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Tomazini A, Shifman JM. Targeting Ras with protein engineering. Oncotarget 2023; 14:672-687. [PMID: 37395750 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ras proteins are small GTPases that regulate cell growth and division. Mutations in Ras genes are associated with many types of cancer, making them attractive targets for cancer therapy. Despite extensive efforts, targeting Ras proteins with small molecules has been extremely challenging due to Ras's mostly flat surface and lack of small molecule-binding cavities. These challenges were recently overcome by the development of the first covalent small-molecule anti-Ras drug, sotorasib, highlighting the efficacy of Ras inhibition as a therapeutic strategy. However, this drug exclusively inhibits the Ras G12C mutant, which is not a prevalent mutation in most cancer types. Unlike the G12C variant, other Ras oncogenic mutants lack reactive cysteines, rendering them unsuitable for targeting via the same strategy. Protein engineering has emerged as a promising method to target Ras, as engineered proteins have the ability to recognize various surfaces with high affinity and specificity. Over the past few years, scientists have engineered antibodies, natural Ras effectors, and novel binding domains to bind to Ras and counteract its carcinogenic activities via a variety of strategies. These include inhibiting Ras-effector interactions, disrupting Ras dimerization, interrupting Ras nucleotide exchange, stimulating Ras interaction with tumor suppressor genes, and promoting Ras degradation. In parallel, significant advancements have been made in intracellular protein delivery, enabling the delivery of the engineered anti-Ras agents into the cellular cytoplasm. These advances offer a promising path for targeting Ras proteins and other challenging drug targets, opening up new opportunities for drug discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atilio Tomazini
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Julia M Shifman
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
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2
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Ullah R, Yin Q, Snell AH, Wan L. RAF-MEK-ERK pathway in cancer evolution and treatment. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 85:123-154. [PMID: 33992782 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The RAF-MEK-ERK signaling cascade is a well-characterized MAPK pathway involved in cell proliferation and survival. The three-layered MAPK signaling cascade is initiated upon RTK and RAS activation. Three RAF isoforms ARAF, BRAF and CRAF, and their downstream MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 kinases constitute a coherently orchestrated signaling module that directs a range of physiological functions. Genetic alterations in this pathway are among the most prevalent in human cancers, which consist of numerous hot-spot mutations such as BRAFV600E. Oncogenic mutations in this pathway often override otherwise tightly regulated checkpoints to open the door for uncontrolled cell growth and neoplasia. The crosstalk between the RAF-MEK-ERK axis and other signaling pathways further extends the proliferative potential of this pathway in human cancers. In this review, we summarize the molecular architecture and physiological functions of the RAF-MEK-ERK pathway with emphasis on its dysregulations in human cancers, as well as the efforts made to target the RAF-MEK-ERK module using small molecule inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahim Ullah
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Qing Yin
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Aidan H Snell
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Lixin Wan
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA; Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
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3
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Teng KW, Tsai ST, Hattori T, Fedele C, Koide A, Yang C, Hou X, Zhang Y, Neel BG, O'Bryan JP, Koide S. Selective and noncovalent targeting of RAS mutants for inhibition and degradation. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2656. [PMID: 33976200 PMCID: PMC8113534 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22969-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Activating mutants of RAS are commonly found in human cancers, but to date selective targeting of RAS in the clinic has been limited to KRAS(G12C) through covalent inhibitors. Here, we report a monobody, termed 12VC1, that recognizes the active state of both KRAS(G12V) and KRAS(G12C) up to 400-times more tightly than wild-type KRAS. The crystal structures reveal that 12VC1 recognizes the mutations through a shallow pocket, and 12VC1 competes against RAS-effector interaction. When expressed intracellularly, 12VC1 potently inhibits ERK activation and the proliferation of RAS-driven cancer cell lines in vitro and in mouse xenograft models. 12VC1 fused to VHL selectively degrades the KRAS mutants and provides more extended suppression of mutant RAS activity than inhibition by 12VC1 alone. These results demonstrate the feasibility of selective targeting and degradation of KRAS mutants in the active state with noncovalent reagents and provide a starting point for designing noncovalent therapeutics against oncogenic RAS mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wen Teng
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Steven T Tsai
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Takamitsu Hattori
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carmine Fedele
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Akiko Koide
