Dehydroalanine-based diubiquitin activity probes

Efficient synthetic methods for α,β-dehydroamino acids as useful and environmentally benign building blocks in biological and materials science

Both natural and unnatural amino acids, peptides, and proteins are widely recognized as green and sustainable organic chemicals, not only in the field of biological sciences but also in materials science. It has been discovered that artificially designed unnatural peptides and proteins exhibit advanced properties in medical and materials science. In this context, the development of precise chemical modification methods for amino acids and peptides is acknowledged as an important research project in the field of organic synthesis. While a wide variety of modification methods for amino acid residues have been developed to artificially modify peptides and proteins, the representative methods for modifying amino acid residues have traditionally relied on the nucleophilic properties of the functionalities on the residues. In this context, the development of different modification methods using an umpolung-like approach by utilizing the electrophilic nature of amino acid derivatives appears to be very attractive. One of the promising electrophilic amino acid compounds for realizing important modification methods of amino acid derivatives is α,β-dehydroamino acids, which possess an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl structure. This review article summarizes methods for the preparation of α,β-dehydroamino acids derived from natural and unnatural amino acid derivatives. The utilities of α,β-dehydroamino acid derivatives, including peptides and proteins containing dehydroalanine units, in bioconjugations are also discussed.

A cell-permeable Ub-Dha probe for profiling E1-E2-E3 enzymes in live cells

Activity-based ubiquitin probes (Ub-ABPs) have recently been developed as effective tools for studying the capabilities of E1-E2-E3 enzymes, but most of them can only be used in cell lysates. Here, we report the first cell-penetrating Ub-Dha probes based on thiazolidine-protected cysteines, which enable successful delivery into cells confirmed by a fluorophore at the N-terminus of Ub and live-cell fluorescence microscopy. A total of 18 E1-E2-E3 enzymes in live cells were labelled and enriched in combination with label-free quantification (LFQ) mass spectrometry. This work provided a new cell-penetrating Ub tool for studying the activity and function of Ub-related enzymes.

Cocrystallization of ubiquitin-deubiquitinase complexes through disulfide linkage

Structural characterization of the recognition of ubiquitin (Ub) by deubiquitinases (DUBs) has largely relied on covalent complexation of the DUB through its catalytic cysteine with a Ub C-terminal electrophile. The Ub electrophiles are accessed through intein chemistry in conjunction with chemical synthesis. Here, it was asked whether DUB-Ub covalent complexes could instead be accessed by simpler disulfide chemistry using a Ub cysteine mutant in which the last glycine has been replaced with a cysteine. The Ub cysteine mutant displayed a wide variability in disulfide formation across a panel of eukaryotic and prokaryotic DUBs, with some showing no detectable reaction while others robustly produced a disulfide complex. Using this approach, two disulfide-linked ubiquitin-bound complexes were crystallized, one involving the Legionella pneumophila effector SdeA DUB and the other involving the Orientia effector OtDUB. These DUBs had previously been crystallized in Ub-bound forms using the C-terminal electrophile strategy and noncovalent complexation, respectively. While the disulfide-linked SdeA DUB-Ub complex crystallized as expected, in the OtDUB complex the disulfide bond to the Ub mutant involved a cysteine that differed from the catalytic cysteine. Disulfide formation with the SdeA DUB catalytic cysteine was accompanied by local distortion of the helix carrying the active-site cysteine, whereas OtDUB reacted with the Ub mutant using a surface-exposed cysteine.

The semisynthesis of site-specifically modified histones and histone-based probes of chromatin-modifying enzymes

Histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) on lysine residues, including methylation, ubiquitylation, and sumoylation, have been studied using semisynthetic histones reconstituted into nucleosomes. These studies have revealed the in vitro effects of histone PTMs on chromatin structure, gene transcription, and biochemical crosstalk. However, the dynamic and transient nature of most enzyme-chromatin interactions poses a challenge toward identifying specific enzyme-substrate interactions. To address this, we report methodology for the synthesis of two ubiquitylated activity-based probe histones, H2BK120ub(G76C) and H2BK120ub(G76Dha), that may be used to trap enzyme active-site cysteines as disulfides or in the form of thioether linkages, respectively. The general synthetic method we report for converting ubiquitylated nucleosomes into activity-based probes may also be applied to other histone sites of ubiquitylation in order to facilitate the identification of enzyme-chromatin interactions.

Acyl azide modification of the ubiquitin C-terminus enables DUB capture

Deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) abnormalities are associated with many diseases. Previous attempts have been made to introduce various chemical groups such as alkynes, unsaturated olefins and alkyl halides to the C-terminus of ubiquitin (Ub) to capture the active-site cysteine residue in DUBs for structural and biochemical studies. Here, we find that a Ub C-terminal acyl azide can capture DUBs, thereby forming thioester bonds in buffers and cell lysates. This finding not only makes ubiquitin acyl azide a chemical probe for capturing DUBs, but also extends the utility of azide groups in biological applications.

