1
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Huang Y, Liu W, Zhao C, Shi X, Zhao Q, Jia J, Wang A. Targeting cyclin-dependent kinases: From pocket specificity to drug selectivity. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 275:116547. [PMID: 38852339 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116547] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The development of selective modulators of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), a kinase family with numerous members and functional variations, is a significant preclinical challenge. Recent advancements in crystallography have revealed subtle differences in the highly conserved CDK pockets. Exploiting these differences has proven to be an effective strategy for achieving excellent drug selectivity. While previous reports briefly discussed the structural features that lead to selectivity in individual CDK members, attaining inhibitor selectivity requires consideration of not only the specific structures of the target CDK but also the features of off-target members. In this review, we summarize the structure-activity relationships (SARs) that influence selectivity in CDK drug development and analyze the pocket features that lead to selectivity using molecular-protein binding models. In addition, in recent years, novel CDK modulators have been developed, providing more avenues for achieving selectivity. These cases were also included. We hope that these efforts will assist in the development of novel CDK drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoguang Huang
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenwu Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Haidian Dist., Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Changhao Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, 110840, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyu Shi
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingchun Zhao
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, People's Republic of China; Department of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, 110840, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jingming Jia
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, People's Republic of China.
| | - Anhua Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, People's Republic of China.
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2
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Düster R, Anand K, Binder SC, Schmitz M, Gatterdam K, Fisher RP, Geyer M. Structural basis of Cdk7 activation by dual T-loop phosphorylation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6597. [PMID: 39097586 PMCID: PMC11297931 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50891-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (Cdk7) is required in cell-cycle and transcriptional regulation owing to its function as both a CDK-activating kinase (CAK) and part of transcription factor TFIIH. Cdk7 forms active complexes by associating with Cyclin H and Mat1, and is regulated by two phosphorylations in the activation segment (T loop): the canonical activating modification at T170 and another at S164. Here we report the crystal structure of the human Cdk7/Cyclin H/Mat1 complex containing both T-loop phosphorylations. Whereas pT170 coordinates basic residues conserved in other CDKs, pS164 nucleates an arginine network unique to the ternary Cdk7 complex, involving all three subunits. We identify differential dependencies of kinase activity and substrate recognition on the individual phosphorylations. CAK function is unaffected by T-loop phosphorylation, whereas activity towards non-CDK substrates is increased several-fold by T170 phosphorylation. Moreover, dual T-loop phosphorylation stimulates multisite phosphorylation of the RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) and SPT5 carboxy-terminal repeat (CTR) region. In human cells, Cdk7 activation is a two-step process wherein S164 phosphorylation precedes, and may prime, T170 phosphorylation. Thus, dual T-loop phosphorylation can regulate Cdk7 through multiple mechanisms, with pS164 supporting tripartite complex formation and possibly influencing processivity, while pT170 enhances activity towards key transcriptional substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Düster
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kanchan Anand
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sophie C Binder
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Maximilian Schmitz
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Karl Gatterdam
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Robert P Fisher
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Matthias Geyer
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
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3
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Karolak A, Urbaniak K, Monastyrskyi A, Duckett DR, Branciamore S, Stewart PA. Structure-independent machine-learning predictions of the CDK12 interactome. Biophys J 2024:S0006-3495(24)00344-8. [PMID: 38762754 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) is a critical regulatory protein involved in transcription and DNA repair processes. Dysregulation of CDK12 has been implicated in various diseases, including cancer. Understanding the CDK12 interactome is pivotal for elucidating its functional roles and potential therapeutic targets. Traditional methods for interactome prediction often rely on protein structure information, limiting applicability to CDK12 characterized by partly disordered terminal C region. In this study, we present a structure-independent machine-learning model that utilizes proteins' sequence and functional data to predict the CDK12 interactome. This approach is motivated by the disordered character of the CDK12 C-terminal region mitigating a structure-driven search for binding partners. Our approach incorporates multiple data sources, including protein-protein interaction networks, functional annotations, and sequence-based features, to construct a comprehensive CDK12 interactome prediction model. The ability to predict CDK12 interactions without relying on structural information is a significant advancement, as many potential interaction partners may lack crystallographic data. In conclusion, our structure-independent machine-learning model presents a powerful tool for predicting the CDK12 interactome and holds promise in advancing our understanding of CDK12 biology, identifying potential therapeutic targets, and facilitating precision-medicine approaches for CDK12-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Konstancja Urbaniak
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | | | - Derek R Duckett
- Department of Drug Discovery, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Sergio Branciamore
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Paul A Stewart
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
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4
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Taghizadeh MS, Taherishirazi M, Niazi A, Afsharifar A, Moghadam A. Structure-guided design and cloning of peptide inhibitors targeting CDK9/cyclin T1 protein-protein interaction. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1327820. [PMID: 38808256 PMCID: PMC11130503 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1327820] [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: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
CDK9 (cyclin-dependent kinase 9) plays a significant role in numerous pathological conditions, such as HIV-1 infection and cancer. The interaction between CDK9 and cyclin T1 is crucial for maintaining the kinase's active state. Therefore, targeting this protein-protein interaction offers a promising strategy for inhibiting CDK9. In this study, we aimed to design and characterize a library of mutant peptides based on the binding region of cyclin T1 to CDK9. Using Osprey software, a total of 7,776 mutant peptides were generated. After conducting a comprehensive analysis, three peptides, namely, mp3 (RAADVEGQRKRRE), mp20 (RAATVEGQRKRRE), and mp29 (RAADVEGQDKRRE), were identified as promising inhibitors that possess the ability to bind to CDK9 with high affinity and exhibit low free binding energy. These peptides exhibited favorable safety profiles and displayed promising dynamic behaviors. Notably, our findings revealed that the mp3 and mp29 peptides interacted with a conserved sequence in CDK9 (residues 60-66). In addition, by designing the structure of potential peptides in the plasmid vector pET28a (+), we have been able to pave the way for facilitating the process of their recombinant production in an Escherichia coli expression system in future studies. Predictions indicated good solubility upon overexpression, further supporting their potential for downstream applications. While these results demonstrate the promise of the designed peptides as blockers of CDK9 with high affinity, additional experimental studies are required to validate their biological activity and assess their selectivity. Such investigations will provide valuable insights into their therapeutic potential and pave the way for the future development of peptide-based inhibitors targeting the CDK9-cyclin T1 complex.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ali Niazi
- Institute of Biotechnology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Alireza Afsharifar
- Plant Virology Research Center, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ali Moghadam
- Institute of Biotechnology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
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5
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Ni Z, Ahmed N, Nabeel-Shah S, Guo X, Pu S, Song J, Marcon E, Burke G, Tong AH, Chan K, Ha KH, Blencowe B, Moffat J, Greenblatt J. Identifying human pre-mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation factors by genome-wide CRISPR screens using a dual fluorescence readthrough reporter. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:4483-4501. [PMID: 38587191 PMCID: PMC11077057 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae240] [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: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Messenger RNA precursors (pre-mRNA) generally undergo 3' end processing by cleavage and polyadenylation (CPA), which is specified by a polyadenylation site (PAS) and adjacent RNA sequences and regulated by a large variety of core and auxiliary CPA factors. To date, most of the human CPA factors have been discovered through biochemical and proteomic studies. However, genetic identification of the human CPA factors has been hampered by the lack of a reliable genome-wide screening method. We describe here a dual fluorescence readthrough reporter system with a PAS inserted between two fluorescent reporters. This system enables measurement of the efficiency of 3' end processing in living cells. Using this system in combination with a human genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 library, we conducted a screen for CPA factors. The screens identified most components of the known core CPA complexes and other known CPA factors. The screens also identified CCNK/CDK12 as a potential core CPA factor, and RPRD1B as a CPA factor that binds RNA and regulates the release of RNA polymerase II at the 3' ends of genes. Thus, this dual fluorescence reporter coupled with CRISPR/Cas9 screens reliably identifies bona fide CPA factors and provides a platform for investigating the requirements for CPA in various contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuyao Ni
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Nujhat Ahmed
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
| | - Syed Nabeel-Shah
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
| | - Xinghua Guo
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Shuye Pu
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Jingwen Song
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Edyta Marcon
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Giovanni L Burke
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
| | - Amy Hin Yan Tong
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Katherine Chan
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Kevin C H Ha
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
| | - Benjamin J Blencowe
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
| | - Jason Moffat
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
- Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Jack F Greenblatt
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5A 1A8, Canada
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6
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Greber BJ. High-resolution cryo-EM of a small protein complex: The structure of the human CDK-activating kinase. Structure 2024:S0969-2126(24)00085-6. [PMID: 38565138 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The human CDK-activating kinase (CAK) is a multifunctional protein complex and key regulator of cell growth and division. Because of its critical functions in regulating the cell cycle and transcription initiation, it is a key target for multiple cancer drug discovery programs. However, the structure of the active human CAK, insights into its regulation, and its interactions with cellular substrates and inhibitors remained elusive until recently due to the lack of high-resolution structures of the intact complex. This review covers the progress in structure determination of the human CAK by cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), from early efforts to recent near-atomic resolution maps routinely resolved at 2Å or better. These results were enabled by the latest cryo-EM technologies introduced after the initial phase of the "resolution revolution" and allowed the application of high-resolution methods to new classes of molecular targets, including small protein complexes that were intractable using earlier technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basil J Greber
- Division of Structural Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK.
