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Poustforoosh A, Faramarz S, Nematollahi MH, Hashemipour H, Negahdaripour M, Pardakhty A. In silico SELEX screening and statistical analysis of newly designed 5mer peptide-aptamers as Bcl-xl inhibitors using the Taguchi method. Comput Biol Med 2022; 146:105632. [PMID: 35617726 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.105632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Drug development for cancer treatment is a complex process that requires special efforts. Targeting crucial proteins is the most essential purpose of drug design in cancers. Bcl-xl is an anti-apoptotic protein that binds to pro-apoptotic proteins and interrupts their signals. Pro-apoptotic Bcl-xl effectors are short BH3 sequences that form an alpha helix and bind to anti-apoptotic proteins to inhibit their activity. Computational systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) is an exclusive approach for developing peptide aptamers as potential effectors. Here, the amino acids with a high tendency for constructing an alpha-helical structure were selected. Due to the enormous number of pentapeptides, Taguchi method was used to study a selected number of peptides. The binding affinity of the peptides to Bcl-xl was assessed using molecular docking, and after analysis of the obtained results, a final set of optimized peptides was arranged and constructed. For a better comparison, three chemical compounds with approved anti-Bcl-xl activity were selected for comparison with the top-ranked 5mer peptides. The optimized peptides showed considerable binding affinity to Bcl-xl. The molecular dynamics (MD) simulation indicated that the designed peptide (PO5) could create considerable interactions with the BH3 domain of Bcl-xl. The MM/GBSA calculations revealed that these interactions were even stronger than those created by chemical compounds. In silico SELEX is a novel approach to design and evaluate peptide-aptamers. The experimental design improves the SELEX process considerably. Finally, PO5 could be considered a potential inhibitor of Bcl-xl and a potential candidate for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Poustforoosh
- Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
| | - Sanaz Faramarz
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hadi Nematollahi
- Physiology Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Hassan Hashemipour
- Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Manica Negahdaripour
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Abbas Pardakhty
- Pharmaceutics Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Kønig SM, Rissler V, Terkelsen T, Lambrughi M, Papaleo E. Alterations of the interactome of Bcl-2 proteins in breast cancer at the transcriptional, mutational and structural level. PLoS Comput Biol 2019; 15:e1007485. [PMID: 31825969 PMCID: PMC6927658 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Apoptosis is an essential defensive mechanism against tumorigenesis. Proteins of the B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family regulate programmed cell death by the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. In response to intracellular stress, the apoptotic balance is governed by interactions of three distinct subgroups of proteins; the activator/sensitizer BH3 (Bcl-2 homology 3)-only proteins, the pro-survival, and the pro-apoptotic executioner proteins. Changes in expression levels, stability, and functional impairment of pro-survival proteins can lead to an imbalance in tissue homeostasis. Their overexpression or hyperactivation can result in oncogenic effects. Pro-survival Bcl-2 family members carry out their function by binding the BH3 short linear motif of pro-apoptotic proteins in a modular way, creating a complex network of protein-protein interactions. Their dysfunction enables cancer cells to evade cell death. The critical role of Bcl-2 proteins in homeostasis and tumorigenesis, coupled with mounting insight in their structural properties, make them therapeutic targets of interest. A better understanding of gene expression, mutational profile, and molecular mechanisms of pro-survival Bcl-2 proteins in different cancer types, could help to clarify their role in cancer development and may guide advancement in drug discovery. Here, we shed light on the pro-survival Bcl-2 proteins in breast cancer using different bioinformatic approaches, linking -omics with structural data. We analyzed the changes in the expression of the Bcl-2 proteins and their BH3-containing interactors in breast cancer samples. We then studied, at the structural level, a selection of interactions, accounting for effects induced by mutations found in the breast cancer samples. We find two complexes between the up-regulated Bcl2A1 and two down-regulated BH3-only candidates (i.e., Hrk and Nr4a1) as targets associated with reduced apoptosis in breast cancer samples for future experimental validation. Furthermore, we predict L99R, M75R as damaging mutations altering protein stability, and Y120C as a possible allosteric mutation from an exposed surface to the BH3-binding site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Mathis Kønig
