1
|
Fu H, Wu TH, Ma CP, Yen FL. Improving Water Solubility and Skin Penetration of Ursolic Acid through a Nanofiber Process to Achieve Better In Vitro Anti-Breast Cancer Activity. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:1147. [PMID: 39339184 PMCID: PMC11434903 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16091147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2024] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Woman's breast cancer has always been among the top ten causes of cancer death, and nearly 2% to 5% of locally advanced breast cancers develop a fungating breast wound. Fungal breast cancer leads to skin ulcers, wound ruptures, and other bacterial infections in patients. Ursolic acid (UA), a natural pentacyclic triterpene compound, is widely distributed in many fruits. Previous studies demonstrated that UA has anti-breast cancer, antifungal, and improved wound-healing effects. UA, however, had poor water solubility and low bioavailability, restricting its clinical application. Nanofibers have the advantages of rapid dissolution, improved stability, and bioavailability of active ingredients. We had successfully prepared ursolic acid nanofibers (UANFs) and effectively improved their water solubility and skin penetration. UANFs can increase water solubility by improving the physicochemical properties, including increased surface area, intermolecular bonding with excipients, and amorphous transformation. Furthermore, UANFs had better anti-breast cancer activity than raw UA. UANFs inhibited the expression of phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and phospho-extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK)1/2, and induced cleaved caspase-3 protein expression, but had no effect on the raw UA treatment. In summary, UANFs enhanced the skin absorption of UA and improved its anti-breast cancer efficacy. We expect that UANFs can be used as an anti-breast cancer treatment and reduce the discomfort of breast cancer patients during dressing changes, but more detailed efficacy and safety trials still need to be conducted in further studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hsuan Fu
- Doctoral Degree Program in Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Hui Wu
- Department of Pharmacy and Master Program, Collage of Pharmacy and Health Care, Tajen University, Pingtung 90741, Taiwan;
| | - Chih-Peng Ma
- Department of Radiology, Pingtung Christian Hospital, Pingtung 90059, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Lin Yen
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
- Drug Development and Value Creation Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
- Department of Fragrance and Cosmetic Science, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bosso G, Cintra Herpst AC, Laguía O, Adetchessi S, Serrano R, Blasco MA. Differential contribution for ERK1 and ERK2 kinases in BRAF V600E-triggered phenotypes in adult mouse models. Cell Death Differ 2024; 31:804-819. [PMID: 38698060 PMCID: PMC11165013 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-024-01300-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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The BRAF gene is mutated in a plethora of human cancers. The majority of such molecular lesions result in the expression of a constitutively active BRAF variant (BRAFV600E) which continuously bolsters cell proliferation. Although we recently addressed the early effects triggered by BRAFV600E-activation, the specific contribution of ERK1 and ERK2 in BRAFV600E-driven responses in vivo has never been explored. Here we describe the first murine model suitable for genetically dissecting the ERK1/ERK2 impact in multiple phenotypes induced by ubiquitous BRAFV600E-expression. We unveil that ERK1 is dispensable for BRAFV600E-dependent lifespan shortening and for BRAFV600E-driven tumor growth. We show that BRAFV600E-expression provokes an ERK1-independent lymphocyte depletion which does not rely on p21CIP1-induced cell cycle arrest and is unresponsive to ERK-chemical inhibition. Moreover, we also reveal that ERK1 is dispensable for BRAFV600E-triggered cytotoxicity in lungs and that ERK-chemical inhibition abrogates some of these detrimental effects, such as DNA damage, in Club cells but not in pulmonary lymphocytes. Our data suggest that ERK1/ERK2 contribution to BRAFV600E-driven phenotypes is dynamic and varies dependently on cell type, the biological function, and the level of ERK-pathway activation. Our findings also provide useful insights into the comprehension of BRAFV600E-driven malignancies pathophysiology as well as the consequences in vivo of novel ERK pathway-targeted anti-cancer therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Bosso
- Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, Madrid, E-28029, Spain
| | - Ana Carolina Cintra Herpst
- Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, Madrid, E-28029, Spain
| | - Oscar Laguía
- Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, Madrid, E-28029, Spain
| | - Sarah Adetchessi
- Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, Madrid, E-28029, Spain
| | - Rosa Serrano
- Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, Madrid, E-28029, Spain
| | - Maria A Blasco
- Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, Madrid, E-28029, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Joddar B, Loyola CD, Ramirez SP, Singh I. Inhibition of ERK 1/2 pathway downregulates YAP1/TAZ signaling in human cardiomyocytes exposed to hyperglycemic conditions. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 648:72-80. [PMID: 36736094 PMCID: PMC9928844 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.01.014] [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: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Hyperglycemia-mediated cardiac dysfunction is an acute initiator in the development of vascular complications, leading to cardiac fibrosis. To investigate the effects of hyperglycemia-mediated changes in cardiomyocytes, cells were cultured in-vitro under normoglycemic (5 mM or 25 mM D-glucose) and hyperglycemic (5 → 50 mM or 25 → 50 mM D-glucose) conditions, respectively. After 24-h of hyperglycemic exposure, cells were collected for RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) studies to further investigate the differentially expressed genes (DEG) related to inflammation and fibrosis in samples cultured under hyperglycemic-in comparison with normoglycemic-conditions. Western Blotting was done to evaluate the protein expression of YAP1/TAZ under hyperglycemia induced stress conditions, as it is known to be involved in fibrotic and vascular inflammatory-mediated conditions. RNA-seq revealed the DEG of multiple targets including matrix metalloproteinases and inflammatory mediators, whose expression was significantly altered in the 5 → 50 mM in comparison with the 25 → 50 mM condition. Western Blotting showed a significant upregulation of the protein expression of the YAP1/TAZ pathway under these conditions as well (5 → 50 mM). To further probe the relationship between the inflammatory extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK 1/2) and its downstream effects on YAP1/TAZ expression we studied the effect of inhibition of the ERK 1/2 signaling cascade in the 5 → 50 mM condition. The application of an ERK 1/2 inhibitor inhibited the expression of the YAP1/TAZ protein in the 5 → 50 mM condition, and this strategy may be useful in preventing and improving hyperglycemia associated cardiovascular damage and inflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Binata Joddar
- Inspired Materials & Stem-Cell Based Tissue Engineering Laboratory (IMSTEL), The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA; Department of Metallurgical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering, M201 Engineering, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA; Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
| | - Carla D Loyola
- Inspired Materials & Stem-Cell Based Tissue Engineering Laboratory (IMSTEL), The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA; Department of Metallurgical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering, M201 Engineering, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Salma P Ramirez
- Inspired Materials & Stem-Cell Based Tissue Engineering Laboratory (IMSTEL), The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA; Department of Metallurgical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering, M201 Engineering, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Irtisha Singh
