Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K inhibits heat shock-induced transcriptional activity of heat shock factor 1

Global Discovery of Covalent Modulators of Ribonucleoprotein Granules

Stress granules (SGs) and processing-bodies (PBs, P-bodies) are ubiquitous and widely studied ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules involved in cellular stress response, viral infection, and the tumor microenvironment. While proteomic and transcriptomic investigations of SGs and PBs have provided insights into molecular composition, chemical tools to probe and modulate RNP granules remain lacking. Herein, we combine an immunofluorescence (IF)-based phenotypic screen with chemoproteomics to identify sulfonyl-triazoles (SuTEx) capable of preventing or inducing SG and PB formation through liganding of tyrosine (Tyr) and lysine (Lys) sites in stressed cells. Liganded sites were enriched for RNA-binding and protein-protein interaction (PPI) domains, including several sites found in RNP granule-forming proteins. Among these, we functionally validate G3BP1 Y40, located in the NTF2 dimerization domain, as a ligandable site that can disrupt arsenite-induced SG formation in cells. In summary, we present a chemical strategy for the systematic discovery of condensate-modulating covalent small molecules.

3-Mercaptopyruvate sulfur transferase is a protein persulfidase

Protein S-persulfidation (P-SSH) is recognized as a common posttranslational modification. It occurs under basal conditions and is often observed to be elevated under stress conditions. However, the mechanism(s) by which proteins are persulfidated inside cells have remained unclear. Here we report that 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfur transferase (MPST) engages in direct protein-to-protein transpersulfidation reactions beyond its previously known protein substrates thioredoxin and MOCS3/Uba4, associated with H₂S generation and transfer RNA thiolation, respectively. We observe that depletion of MPST in human cells lowers overall intracellular protein persulfidation levels and identify a subset of proteins whose persulfidation depends on MPST. The predicted involvement of these proteins in the adaptation to stress responses supports the notion that MPST-dependent protein persulfidation promotes cytoprotective functions. The observation of MPST-independent protein persulfidation suggests that other protein persulfidases remain to be identified.

Multifaceted roles of HSF1 in cell death: A state-of-the-art review

Cell death is a common and active process that is involved in various biological processes, including organ development, morphogenesis, maintaining tissue homeostasis and eliminating potentially harmful cells. Abnormal regulation of cell death significantly contributes to tumor development, progression and chemoresistance. The mechanisms of cell death are complex and involve not only apoptosis and necrosis but also their cross-talk with other types of cell death, such as autophagy and the newly identified ferroptosis. Cancer cells are chronically exposed to various stresses, such as lack of oxygen and nutrients, immune responses, dysregulated metabolism and genomic instability, all of which lead to activation of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1). In response to heat shock, oxidative stress and proteotoxic stresses, HSF1 upregulates transcription of heat shock proteins (HSPs), which act as molecular chaperones to protect normal cells from stresses and various diseases. Accumulating evidence suggests that HSF1 regulates multiple types of cell death through different signaling pathways as well as expression of distinct target genes in cancer cells. Here, we review the current understanding of the potential roles and molecular mechanism of HSF1 in regulating apoptosis, autophagy and ferroptosis. Deciphering HSF1-regulated signaling pathways and target genes may help in the development of new targeted anti-cancer therapeutic strategies.

Emerging roles of HSF1 in cancer: Cellular and molecular episodes

Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) systematically guards proteome stability and proteostasis by regulating the expression of heat shock protein (HSP), thus rendering cancer cells addicted to HSF1. The non-canonical transcriptional programme driven by HSF1, which is distinct from the heat shock response (HSR), plays an indispensable role in the initiation, promotion and progression of cancer. Therefore, HSF1 is widely exploited as a potential therapeutic target in a broad spectrum of cancers. Various molecules and signals in the cell jointly regulate the activation and attenuation of HSF1. The high-level expression of HSF1 in tumours and its relationship with patient prognosis imply that HSF1 can be used as a biomarker for patient prognosis and a target for cancer treatment. In this review, we discuss the newly identified mechanisms of HSF1 activation and regulation, the diverse functions of HSF1 in tumourigenesis, and the feasibility of using HSF1 as a prognostic marker. Disrupting cancer cell proteostasis by targeting HSF1 represents a novel anti-cancer therapeutic strategy.

