Cell death by SecTRAPs: thioredoxin reductase as a prooxidant killer of cells

Development of a sensor to detect methylmercury toxicity

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a well-known neurotoxicant that induces various cellular functions depending on cellular- and developmental-specific vulnerabilities. MeHg has a high affinity for selenol and thiol groups, thus impairing the antioxidant system. Such affinity characteristics of MeHg led us to develop sensor vectors to assess MeHg toxicity. In this study, MeHg-mediated defects in selenocysteine (Sec) incorporation were demonstrated using thioredoxin reductase 1 cDNA fused with the hemagglutinin tag sequence at the C-terminus. Taking advantage of such MeHg-mediated defects in Sec incorporation, a cDNA encoding luciferase with a Sec substituted for cysteine-491 was constructed. This construct showed MeHg-induced decreases in signaling in a dose-dependent manner. To directly detect truncated luciferase under MeHg exposure, we further constructed a new sensor vector fused with a target for proteasomal degradation. However, this construct was inadequate because of the low rate of Sec insertion, even in the absence of MeHg. Finally, a Krab transcriptional suppressor fused with Sec was constructed and assessed to demonstrate MeHg-dependent increases in signal intensity. We confirmed that the vector responded specifically and in a dose-dependent manner to MeHg in cultured cerebellar granule cells. This vector is expected to allow monitoring of MeHg-specific toxicity via spatial and temporal imaging.

The rheumatoid arthritis drug auranofin exerts potent anti-lymphoma effect by stimulating TXNRD-mediated ROS generation and inhibition of energy metabolism

Since the survival of lymphoma patients who experience disease progression or relapse remains very poor, new therapeutic approaches and effective drugs are urgently needed. Here we show that auranofin (AF), an anti-rheumatoid drug thought to inhibit thioredoxin reductases (TXNRDs) as its mechanism of action, exhibited potent activity against multiple cancer types, especially effective against B cell lymphoma. Surprisingly, a knockdown of TXNRD1 and TXNRD2 did not cause significant cytotoxicity, suggesting that abrogation of TXNRD enzyme per se was insufficient to cause cancer cell death. Further mechanistic study showed that the interaction of AF with TXNRD could convert this antioxidant enzyme to a ROS-generating molecule via disrupting its electron transport, leading to a leak of electrons that interact with molecular oxygen to form superoxide. AF also suppressed energy metabolism by inhibiting both mitochondria complex II and the glycolytic enzyme GAPDH, leading to a significant depletion of ATP and inhibition of cancer growth in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, we found that the AF-mediated ROS stress could induce PD-L1 expression, revealing an unwanted effect of AF in causing immune suppression. We further showed that a combination of AF with anti-PD-1 antibody could enhance the anticancer activity in a syngeneic immune-competent mouse B-cell lymphoma model. Our study suggests that AF could be a potential drug for lymphoma treatment, and its combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors would be a logical strategy to increase the therapeutic activity.

Pharmacological Inhibition of TXNRD1 by a Small Molecule Flavonoid Butein Overcomes Cisplatin Resistance in Lung Cancer Cells

Mammalian cytosolic selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD1) is crucial for maintaining the reduced state of cellular thioredoxin 1 (TXN1) and is commonly up-regulated in cancer cells. TXNRD1 has been identified as an effective target in cancer chemotherapy. Discovering novel TXNRD1 inhibitors and elucidating the cellular effects of TXNRD1 inhibition are valuable for developing targeted therapies based on redox regulation strategies. In this study, we demonstrated that butein, a plant-derived small molecule flavonoid, is a novel TXNRD1 inhibitor. We found that butein irreversibly inhibited recombinant TXNRD1 activity in a time-dependent manner. Using TXNRD1 mutant variants and LC-MS, we identified that butein modifies the catalytic cysteine (Cys) residues of TXNRD1. In cellular contexts, butein promoted the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and exhibited cytotoxic effects in HeLa cells. Notably, we found that pharmacological inhibition of TXNRD1 by butein overcame the cisplatin resistance of A549 cisplatin-resistant cells, accompanied by increased cellular ROS levels and enhanced expression of p53. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate that butein is an effective small molecule inhibitor of TXNRD1, highlighting the therapeutic potential of inhibiting TXNRD1 in platinum-resistant cancer cells.

Guiding bar motif of thioredoxin reductase 1 modulates enzymatic activity and inhibitor binding by communicating with the co-factor FAD and regulating the flexible C-terminal redox motif

Thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD) is a selenoprotein that plays a crucial role in cellular antioxidant defense. Previously, a distinctive guiding bar motif was identified in TXNRD1, which influences the transfer of electrons. In this study, utilizing single amino acid substitution and Excitation-Emission Matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectrum analysis, we discovered that the guiding bar communicates with the FAD and modulates the electron flow of the enzyme. Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF) analysis demonstrated that the aromatic amino acid in guiding bar is a stabilizer for TXNRD1. Kinetic analysis revealed that the guiding bar is vital for the disulfide reductase activity but hinders the selenocysteine-independent reduction activity of TXNRD1. Meanwhile, the guiding bar shields the selenocysteine residue of TXNRD1 from the attack of electrophilic reagents. We also found that the inhibition of TXNRD1 by caveolin-1 scaffolding domain (CSD) peptides and compound LCS3 did not bind to the guiding bar motif. In summary, the obtained results highlight new aspects of the guiding bar that restrict the flexibility of the C-terminal redox motif and govern the transition from antioxidant to pro-oxidant.

Biosynthesis, Engineering, and Delivery of Selenoproteins

Selenocysteine (Sec) was discovered as the 21st genetically encoded amino acid. In nature, site-directed incorporation of Sec into proteins requires specialized biosynthesis and recoding machinery that evolved distinctly in bacteria compared to archaea and eukaryotes. Many organisms, including higher plants and most fungi, lack the Sec-decoding trait. We review the discovery of Sec and its role in redox enzymes that are essential to human health and important targets in disease. We highlight recent genetic code expansion efforts to engineer site-directed incorporation of Sec in bacteria and yeast. We also review methods to produce selenoproteins with 21 or more amino acids and approaches to delivering recombinant selenoproteins to mammalian cells as new applications for selenoproteins in synthetic biology.

Benzophenanthridine Alkaloid Chelerythrine Elicits Necroptosis of Gastric Cancer Cells via Selective Conjugation at the Redox Hyperreactive C-Terminal Sec498 Residue of Cytosolic Selenoprotein Thioredoxin Reductase

Targeting thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD) with low-weight molecules is emerging as a high-efficacy anti-cancer strategy in chemotherapy. Sanguinarine has been reported to inhibit the activity of TXNRD1, indicating that benzophenanthridine alkaloid is a fascinating chemical entity in the field of TXNRD1 inhibitors. In this study, the inhibition of three benzophenanthridine alkaloids, including chelerythrine, sanguinarine, and nitidine, on recombinant TXNRD1 was investigated, and their anti-cancer mechanisms were revealed using three gastric cancer cell lines. Chelerythrine and sanguinarine are more potent inhibitors of TXNRD1 than nitidine, and the inhibitory effects take place in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Site-directed mutagenesis of TXNRD1 and in vitro inhibition analysis proved that chelerythrine or sanguinarine is primarily bound to the Sec498 residue of the enzyme, but the neighboring Cys497 and remaining N-terminal redox-active cysteines could also be modified after the conjugation of Sec498. With high similarity to sanguinarine, chelerythrine exhibited cytotoxic effects on multiple gastric cancer cell lines and suppressed the proliferation of tumor spheroids derived from NCI-N87 cells. Chelerythrine elevated cellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Moreover, the ROS induced by chelerythrine could be completely suppressed by the addition of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), and the same is true for sanguinarine. Notably, Nec-1, an RIPK1 inhibitor, rescued the chelerythrine-induced rapid cell death, indicating that chelerythrine triggers necroptosis in gastric cancer cells. Taken together, this study demonstrates that chelerythrine is a novel inhibitor of TXNRD1 by targeting Sec498 and possessing high anti-tumor properties on multiple gastric cancer cell lines by eliciting necroptosis.

