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Muegge I, Bentzien J, Ge Y. Perspectives on current approaches to virtual screening in drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024:1-11. [PMID: 39132881 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2390511] [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: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION For the past two decades, virtual screening (VS) has been an efficient hit finding approach for drug discovery. Today, billions of commercially accessible compounds are routinely screened, and many successful examples of VS have been reported. VS methods continue to evolve, including machine learning and physics-based methods. AREAS COVERED The authors examine recent examples of VS in drug discovery and discuss prospective hit finding results from the critical assessment of computational hit-finding experiments (CACHE) challenge. The authors also highlight the cost considerations and open-source options for conducting VS and examine chemical space coverage and library selections for VS. EXPERT OPINION The advancement of sophisticated VS approaches, including the use of machine learning techniques and increased computer resources as well as the ease of access to synthetically available chemical spaces, and commercial and open-source VS platforms allow for interrogating ultra-large libraries (ULL) of billions of molecules. An impressive number of prospective ULL VS campaigns have generated potent and structurally novel hits across many target classes. Nonetheless, many successful contemporary VS approaches still use considerably smaller focused libraries. This apparent dichotomy illustrates that VS is best conducted in a fit-for-purpose way choosing an appropriate chemical space. Better methods need to be developed to tackle more challenging targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingo Muegge
- Research department, Alkermes, Inc, Waltham, MA, USA
| | | | - Yunhui Ge
- Research department, Alkermes, Inc, Waltham, MA, USA
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2
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Zenk F, Fleck JS, Jansen SMJ, Kashanian B, Eisinger B, Santel M, Dupré JS, Camp JG, Treutlein B. Single-cell epigenomic reconstruction of developmental trajectories from pluripotency in human neural organoid systems. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:1376-1386. [PMID: 38914828 PMCID: PMC11239525 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01652-0] [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: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Cell fate progression of pluripotent progenitors is strictly regulated, resulting in high human cell diversity. Epigenetic modifications also orchestrate cell fate restriction. Unveiling the epigenetic mechanisms underlying human cell diversity has been difficult. In this study, we use human brain and retina organoid models and present single-cell profiling of H3K27ac, H3K27me3 and H3K4me3 histone modifications from progenitor to differentiated neural fates to reconstruct the epigenomic trajectories regulating cell identity acquisition. We capture transitions from pluripotency through neuroepithelium to retinal and brain region and cell type specification. Switching of repressive and activating epigenetic modifications can precede and predict cell fate decisions at each stage, providing a temporal census of gene regulatory elements and transcription factors. Removing H3K27me3 at the neuroectoderm stage disrupts fate restriction, resulting in aberrant cell identity acquisition. Our single-cell epigenome-wide map of human neural organoid development serves as a blueprint to explore human cell fate determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fides Zenk
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH ZĂĽrich, Basel, Switzerland.
- Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Jonas Simon Fleck
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH ZĂĽrich, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Bijan Kashanian
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH ZĂĽrich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Benedikt Eisinger
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH ZĂĽrich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Małgorzata Santel
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH ZĂĽrich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Samuel Dupré
- Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - J Gray Camp
- Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Barbara Treutlein
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH ZĂĽrich, Basel, Switzerland.
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Dunn-Davies H, Dudnakova T, Nogara A, Rodor J, Thomas AC, Parish E, Gautier P, Meynert A, Ulitsky I, Madeddu P, Caporali A, Baker A, Tollervey D, Mitić T. Control of endothelial cell function and arteriogenesis by MEG3:EZH2 epigenetic regulation of integrin expression. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102173. [PMID: 38617973 PMCID: PMC11015509 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102173] [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] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic processes involving long non-coding RNAs regulate endothelial gene expression. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms causing endothelial dysfunction remain to be elucidated. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is an important rheostat of histone H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) that represses endothelial targets, but EZH2 RNA binding capacity and EZH2:RNA functional interactions have not been explored in post-ischemic angiogenesis. We used formaldehyde/UV-assisted crosslinking ligation and sequencing of hybrids and identified a new role for maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3). MEG3 formed the predominant RNA:RNA hybrid structures in endothelial cells. Moreover, MEG3:EZH2 assists recruitment onto chromatin. By EZH2-chromatin immunoprecipitation, following MEG3 depletion, we demonstrated that MEG3 controls recruitment of EZH2/H3K27me3 onto integrin subunit alpha4 (ITGA4) promoter. Both MEG3 knockdown or EZH2 inhibition (A-395) promoted ITGA4 expression and improved endothelial cell migration and adhesion to fibronectin in vitro. The A-395 inhibitor re-directed MEG3-assisted chromatin remodeling, offering a direct therapeutic benefit by increasing endothelial function and resilience. This approach subsequently increased the expression of ITGA4 in arterioles following ischemic injury in mice, thus promoting arteriogenesis. Our findings show a context-specific role for MEG3 in guiding EZH2 to repress ITGA4. Novel therapeutic strategies could antagonize MEG3:EZH2 interaction for pre-clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hywel Dunn-Davies
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building Max Born Crescent, King’s Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Tatiana Dudnakova
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute (QMRI), The University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Antonella Nogara
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute (QMRI), The University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Julie Rodor
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute (QMRI), The University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Anita C. Thomas
- Bristol Medical School, Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research and Teaching Floor Level 7, Queens Building, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Elisa Parish
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute (QMRI), The University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Philippe Gautier
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Alison Meynert
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Igor Ulitsky
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology and Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann-UK Building rm. 007, Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Paolo Madeddu
- Bristol Medical School, Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research and Teaching Floor Level 7, Queens Building, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Andrea Caporali
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute (QMRI), The University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Andrew Baker
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute (QMRI), The University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - David Tollervey
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building Max Born Crescent, King’s Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Tijana Mitić
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute (QMRI), The University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
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Kazansky Y, Cameron D, Mueller HS, Demarest P, Zaffaroni N, Arrighetti N, Zuco V, Kuwahara Y, Somwar R, Ladanyi M, Qu R, de Stanchina E, Dela Cruz FS, Kung AL, Gounder MM, Kentsis A. Overcoming Clinical Resistance to EZH2 Inhibition Using Rational Epigenetic Combination Therapy. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:965-981. [PMID: 38315003 PMCID: PMC11147720 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-0110] [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: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic dependencies have become evident in many cancers. On the basis of antagonism between BAF/SWI-SNF and PRC2 in SMARCB1-deficient sarcomas, we recently completed the clinical trial of the EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat. However, the principles of tumor response to epigenetic therapy in general, and tazemetostat in particular, remain unknown. Using functional genomics and diverse experimental models, we define molecular mechanisms of tazemetostat resistance in SMARCB1-deficient tumors. We found distinct acquired mutations that converge on the RB1/E2F axis and decouple EZH2-dependent differentiation and cell-cycle control. This allows tumor cells to escape tazemetostat-induced G1 arrest, suggests a general mechanism for effective therapy, and provides prospective biomarkers for therapy stratification, including PRICKLE1. On the basis of this, we develop a combination strategy to circumvent tazemetostat resistance using bypass targeting of AURKB. This offers a paradigm for rational epigenetic combination therapy suitable for translation to clinical trials for epithelioid sarcomas, rhabdoid tumors, and other epigenetically dysregulated cancers. SIGNIFICANCE Genomic studies of patient epithelioid sarcomas and rhabdoid tumors identify mutations converging on a common pathway for response to EZH2 inhibition. Resistance mutations decouple drug-induced differentiation from cell-cycle control. We identify an epigenetic combination strategy to overcome resistance and improve durability of response, supporting its investigation in clinical trials. See related commentary by Paolini and Souroullas, p. 903. This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 897.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaniv Kazansky
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniel Cameron
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Helen S. Mueller
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Phillip Demarest
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nadia Zaffaroni
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Noemi Arrighetti
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Zuco
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Yasumichi Kuwahara
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
| | - Romel Somwar
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marc Ladanyi
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rui Qu
- Antitumor Assessment Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elisa de Stanchina
- Antitumor Assessment Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Filemon S. Dela Cruz
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew L. Kung
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mrinal M. Gounder
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alex Kentsis
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pharmacology, and Physiology & Biophysics, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
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Chen Y, Zhu H, Luo Y, Tong S, Liu Y. EZH2: The roles in targeted therapy and mechanisms of resistance in breast cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116624. [PMID: 38670045 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116624] [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: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance presents a formidable challenge in the realm of breast cancer therapy. Accumulating evidence suggests that enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a component of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), may serve as a key regulator in controlling drug resistance. EZH2 overexpression has been observed in breast cancer and many other malignancies, showing a strong correlation with poor outcomes. This review aims to summarize the mechanisms by which EZH2 regulates drug resistance, with a specific focus on breast cancer, in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the underlying molecular processes. Additionally, we will discuss the current strategies and outcomes of targeting EZH2 using both single agents and combination therapies, with the goal of offering improved guidance for the clinical treatment of breast cancer patients who have developed drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Chen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Clinical Pharmacy Innovation Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
| | - Hongyan Zhu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Clinical Pharmacy Innovation Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
| | - Yi Luo
- Clinical Pharmacy Innovation Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Biotheus Inc., Guangdong Province, Zhuhai 519080, PR China.
| | - Shuangmei Tong
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Clinical Pharmacy Innovation Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Clinical Pharmacy Innovation Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
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Bao Q, Kumar A, Wu D, Zhou J. Targeting EED as a key PRC2 complex mediator toward novel epigenetic therapeutics. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:103986. [PMID: 38642703 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.103986] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
EED within the PRC2 complex is crucial for chromatin regulation particularly in tumor development, making its inhibition a promising epigenetic therapeutic strategy. Significant advancement in PRC2 inhibitor development has been achieved with an approved EZH2 inhibitor in the market and with others in the clinical trials. However, current EZH2 inhibitors are limited to specific blood cancers and encounter therapeutic resistance. EED stabilizes PRC2 complex and enhances its activity through unique allosteric mechanisms, thereby acting as both a scaffold protein and a recognizer of H3K27me3 making it an attractive drug target. This review provides an overview of epigenetic therapeutic strategies targeting EED, including allosteric inhibitors, PPI inhibitors, and PROTACs, together with brief discussions on the relevant challenges, opportunities, and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qichao Bao
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Anil Kumar
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Daqing Wu
- Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development and Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA
| | - Jia Zhou
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
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7
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Shah Zaib Saleem R, Schwalm MP, Knapp S. Expanding the ligand spaces for E3 ligases for the design of protein degraders. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 105:117718. [PMID: 38621319 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117718] [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: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) has recently emerged as an exciting new drug modality. However, the strategy of developing small molecule-based protein degraders has evolved over the past two decades and has now established molecular tags that are already in clinical use, as well as chimeric molecules, PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs), based mainly on ligand systems developed for the two E3 ligases CRBN and VHL. The large size of the human E3 ligase family suggests that PROTACs can be developed by targeting a large diversity of E3 ligases, some of which have restricted expression patterns with the potential to design disease- or tissue-specific degraders. Indeed, many new E3 ligands have been published recently, confirming the druggability of E3 ligases. This review summarises recent data on E3 ligases and highlights the challenges in developing these molecules into efficient PROTACs rivalling the established degrader systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahman Shah Zaib Saleem
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, SBA School of Sciences & Engineering, LUMS, Pakistan
| | - Martin P Schwalm
- Institut fĂĽr Pharmazeutische Chemie, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Biozentrum, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Structural Genomics Consortium, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stefan Knapp
- Institut fĂĽr Pharmazeutische Chemie, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Biozentrum, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Structural Genomics Consortium, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt, Germany.
