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Zohourian N, Coll E, Dever M, Sheahan A, Burns-Lane P, Brown JAL. Evaluating the Cellular Roles of the Lysine Acetyltransferase Tip60 in Cancer: A Multi-Action Molecular Target for Precision Oncology. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2677. [PMID: 39123405 PMCID: PMC11312108 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16152677] [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: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Precision (individualized) medicine relies on the molecular profiling of tumors' dysregulated characteristics (genomic, epigenetic, transcriptomic) to identify the reliance on key pathways (including genome stability and epigenetic gene regulation) for viability or growth, and then utilises targeted therapeutics to disrupt these survival-dependent pathways. Non-mutational epigenetic changes alter cells' transcriptional profile and are a key feature found in many tumors. In contrast to genetic mutations, epigenetic changes are reversable, and restoring a normal epigenetic profile can inhibit tumor growth and progression. Lysine acetyltransferases (KATs or HATs) protect genome stability and integrity, and Tip60 is an essential acetyltransferase due to its roles as an epigenetic and transcriptional regulator, and as master regulator of the DNA double-strand break response. Tip60 is commonly downregulated and mislocalized in many cancers, and the roles that mislocalized Tip60 plays in cancer are not well understood. Here we categorize and discuss Tip60-regulated genes, evaluate Tip60-interacting proteins based on cellular localization, and explore the therapeutic potential of Tip60-targeting compounds as epigenetic inhibitors. Understanding the multiple roles Tip60 plays in tumorigenesis will improve our understanding of tumor progression and will inform therapeutic options, including informing potential combinatorial regimes with current chemotherapeutics, leading to improvements in patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazanin Zohourian
- Department of Biological Science, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland; (N.Z.)
| | - Erin Coll
- Department of Biological Science, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland; (N.Z.)
| | - Muiread Dever
- Department of Biological Science, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland; (N.Z.)
| | - Anna Sheahan
- Department of Biological Science, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland; (N.Z.)
| | - Petra Burns-Lane
- Department of Biological Science, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland; (N.Z.)
| | - James A. L. Brown
- Department of Biological Science, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland; (N.Z.)
- Limerick Digital Cancer Research Centre (LDCRC), Health Research Institute (HRI), University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland
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Schwarzer E, Skorokhod O. Post-Translational Modifications of Proteins of Malaria Parasites during the Life Cycle. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6145. [PMID: 38892332 PMCID: PMC11173270 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116145] [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: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are essential for regulating protein functions, influencing various fundamental processes in eukaryotes. These include, but are not limited to, cell signaling, protein trafficking, the epigenetic control of gene expression, and control of the cell cycle, as well as cell proliferation, differentiation, and interactions between cells. In this review, we discuss protein PTMs that play a key role in the malaria parasite biology and its pathogenesis. Phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation, lipidation and lipoxidation, glycosylation, ubiquitination and sumoylation, nitrosylation and glutathionylation, all of which occur in malarial parasites, are reviewed. We provide information regarding the biological significance of these modifications along all phases of the complex life cycle of Plasmodium spp. Importantly, not only the parasite, but also the host and vector protein PTMs are often crucial for parasite growth and development. In addition to metabolic regulations, protein PTMs can result in epitopes that are able to elicit both innate and adaptive immune responses of the host or vector. We discuss some existing and prospective results from antimalarial drug discovery trials that target various PTM-related processes in the parasite or host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelin Schwarzer
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Turin, Italy;
| | - Oleksii Skorokhod
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina, 13, 10123 Turin, Italy
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Reyser T, Paloque L, Augereau JM, Di Stefano L, Benoit-Vical F. Epigenetic regulation as a therapeutic target in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Malar J 2024; 23:44. [PMID: 38347549 PMCID: PMC10863139 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04855-9] [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: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past thirty years, epigenetic regulation of gene expression has gained increasing interest as it was shown to be implicated in illnesses ranging from cancers to parasitic diseases. In the malaria parasite, epigenetics was shown to be involved in several key steps of the complex life cycle of Plasmodium, among which asexual development and sexual commitment, but also in major biological processes like immune evasion, response to environmental changes or DNA repair. Because epigenetics plays such paramount roles in the Plasmodium parasite, enzymes involved in these regulating pathways represent a reservoir of potential therapeutic targets. This review focuses on epigenetic regulatory processes and their effectors in the malaria parasite, as well as the inhibitors of epigenetic pathways and their potential as new anti-malarial drugs. Such types of drugs could be formidable tools that may contribute to malaria eradication in a context of widespread resistance to conventional anti-malarials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibaud Reyser
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- MAAP, Inserm ERL 1289, Team "New Antiplasmodial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches", Toulouse, France
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Lucie Paloque
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- MAAP, Inserm ERL 1289, Team "New Antiplasmodial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches", Toulouse, France
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Michel Augereau
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- MAAP, Inserm ERL 1289, Team "New Antiplasmodial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches", Toulouse, France
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Luisa Di Stefano
- MCD, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Françoise Benoit-Vical
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
- MAAP, Inserm ERL 1289, Team "New Antiplasmodial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches", Toulouse, France.
