1
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Zhu AZ, Ma Z, Wolff EV, Lin Z, Gao ZJ, Li X, Du W. HES1 is required for mouse fetal hematopoiesis. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:235. [PMID: 39075526 PMCID: PMC11287931 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03836-8] [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: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hematopoiesis in mammal is a complex and highly regulated process in which hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) give rise to all types of differentiated blood cells. Previous studies have shown that hairy and enhancer of split (HES) repressors are essential regulators of adult HSC development downstream of Notch signaling. METHODS In this study, we investigated the role of HES1, a member of HES family, in fetal hematopoiesis using an embryonic hematopoietic specific Hes1 conditional knockout mouse model by using phenotypic flow cytometry, histopathology analysis, and functional in vitro colony forming unit (CFU) assay and in vivo bone marrow transplant (BMT) assay. RESULTS We found that loss of Hes1 in early embryonic stage leads to smaller embryos and fetal livers, decreases hematopoietic stem progenitor cell (HSPC) pool, results in defective multi-lineage differentiation. Functionally, fetal hematopoietic cells deficient for Hes1 exhibit reduced in vitro progenitor activity and compromised in vivo repopulation capacity in the transplanted recipients. Further analysis shows that fetal hematopoiesis defects in Hes1fl/flFlt3Cre embryos are resulted from decreased proliferation and elevated apoptosis, associated with de-repressed HES1 targets, p27 and PTEN in Hes1-KO fetal HSPCs. Finally, pharmacological inhibition of p27 or PTEN improves fetal HSPCs function both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION Together, our findings reveal a previously unappreciated role for HES1 in regulating fetal hematopoiesis, and provide new insight into the differences between fetal and adult HSC maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Z Zhu
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Center Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Zhilin Ma
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Emily V Wolff
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Center Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Zichen Lin
- Master of Science in Medical Science, Boston University School of Medicine Graduate Master Program, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhenxia J Gao
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Center Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Xue Li
- Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Du
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Center Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
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2
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Cavalu S, Abdelhamid AM, Saber S, Elmorsy EA, Hamad RS, Abdel-Reheim MA, Yahya G, Salama MM. Cell cycle machinery in oncology: A comprehensive review of therapeutic targets. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23734. [PMID: 38847486 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202400769r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
The cell cycle is tightly regulated to ensure controlled cell proliferation. Dysregulation of the cell cycle machinery is a hallmark of cancer that leads to unchecked growth. This review comprehensively analyzes key molecular regulators of the cell cycle and how they contribute to carcinogenesis when mutated or overexpressed. It focuses on cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), CDK inhibitors, checkpoint kinases, and mitotic regulators as therapeutic targets. Promising strategies include CDK4/6 inhibitors like palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib for breast cancer treatment. Other possible targets include the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), Skp2, p21, and aurora kinase inhibitors. However, challenges with resistance have limited clinical successes so far. Future efforts should focus on combinatorial therapies, next-generation inhibitors, and biomarkers for patient selection. Targeting the cell cycle holds promise but further optimization is necessary to fully exploit it as an anti-cancer strategy across diverse malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Cavalu
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania
| | - Amir Mohamed Abdelhamid
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Delta University for Science and Technology, Gamasa, Egypt
| | - Sameh Saber
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Delta University for Science and Technology, Gamasa, Egypt
| | - Elsayed A Elmorsy
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Rabab S Hamad
- Biological Sciences Department, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- Central Laboratory, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mustafa Ahmed Abdel-Reheim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt
| | - Galal Yahya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Al Sharqia, Egypt
| | - Mohamed M Salama
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Delta University for Science and Technology, Gamasa, Egypt
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3
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Hauser M, Zirman A, Rak R, Nachman I. Challenges and opportunities in cell expansion for cultivated meat. Front Nutr 2024; 11:1315555. [PMID: 38385010 PMCID: PMC10879929 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1315555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The cultivation of meat using in vitro grown animal stem cells offers a promising solution to pressing global concerns around climate change, ethical considerations, and public health. However, cultivated meat introduces an unprecedented necessity: the generation of mass scales of cellular biomaterial, achieved by fostering cell proliferation within bioreactors. Existing methods for in vitro cell proliferation encounter substantial challenges in terms of both scalability and economic viability. Within this perspective, we discuss the current landscape of cell proliferation optimization, focusing on approaches pertinent to cellular agriculture. We examine the mechanisms governing proliferation rates, while also addressing intrinsic and conditional rate limitations. Furthermore, we expound upon prospective strategies that could lead to a significant enhancement of the overall scalability and cost-efficiency of the cell proliferation phase within the cultivated meat production process. By exploring knowledge from basic cell cycle studies, pathological contexts and tissue engineering, we may identify innovative solutions toward optimizing cell expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Hauser
- The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Amit Zirman
- The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Institute for Animal Research, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Roni Rak
- Institute for Animal Research, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Iftach Nachman
- The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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4
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Heller G, Shukla VK, Figueiredo AM, Hansen DF. Picosecond Dynamics of a Small Molecule in Its Bound State with an Intrinsically Disordered Protein. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:2319-2324. [PMID: 38251829 PMCID: PMC10835725 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c11614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are highly dynamic biomolecules that rapidly interconvert among many structural conformations. These dynamic biomolecules are involved in cancers, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular illnesses, and viral infections. Despite their enormous therapeutic potential, IDPs have generally been considered undruggable because of their lack of classical long-lived binding pockets for small molecules. Currently, only a few instances are known where small molecules have been observed to interact with IDPs, and this situation is further exacerbated by the limited sensitivity of experimental techniques to detect such binding events. Here, using experimental nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy 19F transverse spin-relaxation measurements, we discovered that a small molecule, 5-fluoroindole, interacts with the disordered domains of non-structural protein 5A from hepatitis C virus with a Kd of 260 ± 110 μM. Our analysis also allowed us to determine the rotational correlation times (τc) for the free and bound states of 5-fluoroindole. In the free state, we observed a rotational correlation time of 27.0 ± 1.3 ps, whereas in the bound state, τc only increased to 46 ± 10 ps. Our findings imply that it is possible for small molecules to engage with IDPs in exceptionally dynamic ways, in sharp contrast to the rigid binding modes typically exhibited when small molecules bind to well-defined binding pockets within structured proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella
T. Heller
- Department of Structural
and Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, U.K.
| | - Vaibhav Kumar Shukla
- Department of Structural
and Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, U.K.
| | - Angelo Miguel Figueiredo
- Department of Structural
and Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, U.K.
| | - D. Flemming Hansen
- Department of Structural
and Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, U.K.
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5
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Skriver K, Theisen FF, Kragelund BB. Conformational entropy in molecular recognition of intrinsically disordered proteins. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 83:102697. [PMID: 37716093 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Broad conformational ensembles make intrinsically disordered proteins or regions entropically intriguing. Although methodologically challenging and understudied, emerging studies into their changes in conformational entropy (ΔS°conf) upon complex formation have provided both quantitative and qualitative insight. Recent work based on thermodynamics from isothermal titration calorimetry and NMR spectroscopy uncovers an expanded repertoire of regulatory mechanisms, where ΔS°conf plays roles in partner selection, state behavior, functional buffering, allosteric regulation, and drug design. We highlight these mechanisms to display the large entropic reservoir of IDPs for the regulation of molecular communication. We call upon the field to make efforts to contribute to this insight as more studies are needed for forwarding mechanistic decoding of intrinsically disordered proteins and their complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Skriver
- The Linderstrøm Lang Centre for Protein Science, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark; REPIN, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Frederik Friis Theisen
- The Linderstrøm Lang Centre for Protein Science, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark; REPIN, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark; Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark. https://twitter.com/@FrederikTheisen
| | - Birthe B Kragelund
- The Linderstrøm Lang Centre for Protein Science, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark; REPIN, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark; Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.
