Structure-guided development of YEATS domain inhibitors by targeting π-π-π stacking

Protein lysine crotonylation in cellular processions and disease associations

Protein lysine crotonylation (Kcr) is one conserved form of posttranslational modifications of proteins, which plays an important role in a series of cellular physiological and pathological processes. Lysine ε-amino groups are the primary sites of such modification, resulting in four-carbon planar lysine crotonylation that is structurally and functionally distinct from the acetylation of these residues. High levels of Kcr modifications have been identified on both histone and non-histone proteins. The present review offers an update on the research progression regarding protein Kcr modifications in biomedical contexts and provides a discussion of the mechanisms whereby Kcr modification governs a range of biological processes. In addition, given the importance of protein Kcr modification in disease onset and progression, the potential viability of Kcr regulators as therapeutic targets is elucidated.

High expression of YEATS2 as a predictive factor of poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

YEATS domain containing 2 (YEATS2), it may function as a proto-oncogene. This study aims to investigate if YEATS2 correlates with prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. The prognostic landscape of YEATS2 and its relationship with expression in hepatocellular carcinoma were deciphered with public databases, RT-qPCR and western-blot in tissue samples. The expression profiling and prognostic value of YEATS2 were explored using UALCAN, TIMER, OncoLnc database. Transcription and survival analyses of YEATS2 in hepatocellular carcinoma were investigated with cBioPortal database. The STRING database was explored to identify molecular functions and signaling pathways downstream of YEATS2. YEATS2 expression was significantly higher in hepatocellular carcinoma compared with adjacent non-malignant tissues. Promoter methylation of YEATS2 exhibited different patterns in hepatocellular carcinoma. High expression of YEATS2 was associated with poorer survival. Mechanistically, YEATS2 was involved in mediating multiple biological processes including morphogenesis and migration.

Single-cell multiomics reveals ENL mutation perturbs kidney developmental trajectory by rewiring gene regulatory landscape

How disruptions to normal cell differentiation link to tumorigenesis remains incompletely understood. Wilms tumor, an embryonal tumor associated with disrupted organogenesis, often harbors mutations in epigenetic regulators, but their role in kidney development remains unexplored. Here, we show at single-cell resolution that a Wilms tumor-associated mutation in the histone acetylation reader ENL disrupts kidney differentiation in mice by rewiring the gene regulatory landscape. Mutant ENL promotes nephron progenitor commitment while restricting their differentiation by dysregulating transcription factors such as Hox clusters. It also induces abnormal progenitors that lose kidney-associated chromatin identity. Furthermore, mutant ENL alters the transcriptome and chromatin accessibility of stromal progenitors, resulting in hyperactivation of Wnt signaling. The impacts of mutant ENL on both nephron and stroma lineages lead to profound kidney developmental defects and postnatal mortality in mice. Notably, a small molecule inhibiting mutant ENL's histone acetylation binding activity largely reverses these defects. This study provides insights into how mutations in epigenetic regulators disrupt kidney development and suggests a potential therapeutic approach.

Genetically Encoded Epitope Tag for Probing Lysine Acylation-Mediated Protein-Protein Interactions

Histone lysine acetylation (Kac) and crotonylation (Kcr) marks mediate the recruitment of YEATS domains to chromatin. In this way, YEATS domain-containing proteins such as AF9 participate in the regulation of DNA-templated processes. Our previous study showed that the replacement of Kac/Kcr by a 2-furancarbonyllysine (Kfu) residue led to greatly enhanced affinity toward the AF9 YEATS domain, rendering Kfu-containing peptides useful chemical tools to probe the AF9 YEATS-Kac/Kcr interactions. Here, we report the genetic incorporation of Kfu in Escherichia coli and mammalian cells through the amber codon suppression technology. We develop a Kfu-containing epitope tag, termed RAY-tag, which can robustly and selectively engage with the AF9 YEATS domain in vitro and in cellulo. We further demonstrate that the fusion of RAY-tag to different protein modules, including fluorescent proteins and DNA binding proteins, can facilitate the interrogation of the histone lysine acylation-mediated recruitment of the AF9 YEATS domain in different biological contexts.

Pharmacological targeting of the cancer epigenome

Epigenetic dysregulation is increasingly appreciated as a hallmark of cancer, including disease initiation, maintenance and therapy resistance. As a result, there have been advances in the development and evaluation of epigenetic therapies for cancer, revealing substantial promise but also challenges. Three epigenetic inhibitor classes are approved in the USA, and many more are currently undergoing clinical investigation. In this Review, we discuss recent developments for each epigenetic drug class and their implications for therapy, as well as highlight new insights into the role of epigenetics in cancer.

Single-Cell multiomics reveals ENL mutation perturbs kidney developmental trajectory by rewiring gene regulatory landscape

Cell differentiation during organogenesis relies on precise epigenetic and transcriptional control. Disruptions to this regulation can result in developmental abnormalities and malignancies, yet the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Wilms tumors, a type of embryonal tumor closely linked to disrupted organogenesis, harbor mutations in epigenetic regulators in 30-50% of cases. However, the role of these regulators in kidney development and pathogenesis remains unexplored. By integrating mouse modeling, histological characterizations, and single-cell transcriptomics and chromatin accessibility profiling, we show that a Wilms tumor-associated mutation in the chromatin reader protein ENL disrupts kidney development trajectory by rewiring the gene regulatory landscape. Specifically, the mutant ENL promotes the commitment of nephron progenitors while simultaneously restricting their differentiation by dysregulating key transcription factor regulons, particularly the HOX clusters. It also induces the emergence of abnormal progenitor cells that lose their chromatin identity associated with kidney specification. Furthermore, the mutant ENL might modulate stroma-nephron interactions via paracrine Wnt signaling. These multifaceted effects caused by the mutation result in severe developmental defects in the kidney and early postnatal mortality in mice. Notably, transient inhibition of the histone acetylation binding activity of mutant ENL with a small molecule displaces transcriptional condensates formed by mutant ENL from target genes, abolishes its gene activation function, and restores developmental defects in mice. This work provides new insights into how mutations in epigenetic regulators can alter the gene regulatory landscape to disrupt kidney developmental programs at single-cell resolution in vivo . It also offers a proof-of-concept for the use of epigenetics-targeted agents to rectify developmental defects.

