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Wang Y, Xu F, Nichols CB, Shi Y, Hellinga HW, Alspaugh JA, Distefano MD, Beese LS. Structure-Guided Discovery of Potent Antifungals that Prevent Ras Signaling by Inhibiting Protein Farnesyltransferase. J Med Chem 2022; 65:13753-13770. [PMID: 36218371 PMCID: PMC10755971 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Infections by fungal pathogens are difficult to treat due to a paucity of antifungals and emerging resistances. Next-generation antifungals therefore are needed urgently. We have developed compounds that prevent farnesylation of Cryptoccoccus neoformans Ras protein by inhibiting protein farnesyltransferase with 3-4 nanomolar affinities. Farnesylation directs Ras to the cell membrane and is required for infectivity of this lethal pathogenic fungus. Our high-affinity compounds inhibit fungal growth with 3-6 micromolar minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), 4- to 8-fold better than Fluconazole, an antifungal commonly used in the clinic. Compounds bound with distinct inhibition mechanisms at two alternative, partially overlapping binding sites, accessed via different inhibitor conformations. We showed that antifungal potency depends critically on the selected inhibition mechanism because this determines the efficacy of an inhibitor at low in vivo levels of enzyme and farnesyl substrate. We elucidated how chemical modifications of the antifungals encode desired inhibitor conformation and concomitant inhibitory mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School
of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA 27710
| | - Feng Xu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota,
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 55455
| | - Connie B. Nichols
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of
Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA 27710
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology,
Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA 27710
| | - Yuqian Shi
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School
of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA 27710
| | - Homme W. Hellinga
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School
of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA 27710
| | - J. Andrew Alspaugh
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of
Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA 27710
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology,
Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA 27710
| | - Mark D. Distefano
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota,
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 55455
| | - Lorena S. Beese
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School
of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA 27710
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2
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Marchwicka A, Kamińska D, Monirialamdari M, Błażewska KM, Gendaszewska-Darmach E. Protein Prenyltransferases and Their Inhibitors: Structural and Functional Characterization. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105424. [PMID: 35628237 PMCID: PMC9141697 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein prenylation is a post-translational modification controlling the localization, activity, and protein–protein interactions of small GTPases, including the Ras superfamily. This covalent attachment of either a farnesyl (15 carbon) or a geranylgeranyl (20 carbon) isoprenoid group is catalyzed by four prenyltransferases, namely farnesyltransferase (FTase), geranylgeranyltransferase type I (GGTase-I), Rab geranylgeranyltransferase (GGTase-II), and recently discovered geranylgeranyltransferase type III (GGTase-III). Blocking small GTPase activity, namely inhibiting prenyltransferases, has been proposed as a potential disease treatment method. Inhibitors of prenyltransferase have resulted in substantial therapeutic benefits in various diseases, such as cancer, neurological disorders, and viral and parasitic infections. In this review, we overview the structure of FTase, GGTase-I, GGTase-II, and GGTase-III and summarize the current status of research on their inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Marchwicka
- Institute of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, 90-537 Lodz, Poland; (A.M.); (D.K.)
| | - Daria Kamińska
- Institute of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, 90-537 Lodz, Poland; (A.M.); (D.K.)
| | - Mohsen Monirialamdari
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, 90-924 Lodz, Poland; (M.M.); (K.M.B.)
| | - Katarzyna M. Błażewska
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, 90-924 Lodz, Poland; (M.M.); (K.M.B.)
| | - Edyta Gendaszewska-Darmach
- Institute of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, 90-537 Lodz, Poland; (A.M.); (D.K.)