Fluorescent Probes for Mammalian Thioredoxin Reductase: Mechanistic Analysis, Construction Strategies, and Future Perspectives

The modulation of numerous signaling pathways is orchestrated by redox regulation of cellular environments. Maintaining dynamic redox homeostasis is of utmost importance for human health, given the common occurrence of altered redox status in various pathological conditions. The cardinal component of the thioredoxin system, mammalian thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) plays a vital role in supporting various physiological functions; however, its malfunction, disrupting redox balance, is intimately associated with the pathogenesis of multiple diseases. Accordingly, the dynamic monitoring of TrxR of live organisms represents a powerful direction to facilitate the comprehensive understanding and exploration of the profound significance of redox biology in cellular processes. A number of classic assays have been developed for the determination of TrxR activity in biological samples, yet their application is constrained when exploring the real-time dynamics of TrxR activity in live organisms. Fluorescent probes offer several advantages for in situ imaging and the quantification of biological targets, such as non-destructiveness, real-time analysis, and high spatiotemporal resolution. These benefits facilitate the transition from a poise to a flux understanding of cellular targets, further advancing scientific studies in related fields. This review aims to introduce the progress in the development and application of TrxR fluorescent probes in the past years, and it mainly focuses on analyzing their reaction mechanisms, construction strategies, and potential drawbacks. Finally, this study discusses the critical challenges and issues encountered during the development of selective TrxR probes and proposes future directions for their advancement. We anticipate the comprehensive analysis of the present TrxR probes will offer some glitters of enlightenment, and we also expect that this review may shed light on the design and development of novel TrxR probes.

Biological and Catalytic Properties of Selenoproteins

Selenocysteine is a catalytic residue at the active site of all selenoenzymes in bacteria and mammals, and it is incorporated into the polypeptide backbone by a co-translational process that relies on the recoding of a UGA termination codon into a serine/selenocysteine codon. The best-characterized selenoproteins from mammalian species and bacteria are discussed with emphasis on their biological function and catalytic mechanisms. A total of 25 genes coding for selenoproteins have been identified in the genome of mammals. Unlike the selenoenzymes of anaerobic bacteria, most mammalian selenoenzymes work as antioxidants and as redox regulators of cell metabolism and functions. Selenoprotein P contains several selenocysteine residues and serves as a selenocysteine reservoir for other selenoproteins in mammals. Although extensively studied, glutathione peroxidases are incompletely understood in terms of local and time-dependent distribution, and regulatory functions. Selenoenzymes take advantage of the nucleophilic reactivity of the selenolate form of selenocysteine. It is used with peroxides and their by-products such as disulfides and sulfoxides, but also with iodine in iodinated phenolic substrates. This results in the formation of Se-X bonds (X = O, S, N, or I) from which a selenenylsulfide intermediate is invariably produced. The initial selenolate group is then recycled by thiol addition. In bacterial glycine reductase and D-proline reductase, an unusual catalytic rupture of selenium-carbon bonds is observed. The exchange of selenium for sulfur in selenoproteins, and information obtained from model reactions, suggest that a generic advantage of selenium compared with sulfur relies on faster kinetics and better reversibility of its oxidation reactions.

Thioredoxin Signaling Pathways in Cancer

Significance: Thioredoxin (Trx) is a powerful antioxidant that reduces protein disulfides to maintain redox stability in cells and is involved in regulating multiple redox-dependent signaling pathways. Recent Advance: The current accumulation of findings suggests that Trx participates in signaling pathways that interact with various proteins to manipulate their dynamic regulation of structure and function. These network pathways are critical for cancer pathogenesis and therapy. Promising clinical advances have been presented by most anticancer agents targeting such signaling pathways. Critical Issues: We herein link the signaling pathways regulated by the Trx system to potential cancer therapeutic opportunities, focusing on the coordination and strengths of the Trx signaling pathways in apoptosis, ferroptosis, immunomodulation, and drug resistance. We also provide a mechanistic network for the exploitation of therapeutic small molecules targeting the Trx signaling pathways. Future Directions: As research data accumulate, future complex networks of Trx-related signaling pathways will gain in detail. In-depth exploration and establishment of these signaling pathways, including Trx upstream and downstream regulatory proteins, will be critical to advancing novel cancer therapeutics. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 38, 403-424.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Dimethyl Fumarate Associates with the Inhibition of Thioredoxin Reductase 1 in RAW 264.7 Cells

Macrophages secrete a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) but abnormal release of cytokines unfortunately promotes cytokine storms. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF), an FDA-approved drug for multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment, has been found as an effective therapeutic agent for resolution. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of DMF was found to correlate to selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1). DMF irreversibly modified the Sec⁴⁹⁸ residue and C-terminal catalytic cysteine residues of TXNRD1 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, cellular TXNRD activity was increased through up-regulation of the protein level and DMF inhibited TXNRD activity and the nitric oxide (NO) production of RAW 264.7 cells. Meanwhile, the inhibition of TXNRD1 by DMF would contribute to the redox regulation of inflammation and promote the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) activation. Notably, inhibition of cellular TXNRD1 by auranofin or TRi-1 showed anti-inflammatory effect in RAW 264.7 cells. This finding demonstrated that targeting TXNRD1 is a potential mechanism of using immunometabolites for dousing inflammation in response to pathogens and highlights the potential of TXNRD1 inhibitors in immune regulation.

Delivery of the selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase 1 to mammalian cells

Over-expression of genetically encoded thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) TrxR1 can be toxic to cells due to the formation of a truncated version of the enzyme. We developed a new mammalian cell-based model to investigate TrxR1 activity. Fusion of the HIV-derived cell penetrating peptide (TAT) enabled efficient cellular uptake of purified TrxR1 containing 21 genetically encoded amino acids, including selenocysteine. The TAT peptide did not significantly alter the catalytic activity of TrxR1 in vitro. We monitored TrxR1-dependent redox activity in human cells using a TrxR1-specific red fluorescent live-cell reporter. Using programmed selenocysteine incorporation in Escherichia coli, our approach allowed efficient production of active recombinant human selenoprotein TrxR1 for delivery to the homologous context of the mammalian cell. The delivered TAT-TrxR1 showed robust activity in live cells and provided a novel platform to study TrxR1 biology in human cells.

