabilities and versatility. This review provides an overview of FBDD, describes the basis of NMR-based fragment screening, summarizes some exciting technical advances reported over the past decades, and closes with a discussion of selected case studies where this technique has been used as part of drug discovery campaigns to produce lead compounds towards the design of anti-cancer targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Diethelm-Varela
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, 20 Penn St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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37
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Discovery of USP7 small-molecule allosteric inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2020; 30:127471. [PMID: 32781219 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.127471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ubiquitin specific protease-7 (USP7) is considered an attractive target for cancer therapy by promoting degradation of the tumor suppressor p53 and negatively affecting the immune response to tumors. However, the development of selective non-covalent USP7 inhibitors has proven challenging. In this work we report the NMR characterization of a weak binder from SPR screening of an in-house fragment library which reveals that it binds to the allosteric palm site of the catalytic domain. Molecular modeling combined with 1HNMR saturation transfer difference and NOESY experiments enabled structure-based design of additional compounds showing IC50 values in the low-micromolar range with good selectivity over the closest homolog USP47. The most potent analogue represents a promising starting point for the development of novel, selective USP7 inhibitors.
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38
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Emwas AH, Szczepski K, Poulson BG, Chandra K, McKay RT, Dhahri M, Alahmari F, Jaremko L, Lachowicz JI, Jaremko M. NMR as a "Gold Standard" Method in Drug Design and Discovery. Molecules 2020; 25:E4597. [PMID: 33050240 PMCID: PMC7594251 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25204597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying disease models at the molecular level is vital for drug development in order to improve treatment and prevent a wide range of human pathologies. Microbial infections are still a major challenge because pathogens rapidly and continually evolve developing drug resistance. Cancer cells also change genetically, and current therapeutic techniques may be (or may become) ineffective in many cases. The pathology of many neurological diseases remains an enigma, and the exact etiology and underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown. Viral infections spread and develop much more quickly than does the corresponding research needed to prevent and combat these infections; the present and most relevant outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, which originated in Wuhan, China, illustrates the critical and immediate need to improve drug design and development techniques. Modern day drug discovery is a time-consuming, expensive process. Each new drug takes in excess of 10 years to develop and costs on average more than a billion US dollars. This demonstrates the need of a complete redesign or novel strategies. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) has played a critical role in drug discovery ever since its introduction several decades ago. In just three decades, NMR has become a "gold standard" platform technology in medical and pharmacology studies. In this review, we present the major applications of NMR spectroscopy in medical drug discovery and development. The basic concepts, theories, and applications of the most commonly used NMR techniques are presented. We also summarize the advantages and limitations of the primary NMR methods in drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul-Hamid Emwas
- Core Labs, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kacper Szczepski
- Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; (K.S.); (B.G.P.); (K.C.); (L.J.)
| | - Benjamin Gabriel Poulson
- Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; (K.S.); (B.G.P.); (K.C.); (L.J.)
| | - Kousik Chandra
- Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; (K.S.); (B.G.P.); (K.C.); (L.J.)
| | - Ryan T. McKay
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2W2, Canada;
| | - Manel Dhahri
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Taibah University, Yanbu El-Bahr 46423, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Fatimah Alahmari
- Nanomedicine Department, Institute for Research and Medical, Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU), Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Lukasz Jaremko
- Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; (K.S.); (B.G.P.); (K.C.); (L.J.)
| | - Joanna Izabela Lachowicz
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Università di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Mariusz Jaremko
- Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; (K.S.); (B.G.P.); (K.C.); (L.J.)
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Abstract
A large-scale screening campaign has yielded dozens of crystal structures of small molecule fragments that bind to the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. The global research community is encouraged to pursue these as drug discovery starting points for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Erlanson
- Frontier Medicines Corporation, 151 Oyster Point Blvd., 2nd Floor, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA.