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chao Yang
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xuben Hou
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yingkai Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin G Neel
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - John P O'Bryan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Shohei Koide
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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4
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Analysis of RAS protein interactions in living cells reveals a mechanism for pan-RAS depletion by membrane-targeted RAS binders. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:12121-12130. [PMID: 32424096 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2000848117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
HRAS, NRAS, and KRAS4A/KRAS4B comprise the RAS family of small GTPases that regulate signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. RAS pathway abnormalities cause developmental disorders and cancers. We found that KRAS4B colocalizes on the cell membrane with other RAS isoforms and a subset of prenylated small GTPase family members using a live-cell quantitative split luciferase complementation assay. RAS protein coclustering is mainly mediated by membrane association-facilitated interactions (MAFIs). Using the RAS-RBD (CRAF RAS binding domain) interaction as a model system, we showed that MAFI alone is not sufficient to induce RBD-mediated RAS inhibition. Surprisingly, we discovered that high-affinity membrane-targeted RAS binding proteins inhibit RAS activity and deplete RAS proteins through an autophagosome-lysosome-mediated degradation pathway. Our results provide a mechanism for regulating RAS activity and protein levels, a more detailed understanding of which should lead to therapeutic strategies for inhibiting and depleting oncogenic RAS proteins.
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Wiechmann S, Maisonneuve P, Grebbin BM, Hoffmeister M, Kaulich M, Clevers H, Rajalingam K, Kurinov I, Farin HF, Sicheri F, Ernst A. Conformation-specific inhibitors of activated Ras GTPases reveal limited Ras dependency of patient-derived cancer organoids. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:4526-4540. [PMID: 32086379 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.011025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The small GTPases H, K, and NRAS are molecular switches indispensable for proper regulation of cellular proliferation and growth. Several mutations in the genes encoding members of this protein family are associated with cancer and result in aberrant activation of signaling processes caused by a deregulated recruitment of downstream effector proteins. In this study, we engineered variants of the Ras-binding domain (RBD) of the C-Raf proto-oncogene, Ser/Thr kinase (CRAF). These variants bound with high affinity with the effector-binding site of Ras in an active conformation. Structural characterization disclosed how the newly identified RBD mutations cooperate and thereby enhance affinity with the effector-binding site in Ras compared with WT RBD. The engineered RBD variants closely mimicked the interaction mode of naturally occurring Ras effectors and acted as dominant-negative affinity reagents that block Ras signal transduction. Experiments with cancer cells showed that expression of these RBD variants inhibits Ras signaling, reducing cell growth and inducing apoptosis. Using these optimized RBD variants, we stratified patient-derived colorectal cancer organoids with known Ras mutational status according to their response to Ras inhibition. These results revealed that the presence of Ras mutations was insufficient to predict sensitivity to Ras inhibition, suggesting that not all of these tumors required Ras signaling for proliferation. In summary, by engineering the Ras/Raf interface of the CRAF-RBD, we identified potent and selective inhibitors of Ras in its active conformation that outcompete binding of Ras-signaling effectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Wiechmann
- Institute of Biochemistry II, Goethe University Frankfurt-Medical Faculty, University Hospital, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Project Group Translational Medicine and Pharmacology TMP, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Pierre Maisonneuve
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Britta M Grebbin
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Meike Hoffmeister
- Institute of Biochemistry II, Goethe University Frankfurt-Medical Faculty, University Hospital, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Institute of Biochemistry, Brandenburg Medical School (MHB) Theodor Fontane, 14770 Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
| | - Manuel Kaulich
- Institute of Biochemistry II, Goethe University Frankfurt-Medical Faculty, University Hospital, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Hans Clevers
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Cancer Genomics Netherlands, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Igor Kurinov
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, NE-CAT, Argonne, Illinois 60439
| | - Henner F Farin
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Sicheri
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Andreas Ernst