Leveraging a Phage-Encoded Noncanonical Amino Acid: A Novel Pathway to Potent and Selective Epigenetic Reader Protein Inhibitors

Epigenetic reader proteins interpret histone epigenetic marks to regulate gene expression. Given their vital roles and the link between their dysfunction and various diseases, these proteins present compelling targets for therapeutic interventions. Nevertheless, designing selective inhibitors for these proteins poses significant challenges, primarily due to their unique properties such as shallow binding sites and similarities with homologous proteins. To overcome these challenges, we propose an innovative strategy that uses phage display with a genetically encoded noncanonical amino acid (ncAA) containing an epigenetic mark. This ncAA guides binding to the reader protein's active site, allowing the identification of peptide inhibitors with enhanced affinity and selectivity. In this study, we demonstrate this novel approach's effectiveness by identifying potent inhibitors for the ENL YEATS domain that plays a critical role in leukemogenesis. Our strategy involved genetically incorporating Nε-butyryl-l-lysine (BuK), known for its binding to ENL YEATS, into a phage display library for enriching the pool of potent inhibitors. One resultant hit was further optimized by substituting BuK with other pharmacophores to exploit a unique π-π-π stacking interaction with ENL YEATS. This led to the creation of selective ENL YEATS inhibitors with a KD value of 2.0 nM and a selectivity 28 times higher for ENL YEATS than its close homologue AF9 YEATS. One such inhibitor, tENL-S1f, demonstrated robust cellular target engagement and on-target effects to inhibit leukemia cell growth and suppress the expression of ENL target genes. As a pioneering study, this work opens up extensive avenues for the development of potent and selective peptidyl inhibitors for a broad spectrum of epigenetic reader proteins.

Lead Optimization of Small Molecule ENL YEATS Inhibitors to Enable In Vivo Studies: Discovery of TDI-11055

Eleven-nineteen leukemia (ENL) is an epigenetic reader protein that drives oncogenic transcriptional programs in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML is one of the deadliest hematopoietic malignancies, with an overall 5-year survival rate of 27%. The epigenetic reader activity of ENL is mediated by its YEATS domain that binds to acetyl and crotonyl marks on histone tails and colocalizes with promoters of actively transcribed genes that are essential for leukemia. Prior to the discovery of TDI-11055, existing inhibitors of ENL YEATS showed in vitro potency, but had not shown efficacy in in vivo animal models. During the course of the medicinal chemistry campaign described here, we identified ENL YEATS inhibitor TDI-11055 that has an improved pharmacokinetic profile and is appropriate for in vivo evaluation of the ENL YEATS inhibition mechanism in AML.

Epigenetic regulators controlling osteogenic lineage commitment and bone formation

Bone formation and homeostasis are controlled by environmental factors and endocrine regulatory cues that initiate intracellular signaling pathways capable of modulating gene expression in the nucleus. Bone-related gene expression is controlled by nucleosome-based chromatin architecture that limits the accessibility of lineage-specific gene regulatory DNA sequences and sequence-specific transcription factors. From a developmental perspective, bone-specific gene expression must be suppressed during the early stages of embryogenesis to prevent the premature mineralization of skeletal elements during fetal growth in utero. Hence, bone formation is initially inhibited by gene suppressive epigenetic regulators, while other epigenetic regulators actively support osteoblast differentiation. Prominent epigenetic regulators that stimulate or attenuate osteogenesis include lysine methyl transferases (e.g., EZH2, SMYD2, SUV420H2), lysine deacetylases (e.g., HDAC1, HDAC3, HDAC4, HDAC7, SIRT1, SIRT3), arginine methyl transferases (e.g., PRMT1, PRMT4/CARM1, PRMT5), dioxygenases (e.g., TET2), bromodomain proteins (e.g., BRD2, BRD4) and chromodomain proteins (e.g., CBX1, CBX2, CBX5). This narrative review provides a broad overview of the covalent modifications of DNA and histone proteins that involve hundreds of enzymes that add, read, or delete these epigenetic modifications that are relevant for self-renewal and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, skeletal stem cells and osteoblasts during osteogenesis.

The C-terminal protein interaction domain of the chromatin reader Yaf9 is critical for pathogenesis of Candida albicans

Fungal infections cause a large health burden but are treated by only a handful of antifungal drug classes. Chromatin factors have emerged as possible targets for new antifungals. These targets include the reader proteins, which interact with posttranslationally modified histones to influence DNA transcription and repair. The YEATS domain is one such reader recognizing both crotonylated and acetylated histones. Here, we performed a detailed structure/function analysis of the Candida albicans YEATS domain reader Yaf9, a subunit of the NuA4 histone acetyltransferase and the SWR1 chromatin remodeling complex. We have previously demonstrated that the homozygous deletion mutant yaf9Δ/Δ displays growth defects and is avirulent in mice. Here we show that a YEATS domain mutant expected to inactivate Yaf9's chromatin binding does not display strong phenotypes in vitro, nor during infection of immune cells or in a mouse systemic infection model, with only a minor virulence reduction in vivo. In contrast to the YEATS domain mutation, deletion of the C-terminal domain of Yaf9, a protein-protein interaction module necessary for its interactions with SWR1 and NuA4, phenocopies the null mutant. This shows that the C-terminal domain is essential for Yaf9 roles in vitro and in vivo, including C. albicans virulence. Our study informs on the strategies for therapeutic targeting of Yaf9, showing that approaches taken for the mammalian YEATS domains by disrupting their chromatin binding might not be effective in C. albicans, and provides a foundation for studying YEATS proteins in human fungal pathogens.IMPORTANCEThe scarcity of available antifungal drugs and rising resistance demand the development of therapies with new modes of action. In this context, chromatin regulation may be a target for novel antifungal therapeutics. To realize this potential, we must better understand the roles of chromatin regulators in fungal pathogens. Toward this goal, here, we studied the YEATS domain chromatin reader Yaf9 in Candida albicans. Yaf9 uses the YEATS domain for chromatin binding and a C-terminal domain to interact with chromatin remodeling complexes. By constructing mutants in these domains and characterizing their phenotypes, our data indicate that the Yaf9 YEATS domain might not be a suitable therapeutic drug target. Instead, the Yaf9 C-terminal domain is critical for C. albicans virulence. Collectively, our study informs how a class of chromatin regulators performs their cellular and pathogenesis roles in C. albicans and reveals strategies to inhibit them.

Discovery of PFI-6, a small-molecule chemical probe for the YEATS domain of MLLT1 and MLLT3

Epigenetic proteins containing YEATS domains (YD) are an emerging target class in drug discovery. Described herein are the discovery and characterization efforts associated with PFI-6, a new chemical probe for the YD of MLLT1 (ENL/YEATS1) and MLLT3 (AF9/YEATS3). For hit identification, fragment-like mimetics of endogenous YD ligands (crotonylated histone-containing proteins), were synthesized via parallel medicinal chemistry (PMC) and screened for MLLT1 binding. Subsequent SAR studies led to iterative MLLT1/3 binding and selectivity improvements, culminating in the discovery of PFI-6. PFI-6 demonstrates good affinity and selectivity for MLLT1/3 vs. other human YD proteins (YEATS2/4) and engages MLLT3 in cells. Small-molecule X-ray co-crystal structures of two molecules, including PFI-6, bound to the YD of MLLT1/3 are also described. PFI-6 may be a useful tool molecule to better understand the biological effects associated with modulation of MLLT1/3.

