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Wang H, Stevens T, Lu J, Roberts A, Van't Land C, Muzumdar R, Gong Z, Vockley J, Prochownik EV. Body-Wide Inactivation of the Myc-Like Mlx Transcription Factor Network Accelerates Aging and Increases the Lifetime Cancer Incidence. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2401593. [PMID: 38976573 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202401593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
The "Mlx" and "Myc" transcription factor networks cross-communicate and share many common gene targets. Myc's activity depends upon its heterodimerization with Max, whereas the Mlx Network requires that the Max-like factor Mlx associate with the Myc-like factors MondoA or ChREBP. The current work demonstrates that body-wide Mlx inactivation, like that of Myc, accelerates numerous aging-related phenotypes pertaining to body habitus and metabolism. The deregulation of numerous aging-related Myc target gene sets is also accelerated. Among other functions, these gene sets often regulate ribosomal and mitochondrial structure and function, genomic stability, and aging. Whereas "MycKO" mice have an extended lifespan because of a lower cancer incidence, "MlxKO" mice have normal lifespans and a higher cancer incidence. Like Myc, the expression of Mlx, MondoA, and ChREBP and their control over their target genes deteriorate with age in both mice and humans. Collectively, these findings underscore the importance of lifelong and balanced cross-talk between the two networks to maintain proper function and regulation of the many factors that can affect normal aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huabo Wang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201, USA
| | - Taylor Stevens
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201, USA
| | - Jie Lu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201, USA
| | - Alexander Roberts
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201, USA
| | - Clinton Van't Land
- Division of Medical Genetics, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201, USA
| | - Radhika Muzumdar
- Division of Endocrinology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201, USA
| | - Zhenwei Gong
- Division of Endocrinology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201, USA
| | - Jerry Vockley
- Division of Medical Genetics, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201, USA
| | - Edward V Prochownik
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201, USA
- The Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201, USA
- The Hillman Cancer Center of UPMC, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
- The Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, 15224, USA
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2
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Ueno T, Otani S, Date Y, Katsuma Y, Nagayoshi Y, Ito T, Ii H, Kageyama S, Nakata S, Ito K. Myc upregulates Ggct, γ-glutamylcyclotransferase to promote development of p53-deficient osteosarcoma. Cancer Sci 2024. [PMID: 38924236 DOI: 10.1111/cas.16255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma (OS) in humans is characterized by alterations in the TP53 gene. In mice, loss of p53 triggers OS development, for which c-Myc (Myc) oncogenicity is indispensable. However, little is known about which genes are targeted by Myc to promote tumorigenesis. Here, we examined the role of γ-glutamylcyclotransferase (Ggct) which is a component enzyme of the γ-glutamyl cycle essential for glutathione homeostasis, in human and mouse OS development. We found that GGCT is a poor prognostic factor for human OS, and that deletion of Ggct suppresses p53-deficient osteosarcomagenesis in mice. Myc upregulates Ggct directly by binding to the Ggct promoter, and deletion of a Myc binding site therein by genome editing attenuated the tumorigenic potential of p53-deficient OS cells. Taken together, these results show a rationale that GGCT is widely upregulated in cancer cells and solidify its suitability as a target for anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoya Ueno
- Department of Molecular Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Shohei Otani
- Department of Molecular Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yuki Date
- Department of Molecular Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yu Katsuma
- Department of Molecular Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yuma Nagayoshi
- Department of Molecular Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Tomoko Ito
- Department of Molecular Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Hiromi Ii
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Susumu Kageyama
- Department of Urology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Susumu Nakata
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kosei Ito
- Department of Molecular Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
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3
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Vogt M, Dudvarski Stankovic N, Cruz Garcia Y, Hofstetter J, Schneider K, Kuybu F, Hauck T, Adhikari B, Hamann A, Rocca Y, Grysczyk L, Martin B, Gebhardt-Wolf A, Wiegering A, Diefenbacher M, Gasteiger G, Knapp S, Saur D, Eilers M, Rosenfeldt M, Erhard F, Vos SM, Wolf E. Targeting MYC effector functions in pancreatic cancer by inhibiting the ATPase RUVBL1/2. Gut 2024:gutjnl-2023-331519. [PMID: 38821858 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-331519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The hallmark oncogene MYC drives the progression of most tumours, but direct inhibition of MYC by a small-molecule drug has not reached clinical testing. MYC is a transcription factor that depends on several binding partners to function. We therefore explored the possibility of targeting MYC via its interactome in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). DESIGN To identify the most suitable targets among all MYC binding partners, we constructed a targeted shRNA library and performed screens in cultured PDAC cells and tumours in mice. RESULTS Unexpectedly, many MYC binding partners were found to be important for cultured PDAC cells but dispensable in vivo. However, some were also essential for tumours in their natural environment and, among these, the ATPases RUVBL1 and RUVBL2 ranked first. Degradation of RUVBL1 by the auxin-degron system led to the arrest of cultured PDAC cells but not untransformed cells and to complete tumour regression in mice, which was preceded by immune cell infiltration. Mechanistically, RUVBL1 was required for MYC to establish oncogenic and immunoevasive gene expression identifying the RUVBL1/2 complex as a druggable vulnerability in MYC-driven cancer. CONCLUSION One implication of our study is that PDAC cell dependencies are strongly influenced by the environment, so genetic screens should be performed in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the auxin-degron system can be applied in a PDAC model, allowing target validation in living mice. Finally, by revealing the nuclear functions of the RUVBL1/2 complex, our study presents a pharmaceutical strategy to render pancreatic cancers potentially susceptible to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Vogt
- Cancer Systems Biology Group, Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Nevenka Dudvarski Stankovic
- Cancer Systems Biology Group, Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Yiliam Cruz Garcia
- Cancer Systems Biology Group, Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Julia Hofstetter
- Cancer Systems Biology Group, Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Schneider
- Cancer Systems Biology Group, Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Filiz Kuybu
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Theresa Hauck
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bikash Adhikari
- Cancer Systems Biology Group, Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Anton Hamann
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Yamila Rocca
- Max Planck Research Group and Institute of Systems Immunology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lara Grysczyk
- Cancer Systems Biology Group, Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Benedikt Martin
- Cancer Systems Biology Group, Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Anneli Gebhardt-Wolf
- Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Armin Wiegering
- Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Department of General, Visceral, Transplantation, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Diefenbacher
- Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC)/Institute of Lung Health and Immunity (LHI), Helmholtz Munich, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL/CPC-M), Munich, Germany
- Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Georg Gasteiger
- Max Planck Research Group and Institute of Systems Immunology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Knapp
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Dieter Saur
- Institute of Translational Cancer Research, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Eilers
- Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Florian Erhard
- Computational Systems Virology and Bioinformatics, Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Seychelle M Vos
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elmar Wolf
- Cancer Systems Biology Group, Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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4
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Yang J, Chung CI, Koach J, Liu H, Navalkar A, He H, Ma Z, Zhao Q, Yang X, He L, Mittag T, Shen Y, Weiss WA, Shu X. MYC phase separation selectively modulates the transcriptome. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024:10.1038/s41594-024-01322-6. [PMID: 38811792 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-024-01322-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Dysregulation and enhanced expression of MYC transcription factors (TFs) including MYC and MYCN contribute to the majority of human cancers. For example, MYCN is amplified up to several hundredfold in high-risk neuroblastoma. The resulting overexpression of N-myc aberrantly activates genes that are not activated at low N-myc levels and drives cell proliferation. Whether increasing N-myc levels simply mediates binding to lower-affinity binding sites in the genome or fundamentally changes the activation process remains unclear. One such activation mechanism that could become important above threshold levels of N-myc is the formation of aberrant transcriptional condensates through phase separation. Phase separation has recently been linked to transcriptional regulation, but the extent to which it contributes to gene activation remains an open question. Here we characterized the phase behavior of N-myc and showed that it can form dynamic condensates that have transcriptional hallmarks. We tested the role of phase separation in N-myc-regulated transcription by using a chemogenetic tool that allowed us to compare non-phase-separated and phase-separated conditions at equivalent N-myc levels, both of which showed a strong impact on gene expression compared to no N-myc expression. Interestingly, we discovered that only a small percentage (<3%) of N-myc-regulated genes is further modulated by phase separation but that these events include the activation of key oncogenes and the repression of tumor suppressors. Indeed, phase separation increases cell proliferation, corroborating the biological effects of the transcriptional changes. However, our results also show that >97% of N-myc-regulated genes are not affected by N-myc phase separation, demonstrating that soluble complexes of TFs with the transcriptional machinery are sufficient to activate transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjiao Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Chan-I Chung
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jessica Koach
- Departments of Neurology, Neurological Surgery, Pediatrics, and Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hongjiang Liu
- Institute for Human Genetics, Departments of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ambuja Navalkar
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hao He
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Zhimin Ma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Qian Zhao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Yang
- Institute for Human Genetics, Departments of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Liang He
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tanja Mittag
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yin Shen
- Institute for Human Genetics, Departments of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - William A Weiss
- Departments of Neurology, Neurological Surgery, Pediatrics, and Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xiaokun Shu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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5
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Ye T, Mishra AK, Banday S, Li R, Hu K, Coleman MM, Shan Y, Chowdhury SR, Zhou L, Pak ML, Simone TM, Malonia SK, Zhu LJ, Kelliher MA, Green MR. Identification of WNK1 as a therapeutic target to suppress IgH/MYC expression in multiple myeloma. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114211. [PMID: 38722741 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable hematological malignancy demanding innovative therapeutic strategies. Targeting MYC, the notorious yet traditionally undruggable oncogene, presents an appealing avenue. Here, using a genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 screen, we identify the WNK lysine-deficient protein kinase 1 (WNK1) as a regulator of MYC expression in MM cells. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of WNK1 reduces MYC expression and, further, disrupts the MYC-dependent transcriptional program. Mechanistically, WNK1 inhibition attenuates the activity of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) enhancer, thus reducing MYC transcription when this locus is translocated near the MYC locus. WNK1 inhibition profoundly impacts MM cell behaviors, leading to growth inhibition, cell-cycle arrest, senescence, and apoptosis. Importantly, the WNK inhibitor WNK463 inhibits MM growth in primary patient samples as well as xenograft mouse models and exhibits synergistic effects with various anti-MM compounds. Collectively, our study uncovers WNK1 as a potential therapeutic target in MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Ye
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
| | - Alok K Mishra
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Shahid Banday
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Kai Hu
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Madison M Coleman
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Yi Shan
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Shreya Roy Chowdhury
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Lin Zhou
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Magnolia L Pak
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Tessa M Simone
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Sunil K Malonia
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Lihua Julie Zhu
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Michelle A Kelliher
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Michael R Green
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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6
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Ellenbroek BD, Kahler JP, Evers SR, Pomplun SJ. Synthetic Peptides: Promising Modalities for the Targeting of Disease-Related Nucleic Acids. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202401704. [PMID: 38456368 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
DNA and RNA play pivotal roles in life processes by storing and transferring genetic information, modulating gene expression, and contributing to essential cellular machinery such as ribosomes. Dysregulation and mutations in nucleic acid-related processes are implicated in numerous diseases. Despite the critical impact on health of nucleic acid mutations or dysregulation, therapeutic compounds addressing these biomolecules remain limited. Peptides have emerged as a promising class of molecules for biomedical research, offering potential solutions for challenging drug targets. This review focuses on the use of synthetic peptides to target disease-related nucleic acids. We discuss examples of peptides targeting double-stranded DNA, including the clinical candidate Omomyc, and compounds designed for regulatory G-quadruplexes. Further, we provide insights into both library-based screenings and the rational design of peptides to target regulatory human RNA scaffolds and viral RNAs, emphasizing the potential of peptides in addressing nucleic acid-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sophie R Evers
- Leiden University, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Present address, Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Wintherthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
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7