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6
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Tripathi S, Shirnekhi HK, Gorman SD, Chandra B, Baggett DW, Park CG, Somjee R, Lang B, Hosseini SMH, Pioso BJ, Li Y, Iacobucci I, Gao Q, Edmonson MN, Rice SV, Zhou X, Bollinger J, Mitrea DM, White MR, McGrail DJ, Jarosz DF, Yi SS, Babu MM, Mullighan CG, Zhang J, Sahni N, Kriwacki RW. Defining the condensate landscape of fusion oncoproteins. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6008. [PMID: 37770423 PMCID: PMC10539325 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41655-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Fusion oncoproteins (FOs) arise from chromosomal translocations in ~17% of cancers and are often oncogenic drivers. Although some FOs can promote oncogenesis by undergoing liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to form aberrant biomolecular condensates, the generality of this phenomenon is unknown. We explored this question by testing 166 FOs in HeLa cells and found that 58% formed condensates. The condensate-forming FOs displayed physicochemical features distinct from those of condensate-negative FOs and segregated into distinct feature-based groups that aligned with their sub-cellular localization and biological function. Using Machine Learning, we developed a predictor of FO condensation behavior, and discovered that 67% of ~3000 additional FOs likely form condensates, with 35% of those predicted to function by altering gene expression. 47% of the predicted condensate-negative FOs were associated with cell signaling functions, suggesting a functional dichotomy between condensate-positive and -negative FOs. Our Datasets and reagents are rich resources to interrogate FO condensation in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swarnendu Tripathi
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hazheen K Shirnekhi
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Scott D Gorman
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Arrakis Therapeutics, 830 Winter St, Waltham, MA, 02451, USA
| | - Bappaditya Chandra
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - David W Baggett
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Cheon-Gil Park
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Ramiz Somjee
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Rhodes College, Memphis, TN, USA
- Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Benjamin Lang
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Center of Excellence for Data-Driven Discovery, Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Seyed Mohammad Hadi Hosseini
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Center of Excellence for Data-Driven Discovery, Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Brittany J Pioso
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yongsheng Li
- Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Department of Oncology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Ilaria Iacobucci
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Qingsong Gao
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Michael N Edmonson
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Stephen V Rice
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - John Bollinger
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Diana M Mitrea
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Dewpoint Therapeutics, 451 D Street, Suite 104, Boston, MA, 02210, USA
| | - Michael R White
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., One IDEXX Drive, Westbrook, ME, 04092, USA
| | - Daniel J McGrail
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Daniel F Jarosz
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - S Stephen Yi
- Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Department of Oncology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - M Madan Babu
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Center of Excellence for Data-Driven Discovery, Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Charles G Mullighan
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jinghui Zhang
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Nidhi Sahni
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Program in Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Richard W Kriwacki
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
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7
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Hu A, Chen G, Bao B, Guo Y, Li D, Wang X, Wang J, Li Q, Zhou Y, Gao H, Song J, Du X, Zheng L, Tong Q. Therapeutic targeting of CNBP phase separation inhibits ribosome biogenesis and neuroblastoma progression via modulating SWI/SNF complex activity. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1235. [PMID: 37186134 PMCID: PMC10131295 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial malignancy in childhood; however, the mechanisms underlying its aggressive characteristics still remain elusive. METHODS Integrative data analysis was performed to reveal tumour-driving transcriptional regulators. Co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry assays were applied for protein interaction studies. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, sequential chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assays were carried out to explore gene expression regulation. The biological characteristics of NB cell lines were examined via gain- and loss-of-function assays. For survival analysis, the Cox regression model and log-rank tests were used. RESULTS Cellular nucleic acid-binding protein (CNBP) was found to be an independent factor affecting NB outcome, which exerted oncogenic roles in ribosome biogenesis, tumourigenesis and aggressiveness. Mechanistically, karyopherin subunit beta 1 (KPNB1) was responsible for nuclear transport of CNBP, whereas liquid condensates of CNBP repressed the activity of switch/sucrose-nonfermentable (SWI/SNF) core subunits (SMARCC2/SMARCC1/SMARCA4) via interaction with SMARCC2, leading to alternatively increased activity of SMARCC1/SMARCA4 binary complex in facilitating gene expression essential for 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) processing in tumour cells, extracellular vesicle-mediated delivery of 18S rRNA and subsequent M2 macrophage polarisation. A cell-penetrating peptide blocking phase separation and interaction of CNBP with SMARCC2 inhibited ribosome biogenesis and NB progression. High KPNB1, CNBP, SMARCC1 or SMARCA4 expression or low SMARCC2 levels were associated with poor survival of NB patients. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that CNBP phase separation is a target for inhibiting ribosome biogenesis and tumour progression in NB via modulating SWI/SNF complex activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anpei Hu
- Department of Pediatric SurgeryUnion Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Guo Chen
- Department of Pediatric SurgeryUnion Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Banghe Bao
- Department of PathologyUnion Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Yanhua Guo
- Department of Pediatric SurgeryUnion Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Pediatric SurgeryUnion Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Xiaojing Wang
- Department of Pediatric SurgeryUnion Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei ProvinceP. R. China
- Clinical Center of Human Genomic ResearchUnion Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Jianqun Wang
- Department of Pediatric SurgeryUnion Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Qilan Li
- Department of Pediatric SurgeryUnion Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Yi Zhou
- Department of PathologyUnion Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Haiyang Gao
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryUnion Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Jiyu Song
- Department of PathologyUnion Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Xinyi Du
- Department of Pediatric SurgeryUnion Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Liduan Zheng
- Department of PathologyUnion Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei ProvinceP. R. China
- Clinical Center of Human Genomic ResearchUnion Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Qiangsong Tong
- Department of Pediatric SurgeryUnion Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei ProvinceP. R. China
- Clinical Center of Human Genomic ResearchUnion Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei ProvinceP. R. China
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8
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Saurabh S, Nadendla K, Purohit SS, Sivakumar PM, Cetinel S. Fuzzy Drug Targets: Disordered Proteins in the Drug-Discovery Realm. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:9729-9747. [PMID: 36969402 PMCID: PMC10034788 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c07708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and regions (IDRs) form a large part of the eukaryotic proteome. Contrary to the structure-function paradigm, the disordered proteins perform a myriad of functions in vivo. Consequently, they are involved in various disease pathways and are plausible drug targets. Unlike folded proteins, that have a defined structure and well carved out drug-binding pockets that can guide lead molecule selection, the disordered proteins require alternative drug-development methodologies that are based on an acceptable picture of their conformational ensemble. In this review, we discuss various experimental and computational techniques that contribute toward understanding IDP "structure" and describe representative pursuances toward IDP-targeting drug development. We also discuss ideas on developing rational drug design protocols targeting IDPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suman Saurabh
- Molecular
Sciences Research Hub, Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, U.K.
| | - Karthik Nadendla
- Center
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, Lensfield
Road, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Shubh Sanket Purohit
- Department
of Clinical Haematology, Sahyadri Superspeciality
Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra 411038, India
| | - Ponnurengam Malliappan Sivakumar
- Institute
of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam
- School
of Medicine and Pharmacy, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam
- Nanotechnology
Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
| | - Sibel Cetinel
- Nanotechnology
Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
- Faculty of
Engineering and Natural Sciences, Molecular Biology, Genetics and
Bioengineering Program, Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
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9
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Sun B, Kekenes-Huskey PM. Myofilament-associated proteins with intrinsic disorder (MAPIDs) and their resolution by computational modeling. Q Rev Biophys 2023; 56:e2. [PMID: 36628457 PMCID: PMC11070111 DOI: 10.1017/s003358352300001x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The cardiac sarcomere is a cellular structure in the heart that enables muscle cells to contract. Dozens of proteins belong to the cardiac sarcomere, which work in tandem to generate force and adapt to demands on cardiac output. Intriguingly, the majority of these proteins have significant intrinsic disorder that contributes to their functions, yet the biophysics of these intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) have been characterized in limited detail. In this review, we first enumerate these myofilament-associated proteins with intrinsic disorder (MAPIDs) and recent biophysical studies to characterize their IDRs. We secondly summarize the biophysics governing IDR properties and the state-of-the-art in computational tools toward MAPID identification and characterization of their conformation ensembles. We conclude with an overview of future computational approaches toward broadening the understanding of intrinsic disorder in the cardiac sarcomere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Sun
- Research Center for Pharmacoinformatics (The State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Medicine Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
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10
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Berkeley RF, Debelouchina GT. Chemical tools for study and modulation of biomolecular phase transitions. Chem Sci 2022; 13:14226-14245. [PMID: 36545140 PMCID: PMC9749140 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc04907d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular phase transitions play an important role in organizing cellular processes in space and time. Methods and tools for studying these transitions, and the intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) that often drive them, are typically less developed than tools for studying their folded protein counterparts. In this perspective, we assess the current landscape of chemical tools for studying IDPs, with a specific focus on protein liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). We highlight methodologies that enable imaging and spectroscopic studies of these systems, including site-specific labeling with small molecules and the diverse range of capabilities offered by inteins and protein semisynthesis. We discuss strategies for introducing post-translational modifications that are central to IDP and LLPS function and regulation. We also investigate the nascent field of noncovalent small-molecule modulators of LLPS. We hope that this review of the state-of-the-art in chemical tools for interrogating IDPs and LLPS, along with an associated perspective on areas of unmet need, can serve as a valuable and timely resource for these rapidly expanding fields of study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond F. Berkeley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San DiegoLa JollaCAUSA
| | - Galia T. Debelouchina
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San DiegoLa JollaCAUSA
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11
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Mitrea DM, Mittasch M, Gomes BF, Klein IA, Murcko MA. Modulating biomolecular condensates: a novel approach to drug discovery. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2022; 21:841-862. [PMID: 35974095 PMCID: PMC9380678 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-022-00505-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In the past decade, membraneless assemblies known as biomolecular condensates have been reported to play key roles in many cellular functions by compartmentalizing specific proteins and nucleic acids in subcellular environments with distinct properties. Furthermore, growing evidence supports the view that biomolecular condensates often form by phase separation, in which a single-phase system demixes into a two-phase system consisting of a condensed phase and a dilute phase of particular biomolecules. Emerging understanding of condensate function in normal and aberrant cellular states, and of the mechanisms of condensate formation, is providing new insights into human disease and revealing novel therapeutic opportunities. In this Perspective, we propose that such insights could enable a previously unexplored drug discovery approach based on identifying condensate-modifying therapeutics (c-mods), and we discuss the strategies, techniques and challenges involved.
