1
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Li YD, Ma MW, Hassan MM, Hunkeler M, Teng M, Puvar K, Rutter JC, Lumpkin RJ, Sandoval B, Jin CY, Schmoker AM, Ficarro SB, Cheong H, Metivier RJ, Wang MY, Xu S, Byun WS, Groendyke BJ, You I, Sigua LH, Tavares I, Zou C, Tsai JM, Park PMC, Yoon H, Majewski FC, Sperling HT, Marto JA, Qi J, Nowak RP, Donovan KA, Słabicki M, Gray NS, Fischer ES, Ebert BL. Template-assisted covalent modification underlies activity of covalent molecular glues. Nat Chem Biol 2024:10.1038/s41589-024-01668-4. [PMID: 39075252 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-024-01668-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Molecular glues are proximity-inducing small molecules that have emerged as an attractive therapeutic approach. However, developing molecular glues remains challenging, requiring innovative mechanistic strategies to stabilize neoprotein interfaces and expedite discovery. Here we unveil a trans-labeling covalent molecular glue mechanism, termed 'template-assisted covalent modification'. We identified a new series of BRD4 molecular glue degraders that recruit CUL4DCAF16 ligase to the second bromodomain of BRD4 (BRD4BD2). Through comprehensive biochemical, structural and mutagenesis analyses, we elucidated how pre-existing structural complementarity between DCAF16 and BRD4BD2 serves as a template to optimally orient the degrader for covalent modification of DCAF16Cys58. This process stabilizes the formation of BRD4-degrader-DCAF16 ternary complex and facilitates BRD4 degradation. Supporting generalizability, we found that a subset of degraders also induces GAK-BRD4BD2 interaction through trans-labeling of GAK. Together, our work establishes 'template-assisted covalent modification' as a mechanism for covalent molecular glues, which opens a new path to proximity-driven pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Der Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michelle W Ma
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Muhammad Murtaza Hassan
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Moritz Hunkeler
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mingxing Teng
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, and Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kedar Puvar
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Justine C Rutter
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ryan J Lumpkin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brittany Sandoval
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cyrus Y Jin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anna M Schmoker
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott B Ficarro
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Blais Proteomics Center and Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hakyung Cheong
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rebecca J Metivier
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michelle Y Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shawn Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Woong Sub Byun
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Brian J Groendyke
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Inchul You
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Logan H Sigua
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Isidoro Tavares
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Blais Proteomics Center and Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charles Zou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan M Tsai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paul M C Park
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hojong Yoon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Felix C Majewski
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Haniya T Sperling
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jarrod A Marto
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Blais Proteomics Center and Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jun Qi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Radosław P Nowak
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katherine A Donovan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mikołaj Słabicki
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Eric S Fischer
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Benjamin L Ebert
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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2
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Majeed J, Sabbagh MN, Kang MH, Lawrence JJ, Pruitt K, Bacus S, Reyna E, Brown M, Decourt B. Cancer drugs with high repositioning potential for Alzheimer's disease. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 2023; 28:311-332. [PMID: 38100555 PMCID: PMC10877737 DOI: 10.1080/14728214.2023.2296079] [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: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite the recent full FDA approval of lecanemab, there is currently no disease modifying therapy (DMT) that can efficiently slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the general population. This statement emphasizes the need to identify novel DMTs in the shortest time possible to prevent a global epidemic of AD cases as the world population experiences an increase in lifespan. AREAS COVERED Here, we review several classes of anti-cancer drugs that have been or are being investigated in Phase II/III clinical trials for AD, including immunomodulatory drugs, RXR agonists, sex hormone therapies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies. EXPERT OPINION Given the overall course of brain pathologies during the progression of AD, we express a great enthusiasm for the repositioning of anti-cancer drugs as possible AD DMTs. We anticipate an increasing number of combinatorial therapy strategies to tackle AD symptoms and their underlying pathologies. However, we strongly encourage improvements in clinical trial study designs to better assess target engagement and possible efficacy over sufficient periods of drug exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jad Majeed
- University of Arizona Honors College, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Marwan N. Sabbagh
- Alzheimer’s and Memory Disorders Division, Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Min H. Kang
- Department of Pediatrics, Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - J. Josh Lawrence
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Kevin Pruitt
- Department of Pharmacology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Ellie Reyna
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Maddy Brown
