Phylogenetic articulation of uric acid evolution in mammals and how it informs a therapeutic uricase

Crystal Facet Controlled Metal-Support Interaction in Uricase Mimics for Highly Efficient Hyperuricemia Treatment

The effect of strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) has never been systematically studied in the field of nanozyme-based catalysis before. Herein, by coupling two different Pd crystal facets with MnO2, i.e., (100) by Pd cube (Pdc) and (111) by Pd icosahedron (Pdi), we observed the reconstruction of Pd atomic structure within the Pd-MnO2 interface, with the reconstructed Pdc (100) facet more disordered than Pdi (111), verifying the existence of SMSI in such coupled system. The rearranged Pd atoms in the interface resulted in enhanced uricase-like catalytic activity, with Pdc@MnO2 demonstrating the best catalytic performance. Theoretical calculations suggested that a more disordered Pd interface led to stronger interactions with intermediates during the uricolytic process. In vitro cell experiments and in vivo therapy results demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, therapeutic effect, and biosafety for their potential hyperuricemia treatment. Our work provides a brand-new perspective for the design of highly efficient uricase-mimic catalysts.

Biofunctional coacervate-based artificial protocells with membrane-like and cytoplasm-like structures for the treatment of persistent hyperuricemia

Coacervate droplets formed by liquid-liquid phase separation have attracted considerable attention due to their ability to enrich biomacromolecules while preserving their bioactivities. However, there are challenges to develop coacervate droplets as delivery vesicles for therapeutics resulting from the lack of physiological stability and inherent lack of membranes in coacervate droplets. Herein, polylysine-polynucleotide complex coacervate droplets with favorable physiological stability are formulated to efficiently and facilely concentrate small molecules, biomacromolecules and nanoparticles without organic solvents. To improve the biocompatibility, the PEGylated phospholipid membrane is further coated on the surface of the coacervate droplets to prepare coacervate-based artificial protocells (ArtPC) with membrane-like and cytoplasm-like structures. The ArtPC can confine the cyclic catalytic system of uricase and catalase inside to degrade uric acid and deplete the toxicity of H2O2. This biofunctional ArtPC effectively reduces blood uric acid levels and prevents renal injuries in mice with persistent hyperuricemia. The ArtPC-based therapy can bridge the disciplines of synthetic biology, pharmaceutics and therapeutics.

Recombinant Expression and Functional Assessment of Uricase from a Pertinent Origin of the Enzyme, Streptomyces sp. Strain 17-1

Background

Uricase or urate oxidase, as a therapeutic enzyme, is extensively applied to oxidize accumulated uric acid in the body to soluble form to treat related illnesses.

Objectives

This study was conducted with the aim of searching for potential sources of uricase-producing Streptomyces from Eshtehard salt desert in Alborz province, Iran and heterologous expression, purification and functional assay of the enzyme.

Materials and Methods

Main screening was conducted by cultivation of the strains on a medium enriched with 0.3 percent (w/v) uric acid. The uricase gene from the most potent strain was then recombinantly expressed in E. coli BL21 (DL3).

Results

Out of the tested strains, only seven showed uricase activity. The highest level of native uricase activity (11.5735 U.mL-1) belonged to strain 17-1, which had the closest similarity to Streptomyces nigra. A recombinant uricase with a molecular mass of approximately 38 kDa was produced. The purified uricase exhibited a specific activity of about 28.29±0.59 U.mg-1, which is among the highest level of uricase activity reported by other studies.

Conclusions

This enzyme is a promising candidate for further applicable investigations and large-scale production in terms of its large volume of soluble expression and selective competitive activity.