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7
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Kyheröinen S, Prajapati B, Sokolova M, Schmitz M, Viita T, Geyer M, Vartiainen MK. Actin associates with actively elongating genes and binds directly to the Cdk9 subunit of P-TEFb. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105698. [PMID: 38301887 PMCID: PMC10891344 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Nuclear actin has been demonstrated to be essential for optimal transcription, but the molecular mechanisms and direct binding partner for actin in the RNA polymerase complex have remained unknown. By using purified proteins in a variety of biochemical assays, we demonstrate a direct and specific interaction between monomeric actin and Cdk9, the kinase subunit of the positive transcription elongation factor b required for RNA polymerase II pause-release. This interaction efficiently prevents actin polymerization, is not dependent on kinase activity of Cdk9, and is not involved with releasing positive transcription elongation factor b from its inhibitor 7SK snRNP complex. Supporting the specific role for actin in the elongation phase of transcription, chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing (ChIP-seq) reveals that actin interacts with genes only upon their active transcription elongation. This study therefore provides novel insights into the mechanisms by which actin facilitates the transcription process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salla Kyheröinen
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Bina Prajapati
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maria Sokolova
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Tiina Viita
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matthias Geyer
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Maria K Vartiainen
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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8
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Düster R, Anand K, Binder SC, Schmitz M, Gatterdam K, Fisher RP, Geyer M. Structural basis of Cdk7 activation by dual T-loop phosphorylation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.14.580246. [PMID: 38405971 PMCID: PMC10888979 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.14.580246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (Cdk7) occupies a central position in cell-cycle and transcriptional regulation owing to its function as both a CDK-activating kinase (CAK) and part of the general transcription factor TFIIH. Cdk7 forms an active complex upon association with Cyclin H and Mat1, and its catalytic activity is regulated by two phosphorylations in the activation segment (T loop): the canonical activating modification at T170 and another at S164. Here we report the crystal structure of the fully activated human Cdk7/Cyclin H/Mat1 complex containing both T-loop phosphorylations. Whereas pT170 coordinates a set of basic residues conserved in other CDKs, pS164 nucleates an arginine network involving all three subunits that is unique to the ternary Cdk7 complex. We identify differential dependencies of kinase activity and substrate recognition on individual phosphorylations within the Cdk7 T loop. The CAK function of Cdk7 is not affected by T-loop phosphorylation, whereas activity towards non-CDK substrates is increased several-fold by phosphorylation at T170. Moreover, dual T-loop phosphorylation at both T170 and S164 stimulates multi-site phosphorylation of transcriptional substrates-the RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) and the SPT5 carboxy-terminal repeat (CTR) region. In human cells, Cdk7-regulatory phosphorylation is a two-step process in which phosphorylation of S164 precedes, and may prime, T170 phosphorylation. Thus, dual T-loop phosphorylation can regulate Cdk7 through multiple mechanisms, with pS164 supporting tripartite complex formation and possibly influencing Cdk7 processivity, while the canonical pT170 enhances kinase activity towards critical substrates involved in transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Düster
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kanchan Anand
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Sophie C. Binder
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Maximilian Schmitz
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Karl Gatterdam
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Robert P. Fisher
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthias Geyer
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
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9
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Schmitz M, Kaltheuner IH, Anand K, Düster R, Moecking J, Monastyrskyi A, Duckett DR, Roush WR, Geyer M. The reversible inhibitor SR-4835 binds Cdk12/cyclin K in a noncanonical G-loop conformation. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105501. [PMID: 38016516 PMCID: PMC10767194 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105501] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) has evolved as an emerging anticancer strategy. In addition to the cell cycle-regulating CDKs, the transcriptional kinases Cdk12 and Cdk13 have become the focus of interest as they mediate a variety of functions, including the transition from transcription initiation to elongation and termination, precursor mRNA splicing, and intronic polyadenylation. Here, we determine the crystal structure of the small molecular inhibitor SR-4835 bound to the Cdk12/cyclin K complex at 2.68 Å resolution. The compound's benzimidazole moiety is embedded in a unique hydrogen bond network mediated by the kinase hinge region with flanking hydroxy groups of the Y815 and D819 side chains. Whereas the SR-4835 head group targets the adenine-binding pocket, the kinase's glycine-rich loop is shifted down toward the activation loop. Additionally, the αC-helix adopts an inward conformation, and the phosphorylated T-loop threonine interacts with all three canonical arginines, a hallmark of CDK activation that is altered in Cdk12 and Cdk13. Dose-response inhibition measurements with recombinant CMGC kinases show that SR-4835 is highly specific for Cdk12 and Cdk13 following a 10-fold lower potency for Cdk10. Whereas other CDK-targeting compounds exhibit tighter binding affinities and higher potencies for kinase inhibition, SR-4835 can be considered a selective transcription elongation antagonist. Our results provide the basis for a rational improvement of SR-4835 toward Cdk12 inhibition and a gain in selectivity over other transcription regulating CDKs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kanchan Anand
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Robert Düster
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jonas Moecking
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Derek R Duckett
- Department of Drug Discovery, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - William R Roush
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Matthias Geyer
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
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10
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Houles T, Boucher J, Lavoie G, MacLeod G, Lin S, Angers S, Roux PP. The CDK12 inhibitor SR-4835 functions as a molecular glue that promotes cyclin K degradation in melanoma. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:459. [PMID: 38104154 PMCID: PMC10725499 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01754-x] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
CDK12 is a transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) that interacts with cyclin K to regulate different aspects of gene expression. The CDK12-cyclin K complex phosphorylates several substrates, including RNA polymerase II (Pol II), and thereby regulates transcription elongation, RNA splicing, as well as cleavage and polyadenylation. Because of its implication in cancer, including breast cancer and melanoma, multiple pharmacological inhibitors of CDK12 have been identified to date, including THZ531 and SR-4835. While both CDK12 inhibitors affect Poll II phosphorylation, we found that SR-4835 uniquely promotes cyclin K degradation via the proteasome. Using loss-of-function genetic screening, we found that SR-4835 cytotoxicity depends on a functional CUL4-RBX1-DDB1 ubiquitin ligase complex. Consistent with this, we show that DDB1 is required for cyclin K degradation, and that SR-4835 promotes DDB1 interaction with the CDK12-cyclin K complex. Docking studies and structure-activity relationship analyses of SR-4835 revealed the importance of the benzimidazole side-chain in molecular glue activity. Together, our results indicate that SR-4835 acts as a molecular glue that recruits the CDK12-cyclin K complex to the CUL4-RBX1-DDB1 ubiquitin ligase complex to target cyclin K for degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibault Houles
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Jonathan Boucher
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Geneviève Lavoie
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Graham MacLeod
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sichun Lin
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephane Angers
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Philippe P Roux
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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11
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Li T, Tang HC, Tsai KL. Unveiling the noncanonical activation mechanism of CDKs: insights from recent structural studies. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1290631. [PMID: 38028546 PMCID: PMC10666765 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1290631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) play crucial roles in a range of essential cellular processes. While the classical two-step activation mechanism is generally applicable to cell cycle-related CDKs, both CDK7 and CDK8, involved in transcriptional regulation, adopt distinct mechanisms for kinase activation. In both cases, binding to their respective cyclin partners results in only partial activity, while their full activation requires the presence of an additional subunit. Recent structural studies of these two noncanonical kinases have provided unprecedented insights into their activation mechanisms, enabling us to understand how the third subunit coordinates the T-loop stabilization and enhances kinase activity. In this review, we summarize the structure and function of CDK7 and CDK8 within their respective functional complexes, while also describing their noncanonical activation mechanisms. These insights open new avenues for targeted drug discovery and potential therapeutic interventions in various diseases related to CDK7 and CDK8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Hui-Chi Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Kuang-Lei Tsai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
- MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States
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12
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Liu X, Liu Y, Chai W, Yan M, Li H, Li J, Sun L, Cao Y, Liu Q, Sun Y, Pan H. CDK12 loss inhibits cell proliferation by regulating TBK1 in non-small cell lung cancer cells. Mol Cell Probes 2023; 71:101923. [PMID: 37517598 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2023.101923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors and has a poor prognosis and a low survival rate. Traditional treatments, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, still face some challenges because of high drug resistance and toxicity. Therefore, it is necessary to discover a new kind of targeted drug with low toxicity and high efficiency. CDK12 is a cell cycle-dependent kinase whose main function is to activate RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and promote the transcriptional extension of RNA. However, the role and molecular mechanism of CDK12 in lung cancer are still unclear. In this study, the mutation and RNA-Seq data of CDK12 in lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and analyzed with the custom scripts. Cell proliferation was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and cell colony formation assays. A subcutaneous tumor experiment in nude mice was used to examine the effects of CDK12 knockdown on the in vivo tumor growth of NSCLC cells. The cell cycle distribution and the apoptosis rate of lung cancer cells were assessed by flow cytometry. Regulation of TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) by CDK12 was evaluated by quantitative PCR, immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis. In this study we have analyzed the mutation and expression data of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and found that CDK12 is highly expressed in lung cancer tissues. Clinical correlation analysis showed that high expression of CDK12 in NSCLC reduces patient survival, but its high expression is only related to early tumor progression and has no significant correlation with late tumor progression and metastasis. Furthermore, we present evidence that CDK12 depletion in lung cancer cell lines not only leads to the inhibition of cell growth and induces apoptosis but also inhibits tumor growth of NSCLC cells in vivo. CDK12 positively regulates the expression of the oncogene TBK1 in lung cancer cells. These results revealed that CDK12 affects the progression of non-small cell lung cancer through positive regulation of TBK1 expression, suggesting that CDK12 might be a potential molecular target for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Liu
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, No. 688, Hongqu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yangdong Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tai'an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital, No.58 Dongyue Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, 271000, China
| | - Wenjun Chai
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, No. 688, Hongqu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Mingxia Yan
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, No. 688, Hongqu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hui Li
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, No. 688, Hongqu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jing Li
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, No. 688, Hongqu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Lei Sun
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, No. 688, Hongqu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yue Cao
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, No. 688, Hongqu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qian Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, No.1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Yuexi Sun
- Department of Emergency, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, No.389 Xincun Road, Shanghai, 200065, China.