- Institute of Biochemistry II, Goethe University Frankfurt-Medical Faculty, University Hospital, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany .,Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Project Group Translational Medicine and Pharmacology TMP, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Shin SM, Kim JS, Park SW, Jun SY, Kweon HJ, Choi DK, Lee D, Cho YB, Kim YS. Direct targeting of oncogenic RAS mutants with a tumor-specific cytosol-penetrating antibody inhibits RAS mutant-driven tumor growth. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaay2174. [PMID: 31998840 PMCID: PMC6962039 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay2174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Oncogenic RAS mutant (RASMUT) proteins have been considered undruggable via conventional antibody regimens owing to the intracellular location restricting conventional-antibody accessibility. Here, we report a pan-RAS-targeting IgG antibody, inRas37, which directly targets the intracellularly activated form of various RASMUT subtypes after tumor cell-specific internalization into the cytosol to block the interactions with effector proteins, thereby suppressing the downstream signaling. Systemic administration of inRas37 exerted a potent antitumor activity in a subset of RASMUT tumor xenografts in mice, but little efficacy in RASMUT tumors with concurrent downstream PI3K mutations, which were overcome by combination with a PI3K inhibitor. The YAP1 protein was up-regulated as an adaptive resistance-inducing response to inRas37 in RASMUT-dependent colorectal tumors; accordingly, a combination of inRas37 with a YAP1 inhibitor manifested synergistic antitumor effects in vitro and in vivo. Our study offers a promising pan-RAS-targeting antibody and the corresponding therapeutic strategy against RASMUT tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Min Shin
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Sun Kim
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Wook Park
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Sei-Yong Jun
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Jin Kweon
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Ki Choi
- Orum Therapeutics Inc., Daejeon 34050, Republic of Korea
| | - Dakeun Lee
- Department of Pathology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Beom Cho
- Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Sung Kim
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
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Li H, Liu L, Zhuang J, Liu C, Zhou C, Yang J, Gao C, Liu G, Sun C. Identification of key candidate targets and pathways for the targeted treatment of leukemia stem cells of chronic myelogenous leukemia using bioinformatics analysis. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2019; 7:e851. [PMID: 31373443 PMCID: PMC6732304 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm that arises from the acquisition of constitutively active BCR‐ABL tyrosine kinase in hematopoietic stem cells. The persistence of bone marrow leukemia stem cells (LSCs) is the main cause of TKI resistance and CML relapse. Therefore, finding a key target or pathway to selectively target LSCs is of great significance for the thorough treatment of CML. Methods In this study, we aimed to identify key microRNAs, microRNA targets and pathways for the treatment of CML LSCs by integrating analyses of three microarray data profiles. We identified 51 differentially expressed microRNAs through integrated analysis of GSE90773 and performed functional gene predictions for microRNAs. Then, GSE11889 and GSE11675 were integrated to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and the overlapping DEGs were used as models to identify predictive functional genes. Finally, we identified 116 predictive functional genes. Clustering and significant enrichment analysis of 116 genes was based on function and signaling pathways. Subsequently, a protein interaction network was constructed, and module analysis and topology analysis were performed on the network. Results A total of 11 key candidate targets and 33 corresponding microRNAs were identified. The key pathways were mainly concentrated on the PI3K/AKT, Ras, JAK/STAT, FoxO and Notch signaling pathways. We also found that LSCs negatively regulated endogenous and exogenous apoptotic pathways to escape from apoptosis. Conclusion We identified key candidate targets and pathways for CML LSCs through bioinformatics methods, which improves our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of CML LSCs. These candidate genes and pathways may be therapeutic targets for CML LSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huayao Li
- College of Basic medical, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Lijuan Liu
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, PR China.,Department of Oncology, Affilited Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, PR China
| | - Jing Zhuang
- Department of Oncology, Affilited Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, PR China.,Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, PR China
| | - Cun Liu
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Chao Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Affilited Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, PR China.,Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, PR China
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Oncology, Affilited Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, PR China.,Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, PR China
| | - Chundi Gao
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Gongxi Liu
- Department of Oncology, Affilited Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, PR China.,Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, PR China
| | - Changgang Sun
- Department of Oncology, Affilited Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, PR China.,Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, PR China
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