Installation of electrophiles onto the C-terminus of recombinant ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins

Ubiquitin and related ubiquitin-like proteins (Ubls) influence a variety of cellular pathways including protein degradation and response to viral infections. The chemical interrogation of these complex enzymatic cascades relies on the use of tailored activity-based probes (ABPs). Herein, we report the preparation of ABPs for ubiquitin, NEDD8, SUMO2 and ISG15 by selective acyl hydrazide modification. Acyl hydrazides of Ubls are readily accessible by direct hydrazinolysis of Ubl-intein fusions. The suppressed pK _a and superior nucleophilicity of the acyl hydrazides enables their selective modification at acidic pH with carboxylic acid anhydrides. The modification proceeds rapidly and efficiently, and does not require chromatographic purification or refolding of the probes. We modified Ubl-NHNH₂ with various thiol-reactive electrophiles that couple selectively with E2s and DUBs. The ease of modification enables the rapid generation and screening of ubiquitin probes with various C-terminal truncations and warheads for the selection of the most suitable combination for a given E2 or DUB.

State of the art in (semi-)synthesis of Ubiquitin- and Ubiquitin-like tools

Protein ubiquitination is a key post-translational modification in regulating many fundamental cellular processes and dysregulation of these processes can give rise to a vast array of diseases. Unravelling the molecular mechanisms of ubiquitination hence is an important area in current ubiquitin research with as aim to understand this enigmatic process. The complexity of ubiquitin (Ub) signaling arises from the large variety of Ub conjugates, where Ub is attached to other Ub proteins, Ub-like proteins, and protein substrates. The chemical preparation of such Ub conjugates in high homogeneity and in adequate amounts contributes greatly to the deciphering of Ub signaling. The strength of these chemically synthesized conjugates lies in the chemo-selectivity in which they can be created that are sometimes difficult to obtain using biochemical methodology. In this review, we will discuss the progress in the chemical protein synthesis of state-of-the-art Ub and Ub-like chemical probes, their unique concepts and related discoveries in the ubiquitin field.

Met1-specific motifs conserved in OTUB subfamily of green plants enable rice OTUB1 to hydrolyse Met1 ubiquitin chains

Linear (Met1-linked) ubiquitination is involved inflammatory and innate immune signaling. Previous studies have characterized enzymes regulating the addition and removal of this modification in mammalian systems. However, only a few plant-derived deubiquitinases targeting Met1-linked ubiquitin chains have been reported and their mechanism of action remains elusive. Here, using a dehydroalanine-bearing Met1-diubiquitin suicide probe, we discover OTUB1 from Oryza sativa (OsOTUB1) as a Met1-linked ubiquitin chain-targeting deubiquitinase. By solving crystal structures of apo OsOTUB1 and an OsOTUB1/Met1-diubiquitin complex, we find that Met1 activity is conferred by Met1-specific motifs in the S1’ pocket of OsOTUB1. Large-scale sequence alignments and hydrolysis experiments provide evidence that these motifs are a general determinant of Met1 activity in the OTUB subfamily across species. Analysis of the species distribution of OTUBs capable of hydrolysing Met1-linked ubiquitin chains shows that this activity is conserved in green plants (Viridiplantae) and does not exist in metazoans, providing insights into the evolutionary differentiation between primitive plants and animals.

Deubiquitinases (DUBs) targeting Met1-linked ubiquitin chains have important functions in mammals but are barely studied in plants. Here, the authors identify rice OTUB1 as a Met1-targeting DUB, characterize the structural determinants of this activity, and show that these features are conserved in green plants.

Linkage-Specific Synthesis of Di-ubiquitin Probes Enabled by the Incorporation of Unnatural Amino Acid ThzK

Di-ubiquitin (diUB) conjugates of defined linkages are useful tools for probing the functions of UB ligases, UB-binding proteins and deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) in coding, decoding and editing the signals carried by the UB chains. Here we developed an efficient method for linkage-specific synthesis of diUB probes based on the incorporation of the unnatural amino acid (UAA) Nϵ -L-thiaprolyl-L-Lys (L-ThzK) into UB for ligation with another UB at a defined Lys position. The diUB formed by the UAA-mediated ligation reaction has a G76C mutation on the side of donor UB for conjugation with E2 and E3 enzymes or undergoing dethiolation to generate a covalent trap for DUBs. The development of UAA mutagenesis for diUB synthesis provides an easy route for preparing linkage-specific UB-based probes to decipher the biological signals mediated by protein ubiquitination.