| | - Hongyu Pan
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, No. 688, Hongqu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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13
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Wang L, Yang Z, Li G, Liu Y, Ai C, Rao Y. Discovery of small molecule degraders for modulating cell cycle. Front Med 2023; 17:823-854. [PMID: 37935945 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-023-1027-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
The cell cycle is a complex process that involves DNA replication, protein expression, and cell division. Dysregulation of the cell cycle is associated with various diseases. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and their corresponding cyclins are major proteins that regulate the cell cycle. In contrast to inhibition, a new approach called proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and molecular glues can eliminate both enzymatic and scaffold functions of CDKs and cyclins, achieving targeted degradation. The field of PROTACs and molecular glues has developed rapidly in recent years. In this article, we aim to summarize the latest developments of CDKs and cyclin protein degraders. The selectivity, application, validation and the current state of each CDK degrader will be overviewed. Additionally, possible methods are discussed for the development of degraders for CDK members that still lack them. Overall, this article provides a comprehensive summary of the latest advancements in CDK and cyclin protein degraders, which will be helpful for researchers working on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liguo Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Zhouli Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Guangchen Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yongbo Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Chao Ai
- Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 102218, China.
| | - Yu Rao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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14
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Ang HX, Sutiman N, Deng XL, Liu A, Cerda-Smith CG, Hutchinson HM, Kim H, Bartelt LC, Chen Q, Barrera A, Lin J, Sheng Z, McDowell IC, Reddy TE, Nicchitta CV, Wood KC. Cooperative regulation of coupled oncoprotein synthesis and stability in triple-negative breast cancer by EGFR and CDK12/13. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2221448120. [PMID: 37695916 PMCID: PMC10515179 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221448120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence has long suggested that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) may play a prominent role in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) pathogenesis, but clinical trials of EGFR inhibitors have yielded disappointing results. Using a candidate drug screen, we identified that inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases 12 and 13 (CDK12/13) dramatically sensitizes diverse models of TNBC to EGFR blockade. This combination therapy drives cell death through the 4E-BP1-dependent suppression of the translation and translation-linked turnover of driver oncoproteins, including MYC. A genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen identified the CCR4-NOT complex as a major determinant of sensitivity to the combination therapy whose loss renders 4E-BP1 unresponsive to drug-induced dephosphorylation, thereby rescuing MYC translational suppression and promoting MYC stability. The central roles of CCR4-NOT and 4E-BP1 in response to the combination therapy were further underscored by the observation of CNOT1 loss and rescue of 4E-BP1 phosphorylation in TNBC cells that naturally evolved therapy resistance. Thus, pharmacological inhibition of CDK12/13 reveals a long-proposed EGFR dependence in TNBC that functions through the cooperative regulation of translation-coupled oncoprotein stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hazel X. Ang
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
| | - Natalia Sutiman
- Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School,Singapore169857, Singapore
| | - Xinyue L. Deng
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
| | - Annie Liu
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
| | - Christian G. Cerda-Smith
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
| | - Haley M. Hutchinson
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
| | - Holly Kim
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
| | - Luke C. Bartelt
- Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC27708
| | - Qiang Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
| | - Alejandro Barrera
- Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC27708
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC27708
| | - Jiaxing Lin
- Bioinformatics Shared Resources, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC27705
| | - Zhecheng Sheng
- Bioinformatics Shared Resources, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC27705
| | - Ian C. McDowell
- Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC27708
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC27708
| | - Timothy E. Reddy
- Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC27708
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC27708
| | | | - Kris C. Wood
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC22710
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15
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Yan Z, Du Y, Zhang H, Zheng Y, Lv H, Dong N, He F. Research progress of anticancer drugs targeting CDK12. RSC Med Chem 2023; 14:1629-1644. [PMID: 37731700 PMCID: PMC10507796 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00004d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) is a transcription-associated CDK that plays key roles in transcription, translation, mRNA splicing, the cell cycle, and DNA damage repair. Research has identified that high expression of CDK12 in organs such as the breast, stomach, and uterus can lead to HER2-positive breast cancer, gastric cancer and cervical cancer. Inhibiting high expression of CDK12 suppresses tumor growth and proliferation, suggesting that it is both a biomarker for cancer and a potential target for cancer therapy. CDK12 inhibitors can competitively bind the CDK12 hydrophobic pocket with ATP to avoid CDK12 phosphorylation, blocking subsequent signaling pathways. The development of CDK12 inhibitors is challenging due to the high homology of CDK12 with other CDKs. This review summarizes the research progress of CDK12 inhibitors, their mechanism of action and the structure-activity relationship, providing new insights into the design of CDK12 selective inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijia Yan
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences) 3501 Da Xue Road Jinan 250353 China
| | - Yongli Du
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences) 3501 Da Xue Road Jinan 250353 China
| | - Haibin Zhang
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences) 3501 Da Xue Road Jinan 250353 China
| | - Yong Zheng
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences) 3501 Da Xue Road Jinan 250353 China
| | - Huiting Lv
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences) 3501 Da Xue Road Jinan 250353 China
| | - Ning Dong
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences) 3501 Da Xue Road Jinan 250353 China
| | - Fang He
- School of Water Conservancy and Environment, University of Jinan 336 Nanxinzhuang West Road Jinan 250022 China
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16
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Pluta AJ, Studniarek C, Murphy S, Norbury CJ. Cyclin-dependent kinases: Masters of the eukaryotic universe. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 15:e1816. [PMID: 37718413 PMCID: PMC10909489 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
A family of structurally related cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDKs) drives many aspects of eukaryotic cell function. Much of the literature in this area has considered individual members of this family to act primarily either as regulators of the cell cycle, the context in which CDKs were first discovered, or as regulators of transcription. Until recently, CDK7 was the only clear example of a CDK that functions in both processes. However, new data points to several "cell-cycle" CDKs having important roles in transcription and some "transcriptional" CDKs having cell cycle-related targets. For example, novel functions in transcription have been demonstrated for the archetypal cell cycle regulator CDK1. The increasing evidence of the overlap between these two CDK types suggests that they might play a critical role in coordinating the two processes. Here we review the canonical functions of cell-cycle and transcriptional CDKs, and provide an update on how these kinases collaborate to perform important cellular functions. We also provide a brief overview of how dysregulation of CDKs contributes to carcinogenesis, and possible treatment avenues. This article is categorized under: RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA-Protein Complexes RNA Processing > 3' End Processing RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shona Murphy
- Sir William Dunn School of PathologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Chris J. Norbury
- Sir William Dunn School of PathologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
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17
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Xiao Y, Dong J. Coming of Age: Targeting Cyclin K in Cancers. Cells 2023; 12:2044. [PMID: 37626854 PMCID: PMC10453554 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162044] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) play versatile roles in promoting the hallmarks of cancer. Therefore, cyclins and CDKs have been widely studied and targeted in cancer treatment, with four CDK4/6 inhibitors being approved by the FDA and many other inhibitors being examined in clinical trials. The specific purpose of this review is to delineate the role and therapeutic potential of Cyclin K in cancers. Studies have shown that Cyclin K regulates many essential biological processes, including the DNA damage response, mitosis, and pre-replicative complex assembly, and is critical in both cancer cell growth and therapeutic resistance. Importantly, the druggability of Cyclin K has been demonstrated in an increasing number of studies that identify novel opportunities for its use in cancer treatment. This review first introduces the basic features and translational value of human cyclins and CDKs. Next, the discovery, phosphorylation targets, and related functional significance of Cyclin K-CDK12/13 complexes in cancer are detailed. This review then provides a summary of current Cyclin K-associated cancer studies, with an emphasis on the available Cyclin K-targeting drugs. Finally, the current knowledge gaps regarding the potential of Cyclin K in cancers are discussed, along with interesting directions for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jixin Dong
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA;
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18
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Bai Y, Liu Z, Li Y, Zhao H, Lai C, Zhao S, Chen K, Luo C, Yang X, Wang F. Structural Mass Spectrometry Probes the Inhibitor-Induced Allosteric Activation of CDK12/CDK13-Cyclin K Dissociation. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:11477-11481. [PMID: 37207290 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c01697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The rational design and development of effective inhibitors for cyclin-dependent kinases 12 and 13 (CDK12 and CDK13) are largely dependent on the understanding of the dynamic inhibition conformations but are difficult to be achieved by conventional characterization tools. Herein, we integrate the structural mass spectrometry (MS) methods of lysine reactivity profiling (LRP) and native MS (nMS) to systematically interrogate both the dynamic molecular interactions and overall protein assembly of CDK12/CDK13-cyclin K (CycK) complexes under the modulation of small molecule inhibitors. The essential structure insights, including inhibitor binding pocket, binding strength, interfacial molecular details, and dynamic conformation changes, can be derived from the complementary results of LRP and nMS. We find the inhibitor SR-4835 binding can greatly destabilize the CDK12/CDK13-CycK interactions in an unusual allosteric activation way, thereby providing a novel alternative for the kinase activity inhibition. Our results underscore the great potential of LRP combination with nMS for the evaluation and rational design of effective kinase inhibitors at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Bai
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Zheyi Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuanqing Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, the Center for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Heng Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Can Lai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shan Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Kaixian Chen
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, the Center for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Cheng Luo
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, the Center for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xueming Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Fangjun Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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19
