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Frazier CL, Deb D, Weeks AM. Engineered reactivity of a bacterial E1-like enzyme enables ATP-driven modification of protein C termini. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.13.593989. [PMID: 38798401 PMCID: PMC11118369 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.13.593989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
In biological systems, ATP provides an energetic driving force for peptide bond formation, but protein chemists lack tools that emulate this strategy. Inspired by the eukaryotic ubiquitination cascade, we developed an ATP-driven platform for C-terminal activation and peptide ligation based on E. coli MccB, a bacterial ancestor of ubiquitin-activating (E1) enzymes that natively catalyzes C-terminal phosphoramidate bond formation. We show that MccB can act on non-native substrates to generate an O-AMPylated electrophile that can react with exogenous nucleophiles to form diverse C-terminal functional groups including thioesters, a versatile class of biological intermediates that have been exploited for protein semisynthesis. To direct this activity towards specific proteins of interest, we developed the Thioesterification C-terminal Handle (TeCH)-tag, a sequence that enables high-yield, ATP-driven protein bioconjugation via a thioester intermediate. By mining the natural diversity of the MccB family, we developed two additional MccB/TeCH-tag pairs that are mutually orthogonal to each other and to the E. coli system, facilitating the synthesis of more complex bioconjugates. Our method mimics the chemical logic of peptide bond synthesis that is widespread in biology for high-yield in vitro manipulation of protein structure with molecular precision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara L. Frazier
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53706
| | - Debashrito Deb
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53706
| | - Amy M. Weeks
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI, USA 53706
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
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Li X, Hu S, Cai Y, Liu X, Luo J, Wu T. Revving the engine: PKB/AKT as a key regulator of cellular glucose metabolism. Front Physiol 2024; 14:1320964. [PMID: 38264327 PMCID: PMC10804622 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1320964] [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: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Glucose metabolism is of critical importance for cell growth and proliferation, the disorders of which have been widely implicated in cancer progression. Glucose uptake is achieved differently by normal cells and cancer cells. Even in an aerobic environment, cancer cells tend to undergo metabolism through glycolysis rather than the oxidative phosphorylation pathway. Disordered metabolic syndrome is characterized by elevated levels of metabolites that can cause changes in the tumor microenvironment, thereby promoting tumor recurrence and metastasis. The activation of glycolysis-related proteins and transcription factors is involved in the regulation of cellular glucose metabolism. Changes in glucose metabolism activity are closely related to activation of protein kinase B (PKB/AKT). This review discusses recent findings on the regulation of glucose metabolism by AKT in tumors. Furthermore, the review summarizes the potential importance of AKT in the regulation of each process throughout glucose metabolism to provide a theoretical basis for AKT as a target for cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Li
- General Practice Medical Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuying Hu
- General Practice Medical Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yaoting Cai
- General Practice Medical Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xuelian Liu
- General Practice Medical Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Luo
- General Practice Medical Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tao Wu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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3
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Xue T, Fei S, Gu J, Li N, Zhang P, Liu X, Thompson PR, Zhang X. Inhibiting MEK1 R189 citrullination enhances the chemosensitivity of docetaxel to multiple tumour cells. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220246. [PMID: 37778380 PMCID: PMC10542448 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance is still a big challenge for cancer patients. We previously demonstrated that inhibiting peptidylarginine deiminase 2 (PADI2) enzyme activity with Cl-amine increases the efficacy of docetaxel (Doc) on tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells with PADI2 expression. However, it is not clear whether this effect applies to other tumour cells. Here, we collected four types of tumour cells with different PADIs expression and fully evaluated the inhibitory effect of the combination of PADIs inhibitor (BB-Cla) and Doc in vitro and in vivo on tumour cell growth. Results show that inhibiting PADIs combined with Doc additively inhibits tumour cell growth across the four tumour cells. PADI2-catalysed citrullination of MEK1 Arg 189 exists in the four tumour cells, and blocking the function of MEK1 Cit189 promotes the anti-tumour effect of Doc in these tumour cells. Further analysis shows that inhibiting MEK1 Cit189 decreases the expression of cancer cell stemness factors and helps prevent cancer cell stemness maintenance. Importantly, this combined treatment can partially restore the sensitivity of chemotherapy-resistant cells to docetaxel or cisplatin in tumour cells. Thus, our study provides an experimental basis for the combined therapeutic approaches using docetaxel- and PADIs inhibitors-based strategies in tumour treatment. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'The virtues and vices of protein citrullination'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng Xue
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Shujia Fei
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Nan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Pengxue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoqiu Liu
- College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, People's Republic of China
| | - Paul R Thompson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Xuesen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
- College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, People's Republic of China
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Zhang M, Zhang Z, Tian X, Zhang E, Wang Y, Tang J, Zhao J. NEDD4L in human tumors: regulatory mechanisms and dual effects on anti-tumor and pro-tumor. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1291773. [PMID: 38027016 PMCID: PMC10666796 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1291773] [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: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumorigenesis and tumor development are closely related to the abnormal regulation of ubiquitination. Neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated 4-like (NEDD4L), an E3 ubiquitin ligase critical to the ubiquitination process, plays key roles in the regulation of cancer stem cells, as well as tumor cell functions, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and tumor drug resistance, by controlling subsequent protein degradation through ubiquitination. NEDD4L primarily functions as a tumor suppressor in several tumors but also plays an oncogenic role in certain tumors. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the relevant signaling pathways of NEDD4L in tumors, the regulatory mechanisms of its upstream regulatory molecules and downstream substrates, and the resulting functional alterations. Overall, therapeutic strategies targeting NEDD4L to treat cancer may be feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhenyong Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xin Tian
