1
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Patzke JV, Sauer F, Nair RK, Endres E, Proschak E, Hernandez-Olmos V, Sotriffer C, Kisker C. Structural basis for the bi-specificity of USP25 and USP28 inhibitors. EMBO Rep 2024:10.1038/s44319-024-00167-w. [PMID: 38816515 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00167-w] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of cancer therapeutics is often hindered by the fact that specific oncogenes cannot be directly pharmaceutically addressed. Targeting deubiquitylases that stabilize these oncogenes provides a promising alternative. USP28 and USP25 have been identified as such target deubiquitylases, and several small-molecule inhibitors indiscriminately inhibiting both enzymes have been developed. To obtain insights into their mode of inhibition, we structurally and functionally characterized USP28 in the presence of the three different inhibitors AZ1, Vismodegib and FT206. The compounds bind into a common pocket acting as a molecular sink. Our analysis provides an explanation why the two enzymes are inhibited with similar potency while other deubiquitylases are not affected. Furthermore, a key glutamate residue at position 366/373 in USP28/USP25 plays a central structural role for pocket stability and thereby for inhibition and activity. Obstructing the inhibitor-binding pocket by mutation of this glutamate may provide a tool to accelerate future drug development efforts for selective inhibitors of either USP28 or USP25 targeting distinct binding pockets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Vincent Patzke
- Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, Institute for Structural Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Florian Sauer
- Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, Institute for Structural Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Radhika Karal Nair
- Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, Institute for Structural Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Erik Endres
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ewgenij Proschak
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Victor Hernandez-Olmos
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Christoph Sotriffer
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Caroline Kisker
- Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, Institute for Structural Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
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2
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Zheng LL, Wang LT, Pang YW, Sun LP, Shi L. Recent advances in the development of deubiquitinases inhibitors as antitumor agents. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 266:116161. [PMID: 38262120 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116161] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Ubiquitination is a type of post-translational modification that covalently links ubiquitin to a target protein, which plays a critical role in modulating protein activity, stability, and localization. In contrast, this process is reversed by deubiquitinases (DUBs), which remove ubiquitin from ubiquitinated substrates. Dysregulation of DUBs is associated with several human diseases, such as cancer, inflammation, neurodegenerative disorders, and autoimmune diseases. Thus, DUBs have become promising targets for drug development. Although the physiological and pathological effects of DUBs are increasingly well understood, the clinical drug discovery of selective DUB inhibitors has been challenging. Herein, we summarize the structures and functions of main classes of DUBs and discuss the recent progress in developing selective small-molecule DUB inhibitors as antitumor agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Li Zheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Li-Ting Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Ye-Wei Pang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Li-Ping Sun
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
| | - Lei Shi
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
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3
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Al-Balushi E, Al Marzouqi A, Tavoosi S, Baghsheikhi AH, Sadri A, Aliabadi LS, Salarabedi MM, Rahman SA, Al-Yateem N, Jarrahi AM, Halimi A, Ahmadvand M, Abdel-Rahman WM. Comprehensive analysis of the role of ubiquitin-specific peptidases in colorectal cancer: A systematic review. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024; 16:197-213. [PMID: 38292842 PMCID: PMC10824112 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i1.197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent and the second most fatal cancer. The search for more effective drugs to treat this disease is ongoing. A better understanding of the mechanisms of CRC development and progression may reveal new therapeutic strategies. Ubiquitin-specific peptidases (USPs), the largest group of the deubiquitinase protein family, have long been implicated in various cancers. There have been numerous studies on the role of USPs in CRC; however, a comprehensive view of this role is lacking. AIM To provide a systematic review of the studies investigating the roles and functions of USPs in CRC. METHODS We systematically queried the MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, and Web of Science databases. RESULTS Our study highlights the pivotal role of various USPs in several processes implicated in CRC: Regulation of the cell cycle, apoptosis, cancer stemness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, DNA repair, and drug resistance. The findings of this study suggest that USPs have great potential as drug targets and noninvasive biomarkers in CRC. The dysregulation of USPs in CRC contributes to drug resistance through multiple mechanisms. CONCLUSION Targeting specific USPs involved in drug resistance pathways could provide a novel therapeutic strategy for overcoming resistance to current treatment regimens in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman Al-Balushi
- College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Amina Al Marzouqi
- College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shima Tavoosi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441, Iran
| | - Amir Hossein Baghsheikhi
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran 11365/4435, Iran
| | - Arash Sadri