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8
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Huang X, Chen Y, Xiao Q, Shang X, Liu Y. Chemical inhibitors targeting histone methylation readers. Pharmacol Ther 2024; 256:108614. [PMID: 38401773 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2024.108614] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Histone methylation reader domains are protein modules that recognize specific histone methylation marks, such as methylated or unmethylated lysine or arginine residues on histones. These reader proteins play crucial roles in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression, chromatin structure, and DNA damage repair. Dysregulation of these proteins has been linked to various diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and developmental disorders. Therefore, targeting these proteins with chemical inhibitors has emerged as an attractive approach for therapeutic intervention, and significant progress has been made in this area. In this review, we will summarize the development of inhibitors targeting histone methylation readers, including MBT domains, chromodomains, Tudor domains, PWWP domains, PHD fingers, and WD40 repeat domains. For each domain, we will briefly discuss its identification and biological/biochemical functions, and then focus on the discovery of inhibitors tailored to target this domain, summarizing the property and potential application of most inhibitors. We will also discuss the structural basis for the potency and selectivity of these inhibitors, which will aid in further lead generation and optimization. Finally, we will also address the challenges and strategies involved in the development of these inhibitors. It should facilitate the rational design and development of novel chemical scaffolds and new targeting strategies for histone methylation reader domains with the help of this body of data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Huang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China
| | - Yichang Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China
| | - Qin Xiao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China
| | - Xinci Shang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China
| | - Yanli Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China.
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Alqazzaz MA, Luciani GM, Vu V, Machado RAC, Szewczyk MM, Adamson EC, Cheon S, Li F, Arrowsmith CH, Minden MD, Barsyte-Lovejoy D. Epigenetic vulnerabilities of leukemia harboring inactivating EZH2 mutations. Exp Hematol 2024; 130:104135. [PMID: 38072134 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2023.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic regulators, such as the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), play a critical role in both normal development and carcinogenesis. Mutations and functional dysregulation of PRC2 complex components, such as EZH2, are implicated in various forms of cancer and associated with poor prognosis. This study investigated the epigenetic vulnerabilities of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disorders (MDS/MPN) by performing a chemical probe screen in patient cells. Paradoxically, we observed increased sensitivity to EZH2 and embryonic ectoderm development (EED) inhibitors in AML and MDS/MPN patient cells harboring EZH2 mutations. Expression analysis indicated that EZH2 inhibition elicited upregulation of pathways responsible for cell death and growth arrest, specifically in patient cells with mutant EZH2. The identified EZH2 mutations had drastically reduced catalytic activity, resulting in lower cellular H3K27me3 levels, and were associated with decreased EZH2 and PRC2 component EED protein levels. Overall, this study provides an important understanding of the role of EZH2 dysregulation in blood cancers and may indicate disease etiology for these poor prognosis AML and MDS/MPN cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona A Alqazzaz
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Genna M Luciani
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Victoria Vu
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Raquel A C Machado
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Ella C Adamson
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sehyun Cheon
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fengling Li
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cheryl H Arrowsmith
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark D Minden
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dalia Barsyte-Lovejoy
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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10
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Schnee P, Pleiss J, Jeltsch A. Approaching the catalytic mechanism of protein lysine methyltransferases by biochemical and simulation techniques. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 59:20-68. [PMID: 38449437 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2024.2318547] [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: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Protein lysine methyltransferases (PKMTs) transfer up to three methyl groups to the side chains of lysine residues in proteins and fulfill important regulatory functions by controlling protein stability, localization and protein/protein interactions. The methylation reactions are highly regulated, and aberrant methylation of proteins is associated with several types of diseases including neurologic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and various types of cancer. This review describes novel insights into the catalytic machinery of various PKMTs achieved by the combined application of biochemical experiments and simulation approaches during the last years, focusing on clinically relevant and well-studied enzymes of this group like DOT1L, SMYD1-3, SET7/9, G9a/GLP, SETD2, SUV420H2, NSD1/2, different MLLs and EZH2. Biochemical experiments have unraveled many mechanistic features of PKMTs concerning their substrate and product specificity, processivity and the effects of somatic mutations observed in PKMTs in cancer cells. Structural data additionally provided information about the substrate recognition, enzyme-substrate complex formation, and allowed for simulations of the substrate peptide interaction and mechanism of PKMTs with atomistic resolution by molecular dynamics and hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics methods. These simulation technologies uncovered important mechanistic details of the PKMT reaction mechanism including the processes responsible for the deprotonation of the target lysine residue, essential conformational changes of the PKMT upon substrate binding, but also rationalized regulatory principles like PKMT autoinhibition. Further developments are discussed that could bring us closer to a mechanistic understanding of catalysis of this important class of enzymes in the near future. The results described here illustrate the power of the investigation of enzyme mechanisms by the combined application of biochemical experiments and simulation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Schnee
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - JĂĽrgen Pleiss
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Albert Jeltsch
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
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11
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Falkenstern L, Georgi V, Bunse S, Badock V, Husemann M, Roehn U, Stellfeld T, Fitzgerald M, Ferrara S, Stöckigt D, Stresemann C, Hartung IV, Fernández-Montalván A. A miniaturized mode-of-action profiling platform enables high throughput characterization of the molecular and cellular dynamics of EZH2 inhibition. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1739. [PMID: 38242973 PMCID: PMC10799085 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50964-x] [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: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The market approval of Tazemetostat (TAZVERIK) for the treatment of follicular lymphoma and epithelioid sarcoma has established "enhancer of zeste homolog 2" (EZH2) as therapeutic target in oncology. Despite their structural similarities and common mode of inhibition, Tazemetostat and other EZH2 inhibitors display differentiated pharmacological profiles based on their target residence time. Here we established high throughput screening methods based on time-resolved fluorescence energy transfer, scintillation proximity and high content analysis microscopy to quantify the biochemical and cellular binding of a chemically diverse collection of EZH2 inhibitors. These assays allowed to further characterize the interplay between EZH2 allosteric modulation by methylated histone tails (H3K27me3) and inhibitor binding, and to evaluate the impact of EZH2's clinically relevant mutant Y641N on drug target residence times. While all compounds in this study exhibited slower off-rates, those with clinical candidate status display significantly slower target residence times in wild type EZH2 and disease-related mutants. These inhibitors interact in a more entropy-driven fashion and show the most persistent effects in cellular washout and antiproliferative efficacy experiments. Our work provides mechanistic insights for the largest cohort of EZH2 inhibitors reported to date, demonstrating that-among several other binding parameters-target residence time is the best predictor of cellular efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilia Falkenstern
- Bayer AG, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Rentschler Biopharma SE, Erwin-Rentschler-StraĂźe 21, 88471, Laupheim, Germany
| | - Victoria Georgi
- Bayer AG, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Nuvisan Innovation Campus Berlin, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefanie Bunse
- Bayer AG, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Nuvisan Innovation Campus Berlin, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Volker Badock
- Bayer AG, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Nuvisan Innovation Campus Berlin, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Ulrike Roehn
- Bayer AG, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Nuvisan Innovation Campus Berlin, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Timo Stellfeld
- Bayer AG, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Nuvisan Innovation Campus Berlin, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mark Fitzgerald
- Bayer AG, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Nested Therapeutics, 1030 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 410, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Steven Ferrara
- Broad Institute, Merkin Building, 415 Main St, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Detlef Stöckigt
- Bayer AG, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Nuvisan Innovation Campus Berlin, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carlo Stresemann
- Bayer AG, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Nuvisan Innovation Campus Berlin, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ingo V Hartung
- Bayer AG, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Amaury Fernández-Montalván
- Bayer AG, MĂĽllerstrasse 178, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Str. 65, 88400, Biberach an der RiĂź, Germany.
