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Ng RR, Lin Z, Zhang Y, Ti SC, Javed A, Wong JWH, Fang Q, Leung JWC, Tang AHN, Huen MSY. R-loop resolution by ARIP4 helicase promotes androgen-mediated transcription induction. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadm9577. [PMID: 39028815 PMCID: PMC11259169 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adm9577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Pausing of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) at transcription start sites (TSSs) primes target genes for productive elongation. Coincidentally, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) enrich at highly transcribed and Pol II-paused genes, although their interplay remains undefined. Using androgen receptor (AR) signaling as a model, we have uncovered AR-interacting protein 4 (ARIP4) helicase as a driver of androgen-dependent transcription induction. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analysis revealed that ARIP4 preferentially co-occupies TSSs with paused Pol II. Moreover, we found that ARIP4 complexes with topoisomerase II beta and mediates transient DSB formation upon hormone stimulation. Accordingly, ARIP4 deficiency compromised release of paused Pol II and resulted in R-loop accumulation at a panel of highly transcribed AR target genes. Last, we showed that ARIP4 binds and unwinds R-loops in vitro and that its expression positively correlates with prostate cancer progression. We propose that androgen stimulation triggers ARIP4-mediated unwinding of R-loops at TSSs, enforcing Pol II pause release to effectively drive an androgen-dependent expression program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raissa Regina Ng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong S.A.R
| | - Zhongyang Lin
- Department of Biology, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanmin Zhang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong S.A.R
| | - Shih Chieh Ti
- School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong S.A.R
| | - Asif Javed
- School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong S.A.R
| | - Jason Wing Hon Wong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong S.A.R
| | - Qingming Fang
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology and Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Justin Wai Chung Leung
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Alex Hin Ning Tang
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong S.A.R
| | - Michael Shing Yan Huen
- School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong S.A.R
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong S.A.R
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Jing N, Tao Z, Du X, Wen Z, Gao WQ, Dong B, Fang YX. Targeting SOX4/PCK2 signaling suppresses neuroendocrine trans-differentiation of castration-resistant prostate cancer. Biol Direct 2024; 19:56. [PMID: 39014441 PMCID: PMC11251300 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-024-00500-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), a lethal subset of prostate cancer (PCa), is characterized by loss of AR signaling and resistance to AR-targeted therapy. While it is well reported that second-generation AR blockers induce neuroendocrine (NE) trans-differentiation of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) to promote the occurrence of NEPC, and pluripotent transcription factors might be potential regulators, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS We analyzed the data from public databsets to screen candidate genes and then focused on SOX4, a regulator of NE trans-differentiation. The expression changes of SOX4 and its relationship with tumor progression were validated in clinical tumor tissues. We evaluated malignant characteristics related to NEPC in prostate cancer cell lines with stable overexpression or knockdown of SOX4 in vitro. Tumor xenografts were analyzed after inoculating the relevant cell lines into nude mice. RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, non-targeted metabolomics analysis, as well as molecular and biochemical assays were carried out to determine the mechanism. RESULTS We screened public datasets and identified that expression of SOX4 was significantly elevated in NEPC. Overexpressing SOX4 in C4-2B cells increased cell proliferation and migration, upregulated the expression of NE marker genes, and inhibited AR expression. Consistently, inhibition of SOX4 expression in DU-145 and PC-3 cells reduced the above malignant phenotypes and repressed the expression of NE marker genes. For the in vivo assay, we found that knockdown of SOX4 inhibited tumor growth of subcutaneous xenografts in castrated nude mice which were concomitantly treated with enzalutamide (ENZ). Mechanically, we identified that one of the key enzymes in gluconeogenesis, PCK2, was a novel target of SOX4. The activation of carbohydrate metabolism reprogramming by SOX4 could promote NE trans-differentiation via the SOX4/PCK2 pathway. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal that SOX4 promotes NE trans-differentiation both in vitro and in vivo via directly enhancing PCK2 activity to activate carbohydrate metabolism reprogramming. The SOX4/PCK2 pathway and its downstream changes might be novel targets for blocking NE trans-differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Zhenkeke Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Xinxing Du
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Zhenzhen Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Wei-Qiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
| | - Baijun Dong
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Yu-Xiang Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.