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Boris Decourt
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
- Roseman University of Health Sciences, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
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3
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Li YD, Ma MW, Hassan MM, Hunkeler M, Teng M, Puvar K, Lumpkin R, Sandoval B, Jin CY, Ficarro SB, Wang MY, Xu S, Groendyke BJ, Sigua LH, Tavares I, Zou C, Tsai JM, Park PMC, Yoon H, Majewski FC, Marto JA, Qi J, Nowak RP, Donovan KA, Słabicki M, Gray NS, Fischer ES, Ebert BL. Template-assisted covalent modification of DCAF16 underlies activity of BRD4 molecular glue degraders. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.14.528208. [PMID: 36824856 PMCID: PMC9949066 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.14.528208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Small molecules that induce protein-protein interactions to exert proximity-driven pharmacology such as targeted protein degradation are a powerful class of therapeutics1-3. Molecular glues are of particular interest given their favorable size and chemical properties and represent the only clinically approved degrader drugs4-6. The discovery and development of molecular glues for novel targets, however, remains challenging. Covalent strategies could in principle facilitate molecular glue discovery by stabilizing the neo-protein interfaces. Here, we present structural and mechanistic studies that define a trans-labeling covalent molecular glue mechanism, which we term "template-assisted covalent modification". We found that a novel series of BRD4 molecular glue degraders act by recruiting the CUL4DCAF16 ligase to the second bromodomain of BRD4 (BRD4BD2). BRD4BD2, in complex with DCAF16, serves as a structural template to facilitate covalent modification of DCAF16, which stabilizes the BRD4-degrader-DCAF16 ternary complex formation and facilitates BRD4 degradation. A 2.2 Å cryo-electron microscopy structure of the ternary complex demonstrates that DCAF16 and BRD4BD2 have pre-existing structural complementarity which optimally orients the reactive moiety of the degrader for DCAF16Cys58 covalent modification. Systematic mutagenesis of both DCAF16 and BRD4BD2 revealed that the loop conformation around BRD4His437, rather than specific side chains, is critical for stable interaction with DCAF16 and BD2 selectivity. Together our work establishes "template-assisted covalent modification" as a mechanism for covalent molecular glues, which opens a new path to proximity driven pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Der Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Michelle W. Ma
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Muhammad Murtaza Hassan
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford , School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Moritz Hunkeler
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Mingxing Teng
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, and Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Kedar Puvar
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Ryan Lumpkin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Brittany Sandoval
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Cyrus Y. Jin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Scott B. Ficarro
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Blais Proteomics Center, and Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Michelle Y. Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Shawn Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | | | - Logan H. Sigua
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Isidoro Tavares
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Blais Proteomics Center, and Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Charles Zou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Jonathan M. Tsai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Paul M. C. Park
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Hojong Yoon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Felix C. Majewski
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford , School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Jarrod A. Marto
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Blais Proteomics Center, and Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Jun Qi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Radosław P. Nowak
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Katherine A. Donovan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Mikołaj Słabicki
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Nathanael S. Gray
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford , School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Eric S. Fischer
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Benjamin L. Ebert
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA
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4
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Fuchs O. Targeting cereblon in hematologic malignancies. Blood Rev 2023; 57:100994. [PMID: 35933246 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2022.100994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The protein cereblon (CRBN) is a substrate receptor of the cullin 4-really interesting new gene (RING) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex CRL4CRBN. Targeting CRBN mediates selective protein ubiquitination and subsequent degradation via the proteasome. This review describes novel thalidomide analogs, immunomodulatory drugs, also known as CRBN E3 ubiquitin ligase modulators or molecular glues (avadomide, iberdomide, CC-885, CC-90009, BTX-1188, CC-92480, CC-99282, CFT7455, and CC-91633), and CRBN-based proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) with increased efficacy and potent activity for application in hematologic malignancies. Both types of CRBN-binding drugs, molecular glues, and PROTACs stimulate the interaction between CRBN and its neosubstrates, recruiting target disease-promoting proteins and the E3 ubiquitin ligase CRL4CRBN. Proteins that are traditionally difficult to target (transcription factors and oncoproteins) can be polyubiquitinated and degraded in this way. The competition of CRBN neosubstrates with endogenous CRBN-interacting proteins and the pharmacology and rational combination therapies of and mechanisms of resistance to CRL4CRBN modulators or CRBN-based PROTACs are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ota Fuchs
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, U Nemocnice 1, 12800 Praha 2, Czech Republic.