- Computational Biology Laboratory, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vendela Rissler
- Computational Biology Laboratory, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thilde Terkelsen
- Computational Biology Laboratory, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Matteo Lambrughi
- Computational Biology Laboratory, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Elena Papaleo
- Computational Biology Laboratory, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Translational Disease Systems Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Jin Y, You L, Kim HJ, Lee HW. Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Contains a BH3-Like Motif and Interacts with BCL-2 Family Members. Mol Cells 2018; 41:684-694. [PMID: 29937479 PMCID: PMC6078858 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2018.0206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Upregulation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression is an important factor in the cellular survival and cancer. Although growing evidence suggests that hTERT inhibits cellular apoptosis by telomere-independent functions, the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Here, we show that hTERT contains a BH3-like motif, a short peptide sequence found in BCL-2 family proteins, and interacts with anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family proteins MCL-1 and BCL-xL, suggesting a functional link between hTERT and the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Additionally, we propose that hTERT can be categorized into the atypical BH3-only proteins that promote cellular survival, possibly due to the non-canonical interaction between hTERT and antiapoptotic proteins. Although the detailed mechanisms underlying the hTERT BH3-like motif functions and interactions between hTERT and BCL-2 family proteins have not been elucidated, this work proposes a possible connection between hTERT and BCL-2 family members and reconsiders the role of the BH3-like motif as an interaction motif.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Jin
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722,
Korea
| | - Long You
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722,
Korea
| | - Hye Jeong Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722,
Korea
| | - Han-Woong Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722,
Korea
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Redefining the BH3 Death Domain as a 'Short Linear Motif'. Trends Biochem Sci 2015; 40:736-748. [PMID: 26541461 PMCID: PMC5056427 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2015.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2015] [Revised: 09/18/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
B cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2)-related proteins control programmed cell death through a complex network of protein–protein interactions mediated by BCL-2 homology 3 (BH3) domains. Given their roles as dynamic linchpins, the discovery of novel BH3-containing proteins has attracted considerable attention. However, without a clearly defined BH3 signature sequence the BCL-2 family has expanded to include a nebulous group of nonhomologous BH3-only proteins, now justified by an intriguing twist. We present evidence that BH3s from both ordered and disordered proteins represent a new class of short linear motifs (SLiMs) or molecular recognition features (MoRFs) and are diverse in their evolutionary histories. The implied corollaries are that BH3s have a broad phylogenetic distribution and could potentially bind to non-BCL-2-like structural domains with distinct functions. BCL-2 family interactions are mediated by evolutionarily diverse BH3 motifs to regulate apoptosis. Given their key roles, BH3 mimetics are in clinical trials as cancer therapies. The discovery of novel BH3-only proteins represents a major endeavor in the cell death field. As a result, BH3 motifs are reportedly present in a nebulous conglomerate of different proteins, both structured and intrinsically disordered. There is no rigorous definition of a BH3 motif. Currently available BH3 signatures are diverse and elusive for predicting new functional BH3-containing proteins. Redefining the BH3 motif as a new type of short linear motif (SLiM) or molecular recognition feature (MoRF) reconciles many puzzling features of this motif and opens up new avenues for research.