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12
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Zhu J, Salvatella X, Robustelli P. Small molecules targeting the disordered transactivation domain of the androgen receptor induce the formation of collapsed helical states. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6390. [PMID: 36302916 PMCID: PMC9613762 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34077-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins, which do not adopt well-defined structures under physiological conditions, are implicated in many human diseases. Small molecules that target the disordered transactivation domain of the androgen receptor have entered human trials for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), but no structural or mechanistic rationale exists to explain their inhibition mechanisms or relative potencies. Here, we utilize all-atom molecular dynamics computer simulations to elucidate atomically detailed binding mechanisms of the compounds EPI-002 and EPI-7170 to the androgen receptor. Our simulations reveal that both compounds bind at the interface of two transiently helical regions and induce the formation of partially folded collapsed helical states. We find that EPI-7170 binds androgen receptor more tightly than EPI-002 and we identify a network of intermolecular interactions that drives higher affinity binding. Our results suggest strategies for developing more potent androgen receptor inhibitors and general strategies for disordered protein drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Zhu
- grid.254880.30000 0001 2179 2404Dartmouth College, Department of Chemistry, Hanover, NH 03755 USA
| | - Xavier Salvatella
- grid.473715.30000 0004 6475 7299Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain ,grid.425902.80000 0000 9601 989XICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 0810 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paul Robustelli
- grid.254880.30000 0001 2179 2404Dartmouth College, Department of Chemistry, Hanover, NH 03755 USA
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13
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Merritt HI, Sawyer N, Watkins AM, Arora PS. Anchor Residues Govern Binding and Folding of an Intrinsically Disordered Domain. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:2723-2727. [PMID: 36153968 PMCID: PMC9773862 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Minimal protein mimics have yielded novel classes of protein-protein interaction inhibitors; however, this success has not been extended to targeting intrinsically disordered proteins, which represent a significant proportion of important therapeutic targets. We sought to determine the requirements for binding an intrinsically disordered region (IDR) by its native binding partner as a prelude to developing minimal protein mimics that regulate IDR interactions. Our analysis reinforces the hypothesis that IDRs reside on a fulcrum between unfolded and folded states and that a handful of key binding residues on partner protein surfaces dictate their folding. Our studies also suggest that minimal mimics of protein surfaces may not offer specific ligands for IDRs and that it would be more judicious to target the globular protein partners of IDRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley I Merritt
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Nicholas Sawyer
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Andrew M Watkins
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Paramjit S Arora
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
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14
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Sekar G, Singh G, Qin X, Guibao CD, Schwam B, Inde Z, Grace CR, Zhang W, Slavish PJ, Lin W, Chen T, Lee RE, Rankovic Z, Sarosiek K, Moldoveanu T. Small molecule SJ572946 activates BAK to initiate apoptosis. iScience 2022; 25:105064. [PMID: 36147946 PMCID: PMC9485059 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Poration of the outer mitochondrial membrane by the effector BCL-2 proteins BAK and BAX initiates apoptosis. BH3-only initiators BID and BIM trigger conformational changes in BAK and BAX transforming them from globular dormant proteins to oligomers of the apoptotic pores. Small molecules that can directly activate effectors are being sought for applications in cancer treatment. Here, we describe the small molecule SJ572946, discovered in a fragment-based screen that binds to the activation groove of BAK and selectively triggers BAK activation over that of BAX in liposome and mitochondrial permeabilization assays. SJ572946 independently kills BAK-expressing BCL2allKO HCT116 cells revealing on target cellular activity. In combination with apoptotic inducers and BH3 mimetics, SJ572946 kills experimental cancer cell lines. SJ572946 also cooperates with the endogenous BAK activator BID in activating a misfolded BAK mutant substantially impaired in activation. SJ572946 is a proof-of-concept tool for probing BAK-mediated apoptosis in preclinical cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giridhar Sekar
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA,Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Geetika Singh
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA,Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA,Children’s GMP, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Xingping Qin
- John B. Little Center for Radiation Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston,02115 MA, USA,Program in Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, 02115 MA, USA,Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston,02115 MA, USA
| | - Cristina D. Guibao
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Brittany Schwam
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA,Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Zintis Inde
- John B. Little Center for Radiation Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston,02115 MA, USA,Program in Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, 02115 MA, USA,Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston,02115 MA, USA
| | - Christy R. Grace
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Weixing Zhang
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - P. Jake Slavish
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Wenwei Lin
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Taosheng Chen
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Richard E. Lee
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Zoran Rankovic
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Kristopher Sarosiek
- John B. Little Center for Radiation Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston,02115 MA, USA,Program in Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, 02115 MA, USA,Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston,02115 MA, USA
| | - Tudor Moldoveanu
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA,Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Roeck, AR 72205, USA,Corresponding author
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15
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Liquid-liquid phase separation in tumor biology. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:221. [PMID: 35803926 PMCID: PMC9270353 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01076-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a novel principle for explaining the precise spatial and temporal regulation in living cells. LLPS compartmentalizes proteins and nucleic acids into micron-scale, liquid-like, membraneless bodies with specific functions, which were recently termed biomolecular condensates. Biomolecular condensates are executors underlying the intracellular spatiotemporal coordination of various biological activities, including chromatin organization, genomic stability, DNA damage response and repair, transcription, and signal transduction. Dysregulation of these cellular processes is a key event in the initiation and/or evolution of cancer, and emerging evidence has linked the formation and regulation of LLPS to malignant transformations in tumor biology. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the detailed mechanisms of biomolecular condensate formation and biophysical function and review the recent major advances toward elucidating the multiple mechanisms involved in cancer cell pathology driven by aberrant LLPS. In addition, we discuss the therapeutic perspectives of LLPS in cancer research and the most recently developed drug candidates targeting LLPS modulation that can be used to combat tumorigenesis.
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16
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Mehta S, Zhang J. Liquid-liquid phase separation drives cellular function and dysfunction in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2022; 22:239-252. [PMID: 35149762 PMCID: PMC10036213 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-022-00444-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is a disease of uncontrollably reproducing cells. It is governed by biochemical pathways that have escaped the regulatory bounds of normal homeostatic balance. This balance is maintained through precise spatiotemporal regulation of these pathways. The formation of biomolecular condensates via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) has recently emerged as a widespread mechanism underlying the spatiotemporal coordination of biological activities in cells. Biomolecular condensates are widely observed to directly regulate key cellular processes involved in cancer cell pathology, and the dysregulation of LLPS is increasingly implicated as a previously hidden driver of oncogenic activity. In this Perspective, we discuss how LLPS shapes the biochemical landscape of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohum Mehta
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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17
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Baggett DW, Nath A. Structure-Activity Relationships of Novel Tau Ligands: Passive Fibril Binders and Active Aggregation Inhibitors. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:701-708. [PMID: 35147406 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are core components of many biological processes and are central players in several pathologies. Despite being important drug targets, attempts to design small-molecule ligands that would help understand and attenuate their behavior are frustrated by the structural diversity exhibited by these flexible proteins. To accommodate the dynamic nature of IDPs, we developed a procedure that efficiently identifies active small-molecule ligands for disordered proteins. By exploring the chemical space around these ligands, we refined their effect on aggregation and identified molecular features critical for activity and affinity. Notably, the discovery of this new family of disordered protein ligands was achieved more quickly and with less expense than conventional high-throughput screening (HTS) or docking alone would have allowed. The resulting ligands include tau aggregation inhibitors as well as at least one compound that binds fibrils potently but does not appear to perturb the extent of kinetics of aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W. Baggett
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Box 357610, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Abhinav Nath
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Box 357610, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
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18
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Gu X, Zhuang A, Yu J, Chai P, Jia R, Ruan J. Phase separation drives tumor pathogenesis and evolution: all roads lead to Rome. Oncogene 2022; 41:1527-1535. [PMID: 35132182 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02195-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Cells coordinate numerous biochemical reactions in space and time, depending on the subdivision of the intracellular space into functional compartments. Compelling evidence has demonstrated that phase separation induces the formation of membrane-less compartments to partition intracellular substances in a strictly regulated manner and participates in various biological processes. Based on the strong association of cancer with the dysregulation of intracellular physiological processes and the occurrence of phase separation in cancer-associated condensates, phase separation undoubtedly plays a significant role in tumorigenesis. In this review, we summarize the drivers and functions of phase separation, elaborate on the roles of phase separation in tumor pathogenesis and evolution, and propose substantial research and therapeutic prospects for phase separation in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Gu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 20025, PR China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 20025, PR China
| | - Ai Zhuang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 20025, PR China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 20025, PR China
| | - Jie Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 20025, PR China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 20025, PR China
| | - Peiwei Chai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 20025, PR China. .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 20025, PR China.