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, 8447 Riverside Pkwy Medical Research and Education Building II, Suite 4344, Bryan, TX, 77807-3260, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Fu L, Chen S, He G, Chen Y, Liu B. Targeting Extracellular Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in Cancer: An Update on Pharmacological Small-Molecule Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2022; 65:13561-13573. [PMID: 36205714 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), the only known substrate of MEK1/2, is located downstream of the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK (MAPK) pathway and is associated with the abnormal activation and poor prognosis of cancer. To date, several small-molecule inhibitors of RAS, RAF, and MEK have been reported to make rapid advances in cancer therapy; however, acquired resistance still occurs, thereby weakening the therapeutic efficacy of these inhibitors. Recently, selective inhibition of ERK1/2 has been regarded as a potential cancer therapeutic strategy that can not only effectively block the MAPK pathway but also overcome drug resistance caused by upstream mutations in RAS, RAF, and MEK. Herein, we summarize the oncogenic roles, key signaling network, and the single- and dual-target inhibitors of ERK1/2 in preclinical and clinical trials. Together, these inspiring findings shed new light on the discovery of more small-molecule inhibitors of ERK1/2 as candidate drugs to improve cancer therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leilei Fu
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Siwei Chen
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Gu He
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Le J, Xiao X, Zhang D, Feng Y, Wu Z, Mao Y, Mou C, Xie Y, Chen X, Liu H, Cui W. Neuroprotective Effects of an Edible Pigment Brilliant Blue FCF against Behavioral Abnormity in MCAO Rats. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15081018. [PMID: 36015166 PMCID: PMC9414705 DOI: 10.3390/ph15081018] [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: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemic stroke leads to hypoxia-induced neuronal death and behavioral abnormity, and is a major cause of death in the modern society. However, the treatments of this disease are limited. Brilliant Blue FCF (BBF) is an edible pigment used in the food industry that with multiple aromatic rings and sulfonic acid groups in its structure. BBF and its derivatives were proved to cross the blood-brain barrier and have advantages on the therapy of neuropsychiatric diseases. In this study, BBF, but not its derivatives, significantly ameliorated chemical hypoxia-induced cell death in HT22 hippocampal neuronal cell line. Moreover, protective effects of BBF were attributed to the inhibition of the extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) pathways as evidenced by Western blotting analysis and specific inhibitors. Furthermore, BBF significantly reduced neurological and behavioral abnormity, and decreased brain infarct volume and cerebral edema induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO) in rats. MCAO-induced increase of p-ERK in ischemic penumbra was reduced by BBF in rats. These results suggested that BBF prevented chemical hypoxia-induced otoxicity and MCAO-induced behavioral abnormity via the inhibition of the ERK and GSK3β pathways, indicating the potential use of BBF for treating ischemic stroke
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Wei Cui
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +86-574-8760-9589
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lebedev TD, Khabusheva ER, Mareeva SR, Ivanenko KA, Morozov AV, Spirin PV, Rubtsov PM, Snezhkina AV, Kudryavtseva AV, Sorokin MI, Buzdin AA, Prassolov VS. Identification of cell type-specific correlations between ERK activity and cell viability upon treatment with ERK1/2 inhibitors. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102226. [PMID: 35787369 PMCID: PMC9358475 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased MAPK signaling is a hallmark of various cancers and is a central regulator of cell survival. Direct ERK1/2 inhibition is considered a promising approach to avoid ERK1/2 reactivation caused by upstream kinases BRAF, MEK1/2, and KRAS, as well as by receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors, but the dynamics and selectivity of ERK1/2 inhibitors are much less studied compared with BRAF or MEK inhibitors. Using ERK1/2 and downstream kinase ELK1 reporter cell lines of lung cancer (H1299; NRASQ61K), colon cancer (HCT-116; KRASG13D), neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y), and leukemia (U937), we examined the relationship between ERK inhibition and drug-induced toxicity for five ERK inhibitors: SCH772984, ravoxertinib, LY3214996, ulixertinib, and VX-11e, as well as one MEK inhibitor, PD0325901. Comparing cell viability and ERK inhibition revealed different ERK dependencies for these cell lines. We identify several drugs, such as SCH772984 and VX-11e, which induce excessive toxicity not directly related to ERK1/2 inhibition in specific cell lines. We also show that PD0325901, LY3214996, and ulixertinib are prone to ERK1/2 reactivation over time. We distinguished two types of ERK1/2 reactivation: the first could be reversed by adding a fresh dose of inhibitors, while the second persists even after additional treatments. We also showed that cells that became resistant to the MEK1/2 inhibitor PD0325901 due to ERK1/2 reactivation remained sensitive to ERK1/2 inhibitor ulixertinib. Our data indicate that correlation of ERK inhibition with drug-induced toxicity in multiple cell lines may help to find more selective and effective ERK1/2 inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timofey D Lebedev
- Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Elmira R Khabusheva
- Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sofia R Mareeva
- Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Karina A Ivanenko
- Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey V Morozov
- Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Pavel V Spirin
- Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Petr M Rubtsov
- Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasiya V Snezhkina
- Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna V Kudryavtseva
- Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maxim I Sorokin
- Institute of Personalized Oncology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Group for Genomic Regulation of Cell Signaling Systems, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, Russia; Department of Bioinformatics and Molecular Networks, OmicsWay Corp, Walnut, California, USA
| | - Anton A Buzdin
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia; Institute of Personalized Oncology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Group for Genomic Regulation of Cell Signaling Systems, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, Russia; Department of Bioinformatics and Molecular Networks, OmicsWay Corp, Walnut, California, USA
| | - Vladimir S Prassolov
- Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fu B, Dou X, Zou M, Lu H, Wang K, Liu Q, Liu Y, Wang W, Jin M, Kong D. Anticancer Effects of Amlodipine Alone or in Combination With Gefitinib in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:902305. [PMID: 35721193 PMCID: PMC9198715 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.902305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Amlodipine is a Ca2+ channel blocker commonly used to cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and angina; however, its anticancer effects in lung cancer A549 cells remain unknown. In the present study, we explored the antitumor effects and molecular mechanisms underlying the action of amlodipine in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells in vitro and in vivo. We observed that amlodipine suppressed the proliferation of A549 lung cancer cells by arresting the tumor cell cycle. Mechanistically, our results revealed that amlodipine could attenuate the phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt and Raf/MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways through epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and modulated cell cycle-related proteins such as cyclin D1, p-Rb, p27, and p21. Subsequently, amlodipine combined with gefitinib could synergistically inhibit cell proliferation by arresting the cell cycle. Moreover, amlodipine combined with gefitinib effectively attenuated the growth of A549 lung cancer xenografts when compared with monotherapy, affording an excellent therapeutic effect. Collectively, our results indicate that amlodipine alone or combined with the novel anticancer drug gefitinib might be a potential therapeutic strategy for NSCLC patients with wild-type EGFR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bingjie Fu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaojing Dou
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Miao Zou
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Hao Lu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Kaixuan Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Qingxia Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yao Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Key Laboratory of Auditory Speech and Balance Medicine, Institute of Otolaryngology of Tianjin, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Key Laboratory of Auditory Speech and Balance Medicine, Institute of Otolaryngology of Tianjin, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Meihua Jin
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Dexin Kong