- Students’ Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1416634793, Iran
| | - Leyla Sharifi Aliabadi
- Cell Therapy and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Research Institute for Oncology, Hematology, and Cell Therapy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1416634793, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Mahdi Salarabedi
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1983969411, Iran
| | - Syed Azizur Rahman
- College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nabeel Al-Yateem
- Department of Nursing, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Alireza Mosavi Jarrahi
- Cancer Research Centre, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1983969411, Iran
| | - Aram Halimi
- Cancer Research Centre, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1983969411, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ahmadvand
- Cell Therapy and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Research Institute for Oncology, Hematology, and Cell Therapy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran 1416634793, Iran
| | - Wael M Abdel-Rahman
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
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4
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Yang H, Liu Y, Yang J, Zhang Q, Wang H, Chen Y, Zhou K. Upregulation of USP25 promotes progression of human diffuse large B-cell lymphoma through blocking the ubiquitinated degradation of MDM2. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 676:21-29. [PMID: 37480689 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.05.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a type of cancer that originates from abnormal B cells in the lymph nodes or other lymphoid tissues. Dysfunction of deubiquitinases is frequently implicated in malignant progression. This study planned to uncover the biological roles of deubiquitinase USP25 during DLBCL tumorigenesis. In this study we identified USP25 as a novel oncogene which is frequently upregulated in DLBCL and associated with dismal prognosis of patients. Moreover, USP25 silencing was found to inhibit DLBCL growth, migration, while induced an obvious increase in apoptosis in vitro. Meanwhile, USP25 could promote DLBCL tumour growth and lung metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, the co-immunoprecipitation test provided a mechanistic explanation, showing that USP25 directly interacted with murine double minute 2 (MDM2) and MDM2 protein stability was maintained by USP25 mediated deubiquitination. In addition, overexpression of USP25 with C178A mutation failed to decrease its modification on MDM2 stability. Further mechanism-of-action studies demonstrated that USP25 promoted DLBCL progression via stabilizing MDM2 and consequently decreasing p53 expression. In addition, further analysis showed that the oncogenic effect of USP25 was relied on MDM2-p53 signaling pathway-mediated cell-cycle accelerating. Collective, USP25 was shown to be an important upstream regulator of the MDM2-p53 signaling pathway in DLBCL, and it has the potential to be employed as a novel target gene in the development of new therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Yang
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, PR China; Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, PR China.
| | - Yanyan Liu
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, PR China.
| | - Jingyi Yang
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, PR China.
| | - Qing Zhang
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, PR China.
| | - Haoran Wang
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, PR China.
| | - Yu Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, PR China.
| | - Keshu Zhou
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, PR China.
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5
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Xu Z, Wang H, Meng Q, Ding Y, Zhu M, Zhou H, Zhang N, Shi L. Otilonium Bromide acts as a selective USP28 inhibitor and exhibits cytotoxic activity against multiple human cancer cell lines. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 215:115746. [PMID: 37579857 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115746] [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: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
USP28 contributes to tumorigenesis through modulating the lifespan of oncogenic factors such as c-Myc and ΔNp63, and it has been identified as a potential target for anti-cancer drug development. Currently, although quite a number of USP28 inhibitors have been developed, they all are still in preclinical research stage. Besides, none of them exhibits satisfying inhibition selectivity against USP28 over its closest homologue USP25. Here in this manuscript, a high-throughput screening aiming to discover USP28 inhibitors with novel scaffold and enhanced inhibition selectivity were conducted. After the primary screening and the second round of validation, Otilonium Bromide, an approved drug for treating irritable bowel syndrome, was identified to inhibit USP28's activity with the IC50 value at 6.90 ± 0.90 μM. Besides, the drug exhibits a 3-4 folds inhibition selectivity against USP28 over USP25. According to the enzymatic kinetics analysis data and the hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry results, Otilonium Bromide could bind to the allosteric pocket of USP28 and inhibit its activity in a reversible and non-competitive mode. The following performed cell-based assays revealed that the drug could cause cytotoxicity against human colorectal cancer cells and lung squamous carcinoma cells potentially through down-regulating USP28's oncogenic substrates c-Myc and/or ΔNp63. Meanwhile, since Otilonium Bromide has been found to preferentially distribute to gastrointestinal tissues, we then evaluated its potential in the combination treatment of colorectal cancer cells with Regorafenib, which is an approved drug for colorectal cancer therapy. As expected, Otilonium Bromide could significantly enhance the sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to Regorafenib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qian Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yiluan Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Mengying Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Naixia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Li Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China.
