1
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Fortner A, Chera A, Tanca A, Bucur O. Apoptosis regulation by the tyrosine-protein kinase CSK. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1078180. [PMID: 36578781 PMCID: PMC9792154 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1078180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
C-terminal Src kinase (CSK) is a cytosolic tyrosine-protein kinase with an important role in regulating critical cellular decisions, such as cellular apoptosis, survival, proliferation, cytoskeletal organization and many others. Current knowledge on the CSK mechanisms of action, regulation and functions is still at an early stage, most of CSK's known actions and functions being mediated by the negative regulation of the SRC family of tyrosine kinases (SFKs) through phosphorylation. As SFKs play a vital role in apoptosis, cell proliferation and survival regulation, SFK inhibition by CSK has a pro-apoptotic effect, which is mediated by the inhibition of cellular signaling cascades controlled by SFKs, such as the MAPK/ERK, STAT3 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Abnormal functioning of CSK and SFK activation can lead to diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular and neurological manifestations. This review describes apoptosis regulation by CSK, CSK inhibition of the SFKs and further explores the clinical relevance of CSK in important pathologies, such as cancer, autoimmune, autoinflammatory, neurologic diseases, hypertension and HIV/AIDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andra Fortner
- Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, Bucharest, Romania,Medical School, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexandra Chera
- Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, Bucharest, Romania,Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Antoanela Tanca
- Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, Bucharest, Romania,Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania,*Correspondence: Octavian Bucur, ; Antoanela Tanca,
| | - Octavian Bucur
- Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, Bucharest, Romania,Viron Molecular Medicine Institute, Boston, MA, United States,*Correspondence: Octavian Bucur, ; Antoanela Tanca,
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2
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Lieser RM, Li Q, Chen W, Sullivan MO. Incorporation of Endosomolytic Peptides with Varying Disruption Mechanisms into EGFR-Targeted Protein Conjugates: The Effect on Intracellular Protein Delivery and EGFR Specificity in Breast Cancer Cells. Mol Pharm 2022; 19:661-673. [PMID: 35040326 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.1c00788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Intracellular delivery of protein therapeutics remains a significant challenge limiting the majority of clinically available protein drugs to extracellular targets. Strategies to deliver proteins to subcellular compartments have traditionally relied on cell-penetrating peptides, which can drive enhanced internalization but exhibit unreliable activity and are rarely able to target specific cells, leading to off-target effects. Moreover, few design rules exist regarding the relative efficacy of various endosomal escape strategies in proteins. Accordingly, we developed a simple fusion modification approach to incorporate endosomolytic peptides onto epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted protein conjugates and performed a systematic comparison of the endosomal escape efficacy, mechanism of action, and capacity to maintain EGFR-targeting specificity of conjugates modified with four different endosomolytic sequences of varying modes of action (Aurein 1.2, GALA, HA2, and L17E). Use of the recently developed Gal8-YFP assay indicated that the fusion of each endosomolytic peptide led to enhanced endosomal disruption. Additionally, the incorporation of each endosomolytic peptide increased the half-life of the internalized protein and lowered lysosomal colocalization, further supporting the membrane-disruptive capacity. Despite this, only EGFR-targeted conjugates modified with Aurein 1.2 or GALA maintained EGFR specificity. These results thus demonstrated that the choice of endosomal escape moiety can substantially affect targeting capability, cytotoxicity, and bioactivity and provided important new insights into endosomolytic peptide selection for the design of targeted protein delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Lieser
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Qirun Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Wilfred Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Millicent O Sullivan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
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3