Small-molecule tools for YEATS domain proteins

Chromatin reader domains are protein folds that bind to post-translational modifications of histones and other chromatin-associated proteins. Compared to other families of reader domains, the discovery that YEATS domains bind to acylated lysines is relatively recent. Four human proteins harbor a YEATS domain, and each is present in protein complexes that regulate chromatin and transcription (ENL, AF9, YEATS2, and YEATS4). Without chemical tools to enable temporally resolved perturbations, it is often unclear how reader domains contribute to protein function. Here, we will discuss recent progress in developing small-molecule tools for YEATS domains and highlight their usefulness for making biological discoveries.

Histone crotonylation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells is a potential biomarker for diagnosis of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Blood-based tests have public appeal in screening cancers due to their minimally invasive nature, ability to integrate with other routine blood tests, and high compliance. This study aimed to investigate whether certain epigenetic modulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) could be a biomarker of colorectal cancer (CRC).

RESULTS

Western blotting of histones in the PBMCs from 40 colorectal cancer patients and 40 healthy controls was performed to identify the crotonylation sites of proteins. The correlation of crotonylation with tumor staging and diagnostic efficacy were analyzed. Crotonylation of H2BK12 (H2BK12cr) was identified significantly upregulated in the PBMCs of CRC patients compared to healthy controls, and were closely related to distant metastasis (P = 0.0478) and late TNM stage (P = 0.0201). Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) analysis demonstrated that the area under curve (AUC) of H2BK12cr was 0.8488, the sensitivity was 70%, and the specificity was 92.5%. The H2BK12cr parameter significantly increased the diagnostic effectiveness of CRC compared with the commercial carcinoembryonic antigen assays.

CONCLUSIONS

The H2BK12cr level in PBMCs of CRC patients has a potential to be a biomarker for distinguishing CRC patients from healthy controls with the advantages of easy operation and high diagnostic efficacy.

BcTaf14 regulates growth and development, virulence, and stress responses in the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea

TATA box-binding protein (TBP)-associated factor 14 (Taf14), a transcription-associated factor containing a conserved YEATS domain and an extra-terminal (ET) domain, is a multifunctional protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, the role of Taf14 in filamentous phytopathogenic fungi is not well understood. In this study, the homologue of ScTaf14 in Botrytis cinerea (named BcTaf14), a destructive phytopathogen causing grey mould, was investigated. The BcTaf14 deletion strain (ΔBcTaf14) showed pleiotropic defects, including slow growth, abnormal colony morphology, reduced conidiation, abnormal conidial morphology, reduced virulence, and altered responses to various stresses. The ΔBcTaf14 strain also exhibited differential expression of numerous genes compared to the wild-type strain. BcTaf14 could interact with the crotonylated H3K9 peptide, and mutation of two key sites (G80 and W81) in the YEATS domain disrupted this interaction. The mutation of G80 and W81 affected the regulatory effect of BcTaf14 on mycelial growth and virulence but did not affect the production and morphology of conidia. The absence of the ET domain at the C-terminus rendered BcTaf14 unable to localize to the nucleus, and the defects of ΔBcTaf14 were not recovered to wild-type levels when BcTaf14 without the ET domain was expressed. Our results provide insight into the regulatory roles of BcTaf14 and its two conserved domains in B. cinerea and will be helpful for understanding the function of the Taf14 protein in plant-pathogenic fungi.

Chemically induced degradation of epigenetic targets

Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are heterobifunctional small molecules that induce the ternary complex formation between a protein-of-interest (POI) and an E3 ligase, leading to targeted polyubiquitination and degradation of the POI. Particularly, PROTACs have the distinct advantage of targeting both canonical and noncanonical functions of epigenetic targets over traditional inhibitors, which typically target canonical functions only, resulting in greater therapeutic efficacy. In this review, we methodically analyze published PROTAC degraders of epigenetic writer, reader, and eraser proteins and their in vitro and in vivo effects. We highlight the mechanism of action of these degraders and their advantages in targeting both canonical and noncanonical functions of epigenetic targets in the context of cancer treatment. Furthermore, we present a future outlook for this exciting field. Overall, pharmacological degradation of epigenetic targets has emerged as an effective and attractive strategy to thwart cancer progression and growth.

Molecular Recognition of Methacryllysine and Crotonyllysine by the AF9 YEATS Domain

Histone lysine methacrylation and crotonylation are epigenetic marks that play important roles in human gene regulation. Here, we explore the molecular recognition of histone H3 peptides possessing methacryllysine and crotonyllysine at positions 18 and 9 (H3K18 and H3K9) by the AF9 YEATS domain. Our binding studies demonstrate that the AF9 YEATS domain displays a higher binding affinity for histones possessing crotonyllysine than the isomeric methacryllysine, indicating that AF9 YEATS distinguishes between the two regioisomers. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the crotonyllysine/methacryllysine-mediated desolvation of the AF9 YEATS domain provides an important contribution to the recognition of both epigenetic marks. These results provide important knowledge for the development of AF9 YEATS inhibitors, an area of biomedical interest.

Design, synthesis of novel benzimidazole derivatives as ENL inhibitors suppressing leukemia cells viability via downregulating the expression of MYC

Eleven-Nineteen-Leukemia Protein (ENL) containing YEATS domain, a potential drug target, has emerged as a reader of lysine acetylation. SGC-iMLLT bearing with benzimidazole scaffold was identified as an effective ENL inhibitor, but with weak activity against mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL)-rearranged cells proliferation. In this study, a series of compounds were designed and synthesized by structural optimization on SGC-iMLLT. All the compounds have been evaluated for their ENL inhibitory activities. The results showed that compounds 13, 23 and 28 are the most potential ones with the IC₅₀ values of 14.5 ± 3.0 nM, 10.7 ± 5.3 nM, and 15.4 ± 2.2 nM, respectively, similar with that of SGC-iMLLT. They could interact with ENL protein and strengthen its thermal stability in vitro. Among them, compound 28 with methyl phenanthridinone moiety replacement of indazole in SGC-iMLLT, exhibited significantly inhibitory activities towards MV4-11 and MOLM-13 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 4.8 μM and 8.3 μM, respectively, exhibiting ∼7 folds and ∼9 folds more potent inhibition of cell growth than SGC-iMLLT. It could also increase the ENL thermal stability while SGC-iMLLT had no obvious effect on leukemia cells. Moreover, compound 28 could downregulate the expression of target gene MYC either alone or in combination with JQ-1 in cells, which was more effective than SGC-iMLLT. Besides, in vivo pharmacokinetic studies showed that the PK properties for compound 28 was much improved over that of SGC-iMLLT. These observations suggested compound 28 was a potential ligand for ENL-related MLL chemotherapy.