Combining flavin photocatalysis with parallel synthesis: a general platform to optimize peptides with non-proteinogenic amino acids

Most peptide drugs contain non-proteinogenic amino acids (NPAAs), born out through extensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies using solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Synthetically laborious and expensive to manufacture, NPAAs also can have poor coupling efficiencies allowing only a small fraction to be sampled by conventional SPPS. To gain general access to NPAA-containing peptides, we developed a first-generation platform that merges contemporary flavin photocatalysis with parallel synthesis to simultaneously make, purify, quantify, and even test up to 96 single-NPAA peptide variants via the unique combination of boronic acids and a dehydroalanine residue in a peptide. We showcase the power of our newly minted platform to introduce NPAAs of diverse chemotypes-aliphatic, aromatic, heteroaromatic-directly into peptides, including 15 entirely new residues, and to evolve a simple proteinogenic peptide into an unnatural inhibitor of thrombin by non-classical peptide SAR.

Site-Specific Conversion of Cysteine in a Protein to Dehydroalanine Using 2-Nitro-5-thiocyanatobenzoic Acid

Dehydroalanine exists natively in certain proteins and can also be chemically made from the protein cysteine. As a strong Michael acceptor, dehydroalanine in proteins has been explored to undergo reactions with different thiolate reagents for making close analogues of post-translational modifications (PTMs), including a variety of lysine PTMs. The chemical reagent 2-nitro-5-thiocyanatobenzoic acid (NTCB) selectively modifies cysteine to form S-cyano-cysteine, in which the S-Cβ bond is highly polarized. We explored the labile nature of this bond for triggering E2 elimination to generate dehydroalanine. Our results indicated that when cysteine is at the flexible C-terminal end of a protein, the dehydroalanine formation is highly effective. We produced ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins with a C-terminal dehydroalanine residue with high yields. When cysteine is located at an internal region of a protein, the efficiency of the reaction varies with mainly hydrolysis products observed. Dehydroalanine in proteins such as ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins can serve as probes for studying pathways involving ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins and it is also a starting point to generate proteins with many PTM analogues; therefore, we believe that this NTCB-triggered dehydroalanine formation method will find broad applications in studying ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like protein pathways and the functional annotation of many PTMs in proteins such as histones.

Tools for the discovery of biopolymer producing cysteine relays

Cysteine relays, where a protein or small molecule is transferred multiple times via transthiolation, are central to the production of biological polymers. Enzymes that utilise relay mechanisms display broad substrate specificity and are readily engineered to produce new polymers. In this review, I discuss recent advances in the discovery, engineering and biophysical characterisation of cysteine relays. I will focus on eukaryotic ubiquitin (Ub) cascades and prokaryotic polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthesis. These evolutionarily distinct processes employ similar chemistry and are readily modified for biotechnological applications. Both processes have been studied intensively for decades, yet recent studies suggest we do not fully understand their mechanistic diversity or plasticity. I will discuss the important role that activity-based probes (ABPs) and other chemical tools have had in identifying and delineating Ub cysteine-relays and the potential for ABPs to be applied to PHA synthases. Finally, I will offer a personal perspective on the potential of engineering cysteine-relays for non-native polymer production.

Site-selective modification of peptide backbones

Exciting developments in the site-selective modification of peptide backbones are allowing an outstanding fine-tuning of peptide conformation, folding ability, and physico-chemical and biological properties.

On-Demand Detachment of Succinimides on Cysteine to Facilitate (Semi)Synthesis of Challenging Proteins

The maleimide group is a widely used reagent for bioconjugation of peptides, proteins, and oligonucleotides employing Michael addition and Diels–Alder cycloaddition reactions. However, the utility of this functionality in chemical synthesis of peptides and proteins remains unexplored. We report, for the first time that Pd^II complexes can mediate the efficient removal of various succinimide derivatives in aqueous conditions. Succinimide removal by Pd^II was applied for the synthesis of two ubiquitin activity-based probes (Ub-ABPs) employing solid phase chemical ligation (SPCL). SPCL was achieved through a sequential three segment ligation on a polymer support via a maleimide anchor. The obtained probes successfully formed the expected covalent complexes with deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) USP2 and USP7, highlighting the use of our new method for efficient preparation of unique synthetic proteins. Importantly, we demonstrate the advantages of our newly developed method for the protection and deprotection of native cysteine with a succinimide group in a peptide fragment derived from thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) obtained via intein based expression to enable ligation/desulfurization and subsequent disulfide bond formation in a one-pot process.

Development and application of ubiquitin-based chemical probes

Protein ubiquitination regulates almost every process in eukaryotic cells. The study of the many enzymes involved in the ubiquitination system and the development of ubiquitination-associated therapeutics are important areas of current research. Synthetic tools such as ubiquitin-based chemical probes have been making an increasing contribution to deciphering various biochemical components involved in ubiquitin conjugation, recruitment, signaling, and deconjugation. In the present minireview, we summarize the progress of ubiquitin-based chemical probes with an emphasis on their various structures and chemical synthesis. We discuss the utility of the ubiquitin-based chemical probes for discovering and profiling ubiquitin-dependent signaling systems, as well as the monitoring and visualization of ubiquitin-related enzymatic machinery. We also show how the probes can serve to elucidate the molecular mechanism of recognition and catalysis. Collectively, the development and application of ubiquitin-based chemical probes emphasizes the importance and utility of chemical protein synthesis in modern chemical biology.