- Correspondence:
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3
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Li W, Li F, Zhang X, Lin HK, Xu C. Insights into the post-translational modification and its emerging role in shaping the tumor microenvironment. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:422. [PMID: 34924561 PMCID: PMC8685280 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00825-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
More and more in-depth studies have revealed that the occurrence and development of tumors depend on gene mutation and tumor heterogeneity. The most important manifestation of tumor heterogeneity is the dynamic change of tumor microenvironment (TME) heterogeneity. This depends not only on the tumor cells themselves in the microenvironment where the infiltrating immune cells and matrix together forming an antitumor and/or pro-tumor network. TME has resulted in novel therapeutic interventions as a place beyond tumor beds. The malignant cancer cells, tumor infiltrate immune cells, angiogenic vascular cells, lymphatic endothelial cells, cancer-associated fibroblastic cells, and the released factors including intracellular metabolites, hormonal signals and inflammatory mediators all contribute actively to cancer progression. Protein post-translational modification (PTM) is often regarded as a degradative mechanism in protein destruction or turnover to maintain physiological homeostasis. Advances in quantitative transcriptomics, proteomics, and nuclease-based gene editing are now paving the global ways for exploring PTMs. In this review, we focus on recent developments in the PTM area and speculate on their importance as a critical functional readout for the regulation of TME. A wealth of information has been emerging to prove useful in the search for conventional therapies and the development of global therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Li
- grid.54549.390000 0004 0369 4060Integrative Cancer Center & Cancer Clinical Research Center, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 610042 Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Feifei Li
- grid.54549.390000 0004 0369 4060Integrative Cancer Center & Cancer Clinical Research Center, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 610042 Chengdu, P. R. China ,grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine (Guangxi-ASEAN Collaborative Innovation Center for Major Disease Prevention and Treatment), Guangxi Medical University, 530021 Nanning, Guangxi China
| | - Xia Zhang
- grid.410570.70000 0004 1760 6682Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), 400038 Chongqing, China
| | - Hui-Kuan Lin
- grid.241167.70000 0001 2185 3318Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC 27101 USA
| | - Chuan Xu
- Integrative Cancer Center & Cancer Clinical Research Center, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 610042, Chengdu, P. R. China. .,Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, 27101, USA.
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4
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Bukhtiyarova M, Cook EM, Hancock PJ, Hruza AW, Shaw AW, Adam GC, Barnard RJO, McKenna PM, Holloway MK, Bell IM, Carroll S, Cornella-Taracido I, Cox CD, Kutchukian PS, Powell DA, Strickland C, Trotter BW, Tudor M, Wolkenberg S, Li J, Tellers DM. Discovery of an Anion-Dependent Farnesyltransferase Inhibitor from a Phenotypic Screen. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:99-106. [PMID: 33488970 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.0c00551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
By employing a phenotypic screen, a set of compounds, exemplified by 1, were identified which potentiate the ability of histone deacetylase inhibitor vorinostat to reverse HIV latency. Proteome enrichment followed by quantitative mass spectrometric analysis employing a modified analogue of 1 as affinity bait identified farnesyl transferase (FTase) as the primary interacting protein in cell lysates. This ligand-FTase binding interaction was confirmed via X-ray crystallography and temperature dependent fluorescence studies, despite 1 lacking structural and binding similarity to known FTase inhibitors. Although multiple lines of evidence established the binding interaction, these ligands exhibited minimal inhibitory activity in a cell-free biochemical FTase inhibition assay. Subsequent modification of the biochemical assay by increasing anion concentration demonstrated FTase inhibitory activity in this novel class. We propose 1 binds together with the anion in the active site to inhibit farnesyl transferase. Implications for phenotypic screening deconvolution and HIV reactivation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erica M. Cook
- MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Paula J. Hancock
- MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Alan W. Hruza
- MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, 07033, United States
| | - Anthony W. Shaw
- MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Gregory C. Adam
- MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | | | - Philip M. McKenna
- MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | | | - Ian M. Bell
- MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Steve Carroll
- MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | | | | | | | - David A. Powell
- MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Corey Strickland
- MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, 07033, United States
| | | | - Matthew Tudor
- MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Scott Wolkenberg
- MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Jing Li
- MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - David M. Tellers
- MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
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5