Mechanisms and rationale for uricase use in patients with gout

Xanthine oxidase inhibitors such as allopurinol and febuxostat have been the mainstay urate-lowering therapy (ULT) for treating hyperuricaemia in patients with gout. However, not all patients receiving oral ULT achieve the target serum urate level, in part because some patients cannot tolerate, or have actual or misconceived contraindications to, their use, mainly due to comorbidities. ULT dosage is also limited by formularies and clinical inertia. This failure to sufficiently lower serum urate levels can lead to difficult-to-treat or uncontrolled gout, usually due to poorly managed and/or under-treated gout. In species other than humans, uricase (urate oxidase) converts urate to allantoin, which is more soluble in urine than uric acid. Exogenic uricases are an exciting therapeutic option for patients with gout. They can be viewed as enzyme replacement therapy. Uricases are being used to treat uncontrolled gout, and can achieve rapid reduction of hyperuricaemia, dramatic resolution of tophi, decreased chronic joint pain and improved quality of life. Availability, cost and uricase immunogenicity have limited their use. Uricases could become a leading choice in severe and difficult-to-treat gout as induction and/or debulking therapy (that is, for lowering of the urate pool) to be followed by chronic oral ULT. This Review summarizes the evidence regarding available uricases and those in the pipeline, their debulking effect and their outcomes related to gout and beyond.

The Role of Uric Acid in Human Health: Insights from the Uricase Gene

Uric acid is the final product of purine metabolism and is converted to allantoin in most mammals via the uricase enzyme. The accumulation of loss of function mutations in the uricase gene rendered hominoids (apes and humans) to have higher urate concentrations compared to other mammals. The loss of human uricase activity may have allowed humans to survive environmental stressors, evolution bottlenecks, and life-threatening pathogens. While high urate levels may contribute to developing gout and cardiometabolic disorders such as hypertension and insulin resistance, low urate levels may increase the risk for neurodegenerative diseases. The double-edged sword effect of uric acid has resurrected a growing interest in urate's antioxidant role and the uricase enzyme's role in modulating the risk of obesity. Characterizing both the effect of uric acid levels and the uricase enzyme in different animal models may provide new insights into the potential therapeutic benefits of uric acid and novel uricase-based therapy.

Cysteine Enrichment Mediates Co-Option of Uricase in Reptilian Skin and Transition to Uricotelism

Uric acid is the main means of nitrogen excretion in uricotelic vertebrates (birds and reptiles) and the end product of purine catabolism in humans and a few other mammals. While uricase is inactivated in mammals unable to degrade urate, the presence of orthologous genes without inactivating mutations in avian and reptilian genomes is unexplained. Here we show that the Gallus gallus gene we name cysteine-rich urate oxidase (CRUOX) encodes a functional protein representing a unique case of cysteine enrichment in the evolution of vertebrate orthologous genes. CRUOX retains the ability to catalyze urate oxidation to hydrogen peroxide and 5-hydroxyisourate (HIU), albeit with a 100-fold reduced efficiency. However, differently from all uricases hitherto characterized, it can also facilitate urate regeneration from HIU, a catalytic property that we propose depends on its enrichment in cysteine residues. X-ray structural analysis highlights differences in the active site compared to known orthologs and suggests a mechanism for cysteine-mediated self-aggregation under H2O2-oxidative conditions. Cysteine enrichment was concurrent with the transition to uricotelism and a shift in gene expression from the liver to the skin where CRUOX is co-expressed with β-keratins. Therefore, the loss of urate degradation in amniotes has followed opposite evolutionary trajectories: while uricase has been eliminated by pseudogenization in some mammals, it has been repurposed as a redox-sensitive enzyme in the reptilian skin.

Oral Delivery of Nanoparticles Carrying Ancestral Uricase Enzyme Protects against Hyperuricemia in Knockout Mice

The therapeutic value of delivering recombinant uricase to human patients has been appreciated for decades. The development of therapeutic uricases has been hampered by the fact that humans do not encode an endogenous uricase and therefore most recombinant forms of the protein are recognized as foreign by the immune system and are therefore highly immunogenic. In order to both shield and stabilize the active enzyme, we encapsulated a functional ancestral uricase in recombinant, noninfectious Qβ capsid nanoparticles and characterized its catalytic activity. Oral delivery of the nanoparticles moderated key symptoms of kidney dysfunction in uricase-knockout mice by lowering uric acid levels. Histological kidney samples of the treated mice suggest that delivery of recombinant uricase had a protective effect against the destructive effects of uric acid that lead to renal failure caused by hyperuricemia.

