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Wang P, Laster K, Jia X, Dong Z, Liu K. Targeting CRAF kinase in anti-cancer therapy: progress and opportunities. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:208. [PMID: 38111008 PMCID: PMC10726672 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01903-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade is commonly dysregulated in human malignancies by processes driven by RAS or RAF oncogenes. Among the members of the RAF kinase family, CRAF plays an important role in the RAS-MAPK signaling pathway, as well as in the progression of cancer. Recent research has provided evidence implicating the role of CRAF in the physiological regulation and the resistance to BRAF inhibitors through MAPK-dependent and MAPK-independent mechanisms. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of solely targeting CRAF kinase activity remains controversial. Moreover, the kinase-independent function of CRAF may be essential for lung cancers with KRAS mutations. It is imperative to develop strategies to enhance efficacy and minimize toxicity in tumors driven by RAS or RAF oncogenes. The review investigates CRAF alterations observed in cancers and unravels the distinct roles of CRAF in cancers propelled by diverse oncogenes. This review also seeks to summarize CRAF-interacting proteins and delineate CRAF's regulation across various cancer hallmarks. Additionally, we discuss recent advances in pan-RAF inhibitors and their combination with other therapeutic approaches to improve treatment outcomes and minimize adverse effects in patients with RAF/RAS-mutant tumors. By providing a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted role of CRAF in cancers and highlighting the latest developments in RAF inhibitor therapies, we endeavor to identify synergistic targets and elucidate resistance pathways, setting the stage for more robust and safer combination strategies for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penglei Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
- Tianjian Laboratory for Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Kyle Laster
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Xuechao Jia
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
- Tianjian Laboratory for Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Zigang Dong
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China.
- Tianjian Laboratory for Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, 450000, China.
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, AMS, College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China.
| | - Kangdong Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China.
- Tianjian Laboratory for Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, 450000, China.
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, AMS, College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China.
- Basic Medicine Sciences Research Center, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, Henan, China.
- Provincial Cooperative Innovation Center for Cancer Chemoprevention, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, Henan, China.
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Martin-Vega A, Cobb MH. Navigating the ERK1/2 MAPK Cascade. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1555. [PMID: 37892237 PMCID: PMC10605237 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101555] [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: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The RAS-ERK pathway is a fundamental signaling cascade crucial for many biological processes including proliferation, cell cycle control, growth, and survival; common across all cell types. Notably, ERK1/2 are implicated in specific processes in a context-dependent manner as in stem cells and pancreatic β-cells. Alterations in the different components of this cascade result in dysregulation of the effector kinases ERK1/2 which communicate with hundreds of substrates. Aberrant activation of the pathway contributes to a range of disorders, including cancer. This review provides an overview of the structure, activation, regulation, and mutational frequency of the different tiers of the cascade; with a particular focus on ERK1/2. We highlight the importance of scaffold proteins that contribute to kinase localization and coordinate interaction dynamics of the kinases with substrates, activators, and inhibitors. Additionally, we explore innovative therapeutic approaches emphasizing promising avenues in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Martin-Vega
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6001 Forest Park Rd., Dallas, TX 75390, USA;
| | - Melanie H. Cobb
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6001 Forest Park Rd., Dallas, TX 75390, USA;