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12
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Wille CK, Neumann EN, Deshpande AJ, Sridharan R. DOT1L interaction partner AF10 controls patterning of H3K79 methylation and RNA polymerase II to maintain cell identity. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:2451-2463. [PMID: 37995701 PMCID: PMC10724070 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.10.017] [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: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Histone 3 lysine 79 methylation (H3K79me) is enriched on gene bodies proportional to gene expression levels and serves as a strong barrier for the reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). DOT1L is the sole histone methyltransferase that deposits all three orders-mono (me1), di (me2), and tri (me3) methylation-at H3K79. Here, we leverage genetic and chemical approaches to parse the specific functions of orders of H3K79me in maintaining cell identity. DOT1L interacts with AF10 (Mllt10), which recognizes unmodified H3K27 and boosts H3K79me2/3 methylation. AF10 deletion evicts H3K79me2/3 and reorganizes H3K79me1 to the transcription start site to facilitate iPSC formation in the absence of steady-state transcriptional changes. Instead, AF10 loss redistributes RNA polymerase II to a uniquely pluripotent pattern at highly expressed, rapidly transcribed housekeeping genes. Taken together, we reveal a specific mechanism for H3K79me2/3 located at the gene body in reinforcing cell identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coral K Wille
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Edwin N Neumann
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Aniruddha J Deshpande
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Rupa Sridharan
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA; Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
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13
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Kazansky Y, Cameron D, Mueller HS, Demarest P, Zaffaroni N, Arrighetti N, Zuco V, Kuwahara Y, Somwar R, Ladanyi M, Qu R, De Stanchina E, Dela Cruz FS, Kung AL, Gounder M, Kentsis A. Overcoming clinical resistance to EZH2 inhibition using rational epigenetic combination therapy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.06.527192. [PMID: 36798379 PMCID: PMC9934575 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.06.527192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Essential epigenetic dependencies have become evident in many cancers. Based on the functional antagonism between BAF/SWI/SNF and PRC2 in SMARCB1-deficient sarcomas, we and colleagues recently completed the clinical trial of the EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat. However, the principles of tumor response to epigenetic therapy in general, and tazemetostat in particular, remain unknown. Using functional genomics of patient tumors and diverse experimental models, we sought to define molecular mechanisms of tazemetostat resistance in SMARCB1-deficient sarcomas and rhabdoid tumors. We found distinct classes of acquired mutations that converge on the RB1/E2F axis and decouple EZH2-dependent differentiation and cell cycle control. This allows tumor cells to escape tazemetostat-induced G1 arrest despite EZH2 inhibition, and suggests a general mechanism for effective EZH2 therapy. This also enables us to develop combination strategies to circumvent tazemetostat resistance using cell cycle bypass targeting via AURKB, and synthetic lethal targeting of PGBD5-dependent DNA damage repair via ATR. This reveals prospective biomarkers for therapy stratification, including PRICKLE1 associated with tazemetostat resistance. In all, this work offers a paradigm for rational epigenetic combination therapy suitable for immediate translation to clinical trials for epithelioid sarcomas, rhabdoid tumors, and other epigenetically dysregulated cancers.
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14
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Gao M, Li Y, Cao P, Liu H, Chen J, Kang S. Exploring the therapeutic potential of targeting polycomb repressive complex 2 in lung cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1216289. [PMID: 37909018 PMCID: PMC10613995 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1216289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of lung cancer (LC) is a multifaceted process that is influenced by a variety of factors. Alongside genetic mutations and environmental influences, there is increasing evidence that epigenetic mechanisms play a significant role in the development and progression of LC. The Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), composed of EZH1/2, SUZ12, and EED, is an epigenetic silencer that controls the expression of target genes and is crucial for cell identity in multicellular organisms. Abnormal expression of PRC2 has been shown to contribute to the progression of LC through several pathways. Although targeted inhibition of EZH2 has demonstrated potential in delaying the progression of LC and improving chemotherapy sensitivity, the effectiveness of enzymatic inhibitors of PRC2 in LC is limited, and a more comprehensive understanding of PRC2's role is necessary. This paper reviews the core subunits of PRC2 and their interactions, and outlines the mechanisms of aberrant PRC2 expression in cancer and its role in tumor immunity. We also summarize the important role of PRC2 in regulating biological behaviors such as epithelial mesenchymal transition, invasive metastasis, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, autophagy, and PRC2-mediated resistance to LC chemotherapeutic agents in LC cells. Lastly, we explored the latest breakthroughs in the research and evaluation of medications that target PRC2, as well as the latest findings from clinical studies investigating the efficacy of these drugs in the treatment of various human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Gao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
- Inner Mongolia Medical University, First Clinical Medical College, Hohhot, China
| | - Yongwen Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Peijun Cao
- Department of Lung Cancer Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Hongyu Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Department of Lung Cancer Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Shirong Kang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
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15
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Yang J, Tang R, Chen S, Chen Y, Yuan K, Huang R, Wang L. Exposure to high-sugar diet induces transgenerational changes in sweet sensitivity and feeding behavior via H3K27me3 reprogramming. eLife 2023; 12:e85365. [PMID: 37698486 PMCID: PMC10558205 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85365] [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: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Human health is facing a host of new threats linked to unbalanced diets, including high-sugar diet (HSD), which contributes to the development of both metabolic and behavioral disorders. Studies have shown that diet-induced metabolic dysfunctions can be transmitted to multiple generations of offspring and exert long-lasting health burden. Meanwhile, whether and how diet-induced behavioral abnormalities can be transmitted to the offspring remains largely unclear. Here, we showed that ancestral HSD exposure suppressed sweet sensitivity and feeding behavior in the offspring in Drosophila. These behavioral deficits were transmitted through the maternal germline and companied by the enhancement of H3K27me3 modifications. PCL-PRC2 complex, a major driver of H3K27 trimethylation, was upregulated by ancestral HSD exposure, and disrupting its activity eliminated the transgenerational inheritance of sweet sensitivity and feeding behavior deficits. Elevated H3K27me3 inhibited the expression of a transcriptional factor Cad and suppressed sweet sensitivity of the sweet-sensing gustatory neurons, reshaping the sweet perception and feeding behavior of the offspring. Taken together, we uncovered a novel molecular mechanism underlying behavioral abnormalities spanning multiple generations of offspring upon ancestral HSD exposure, which would contribute to the further understanding of long-term health risk of unbalanced diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Ruijun Tang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Shiye Chen
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yinan Chen
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Kai Yuan
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- The Biobank of Xiangya Hospital, Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Rui Huang
- Center for Neurointelligence, School of Medicine, Chongqing UniversityChongqingChina
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay LaboratoryShenzhenChina
| | - Liming Wang
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay LaboratoryShenzhenChina
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16
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Li X, Chen Y, Bai L, Zhao R, Wu Y, Xie ZR, Wu JM, Bowen NJ, Danaher A, Cook N, Li D, Qui M, Du Y, Fu H, Osunkoya AO, Kucuk O, Wu D. Nicardipine is a putative EED inhibitor and has high selectivity and potency against chemoresistant prostate cancer in preclinical models. Br J Cancer 2023; 129:884-894. [PMID: 37474721 PMCID: PMC10449793 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02359-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: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is imperative to develop novel therapeutics to overcome chemoresistance, a significant obstacle in the clinical management of prostate cancer (PCa) and other cancers. METHODS A phenotypic screen was performed to identify novel inhibitors of chemoresistant PCa cells. The mechanism of action of potential candidate(s) was investigated using in silico docking, and molecular and cellular assays in chemoresistant PCa cells. The in vivo efficacy was evaluated in mouse xenograft models of chemoresistant PCa. RESULTS Nicardipine exhibited high selectivity and potency against chemoresistant PCa cells via inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Computational, molecular, and cellular studies identified nicardipine as a putative inhibitor of embryonic ectoderm development (EED) protein, and the results are consistent with a proposed mechanism of action that nicardipine destabilised enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) and inhibited key components of noncanonical EZH2 signalling, including transducer and activator of transcription 3, S-phase kinase-associated protein 2, ATP binding cassette B1, and survivin. As a monotherapy, nicardipine effectively inhibited the skeletal growth of chemoresistant C4-2B-TaxR tumours. As a combination regimen, nicardipine synergistically enhanced the in vivo efficacy of docetaxel against C4-2 xenografts. CONCLUSION Our findings provided the first preclinical evidence supporting nicardipine as a novel EED inhibitor that has the potential to be promptly tested in PCa patients to overcome chemoresistance and improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development and Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Molecular Oncology and Biomarkers Program, Georgia Cancer Center; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Yanhua Chen
- Molecular Oncology and Biomarkers Program, Georgia Cancer Center; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
- Department of Hand Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lijuan Bai
- Molecular Oncology and Biomarkers Program, Georgia Cancer Center; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
- Department of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- Molecular Oncology and Biomarkers Program, Georgia Cancer Center; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
- Department of Urology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yifei Wu
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Zhong-Ru Xie
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Jason M Wu
- Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nathan J Bowen
- Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development and Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alira Danaher
- Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development and Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nicholas Cook
- Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development and Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Dehong Li
- Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development and Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Min Qui
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, and Emory Chemical Biology Discovery Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yuhong Du
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, and Emory Chemical Biology Discovery Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Haian Fu
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, and Emory Chemical Biology Discovery Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Adeboye O Osunkoya
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Omer Kucuk
- Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Daqing Wu
- Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development and Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Molecular Oncology and Biomarkers Program, Georgia Cancer Center; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
- Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- MetCure Therapeutics LLC, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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17