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Wang Y, Pivonka P, Buenzli PR, Smith DW, Dunstan CR. Computational modeling of interactions between multiple myeloma and the bone microenvironment. PLoS One 2011; 6:e27494. [PMID: 22110661 PMCID: PMC3210790 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2011] [Accepted: 10/18/2011] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a B-cell malignancy that is characterized by osteolytic bone lesions. It has been postulated that positive feedback loops in the interactions between MM cells and the bone microenvironment form reinforcing ‘vicious cycles’, resulting in more bone resorption and MM cell population growth in the bone microenvironment. Despite many identified MM-bone interactions, the combined effect of these interactions and their relative importance are unknown. In this paper, we develop a computational model of MM-bone interactions and clarify whether the intercellular signaling mechanisms implemented in this model appropriately drive MM disease progression. This new computational model is based on the previous bone remodeling model of Pivonka et al. [1], and explicitly considers IL-6 and MM-BMSC (bone marrow stromal cell) adhesion related pathways, leading to formation of two positive feedback cycles in this model. The progression of MM disease is simulated numerically, from normal bone physiology to a well established MM disease state. Our simulations are consistent with known behaviors and data reported for both normal bone physiology and for MM disease. The model results suggest that the two positive feedback cycles identified for this model are sufficient to jointly drive the MM disease progression. Furthermore, quantitative analysis performed on the two positive feedback cycles clarifies the relative importance of the two positive feedback cycles, and identifies the dominant processes that govern the behavior of the two positive feedback cycles. Using our proposed quantitative criteria, we identify which of the positive feedback cycles in this model may be considered to be ‘vicious cycles’. Finally, key points at which to block the positive feedback cycles in MM-bone interactions are identified, suggesting potential drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Department of Infrastructure Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail: (YW); (DWS)
| | - Peter Pivonka
- Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Pascal R. Buenzli
- Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - David W. Smith
- Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- * E-mail: (YW); (DWS)
| | - Colin R. Dunstan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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6
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Basso AD, Kirschmeier P, Bishop WR. Thematic review series: Lipid Posttranslational Modifications. Farnesyl transferase inhibitors. J Lipid Res 2006; 47:15-31. [PMID: 16278491 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.r500012-jlr200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 232] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Some proteins undergo posttranslational modification by the addition of an isoprenyl lipid (farnesyl- or geranylgeranyl-isoprenoid) to a cysteine residue proximal to the C terminus. Protein isoprenylation promotes membrane association and contributes to protein-protein interactions. Farnesylated proteins include small GTPases, tyrosine phosphatases, nuclear lamina, cochaperones, and centromere-associated proteins. Prenylation is required for the transforming activity of Ras. Because of the high frequency of Ras mutations in cancer, farnesyl transferase inhibitors (FTIs) were investigated as a means to antagonize Ras function. Evaluation of FTIs led to the finding that both K- and N-Ras are alternatively modified by geranylgeranyl prenyltransferase-1 in FTI-treated cells. Geranylgeranylated forms of Ras retain the ability to associate with the plasma membrane and activate substrates. Despite this, FTIs are effective at inhibiting the growth of human tumor cells in vitro, suggesting that activity is dependent on blocking the farnesylation of other proteins. FTIs also inhibit the in vivo growth of human tumor xenografts and sensitize these models to chemotherapeutics, most notably taxanes. Several FTIs have entered clinical trials for various cancer indications. In some clinical settings, primarily hematologic malignancies, FTIs have displayed evidence of single-agent activity. Clinical studies in progress are exploring the antitumor activity of FTIs as single agents and in combination. This review will summarize the basic biology of FTIs, their antitumor activity in preclinical models, and the current status of clinical studies with these agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea D Basso
- Schering-Plough Research Institute, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA.
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7
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8
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Huber HE, Robinson RG, Watkins A, Nahas DD, Abrams MT, Buser CA, Lobell RB, Patrick D, Anthony NJ, Dinsmore CJ, Graham SL, Hartman GD, Lumma WC, Williams TM, Heimbrook DC. Anions modulate the potency of geranylgeranyl-protein transferase I inhibitors. J Biol Chem 2001; 276:24457-65. [PMID: 11274181 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m100325200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
We have identified and characterized potent and specific inhibitors of geranylgeranyl-protein transferase type I (GGPTase I), as well as dual inhibitors of GGPTase I and farnesyl-protein transferase. Many of these inhibitors require the presence of phosphate anions for maximum activity against GGPTase I in vitro. Inhibitors with a strong anion dependence were competitive with geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP), rather than with the peptide substrate, which had served as the original template for inhibitor design. One of the most effective anions was ATP, which at low millimolar concentrations increased the potency of GGPTase I inhibitors up to several hundred-fold. In the case of clinical candidate l-778,123, this increase in potency was shown to result from two major interactions: competitive binding of inhibitor and GGPP, and competitive binding of ATP and GGPP. At 5 mm, ATP caused an increase in the apparent K(d) for the GGPP-GGPTase I interaction from 20 pm to 4 nm, resulting in correspondingly tighter inhibitor binding. A subset of very potent GGPP-competitive inhibitors displayed slow tight binding to GGPTase I with apparent on and off rates on the order of 10(6) m(-)1 s(-)1 and 10(-)3 s(-)1, respectively. Slow binding and the anion requirement suggest that these inhibitors may act as transition state analogs. After accounting for anion requirement, slow binding, and mechanism of competition, the structure-activity relationship determined in vitro correlated well with the inhibition of processing of GGPTase I substrate Rap1a in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- H E Huber
- Department of Cancer Research, Merck Research Laboratories, 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA 19486, USA.