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Beheshtirouy S, Mirzaei F, Eyvazi S, Tarhriz V. Recent Advances in Therapeutic Peptides for Breast Cancer Treatment. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2021; 22:74-88. [PMID: 33208071 DOI: 10.2174/1389203721999201117123616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous malignancy and is the second leading cause of mortality among women around the world. Increasing the resistance to anti-cancer drugs in breast cancer cells persuades researchers to search the novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of this malignancy. Among the novel methods, therapeutic peptides that target and disrupt tumor cells have been of great interest. Therapeutic peptides are short amino acid monomer chains with high specificity to bind and modulate a protein interaction of interest. Several advantages of peptides, such as specific binding on tumor cells surface, low molecular weight, and low toxicity on normal cells, make the peptides appealing therapeutic agents against solid tumors, particularly breast cancer. Also, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) describes therapeutic peptides as a suitable candidate for the treatment of drug-resistant breast cancer. In this review, we attempt to review the different therapeutic peptides against breast cancer cells that can be used in the treatment and diagnosis of the malignancy. Meanwhile, we presented an overview of peptide vaccines that have been developed for the treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samad Beheshtirouy
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Imam Reza Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Farhad Mirzaei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Shirin Eyvazi
- Department of Biology, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Vahideh Tarhriz
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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4
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McNeill SM, Giles NM, Preston D, Jones PP, Crowley JD, Giles GI. Quadruply Stranded Metallo-Supramolecular Helicate [Pd 2(hextrz) 4] 4+ Acts as a Molecular Mimic of Cytolytic Peptides. Chem Res Toxicol 2020; 33:1822-1834. [PMID: 32347099 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
[Pd2(hextrz)4]4+ is a quadruply stranded helicate, a novel bioinorganic complex designed to mimic the structure and function of proteins due to its high stability and supramolecular size. We have previously reported that [Pd2(hextrz)4]4+ exhibited cytotoxicity toward a range of cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 3 to 10 μM. Here we demonstrate that [Pd2(hextrz)4]4+ kills cells by forming pores within the cell membrane, a mechanism of cell death analogous to the naturally occurring cytolytic peptides. [Pd2(hextrz)4]4+ induced cell death is characterized by an initial influx of Ca2+, followed by nuclear condensation and mitochondrial swelling. This is accompanied by progressive cell membrane damage that results in the formation of large blebs at the cell surface. This allows the efflux of molecules from the cell leading to loss of cell viability. These data suggest that it may be possible to design metallo-supramolecular complexes to mimic the cytotoxic action of pore forming proteins and peptides and so provide a new class of drug to treat cancer, autoimmune disorders, and microbial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M McNeill
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Niroshini M Giles
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Dan Preston
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Peter P Jones
- Department of Physiology and HeartOtago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - James D Crowley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Gregory I Giles
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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5
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Vaezi Z, Bortolotti A, Luca V, Perilli G, Mangoni ML, Khosravi-Far R, Bobone S, Stella L. Aggregation determines the selectivity of membrane-active anticancer and antimicrobial peptides: The case of killerFLIP. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2019; 1862:183107. [PMID: 31678022 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2019.183107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Host defense peptides selectively kill bacterial and cancer cells (including those that are drug-resistant) by perturbing the permeability of their membranes, without being significantly toxic to the host. Coulombic interactions between these cationic and amphipathic peptides and the negatively charged membranes of pathogenic cells contribute to the selective toxicity. However, a positive charge is not sufficient for selectivity, which can be achieved only by a finely tuned balance of electrostatic and hydrophobic driving forces. A common property of amphipathic peptides is the formation of aggregated structures in solution, but the role of this phenomenon in peptide activity and selectivity has received limited attention. Our data on the anticancer peptide killerFLIP demonstrate that aggregation strongly increases peptide selectivity, by reducing the effective peptide hydrophobicity and thus the affinity towards membranes composed of neutral lipids (like the outer layer of healthy eukaryotic cell membranes). Aggregation is therefore a useful tool to modulate the selectivity of membrane active peptides and peptidomimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Vaezi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Bortolotti