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5
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Jia HY, Qiu HY, Zhang MD, Hou JJ, Zhou ML, Wu Y. Lenalidomide attenuates IMQ-induced inflammation in a mouse model of psoriasis. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 156:113883. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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6
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Scerba MT, Tweedie D, Lecca D, Siegler MA, Rais R, Greig NH. Thionated aminofluorophthalimides reduce classical markers of cellular inflammation in LPS-challenged RAW 264.7 cells. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2022; 76:128972. [PMID: 36265914 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.128972] [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: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we present the synthesis of several fluorinated pomalidomide derivatives and their thionated counterparts with subsequent biological evaluation against classical markers of cellular inflammation. Treatment in LPS-challenged cells effected varying reductions in levels of secreted TNF-α and nitrite relative to basal amounts. While arene fluorination and thioamidation had marginal and sporadic effects on TNF-α production, specific 7-position fluorination combined with subsequent increases in carbonyl thionation produced compounds 11, 14, and 15 which demonstrated corresponding and escalating anti-nitrite activities concurrent with minimal cellular toxicity. In this regard, compound 15 displayed roughly 96 % cell viability combined with a 65 % drop in nitrite production when supplied to RAW cells challenged with 60 ng/mL LPS. When a focused family of fluorinated isomers were directly compared, the analogous 5-fluorinated isomer 17 displayed comparable minimal toxicity but markedly less anti-nitrite activity versus 15 in RAW cells challenged with 70 ng/mL LPS. Compound 15 was subsequently screened in human liver microsomes for preliminary Phase 1 analysis where it demonstrated heightened stability relative to its non-fluorinated counterpart 3,6'-dithiopomalidomide 4, a result in line with the expected metabolic fortitude provided by fluorination at the sensitive pomalidomide 7-position.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T Scerba
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
| | - David Tweedie
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Daniela Lecca
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Maxime A Siegler
- Small Molecule X-ray Facility, Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Rana Rais
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 855 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Nigel H Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
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7
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Butler M, Vervoort BM, van Ingen Schenau DS, Jongeneel L, van der Zwet JC, Marke R, Meijerink JP, Scheijen B, van der Meer LT, van Leeuwen FN. Reversal of IKZF1-induced glucocorticoid resistance by dual targeting of AKT and ERK signaling pathways. Front Oncol 2022; 12:905665. [PMID: 36119546 PMCID: PMC9478899 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.905665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although long-term survival in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) currently exceeds 90%, some subgroups, defined by specific genomic aberrations, respond poorly to treatment. We previously reported that leukemias harboring deletions or mutations affecting the B-cell transcription factor IKZF1 exhibit a tumor cell intrinsic resistance to glucocorticoids (GCs), one of the cornerstone drugs used in the treatment of ALL. Here, we identified increased activation of both AKT and ERK signaling pathways as drivers of GC resistance in IKZF1-deficient leukemic cells. Indeed, combined pharmacological inhibition of AKT and ERK signaling effectively reversed GC resistance in IKZF1-deficient leukemias. As inhibitors for both pathways are under clinical investigation, their combined use may enhance the efficacy of prednisolone-based therapy in this high-risk patient group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Butler
- Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Laboratory of Pediatric Oncology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | - René Marke
- Laboratory of Pediatric Oncology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Blanca Scheijen
- Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Frank N. van Leeuwen
- Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Frank N. van Leeuwen,
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8