| | - Renbing Jia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 20025, PR China. .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 20025, PR China.
| | - Jing Ruan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 20025, PR China. .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, 20025, PR China.
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19
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Robustelli P, Ibanez-de-Opakua A, Campbell-Bezat C, Giordanetto F, Becker S, Zweckstetter M, Pan AC, Shaw DE. Molecular Basis of Small-Molecule Binding to α-Synuclein. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:2501-2510. [PMID: 35130691 PMCID: PMC8855421 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c07591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Intrinsically disordered
proteins (IDPs) are implicated in many
human diseases. They have generally not been amenable to conventional
structure-based drug design, however, because their intrinsic conformational
variability has precluded an atomic-level understanding of their binding
to small molecules. Here we present long-time-scale, atomic-level
molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of monomeric α-synuclein
(an IDP whose aggregation is associated with Parkinson’s disease)
binding the small-molecule drug fasudil in which the observed protein–ligand
interactions were found to be in good agreement with previously reported
NMR chemical shift data. In our simulations, fasudil, when bound,
favored certain charge–charge and π-stacking interactions
near the C terminus of α-synuclein but tended not to form these
interactions simultaneously, rather breaking one of these interactions
and forming another nearby (a mechanism we term dynamic shuttling). Further simulations with small molecules chosen to modify these
interactions yielded binding affinities and key structural features
of binding consistent with subsequent NMR experiments, suggesting
the potential for MD-based strategies to facilitate the rational design
of small molecules that bind with disordered proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Robustelli
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, New York 10036, United States.,Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, United States
| | | | | | | | - Stefan Becker
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Zweckstetter
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37077 Göttingen, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.,DFG Research Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Albert C Pan
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, New York 10036, United States
| | - David E Shaw
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, New York 10036, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, United States
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20
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Sebák F, Ecsédi P, Bermel W, Luy B, Nyitray L, Bodor A. Selective
1
H
α
NMR Methods Reveal Functionally Relevant Proline
cis/trans
Isomers in Intrinsically Disordered Proteins: Characterization of Minor Forms, Effects of Phosphorylation, and Occurrence in Proteome. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202108361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fanni Sebák
- Eötvös Loránd University Institute of Chemistry Pázmány Péter s. 1/a 1117 Budapest Hungary
- Semmelweis University Doctoral School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Üllői út 26 1085 Budapest Hungary
| | - Péter Ecsédi
- Eötvös Loránd University Department of Biochemistry Pázmány Péter s. 1/c 1117 Budapest Hungary
| | - Wolfgang Bermel
- Bruker BioSpin GmbH Silberstreifen 4 76287 Rheinstetten Germany
| | - Burkhard Luy
- KIT-Institut für Organische Chemie IBG4—Magnetische Resonanz Fritz-Haber-Weg 6 76131 Karlsruhe Germany
| | - László Nyitray
- Eötvös Loránd University Department of Biochemistry Pázmány Péter s. 1/c 1117 Budapest Hungary
| | - Andrea Bodor
- Eötvös Loránd University Institute of Chemistry Pázmány Péter s. 1/a 1117 Budapest Hungary
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21
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Sebák F, Ecsédi P, Bermel W, Luy B, Nyitray L, Bodor A. Selective 1 H α NMR Methods Reveal Functionally Relevant Proline cis/trans Isomers in Intrinsically Disordered Proteins: Characterization of Minor Forms, Effects of Phosphorylation, and Occurrence in Proteome. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202108361. [PMID: 34585830 PMCID: PMC9299183 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202108361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
It is important to identify proline cis/trans isomers that appear in several regulatory mechanisms of proteins, and to characterize minor species that are present due to the conformational heterogeneity in intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). To obtain residue level information on these mobile systems we introduce two 1 Hα -detected, proline selective, real-time homodecoupled NMR experiments and analyze the proline abundant transactivation domain of p53. The measurements are sensitive enough to identify minor conformers present in 4-15 % amounts; moreover, we show the consequences of CK2 phosphorylation on the cis/trans-proline equilibrium. Using our results and available literature data we perform a statistical analysis on how the amino acid type effects the cis/trans-proline distribution. The methods are applicable under physiological conditions, they can contribute to find key proline isomers in proteins, and statistical analysis results may help in amino acid sequence optimization for biotechnological purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanni Sebák
- Eötvös Loránd UniversityInstitute of ChemistryPázmány Péter s. 1/a1117BudapestHungary
- Semmelweis UniversityDoctoral School of Pharmaceutical SciencesÜllői út 261085BudapestHungary
| | - Péter Ecsédi
- Eötvös Loránd UniversityDepartment of BiochemistryPázmány Péter s. 1/c1117BudapestHungary
| | | | - Burkhard Luy
- KIT-Institut für Organische ChemieIBG4—Magnetische ResonanzFritz-Haber-Weg 676131KarlsruheGermany
| | - László Nyitray
- Eötvös Loránd UniversityDepartment of BiochemistryPázmány Péter s. 1/c1117BudapestHungary
| | - Andrea Bodor
- Eötvös Loránd UniversityInstitute of ChemistryPázmány Péter s. 1/a1117BudapestHungary
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22
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Balatti GE, Barletta GP, Parisi G, Tosatto SCE, Bellanda M, Fernandez-Alberti S. Intrinsically Disordered Region Modulates Ligand Binding in Glutaredoxin 1 from Trypanosoma Brucei. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:13366-13375. [PMID: 34870419 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c07035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Glutaredoxins are small proteins that share a common well-conserved thioredoxin-fold and participate in a wide variety of biological processes. Among them, class II Grx are redox-inactive proteins involved in iron-sulfur (Fe-S) metabolism. In the present work, we report different structural and dynamics aspects of 1CGrx1 from the pathogenic parasite Trypanosoma brucei that differentiate it from other orthologues by the presence of a parasite-specific unstructured N-terminal extension whose role has not been fully elucidated yet. Previous nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies revealed significant differences with respect to the mutant lacking the disordered tail. Herein, we have performed atomistic molecular dynamics simulations that, complementary to NMR studies, confirm the intrinsically disordered nature of the N-terminal extension. Moreover, we confirm the main role of these residues in modulating the conformational dynamics of the glutathione-binding pocket. We observe that the N-terminal extension modifies the ligand cavity stiffening it by specific interactions that ultimately modulate its intrinsic flexibility, which may modify its role in the storage and/or transfer of preformed iron-sulfur clusters. These unique structural and dynamics aspects of Trypanosoma brucei 1CGrx1 differentiate it from other orthologues and could have functional relevance. In this way, our results encourage the study of other similar protein folding families with intrinsically disordered regions whose functional roles are still unrevealed and the screening of potential 1CGrx1 inhibitors as antitrypanosomal drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galo E Balatti
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina
| | - G Patricio Barletta
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Parisi
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina
| | - Silvio C E Tosatto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Massimo Bellanda
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padua, Italy
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23
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Guo H, Luo X, Sun L, Li J, Cui S. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B acts as a novel molecule to mediate testosterone synthesis and secretion in mouse Leydig cells by luteinizing hormone (LH) signaling pathway. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2021; 57:742-752. [PMID: 34355300 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-021-00545-x] [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: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (Cdkn1b, p27) plays important regulatory roles in many cellular processes. p27 is highly expressed in the mouse testis, but its roles and underlying mechanisms for testosterone synthesis and secretion remain not well understood. In the current study, we found that p27 located in Leydig cells and Sertoli cells of adult mouse testis. To explore the function of p27 in Leydig cells, p27 inhibitor and activator were injected into the adult mice, primary Leydig cells and TM3 cells. Our in vivo and in vitro results showed that change in the expression of p27 significantly alters the testosterone in both globe serum and culture medium. Meanwhile, the steroidogenesis-related gene expression was significantly regulated too. Moreover, our in vitro study showed that luteinizing hormone (LH) significantly increased p27 mRNA levels. Furthermore, our results proved that altering the mRNA expression of p27 leads to the synchronized changes of Lhcgr, Star, Cyp11a1, Hsd3b6, Cyp11a1, and Hsd17b3. Alterations of p27 also result in synchronously changes of RAF1 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. These findings indicate that p27 plays vital roles in LH-induced testosterone production, providing a novel mechanism that p27 acts as an upstream molecule to elevate ERK1/2 phosphorylation to promote the expression of StAR and other cholesterol-metabolizing enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongzhou Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnolpgy, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 10021, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnolpgy, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 10021, People's Republic of China
| | - Longjie Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnolpgy, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 10021, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianhua Li
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, The Seventh Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Sheng Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnolpgy, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 10021, People's Republic of China.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
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24