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Qiu M, Yin Z, Wang H, Lei L, Li C, Cui Y, Dai R, Yang P, Xiang Y, Li Q, Lv J, Hu Z, Chen M, Zhou HB, Fang P, Xiao R, Liang K. CDK12 and Integrator-PP2A complex modulates LEO1 phosphorylation for processive transcription elongation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf8698. [PMID: 37205756 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf8698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) interacts with cyclin K to form a functional nuclear kinase that promotes processive transcription elongation through phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II (Pol II). To gain a comprehensive understanding of CDK12's cellular function, we used chemical genetic and phosphoproteomic screening to identify a landscape of nuclear human CDK12 substrates, including regulators of transcription, chromatin organization, and RNA splicing. We further validated LEO1, a subunit of the polymerase-associated factor 1 complex (PAF1C), as a bona fide cellular substrate of CDK12. Acute depletion of LEO1, or substituting LEO1 phosphorylation sites with alanine, attenuated PAF1C association with elongating Pol II and impaired processive transcription elongation. Moreover, we discovered that LEO1 interacts with and is dephosphorylated by the Integrator-PP2A complex (INTAC) and that INTAC depletion promotes the association of PAF1C with Pol II. Together, this study reveals an uncharacterized role for CDK12 and INTAC in regulating LEO1 phosphorylation, providing important insights into gene transcription and its regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Qiu
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zhinang Yin
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Honghong Wang
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Lingyu Lei
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Conghui Li
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yali Cui
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Rong Dai
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Peiyuan Yang
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Ying Xiang
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Qiuzi Li
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Junhui Lv
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zhuang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hai-Bing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Pingping Fang
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Ruijing Xiao
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Kaiwei Liang
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
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20
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Fisher RP. Tumor suppression by RNA surveillance. Science 2023; 380:240-241. [PMID: 37079669 DOI: 10.1126/science.adh4051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
A cyclin-dependent kinase triggers degradation of prematurely terminated RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert P Fisher
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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21
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Hope I, Endicott JA, Watt JE. Emerging approaches to CDK inhibitor development, a structural perspective. RSC Chem Biol 2023; 4:146-164. [PMID: 36794018 PMCID: PMC9906319 DOI: 10.1039/d2cb00201a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant activity of the cyclin-dependent kinase family is frequently noted in a number of diseases identifying them as potential targets for drug development. However, current CDK inhibitors lack specificity owing to the high sequence and structural conservation of the ATP binding cleft across family members, highlighting the necessity of finding novel modes of CDK inhibition. The wealth of structural information regarding CDK assemblies and inhibitor complexes derived from X-ray crystallographic studies has been recently complemented through the use of cryo-electron microscopy. These recent advances have provided insights into the functional roles and regulatory mechanisms of CDKs and their interaction partners. This review explores the conformational malleability of the CDK subunit, the importance of SLiM recognition sites in CDK complexes, the progress made in chemically induced CDK degradation and how these studies can contribute to CDK inhibitor design. Additionally, fragment-based drug discovery can be utilised to identify small molecules that bind to allosteric sites on the CDK surface employing interactions which mimic those of native protein-protein interactions. These recent structural advances in CDK inhibitor mechanisms and in chemical probes which do not occupy the orthosteric ATP binding site can provide important insights for targeted CDK therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Hope
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Paul O'Gorman Building, Framlington Place Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH UK
| | - Jane A Endicott
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Paul O'Gorman Building, Framlington Place Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH UK
| | - Jessica E Watt
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Paul O'Gorman Building, Framlington Place Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH UK
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22
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Wu W, Yu S, Yu X. Transcription-associated cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) as a potential target for cancer therapy. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188842. [PMID: 36460141 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188842] [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: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12), a transcription-related cyclin dependent kinase (CDK), plays a momentous part in multitudinous biological functions, such as replication, transcription initiation to elongation and termination, precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) splicing, intron polyadenylation (IPA), and translation. CDK12 can act as a tumour suppressor or oncogene in disparate cellular environments, and its dysregulation likely provokes tumorigenesis. A comprehensive understanding of CDK12 will tremendously facilitate the exploitation of novel tactics for the treatment and precaution of cancer. Currently, CDK12 inhibitors are nonspecific and nonselective, which profoundly hinders the pharmacological target validation and drug exploitation process. Herein, we summarize the newly comprehension of the biological functions of CDK12 with a focus on recently emerged advancements of CDK12-associated therapeutic approaches in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wence Wu
- Departments of Orthopedics, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Carcinogenesis and Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shengji Yu
- Departments of Orthopedics, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiying Yu
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Carcinogenesis and Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
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23
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Houles T, Lavoie G, Nourreddine S, Cheung W, Vaillancourt-Jean É, Guérin CM, Bouttier M, Grondin B, Lin S, Saba-El-Leil MK, Angers S, Meloche S, Roux PP. CDK12 is hyperactivated and a synthetic-lethal target in BRAF-mutated melanoma. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6457. [PMID: 36309522 PMCID: PMC9617877 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34179-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and considered intrinsically resistant to chemotherapy. Nearly all melanomas harbor mutations that activate the RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which contributes to drug resistance via poorly described mechanisms. Herein we show that the RAS/MAPK pathway regulates the activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12), which is a transcriptional CDK required for genomic stability. We find that melanoma cells harbor constitutively high CDK12 activity, and that its inhibition decreases the expression of long genes containing multiple exons, including many genes involved in DNA repair. Conversely, our results show that CDK12 inhibition promotes the expression of short genes with few exons, including many growth-promoting genes regulated by the AP-1 and NF-κB transcription factors. Inhibition of these pathways strongly synergize with CDK12 inhibitors to suppress melanoma growth, suggesting promising drug combinations for more effective melanoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibault Houles
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, 2950, Chemin de la Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4 Canada
| | - Geneviève Lavoie
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, 2950, Chemin de la Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4 Canada
| | - Sami Nourreddine
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, 2950, Chemin de la Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4 Canada ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Present Address: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Winnie Cheung
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, 2950, Chemin de la Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4 Canada
| | - Éric Vaillancourt-Jean
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, 2950, Chemin de la Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4 Canada
| | - Célia M. Guérin
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, 2950, Chemin de la Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4 Canada
| | - Mathieu Bouttier
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, 2950, Chemin de la Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4 Canada
| | - Benoit Grondin
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, 2950, Chemin de la Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4 Canada ,grid.38678.320000 0001 2181 0211Present Address: Department of Biological Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Sichun Lin
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Marc K. Saba-El-Leil
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, 2950, Chemin de la Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4 Canada
| | - Stephane Angers
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Department of Biochemistry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Sylvain Meloche
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, 2950, Chemin de la Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4 Canada ,grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Philippe P. Roux
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, 2950, Chemin de la Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4 Canada ,grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC Canada
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24
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Clopper KC, Taatjes DJ. Chemical inhibitors of transcription-associated kinases. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2022; 70:102186. [PMID: 35926294 PMCID: PMC10676000 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.102186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Transcription by RNA polymerase II (pol II) is regulated by kinases. In recent years, many selective and potent inhibitors of pol II transcription-associated kinases have been developed, and these molecules have advanced understanding of kinase function in mammalian cells. Here, we focus on chemical inhibitors of the transcription-associated kinases CDK7, CDK8, CDK9, CDK12, CDK13, and CDK19. We provide a brief overview of the function of these kinases and common activation mechanisms. We then highlight the advantages of kinase inhibitors compared with other basic research methods, and describe the caveats associated with non-selective compounds (e.g. flavopiridol). We conclude with strategies and recommendations for implementation of chemical inhibitors for experimental analysis of transcription-associated kinases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin C Clopper
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Dylan J Taatjes
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
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25
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Ma B, Ma C, Li J, Fang Y. Revealing phosphorylation regulatory networks during embryogenesis of honey bee worker and drone (Apis mellifera). Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1006964. [PMID: 36225314 PMCID: PMC9548569 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1006964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein phosphorylation is known to regulate a comprehensive scenario of critical cellular processes. However, phosphorylation-mediated regulatory networks in honey bee embryogenesis are mainly unknown. We identified 6342 phosphosites from 2438 phosphoproteins and predicted 168 kinases in the honey bee embryo. Generally, the worker and drone develop similar phosphoproteome architectures and major phosphorylation events during embryogenesis. In 24 h embryos, protein kinases A play vital roles in regulating cell proliferation and blastoderm formation. At 48–72 h, kinase subfamily dual-specificity tyrosine-regulated kinase, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK), and induced pathways related to protein synthesis and morphogenesis suggest the centrality to enhance the germ layer development, organogenesis, and dorsal closure. Notably, workers and drones formulated distinct phosphoproteome signatures. For 24 h embryos, the highly phosphorylated serine/threonine-protein kinase minibrain, microtubule-associated serine/threonine-protein kinase 2 (MAST2), and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3) at Thr564 in workers, are likely to regulate the late onset of cell proliferation; in contrast, drone embryos enhanced the expression of CDK12, MAPK3, and MAST2 to promote the massive synthesis of proteins and cytoskeleton. In 48 h, the induced serine/threonine-protein kinase and CDK12 in worker embryos signify their roles in the construction of embryonic tissues and organs; however, the highly activated kinases CDK1, raf homolog serine/threonine-protein kinase, and MAST2 in drone embryos may drive the large-scale establishment of tissues and organs. In 72 h, the activated pathways and kinases associated with cell growth and tissue differentiation in worker embryos may promote the configuration of rudimentary organs. However, kinases implicated in cytoskeleton organization in drone embryos may drive the blastokinesis and dorsal closure. Our hitherto most comprehensive phosphoproteome offers a valuable resource for signaling research on phosphorylation dynamics in honey bee embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jianke Li