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Perurena N, Situ L, Cichowski K. Combinatorial strategies to target RAS-driven cancers. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:316-337. [PMID: 38627557 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-024-00679-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Although RAS was formerly considered undruggable, various agents that inhibit RAS or specific RAS oncoproteins have now been developed. Indeed, the importance of directly targeting RAS has recently been illustrated by the clinical success of mutant-selective KRAS inhibitors. Nevertheless, responses to these agents are typically incomplete and restricted to a subset of patients, highlighting the need to develop more effective treatments, which will likely require a combinatorial approach. Vertical strategies that target multiple nodes within the RAS pathway to achieve deeper suppression are being investigated and have precedence in other contexts. However, alternative strategies that co-target RAS and other therapeutic vulnerabilities have been identified, which may mitigate the requirement for profound pathway suppression. Regardless, the efficacy of any given approach will likely be dictated by genetic, epigenetic and tumour-specific variables. Here we discuss various combinatorial strategies to treat KRAS-driven cancers, highlighting mechanistic concepts that may extend to tumours harbouring other RAS mutations. Although many promising combinations have been identified, clinical responses will ultimately depend on whether a therapeutic window can be achieved and our ability to prospectively select responsive patients. Therefore, we must continue to develop and understand biologically diverse strategies to maximize our likelihood of success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiara Perurena
- Genetics Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lisa Situ
- Genetics Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karen Cichowski
- Genetics Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Ludwig Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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8
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Bakiri L, Hasenfuss SC, Guío-Carrión A, Thomsen MK, Hasselblatt P, Wagner EF. Liver cancer development driven by the AP-1/c-Jun~Fra-2 dimer through c-Myc. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2404188121. [PMID: 38657045 PMCID: PMC11067056 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2404188121] [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: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death. HCC incidence is on the rise, while treatment options remain limited. Thus, a better understanding of the molecular pathways involved in HCC development has become a priority to guide future therapies. While previous studies implicated the Activator Protein-1 (AP-1) (Fos/Jun) transcription factor family members c-Fos and c-Jun in HCC formation, the contribution of Fos-related antigens (Fra-) 1 and 2 is unknown. Here, we show that hepatocyte-restricted expression of a single chain c-Jun~Fra-2 protein, which functionally mimics the c-Jun/Fra-2 AP-1 dimer, results in spontaneous HCC formation in c-Jun~Fra-2hep mice. Several hallmarks of human HCC, such as cell cycle dysregulation and the expression of HCC markers are observed in liver tumors arising in c-Jun~Fra-2hep mice. Tumorigenesis occurs in the context of mild inflammation, low-grade fibrosis, and Pparγ-driven dyslipidemia. Subsequent analyses revealed increased expression of c-Myc, evidently under direct regulation by AP-1 through a conserved distal 3' enhancer. Importantly, c-Jun~Fra-2-induced tumors revert upon switching off transgene expression, suggesting oncogene addiction to the c-Jun~Fra-2 transgene. Tumors escaping reversion maintained c-Myc and c-Myc target gene expression, likely due to increased c-Fos. Interfering with c-Myc in established tumors using the Bromodomain and Extra-Terminal motif inhibitor JQ-1 diminished liver tumor growth in c-Jun~Fra-2 mutant mice. Thus, our data establish c-Jun~Fra-2hep mice as a model to study liver tumorigenesis and identify the c-Jun/Fra-2-Myc interaction as a potential target to improve HCC patient stratification and/or therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Latifa Bakiri
- Laboratory Genes and Disease, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Genes, Development and Disease Group, National Cancer Research Centre, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sebastian C. Hasenfuss
- Genes, Development and Disease Group, National Cancer Research Centre, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Guío-Carrión
- Genes, Development and Disease Group, National Cancer Research Centre, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Martin K. Thomsen
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Aarhus, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Peter Hasselblatt
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Erwin F. Wagner
- Laboratory Genes and Disease, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Laboratory Genes and Disease, Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
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9
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Zhao W, Ouyang C, Huang C, Zhang J, Xiao Q, Zhang F, Wang H, Lin F, Wang J, Wang Z, Jiang B, Li Q. ELP3 stabilizes c-Myc to promote tumorigenesis. J Mol Cell Biol 2024; 15:mjad059. [PMID: 37771073 PMCID: PMC11054291 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjad059] [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: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
ELP3, the catalytic subunit of the Elongator complex, is an acetyltransferase and associated with tumor progression. However, the detail of ELP3 oncogenic function remains largely unclear. Here, we found that ELP3 stabilizes c-Myc to promote tumorigenesis in an acetyltransferase-independent manner. Mechanistically, ELP3 competes with the E3-ligase FBXW7β for c-Myc binding, resulting in the inhibition of FBXW7β-mediated ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of c-Myc. ELP3 knockdown diminishes glycolysis and glutaminolysis and dramatically retards cell proliferation and xenograft growth by downregulating c-Myc, and such effects are rescued by the reconstitution of c-Myc expression. Moreover, ELP3 and c-Myc were found overexpressed with a positive correlation in colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. Taken together, we elucidate a new function of ELP3 in promoting tumorigenesis by stabilizing c-Myc, suggesting that inhibition of ELP3 is a potential strategy for treating c-Myc-driven carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Department of Neurosurgery and Department of Neuroscience, Fujian Key Laboratory of Brain Tumors Diagnosis and Precision Treatment, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, China
| | - Cong Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Chen Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jiaojiao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Qiao Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Fengqiong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Huihui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Furong Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jinyang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Zhanxiang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery and Department of Neuroscience, Fujian Key Laboratory of Brain Tumors Diagnosis and Precision Treatment, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, China
| | - Bin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Qinxi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
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10
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Lee WG, Kim ES. Precision Oncology in Pediatric Cancer Surgery. Surg Oncol Clin N Am 2024; 33:409-446. [PMID: 38401917 DOI: 10.1016/j.soc.2023.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Pediatric precision oncology has provided a greater understanding of the wide range of molecular alterations in difficult-to-treat or rare tumors with the aims of increasing survival as well as decreasing toxicity and morbidity from current cytotoxic therapies. In this article, the authors discuss the current state of pediatric precision oncology which has increased access to novel targeted therapies while also providing a framework for clinical implementation in this unique population. The authors evaluate the targetable mutations currently under investigation-with a focus on pediatric solid tumors-and discuss the key surgical implications associated with novel targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- William G Lee
- Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 116 North Robertson Boulevard, Suite PACT 700, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA. https://twitter.com/william_ghh_lee
| | - Eugene S Kim
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 116 North Robertson Boulevard, Suite PACT 700, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
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11
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Rodrigues JM, Hollander P, Schmidt L, Gkika E, Razmara M, Kumar D, Geisler C, Grønbæk K, Eskelund CW, Räty R, Kolstad A, Sundström C, Glimelius I, Porwit A, Jerkeman M, Ek S. MYC protein is a high-risk factor in mantle cell lymphoma and identifies cases beyond morphology, proliferation and TP53/p53 - a Nordic Lymphoma Group study. Haematologica 2024; 109:1171-1183. [PMID: 37646663 PMCID: PMC10985440 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2023.283352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor MYC is a well-described oncogene with an important role in lymphomagenesis, but its significance for clinical outcome in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) remains to be determined. We performed an investigation of the expression of MYC protein in a cohort of 251 MCL patients complemented by analyses of structural aberrations and mRNA, in a sub-cohort of patients. Fourteen percent (n=35) of patients showed high MYC protein expression with >20% positive cells (MYChigh), among whom only one translocation was identified, and 86% (n=216) of patients showed low MYC protein expression. Low copy number gains of MYC were detected in ten patients, but with no correlation to MYC protein levels. However, MYC mRNA levels correlated significantly to MYC protein levels with a R2 value of 0.76. Patients with a MYChigh tumor had both an independent inferior overall survival and an inferior progression-free survival (hazard ratio [HR]=2.03, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.2-3.4 and HR=2.2, 95% CI: 1.04-4.6, respectively) when adjusted for additional high-risk features. Patients with MYChigh tumors also tended to have additional high-risk features and to be older at diagnosis. A subgroup of 13 patients had concomitant MYChigh expression and TP53/p53 alterations and a substantially increased risk of progression (HR=16.9, 95% CI: 7.4-38.3) and death (HR=7.8, 95% CI: 4.4-14.1) with an average overall survival of only 0.9 years. In summary, we found that at diagnosis a subset of MCL patients (14%) overexpressed MYC protein, and had a poor prognosis but that MYC rearrangements were rare. Tumors with concurrent MYC overexpression and TP53/p53 alterations pinpointed MCL patients with a dismal prognosis with a median overall survival of less than 3 years. We propose that MYC needs to be assessed beyond the current high-risk factors in MCL in order to identify cases in need of alternative treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter Hollander
- Cancer Immunotherapy, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala
| | | | | | - Masoud Razmara
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Akademiska University Hospital, Uppsala
| | | | | | - Kirsten Grønbæk
- Department of Hematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Biotech Research and Innovation Center (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen
| | - Christian W Eskelund
- Department of Hematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Biotech Research and Innovation Center (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen
| | - Riikka Räty
- Department of Hematology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki
| | - Arne Kolstad
- Department of Oncology, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Division Gjøvik-Lillehammer
| | - Christer Sundström
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Cancer Precision Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala
| | - Ingrid Glimelius
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Cancer Precision Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala
| | - Anna Porwit
- Division of Oncology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund
| | - Mats Jerkeman
- Division of Oncology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund
| | - Sara Ek
- Department of Immunotechnology, Lund University.
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12
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Papadimitropoulou A, Makri M, Zoidis G. MYC the oncogene from hell: Novel opportunities for cancer therapy. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 267:116194. [PMID: 38340508 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Cancer comprises a heterogeneous disease, characterized by diverse features such as constitutive expression of oncogenes and/or downregulation of tumor suppressor genes. MYC constitutes a master transcriptional regulator, involved in many cellular functions and is aberrantly expressed in more than 70 % of human cancers. The Myc protein belongs to a family of transcription factors whose structural pattern is referred to as basic helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper. Myc binds to its partner, a smaller protein called Max, forming an Myc:Max heterodimeric complex that interacts with specific DNA recognition sequences (E-boxes) and regulates the expression of downstream target genes. Myc protein plays a fundamental role for the life of a cell, as it is involved in many physiological functions such as proliferation, growth and development since it controls the expression of a very large percentage of genes (∼15 %). However, despite the strict control of MYC expression in normal cells, MYC is often deregulated in cancer, exhibiting a key role in stimulating oncogenic process affecting features such as aberrant proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis, genomic instability and oncogenic transformation. In this review we aim to meticulously describe the fundamental role of MYC in tumorigenesis and highlight its importance as an anticancer drug target. We focus mainly on the different categories of novel small molecules that act as inhibitors of Myc function in diverse ways hence offering great opportunities for an efficient cancer therapy. This knowledge will provide significant information for the development of novel Myc inhibitors and assist to the design of treatments that would effectively act against Myc-dependent cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Papadimitropoulou
- Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, 11527, Greece
| | - Maria Makri
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, GR-15771, Athens, Greece
| | - Grigoris Zoidis
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, GR-15771, Athens, Greece.
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13
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Garralda E, Beaulieu ME, Moreno V, Casacuberta-Serra S, Martínez-Martín S, Foradada L, Alonso G, Massó-Vallés D, López-Estévez S, Jauset T, Corral de la Fuente E, Doger B, Hernández T, Perez-Lopez R, Arqués O, Castillo Cano V, Morales J, Whitfield JR, Niewel M, Soucek L, Calvo E. MYC targeting by OMO-103 in solid tumors: a phase 1 trial. Nat Med 2024; 30:762-771. [PMID: 38321218 PMCID: PMC10957469 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02805-1] [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: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Among the 'most wanted' targets in cancer therapy is the oncogene MYC, which coordinates key transcriptional programs in tumor development and maintenance. It has, however, long been considered undruggable. OMO-103 is a MYC inhibitor consisting of a 91-amino acid miniprotein. Here we present results from a phase 1 study of OMO-103 in advanced solid tumors, established to examine safety and tolerability as primary outcomes and pharmacokinetics, recommended phase 2 dose and preliminary signs of activity as secondary ones. A classical 3 + 3 design was used for dose escalation of weekly intravenous, single-agent OMO-103 administration in 21-day cycles, encompassing six dose levels (DLs). A total of 22 patients were enrolled, with treatment maintained until disease progression. The most common adverse events were grade 1 infusion-related reactions, occurring in ten patients. One dose-limiting toxicity occurred at DL5. Pharmacokinetics showed nonlinearity, with tissue saturation signs at DL5 and a terminal half-life in serum of 40 h. Of the 19 patients evaluable for response, 12 reached the predefined 9-week time point for assessment of drug antitumor activity, eight of those showing stable disease by computed tomography. One patient defined as stable disease by response evaluation criteria in solid tumors showed a 49% reduction in total tumor volume at best response. Transcriptomic analysis supported target engagement in tumor biopsies. In addition, we identified soluble factors that are potential pharmacodynamic and predictive response markers. Based on all these data, the recommended phase 2 dose was determined as DL5 (6.48 mg kg-1).ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04808362 .