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6
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Nho RS, Rice C, Prasad J, Bone H, Farkas L, Rojas M, Horowitz JC. Persistent hypoxia promotes myofibroblast differentiation via GPR-81 and differential regulation of LDH isoenzymes in normal and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis fibroblasts. Physiol Rep 2023; 11:e15759. [PMID: 37653539 PMCID: PMC10471601 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15759] [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: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia, a state of insufficient oxygen availability, promotes cellular lactate production. Lactate levels are increased in lungs from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a disease characterized by excessive scar formation, and lactate is implicated in the pathobiology of lung fibrosis. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of hypoxia and lactate on fibroblast phenotype are poorly understood. We exposed normal and IPF lung fibroblasts to persistent hypoxia and found that increased lactate generation by IPF fibroblasts was driven by the FoxM1-dependent increase of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) coupled with decreased LDHB that was not observed in normal lung fibroblasts. Importantly, hypoxia reduced α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression in normal fibroblasts but had no significant impact on this marker of differentiation in IPF fibroblasts. Treatment of control and IPF fibroblasts with TGF-β under hypoxic conditions did not significantly change LDHA or LDHB expression. Surprisingly, lactate directly induced the differentiation of normal, but not IPF fibroblasts under hypoxic conditions. Moreover, while expression of GPR-81, a G-protein-coupled receptor that binds extracellular lactate, was increased by hypoxia in both normal and IPF fibroblasts, its inhibition or silencing only suppressed lactate-mediated differentiation in normal fibroblasts. These studies show that hypoxia differentially affects normal and fibrotic fibroblasts, promoting increased lactate generation by IPF fibroblasts through regulation of the LDHA/LDHB ratio and promoting normal lung fibroblast responsiveness to lactate through GPR-81. This supports a novel paradigm in which lactate may serve as a paracrine intercellular signal in oxygen-deficient microenvironments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard S. Nho
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Davis Heart and Lung Research InstituteThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Cami Rice
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Davis Heart and Lung Research InstituteThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Jayendra Prasad
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Davis Heart and Lung Research InstituteThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Hannah Bone
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Davis Heart and Lung Research InstituteThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Laszlo Farkas
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Davis Heart and Lung Research InstituteThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Mauricio Rojas
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Davis Heart and Lung Research InstituteThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Jeffrey C. Horowitz
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Davis Heart and Lung Research InstituteThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
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7
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Zhou L, Qin B, Yassine DM, Luo M, Liu X, Wang F, Wang Y. Structure and function of the highly homologous deubiquitinases ubiquitin specific peptidase 25 and 28: Insights into their pathophysiological and therapeutic roles. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 213:115624. [PMID: 37245535 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Deubiquitination is the reverse process of ubiquitination, an important protein post-translational modification. Deubiquitination is assisted by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), which catalyze the hydrolysis and removal of ubiquitin chains from targeted proteins and play an important role in regulating protein stability, cell signaling transduction, and programmed cell death. Ubiquitin-specific peptidases 25 and 28 (USP25 and USP28), important members of the USP subfamily of DUBs, are highly homologous, strictly regulated, and closely associated with various diseases, such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, the development of inhibitors targeting USP25 and USP28 for disease treatment has garnered extreme attention. Several non-selective and selective inhibitors have shown potential inhibitory effects. However, the specificity, potency, and action mechanism of these inhibitors remain to be further improved and clarified. Herein, we summarize the structure, regulation, emerging physiological roles, and target inhibition of USP25 and USP28 to provide a basis for the development of highly potent and specific inhibitors for the treatment of diseases, such as colorectal cancer, breast cancer and so on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihui Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Biying Qin