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Lanzi C, Arrighetti N, Pasquali S, Cassinelli G. Targeting EZH2 in SMARCB1-deficient sarcomas: Advances and opportunities to potentiate the efficacy of EZH2 inhibitors. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 215:115727. [PMID: 37541451 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115727] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are rare mesechymal malignancies characterized by distintive molecular, histological and clinical features. Many STSs are considered as predominatly epigenetic diseases due to underlying chromatin deregulation. Discovery of deregulated functional antagonism between the chromatin remodeling BRG1/BRM-associated (BAFs) and the histone modifying Polycomb repressor complexes (PRCs) has provided novel actionable targets. In epithelioid sarcoma (ES), extracranial, extrarenal malignant rhabdoid tumors (eMRTs) and synovial sarcoma (SS), the total or partial loss of the BAF core subunit SMARCB1, driven by different alterations, is associated with PRC2 deregulation and dependency on its enzymatic subunit, EZH2. In these SMARCB1-deficient STSs, aberrant EZH2 expression and/or activity emerged as a druggable vulnerability. Although preclinical investigation supported EZH2 targeting as a promising therapeutic option, clinical studies demonstrated a variable response to EZH2 inhibitors. Actually, whereas the clinical benefit recorded in ES patients prompted the FDA approval of the EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat, the modest and sporadic responses observed in eMRT and SS patients highlighted the need to deepen mechanistic as well as pharmacological investigations to improve drug effectiveness. We summarize the current knowledge of different mechanisms driving SMARCB1 deficiency and EZH2 deregulation in ES, eMRT and SS along with preclinical and clinical studies of EZH2-targeting agents. Possible implication of the PRC2- and enzymatic-independent functions of EZH2 and of its homolog, EZH1, in the response to anti-EZH2 agents will be discussed together with combinatorial strategies under investigation to improve the efficacy of EZH2 targeting in these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Lanzi
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Noemi Arrighetti
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Sandro Pasquali
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuliana Cassinelli
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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18
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Dardis GJ, Wang J, Simon JM, Wang GG, Baldwin AS. An EZH2-NF-ÎşB regulatory axis drives expression of pro-oncogenic gene signatures in triple negative breast cancer. iScience 2023; 26:107115. [PMID: 37416481 PMCID: PMC10319845 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The histone methyltransferase EZH2 has been studied most extensively in the context of PRC2-dependent gene repression. Accumulating evidence indicates non-canonical functions for EZH2 in cancer contexts including promoting paradoxical gene expression through interactions with transcription factors, including NF-ÎşB in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). We profile EZH2 and NF-ÎşB factor co-localization and positive gene regulation genome-wide, and define a subset of NF-ÎşB targets and genes associated with oncogenic functions in TNBC that is enriched in patient datasets. We demonstrate interaction between EZH2 and RelA requiring the recently identified transactivation domain (TAD) which mediates EZH2 recruitment to, and activation of certain NF-ÎşB-dependent genes, and supports downstream migration and stemness phenotypes in TNBC cells. Interestingly, EZH2-NF-ÎşB positive regulation of genes and stemness does not require PRC2. This study provides new insight into pro-oncogenic regulatory functions for EZH2 in breast cancer through PRC2-independent, and NF-ÎşB-dependent regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle J. Dardis
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jun Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jeremy M. Simon
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Gang Greg Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Albert S. Baldwin
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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19
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Li H, Zhang D, Fu Q, Wang S, Zhang X, Lin Z, Wang Z, Song J, Su Z, Xue V, Liu S, Chen Y, Zhou L, Zhao N, Lu D. WDR54 exerts oncogenic roles in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer Sci 2023. [PMID: 37302808 PMCID: PMC10394158 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15872] [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: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
WDR54 has been recently identified as a novel oncogene in colorectal and bladder cancers. However, the expression and function of WDR54 in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) were not reported. In this study, we investigated the expression of WDR54 in T-ALL, as well as its function in T-ALL pathogenesis using cell lines and T-ALL xenograft. Bioinformatics analysis indicated high mRNA expression of WDR54 in T-ALL. We further confirmed that the expression of WDR54 was significantly elevated in T-ALL. Depletion of WDR54 dramatically inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at S phase in T-ALL cells in vitro. Moreover, knockdown of WDR54 impeded the process of leukemogenesis in a Jurkat xenograft model in vivo. Mechanistically, the expression of PDPK1, phospho-AKT (p-AKT), total AKT, phospho-ERK (p-ERK), Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were downregulated, while cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 were upregulated in T-ALL cells with WDR54 knockdown. Additionally, RNA-seq analysis indicated that WDR54 might regulate the expression of some oncogenic genes involved in multiple signaling pathways. Taken together, these findings suggest that WDR54 may be involved in the pathogenesis of T-ALL and serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of T-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Danlan Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qiuxia Fu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shang Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Prevention and Cure of Metabolic Diseases, College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhixian Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhongyuan Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiaxing Song
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zijie Su
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - VivianWeiwen Xue
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shanshan Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yun Chen
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Liang Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Na Zhao
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Desheng Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
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20
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GroĂź E, Hilger RA, SchĂĽmann FL, Bauer M, Bouska A, Rohde C, Willscher E, LĂĽtzkendorf J, MĂĽller LP, Edemir B, Mueller T, Herling M, Binder M, Wickenhauser C, Iqbal J, Posern G, Weber T. SAM-Competitive EZH2-Inhibitors Induce Platinum Resistance by EZH2-Independent Induction of ABC-Transporters. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3043. [PMID: 37297005 PMCID: PMC10252553 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15113043] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell lymphomas are heterogeneous and rare lymphatic malignancies with unfavorable prognosis. Consequently, new therapeutic strategies are needed. The enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) is the catalytic subunit of the polycomb repressive complex 2 and responsible for lysine 27 trimethylation of histone 3. EZH2 is overexpressed in several tumor entities including T-cell neoplasms leading to epigenetic and consecutive oncogenic dysregulation. Thus, pharmacological EZH2 inhibition is a promising target and its clinical evaluation in T-cell lymphomas shows favorable results. We have investigated EZH2 expression in two cohorts of T-cell lymphomas by mRNA-profiling and immunohistochemistry, both revealing overexpression to have a negative impact on patients' prognosis. Furthermore, we have evaluated EZH2 inhibition in a panel of leukemia and lymphoma cell lines with a focus on T-cell lymphomas characterized for canonical EZH2 signaling components. The cell lines were treated with the inhibitors GSK126 or EPZ6438 that inhibit EZH2 specifically by competitive binding at the S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) binding site in combination with the common second-line chemotherapeutic oxaliplatin. The change in cytotoxic effects under pharmacological EZH2 inhibition was evaluated revealing a drastic increase in oxaliplatin resistance after 72 h and longer periods of combinational incubation. This outcome was independent of cell type but associated to reduced intracellular platinum. Pharmacological EZH2 inhibition revealed increased expression in SRE binding proteins, SREBP1/2 and ATP binding cassette subfamily G transporters ABCG1/2. The latter are associated with chemotherapy resistance due to increased platinum efflux. Knockdown experiments revealed that this was independent of the EZH2 functional state. The EZH2 inhibition effect on oxaliplatin resistance and efflux was reduced by additional inhibition of the regulated target proteins. In conclusion, pharmacological EZH2 inhibition is not suitable in combination with the common chemotherapeutic oxaliplatin in T-cell lymphomas revealing an EZH2-independent off-target effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth GroĂź
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Ralf-Axel Hilger
- West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Franziska Lea SchĂĽmann
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Marcus Bauer
- Institute of Pathology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Alyssa Bouska
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Christian Rohde
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Edith Willscher
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jana LĂĽtzkendorf
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Lutz Peter MĂĽller
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Bayram Edemir
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Thomas Mueller
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Marco Herling
- Department of Hematology, Cell Therapy, Hemostaseology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mascha Binder
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Claudia Wickenhauser
- Institute of Pathology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Javeed Iqbal
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Guido Posern
- Institute for Physiological Chemistry, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06114 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Thomas Weber
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
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21
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Liu Y, Yang Q. The roles of EZH2 in cancer and its inhibitors. Med Oncol 2023; 40:167. [PMID: 37148376 PMCID: PMC10162908 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02025-6] [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: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is encoded by the Enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit gene. EZH2 is involved in the cell cycle, DNA damage repair, cell differentiation, autophagy, apoptosis, and immunological modulation. The main function of EZH2 is to catalyze the methylation of H3 histone of H3K27Me3, which inhibits the transcription of target genes, such as tumor suppressor genes. EZH2 also forms complexes with transcriptions factors or directly binds to the promoters of target genes, leading to regulate gene transcriptions. EZH2 has been as a prominent target for cancer therapy and a growing number of potential targeting medicines have been developed. This review summarized the mechanisms that EZH2 regulates gene transcription and the interactions between EZH2 and important intracellular signaling molecules (Wnt, Notch, MEK, Akt) and as well the clinical applications of EZH2-targeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuankai Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiong Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
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22
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Pan M, Xiao T, Xu L, Xie Y, Ge W. UTP18-mediated p21 mRNA instability drives adenoma-carcinoma progression in colorectal cancer. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112423. [PMID: 37086406 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) often develops slowly from adenoma, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear, hampering the prevention or treatment of colorectal adenoma-carcinoma progression. In this study, we use in-depth quantitative proteomics combined with survival analysis, revealing that the ribosome protein U3 small nucleolar RNA-associated protein 18 homolog (UTP18) is consistently upregulated in the progression of colorectal adenoma to carcinoma and is associated with adenoma recurrence, effective serodiagnosis, and poor prognosis of CRC. Furthermore, deSUMOylation induces the nucleocytoplasmic transport of UTP18, driving cell-cycle progression and tumorigenesis via mediation of the instability of p21 mRNA. In addition, the growth and ribosome biogenesis of adenoma organoids is found to be promoted by overexpression of UTP18. Thus, UTP18 contributes to multiple roles in adenogenesis and malignancy of CRC, suggesting that it could be a potential biomarker and drug target for colorectal adenoma and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Pan
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Tixian Xiao
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Lai Xu
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
| | - Yong Xie
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China; Department of Orthopedics, The Fourth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China; National Clinical Research Center for Orthopedics, Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, Beijing 100853, China.
| | - Wei Ge
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China.