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Víctor Moreno
- START Madrid-FJD-Hospital Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Guzman Alonso
- Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Bernard Doger
- START Madrid-FJD-Hospital Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Oriol Arqués
- Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Laura Soucek
- Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain.
- Peptomyc S.L., Barcelona, Spain.
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Emiliano Calvo
- START Madrid-CIOCC-Centro Integral Oncológico Clara Campal, Madrid, Spain
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14
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Lama D, Vosselman T, Sahin C, Liaño-Pons J, Cerrato CP, Nilsson L, Teilum K, Lane DP, Landreh M, Arsenian Henriksson M. A druggable conformational switch in the c-MYC transactivation domain. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1865. [PMID: 38424045 PMCID: PMC10904854 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45826-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The c-MYC oncogene is activated in over 70% of all human cancers. The intrinsic disorder of the c-MYC transcription factor facilitates molecular interactions that regulate numerous biological pathways, but severely limits efforts to target its function for cancer therapy. Here, we use a reductionist strategy to characterize the dynamic and structural heterogeneity of the c-MYC protein. Using probe-based Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations and machine learning, we identify a conformational switch in the c-MYC amino-terminal transactivation domain (termed coreMYC) that cycles between a closed, inactive, and an open, active conformation. Using the polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) to modulate the conformational landscape of coreMYC, we show through biophysical and cellular assays that the induction of a closed conformation impedes its interactions with the transformation/transcription domain-associated protein (TRRAP) and the TATA-box binding protein (TBP) which are essential for the transcriptional and oncogenic activities of c-MYC. Together, these findings provide insights into structure-activity relationships of c-MYC, which open avenues towards the development of shape-shifting compounds to target c-MYC as well as other disordered transcription factors for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilraj Lama
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Thibault Vosselman
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cagla Sahin
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Biology, Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory and the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Judit Liaño-Pons
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carmine P Cerrato
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lennart Nilsson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, SE-14813, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Kaare Teilum
- Department of Biology, Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory and the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David P Lane
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Michael Landreh
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Cell- and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, SE-751 24, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Marie Arsenian Henriksson
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum, SE-17165, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden.
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15
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Zhou C, Ma H, Yu W, Zhou Y, Zhang X, Meng Y, Chen C, Zhang J, Shi G. ANP32B inhibition suppresses the growth of prostate cancer cells by regulating c-Myc signaling. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 698:149543. [PMID: 38266312 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
ANP32B is a histone chaperone that interacts with various transcription factors that regulate cancer cell proliferation, immigration, and apoptosis. c-Myc, a well-known oncogenic protein, is a principal player in the initiation and progression of prostate cancer (PC). The means by which ANP32B and c-Myc act remain unknown. We downloaded clinical data from the GEO, TCGA, and other databases to explore ANP32B expression and its effects on the survival of PC and normal tissues. ANP32B-knockdown cell lines were used to evaluate how ANP32B affected cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Gene set enrichment analysis and RNAseq were employed to define how ANP32B regulated PC pathways. Immunohistochemical measures were used to detect the expression levels of relevant proteins in xenografts and PC tissues. ANP32B expression increased in PC tissues; ANP32B knockdown inhibited cell growth but this was rescued by c-Myc signaling. ANP32B is thus a PC oncogene and may serve as a valuable therapeutic target when seeking to treat PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhou
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University, No. 801, Heqing Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, PR China.
| | - Hangbin Ma
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University, No. 801, Heqing Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, PR China.
| | - Wandong Yu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University, No. 801, Heqing Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, PR China
| | - Yinghao Zhou
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University, No. 801, Heqing Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, PR China
| | - Xuehu Zhang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University, No. 801, Heqing Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, PR China
| | - Yibo Meng
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University, No. 801, Heqing Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, PR China
| | - Chenchen Chen
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University, No. 801, Heqing Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, PR China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University, No. 801, Heqing Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, PR China.
| | - Guowei Shi
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University, No. 801, Heqing Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, PR China.
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16
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Berns A. Transforming lung cancer types. Science 2024; 383:590-591. [PMID: 38330129 DOI: 10.1126/science.adn5218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Lung cancer cells can escape targeted therapy by switching oncogenic drivers and cell identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Berns
- Division of Molecular Genetics, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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17
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Izadmehr S, Fernandez-Hernandez H, Wiredja D, Kirschenbaum A, Lee-Poturalski C, Tavassoli P, Yao S, Schlatzer D, Hoon D, Difeo A, Levine AC, Mosquera JM, Galsky MD, Cordon-Cardo C, Narla G. Cooperativity of c-MYC with Krüppel-Like Factor 6 Splice Variant 1 induces phenotypic plasticity and promotes prostate cancer progression and metastasis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.30.577982. [PMID: 38352401 PMCID: PMC10862900 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.30.577982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Metastasis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in men with prostate cancer, and the functional impact of the genetic alterations, alone or in combination, driving metastatic disease remains incompletely understood. The proto-oncogene c-MYC, commonly deregulated in prostate cancer. Transgenic expression of c-MYC is sufficient to drive the progression to prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and ultimately to moderately differentiated localized primary tumors, however, c-MYC-driven tumors are unable to progress through the metastatic cascade, suggesting that a "second-hit" is necessary in the milieu of aberrant c-MYC-driven signaling. Here, we identified cooperativity between c-MYC and KLF6-SV1, an oncogenic splice variant of the KLF6 gene. Transgenic mice that co-expressed KLF6-SV1 and c-MYC developed progressive and metastatic prostate cancer with a histological and molecular phenotype like human prostate cancer. Silencing c-MYC expression significantly reduced tumor burden in these mice supporting the necessity for c-MYC in tumor maintenance. Unbiased global proteomic analysis of tumors from these mice revealed significantly enriched vimentin, a dedifferentiation and pro-metastatic marker, induced by KLF6-SV1. c-MYC-positive tumors were also significantly enriched for KLF6-SV1 in human prostate cancer specimens. Our findings provide evidence that KLF6-SV1 is an enhancer of c-MYC-driven prostate cancer progression and metastasis, and a correlated genetic event in human prostate cancer with potential translational significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudeh Izadmehr
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | | | - Danica Wiredja
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | | | - Christine Lee-Poturalski
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Peyman Tavassoli
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
| | - Shen Yao
- The Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Daniela Schlatzer
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | - Divya Hoon
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Analisa Difeo
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Alice C. Levine
- The Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Juan-Miguel Mosquera
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
| | - Matthew D. Galsky
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Carlos Cordon-Cardo
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Goutham Narla
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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18
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Deutzmann A, Sullivan DK, Dhanasekaran R, Li W, Chen X, Tong L, Mahauad-Fernandez WD, Bell J, Mosley A, Koehler AN, Li Y, Felsher DW. Nuclear to cytoplasmic transport is a druggable dependency in MYC-driven hepatocellular carcinoma. Nat Commun 2024; 15:963. [PMID: 38302473 PMCID: PMC10834515 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45128-y] [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: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The MYC oncogene is often dysregulated in human cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MYC is considered undruggable to date. Here, we comprehensively identify genes essential for survival of MYChigh but not MYClow cells by a CRISPR/Cas9 genome-wide screen in a MYC-conditional HCC model. Our screen uncovers novel MYC synthetic lethal (MYC-SL) interactions and identifies most MYC-SL genes described previously. In particular, the screen reveals nucleocytoplasmic transport to be a MYC-SL interaction. We show that the majority of MYC-SL nucleocytoplasmic transport genes are upregulated in MYChigh murine HCC and are associated with poor survival in HCC patients. Inhibiting Exportin-1 (XPO1) in vivo induces marked tumor regression in an autochthonous MYC-transgenic HCC model and inhibits tumor growth in HCC patient-derived xenografts. XPO1 expression is associated with poor prognosis only in HCC patients with high MYC activity. We infer that MYC may generally regulate and require altered expression of nucleocytoplasmic transport genes for tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Deutzmann
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Delaney K Sullivan
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Renumathy Dhanasekaran
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, 20012, USA
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20012, USA
| | - Xinyu Chen
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Ling Tong
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | | | - John Bell
- Stanford Genome Technology Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Adriane Mosley
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Angela N Koehler
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Center for Precision Cancer Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Yulin Li
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist and Weill Cornell Medical College, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Dean W Felsher
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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19
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Oser MG, MacPherson D, Oliver TG, Sage J, Park KS. Genetically-engineered mouse models of small cell lung cancer: the next generation. Oncogene 2024; 43:457-469. [PMID: 38191672 PMCID: PMC11180418 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02929-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains the most fatal form of lung cancer, with patients in dire need of new and effective therapeutic approaches. Modeling SCLC in an immunocompetent host is essential for understanding SCLC pathogenesis and ultimately discovering and testing new experimental therapeutic strategies. Human SCLC is characterized by near universal genetic loss of the RB1 and TP53 tumor suppressor genes. Twenty years ago, the first genetically-engineered mouse model (GEMM) of SCLC was generated using conditional deletion of both Rb1 and Trp53 in the lungs of adult mice. Since then, several other GEMMs of SCLC have been developed coupling genomic alterations found in human SCLC with Rb1 and Trp53 deletion. Here we summarize how GEMMs of SCLC have contributed significantly to our understanding of the disease in the past two decades. We also review recent advances in modeling SCLC in mice that allow investigators to bypass limitations of the previous generation of GEMMs while studying new genes of interest in SCLC. In particular, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated somatic gene editing can accelerate how new genes of interest are functionally interrogated in SCLC tumorigenesis. Notably, the development of allograft models and precancerous precursor models from SCLC GEMMs provides complementary approaches to GEMMs to study tumor cell-immune microenvironment interactions and test new therapeutic strategies to enhance response to immunotherapy. Ultimately, the new generation of SCLC models can accelerate research and help develop new therapeutic strategies for SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew G Oser
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - David MacPherson
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Trudy G Oliver
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Julien Sage
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Kwon-Sik Park
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA.
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20
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Cencic R, Im YK, Naineni SK, Moustafa-Kamal M, Jovanovic P, Sabourin V, Annis MG, Robert F, Schmeing TM, Koromilas A, Paquet M, Teodoro JG, Huang S, Siegel PM, Topisirovic I, Ursini-Siegel J, Pelletier J. A second-generation eIF4A RNA helicase inhibitor exploits translational reprogramming as a vulnerability in triple-negative breast cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2318093121. [PMID: 38232291 PMCID: PMC10823175 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318093121] [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: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to address the current limitations of therapies for macro-metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and provide a therapeutic lead that overcomes the high degree of heterogeneity associated with this disease. Specifically, we focused on well-documented but clinically underexploited cancer-fueling perturbations in mRNA translation as a potential therapeutic vulnerability. We therefore developed an orally bioavailable rocaglate-based molecule, MG-002, which hinders ribosome recruitment and scanning via unscheduled and non-productive RNA clamping by the eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF) 4A RNA helicase. We demonstrate that MG-002 potently inhibits mRNA translation and primary TNBC tumor growth without causing overt toxicity in mice. Importantly, given that metastatic spread is a major cause of mortality in TNBC, we show that MG-002 attenuates metastasis in pre-clinical models. We report on MG-002, a rocaglate that shows superior properties relative to existing eIF4A inhibitors in pre-clinical models. Our study also paves the way for future clinical trials exploring the potential of MG-002 in TNBC and other oncological indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina Cencic
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Young K. Im
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, QCH3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Sai Kiran Naineni
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Mohamed Moustafa-Kamal
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Predrag Jovanovic
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, QCH3T 1E2, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QCH4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Valerie Sabourin
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, QCH3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Matthew G. Annis
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Francis Robert
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
| | - T. Martin Schmeing
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Antonis Koromilas
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, QCH3T 1E2, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QCH4A 3J1, Canada
- Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QCH4A 3T2, Canada
| | - Marilène Paquet
- Département de pathologie et de microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QCH3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Jose G. Teodoro
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Sidong Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Peter M. Siegel
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QCH4A 3J1, Canada
- Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QCH4A 3T2, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QCH4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Ivan Topisirovic
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, QCH3T 1E2, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QCH4A 3J1, Canada
- Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QCH4A 3T2, Canada
| | - Josie Ursini-Siegel
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, QCH3T 1E2, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QCH4A 3J1, Canada
- Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QCH4A 3T2, Canada
| | - Jerry Pelletier
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QCH4A 3J1, Canada
- Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QCH4A 3T2, Canada
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21
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Harsij Z, Ghafoorzadeh Z, Goharian E. The CRISPR Revolution: Unraveling the mysteries of Life's genetic code. Gene 2024; 892:147870. [PMID: 37797781 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
A biotechnological revolution is triggered by CRISPR-Cas systems' variety, measured quality, and proficiency. Identifying nucleic acid biomarkers, one of the methods that use CRISPR for diagnosis, is an extremely sensitive diagnostic method.A broad range of infectious and noninfecting diseases, mutations, and CRISPR deletions associated with genetic disorders have been detected using diagnostics. Furthermore, this technology is used to test proteins and micromolecules. We focus on how Cas proteins can be used to detect diseases in genes, agriculture, and cancer therapy. Furthermore, CRISPR technology has many negative impacts on the health of living organisms, environmental and population structures in spite of its numerous contributions to biomedical science. Therefore, an investigation into the impact of genome editing on nontargeted species is important for these reasons. CRISPR in the future is briefly discussed towards the end of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohreh Harsij
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technologies, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441, Iran.