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Demna Mohamed Yassine
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Maoguo Luo
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xiaoling Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yanfeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
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8
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Zhou D, Xu Z, Huang Y, Wang H, Zhu X, Zhang W, Song W, Gao T, Liu T, Wang M, Shi L, Zhang N, Xiong B. Structure-based discovery of potent USP28 inhibitors derived from Vismodegib. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 254:115369. [PMID: 37075624 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs) 28 is overexpressed in multiple types of cancers. The development of potent USP28 inhibitors is still in primitive stage. We previously reported our discovery of Vismodegib as a USP28 inhibitor by screening a commercially available drug library. Herein, we report our efforts to solve the cocrystal structure of Vismodegib bound to USP28 for the first time and subsequent structure-based optimization leading to a series of Vismodegib derivatives as potent USP28 inhibitors. Based on the cocrystal structure, elaborative SARs exploration was carried out to afford much more potent USP28 inhibitors than Vismodegib. The representative compounds 9l, 9o and 9p bearing high potency on USP28 showed high selectivity over USP2, USP7, USP8, USP9x, UCHL3 and UCHL5. The detailed cellular assay suggested that compounds 9l, 9o and 9p could cause cytotoxicity in both human colorectal cancer and lung squamous carcinoma cells and significantly enhance the sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to Regorafenib. Further immunoblotting analysis indicated that compounds 9l, 9o and 9p could dose-dependently down-regulate the cellular level of c-Myc through ubiquitin-proteasome system and anti-cancer effects could mainly be attributed to their inhibition on USP28 but not involving the Hedgehog-Smoothened pathway. Thus, our work provided a series of novel and potent USP28 inhibitors derived from Vismodegib and may contribute to the development of USP28 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Zhou
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei, Anhui, 230012, PR China; Yangtze Delta Drug Advnced Research Institute, 100 Dongtinghu Road, Nantong, 226133, PR China
| | - Zhuo Xu
- Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, PR China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Yaodong Huang
- Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Rd, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, PR China; Yangtze Delta Drug Advnced Research Institute, 100 Dongtinghu Road, Nantong, 226133, PR China
| | - Hui Wang
- Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, PR China
| | - Xiaoli Zhu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, PR China; Yangtze Delta Drug Advnced Research Institute, 100 Dongtinghu Road, Nantong, 226133, PR China
| | - Wentao Zhang
- Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Rd, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, PR China; Yangtze Delta Drug Advnced Research Institute, 100 Dongtinghu Road, Nantong, 226133, PR China
| | - Weiwei Song
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei, Anhui, 230012, PR China; Yangtze Delta Drug Advnced Research Institute, 100 Dongtinghu Road, Nantong, 226133, PR China
| | - Tong Gao
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei, Anhui, 230012, PR China; Yangtze Delta Drug Advnced Research Institute, 100 Dongtinghu Road, Nantong, 226133, PR China
| | - Tongchao Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, PR China
| | - Meng Wang
- Shanghai Chemvon Biotechnology Company (Limited), Shanghai, 201202, PR China; Yangtze Delta Drug Advnced Research Institute, 100 Dongtinghu Road, Nantong, 226133, PR China.
| | - Li Shi
- Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, PR China.
| | - Naixia Zhang
- Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, PR China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, PR China.
| | - Bing Xiong
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, PR China; Yangtze Delta Drug Advnced Research Institute, 100 Dongtinghu Road, Nantong, 226133, PR China.