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Iconaru LI, Das S, Nourse A, Shelat AA, Zuo J, Kriwacki RW. Small Molecule Sequestration of the Intrinsically Disordered Protein, p27 Kip1, Within Soluble Oligomers. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:167120. [PMID: 34197833 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Proteins that exhibit intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) are prevalent in the human proteome and perform diverse biological functions, including signaling and regulation. Due to these important roles, misregulation of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) is associated with myriad human diseases, including neurodegeneration and cancer. The inherent flexibility of IDPs limits the applicability of the traditional structure-based drug design paradigm; therefore, IDPs have long been considered "undruggable". Using NMR spectroscopy and other methods, we previously discovered small, drug-like molecules that bind specifically, albeit weakly, to dynamic clusters of aromatic residues within p27Kip1 (p27), an archetypal disordered protein involved in cell cycle regulation. Here, using synthetic chemistry, NMR spectroscopy and other biophysical methods, we discovered elaborated analogs of our previously reported molecules with 30-fold increased affinity for p27 (apparent Kd = 57 ± 19 μM). Strikingly, using analytical ultracentrifugation methods, we showed that the highest affinity compounds caused p27 to form soluble, disordered oligomers. Based on these observations, we propose that sequestration within soluble oligomers may represent a general strategy for therapeutically targeting disease-associated IDPs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi I Iconaru
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; Present address: Sanofi, Waltham, MA 02451, USA
| | - Sourav Das
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Amanda Nourse
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; Molecular Interactions Analysis Shared Resource, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Anang A Shelat
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jian Zuo
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE 68178, USA.
| | - Richard W Kriwacki
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
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25
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Sivinski J, Zhang DD, Chapman E. Targeting NRF2 to treat cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 76:61-73. [PMID: 34102289 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
NRF2 is a basic leucine zipper (bZip) transcription factor that is the master regulator of redox homeostasis. Under basal conditions, the cellular level of NRF2 is low due to a posttranslational regulation by the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). But, when an organism is challenged with oxidative or xenobiotic stress, the NRF2 pathway is activated by inhibition of the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex that normally marks NRF2 for destruction. For several decades, researchers have searched for molecules that can intentionally activate NRF2, as this was shown to be a means to prevent certain diseases, at least in animal models. In the present era, there are many compounds known to activate the NRF2 pathway including natural products and synthetic compounds, covalent and non-covalent compounds, and others. However, it was also revealed that like many protective pathways, the NRF2 pathway has a dark side. Just as NRF2 can protect normal cells from damage, it can protect malignant cells from damage. As cells transform, they are exposed to many stressors and aberrant upregulation of NRF2 can facilitate transformation and it can help cancer cells to grow, to spread, and to resist treatment. For this reason, researchers are also interested in the discovery and development of NRF2 inhibitors. In the present review, we will begin with a general discussion of NRF2 structure and function, we will discuss the latest in NRF2 non-covalent activators, and we will discuss the current state of NRF2 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared Sivinski
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Donna D Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Eli Chapman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
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26
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Hosoya Y, Ohkanda J. Intrinsically Disordered Proteins as Regulators of Transient Biological Processes and as Untapped Drug Targets. Molecules 2021; 26:2118. [PMID: 33917117 PMCID: PMC8067799 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26082118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are critical players in the dynamic control of diverse cellular processes, and provide potential new drug targets because their dysregulation is closely related to many diseases. This review focuses on several medicinal studies that have identified low-molecular-weight inhibitors of IDPs. In addition, clinically relevant liquid-liquid phase separations-which critically involve both intermolecular interactions between IDPs and their posttranslational modification-are analyzed to understand the potential of IDPs as new drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Junko Ohkanda
- Academic Assembly, Institute of Agriculture, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-Minowa, Kami-Ina, Nagano 399-4598, Japan;
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27
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Biesaga M, Frigolé-Vivas M, Salvatella X. Intrinsically disordered proteins and biomolecular condensates as drug targets. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2021; 62:90-100. [PMID: 33812316 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered domains represent attractive therapeutic targets because they play key roles in cancer, as well as in neurodegenerative and infectious diseases. They are, however, considered undruggable because they do not form stable binding pockets for small molecules and, therefore, have not been prioritized in drug discovery. Under physiological solution conditions many biomedically relevant intrinsically disordered proteins undergo phase separation processes leading to the formation of mesoscopic highly dynamic assemblies, generally known as biomolecular condensates that define environments that can be quite different from the solutions surrounding them. In what follows, we review key recent findings in this area and show how biomolecular condensation can offer opportunities for modulating the activities of intrinsically disordered targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Biesaga
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Joint BSC-IRB Research Programme in Computational Biology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Frigolé-Vivas
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Joint BSC-IRB Research Programme in Computational Biology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Salvatella
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Joint BSC-IRB Research Programme in Computational Biology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain.
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28
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Beveridge R, Calabrese AN. Structural Proteomics Methods to Interrogate the Conformations and Dynamics of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins. Front Chem 2021; 9:603639. [PMID: 33791275 PMCID: PMC8006314 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.603639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and regions of intrinsic disorder (IDRs) are abundant in proteomes and are essential for many biological processes. Thus, they are often implicated in disease mechanisms, including neurodegeneration and cancer. The flexible nature of IDPs and IDRs provides many advantages, including (but not limited to) overcoming steric restrictions in binding, facilitating posttranslational modifications, and achieving high binding specificity with low affinity. IDPs adopt a heterogeneous structural ensemble, in contrast to typical folded proteins, making it challenging to interrogate their structure using conventional tools. Structural mass spectrometry (MS) methods are playing an increasingly important role in characterizing the structure and function of IDPs and IDRs, enabled by advances in the design of instrumentation and the development of new workflows, including in native MS, ion mobility MS, top-down MS, hydrogen-deuterium exchange MS, crosslinking MS, and covalent labeling. Here, we describe the advantages of these methods that make them ideal to study IDPs and highlight recent applications where these tools have underpinned new insights into IDP structure and function that would be difficult to elucidate using other methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Beveridge
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Antonio N. Calabrese
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
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29
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Boija A, Klein IA, Young RA. Biomolecular Condensates and Cancer. Cancer Cell 2021; 39:174-192. [PMID: 33417833 PMCID: PMC8721577 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Malignant transformation is characterized by dysregulation of diverse cellular processes that have been the subject of detailed genetic, biochemical, and structural studies, but only recently has evidence emerged that many of these processes occur in the context of biomolecular condensates. Condensates are membrane-less bodies, often formed by liquid-liquid phase separation, that compartmentalize protein and RNA molecules with related functions. New insights from condensate studies portend a profound transformation in our understanding of cellular dysregulation in cancer. Here we summarize key features of biomolecular condensates, note where they have been implicated-or will likely be implicated-in oncogenesis, describe evidence that the pharmacodynamics of cancer therapeutics can be greatly influenced by condensates, and discuss some of the questions that must be addressed to further advance our understanding and treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Boija
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Isaac A Klein
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
| | - Richard A Young
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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30
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Applications of Solution NMR in Drug Discovery. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26030576. [PMID: 33499337 PMCID: PMC7865596 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26030576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
During the past decades, solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has demonstrated itself as a promising tool in drug discovery. Especially, fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) has benefited a lot from the NMR development. Multiple candidate compounds and FDA-approved drugs derived from FBDD have been developed with the assistance of NMR techniques. NMR has broad applications in different stages of the FBDD process, which includes fragment library construction, hit generation and validation, hit-to-lead optimization and working mechanism elucidation, etc. In this manuscript, we reviewed the current progresses of NMR applications in fragment-based drug discovery, which were illustrated by multiple reported cases. Moreover, the NMR applications in protein-protein interaction (PPI) modulators development and the progress of in-cell NMR for drug discovery were also briefly summarized.