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zou X, Zhou Q, Nie Y, Gou J, Yang J, Zhu J, Li Z, Gong Y. Tescalcin promotes highly invasive papillary thyroid microcarcinoma by regulating FOS/ERK signaling pathway. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:595. [PMID: 35641944 PMCID: PMC9158259 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09643-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Part of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) has a high risk of tumor invasion and metastasis, which may occur in the regional lymph node metastasis or distant metastasis, severely threatening the life of patients. Invasion and metastasis are tightly involved in the proliferation, migration and invasion in cancer. This study aimed to investigate the role of tescalcin (TESC) in the proliferation, migration and invasion of PTMC. Methods The expressions of TESC in PTMC tissues and cells were detected by immunohistochemistry or qRT-PCR. Then, TPC-1 and BHT101 cells transfected with TESC-RNAi were used for the transcriptome sequencing. The proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of TPC-1 and BHT101 cells were detected by CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometric assay, transwell migration and scratch test. Moreover, TESC-RNAi transfected TPC-1 and BHT101 cells were subcutaneously injected into mice. Tumor volume and weight were calculated, and the positive rate of Ki-67 was determined by immunohistochemistry. Finally, the levels of c-Fos, ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 were determined by western blot. Results The expressions of TESC in PTMC tissues and cell lines were prominently enhanced. Transcriptome sequencing results showed that c-Fos was decreased in TPC-1 and BHT101 cells transfected with TESC-RNAi, which was associated with multiple different signaling pathways including the MAPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, TESC promoted the progress of PTMC by regulating the expression of c-Fos, which might be associated with the ERK signaling pathway. Conclusions TESC promoted the growth and metastasis of PTMC through regulating c-Fos/ERK1/2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiuhe Zou
- Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Qian Zhou
- Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yan Nie
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Junhe Gou
- Department of pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jingqiang Zhu
- Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhihui Li
- Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yanping Gong
- Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zhang W, Zheng X, Gong Y, Jiang T, Qiu J, Wu X, Lu F, Wang Z, Hong Z. VX-11e protects articular cartilage and subchondral bone in osteoarthritis by inhibiting the RIP1/RIP3/MLKL and MAPK signaling pathways. Bioorg Chem 2022; 120:105632. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.105632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
|
10
|
Ware TB, Hsu KL. Advances in chemical proteomic evaluation of lipid kinases-DAG kinases as a case study. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2021; 65:101-108. [PMID: 34311404 PMCID: PMC8671151 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.06.007] [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: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Advancements in chemical proteomics and mass spectrometry lipidomics are providing new opportunities to understand lipid kinase activity, specificity, and regulation on a global cellular scale. Here, we describe recent developments in chemical biology of lipid kinases with a focus on those members that phosphorylate diacylglycerols. We further discuss future implications of how these mass spectrometry-based approaches can be adapted for studies of additional lipid kinase members with the aim of bridging the gap between protein and lipid kinase-focused investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy B Ware
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, United States
| | - Ku-Lung Hsu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, United States; Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States; Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States; University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
McCloud RL, Yuan K, Mahoney KE, Bai DL, Shabanowitz J, Ross MM, Hunt DF, Hsu KL. Direct Target Site Identification of a Sulfonyl-Triazole Covalent Kinase Probe by LC-MS Chemical Proteomics. Anal Chem 2021; 93:11946-11955. [PMID: 34431655 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c01591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Chemical proteomics is widely used for the global investigation of protein activity and binding of small molecule ligands. Covalent probe binding and inhibition are assessed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to gain molecular information on targeted proteins and probe-modified sites. The identification of amino acid sites modified by large complex probes, however, is particularly challenging because of the increased size, hydrophobicity, and charge state of peptides derived from modified proteins. These studies are important for direct evaluation of proteome-wide selectivity of inhibitor scaffolds used to develop targeted covalent inhibitors. Here, we disclose reverse-phase chromatography and MS dissociation conditions tailored for binding site identification using a clickable covalent kinase inhibitor containing a sulfonyl-triazole reactive group (KY-26). We applied this LC-MS/MS strategy to identify tyrosine and lysine sites modified by KY-26 in functional sites of kinases and other ATP-/NAD-binding proteins (>65 in total) in live cells. Our studies revealed key bioanalytical conditions to guide future chemical proteomic workflows for direct target site identification of complex irreversible probes and inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L McCloud
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Kun Yuan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Keira E Mahoney
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Dina L Bai
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Jeffrey Shabanowitz
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Mark M Ross
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Donald F Hunt
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Ku-Lung Hsu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, United States.,University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Zhou M, Chen J, Meng K, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Lu P, Feng Y, Huang M, Dong Q, Li X, Tian H. Production of bioactive recombinant human fibroblast growth factor 12 using a new transient expression vector in E. coli and its neuroprotective effects. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:5419-5431. [PMID: 34244814 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11430-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, an increasing number of studies have shown that fibroblast growth factor 12 (FGF12) plays important roles in regulating neural development and function. Importantly, changes of FGF12 expression are thought to be related to the pathophysiology of many neurological diseases. However, little research has been performed to explore the protective effect of FGF12 on nerve damage. This study aims to explore its neuroprotective effects using our recombinant humanized FGF12 (rhFGF12). The hFGF12 gene was cloned and ligated into an expression vector to construct a recombinant plasmid pET-3a-hFGF12. Single colonies were screened to obtain high expression engineering strains, and fermentation and purification protocols for rhFGF12 were designed and optimized. The biological activities and related mechanisms of rhFGF12 were investigated by MTT assay using NIH3T3 and PC12 cell lines. The in vitro neurotoxicity model of H2O2-induced oxidative injury in PC12 cells was established to explore the protective effects of rhFGF12. The results indicate that the beneficial effects of rhFGF12 were most likely achieved by promoting cell proliferation and reducing apoptosis. Moreover, a transgenic zebrafish (islet) with strong GFP fluorescence in the motor neurons of the hindbrain was used to establish a central injury model caused by mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). The results suggested that rhFGF12 could ameliorate central injury induced by MMF in zebrafish. In conclusion, we have established an efficient method to express and purify active rhFGF12 using an Escherichia coli expression system. Besides, rhFGF12 plays a protective effect of on nerve damage, and it provides a promising therapeutic approach for nerve injury. KEY POINTS: • Effective expression and purification of bioactive rhFGF12 protein in E. coli. • ERK/MAPK pathway is involved in rhFGF12-stimulated proliferation on PC12 cells. • The rhFGF12 has the neuroprotective effects by inhibiting apoptosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mi Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Jiangfei Chen
- Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Kuikui Meng
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Panyu Lu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Yongjun Feng
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Mai Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Qiaoxiang Dong
- Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China.,The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Xiaokun Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China.