Thioredoxin reductase selenoproteins from different organisms as potential drug targets for treatment of human diseases

Human thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is a selenoprotein with a central role in cellular redox homeostasis, utilizing a highly reactive and solvent-exposed selenocysteine (Sec) residue in its active site. Pharmacological modulation of TrxR can be obtained with several classes of small compounds showing different mechanisms of action, but most often dependent upon interactions with its Sec residue. The clinical implications of TrxR modulation as mediated by small compounds have been studied in diverse diseases, from rheumatoid arthritis and ischemia to cancer and parasitic infections. The possible involvement of TrxR in these diseases was in some cases serendipitously discovered, by finding that existing clinically used drugs are also TrxR inhibitors. Inhibiting isoforms of human TrxR is, however, not the only strategy for human disease treatment, as some pathogenic parasites also depend upon Sec-containing TrxR variants, including S. mansoni, B. malayi or O. volvulus. Inhibiting parasite TrxR has been shown to selectively kill parasites and can thus become a promising treatment strategy, especially in the context of quickly emerging resistance towards other drugs. Here we have summarized the basis for the targeting of selenoprotein TrxR variants with small molecules for therapeutic purposes in different human disease contexts. We discuss how Sec engagement appears to be an indispensable part of treatment efficacy and how some therapeutically promising compounds have been evaluated in preclinical or clinical studies. Several research questions remain before a wider application of selenoprotein TrxR inhibition as a first-line treatment strategy might be developed. These include further mechanistic studies of downstream effects that may mediate treatment efficacy, identification of isoform-specific enzyme inhibition patterns for some given therapeutic compounds, and the further elucidation of cell-specific effects in disease contexts such as in the tumor microenvironment or in host-parasite interactions, and which of these effects may be dependent upon the specific targeting of Sec in distinct TrxR isoforms.

The Thioredoxin System of Mammalian Cells and Its Modulators

Oxidative stress involves the increased production and accumulation of free radicals, peroxides, and other metabolites that are collectively termed reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are produced as by-products of aerobic respiration. ROS play a significant role in cell homeostasis through redox signaling and are capable of eliciting damage to macromolecules. Multiple antioxidant defense systems have evolved to prevent dangerous ROS accumulation in the body, with the glutathione and thioredoxin/thioredoxin reductase (Trx/TrxR) systems being the most important. The Trx/TrxR system has been used as a target to treat cancer through the thiol–disulfide exchange reaction mechanism that results in the reduction of a wide range of target proteins and the generation of oxidized Trx. The TrxR maintains reduced Trx levels using NADPH as a co-substrate; therefore, the system efficiently maintains cell homeostasis. Being a master regulator of oxidation–reduction processes, the Trx-dependent system is associated with cell proliferation and survival. Herein, we review the structure and catalytic properties of the Trx/TrxR system, its role in cellular signaling in connection with other redox systems, and the factors that modulate the Trx system.

Piperlongumine Inhibits Thioredoxin Reductase 1 by Targeting Selenocysteine Residues and Sensitizes Cancer Cells to Erastin

Piperlongumine, a natural alkaloid substance extracted from the fruit of the long pepper (Piper longum Linn.), is known to inhibit the cytosolic thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD1 or TrxR1) and selectively kill cancer cells. However, the details and mechanism of the inhibition by piperlongumine against TXNRD1 remain unclear. In this study, based on the classical DTNB reducing assay, irreversible inhibition of recombinant TXNRD1 by piperlongumine was found and showed an apparent kinact value of 0.206 × 10−3 µM−1 min−1. Meanwhile, compared with the wild-type TXNRD1 (-GCUG), the UGA-truncated form (-GC) of TXNRD1 was resistant to piperlongumine, suggesting the preferential target of piperlongumine is the selenol (-SeH) at the C-terminal redox motif of the enzyme. Interestingly, the high concentration of piperlongumine-inhibited TXNRD1 showed that its Sec-dependent activity is decayed but its intrinsic NADPH oxidase activity is retained. Furthermore, piperlongumine did not induce ferroptosis in HCT116 cells at 10 µM, whereas significantly promoted erastin-induced lipid oxidation, which could be alleviated by supplying glutathione (GSH) or N-acetyl L-cysteine (NAC). However, restricting GSH synthesis by inhibiting glutaminase (GLS) using the small molecule inhibitor CB-839 only slightly enhanced erastin-induced cell death. Taken together, this study elucidates the molecular mechanism of the antitumor capacity of piperlongumine by targeting TXNRD1 and reveals the potential possibility of inhibiting TXNRD1 to strengthen cancer cells’ ferroptosis.

Thioredoxin reductase 1 inhibitor shikonin promotes cell necroptosis via SecTRAPs generation and oxygen-coupled redox cycling

Shikonin, a naturally occurring naphthoquinone with potent anti-tumor activity, has been reported to induce cancer cell death via targeting selenoenzyme thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1; TXNRD1). However, the interaction between shikonin and TrxR1 remains unclear, and the roles of the cellular antioxidant system in shikonin induced cell death are obscure. Here, we found that shikonin modified the Sec⁴⁹⁸ residue of TrxR1 to fully inhibit its antioxidant activity, however, the shikonin-modified TrxR1 still remained intrinsic NADPH oxidase activity, which promotes superoxide anions production. Besides, TrxR1 efficiently reduced shikonin in both selenocysteine dependent and selenocysteine independent manners, and the oxygen-coupled redox cycling of shikonin also generates excessive superoxide anions. The inhibitory effects and the redox cycling of shikonin towards TrxR1 caused cancer cell ROS-dependent necroptosis. Interestingly, as we evaluated, some cancer cell lines were insensitive to shikonin, especially kelch-like ECH associated protein 1 (KEAP1)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, which harbor constitutive activation of the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2). NADPH bankruptcy caused by glucose starvation or glucose limitation (inhibiting glucose transporter 1 by BAY-876) could efficiently overcome the resistance of KEAP1-mutant NSCLC cells to shikonin. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), was known as a rate-limiting enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway, however, the pharmacological inhibition of G6PD by 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN), enhanced the shikonin-induced cytotoxicity but has no selectivity on KEAP1-mutant NSCLC cells. This study will be helpful in applying shikonin for potential chemotherapy, and in combinational treatment of KEAP1-mutant NSCLC.

Plumbagin reduction by thioredoxin reductase 1 possesses synergy effects with GLUT1 inhibitor on KEAP1-mutant NSCLC cells

Thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1 or TXNRD1) is a major enzyme in cellular redox regulation and is considered as a drug target for cancer therapy. Previous studies have reported that plumbagin caused reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent apoptosis via inhibiting TrxR1 activity or being reduced by TrxR1, leading to selectively cancer cell death. However, the mechanism of TrxR1-mediated redox cycling of plumbagin is obscure and the evidence for plumbagin targeting TrxR1 is still lacking. Herein, we demonstrated that TrxR1 catalyzed plumbagin reduction in both selenocysteine (Sec)-dependent and independent manners, and its activity relied on the intact N-terminal motif of TrxR1, but a high-efficiency reduction was supported by the C-terminal thiols. During the redox cycling of plumbagin, excessive ROS production was observed coupled with oxygen. Using LC-MS and TrxR1 mutants, we found that the Sec residue of TrxR1 was modified by plumbagin, which converted the enzyme from antioxidant to pro-oxidant. Furthermore, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of plumbagin in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and found that Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1)-mutant NSCLC cells, which possess constitutive nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) activity, were insensitive to plumbagin; however, inhibition of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) by small-molecule BAY-876 or inhibiting glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) by 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN) overcame the plumbagin-resistance of KEAP1-mutant NSCLC cells. Taken together, this study elucidated the pharmacological mechanism of plumbagin by targeting TrxR1 and revealed the synergy effect of plumbagin and BAY-876, which may be helpful for applying naphthoquinone compounds to chemotherapy, particularly for treating KEAP1-mutant NSCLC cells.