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6001 Forest Park Rd., Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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Tabata K, Prasad V, Paul D, Lee JY, Pham MT, Twu WI, Neufeldt CJ, Cortese M, Cerikan B, Stahl Y, Joecks S, Tran CS, Lüchtenborg C, V'kovski P, Hörmann K, Müller AC, Zitzmann C, Haselmann U, Beneke J, Kaderali L, Erfle H, Thiel V, Lohmann V, Superti-Furga G, Brügger B, Bartenschlager R. Convergent use of phosphatidic acid for hepatitis C virus and SARS-CoV-2 replication organelle formation. Nat Commun 2021; 12:7276. [PMID: 34907161 PMCID: PMC8671429 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27511-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Double membrane vesicles (DMVs) serve as replication organelles of plus-strand RNA viruses such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) and SARS-CoV-2. Viral DMVs are morphologically analogous to DMVs formed during autophagy, but lipids driving their biogenesis are largely unknown. Here we show that production of the lipid phosphatidic acid (PA) by acylglycerolphosphate acyltransferase (AGPAT) 1 and 2 in the ER is important for DMV biogenesis in viral replication and autophagy. Using DMVs in HCV-replicating cells as model, we found that AGPATs are recruited to and critically contribute to HCV and SARS-CoV-2 replication and proper DMV formation. An intracellular PA sensor accumulated at viral DMV formation sites, consistent with elevated levels of PA in fractions of purified DMVs analyzed by lipidomics. Apart from AGPATs, PA is generated by alternative pathways and their pharmacological inhibition also impaired HCV and SARS-CoV-2 replication as well as formation of autophagosome-like DMVs. These data identify PA as host cell lipid involved in proper replication organelle formation by HCV and SARS-CoV-2, two phylogenetically disparate viruses causing very different diseases, i.e. chronic liver disease and COVID-19, respectively. Host-targeting therapy aiming at PA synthesis pathways might be suitable to attenuate replication of these viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Tabata
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Laboratory of Intracellular Membrane Dynamics, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Vibhu Prasad
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David Paul
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Ji-Young Lee
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Minh-Tu Pham
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Woan-Ing Twu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christopher J Neufeldt
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mirko Cortese
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Berati Cerikan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yannick Stahl
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Joecks
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- LI-COR Biosciences GmbH, Siemensstrasse 25A, Bad Homburg, Germany
| | - Cong Si Tran
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Philip V'kovski
- Institute of Virology and Immunology IVI, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Katrin Hörmann
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - André C Müller
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carolin Zitzmann
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Uta Haselmann
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Beneke
- BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lars Kaderali
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Holger Erfle
- BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Volker Thiel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology IVI, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Volker Lohmann
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Giulio Superti-Furga
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Britta Brügger
- Biochemistry Center Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ralf Bartenschlager
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Division Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
- German Center for Infection Research, Heidelberg Partner Site, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Polit A, Mystek P, Błasiak E. Every Detail Matters. That Is, How the Interaction between Gα Proteins and Membrane Affects Their Function. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:222. [PMID: 33804791 PMCID: PMC8003949 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11030222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In highly organized multicellular organisms such as humans, the functions of an individual cell are dependent on signal transduction through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and subsequently heterotrimeric G proteins. As most of the elements belonging to the signal transduction system are bound to lipid membranes, researchers are showing increasing interest in studying the accompanying protein-lipid interactions, which have been demonstrated to not only provide the environment but also regulate proper and efficient signal transduction. The mode of interaction between the cell membrane and G proteins is well known. Despite this, the recognition mechanisms at the molecular level and how the individual G protein-membrane attachment signals are interrelated in the process of the complex control of membrane targeting of G proteins remain unelucidated. This review focuses on the mechanisms by which mammalian Gα subunits of G proteins interact with lipids and the factors responsible for the specificity of membrane association. We summarize recent data on how these signaling proteins are precisely targeted to a specific site in the membrane region by introducing well-defined modifications as well as through the presence of polybasic regions within these proteins and interactions with other components of the heterocomplex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Polit
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland; (P.M.); (E.B.)