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23
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Potjewyd FM, Foley CA, Ong HW, Rectenwald JM, Hanley RP, Norris-Drouin JL, Cholensky SH, Mills CA, Pearce KH, Herring LE, Kireev D, Frye SV, James LI. PROTAC Linkerology Leads to an Optimized Bivalent Chemical Degrader of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) Components. ACS Chem Biol 2023; 18:494-507. [PMID: 36877831 PMCID: PMC10023369 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Bivalent chemical degraders, otherwise known as proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), have proven to be an efficient strategy for targeting overexpressed or mutated proteins in cancer. PROTACs provide an alternative approach to small-molecule inhibitors, which are restricted by occupancy-driven pharmacology, often resulting in acquired inhibitor resistance via compensatory increases in protein expression. Despite the advantages of bivalent chemical degraders, they often have suboptimal physicochemical properties and optimization for efficient degradation remains highly unpredictable. Herein, we report the development of a potent EED-targeted PRC2 degrader, UNC7700. UNC7700 contains a unique cis-cyclobutane linker and potently degrades PRC2 components EED (DC50 = 111 nM; Dmax = 84%), EZH2WT/EZH2Y641N (DC50 = 275 nM; Dmax = 86%), and to a lesser extent SUZ12 (Dmax = 44%) after 24 h in a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma DB cell line. Characterization of UNC7700 and related compounds for ternary complex formation and cellular permeability to provide a rationale for the observed improvement in degradation efficiency remained challenging. Importantly, UNC7700 dramatically reduces H3K27me3 levels and is anti-proliferative in DB cells (EC50 = 0.79 ± 0.53 μM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances M. Potjewyd
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Caroline A. Foley
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Han Wee Ong
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Justin M. Rectenwald
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ronan P. Hanley
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jacqueline L. Norris-Drouin
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Stephanie H. Cholensky
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Christine A. Mills
- UNC Proteomics Core Facility, Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kenneth H. Pearce
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Laura E. Herring
- UNC Proteomics Core Facility, Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Dmitri Kireev
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Stephen V. Frye
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Lindsey I. James
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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24
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Zhang M, Li J, Wang Q, Urabe G, Tang R, Huang Y, Mosquera JV, Kent KC, Wang B, Miller CL, Guo LW. Gene-repressing epigenetic reader EED unexpectedly enhances cyclinD1 gene activation. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 31:717-729. [PMID: 36923952 PMCID: PMC10009644 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetically switched, proliferative vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) form neointima, engendering stenotic diseases. Histone-3 lysine-27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) and acetylation (H3K27ac) marks are associated with gene repression and activation, respectively. The polycomb protein embryonic ectoderm development (EED) reads H3K27me3 and also enhances its deposition, hence is a canonical gene repressor. However, herein we found an unexpected role for EED in activating the bona fide pro-proliferative gene Ccnd1 (cyclinD1). EED overexpression in SMCs increased Ccnd1 mRNA, seemingly contradicting its gene-repressing function. However, consistently, EED co-immunoprecipitated with gene-activating H3K27ac reader BRD4, and they co-occupied at both mitogen-activated Ccnd1 and mitogen-repressed P57 (bona fide anti-proliferative gene), as indicated by chromatin immunoprecipitation qPCR. These results were abolished by an inhibitor of either the EED/H3K27me3 or BRD4/H3K27ac reader function. In accordance, elevating BRD4 increased H3K27me3. In vivo, while EED was upregulated in rat and human neointimal lesions, selective EED inhibition abated angioplasty-induced neointima and reduced cyclinD1 in rat carotid arteries. Thus, results uncover a previously unknown role for EED in Ccnd1 activation, likely via its cooperativity with BRD4 that enhances each other's reader function; i.e., activating pro-proliferative Ccnd1 while repressing anti-proliferative P57. As such, this study confers mechanistic implications for the epigenetic intervention of neointimal pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxue Zhang
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Qingwei Wang
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Go Urabe
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Runze Tang
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Yitao Huang
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Jose Verdezoto Mosquera
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - K. Craig Kent
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Bowen Wang
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Clint L. Miller
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Lian-Wang Guo
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
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25
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Hanot M, Raby L, Völkel P, Le Bourhis X, Angrand PO. The Contribution of the Zebrafish Model to the Understanding of Polycomb Repression in Vertebrates. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032322. [PMID: 36768643 PMCID: PMC9916924 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are highly conserved proteins assembled into two major types of complexes, PRC1 and PRC2, involved in the epigenetic silencing of a wide range of gene expression programs regulating cell fate and tissue development. The crucial role of PRC1 and PRC2 in the fundamental cellular processes and their involvement in human pathologies such as cancer attracted intense attention over the last few decades. Here, we review recent advancements regarding PRC1 and PRC2 function using the zebrafish model. We point out that the unique characteristics of the zebrafish model provide an exceptional opportunity to increase our knowledge of the role of the PRC1 and PRC2 complexes in tissue development, in the maintenance of organ integrity and in pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariette Hanot
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277-CANTHER-Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Ludivine Raby
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277-CANTHER-Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Pamela Völkel
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277-CANTHER-Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Xuefen Le Bourhis
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277-CANTHER-Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Pierre-Olivier Angrand
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277-CANTHER-Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, F-59000 Lille, France
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26
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Dong G, Zuo J, Yu J, Xu J, Gao G, Li GB, Zhao W, Yu B. Structure-Based Design of the Indole-Substituted Triazolopyrimidines as New EED-H3K27me3 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Lymphoma. J Med Chem 2023; 66:1063-1081. [PMID: 36580346 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c02028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Interrupting the embryonic ectoderm development (EED)-H3K27me3 interaction represents a promising strategy to allosterically inhibit polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) for cancer therapy. In this work, we report the structure-based design of new triazolopyrimidine-based EED inhibitors, which structurally feature the electron-rich indole ring at the C8 position. Particularly, ZJH-16 directly binds to EED (HTRF IC50 = 2.72 nM, BLI KD = 4.4 nM) and potently inhibits the growth of KARPAS422 and Pfeiffer cells. In both cells, ZJH-16 is selectively engaged with EED and reduces H3K27 trimethylation levels. ZJH-16 inhibits the gene silencing function of PRC2 in KARPAS422 cells. ZJH-16 possesses favorable pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles with an excellent oral bioavailability (F = 94.7%). More importantly, ZJH-16 shows robust tumor regression in the KARPAS422 xenograft model after oral administration with the tumor growth inhibition reaching nearly 100%. The robust antitumor efficacy and favorable PK profiles of ZJH-16 warrant further advanced preclinical development for lymphoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanjun Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou450001, China
| | - Jiahui Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou450001, China
| | - Junlin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of Ministry of Education, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, China
| | - Jiale Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou450001, China
| | - Ge Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou450001, China
| | - Guo-Bo Li
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of Ministry of Education, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, China
| | - Wen Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou450001, China
| | - Bin Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou450001, China
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27
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Guo Y, Yu Y, Wang GG. Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 in Oncology. Cancer Treat Res 2023; 190:273-320. [PMID: 38113005 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-45654-1_9] [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: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic regulation of the chromatin state by Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) provides an important mean for epigenetic gene control that can profoundly influence normal development and cell lineage specification. PRC2 and PRC2-induced methylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) are critically involved in a wide range of DNA-templated processes, which at least include transcriptional repression and gene imprinting, organization of three-dimensional chromatin structure, DNA replication and DNA damage response and repair. PRC2-based genome regulation often goes wrong in diseases, notably cancer. This chapter discusses about different modes-of-action through which PRC2 and EZH2, a catalytic subunit of PRC2, mediate (epi)genomic and transcriptomic regulation. We will also discuss about how alteration or mutation of the PRC2 core or axillary component promotes oncogenesis, how post-translational modification regulates functionality of EZH2 and PRC2, and how PRC2 and other epigenetic pathways crosstalk. Lastly, we will briefly touch on advances in targeting EZH2 and PRC2 dependence as cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiran Guo
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
| | - Yao Yu
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Gang Greg Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
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28
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The c-MYC-WDR43 signalling axis promotes chemoresistance and tumour growth in colorectal cancer by inhibiting p53 activity. Drug Resist Updat 2023; 66:100909. [PMID: 36525936 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2022.100909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Oxaliplatin chemoresistance is a major challenge in the clinical treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), which is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. In this study, we identified the tryptophan-aspartate repeat domain 43 (WDR43) as a potentially critical oncogenic factor in CRC pathogenesis through bioinformatics analysis. It was found that WDR43 is highly expressed in CRC tissues, and WDR43 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis of CRC patients. WDR43 knockdown significantly inhibits cell growth by arresting cell cycle and enhancing the effect of oxaliplatin chemotherapy both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, upon oxaliplatin stimulation, c-MYC promotes the transcriptional regulation and expression of WDR43. WDR43 enhances the ubiquitination of p53 by MDM2 through binding to RPL11, thereby reducing the stability of the p53 protein, which induces proliferation and chemoresistance of CRC cells. Thus, the overexpression of WDR43 promotes CRC progression, and could be a potential therapeutic target of chemoresistance in CRC.
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29
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Han Z, Rimal U, Khatiwada P, Brandman J, Zhou J, Hussain M, Viola RE, Shemshedini L. Dual-Acting Peptides Target EZH2 and AR: A New Paradigm for Effective Treatment of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. Endocrinology 2022; 164:6775160. [PMID: 36288553 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer starts as a treatable hormone-dependent disease, but often ends in a drug-resistant form called castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Despite the development of the antiandrogens enzalutamide and abiraterone for CRPC, which target the androgen receptor (AR), drug resistance usually develops within 6 months and metastatic CRPC (mCRPC) leads to lethality. EZH2, found with SUZ12, EED, and RbAP48 in Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), has emerged as an alternative target for the treatment of deadly mCRPC. Unfortunately, drugs targeting EZH2 have shown limited efficacy in mCRPC. To address these failures, we have developed novel, dual-acting peptide inhibitors of PRC2 that uniquely target the SUZ12 protein component, resulting in the inhibition of both PRC2 canonical and noncanonical functions in prostate cancer. These peptides were found to inhibit not only the EZH2 methylation activity, but also block its positive effect on AR gene expression in prostate cancer cells. Since the peptide effect on AR levels is transcriptional, the inhibitory peptides can block the expression of both full-length AR and its splicing variants including AR-V7, which plays a significant role in the development of drug resistance. This dual-mode action provides the peptides with the capability to kill enzalutamide-resistant CRPC cells. These peptides are also more cytotoxic to prostate cancer cells than the combination of enzalutamide and an EZH2 inhibitory drug, which was recently suggested to be an effective treatment of mCRPC disease. Our data show that such a dual-acting therapeutic approach can be more effective than the existing front-line drug therapies for treating deadly mCRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyang Han
- Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | - Ujjwal Rimal
- Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | - Prabesh Khatiwada
- Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | - Jacob Brandman
- Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | - Jun Zhou
- Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | - Muhammad Hussain
- Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | - Ronald E Viola
- Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | - Lirim Shemshedini
- Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
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30
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Doyle EJ, Morey L, Conway E. Know when to fold 'em: Polycomb complexes in oncogenic 3D genome regulation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:986319. [PMID: 36105358 PMCID: PMC9464936 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.986319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromatin is spatially and temporally regulated through a series of orchestrated processes resulting in the formation of 3D chromatin structures such as topologically associating domains (TADs), loops and Polycomb Bodies. These structures are closely linked to transcriptional regulation, with loss of control of these processes a frequent feature of cancer and developmental syndromes. One such oncogenic disruption of the 3D genome is through recurrent dysregulation of Polycomb Group Complex (PcG) functions either through genetic mutations, amplification or deletion of genes that encode for PcG proteins. PcG complexes are evolutionarily conserved epigenetic complexes. They are key for early development and are essential transcriptional repressors. PcG complexes include PRC1, PRC2 and PR-DUB which are responsible for the control of the histone modifications H2AK119ub1 and H3K27me3. The spatial distribution of the complexes within the nuclear environment, and their associated modifications have profound effects on the regulation of gene transcription and the 3D genome. Nevertheless, how PcG complexes regulate 3D chromatin organization is still poorly understood. Here we glean insights into the role of PcG complexes in 3D genome regulation and compaction, how these processes go awry during tumorigenesis and the therapeutic implications that result from our insights into these mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma J. Doyle
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Lluis Morey
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Miami, FL, United States
- Department of Human Genetics, Biomedical Research Building, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Eric Conway
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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31
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Critical Roles of Polycomb Repressive Complexes in Transcription and Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179574. [PMID: 36076977 PMCID: PMC9455514 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Polycomp group (PcG) proteins are members of highly conserved multiprotein complexes, recognized as gene transcriptional repressors during development and shown to play a role in various physiological and pathological processes. PcG proteins consist of two Polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs) with different enzymatic activities: Polycomb repressive complexes 1 (PRC1), a ubiquitin ligase, and Polycomb repressive complexes 2 (PRC2), a histone methyltransferase. Traditionally, PRCs have been described to be associated with transcriptional repression of homeotic genes, as well as gene transcription activating effects. Particularly in cancer, PRCs have been found to misregulate gene expression, not only depending on the function of the whole PRCs, but also through their separate subunits. In this review, we focused especially on the recent findings in the transcriptional regulation of PRCs, the oncogenic and tumor-suppressive roles of PcG proteins, and the research progress of inhibitors targeting PRCs.