| | - Zahra Ghafoorzadeh
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technologies, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441, Iran
| | - Elahe Goharian
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technologies, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441, Iran
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22
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Li M, Yu J, Ju L, Wang Y, Jin W, Zhang R, Xiang W, Ji M, Du W, Wang G, Qian K, Zhang Y, Xiao Y, Wang X. USP43 stabilizes c-Myc to promote glycolysis and metastasis in bladder cancer. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:44. [PMID: 38218970 PMCID: PMC10787741 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06446-7] [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: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
A hallmark of tumor cells, including bladder cancer (BLCA) cells, is metabolic reprogramming toward aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect). The classical oncogene MYC, which is crucial in regulating glycolysis, is amplified and activated in BLCA. However, direct targeting of the c-Myc oncoprotein, which regulates glycolytic metabolism, presents great challenges and necessitates the discovery of a more clarified regulatory mechanism to develop selective targeted therapy. In this study, a siRNA library targeting deubiquitinases identified a candidate enzyme named USP43, which may regulate glycolytic metabolism and c-Myc transcriptional activity. Further investigation using functional assays and molecular studies revealed a USP43/c-Myc positive feedback loop that contributes to the progression of BLCA. Moreover, USP43 stabilizes c-Myc by deubiquitinating c-Myc at K148 and K289 primarily through deubiquitinase activity. Additionally, upregulation of USP43 protein in BLCA increased the chance of interaction with c-Myc and interfered with FBXW7 access and degradation of c-Myc. These findings suggest that USP43 is a potential therapeutic target for indirectly targeting glycolytic metabolism and the c-Myc oncoprotein consequently enhancing the efficacy of bladder cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Li
- Department of Urology, Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingtian Yu
- Department of Urology, Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lingao Ju
- Department of Biological Repositories, Human Genetic Resources Preservation Center of Hubei Province, Hubei Key Laboratory of Urological Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yejinpeng Wang
- Department of Urology, Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wan Jin
- Department of Biological Repositories, Human Genetic Resources Preservation Center of Hubei Province, Hubei Key Laboratory of Urological Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Euler Technology, ZGC Life Sciences Park, Beijing, China
| | - Renjie Zhang
- Department of Urology, Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wan Xiang
- Department of Biological Repositories, Human Genetic Resources Preservation Center of Hubei Province, Hubei Key Laboratory of Urological Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Meng Ji
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenzhi Du
- Department of Urology, Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Urology, Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Biological Repositories, Human Genetic Resources Preservation Center of Hubei Province, Hubei Key Laboratory of Urological Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kaiyu Qian
- Department of Urology, Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Biological Repositories, Human Genetic Resources Preservation Center of Hubei Province, Hubei Key Laboratory of Urological Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Euler Technology, ZGC Life Sciences Park, Beijing, China.
- Center for Quantitative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Yu Xiao
- Department of Biological Repositories, Human Genetic Resources Preservation Center of Hubei Province, Hubei Key Laboratory of Urological Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Xinghuan Wang
- Department of Urology, Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- Wuhan Research Center for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China.
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23
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Panja S, Truica MI, Yu CY, Saggurthi V, Craige MW, Whitehead K, Tuiche MV, Al-Saadi A, Vyas R, Ganesan S, Gohel S, Coffman F, Parrott JS, Quan S, Jha S, Kim I, Schaeffer E, Kothari V, Abdulkadir SA, Mitrofanova A. Mechanism-centric regulatory network identifies NME2 and MYC programs as markers of Enzalutamide resistance in CRPC. Nat Commun 2024; 15:352. [PMID: 38191557 PMCID: PMC10774320 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44686-5] [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: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneous response to Enzalutamide, a second-generation androgen receptor signaling inhibitor, is a central problem in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) management. Genome-wide systems investigation of mechanisms that govern Enzalutamide resistance promise to elucidate markers of heterogeneous treatment response and salvage therapies for CRPC patients. Focusing on the de novo role of MYC as a marker of Enzalutamide resistance, here we reconstruct a CRPC-specific mechanism-centric regulatory network, connecting molecular pathways with their upstream transcriptional regulatory programs. Mining this network with signatures of Enzalutamide response identifies NME2 as an upstream regulatory partner of MYC in CRPC and demonstrates that NME2-MYC increased activities can predict patients at risk of resistance to Enzalutamide, independent of co-variates. Furthermore, our experimental investigations demonstrate that targeting MYC and its partner NME2 is beneficial in Enzalutamide-resistant conditions and could provide an effective strategy for patients at risk of Enzalutamide resistance and/or for patients who failed Enzalutamide treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukanya Panja
- Department of Health Informatics, Rutgers School of Health Professions, Newark, NJ, 07107, USA
| | - Mihai Ioan Truica
- Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Christina Y Yu
- Department of Health Informatics, Rutgers School of Health Professions, Newark, NJ, 07107, USA
| | - Vamshi Saggurthi
- Department of Health Informatics, Rutgers School of Health Professions, Newark, NJ, 07107, USA
| | - Michael W Craige
- Department of Health Informatics, Rutgers School of Health Professions, Newark, NJ, 07107, USA
| | - Katie Whitehead
- Department of Health Informatics, Rutgers School of Health Professions, Newark, NJ, 07107, USA
| | - Mayra V Tuiche
- Department of Health Informatics, Rutgers School of Health Professions, Newark, NJ, 07107, USA
- Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Rutgers School of Graduate Studies, Newark, NJ, 07039, USA
| | - Aymen Al-Saadi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rutgers School of Engineering, New Brunswick, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Riddhi Vyas
- Department of Health Informatics, Rutgers School of Health Professions, Newark, NJ, 07107, USA
| | - Shridar Ganesan
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Suril Gohel
- Department of Health Informatics, Rutgers School of Health Professions, Newark, NJ, 07107, USA
| | - Frederick Coffman
- Department of Health Informatics, Rutgers School of Health Professions, Newark, NJ, 07107, USA
| | - James S Parrott
- Department of Health Informatics, Rutgers School of Health Professions, Newark, NJ, 07107, USA
| | - Songhua Quan
- Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Shantenu Jha
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rutgers School of Engineering, New Brunswick, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Isaac Kim
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
- Department of Urology, Yale School of Medicine, New Heaven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Edward Schaeffer
- Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Vishal Kothari
- Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
| | - Sarki A Abdulkadir
- Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
| | - Antonina Mitrofanova
- Department of Health Informatics, Rutgers School of Health Professions, Newark, NJ, 07107, USA.
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA.
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24
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Hofstetter J, Ogunleye A, Kutschke A, Buchholz LM, Wolf E, Raabe T, Gallant P. Spt5 interacts genetically with Myc and is limiting for brain tumor growth in Drosophila. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302130. [PMID: 37935464 PMCID: PMC10629571 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor SPT5 physically interacts with MYC oncoproteins and is essential for efficient transcriptional activation of MYC targets in cultured cells. Here, we use Drosophila to address the relevance of this interaction in a living organism. Spt5 displays moderate synergy with Myc in fast proliferating young imaginal disc cells. During later development, Spt5-knockdown has no detectable consequences on its own, but strongly enhances eye defects caused by Myc overexpression. Similarly, Spt5-knockdown in larval type 2 neuroblasts has only mild effects on brain development and survival of control flies, but dramatically shrinks the volumes of experimentally induced neuroblast tumors and significantly extends the lifespan of tumor-bearing animals. This beneficial effect is still observed when Spt5 is knocked down systemically and after tumor initiation, highlighting SPT5 as a potential drug target in human oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Hofstetter
- https://ror.org/00fbnyb24 Cancer Systems Biology Group, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ayoola Ogunleye
- https://ror.org/00fbnyb24 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - André Kutschke
- https://ror.org/00fbnyb24 Cancer Systems Biology Group, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Marie Buchholz
- https://ror.org/00fbnyb24 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Elmar Wolf
- https://ror.org/00fbnyb24 Cancer Systems Biology Group, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Raabe
- https://ror.org/00fbnyb24 Molecular Genetics, Biocenter, Am Hubland, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Peter Gallant
- https://ror.org/00fbnyb24 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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25
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Lin M, Wang X. Natural Biopolymer-Based Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 for Cancer Treatment. Pharmaceutics 2023; 16:62. [PMID: 38258073 PMCID: PMC10819213 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16010062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, the clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system has become the most promising gene editing tool and is broadly utilized to manipulate the gene for disease treatment, especially for cancer, which involves multiple genetic alterations. Typically, CRISPR/Cas9 machinery is delivered in one of three forms: DNA, mRNA, or ribonucleoprotein. However, the lack of efficient delivery systems for these macromolecules confined the clinical breakthrough of this technique. Therefore, a variety of nanomaterials have been fabricated to improve the stability and delivery efficiency of the CRISPR/Cas9 system. In this context, the natural biopolymer-based carrier is a particularly promising platform for CRISPR/Cas9 delivery due to its great stability, low toxicity, excellent biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Here, we focus on the advances of natural biopolymer-based materials for CRISPR/Cas9 delivery in the cancer field and discuss the challenges for their clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xueyan Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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26
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Oketch DJA, Giulietti M, Piva F. Copy Number Variations in Pancreatic Cancer: From Biological Significance to Clinical Utility. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:391. [PMID: 38203561 PMCID: PMC10779192 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common type of pancreatic cancer, characterized by high tumor heterogeneity and a poor prognosis. Inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity in PDAC is a major obstacle to effective PDAC treatment; therefore, it is highly desirable to explore the tumor heterogeneity and underlying mechanisms for the improvement of PDAC prognosis. Gene copy number variations (CNVs) are increasingly recognized as a common and heritable source of inter-individual variation in genomic sequence. In this review, we outline the origin, main characteristics, and pathological aspects of CNVs. We then describe the occurrence of CNVs in PDAC, including those that have been clearly shown to have a pathogenic role, and further highlight some key examples of their involvement in tumor development and progression. The ability to efficiently identify and analyze CNVs in tumor samples is important to support translational research and foster precision oncology, as copy number variants can be utilized to guide clinical decisions. We provide insights into understanding the CNV landscapes and the role of both somatic and germline CNVs in PDAC, which could lead to significant advances in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Although there has been significant progress in this field, understanding the full contribution of CNVs to the genetic basis of PDAC will require further research, with more accurate CNV assays such as single-cell techniques and larger cohorts than have been performed to date.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matteo Giulietti
- Department of Specialistic Clinical and Odontostomatological Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Piva
- Department of Specialistic Clinical and Odontostomatological Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
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27
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Bhowmick S, Roy K, Saha A. Structure-guided screening of protein-protein interaction for the identification of Myc-Max heterodimer complex modulators. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-19. [PMID: 38109131 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2294174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