Novel urate transporter 1 (URAT1) inhibitors: a review of recent patent literature (2020-present)

INTRODUCTION

The urate transporter 1 (URAT1) is a membrane transporter located in the apical membrane of human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells, which mediates most of the reabsorption of urate. Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a common disease caused by metabolic disorders, which has been considered as the key factor of gout. Approximately 90% of patients suffer from hyperuricemia due to insufficient or poor uric acid excretion. Therefore, the drug design of URAT1 inhibitors targeting improve the renal urate excretion by reducing the reabsorption of urate anions represent a hot topic in searching for anti-gout drugs currently.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we summarize URAT1 inhibitors patents reported since 2020 to present through the public database at https://worldwide.espacenet.com and some medicinal chemistry strategies employed to develop novel drug candidates.

EXPERT OPINION

Ligand-based drug design (LBDD) strategies have been frequently used developing new URAT1 inhibitors. Meanwhile, the discovery of dual drugs targeting both inhibition of xanthine oxidase (XOD) and URAT1 may be an emerging horizon for designing novel uric acid-lowering candidates in future. Furthermore, advanced techniques in the field of molecular biology and computer science can increase the chances to discover and/or optimize URAT1 inhibitors, contributing to the development of novel drug candidates.

Do thrifty genes exist? Revisiting uricase

Sixty years ago, the geneticist James Neel proposed that the epidemics of obesity and diabetes today may have evolutionary roots. Specifically, he suggested that our ancestors may have accumulated mutations during periods of famine that provided a survival advantage at that time. However, the presence of this "thrifty genotype" in today's world, where food is plentiful, would predispose us to obesity and diabetes. The "thrifty gene" hypothesis, attractive to some, has been challenged over the years. The authors have previously postulated that the loss of the uricase gene, resulting in a rise in serum and intracellular uric acid levels, satisfies the criteria of a thrifty genotype mutation. This paper reviews and brings up-to-date the evidence supporting the hypothesis and discusses the current arguments that challenge this hypothesis. Although further studies are needed to test the hypothesis, the evidence supporting a loss of uricase as a thrifty gene is substantial and supports a role for evolutionary biology in the pathogenesis of the current obesity and diabetes epidemics.

Diverse functions associate with non-coding polymorphisms shared between humans and chimpanzees

Background

Long-term balancing selection (LTBS) can maintain allelic variation at a locus over millions of years and through speciation events. Variants shared between species in the state of identity-by-descent, hereafter “trans-species polymorphisms”, can result from LTBS, often due to host–pathogen interactions. For instance, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) locus contains TSPs present across primates. Several hundred candidate LTBS regions have been identified in humans and chimpanzees; however, because many are in non-protein-coding regions of the genome, the functions and potential adaptive roles for most remain unknown.

Results

We integrated diverse genomic annotations to explore the functions of 60 previously identified regions with multiple shared polymorphisms (SPs) between humans and chimpanzees, including 19 with strong evidence of LTBS. We analyzed genome-wide functional assays, expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL), genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS) for all the regions. We identify functional annotations for 59 regions, including 58 with evidence of gene regulatory function from GTEx or functional genomics data and 19 with evidence of trait association from GWAS or PheWAS. As expected, the SPs associate in humans with many immune system phenotypes, including response to pathogens, but we also find associations with a range of other phenotypes, including body size, alcohol intake, cognitive performance, risk-taking behavior, and urate levels.

Conclusions

The diversity of traits associated with non-coding regions with multiple SPs support previous hypotheses that functions beyond the immune system are likely subject to LTBS. Furthermore, several of these trait associations provide support and candidate genetic loci for previous hypothesis about behavioral diversity in human and chimpanzee populations, such as the importance of variation in risk sensitivity.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-022-02020-x.