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Xu H, Liu W, He C, Mirza M, Li B. Aberrant expression of multiple glycolytic enzyme genes is significantly associated with disease progression and survival outcomes in prostate cancers. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL UROLOGY 2023; 11:530-541. [PMID: 38148940 PMCID: PMC10749383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer in men. Recent studies showed that aberrant metabolic pathways are involved in prostate cancer development and progression. In this study, we performed a systemic analysis of glycolytic enzyme gene expression using the TCGA-PRAD RNAseq dataset. Our analysis revealed that among 25 genes, only four genes (HK2/GPI/PFKL/PGAM5) were significantly upregulated while nine genes (HK1/GCK/PFKM/PFKP/ALDOC/PGK1/PGAM1/ENO2/PKM) were downregulated in primary prostate cancer tissues compared to benign compartments. Among these 13 altered genes, four genes (ENO2/ALDOC/GPI/GCK) exhibited strong diagnostic potential in distinguishing malignant and benign tissues. Meanwhile, GPI expression exerted as a prognostic factor of progression-free and disease-specific survival. PFKL and PGAM5 gene expressions were associated with AR signaling scores in castration-resistant patients, and AR-targeted therapy suppressed their expression. In LuCap35 xenograft tumors, PFKL and PGAM5 expression was significantly reduced after animal castration, confirming the AR dependency. Conversely, GCK/PKLR genes were significantly associated with neuroendocrinal progression, representing two novel neuroendocrinal biomarkers for prostate cancer. In conclusion, our results suggest that GPI expression is a strong prognostic factor for prostate cancer progression and survival while GCK/PKLR are two novel biomarkers of prostate cancer progression to neuroendocrinal status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University and Shenzhen Second People’s HospitalShenzhen 518035, Guangdong, China
| | - Wang Liu
- Department of Urology, The University of Kansas Medical CenterKansas, KS 66160, USA
| | - Chenchen He
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University School of MedicineXi’an 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Moben Mirza
- Department of Urology, The University of Kansas Medical CenterKansas, KS 66160, USA
| | - Benyi Li
- Department of Urology, The University of Kansas Medical CenterKansas, KS 66160, USA
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Yang M, Cai W, Lin Z, Tuohuti A, Chen X. Intermittent Hypoxia Promotes TAM-Induced Glycolysis in Laryngeal Cancer Cells via Regulation of HK1 Expression through Activation of ZBTB10. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14808. [PMID: 37834257 PMCID: PMC10573418 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914808] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), characterized by intermittent hypoxia (IH), may increase the risk of cancer development and a poor cancer prognosis. TAMs of the M2 phenotype, together with the intermittent hypoxic environment within the tumor, drive tumor aggressiveness. However, the mechanism of TAMs in IH remains unclear. In our study, IH induced the recruitment of macrophages, and IH-induced M2-like TAMs promoted glycolysis in laryngeal cancer cells through hexokinase 1. The hexokinase inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose and HK1 shRNA were applied to verify this finding, confirming that M2-like TAMs enhanced glycolysis in laryngeal cancer cells through HK1 under intermittent hypoxic conditions. Comprehensive RNA-seq analysis disclosed a marked elevation in the expression levels of the transcription factor ZBTB10, while evaluation of a laryngeal cancer patient tissue microarray demonstrated a positive correlation between ZBTB10 and HK1 expression in laryngeal carcinoma. Knockdown of ZBTB10 decreased HK1 expression, and overexpression of ZBTB10 increased HK1 expression in both laryngeal cancer cells and 293T cells. The luciferase reporter assay and Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay confirmed that ZBTB10 directly bound to the promoter region of HK1 and regulated the transcriptional activity of HK1. Finally, the CLEC3B level of the M2 supernatant is significantly higher in the IH group and showed a protumor effect on Hep2 cells. As ZBTB10-mediated regulation of HK1 affects glycolysis in laryngeal cancer, our findings may provide new potential therapeutic targets for laryngeal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Xiong Chen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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Vuong NB, Quang HV, Linh Trang BN, Duong DH, Toan NL, Tong HV. Association of PKLR gene copy number, expression levels and enzyme activity with 2,3,7,8-TCDD exposure in individuals exposed to Agent Orange/Dioxin in Vietnam. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 329:138677. [PMID: 37060958 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) is the most toxic congener of dioxin and has serious long-term effects on the environment and human health. Pyruvate Kinase L/R (PKLR) gene expression levels and gene variants are associated with pyruvate kinase enzyme deficiency, which has been identified as the cause of several diseases linked to dioxin exposure. In this study, we estimated PKLR gene copy number and gene expression levels using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assays, genotyped PKLR SNP rs3020781 by Sanger sequencing, and quantified plasma pyruvate kinase enzyme activity in 100 individuals exposed to Agent Orange/Dioxin near Bien Hoa and Da Nang airfields in Vietnam and 100 healthy controls. The means of PKLR copy numbers and PKLR gene expression levels were significantly higher, while pyruvate kinase enzyme activity was significantly decreased in Agent Orange/Dioxin-exposed individuals compared to healthy controls (P < 0.0001). Positive correlations of PKLR gene copy number and gene expression with 2,3,7,8-TCDD concentrations were observed (r = 0.2, P = 0.045 and r = 0.54, P < 0.0001, respectively). In contrast, pyruvate kinase enzyme activity was inversely correlated with 2,3,7,8-TCDD concentrations (r = -0.52, P < 0.0001). PKLR gene copy number and gene expression levels were also inversely correlated with pyruvate kinase enzyme activity. Additionally, PKLR SNP rs3020781 was found to be associated with 2,3,7,8-TCDD concentrations and PKLR gene expression. In conclusion, PKLR copy number, gene expression levels, and pyruvate kinase enzyme activity are associated with 2,3,7,8-TCDD exposure in individuals living in Agent Orange/Dioxin-contaminated areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Ba Vuong
- Department of Haematology, Toxicology, Radiation, and Occupation, 103 Military Hospital, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Ha Van Quang
- The Center of Toxicological and Radiological Training and Research, Vietnam Military Medical University, Viet Nam
| | - Bui Ngoc Linh Trang
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Dao Hong Duong
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Nguyen Linh Toan
- Department of Pathophysiology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Hoang Van Tong
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Department of Pathophysiology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
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Chen WY, Thuy Dung PV, Yeh HL, Chen WH, Jiang KC, Li HR, Chen ZQ, Hsiao M, Huang J, Wen YC, Liu YN. Targeting PKLR/MYCN/ROMO1 signaling suppresses neuroendocrine differentiation of castration-resistant prostate cancer. Redox Biol 2023; 62:102686. [PMID: 36963289 PMCID: PMC10060381 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Conventional treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) uses androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) to inhibit androgen receptor (AR) signaling-driven tumor progression. ADT-induced PCa recurrence may progress to an AR-negative phenotype with neuroendocrine (NE) histologic features, which are associated with metabolic disturbances and poor prognoses. However, the metabolic pathways that regulate NE differentiation (NED) in PCa remain unclear. Herein, we show a regulatory mechanism in NED-associated metabolism dysfunction induced by ADT, whereby overexpression of pyruvate kinase L/R (PKLR) mediates oxidative stress through upregulation of reactive oxygen species modulator 1 (ROMO1), thereby promoting NED and aggressiveness. ADT mediates the nuclear translocation of PKLR, which binds to the MYCN/MAX complex to upregulate ROMO1 and NE-related genes, leading to altered mitochondrial function and NED of PCa. Targeting nuclear PKLR/MYCN using bromodomain and extra-terminal motif (BET) inhibitors has the potential to reduce PKLR/MYCN-driven NED. Abundant ROMO1 in serum samples may provide prognostic information in patients with ADT. Our results suggest that ADT resistance leads to upregulation of PKLR/MYCN/ROMO1 signaling, which may drive metabolic reprogramming and NED in PCa. We further show that increased abundance of serum ROMO1 may be associated with the development of NE-like PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Yu Chen
- Department of Pathology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Phan Vu Thuy Dung
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Lien Yeh
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Hao Chen
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Ching Jiang
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Han-Ru Li
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Zi-Qing Chen
- Division of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Michael Hsiao
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jiaoti Huang
- Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yu-Ching Wen
- Department of Urology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Urology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; TMU Research Center of Urology and Kidney, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Yen-Nien Liu
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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7