De-regulation of oncogenic myelocytomatosis (c-Myc or Myc) transcription factor is one of the most common molecular anomalies encountered in human cancers, and it is typically linked to many aggressive malignancies including breast, lung, cervix, colon glioblastomas, and other haematological organs. The Myc belongs to the basic helix-loop-helix zipper protein family (bHLH-ZIP), and its dimerization with another principal interactor protein partner Myc-associated factor X (Max) is essentially required for cellular transformation, cell growth and proliferation, and transcriptional activation. Intermolecular interactions have been evaluated between hetero-dimer Myc-Max protein, which identified protein-protein interaction (PPI) specific modulators using highly précised molecular docking study followed by long-range interaction stability analyzed through molecular dynamic (MD) simulation. Moreover, ADME profile analyses have been estimated for screened hit compounds. MM-GBSA-based binding free energy (ΔG) estimations have been performed for all screened hit compounds obtained from multi-step molecular docking-based virtual screening technique. According to the employed various rigorous multi-chemometric techniques, four identified inhibitors/modulators appear to have a considerable number of intermolecular contacts with hotspot residues in the hetero-dimer interface region of the Myc-Max PPI complex. However, identified hit compounds might need further structural optimization or extensive biophysical analyses for better understanding of the molecular mechanism for exhibiting the Myc-Max PPI interface binding stability.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shovonlal Bhowmick
- Department of Chemical Technology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
| | - Kunal Roy
- Drug Theoretics and Cheminformatics Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
| | - Achintya Saha
- Department of Chemical Technology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
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28
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Wang H, Stevens T, Lu J, Roberts A, Land CV, Muzumdar R, Gong Z, Vockley J, Prochownik EV. The Myc-Like Mlx Network Impacts Aging and Metabolism. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.26.568749. [PMID: 38076995 PMCID: PMC10705233 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.26.568749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The "Mlx" and "Myc" Networks share many common gene targets. Just as Myc's activity depends upon its heterodimerization with Max, the Mlx Network requires that the Max-like factor Mlx associate with the Myc-like factors MondoA or ChREBP. We show here that body-wide Mlx inactivation, like that of Myc, accelerates numerous aging-related phenotypes pertaining to body habitus and metabolism. The deregulation of numerous aging-related Myc target gene sets is also accelerated. Among other functions, these gene sets often regulate ribosomal and mitochondrial structure and function, genomic stability and aging. Whereas "MycKO" mice have an extended lifespan because of a lower cancer incidence, "MlxKO" mice have normal lifespans and a somewhat higher cancer incidence. Like Myc, Mlx, MondoA and ChREBP expression and that of their target genes, deteriorate with age in both mice and humans, underscoring the importance of life-long and balanced cross-talk between the two Networks to maintain normal aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huabo Wang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
| | - Taylor Stevens
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
| | - Jie Lu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
| | - Alexander Roberts
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
| | | | - Radhika Muzumdar
- Division of Endocrinology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
| | - Zhenwei Gong
- Division of Endocrinology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
| | - Jerry Vockley
- Division of Medical Genetics, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
| | - Edward V. Prochownik
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
- The Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, UPMC
- The Hillman Cancer Center of UPMC
- The Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA. 15224
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29
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Olbromski PJ, Bogacz A, Bukowska M, Kamiński A, Moszyński R, Pawlik P, Szeliga A, Kotrych K, Czerny B. Analysis of the Polymorphisms and Expression Levels of the BCL2, BAX and c-MYC Genes in Patients with Ovarian Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16309. [PMID: 38003498 PMCID: PMC10671037 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the biggest problems in gynecological oncology and is one of the most lethal cancers in women worldwide. Most patients with OC are diagnosed at an advanced stage; therefore, there is an urgent need to find new biomarkers for this disease. Gene expression profiling is proving to be a very effective tool for exploring new molecular markers for OC patients, although the relationship between such markers and patient survival and clinical outcomes is still elusive. Moreover, polymorphisms in genes encoding both apoptosis-associated proteins and oncoproteins may serve as key markers of cancer susceptibility. The aim of our study was to analyze the polymorphisms and expressions of the BCL2, BAX and c-MYC genes in a group of 198 women, including 98 with OC. The polymorphisms and mRNA expressions of the BCL2, BAX and c-MYC genes were analyzed using real-time PCR. The analysis of the BAX (rs4645878; G>A) and c-MYC (rs4645943; C>T) polymorphisms showed no association with ovarian cancer risk. The BCL2 polymorphism (rs2279115; C>A) showed a significant difference in the frequency of genotypes between the studied groups (CC: 23.47% vs. 16.00%, AA: 25.51% vs. 37.00%; p = 0.046; OR = 1.61). Furthermore, the expression levels of the BCL2 and c-MYC genes showed a decrease at the transcript level for OC patients compared to the control group (BCL2: 17.46% ± 3.26 vs. 100% ± 8.32; p < 0.05; c-MYC: 37.56% ± 8.16 vs. 100% ± 9.12; p < 0.05). No significant changes in the mRNA level were observed for the BAX gene (104.36% ± 9.26 vs. 100% ± 9.44; p > 0.05). A similar relationship was demonstrated in the case of the protein expressions of the studied genes. These findings suggest that the CC genotype and C allele of the BCL2 polymorphism could be genetic risk factors for OC development. A gene expression analysis indicated that BCL2 and c-MYC are associated with OC risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Józef Olbromski
- Clinic of Operational Gynecology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Polna 33, 60-535 Poznan, Poland; (P.J.O.); (P.P.)
| | - Anna Bogacz
- Department of Personalized Medicine and Cell Therapy, Regional Blood Center, Marcelińska 44, 60-354 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Marta Bukowska
- Department of Personalized Medicine and Cell Therapy, Regional Blood Center, Marcelińska 44, 60-354 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Adam Kamiński
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Independent Public Clinical Hospital No. 1, Pomeranian Medical University, UniiLubelskiej 1, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland;
| | - Rafał Moszyński
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecological Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Polna 33, 60-535 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Piotr Pawlik
- Clinic of Operational Gynecology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Polna 33, 60-535 Poznan, Poland; (P.J.O.); (P.P.)
| | - Anna Szeliga
- Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Polna 33, 60-535 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Katarzyna Kotrych
- Department of General and Dental Radiology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, al. Powstańców Wielkopolskch 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland;
| | - Bogusław Czerny
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacoeconomics, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Żołnierska 48, 71-230 Szczecin, Poland;
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30
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Romano F, Di Porzio A, Iaccarino N, Riccardi G, Di Lorenzo R, Laneri S, Pagano B, Amato J, Randazzo A. G-quadruplexes in cancer-related gene promoters: from identification to therapeutic targeting. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2023; 33:745-773. [PMID: 37855085 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2023.2271168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Guanine-rich DNA sequences can fold into four-stranded noncanonical secondary structures called G-quadruplexes (G4s) which are widely distributed in functional regions of the human genome, such as telomeres and gene promoter regions. Compelling evidence suggests their involvement in key genome functions such as gene expression and genome stability. Notably, the abundance of G4-forming sequences near transcription start sites suggests their potential involvement in regulating oncogenes. AREAS COVERED This review provides an overview of current knowledge on G4s in human oncogene promoters. The most representative G4-binding ligands have also been documented. The objective of this work is to present a comprehensive overview of the most promising targets for the development of novel and highly specific anticancer drugs capable of selectively impacting the expression of individual or a limited number of genes. EXPERT OPINION Modulation of G4 formation by specific ligands has been proposed as a powerful new tool to treat cancer through the control of oncogene expression. Actually, most of G4-binding small molecules seem to simultaneously target a range of gene promoter G4s, potentially influencing several critical driver genes in cancer, thus producing significant therapeutic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Romano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Di Porzio
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Nunzia Iaccarino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | - Sonia Laneri
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Bruno Pagano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Jussara Amato
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Randazzo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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31
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Cameron DP, Grosser J, Ladigan S, Kuzin V, Iliopoulou E, Wiegard A, Benredjem H, Jackson K, Liffers ST, Lueong S, Cheung PF, Vangala D, Pohl M, Viebahn R, Teschendorf C, Wolters H, Usta S, Geng K, Kutter C, Arsenian-Henriksson M, Siveke JT, Tannapfel A, Schmiegel W, Hahn SA, Baranello L. Coinhibition of topoisomerase 1 and BRD4-mediated pause release selectively kills pancreatic cancer via readthrough transcription. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg5109. [PMID: 37831776 PMCID: PMC10575591 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg5109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic carcinoma lacks effective therapeutic strategies resulting in poor prognosis. Transcriptional dysregulation due to alterations in KRAS and MYC affects initiation, development, and survival of this tumor type. Using patient-derived xenografts of KRAS- and MYC-driven pancreatic carcinoma, we show that coinhibition of topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) and bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) synergistically induces tumor regression by targeting promoter pause release. Comparing the nascent transcriptome with the recruitment of elongation and termination factors, we found that coinhibition of TOP1 and BRD4 disrupts recruitment of transcription termination factors. Thus, RNA polymerases transcribe downstream of genes for hundreds of kilobases leading to readthrough transcription. This occurs during replication, perturbing replisome progression and inducing DNA damage. The synergistic effect of TOP1 + BRD4 inhibition is specific to cancer cells leaving normal cells unaffected, highlighting the tumor's vulnerability to transcriptional defects. This preclinical study provides a mechanistic understanding of the benefit of combining TOP1 and BRD4 inhibitors to treat pancreatic carcinomas addicted to oncogenic drivers of transcription and replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald P. Cameron
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jan Grosser
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Swetlana Ladigan
- Ruhr University Bochum, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular GI Oncology, Bochum, Germany
- Ruhr University Bochum, Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Department of Internal Medicine, Bochum, Germany
| | - Vladislav Kuzin
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Evanthia Iliopoulou
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anika Wiegard
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hajar Benredjem
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kathryn Jackson
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sven T. Liffers
- Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Smiths Lueong
- Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Phyllis F. Cheung
- Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Deepak Vangala
- Ruhr University Bochum, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular GI Oncology, Bochum, Germany
- Ruhr University Bochum, Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Department of Internal Medicine, Bochum, Germany
| | - Michael Pohl
- Ruhr University Bochum, Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Department of Internal Medicine, Bochum, Germany
| | - Richard Viebahn
- Ruhr University Bochum, Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Department of Surgery, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Heiner Wolters
- Department of Visceral and General Surgery, St. Josef-Hospital, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Selami Usta
- Department of Visceral and General Surgery, St. Josef-Hospital, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Keyi Geng
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Claudia Kutter
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Jens T. Siveke
- Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Wolff Schmiegel
- Ruhr University Bochum, Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Department of Internal Medicine, Bochum, Germany
| | - Stephan A. Hahn
- Ruhr University Bochum, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular GI Oncology, Bochum, Germany
| | - Laura Baranello
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Wu G, Su J, Zeng L, Deng S, Huang X, Ye Y, Li R, Bai R, Zhuang L, Li M, Zhou Q, Zheng Y, Deng J, Zhang S, Chen R, Lin D, Zhang J, Zheng J. LncRNA BCAN-AS1 stabilizes c-Myc via N 6-methyladenosine-mediated binding with SNIP1 to promote pancreatic cancer. Cell Death Differ 2023; 30:2213-2230. [PMID: 37726400 PMCID: PMC10589284 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-023-01225-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
