1
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Yu J, Liao PJ, Keller TH, Cherian J, Virshup DM, Xu W. Ultra-large scale virtual screening identifies a small molecule inhibitor of the Wnt transporter Wntless. iScience 2024; 27:110454. [PMID: 39104418 PMCID: PMC11298631 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Wnts are lipid-modified glycoproteins that play key roles in both embryonic development and adult homeostasis. Wnt signaling is dysregulated in many cancers and preclinical data shows that targeting Wnt biosynthesis and secretion can be effective in Wnt-addicted cancers. An integral membrane protein known as Wntless (WLS/Evi) is essential for Wnt secretion. However, WLS remains undrugged thus far. The cryo-EM structure of WLS in complex with WNT8A shows that WLS has a druggable G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) domain. Using Active Learning/Glide, we performed an ultra-large scale virtual screening from Enamine's REAL 350/3 Lead-Like library containing nearly 500 million compounds. 68 hits were examined after on-demand synthesis in cell-based Wnt reporter and other functional assays. ETC-451 emerged as a potential first-in-class WLS inhibitor. ETC-451 blocked WLS-WNT3A interaction and decreased Wnt-addicted pancreatic cancer cell line proliferation. The current hit provides a starting chemical scaffold for further structure or ligand-based drug discovery targeting WLS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Yu
- Programme in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Pei-Ju Liao
- Programme in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Thomas H. Keller
- Experimental Drug Development Centre, 10 Biopolis Road, Chromos, Singapore 138670, Singapore
| | - Joseph Cherian
- Experimental Drug Development Centre, 10 Biopolis Road, Chromos, Singapore 138670, Singapore
| | - David M. Virshup
- Programme in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Weijun Xu
- Experimental Drug Development Centre, 10 Biopolis Road, Chromos, Singapore 138670, Singapore
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2
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Hao M, Jiang H, Zhao Y, Li C, Jiang J. Identification of potential biomarkers for aging diagnosis of mesenchymal stem cells derived from the aged donors. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:87. [PMID: 38520027 PMCID: PMC10960456 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03689-1] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical application of human bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the treatment of refractory diseases has achieved remarkable results. However, there is a need for a systematic evaluation of the quality and safety of MSCs sourced from donors. In this study, we sought to assess one potential factor that might impact quality, namely the age of the donor. METHODS We downloaded two data sets from each of two Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), GSE39035 and GSE97311 databases, namely samples form young (< 65 years of age) and old (> 65) donor groups. Through, bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation to these retrieved data, we found that MSCs derived from aged donors can lead to differential expression of gene profiles compared with those from young donors, and potentially affect the function of MSCs, and may even induce malignant tumors. RESULTS We identified a total of 337 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including two upregulated and eight downregulated genes from the databases of both GSE39035 and GSE97311. We further identified 13 hub genes. Six of them, TBX15, IGF1, GATA2, PITX2, SNAI1 and VCAN, were highly expressed in many human malignancies in Human Protein Atlas database. In the MSCs in vitro senescent cell model, qPCR analysis validated that all six hub genes were highly expressed in senescent MSCs. Our findings confirm that aged donors of MSCs have a significant effect on gene expression profiles. The MSCs from old donors have the potential to cause a variety of malignancies. These TBX15, IGF1, GATA2, PITX2, SNAI1, VCAN genes could be used as potential biomarkers to diagnosis aging state of donor MSCs, and evaluate whether MSCs derived from an aged donor could be used for therapy in the clinic. Our findings provide a diagnostic basis for the clinical use of MSCs to treat a variety of diseases. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, our findings not only provide guidance for the safe and standardized use of MSCs in the clinic for the treatment of various diseases, but also provide insights into the use of cell regeneration approaches to reverse aging and support rejuvenation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Hao
- Scientific Research Center, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, 130000, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Hongyu Jiang
- Life Spring AKY Pharmaceuticals, 130000, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yuan Zhao
- Scientific Research Center, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, 130000, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Chunyi Li
- Scientific Research Center, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, 130000, Changchun, Jilin, China.
- Institute of Antler Science and Product Technology, Changchun Sci-Tech University, 130000, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Jinlan Jiang
- Scientific Research Center, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, 130000, Changchun, Jilin, China.