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9
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Ren X, Jiang M, Ding P, Zhang X, Zhou X, Shen J, Liu D, Yan X, Ma Z. Ubiquitin-specific protease 28: the decipherment of its dual roles in cancer development. Exp Hematol Oncol 2023; 12:27. [PMID: 36879346 PMCID: PMC9990303 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-023-00389-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
As significant posttranslational modifications, ubiquitination and deubiquitination, whose balance is modulated by ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes and deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), can regulate many biological processes, such as controlling cell cycle progression, signal transduction and transcriptional regulation. Belonging to DUBs, ubiquitin-specific protease 28 (USP28) plays an essential role in turning over ubiquitination and then contributing to the stabilization of quantities of substrates, including several cancer-related proteins. In previous studies, USP28 has been demonstrated to participate in the progression of various cancers. Nevertheless, several reports have recently shown that in addition to promoting cancers, USP28 can also play an oncostatic role in some cancers. In this review, we summarize the correlation between USP28 and tumor behaviors. We initially give a brief introduction of the structure and related biological functions of USP28, and we then introduce some concrete substrates of USP28 and the underlying molecular mechanisms. In addition, the regulation of the actions and expression of USP28 is also discussed. Moreover, we concentrate on the impacts of USP28 on diverse hallmarks of cancer and discuss whether USP28 can accelerate or inhibit tumor progression. Furthermore, clinical relevance, including impacting clinical prognosis, influencing therapy resistance and being the therapy target in some cancers, is depicted systematically. Thus, assistance may be given to future experimental designs by the information provided here, and the potential of targeting USP28 for cancer therapy is emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoya Ren
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, 1 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710038, China.,Department of Medical Oncology, Senior Department of Oncology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, The Fifth Medical Center, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Menglong Jiang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
| | - Peng Ding
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, 1 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710038, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- Department of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Senior Department of Oncology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, The Fifth Medical Center, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Jian Shen
- Senior Department of Cardiology, The Sixth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital and Chinese PLA Medical School, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Dong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, 167 Beilishi Road, Beijing, 100037, China.
| | - Xiaolong Yan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, 1 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710038, China.
| | - Zhiqiang Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, Senior Department of Oncology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, The Fifth Medical Center, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing, 100853, China.
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10
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Zhou X, Fu C, Chen X. The role of ubiquitin pathway-mediated regulation of immune checkpoints in cancer immunotherapy. Cancer 2023; 129:1649-1661. [PMID: 36857206 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
With the continuous cognition of the relationship between tumor cells and tumor immune microenvironment, immunotherapy based on the immune checkpoint blockade has achieved great breakthroughs, led to improved clinical outcomes, and prolonged survival for cancer patients in recent years. Nevertheless, the de novo or acquired resistance to immunotherapy has greatly counteracted the efficacy, leading to a 20%-40% overall response rate. Thus, further in-depth understanding of the regulation of the tumor microenvironment and antitumor immunity is urgently warranted. Ubiquitination-mediated protein degradation plays vital roles in protein stabilization, activation, and dynamics as well as in cellular homeostasis modulation. The dysregulated ubiquitination and deubiquitination are closely related to the changes in physiological and pathological processes, which subsequently result in a variety of diseases including cancer. In this review, the authors first summarize the current knowledge about the involvement of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in tumor development with the ubiquitin conjugation-regulated stability of p53, phosphatase and tensin homolog, and Myc protein as examples, then dissect the potential implications of ubiquitination-mediated immune checkpoints degradation in tumor microenvironment and immune responses, and finally discuss the effects of therapeutically targeting the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway on immunotherapy, with the goal of providing deep insights into the exploitation of more precise and effective combinational therapy against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Zhou
- Cancer Research Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chengxiao Fu
- Cancer Research Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Xisha Chen
- Cancer Research Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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11