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31
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Ruan H, Yu C, Niu X, Zhang W, Liu H, Chen L, Xiong R, Sun Q, Jin C, Liu Y, Lai L. Computational strategy for intrinsically disordered protein ligand design leads to the discovery of p53 transactivation domain I binding compounds that activate the p53 pathway. Chem Sci 2020; 12:3004-3016. [PMID: 34164069 PMCID: PMC8179352 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc04670a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins or intrinsically disordered regions (IDPs) have gained much attention in recent years due to their vital roles in biology and prevalence in various human diseases. Although IDPs are perceived as attractive therapeutic targets, rational drug design targeting IDPs remains challenging because of their conformational heterogeneity. Here, we propose a hierarchical computational strategy for IDP drug virtual screening (IDPDVS) and applied it in the discovery of p53 transactivation domain I (TAD1) binding compounds. IDPDVS starts from conformation sampling of the IDP target, then it combines stepwise conformational clustering with druggability evaluation to identify potential ligand binding pockets, followed by multiple docking screening runs and selection of compounds that can bind multi-conformations. p53 is an important tumor suppressor and restoration of its function provides an opportunity to inhibit cancer cell growth. TAD1 locates at the N-terminus of p53 and plays key roles in regulating p53 function. No compounds that directly bind to TAD1 have been reported due to its highly disordered structure. We successfully used IDPDVS to identify two compounds that bind p53 TAD1 and restore wild-type p53 function in cancer cells. Our study demonstrates that IDPDVS is an efficient strategy for IDP drug discovery and p53 TAD1 can be directly targeted by small molecules. A hierarchical computational strategy for IDP drug virtual screening (IDPDVS) was proposed and successfully applied to identify compounds that bind p53 TAD1 and restore wild-type p53 function in cancer cells.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Ruan
- BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China +861062757486
| | - Chen Yu
- BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China +861062757486
| | - Xiaogang Niu
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China.,Beijing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Weilin Zhang
- BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China +861062757486
| | - Hanzhong Liu
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University Beijing 100871 China +861062751490
| | - Limin Chen
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Ruoyao Xiong
- BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China +861062757486
| | - Qi Sun
- BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China +861062757486
| | - Changwen Jin
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China.,Beijing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Ying Liu
- BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China +861062757486.,Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University Beijing 100871 China +861062751490
| | - Luhua Lai
- BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China +861062757486.,Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University Beijing 100871 China +861062751490.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
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32
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The Role of Protein Disorder in Nuclear Transport and in Its Subversion by Viruses. Cells 2020; 9:cells9122654. [PMID: 33321790 PMCID: PMC7764567 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The transport of host proteins into and out of the nucleus is key to host function. However, nuclear transport is restricted by nuclear pores that perforate the nuclear envelope. Protein intrinsic disorder is an inherent feature of this selective transport barrier and is also a feature of the nuclear transport receptors that facilitate the active nuclear transport of cargo, and the nuclear transport signals on the cargo itself. Furthermore, intrinsic disorder is an inherent feature of viral proteins and viral strategies to disrupt host nucleocytoplasmic transport to benefit their replication. In this review, we highlight the role that intrinsic disorder plays in the nuclear transport of host and viral proteins. We also describe viral subversion mechanisms of the host nuclear transport machinery in which intrinsic disorder is a feature. Finally, we discuss nuclear import and export as therapeutic targets for viral infectious disease.
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33
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Hosoya Y, Nojo W, Kii I, Suzuki T, Imanishi M, Ohkanda J. Identification of synthetic inhibitors for the DNA binding of intrinsically disordered circadian clock transcription factors. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:11203-11206. [PMID: 32969426 DOI: 10.1039/d0cc04861e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Essential components of the human circadian clock, BMAL1 and CLOCK, which are intrinsically disordered transcription factors, were expressed and subjected to a fluorescent in vitro binding assay using an E-box DNA fragment. Screening of a chemical library identified 5,8-quinoxalinedione (1), which was found to inhibit binding of the heterodimer BMAL1/CLOCK to E-box at low micromolar concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Hosoya
- Academic Assembly, Institute of Agriculture, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-Minowa, Kami-Ina, Nagano 399-4598, Japan.
| | - Wataru Nojo
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, N10 W8, North-Ward, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
| | - Isao Kii
- Academic Assembly, Institute of Agriculture, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-Minowa, Kami-Ina, Nagano 399-4598, Japan.
| | - Takanori Suzuki
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, N10 W8, North-Ward, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
| | - Miki Imanishi
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Junko Ohkanda
- Academic Assembly, Institute of Agriculture, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-Minowa, Kami-Ina, Nagano 399-4598, Japan.
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34
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Herrera-Nieto P, Pérez A, De Fabritiis G. Small Molecule Modulation of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:5003-5010. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.0c00381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Herrera-Nieto
- Computational Science Laboratory, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adrià Pérez
- Computational Science Laboratory, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gianni De Fabritiis
- Computational Science Laboratory, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Acellera Ltd., 08005 Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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35
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Characterization of partially ordered states in the intrinsically disordered N-terminal domain of p53 using millisecond molecular dynamics simulations. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12402. [PMID: 32709860 PMCID: PMC7382488 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69322-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The exploration of intrinsically disordered proteins in isolation is a crucial step to understand their complex dynamical behavior. In particular, the emergence of partially ordered states has not been explored in depth. The experimental characterization of such partially ordered states remains elusive due to their transient nature. Molecular dynamics mitigates this limitation thanks to its capability to explore biologically relevant timescales while retaining atomistic resolution. Here, millisecond unbiased molecular dynamics simulations were performed in the exemplar N-terminal region of p53. In combination with state-of-the-art Markov state models, simulations revealed the existence of several partially ordered states accounting for [Formula: see text] 40% of the equilibrium population. Some of the most relevant states feature helical conformations similar to the bound structure of p53 to Mdm2, as well as novel [Formula: see text]-sheet elements. This highlights the potential complexity underlying the energy surface of intrinsically disordered proteins.
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36
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MNDA controls the expression of MCL-1 and BCL-2 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Exp Hematol 2020; 88:68-82.e5. [PMID: 32682001 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2020.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The myeloid nuclear differentiation antigen (MNDA) is a stress-induced protein that promotes degradation of the anti-apoptotic factor MCL-1 and apoptosis in myeloid cells. MNDA is also expressed in normal lymphoid cells and in B-cell clones isolated from individuals with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a disease characterized by abnormal apoptosis control. We found that MNDA expression levels inversely correlate with the amount of the anti-apoptotic proteins MCL-1 and BCL-2 in human CLL samples. We report that in response to chemotherapeutic agents that induce genotoxic stress, MNDA exits its typical nucleolar localization and accumulates in the nucleoplasm of CLL and lymphoid cells. Then, MNDA binds chromatin at Mcl1 and Bcl2 genes and affects the transcriptional competence of RNA polymerase II. Our data also reveal that MNDA specifically associates with Mcl1 and Bcl2 (pre-) mRNAs and favors their rapid turnover as a prompt response to genotoxic stress. We propose that this rapid dynamic tuning of RNA levels, which leads to the destabilization of Mcl1 and Bcl2 transcripts, represents a post-transcriptional mechanism of apoptosis control in CLL cells. These results provide an explanation of previous clinical data and corroborate the finding that higher MNDA expression levels in CLL are associated with a better clinical course.