C-Myc overexpression contributes to multiple hallmarks of human cancer but directly targeting c-Myc is challenging. Identification of key factors involved in c-Myc dysregulation is of great significance to develop potential indirect targets for c-Myc. Herein, a collection of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) interacted with c-Myc is detected in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. Among them, lncRNA BCAN-AS1 is identified as the one with highest c-Myc binding enrichment. BCAN-AS1 was abnormally elevated in PDAC tumors and high BCAN-AS1 level was significantly associated with poor prognosis. Mechanistically, Smad nuclear-interacting protein 1 (SNIP1) was characterized as a new N6-methyladenosine (m6A) mediator binding to BCAN-AS1 via recognizing its m6A modification. m6A-modified BCAN-AS1 acts as a scaffold to facilitate the formation of a ternary complex together with c-Myc and SNIP1, thereby blocking S phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2)-mediated c-Myc ubiquitination and degradation. Biologically, BCAN-AS1 promotes malignant phenotypes of PDAC in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of metastasis xenograft and patient-derived xenograft mouse models with in vivo-optimized antisense oligonucleotide of BCAN-AS1 effectively represses tumor growth and metastasis. These findings shed light on the pro-tumorigenic role of BCAN-AS1 and provide an innovant insight into c-Myc-interacted lncRNA in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guandi Wu
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiachun Su
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lingxing Zeng
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuang Deng
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xudong Huang
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Ye
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Li
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruihong Bai
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lisha Zhuang
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mei Li
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Quanbo Zhou
- Department of Pancreaticobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanfen Zheng
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junge Deng
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shaoping Zhang
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rufu Chen
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital & Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dongxin Lin
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jialiang Zhang
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Jian Zheng
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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Cui Z, Zou F, Wang R, Wang L, Cheng F, Wang L, Pan R, Guan X, Zheng N, Wang W. Integrative bioinformatics analysis of WDHD1: a potential biomarker for pan-cancer prognosis, diagnosis, and immunotherapy. World J Surg Oncol 2023; 21:309. [PMID: 37759234 PMCID: PMC10523704 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-023-03187-3] [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: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although WD repeat and high-mobility group box DNA binding protein 1 (WDHD1) played an essential role in DNA replication, chromosome stability, and DNA damage repair, the panoramic picture of WDHD1 in human tumors remains unclear. Hence, this study aims to comprehensively characterize WDHD1 across 33 human cancers. METHODS Based on publicly available databases such as TCGA, GTEx, and HPA, we used a bioinformatics approach to systematically explore the genomic features and biological functions of WDHD1 in pan-cancer. RESULTS WDHD1 mRNA levels were significantly increased in more than 20 types of tumor tissues. Elevated WDHD1 expression was associated with significantly shorter overall survival (OS) in 10 tumors. Furthermore, in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) and liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), WDHD1 expression was significantly associated with higher histological grades and pathological stages. In addition, WDHD1 had a high diagnostic value among 16 tumors (area under the ROC curve [AUC] > 0.9). Functional enrichment analyses suggested that WDHD1 probably participated in many oncogenic pathways such as E2F and MYC targets (false discovery rate [FDR] < 0.05), and it was involved in the processes of DNA replication and DNA damage repair (p.adjust < 0.05). WDHD1 expression also correlated with the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of rapamycin (4 out of 10 cancers) and paclitaxel (10 out of 10 cancers). Overall, WDHD1 was negatively associated with immune cell infiltration and might promote tumor immune escape. Our analysis of genomic alterations suggested that WDHD1 was altered in 1.5% of pan-cancer cohorts and the "mutation" was the predominant type of alteration. Finally, through correlation analysis, we found that WDHD1 might be closely associated with tumor heterogeneity, tumor stemness, mismatch repair (MMR), and RNA methylation modification, which were all processes associated with the tumor progression. CONCLUSIONS Our pan-cancer analysis of WDHD1 provides valuable insights into the genomic characterization and biological functions of WDHD1 in human cancers and offers some theoretical support for the future use of WDHD1-targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and chemotherapeutic combinations for the management of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Cui
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Fan Zou
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Rongli Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lijun Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Feiyan Cheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lihui Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Rumeng Pan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xin Guan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Nini Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277, Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
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34
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Mahadevan KK, McAndrews KM, LeBleu VS, Yang S, Lyu H, Li B, Sockwell AM, Kirtley ML, Morse SJ, Moreno Diaz BA, Kim MP, Feng N, Lopez AM, Guerrero PA, Paradiso F, Sugimoto H, Arian KA, Ying H, Barekatain Y, Sthanam LK, Kelly PJ, Maitra A, Heffernan TP, Kalluri R. KRAS G12D inhibition reprograms the microenvironment of early and advanced pancreatic cancer to promote FAS-mediated killing by CD8 + T cells. Cancer Cell 2023; 41:1606-1620.e8. [PMID: 37625401 PMCID: PMC10785700 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
The KRASG12D mutation is present in nearly half of pancreatic adenocarcinomas (PDAC). We investigated the effects of inhibiting the KRASG12D mutant protein with MRTX1133, a non-covalent small molecule inhibitor of KRASG12D, on early and advanced PDAC and its influence on the tumor microenvironment. Employing 16 different models of KRASG12D-driven PDAC, we demonstrate that MRTX1133 reverses early PDAC growth, increases intratumoral CD8+ effector T cells, decreases myeloid infiltration, and reprograms cancer-associated fibroblasts. MRTX1133 leads to regression of both established PanINs and advanced PDAC. Regression of advanced PDAC requires CD8+ T cells and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) synergizes with MRTX1133 to eradicate PDAC and prolong overall survival. Mechanistically, inhibition of KRASG12D in advanced PDAC and human patient derived organoids induces FAS expression in cancer cells and facilitates CD8+ T cell-mediated death. Collectively, this study provides a rationale for a synergistic combination of MRTX1133 with ICB in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishnan K Mahadevan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kathleen M McAndrews
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Valerie S LeBleu
- Feinberg School of Medicine and Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sujuan Yang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hengyu Lyu
- TRACTION Platform, Therapeutics Discovery Division, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bingrui Li
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Amari M Sockwell
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michelle L Kirtley
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sami J Morse
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Barbara A Moreno Diaz
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michael P Kim
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ningping Feng
- TRACTION Platform, Therapeutics Discovery Division, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anastasia M Lopez
- TRACTION Platform, Therapeutics Discovery Division, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Paola A Guerrero
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, Sheikh Ahmed Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Break Through Cancer, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Francesca Paradiso
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, Sheikh Ahmed Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hikaru Sugimoto
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kent A Arian
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Haoqiang Ying
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yasaman Barekatain
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lakshmi Kavitha Sthanam
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Patience J Kelly
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anirban Maitra
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, Sheikh Ahmed Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Timothy P Heffernan
- TRACTION Platform, Therapeutics Discovery Division, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Raghu Kalluri
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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Deng Z, Richardson DR. The Myc Family and the Metastasis Suppressor NDRG1: Targeting Key Molecular Interactions with Innovative Therapeutics. Pharmacol Rev 2023; 75:1007-1035. [PMID: 37280098 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.122.000795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, resulting in ∼10 million deaths in 2020. Major oncogenic effectors are the Myc proto-oncogene family, which consists of three members including c-Myc, N-Myc, and L-Myc. As a pertinent example of the role of the Myc family in tumorigenesis, amplification of MYCN in childhood neuroblastoma strongly correlates with poor patient prognosis. Complexes between Myc oncoproteins and their partners such as hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and Myc-associated protein X (MAX) result in proliferation arrest and pro-proliferative effects, respectively. Interactions with other proteins are also important for N-Myc activity. For instance, the enhancer of zest homolog 2 (EZH2) binds directly to N-Myc to stabilize it by acting as a competitor against the ubiquitin ligase, SCFFBXW7, which prevents proteasomal degradation. Heat shock protein 90 may also be involved in N-Myc stabilization since it binds to EZH2 and prevents its degradation. N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) is downregulated by N-Myc and participates in the regulation of cellular proliferation via associating with other proteins, such as glycogen synthase kinase-3β and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6. These molecular interactions provide a better understanding of the biologic roles of N-Myc and NDRG1, which can be potentially used as therapeutic targets. In addition to directly targeting these proteins, disrupting their key interactions may also be a promising strategy for anti-cancer drug development. This review examines the interactions between the Myc proteins and other molecules, with a special focus on the relationship between N-Myc and NDRG1 and possible therapeutic interventions. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Neuroblastoma is one of the most common childhood solid tumors, with a dismal five-year survival rate. This problem makes it imperative to discover new and more effective therapeutics. The molecular interactions between major oncogenic drivers of the Myc family and other key proteins; for example, the metastasis suppressor, NDRG1, may potentially be used as targets for anti-neuroblastoma drug development. In addition to directly targeting these proteins, disrupting their key molecular interactions may also be promising for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Deng
- Centre for Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia (Z.D., D.R.R.), and Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan (D.R.R.)
| | - Des R Richardson
- Centre for Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia (Z.D., D.R.R.), and Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan (D.R.R.)
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Li W, Bano F, Khan A, Wei DQ, Alshammari A, Xu B, Wang Y. Inhibition of cMYC-MAX transcription factors hetero-dimerization with structurally engineered omoMYC to downregulate oncogenic pathways in renal carcinoma. Comput Biol Med 2023; 164:107257. [PMID: 37527610 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
In the current study, we employed, structural informatics, and molecular simulation-based methods to engineer OmoMyc, a c-Myc dominant negative protein, to design novel mutants that could abrogate the c-MYC-MAX complex in Renal Carcinoma (RC). Among the total 472 mutations, only six mutations A61Q, Q64E, Q64K, N77R, Q64E-N77R, and Q64K-N77R were reported to increase the binding affinity and subjected to subsequent analysis such as protein-protein docking. The docking results revealed that the predicted mutants improve the functionality of the OmoMyc by not only increasing the binding affinity but also vdW and electrostatic energy in each complex that consequently increase the binding of the engineered OmoMyc by establishing extra hydrogen bonds, salt-bridges, and non-bonded contacts. Molecular simulation revealed a more stable behavior by the mutant complexes in contrast to the native OmoMyc however structural perturbations were reported in the regions, DBD (DNA-binding domain), loop region, and minor deviations at CTD (C terminal domain). Moreover, the hydrogen bonding and binding free energy results further validated the promising activity of our predicted mutants of OmoMyc. The results for TBE (total binding energy) revealed that the for each complex the TBE was calculated to be -87.88 ± 0.16 kcal/mol (WT OmoMyc-MAX), -91.89 ± 0.21 kcal/mol (A61Q OmoMyc-MAX), -91.55 ± 0.20 kcal/mol (Q64E OmoMyc-MAX), -95.17 ± 0.24 kcal/mol (Q64K OmoMyc-MAX), -96.49 ± 0.22 kcal/mol (N77R OmoMyc-MAX), -97.76 ± 0.22 kcal/mol (Q64E-N77R OmoMyc-MAX), and -95.31 ± 0.20 kcal/mol (Q64K-N77R OmoMyc-MAX) respectively. The results for TBE revealed promising results that allow the mutants to competitively inhibit the c-Myc-MAX complex more swiftly. Additionally, the internal motion and energy landscape were altered. These findings provide important insights into the potential of the mutants of OmoMyc as a therapeutic candidate for cancer treatment, particularly renal carcinoma, and could pave the way for the development of more effective clinical versions of OmoMyc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfeng Li
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Farah Bano
- Nawaz Sharif Medical College, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan.