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Zhu M, Wang H, Ding Y, Yang Y, Xu Z, Shi L, Zhang N. Ribonucleotide reductase holoenzyme inhibitor COH29 interacts with deubiquitinase ubiquitin-specific protease 2 and downregulates its substrate protein cyclin D1. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22329. [PMID: 35476303 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101914rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
USP2 contributes to the quality control of multiple oncogenic proteins including cyclin D1, Mdm2, Aurora-A, etc., and it is a potential target for anti-cancer drug development. However, currently only a few inhibitors with moderate inhibition activities against USP2 have been discovered. USP2-targeted active compounds with either new scaffolds or enhanced activities are in need. Here in this study, Ub-AMC hydrolysis assay-based screening against ~4000 commercially available drugs and drug candidates was performed to identify USP2-targeted inhibitors. COH29, which was originally developed as an anti-cancer agent by blocking the function of human ribonucleotide reductase (RNR, IC50 = 16 µM), was found to exhibit an inhibition activity against USP2 with the IC50 value at 2.02 ± 0.16 µM. The following conducted biophysical and biochemical experiments demonstrated that COH29 could specifically interact with USP2 and inhibit its enzymatic activity in a noncompetitive inhibition mode (Ki = 1.73 ± 0.14 µM). Since COH29 shows similar inhibitory potencies against RNR (RRM2) and USP2, USP2 inhibition-dependent cellular consequences of COH29 are expected. The results of cellular assays confirmed that the application of COH29 could downregulate the level of cyclin D1 by enhancing its degradation via ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), and the modulation effect of COH29 on cyclin D1 is independent of RRM2. Since cyclin D1 acts as an oncogenic driver in human cancer, our findings suggest that USP2 might be a promising therapeutic target for cyclin D1-addicted cancers, and COH29 could serve as a starting compound for high selectivity inhibitor development against USP2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengying Zhu
- Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiluan Ding
- Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanyuan Yang
- Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhuo Xu
- Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Shi
- Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Naixia Zhang
- Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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12
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Mohseniabbasabadi T, Behboodyzad F, Abolhasani Zadeh F, Balali E. Vismodegib anticancer drug: Analyzing electronic and structural features and examining biological activities. MAIN GROUP CHEMISTRY 2021. [DOI: 10.3233/mgc-210160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Vismodegib (Vis) is an anticancer drug, in which its electronic and structural features were examined in this work. To this aim, the chlorine atoms of original Vis model were substituted by other fluorine, bromine, and iodine halogen atoms yielding F-Vis, Br-Vis, and I-Vis in addition to the original Cl-Vis model. The models were optimized by performing quantum chemical calculations and their interactions with the smoothened (SMO) target were examined by performing molecular docking simulations. The results indicated that the stabilized structures of halogenated Vis models were achievable and their features indicated the dominant role of halogen atoms for their participation in interactions with other substances. Based on the obtained results, Br-Vis model was seen suitable for participating in interaction with the SMO target even better than the original Vis model. The hypothesis of this work was affirmed by employing the in silico approach for analyzing the features of singular ligands and for evaluating their biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Mohseniabbasabadi
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farnoosh Behboodyzad
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Ebrahim Balali
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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13
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Varca AC, Casalena D, Chan WC, Hu B, Magin RS, Roberts RM, Liu X, Zhu H, Seo HS, Dhe-Paganon S, Marto JA, Auld D, Buhrlage SJ. Identification and validation of selective deubiquitinase inhibitors. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:1758-1771.e13. [PMID: 34129829 PMCID: PMC9473745 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are a class of isopeptidases that regulate ubiquitin dynamics through catalytic cleavage of ubiquitin from protein substrates and ubiquitin precursors. Despite growing interest in DUB biological function and potential as therapeutic targets, few selective small-molecule inhibitors and no approved drugs currently exist. To identify chemical scaffolds targeting specific DUBs and establish a broader framework for future inhibitor development across the gene family, we performed high-throughput screening of a chemically diverse small-molecule library against eight different DUBs, spanning three well-characterized DUB families. Promising hit compounds were validated in a series of counter-screens and orthogonal assays, as well as further assessed for selectivity across expanded panels of DUBs. Through these efforts, we have identified multiple highly selective DUB inhibitors and developed a roadmap for rapidly identifying and validating selective inhibitors of related enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C Varca
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dominick Casalena
- FAST Lab, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Wai Cheung Chan
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Bin Hu