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Enchong Zhang
- Department of Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yichun Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jun Tang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jianzhu Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Paneque A, Fortus H, Zheng J, Werlen G, Jacinto E. The Hexosamine Biosynthesis Pathway: Regulation and Function. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14040933. [PMID: 37107691 PMCID: PMC10138107 DOI: 10.3390/genes14040933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) produces uridine diphosphate-N-acetyl glucosamine, UDP-GlcNAc, which is a key metabolite that is used for N- or O-linked glycosylation, a co- or post-translational modification, respectively, that modulates protein activity and expression. The production of hexosamines can occur via de novo or salvage mechanisms that are catalyzed by metabolic enzymes. Nutrients including glutamine, glucose, acetyl-CoA, and UTP are utilized by the HBP. Together with availability of these nutrients, signaling molecules that respond to environmental signals, such as mTOR, AMPK, and stress-regulated transcription factors, modulate the HBP. This review discusses the regulation of GFAT, the key enzyme of the de novo HBP, as well as other metabolic enzymes that catalyze the reactions to produce UDP-GlcNAc. We also examine the contribution of the salvage mechanisms in the HBP and how dietary supplementation of the salvage metabolites glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine could reprogram metabolism and have therapeutic potential. We elaborate on how UDP-GlcNAc is utilized for N-glycosylation of membrane and secretory proteins and how the HBP is reprogrammed during nutrient fluctuations to maintain proteostasis. We also consider how O-GlcNAcylation is coupled to nutrient availability and how this modification modulates cell signaling. We summarize how deregulation of protein N-glycosylation and O-GlcNAcylation can lead to diseases including cancer, diabetes, immunodeficiencies, and congenital disorders of glycosylation. We review the current pharmacological strategies to inhibit GFAT and other enzymes involved in the HBP or glycosylation and how engineered prodrugs could have better therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of diseases related to HBP deregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alysta Paneque
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Harvey Fortus
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Julia Zheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Guy Werlen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Estela Jacinto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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Adelakun N, Parrish J, Chu N. Analyzing protein posttranslational modifications using enzyme-catalyzed expressed protein ligation. Methods Enzymol 2023; 682:319-350. [PMID: 36948706 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Expressed protein ligation (EPL) allows for the attachment of a synthetic peptide into the N- or C-terminus of a recombinant protein fragment to generate a site-specifically modified protein with substantial yields for biochemical and biophysical studies. In this method, multiple posttranslational modifications (PTMs) can be incorporated into a synthetic peptide containing an N-terminal Cysteine, which selectively reacts with a protein C-terminal thioester to afford an amide bond formation. However, the requirement of a Cysteine at the ligation site can limit EPL's potential applications. Here, we describe a method called enzyme-catalyzed EPL, which uses subtiligase to ligate protein thioesters with Cysteine-free peptides. The procedure includes generating protein C-terminal thioester and peptide, performing the enzymatic EPL reaction, and purifying the protein ligation product. We exemplify this method by generating phospholipid phosphatase PTEN with site-specific phosphorylations installed onto its C-terminal tail for biochemical assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niyi Adelakun
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, the Comprehensive Cancer Center, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jordan Parrish
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, the Comprehensive Cancer Center, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Nam Chu
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, the Comprehensive Cancer Center, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.
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Bae H, Viennet T, Park E, Chu N, Salguero A, Eck MJ, Arthanari H, Cole PA. PH domain-mediated autoinhibition and oncogenic activation of Akt. eLife 2022; 11:80148. [PMID: 35968932 PMCID: PMC9417420 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Akt is a Ser/Thr protein kinase that plays a central role in metabolism and cancer. Regulation of Akt’s activity involves an autoinhibitory intramolecular interaction between its pleckstrin homology (PH) domain and its kinase domain that can be relieved by C-tail phosphorylation. PH domain mutant E17K Akt is a well-established oncogene. Previously, we reported that the conformation of autoinhibited Akt may be shifted by small molecule allosteric inhibitors limiting the mechanistic insights from existing X-ray structures that have relied on such compounds (Chu et al., 2020). Here, we discover unexpectedly that a single mutation R86A Akt exhibits intensified autoinhibitory features with enhanced PH domain-kinase domain affinity. Structural and biochemical analysis uncovers the importance of a key interaction network involving Arg86, Glu17, and Tyr18 that controls Akt conformation and activity. Our studies also shed light on the molecular basis for E17K Akt activation as an oncogenic driver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hwan Bae
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Thibault Viennet
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States
| | - Eunyoung Park
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States
| | - Nam Chu
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, United States
| | - Antonieta Salguero
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, United States
| | - Michael J Eck
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States
| | - Haribabu Arthanari
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Philip A Cole
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
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