Discovery of High-Affinity Small-Molecule Binders of the Epigenetic Reader YEATS4

A series of small-molecule YEATS4 binders have been discovered as part of an ongoing research effort to generate high-quality probe molecules for emerging and/or challenging epigenetic targets. Analogues such as 4d and 4e demonstrate excellent potency and selectivity for YEATS4 binding versus YEATS1,2,3 and exhibit good physical properties and in vitro safety profiles. A new X-ray crystal structure confirms direct binding of this chemical series to YEATS4 at the lysine acetylation recognition site of the YEATS domain. Multiple analogues engage YEATS4 with nanomolar potency in a whole-cell nanoluciferase bioluminescent resonance energy transfer assay. Rodent pharmacokinetic studies demonstrate the competency of several analogues as in vivo-capable binders.

Targeting the super elongation complex for oncogenic transcription driven tumor malignancies: Progress in structure, mechanisms and small molecular inhibitor discovery

Oncogenic transcription activation is associated with tumor development and resistance derived from chemotherapy or target therapy. The super elongation complex (SEC) is an important complex regulating gene transcription and expression in metazoans closely related to physiological activities. In normal transcriptional regulation, SEC can trigger promoter escape, limit proteolytic degradation of transcription elongation factors and increase the synthesis of RNA polymerase II (POL II), and regulate many normal human genes to stimulate RNA elongation. Dysregulation of SEC accompanied by multiple transcription factors in cancer promotes rapid transcription of oncogenes and induce cancer development. In this review, we summarized recent progress in understanding the mechanisms of SEC in regulating normal transcription, and importantly its roles in cancer development. We also highlighted the discovery of SEC complex target related inhibitors and their potential applications in cancer treatment.

Molecular regulators of HOXA9 in acute myeloid leukemia

Dysregulation of the oncogenic transcription factor HOXA9 is a prominent feature for most aggressive acute myeloid leukemia cases and a strong indicator of poor prognosis in patients. Leukemia subtypes with hallmark overexpression of HOXA9 include those carrying MLL gene rearrangements, NPM1c mutations, and other genetic alternations. A growing body of evidence indicates that HOXA9 dysregulation is both sufficient and necessary for leukemic transformation. The HOXA9 mRNA and protein regulation includes multilayered controls by transcription factors (such as CDX2/4 and USF2/1), epigenetic factors (such as MLL-menin-LEDGF, DOT1L, ENL, HBO1, NPM1c-XPO1, and polycomb proteins), microRNAs (such as miR-126 and miR-196b), long noncoding RNAs (such as HOTTIP), three-dimensional chromatin interactions, and post-translational protein modifications. Recently, insights into the dynamic regulation of HOXA9 have led to an advanced understanding of the HOXA9 regulome and provided new cancer therapeutic opportunities, including developing inhibitors targeting DOT1L, menin, and ENL proteins. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling HOXA9 regulation and the pharmacological approaches that target HOXA9 regulators to treat HOXA9-driven acute myeloid leukemia.

The ENL YEATS epigenetic reader domain critically links MLL-ENL to leukemic stem cell frequency in t(11;19) Leukemia

MLL (KMT2a) translocations are found in ~10% of acute leukemia patients, giving rise to oncogenic MLL-fusion proteins. A common MLL translocation partner is ENL and associated with a poor prognosis in t(11;19) patients. ENL contains a highly conserved N-terminal YEATS domain that binds acetylated histones and interacts with the PAF1c, an epigenetic regulator protein complex essential for MLL-fusion leukemogenesis. Recently, wild-type ENL, and specifically the YEATS domain, was shown to be essential for leukemic cell growth. However, the inclusion and importance of the YEATS domain in MLL-ENL-mediated leukemogenesis remains unexplored. We found the YEATS domain is retained in 84.1% of MLL-ENL patients and crucial for MLL-ENL-mediated leukemogenesis in mouse models. Mechanistically, deletion of the YEATS domain impaired MLL-ENL fusion protein binding and decreased expression of pro-leukemic genes like Eya1 and Meis1. Point mutations that disrupt YEATS domain binding to acetylated histones decreased stem cell frequency and increased MLL-ENL-mediated leukemia latency. Therapeutically, YEATS containing MLL-ENL leukemic cells display increased sensitivity to the YEATS inhibitor SGC-iMLLT compared to control AML cells. Our results demonstrate that the YEATS domain is important for MLL-ENL fusion protein-mediated leukemogenesis and exposes an "Achilles heel" that may be therapeutically targeted for treating t(11;19) patients.

Evaluation of acyllysine isostere interactions with the aromatic pocket of the AF9 YEATS domain

Amide-π interactions, in which an amide interacts with an aromatic group, are ubiquitous in biology, yet remain understudied relative to other noncovalent interactions. Recently, we demonstrated that an electrostatically tunable amide-π interaction is key to recognition of histone acyllysine by the AF9 YEATS domain, a reader protein which has emerged as a therapeutic target due to its dysregulation in cancer. Amide isosteres are commonly employed in drug discovery, often to prevent degradation by proteases, and have proven valuable in achieving selectivity when targeting epigenetic proteins. However, like amide-π interactions, interactions of amide isosteres with aromatic rings have not been thoroughly studied despite widespread use. Herein, we evaluate the recognition of a series of amide isosteres by the AF9 YEATS domain using genetic code expansion to evaluate the amide isostere-π interaction. We show that compared to the amide-π interaction with the native ligand, each isostere exhibits similar electrostatic tunability with an aromatic residue in the binding pocket, demonstrating that the isosteres maintain similar interactions with the aromatic residue. We identify a urea-containing ligand that binds with enhanced affinity for the AF9 YEATS domain, offering a promising starting point for inhibitor development. Furthermore, we demonstrate that carbamate and urea isosteres of crotonyllysine are resistant to enzymatic removal by SIRT1, a protein that cleaves acyl post-translational modifications, further indicating the potential of amide isosteres in YEATS domain inhibitor development. These results also provide experimental precedent for interactions of these common drug discovery moieties with aromatic rings that can inform computational methods.

TAZ/YAP fusion proteins: mechanistic insights and therapeutic opportunities

The Hippo pathway is dysregulated in many different cancers, but point mutations in the pathway are rare. Transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) and Yes-associated protein (YAP) fusion proteins have emerged in almost all major cancer types and represent the most common genetic mechanism by which the two transcriptional co-activators are activated. Given that the N termini of TAZ or YAP are fused to the C terminus of another transcriptional regulator, the resultant fusion proteins hyperactivate a TEAD transcription factor-based transcriptome. Recent advances show that the C-terminal fusion partners confer oncogenic properties to TAZ/YAP fusion proteins by recruiting epigenetic modifiers that promote a hybrid TEAD-based transcriptome. Elucidating these cooperating epigenetic complexes represents a strategy to identify new therapeutic approaches for a pathway that has been recalcitrant to medical therapy.

