1
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Becirovic T, Zhang B, Lindskog C, Norberg E, Vakifahmetoglu-Norberg H, Kaminskyy VO, Kochetkova E. Deubiquitinase USP9x regulates the proline biosynthesis pathway in non-small cell lung cancer. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:342. [PMID: 39075050 PMCID: PMC11286954 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-02111-2] [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: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic rewiring has been recognized as a hallmark of malignant transformation, supplying the biosynthetic and energetic demands for rapid cancer cell proliferation and tumor progression. A comprehensive understanding of the regulatory mechanisms governing these metabolic processes is still limited. Here, we identify the deubiquitinase ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9 X-linked (USP9x) as a positive regulator of the proline biosynthesis pathway in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Our findings demonstrate USP9x directly stabilizes pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 3 (PYCR3), a key enzyme in the proline cycle. Disruption of proline biosynthesis by either USP9x or PYCR3 knockdown influences the proline cycle leading to a decreased activity of the connected pentose phosphate pathway and mitochondrial respiration. We show that USP9x is elevated in human cancer tissues and its suppression impairs NSCLC growth in vitro and in vivo. Overall, our study uncovers a novel function of USP9x as a regulator of the proline biosynthesis pathway, which impacts lung cancer growth and progression, and implicates a new potential therapeutic avenue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Becirovic
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Solnavägen 9, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Boxi Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Solnavägen 9, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Lindskog
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Erik Norberg
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Solnavägen 9, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helin Vakifahmetoglu-Norberg
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Solnavägen 9, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vitaliy O Kaminskyy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Solnavägen 9, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Elena Kochetkova
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Solnavägen 9, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65, Stockholm, Sweden.
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2
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Bolhuis DL, Emanuele MJ, Brown NG. Friend or foe? Reciprocal regulation between E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinases. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:BST20230454. [PMID: 38414432 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230454] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Protein ubiquitination is a post-translational modification that entails the covalent attachment of the small protein ubiquitin (Ub), which acts as a signal to direct protein stability, localization, or interactions. The Ub code is written by a family of enzymes called E3 Ub ligases (∼600 members in humans), which can catalyze the transfer of either a single ubiquitin or the formation of a diverse array of polyubiquitin chains. This code can be edited or erased by a different set of enzymes termed deubiquitinases (DUBs; ∼100 members in humans). While enzymes from these distinct families have seemingly opposing activities, certain E3-DUB pairings can also synergize to regulate vital cellular processes like gene expression, autophagy, innate immunity, and cell proliferation. In this review, we highlight recent studies describing Ub ligase-DUB interactions and focus on their relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek L Bolhuis
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, U.S.A
| | - Michael J Emanuele
- Department of Pharmacology and Lineberger Comprehensive Care Center, UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, U.S.A
| | - Nicholas G Brown
- Department of Pharmacology and Lineberger Comprehensive Care Center, UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, U.S.A
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3
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Tey PY, Dufner A, Knobeloch KP, Pruneda JN, Clague MJ, Urbé S. Rapid turnover of CTLA4 is associated with a complex architecture of reversible ubiquitylation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.31.573735. [PMID: 38260548 PMCID: PMC10802369 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.31.573735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The immune checkpoint regulator CTLA4 is an unusually short-lived membrane protein. Here we show that its lysosomal degradation is dependent on ubiquitylation at Lysine residues 203 and 213. Inhibition of the v-ATPase partially restores CTLA4 levels following cycloheximide treatment, but also reveals a fraction that is secreted in exosomes. The endosomal deubiquitylase, USP8, interacts with CTLA4 and its loss enhances CTLA4 ubiquitylation in cancer cells, mouse CD4+ T cells and in cancer cell-derived exosomes. Depletion of the USP8 adapter protein, HD-PTP, but not ESCRT-0 recapitulates this cellular phenotype, but shows distinct properties vis-à-vis exosome incorporation. Re-expression of wild-type USP8, but neither a catalytically inactive, nor a localization-compromised ΔMIT domain mutant can rescue delayed degradation of CTLA4, or counteract its accumulation in clustered endosomes. UbiCRest analysis of CTLA4-associated ubiquitin chain linkages identifies a complex mixture of conventional Lys63- and more unusual Lys27- and Lys29-linked polyubiquitin chains that may underly the rapidity of protein turnover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Yee Tey
- Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown St., Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
| | - Almut Dufner
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Knobeloch
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jonathan N. Pruneda
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Michael J. Clague
- Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown St., Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
| | - Sylvie Urbé
- Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown St., Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
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4
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Rossio V, Paulo JA, Liu X, Gygi SP, King RW. Substrate identification and specificity profiling of deubiquitylases against endogenously-generated ubiquitin-protein conjugates. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.20.572581. [PMID: 38187689 PMCID: PMC10769257 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.20.572581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) remove ubiquitin from proteins thereby regulating their stability or activity. Our understanding of DUB-substrate specificity is limited because DUBs are typically not compared to each other against many physiological substrates. By broadly inhibiting DUBs in Xenopus egg extract, we generated hundreds of ubiquitylated proteins and compared the ability of 30 DUBs to deubiquitylate them using quantitative proteomics. We identified five high impact DUBs (USP7, USP9X, USP36, USP15 and USP24) that each reduced ubiquitylation of over ten percent of the isolated proteins. Candidate substrates of high impact DUBs showed substantial overlap and were enriched for disordered regions, suggesting this feature may promote substrate recognition. Other DUBs showed lower impact and non-overlapping specificity, targeting distinct non-disordered proteins including complexes such as the ribosome or the proteasome. Altogether our study identifies candidate DUB substrates and defines patterns of functional redundancy and specificity, revealing substrate characteristics that may influence DUB-substrate recognition.