Synthesis and In silico Studies of N-acylhydrazone Derivatives as hnRNP K Ligands with Potential Anti-cancer Activity

Background:

A green and efficient synthetic methodology for a wide family of Nacylhydrazones (yields: 42-76%) using microwave irradiation is described, as well as their full characterization. Their potential antineoplastic activity was evaluated in vitro via EMSA by testing protein- DNA interactions. Among the 11 compounds tested, N-acylhydrazone derivative 5 bearing a hydroxyl group, showed the highest affinity to bind and inhibit the hnRNP K KH3 domain. Docking simulations of compound 5 showed three possible modes of interaction between the KH3 domain of hnRNP K protein and compound predict.

:

The N-acylhydrazones are knows as powerful chemical entities for Medicinal Chemistry, since it has been identified in a huge number of hit and lead compounds that act on various types of molecular targets, including in tumorigenesis processes.

Objective:

We evaluated their potential ability to inhibit the KH3 domain of the hnRNP K protein binding to single stranded DNA (ssDNA). Furthermore, a docking simulation was performed for the newly synthetized compounds to evaluate their interactions between proteins and N-acylhydrazine derivative.

Methods:

The N-acylhydrazone derivatives were synthetized through three reaction steps, from a simple and commercial substrate, using microwave irradiation as a green energy source. The N-acylhydrazone derivatives ability to bind with the hnRNP K protein was evaluated via EMSA by testing protein-DNA interactions. The docking simulations were performed in a Gold 5.2.2 software using 100 conformers, 10.000 operations, 95 mutations and 95 crossovers.

Results:

Eleven new N-acylhydrazone derivatives were synthetized using microwave showing yields between 42% and 76%. Among the eleven compounds tested, compound 5 was shown to be most capable to prevent the natural binding of hnRNP K protein to the oligonucleotide. Regarding the docking simulation, compound 5 can bind to the main binding residues of KH3 domain and compete with the natural ligand ssDNA of this protein.

Conclusion:

A green and efficient synthetic methodology for a wide family of N-acylhydrazones (yields: 42-76%) using microwave irradiation is described, as well as their full characterization. Their potential antineoplastic activity was evaluated in vitro via EMSA by testing protein-DNA interactions. Among the 11 compounds tested, N-acylhydrazone derivative 5 bearing a hydroxyl group, showed the highest affinity to bind and inhibit the hnRNP K KH3 domain. Docking simulations of compound 5 showed three possible modes of interaction between the KH3 domain of hnRNP K protein and compound predict.

YAP mediates the positive regulation of hnRNPK on the lung adenocarcinoma H1299 cell growth

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80%-85% of diagnostic cases. The molecular mechanisms of NSCLC pathogenesis are not well understood. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNPK) is a multifunctional protein that regulates gene expression and signal transduction and closely associated with tumorigenesis, but its mechanism of action in the pathogenesis of NSCLC is unclear. In this study, we observed that the expression pattern of hnRNPK in H1299 lung adenocarcinoma cells varied depending on the cell density in culture. Moreover, hnRNPK stimulated the ability of proliferation and colony formation of H1299 cells, which is important for the multilayered cell growth in culture. We further investigated whether there is an association between hnRNPK and the elements involved in the cell contact inhibition pathway. By using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay and a YAP activity reporter system, we found that hnRNPK upregulated the mRNA and protein levels and transcriptional activity of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP), a master negative regulator of Hippo contact inhibition pathway. Furthermore, YAP knockdown with siRNA abolished the stimulatory effect of hnRNPK on H1299 cell proliferation. These results suggested that YAP could be one of the effectors of hnRNPK. Our data may provide new clues for further understanding the biological functions of hnRNPK, particularly in the context of lung adenocarcinoma oncogenesis.