Comprehensive chemical proteomics analyses reveal that the new TRi-1 and TRi-2 compounds are more specific thioredoxin reductase 1 inhibitors than auranofin

Anticancer drugs that target cellular antioxidant systems have recently attracted much attention. Auranofin (AF) is currently evaluated in several clinical trials as an anticancer agent that targets the cytosolic and mitochondrial forms of the selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase, TXNRD1 and TXNRD2. Recently, two novel TXNRD1 inhibitors (TRi-1 and TRi-2) have been developed that showed anticancer efficacy comparable to AF, but with lower mitochondrial toxicity. However, the cellular action mechanisms of these drugs have not yet been thoroughly studied. Here we used several proteomics approaches to determine the effects of AF, TRi-1 and TRi-2 when used at IC50 concentrations with the mouse B16 melanoma and LLC lung adenocarcinoma cells, as these are often used for preclinical mouse models in evaluation of anticancer drugs. The results demonstrate that TRi-1 and TRi-2 are more specific TXNRD1 inhibitors than AF and reveal additional AF-specific effects on the cellular proteome. Interestingly, AF triggered stronger Nrf2-driven antioxidant responses than the other two compounds. Furthermore, AF affected several additional proteins, including GSK3A, GSK3B, MCMBP and EEFSEC, implicating additional effects on glycogen metabolism, cellular differentiation, inflammatory pathways, DNA replication and selenoprotein synthesis processes. Our proteomics data provide a resource for researchers interested in the multidimensional analysis of proteome changes associated with oxidative stress in general, and the effects of TXNRD1 inhibitors and AF protein targets in particular.

Chlorophyllin Inhibits Mammalian Thioredoxin Reductase 1 and Triggers Cancer Cell Death

Food colorants are widely used by humans in food production and preparation; however, their potential toxicity requires an in-depth analysis. In this study, five out of 15 commercial food colorants, namely, lutein, betanin, caramel, crocin and chlorophyll, significantly inhibited wild type selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1, TXNRD1) in vitro. The hyperactive Sec⁴⁹⁸ residue of TrxR1 was targeted by those five colorants, which was confirmed by the site-directed mutagenesis of TrxR1. Furthermore, two colorants, chlorophyll and betanin, triggered the oligomerization of TrxR1. A chlorophyll-derived compound, chlorophyllin, irreversibly inhibited the 5,5′-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid (DTNB) reducing activity of TrxR1 with K_inact = 6.96 × 10⁻³ ± 0.49 × 10⁻³ µM⁻¹ min⁻¹. Moreover, chlorophyllin reduced the cellular TrxR activity, leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and, subsequently, promoting cancer cell death. In conclusion, this study might contribute to understand the food safety of commercial colorants and provide chemotherapeutic compounds by targeting TrxR1.

Thioredoxin Reductase Inhibition for Cancer Therapy

The cytosolic selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1, TXNRD1), and to some extent mitochondrial TrxR2 (TXNRD2), can be inhibited by a wide range of electrophilic compounds. Many such compounds also yield cytotoxicity toward cancer cells in culture or in mouse models, and most compounds are likely to irreversibly modify the easily accessible selenocysteine residue in TrxR1, thereby inhibiting its normal activity to reduce cytosolic thioredoxin (Trx1, TXN) and other substrates of the enzyme. This leads to an oxidative challenge. In some cases, the inhibited forms of TrxR1 are not catalytically inert and are instead converted to prooxidant NADPH oxidases, named SecTRAPs, thus further aggravating the oxidative stress, particularly in cells expressing higher levels of the enzyme. In this review, the possible molecular and cellular consequences of these effects are discussed in relation to cancer therapy, with a focus on outstanding questions that should be addressed if targeted TrxR1 inhibition is to be further developed for therapeutic use. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Volume 62 is January 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Menadione inhibits thioredoxin reductase 1 via arylation at the Sec498 residue and enhances both NADPH oxidation and superoxide production in Sec498 to Cys498 substitution

The selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1; TXNRD1) participates in multiple cellular processes and is regarded as a cellular target in anti-tumor drug discovery and development. TrxR1 has been reported to reduce menadione to menadiol and to produce superoxide anion radicals. However, the details of TrxR1-mediated menadione reduction have rarely been studied. In this study, we found that wild-type TrxR1 could reduce menadione in a less efficient way, but the U498C mutant variant supported high-efficiency menadione reduction in a Sec-independent manner. Meanwhile, the site-directed mutagenesis results showed that Cys⁶⁴ mutant increased the K_m values and decreased the catalytic efficiency, which was associated with a charge-transfer complex between FAD-Cys⁶⁴. Mass spectrometry (MS) revealed that in NADPH pre-reduced TrxR1 but not oxidized TrxR1, the highly active Sec⁴⁹⁸ of wild-type TrxR1 was arylated by menadione and strongly impaired the DTNB reducing activity in a dose-dependent manner. TrxR1 reduced menadione more efficiently than glutathione reductase (GR), and interestingly menadione did not inhibit the GSSG reducing activity of GR. In summary, our results demonstrate that TrxR1 catalyzes the reduction of menadione in a Sec-independent manner, which highly depend on Cys⁴⁹⁸ instead of N-terminal redox motif, and the Sec⁴⁹⁸ of TrxR1 is the primary target of menadione. The interaction between menadione and TrxR1 revealed in this study may provide a valuable reference for the development of anticancer drugs targeting selenoprotein TrxR1.

Nrf2 in Cancer, Detoxifying Enzymes and Cell Death Programs

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in cell proliferation and differentiation. They are also by-products of aerobic living conditions. Their inherent reactivity poses a threat for all cellular components. Cells have, therefore, evolved complex pathways to sense and maintain the redox balance. Among them, Nrf2 (Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) plays a crucial role: it is activated under oxidative conditions and is responsible for the expression of the detoxification machinery and antiapoptotic factors. It is, however, a double edge sword: whilst it prevents tumorigenesis in healthy cells, its constitutive activation in cancer promotes tumour growth and metastasis. In addition, recent data have highlighted the importance of Nrf2 in evading programmed cell death. In this review, we will focus on the activation of the Nrf2 pathway in the cytoplasm, the molecular basis underlying Nrf2 binding to the DNA, and the dysregulation of this pathway in cancer, before discussing how Nrf2 contributes to the prevention of apoptosis and ferroptosis in cancer and how it is likely to be linked to detoxifying enzymes containing selenium.

Natural Molecules Targeting Thioredoxin System and Their Therapeutic Potential

Significance: Thioredoxin (Trx) and thioredoxin reductase are two core members of the Trx system. The system bridges the gap between the universal reducing equivalent NADPH and various biological molecules and plays an essential role in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis and regulating multiple cellular redox signaling pathways. Recent Advance: In recent years, the Trx system has been well documented as an important regulator of many diseases, especially tumorigenesis. Thus, the development of potential therapeutic molecules targeting the system is of great significance for disease treatment. Critical Issues: We herein first discuss the physiological functions of the Trx system and the role that the Trx system plays in various diseases. Then, we focus on the introduction of natural small molecules with potential therapeutic applications, especially the anticancer activity, and review their mechanisms of pharmacological actions via interfering with the Trx system. Finally, we further discuss several natural molecules that harbor therapeutic potential and have entered different clinical trials. Future Directions: Further studies on the functions of the Trx system in multiple diseases will not only improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of many human disorders but also help develop novel therapeutic strategies against these diseases. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 34, 1083-1107.