Oncometabolites drive tumorigenesis by enhancing protein acylation: from chromosomal remodelling to nonhistone modification

Metabolites are intermediate products of cellular metabolism catalysed by various enzymes. Metabolic remodelling, as a biochemical fingerprint of cancer cells, causes abnormal metabolite accumulation. These metabolites mainly generate energy or serve as signal transduction mediators via noncovalent interactions. After the development of highly sensitive mass spectrometry technology, various metabolites were shown to covalently modify proteins via forms of lysine acylation, including lysine acetylation, crotonylation, lactylation, succinylation, propionylation, butyrylation, malonylation, glutarylation, 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation and β-hydroxybutyrylation. These modifications can regulate gene expression and intracellular signalling pathways, highlighting the extensive roles of metabolites. Lysine acetylation is not discussed in detail in this review since it has been broadly investigated. We focus on the nine aforementioned novel lysine acylations beyond acetylation, which can be classified into two categories: histone acylations and nonhistone acylations. We summarize the characteristics and common functions of these acylation types and, most importantly, provide a glimpse into their fine-tuned control of tumorigenesis and potential value in tumour diagnosis, monitoring and therapy.

Role of the MOZ/MLL-mediated transcriptional activation system for self-renewal in normal hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis

Homeostasis in the blood system is maintained by the balance between self-renewing stem cells and nonstem cells. To promote self-renewal, transcriptional regulators maintain epigenetic information during multiple rounds of cell division. Mutations in such transcriptional regulators cause aberrant self-renewal, leading to leukemia. MOZ, a histone acetyltransferase, and MLL, a histone methyltransferase, are transcriptional regulators that promote the self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells. Gene rearrangements of MOZ and MLL generate chimeric genes encoding fusion proteins that function as constitutively active forms. These MOZ and MLL fusion proteins constitutively activate transcription of their target genes and cause aberrant self-renewal in committed hematopoietic progenitors, which normally do not self-renew. Recent progress in the field suggests that MOZ and MLL are part of a transcriptional activation system that activates the transcription of genes with nonmethylated CpG-rich promoters. The nonmethylated state of CpGs is normally maintained during cell divisions from the mother cell to the daughter cells. Thus, the MOZ/MLL-mediated transcriptional activation system replicates the expression profile of mother cells in daughter cells by activating the transcription of genes previously transcribed in the mother cell. This review summarizes the functions of the components of the MOZ/MLL-mediated transcriptional activation system and their roles in the promotion of self-renewal.

Small-Molecule Inhibition of the Acyl-Lysine Reader ENL as a Strategy against Acute Myeloid Leukemia

The chromatin reader eleven-nineteen leukemia (ENL) has been identified as a critical dependency in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but its therapeutic potential remains unclear. We describe a potent and orally bioavailable small-molecule inhibitor of ENL, TDI-11055, which displaces ENL from chromatin by blocking its YEATS domain interaction with acylated histones. Cell lines and primary patient samples carrying MLL rearrangements or NPM1 mutations are responsive to TDI-11055. A CRISPR-Cas9-mediated mutagenesis screen uncovers an ENL mutation that confers resistance to TDI-11055, validating the compound's on-target activity. TDI-11055 treatment rapidly decreases chromatin occupancy of ENL-associated complexes and impairs transcription elongation, leading to suppression of key oncogenic gene expression programs and induction of differentiation. In vivo treatment with TDI-11055 blocks disease progression in cell line- and patient-derived xenograft models of MLL-rearranged and NPM1-mutated AML. Our results establish ENL displacement from chromatin as a promising epigenetic therapy for molecularly defined AML subsets and support the clinical translation of this approach.

SIGNIFICANCE

AML is a poor-prognosis disease for which new therapeutic approaches are desperately needed. We developed an orally bioavailable inhibitor of ENL, demonstrated its potent efficacy in MLL-rearranged and NPM1-mutated AML, and determined its mechanisms of action. These biological and chemical insights will facilitate both basic research and clinical translation. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 2483.

Probing lysine posttranslational modifications by unnatural amino acids

Posttranslational modifications, typically small chemical tags attached on amino acids following protein biosynthesis, have a profound effect on protein structure and function. Numerous chemically and structurally diverse posttranslational modifications, including methylation, acetylation, hydroxylation, and ubiquitination, have been identified and characterised on lysine residues in proteins. In this feature article, we focus on chemical tools that rely on the site-specific incorporation of unnatural amino acids into peptides and proteins to probe posttranslational modifications of lysine. We highlight that simple amino acid mimics enable detailed mechanistic and functional assignment of enzymes that install and remove such modifications, and proteins that specifically recognise lysine posttranslational modifications.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluations of DOT1L Peptide Mimetics Targeting the Protein-Protein Interactions between DOT1L and MLL-AF9/MLL-ENL

On the basis of a previously identified DOT1L peptide mimetic (compound 3), a series of novel peptide mimetics were designed and synthesized. These compounds can potently bind to AF9 and ENL either in cell-free binding assays or in leukemia cells, and selectively inhibit the growth of leukemia cells containing mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) fusion proteins. The most potent compound 12 exhibited comparable anticancer cellular activities to those of EPZ5676, a clinical stage enzymatic inhibitor of DOT1L in several leukemia cell lines containing MLL fusion proteins. Mechanism studies for compound 12 indicated that it did not affect the global methylation of H3K79 catalyzed by DOT1L but could effectively suppress the methylation of H3K79 at MLL fusion proteins targeted genes and inhibit the expressions of these genes. Our studies thus demonstrated that inhibiting the protein-protein interactions between DOT1L and MLL fusion proteins is a potentially effective strategy for the treatment of MLL rearranged leukemias.

Chemical Biology Tools for Protein Lysine Acylation

Lysine acylation plays pivotal roles in cell physiology, including DNA transcription and repair, signal transduction, immune defense, metabolism, and many other key cellular processes. Molecular mechanisms of dysregulated lysine acylation are closely involved in the pathophysiological progress of many human diseases, most notably cancers. In recent years, chemical biology tools have become instrumental in studying the function of post-translational modifications (PTMs), identifying new "writers", "erasers" and "readers", and in targeted therapies. Here, we describe key developments in chemical biology approaches that have advanced the study of lysine acylation and its regulatory proteins (2016-2021). We further discuss the discovery of ligands (inhibitors and PROTACs) that are capable of targeting regulators of lysine acylation. Next, we discuss some current challenges of these chemical biology probes and suggest how chemists and biologists can utilize chemical probes with more discriminating capacity. Finally, we suggest some critical considerations in future studies of PTMs from our perspective.