- *Correspondence: Jianke Li, ; Yu Fang,
| | - Yu Fang
- *Correspondence: Jianke Li, ; Yu Fang,
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26
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Tang R, Liu J, Li S, Zhang J, Yu C, Liu H, Chen F, Lv L, Zhang Q, Yuan K, Shao H. A patent and literature review of CDK12 inhibitors. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2022; 32:1055-1065. [PMID: 36120913 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2022.2126765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) belongs to the CDK family of serine/threonine protein kinases and associates with cyclin K to exert its biological functions, including regulating gene transcription, mRNA processing and translation. Increasing evidences demonstrate the importance of CDK12 in various human cancers, illustrating its potential as both biomarker and therapeutic target. In addition, CDK12 is also a promising target for the treatment of myotonic dystrophy type 1. Efforts have been taken to discover small molecule inhibitors to validate this important therapeutic target. AREAS COVERED This review covers the patented CDK12 inhibitors from 2016 to present, as well as these from peer-reviewed literature. It provides the reader an update of the discovery strategies, chemical structures and molecular profiling of all available CDK12 inhibitors. EXPERT OPINION CDK12 inhibitors with various mechanism of actions have been discovered and it is a great set of tools to evaluate the therapeutic potential of CDK12 in different disease models. CDK12 inhibitors have shown promising results in myotonic dystrophy type 1 mouse model and several preclinical cancer models either as single agent or combination with other anti-cancer agents. Its therapeutic value awaits more rigorous preclinical testing and further clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijun Tang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.,Center for Clinical Biorepositories and Biospecimen & Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Shuyao Li
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Junjie Zhang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Chunhong Yu
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Honglu Liu
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Fang Chen
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Lu Lv
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Kai Yuan
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.,The Biobank of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.,College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Hao Shao
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Oncology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
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27
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Abstract
Transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) has emerged as a regulatory hub in gene expression. A key control point occurs during early transcription elongation when Pol II pauses in the promoter-proximal region at the majority of genes in mammalian cells and at a large set of genes in Drosophila. An increasing number of trans-acting factors have been linked to promoter-proximal pausing. Some factors help to establish the pause, whereas others are required for the release of Pol II into productive elongation. A dysfunction of this elongation control point leads to aberrant gene expression and can contribute to disease development. The BET bromodomain protein BRD4 has been implicated in elongation control. However, only recently direct BRD4-specific functions in Pol II transcription elongation have been uncovered. This mainly became possible with technological advances that allow selective and rapid ablation of BRD4 in cells along with the availability of approaches that capture the immediate consequences on nascent transcription. This review sheds light on the experimental breakthroughs that led to the emerging view of BRD4 as a general regulator of transcription elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Altendorfer
- Otto-Warburg-Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yelizaveta Mochalova
- Otto-Warburg-Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Mayer
- Otto-Warburg-Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
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28
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Silina L, Dufour F, Rapinat A, Reyes C, Gentien D, Maksut F, Radvanyi F, Verrelle P, Bernard-Pierrot I, Mégnin-Chanet F. Tyro3 Targeting as a Radiosensitizing Strategy in Bladder Cancer through Cell Cycle Dysregulation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158671. [PMID: 35955805 PMCID: PMC9368768 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer is a common cancer; it is the tenth most common cancer in the world. Around one fourth of all diagnosed patients have muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), characterized by advanced tumors and which remains a lethal disease. The standard treatment for MIBC is the bladder removal by surgery. However, bladder-preserving alternatives are emerging by combining chemotherapy, radiotherapy and minimal surgery, aiming to increase the patient’s quality of life. The aim of the study was to improve these treatments by investigating a novel approach where in addition to radiotherapy, a receptor, TYRO3, a member of TAM receptor tyrosine kinase family known to be highly expressed on the bladder cancer cells and involved in the control of cell survival is targeted. For this, we evaluated the influence of TYRO3 expression levels on a colony or cell survival assays, DNA damage, γH2AX foci formation, gene expression profiling and cell cycle regulation, after radiation on different bladder cell models. We found that TYRO3 expression impacts the radiation response via the cell cycle dysregulation with noeffets on the DNA repair. Therefore, targeting TYRO3 is a promising sensitization marker that could be clinically employed in future treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Silina
- Institut Curie, CNRS, UMR144, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
- INSERM U 1196/CNRS UMR 9187, Paris-Saclay Research University, 91405 Orsay, France
- Institut Curie, Bat. 112, Rue H. Becquerel, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Florent Dufour
- Institut Curie, CNRS, UMR144, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Audrey Rapinat
- Genomics Platform, Translational Research Department, Research Center, Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Cécile Reyes
- Genomics Platform, Translational Research Department, Research Center, Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - David Gentien
- Genomics Platform, Translational Research Department, Research Center, Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Fatlinda Maksut
- INSERM U 1196/CNRS UMR 9187, Paris-Saclay Research University, 91405 Orsay, France
- Institut Curie, Bat. 112, Rue H. Becquerel, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - François Radvanyi
- Institut Curie, CNRS, UMR144, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Pierre Verrelle
- INSERM U 1196/CNRS UMR 9187, Paris-Saclay Research University, 91405 Orsay, France
- Institut Curie, Bat. 112, Rue H. Becquerel, 91405 Orsay, France
- Institut Curie-Hospital, Radiation Oncology Department, 75005 Paris, France
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Clermont Auvergne University, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Isabelle Bernard-Pierrot
- Institut Curie, CNRS, UMR144, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Frédérique Mégnin-Chanet
- INSERM U 1196/CNRS UMR 9187, Paris-Saclay Research University, 91405 Orsay, France
- Institut Curie, Bat. 112, Rue H. Becquerel, 91405 Orsay, France
- Correspondence:
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29
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Magnuson B, Bedi K, Narayanan IV, Bartkowiak B, Blinkiewicz H, Paulsen MT, Greenleaf A, Ljungman M. CDK12 regulates co-transcriptional splicing and RNA turnover in human cells. iScience 2022; 25:105030. [PMID: 36111258 PMCID: PMC9468413 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The cyclin-dependent kinase CDK12 has garnered interest as a cancer therapeutic target as DNA damage response genes are particularly suppressed by loss of CDK12 activity. In this study, we assessed the acute effects of CDK12 inhibition on transcription and RNA processing using nascent RNA Bru-seq and BruChase-seq. Acute transcriptional changes were overall small after CDK12 inhibition but over 600 genes showed intragenic premature termination, including DNA repair and cell cycle genes. Furthermore, many genes showed reduced transcriptional readthrough past the end of genes in the absence of CDK12 activity. RNA turnover was dramatically affected by CDK12 inhibition and importantly, caused increased degradation of many transcripts from DNA damage response genes. We also show that co-transcriptional splicing was suppressed by CDK12 inhibition. Taken together, these studies reveal the roles of CDK12 in regulating transcription elongation, transcription termination, co-transcriptional splicing, and RNA turnover. Over 600 genes showed prematurely terminated transcription when CDK12 was inhibited CDK12 promotes transcriptional readthrough past transcription end sites (TESs) CDK12 promotes splicing and affects transcript stability
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Magnuson
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center and Center for RNA Biomedicine, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Karan Bedi
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center and Center for RNA Biomedicine, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Bartlomiej Bartkowiak
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Hailey Blinkiewicz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Michelle T. Paulsen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Arno Greenleaf
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Mats Ljungman
- Rogel Cancer Center and Center for RNA Biomedicine, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Corresponding author
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30
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Lei P, Zhang J, Liao P, Ren C, Wang J, Wang Y. Current progress and novel strategies that target CDK12 for drug discovery. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 240:114603. [PMID: 35868123 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
CDK12 is a cyclin-dependent kinase that plays critical roles in DNA replication, transcription, mRNA splicing, and DNA damage repair. CDK12 genomic changes, including mutation, amplification, deletion, and fusion, lead to various cancers, such as colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, and ovarian cancer. An increasing number of CDK12 inhibitors have been reported since CDK12 was identified as a biomarker and cancer therapeutic target. A major challenge lies in that CDK12 and CDK13 share highly similar sequences, which leads to great difficulties in the development of highly selective CDK12 inhibitors. In recent years, great efforts were made in developing selective CDK12 blockers. Techniques including PROTAC and molecular glue degraders were also applied to facilitate their development. Also, the drug combination strategy of CDK12 small molecule inhibitors were studied. This review discusses the latest studies on CDK12 inhibitors and analyzes their structure-activity relationships, shedding light on their further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Lei
- Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jifa Zhang
- Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Peiyu Liao
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, Sichuan, China
| | - Changyu Ren
- Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiaxing Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, 38163, Tennessee, United States
| | - Yuxi Wang
- Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
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31
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Chan J, Kumar A, Kono H. RNAPII driven post-translational modifications of nucleosomal histones. Trends Genet 2022; 38:1076-1095. [PMID: 35618507 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The current understanding of how specific distributions of histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) are achieved throughout the chromatin remains incomplete. This review focuses on the role of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) in establishing H2BK120/K123 ubiquitination and H3K4/K36 methylation distribution. The rate of RNAPII transcription is mainly a function of the RNAPII elongation and recruitment rates. Two major mechanisms link RNAPII's transcription rate to the distribution of PTMs. First, the phosphorylation patterns of Ser2P/Ser5P in the C-terminal domain of RNAPII change as a function of time, since the start of elongation, linking them to the elongation rate. Ser2P/Ser5P recruits specific histone PTM enzymes/activators to the nucleosome. Second, multiple rounds of binding and catalysis by the enzymes are required to establish higher methylations (H3K4/36me3). Thus, methylation states are determined by the transcription rate. In summary, the first mechanism determines the location of methylations in the gene, while the second mechanism determines the methylation state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Chan
- Molecular Modelling and Simulation (MMS) Team, Institute for Quantum Life Science (iQLS), National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), 8-1-7 Umemidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan
| | - Amarjeet Kumar
- Molecular Modelling and Simulation (MMS) Team, Institute for Quantum Life Science (iQLS), National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), 8-1-7 Umemidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Kono
- Molecular Modelling and Simulation (MMS) Team, Institute for Quantum Life Science (iQLS), National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), 8-1-7 Umemidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan.