Alternative redox forms of ASNA-1 separate insulin signaling from tail-anchored protein targeting and cisplatin resistance in C. elegans

Cisplatin is a frontline cancer therapeutic, but intrinsic or acquired resistance is common. We previously showed that cisplatin sensitivity can be achieved by inactivation of ASNA-1/TRC40 in mammalian cancer cells and in Caenorhabditis elegans. ASNA-1 has two more conserved functions: in promoting tail-anchored protein (TAP) targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and in promoting insulin secretion. However, the relation between its different functions has remained unknown. Here, we show that ASNA-1 exists in two redox states that promote TAP-targeting and insulin secretion separately. The reduced state is the one required for cisplatin resistance: an ASNA-1 point mutant, in which the protein preferentially was found in the oxidized state, was sensitive to cisplatin and defective for TAP targeting but had no insulin secretion defect. The same was true for mutants in wrb-1, which we identify as the C. elegans homolog of WRB, the ASNA1/TRC40 receptor. Finally, we uncover a previously unknown action of cisplatin induced reactive oxygen species: cisplatin induced ROS drives ASNA-1 into the oxidized form, and selectively prevents an ASNA-1-dependent TAP substrate from reaching the endoplasmic reticulum. Our work suggests that ASNA-1 acts as a redox-sensitive target for cisplatin cytotoxicity and that cisplatin resistance is likely mediated by ASNA-1-dependent TAP substrates. Treatments that promote an oxidizing tumor environment should be explored as possible means to combat cisplatin resistance.

Beyond direct Nrf2 activation; reinvestigating 1,2,4-oxadiazole scaffold as a master key unlocking the antioxidant cellular machinery for cancer therapy

Harnessing the antioxidant cellular machinery has sparked considerable interest as an efficient anticancer strategy. Activating Nrf2, the master switch of the cellular redox system, suppresses ROS, alleviates oxidative stress, and halts cancer progression. 1,2,4-oxadiazoles are iconic direct Nrf2 activators that disrupt Nrf2 interaction with its endogenous repressor Keap1. This study introduces rationally designed 1,2,4-oxadiazole derivatives that inhibit other Nrf2 suppressors (TrxR1, IKKα, and NF-kB) thus enhancing Nrf2 activation for preventing oxidative stress and carcinogenesis. Preliminary screening showed that the phenolic oxadiazoles 11, 15, and 19 were comparable to ascorbic acid (ROS scavenging) and EDTA (iron chelation), and superior to doxorubicin against HepG-2, MDA-MB231, and Caco-2 cells. They suppressed ROS by 3 folds and activated Nrf2 by 2 folds in HepG-2 cells. Mechanistically, they inhibited TrxR1 (IC₅₀; 13.19, 17.89, and 9.21 nM) and IKKα (IC₅₀; 11.0, 15.94, and 19.58 nM), and downregulated NF-κB (7.6, 1.4 and 1.9 folds in HepG-2), respectively. They inhibited NADPH oxidase (IC₅₀; 16.4, 21.94, and 10.71 nM, respectively) that potentiates their antioxidant activities. Docking studies predicted their important structural features. Finally, they recorded drug-like in silico physicochemical properties, ADMET, and ligand efficiency metrics.

Cardioprotective potential of polyphenols rich Thraatchathi Chooranam against isoproterenol induced myocardial necrosis in experimental rats

BACKGROUND

The present study establishes the cardioprotective role of Thraatchathi Chooranam (TC), a polyherbal traditional Siddha medicine, in terms of membrane stabilizing and antioxidant properties in isoproterenol (ISO) induced myocardial necrosis model in rats.

METHODS

Animals were divided into six groups (n = 6), normal (received vehicle 0.5% CMC, p.o.), ISO control (received 0.5% CMC + ISO 120 mg/kg, b.w. s.c. twice at an interval of 48 h), standard control (received Vit-E 100 mg/kg, p.o.) + ISO, TC low and high dose (50 and 100 mg/kg p.o., respectively) + ISO, and drug control (received TC at 100 mg/kg, p.o.). At the end of experimental period, blood samples collected and plasma cardiac troponin-I (CTn-I) was measured by ELISA. Cardiac tissues were isolated, levels of membrane stabilizing enzymes, antioxidants and inflammatory markers were estimated. Gene expression of Bax, Bcl2, Caspase 3, HIF-α, TNF-α, iNOS, TRX1 and TrxR were performed by RT-PCR. Histopathological studies on cardiac tissues were conducted using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain. Statistical analyses were performed by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's multiple comparison as post-hoc test.

RESULTS

Administration of ISO resulted in a significant increase in plasma CTn-I, decrease in superoxide dismutase, glutathione and glutathione peroxidase; it also significantly altered membrane stabilizing enzymes like Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, Mg²⁺-ATPase Ca²⁺-ATPase and Cathepsin D. Pretreatment with TC (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) decreased CTn-I, and improved membrane stabilizing and endogenous antioxidant enzymes and decreased cathespin D level in a dose dependent manner. Histopathological examination revealed that TC improves cellular membrane integrity and decreases inflammatory cell infiltration and necrotic death.

CONCLUSION

The present study provided a strong evidence on the protective effects of TC against ISO-induced myocardial necrosis in rats.

Can Selenoenzymes Resist Electrophilic Modification? Evidence from Thioredoxin Reductase and a Mutant Containing α-Methylselenocysteine

Selenocysteine (Sec) is the 21st proteogenic amino acid in the genetic code. Incorporation of Sec into proteins is a complex and bioenergetically costly process that evokes the following question: "Why did nature choose selenium?" An answer that has emerged over the past decade is that Sec confers resistance to irreversible oxidative inactivation by reactive oxygen species. Here, we explore the question of whether this concept can be broadened to include resistance to reactive electrophilic species (RES) because oxygen and related compounds are merely a subset of RES. To test this hypothesis, we inactivated mammalian thioredoxin reductase (Sec-TrxR), a mutant containing α-methylselenocysteine [(αMe)Sec-TrxR], and a cysteine ortholog TrxR (Cys-TrxR) with various electrophiles, including acrolein, 4-hydroxynonenal, and curcumin. Our results show that the acrolein-inactivated Sec-TrxR and the (αMe)Sec-TrxR mutant could regain 25% and 30% activity, respectively, when incubated with 2 mM H₂O₂ and 5 mM imidazole. In contrast, Cys-TrxR did not regain activity under the same conditions. We posit that Sec enzymes can undergo a repair process via β-syn selenoxide elimination that ejects the electrophile, leaving the enzyme in the oxidized selenosulfide state. (αMe)Sec-TrxR was created by incorporating the non-natural amino acid (αMe)Sec into TrxR by semisynthesis and allowed for rigorous testing of our hypothesis. This Sec derivative enables higher resistance to both oxidative and electrophilic inactivation because it lacks a backbone C_α-H, which prevents loss of selenium through the formation of dehydroalanine. This is the first time this unique amino acid has been incorporated into an enzyme and is an example of state-of-the-art protein engineering.

The Thioredoxin System: A Promising Target for Cancer Drug Development

The thioredoxin system is highly conserved system found in all living cells and comprises NADPH, thioredoxin, and thioredoxin reductase. This system plays a critical role in preserving a reduced intracellular environment, and its involvement in regulating a wide range of cellular functions makes it especially vital to cellular homeostasis. Its critical role is not limited to healthy cells, it is also involved in cancer development, and is overexpressed in many cancers. This makes the thioredoxin system a promising target for cancer drug development. As such, over the last decade, many inhibitors have been developed that target the thioredoxin system, most of which are small molecules targeting the thioredoxin reductase C-terminal redox center. A few inhibitors of thioredoxin have also been developed. We believe that more efforts should be invested in developing protein/peptide-based inhibitors against both thioredoxin reductase and/or thioredoxin.