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37
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Chen J, Liu X, Chen J. Targeting Intrinsically Disordered Proteins through Dynamic Interactions. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E743. [PMID: 32403216 PMCID: PMC7277182 DOI: 10.3390/biom10050743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are over-represented in major disease pathways and have attracted significant interest in understanding if and how they may be targeted using small molecules for therapeutic purposes. While most existing studies have focused on extending the traditional structure-centric drug design strategies and emphasized exploring pre-existing structure features of IDPs for specific binding, several examples have also emerged to suggest that small molecules could achieve specificity in binding IDPs and affect their function through dynamic and transient interactions. These dynamic interactions can modulate the disordered conformational ensemble and often lead to modest compaction to shield functionally important interaction sites. Much work remains to be done on further elucidation of the molecular basis of the dynamic small molecule-IDP interaction and determining how it can be exploited for targeting IDPs in practice. These efforts will rely critically on an integrated experimental and computational framework for disordered protein ensemble characterization. In particular, exciting advances have been made in recent years in enhanced sampling techniques, Graphic Processing Unit (GPU)-computing, and protein force field optimization, which have now allowed rigorous physics-based atomistic simulations to generate reliable structure ensembles for nontrivial IDPs of modest sizes. Such de novo atomistic simulations will play crucial roles in exploring the exciting opportunity of targeting IDPs through dynamic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianlin Chen
- Department of Hematology, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou 318000, Zhejiang, China;
| | - Xiaorong Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA;
| | - Jianhan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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38
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Santofimia-Castaño P, Rizzuti B, Xia Y, Abian O, Peng L, Velázquez-Campoy A, Neira JL, Iovanna J. Targeting intrinsically disordered proteins involved in cancer. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:1695-1707. [PMID: 31667555 PMCID: PMC7190594 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03347-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) do not have a well-defined structure under physiological conditions, but they have key roles in cell signaling and regulation, and they are frequently related to the development of diseases, such as cancer and other malignancies. This has converted IDPs in attractive therapeutic targets; however, targeting IDPs is challenging because of their dynamic nature. In the last years, different experimental and computational approaches, as well as the combination of both, have been explored to identify molecules to target either the hot-spots or the allosteric sites of IDPs. In this review, we summarize recent developments in successful targeting of IDPs, all of which are involved in different cancer types. The strategies used to develop and design (or in one particular example, to repurpose) small molecules targeting IDPs are, in a global sense, similar to those used in well-folded proteins: (1) screening of chemically diverse or target-oriented compound libraries; or (2) study of the interfaces involved in recognition of their natural partners, and design of molecular candidates capable of binding to such binding interface. We describe the outcomes of using these approaches in targeting IDPs involved in cancer, in the view to providing insight, to target IDPs in general. In a broad sense, the designed small molecules seem to target the most hydrophobic regions of the IDPs, hampering macromolecule (DNA or protein)-IDP interactions; furthermore, in most of the molecule-IDP complexes described so far, the protein remains disordered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Santofimia-Castaño
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS, UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille, France
| | - Bruno Rizzuti
- CNR-NANOTEC, Licryl-UOS Cosenza and CEMIF.Cal, Department of Physics, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Cubo 31 C, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Yi Xia
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, No. 55 Daxuecheng South Road, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China
| | - Olga Abian
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ling Peng
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille, UMR 7325, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille, France
| | - Adrián Velázquez-Campoy
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
- Fundacion ARAID, Government of Aragon, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - José L Neira
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain.
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Avda. del Ferrocarril s/n, Elche, 03202, Alicante, Spain.
| | - Juan Iovanna
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS, UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille, France.
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39
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Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) play important roles in the regulation of cellular function and in disease, and thus they represent an important group of therapeutic targets. Yet, members of this "disorderome" have not yet been successfully targeted by drugs, primarily because traditional design principles cannot be applied to their highly dynamic, heterogeneous structural states. Binders developed against IDPs so far suffer from very weak binding and inability to act in a cellular context. Here, we describe a possible generic method for the targeting of IDPs via covalent modification, which could entail specific and strong binding and inhibitory potential, making such "warheads" reasonable starting points of drug-development efforts. We demonstrate this principle by addressing the cysteine-specific covalent modification of calpastatin, the IDP inhibitor of the calcium-dependent cysteine protease calpain. We describe the protocol for monitoring the covalent modification of the inhibitor, measuring the Ki of its inhibition and comparing it to the Kd of its interaction with the enzyme. Our premise is that the underlying principles can be easily adapted to screen for molecules targeting other, disease-related, IDPs in the future.
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40
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Novel insights into inner ear development and regeneration for targeted hearing loss therapies. Hear Res 2019; 397:107859. [PMID: 31810596 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2019.107859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common sensory deficit in humans. Despite the global scale of the problem, only limited treatment options are available today. The mammalian inner ear is a highly specialized postmitotic organ, which lacks proliferative or regenerative capacity. Since the discovery of hair cell regeneration in non-mammalian species however, much attention has been placed on identifying possible strategies to reactivate similar responses in humans. The development of successful regenerative approaches for hearing loss strongly depends on a detailed understanding of the mechanisms that control human inner ear cellular specification, differentiation and function, as well as on the development of robust in vitro cellular assays, based on human inner ear cells, to study these processes and optimize therapeutic interventions. We summarize here some aspects of inner ear development and strategies to induce regeneration that have been investigated in rodents. Moreover, we discuss recent findings in human inner ear development and compare the results with findings from animal models. Finally, we provide an overview of strategies for in vitro generation of human sensory cells from pluripotent and somatic progenitors that may provide a platform for drug development and validation of therapeutic strategies in vitro.
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41
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Tsytlonok M, Sanabria H, Wang Y, Felekyan S, Hemmen K, Phillips AH, Yun MK, Waddell MB, Park CG, Vaithiyalingam S, Iconaru L, White SW, Tompa P, Seidel CAM, Kriwacki R. Dynamic anticipation by Cdk2/Cyclin A-bound p27 mediates signal integration in cell cycle regulation. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1676. [PMID: 30976006 PMCID: PMC6459857 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09446-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
p27Kip1 is an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) that inhibits cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk)/cyclin complexes (e.g., Cdk2/cyclin A), causing cell cycle arrest. Cell division progresses when stably Cdk2/cyclin A-bound p27 is phosphorylated on one or two structurally occluded tyrosine residues and a distal threonine residue (T187), triggering degradation of p27. Here, using an integrated biophysical approach, we show that Cdk2/cyclin A-bound p27 samples lowly-populated conformations that provide access to the non-receptor tyrosine kinases, BCR-ABL and Src, which phosphorylate Y88 or Y88 and Y74, respectively, thereby promoting intra-assembly phosphorylation (of p27) on distal T187. Even when tightly bound to Cdk2/cyclin A, intrinsic flexibility enables p27 to integrate and process signaling inputs, and generate outputs including altered Cdk2 activity, p27 stability, and, ultimately, cell cycle progression. Intrinsic dynamics within multi-component assemblies may be a general mechanism of signaling by regulatory IDPs, which can be subverted in human disease. The cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p27Kip1 (p27) folds upon binding to Cdk/cyclin complexes and during cell cycle progression p27 becomes phosphorylated, which triggers its ubiquitination and degradation. Here the authors use an integrated approach and show that Cdk2/cyclin A-bound p27 samples lowly-populated conformations that dynamically anticipate the sequential steps of the signaling cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maksym Tsytlonok
- VIB Center for Structural Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan, 2 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hugo Sanabria
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA.,Lehrstuhl für Molekulare Physikalische Chemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Yuefeng Wang
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, West Cancer Center and Research Institute, Memphis, TN, 38138, USA
| | - Suren Felekyan
- Lehrstuhl für Molekulare Physikalische Chemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Katherina Hemmen
- Lehrstuhl für Molekulare Physikalische Chemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Aaron H Phillips
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Mi-Kyung Yun
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - M Brett Waddell
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.,Molecular Interaction Analysis Shared Resource, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38103, USA
| | - Cheon-Gil Park
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Sivaraja Vaithiyalingam
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.,Molecular Interaction Analysis Shared Resource, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38103, USA
| | - Luigi Iconaru
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Stephen W White
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Peter Tompa
- VIB Center for Structural Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan, 2 1050, Brussels, Belgium. .,Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Claus A M Seidel
- Lehrstuhl für Molekulare Physikalische Chemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Richard Kriwacki
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA. .,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.