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Shimizu K, Sano T, Mizuno K, Sunada T, Makita N, Hagimoto H, Goto T, Sawada A, Fujimoto M, Ichioka K, Ogawa O, Kobayashi T, Akamatsu S. A case of microsatellite instability-high clinically advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer showing a remarkable response to pembrolizumab sustained over at least 18 months. Cold Spring Harb Mol Case Stud 2022; 8:mcs.a006194. [PMID: 35487690 PMCID: PMC9235847 DOI: 10.1101/mcs.a006194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Defective DNA mismatch repair genes can lead to microsatellite instability (MSI)-high status in prostate cancer (PC). Accumulation of replication errors in DNA leads to the production of abundant neoantigens, which could be targets for immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs). However, the incidence of MSI-high PC is low, and not all patients show a satisfactory therapeutic response to CPIs. Here, we present the case of a patient with MSI-high castration-resistant PC who showed a remarkable and durable response to pembrolizumab. The patient was resistant to abiraterone, docetaxel, and cabazitaxel and was suffering from multiple tumor-associated or treatment-related complications, such as urinary tract infection, infective endocarditis, and uncontrollable prostatic hemorrhage. Soon after the start of pembrolizumab therapy, the patient showed a dramatic decrease in prostate-specific antigen from 35.67 ng/mL to an undetectable level and a remarkable reduction in the size of a massive prostate mass and lymph node metastases, with an absence of treatment-related complications. Specimens from the transurethral resection of prostate cancer during cabazitaxel treatment for control of prostate bleeding and also that from the prostate biopsy at initial diagnosis revealed MSI-high status. Immunohistochemistry showed loss of MSH2 and MSH6, and whole-exome sequencing revealed an approximate tumor mutation burden of 61 mutations/Mb as well as biallelic loss of MSH2. Pembrolizumab could show a significant effect even in a heavily treated patient with MSI-high advanced PC. Accumulation of detailed clinical and genomic information of cases of MSI-high PC treated with pembrolizumab is necessary for optimal patient selection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kei Mizuno
- Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Osamu Ogawa
- Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine
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Noutoshi Y. Chemical Baiting Fishes Out CDKC;2 as a Novel Arabidopsis Clock Modulator. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 63:446-447. [PMID: 35260894 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcac026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiteru Noutoshi
- Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530 Japan
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Uehara TN, Nonoyama T, Taki K, Kuwata K, Sato A, Fujimoto KJ, Hirota T, Matsuo H, Maeda AE, Ono A, Takahara TT, Tsutsui H, Suzuki T, Yanai T, Kay SA, Itami K, Kinoshita T, Yamaguchi J, Nakamichi N. Phosphorylation of RNA Polymerase II by CDKC;2 Maintains the Arabidopsis Circadian Clock Period. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 63:450-462. [PMID: 35086143 PMCID: PMC9016870 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcac011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The circadian clock is an internal timekeeping system that governs about 24 h biological rhythms of a broad range of developmental and metabolic activities. The clocks in eukaryotes are thought to rely on lineage-specific transcriptional-translational feedback loops. However, the mechanisms underlying the basic transcriptional regulation events for clock function have not yet been fully explored. Here, through a combination of chemical biology and genetic approaches, we demonstrate that phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II by CYCLIN DEPENDENT KINASE C; 2 (CDKC;2) is required for maintaining the circadian period in Arabidopsis. Chemical screening identified BML-259, the inhibitor of mammalian CDK2/CDK5, as a compound lengthening the circadian period of Arabidopsis. Short-term BML-259 treatment resulted in decreased expression of most clock-associated genes. Development of a chemical probe followed by affinity proteomics revealed that BML-259 binds to CDKC;2. Loss-of-function mutations of cdkc;2 caused a long period phenotype. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the CDKC;2 immunocomplex phosphorylates the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II, and BML-259 inhibits this phosphorylation. Collectively, this study suggests that transcriptional activity maintained by CDKC;2 is required for proper period length, which is an essential feature of the circadian clock in Arabidopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Keiko Kuwata
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan
| | - Ayato Sato
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan
| | - Kazuhiro J Fujimoto
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8602 Japan
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Hirota
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan
| | - Hiromi Matsuo
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan
| | - Akari E Maeda
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8602 Japan
| | - Azusa Ono
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8602 Japan
| | - Tomoaki T Takahara
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Waseda University, 513 Wasedatsurumakicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-0041 Japan
| | - Hiroki Tsutsui
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8602 Japan
| | - Takamasa Suzuki
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chubu University, 1200 Matsumoto-cho, Kasugai, 487-8501 Japan
| | - Takeshi Yanai
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8602 Japan
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan
| | - Steve A Kay
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1975 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Kenichiro Itami
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8602 Japan
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan
- JST ERATO, Itami Molecular Nanocarbon Project, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8602 Japan
| | - Toshinori Kinoshita
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8602 Japan
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan
| | - Junichiro Yamaguchi
- *Corresponding authors: Norihito Nakamichi, E-mail, ; Junichiro Yamaguchi, E-mail,
| | - Norihito Nakamichi
- *Corresponding authors: Norihito Nakamichi, E-mail, ; Junichiro Yamaguchi, E-mail,
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35
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Düster R, Ji Y, Pan KT, Urlaub H, Geyer M. Functional characterization of the human Cdk10/Cyclin Q complex. Open Biol 2022; 12:210381. [PMID: 35291876 PMCID: PMC8924752 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are key players in cell cycle regulation and transcription. The CDK-family member Cdk10 is important for neural development and can act as a tumour suppressor, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we provide an in-depth analysis of Cdk10 substrate specificity and function. Using recombinant Cdk10/CycQ protein complexes, we characterize RNA pol II CTD, c-MYC and RB1 as in vitro protein substrates. Using an analogue-sensitive mutant kinase, we identify 89 different Cdk10 phosphosites in HEK cells originating from 66 different proteins. Among these, proteins involved in cell cycle, translation, stress response, growth signalling, as well as rRNA, and mRNA transcriptional regulation, are found. Of a set of pan-selective CDK- and Cdk9-specific inhibitors tested, all inhibited Cdk10/CycQ at least five times weaker than their proposed target kinases. We also identify Cdk10 as an in vitro substrate of Cdk1 and Cdk5 at multiple sites, allowing for a potential cross-talk between these CDKs. With this functional characterization, Cdk10 adopts a hybrid position in both cell cycle and transcriptional regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Düster
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Yanlong Ji
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry, 37077 Göttingen, Germany,Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine II, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Kuan-Ting Pan
- Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine II, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Henning Urlaub
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry, 37077 Göttingen, Germany,Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Bioanalytics Group, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Geyer
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
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36
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Control of non-productive RNA polymerase II transcription via its early termination in metazoans. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:283-295. [PMID: 35166324 DOI: 10.1042/bst20201140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Transcription establishes the universal first step of gene expression where RNA is produced by a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The most versatile of eukaryotic RNA polymerases, RNA polymerase II (Pol II), transcribes a broad range of DNA including protein-coding and a variety of non-coding transcription units. Although Pol II can be configured as a durable enzyme capable of transcribing hundreds of kilobases, there is reliable evidence of widespread abortive Pol II transcription termination shortly after initiation, which is often followed by rapid degradation of the associated RNA. The molecular details underlying this phenomenon are still vague but likely reflect the action of quality control mechanisms on the early Pol II complex. Here, we summarize current knowledge of how and when such promoter-proximal quality control is asserted on metazoan Pol II.
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Noncovalent CDK12/13 dual inhibitors-based PROTACs degrade CDK12-Cyclin K complex and induce synthetic lethality with PARP inhibitor. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 228:114012. [PMID: 34864331 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.114012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) plays a crucial role in DNA-damage response gene transcription and has recently been validated as a promising target in cancer therapy. However, existing CDK12 inhibitors potently inhibit its closest isoform CDK13, which could cause potential toxicity. Therefore, the development of CDK12 inhibitors with isoform-selectivity against CDK13 continues to be a challenge. By taking advantage of the emerging PROteolysis-TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) approach, we have synthesized a potent PROTAC degrader PP-C8 based on the noncovalent dual inhibitors of CDK12/13 and demonstrated its specificity for CDK12 over CDK13. Notably, PP-C8 induces profound degradation of cyclin K simultaneously and downregulates the mRNA level of DNA-damage response genes. Global proteomics profiling revealed PP-C8 is highly selective toward CDK12-cyclin K complex. Importantly, PP-C8 demonstrates profound synergistic antiproliferative effects with PARP inhibitor in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The potent and selective CDK12 PROTAC degrader developed in this study could potentially be used to treat CDK12-dependent cancers as combination therapy.
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38
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Liu Y, Fu L, Wu J, Liu M, Wang G, Liu B, Zhang L. Transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinases: Potential drug targets in cancer therapy. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 229:114056. [PMID: 34942431 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.114056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In the wake of the development of the concept of cell cycle and its limiting points, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are considered to play a central role in regulating cell cycle progression. Recent studies have strongly demonstrated that CDKs also has multiple functions, especially in response to extracellular and intracellular signals by interfering with transcriptional events. Consequently, how to inhibit their function has been a hot research topic. It is worth noting that the key role of CDKs in regulating transcription has been explored in recent years, but its related pharmacological targets are less developed, and most inhibitors have not entered the clinical stage. Accordingly, this perspective focus on the biological functions of transcription related CDKs and their complexes, some key upstream and downstream signals, and inhibitors for cancer treatment in recent years. In addition, some corresponding combined treatment strategies will provide a more novel perspective for future cancer remedy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Liu
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, 610031, Chengdu, China
| | - Leilei Fu
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, 610031, Chengdu, China
| | - Junhao Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ming Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Guan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Bo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Lan Zhang
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, 610031, Chengdu, China.
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39
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Disrupting the Molecular Pathway in Myotonic Dystrophy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413225. [PMID: 34948025 PMCID: PMC8708683 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy is the most common muscular dystrophy in adults. It consists of two forms: type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2). DM1 is associated with a trinucleotide repeat expansion mutation, which is transcribed but not translated into protein. The mutant RNA remains in the nucleus, which leads to a series of downstream abnormalities. DM1 is widely considered to be an RNA-based disorder. Thus, we consider three areas of the RNA pathway that may offer targeting opportunities to disrupt the production, stability, and degradation of the mutant RNA.