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3
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Campaña M, Davis TR, Novak SX, Cleverdon ER, Bates M, Krishnan N, Curtis ER, Childs MD, Pierce MR, Morales-Rodriguez Y, Sieburg MA, Hehnly H, Luyt LG, Hougland JL. Cellular Uptake of a Fluorescent Ligand Reveals Ghrelin O-Acyltransferase Interacts with Extracellular Peptides and Exhibits Unexpected Localization for a Secretory Pathway Enzyme. ACS Chem Biol 2023; 18:1880-1890. [PMID: 37494676 PMCID: PMC10442857 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) plays a central role in the maturation and activation of the peptide hormone ghrelin, which performs a wide range of endocrinological signaling roles. Using a tight-binding fluorescent ghrelin-derived peptide designed for high selectivity for GOAT over the ghrelin receptor GHSR, we demonstrate that GOAT interacts with extracellular ghrelin and facilitates ligand cell internalization in both transfected cells and prostate cancer cells endogenously expressing GOAT. Coupled with enzyme mutagenesis, ligand uptake studies support the interaction of the putative histidine general base within GOAT with the ghrelin peptide acylation site. Our work provides a new understanding of GOAT's catalytic mechanism, establishes that GOAT can interact with ghrelin and other peptides located outside the cell, and raises the possibility that other peptide hormones may exhibit similar complexity in their intercellular and organismal-level signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria
B. Campaña
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Tasha R. Davis
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Sadie X. Novak
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | | | - Michael Bates
- Department
of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Nikhila Krishnan
- Department
of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Erin R. Curtis
- Department
of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Marina D. Childs
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 2K7, Canada
| | - Mariah R. Pierce
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | | | - Michelle A. Sieburg
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Heidi Hehnly
- Department
of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
- BioInspired
Syracuse, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Leonard G. Luyt
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 2K7, Canada
- Department
of Oncology and Department of Medical Imaging, London Regional Cancer
Program, Lawson Health Research Institute, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, Ontario N6A 5W9, Canada
| | - James L. Hougland
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
- Department
of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
- BioInspired
Syracuse, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
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4
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Coupland CE, Ansell TB, Sansom MSP, Siebold C. Rocking the MBOAT: Structural insights into the membrane bound O-acyltransferase family. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 80:102589. [PMID: 37040671 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
The membrane-bound O-acyltransferase (MBOAT) superfamily catalyses the transfer of acyl chains to substrates implicated in essential cellular functions. Aberrant function of MBOATs is associated with various diseases and MBOATs are promising drug targets. There has been recent progress in structural characterisation of MBOATs, advancing our understanding of their functional mechanism. Integrating information across the MBOAT family, we characterise a common MBOAT fold and provide a blueprint for substrate and inhibitor engagement. This work provides context for the diverse substrates, mechanisms, and evolutionary relationships of protein and small-molecule MBOATs. Further work should aim to characterise MBOATs, as inherently lipid-associated proteins, within their membrane environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire E Coupland
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - T Bertie Ansell
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK; Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Mark S P Sansom
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK.
| | - Christian Siebold
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK.