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Cook FA, Cook SJ. Inhibition of RAF dimers: it takes two to tango. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:237-251. [PMID: 33367512 PMCID: PMC7924995 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The RAS-regulated RAF-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 pathway promotes cell proliferation and survival and RAS and BRAF proteins are commonly mutated in cancer. This has fuelled the development of small molecule kinase inhibitors including ATP-competitive RAF inhibitors. Type I and type I½ ATP-competitive RAF inhibitors are effective in BRAFV600E/K-mutant cancer cells. However, in RAS-mutant cells these compounds instead promote RAS-dependent dimerisation and paradoxical activation of wild-type RAF proteins. RAF dimerisation is mediated by two key regions within each RAF protein; the RKTR motif of the αC-helix and the NtA-region of the dimer partner. Dimer formation requires the adoption of a closed, active kinase conformation which can be induced by RAS-dependent activation of RAF or by the binding of type I and I½ RAF inhibitors. Binding of type I or I½ RAF inhibitors to one dimer partner reduces the binding affinity of the other, thereby leaving a single dimer partner uninhibited and able to activate MEK. To overcome this paradox two classes of drug are currently under development; type II pan-RAF inhibitors that induce RAF dimer formation but bind both dimer partners thus allowing effective inhibition of both wild-type RAF dimer partners and monomeric active class I mutant RAF, and the recently developed "paradox breakers" which interrupt BRAF dimerisation through disruption of the αC-helix. Here we review the regulation of RAF proteins, including RAF dimers, and the progress towards effective targeting of the wild-type RAF proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frazer A. Cook
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K
| | - Simon J. Cook
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K
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Prakash P. A regulatory role of membrane by direct modulation of the catalytic kinase domain. Small GTPases 2020; 12:246-256. [PMID: 32663062 DOI: 10.1080/21541248.2020.1788886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell membrane modulates the function and activity of specific proteins and acts more than just a non-specific scaffolding machinery. In this review, I focus on studies that highlight a direct membrane-mediated modulation of the catalytic kinase domain of a variety of kinases thereby regulating the kinase activity. It emerges that membrane provides a second level of regulation once kinase domain is relieved of its inactive auto-inhibitory state. For the first time a generalized regulatory role of membrane is proposed that governs the kinase activity by modulating the catalytic kinase domain. Striking similarities among a variety of multi-domain kinases as well as single-domain lipidated enzymes such as RAS proteins are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Prakash
- Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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Li L, Möbitz S, Winter R. Characterization of the Spatial Organization of Raf Isoforms Interacting with K-Ras4B in the Lipid Membrane. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:5944-5953. [PMID: 32390436 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c00770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Activation of Raf kinases by the membrane-anchored protein K-Ras4B is a key step of cellular signal regulation. As a predominant variant of the Ras family, K-Ras4B has been considered to be a major drug target in cancer therapy. Therefore, an integrated study of Raf interaction with membrane-associated K-Ras4B is essential. While the Ras-binding domain (RBD) of Raf contains the main binding interface to K-Ras4B, its cysteine-rich domain (CRD) is thought to be responsible for its association with the membrane interface. We applied time-lapse tapping-mode atomic force microscopy to visualize and characterize the interaction of these binding motifs of A-, B-, and C-Raf isoforms with K-Ras4B in a raft-like anionic model biomembrane. However, we found that the RBDs of the Raf isomers are readily recruited to K-Ras4B nanoclusters in the lipid membrane, with different efficiencies. Unexpectedly and different from A-Raf-RBD, B- and C-Raf-RBD are able to bind markedly also directly to the lipid membrane. We also found that Raf-RBD-CRD is readily recruited to the K-Ras4B forming nanoclusters in the fluid membrane phase, with the CRD domains binding to the lipid interface. The K-Ras4B-nanoclusters are likely to enhance Raf binding and activate signaling by enriching the Raf proteins and facilitating formation of Raf dimers. Interestingly, A-, B-, and C-Raf-RBD-CRD are also able to bind directly to the heterogeneous membrane surrounding the K-Ras4B nanoclusters, which could potentially enhance the overall affinity to K-Ras4B in a Raf-isoform-dependent manner. Overall, these results provide new insights into the spatial organization of the membrane-associated Raf-Ras signaling module for the various Raf isoforms, which is important for understanding the activation of Raf kinases and required for the development of drugs against cancers through targeting Raf-Ras interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Li
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Physical Chemistry I-Biophysical Chemistry, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a, D-44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Simone Möbitz
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Physical Chemistry I-Biophysical Chemistry, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a, D-44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Roland Winter
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Physical Chemistry I-Biophysical Chemistry, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a, D-44227 Dortmund, Germany
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