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Sakuma M, Haferlach T, Walter W. UBA1 dysfunction in VEXAS and cancer. Oncotarget 2024; 15:644-658. [PMID: 39347709 PMCID: PMC11441413 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/18/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024] Open
Abstract
UBA1, an X-linked gene, encodes one of the only two ubiquitin E1 enzymes, playing a pivotal role in initiating one of the most essential post-translational modifications. In late 2020, partial loss-of-function mutations in UBA1 within hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells were found to be responsible for VEXAS Syndrome, a previously unidentified hematoinflammatory disorder predominantly affecting older males. The condition is characterized by severe inflammation, cytopenias, and an association to hematologic malignancies. In this research perspective, we comprehensively review the molecular significance of UBA1 loss of function as well as advancements in VEXAS research over the past four years for each of the VEXAS manifestations - inflammation, cytopenias, clonality, and possible oncogenicity. Special attention is given to contrasting the M41 and non-M41 mutations, aiming to elucidate their differential effects and to identify targetable mechanisms responsible for each of the symptoms. Finally, we explore the therapeutic landscape for VEXAS Syndrome, discussing the efficacy and potential of clone-targeting drugs based on the pathobiology of VEXAS. This includes azacitidine, currently approved for myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS), novel UBA1 inhibitors being developed for a broad spectrum of cancers, Protein Kinase R-like Endoplasmic Reticulum Kinase (PERK) inhibitors, and auranofin, a long-established drug for rheumatoid arthritis. This perspective bridges basic research to clinical symptoms and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maki Sakuma
- MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory, Munich, Germany
- Medical Graduate Center, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
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Collins JC, Magaziner SJ, English M, Hassan B, Chen X, Balanda N, Anderson M, Lam A, Fernandez-Pol S, Kwong B, Greenberg PL, Terrier B, Likhite ME, Kosmider O, Wang Y, Samara NL, Walters KJ, Beck DB, Werner A. Shared and distinct mechanisms of UBA1 inactivation across different diseases. EMBO J 2024; 43:1919-1946. [PMID: 38360993 PMCID: PMC11099125 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00046-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Most cellular ubiquitin signaling is initiated by UBA1, which activates and transfers ubiquitin to tens of E2 enzymes. Clonally acquired UBA1 missense mutations cause an inflammatory-hematologic overlap disease called VEXAS (vacuoles, E1, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic) syndrome. Despite extensive clinical investigation into this lethal disease, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, by dissecting VEXAS-causing UBA1 mutations, we discovered that p.Met41 mutations alter cytoplasmic isoform expression, whereas other mutations reduce catalytic activity of nuclear and cytoplasmic isoforms by diverse mechanisms, including aberrant oxyester formation. Strikingly, non-p.Met41 mutations most prominently affect transthioesterification, revealing ubiquitin transfer to cytoplasmic E2 enzymes as a shared property of pathogenesis amongst different VEXAS syndrome genotypes. A similar E2 charging bottleneck exists in some lung cancer-associated UBA1 mutations, but not in spinal muscular atrophy-causing UBA1 mutations, which instead, render UBA1 thermolabile. Collectively, our results highlight the precision of conformational changes required for faithful ubiquitin transfer, define distinct and shared mechanisms of UBA1 inactivation in diverse diseases, and suggest that specific E1-E2 modules control different aspects of tissue differentiation and maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason C Collins
- Stem Cell Biochemistry Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Samuel J Magaziner
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maya English
- Stem Cell Biochemistry Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Bakar Hassan
- Protein Processing Section, Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Xiang Chen
- Protein Processing Section, Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Nicholas Balanda
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Meghan Anderson
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Athena Lam
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Bernice Kwong
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University Cancer Center, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Peter L Greenberg
- Division of Hematology, Stanford University Cancer Center, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin Terrier
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Mary E Likhite
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Olivier Kosmider
- Laboratory of Hematology, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Yan Wang
- Mass Spectrometry Facility, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nadine L Samara
- Structural Biochemistry Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kylie J Walters
- Protein Processing Section, Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - David B Beck
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Achim Werner
- Stem Cell Biochemistry Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Collins JC, Magaziner SJ, English M, Hassan B, Chen X, Balanda N, Anderson M, Lam A, Fernandez-Pol S, Kwong B, Greenberg PL, Terrier B, Likhite ME, Kosmider O, Wang Y, Samara NL, Walters KJ, Beck DB, Werner A. Shared and Distinct Mechanisms of UBA1 Inactivation Across Different Diseases. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.10.561769. [PMID: 37873213 PMCID: PMC10592724 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.10.561769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Most cellular ubiquitin signaling is initiated by UBA1, which activates and transfers ubiquitin to tens of E2 enzymes. Clonally acquired UBA1 missense mutations cause an inflammatory-hematologic overlap disease called VEXAS (vacuoles, E1, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic) syndrome. Despite extensive clinical investigation into this lethal disease, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, by dissecting VEXAS-causing UBA1 mutations, we discovered that p.Met41 mutations alter cytoplasmic isoform expression, whereas other mutations reduce catalytic activity of nuclear and cytoplasmic isoforms by diverse mechanisms, including aberrant oxyester formation. Strikingly, non-p.Met41 mutations most prominently affect transthioesterification, revealing ubiquitin transfer to cytoplasmic E2 enzymes as a shared property of pathogenesis amongst different VEXAS syndrome genotypes. A similar E2 charging bottleneck exists in some lung cancer-associated UBA1 mutations, but not in spinal muscular atrophy-causing UBA1 mutations, which instead, render UBA1 thermolabile. Collectively, our results highlight the precision of conformational changes required for faithful ubiquitin transfer, define distinct and shared mechanisms of UBA1 inactivation in diverse diseases, and suggest that specific E1-E2 modules control different aspects of tissue differentiation and maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason C. Collins
- Stem Cell Biochemistry Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Samuel J. Magaziner
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Maya English
- Stem Cell Biochemistry Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Bakar Hassan
- Protein Processing Section, Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD
| | - Xiang Chen
- Protein Processing Section, Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD
| | - Nicholas Balanda
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Meghan Anderson
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Athena Lam
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | | | - Bernice Kwong
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University Cancer Center, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Peter L. Greenberg
- Division of Hematology, Stanford University Cancer Center, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Benjamin Terrier
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris
| | - Mary E. Likhite
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Olivier Kosmider
- Laboratory of Hematology, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris
| | - Yan Wang
- Mass Spectrometry Facility, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Nadine L. Samara
- Structural Biochemistry Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Kylie J. Walters
- Protein Processing Section, Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD
| | - David B. Beck
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Achim Werner
- Stem Cell Biochemistry Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
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