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5
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Wu H, Tang LX, Wang XM, Li LP, Chen XK, He YJ, Yang DZ, Shi Y, Shou JL, Zhang ZS, Wang L, Lu BJ, An SM, Zeng CY, Wang WE. Porcupine inhibitor CGX1321 alleviates heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in mice by blocking WNT signaling. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2023; 44:1149-1160. [PMID: 36473990 PMCID: PMC10203103 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-022-01025-y] [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: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is highly prevalent, and lacks effective treatment. The aberration of WNT pathway underlies many pathological processes including cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy, while porcupine is an acyltransferase essential for the secretion of WNT ligands. In this study we investigated the role of WNT signaling pathway in HFpEF as well as whether blocking WNT signaling by a novel porcupine inhibitor CGX1321 alleviated HFpEF. We established two experimental HFpEF mouse models, namely the UNX/DOCA model and high fat diet/L-NAME ("two-hit") model. The UNX/DOCA and "two-hit" mice were treated with CGX1321 (3 mg·kg-1·d-1) for 4 and 10 weeks, respectively. We showed that CGX1321 treatment significantly alleviated cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, thereby improving cardiac diastolic function and exercise performance in both models. Furthermore, both canonical and non-canonical WNT signaling pathways were activated, and most WNT proteins, especially WNT3a and WNT5a, were upregulated during the development of HEpEF in mice. CGX1321 treatment inhibited the secretion of WNT ligands and repressed both canonical and non-canonical WNT pathways, evidenced by the reduced phosphorylation of c-Jun and the nuclear translocation of β-catenin and NFATc3. In an in vitro HFpEF model, MCM and ISO-treated cardiomyocytes, knockdown of porcupine by siRNA leads to a similar inhibitory effect on WNT pathways, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and cardiac fibroblast activation as CGX1321 did, whereas supplementation of WNT3a and WNT5a reversed the anti-hypertrophy and anti-fibrosis effect of CGX1321. We conclude that WNT signaling activation plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of HFpEF, and porcupine inhibitor CGX1321 exerts a therapeutic effect on HFpEF in mice by attenuating cardiac hypertrophy, alleviating cardiac fibrosis and improving cardiac diastolic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wu
- Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Hypertension Research, Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Cardiology, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Lu-Xun Tang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command PLA, Chengdu, 610083, China
| | - Xue-Mei Wang
- School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Liang-Peng Li
- Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Hypertension Research, Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Cardiology, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Xiao-Kang Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Hypertension Research, Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Cardiology, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Yan-Ji He
- Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Hypertension Research, Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Cardiology, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - De-Zhong Yang
- Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Hypertension Research, Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Cardiology, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Yu Shi
- Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Hypertension Research, Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Cardiology, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Jia-Ling Shou
- Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Hypertension Research, Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Cardiology, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Zong-Shu Zhang
- Guangzhou Curegenix Co. Ltd., International Business Incubator, Guangzhou Science City, Guangzhou, 510663, China
| | - Liang Wang
- Guangzhou Curegenix Co. Ltd., International Business Incubator, Guangzhou Science City, Guangzhou, 510663, China
| | - Bing-Jun Lu
- Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Hypertension Research, Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Cardiology, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Songzhu Michael An
- Guangzhou Curegenix Co. Ltd., International Business Incubator, Guangzhou Science City, Guangzhou, 510663, China
- Curegenix, Inc., Burlingame, CA, 94010, USA
| | - Chun-Yu Zeng
- Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, China.
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Hypertension Research, Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Cardiology, Chongqing, 400042, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Daping Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
- Heart Center of Fujian Province, Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, China.
- Department of Cardiology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China.
- Cardiovascular Research Center of Chongqing College, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400722, China.
| | - Wei Eric Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, China.
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Hypertension Research, Chongqing Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Cardiology, Chongqing, 400042, China.
- Department of Geriatrics, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.
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6
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Zhao Y, Qin C, Zhao B, Wang Y, Li Z, Li T, Yang X, Wang W. Pancreatic cancer stemness: dynamic status in malignant progression. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:122. [PMID: 37173787 PMCID: PMC10182699 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02693-2] [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: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests that the capacity for self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation of pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs) contribute to major challenges with current PC therapies, causing metastasis and therapeutic resistance, leading to recurrence and death in patients. The concept that PCSCs are characterized by their high plasticity and self-renewal capacities is central to this review. We focused specifically on the regulation of PCSCs, such as stemness-related signaling pathways, stimuli in tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME), as well as the development of innovative stemness-targeted therapies. Understanding the biological behavior of PCSCs with plasticity and the molecular mechanisms regulating PC stemness will help to identify new treatment strategies to treat this horrible disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutong Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure On Translational Medicine in, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Qin
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure On Translational Medicine in, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Bangbo Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure On Translational Medicine in, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanyang Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure On Translational Medicine in, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Zeru Li
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure On Translational Medicine in, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianyu Li
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure On Translational Medicine in, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoying Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure On Translational Medicine in, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Weibin Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China.
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure On Translational Medicine in, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China.