Activity-Regulated Cytoskeleton-Associated Protein (Arc/Arg3.1) is Transiently Expressed after Heat Shock Stress and Suppresses Heat Shock Factor 1

Heat shock proteins are induced by activation of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) in response to heat shock and protect against heat stress. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the downstream signal of heat shock have not been fully elucidated. We found that similarly to canonical Hsps, Arc/Arg3.1 is also markedly induced by heat shock and by other cellular stress inducers, including diamide, sodium arsenite and H₂O₂ in various cells. We noted that heat stress–induced Arc/Arg3.1 protein is short lived, with a half-life of <30 min, and is readily degraded by the ubiquitin–proteasome system. Arc/Arg3.1 overexpression inhibited the up-regulation of heat shock–induced Hsp70 and Hsp27, suggesting that Arc/Arg3.1 is a negative regulator of heat shock response (HSR). Studying the effect of Arc/Arg3.1 on HSF1, a major transcription factor in HSR, we found that Arc/Arg3.1 binds to HSF1 and inhibits its binding to the heat shock element in gene promoters, resulting in reduced induction of Hsp27 and Hsp70 mRNAs, without affecting HSF1′s phosphorylation-dependent activation, or nuclear localization. Arc/Arg3.1 overexpression decreased cell survival in response to heat shock. We conclude that Arc/Arg3.1 is transiently expressed after heat shock and negatively regulates HSF1 in the feedback loop of HSR.

Proteome-transcriptome analysis and proteome remodeling in mouse lens epithelium and fibers

Epithelial cells and differentiated fiber cells represent distinct compartments in the ocular lens. While previous studies have revealed proteins that are preferentially expressed in epithelial vs. fiber cells, a comprehensive proteomics library comparing the molecular compositions of epithelial vs. fiber cells is essential for understanding lens formation, function, disease and regenerative potential, and for efficient differentiation of pluripotent stem cells for modeling of lens development and pathology in vitro. To compare protein compositions between the lens epithelium and fibers, we employed tandem mass spectrometry (2D-LC/MS) analysis of microdissected mouse P0.5 lenses. Functional classifications of the top 525 identified proteins into gene ontology categories by molecular processes and subcellular localizations, were adapted for the lens. Expression levels of both epithelial and fiber proteomes were compared with whole lens proteome and mRNA levels using E14.5, E16.5, E18.5, and P0.5 RNA-Seq data sets. During this developmental time window, multiple complex biosynthetic and catabolic processes generate the molecular and structural foundation for lens transparency. As expected, crystallins showed a high correlation between their mRNA and protein levels. Comprehensive data analysis confirmed and/or predicted roles for transcription factors (TFs), RNA-binding proteins (e.g. Carhsp1), translational apparatus including ribosomal heterogeneity and initiation factors, microtubules, cytoskeletal [e.g. non-muscle myosin IIA heavy chain (Myh9) and βB2-spectrin (Sptbn2)] and membrane proteins in lens formation and maturation. Our data highlighted many proteins with unknown functions in the lens that were preferentially enriched in epithelium or fibers, setting the stage for future studies to further dissect the roles of these proteins in fiber cell differentiation vs. epithelial cell maintenance. In conclusion, the present proteomic datasets represent the first mouse lens epithelium and fiber cell proteomes, establish comparative analyses of protein and RNA-Seq data, and characterize the major proteome remodeling required to form the mature lens fiber cells.

Syntheses and evaluation of new Quinoline derivatives for inhibition of hnRNP K in regulating oncogene c-myc transcription

Aberrant overexpression of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K) is a key feature in oncogenesis and progression of many human cancers. hnRNP K has been found to be a transcriptional activator to up-regulate c-myc gene transcription, a critical proto-oncogene for regulation of cell growth and differentiation. Therefore, down-regulation of c-myc transcription by inhibiting hnRNP K through disrupting its binding to c-myc gene promoter is a potential approach for cancer therapy. In the present study, we synthesized and screened a series of Quinoline derivatives and evaluated their binding affinity for hnRNP K. Among these derivatives, (E)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(4-morpholino-6-nitroquinolin-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one (compound 25) was determined to be the first-reported hnRNP K binding ligand with its K_D values of 4.6 and 2.6 μM measured with SPR and MST, respectively. Subsequent evaluation showed that the binding of compound 25 to hnRNP K could disrupt its unfolding of c-myc promoter i-motif, resulting in down-regulation of c-myc transcription. Compound 25 showed a selective anti-proliferative effect on human cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranged from 1.36 to 3.59 μM. Compound 25 exhibited good tumor growth inhibition in a Hela xenograft tumor model, which might be related to its binding with hnRNP K. These findings illustrated that inhibition of DNA-binding protein hnRNP K by compound 25 could be a new and selective strategy of regulating oncogene transcription instead of targeting promoter DNA secondary structures such as G-quadruplexes or i-motifs.