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
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Lawrence M, Khurana J, Gupta A. Identification, characterization, and CADD analysis of Plasmodium DMAP1 reveals it as a potential molecular target for new anti-malarial discovery. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-16. [PMID: 38217317 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2302923] [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: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Developing drug resistance in the malaria parasite is a reason for apprehension compelling the scientific community to focus on identifying new molecular targets that can be exploited for developing new anti-malarial compounds. Despite the availability of the Plasmodium genome, many protein-coding genes in Plasmodium are still not characterized or very less information is available about their functions. DMAP1 protein is known to be essential for growth and plays an important role in maintaining genomic integrity and transcriptional repression in vertebrate organisms. In this study, we have identified a homolog of DMAP1 in P. falciparum. Our sequence and structural analysis showed that although PfDMAP1 possesses a conserved SANT domain, parasite protein displays significant structural dissimilarities from human homolog at full-length protein level as well as within its SANT domain. PPIN analysis of PfDMAP1 revealed it to be vital for parasite and virtual High-throughput screening of various pharmacophore libraries using BIOVIA platform-identified compounds that pass ADMET profiling and showed specific binding with PfDMAP1. Based on MD simulations and protein-ligand interaction studies two best hits were identified that could be novel potent inhibitors of PfDMAP1 protein.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merlyne Lawrence
- Epigenetics and Human Disease Laboratory, Centre of Excellence in Epigenetics, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Deemed to be University, Delhi, NCR, India
| | - Juhi Khurana
- Epigenetics and Human Disease Laboratory, Centre of Excellence in Epigenetics, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Deemed to be University, Delhi, NCR, India
| | - Ashish Gupta
- Epigenetics and Human Disease Laboratory, Centre of Excellence in Epigenetics, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Deemed to be University, Delhi, NCR, India
- SNU-Dassault Centre of Excellence, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Deemed to be University, Delhi, NCR, India
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Role of PfMYST in DNA replication in Plasmodium falciparum. Exp Parasitol 2022; 242:108396. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Oberstaller J, Zoungrana L, Bannerman CD, Jahangiri S, Dwivedi A, Silva JC, Adams JH, Takala-Harrison S. Integration of population and functional genomics to understand mechanisms of artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2021; 16:119-128. [PMID: 34102588 PMCID: PMC8187163 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2021.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Resistance to antimalarial drugs, and in particular to the artemisinin derivatives and their partner drugs, threatens recent progress toward regional malaria elimination and eventual global malaria eradication. Population-level studies utilizing whole-genome sequencing approaches have facilitated the identification of regions of the parasite genome associated with both clinical and in vitro drug-resistance phenotypes. However, the biological relevance of genes identified in these analyses and the establishment of a causal relationship between genotype and phenotype requires functional characterization. Here we examined data from population genomic and transcriptomic studies in the context of data generated from recent functional studies, using a new population genetic approach designed to identify potential favored mutations within the region of a selective sweep (iSAFE). We identified several genes functioning in pathways now known to be associated with artemisinin resistance that were supported in early population genomic studies, as well as potential new drug targets/pathways for further validation and consideration for treatment of artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. In addition, we establish the utility of iSAFE in identifying positively-selected mutations in population genomic studies, potentially accelerating the time to functional validation of candidate genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna Oberstaller
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Disease Research and USF Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - Linda Zoungrana
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Disease Research and USF Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - Carl D Bannerman
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Samira Jahangiri
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Disease Research and USF Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - Ankit Dwivedi
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Joana C Silva
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - John H Adams
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Disease Research and USF Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - Shannon Takala-Harrison
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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