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Robert S Magin
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rebekka M Roberts
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Xiaoxi Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - He Zhu
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Hyuk-Soo Seo
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sirano Dhe-Paganon
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jarrod A Marto
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Douglas Auld
- FAST Lab, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sara J Buhrlage
- Department of Cancer Biology and the Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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14
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Mathien S, Tesnière C, Meloche S. Regulation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathways by the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System and Its Pharmacological Potential. Pharmacol Rev 2021; 73:263-296. [PMID: 34732541 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.120.000170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways that play essential roles in transducing extracellular environmental signals into diverse cellular responses to maintain homeostasis. These pathways are classically organized into an architecture of three sequentially acting protein kinases: a MAPK kinase kinase that phosphorylates and activates a MAPK kinase, which in turn phosphorylates and activates the effector MAPK. The activity of MAPKs is tightly regulated by phosphorylation of their activation loop, which can be modulated by positive and negative feedback mechanisms to control the amplitude and duration of the signal. The signaling outcomes of MAPK pathways are further regulated by interactions of MAPKs with scaffolding and regulatory proteins. Accumulating evidence indicates that, in addition to these mechanisms, MAPK signaling is commonly regulated by ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS)-mediated control of the stability and abundance of MAPK pathway components. Notably, the biologic activity of some MAPKs appears to be regulated mainly at the level of protein turnover. Recent studies have started to explore the potential of targeted protein degradation as a powerful strategy to investigate the biologic functions of individual MAPK pathway components and as a new therapeutic approach to overcome resistance to current small-molecule kinase inhibitors. Here, we comprehensively review the mechanisms, physiologic importance, and pharmacological potential of UPS-mediated protein degradation in the control of MAPK signaling. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Accumulating evidence highlights the importance of targeted protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system in regulating and fine-tuning the signaling output of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Manipulating protein levels of MAPK cascade components may provide a novel approach for the development of selective pharmacological tools and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Mathien
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (S.Ma., C.T., S.Me.); and Molecular Biology Program, Faculty of Medicine (C.T., S.Me.) and Department of Pharmacology and Physiology (S.Me.), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Chloé Tesnière
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (S.Ma., C.T., S.Me.); and Molecular Biology Program, Faculty of Medicine (C.T., S.Me.) and Department of Pharmacology and Physiology (S.Me.), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sylvain Meloche
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (S.Ma., C.T., S.Me.); and Molecular Biology Program, Faculty of Medicine (C.T., S.Me.) and Department of Pharmacology and Physiology (S.Me.), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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15
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Prieto-Garcia C, Tomašković I, Shah VJ, Dikic I, Diefenbacher M. USP28: Oncogene or Tumor Suppressor? A Unifying Paradigm for Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cells 2021; 10:2652. [PMID: 34685632 PMCID: PMC8534253 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Squamous cell carcinomas are therapeutically challenging tumor entities. Low response rates to radiotherapy and chemotherapy are commonly observed in squamous patients and, accordingly, the mortality rate is relatively high compared to other tumor entities. Recently, targeting USP28 has been emerged as a potential alternative to improve the therapeutic response and clinical outcomes of squamous patients. USP28 is a catalytically active deubiquitinase that governs a plethora of biological processes, including cellular proliferation, DNA damage repair, apoptosis and oncogenesis. In squamous cell carcinoma, USP28 is strongly expressed and stabilizes the essential squamous transcription factor ΔNp63, together with important oncogenic factors, such as NOTCH1, c-MYC and c-JUN. It is presumed that USP28 is an oncoprotein; however, recent data suggest that the deubiquitinase also has an antineoplastic effect regulating important tumor suppressor proteins, such as p53 and CHK2. In this review, we discuss: (1) The emerging role of USP28 in cancer. (2) The complexity and mutational landscape of squamous tumors. (3) The genetic alterations and cellular pathways that determine the function of USP28 in squamous cancer. (4) The development and current state of novel USP28 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Prieto-Garcia
- Protein Stability and Cancer Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Centre Mainfranken, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Molecular Signaling Group, Institute of Biochemistry II, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (I.T.); (V.J.S.); (I.D.)