Fragment-Based Discovery of AF9 YEATS Domain Inhibitors

YEATS (YAF9, ENL, AF9, TAF14, SAS5) family proteins recognize acylated histones and in turn regulate chromatin structure, gene transcription, and stress signaling. The chromosomal translocations of ENL and mixed lineage leukemia are considered oncogenic drivers in acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoid leukemia. However, known ENL YEATS domain inhibitors have failed to suppress the proliferation of 60 tested cancer cell lines. Herein, we identified four hits from the NMR fragment-based screening against the AF9 YEATS domain. Ten inhibitors of new chemotypes were then designed and synthesized guided by two complex structures and affinity assays. The complex structures revealed that these inhibitors formed an extra hydrogen bond to AF9, with respect to known ENL inhibitors. Furthermore, these inhibitors demonstrated antiproliferation activities in AF9-sensitive HGC-27 cells, which recapitulated the phenotype of the CRISPR studies against AF9. Our work will provide the basis for further structured-based optimization and reignite the campaign for potent AF9 YEATS inhibitors as a precise treatment for AF9-sensitive cancers.

Targeting the histone H3 lysine 79 methyltransferase DOT1L in MLL-rearranged leukemias

Disrupting the methylation of telomeric silencing 1-like (DOT1L)-mediated histone H3 lysine 79 has been implicated in MLL fusion-mediated leukemogenesis. Recently, DOT1L has become an attractive therapeutic target for MLL-rearranged leukemias. Rigorous studies have been performed, and much progress has been achieved. Moreover, one DOT1L inhibitor, EPZ-5676, has entered clinical trials, but its clinical activity is modest. Here, we review the recent advances and future trends of various therapeutic strategies against DOT1L for MLL-rearranged leukemias, including DOT1L enzymatic activity inhibitors, DOT1L degraders, protein-protein interaction (PPI) inhibitors, and combinatorial interventions. In addition, the limitations, challenges, and prospects of these therapeutic strategies are discussed. In summary, we present a general overview of DOT1L as a target in MLL-rearranged leukemias to provide valuable guidance for DOT1L-associated drug development in the future. Although a variety of DOT1L enzymatic inhibitors have been identified, most of them require further optimization. Recent advances in the development of small molecule degraders, including heterobifunctional degraders and molecular glues, provide valuable insights and references for DOT1L degraders. However, drug R&D strategies and platforms need to be developed and preclinical experiments need to be performed with the purpose of blocking DOT1L-associated PPIs. DOT1L epigenetic-based combination therapy is worth considering and exploring, but the therapy should be based on a thorough understanding of the regulatory mechanism of DOT1L epigenetic modifications.

Multifaceted roles of YEATS domain-containing proteins and novel links to neurological diseases

The so-called Yaf9, ENL, AF9, Taf14, and Sas5 (YEATS) domain-containing proteins, hereafter referred to as YD proteins, take control over the transcription by multiple steps of regulation either involving epigenetic remodelling of chromatin or guiding the processivity of RNA polymerase II to facilitate elongation-coupled mRNA 3' processing. Interestingly, an increasing amount of evidence suggest a wider repertoire of YD protein's functions spanning from non-coding RNA regulation, RNA-binding proteins networking, post-translational regulation of a few signalling transduction proteins and the spindle pole formation. However, such a large set of non-canonical roles is still poorly characterized. Notably, four paralogous of human YEATS domain family members, namely eleven-nineteen-leukaemia (ENL), ALL1-fused gene from chromosome 9 protein (AF9), YEATS2 and glioma amplified sequence 41 (GAS41), have a strong link to cancer yet new findings also highlight a potential novel role in neurological diseases. Here, in an attempt to more comprehensively understand the complexity of four YD proteins and to gain more insight into the novel functions they may accomplish in the neurons, we summarized the YD protein's networks, systematically searched and reviewed the YD genetic variants associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and finally interrogated the model organism Drosophila melanogaster.

Spiroarborin, an ent-Clerodane Homodimer from Callicarpa arborea as an Inhibitor of the Eleven-Nineteen Leukemia (ENL) Protein by Targeting the YEATS Domain

A spiro ent-clerodane homodimer with a rare 6/6/6/6/6-fused pentacyclic scaffold, spiroarborin (1), together with four new monomeric analogues (2-5), were isolated from Callicarpa arborea. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis, quantum-chemical calculations, and X-ray diffraction. A plausible biosynthetic pathway of 1 was proposed, and a biomimetic synthesis of its derivative was accomplished. Compound 1 showed a potent inhibitory effect by directly binding to the YEATS domain of the 11-19 leukemia (ENL) protein with an IC₅₀ value of 7.3 μM. This gave a K_D value of 5.0 μM, as recorded by a surface plasmon resonance binding assay.

YEATS Domains as Novel Epigenetic Readers: Structures, Functions, and Inhibitor Development

Interpretation of the histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs) by effector proteins, or readers, is an important epigenetic mechanism to regulate gene function. YEATS domains have been recently identified as novel readers of histone lysine acetylation and a variety of nonacetyl acylation marks. Accumulating evidence has revealed the association of dysregulated interactions between YEATS domains and histone PTMs with human diseases, suggesting the therapeutic potential of YEATS domain inhibition. Here, we discuss the molecular mechanisms adopted by YEATS domains in recognizing their preferred histone marks and the biological significance of such recognitions in normal cell physiology and pathogenesis of human diseases. Recent progress in the development of YEATS domain inhibitors is also discussed.

Targeting transcription cycles in cancer

Accurate control of gene expression is essential for normal development and dysregulation of transcription underpins cancer onset and progression. Similar to cell cycle regulation, RNA polymerase II-driven transcription can be considered as a unidirectional multistep cycle, with thousands of unique transcription cycles occurring in concert within each cell. Each transcription cycle comprises recruitment, initiation, pausing, elongation, termination and recycling stages that are tightly controlled by the coordinated action of transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinases and their cognate cyclins as well as the opposing activity of transcriptional phosphatases. Oncogenic dysregulation of transcription can entail defective control of gene expression, either at select loci or more globally, impacting a large proportion of the genome. The resultant dependency on the core-transcriptional machinery is believed to render 'transcriptionally addicted' cancers sensitive to perturbation of transcription. Based on these findings, small molecules targeting transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinases and associated proteins hold promise for the treatment of cancer. Here, we utilize the transcription cycles concept to explain how dysregulation of these finely tuned gene expression processes may drive tumorigenesis and how therapeutically beneficial responses may arise from global or selective transcriptional perturbation. This conceptual framework helps to explain tumour-selective transcriptional dependencies and facilitates the rational design of combination therapies.

Dynamic crotonylation of EB1 by TIP60 ensures accurate spindle positioning in mitosis

Spindle position control is essential for cell fate determination and organogenesis. Early studies indicate the essential role of the evolutionarily conserved Gαi/LGN/NuMA network in spindle positioning. However, the regulatory mechanisms that couple astral microtubules dynamics to the spindle orientation remain elusive. Here we delineated a new mitosis-specific crotonylation-regulated astral microtubule-EB1-NuMA interaction in mitosis. EB1 is a substrate of TIP60, and TIP60-dependent crotonylation of EB1 tunes accurate spindle positioning in mitosis. Mechanistically, TIP60 crotonylation of EB1 at Lys66 forms a dynamic link between accurate attachment of astral microtubules to the lateral cell cortex defined by NuMA-LGN and fine tune of spindle positioning. Real-time imaging of chromosome movements in HeLa cells expressing genetically encoded crotonylated EB1 revealed the importance of crotonylation dynamics for accurate control of spindle orientation during metaphase-anaphase transition. These findings delineate a general signaling cascade that integrates protein crotonylation with accurate spindle positioning for chromosome stability in mitosis.