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Perilli
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Roya Khosravi-Far
- BiomaRx Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sara Bobone
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Stella
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
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6
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Zhang G, Luk BT, Hamidy M, Zhang L, Spector SA. Induction of a Na +/K +-ATPase-dependent form of autophagy triggers preferential cell death of human immunodeficiency virus type-1-infected macrophages. Autophagy 2018; 14:1359-1375. [PMID: 29962265 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2018.1476014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Although antiretroviral therapy is highly effective in suppressing human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV) replication, treatment has failed to eliminate viral reservoirs and discontinuation of treatment results in viral reactivation. Here, we demonstrate that peptides Tat-vFLIP-α2 and Tat-Beclin 1/BECN1 which have been shown to induce a Na+/K+-ATPase- and a macroautophagy/autophagy-dependent form of cell death, autosis, can preferentially kill HIV-infected macrophages while preventing virological rebound. To improve bioavailability and drug delivery, Tat-vFLIP-α2 was encapsulated into biodegradable PLGA (poly lactic-co-glycolic acid)-lipid-PEG (polyethylene glycol) nanoparticles for long-lasting intracellular delivery. After a single dose of NP-vFLIP-α2, HIV-infected macrophages were preferentially killed in a dose-dependent manner compared to uninfected or untreated HIV-infected cells with complete inhibition of HIV infection at 10 μM of peptide. HIV-infected macrophages treated with NP-vFLIP-α2 exhibited increased markers of autophagy including LC3B lipidation, SQSTM1/p62 degradation and Na+/K+-ATPase expression compared to untreated uninfected or infected cells. Moreover, the increased cell death observed in HIV-infected cells was not altered by treatment with bafilomycin A1 (BAF) or the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK, but could be reversed following treatment with the Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitor, digoxin, or knockdown of ATG5 or ATG7. NP-vFLIP-α2 induced preferential killing was also detected in HIV-infected macrophages under antiretroviral suppression without inducing viral reactivation. Additionally, we found that Na+/K+-ATPase was upregulated in HIV-infected cells, which enhanced NP-vFLIP-α2 induced cell death. These findings provide a novel strategy to eradicate HIV-infected macrophages by selectively killing infected cells through the induction of Na+/K+-ATPase dependent autophagy, while preventing reactivation of virus and new infection of uninfected bystander cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Zhang
- a Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics , University of California San Diego , La Jolla , CA , USA
| | - Brian T Luk
- b Department of NanoEngineering and Moores Cancer Center , University of California San Diego , La Jolla , CA , USA
| | - Morcel Hamidy
- a Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics , University of California San Diego , La Jolla , CA , USA
| | - Liangfang Zhang
- b Department of NanoEngineering and Moores Cancer Center , University of California San Diego , La Jolla , CA , USA
| | - Stephen A Spector
- a Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics , University of California San Diego , La Jolla , CA , USA.,c Division of Infectious Diseases , Rady Children's Hospital , San Diego , CA , USA
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7
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Zielonka J, Sikora A, Hardy M, Ouari O, Vasquez-Vivar J, Cheng G, Lopez M, Kalyanaraman B. Mitochondria-Targeted Triphenylphosphonium-Based Compounds: Syntheses, Mechanisms of Action, and Therapeutic and Diagnostic Applications. Chem Rev 2017; 117:10043-10120. [PMID: 28654243 PMCID: PMC5611849 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 911] [Impact Index Per Article: 130.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondria are recognized as one of the most important targets for new drug design in cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases. Currently, the most effective way to deliver drugs specifically to mitochondria is by covalent linking a lipophilic cation such as an alkyltriphenylphosphonium moiety to a pharmacophore of interest. Other delocalized lipophilic cations, such as rhodamine, natural and synthetic mitochondria-targeting peptides, and nanoparticle vehicles, have also been used for mitochondrial delivery of small molecules. Depending on the approach used, and the cell and mitochondrial membrane potentials, more than 1000-fold higher mitochondrial concentration can be achieved. Mitochondrial targeting has been developed to study mitochondrial physiology and dysfunction and the interaction between mitochondria and other subcellular organelles and for treatment of a variety of diseases such as neurodegeneration and cancer. In this Review, we discuss efforts to target small-molecule compounds to mitochondria for probing mitochondria function, as diagnostic tools and potential therapeutics. We describe the physicochemical basis for mitochondrial accumulation of lipophilic cations, synthetic chemistry strategies to target compounds to mitochondria, mitochondrial probes, and sensors, and examples of mitochondrial targeting of bioactive compounds. Finally, we review published attempts to apply mitochondria-targeted agents for the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacek Zielonka
