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Chavan T, Kanabar D, Patel K, Laflamme TM, Riyazi M, Spratt DE, Muth A. Structural modification of the propyl linker of cjoc42 in combination with sulfonate ester and triazole replacements for enhanced gankyrin binding and anti-proliferative activity. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 110:117836. [PMID: 39029437 PMCID: PMC11342405 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117836] [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: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Liver cancer is a complex disease that involves various oncoproteins and the inactivation of tumor suppressor proteins (TSPs). Gankyrin is one such oncoprotein, first identified in human hepatocellular carcinoma, that is known to inactivate multiple TSPs, leading to proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells. Despite this, there has been limited development of small molecule gankyrin binders for the treatment of liver cancer. In this study, we are reporting the structure-based design of gankyrin-binding small molecules which inhibit the proliferation of HuH6 and HepG2 cells while also increasing the levels of certain TSPs, such as Rb and p53. Interestingly the first molecule to exhibit inhibition by 3D structure stabilization is seen. These results suggest a possible mechanism for small-molecule inhibition of gankyrin and demonstrate that gankyrin is a viable therapeutic target for the treatment of liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tejashri Chavan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, USA
| | - Dipti Kanabar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, USA
| | - Kinjal Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, USA
| | - Taylor M Laflamme
- Gustaf H. Carlson School of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Clark University, Worcester, MA 01610, USA
| | - Maryam Riyazi
- Gustaf H. Carlson School of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Clark University, Worcester, MA 01610, USA
| | - Donald E Spratt
- Gustaf H. Carlson School of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Clark University, Worcester, MA 01610, USA
| | - Aaron Muth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, USA.
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2
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Sun Y, Tan YJ, Lu ZZ, Li BB, Sun CH, Li T, Zhao LL, Liu Z, Zhang GM, Yao JC, Li J. Arctigenin Inhibits Liver Cancer Tumorigenesis by Inhibiting Gankyrin Expression via C/EBPα and PPARα. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:268. [PMID: 29636686 PMCID: PMC5880935 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Burdock (Arctium lappa) is a popular vegetable in China and Japan that is consumed for its general health benefits. The principal active component of burdock is arctigenin, which shows a range of bioactivities in vivo and in vitro. Here, we investigated the potential anti-tumor effects of arctigenin using two human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines, HepG2 and Hep3B, and sought to elucidate its potential mechanisms of action. Our results showed that arctigenin treatment inhibited cell growth in both HepG2 and Hep3B cell lines (IC50 of 4.74 nM for HepG2 cells, and of 59.27 nM for Hep3B cells). In addition, migration, invasion, and colony formation by HepG2 cells were significantly inhibited by arctigenin. By contrast, treatment of Hep3B cells with arctigenin did not alter these parameters. Arctigenin also significantly reduced the levels of gankyrin mRNA and protein in HepG2 cells, but not in Hep3B cells. A luciferase assay indicated that arctigenin targeted the -450 to -400 region of the gankyrin promoter. This region is also the potential binding site for both C/EBPα and PPARα, as predicted and confirmed by an online software analysis and ChIP assay. Additionally, a co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay showed that binding between C/EBPα and PPARα was increased in the presence of arctigenin. However, arctigenin did not increase the expression of C/EBPα or PPARα protein. A binding screening assay and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) were performed to identify the mechanisms by which arctigenin regulates gankyrin expression. The results suggested that arctigenin could directly increase C/EBPα binding to the gankyrin promoter (-432 to -422 region), but did not affect PPARα binding. Expression of gankyrin, C/EBPα, and PPARα were analyzed in tumor tissues of patients using real-time PCR. Both C/EBPα and PPARα showed negative correlations with gankyrin. In tumor-bearing mice, arctigenin had a significant inhibitory effect on HCC growth. In conclusion, our results suggested that arctigenin could inhibit liver cancer growth by directly recruiting C/EBPα to the gankyrin promoter. PPARα subsequently bound to C/EBPα, and both had a negative regulatory effect on gankyrin expression. This study has identified a new mechanism of action of arctigenin against liver cancer growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Sun
- Shandong New Time Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China.,State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Yu-Jun Tan
- Shandong New Time Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China.,Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation of Lunan Pharmaceutical, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Zhan-Zhao Lu
- Shandong New Time Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China.,State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Bing-Bing Li
- Shandong New Time Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China.,Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation of Lunan Pharmaceutical, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Cheng-Hong Sun
- Shandong New Time Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China.,Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation of Lunan Pharmaceutical, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Tao Li
- Shandong New Time Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China.,Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation of Lunan Pharmaceutical, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Li-Li Zhao
- Shandong New Time Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China.,State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Zhong Liu
- Shandong New Time Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China.,State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China.,Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation of Lunan Pharmaceutical, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Gui-Min Zhang
- Shandong New Time Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China.,State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China.,Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation of Lunan Pharmaceutical, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Jing-Chun Yao
- Shandong New Time Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China.,State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China.,Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation of Lunan Pharmaceutical, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Jie Li
- Shandong New Time Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China.,Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation of Lunan Pharmaceutical, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China
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3
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Wang C, Cheng L. Gankyrin as a potential therapeutic target for cancer. Invest New Drugs 2017; 35:655-661. [PMID: 28527132 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-017-0474-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Gankyrin is an oncoprotein that plays a central role in the development of cancer. Although researchers have increasingly focused on the relationships of gankyrin with carcinogenesis, metastasis and prognosis of different cancers, the molecular mechanisms are still unclear. In recent years, several interacting partners of gankyrin and cell signaling pathways regulated by gankyrin have been elucidated. In addition, accumulating evidence has indicated the contribution of microRNAs to regulating gankyrin expression in tumor cells. In this review, we summarize the major known roles of gankyrin in cancer cells and highlight the potential clinical relevance of targeting gankyrin. Graphical abstract ᅟ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chongchong Wang
- Department of Oncology, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230022, China
| | - Li Cheng
- Department of Orthopaedics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, 678 Fu Rong Road, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230601, China.