| | - Haishan Tian
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kong D, Li J, Li N, Zhang S, Xu Y. Multiple bioanalytical methods reveal a thyroid-disrupting mechanism related to the membrane receptor integrin α vβ 3. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 279:116933. [PMID: 33773180 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a manufactured chemical, is suitable for large-scale production and has extensive applications. Although restricted for use, DEHP is still ubiquitous in the environment and shows potential to disrupt the structure or function of the thyroid system. However, its toxic mechanism is complex and not clearly understood. In this study, a battery of methods was employed to investigate DEHP-induced thyroid-disrupting effects and their mechanism of action, focusing on a newly discovered membrane receptor-mediated mechanism. The results showed that DEHP promoted rat pituitary tumor (GH3) cell proliferation and c-fos gene expression at environment level concentrations (2 and 5 μmol/L) in a manner similar to that of the natural thyroid hormone 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3). The macromolecule DEHP-BSA cannot pass through the cell membrane to interact with nuclear receptors but upregulated the c-fos gene expression when administered at concentrations comparable to DEHP concentrations; molecular docking demonstrated that DEHP has affinity for the membrane receptor integrin αvβ3; DEHP at 2 μmol/L upregulated the β3 gene expression in GH3 cells; after the addition of integrin αvβ3-inhibiting RGD peptide, DEHP-induced c-fos gene upregulation decreased. All of these findings support the supposition that DEHP-induced thyroid-disrupting effects might be mediated by the membrane receptor integrin αvβ3. Moreover, DEHP activated the downstream extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) pathway, upregulating the gene expression of raf-1, MEK-1 and MAPK1 and increasing the protein levels of p-ERK; interestingly, ERK1/2 activation and c-fos upregulation induced by DEHP were attenuated by PD98059 (an ERK1/2 inhibitor). Taken together, the data suggest that the membrane receptor integrin αvβ3 and the downstream ERK1/2 pathway might be involved in DEHP-induced thyroid-disrupting effects. This study provides new insight into the thyroid-disrupting effect and the underlying mechanism and will advance the effort to construct adverse outcome pathways of DEHP and other thyroid hormone disrupting chemicals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongdong Kong
- Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Jian Li
- Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
| | - Na Li
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Shurong Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Ying Xu
- Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
The HOXC10 gene, a member of the HOX genes family, plays crucial roles in mammalian physiological processes, such as limb morphological development, limb regeneration, and lumbar motor neuron differentiation. HOXC10 is also associated with angiogenesis, fat metabolism, and sex regulation. Additional evidence suggests that HOXC10 dysregulation is closely associated with various tumors. HOXC10 is an important transcription factor that can activate several oncogenic pathways by regulating various target molecules such as ERK, AKT, p65, and epithelial mesenchymal transition-related genes. HOXC10 also induces drug resistance in cancers by promoting the DNA repair pathway. In this review, we summarize HOXC10 gene structure and expression as well as the role of HOXC10 in different human cancer processes. This review will provide insight into the status of HOXC10 research and help identify novel targets for cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinyong Fang
- Department of Science and Education, Jinhua Guangfu Oncology Hospital, Jinhua, China
| | - Jianjun Wang
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Jinhua Guangfu Oncology Hospital, Jinhua, China
| | - Liangliang Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenxia Xu
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Jasek-Gajda E, Jurkowska H, JasiŃska M, Litwin JA, Lis GJ. Combination of ERK2 and STAT3 Inhibitors Promotes Anticancer Effects on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2021; 17:517-527. [PMID: 32859630 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Deregulated activation of signaling through the RAS/RAF/mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathways is involved in numerous hematological malignancies, making it an attractive therapeutic target. This study aimed to assess the effect of the combination of ERK2 inhibitor VX-11e and STAT3 inhibitor STA-21 on acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines REH and MOLT-4. MATERIALS AND METHODS REH and MOLT-4 cell lines were cultured with each drug alone and in combination. Cell viability, ERK activity, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis and oxidative stress induction were assessed by flow cytometry. Protein levels of STAT3, phospho-STAT3, protein tyrosine phosphatase 4A3 (PTP4A3), survivin, p53 and p21 were determined by western blotting. RESULTS VX-11e in combination with STA-21 significantly inhibited cell viability, induced G0/G1 cell-cycle arrest, enhanced production of reactive oxygen species, and induced apoptosis. These effects were associated with an increased level of p21 protein in REH cells and with reduced levels of phopho-STAT3, survivin and PTP4A3 proteins in MOLT-4 cells. CONCLUSION Our findings provide a rationale for combined inhibition of RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK and STAT3 pathways in order to enhance anticancer effects against acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Jasek-Gajda
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Halina Jurkowska
- Chair of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - MaŁgorzata JasiŃska
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Jan A Litwin
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Grzegorz J Lis
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Borne AL, Brulet JW, Yuan K, Hsu KL. Development and biological applications of sulfur-triazole exchange (SuTEx) chemistry. RSC Chem Biol 2021; 2:322-337. [PMID: 34095850 PMCID: PMC8174820 DOI: 10.1039/d0cb00180e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Sulfur electrophiles constitute an important class of covalent small molecules that have found widespread applications in synthetic chemistry and chemical biology. Various electrophilic scaffolds, including sulfonyl fluorides and arylfluorosulfates as recent examples, have been applied for protein bioconjugation to probe ligand sites amenable for chemical proteomics and drug discovery. In this review, we describe the development of sulfonyl-triazoles as a new class of electrophiles for sulfur-triazole exchange (SuTEx) chemistry. SuTEx achieves covalent reaction with protein sites through irreversible modification of a residue with an adduct group (AG) upon departure of a leaving group (LG). A principal differentiator of SuTEx from other chemotypes is the selection of a triazole heterocycle as the LG, which introduces additional capabilities for tuning the sulfur electrophile. We describe the opportunities afforded by modifications to the LG and AG alone or in tandem to facilitate nucleophilic substitution reactions at the SO2 center in cell lysates and live cells. As a result of these features, SuTEx serves as an efficient platform for developing chemical probes with tunable bioactivity to study novel nucleophilic sites on established and poorly annotated protein targets. Here, we highlight a suite of biological applications for the SuTEx electrophile and discuss future goals for this enabling covalent chemistry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam L. Borne
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of MedicineCharlottesvilleVirginia 22908USA
| | - Jeffrey W. Brulet
- Department of Chemistry, University of VirginiaMcCormick Road, P.O. Box 400319CharlottesvilleVirginia 22904USA+1-434-297-4864
| | - Kun Yuan
- Department of Chemistry, University of VirginiaMcCormick Road, P.O. Box 400319CharlottesvilleVirginia 22904USA+1-434-297-4864
| | - Ku-Lung Hsu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of MedicineCharlottesvilleVirginia 22908USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of VirginiaMcCormick Road, P.O. Box 400319CharlottesvilleVirginia 22904USA+1-434-297-4864
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVA 22903USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginia 22908USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Crowe MS, Zavorotinskaya T, Voliva CF, Shirley MD, Wang Y, Ruddy DA, Rakiec DP, Engelman JA, Stuart DD, Freeman AK. RAF-Mutant Melanomas Differentially Depend on ERK2 Over ERK1 to Support Aberrant MAPK Pathway Activation and Cell Proliferation. Mol Cancer Res 2021; 19:1063-1075. [PMID: 33707308 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-20-1022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Half of advanced human melanomas are driven by mutant BRAF and dependent on MAPK signaling. Interestingly, the results of three independent genetic screens highlight a dependency of BRAF-mutant melanoma cell lines on BRAF and ERK2, but not ERK1. ERK2 is expressed higher in melanoma compared with other cancer types and higher than ERK1 within melanoma. However, ERK1 and ERK2 are similarly required in primary human melanocytes transformed with mutant BRAF and are expressed at a similar, lower amount compared with established cancer cell lines. ERK1 can compensate for ERK2 loss as seen by expression of ERK1 rescuing the proliferation arrest mediated by ERK2 loss (both by shRNA or inhibition by an ERK inhibitor). ERK2 knockdown, as opposed to ERK1 knockdown, led to more robust suppression of MAPK signaling as seen by RNA-sequencing, qRT-PCR, and Western blot analysis. In addition, treatment with MAPK pathway inhibitors led to gene expression changes that closely resembled those seen upon knockdown of ERK2 but not ERK1. Together, these data demonstrate that ERK2 drives BRAF-mutant melanoma gene expression and proliferation as a function of its higher expression compared with ERK1. Selective inhibition of ERK2 for the treatment of melanomas may spare the toxicity associated with pan-ERK inhibition in normal tissues. IMPLICATIONS: BRAF-mutant melanomas overexpress and depend on ERK2 but not ERK1, suggesting that ERK2-selective inhibition may be toxicity sparing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Crowe
- Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | - Charles F Voliva
- Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, California
| | - Matthew D Shirley
- Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Yanqun Wang
- Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - David A Ruddy
- Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel P Rakiec
- Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Jeffery A Engelman
- Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Darrin D Stuart
- Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Alyson K Freeman
- Oncology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
YY1 regulated transcription-based stratification of gastric tumors and identification of potential therapeutic candidates. J Cell Commun Signal 2021; 15:251-267. [PMID: 33620645 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-021-00608-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. The transcription factor YY1 regulates diverse biological processes, including cell proliferation, development, DNA damage responses, and carcinogenesis. This study was designed to explore the role of YY1 regulated transcription in gastric cancer. YY1 silencing in gastric cancer cells has resulted in the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin, JNK/MAPK, ERK/MAPK, ER, and HIF-1α signaling pathways. Genome-wide mRNA profiling upon silencing the expression YY1 gene in gastric cancer cells and comparison with the previously identified YY1 regulated genes from other lineages revealed a moderate overlap among the YY1 regulated genes. Despite the differing genes, all the YY1 regulated gene sets were expressed in most of the intestinal subtype gastric tumors and a subset of diffuse subtype gastric tumors. Integrative functional genomic analysis of the YY1 gene sets revealed an association among the pathways Wnt/β-catenin, Rapamycin, Cyclin-D1, Myc, E2F, PDGF, and AKT. Further, the drugs capable of inhibiting YY1 mediated transcription were identified as suitable targeted therapeutic candidates for gastric tumors with activated YY1. The data emerging from the investigation would pave the way for the development of YY1-based targeted therapeutics for gastric cancer.