| | - Abbas Khan
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China; Department of Bioinformatics and Biological Statistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, PR China
| | - Dong-Qing Wei
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biological Statistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, PR China; Peng Cheng National Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
| | - Abdulrahman Alshammari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Bin Xu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yanjing Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
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Wang H, Lu J, Stevens T, Roberts A, Mandel J, Avula R, Ma B, Wu Y, Wang J, Land CV, Finkel T, Vockley JE, Airik M, Airik R, Muzumdar R, Gong Z, Torbenson MS, Prochownik EV. Premature aging and reduced cancer incidence associated with near-complete body-wide Myc inactivation. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112830. [PMID: 37481724 PMCID: PMC10591215 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
MYC proto-oncogene dysregulation alters metabolism, translation, and other functions in ways that support tumor induction and maintenance. Although Myc+/- mice are healthier and longer-lived than control mice, the long-term ramifications of more complete Myc loss remain unknown. We now describe the chronic consequences of body-wide Myc inactivation initiated postnatally. "MycKO" mice acquire numerous features of premature aging, including altered body composition and habitus, metabolic dysfunction, hepatic steatosis, and dysregulation of gene sets involved in functions that normally deteriorate with aging. Yet, MycKO mice have extended lifespans that correlate with a 3- to 4-fold lower lifetime cancer incidence. Aging tissues from normal mice and humans also downregulate Myc and gradually alter many of the same Myc target gene sets seen in MycKO mice. Normal aging and its associated cancer predisposition are thus highly linked via Myc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huabo Wang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Jie Lu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Taylor Stevens
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Alexander Roberts
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Jordan Mandel
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Raghunandan Avula
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA; The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Bingwei Ma
- Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yijen Wu
- Department of Developmental Biology, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jinglin Wang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA; Central South University, Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
| | - Clinton Van't Land
- Division of Medical Genetics, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Toren Finkel
- Division of Cardiology, The Department of Internal Medicine and the UPMC Aging Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Jerry E Vockley
- Division of Medical Genetics, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Merlin Airik
- Division of Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Rannar Airik
- Division of Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Radhika Muzumdar
- Division of Endocrinology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Zhenwei Gong
- Division of Endocrinology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Michel S Torbenson
- Division of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Edward V Prochownik
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Hillman Cancer Center of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
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38
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Liu X, Liu X, Du Y, Zou D, Tian C, Li Y, Lan X, David CJ, Sun Q, Chen M. Aberrant accumulation of Kras-dependent pervasive transcripts during tumor progression renders cancer cells dependent on PAF1 expression. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112979. [PMID: 37572321 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023] Open
Abstract
KRAS is the most commonly mutated oncogene in human cancer, and mutant KRAS is responsible for over 90% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most lethal cancer. Here, we show that RNA polymerase II-associated factor 1 complex (PAF1C) is specifically required for survival of PDAC but not normal adult pancreatic cells. We show that PAF1C maintains cancer cell genomic stability by restraining overaccumulation of enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) and promoter upstream transcripts (PROMPTs) driven by mutant Kras. Loss of PAF1C leads to cancer-specific lengthening and accumulation of pervasive transcripts on chromatin and concomitant aberrant R-loop formation and DNA damage, which, in turn, trigger cell death. We go on to demonstrate that the global transcriptional hyperactivation driven by Kras signaling during tumorigenesis underlies the specific demand for PAF1C by cancer cells. Our work provides insights into how enhancer transcription hyperactivation causes general transcription factor addiction during tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiangzheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yingxue Du
- Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Di Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Chen Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xun Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Charles J David
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Qianwen Sun
- Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Mo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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Prochownik EV, Wang H. Lessons in aging from Myc knockout mouse models. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1244321. [PMID: 37621775 PMCID: PMC10446843 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1244321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite MYC being among the most intensively studied oncogenes, its role in normal development has not been determined as Myc-/- mice do not survival beyond mid-gestation. Myc ± mice live longer than their wild-type counterparts and are slower to accumulate many age-related phenotypes. However, Myc haplo-insufficiency likely conceals other important phenotypes as many high-affinity Myc targets genes continue to be regulated normally. By delaying Myc inactivation until after birth it has recently been possible to study the consequences of its near-complete total body loss and thus to infer its normal function. Against expectation, these "MycKO" mice lived significantly longer than control wild-type mice but manifested a marked premature aging phenotype. This seemingly paradoxical behavior was potentially explained by a >3-fold lower lifetime incidence of cancer, normally the most common cause of death in mice and often Myc-driven. Myc loss accelerated the accumulation of numerous "Aging Hallmarks", including the loss of mitochondrial and ribosomal structural and functional integrity, the generation of reactive oxygen species, the acquisition of genotoxic damage, the detrimental rewiring of metabolism and the onset of senescence. In both mice and humans, normal aging in many tissues was accompaniued by the downregulation of Myc and the loss of Myc target gene regulation. Unlike most mouse models of premature aging, which are based on monogenic disorders of DNA damage recognition and repair, the MycKO mouse model directly impacts most Aging Hallmarks and may therefore more faithfully replicate the normal aging process of both mice and humans. It further establishes that the strong association between aging and cancer can be genetically separated and is maintained by a single gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward V. Prochownik
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- The Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- The Hillman Cancer Center of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- The Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Huabo Wang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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40
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Perazza LR, Gower AC, Brown-Borg HM, Pajevic PD, Thompson LV. Protectin DX as a therapeutic strategy against frailty in mice. GeroScience 2023; 45:2601-2627. [PMID: 37059838 PMCID: PMC10651819 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00789-3] [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: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Frailty in aging is driven by the dysregulation of multiple biological pathways. Protectin DX (PDX) is a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-derived molecule that alleviates many chronic inflammatory disorders, but its potential effects on frailty remain unknown. Our goal is to identify age-related impairments in metabolic systems and to evaluate the therapeutic potential of PDX on frailty, physical performance, and health parameters. A set of 22-month-old C57BL/6 male and female mice were assigned to vehicle (Old) or PDX daily gavage treatment for 9 weeks, whereas 6-month-old (Adult) mice received only vehicle. Forelimb and hindlimb strength, endurance, voluntary wheel activity and walking speed determined physical performance and were combined with a frailty index score and body weight loss to determine frailty status. Our data shows that old vehicle-treated mice from both sexes had body weight loss paralleling visceromegaly, and Old females also had impaired insulin clearance as compared to the Adult group. Aging was associated with physical performance decline together with higher odds of frailty development. There was also age-driven mesangial expansion and glomerular hypertrophy as well as bone mineral density loss. All of the in vivo and in vitro impairments observed with aging co-occurred with upregulation of inflammatory pathways and Myc signaling as well as downregulation of genes related to adipogenesis and oxidative phosphorylation in liver. PDX attenuated the age-driven physical performance (strength, exhaustion, walking speed) decline, promoted robustness, prevented bone losses and partially reversed changes in hepatic expression of Myc targets and metabolic genes. In conclusion, our data provides evidence of the beneficial therapeutic effect of PDX against features of frailty in mice. Further studies are warranted to investigate the mechanisms of action and the potential for human translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laís R Perazza
- Department of Physical Therapy, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Adam C Gower
- Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Holly M Brown-Borg
- Department of Basic Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - Paola Divieti Pajevic
- Department of Translational Dental Medicine, Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
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41
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Oei V, Chuang LSH, Matsuo J, Srivastava S, Teh M, Ito Y. RUNX3 inactivates oncogenic MYC through disruption of MYC/MAX complex and subsequent recruitment of GSK3β-FBXW7 cascade. Commun Biol 2023; 6:689. [PMID: 37400551 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05037-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
MYC is one of the most commonly dysregulated proto-oncogenes in cancer. MYC promotes cancer initiation and maintenance by regulating multiple biological processes, such as proliferation and stem cell function. Here, we show that developmental regulator RUNX3 targets MYC protein for rapid degradation through the glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta-F-box/WD repeat-containing protein 7 (GSK3β-FBXW7) proteolytic pathway. The evolutionarily conserved Runt domain of RUNX3 interacts directly with the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper of MYC, resulting in the disruption of MYC/MAX and MYC/MIZ-1 interactions, enhanced GSK3β-mediated phosphorylation of MYC protein at threonine-58 and its subsequent degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasomal pathway. We therefore uncover a previously unknown mode of MYC destabilization by RUNX3 and provide an explanation as to why RUNX3 inhibits early-stage cancer development in gastrointestinal and lung mouse cancer models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Oei
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Graduate School, Integrative Sciences and Engineering Programme, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Linda Shyue Huey Chuang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Junichi Matsuo
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Supriya Srivastava
- Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ming Teh
- Department of Pathology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yoshiaki Ito
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
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42
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Lu Y, Yang Y, Zhu G, Zeng H, Fan Y, Guo F, Xu D, Wang B, Chen D, Ge G. Emerging Pharmacotherapeutic Strategies to Overcome Undruggable Proteins in Cancer. Int J Biol Sci 2023; 19:3360-3382. [PMID: 37496997 PMCID: PMC10367563 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.83026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapies in cancer treatment can improve in vivo efficacy and reduce adverse effects by altering the tissue exposure of specific biomolecules. However, there are still large number of target proteins in cancer are still undruggable, owing to the following factors including (1) lack of ligand-binding pockets, (2) function based on protein-protein interactions (PPIs), (3) the highly specific conserved active sites among protein family members, and (4) the variability of tertiary docking structures. The current status of undruggable targets proteins such as KRAS, TP53, C-MYC, PTP, are carefully introduced in this review. Some novel techniques and drug designing strategies have been applicated for overcoming these undruggable proteins, and the most classic and well-known technology is proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs). In this review, the novel drug development strategies including targeting protein degradation, targeting PPI, targeting intrinsically disordered regions, as well as targeting protein-DNA binding are described, and we also discuss the potential of these strategies for overcoming the undruggable targets. Besides, intelligence-assisted technologies like Alpha-Fold help us a lot to predict the protein structure, which is beneficial for drug development. The discovery of new targets and the development of drugs targeting them, especially those undruggable targets, remain a huge challenge. New drug development strategies, better extraction processes that do not disrupt protein-protein interactions, and more precise artificial intelligence technologies may provide significant assistance in overcoming these undruggable targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Lu
- Dalian Medical University, 116044 Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Yuewen Yang
- Dalian Medical University, 116044 Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Guanghao Zhu
- Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 201203 Shanghai City, China
| | - Hairong Zeng
- Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 201203 Shanghai City, China
| | - Yiming Fan
- Dalian Harmony Medical Testing Laboratory Co., Ltd, 116620 Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Fujia Guo
- Dalian Medical University, 116044 Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Dongshu Xu
- Dalian Medical University, 116044 Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Boya Wang
- Dalian Medical University, 116044 Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Dapeng Chen
- Dalian Medical University, 116044 Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Guangbo Ge
- Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 201203 Shanghai City, China
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Griger J, Widholz SA, Jesinghaus M, de Andrade Krätzig N, Lange S, Engleitner T, Montero JJ, Zhigalova E, Öllinger R, Suresh V, Winkler W, Lier S, Baranov O, Trozzo R, Ben Khaled N, Chakraborty S, Yu J, Konukiewitz B, Steiger K, Pfarr N, Rajput A, Sailer D, Keller G, Schirmacher P, Röcken C, Fagerstedt KW, Mayerle J, Schmidt-Supprian M, Schneider G, Weichert W, Calado DP, Sommermann T, Klöppel G, Rajewsky K, Saur D, Rad R. An integrated cellular and molecular model of gastric neuroendocrine cancer evolution highlights therapeutic targets. Cancer Cell 2023:S1535-6108(23)00208-8. [PMID: 37352862 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas (G-NEC) are aggressive malignancies with poorly understood biology and a lack of disease models. Here, we use genome sequencing to characterize the genomic landscapes of human G-NEC and its histologic variants. We identify global and subtype-specific alterations and expose hitherto unappreciated gains of MYC family members in a large part of cases. Genetic engineering and lineage tracing in mice delineate a model of G-NEC evolution, which defines MYC as a critical driver and positions the cancer cell of origin to the neuroendocrine compartment. MYC-driven tumors have pronounced metastatic competence and display defined signaling addictions, as revealed by large-scale genetic and pharmacologic screening of cell lines and organoid resources. We create global maps of G-NEC dependencies, highlight critical vulnerabilities, and validate therapeutic targets, including candidates for clinical drug repurposing. Our study gives comprehensive insights into G-NEC biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joscha Griger
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Sebastian A Widholz
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Moritz Jesinghaus
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich 81675, Germany; Institute of Pathology, Philipps University Marburg and University Hospital Marburg (UKGM), Marburg, Germany; Institute for Experimental Cancer Therapy, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Niklas de Andrade Krätzig
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Sebastian Lange
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Engleitner
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Juan José Montero
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Ekaterina Zhigalova
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Rupert Öllinger
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Veveeyan Suresh
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Wiebke Winkler
- Immune Regulation and Cancer, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin 13125, Germany
| | - Svenja Lier
- Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Olga Baranov
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Riccardo Trozzo
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Najib Ben Khaled
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Department of Medicine II, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Shounak Chakraborty
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich 81675, Germany
| | - Jiakun Yu
- Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Björn Konukiewitz
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich 81675, Germany; Institute of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel 24105, Germany
| | - Katja Steiger
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich 81675, Germany
| | - Nicole Pfarr
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich 81675, Germany
| | - Ashish Rajput
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - David Sailer
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Gisela Keller
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich 81675, Germany
| | - Peter Schirmacher
- Institute of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Christoph Röcken
- Institute of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel 24105, Germany
| | | | - Julia Mayerle
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Department of Medicine II, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Marc Schmidt-Supprian
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Institute of Experimental Hematology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich 81675, Germany
| | - Günter Schneider
- Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Wilko Weichert
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich 81675, Germany
| | - Dinis P Calado
- Immune Regulation and Cancer, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin 13125, Germany; Immunity and Cancer, Francis Crick Institute, NW1 1AT London, UK
| | - Thomas Sommermann
- Immune Regulation and Cancer, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin 13125, Germany
| | - Günter Klöppel
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich 81675, Germany
| | - Klaus Rajewsky
- Immune Regulation and Cancer, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin 13125, Germany
| | - Dieter Saur
- Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; Institute for Experimental Cancer Therapy, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Roland Rad
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany.