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5
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Riley AK, Grant M, Snell A, Vichas A, Moorthi S, Urisman A, Castel P, Wan L, Berger AH. The deubiquitinase USP9X regulates RIT1 protein abundance and oncogenic phenotypes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.30.569313. [PMID: 38077017 PMCID: PMC10705424 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.30.569313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
RIT1 is a rare and understudied oncogene in lung cancer. Despite structural similarity to other RAS GTPase proteins such as KRAS, oncogenic RIT1 activity does not appear to be tightly regulated by nucleotide exchange or hydrolysis. Instead, there is a growing understanding that the protein abundance of RIT1 is important for its regulation and function. We previously identified the deubiquitinase USP9X as a RIT1 dependency in RIT1-mutant cells. Here, we demonstrate that both wild-type and mutant forms of RIT1 are substrates of USP9X. Depletion of USP9X leads to decreased RIT1 protein stability and abundance and resensitizes cells to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Our work expands upon the current understanding of RIT1 protein regulation and presents USP9X as a key regulator of RIT1-driven oncogenic phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda K. Riley
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michael Grant
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Molecular Medicine Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Aidan Snell
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Molecular Medicine Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Athea Vichas
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sitapriya Moorthi
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Anatoly Urisman
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Pau Castel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lixin Wan
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Molecular Medicine Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Alice H. Berger
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Herbold Computational Biology Program, Public Health Science Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Lead contact:
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6
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Clancy A, Rusilowicz-Jones EV, Wallace I, Swatek KN, Urbé S, Clague MJ. ISGylation-independent protection of cell growth by USP18 following interferon stimulation. Biochem J 2023; 480:1571-1581. [PMID: 37756534 PMCID: PMC10586769 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20230301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Type 1 interferon stimulation highly up-regulates all elements of a ubiquitin-like conjugation system that leads to ISGylation of target proteins. An ISG15-specific member of the deubiquitylase family, USP18, is up-regulated in a co-ordinated manner. USP18 can also provide a negative feedback by inhibiting JAK-STAT signalling through protein interactions independently of DUB activity. Here, we provide an acute example of this phenomenon, whereby the early expression of USP18, post-interferon treatment of HCT116 colon cancer cells is sufficient to fully suppress the expression of the ISG15 E1 enzyme, UBA7. Stimulation of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells with interferon reduces their growth rate but they remain viable. In contrast, A549 USP18 knock-out cells show similar growth characteristics under basal conditions, but upon interferon stimulation, a profound inhibition of cell growth is observed. We show that this contingency on USP18 is independent of ISGylation, suggesting non-catalytic functions are required for viability. We also demonstrate that global deISGylation kinetics are very slow compared with deubiquitylation. This is not influenced by USP18 expression, suggesting that enhanced ISGylation in USP18 KO cells reflects increased conjugating activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Clancy
- Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown St., Liverpool L69 3BX, U.K
| | - Emma V. Rusilowicz-Jones
- Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown St., Liverpool L69 3BX, U.K
| | - Iona Wallace
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Kirby N. Swatek
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Sylvie Urbé
- Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown St., Liverpool L69 3BX, U.K
| | - Michael J. Clague
- Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown St., Liverpool L69 3BX, U.K
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7
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Chappell DL, Sandhu PK, Wong JP, Bhatt AP, Liu X, Buhrlage SJ, Temple BRS, Major MB, Damania B. KSHV Viral Protein Kinase Interacts with USP9X to Modulate the Viral Lifecycle. J Virol 2023; 97:e0176322. [PMID: 36995092 PMCID: PMC10062123 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01763-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiological agent of Kaposi sarcoma (KS), the plasmablastic form of multicentric Castleman's disease, and primary effusion lymphoma. In sub-Saharan Africa, KS is the most common HIV-related malignancy and one of the most common childhood cancers. Immunosuppressed patients, including HIV-infected patients, are more prone to KSHV-associated disease. KSHV encodes a viral protein kinase (vPK) that is expressed from ORF36. KSHV vPK contributes to the optimal production of infectious viral progeny and upregulation of protein synthesis. To elucidate the interactions of vPK with cellular proteins in KSHV-infected cells, we used a bottom-up proteomics approach and identified host protein ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9X-linked (USP9X) as a potential