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Zaltron E, Vianello F, Ruzza A, Palazzo A, Brillo V, Celotti I, Scavezzon M, Rossin F, Leanza L, Severin F. The Role of Transglutaminase 2 in Cancer: An Update. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2797. [PMID: 38474044 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Transglutaminase type 2 (TG2) is the most ubiquitously expressed and well characterized member of the transglutaminase family. It is a ubiquitous multifunctional enzyme implicated in the regulation of several cellular pathways that support the survival, death, and general homeostasis of eukaryotic cells. Due to its multiple localizations both inside and outside the cell, TG2 participates in the regulation of many crucial intracellular signaling cascades in a tissue- and cell-specific manner, making this enzyme an important player in disease development and progression. Moreover, TG2 is capable of modulating the tumor microenvironment, a process of dynamic tissue remodeling and biomechanical events, resulting in changes which influence tumor initiation, growth, and metastasis. Even if generally related to the Ca2+-dependent post-translational modification of proteins, a number of different biological functions have been ascribed to TG2, like those of a peptide isomerase, protein kinase, guanine nucleotide binder, and cytosolic-nuclear translocator. With respect to cancer, TG2's role is controversial and highly debated; it has been described both as an anti- and pro-apoptotic factor and is linked to all the processes of tumorigenesis. However, numerous pieces of evidence support a tissue-specific role of TG2 so that it can assume both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive roles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alessia Ruzza
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Alberta Palazzo
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | | | - Ilaria Celotti
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | | | - Federica Rossin
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Leanza
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Filippo Severin
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
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Kim GR, Kang JH, Kim HJ, Im E, Bae J, Kwon WS, Rha SY, Chung HC, Cho EY, Kim SY, Kim YC. Discovery of novel 1H-benzo[d]imidazole-4,7-dione based transglutaminase 2 inhibitors as p53 stabilizing anticancer agents in renal cell carcinoma. Bioorg Chem 2024; 143:107061. [PMID: 38154386 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.107061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Overexpression of transglutaminase 2 (TGase 2; TG2) has been implicated in the progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) through the inactivation of p53 by forming a protein complex. Because most p53 in RCC has no mutations, apoptosis can be increased by inhibiting the binding between TG2 and p53 to increase the stability of p53. In the present study, a novel TG2 inhibitor was discovered by investigating the structure of 1H-benzo[d]imidazole-4,7-dione as a simpler chemotype based on the amino-1,4-benzoquinone moiety of streptonigrin, a previously reported inhibitor. Through structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, compound 8j (MD102) was discovered as a potent TG2 inhibitor with an IC50 value of 0.35 µM, p53 stabilization effect and anticancer effects in the ACHN and Caki-1 RCC cell lines with sulforhodamine B (SRB) GI50 values of 2.15 µM and 1.98 µM, respectively. The binding property of compound 8j (MD102) with TG2 was confirmed to be reversible in a competitive enzyme assay, and the binding interaction was expected to be formed at the β-sandwich domain, a p53 binding site, in the SPR binding assay with mutant proteins. The mode of binding of compound 8j (MD102) to the β-sandwich domain of TG2 was analyzed by molecular docking using the crystal structure of the active conformation of human TG2. Compound 8j (MD102) induced a decrease in the downstream signaling of p-AKT and p-mTOR through the stabilization of p53 by TG2 inhibition, resulting in tumor cell apoptosis. In a xenograft animal model using ACHN cancer cells, oral administration and intraperitoneal injection of compound 8j (MD102) showed an inhibitory effect on tumor growth, confirming increased levels of p53 and decreased levels of Ki-67 in tumor tissues through immunohistochemical (IHC) tissue staining. These results indicated that the inhibition of TG2 by compound 8j (MD102) could enhance p53 stabilization, thereby ultimately showing anticancer effects in RCC. Compound 8j (MD102), a novel TG2 inhibitor, can be further applied for the development of an anticancer candidate drug targeting RCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ga-Ram Kim
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 123 Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Hee Kang
- Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang 10408, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeon Joo Kim
- MDbiopharm Corp., 114 Beobwon-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05854, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunji Im
- MDbiopharm Corp., 114 Beobwon-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05854, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinsu Bae
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 123 Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Sun Kwon
- Songdang Institute for Cancer Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Young Rha
- Songdang Institute for Cancer Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea; Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea; Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Cheol Chung
- MDbiopharm Corp., 114 Beobwon-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05854, Republic of Korea; Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Yi Cho
- MDbiopharm Corp., 114 Beobwon-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05854, Republic of Korea.
| | - Soo-Youl Kim
- Cancer Molecular Biology Branch, Division of Cancer Biology, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang 10408, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yong-Chul Kim
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 123 Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea.
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