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Thandapani P, Song J, Gandin V, Cai Y, Rouleau SG, Garant JM, Boisvert FM, Yu Z, Perreault JP, Topisirovic I, Richard S. Aven recognition of RNA G-quadruplexes regulates translation of the mixed lineage leukemia protooncogenes. eLife 2015; 4. [PMID: 26267306 PMCID: PMC4561382 DOI: 10.7554/elife.06234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4) are extremely stable secondary structures forming stacks of guanine tetrads. DNA G4 structures have been extensively studied, however, less is known about G4 motifs in mRNAs, especially in their coding sequences. Herein, we show that Aven stimulates the mRNA translation of the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) proto-oncogene in an arginine methylation-dependent manner. The Aven RGG/RG motif bound G4 structures within the coding regions of the MLL1 and MLL4 mRNAs increasing their polysomal association and translation, resulting in the induction of transcription of leukemic genes. The DHX36 RNA helicase associated with the Aven complex and was required for optimal translation of G4 mRNAs. Depletion of Aven led to a decrease in synthesis of MLL1 and MLL4 proteins resulting in reduced proliferation of leukemic cells. These findings identify an Aven-centered complex that stimulates the translation of G4 harboring mRNAs, thereby promoting survival of leukemic cells. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06234.001 To make a protein, the DNA sequence that encodes it is first copied to make a molecule of messenger RNA (or mRNA for short). The mRNA is then used as a set of instructions to assemble a protein in a process called translation. Both DNA and RNA molecules can fold into particular shapes. One such structure is known as a G-quartet and involves the DNA or RNA folding back on itself to form a highly stable planar structure. Stacks of G-quartets can form structures known as G-quadruplexes, but little is known about the G-quadruplexes that form in mRNA molecules. Leukemia affects cells in the bone marrow and causes blood cells to develop abnormally. A protein called Aven is often found in increased amounts in certain types of leukemic cells, but it was not clear how Aven affects how leukemia develops. Thandapani, Song et al. have now found that in leukemic cells, Aven binds to G-quadruplexes found in two mRNA molecules that encode proteins that are linked to leukemia. This binding increases the translation of these mRNAs, with translation occurring most efficiently when a particular enzyme called a helicase—which remodels RNA—also bound to Aven. Reducing the amount of Aven in cells caused fewer of the leukemic proteins to be produced, which also reduced the growth and multiplcation of leukemic cells. These findings raise the possibility that drugs that disrupt how Aven works could form part of treatments for leukemia. The next challenge will be to identify the signaling pathways that communicate with Aven and to define all the G-quadruplex mRNAs that are regulated by Aven. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06234.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Palaniraja Thandapani
- Terry Fox Molecular Oncology Group, Segal Cancer Center, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Canada
| | - Jingwen Song
- Terry Fox Molecular Oncology Group, Segal Cancer Center, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Canada
| | - Valentina Gandin
- Terry Fox Molecular Oncology Group, Segal Cancer Center, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Canada
| | - Yutian Cai
- Terry Fox Molecular Oncology Group, Segal Cancer Center, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Canada
| | - Samuel G Rouleau
- Département de Biochimie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | | | - Francois-Michel Boisvert
- Département d'Anatomie et de Biologie Cellulaire, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Pavillon de Recherche Appliquée au Cancer, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Zhenbao Yu
- Terry Fox Molecular Oncology Group, Segal Cancer Center, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Canada
| | | | - Ivan Topisirovic
- Terry Fox Molecular Oncology Group, Segal Cancer Center, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Canada
| | - Stéphane Richard
- Terry Fox Molecular Oncology Group, Segal Cancer Center, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Canada