This article reviews the design, synthesis, and application of different classes of Ub-based chemical probes.

The Ubiquitin Enigma: Progress in the Detection and Chemical Synthesis of Branched Ubiquitin Chains

Ubiquitin chains with distinct topologies play essential roles in eukaryotic cells. Recently, it was discovered that multiple ubiquitin units can be ligated to more than one lysine residue in the same ubiquitin to form diverse branched ubiquitin chains. Although there is increasing evidence implicating these branched chains in a plethora of biological functions, few mechanistic details have been elucidated. This concept article introduces the function, detection and chemical synthesis of branched ubiquitin chains; and offers some future perspective for this exciting new field.

Protein Engineering in the Ubiquitin System: Tools for Discovery and Beyond

Ubiquitin (UB) transfer cascades consisting of E1, E2, and E3 enzymes constitute a complex network that regulates a myriad of biologic processes by modifying protein substrates. Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) reverse UB modifications or trim UB chains of diverse linkages. Additionally, many cellular proteins carry UB-binding domains (UBDs) that translate the signals encoded in UB chains to target proteins for degradation by proteasomes or in autophagosomes, as well as affect nonproteolytic outcomes such as kinase activation, DNA repair, and transcriptional regulation. Dysregulation of the UB transfer pathways and malfunctions of DUBs and UBDs play causative roles in the development of many diseases. A greater understanding of the mechanism of UB chain assembly and the signals encoded in UB chains should aid in our understanding of disease pathogenesis and guide the development of novel therapeutics. The recent flourish of protein-engineering approaches such as unnatural amino acid incorporation, protein semisynthesis by expressed protein ligation, and high throughput selection by phage and yeast cell surface display has generated designer proteins as powerful tools to interrogate cell signaling mediated by protein ubiquitination. In this study, we highlight recent achievements of protein engineering on mapping, probing, and manipulating UB transfer in the cell. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The post-translational modification of proteins with ubiquitin alters the fate and function of proteins in diverse ways. Protein engineering is fundamentally transforming research in this area, providing new mechanistic insights and allowing for the exploration of concepts that can potentially be applied to therapeutic intervention.

Probing enzymatic activity - a radical approach

Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are known to have numerous important interactions with the ubiquitin cascade and their dysregulation is associated with several diseases, including cancer and neurodegeneration. They are an important class of enzyme, and activity-based probes have been developed as an effective strategy to study them. Existing activity-based probes that target the active site of these enzymes work via nucleophilic mechanisms. We present the development of latent ubiquitin-based probes that target DUBs via a site selective, photoinitiated radical mechanism. This approach differs from existing photocrosslinking probes as it requires a free active site cysteine. In contrast to existing cysteine reactive probes, control over the timing of the enzyme-probe reaction is possible as the alkene warhead is completely inert under ambient conditions, even upon probe binding. The probe's reactivity has been demonstrated against recombinant DUBs and to capture endogenous DUB activity in cell lysate. This allows more finely resolved investigations of DUBs.

Strategies to Target Specific Components of the Ubiquitin Conjugation/Deconjugation Machinery

The regulation of ubiquitination status in the cell is controlled by ubiquitin ligases acting in tandem with deubiquitinating enzymes. Ubiquitination controls many key processes in the cell from division to death making its tight regulation key to optimal cell function. Activity based protein profiling has emerged as a powerful technique to study these important enzymes. With around 100 deubiquitinating enzymes and 600 ubiquitin ligases in the human genome targeting a subclass of these enzymes or even a single enzyme is a compelling strategy to unpick this complex system. In this review we will discuss different approaches adopted, including activity-based probes centered around ubiquitin-protein, ubiquitin-peptide and mutated ubiquitin scaffolds. We examine challenges faced and opportunities presented to increase specificity in activity-based protein profiling of the ubiquitin conjugation/deconjugation machinery.

Development of Ubiquitin Tools for Studies of Complex Ubiquitin Processing Protein Machines

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Ubiquitination is one of the most extensive post-translational modifications in eukaryotes and is involved in various physiological processes such as protein degradation, autophagy, protein interaction, and protein localization. The ubiquitin (Ub)-related protein machines include Ub-activating enzymes (E1s), Ub-conjugating enzymes (E2s), Ub ligases (E3s), deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), p97, and the proteasomes. In recent years, the role of DUBs has been extensively studied and relatively well understood. On the other hand, the functional mechanisms of the other more complex ubiquitin-processing protein machines (e.g., E3, p97, and proteasomes) are still to be sufficiently well explored due to their intricate nature. One of the hurdles facing the studies of these complex protein machines is the challenge of developing tailor-designed structurally defined model substrates, which unfortunately cannot be directly obtained using recombinant technology. Consequently, the acquisition and synthesis of the ubiquitin tool molecules are essential for the elucidation of the functions and structures of the complex ubiquitin-processing protein machines. This paper aims to highlight recent studies on these protein machines based on the synthetic ubiquitin tool molecules.