interactor of vPK. Subsequently, we validated this interaction using a co-immunoprecipitation assay. We report that both the ubiquitin-like and the catalytic domains of USP9X are important for association with vPK. To uncover the biological relevance of the USP9X/vPK interaction, we investigated whether the knockdown of USP9X would modulate viral reactivation. Our data suggest that depletion of USP9X inhibits both viral reactivation and the production of infectious virions. Understanding how USP9X influences the reactivation of KSHV will provide insights into how cellular deubiquitinases regulate viral kinase activity and how viruses co-opt cellular deubiquitinases to propagate infection. Hence, characterizing the roles of USP9X and vPK during KSHV infection constitutes a first step toward identifying a potentially critical interaction that could be targeted by future therapeutics. IMPORTANCE Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiological agent of Kaposi sarcoma (KS), the plasmablastic form of multicentric Castleman's disease, and primary effusion lymphoma. In sub-Saharan Africa, KS is the most common HIV-related malignancy. KSHV encodes a viral protein kinase (vPK) that aids viral replication. To elucidate the interactions of vPK with cellular proteins in KSHV-infected cells, we used an affinity purification approach and identified host protein ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9X-linked (USP9X) as a potential interactor of vPK. Depletion of USP9X inhibits both viral reactivation and the production of infectious virions. Overall, our data suggest a proviral role for USP9X.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle L. Chappell
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Praneet K. Sandhu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jason P. Wong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Aadra P. Bhatt
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Xiaoxi Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sara J. Buhrlage
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Brenda R. S. Temple
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- R. L. Juliano Structural Bioinformatics Core Facility, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Structural Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - M. Ben Major
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Blossom Damania
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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8
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Göricke F, Vu V, Smith L, Scheib U, Böhm R, Akkilic N, Wohlfahrt G, Weiske J, Bömer U, Brzezinka K, Lindner N, Lienau P, Gradl S, Beck H, Brown PJ, Santhakumar V, Vedadi M, Barsyte-Lovejoy D, Arrowsmith CH, Schmees N, Petersen K. Discovery and Characterization of BAY-805, a Potent and Selective Inhibitor of Ubiquitin-Specific Protease USP21. J Med Chem 2023; 66:3431-3447. [PMID: 36802665 PMCID: PMC10009755 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
USP21 belongs to the ubiquitin-specific protease (USP) subfamily of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). Due to its relevance in tumor development and growth, USP21 has been reported as a promising novel therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Herein, we present the discovery of the first highly potent and selective USP21 inhibitor. Following high-throughput screening and subsequent structure-based optimization, we identified BAY-805 to be a non-covalent inhibitor with low nanomolar affinity for USP21 and high selectivity over other DUB targets as well as kinases, proteases, and other common off-targets. Furthermore, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and cellular thermal shift assays (CETSA) demonstrated high-affinity target engagement of BAY-805, resulting in strong NF-κB activation in a cell-based reporter assay. To the best of our knowledge, BAY-805 is the first potent and selective USP21 inhibitor and represents a valuable high-quality in vitro chemical probe to further explore the complex biology of USP21.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Göricke
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 42096 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Victoria Vu
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Leanna Smith
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Ulrike Scheib
- Nuvisan Innovation Campus Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Raphael Böhm
- Nuvisan Innovation Campus Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Namik Akkilic
- Nuvisan Innovation Campus Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gerd Wohlfahrt
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jörg Weiske
- Nuvisan Innovation Campus Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulf Bömer
- Nuvisan Innovation Campus Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Niels Lindner
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 42096 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Philip Lienau
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Gradl
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hartmut Beck
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 42096 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Peter J Brown
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | | | - Masoud Vedadi
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Dalia Barsyte-Lovejoy
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Cheryl H Arrowsmith
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | | | - Kirstin Petersen
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
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9