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32
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Chemical biology and pharmacology of histone lysine methylation inhibitors. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2022; 1865:194840. [PMID: 35753676 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2022.194840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Histone lysine methylation is a post-translational modification that plays a key role in the epigenetic regulation of a broad spectrum of biological processes. Moreover, the dysregulation of histone lysine methyltransferases (KMTs) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases particularly cancer. Due to their pathobiological importance, KMTs have garnered immense attention over the last decade as attractive therapeutic targets. These endeavors have culminated in tens of chemical probes that have been used to interrogate many aspects of histone lysine methylation. Besides, over a dozen inhibitors have been advanced to clinical trials, including the EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat approved for the treatment of follicular lymphoma and advanced epithelioid sarcoma. In this Review, we highlight the chemical biology and pharmacology of KMT inhibitors and targeted protein degraders focusing on the clinical development of EZH1/2, DOT1L, Menin-MLL, and WDR5-MLL inhibitors. We also briefly discuss the pharmacologic targeting of other KMTs.
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33
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Liu X, Liu X. PRC2, Chromatin Regulation, and Human Disease: Insights From Molecular Structure and Function. Front Oncol 2022; 12:894585. [PMID: 35800061 PMCID: PMC9255955 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.894585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is a multisubunit histone-modifying enzyme complex that mediates methylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27). Trimethylated H3K27 (H3K27me3) is an epigenetic hallmark of gene silencing. PRC2 plays a crucial role in a plethora of fundamental biological processes, and PRC2 dysregulation has been repeatedly implicated in cancers and developmental disorders. Here, we review the current knowledge on mechanisms of cellular regulation of PRC2 function, particularly regarding H3K27 methylation and chromatin targeting. PRC2-related disease mechanisms are also discussed. The mode of action of PRC2 in gene regulation is summarized, which includes competition between H3K27 methylation and acetylation, crosstalk with transcription machinery, and formation of high-order chromatin structure. Recent progress in the structural biology of PRC2 is highlighted from the aspects of complex assembly, enzyme catalysis, and chromatin recruitment, which together provide valuable insights into PRC2 function in close-to-atomic detail. Future studies on the molecular function and structure of PRC2 in the context of native chromatin and in the presence of other regulators like RNAs will continue to deepen our understanding of the stability and plasticity of developmental transcriptional programs broadly impacted by PRC2.
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34
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Shaliman D, Takenobu H, Sugino RP, Ohira M, Kamijo T. The PRC2 molecule EED is a target of epigenetic therapy for neuroblastoma. Eur J Cell Biol 2022; 101:151238. [PMID: 35636260 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2022.151238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications by polycomb repressive complex (PRC) molecules appear to play a role in the tumorigenesis and aggressiveness of neuroblastoma (NB). Embryonic ectoderm development (EED) is a member of the PRC2 complex that binds to the H3K27me3 mark deposited by EZH2 via propagation on adjacent nucleosomes. We herein investigated the molecular roles of EED in MYCN-amplified NB cells using EED-knockdown (KD) shRNAs, EED-knockout sgRNAs, and the EED small molecule inhibitor EED226. The suppression of EED markedly inhibited NB cell proliferation and flat and soft agar colony formation. A transcriptome analysis using microarrays of EED-KD NB cells indicated the de-repression of cell cycle-regulated and differentiation-related genes. The results of a GSEA analysis suggested that inhibitory cell cycle-regulated gene sets were markedly up-regulated. Furthermore, an epigenetic treatment with the EED inhibitor EED226 and the HDAC inhibitors valproic acid/SAHA effectively suppressed NB cell proliferation and colony formation. This combined epigenetic treatment up-regulated cell cycle-regulated and differentiation-related genes. The ChIP sequencing analysis of histone codes and PRC molecules suggested an epigenetic background for the de-repression of down-regulated genes in MYCN-amplified/PRC2 up-regulated NB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilibaerguli Shaliman
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan; Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Department of Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Hisanori Takenobu
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Ryuichi P Sugino
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Miki Ohira
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Takehiko Kamijo
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan; Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Department of Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan.
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35
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Webb T, Craigon C, Ciulli A. Targeting epigenetic modulators using PROTAC degraders: Current status and future perspective. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2022; 63:128653. [PMID: 35257896 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.128653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic modulators perform critical functions in gene expression for rapid adaption to external stimuli and are prevalent in all higher-order organisms. The establishment of a link between dysregulation of epigenetic processes and disease pathogenesis, particularly in cancer, has led to much interest in identifying drug targets. This prompted the development of small molecule inhibitors, primarily in haematological malignancies. While there have been epigenetic-targeting drugs to receive FDA approval for the treatment of cancers, many suffer from limited applicability, toxicity and the onset of drug resistance, as our understanding of the biology remains incomplete. The recent advent of genome-wide RNAi and CRISPR screens has shed new light on loss of specific proteins causing vulnerabilities of specific cancer types, highlighting the potential for exploiting synthetic lethality as a therapeutic approach. However, small molecule inhibitors have largely been unable to recapitulate phenotypic effects observed using genome-wide knockdown approaches. This mechanistic disconnect and gap are set to be addressed by targeted protein degradation. Degraders such as PROTACs targeting epigenetic proteins recapitulate CRISPR mediated genetic knockdown at the post-translational level and therefore can better exploit target druggability. Here, we review the current landscape of epigenetic drug discovery, the rationale behind and progress made in the development of PROTAC degraders, and look at future perspectives for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Webb
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, DD1 5EH, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Conner Craigon
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, DD1 5EH, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Alessio Ciulli
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, DD1 5EH, Scotland, United Kingdom.
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36
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Wang MY, Liow P, Guzman MIT, Qi J. Exploring Methods of Targeting Histone Methyltransferases and Their Applications in Cancer Therapeutics. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:744-755. [PMID: 35363464 PMCID: PMC9336197 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Histone methyltransferases (HMTs) are enzymes that catalyze the methylation of lysine or arginine residues of histone proteins, a key post-translational modification (PTM). Aberrant expression or activity of these enzymes can lead to abnormal histone methylation of cancer-related genes and thus promote tumorigenesis. Histone methyltransferases have been implicated in chemotherapeutic resistance and immune stimulation, making these enzymes potential therapeutic targets of interest, and chemically targeting these proteins provides an avenue for novel drug development in cancer therapy. This Review aims to discuss the evolution of chemical approaches that have emerged in the past five years to design probes targeting these enzymes, including inhibition through noncovalent inhibitors, covalent inhibitors, and targeted protein degradation through proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs). This Review also highlights how these compounds have been used to study the myriad of HMT functions in cancer progression and treatment response. The recent advancement of some of these drugs into human clinical investigation and even to regulatory approval highlights HMTs as a promising class of targets for chemical intervention and novel therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Y. Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Priscilla Liow
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Maria I. Tarazona Guzman
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Jun Qi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
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37
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Feoli A, Viviano M, Cipriano A, Milite C, Castellano S, Sbardella G. Lysine methyltransferase inhibitors: where we are now. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:359-406. [PMID: 35441141 PMCID: PMC8985178 DOI: 10.1039/d1cb00196e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein lysine methyltransferases constitute a large family of epigenetic writers that catalyse the transfer of a methyl group from the cofactor S-adenosyl-l-methionine to histone- and non-histone-specific substrates. Alterations in the expression and activity of these proteins have been linked to the genesis and progress of several diseases, including cancer, neurological disorders, and growing defects, hence they represent interesting targets for new therapeutic approaches. Over the past two decades, the identification of modulators of lysine methyltransferases has increased tremendously, clarifying the role of these proteins in different physio-pathological states. The aim of this review is to furnish an updated outlook about the protein lysine methyltransferases disclosed modulators, reporting their potency, their mechanism of action and their eventual use in clinical and preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Feoli
- Department of Pharmacy, Epigenetic Med Chem Lab, University of Salerno via Giovanni Paolo II 132 I-84084 Fisciano SA Italy +39-089-96-9602 +39-089-96-9770
| | - Monica Viviano
- Department of Pharmacy, Epigenetic Med Chem Lab, University of Salerno via Giovanni Paolo II 132 I-84084 Fisciano SA Italy +39-089-96-9602 +39-089-96-9770
| | - Alessandra Cipriano
- Department of Pharmacy, Epigenetic Med Chem Lab, University of Salerno via Giovanni Paolo II 132 I-84084 Fisciano SA Italy +39-089-96-9602 +39-089-96-9770
| | - Ciro Milite
- Department of Pharmacy, Epigenetic Med Chem Lab, University of Salerno via Giovanni Paolo II 132 I-84084 Fisciano SA Italy +39-089-96-9602 +39-089-96-9770
| | - Sabrina Castellano
- Department of Pharmacy, Epigenetic Med Chem Lab, University of Salerno via Giovanni Paolo II 132 I-84084 Fisciano SA Italy +39-089-96-9602 +39-089-96-9770
| | - Gianluca Sbardella
- Department of Pharmacy, Epigenetic Med Chem Lab, University of Salerno via Giovanni Paolo II 132 I-84084 Fisciano SA Italy +39-089-96-9602 +39-089-96-9770
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38
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Lanzi C, Cassinelli G. Combinatorial strategies to potentiate the efficacy of HDAC inhibitors in fusion-positive sarcomas. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 198:114944. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.114944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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39
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Recent progress on small molecules targeting epigenetic complexes. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2022; 67:102130. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.102130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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40
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Huang Y, Sendzik M, Zhang J, Gao Z, Sun Y, Wang L, Gu J, Zhao K, Yu Z, Zhang L, Zhang Q, Blanz J, Chen Z, Dubost V, Fang D, Feng L, Fu X, Kiffe M, Li L, Luo F, Luo X, Mi Y, Mistry P, Pearson D, Piaia A, Scheufler C, Terranova R, Weiss A, Zeng J, Zhang H, Zhang J, Zhao M, Dillon MP, Jeay S, Qi W, Moggs J, Pissot-Soldermann C, Li E, Atadja P, Lingel A, Oyang C. Discovery of the Clinical Candidate MAK683: An EED-Directed, Allosteric, and Selective PRC2 Inhibitor for the Treatment of Advanced Malignancies. J Med Chem 2022; 65:5317-5333. [PMID: 35352560 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c02148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) plays an important role in transcriptional regulation during animal development and in cell differentiation, and alteration of PRC2 activity has been associated with cancer. On a molecular level, PRC2 catalyzes methylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27), resulting in mono-, di-, or trimethylated forms of H3K27, of which the trimethylated form H3K27me3 leads to transcriptional repression of polycomb target genes. Previously, we have shown that binding of the low-molecular-weight compound EED226 to the H3K27me3 binding pocket of the regulatory subunit EED can effectively inhibit PRC2 activity in cells and reduce tumor growth in mouse xenograft models. Here, we report the stepwise optimization of the tool compound EED226 toward the potent and selective EED inhibitor MAK683 (compound 22) and its subsequent preclinical characterization. Based on a balanced PK/PD profile, efficacy, and mitigated risk of forming reactive metabolites, MAK683 has been selected for clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Huang