Collapse
|
19
|
Huang T, Hosseinibarkooie S, Borne AL, Granade ME, Brulet JW, Harris TE, Ferris HA, Hsu KL. Chemoproteomic profiling of kinases in live cells using electrophilic sulfonyl triazole probes. Chem Sci 2021; 12:3295-3307. [PMID: 34164099 PMCID: PMC8179411 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc06623k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Sulfonyl-triazoles are a new class of electrophiles that mediate covalent reaction with tyrosine residues on proteins through sulfur-triazole exchange (SuTEx) chemistry. Recent studies demonstrate the broad utility and tunability of SuTEx chemistry for chemical proteomics and protein ligand discovery. Here, we present a strategy for mapping protein interaction networks of structurally complex binding elements using functionalized SuTEx probes. We show that the triazole leaving group (LG) can serve as a releasable linker for embedding hydrophobic fragments to direct molecular recognition while permitting efficient proteome-wide identification of binding sites in live cells. We synthesized a series of SuTEx probes functionalized with a lipid kinase fragment binder for discovery of ligandable tyrosines residing in catalytic and regulatory domains of protein and metabolic kinases in live cells. We performed competition studies with kinase inhibitors and substrates to demonstrate that probe binding is occurring in an activity-dependent manner. Our functional studies led to discovery of probe-modified sites within the C2 domain that were important for downregulation of protein kinase C-alpha in response to phorbol ester activation. Our proof of concept studies highlight the triazole LG of SuTEx probes as a traceless linker for locating protein binding sites targeted by complex recognition elements in live cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Huang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia McCormick Road, P.O. Box 400319 Charlottesville Virginia 22904 USA +1-434-297-4864
| | | | - Adam L Borne
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine Charlottesville Virginia 22908 USA
| | - Mitchell E Granade
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine Charlottesville Virginia 22908 USA
| | - Jeffrey W Brulet
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia McCormick Road, P.O. Box 400319 Charlottesville Virginia 22904 USA +1-434-297-4864
| | - Thurl E Harris
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine Charlottesville Virginia 22908 USA
| | - Heather A Ferris
- Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine Charlottesville Virginia 22903 USA
| | - Ku-Lung Hsu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia McCormick Road, P.O. Box 400319 Charlottesville Virginia 22904 USA +1-434-297-4864
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine Charlottesville Virginia 22908 USA
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia Charlottesville VA 22903 USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia 22908 USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Parthasarathy A, Mantravadi PK, Kalesh K. Detectives and helpers: Natural products as resources for chemical probes and compound libraries. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 216:107688. [PMID: 32980442 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
About 70% of the drugs in use are derived from natural products, either used directly or in chemically modified form. Among all possible small molecules (not greater than 5 kDa), only a few of them are biologically active. Natural product libraries may have a higher rate of finding "hits" than synthetic libraries, even with the use of fewer compounds. This is due to the complementarity between the "chemical space" of small molecules and biological macromolecules such as proteins, DNA and RNA, in addition to the three-dimensional complexity of NPs. Chemical probes are molecules which aid in the elucidation of the biological mechanisms behind the action of drugs or drug-like molecules by binding with macromolecular/cellular interaction partners. Probe development and application have been spurred by advancements in photoaffinity label synthesis, affinity chromatography, activity based protein profiling (ABPP) and instrumental methods such as cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and advanced/hyphenated mass spectrometry (MS) techniques, as well as genome sequencing and bioengineering technologies. In this review, we restrict ourselves to a survey of natural products (including peptides/mini-proteins and excluding antibodies), which have been applied largely in the last 5 years for the target identification of drugs/drug-like molecules used in research on infectious diseases, and the description of their mechanisms of action.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anutthaman Parthasarathy
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, 85 Lomb Memorial Dr, Rochester, NY 14623, USA
| | | | - Karunakaran Kalesh
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Lower Mount Joy, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Combination of ERK2 inhibitor VX-11e and voreloxin synergistically enhances anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in leukemia cells. Apoptosis 2020; 24:849-861. [PMID: 31482470 PMCID: PMC6823322 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-019-01564-6] [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] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
ERK1/2 inhibitors are new promising anticancer drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the combination of ERK2 inhibitor VX-11e and voreloxin on MOLM-14, K562, REH and MOLT-4 leukemia cell lines. We found that VX-11e alone and in combination with voreloxin significantly decreased ERK activation in all cell lines tested. To evaluate the interactions of the drugs, cells were treated for 24 h with VX-11e or voreloxin alone and in combination at fixed ratios based on IC50 values. The combinatorial effects of both drugs were synergistic over a wide range of concentrations in MOLM-14, REH and MOLT-4 cell lines. In K562 cells, three effects were found to be additive, one antagonistic and only one synergistic. The results showed that incubation with both VX-11e and voreloxin inhibited the growth of leukemia cells, affected cell cycle and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism of these effects might be attributed to an increased expression of p21 and a decreased expression of survivin and NF-κB in all cell lines tested except from K562 cells. In conclusion, combination of VX-11e and voreloxin can exert a synergistic anticancer effect in leukemia cells.
Collapse
|
22
|
Differential functions of ERK1 and ERK2 in lung metastasis processes in triple-negative breast cancer. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8537. [PMID: 32444778 PMCID: PMC7244517 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65250-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer characterized by metastasis, drug resistance and high rates of recurrence. With a lack or targeted therapies, TNBC is challenging to treat and carries a poor prognosis. Patients with TNBC tumors expressing high levels of ERK2 have a poorer prognosis than those with low ERK2-expressing tumors. The MAPK pathway is often found to be highly activated in TNBC, however the precise functions of the ERK isoforms (ERK1 and ERK2) in cancer progression have not been well defined. We hypothesized that ERK2, but not ERK1, promotes the cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype and metastasis in TNBC. Stable knockdown clones of the ERK1 and ERK2 isoforms were generated in SUM149 and BT549 TNBC cells using shRNA lentiviral vectors. ERK2 knockdown significantly inhibited anchorage-independent colony formation and mammosphere formation, indicating compromised self-renewal capacity. This effect correlated with a reduction in migration and invasion. SCID-beige mice injected via the tail vein with ERK clones were employed to determine metastatic potential. SUM149 shERK2 cells had a significantly lower lung metastatic burden than control mice or mice injected with SUM149 shERK1 cells. The Affymetrix HGU133plus2 microarray platform was employed to identify gene expression changes in ERK isoform knockdown clones. Comparison of gene expression levels between SUM149 cells with ERK2 or ERK1 knockdown revealed differential and in some cases opposite effects on mRNA expression levels. Those changes associated with ERK2 knockdown predominantly altered regulation of CSCs and metastasis. Our findings indicate that ERK2 promotes metastasis and the CSC phenotype in TNBC.
