The vacuolar-type ATPase inhibitor archazolid increases tumor cell adhesion to endothelial cells by accumulating extracellular collagen

Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Transformations for the Synthesis of Marine Drugs

Transition metal catalysis has contributed to the discovery of novel methodologies and the preparation of natural products, as well as new chances to increase the chemical space in drug discovery programs. In the case of marine drugs, this strategy has been used to achieve selective, sustainable and efficient transformations, which cannot be obtained otherwise. In this perspective, we aim to showcase how a variety of transition metals have provided fruitful couplings in a wide variety of marine drug-like scaffolds over the past few years, by accelerating the production of these valuable molecules.

Acidification of endothelial Weibel-Palade bodies is mediated by the vacuolar-type H+-ATPase

Weibel-Palade bodies (WPB) are unique secretory granules of endothelial cells that store the procoagulant von-Willebrand factor (VWF) in a highly compacted form. Upon exocytosis the densely packed VWF unfurls into long strands that expose binding sites for circulating platelets and thereby initiate the formation of a platelet plug at sites of blood vessel injury. Dense packing of VWF requires the establishment of an acidic pH in the lumen of maturing WPB but the mechanism responsible for this acidification has not yet been fully established. We show here that subunits of the vacuolar-type H⁺-ATPase are present on mature WPB and that interference with the proton pump activity of the ATPase employing inhibitors of different chemical nature blocks a reduction in the relative internal pH of WPB. Furthermore, depletion of the V-ATPase subunit V0d1 from primary endothelial cells prevents WPB pH reduction and the establishment of an elongated morphology of WPB that is dictated by the densely packed VWF tubules. Thus, the vacuolar-type H⁺-ATPase present on WPB is required for proper acidification and maturation of the organelle.

The V-ATPases in cancer and cell death

Transmembrane ATPases are membrane-bound enzyme complexes and ion transporters that can be divided into F-, V-, and A-ATPases according to their structure. The V-ATPases, also known as H⁺-ATPases, are large multi-subunit protein complexes composed of a peripheral domain (V1) responsible for the hydrolysis of ATP and a membrane-integrated domain (V0) that transports protons across plasma membrane or organelle membrane. V-ATPases play a fundamental role in maintaining pH homeostasis through lysosomal acidification and are involved in modulating various physiological and pathological processes, such as macropinocytosis, autophagy, cell invasion, and cell death (e.g., apoptosis, anoikis, alkaliptosis, ferroptosis, and lysosome-dependent cell death). In addition to participating in embryonic development, V-ATPase pathways, when dysfunctional, are implicated in human diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, osteopetrosis, distal renal tubular acidosis, and cancer. In this review, we summarize the structure and regulation of isoforms of V-ATPase subunits and discuss their context-dependent roles in cancer biology and cell death. Updated knowledge about V-ATPases may enable us to design new anticancer drugs or strategies.

Emerging insights on the role of V-ATPase in human diseases: Therapeutic challenges and opportunities

The control of the intracellular pH is vital for the survival of all organisms. Membrane transporters, both at the plasma and intracellular membranes, are key players in maintaining a finely tuned pH balance between intra- and extracellular spaces, and therefore in cellular homeostasis. V-ATPase is a housekeeping ATP-driven proton pump highly conserved among prokaryotes and eukaryotes. This proton pump, which exhibits a complex multisubunit structure based on cell type-specific isoforms, is essential for pH regulation and for a multitude of ubiquitous and specialized functions. Thus, it is not surprising that V-ATPase aberrant overexpression, mislocalization, and mutations in V-ATPase subunit-encoding genes have been associated with several human diseases. However, the ubiquitous expression of this transporter and the high toxicity driven by its off-target inhibition, renders V-ATPase-directed therapies very challenging and increases the need for selective strategies. Here we review emerging evidence linking V-ATPase and both inherited and acquired human diseases, explore the therapeutic challenges and opportunities envisaged from recent data, and advance future research avenues. We highlight the importance of V-ATPases with unique subunit isoform molecular signatures and disease-associated isoforms to design selective V-ATPase-directed therapies. We also discuss the rational design of drug development pipelines and cutting-edge methodological approaches toward V-ATPase-centered drug discovery. Diseases like cancer, osteoporosis, and even fungal infections can benefit from V-ATPase-directed therapies.

Suzuki coupling-based synthesis of VATPase inhibitor archazolid natural product derived fragments

An archazolid natural product fragment that displays dose-dependent inhibition of the vacuolar-type ATPase (VATPase) has been synthesized by a high-yielding Suzuki coupling of two complex subunits. Similarly, a further simplified fragment was prepared and evaluated for VATPase inhibitory activity. This compound did inhibit the VATPase, as evidenced by growth inhibition of etiolated Arabidopsis seedlings, however at approximately 10× lower potency than the more complex fragment. Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme inhibition was not observed for either fragment.

An archazolid natural product fragment that displays dose-dependent inhibition of the vacuolar-type ATPase (VATPase) has been synthesized by a high-yielding Suzuki coupling of two complex subunits.