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Martin Sendzik
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 5300 Chiron Way, Emeryville, California 94608, United States.,Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jeff Zhang
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zhenting Gao
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yongfeng Sun
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Long Wang
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Justin Gu
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Kehao Zhao
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zhengtian Yu
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Lijun Zhang
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qiong Zhang
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Joachim Blanz
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Zijun Chen
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Valérie Dubost
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Douglas Fang
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Lijian Feng
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xingnian Fu
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Michael Kiffe
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ling Li
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Fangjun Luo
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiao Luo
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yuan Mi
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Prakash Mistry
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - David Pearson
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Piaia
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Clemens Scheufler
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Remi Terranova
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Weiss
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jue Zeng
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Hailong Zhang
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jiangwei Zhang
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Mengxi Zhao
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Michael P Dillon
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 5300 Chiron Way, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
| | - Sebastien Jeay
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Wei Qi
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jonathan Moggs
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - En Li
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Peter Atadja
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Andreas Lingel
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 5300 Chiron Way, Emeryville, California 94608, United States.,Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Counde Oyang
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
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41
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Identification of SET/EED dual binders as innovative PRC2 inhibitors. Future Med Chem 2022; 14:609-621. [DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2022-0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The inhibition of PRC2, implicated in the pathogenesis of several tumors, can be a useful therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. In the literature, two types of PRC2 modulators are reported: competitive inhibitors of S-adenosyl methionine binding to the catalytic subunit EZH2; and allosteric ligands that prevent the interaction of the trimethylated H3K27 lysine in histone 3 to the EED subunit. The lack of dual EZH2/EED modulators drove us to search for compounds capable of recognizing both domains. Materials & methods: This goal was pursued by combining pharmacophore- and docking-based virtual screening of the Multi-Target Ligand Chemotheca database. Prediction tools for absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion and pan-assay interference compounds were also applied. Results: Finally, five 1,2,3-triazole derivatives were identified as promising dual EZH2/EED modulators. Conclusion: Our multistage screening protocol highlighted the great potential of Chemotheca for identifying polypharmacological agents.
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42
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Pei H, Guo W, Peng Y, Xiong H, Chen Y. Targeting key proteins involved in transcriptional regulation for cancer therapy: Current strategies and future prospective. Med Res Rev 2022; 42:1607-1660. [PMID: 35312190 DOI: 10.1002/med.21886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The key proteins involved in transcriptional regulation play convergent roles in cellular homeostasis, and their dysfunction mediates aberrant gene expressions that underline the hallmarks of tumorigenesis. As tumor progression is dependent on such abnormal regulation of transcription, it is important to discover novel chemical entities as antitumor drugs that target key tumor-associated proteins involved in transcriptional regulation. Despite most key proteins (especially transcription factors) involved in transcriptional regulation are historically recognized as undruggable targets, multiple targeting approaches at diverse levels of transcriptional regulation, such as epigenetic intervention, inhibition of DNA-binding of transcriptional factors, and inhibition of the protein-protein interactions (PPIs), have been established in preclinically or clinically studies. In addition, several new approaches have recently been described, such as targeting proteasomal degradation and eliciting synthetic lethality. This review will emphasize on accentuating these developing therapeutic approaches and provide a thorough conspectus of the drug development to target key proteins involved in transcriptional regulation and their impact on future oncotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixiang Pei
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University and Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, The Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weikai Guo
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, The Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.,Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Yangrui Peng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, The Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hai Xiong
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University and Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yihua Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, The Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
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43
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Zhang Q, Yang H, Feng Q, Cao J, Zhang Y, Li L, Yu L. Focus on the classical and non-classical functions of EZH2: Guide the development of inhibitors and degraders. Pharmacol Res 2022; 178:106159. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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44
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Zhao Y, Guan YY, Zhao F, Yu T, Zhang SJ, Zhang YZ, Duan YC, Zhou XL. Recent strategies targeting Embryonic Ectoderm Development (EED) for cancer therapy: Allosteric inhibitors, PPI inhibitors, and PROTACs. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 231:114144. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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45
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Kalesh K, Wei W, Mantilla BS, Roumeliotis TI, Choudhary J, Denny PW. Transcriptome-Wide Identification of Coding and Noncoding RNA-Binding Proteins Defines the Comprehensive RNA Interactome of Leishmania mexicana. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0242221. [PMID: 35138191 PMCID: PMC8826732 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02422-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteomic profiling of RNA-binding proteins in Leishmania is currently limited to polyadenylated mRNA-binding proteins, leaving proteins that interact with nonadenylated RNAs, including noncoding RNAs and pre-mRNAs, unidentified. Using a combination of unbiased orthogonal organic phase separation methodology and tandem mass tag-labeling-based high resolution quantitative proteomic mass spectrometry, we robustly identified 2,417 RNA-binding proteins, including 1289 putative novel non-poly(A)-RNA-binding proteins across the two main Leishmania life cycle stages. Eight out of 20 Leishmania deubiquitinases, including the recently characterized L. mexicana DUB2 with an elaborate RNA-binding protein interactome were exclusively identified in the non-poly(A)-RNA-interactome. Additionally, an increased representation of WD40 repeat domains were observed in the Leishmania non-poly(A)-RNA-interactome, thus uncovering potential involvement of this protein domain in RNA-protein interactions in Leishmania. We also characterize the protein-bound RNAs using RNA-sequencing and show that in addition to protein coding transcripts ncRNAs are also enriched in the protein-RNA interactome. Differential gene expression analysis revealed enrichment of 142 out of 195 total L. mexicana protein kinase genes in the protein-RNA-interactome, suggesting important role of protein-RNA interactions in the regulation of the Leishmania protein kinome. Additionally, we characterize the quantitative changes in RNA-protein interactions in hundreds of Leishmania proteins following inhibition of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). Our results show that the Hsp90 inhibition in Leishmania causes widespread disruption of RNA-protein interactions in ribosomal proteins, proteasomal proteins and translation factors in both life cycle stages, suggesting downstream effect of the inhibition on protein synthesis and degradation pathways in Leishmania. This study defines the comprehensive RNA interactome of Leishmania and provides in-depth insight into the widespread involvement of RNA-protein interactions in Leishmania biology. IMPORTANCE Advances in proteomics and mass spectrometry have revealed the mRNA-binding proteins in many eukaryotic organisms, including the protozoan parasites Leishmania spp., the causative agents of leishmaniasis, a major infectious disease in over 90 tropical and subtropical countries. However, in addition to mRNAs, which constitute only 2 to 5% of the total transcripts, many types of non-coding RNAs participate in crucial biological processes. In Leishmania, RNA-binding proteins serve as primary gene regulators. Therefore, transcriptome-wide identification of RNA-binding proteins is necessary for deciphering the distinctive posttranscriptional mechanisms of gene regulation in Leishmania. Using a combination of highly efficient orthogonal organic phase separation method and tandem mass tag-labeling-based quantitative proteomic mass spectrometry, we provide unprecedented comprehensive molecular definition of the total RNA interactome across the two main Leishmania life cycle stages. In addition, we characterize for the first time the quantitative changes in RNA-protein interactions in Leishmania following inhibition of heat shock protein 90, shedding light into hitherto unknown large-scale downstream molecular effect of the protein inhibition in the parasite. This work provides insight into the importance of total RNA-protein interactions in Leishmania, thus significantly expanding our knowledge of the emergence of RNA-protein interactions in Leishmania biology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wenbin Wei
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Brian S. Mantilla
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jyoti Choudhary
- Functional Proteomics Group, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul W. Denny
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
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46
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Kean KM, Baril SA, Lamb KN, Dishman SN, Treacy JW, Houk KN, Brustad EM, James LI, Waters ML. Systematic Variation of Both the Aromatic Cage and Dialkyllysine via GCE-SAR Reveal Mechanistic Insights in CBX5 Reader Protein Binding. J Med Chem 2022; 65:2646-2655. [PMID: 35014255 PMCID: PMC9048841 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c02049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Development of inhibitors for histone methyllysine reader proteins is an active area of research due to the importance of reader protein-methyllysine interactions in transcriptional regulation and disease. Optimized peptide-based chemical probes targeting methyllysine readers favor larger alkyllysine residues in place of methyllysine. However, the mechanism by which these larger substituents drive tighter binding is not well understood. This study describes the development of a two-pronged approach combining genetic code expansion (GCE) and structure-activity relationships (SAR) through systematic variation of both the aromatic binding pocket in the protein and the alkyllysine residues in the peptide to probe inhibitor recognition in the CBX5 chromodomain. We demonstrate a novel change in driving force for larger alkyllysines, which weaken cation-Ď€ interactions but increases dispersion forces, resulting in tighter binding. This GCE-SAR approach establishes discrete energetic contributions to binding from both ligand and protein, providing a powerful tool to gain mechanistic understanding of SAR trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey M. Kean
- Department of Chemistry, CB 3290, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Stefanie A. Baril
- Department of Chemistry, CB 3290, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Kelsey N. Lamb
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Sarah N. Dishman
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Joseph W. Treacy
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Box 951569, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Kendall N. Houk
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Box 951569, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Eric M. Brustad