Collapse
|
23
|
Deng H, Lei Q, Wu Y, He Y, Li W. Activity-based protein profiling: Recent advances in medicinal chemistry. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 191:112151. [PMID: 32109778 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) has become an emerging chemical proteomic approach to illustrate the interaction mechanisms between compounds and proteins. This approach has combined organic synthesis, biochemistry, cell biology, biophysics and bioinformatics to accelerate the process of drug discovery in target identification and validation, as well as in the stage of lead discovery and optimization. This review will summarize new developments and applications of ABPP in medicinal chemistry. Here, we mainly described the design principles of activity-base probes (ABPs) and general workflows of ABPP approach. Moreover, we discussed various basic and advanced ABPP strategies and their applications in medicinal chemistry, including competitive and comparative ABPP, two-step ABPP, fluorescence polarization ABPP (FluoPol-ABPP) and ABPs for visualization. In conclusion, this review will give a general overview of the applications of ABPP as a powerful and efficient technique in medicinal chemistry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Deng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China; Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Precision Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
| | - Qian Lei
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China; Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Precision Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Yangping Wu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China; Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Precision Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Yang He
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China; Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Precision Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Weimin Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China; Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Precision Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Guo YJ, Pan WW, Liu SB, Shen ZF, Xu Y, Hu LL. ERK/MAPK signalling pathway and tumorigenesis. Exp Ther Med 2020; 19:1997-2007. [PMID: 32104259 PMCID: PMC7027163 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.8454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 607] [Impact Index Per Article: 151.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are key signalling pathways that regulate a wide variety of cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and stress responses. The MAPK pathway includes three main kinases, MAPK kinase kinase, MAPK kinase and MAPK, which activate and phosphorylate downstream proteins. The extracellular signal-regulated kinases ERK1 and ERK2 are evolutionarily conserved, ubiquitous serine-threonine kinases that regulate cellular signalling under both normal and pathological conditions. ERK expression is critical for development and their hyperactivation plays a major role in cancer development and progression. The Ras/Raf/MAPK (MEK)/ERK pathway is the most important signalling cascade among all MAPK signal transduction pathways, and plays a crucial role in the survival and development of tumour cells. The present review discusses recent studies on Ras and ERK pathway members. With respect to processes downstream of ERK activation, the role of ERK in tumour proliferation, invasion and metastasis is highlighted, and the role of the ERK/MAPK signalling pathway in tumour extracellular matrix degradation and tumour angiogenesis is emphasised.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Jun Guo
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang 314000, P.R. China
| | - Wei-Wei Pan
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang 314000, P.R. China
| | - Sheng-Bing Liu
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang 314000, P.R. China
| | - Zhong-Fei Shen
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang 314000, P.R. China
| | - Ying Xu
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang 314000, P.R. China
| | - Ling-Ling Hu
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang 314000, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Sierra-Fonseca JA, Parise LF, Flores-Ramirez FJ, Robles EH, Garcia-Carachure I, Iñiguez SD. Dorsal Hippocampus ERK2 Signaling Mediates Anxiolytic-Related Behavior in Male Rats. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 3. [PMID: 32095734 PMCID: PMC7039622 DOI: 10.1177/2470547019897030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Background Anxiety disorders are the most common neuropathologies worldwide, but the precise neuronal mechanisms that underlie these disorders remain unknown. The hippocampus plays a role in mediating anxiety-related responses, which can be modeled in rodents using behavioral assays, such as the elevated plus maze. Yet, the molecular markers that underlie affect-related behavior on the elevated plus maze are not well understood. Methods We used herpes simplex virus vector delivery to overexpress extracellular signal-regulated kinase-2, a signaling molecule known to be involved in depression and anxiety, within the dorsal hippocampus of adult Sprague-Dawley male rats. Three days post virus delivery, we assessed anxiety-like responses on the elevated plus maze or general locomotor activity on the open field test. Results When compared to controls, rats overexpressing extracellular signal-regulated kinase-2 in the dorsal hippocampus displayed an anxiolytic-like phenotype, per increases in time spent in the open arms, and less time in the closed arms, of the elevated plus maze. Furthermore, no changes in locomotor activity as a function of virus infusion were observed on the open field test between the experimental groups. Conclusion This investigation demonstrates that virus-mediated increases of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-2 signaling, within the hippocampus, plays a critical role in decreasing anxiogenic responses on the rat elevated plus maze. As such, our data provide construct validity, at least in part, to the molecular mechanisms that mediate anxiolytic-like behavior in rodent models for the study of anxiety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lyonna F. Parise
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at
Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Eden H. Robles
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at El Paso, El
Paso, TX, USA
| | | | - Sergio D. Iñiguez
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at El Paso, El
Paso, TX, USA
- Sergio D. Iñiguez, Department of Psychology,
The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX
79968, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Global targeting of functional tyrosines using sulfur-triazole exchange chemistry. Nat Chem Biol 2019; 16:150-159. [PMID: 31768034 PMCID: PMC6982592 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-019-0404-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Covalent probes serve as valuable tools for global investigation of protein function and ligand binding capacity. Despite efforts to expand coverage of residues available for chemical proteomics (e.g. cysteine and lysine), a large fraction of the proteome remains inaccessible with current activity-based probes. Here, we introduce sulfur-triazole exchange (SuTEx) chemistry as a tunable platform for developing covalent probes with broad applications for chemical proteomics. We show modifications to the triazole leaving group can furnish sulfonyl probes with ~5-fold enhanced chemoselectivity for tyrosines over other nucleophilic amino acids to investigate, for the first time, more than 10,000 tyrosine sites in lysates and live cells. We discover that tyrosines with enhanced nucleophilicity are enriched in enzymatic, protein-protein interaction, and nucleotide recognition domains. We apply SuTEx as a chemical phosphoproteomics strategy to monitor activation of phosphotyrosine sites. Collectively, we describe SuTEx as a biocompatible chemistry for chemical biology investigations of the human proteome.