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7
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Pierce MR, Hougland JL. A rising tide lifts all MBOATs: recent progress in structural and functional understanding of membrane bound O-acyltransferases. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1167873. [PMID: 37250116 PMCID: PMC10213974 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1167873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Acylation modifications play a central role in biological and physiological processes. Across a range of biomolecules from phospholipids to triglycerides to proteins, introduction of a hydrophobic acyl chain can dramatically alter the biological function and cellular localization of these substrates. Amongst the enzymes catalyzing these modifications, the membrane bound O-acyltransferase (MBOAT) family occupies an intriguing position as the combined substrate selectivities of the various family members span all three classes of these biomolecules. MBOAT-dependent substrates are linked to a wide range of health conditions including metabolic disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease. Like many integral membrane proteins, these enzymes have presented challenges to investigation due to their intractability to solubilization and purification. However, over the last several years new solubilization approaches coupled with computational modeling, crystallography, and cryoelectron microscopy have brought an explosion of structural information for multiple MBOAT family members. These studies enable comparison of MBOAT structure and function across members catalyzing modifications of all three substrate classes, revealing both conserved features amongst all MBOATs and distinct architectural features that correlate with different acylation substrates ranging from lipids to proteins. We discuss the methods that led to this renaissance of MBOAT structural investigations, our new understanding of MBOAT structure and implications for catalytic function, and the potential impact of these studies for development of new therapeutics targeting MBOAT-dependent physiological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariah R. Pierce
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - James L. Hougland
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
- BioInspired Syracuse, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
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8
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Yang Q, Qin T, An T, Wu H, Xu G, Xiang J, Lei K, Zhang S, Xia J, Su G, Wang D, Xue M, Kong L, Zhang W, Wu S, Li Y. Novel PORCN inhibitor WHN-88 targets Wnt/β-catenin pathway and prevents the growth of Wnt-driven cancers. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 945:175628. [PMID: 36858339 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175628] [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: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is a classical and crucial oncogenic pathway in many carcinomas, and Porcupine (PORCN) is an O-acyltransferase, which is indispensable and highly specific for catalyzing palmitoylation of Wnt ligands and facilitating their secretion and biofunction. Targeting PORCN provides a promising approach to specifically cure Wnt-driven cancers from the root. In this study, we designed series of pyridonyl acetamide compounds, and discovered a novel PORCN inhibitor WHN-88 with a unique di-iodinated pyridone structural fragment, which is significantly different from the reported inhibitors. We demonstrated that WHN-88 effectively abolished palmitoylation of Wnt ligands and prevented their secretion and the subsequent Wnt/β-catenin signaling transduction. Further experiments showed that, at well-tolerated doses, WHN-88 remarkably suppressed the spontaneous occurrence and growth of MMTV-Wnt1 murine breast tumors. Consistently, WHN-88 also notably restrained the progress of xenografted Wnt-driven human tumors, including PA-1 teratocarcinoma with high autocrine Wnt signaling and Aspc-1 pancreatic carcinoma with Wnt-sensitizing RNF43 mutation. Additionally, we disclosed that WHN-88 inhibited cancer cell stemness obviously. Together, we verified WHN-88 is a novel PORCN inhibitor with potent efficacy against the Wnt-driven cancers. Our findings enriched the structural types of PORCN inhibitors, and facilitated the development and application of PORCN inhibiting therapy in clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qihong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Tong Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Tao An
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, 250353, Shandong, China
| | - Hongna Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Gang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Jin Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants/School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Kangfan Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Shaohua Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Jie Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Guifeng Su
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China; Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Minggao Xue
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Lingmei Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China; Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Wenxuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Song Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China; Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China.