Functional Profiling Identifies Determinants of Arsenic Trioxide Cellular Toxicity

Arsenic exposure is a worldwide health concern associated with an increased risk of skin, lung, and bladder cancer but arsenic trioxide (AsIII) is also an effective chemotherapeutic agent. The current use of AsIII in chemotherapy is limited to acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). However, AsIII was suggested as a potential therapy for other cancer types including chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), especially when combined with other drugs. Here, we carried out a genome-wide CRISPR-based approach to identify modulators of AsIII toxicity in K562, a human CML cell line. We found that disruption of KEAP1, the inhibitory partner of the key antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2, or TXNDC17, a thioredoxin-like protein, markedly increased AsIII tolerance. Loss of the water channel AQP3, the zinc transporter ZNT1 and its regulator MTF1 also enhanced tolerance to AsIII whereas loss of the multidrug resistance protein ABCC1 increased sensitivity to AsIII. Remarkably, disruption of any of multiple genes, EEFSEC, SECISBP2, SEPHS2, SEPSECS, and PSTK, encoding proteins involved in selenocysteine metabolism increased resistance to AsIII. Our data suggest a model in which an intracellular interaction between selenium and AsIII may impact intracellular AsIII levels and toxicity. Together this work revealed a suite of cellular components/processes which modulate the toxicity of AsIII in CML cells. Targeting such processes simultaneously with AsIII treatment could potentiate AsIII in CML therapy.

Characterization of Lead Compounds Targeting the Selenoprotein Thioredoxin Glutathione Reductase for Treatment of Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is a widespread human parasitic disease currently affecting over 200 million people. Chemotherapy for schistosomiasis relies exclusively on praziquantel. Although significant advances have been made in recent years to reduce the incidence and intensity of schistosome infections, these gains will be at risk should drug-resistant parasites evolve. Thioredoxin glutathione reductase (TGR) is a selenoprotein of the parasite essential for the survival of schistosomes in the mammalian host. Several high-throughput screening campaigns have identified inhibitors of Schistosoma mansoni TGR. Follow up analyses of select active compounds form the basis of the present study. We identified eight compounds effective against ex vivo worms. Compounds 1-5 are active against all major species and development stages. The ability of these compounds to target immature worms is especially critical because praziquantel is poorly active against this stage. Compounds 1-5, 7, and 8 displayed schistosomicidal activity even after only 1 h incubation with the worms. Compounds 1-4 meet or exceed standards set by the World Health Organization for leads for schistosomiasis therapy activity. The mechanism of TGR inhibition was studied further with wild-type and mutant TGR proteins. Compounds 4-6 were found to induce an nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity in TGR, leading to the production of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. Collectively, this effort has identified several active compound series that may serve as the basis for the development of new schistosomicidal compounds.

Irreversible TrxR1 inhibitors block STAT3 activity and induce cancer cell death

Because of its key role in cancer development and progression, STAT3 has become an attractive target for developing new cancer therapeutics. While several STAT3 inhibitors have progressed to advanced stages of development, their underlying biology and mechanisms of action are often more complex than would be expected from specific binding to STAT3. Here, we have identified and optimized a series of compounds that block STAT3-dependent luciferase expression with nanomolar potency. Unexpectedly, our lead compounds did not bind to cellular STAT3 but to another prominent anticancer drug target, TrxR1. We further identified that TrxR1 inhibition induced Prx2 and STAT3 oxidation, which subsequently blocked STAT3-dependent transcription. Moreover, previously identified inhibitors of STAT3 were also found to inhibit TrxR1, and likewise, established TrxR1 inhibitors block STAT3-dependent transcriptional activity. These results provide new insights into the complexities of STAT3 redox regulation while highlighting a novel mechanism to block aberrant STAT3 signaling in cancer cells.

Effects of Mammalian Thioredoxin Reductase Inhibitors

The mammalian thioredoxin system is driven by NADPH through the activities of isoforms of the selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD, TrxR), which in turn help to keep thioredoxins (TXN, Trx) and further downstream targets reduced. Due to a wide range of functions in antioxidant defense, cell proliferation, and redox signaling, strong cellular aberrations are seen upon the targeting of TrxR enzymes by inhibitors. However, such inhibition can nonetheless have rather unexpected consequences. Accumulating data suggest that inhibition of TrxR in normal cells typically yields a paradoxical effect of increased antioxidant defense, with metabolic pathway reprogramming, increased cellular proliferation, and altered cellular differentiation patterns. Conversely, inhibition of TrxR in cancer cells can yield excessive levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting in cell death and thus anticancer efficacy. The observed increases in antioxidant capacity upon inhibition of TrxR in normal cells are in part dependent upon activation of the Nrf2 transcription factor, while exaggerated ROS levels in cancer cells can be explained by a non-oncogene addiction of cancer cells to TrxR1 due to their increased endogenous production of ROS. These separate consequences of TrxR inhibition can be utilized therapeutically. Importantly, however, a thorough knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying effects triggered by TrxR inhibition is crucial for the understanding of therapy outcomes after use of such inhibitors. The mammalian thioredoxin system is driven by thioredoxin reductases (TXNRD, TrxR), which keeps thioredoxins (TXN, Trx) and further downstream targets reduced. In normal cells, inhibition of TrxR yields a paradoxical effect of increased antioxidant defense upon activation of the Nrf2 transcription factor. In cancer cells, however, inhibition of TrxR yields excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels resulting in cell death and thus anticancer efficacy, which can be explained by a non-oncogene addiction of cancer cells to TrxR1 due to their increased endogenous production of ROS. These separate consequences of TrxR inhibition can be utilized therapeutically.

Novel electrophilic amides amenable by the Ugi reaction perturb thioredoxin system via thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) inhibition: Identification of DVD-445 as a new lead compound for anticancer therapy

A series of peptidomimetic compounds incorporating an electrophilic moiety was synthesized using the Ugi reaction. These compounds (termed the Ugi Michael acceptors or UMAs) were designed to target the selenocysteine catalytic residue of thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1), a promising cancer target. The compounds were assessed for their potential to inhibit TrxR1 using human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell lysate. Based on this initial screening, six compounds were selected for testing against recombinant rat TrxR1 and in the insulin assay to reveal low-micromolar to submicromolar potency of these inhibitors. The same frontrunner compounds were evaluated for their ability to exert antiproliferative activity and induce cell death and this activity was compared to the UMA effects on the levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). Collectively, the UMA compounds class presented itself as a rich source of leads for TrxR1 inhibitor discovery for anticancer application. Compound 7 (DVD-445) was nominated a lead for further optimization.