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40
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Kaltheuner IH, Anand K, Moecking J, Düster R, Wang J, Gray NS, Geyer M. Abemaciclib is a potent inhibitor of DYRK1A and HIP kinases involved in transcriptional regulation. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6607. [PMID: 34785661 PMCID: PMC8595372 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26935-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Homeodomain-interacting protein kinases (HIPKs) belong to the CMGC kinase family and are closely related to dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinases (DYRKs). HIPKs are regulators of various signaling pathways and involved in the pathology of cancer, chronic fibrosis, diabetes, and multiple neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we report the crystal structure of HIPK3 in its apo form at 2.5 Å resolution. Recombinant HIPKs and DYRK1A are auto-activated and phosphorylate the negative elongation factor SPT5, the transcription factor c-Myc, and the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II, suggesting a direct function in transcriptional regulation. Based on a database search, we identified abemaciclib, an FDA-approved Cdk4/Cdk6 inhibitor used for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, as potent inhibitor of HIPK2, HIPK3, and DYRK1A. We determined the crystal structures of HIPK3 and DYRK1A bound to abemaciclib, showing a similar binding mode to the hinge region of the kinase as observed for Cdk6. Remarkably, DYRK1A is inhibited by abemaciclib to the same extent as Cdk4/Cdk6 in vitro, raising the question of whether targeting of DYRK1A contributes to the transcriptional inhibition and therapeutic activity of abemaciclib.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kanchan Anand
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jonas Moecking
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Robert Düster
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jinhua Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and the Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Matthias Geyer
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
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Huang CS, Xu QC, Dai C, Wang L, Tien YC, Li F, Su Q, Huang XT, Wu J, Zhao W, Yin XY. Nanomaterial-Facilitated Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 7 Inhibition Suppresses Gallbladder Cancer Progression via Targeting Transcriptional Addiction. ACS NANO 2021; 15:14744-14755. [PMID: 34405985 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c04570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most aggressive malignancy of the biliary tract cancer, and there is a lack of effective treatment. Here, we developed a nanoparticle platform (8P4 NP) that can deliver THZ1, a cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) inhibitor, to treat GBC. Analysis of datasets demonstrated that CDK7 was positively correlated with poor prognosis. CDK7 inhibition suppressed cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and caused cell cycle block in GBC cells. THZ1 downregulated CDK7-mediated phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), resulting in a significant downregulation of transcriptional programs, with a preferential repression of oncogenic transcription factors. To improve the tumor targeting efficiency of THZ1, 8P4 NPs were prepared and assembled with THZ1 to form THZ1@8P4 NPs. Compared with free THZ1, THZ1@8P4 NPs showed more advantages in prolonging blood circulation, escaping from lysosomes and increasing cellular uptake. Importantly, THZ1@8P4 NPs demonstrated a more significant inhibition effect on GBC cells than free THZ1 in vitro. In addition, THZ1@8P4 NPs could efficiently deliver THZ1 to tumor sites in a patient-derived xenograft model of early recurrence, leading to tumor regression and transcriptional inhibition with minimal toxicity. In summary, we conclude that THZ1@8P4 NPs provide a potent therapeutic strategy that targets CDK7-mediated transcriptional addiction in GBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Song Huang
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Qiong-Cong Xu
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Chunlei Dai
- Key Laboratory of Sensing Technology and Biomedical Instrument of Guangdong Province, School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Liying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Sensing Technology and Biomedical Instrument of Guangdong Province, School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yi-Chih Tien
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Fuxi Li
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Qiao Su
- Department of Animal Experiment Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xi-Tai Huang
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Sensing Technology and Biomedical Instrument of Guangdong Province, School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Yin
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
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Isa NF, Bensaude O, Aziz NC, Murphy S. HSV-1 ICP22 Is a Selective Viral Repressor of Cellular RNA Polymerase II-Mediated Transcription Elongation. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1054. [PMID: 34696162 PMCID: PMC8539892 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9101054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1) immediate-early protein ICP22 interacts with cellular proteins to inhibit host cell gene expression and promote viral gene expression. ICP22 inhibits phosphorylation of Ser2 of the RNA polymerase II (pol II) carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) and productive elongation of pol II. Here we show that ICP22 affects elongation of pol II through both the early-elongation checkpoint and the poly(A)-associated elongation checkpoint of a protein-coding gene model. Coimmunoprecipitation assays using tagged ICP22 expressed in human cells and pulldown assays with recombinant ICP22 in vitro coupled with mass spectrometry identify transcription elongation factors, including P-TEFb, additional CTD kinases and the FACT complex as interacting cellular factors. Using a photoreactive amino acid incorporated into ICP22, we found that L191, Y230 and C225 crosslink to both subunits of the FACT complex in cells. Our findings indicate that ICP22 interacts with critical elongation regulators to inhibit transcription elongation of cellular genes, which may be vital for HSV-1 pathogenesis. We also show that the HSV viral activator, VP16, has a region of structural similarity to the ICP22 region that interacts with elongation factors, suggesting a model where VP16 competes with ICP22 to deliver elongation factors to viral genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Firdaus Isa
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
- Research Unit for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan 25200, Pahang, Malaysia;
| | - Olivier Bensaude
- Ecole Normale Supérieure, Institut de Biologie de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 8197, INSERM U 1024, F-75005 Paris, France;
| | - Nadiah C. Aziz
- Research Unit for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan 25200, Pahang, Malaysia;
| | - Shona Murphy
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
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Robert T, Dock-Bregeon AC, Colas P. Functional characterization of CDK10 and cyclin M truncated variants causing severe developmental disorders. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2021; 9:e1782. [PMID: 34369103 PMCID: PMC8580092 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background CDK10 is a poorly known cyclin M (CycM)‐dependent kinase. Loss‐of‐function mutations in the genes encoding CycM or CDK10 cause, respectively, STAR or Al Kaissi syndromes, which present a constellation of malformations and dysfunctions. Most reported mutations abolish gene expression, but two mutations found in 3’ exons could allow the expression of CDK10 and CycM truncated variants. Methods We built a structural model that predicted a preserved ability of both variants to form a CDK10/CycM heterodimer. Hence, we functionally characterized these two truncated variants by determining their capacity to heterodimerize and form an active protein kinase when expressed in insect cells, by examining their two‐hybrid interaction profiles when expressed in yeast, and by observing their expression level and stability when expressed in human cells. Results Both truncated variants retain their ability to form a CDK10/CycM heterodimer. While the CycM variant partially activates CDK10 activity in vitro, the CDK10 variant remains surprisingly inactive. Expression in human cells revealed that the CDK10 and CycM variants are strongly and partially degraded by the proteasome, respectively. Conclusion Our results point to a total loss of CDK10/CycM activity in the Al Kaissi patient and a partial loss in the STAR patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Robert
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Sorbonne Université/CNRS, Roscoff, France
| | - Anne-Catherine Dock-Bregeon
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Sorbonne Université/CNRS, Roscoff, France
| | - Pierre Colas
- Laboratory of Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Sorbonne Université/CNRS, Roscoff, France
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Chai Q, Li S, Collins MK, Li R, Ahmad I, Johnson SF, Frabutt DA, Yang Z, Shen X, Sun L, Hu J, Hultquist JF, Peterlin BM, Zheng YH. HIV-1 Nef interacts with the cyclin K/CDK13 complex to antagonize SERINC5 for optimal viral infectivity. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109514. [PMID: 34380030 PMCID: PMC8385645 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1-negative factor (Nef) protein antagonizes serine incorporator 5 (SERINC5) by redirecting this potent restriction factor to the endosomes and lysosomes for degradation. However, the precise mechanism remains unclear. Using affinity purification/mass spectrometry, we identify cyclin K (CycK) and cyclin-dependent kinase 13 (CDK13) as a Nef-associated kinase complex. CycK/CDK13 phosphorylates the serine at position 360 (S360) in SERINC5, which is required for Nef downregulation of SERINC5 from the cell surface and its counteractivity of the SERINC5 antiviral activity. To understand the role of S360 phosphorylation, we generate chimeric proteins between CD8 and SERINC5 to study their response to Nef. Nef not only downregulates but, importantly, also binds to this chimera in an S360-dependent manner. Thus, S360 phosphorylation increases interactions between Nef and SERINC5 and initiates the destruction of SERINC5 by the endocytic machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Chai
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Sunan Li
- Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS-Michigan State University Joint Laboratory of Innate Immunity, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Morgan K Collins
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Rongrong Li
- Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS-Michigan State University Joint Laboratory of Innate Immunity, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Iqbal Ahmad
- Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS-Michigan State University Joint Laboratory of Innate Immunity, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Silas F Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; Department of Biology, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI, USA
| | - Dylan A Frabutt
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Zhichang Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Xiaojing Shen
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Liangliang Sun
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Jian Hu
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Judd F Hultquist
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - B Matija Peterlin
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yong-Hui Zheng
- Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS-Michigan State University Joint Laboratory of Innate Immunity, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
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45
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Ketley A, Wojciechowska M, Ghidelli-Disse S, Bamborough P, Ghosh TK, Morato ML, Sedehizadeh S, Malik NA, Tang Z, Powalowska P, Tanner M, Billeter-Clark R, Trueman RC, Geiszler PC, Agostini A, Othman O, Bösche M, Bantscheff M, Rüdiger M, Mossakowska DE, Drewry DH, Zuercher WJ, Thornton CA, Drewes G, Uings I, Hayes CJ, Brook JD. CDK12 inhibition reduces abnormalities in cells from patients with myotonic dystrophy and in a mouse model. Sci Transl Med 2021; 12:12/541/eaaz2415. [PMID: 32350131 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaz2415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an RNA-based disease with no current treatment. It is caused by a transcribed CTG repeat expansion within the 3' untranslated region of the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene. Mutant repeat expansion transcripts remain in the nuclei of patients' cells, forming distinct microscopically detectable foci that contribute substantially to the pathophysiology of the condition. Here, we report small-molecule inhibitors that remove nuclear foci and have beneficial effects in the HSALR mouse model, reducing transgene expression, leading to improvements in myotonia, splicing, and centralized nuclei. Using chemoproteomics in combination with cell-based assays, we identify cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) as a druggable target for this condition. CDK12 is a protein elevated in DM1 cell lines and patient muscle biopsies, and our results showed that its inhibition led to reduced expression of repeat expansion RNA. Some of the inhibitors identified in this study are currently the subject of clinical trials for other indications and provide valuable starting points for a drug development program in DM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ami Ketley
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Marzena Wojciechowska
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Sonja Ghidelli-Disse
- Cellzome GmbH, Molecular Discovery Research, GlaxoSmithKline, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 61997 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Paul Bamborough
- Computational and Modelling Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Medicines Research Centre, Hertfordshire SG1 2NY, UK
| | - Tushar K Ghosh
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Marta Lopez Morato
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Saam Sedehizadeh
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Naveed Altaf Malik
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Zhenzhi Tang
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642-0001, USA
| | - Paulina Powalowska
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.,School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Matthew Tanner
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642-0001, USA
| | - Rudolf Billeter-Clark
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Rebecca C Trueman
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Philippine C Geiszler
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Alessandra Agostini
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Othman Othman
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Markus Bösche
- Cellzome GmbH, Molecular Discovery Research, GlaxoSmithKline, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 61997 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcus Bantscheff
- Cellzome GmbH, Molecular Discovery Research, GlaxoSmithKline, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 61997 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Rüdiger
- Screening Profiling and Mechanistic Biology, GlaxoSmithKline, Medicines Research Centre, Hertfordshire SG1 2NY, UK
| | - Danuta E Mossakowska
- Discovery Partnerships with Academia, GlaxoSmithKline, Medicines Research Centre, Hertfordshire SG1 2NY, UK.,Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-348 Krakow, Poland
| | - David H Drewry
- Department of Chemical Biology, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3398, USA
| | - William J Zuercher
- Department of Chemical Biology, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3398, USA.,SGC Center for Chemical Biology, UNC, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Charles A Thornton
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642-0001, USA
| | - Gerard Drewes
- Cellzome GmbH, Molecular Discovery Research, GlaxoSmithKline, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 61997 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Iain Uings
- Discovery Partnerships with Academia, GlaxoSmithKline, Medicines Research Centre, Hertfordshire SG1 2NY, UK
| | - Christopher J Hayes
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - J David Brook
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
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46
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CDK9 keeps RNA polymerase II on track. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:5543-5567. [PMID: 34146121 PMCID: PMC8257543 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03878-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9), the kinase component of positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), is essential for transcription of most protein-coding genes by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). By releasing promoter-proximally paused RNAPII into gene bodies, CDK9 controls the entry of RNAPII into productive elongation and is, therefore, critical for efficient synthesis of full-length messenger (m)RNAs. In recent years, new players involved in P-TEFb-dependent processes have been identified and an important function of CDK9 in coordinating elongation with transcription initiation and termination has been unveiled. As the regulatory functions of CDK9 in gene expression continue to expand, a number of human pathologies, including cancers, have been associated with aberrant CDK9 activity, underscoring the need to properly regulate CDK9. Here, I provide an overview of CDK9 function and regulation, with an emphasis on CDK9 dysregulation in human diseases.