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Ne E, Crespo R, Izquierdo-Lara R, Rao S, Koçer S, Górska A, van Staveren T, Kan TW, van de Vijver D, Dekkers D, Rokx C, Moulos P, Hatzis P, Palstra RJ, Demmers J, Mahmoudi T. Catchet-MS identifies IKZF1-targeting thalidomide analogues as novel HIV-1 latency reversal agents. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:5577-5598. [PMID: 35640596 PMCID: PMC9177988 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A major pharmacological strategy toward HIV cure aims to reverse latency in infected cells as a first step leading to their elimination. While the unbiased identification of molecular targets physically associated with the latent HIV-1 provirus would be highly valuable to unravel the molecular determinants of HIV-1 transcriptional repression and latency reversal, due to technical limitations, this has been challenging. Here we use a dCas9 targeted chromatin and histone enrichment strategy coupled to mass spectrometry (Catchet-MS) to probe the differential protein composition of the latent and activated HIV-1 5′LTR. Catchet-MS identified known and novel latent 5′LTR-associated host factors. Among these, IKZF1 is a novel HIV-1 transcriptional repressor, required for Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 recruitment to the LTR. We find the clinically advanced thalidomide analogue iberdomide, and the FDA approved analogues lenalidomide and pomalidomide, to be novel LRAs. We demonstrate that, by targeting IKZF1 for degradation, these compounds reverse HIV-1 latency in CD4+ T-cells isolated from virally suppressed people living with HIV-1 and that they are able to synergize with other known LRAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Ne
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Raquel Crespo
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ray Izquierdo-Lara
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Shringar Rao
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Selin Koçer
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alicja Górska
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas van Staveren
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tsung Wai Kan
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, The Netherlands.,Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - David van de Vijver
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - Dick Dekkers
- Proteomics Center, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee679a PO Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Casper Rokx
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rg-530, PO Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Panagiotis Moulos
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", 16672, Vari, Greece
| | - Pantelis Hatzis
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", 16672, Vari, Greece
| | - Robert-Jan Palstra
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, The Netherlands.,Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Demmers
- Proteomics Center, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee679a PO Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tokameh Mahmoudi
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, The Netherlands.,Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Center, The Netherlands
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9
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Shu C, Li TF, Li D, Li ZQ, Xia XH. A sensitive and validated LC-MS/MS method for high-throughput determination of pomalidomide in human plasma and pharmacokinetic studies. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2021.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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10
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Malik MS, Adil SF, Seddigi ZS, Morad M, Jassas RS, Thagafi II, Altass HM, Sajid Jamal QM, Riyaz S, Alsantali RI, Al-Warthan AA, Ansari MA, Ahmed SA. Molecular modelling assisted design of napthalimide-dihydropyrimidinone conjugates as potential cytotoxic agents. JOURNAL OF SAUDI CHEMICAL SOCIETY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jscs.2021.101226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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11
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Smith NC, Goulart C, Hayward JA, Kupz A, Miller CM, van Dooren GG. Control of human toxoplasmosis. Int J Parasitol 2020; 51:95-121. [PMID: 33347832 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an apicomplexan parasite that is able to infect any nucleated cell in any warm-blooded animal. Toxoplasma gondii infects around 2 billion people and, whilst only a small percentage of infected people will suffer serious disease, the prevalence of the parasite makes it one of the most damaging zoonotic diseases in the world. Toxoplasmosis is a disease with multiple manifestations: it can cause a fatal encephalitis in immunosuppressed people; if first contracted during pregnancy, it can cause miscarriage or congenital defects in the neonate; and it can cause serious ocular disease, even in immunocompetent people. The disease has a complex epidemiology, being transmitted by ingestion of oocysts that are shed in the faeces of definitive feline hosts and contaminate water, soil and crops, or by consumption of intracellular cysts in undercooked meat from intermediate hosts. In this review we examine current and future approaches to control toxoplasmosis, which encompass a variety of measures that target different components of the life cycle of T. gondii. These include: education programs about the parasite and avoidance of contact with infectious stages; biosecurity and sanitation to ensure food and water safety; chemo- and immunotherapeutics to control active infections and disease; prophylactic options to prevent acquisition of infection by livestock and cyst formation in meat; and vaccines to prevent shedding of oocysts by definitive feline hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas C Smith