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4
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Chattopadhyay A, O’Connor CJ, Zhang F, Galvagnion C, Galloway WRJD, Tan YS, Stokes JE, Rahman T, Verma C, Spring DR, Itzhaki LS. Discovery of a small-molecule binder of the oncoprotein gankyrin that modulates gankyrin activity in the cell. Sci Rep 2016; 6:23732. [PMID: 27046077 PMCID: PMC4820706 DOI: 10.1038/srep23732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Gankyrin is an ankyrin-repeat oncoprotein whose overexpression has been implicated in the development of many cancer types. Elevated gankyrin levels are linked to aberrant cellular events including enhanced degradation of tumour suppressor protein p53, and inhibition of gankyrin activity has therefore been identified as an attractive anticancer strategy. Gankyrin interacts with several partner proteins, and a number of these protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are of relevance to cancer. Thus, molecules that bind the PPI interface of gankyrin and interrupt these interactions are of considerable interest. Herein, we report the discovery of a small molecule termed cjoc42 that is capable of binding to gankyrin. Cell-based experiments demonstrate that cjoc42 can inhibit gankyrin activity in a dose-dependent manner: cjoc42 prevents the decrease in p53 protein levels normally associated with high amounts of gankyrin, and it restores p53-dependent transcription and sensitivity to DNA damage. The results represent the first evidence that gankyrin is a "druggable" target with small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fengzhi Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | | | | | - Yaw Sing Tan
- Department of Chemistry, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
- Bioinformatics Institute (A*STAR), 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671
| | - Jamie E. Stokes
- Department of Chemistry, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Taufiq Rahman
- Department of Pharmacology, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK
| | - Chandra Verma
- Bioinformatics Institute (A*STAR), 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543
| | - David R. Spring
- Department of Chemistry, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Laura S. Itzhaki
- Department of Pharmacology, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK
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5
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Chapman AM, McNaughton BR. Synthetic Proteins Potently and Selectively Bind the Oncoprotein Gankyrin, Modulate Its Interaction with S6 ATPase, and Suppress Gankyrin/MDM2-Dependent Ubiquitination of p53. ACS Chem Biol 2015; 10:1880-6. [PMID: 25955581 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.5b00201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression of the ankyrin repeat oncoprotein gankyrin is directly linked to the onset, proliferation, and/or metastasis of many cancers. The role of gankyrin in multiple disease-relevant biochemical processes is profound. In addition to other cellular processes, gankyrin overexpression leads to decreased cellular levels of p53, through a complex that involves MDM2. Thus, inhibition of this interaction is an attractive strategy for modulating oncogenic phenotypes in gankyrin-overexpressing cells. However, the lack of well-defined, hydrophobic, small-molecule binding pockets on the putative ankyrin repeat binding face presents a challenge to traditional small-molecule drug discovery. In contrast, by virtue of their size and relatively high folding energies, synthetic gankyrin-binding proteins could, in principle, compete with physiologically relevant PPIs involving gankyrin. Previously, we showed that a shape-complementary protein scaffold can be resurfaced to bind gankyrin with moderate affinity (KD ∼6 μM). Here, we used yeast display high-throughput screening, error-prone PCR, DNA shuffling, and protein engineering to optimize this complex. The best of these proteins bind gankyrin with excellent affinity (KD ∼21 nM), selectively co-purifies with gankyrin from a complex cellular milieu, modulates an interaction between gankyrin and a physiological binding partner (S6 ATPase), and suppresses gankyrin/MDM2-dependent ubiquitination of p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex M. Chapman
- Department
of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Brian R. McNaughton
- Department
of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
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