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40
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Ohol YM, Sun MT, Cutler G, Leger PR, Hu DX, Biannic B, Rana P, Cho C, Jacobson S, Wong ST, Sanchez J, Shah N, Pookot D, Abraham B, Young K, Suthram S, Marshall LA, Bradford D, Kozon N, Han X, Okano A, Maung J, Colas C, Schwarz J, Wustrow D, Brockstedt DG, Kassner PD. Novel, Selective Inhibitors of USP7 Uncover Multiple Mechanisms of Antitumor Activity In Vitro and In Vivo. Mol Cancer Ther 2020; 19:1970-1980. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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41
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Valles GJ, Bezsonova I, Woodgate R, Ashton NW. USP7 Is a Master Regulator of Genome Stability. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:717. [PMID: 32850836 PMCID: PMC7419626 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic alterations, including DNA mutations and chromosomal abnormalities, are primary drivers of tumor formation and cancer progression. These alterations can endow cells with a selective growth advantage, enabling cancers to evade cell death, proliferation limits, and immune checkpoints, to metastasize throughout the body. Genetic alterations occur due to failures of the genome stability pathways. In many cancers, the rate of alteration is further accelerated by the deregulation of these processes. The deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin specific protease 7 (USP7) has recently emerged as a key regulator of ubiquitination in the genome stability pathways. USP7 is also deregulated in many cancer types, where deviances in USP7 protein levels are correlated with cancer progression. In this work, we review the increasingly evident role of USP7 in maintaining genome stability, the links between USP7 deregulation and cancer progression, as well as the rationale of targeting USP7 in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle J Valles
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Irina Bezsonova
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Roger Woodgate
- Laboratory of Genomic Integrity, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Nicholas W Ashton
- Laboratory of Genomic Integrity, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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42
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Levy JN, Alegre-Requena JV, Liu R, Paton RS, McNally A. Selective Halogenation of Pyridines Using Designed Phosphine Reagents. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:11295-11305. [PMID: 32469220 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c04674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Halopyridines are key building blocks for synthesizing pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and ligands for metal complexes, but strategies to selectively halogenate pyridine C-H precursors are lacking. We designed a set of heterocyclic phosphines that are installed at the 4-position of pyridines as phosphonium salts and then displaced with halide nucleophiles. A broad range of unactivated pyridines can be halogenated, and the method is viable for late-stage halogenation of complex pharmaceuticals. Computational studies indicate that C-halogen bond formation occurs via an SNAr pathway, and phosphine elimination is the rate-determining step. Steric interactions during C-P bond cleavage account for differences in reactivity between 2- and 3-substituted pyridines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey N Levy
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Juan V Alegre-Requena
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Renrong Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Robert S Paton
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Andrew McNally
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
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43
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Wu HQ, Baker D, Ovaa H. Small molecules that target the ubiquitin system. Biochem Soc Trans 2020; 48:479-497. [PMID: 32196552 PMCID: PMC7200645 DOI: 10.1042/bst20190535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic life depends upon the interplay between vast networks of signaling pathways composed of upwards of 109-1010 proteins per cell. The integrity and normal operation of the cell requires that these proteins act in a precise spatial and temporal manner. The ubiquitin system is absolutely central to this process and perturbation of its function contributes directly to the onset and progression of a wide variety of diseases, including cancer, metabolic syndromes, neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmunity, inflammatory disorders, infectious diseases, and muscle dystrophies. Whilst the individual components and the overall architecture of the ubiquitin system have been delineated in some detail, how ubiquitination might be successfully targeted, or harnessed, to develop novel therapeutic approaches to the treatment of disease, currently remains relatively poorly understood. In this review, we will provide an overview of the current status of selected small molecule ubiquitin system inhibitors. We will further discuss the unique challenges of targeting this ubiquitous and highly complex machinery, and explore and highlight potential ways in which these challenges might be met.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Qiu Wu
- Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - David Baker
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Huib Ovaa
- Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
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44
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Leger PR, Hu DX, Biannic B, Bui M, Han X, Karbarz E, Maung J, Okano A, Osipov M, Shibuya GM, Young K, Higgs C, Abraham B, Bradford D, Cho C, Colas C, Jacobson S, Ohol YM, Pookot D, Rana P, Sanchez J, Shah N, Sun M, Wong S, Brockstedt DG, Kassner PD, Schwarz JB, Wustrow DJ. Discovery of Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable Inhibitors of USP7 with In Vivo Antitumor Activity. J Med Chem 2020; 63:5398-5420. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Paul R. Leger
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Dennis X. Hu
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Berenger Biannic
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Minna Bui
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Xinping Han
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Emily Karbarz
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Jack Maung
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Akinori Okano
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Maksim Osipov
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Grant M. Shibuya
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Kyle Young
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Christopher Higgs
- Schrödinger, 120 West 45th Street, New York, New York 10036, United States
| | - Betty Abraham
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Delia Bradford
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Cynthia Cho
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Christophe Colas
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Scott Jacobson
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Yamini M. Ohol
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Deepa Pookot
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Payal Rana
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Jerick Sanchez
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Niket Shah
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Michael Sun
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Steve Wong
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Dirk G. Brockstedt
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Paul D. Kassner
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Jacob B. Schwarz
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - David J. Wustrow
- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., 561 Eccles Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
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45
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Li P, Liu HM. Recent advances in the development of ubiquitin-specific-processing protease 7 (USP7) inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 191:112107. [PMID: 32092586 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific-processing protease 7 (USP7) is one among the several deubiquitinating enzymes gaining central attention in the current cancer research. Most recent studies have focused on illustrating how USP7 is involved in the cancer process, while few articles reported the development of small molecule USP7 inhibitors. Although some review articles dealt with USP7, they mainly focused on its physiological role and not on the development of USP7 inhibitors. In this review, we systematically summarise the structures, activities and structure-activity relationship (SAR) of small molecule USP7 inhibitors, recently disclosed in scientific articles and patents from 2000 to 2019. The binding modes of typical compounds and their interactions with USP7 are also presented, while other deubiquitinase inhibitors are described in detail. Meanwhile, we briefly introduce the biochemical and physiological functions of USP7. Finally, challenges and potential strategies in developing small molecule USP7 inhibitors are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Li
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology of Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R & D and Preclinical Safety, And School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China
| | - Hong-Min Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology of Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R & D and Preclinical Safety, And School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, China.