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47
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Jiang B, Gao Y, Che J, Lu W, Kaltheuner IH, Dries R, Kalocsay M, Berberich MJ, Jiang J, You I, Kwiatkowski N, Riching KM, Daniels DL, Sorger PK, Geyer M, Zhang T, Gray NS. Discovery and resistance mechanism of a selective CDK12 degrader. Nat Chem Biol 2021; 17:675-683. [PMID: 33753926 PMCID: PMC8590456 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-021-00765-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) is an emerging therapeutic target due to its role in regulating transcription of DNA-damage response (DDR) genes. However, development of selective small molecules targeting CDK12 has been challenging due to the high degree of homology between kinase domains of CDK12 and other transcriptional CDKs, most notably CDK13. In the present study, we report the rational design and characterization of a CDK12-specific degrader, BSJ-4-116. BSJ-4-116 selectively degraded CDK12 as assessed through quantitative proteomics. Selective degradation of CDK12 resulted in premature cleavage and poly(adenylation) of DDR genes. Moreover, BSJ-4-116 exhibited potent antiproliferative effects, alone and in combination with the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor olaparib, as well as when used as a single agent against cell lines resistant to covalent CDK12 inhibitors. Two point mutations in CDK12 were identified that confer resistance to BSJ-4-116, demonstrating a potential mechanism that tumor cells can use to evade bivalent degrader molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baishan Jiang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,These authors contributed equally: Baishan Jiang, Yang Gao and Jianwei Che
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,These authors contributed equally: Baishan Jiang, Yang Gao and Jianwei Che
| | - Jianwei Che
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,These authors contributed equally: Baishan Jiang, Yang Gao and Jianwei Che
| | - Wenchao Lu
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Ruben Dries
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Computational Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marian Kalocsay
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew J. Berberich
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jie Jiang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Inchul You
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nicholas Kwiatkowski
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Peter K. Sorger
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthias Geyer
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tinghu Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Correspondence should be addressed to Tinghu Zhang (); Nathanael S. Gray ()
| | - Nathanael S. Gray
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Correspondence should be addressed to Tinghu Zhang (); Nathanael S. Gray ()
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48
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Mandal R, Becker S, Strebhardt K. Targeting CDK9 for Anti-Cancer Therapeutics. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2181. [PMID: 34062779 PMCID: PMC8124690 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclin Dependent Kinase 9 (CDK9) is one of the most important transcription regulatory members of the CDK family. In conjunction with its main cyclin partner-Cyclin T1, it forms the Positive Transcription Elongation Factor b (P-TEFb) whose primary function in eukaryotic cells is to mediate the positive transcription elongation of nascent mRNA strands, by phosphorylating the S2 residues of the YSPTSPS tandem repeats at the C-terminus domain (CTD) of RNA Polymerase II (RNAP II). To aid in this process, P-TEFb also simultaneously phosphorylates and inactivates a number of negative transcription regulators like 5,6-dichloro-1-β-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) Sensitivity-Inducing Factor (DSIF) and Negative Elongation Factor (NELF). Significantly enhanced activity of CDK9 is observed in multiple cancer types, which is universally associated with significantly shortened Overall Survival (OS) of the patients. In these cancer types, CDK9 regulates a plethora of cellular functions including proliferation, survival, cell cycle regulation, DNA damage repair and metastasis. Due to the extremely critical role of CDK9 in cancer cells, inhibiting its functions has been the subject of intense research, resulting the development of multiple, increasingly specific small-molecule inhibitors, some of which are presently in clinical trials. The search for newer generation CDK9 inhibitors with higher specificity and lower potential toxicities and suitable combination therapies continues. In fact, the Phase I clinical trials of the latest, highly specific CDK9 inhibitor BAY1251152, against different solid tumors have shown good anti-tumor and on-target activities and pharmacokinetics, combined with manageable safety profile while the phase I and II clinical trials of another inhibitor AT-7519 have been undertaken or are undergoing. To enhance the effectiveness and target diversity and reduce potential drug-resistance, the future of CDK9 inhibition would likely involve combining CDK9 inhibitors with inhibitors like those against BRD4, SEC, MYC, MCL-1 and HSP90.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranadip Mandal
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (R.M.); (S.B.)
| | - Sven Becker
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (R.M.); (S.B.)
| | - Klaus Strebhardt
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (R.M.); (S.B.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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49
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Shi Z, Zhao Q, Lv B, Qu X, Han X, Wang H, Qiu J, Hua K. Identification of biomarkers complementary to homologous recombination deficiency for improving the clinical outcome of ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma. Clin Transl Med 2021; 11:e399. [PMID: 34047476 PMCID: PMC8131501 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer patients with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) tumors would benefit from PARP inhibitor (PARPi) therapy. However, patients with HRD tumors account for less than 50% of the whole cohort, so new biomarkers still need to be developed. Based on the data from the SNP array and somatic mutation profiles in the ovarian cancer genome, we found that high frequency of actionable mutations existed in patients with non-HRD tumors. Through transcriptome analysis, we identified that a downstream target of the cGAS-STING pathway, CXCL11, was upregulated in HRD tumors and could be used as a predictor of survival outcome. Further comprehensive analysis of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) revealed that CXCL11 expression signature was closely correlated with cytotoxic cells, neoantigen load and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Clinical trial data confirmed that the expression of CXCL11 could be used as a biomarker for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Finally, in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that cancer cells with PARPi treatment increased the expression of CXCL11. Collectively, our study not only provides biomarkers of ovarian cancer complementary to the HRD score but also introduces a potential new perspective for identifying prognostic biomarkers of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwen Shi
- Obstetrics and Gynecology HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Qingguo Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics & Development, School of Life SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Bin Lv
- Obstetrics and Gynecology HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xinyu Qu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xiao Han
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics & Development, School of Life SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Hongyan Wang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Junjun Qiu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine‐Related DiseasesShanghaiChina
| | - Keqin Hua
- Obstetrics and Gynecology HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine‐Related DiseasesShanghaiChina
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50
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Cossa G, Parua PK, Eilers M, Fisher RP. Protein phosphatases in the RNAPII transcription cycle: erasers, sculptors, gatekeepers, and potential drug targets. Genes Dev 2021; 35:658-676. [PMID: 33888562 PMCID: PMC8091971 DOI: 10.1101/gad.348315.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
In this review, Cossa et al. discuss the current knowledge and outstanding questions about phosphatases in the context of the RNAPII transcription cycle. The transcription cycle of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) is governed at multiple points by opposing actions of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and protein phosphatases, in a process with similarities to the cell division cycle. While important roles of the kinases have been established, phosphatases have emerged more slowly as key players in transcription, and large gaps remain in understanding of their precise functions and targets. Much of the earlier work focused on the roles and regulation of sui generis and often atypical phosphatases—FCP1, Rtr1/RPAP2, and SSU72—with seemingly dedicated functions in RNAPII transcription. Decisive roles in the transcription cycle have now been uncovered for members of the major phosphoprotein phosphatase (PPP) family, including PP1, PP2A, and PP4—abundant enzymes with pleiotropic roles in cellular signaling pathways. These phosphatases appear to act principally at the transitions between transcription cycle phases, ensuring fine control of elongation and termination. Much is still unknown, however, about the division of labor among the PPP family members, and their possible regulation by or of the transcriptional kinases. CDKs active in transcription have recently drawn attention as potential therapeutic targets in cancer and other diseases, raising the prospect that the phosphatases might also present opportunities for new drug development. Here we review the current knowledge and outstanding questions about phosphatases in the context of the RNAPII transcription cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Cossa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Pabitra K Parua
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Martin Eilers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Robert P Fisher
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
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