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Chan WC, Liu X, Magin RS, Girardi NM, Ficarro SB, Hu W, Tarazona Guzman MI, Starnbach CA, Felix A, Adelmant G, Varca AC, Hu B, Bratt AS, DaSilva E, Schauer NJ, Jaen Maisonet I, Dolen EK, Ayala AX, Marto JA, Buhrlage SJ. Accelerating inhibitor discovery for deubiquitinating enzymes. Nat Commun 2023; 14:686. [PMID: 36754960 PMCID: PMC9908924 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36246-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are an emerging drug target class of ~100 proteases that cleave ubiquitin from protein substrates to regulate many cellular processes. A lack of selective chemical probes impedes pharmacologic interrogation of this important gene family. DUBs engage their cognate ligands through a myriad of interactions. We embrace this structural complexity to tailor a chemical diversification strategy for a DUB-focused covalent library. Pairing our library with activity-based protein profiling as a high-density primary screen, we identify selective hits against 23 endogenous DUBs spanning four subfamilies. Optimization of an azetidine hit yields a probe for the understudied DUB VCPIP1 with nanomolar potency and in-family selectivity. Our success in identifying good chemical starting points as well as structure-activity relationships across the gene family from a modest but purpose-build library challenges current paradigms that emphasize ultrahigh throughput in vitro or virtual screens against an ever-increasing scope of chemical space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wai Cheung Chan
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xiaoxi Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert S Magin
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas M Girardi
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott B Ficarro
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wanyi Hu
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria I Tarazona Guzman
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cara A Starnbach
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alejandra Felix
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Guillaume Adelmant
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anthony C Varca
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bin Hu
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ariana S Bratt
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ethan DaSilva
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nathan J Schauer
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Isabella Jaen Maisonet
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emma K Dolen
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anthony X Ayala
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jarrod A Marto
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Sara J Buhrlage
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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10
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Meanwell NA, Loiseleur O. Applications of Isosteres of Piperazine in the Design of Biologically Active Compounds: Part 2. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:10972-11004. [PMID: 35675052 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c00729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Applications of piperazine and homopiperazine in drug design are well-established, and these heterocycles have found use as both scaffolding and terminal elements and also as a means of introducing a water-solubilizing element into a molecule. In the accompanying review (10.1021/acs.jafc.2c00726), we summarized applications of piperazine and homopiperazine and their fused ring homologues in bioactive compound design along with illustrations of the use of 4-substituted piperidines and a sulfoximine-based mimetic. In this review, we discuss applications of pyrrolidine- and fused-pyrrolidine-based mimetics of piperazine and homopiperazine and illustrate derivatives of azetidine that include stretched and spirocyclic motifs, along with applications of a series of diaminocycloalkanes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Meanwell
- Small Molecule Drug Discovery, Bristol Myers Squibb Research and Early Development, Post Office Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Olivier Loiseleur
- Syngenta Crop Protection Research, Schaffhauserstrasse, CH-4332 Stein, Switzerland
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11
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On the Study of Deubiquitinases: Using the Right Tools for the Job. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12050703. [PMID: 35625630 PMCID: PMC9139131 DOI: 10.3390/biom12050703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Deubiquitinases (DUBs) have been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent years. Many of their diverse enzymatic mechanisms are well characterized in vitro; however, our understanding of these enzymes at the cellular level lags due to the lack of quality tool reagents. DUBs play a role in seemingly every biological process and are central to many human pathologies, thus rendering them very desirable and challenging therapeutic targets. This review aims to provide researchers entering the field of ubiquitination with knowledge of the pharmacological modulators and tool molecules available to study DUBs. A focus is placed on small molecule inhibitors, ubiquitin variants (UbVs), and activity-based probes (ABPs). Leveraging these tools to uncover DUB biology at the cellular level is of particular importance and may lead to significant breakthroughs. Despite significant drug discovery efforts, only approximately 15 chemical probe-quality small molecule inhibitors have been reported, hitting just 6 of about 100 DUB targets. UbV technology is a promising approach to rapidly expand the library of known DUB inhibitors and may be used as a combinatorial platform for structure-guided drug design.