| | - Ines Tomašković
- Molecular Signaling Group, Institute of Biochemistry II, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (I.T.); (V.J.S.); (I.D.)
| | - Varun Jayeshkumar Shah
- Molecular Signaling Group, Institute of Biochemistry II, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (I.T.); (V.J.S.); (I.D.)
| | - Ivan Dikic
- Molecular Signaling Group, Institute of Biochemistry II, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (I.T.); (V.J.S.); (I.D.)
- Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Markus Diefenbacher
- Protein Stability and Cancer Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Centre Mainfranken, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
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16
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Zhu W, Zheng D, Wang D, Yang L, Zhao C, Huang X. Emerging Roles of Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 25 in Diseases. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:698751. [PMID: 34249948 PMCID: PMC8262611 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.698751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The balance of ubiquitination and deubiquitination plays diverse roles in regulating protein stability and cellular homeostasis. Deubiquitinating enzymes catalyze the hydrolysis and removal of ubiquitin chains from target proteins and play critical roles in various disease processes, including cancer, immune responses to viral infections and neurodegeneration. This article aims to summarize roles of the deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin-specific protease 25 (USP25) in disease onset and progression. Previous studies have focused on the role of USP25 in antiviral immunity and neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, however, as the structural similarities and differences between USP25 and its homolog USP28 have become clear, mechanisms of action of USP25 in cancer and other diseases have been gradually revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Zhu
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Dandan Zheng
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Dandan Wang
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Lehe Yang
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chengguang Zhao
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiaoying Huang
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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17
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Sun XX, Li Y, Sears RC, Dai MS. Targeting the MYC Ubiquitination-Proteasome Degradation Pathway for Cancer Therapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:679445. [PMID: 34178666 PMCID: PMC8226175 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.679445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Deregulated MYC overexpression and activation contributes to tumor growth and progression. Given the short half-life and unstable nature of the MYC protein, it is not surprising that the oncoprotein is highly regulated via diverse posttranslational mechanisms. Among them, ubiquitination dynamically controls the levels and activity of MYC during normal cell growth and homeostasis, whereas the disturbance of the ubiquitination/deubiquitination balance enables unwanted MYC stabilization and activation. In addition, MYC is also regulated by SUMOylation which crosstalks with the ubiquitination pathway and controls MYC protein stability and activity. In this mini-review, we will summarize current updates regarding MYC ubiquitination and provide perspectives about these MYC regulators as potential therapeutic targets in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Xin Sun
- Department of Molecular & Medical Genetics, School of Medicine and the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Yanping Li
- Department of Molecular & Medical Genetics, School of Medicine and the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Rosalie C Sears
- Department of Molecular & Medical Genetics, School of Medicine and the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Mu-Shui Dai
- Department of Molecular & Medical Genetics, School of Medicine and the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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18
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Antiproliferative Activity and Potential Mechanism of Marine-Sourced Streptoglutarimide H against Lung Cancer Cells. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:md19020079. [PMID: 33572615 PMCID: PMC7911229 DOI: 10.3390/md19020079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2019, streptoglutarimide H (SGH) was characterized as a new glutarimide from the secondary metabolites produced by a marine-derived actinomycete Streptomyces sp. ZZ741 and shown to have in vitro antiglioma activity. However, the antiproliferative activity and potential mechanism of SGH against lung cancer cells have not yet been characterized. This study demonstrated that SGH significantly inhibited the proliferation of different lung cancer cells. In terms of mechanism of action, SGH downregulated cell cycle- and nucleotide synthesis-related proteins to block cell cycle at G0/G1 phase, reduced the expression levels of glycolytic metabolic enzymes to inhibit glycolysis, and downregulated the important cancer transcription factor c-Myc and the therapeutic target deubiquitinase USP28. Potent anticancer activity and multiple mechanisms indicated SGH to be a novel antitumor compound against lung cancer cells.
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