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
- Free Radical Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
- Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
| | - Adam Sikora
- Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, ul. Wroblewskiego 15, 93-590 Lodz, Poland
| | - Micael Hardy
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, ICR, UMR 7273, 13013 Marseille, France
| | - Olivier Ouari
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, ICR, UMR 7273, 13013 Marseille, France
| | - Jeannette Vasquez-Vivar
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
- Free Radical Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
| | - Gang Cheng
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
- Free Radical Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
| | - Marcos Lopez
- Translational Biomedical Research Group, Biotechnology Laboratories, Cardiovascular Foundation of Colombia, Carrera 5a No. 6-33, Floridablanca, Santander, Colombia, 681003
- Graduate Program of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Calle 4B No. 36-00, Cali, Colombia, 760032
| | - Balaraman Kalyanaraman
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
- Free Radical Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
- Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
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8
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The development of activatable lytic peptides for targeting triple negative breast cancer. Cell Death Discov 2017; 3:17037. [PMID: 29263848 PMCID: PMC5629628 DOI: 10.1038/cddiscovery.2017.37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytolytic peptides are an emerging class of promising cancer therapeutics shown to overcome drug resistance. They eliminate cancer cells via disruption of the phospholipid bilayer of cell membranes, a mechanism that differentiates it from traditional treatments. However, applications of lytic peptides via systematic administration are hampered by nonspecific toxicity. Here, we describe activatable, masked lytic peptides that are conjugated with anionic peptides via a cleavable linker sensitive to matrix metalloproteinases (Ac-w-βA-e8-XPLG*LAG-klUklUkklUklUk-NH2; lower case letters in the sequences represent D-amino-acids, U=Aib, α-aminoisobutyric acid, *cleavage site). The peptides were activated upon being introduced into the triple negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, which overexpresses secreted matrix metalloproteinases, to selectively cleave the peptide linker. Our results indicate that the activatable design could be applied to improve the targeting ability of lytic peptides.
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9
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Development of a lytic peptide derived from BH3-only proteins. Cell Death Discov 2016; 2:16008. [PMID: 27551502 PMCID: PMC4979451 DOI: 10.1038/cddiscovery.2016.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Revised: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite great advances in cancer therapy, drug resistance is a difficult hurdle to overcome that requires development of anticancer agents with novel and effective modes of action. In a number of studies, lytic peptides have shown remarkable ability to eliminate cancer cells through a different way from traditional treatments. Lytic peptides are positively charged, amphiphilic, and are efficient at binding and disrupting the negatively charged cell membrane of cancer cells. In this study, we described the anticancer properties of a lytic peptide that was developed on the basis of the alignment of amphiphilic BH3 peptides. Our results demonstrated that the positive charge and conformation constraint were favourable for efficient cancer cell elimination. Artificial BCL-2 homology 3 peptides (ABH3) exhibited effective anticancer effects against a series of cancer cell lines in vitro and in HeLa human cervical tumour xenografts in vivo. ABH3 induced cell death in an apoptosis-independent manner through the lytic properties of the peptide that caused disruption of cell membrane. Our results showed that charge tuning and conformation constraining in a lytic peptide could be applied to optimise the anticancer activity of lytic peptides. These results also suggest that ABH3 may be a promising beginning for the development of additional lytic peptides as anticancer reagents.