Collapse
|
27
|
Halder AK, Giri AK, Cordeiro MNDS. Multi-Target Chemometric Modelling, Fragment Analysis and Virtual Screening with ERK Inhibitors as Potential Anticancer Agents. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24213909. [PMID: 31671605 PMCID: PMC6864583 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24213909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Two isoforms of extracellular regulated kinase (ERK), namely ERK-1 and ERK-2, are associated with several cellular processes, the aberration of which leads to cancer. The ERK-1/2 inhibitors are thus considered as potential agents for cancer therapy. Multitarget quantitative structure–activity relationship (mt-QSAR) models based on the Box–Jenkins approach were developed with a dataset containing 6400 ERK inhibitors assayed under different experimental conditions. The first mt-QSAR linear model was built with linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and provided information regarding the structural requirements for better activity. This linear model was also utilised for a fragment analysis to estimate the contributions of ring fragments towards ERK inhibition. Then, the random forest (RF) technique was employed to produce highly predictive non-linear mt-QSAR models, which were used for screening the Asinex kinase library and identify the most potential virtual hits. The fragment analysis results justified the selection of the hits retrieved through such virtual screening. The latter were subsequently subjected to molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations to understand their possible interactions with ERK enzymes. The present work, which utilises in-silico techniques such as multitarget chemometric modelling, fragment analysis, virtual screening, molecular docking and dynamics, may provide important guidelines to facilitate the discovery of novel ERK inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar Halder
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Amal Kanta Giri
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
| | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Franks CE, Hsu KL. Activity-Based Kinome Profiling Using Chemical Proteomics and ATP Acyl Phosphates. CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN CHEMICAL BIOLOGY 2019; 11:e72. [PMID: 31483100 PMCID: PMC8632518 DOI: 10.1002/cpch.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Human kinases are a large family of proteins (500+) that catalyze ATP-dependent phosphorylation of protein and metabolite substrates to regulate diverse facets of cell biology. Dysregulation and mutations of protein kinases are linked to human disease, providing opportunities for developing pharmacological agents as potential therapy. Assessing the selectivity of pharmacological compounds targeting this enzyme class is critical given that off-target activity of kinase inhibitor drugs may result in toxicity. This set of protocols outlines use of ATP acyl phosphate activity-based probes to evaluate the potency and selectivity of kinase inhibitors via fluorescent gel- and mass spectrometry-based detection methods. These competitive chemical proteomic assays can evaluate engagement of >200 native kinase targets directly in complex proteomes. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline E Franks
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Ku-Lung Hsu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Borne AL, Huang T, McCloud RL, Pachaiyappan B, Bullock TNJ, Hsu KL. Deciphering T Cell Immunometabolism with Activity-Based Protein Profiling. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2019; 420:175-210. [PMID: 30128827 PMCID: PMC7134364 DOI: 10.1007/82_2018_124] [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: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
As a major sentinel of adaptive immunity, T cells seek and destroy diseased cells using antigen recognition to achieve molecular specificity. Strategies to block checkpoint inhibition of T cell activity and thus reawaken the patient's antitumor immune responses are rapidly becoming standard of care for treatment of diverse cancers. Adoptive transfer of patient T cells genetically engineered with tumor-targeting capabilities is redefining the field of personalized medicines. The diverse opportunities for exploiting T cell biology in the clinic have prompted new efforts to expand the scope of targets amenable to immuno-oncology. Given the complex spatiotemporal regulation of T cell function and fate, new technologies capable of global molecular profiling in vivo are needed to guide selection of appropriate T cell targets and subsets. In this chapter, we describe the use of activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) to illuminate different aspects of T cell metabolism and signaling as fertile starting points for investigation. We highlight the merits of ABPP methods to enable target, inhibitor, and biochemical pathway discovery of T cells in the burgeoning field of immuno-oncology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam L Borne
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Tao Huang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, McCormick Road, P.O. Box 400319, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Rebecca L McCloud
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, McCormick Road, P.O. Box 400319, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Boobalan Pachaiyappan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, McCormick Road, P.O. Box 400319, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Timothy N J Bullock
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Ku-Lung Hsu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, McCormick Road, P.O. Box 400319, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Li C, Wu Z, Yuan G, Fang Z, Lin X, Pu R, Kang Y, Li L, Shao S, Ding J, Zhao J, Liu Q, Qin A. Vx-11e protects against titanium-particle-induced osteolysis and osteoclastogenesis by supressing ERK activity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 514:1244-1250. [PMID: 31109651 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.05.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Wear particle-induced osteolysis around the prosthesis is the most common long-term complication after total joint replacement surgery which often leads to aseptic loosening of the prosthesis. Osteoclasts play key roles in the osteolytic process. Currently there is a lack of clinically effective measures to prevent or treat peri-prosthetic osteolysis and thus identification of new agents that can inhibit the enhanced osteoclastic bone resorption is warranted. Through this study, we discovered that the specific and potent ERK1/2 inhibitor, Vx-11e, can protect against calvarial osteolysis caused by titanium (Ti) particles in vivo. Low doses of Vx-11e mildly reduced osteoclast resorption whilst no calvarial osteolysis was observed with high dose Vx-11e treatment. Histological examination showed fewer osteoclasts and reduced bone erosion in the Vx-11e treated groups. In vitro cellular analyses showed that Vx-11e inhibited osteoclast formation from BMM precursors in response to RANKL, as well as bone resorption by mature osteoclasts. Mechanistically, Vx-11e impaired RANKL-induced ERK1/2 signaling by inhibiting its kinase activity thereby blocking the phosphorylation of downstream substrates. Moreover, Vx-11e significantly reduced the expression of RANKL-mediated genes such as ACP5/TRAcP, CTR, MMP-9, CTSK. Collectively, our data provides evidence for the potential therapeutic use of Vx-11e for the treatment of osteolysis diseases caused by extremely actived osteoclastogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Li
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China
| | - Zuoxing Wu
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China
| | - Guixin Yuan
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China
| | - Zhanfei Fang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China
| | - Xixi Lin
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China
| | - Ruoyu Pu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China
| | - Yanbin Kang
- Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Trauma Orthopedic and Hand Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, 530021, China
| | - Li Li
- Pharmaceutic College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China
| | - Siyuan Shao
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China
| | - Jiaxin Ding
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China
| | - Jinmin Zhao
- Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Trauma Orthopedic and Hand Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, 530021, China
| | - Qian Liu
- Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Trauma Orthopedic and Hand Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, 530021, China.
| | - An Qin
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China; Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Implant, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Sammons RM, Ghose R, Tsai KY, Dalby KN. Targeting ERK beyond the boundaries of the kinase active site in melanoma. Mol Carcinog 2019; 58:1551-1570. [PMID: 31190430 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) constitute a point of convergence for complex signaling events that regulate essential cellular processes, including proliferation and survival. As such, dysregulation of the ERK signaling pathway is prevalent in many cancers. In the case of BRAF-V600E mutant melanoma, ERK inhibition has emerged as a viable clinical approach to abrogate signaling through the ERK pathway, even in cases where MEK and Raf inhibitor treatments fail to induce tumor regression due to resistance mechanisms. Several ERK inhibitors that target the active site of ERK have reached clinical trials, however, many critical ERK interactions occur at other potentially druggable sites on the protein. Here we discuss the role of ERK signaling in cell fate, in driving melanoma, and in resistance mechanisms to current BRAF-V600E melanoma treatments. We explore targeting ERK via a distinct site of protein-protein interaction, known as the D-recruitment site (DRS), as an alternative or supplementary mode of ERK pathway inhibition in BRAF-V600E melanoma. Targeting the DRS with inhibitors in melanoma has the potential to not only disrupt the catalytic apparatus of ERK but also its noncatalytic functions, which have significant impacts on spatiotemporal signaling dynamics and cell fate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Sammons
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.,Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Ranajeet Ghose
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The City College of New York, New York, New York
| | - Kenneth Y Tsai
- Departments of Anatomic Pathology and Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Kevin N Dalby
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.,Department of Oncology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Miwa T, Kanda M, Umeda S, Tanaka H, Tanaka C, Kobayashi D, Suenaga M, Hayashi M, Yamada S, Nakayama G, Koike M, Kodera Y. Homeobox C10 Influences on the Malignant Phenotype of Gastric Cancer Cell Lines and its Elevated Expression Positively Correlates with Recurrence and Poor Survival. Ann Surg Oncol 2019; 26:1535-1543. [PMID: 30673899 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-019-07166-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The detection of molecules and mechanisms affecting the malignant phenotype of gastric cancer cells may contribute to the identification of biomarkers for metastasis and recurrence, and such molecules may serve as targets of therapy. For this purpose, in this study transcriptome analysis was performed using surgically resected specimens from patients with gastric cancer with synchronous metastasis. We identified homeobox C10 (HOXC10) as the most highly expressed gene in gastric cancer tissues compared with the adjacent noncancerous gastric mucosa. METHODS Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array analysis was performed to identify genes coordinately expressed with HOXC10. The effects of inhibiting HOXC10 on malignant phenotype was evaluated using HOXC10 knockout gastric cancer cell lines, and antibody array analysis was performed to assess the effect of HOXC10 knockout on intracellular signaling. We used a mouse subcutaneous xenograft model to evaluate the tumorigenicity. HOXC10 expression was determined in gastric cancer tissues acquired from 300 patients with gastric cancer. RESULTS PCR array analysis revealed that the levels of HOXC10 messenger RNA positively correlated with those of FGFBP1 and SOX10. The phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was decreased in HOXC10 knockout cells. HOXC10 knockout significantly suppressed proliferation by increasing apoptosis and reducing the migration and invasiveness of gastric cancer cells. Mouse xenograft models revealed that the tumorigenicity of HOXC10 knockout cells was attenuated compared with the parental cells. The relatively high expression levels of HOXC10 in gastric cancer tissues were significantly associated with hepatic and peritoneal recurrence, as well as worse prognosis. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicated that HOXC10 enhances the malignant phenotype of gastric cancer cells. The expression levels of HOXC10 may therefore serve as a prognostic biomarker and the products of HOXC10 may provide targets of therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Miwa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Mitsuro Kanda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan.