"Reading" a new chapter in protozoan parasite transcriptional regulation

Protozoan parasites continue to cause a significant health and economic burden worldwide. As infectious organisms, they pose unique and difficult challenges due to a level of conservation of critical eukaryotic cellular pathways with their hosts. Gene regulation has been pinpointed as an essential pathway with enough divergence to warrant investigation into therapeutically targeting. Examination of human parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum, Toxoplasma gondii, and kinetoplastids have revealed that epigenetic mechanisms play a key role in their gene regulation. The enzymes involved in adding and removing epigenetic posttranslational modifications (PTMs) have historically been the focus of study. However, the reader proteins that recognize and bind PTMs, initiating recruitment of chromatin-modifying and transcription complexes, are now being realized for their critical role in regulation and their potential as drug targets. In this review, we highlight the current knowledge on epigenetic reader proteins in model parasitic protozoa, focusing on the histone acyl- and methyl-reading domains. With this knowledge base, we compare differences between medically relevant parasites, discuss conceivable functions of these understudied proteins, indicate gaps in knowledge, and provide current progress in drug development.

Upregulation of α enolase (ENO1) crotonylation in colorectal cancer and its promoting effect on cancer cell metastasis

Lysine crotonylation (Kcr) is a newly identified protein translational modification and is involved in major biological processes including glycolysis, but its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) is unknown. Here, we found that the Kcr of α enolase (ENO1) was significantly elevated in human CRC tissues compared with the paratumoral tissues. CREB-binding protein (CBP) functioned as a crotonyltranferase of ENO1, and SIRT2 was involved in the decrotonylation of ENO1. Using quantitative mass spectrometry for crotonylomics analysis, we further found that K420 was the main Kcr site of ENO1 and ENO1 K420 Kcr promoted the growth, migration, and invasion of CRC cells in vitro by enhancing the activity of ENO1 and regulating the expression of tumor-associated genes. Our study reveals an important mechanism by which ENO1 regulates CRC through crotonylation.

Integrative Chemical Biology Approaches to Deciphering the Histone Code: A Problem-Driven Journey

The hereditary blueprint of a eukaryotic cell is encoded in its genomic DNA that is tightly compacted into chromatin together with histone proteins. The basic repeating units of chromatin fibers are nucleosomes, in which approximately 1.7 turns of DNA wrap around a proteinaceous octamer consisting of two copies of histones H2A, H2B, H3, and H4. Histones are extensively decorated by a variety of posttranslational modifications (PTMs, e.g., methylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation, phosphorylation, etc.), serving as one of the cellular mechanisms that regulates DNA-templated processes, including but not limited to gene transcription, DNA replication, and DNA damage repair. Most of the histone PTMs exist in dynamic fluctuations, and their on and off states are exquisitely regulated by enzymes known as "writers" and "erasers", respectively. When installed at certain sites, histone PTMs can change the local physicochemical environment and thereby directly influence the nucleosome and chromatin structures. Alternatively, histone PTMs can recruit effectors (or "readers") to signal the downstream events. A "histone code" hypothesis has been proposed in which the combinatory actions of different histone PTMs orchestrate the epigenetic landscape of cells, modulating the activity of the underlying DNA and maintaining the genome stability between generations. Accumulating evidence also suggests that malfunctions of histone PTMs are associated with the pathogenesis of human diseases, such as cancer. It is therefore important to fully decipher the histone code, namely, to dissect the regulatory mechanisms and biological functions of histone PTMs.Owing to the advances in state-of-the-art mass spectrometry, dozens of novel histone modifications have been archived during the past decade. However, most of these newly identified histone PTMs remain poorly explored. To unravel the roles played by these PTMs in histone code, key questions that have driven our study are (i) how to detect the novel histone PTMs; (ii) how to identify the enzymes that catalyze the addition (writers) and removal (erasers) of the histone PTMs along with the regulating mechanisms; (iii) what is the biological significance of the histone PTMs and how do they function, by affecting the nucleosome and chromatin dynamics or by recruiting readers; and (iv) how to develop chemical probes to interrogate the histone PTMs or even serve as potential leads for the drug discovery campaigns to treat diseases caused by abnormalities in the regulation of histone PTMs.This Account focuses on our efforts in developing and applying chemical tools and methods to answer the above questions. Specifically, we review the detection of negatively charged histone acylations by developing and applying chemical reporters; preparing homogeneous nucleosomes carrying negatively charged acylations by protein chemistry approaches and the in vitro biophysical analyses of the effects of the acylations on nucleosome structures; investigating the negatively charged acylations' influence on chromatin dynamics in vivo using yeast genetic approaches; identifying and characterizing protein-protein interactions (PPIs) mediated by histone PTMs in different biological contexts (i.e., to identify the readers and erasers) by establishing a chemical proteomics platform that is enabled by photo-cross-linking chemistry and quantitative proteomics strategies; and manipulating PTM-mediated PPIs by the structure-guided design of inhibitors. We also discuss possible future directions in our journey to fully decipher the histone code.

Post-translational lysine ac(et)ylation in health, ageing and disease

The acetylation/acylation (ac(et)ylation) of lysine side chains is a dynamic post-translational modification (PTM) regulating fundamental cellular processes with implications on the organisms' ageing process: metabolism, transcription, translation, cell proliferation, regulation of the cytoskeleton and DNA damage repair. First identified to occur on histones, later studies revealed the presence of lysine ac(et)ylation in organisms of all kingdoms of life, in proteins covering all essential cellular processes. A remarkable finding showed that the NAD⁺-dependent sirtuin deacetylase Sir2 has an impact on replicative lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae suggesting that lysine acetylation has a direct role in the ageing process. Later studies identified sirtuins as mediators for beneficial effects of caloric/dietary restriction on the organisms' health- or lifespan. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are only incompletely understood. Progress in mass-spectrometry, structural biology, synthetic and semi-synthetic biology deepened our understanding of this PTM. This review summarizes recent developments in the research field. It shows how lysine ac(et)ylation regulates protein function, how it is regulated enzymatically and non-enzymatically, how a dysfunction in this post-translational machinery contributes to disease development. A focus is set on sirtuins and lysine acyltransferases as these are direct sensors and mediators of the cellular metabolic state. Finally, this review highlights technological advances to study lysine ac(et)ylation.