Promotion of HeLa cells apoptosis by cynaropicrin involving inhibition of thioredoxin reductase and induction of oxidative stress

Cancer is considered as one of the highly mortal diseases globally. This is largely due to the lack of efficacious medicines for tumors, and thus development of potent anticancer agents is urgently needed. The thioredoxin (Trx) system is crucial to the survival ability of cells and its expression is up-regulated in many human tumors. Recently, increasing evidence has been established that mammalian thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), a selenocysteine-containing protein and the core component of the thioredoxin system, is a promising therapeutic target. The sesquiterpene lactone compound cynaropicrin (CYN), a major component of Cynara scolymus L., has shown multiple pharmacological functions, especially the anticancer effect, in many experimental models. Most of these functions are concomitant with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Nevertheless, the target of this promising natural anticancer product in redox control has rarely been explored. In this study, we showed that CYN induces apoptosis of Hela cells. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that CYN impinges on the thioredoxin system via inhibition of TrxR, which leads to Trx oxidation and ROS accumulation in HeLa cells. Particularly, the cytotoxicity of CYN is enhanced through the genetic knockdown of TrxR, supporting the pharmacological effect of CYN is relevant to its inhibition of TrxR. Together, our studies reveal an unprecedented mechanism accounting for the anticancer effect of CYN and identify a promising therapeutic agent worthy of further development for cancer therapy.

Targeting Thioredoxin Reductase by Ibrutinib Promotes Apoptosis of SMMC-7721 Cells

Ibrutinib (IBT), the first-in-class inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), has demonstrated clinical activity against various B-cell malignancies. Aside from its therapeutic mechanism through BTK inhibition, IBT has other target sites reported for cancer therapy, leading us to investigate whether IBT has unreported targets. Our study revealed that IBT can inhibit SMMC-7721 cells through irreversible inhibition of mammalian thioredoxin reductase enzymes. Further study demonstrated that IBT can cause cellular reactive oxygen species elevation and induce cancer cell apoptosis. The discovery of a new target of IBT sheds light on better understanding its anticancer mechanisms and provides a theoretical foundation for its further use in clinical therapy.

Peperomin E and its orally bioavailable analog induce oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis of acute myeloid leukemia progenitor cells by targeting thioredoxin reductase

The early immature CD34⁺ acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell subpopulation-acute myeloid leukemia progenitor cells (APCs), is often resistant to conventional chemotherapy, making them largely responsible for the relapse of AML. However, to date, the eradication of APCs remains a major challenge. We previously reported a naturally occurring secolignan- Peperomin E (PepE) and its analog 6-methyl (hydroxyethyl) amino-2, 6-dihydropeperomin E (DMAPE) that selectively target and induce oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis in KG-1a CD34⁺ cells (an APCs-like cell line) in vitro. We therefore further evaluated the efficacy and the mechanism of action of these compounds in this study. We found that PepE and DMAPE have similar potential to eliminate primary APCs, with no substantial toxicities to the normal cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, these agents selectively inhibit TrxR1, an antioxidant enzyme aberrantly expressed in APCs, by covalently binding to its selenocysteine residue at the C-terminal redox center. TrxR1 inhibition mediated by PepE (DMAPE) leads to the formation of cellular selenium compromised thioredoxin reductase-derived apoptotic protein (SecTRAP), oxidation of Trx, induction of oxidative stress and finally activation of apoptosis of APCs. Our results demonstrate a potential anti-APCs molecular target – TrxR1 and provide valuable insights into the mechanism underlying PepE (DMAPE)-induced cytotoxicity of APCs, and support the further preclinical investigations on PepE (DMAPE)-related therapies for the treatment of relapsed AML.

Effectors of thioredoxin reductase: Brevetoxins and manumycin-A

The activities of two effectors, brevetoxin (PbTx) and manumycin-A (Man-A), of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) have been evaluated against a series of fourteen TrxR orthologs originating from mammals, insects and protists and several mutants. Man-A, a molecule with numerous electrophilic sites, forms a covalent adduct with most selenocystine (Sec)-containing TrxR enzymes. The evidence also demonstrates that Man-A can form covalent adducts with some non-Sec-containing enzymes. The activities of TrxR enzymes towards various substrates are moderated by Man-A either positively or negatively depending on the enzyme. In general, the reduction of substrates by Sec-containing TrxR is inhibited and NADPH oxidase activity is activated. For non-Sec-containing TrxR the effect of Man-A on the reduction of substrates is variable, but NADPH oxidase activity can be activated even in the absence of covalent modification of TrxR. The effect of PbTx is less pronounced. A smaller subset of enzymes is affected by PbTx. With a single exception, the activities of most of this subset are activated. Although both PbTx variants can react with selenocysteine, a stable covalent adduct is not formed with any of the TrxR enzymes. The key findings from this work are (i) the identification of an alternate mechanism of toxicity for the algal toxin brevetoxin (ii) the demonstration that covalent modification of TrxR is not a prerequisite for the activation of NADPH oxidase activity of TrxR and (iii) the identification of an inhibitor which can discriminate between cytosolic and mitochondrial TrxR.

Selenocysteine in mammalian thioredoxin reductase and application of ebselen as a therapeutic

Thioredoxin system is a ubiquitous disulfide reductase system evolutionarily conserved through all living organisms. It contains thioredoxin (Trx), thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and NADPH. TrxR can use NADPH to reduce Trx which passes the reducing equivalent to its downstream substrates involved in various biomedical events, such as ribonucleotide reductase for deoxyribonucleotide and DNA synthesis, or peroxiredoxins for counteracting oxidative stress. Obviously, TrxR stays in the center of the system to maintain the electron flow. Mammalian TrxR contains a selenocysteine (Sec) in its active site, which is not present in the low molecular weight prokaryotic TrxRs. Due to the special property of Sec, mammalian TrxR employs a different catalytic mechanism from prokaryotic TrxRs and has a broader substrate-spectrum. On the other hand, Sec is easily targeted by electrophilic compounds which inhibits the TrxR activity and may turn TrxR into an NADPH oxidase. Ebselen, a synthetic seleno-compound containing selenazol, has been tested in several clinical studies. In mammalian cells, ebselen works as a GSH peroxidase mimic and mainly as a peroxiredoxin mimic via Trx and TrxR to scavenge hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite. In prokaryotic cells, ebselen is an inhibitor of TrxR and leads to elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Recent studies have made use of the difference and developed ebselen as a potential antibiotic, especially in combination with silver which enables ebselen to kill multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Collectively, Sec is important for the biological functions of mammalian TrxR and distinguishes it from prokaryotic TrxRs, therefore it is a promising drug target.

Isobavachalcone Induces ROS-Mediated Apoptosis via Targeting Thioredoxin Reductase 1 in Human Prostate Cancer PC-3 Cells

Prostate carcinoma causes a great number of deaths every year; therefore, there is an urgent need to find new drug candidates to treat advanced prostate cancer. Isobavachalcone (IBC) is the chalcone composition of Psoralea corylifolia Linn used in traditional Chinese medicine. Although IBC demonstrates potent anticancer efficacy in numerous types of human cancer cells, the cellular targets of IBC have not been fully defined. In our study, we found that IBC may induce reactive oxygen species- (ROS-) mediated apoptosis via interaction with a selenocysteine (Sec) containing the antioxidant enzyme thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1), and induce lethal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by inhibiting TrxR1 activity and increasing ROS levels in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. Furthermore, we also observed that knocking down TrxR1 would sensitized cancer cells to IBC treatment. Our study provides evidence for the anticancer mechanism of IBC with TrxR1 as a potential target.