| | - Shinichi Umeda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Haruyoshi Tanaka
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Chie Tanaka
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kobayashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Masaya Suenaga
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Masamichi Hayashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Suguru Yamada
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Goro Nakayama
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Masahiko Koike
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Kodera
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Campbell ST, Franks CE, Borne AL, Shin M, Zhang L, Hsu KL. Chemoproteomic Discovery of a Ritanserin-Targeted Kinase Network Mediating Apoptotic Cell Death of Lung Tumor Cells. Mol Pharmacol 2018; 94:1246-1255. [PMID: 30158316 PMCID: PMC6160665 DOI: 10.1124/mol.118.113001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ritanserin was tested in the clinic as a serotonin receptor inverse agonist but recently emerged as a novel kinase inhibitor with potential applications in cancer. Here, we discovered that ritanserin induced apoptotic cell death of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells via a serotonin-independent mechanism. We used quantitative chemical proteomics to reveal a ritanserin-dependent kinase network that includes key mediators of lipid [diacylglycerol kinase α, phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase β] and protein [feline encephalitis virus-related kinase, rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (RAF)] signaling, metabolism [eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2-α kinase 4], and DNA damage response [tousled-like kinase 2] to broadly kill lung tumor cell types. Whereas ritanserin exhibited polypharmacology in NSCLC proteomes, this compound showed unexpected specificity for c-RAF in the SCLC subtype, with negligible activity against other kinases mediating mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. Here we show that ritanserin blocks c-RAF but not B-RAF activation of established oncogenic signaling pathways in live cells, providing evidence in support of c-RAF as a key target mediating its anticancer activity. Given the role of c-RAF activation in RAS-mutated cancers resistant to clinical B-RAF inhibitors, our findings may have implications in overcoming resistance mechanisms associated with c-RAF biology. The unique target landscape combined with acceptable safety profiles in humans provides new opportunities for repositioning ritanserin in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sean T Campbell
- Departments of Chemistry (S.T.C., C.E.F., M.S., L.Z., K.-L.H.), Pathology (S.T.C.), and Pharmacology (A.L.B., K.-L.H.), University of Virginia Cancer Center (K.-L.H.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Caroline E Franks
- Departments of Chemistry (S.T.C., C.E.F., M.S., L.Z., K.-L.H.), Pathology (S.T.C.), and Pharmacology (A.L.B., K.-L.H.), University of Virginia Cancer Center (K.-L.H.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Adam L Borne
- Departments of Chemistry (S.T.C., C.E.F., M.S., L.Z., K.-L.H.), Pathology (S.T.C.), and Pharmacology (A.L.B., K.-L.H.), University of Virginia Cancer Center (K.-L.H.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Myungsun Shin
- Departments of Chemistry (S.T.C., C.E.F., M.S., L.Z., K.-L.H.), Pathology (S.T.C.), and Pharmacology (A.L.B., K.-L.H.), University of Virginia Cancer Center (K.-L.H.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Liuzhi Zhang
- Departments of Chemistry (S.T.C., C.E.F., M.S., L.Z., K.-L.H.), Pathology (S.T.C.), and Pharmacology (A.L.B., K.-L.H.), University of Virginia Cancer Center (K.-L.H.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Ku-Lung Hsu
- Departments of Chemistry (S.T.C., C.E.F., M.S., L.Z., K.-L.H.), Pathology (S.T.C.), and Pharmacology (A.L.B., K.-L.H.), University of Virginia Cancer Center (K.-L.H.), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Heightman TD, Berdini V, Braithwaite H, Buck IM, Cassidy M, Castro J, Courtin A, Day JEH, East C, Fazal L, Graham B, Griffiths-Jones CM, Lyons JF, Martins V, Muench S, Munck JM, Norton D, O’Reilly M, Palmer N, Pathuri P, Reader M, Rees DC, Rich SJ, Richardson C, Saini H, Thompson NT, Wallis NG, Walton H, Wilsher NE, Woolford AJA, Cooke M, Cousin D, Onions S, Shannon J, Watts J, Murray CW. Fragment-Based Discovery of a Potent, Orally Bioavailable Inhibitor That Modulates the Phosphorylation and Catalytic Activity of ERK1/2. J Med Chem 2018; 61:4978-4992. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tom D. Heightman
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Valerio Berdini
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Hannah Braithwaite
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Ildiko M. Buck
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Megan Cassidy
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Juan Castro
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Aurélie Courtin
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - James E. H. Day
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Charlotte East
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Lynsey Fazal
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Brent Graham
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | | | - John F. Lyons
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Vanessa Martins
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Sandra Muench
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Joanne M. Munck
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - David Norton
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Marc O’Reilly
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Nick Palmer
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Puja Pathuri
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Michael Reader
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - David C. Rees
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Sharna J. Rich
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | | | - Harpreet Saini
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Neil T. Thompson
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Nicola G. Wallis
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Hugh Walton
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | - Nicola E. Wilsher
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, 436 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0QA, U.K
| | | | - Michael Cooke
- Sygnature Discovery Ltd., BioCity, Pennyfoot Street, Nottingham, NG1 1GF, U.K
| | - David Cousin
- Sygnature Discovery Ltd., BioCity, Pennyfoot Street, Nottingham, NG1 1GF, U.K
| | - Stuart Onions
- Sygnature Discovery Ltd., BioCity, Pennyfoot Street, Nottingham, NG1 1GF, U.K
| | - Jonathan Shannon
- Sygnature Discovery Ltd., BioCity, Pennyfoot Street, Nottingham, NG1 1GF, U.K
| | - John Watts
- Sygnature Discovery Ltd., BioCity, Pennyfoot Street, Nottingham, NG1 1GF, U.K
| | | |
Collapse
|