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9
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Abstract
Intercellular communication by Wnt proteins governs many essential processes during development, tissue homeostasis and disease in all metazoans. Many context-dependent effects are initiated in the Wnt-producing cells and depend on the export of lipidated Wnt proteins. Although much focus has been on understanding intracellular Wnt signal transduction, the cellular machinery responsible for Wnt secretion became better understood only recently. After lipid modification by the acyl-transferase Porcupine, Wnt proteins bind their dedicated cargo protein Evi/Wntless for transport and secretion. Evi/Wntless and Porcupine are conserved transmembrane proteins, and their 3D structures were recently determined. In this Review, we summarise studies and structural data highlighting how Wnts are transported from the ER to the plasma membrane, and the role of SNX3-retromer during the recycling of its cargo receptor Evi/Wntless. We also describe the regulation of Wnt export through a post-translational mechanism and review the importance of Wnt secretion for organ development and cancer, and as a future biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Wolf
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Signalling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg University, BioQuant and Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Boutros
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Signalling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg University, BioQuant and Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Alvarez-Rodrigo I, Willnow D, Vincent JP. The logistics of Wnt production and delivery. Curr Top Dev Biol 2023; 153:1-60. [PMID: 36967191 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2023.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Wnts are secreted proteins that control stem cell maintenance, cell fate decisions, and growth during development and adult homeostasis. Wnts carry a post-translational modification not seen in any other secreted protein: during biosynthesis, they are appended with a palmitoleoyl moiety that is required for signaling but also impairs solubility and hence diffusion in the extracellular space. In some contexts, Wnts act only in a juxtacrine manner but there are also instances of long range action. Several proteins and processes ensure that active Wnts reach the appropriate target cells. Some, like Porcupine, Wntless, and Notum are dedicated to Wnt function; we describe their activities in molecular detail. We also outline how the cell infrastructure (secretory, endocytic, and retromer pathways) contribute to the progression of Wnts from production to delivery. We then address how Wnts spread in the extracellular space and form a signaling gradient despite carrying a hydrophobic moiety. We highlight particularly the role of lipid-binding Wnt interactors and heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Finally, we briefly discuss how evolution might have led to the emergence of this unusual signaling pathway.
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11
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Gone with the Wnt(less): a mechanistic perspective on the journey of Wnt. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:1763-1772. [PMID: 36416660 DOI: 10.1042/bst20220634] [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: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Wnts are short-range signaling proteins, expressed in all metazoans from sponges to humans, critical for cell development and fate. There are 19 different Wnts in the human genome with varying expression levels and patterns, and post-translational modifications. Common to essentially all Wnts is the palmitoleation of a conserved serine by the O-acyltransferase PORCN in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). All lipidated Wnts then bind a dedicated carrier Wntless (WLS), endowed with the task of transporting them from the ER to the plasma membrane, and ultimately facilitating their release to receptors on the Wnt-receiving cell to initiate signaling. Here, we will focus on the WLS-mediated transport step. There are currently two published structures, both obtained by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy of the Wnt/WLS complex: human Wnt8A-bound and human Wnt3A-bound WLS. We analyze the two Wnt/WLS structures - remarkably similar despite the sequence similarity between Wnt8A and Wnt3A being only ∼39% - to begin to understand the conserved nature of this binding mechanism, and ultimately how one carrier can accommodate a family of 19 different Wnts. By comparing how Wnt associates with WLS with how it binds to PORCN and FZD receptors, we can begin to speculate on mechanisms of Wnt transfer from PORCN to WLS, and from WLS to FZD, thus providing molecular-level insight into these essential steps of the Wnt signaling pathway.
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12
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Functional regulation of Wnt protein through post-translational modifications. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:1797-1808. [DOI: 10.1042/bst20220735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Wnts are lipid-modified signaling glycoproteins present in all metazoans that play key roles in development and homeostasis. Post-translational modifications of Wnts regulate their function. Wnts have a unique post-translational modification, O-linked palmitoleation, that is absolutely required for their function. This Wnt-specific modification occurs during Wnt biosynthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), catalyzed by the O-acyltransferase Porcupine (PORCN). Palmitoleation is required for Wnt to bind to its transporter Wntless (WLS/Evi) as well as to its receptor Frizzled (FZD). Recent structural studies have illustrated how PORCN recognizes its substrates, and how drugs inhibit this. The abundance of WLS is tightly regulated by intracellular recycling and ubiquitylation-mediated degradation in the ER. The function of Wnt glycosylation is less well understood, and the sites and types of glycosylation are not largely conserved among different Wnts. In polarized tissues, the type of glycans can determine whether the route of trafficking is apical or basolateral. In addition, pairing of the 24 highly conserved cysteines in Wnts to form disulfide bonds is critical in maintaining proper structure and activities. Extracellularly, the amino terminus of a subset of Wnts can be cleaved by a dedicated glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored metalloprotease TIKI, resulting in the inactivation of these Wnt proteins. Additionally, NOTUM is a secreted extracellular carboxylesterase that removes the palmitoleate moiety from Wnt, antagonizing its activity. In summary, Wnt signaling activity is controlled at multiple layers by post-translational modifications.