- Department of Chemistry, CB 3290, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Lindsey I. James
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Marcey L. Waters
- Department of Chemistry, CB 3290, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA,Corresponding Author: Marcey L. Waters – Department of Chemistry, CB 3290, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States;
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47
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Liu KL, Zhu K, Zhang H. An overview of the development of EED inhibitors to disable the PRC2 function. RSC Med Chem 2022; 13:39-53. [PMID: 35224495 PMCID: PMC8792826 DOI: 10.1039/d1md00274k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) catalyzes the methylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) and the enrichment of its catalytic product H3K27me3 is responsible for the silencing of tumor suppressor genes and the blocking of transcripts related to immunity and cell terminal differentiation. Aberrations of PRC2 components, such as mutation and overexpression, have been observed in various cancers, which makes PRC2 a potential therapeutic target for cancer. Up to now, targeting the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), the catalytic subunit of PRC2, represents the main strategy in the development of PRC2 inhibitors. Although significant progress has been made, new problems also emerge, e.g. the drug resistance caused by secondary mutations. In recent years, more and more efforts have shifted to another new strategy - targeting embryonic ectoderm development (EED) to disrupt its major interactions with other components, which are necessary to the PRC2 function, and some promising results have been obtained. This review summarizes the recent development of EED inhibitors as possible chemotherapy for cancer treatment, which could help accelerate future related research work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Lu Liu
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan Jinan 250022 China
| | - Kongkai Zhu
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan Jinan 250022 China
| | - Hua Zhang
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan Jinan 250022 China
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48
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Bagal SK, Gregson C, O' Donovan DH, Pike KG, Bloecher A, Barton P, Borodovsky A, Code E, Fillery SM, Hsu JHR, Kawatkar SP, Li C, Longmire D, Nai Y, Nash SC, Pike A, Robinson J, Read JA, Rawlins PB, Shen M, Tang J, Wang P, Woods H, Williamson B. Diverse, Potent, and Efficacious Inhibitors That Target the EED Subunit of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 Methyltransferase. J Med Chem 2021; 64:17146-17183. [PMID: 34807608 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant activity of the histone methyltransferase polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) has been linked to several cancers, with small-molecule inhibitors of the catalytic subunit of the PRC2 enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) being recently approved for the treatment of epithelioid sarcoma (ES) and follicular lymphoma (FL). Compounds binding to the EED subunit of PRC2 have recently emerged as allosteric inhibitors of PRC2 methyltransferase activity. In contrast to orthosteric inhibitors that target EZH2, small molecules that bind to EED retain their efficacy in EZH2 inhibitor-resistant cell lines. In this paper we disclose the discovery of potent and orally bioavailable EED ligands with good solubilities. The solubility of the EED ligands was optimized through a variety of design tactics, with the resulting compounds exhibiting in vivo efficacy in EZH2-driven tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharan K Bagal
- AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - Clare Gregson
- AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel H O' Donovan
- AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - Kurt G Pike
- AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Bloecher
- AstraZeneca, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Peter Barton
- AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | | | - Erin Code
- AstraZeneca, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Shaun M Fillery
- AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - Jessie Hao-Ru Hsu
- AstraZeneca, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Sameer P Kawatkar
- AstraZeneca, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Chengzhi Li
- Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., 6 Taihe Road, BDA, Beijing 100176, P. R. China
| | - David Longmire
- AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - Youfeng Nai
- Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., 6 Taihe Road, BDA, Beijing 100176, P. R. China
| | - Samuel C Nash
- AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Pike
- AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - James Robinson
- AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - Jon A Read
- AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - Phillip B Rawlins
- AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - Minhui Shen
- AstraZeneca, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Jia Tang
- Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., 6 Taihe Road, BDA, Beijing 100176, P. R. China
| | - Peng Wang
- Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., 6 Taihe Road, BDA, Beijing 100176, P. R. China
| | - Haley Woods
- AstraZeneca, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Beth Williamson
- AstraZeneca, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
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49
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Holoch D, Wassef M, Lövkvist C, Zielinski D, Aflaki S, Lombard B, Héry T, Loew D, Howard M, Margueron R. A cis-acting mechanism mediates transcriptional memory at Polycomb target genes in mammals. Nat Genet 2021; 53:1686-1697. [PMID: 34782763 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00964-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic inheritance of gene expression states enables a single genome to maintain distinct cellular identities. How histone modifications contribute to this process remains unclear. Using global chromatin perturbations and local, time-controlled modulation of transcription, we establish the existence of epigenetic memory of transcriptional activation for genes that can be silenced by the Polycomb group. This property emerges during cell differentiation and allows genes to be stably switched after a transient transcriptional stimulus. This transcriptional memory state at Polycomb targets operates in cis; however, rather than relying solely on read-and-write propagation of histone modifications, the memory is also linked to the strength of activating inputs opposing Polycomb proteins, and therefore varies with the cellular context. Our data and computational simulations suggest a model whereby transcriptional memory arises from double-negative feedback between Polycomb-mediated silencing and active transcription. Transcriptional memory at Polycomb targets thus depends not only on histone modifications but also on the gene-regulatory network and underlying identity of a cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Holoch
- Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.,INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris, France
| | - Michel Wassef
- Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.,INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris, France
| | - Cecilia Lövkvist
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK. .,Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Dina Zielinski
- Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.,INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris, France.,INSERM U900, Mines ParisTech, Paris, France
| | - Setareh Aflaki
- Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.,INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris, France
| | - Bérangère Lombard
- Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.,Proteomics Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Paris, France
| | - Tiphaine HĂ©ry
- Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.,INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris, France
| | - Damarys Loew
- Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.,Proteomics Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Paris, France
| | - Martin Howard
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Raphaël Margueron
- Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France. .,INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris, France.
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50
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Saraon P, Snider J, Schormann W, Rai A, Radulovich N, Sánchez-Osuna M, Coulombe-Huntington J, Huard C, Mohammed M, Lima-Fernandes E, Thériault B, Halabelian L, Chan M, Joshi D, Drecun L, Yao Z, Pathmanathan S, Wong V, Lyakisheva A, Aboualizadeh F, Niu L, Li F, Kiyota T, Subramanian R, Joseph B, Aman A, Prakesch M, Isaac M, Mamai A, Poda G, Vedadi M, Marcellus R, Uehling D, Leighl N, Sacher A, Samaržija M, Jakopović M, Arrowsmith C, Tyers M, Tsao MS, Andrews D, Al-Awar R, Stagljar I. Chemical Genetics Screen Identifies COPB2 Tool Compounds That Alters ER Stress Response and Induces RTK Dysregulation in Lung Cancer Cells. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:167294. [PMID: 34662547 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Activating mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are common driver mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). First, second and third generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are effective at inhibiting mutant EGFR NSCLC, however, acquired resistance is a major issue, leading to disease relapse. Here, we characterize a small molecule, EMI66, an analog of a small molecule which we previously identified to inhibit mutant EGFR signalling via a novel mechanism of action. We show that EMI66 attenuates receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) expression and signalling and alters the electrophoretic mobility of Coatomer Protein Complex Beta 2 (COPB2) protein in mutant EGFR NSCLC cells. Moreover, we demonstrate that EMI66 can alter the subcellular localization of EGFR and COPB2 within the early secretory pathway. Furthermore, we find that COPB2 knockdown reduces the growth of mutant EGFR lung cancer cells, alters the post-translational processing of RTKs, and alters the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response pathway. Lastly, we show that EMI66 treatment also alters the ER stress response pathway and inhibits the growth of mutant EGFR lung cancer cells and organoids. Our results demonstrate that targeting of COPB2 with EMI66 presents a viable approach to attenuate mutant EGFR signalling and growth in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Punit Saraon
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Jamie Snider
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wiebke Schormann
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ankit Rai
- Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3548CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Nikolina Radulovich
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maria Sánchez-Osuna
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, PO Box 6128, Downtown Station, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Jasmin Coulombe-Huntington
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, PO Box 6128, Downtown Station, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Caroline Huard
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, PO Box 6128, Downtown Station, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Mohammed Mohammed
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Brigitte Thériault
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario, Canada
| | - Levon Halabelian
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Manuel Chan
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dhananjay Joshi
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario, Canada
| | - Luka Drecun
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zhong Yao
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shivanthy Pathmanathan
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Victoria Wong
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Li Niu
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fengling Li
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Taira Kiyota
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Babu Joseph
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ahmed Aman
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Prakesch
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario, Canada
| | - Methvin Isaac
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ahmed Mamai
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gennady Poda
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario, Canada; University of Toronto, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Masoud Vedadi
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard Marcellus
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Uehling
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario, Canada
| | - Natasha Leighl
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Adrian Sacher
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Miroslav SamarĹľija
- Department for Lung Diseases Jordanovac, Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marko Jakopović
- Department for Lung Diseases Jordanovac, Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Cheryl Arrowsmith
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mike Tyers
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, PO Box 6128, Downtown Station, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Ming-Sound Tsao
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Andrews
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rima Al-Awar
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Igor Stagljar
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences, Split, Croatia; School of Medicine, University of Split, Split, Croatia.
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