Activity-Based Ubiquitin Probes for Investigation of Deubiquitinases

Ubiquitination is emerging as an important post-translational modification (PTM) for numerous cellular functions including protein degradation, DNA damage repair and tolerance, and cell cycle progression. Compared with other small-molecule modifiers found in phosphorylation, acetylation and glycosylation, ubiquitin is a small protein modifier that exists as either a single ubiquitin or a polyubiquitin chain. Furthermore, the polyubiquitin chains are formed via various linkages imparting an additional layer of specificity in cellular signaling. In order to adequately study ubiquitin signaling and particularly deubiquitination, a number of ubiquitin activity-based probes (ABPs) were developed and utilized in understanding the deubiquitinase (DUBs) function. Here, we focus on the current state of the DUB ABP development and their application in understanding DUB function and specificity for polyubiquitin chains and ubiquitinated proteins.

The Journey for the Total Chemical Synthesis of a 53 kDa Protein

Chemical protein synthesis has been proved as an efficient way to afford medium-sized proteins with high homogeneity in workable quantities for various biochemical, structural, and functional studies. In particular, chemical protein synthesis has enabled access to proteins that are difficult or impossible to prepare by molecular biology approaches, such as those with post-translational modifications and mirror-image proteins. One prominent example is related to ubiquitination, a well-known modification that mediates a variety of cellular processes (e.g., proteasomal degradation). Ubiquitination is considered as a modification that is difficult to introduce into proteins in a test tube to generate ubiquitin (Ub) conjugates with high homogeneity with respect to the chain length and the anchored Lys residue in workable quantities to perform the biochemical and biophysical studies. Chemical protein synthesis has emerged as a powerful approach to prepare Ub conjugates for studies aiming to understand ubiquitination in great detail and decipher its roles in cell processes. Nevertheless, in order to answer more challenging questions in this field, it has been clear that researchers must also prepare Ub conjugates with increased size and complexity. Employing solid-phase peptide synthesis and chemoselective ligation, chemical protein synthesis offers a powerful way to furnish polypeptides composed of 100-200 residues. However, to synthesize larger proteins such as Ub conjugates, longer and more segments are required. This on the other hand leads to difficulties related to solubility, purification, ligation, and late-stage modifications. These challenges have encouraged us to explore more practical synthetic tools to facilitate the synthesis of complex Ub conjugates. In this Account, we summarize the synthetic tools that we have developed to achieve these goals. These include (1) δ-mercaptolysine-mediated isopeptide chemical ligation, (2) chemical synthesis of Ub building blocks, (3) palladium-mediated deprotection of key side chains during protein synthesis, (4) one-pot ligation and desulfurization, and (5) improving the solubility of peptide segments. The developed chemical toolbox has been a key for our successes in the synthesis of diverse and complex Ub conjugates. In this Account, we describe our approaches for generating various Ub conjugates, including (1) the K48 tetra-Ub chain composed of 304 amino acids, (2) the ubiquitinated histones and their analogues made of >200 amino acids, (3) the di-Ub-SUMO-2 hybrid chain composed of 245 amino acids, and (4) the 53 kDa tetra-Ub-α-globin composed of 472 amino acids, which represents the largest protein composed of natural amino acids ever made using chemical protein synthesis. The last target, Flag-Ub-Ub-Ub-Myc-Ub-(HA-α-globin), was prepared in the labeled form where the proximal Ub and distal Ub in the chain were labeled with Myc and Flag tags, respectively, while the α-globin was labeled with the HA tag. Applying the tetra-Ub-α-globin in proteasomal degradation studies assisted us to shed light on the proteolytic signal and the fates of the Ub moieties in the chains. Although these developments have contributed to the synthesis of interesting and challenging targets related to Ub signaling, several other targets may enforce new synthetic challenges. Hence, there is still a need to optimize the current synthetic tools and explore novel synthetic approaches to facilitate this process.

Semisynthesis of Ubiquitin and SUMO-Rhodamine 110-Glycine through Aminolysis of Boc-Protected Thioester Counterparts

Ubiquitin (Ub)-based fluorescent reagents are crucial to explore the activity of deubiquitinases (DUBs). Ub-Rho110-G is one of the preferred tools, whereas the current synthetic route is time-consuming. Here, we report a new semisynthetic strategy to produce Ub-Rho110-G through direct aminolysis of Boc-protected Ub-Mesna using bisglycyl-rhodamine 110. We also applied this strategy to synthesize active SUMO2-Rho110-G for the first time. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that semisynthetic Ub or SUMO-Rho110-G can be effectively used for the detection of the activity of DUBs or SUMO-specific enzymes.