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13
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Mechanisms and inhibition of Porcupine-mediated Wnt acylation. Nature 2022; 607:816-822. [PMID: 35831507 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04952-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Wnt signalling is essential for regulation of embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis1-3, and aberrant Wnt signalling is frequently associated with cancers4. Wnt signalling requires palmitoleoylation on a hairpin 2 motif by the endoplasmic reticulum-resident membrane-bound O-acyltransferase Porcupine5-7 (PORCN). This modification is indispensable for Wnt binding to its receptor Frizzled, which triggers signalling8,9. Here we report four cryo-electron microscopy structures of human PORCN: the complex with the palmitoleoyl-coenzyme A (palmitoleoyl-CoA) substrate; the complex with the PORCN inhibitor LGK974, an anti-cancer drug currently in clinical trials10; the complex with LGK974 and WNT3A hairpin 2 (WNT3Ap); and the complex with a synthetic palmitoleoylated WNT3Ap analogue. The structures reveal that hairpin 2 of WNT3A, which is well conserved in all Wnt ligands, inserts into PORCN from the lumenal side, and the palmitoleoyl-CoA accesses the enzyme from the cytosolic side. The catalytic histidine triggers the transfer of the unsaturated palmitoleoyl group to the target serine on the Wnt hairpin 2, facilitated by the proximity of the two substrates. The inhibitor-bound structure shows that LGK974 occupies the palmitoleoyl-CoA binding site to prevent the reaction. Thus, this work provides a mechanism for Wnt acylation and advances the development of PORCN inhibitors for cancer treatment.
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Aguilera KY, Le T, Riahi R, Lay AR, Hinz S, Saadat EA, Vashisht AA, Wohlschlegel J, Donahue TR, Radu CG, Dawson DW. Porcupine Inhibition Disrupts Mitochondrial Function and Homeostasis in WNT Ligand-Addicted Pancreatic Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2022; 21:936-947. [PMID: 35313331 PMCID: PMC9167706 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
WNT signaling promotes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) through diverse effects on proliferation, differentiation, survival, and stemness. A subset of PDAC with inactivating mutations in ring finger protein 43 (RNF43) show growth dependency on autocrine WNT ligand signaling and are susceptible to agents that block WNT ligand acylation by Porcupine O-acyltransferase, which is required for proper WNT ligand processing and secretion. For this study, global transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses were performed to explore the therapeutic response of RNF43-mutant PDAC to the Porcupine inhibitor (PORCNi) LGK974. LGK974 disrupted cellular bioenergetics and mitochondrial function through actions that included rapid mitochondrial depolarization, reduced mitochondrial content, and inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation and tricarboxylic acid cycle. LGK974 also broadly altered transcriptional activity, downregulating genes involved in cell cycle, nucleotide metabolism, and ribosomal biogenesis and upregulating genes involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition, hypoxia, endocytosis, and lysosomes. Autophagy and lysosomal activity were augmented in response to LGK974, which synergistically inhibited tumor cell viability in combination with chloroquine. Autocrine WNT ligand signaling dictates metabolic dependencies in RNF43-mutant PDAC through a combination of transcription dependent and independent effects linked to mitochondrial health and function. Metabolic adaptations to mitochondrial damage and bioenergetic stress represent potential targetable liabilities in combination with PORCNi for the treatment of WNT ligand-addicted PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Y. Aguilera
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
| | - Thuc Le
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
- Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
| | - Rana Riahi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
| | - Anna R. Lay
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
| | - Stefan Hinz
- Department of Population Sciences, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Edris A. Saadat
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
| | - Ajay A. Vashisht
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
| | - James Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
| | - Timothy R. Donahue
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
- Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
- Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
| | - Caius G. Radu
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
- Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
| | - David W. Dawson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
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First person – Jia Yu and Pei-Ju Liao. J Cell Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT
First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Journal of Cell Science, helping early-career researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Jia Yu and Pei-Ju Liao are co-first authors on ‘ Structural model of human PORCN illuminates disease-associated variants and drug-binding sites’, published in JCS. Jia is a senior postdoc in the lab of David Virshup at Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, investigating Wnt secretion and signalling; in particular, how Wnt trafficking and secretion is regulated by two integral membrane proteins, porcupine and WLS. Pei-Ju is a research assistant in the same lab, investigating protein–protein interactions in the systems biology of signalling pathways using protein structure modelling and protein complex simulation.
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