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12
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Mann MK, Zepeda-Velázquez CA, González-Álvarez H, Dong A, Kiyota T, Aman AM, Loppnau P, Li Y, Wilson B, Arrowsmith CH, Al-Awar R, Harding RJ, Schapira M. Structure-Activity Relationship of USP5 Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2021; 64:15017-15036. [PMID: 34648286 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
USP5 is a deubiquitinase that has been implicated in a range of diseases, including cancer, but no USP5-targeting chemical probe has been reported to date. Here, we present the progression of a chemical series that occupies the C-terminal ubiquitin-binding site of a poorly characterized zinc-finger ubiquitin binding domain (ZnF-UBD) of USP5 and competitively inhibits the catalytic activity of the enzyme. Exploration of the structure-activity relationship, complemented with crystallographic characterization of the ZnF-UBD bound to multiple ligands, led to the identification of 64, which binds to the USP5 ZnF-UBD with a KD of 2.8 μM and is selective over nine proteins containing structurally similar ZnF-UBD domains. 64 inhibits the USP5 catalytic cleavage of a di-ubiquitin substrate in an in vitro assay. This study provides a chemical and structural framework for the discovery of a chemical probe to delineate USP5 function in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandeep K Mann
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | | | - Héctor González-Álvarez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada.,Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Aiping Dong
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Taira Kiyota
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Ahmed M Aman
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A3, Canada.,Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Peter Loppnau
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Yanjun Li
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Brian Wilson
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Cheryl H Arrowsmith
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada.,Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Rima Al-Awar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada.,Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Rachel J Harding
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Matthieu Schapira
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
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13
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LaPlante G, Zhang W. Targeting the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System for Cancer Therapeutics by Small-Molecule Inhibitors. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3079. [PMID: 34203106 PMCID: PMC8235664 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13123079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a critical regulator of cellular protein levels and activity. It is, therefore, not surprising that its dysregulation is implicated in numerous human diseases, including many types of cancer. Moreover, since cancer cells exhibit increased rates of protein turnover, their heightened dependence on the UPS makes it an attractive target for inhibition via targeted therapeutics. Indeed, the clinical application of proteasome inhibitors in treatment of multiple myeloma has been very successful, stimulating the development of small-molecule inhibitors targeting other UPS components. On the other hand, while the discovery of potent and selective chemical compounds can be both challenging and time consuming, the area of targeted protein degradation through utilization of the UPS machinery has seen promising developments in recent years. The repertoire of proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), which employ E3 ligases for the degradation of cancer-related proteins via the proteasome, continues to grow. In this review, we will provide a thorough overview of small-molecule UPS inhibitors and highlight advancements in the development of targeted protein degradation strategies for cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel LaPlante
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada;
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada;
- CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, MaRS Centre West Tower, 661 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G1M1, Canada
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14
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Small molecules as tools for functional assessment of deubiquitinating enzyme function. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:1090-1100. [PMID: 34089649 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are a largely understudied and untapped resource in the toolkit of protein degradation functionalities. They comprise a large repertoire of enzymes that remove ubiquitin from substrates in a variety of cellular and pathophysiological contexts, and have enormous potential for research and clinical use. It is only within the last 5 years that potent, selective, and well-characterized small-molecule inhibitors of DUBs have been described. These compounds are now being used to study the biological roles of DUBs. Here, we describe downstream applications of small-molecule inhibitors for studying DUBs and provide a framework for future studies. We highlight recent examples of using these inhibitors to confirm and explore the role of these enzymes in both normal and pathological contexts. These studies represent the first steps in the burgeoning field of pharmacological and chemoproteomic studies of DUBs, which will be critical for the continued advancement of DUB field.
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15
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Ubiquitination and Deubiquitination in Oral Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115488. [PMID: 34070986 PMCID: PMC8197098 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Oral health is an integral part of the general health and well-being of individuals. The presence of oral disease is potentially indicative of a number of systemic diseases and may contribute to their early diagnosis and treatment. The ubiquitin (Ub) system has been shown to play a role in cellular immune response, cellular development, and programmed cell death. Ubiquitination is a post-translational modification that occurs in eukaryotes. Its mechanism involves a number of factors, including Ub-activating enzymes, Ub-conjugating enzymes, and Ub protein ligases. Deubiquitinating enzymes, which are proteases that reversely modify proteins by removing Ub or Ub-like molecules or remodeling Ub chains on target proteins, have recently been regarded as crucial regulators of ubiquitination-mediated degradation and are known to significantly affect cellular pathways, a number of biological processes, DNA damage response, and DNA repair pathways. Research has increasingly shown evidence of the relationship between ubiquitination, deubiquitination, and oral disease. This review investigates recent progress in discoveries in diseased oral sites and discusses the roles of ubiquitination and deubiquitination in oral disease.
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