Synthesis of Branched Triubiquitin Active-Site Directed Probes

Active-site directed probes are powerful tools for studying the ubiquitin conjugation and deconjugation machinery. Branched ubiquitin chains have emerged as important proteasome-targeting signals for aggregation-prone proteins and cell cycle regulators. By implementing a new synthetic strategy for the electrophilic warhead, we herein report on the generation and reactivity of a series of branched triubiquitin active-site directed probes. These new tools can be used to dissect the molecular basis of branched chain assembly and disassembly.

An activity-based probe developed by a sequential dehydroalanine formation strategy targets HECT E3 ubiquitin ligases

E3 ligases play a critical role in ubiquitin (Ub) conjugation cascades, and any aberration in their activity is associated with a number of diseases. Advancement in our knowledge of understanding the roles of HECT E3s requires biochemical tools such as activity-based probes (ABPs). In this study we developed a novel dehydroalanine (Dha)-based E2-Ub ABP using a strategy that is a combination of practical hydrazide-based native chemical ligation and sequential Dha formation. The probe could be used for labeling HECT E3s not only in vitro but also in endogenous cellular contexts. Our easy-to-implement method is expected to be useful for the preparation of Dha based Ub family E2 conjugate ABPs.

Dehydroamino acids: chemical multi-tools for late-stage diversification

α,β-Dehydroamino acids (dhAAs) are noncanonical amino acids that are found in a wide array of natural products and can be easily installed into peptides and proteins. dhAAs exhibit remarkable synthetic flexibility, readily undergoing a number of reactions, such as polar and single-electron additions, transition metal catalyzed cross-couplings, and cycloadditions. Because of the relatively mild conditions required for many of these reactions, dhAAs are increasingly being used as orthogonal chemical handles for late-stage modification of biomolecules. Still, only a fraction of the chemical reactivity of dhAAs has been exploited in such biorthogonal applications. Herein, we provide an overview of the broad spectrum of chemical reactivity of dhAAs, with special emphasis on recent efforts to adapt such transformations for biomolecules such as natural products, peptides, and proteins. We also discuss examples of enzymes from natural product biosynthetic pathways that have been found to catalyze many similar reactions; these enzymes provide mild, regio- and stereoselective, biocatalytic alternatives for future development. We anticipate that the continued investigation of the innate reactivity of dhAAs will furnish a diverse portfolio dhAA-based chemistries for use in chemical biology and drug discovery.

Profiling DUBs and Ubl-specific proteases with activity-based probes

Protein (poly-)ubiquitination is a posttranslational modification that plays a key role in almost all cellular processes. It involves the installment of either single ubiquitin (Ub) moieties or one of eight different polyUb linkage types, each giving a distinct cellular outcome. Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) reverse Ub signaling by disassembly of one or multiple poly-Ub chain types and their malfunction is often associated with human disease. The Ub system displays significant crosstalk with structurally homologous ubiquitin-like proteins (Ubls), including SUMO, Nedd8, and ISG15. This can be seen with the existence of heterogeneous chains made from Ub-Ubl mixtures as well as the proteolytic cross reactivity displayed by several DUBs toward other Ubl systems. In addition, numerous pathogens have been found to encode Ub(l)-ligases and deconjugating enzymes in order to facilitate infection and fight the host immune response. Studying the activity of DUBs and Ubl-specific proteases, both human as well as pathogen-derived, gives fundamental insights into their physiological roles. Activity-based probes (ABPs) have proven to be valuable tools to achieve this, as they report on enzyme activities by making a (often irreversible) covalent complex, rather than on their relative abundance. In this chapter, we explain the potential of ABPs to assess substrate preferences, structural features, and activity of Ub and Ubl deconjugating enzymes. We further demonstrate the practical use of ABPs to (1) characterize the activity of viral proteases toward Ub and Ubls and (2) to gain more insight in the structural determinants of substrate preference of DUBs.

Evaluating enzyme activities and structures of DUBs

Ubiquitin signaling requires tight control of all aspects of protein ubiquitination, including the timing, locale, extent, and type of modification. Dysregulation of any of these signaling features can lead to severe human disease. One key mode of regulation is through the controlled removal of the ubiquitin signal by dedicated families of proteases, termed deubiquitinases. In light of their key roles in signal regulation, deubiquitinases have become a recent focus for therapeutic intervention as a means to regulate protein abundance. This work and recent discoveries of novel deubiquitinases in humans, viruses, and bacteria, provide the impetus for this chapter on methods for evaluating the activities and structures of deubiquitinases. An array of available deubiquitinase substrates for biochemical characterization are presented and their limitations as standalone tools are discussed. Methods for the determination and analysis of deubiquitinase structure are also presented, with a focus on visualizing recognition of the ubiquitin substrate.