Role of Thiol Reactivity for Targeting Mutant p53

Reactivation of mutant p53 has emerged as a promising approach for cancer therapy. Recent studies have identified several mutant p53-reactivating compounds that target thiol groups in mutant p53. Here we have investigated the relationship between thiol reactivity, p53 thermostabilization, mutant p53 refolding, mutant p53-dependent growth suppression, and induction of cell death. Analysis of the National Cancer Institute database revealed that Michael acceptors show the highest selectivity for mutant p53-expressing cells among analyzed thiol-reactive compounds. Further experimental testing demonstrated that Michael acceptors, aldehydes, imines, and primary alcohols can promote thermodynamic stabilization of mutant p53. Moreover, mild thiol reactivity, often coupled with combined chemical functional groups, such as in imines, aldehydes, and primary alcohols, can stimulate mutant p53 refolding. However, strong electrophile activity was associated with cellular toxicity. Our findings may open possibilities for rational design of novel potent and selective mutant p53-reactivating compounds.

Genetic and cellular sensitivity of Caenorhabditis elegans to the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin

Cisplatin and derivatives are commonly used as chemotherapeutic agents. Although the cytotoxic action of cisplatin on cancer cells is very efficient, clinical oncologists need to deal with two major difficulties, namely the onset of resistance to the drug and the cytotoxic effect in patients. Here, we used Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate factors influencing the response to cisplatin in multicellular organisms. In this hermaphroditic model organism, we observed that sperm failure is a major cause of cisplatin-induced infertility. RNA sequencing data indicate that cisplatin triggers a systemic stress response, in which DAF-16/FOXO and SKN-1/NRF2, two conserved transcription factors, are key regulators. We determined that inhibition of the DNA damage-induced apoptotic pathway does not confer cisplatin protection to the animal. However, mutants for the pro-apoptotic BH3-only gene ced-13 are sensitive to cisplatin, suggesting a protective role of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Finally, we demonstrated that our system can also be used to identify mutations providing resistance to cisplatin and therefore potential biomarkers of innate cisplatin-refractory patients. We show that mutants for the redox regulator trxr-1, ortholog of the mammalian thioredoxin reductase 1 TRXR1, display cisplatin resistance. By CRISPR/Cas9, we determined that such resistance relies on the presence of the single selenocysteine residue in TRXR-1.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Summary:Caenorhabditiselegans is a valuable model to identify genetic factors influencing the animal response to the widely used chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin.

Efficient selenocysteine-dependent reduction of toxoflavin by mammalian thioredoxin reductase

BACKGROUND

Toxoflavin (1,6-dimethylpyrimido[5,4-e][1,2,4]triazine-5,7-dione; xanthothricin) is a well-known natural toxin of the pyrimidinetriazinedione type that redox cycles with oxygen under reducing conditions. In mammalian systems, toxoflavin is an inhibitor of Wnt signaling as well as of SIRT1 and SIRT2 activities, but other molecular targets in mammalian cells have been scarcely studied. Interestingly, in a library of nearly 400,000 compounds (PubChem assay ID 588456), toxoflavin was identified as one out of only 56 potential substrates of the mammalian selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1, TXNRD1). This activity was here examined in further detail.

METHODS

Kinetic parameters in interactions of toxoflavin with rat or human TrxR isoenzymes were determined and compared with those of juglone (5-Hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone; walnut toxin) and 9,10-phenanthrene quinone. Selenocysteine dependence was examined using Sec-to-Cys and Sec-to-Ser substituted variants of recombinant rat TrxR1.

RESULTS

Toxoflavin was confirmed as an efficient substrate for TrxR. Rat and human cytosolic TrxR1 supported NADPH-dependent redox cycling coupled to toxoflavin reduction, accompanied by H₂O₂ production under aerobic conditions. Apparent kinetic parameters for the initial rates of reduction showed that rat TrxR1 displayed higher apparent turnover (k_cat = 1700 ± 330 min^-1) than human TrxR1 (k_cat = 1100 ± 82 min^-1) but also a higher Km (K_m = 24 ± 4.3 μM for human TrxR1 versus K_m = 54 ± 18 μM for rat TrxR1). Human TrxR2 (TXNRD2) was less efficient in reduction of toxoflavin (K_m = 280 ± 110 μM and k_cat = 740 ± 240 min^-1). The activity was absolutely dependent upon selenocysteine (Sec). Toxoflavin was also a subversive substrate indirectly inhibiting reduction of other substrates of TrxR1.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results identify toxoflavin as an efficient redox cycling substrate of mammalian TrxR enzymes, in a strict Sec-dependent manner.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

Тhe interactions of toxoflavin with mammalian TrxR isoenzymes can help to explain parts of the molecular mechanisms giving rise to the well-known toxicity as well as pro-oxidant properties of this toxin.

Selective Evaluation of Thioredoxin Reductase Enzymatic Activities

Thioredoxin reductases are important oxidoreductases that keep the active site disulfide/dithiol motif of thioredoxins reduced using NADPH, thereby supporting many thioredoxin-dependent reductive pathways in cells. Mammalian thioredoxin reductases are selenoproteins that have several additional substrates beyond thioredoxins. This chapter first lists several different assays for measurement of thioredoxin reductase activities, before giving a protocol for a selective evaluation of these activities that can be used in either crude cell lysates as well as with purified enzymes. The same assay can also be easily adopted for the determination of thioredoxin activities.

Manumycin A Is a Potent Inhibitor of Mammalian Thioredoxin Reductase-1 (TrxR-1)

The anticancer effect of manumycin A (Man A) has been attributed to the inhibition of farnesyl transferase (FTase), an enzyme that is responsible for post-translational modification of Ras proteins. However, we have discovered that Man A inhibits mammalian cytosolic thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR-1) in a time-dependent manner, with an IC₅₀ of 272 nM with preincubation and 1586 nM without preincubation. The inhibition of TrxR-1 by Man A is irreversible and is the result of a covalent interaction between Man A and TrxR-1. Evidence presented herein demonstrates that Man A forms a Michael adduct with the selenocysteine residue, which is located in the C-terminal redox center of TrxR-1. Inhibitors of TrxR-1, which act through this mechanism, convert TrxR-1 into a SecTRAP, which utilizes NADPH to reduce oxygen to superoxide radical anion (O₂^-•).

Irreversible inhibition of cytosolic thioredoxin reductase 1 as a mechanistic basis for anticancer therapy

Cancer cells adapt to their inherently increased oxidative stress through activation of the glutathione (GSH) and thioredoxin (TXN) systems. Inhibition of both of these systems effectively kills cancer cells, but such broad inhibition of antioxidant activity also kills normal cells, which is highly unwanted in a clinical setting. We therefore evaluated targeting of the TXN pathway alone and, more specifically, selective inhibition of the cytosolic selenocysteine-containing enzyme TXN reductase 1 (TXNRD1). TXNRD1 inhibitors were discovered in a large screening effort and displayed increased specificity compared to pan-TXNRD inhibitors, such as auranofin, that also inhibit the mitochondrial enzyme TXNRD2 and additional targets. For our lead compounds, TXNRD1 inhibition correlated with cancer cell cytotoxicity, and inhibitor-triggered conversion of TXNRD1 from an antioxidant to a pro-oxidant enzyme correlated with corresponding increases in cellular production of H2O2 In mice, the most specific TXNRD1 inhibitor, here described as TXNRD1 inhibitor 1 (TRi-1), impaired growth and viability of human tumor xenografts and syngeneic mouse tumors while having little mitochondrial toxicity and being better tolerated than auranofin. These results display the therapeutic anticancer potential of irreversibly targeting cytosolic TXNRD1 using small molecules and present potent and selective TXNRD1 inhibitors. Given the pronounced up-regulation of TXNRD1 in several metastatic malignancies, it seems worthwhile to further explore the potential benefit of specific irreversible TXNRD1 inhibitors for anticancer therapy.