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9
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Zahn TJ, Eilers M, Guo Z, Ksebati MB, Simon M, Scholten JD, Smith SO, Gibbs RA. Evaluation of Isoprenoid Conformation in Solution and in the Active Site of Protein-Farnesyl Transferase Using Carbon-13 Labeling in Conjunction with Solution- and Solid-State NMR. J Am Chem Soc 2000. [DOI: 10.1021/ja000860f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Todd J. Zahn
- Contribution from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 528 Shapero Hall, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, Department of Biochemistry, Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, and Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, SUNY Stony Brook, 312 Life Sciences Building, Stony Brook, New York 11794
| | - Markus Eilers
- Contribution from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 528 Shapero Hall, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, Department of Biochemistry, Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, and Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, SUNY Stony Brook, 312 Life Sciences Building, Stony Brook, New York 11794
| | - Zhengmao Guo
- Contribution from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 528 Shapero Hall, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, Department of Biochemistry, Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, and Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, SUNY Stony Brook, 312 Life Sciences Building, Stony Brook, New York 11794
| | - Mohamad B. Ksebati
- Contribution from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 528 Shapero Hall, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, Department of Biochemistry, Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, and Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, SUNY Stony Brook, 312 Life Sciences Building, Stony Brook, New York 11794
| | - Matthew Simon
- Contribution from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 528 Shapero Hall, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, Department of Biochemistry, Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, and Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, SUNY Stony Brook, 312 Life Sciences Building, Stony Brook, New York 11794
| | - Jeffrey D. Scholten
- Contribution from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 528 Shapero Hall, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, Department of Biochemistry, Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, and Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, SUNY Stony Brook, 312 Life Sciences Building, Stony Brook, New York 11794
| | - Steven O. Smith
- Contribution from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 528 Shapero Hall, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, Department of Biochemistry, Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, and Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, SUNY Stony Brook, 312 Life Sciences Building, Stony Brook, New York 11794
| | - Richard A. Gibbs
- Contribution from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 528 Shapero Hall, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, Department of Biochemistry, Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, and Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, SUNY Stony Brook, 312 Life Sciences Building, Stony Brook, New York 11794
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10
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Boutin JA, Marande W, Petit L, Loynel A, Desmet C, Canet E, Fauchère JL. Investigation of S-farnesyl transferase substrate specificity with combinatorial tetrapeptide libraries. Cell Signal 1999; 11:59-69. [PMID: 10206346 DOI: 10.1016/s0898-6568(98)00032-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Using biased tetrapeptide libraries made up of proteinogenic amino acids of the general formula Cys-O2-X3-X4, we searched for new substrates of partly purified rat brain S-farnesyl transferase (FTase). To achieve this task, an assay was developed in which the consumption of the co-substrate (farnesyl pyrophosphate) was measured. After three steps of deconvolution including each synthesis and enzymatic assay, the most efficient substrates found under these particular conditions were Cys-Lys-Gln-Gln (peptide I) and Cys-Lys-Gln-Met (peptide II). As a control, we used another tetrapeptide library (Cys-Val-O3-X4) in which the valine position was arbitrarily fixed, corresponding to Cys-Val-Ile-Met in the CAAX box of K-RasB, although this sublibrary was only marginally active compared with Cys-Lys-X3-X4 in the first round of deconvolution. The best substrate sublibrary was Cys-Val-Thr-X4, threonine being more favourable than the aliphatic amino acids (Val, Ile, Leu, Ala) in this position. Deconvolution finally led to Cys-Val-Thr-Gln, -Met, -Thr and -Ser as the most efficient substrates of FTase. Those tetrapeptides were not substrates of a partly purified geranylgeranyl transferase 1 (GGTase1). We also investigated the influence of the -1 position (at the N-terminus of cysteine) on the specificity of the enzyme, by using a series of pentapeptides constructed on the basis of the best tetrapeptide core (peptide 1). Among this family of analogues, only His-Cys-Lys-Gln-Gln did not behave as a substrate, whereas all the other pentapeptides were measurable substrates, with Gly-, Asn- and Thr-Cys-Lys-Gln-Gln displaying kinetic constants similar to that of Cys-Lys-Gln-Gln. The present work provides strong evidence that the best tetrapeptide substrates of FTase do not necessarily belong to the classical CAAX box, in which A's are lipophilic residues, but rather contain hydrophilic amino acids in the middle of their sequences. Among them, peptides I and II are potent FTase in vitro substrates that are not recognised by GGTase1 and might be new starting points for the design of FTase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Boutin
- Department of Peptides and Combinatorial Chemistry, Institut de Recherches SERVIER, Suresnes, France.