Cation-π induced surface cleavage of organic pollutants with ⋅OH formation from H2O for water treatment

High energy consumption is impedimental for eliminating refractory organic pollutants in water by applying advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Herein, we develop a novel process for destructing these organics in chemical conjuncted Fe⁰-Fe_yC_z/Fe_x, graphited ZIF-8, and rGO air-saturated aqueous suspension without additional energy. In this process, a strong Fe-π interaction occurs on the composite surface, causing the surface potential energy ∼310.97 to 663.96 kJ/mol. The electrons for the adsorbed group of pollutants are found to delocalize to around the iron species and could be trapped by O₂ in aqueous suspension_, producing ^⋅OH, H, and adsorbed organic cation radicals, which are hydrolyzed or hydrogenated to intermediate. The target pollutants undergo surface cleavage and convert H₂O to ^⋅OH, consuming chemical adsorption energy (∼2.852-9.793 kJ/mol), much lower than that of AOPs. Our findings provide a novel technology for water purification and bring new insights into pollutant oxidation chemistry.

Concise solid-phase synthesis enables derivatisation of YEATS domain cyclopeptide inhibitors for improved cellular uptake

YEATS domains, which are newly identified epigenetic readers of histone lysine acetylation and crotonylation, have emerged as promising anti-cancer drug targets. We recently developed AF9 YEATS domain-selective cyclopeptide inhibitors. However, the cumbersome and time-consuming synthesis of the cyclopeptides limited further structural derivatisation and applications. Here, we reported a concise method for the solid-phase synthesis of the cyclopeptides, which substantially reduced the amount of time required for the preparation of the cyclopeptides and led to a higher overall yield. Moreover, this new synthetic route also allowed further derivatisation of the cyclopeptides with various functional modules, including fluorescent dye and cell-penetrating peptide. We demonstrated that the conjugation of the cyclopeptide with cell-penetrating peptide TAT led to a significantly increased cellular uptake.

Histone mimics: more tales to read

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) on histone proteins are known as epigenetic marks that demarcate the status of chromatin. These modifications are 'read' by specific reader proteins, which in turn recruit additional factors to modulate chromatin accessibility and the activity of the underlying DNA. Accumulating evidence suggests that these modifications are not restricted solely to histones, many non-histone proteins may function in a similar way through mimicking the histones. In this commentary, we briefly discuss a systematic study of the discovery of histone H3 N-terminal mimicry proteins (H3TMs), and their implications in chromatin regulation and drug discoveries.

Discovery of Selective Small-Molecule Inhibitors for the ENL YEATS Domain

Eleven-nineteen leukemia (ENL) protein is a histone acetylation reader essential for disease maintenance in acute leukemias, in particular, the mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL)-rearranged leukemia. In this study, we carried out high-throughput screening of a small-molecule library to identify inhibitors for the ENL YEATS domain. Structure-activity relationship studies of the hits and structure-based inhibitor design led to two compounds, 11 and 24, with IC₅₀ values below 100 nM in inhibiting the ENL-acetyl-H3 interaction. Both compounds, and their precursor compound 7, displayed strong selectivity toward the ENL YEATS domain over all other human YEATS domains. Moreover, 7 exhibited on-target inhibition of ENL in cultured cells and a synergistic effect with the bromodomain and extraterminal domain inhibitor JQ1 in killing leukemia cells. Together, we have developed selective chemical probes for the ENL YEATS domain, providing the basis for further medicinal chemistry-based optimization to advance both basic and translational research of ENL.

Protein lysine crotonylation: past, present, perspective

Lysine crotonylation has been discovered in histone and non-histone proteins and found to be involved in diverse diseases and biological processes, such as neuropsychiatric disease, carcinogenesis, spermatogenesis, tissue injury, and inflammation. The unique carbon–carbon π-bond structure indicates that lysine crotonylation may use distinct regulatory mechanisms from the widely studied other types of lysine acylation. In this review, we discussed the regulation of lysine crotonylation by enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms, the recognition of substrate proteins, the physiological functions of lysine crotonylation and its cross-talk with other types of modification. The tools and methods for prediction and detection of lysine crotonylation were also described.

Development of potent dimeric inhibitors of GAS41 YEATS domain

GAS41 is an emerging oncogene overexpressed and implicated in multiple cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). GAS41 is a dimeric protein that contains the YEATS domain, which is involved in the recognition of lysine-acylated histones. Here, we report the development of GAS41 YEATS inhibitors by employing a fragment-based screening approach. These inhibitors bind to GAS41 YEATS domain in a channel constituting a recognition site for acylated lysine on histone proteins. To enhance inhibitory activity, we developed a dimeric analog with nanomolar activity that blocks interactions of GAS41 with acetylated histone H3. Our lead compound engages GAS41 in cells, blocks proliferation of NSCLC cells, and modulates expression of GAS41-dependent genes, validating on-target mechanism of action. This study demonstrates that disruption of GAS41 protein-protein interactions may represent an attractive approach to target lung cancer cells. This work exemplifies the use of bivalent inhibitors as a general strategy to block challenging protein-protein interactions.

The language of chromatin modification in human cancers

The genetic information of human cells is stored in the context of chromatin, which is subjected to DNA methylation and various histone modifications. Such a 'language' of chromatin modification constitutes a fundamental means of gene and (epi)genome regulation, underlying a myriad of cellular and developmental processes. In recent years, mounting evidence has demonstrated that miswriting, misreading or mis-erasing of the modification language embedded in chromatin represents a common, sometimes early and pivotal, event across a wide range of human cancers, contributing to oncogenesis through the induction of epigenetic, transcriptomic and phenotypic alterations. It is increasingly clear that cancer-related metabolic perturbations and oncohistone mutations also directly impact chromatin modification, thereby promoting cancerous transformation. Phase separation-based deregulation of chromatin modulators and chromatin structure is also emerging to be an important underpinning of tumorigenesis. Understanding the various molecular pathways that underscore a misregulated chromatin language in cancer, together with discovery and development of more effective drugs to target these chromatin-related vulnerabilities, will enhance treatment of human malignancies.

Emerging roles of non-histone protein crotonylation in biomedicine

Crotonylation of proteins is a newly found type of post-translational modifications (PTMs) which occurs leadingly on the lysine residue, namely, lysine crotonylation (Kcr). Kcr is conserved and is regulated by a series of enzymes and co-enzymes including lysine crotonyltransferase (writer), lysine decrotonylase (eraser), certain YEATS proteins (reader), and crotonyl-coenzyme A (donor). Histone Kcr has been substantially studied since 2011, but the Kcr of non-histone proteins is just an emerging field since its finding in 2017. Recent advances in the identification and quantification of non-histone protein Kcr by mass spectrometry have increased our understanding of Kcr. In this review, we summarized the main proteomic characteristics of non-histone protein Kcr and discussed its biological functions, including gene transcription, DNA damage response, enzymes regulation, metabolic pathways, cell cycle, and localization of heterochromatin in cells. We further proposed the performance of non-histone protein Kcr in diseases and the prospect of Kcr manipulators as potential therapeutic candidates in the diseases.