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
| | - Cibelly Goulart
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - Jenni A Hayward
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - Andreas Kupz
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Catherine M Miller
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Science, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Giel G van Dooren
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
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12
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Piccolomo A, Schifone CP, Strafella V, Specchia G, Musto P, Albano F. Immunomodulatory Drugs in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12092528. [PMID: 32899586 PMCID: PMC7573974 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12092528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) are analogs of thalidomide. They have immunomodulatory, antiangiogenic and proapoptotic properties and exert a role in regulating the tumor microenvironment. Recently IMiDs have been investigated for their pleiotropic properties and their therapeutic applications in both solid tumors (melanoma, prostate carcinoma and differentiated thyroid cancer) and hematological malignancies. Nowadays, they are applied in de novo and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, in myelodysplastic syndrome, in del5q syndrome with specific use of lenalidomide and B-cell lymphoma. Several studies have been conducted in the last few years to explore IMiDs possible use in acute myeloid leukemia treatment. Here we report the mechanisms of action of IMiDs in acute myeloid leukemia and their potential future therapeutic application in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Piccolomo
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), Hematology and Stem cell Transplantation Unit, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy; (A.P.); (C.P.S.); (V.S.); (P.M.)
| | - Claudia Pia Schifone
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), Hematology and Stem cell Transplantation Unit, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy; (A.P.); (C.P.S.); (V.S.); (P.M.)
| | - Vanda Strafella
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), Hematology and Stem cell Transplantation Unit, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy; (A.P.); (C.P.S.); (V.S.); (P.M.)
| | - Giorgina Specchia
- Former Full Professor of Hematology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Pellegrino Musto
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), Hematology and Stem cell Transplantation Unit, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy; (A.P.); (C.P.S.); (V.S.); (P.M.)
| | - Francesco Albano
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), Hematology and Stem cell Transplantation Unit, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy; (A.P.); (C.P.S.); (V.S.); (P.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-080-5478031
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13
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Repurposing old drugs as new inhibitors of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway for cancer treatment. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 68:105-122. [PMID: 31883910 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) plays a central role in the degradation of cellular proteins. Targeting protein degradation has been validated as an effective strategy for cancer therapy since 2003. Several components of the UPS have been validated as potential anticancer targets, including 20S proteasomes, 19S proteasome-associated deubiquitinases (DUBs) and ubiquitin ligases (E3s). 20S proteasome inhibitors (such as bortezomib/BTZ and carfilzomib/CFZ) have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) and some other liquid tumors. Although survival of MM patients has been improved by the introduction of BTZ-based therapies, these clinical 20S proteasome inhibitors have several limitations, including emergence of resistance in MM patients, neuro-toxicities, and little efficacy in solid tumors. One of strategies to improve the current status of cancer treatment is to repurpose old drugs with UPS-inhibitory properties as new anticancer agents. Old drug reposition represents an attractive drug discovery approach compared to the traditional de novo drug discovery process which is time-consuming and costly. In this review, we summarize status of repurposed inhibitors of various UPS components, including 20S proteasomes, 19S-associated DUBs, and ubiquitin ligase E3s. The original and new mechanisms of action, molecular targets, and potential anticancer activities of these repurposed UPS inhibitors are reviewed, and their new uses including combinational therapies for cancer treatment are discussed.
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