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42
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Billur R, Sabo TM, Maurer MC. Thrombin Exosite Maturation and Ligand Binding at ABE II Help Stabilize PAR-Binding Competent Conformation at ABE I. Biochemistry 2019; 58:1048-1060. [PMID: 30672691 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Thrombin, derived from zymogen prothrombin (ProT), is a serine protease involved in procoagulation, anticoagulation, and platelet activation. Thrombin's actions are regulated through anion-binding exosites I and II (ABE I and ABE II) that undergo maturation during activation. Mature ABEs can utilize exosite-based communication to fulfill thrombin functions. However, the conformational basis behind such long-range communication and the resultant ligand binding affinities are not well understood. Protease activated receptors (PARs), involved in platelet activation and aggregation, are known to target thrombin ABE I. Unexpectedly, PAR3 (44-56) can already bind to pro-ABE I of ProT. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) ligand-enzyme titrations were used to characterize how individual PAR1 (49-62) residues interact with pro-ABE I and mature ABE I. 1D proton line broadening studies demonstrated that binding affinities for native PAR1P (49-62, P54) and for the weak binding variant PAR1G (49-62, P54G) increased as ProT was converted to mature thrombin. 1H,15N-HSQC titrations revealed that PAR1G residues K51, E53, F55, D58, and E60 exhibited less affinity to pro-ABE I than comparable residues in PAR3G (44-56, P51G). Individual PAR1G residues then displayed tighter binding upon exosite maturation. Long-range communication between thrombin exosites was examined by saturating ABE II with phosphorylated GpIbα (269-282, 3Yp) and monitoring the binding of PAR1 and PAR3 peptides to ABE I. Individual PAR residues exhibited increased affinities in this dual-ligand environment supporting the presence of interexosite allostery. Exosite maturation and beneficial long-range allostery are proposed to help stabilize an ABE I conformation that can effectively bind PAR ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Billur
- Department of Chemistry , University of Louisville , Louisville , Kentucky 40292 , United States
| | - T Michael Sabo
- Department of Medicine, James Graham Brown Cancer Center , University of Louisville , Louisville , Kentucky 40202 , United States
| | - Muriel C Maurer
- Department of Chemistry , University of Louisville , Louisville , Kentucky 40292 , United States
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43
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44
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Dobrev VS, Fred LM, Gerhart KP, Metallo SJ. Characterization of the Binding of Small Molecules to Intrinsically Disordered Proteins. Methods Enzymol 2018; 611:677-702. [PMID: 30471704 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2018.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) comprise a large fraction of eukaryotic proteomes. IDPs are prevalent in cellular regulation, signaling networks, and disease pathways. The abundance and activity of IDPs is tightly controlled at multiple levels, and their dysregulation is associated with disease. Because of the importance of IDPs in both normal and disease states of the cell, IDPs are attractive targets for modulation by small molecules both to understand their biology and to provide potential drug leads. Multiple screens have successfully identified small molecules that bind to IDPs. Here, we describe how surface plasmon resonance, NMR, and fluorescence methods can be used to characterize the direct binding affinity between small molecules and IDPs. We describe how these techniques can contribute to identifying previously unknown small-molecule binding sites on IDPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veselin S Dobrev
- Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Lisette M Fred
- Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Kaitlyn P Gerhart
- Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Steven J Metallo
- Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States; Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States.
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45
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Fuxreiter M. Fold or not to fold upon binding - does it really matter? Curr Opin Struct Biol 2018; 54:19-25. [PMID: 30340123 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2018.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Protein interactions are usually determined by well-defined contact patterns. In this scenario, structuring of the interface is a prerequisite, which takes place prior or coupled to binding. Recent data, however, indicate plasticity of the templated folding pathway as well as considerable variations: polymorphism or dynamics in the bound-state. Conformational fluctuations in both cases are modulated by non-native, transient contacts, which complement suboptimal binding motifs to improve affinity. Here I discuss both templated folding and fuzzy binding mechanisms and propose a uniform scheme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Fuxreiter
- MTA-DE Laboratory of Protein Dynamics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Debrecen, Hungary.
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46
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Ruan H, Sun Q, Zhang W, Liu Y, Lai L. Targeting intrinsically disordered proteins at the edge of chaos. Drug Discov Today 2018; 24:217-227. [PMID: 30278223 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2018.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins or intrinsically disordered regions (IDPs or IDRs) are those that do not fold into defined tertiary structures under physiological conditions. Given their prevalence in various diseases, IDPs are attractive therapeutic targets. However, because of the dynamic nature of the IDP structure, conventional structure-based drug design methods cannot be directly applied. Thanks to recent progress in understanding the mechanisms underlying IDP and ligand interactions, computational strategies for IDP-targeted rational drug discovery are emerging. Here, we summarize recent developments in computational IDP drug design strategies and their successful applications, analyze the typical properties of reported IDP-binding compounds (iIDPs), and discuss the major challenges ahead as well as possible solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Ruan
- BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Qi Sun
- BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Weilin Zhang
- BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Ying Liu
- BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Center for Quantitative Biology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Luhua Lai
- BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Center for Quantitative Biology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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47
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Sturlese M, Manta B, Bertarello A, Bonilla M, Lelli M, Zambelli B, Grunberg K, Mammi S, Comini MA, Bellanda M. The lineage-specific, intrinsically disordered N-terminal extension of monothiol glutaredoxin 1 from trypanosomes contains a regulatory region. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13716. [PMID: 30209332 PMCID: PMC6135854 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31817-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutaredoxins (Grx) are small proteins conserved throughout all the kingdoms of life that are engaged in a wide variety of biological processes and share a common thioredoxin-fold. Among them, class II Grx are redox-inactive proteins involved in iron-sulfur (FeS) metabolism. They contain a single thiol group in their active site and use low molecular mass thiols such as glutathione as ligand for binding FeS-clusters. In this study, we investigated molecular aspects of 1CGrx1 from the pathogenic parasite Trypanosoma brucei brucei, a mitochondrial class II Grx that fulfills an indispensable role in vivo. Mitochondrial 1CGrx1 from trypanosomes differs from orthologues in several features including the presence of a parasite-specific N-terminal extension (NTE) whose role has yet to be elucidated. Previously we have solved the structure of a truncated form of 1CGrx1 containing only the conserved glutaredoxin domain but lacking the NTE. Our aim here is to investigate the effect of the NTE on the conformation of the protein. We therefore solved the NMR structure of the full-length protein, which reveals subtle but significant differences with the structure of the NTE-less form. By means of different experimental approaches, the NTE proved to be intrinsically disordered and not involved in the non-redox dependent protein dimerization, as previously suggested. Interestingly, the portion comprising residues 65–76 of the NTE modulates the conformational dynamics of the glutathione-binding pocket, which may play a role in iron-sulfur cluster assembly and delivery. Furthermore, we disclosed that the class II-strictly conserved loop that precedes the active site is critical for stabilizing the protein structure. So far, this represents the first communication of a Grx containing an intrinsically disordered region that defines a new protein subgroup within class II Grx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Sturlese
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy.,Molecular Modeling Section (MMS), Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, via Marzolo 5, Padova, Italy
| | - Bruno Manta
- Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Laboratorio de Fisicoquímica Biológica, Instituto de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Igua 4425, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay.,New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA
| | - Andrea Bertarello
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Mariana Bonilla
- Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Moreno Lelli
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy.,Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy.,Centre de RMN à Très Hauts Champs, Institut des Sciences Analytiques (UMR 5280 - CNRS, ENS Lyon, UCB Lyon 1), Université de Lyon, 5 rue de la Doua, 69100, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Barbara Zambelli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Viale Giuseppe Fanin 40, 40127, Bologna, Italy
| | - Karin Grunberg
- Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Stefano Mammi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Marcelo A Comini
- Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Massimo Bellanda
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy.
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48
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Structural Ensemble Modulation upon Small-Molecule Binding to Disordered Proteins. J Mol Biol 2018; 430:2288-2292. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2018.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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49
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Prostate-Associated Gene 4 (PAGE4): Leveraging the Conformational Dynamics of a Dancing Protein Cloud as a Therapeutic Target. J Clin Med 2018; 7:jcm7060156. [PMID: 29914187 PMCID: PMC6025510 DOI: 10.3390/jcm7060156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. While genomic alterations have been identified in PCa, in contrast to some other cancers, use of such information to personalize treatment is still in its infancy. Here, we discuss how PAGE4, a protein which appears to act both as an oncogenic factor as well as a metastasis suppressor, is a novel therapeutic target for PCa. Inhibiting PAGE4 may be a viable strategy for low-risk PCa where it is highly upregulated. Conversely, PAGE4 expression is downregulated in metastatic PCa and, therefore, reinstituting its sustained expression may be a promising option to subvert or attenuate androgen-resistant PCa. Thus, fine-tuning the levels of PAGE4 may represent a novel approach for personalized medicine in PCa.
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50
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Aarthy M, Kumar D, Giri R, Singh SK. E7 oncoprotein of human papillomavirus: Structural dynamics and inhibitor screening study. Gene 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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