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Vadevoo SMP, Gurung S, Lee HS, Gunassekaran GR, Lee SM, Yoon JW, Lee YK, Lee B. Peptides as multifunctional players in cancer therapy. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:1099-1109. [PMID: 37258584 PMCID: PMC10318096 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-01016-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptides exhibit lower affinity and a shorter half-life in the body than antibodies. Conversely, peptides demonstrate higher efficiency in tissue penetration and cell internalization than antibodies. Regardless of the pros and cons of peptides, they have been used as tumor-homing ligands for delivering carriers (such as nanoparticles, extracellular vesicles, and cells) and cargoes (such as cytotoxic peptides and radioisotopes) to tumors. Additionally, tumor-homing peptides have been conjugated with cargoes such as small-molecule or chemotherapeutic drugs via linkers to synthesize peptide-drug conjugates. In addition, peptides selectively bind to cell surface receptors and proteins, such as immune checkpoints, receptor kinases, and hormone receptors, subsequently blocking their biological activity or serving as hormone analogs. Furthermore, peptides internalized into cells bind to intracellular proteins and interfere with protein-protein interactions. Thus, peptides demonstrate great application potential as multifunctional players in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sri Murugan Poongkavithai Vadevoo
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
- Cell & Matrix Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Smriti Gurung
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
- Cell & Matrix Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Su Lee
- Department of Physiology, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, 33 Duryugongwon-ro 17-gil, Nam-gu, Daegu, 42472, Republic of Korea
| | - Gowri Rangaswamy Gunassekaran
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
- Cell & Matrix Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok-Min Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
- Cell & Matrix Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Won Yoon
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
- Cell & Matrix Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Ki Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
- Cell & Matrix Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Byungheon Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea.
- Cell & Matrix Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea.
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Agarwal P, Glowacka A, Mahmoud L, Bazzar W, Larsson LG, Alzrigat M. MYCN Amplification Is Associated with Reduced Expression of Genes Encoding γ-Secretase Complex and NOTCH Signaling Components in Neuroblastoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:8141. [PMID: 37175848 PMCID: PMC10179553 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098141] [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: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Amplification of the MYCN oncogene is found in ~20% of neuroblastoma (NB) cases and correlates with high-risk disease and poor prognosis. Despite the plethora of studies describing the role of MYCN in NB, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying MYCN's contribution to high-risk disease are not completely understood. Herein, we implemented an integrative approach combining publicly available RNA-Seq and MYCN ChIP-Seq datasets derived from human NB cell lines to define biological processes directly regulated by MYCN in NB. Our approach revealed that MYCN-amplified NB cell lines, when compared to non-MYCN-amplified cell lines, are characterized by reduced expression of genes involved in NOTCH receptor processing, axoneme assembly, and membrane protein proteolysis. More specifically, we found genes encoding members of the γ-secretase complex, which is known for its ability to liberate several intracellular signaling molecules from membrane-bound proteins such as NOTCH receptors, to be down-regulated in MYCN-amplified NB cell lines. Analysis of MYCN ChIP-Seq data revealed an enrichment of MYCN binding at the transcription start sites of genes encoding γ-secretase complex subunits. Notably, using publicly available gene expression data from NB primary tumors, we revealed that the expression of γ-secretase subunits encoding genes and other components of the NOTCH signaling pathway was also reduced in MYCN-amplified tumors and correlated with worse overall survival in NB patients. Genetic or pharmacological depletion of MYCN in NB cell lines induced the expression of γ-secretase genes and NOTCH-target genes. Chemical inhibition of γ-secretase activity dampened the expression of NOTCH-target genes upon MYCN depletion in NB cells. In conclusion, this study defines a set of MYCN-regulated pathways that are specific to MYCN-amplified NB tumors, and it suggests a novel role for MYCN in the suppression of genes of the γ-secretase complex, with an impact on the NOTCH-target gene expression in MYCN-amplified NB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasoon Agarwal
- National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (NBIS), Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden
| | - Aleksandra Glowacka
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165 Solna, Sweden
| | - Loay Mahmoud
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Wesam Bazzar
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, 75124 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lars-Gunnar Larsson
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, 75124 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mohammad Alzrigat
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, 75124 Uppsala, Sweden
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46
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Lechable M, Tang X, Siebert S, Feldbacher A, Fernández-Quintero ML, Breuker K, Juliano CE, Liedl KR, Hobmayer B, Hartl M. High Intrinsic Oncogenic Potential in the Myc-Box-Deficient Hydra Myc3 Protein. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091265. [PMID: 37174665 PMCID: PMC10177328 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The proto-oncogene myc has been intensively studied primarily in vertebrate cell culture systems. Myc transcription factors control fundamental cellular processes such as cell proliferation, cell cycle control and stem cell maintenance. Myc interacts with the Max protein and Myc/Max heterodimers regulate thousands of target genes. The genome of the freshwater polyp Hydra encodes four myc genes (myc1-4). Previous structural and biochemical characterization showed that the Hydra Myc1 and Myc2 proteins share high similarities with vertebrate c-Myc, and their expression patterns suggested a function in adult stem cell maintenance. In contrast, an additional Hydra Myc protein termed Myc3 is highly divergent, lacking the common N-terminal domain and all conserved Myc-boxes. Single cell transcriptome analysis revealed that the myc3 gene is expressed in a distinct population of interstitial precursor cells committed to nerve- and gland-cell differentiation, where the Myc3 protein may counteract the stemness actions of Myc1 and Myc2 and thereby allow the implementation of a differentiation program. In vitro DNA binding studies showed that Myc3 dimerizes with Hydra Max, and this dimer efficiently binds to DNA containing the canonical Myc consensus motif (E-box). In vivo cell transformation assays in avian fibroblast cultures further revealed an unexpected high potential for oncogenic transformation in the conserved Myc3 C-terminus, as compared to Hydra Myc2 or Myc1. Structure modeling of the Myc3 protein predicted conserved amino acid residues in its bHLH-LZ domain engaged in Myc3/Max dimerization. Mutating these amino acid residues in the human c-Myc (MYC) sequence resulted in a significant decrease in its cell transformation potential. We discuss our findings in the context of oncogenic transformation and cell differentiation, both relevant for human cancer, where Myc represents a major driver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Lechable
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Xuechen Tang
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Institute of Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Stefan Siebert
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Angelika Feldbacher
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Monica L Fernández-Quintero
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Institute of Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Kathrin Breuker
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Celina E Juliano
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Klaus R Liedl
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Institute of Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Bert Hobmayer
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Markus Hartl
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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47
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Li X, Zhang Z, Gao F, Ma Y, Wei D, Lu Z, Chen S, Wang M, Wang Y, Xu K, Wang R, Xu F, Chen JY, Zhu C, Li Z, Yu H, Guan X. c-Myc-Targeting PROTAC Based on a TNA-DNA Bivalent Binder for Combination Therapy of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:9334-9342. [PMID: 37068218 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c02619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is highly aggressive with a poor clinical prognosis and no targeted therapy. The c-Myc protein is a master transcription factor and a potential therapeutic target for TNBC. In this study, we develop a PROTAC (PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera) based on TNA (threose nucleic acid) and DNA that effectively targets and degrades c-Myc. The TNA aptamer is selected in vitro to bind the c-Myc/Max heterodimer and appended to the E-box DNA sequence to create a high-affinity, biologically stable bivalent binder. The TNA-E box-pomalidomide (TEP) conjugate specifically degrades endogenous c-Myc/Max, inhibits TNBC cell proliferation, and sensitizes TNBC cells to the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor palbociclib in vitro. In a mouse TNBC model, combination therapy with TEP and palbociclib potently suppresses tumor growth. This study offers a promising nucleic acid-based PROTAC modality for both chemical biology studies and therapeutic interventions of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xintong Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Ze Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Fangyan Gao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Yuxuan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Dongying Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhangwei Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Siqi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Mengqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yueyao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Kun Xu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Runtian Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Feng Xu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Jia-Yu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Chengjun Zhu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Zhe Li
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Hanyang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiaoxiang Guan
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
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48
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Martínez-Martín S, Beaulieu ME, Soucek L. Targeting MYC-driven lymphoma: lessons learned and future directions. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2023; 6:205-222. [PMID: 37457123 PMCID: PMC10344726 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2022.127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
MYC plays a central role in tumorigenesis by orchestrating cell proliferation, growth and survival, among other transformation mechanisms. In particular, MYC has often been associated with lymphomagenesis. In fact, MYC overexpressing lymphomas such as high-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBL) and double expressor diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL), are considered addicted to MYC. In such a context, MYC targeting therapies are of special interest, as MYC withdrawal is expected to result in tumor regression. However, whether high MYC levels are always predictive of increased sensitivity to these approaches is not clear yet. Even though no MYC inhibitor has received regulatory approval to date, substantial efforts have been made to investigate avenues to render MYC a druggable target. Here, we summarize the different classes of molecules currently under development, which mostly target MYC indirectly in aggressive B-cell lymphomas, paying special attention to subtypes with MYC/BCL2 or BCL6 translocations or overexpression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marie-Eve Beaulieu
- Peptomyc S.L., Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona 08035, Spain
| | - Laura Soucek
- Peptomyc S.L., Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona 08035, Spain
- Preclinical & Translational Research Program, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona 08035, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
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49
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Wu TY, Chen XC, Tang GX, Shao W, Li ZC, Chen SB, Huang ZS, Tan JH. Development and Characterization of Benzoselenazole Derivatives as Potent and Selective c-MYC Transcription Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2023; 66:5484-5499. [PMID: 37036951 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Developing c-MYC transcription inhibitors that target the G-quadruplex has generated significant interest; however, few compounds have demonstrated specificity for c-MYC G-quadruplex and cancer cells. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of benzoazole derivatives as potential G-quadruplex ligand-based c-MYC transcription inhibitors. Surprisingly, benzoselenazole derivatives, which are rarely reported as G-quadruplex ligands, demonstrated greater c-MYC G-quadruplex selectivity and cancer cell specificity compared to their benzothiazole and benzoxazole analogues. The most promising compound, benzoselenazole m-Se3, selectively inhibited c-MYC transcription by specifically stabilizing the c-MYC G-quadruplex. This led to selective inhibition of hepatoma cell growth and proliferation by affecting the MYC target gene network, as well as effective tumor growth inhibition in hepatoma xenografts. Collectively, our study demonstrates that m-Se3 holds significant promise as a potent and selective inhibitor of c-MYC transcription for cancer treatment. Furthermore, our findings inspire the development of novel selenium-containing heterocyclic compounds as c-MYC G-quadruplex-specific ligands and transcription inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Ying Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiu-Cai Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Gui-Xue Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Wen Shao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhang-Chi Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shuo-Bin Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhi-Shu Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jia-Heng Tan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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50
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Guo Y, Han Y, Li Z, Ji J, Zhu T, Du Y, Dong S. A new inhibitor of human peptide deformylase suppresses cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis and autophagy in cancers. Anticancer Drugs 2023; 34:483-494. [PMID: 36730491 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000001444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Human peptide deformylase (hsPDF) has been found overexpressed in many cancer cells and its inhibitors exhibit antitumor activity. Studies were performed to validate that hsPDF is a good antitumor target. The inhibitory effect of PDF64 on hsPDF enzymatic activity was measured and confirmed by computation analysis. Antiproliferation activity was determined and in-vivo antitumor activity were analyzed in HCT116 and HL60 nude mice xenografts. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), cell apoptosis, and autophagic cell death were analyzed by flow cytometry. ATP level was quantified using an ATP assay kit. Protein expression and kinase phosphorylation were determined by western blotting. A new hsPDF inhibitor PDF64 was identified. It showed evident antiproliferation activity in 10 cancer cells and significantly suppressed tumor growth in HCT116 and HL60 xenografts. It induced an obvious decrease in MMP and caused apparent cell apoptosis and autophagy in HCT116 and Jurkat cells. PDF64 treatment also led to an evident decrease in cellular ATP levels in these cells. Moreover, PDF64 downregulated c-Myc expression and had some effects on extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) and protein kinase B (Akt)/ mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways. PDF64 exhibited good antitumor effects both in vivo and in vitro . It caused cell apoptosis and autophagic death in HCT116 and Jurkat cells. The effects may be mediated by inhibiting c-Myc expression and ERK or PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway. Therefore, PDF64 may be a promising reagent for antitumor drug development, which further supports that hsPDF is a good antitumor drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanzhi Guo
- Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University
| | - Yuqiao Han
- Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University
| | - Ziyan Li
- Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University
| | - Jiali Ji
- Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University
| | - Tong Zhu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University
| | - Yijie Du
- Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Suzhen Dong
- Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University
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