Dithiocarbamate-inspired side chain stapling chemistry for peptide drug design

A novel peptide stapling strategy based on the dithiocarbamate chemistry linking the side chains of residues Lys(i) and Cys(i + 4) of unprotected peptides is developed.

Two major pharmacological hurdles severely limit the widespread use of small peptides as therapeutics: poor proteolytic stability and membrane permeability. Importantly, low aqueous solubility also impedes the development of peptides for clinical use. Various elaborate side chain stapling chemistries have been developed for α-helical peptides to circumvent this problem, with considerable success in spite of inevitable limitations. Here we report a novel peptide stapling strategy based on the dithiocarbamate chemistry linking the side chains of residues Lys(i) and Cys(i + 4) of unprotected peptides and apply it to a series of dodecameric peptide antagonists of the p53-inhibitory oncogenic proteins MDM2 and MDMX. Crystallographic studies of peptide–MDM2/MDMX complexes structurally validated the chemoselectivity of the dithiocarbamate staple bridging Lys and Cys at (i, i + 4) positions. One dithiocarbamate-stapled PMI derivative, ^DTCPMI, showed a 50-fold stronger binding to MDM2 and MDMX than its linear counterpart. Importantly, in contrast to PMI and its linear derivatives, the ^DTCPMI peptide actively traversed the cell membrane and killed HCT116 tumor cells in vitro by activating the tumor suppressor protein p53. Compared with other known stapling techniques, our solution-based DTC stapling chemistry is simple, cost-effective, regio-specific and environmentally friendly, promising an important new tool for the development of peptide therapeutics with improved pharmacological properties including aqueous solubility, proteolytic stability and membrane permeability.

Activity-based ubiquitin-protein probes reveal target protein specificity of deubiquitinating enzymes

Ubiquitination is an essential eukaryotic post-translational modification that regulates various cellular processes. The removal of ubiquitin from its target protein is catalyzed by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). Although it was proposed that many DUBs specifically interact and recognize ubiquitinated proteins as substrates, more direct evidence is needed to support this notion. Here we report protein-targeting activity-based DUB probes that allowed the identification of DUBs recognizing monoubiquitinated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This new class of DUB probes contain a Michael acceptor as a warhead between ubiquitin and the target protein PCNA through a linkage that mimics the native isopeptide bond. We selected two known and biologically relevant ubiquitination sites on PCNA to generate the DUB probes. This allowed us to interrogate the site-specific deubiquitination of a target protein by DUBs. DUBs were profiled in yeast cell lysates using the two Ub-PCNA DUB probes in conjunction with two control probes that contain a noncleavable linkage but no warhead. We identified yeast DUBs through pulldown coupled with quantitative mass spectrometry analysis of the pulled down proteins. Our results showed that specific yeast DUBs recognize monoubiquitinated PCNA and corroborated previous genetic study. We also identified DUBs as potential new deubiquitinase of PCNA. Remarkably, identified DUBs clearly distinguish the different modification sites on PCNA, thus supporting a high level of DUB specificity beyond the target protein identity.

Cell-Permeable Activity-Based Ubiquitin Probes Enable Intracellular Profiling of Human Deubiquitinases

Advancement in our knowledge of deubiquitinases (DUBs) and their biological functions requires biochemical tools permitting interrogation of DUB activities under physiologically relevant conditions. Activity-based DUB probes (DUB ABPs) have been widely used in investigating the function and activity of DUBs. However, most ubiquitin (Ub)-based DUB ABPs are not cell-permeable, limiting their utility to purified proteins and cell lysates. Lysis of cells usually leads to dilution of the cytoplasm and disruption of the normal cellular organization, which may alter the activity of many DUBs and DUB complexes. Here, we report a new class of cell-permeable DUB ABPs that enable intracellular DUB profiling. We used a semisynthetic approach to generate modular ubiquitin-based DUB probes containing a reactive warhead for covalent trapping of DUBs with a catalytic cysteine. We employed cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), particualrly cyclic polyarginine (cR₁₀), to deliver the DUB ABPs into cells, as confirmed using live-cell fluorescence microscopy and DUB ABPs containing a fluorophore at the C-terminus of Ub. In comparison to TAT, enhanced intacellular delivery was observed through conjugation of a cyclic polyarginine (cR₁₀) to the N-terminus of ubiquitin via a disulfide linkage. Using the new cell-permeable DUB ABPs, we carried out DUB profiling in intact HeLa cells, and identified active DUBs using immunocapture and label-free quantitative mass spectrometry. Additionally, we demonstrated that the cell-permeable DUB ABPs can be used in assessing the inhibition of DUBs by small-molecule inhibitors in intact cells. Our results indicate that cell-permeable DUB ABPs hold great promise in providing a better understanding of the cellular functions of DUBs and advancing drug discovery efforts targeting human DUBs.