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46
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Schauer NJ, Magin RS, Liu X, Doherty LM, Buhrlage SJ. Advances in Discovering Deubiquitinating Enzyme (DUB) Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2019; 63:2731-2750. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan J. Schauer
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Robert S. Magin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Xiaoxi Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Laura M. Doherty
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Systems Biology and Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Sara J. Buhrlage
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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47
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Wertz IE, Murray JM. Structurally-defined deubiquitinase inhibitors provide opportunities to investigate disease mechanisms. DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY. TECHNOLOGIES 2019; 31:109-123. [PMID: 31200854 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The Ubiquitin/Proteasome System comprises an essential cellular mechanism for regulated protein degradation. Ubiquitination may also promote the assembly of protein complexes that initiate intracellular signaling cascades. Thus, proper regulation of substrate protein ubiquitination is essential for maintaining normal cellular physiology. Deubiquitinases are the class of enzymes responsible for removing ubiquitin modifications from target proteins and have been implicated in regulating human disease. As such, deubiquitinases are now recognized as emerging drug targets. Small molecule deubiquitinase inhibitors have been developed; among those, inhibitors for the deubiquitinases USP7 and USP14 are the best-characterized given that they are structurally validated. In this review we discuss the normal physiological roles of the USP7 and USP14 deubiquitinases as well as the pathological conditions associated with their dysfunction, with a focus on oncology and neurodegenerative diseases. We also review structural biology of USP7 and USP14 enzymes and the characterization of their respective inhibitors, highlighting the various molecular mechanisms by which these deubiquitinases may be functionally inhibited. Finally, we summarize the cellular and in vivo studies performed using the structurally-validated USP7 and USP14 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid E Wertz
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, Inc. 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, 94080, USA; Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, Inc. 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, 94080, USA.
| | - Jeremy M Murray
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech, Inc. 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, 94080, USA.
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48
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Georges A, Coyaud E, Marcon E, Greenblatt J, Raught B, Frappier L. USP7 Regulates Cytokinesis through FBXO38 and KIF20B. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2724. [PMID: 30804394 PMCID: PMC6389929 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39368-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitin specific protease 7 (USP7 or HAUSP) is known to regulate a variety of cellular processes by binding and deubiquitylating specific target proteins. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of its interactions and functions, we used affinity purification coupled to mass spectrometry to profile USP7 interactions. This revealed a novel interaction with FBXO38, a poorly characterized F-box protein. We showed that USP7 stabilizes FBXO38 dependent on its catalytic activity by protecting FBXO38 from proteasomal degradation. We used a BioID approach to profile the protein interactions (and putative functions) of FBXO38, revealing an interaction with KIF20B, a Kinesin-6 protein required for efficient cytokinesis. FBXO38 was shown to function independently from an SCF complex to stabilize KIF20B. Consequently, depletion of either FBXO38 or USP7 led to dramatic decreases in KIF20B levels and KIF20B at the midbody, which were manifested in cytokinetic defects. Furthermore, cytokinetic defects associated with USP7 silencing were rescued by restoring FBXO38 or KIF20B. The results indicate a novel mechanism of regulating cytokinesis through USP7 and FBXO38.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Georges
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Etienne Coyaud
- The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Edyta Marcon
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jack Greenblatt
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Brian Raught
- The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1L7, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lori Frappier
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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49
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USP7: Structure, substrate specificity, and inhibition. DNA Repair (Amst) 2019; 76:30-39. [PMID: 30807924 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2019.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Turnover of cellular proteins is regulated by Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS). Components of this pathway, including the proteasome, ubiquitinating enzymes and deubiquitinating enzymes, are highly specialized and tightly regulated. In this mini-review we focus on the de-ubiquitinating enzyme USP7, and summarize latest advances in understanding its structure, substrate specificity and relevance to human cancers. There is increasing interest in UPS components as targets for cancer therapy and here we also overview the recent progress in the development of small molecule inhibitors that target USP7.
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50
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From Discovery to Bedside: Targeting the Ubiquitin System. Cell Chem Biol 2018; 26:156-177. [PMID: 30554913 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2018.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2018] [Revised: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The ubiquitin/proteasome system is a primary conduit for selective intracellular protein degradation. Since its discovery over 30 years ago, this highly regulated system continues to be an active research area for drug discovery that is exemplified by several approved drugs. Here we review compounds in preclinical testing, clinical trials, and approved drugs, with the aim of highlighting innovative discoveries and breakthrough therapies that target the ubiquitin system.
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