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Zhang N, Huang D, Ruan X, Ng ATL, Tsu JHL, Jiang G, Huang J, Zhan Y, Na R. CRISPR screening reveals gleason score and castration resistance related oncodriver ring finger protein 19 A (RNF19A) in prostate cancer. Drug Resist Updat 2023; 67:100912. [PMID: 36623445 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2022.100912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most lethal causes of cancer-related death in male. It is characterized by chromosomal instability and disturbed signaling transduction. E3 ubiquitin ligases are well-recognized as mediators leading to genomic alterations and malignant phenotypes. There is a lack of systematic study on novel oncodrivers with genomic and clinical significance in PCa. In this study we used clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system to screen 656 E3 ubiquitin ligases as oncodrivers or tumor repressors in PCa cells. We identified 51 significantly changed genes, and conducted genomic and clinical analysis on these genes. It was found that the Ring Finger Protein 19 A (RNF19A) was a novel oncodriver in PCa. RNF19A was frequently amplified and highly expressed in PCa and other cancer types. Clinically, higher RNF19A expression correlated with advanced Gleason Score and predicted castration resistance. Mechanistically, transcriptomics, quantitative and ubiquitination proteomic analysis showed that RNF19A ubiquitylated Thyroid Hormone Receptor Interactor 13 (TRIP13) and was transcriptionally activated by androgen receptor (AR) and Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 Subunit Alpha (HIF1A). This study uncovers the genomic and clinical significance of a oncodriver RNF19A in PCa. The results of this study indicate that targeting AR/HIF1A-RNF19A-TRIP13 signaling axis could be an alternative option for PCa diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Zhang
- Department of Urology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Da Huang
- Department of Urology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaohao Ruan
- Department of Urology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ada Tsui-Lin Ng
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China; Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - James Hok-Leung Tsu
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China; Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Guangliang Jiang
- Department of Urology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingyi Huang
- Department of Urology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongle Zhan
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Rong Na
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Keske N, Özay B, Tükel EY, Menteş M, Yandım C. In silico drug screen reveals potential competitive MTHFR inhibitors for clinical repurposing. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:11818-11831. [PMID: 36597898 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2163697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
MTHFR (Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) is a pivotal enzyme involved in one-carbon metabolism, which is critical for the proliferation of cancer cells. In line with this, published literature showed that MTHFR knockdown caused impaired growth of multiple types of cancer cells. Moreover, higher MTHFR expression levels were linked to shorter overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma, adrenocortical carcinoma, and low-grade glioma, bringing the need to design MTHFR inhibitors as a possible treatment option. No competitive inhibitors of MTHFR have been reported as of today. This study aimed to identify potential competitive MTHFR inhibitor candidates using an in silico drug screen. A total of 30470 molecules containing biogenic compounds, FDA-approved drugs, and those in clinical trials were screened against the catalytic pocket of MTHFR in the presence and absence of cofactors. Binding energy and ADMET analysis revealed that Vilanterol (β2-adrenergic agonist), Selexipag (prostacyclin receptor agonist), and Ramipril Diketopiperazine (ACE inhibitor) are potential competitive inhibitors of MTHFR. Molecular dynamics analyses and MM-PBSA calculations with these compounds particularly revealed the amino acids between 285-290 for ligand binding and highlighted Vilanterol as the strongest candidate for MTHFR inhibition. Our results could guide the development of novel MTHFR inhibitor compounds, which could be inspired by the drugs brought into the spotlight here. More importantly, these potential candidates could be quhickly tested as a repurposing strategy in pre-clinical and clinical studies of the cancers mentioned above.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazlıgül Keske
- Faculty of Engineering, Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, İzmir University of Economics, Balçova, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Başak Özay
- Faculty of Engineering, Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, İzmir University of Economics, Balçova, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Ezgi Yağmur Tükel
- Faculty of Engineering, Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, İzmir University of Economics, Balçova, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Muratcan Menteş
- Faculty of Engineering, Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, İzmir University of Economics, Balçova, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Cihangir Yandım
- Faculty of Engineering, Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, İzmir University of Economics, Balçova, İzmir, Turkey
- İzmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylül University Health Campus, İnciraltı, İzmir, Turkey
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