How to Target Viral and Bacterial Effector Proteins Interfering with Ubiquitin Signaling

Ubiquitination is a frequently occurring and very diverse posttranslational modification influencing a wide scope of cellular processes. Ubiquitin (Ub) has the unique ability to form eight different lysine-linked polymeric chains, mixed chains and engages with ubiquitin-like (Ubl) molecules. The distinct signals evoked by specific enzymes play a crucial role in, for instance, proteasome-mediated protein degradation, cell cycle regulation, and DNA damage responses. Due to the large variety of cellular functions that this posttranslational modification influences, the enzymes that construct such Ub modifications, and subsequently controle and degrade these signals, is enormous. In this chapter, we will discuss the current state-of-the-art of activity-based probes, reporter substrates, and other relevant tools based on Ub as recognition element, to study the enzymes involved in the complex system of ubiquitination.

Palladium prompted on-demand cysteine chemistry for the synthesis of challenging and uniquely modified proteins

Organic chemistry allows for the modification and chemical preparation of protein analogues for various studies. The thiolate side chain of the Cys residue has been a key functionality in these ventures. In order to generate complex molecular targets, there is a particular need to incorporate orthogonal protecting groups of the thiolated amino acids to control the directionality of synthesis and modification site. Here, we demonstrate the tuning of palladium chemoselectivity in aqueous medium for on-demand deprotection of several Cys-protecting groups that are useful in protein synthesis and modification. These tools allow the preparation of highly complex analogues as we demonstrate in the synthesis of the copper storage protein and selectively modified peptides with multiple Cys residues. We also report the synthesis of an activity-based probe comprising ubiquitinated histone H2A and its incorporation into nucleosomes and demonstrate its reactivity with deubiquitinating enzyme to generate a covalent nucleosome-enzyme complex.

A Highly Efficient Synthesis of Polyubiquitin Chains

A robust, microwave-assisted, highly efficient, solid-phase peptide synthesis method for preparing isopeptide-linked 62-mer and 76-mer isoubiquitins and polyubiquitin is developed. The strategy avoids the use of costly resins and pseudoprolines, and the isopeptide-linked building blocks can be assembled with high initial purity within 1 day. All seven diubiquitins are successfully synthesized on a multi-milligram scale; a four-segment, three-ligation method is used to obtain a K33-/K11-linked mixed triubiquitin in excellent yield. Circular dichroism and crystallographic analyses are used to verify the structures of the well-folded, synthetic polyubiquitin chains. The facile synthetic strategy is expected to be generally applicable for the rapid synthesis of isopeptide-linked isoUbs and to pave the way for the study of longer polyubiquitin chains.

Synthesis of modified proteins via functionalization of dehydroalanine

Dehydroalanine has emerged in recent years as a non-proteinogenic residue with strong chemical utility in proteins for the study of biology. In this review we cover the several methods now available for its flexible and site-selective incorporation via a variety of complementary chemical and biological techniques and examine its reactivity, allowing both creation of modified protein side-chains through a variety of bond-forming methods (C-S, C-N, C-Se, C-C) and as an activity-based probe in its own right. We illustrate its utility with selected examples of biological and technological discovery and application.

Activity-Based Probes Developed by Applying a Sequential Dehydroalanine Formation Strategy to Expressed Proteins Reveal a Potential α-Globin-Modulating Deubiquitinase

We report a general and novel semisynthetic strategy for the preparation of ubiquitinated protein-activity-based probes on the basis of sequential dehydroalanine formation on expressed proteins. We applied this approach to construct a physiologically and therapeutically relevant ubiquitinated α-globin probe, which was used for the enrichment and proteomic identification of α-globin-modulating deubiquitinases. We found USP15 as a potential deubiquitinase for the modulation of α-globin, an excess of which aggravates β-thalassemia symptoms. This development opens new opportunities for activity-based-probe design to shed light on the important aspects underlying ubiquitination and deubiquitination in health and disease.

Chemical and semisynthetic approaches to study and target deubiquitinases

Ubiquitination is a key posttranslational modification, which affects numerous biological processes and is reversed by a class of enzymes known as deubiquitinases (DUBs). This family of enzymes cleaves mono-ubiquitin or poly-ubiquitin chains from a target protein through different mechanisms and mode of interactions with their substrates. Studying the role of DUBs in health and diseases has been a major goal for many laboratories both in academia and in industry. However, the field has been challenged by the difficulties in obtaining native substrates and novel reagents using traditional enzymatic and molecular biology approaches. Recent advancements in the synthesis and semisynthesis of proteins made it possible to prepare several unique ubiquitin conjugates to study various aspects of DUBs such as their specificities and structures. Moreover, these approaches enable the preparation of novel activity based probes and assays to monitor DUB activities in vitro and in cellular contexts. Efforts made to bring new chemical entities for the selective inhibition of DUBs based on these tools are also highlighted with selected examples.