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10
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Farsinejad S, Gheisary Z, Ebrahimi Samani S, Alizadeh AM. Mitochondrial targeted peptides for cancer therapy. Tumour Biol 2015; 36:5715-25. [DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-3719-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
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11
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Bucur O, Gaidos G, Yatawara A, Pennarun B, Rupasinghe C, Roux J, Andrei S, Guo B, Panaitiu A, Pellegrini M, Mierke DF, Khosravi-Far R. A novel caspase 8 selective small molecule potentiates TRAIL-induced cell death. Sci Rep 2015; 5:9893. [PMID: 25962125 PMCID: PMC4426715 DOI: 10.1038/srep09893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant soluble TRAIL and agonistic antibodies against TRAIL receptors (DR4 and DR5) are currently being created for clinical cancer therapy, due to their selective killing of cancer cells and high safety characteristics. However, resistance to TRAIL and other targeted therapies is an important issue facing current cancer research field. An attractive strategy to sensitize resistant malignancies to TRAIL-induced cell death is the design of small molecules that target and promote caspase 8 activation. For the first time, we describe the discovery and characterization of a small molecule that directly binds caspase 8 and enhances its activation when combined with TRAIL, but not alone. The molecule was identified through an in silico chemical screen for compounds with affinity for the caspase 8 homodimer's interface. The compound was experimentally validated to directly bind caspase 8, and to promote caspase 8 activation and cell death in single living cells or population of cells, upon TRAIL stimulation. Our approach is a proof-of-concept strategy leading to the discovery of a novel small molecule that not only stimulates TRAIL-induced apoptosis in cancer cells, but may also provide insights into the structure-function relationship of caspase 8 homodimers as putative targets in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavian Bucur
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Gabriel Gaidos
- Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Achani Yatawara
- Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Bodvael Pennarun
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Jérémie Roux
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stefan Andrei
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bingqian Guo
- Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | | | | | - Dale F. Mierke
- Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Roya Khosravi-Far
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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12
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A conjugate of the lytic peptide Hecate and gallic acid: structure, activity against cervical cancer, and toxicity. Amino Acids 2015; 47:1433-43. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-015-1980-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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13
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Fu A, Tang R, Hardie J, Farkas M, Rotello VM. Promises and pitfalls of intracellular delivery of proteins. Bioconjug Chem 2014; 25:1602-8. [PMID: 25133522 PMCID: PMC4166028 DOI: 10.1021/bc500320j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 231] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2014] [Revised: 08/10/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The direct delivery of functional proteins into the cell cytosol is a key issue for protein therapy, with many current strategies resulting in endosomal entrapment. Protein delivery to the cytosol is challenging due to the high molecular weight and the polarity of therapeutic proteins. Here we review strategies for the delivery of proteins into cells, including cell-penetrating peptides, virus-like particles, supercharged proteins, nanocarriers, polymers, and nanoparticle-stabilized nanocapsules. The advantages and disadvantages of these approaches including cytosolar delivery are compared and contrasted, with promising pathways forward identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ailing Fu
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- School
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Rui Tang
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Joseph Hardie
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Michelle
E. Farkas
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Vincent M. Rotello
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
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14
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Bucur O, Stancu AL, Muraru MS, Melet A, Petrescu SM, Khosravi-Far R. PLK1 is a binding partner and a negative regulator of FOXO3 tumor suppressor. Discoveries (Craiova) 2014; 2:e16. [PMID: 26280018 PMCID: PMC4535815 DOI: 10.15190/d.2014.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
FOXO family members (FOXOs: FOXO1, FOXO3, FOXO4 and FOXO6) are important transcription factors and tumor suppressors controlling cell homeostasis and cell fate. They are characterized by an extraordinary functional diversity, being involved in regulation of cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis, DNA damage response, oxidative detoxification, cell differentiation and stem cell maintenance, cell metabolism, angiogenesis, cardiac and other organ's development, aging, and other critical cellular processes. FOXOs are tightly regulated by reversible phosphorylation, ubiquitination, acetylation and methylation. Interestingly, the known kinases phosphorylate only a small percentage of the known or predicted FOXOs phosphorylation sites, suggesting that additional kinases that phosphorylate and control FOXOs activity exist. In order to identify novel regulators of FOXO3, we have employed a proteomics screening strategy. Using HeLa cancer cell line and a Tandem Affinity Purification followed by Mass Spectrometry analysis, we identified several proteins as binding partners of FOXO3. Noteworthy, Polo Like Kinase 1 (PLK1) proto-oncogene was one of the identified FOXO3 binding partners. PLK1 plays a critical role during cell cycle (G2-M transition and all phases of mitosis) and in maintenance of genomic stability. Our experimental results presented in this manuscript demonstrate that FOXO3 and PLK1 exist in a molecular complex through most of the phases of the cell cycle, with a higher occurrence in the G2-M cell cycle phases. PLK1 induces translocation of FOXO3 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and suppresses FOXO3 activity, measured by the decrease in the pro-apoptotic Bim protein levels and in the cell cycle inhibitor protein p27. Furthermore, PLK1 can directly phosphorylate FOXO3 in an in vitro kinase assay. These results present the discovery of PLK1 proto-oncogene as a binding partner and a negative regulator of FOXO3 tumor suppressor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavian Bucur
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andreea Lucia Stancu
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Sinziana Muraru
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Roya Khosravi-Far
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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