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11
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Waddick KG, Uckun FM. Innovative treatment programs against cancer. I. Ras oncoprotein as a molecular target. Biochem Pharmacol 1998; 56:1411-26. [PMID: 9827573 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-2952(98)00211-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Modulation of Ras function may provide a novel means by which cancer cells with oncogenic mutations can be sensitized to chemotherapeutic or radiotherapeutic regimens. Moreover, cancer cells without ras oncogene mutations can also be eliminated by compounds that interfere with the mevalonate pathway, which is more fundamental to mitogenesis because it allows the synthesis of sterol and nonsterol lipids and without which many Ras-related proteins and nuclear lamins would not be prenylated and functional.
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Affiliation(s)
- K G Waddick
- Biotherapy and Drug Discovery Programs, Parker Hughes Cancer Center, Hughes Institute, St. Paul, MN 55113, USA
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12
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Martinez-Irujo JJ, Villahermosa ML, Mercapide J, Cabodevilla JF, Santiago E. Analysis of the combined effect of two linear inhibitors on a single enzyme. Biochem J 1998; 329 ( Pt 3):689-98. [PMID: 9445400 PMCID: PMC1219094 DOI: 10.1042/bj3290689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Different methods for studying the concurrent effects of two linear inhibitors on a single enzyme have been published, including the fractional product of Webb, the Yonetani-Theorell plot or the method of Chou and Talalay. Recently the use of combination plots has also been advocated for this purpose. We have evaluated the applicability of these methods and found that most of them depend on assumptions about the mechanism of action of the inhibitors. If the mechanism of action is not completely understood, or if some assumptions about the mechanism are unfounded, the parameters obtained may be meaningless. Even if these assumptions are correct, the interaction can be advantageously measured using an alternative representation that does not require a knowledge of the inhibition constants and allows experimental data to be retrieved from the plot. In other cases it is the interpretation of the results rather than the validity of the method that is misleading. A common mistake is to take the exclusivity of the effects of two inhibitors as exclusivity of their binding. We show that this assumption is seldom justified. In any case, it is possible to decide whether the combination of two or more inhibitors is more effective than their individual use by means of isobolographic analysis, even when no information about their mechanism of action is available.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Martinez-Irujo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
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13
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Gelb MH, Scholten JD, Sebolt-Leopold JS. Protein prenylation: from discovery to prospects for cancer treatment. Curr Opin Chem Biol 1998; 2:40-8. [PMID: 9667914 DOI: 10.1016/s1367-5931(98)80034-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A specific set of proteins in eukaryotic cells contain covalently attached carboxy-terminal prenyl groups (15-carbon farnesyl and 20-carbon geranylgeranyl). Many of them are signaling proteins including Ras, heterotrimeric G proteins and Rab proteins. The protein prenyltransferases which attach prenyl groups to proteins have been well characterized, and an X-ray structure is available for protein farnesyltransferase. Inhibitors of protein farnesyltransferase are showing sufficient promise in preclinical trials as anti-cancer drugs to warrant widespread interest in the pharmaceutical industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- M H Gelb
- Department of Chemistry, Box 351700, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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