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Baranski Z, Booij TH, Cleton-Jansen AM, Price LS, van de Water B, Bovée JVMG, Hogendoorn PCW, Danen EHJ. Aven-mediated checkpoint kinase control regulates proliferation and resistance to chemotherapy in conventional osteosarcoma. J Pathol 2015; 236:348-59. [PMID: 25757065 DOI: 10.1002/path.4528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2014] [Revised: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Conventional high-grade osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone sarcoma, with relatively high incidence in young people. In this study we found that expression of Aven correlates inversely with metastasis-free survival in osteosarcoma patients and is increased in metastases compared to primary tumours. Aven is an adaptor protein that has been implicated in anti-apoptotic signalling and serves as an oncoprotein in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. In osteosarcoma cells, silencing Aven triggered G2 cell-cycle arrest; Chk1 protein levels were attenuated and ATR-Chk1 DNA damage response signalling in response to chemotherapy was abolished in Aven-depleted osteosarcoma cells, while ATM, Chk2 and p53 activation remained intact. Osteosarcoma is notoriously difficult to treat with standard chemotherapy, and we examined whether pharmacological inhibition of the Aven-controlled ATR-Chk1 response could sensitize osteosarcoma cells to genotoxic compounds. Indeed, pharmacological inhibitors targeting Chk1/Chk2 or those selective for Chk1 synergized with standard chemotherapy in 2D cultures. Likewise, in 3D extracellular matrix-embedded cultures, Chk1 inhibition led to effective sensitization to chemotherapy. Together, these findings implicate Aven in ATR-Chk1 signalling and point towards Chk1 inhibition as a strategy to sensitize human osteosarcomas to chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzanna Baranski
- Division of Toxicology, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, The Netherlands
| | - Tijmen H Booij
- Division of Toxicology, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, The Netherlands
| | | | - Leo S Price
- Division of Toxicology, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, The Netherlands.,OcellO B.V. Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bob van de Water
- Division of Toxicology, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, The Netherlands
| | - Judith V M G Bovée
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), The Netherlands
| | | | - Erik H J Danen
- Division of Toxicology, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, The Netherlands
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O'Shea LC, Hensey C, Fair T. Progesterone Regulation of AVEN Protects Bovine Oocytes from Apoptosis During Meiotic Maturation1. Biol Reprod 2013; 89:146. [DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.111880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
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Cao X, Yap JL, Newell-Rogers MK, Peddaboina C, Jiang W, Papaconstantinou HT, Jupitor D, Rai A, Jung KY, Tubin RP, Yu W, Vanommeslaeghe K, Wilder PT, MacKerell AD, Fletcher S, Smythe RW. The novel BH3 α-helix mimetic JY-1-106 induces apoptosis in a subset of cancer cells (lung cancer, colon cancer and mesothelioma) by disrupting Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 protein-protein interactions with Bak. Mol Cancer 2013; 12:42. [PMID: 23680104 PMCID: PMC3663763 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-12-42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2013] [Accepted: 05/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background It has been shown in many solid tumors that the overexpression of the pro-survival Bcl-2 family members Bcl-2/Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 confers resistance to a variety of chemotherapeutic agents. We designed the BH3 α-helix mimetic JY-1-106 to engage the hydrophobic BH3-binding grooves on the surfaces of both Bcl-xL and Mcl-1. Methods JY-1-106–protein complexes were studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and the SILCS methodology. We have evaluated the in vitro effects of JY-1-106 by using a fluorescence polarization (FP) assay, an XTT assay, apoptosis assays, and immunoprecipitation and western-blot assays. A preclinical human cancer xenograft model was used to test the efficacy of JY-1-106 in vivo. Results MD and SILCS simulations of the JY-1-106–protein complexes indicated the importance of the aliphatic side chains of JY-1-106 to binding and successfully predicted the improved affinity of the ligand for Bcl-xL over Mcl-1. Ligand binding affinities were measured via an FP assay using a fluorescently labeled Bak-BH3 peptide in vitro. Apoptosis induction via JY-1-106 was evidenced by TUNEL assay and PARP cleavage as well as by Bax–Bax dimerization. Release of multi-domain Bak from its inhibitory binding to Bcl-2/Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 using JY-1-106 was detected via immunoprecipitation (IP) western blotting. At the cellular level, we compared the growth proliferation IC50s of JY-1-106 and ABT-737 in multiple cancer cell lines with various Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 expression levels. JY-1-106 effectively induced cell death regardless of the Mcl-1 expression level in ABT-737 resistant solid tumor cells, whilst toxicity toward normal human endothelial cells was limited. Furthermore, synergistic effects were observed in A549 cells using a combination of JY-1-106 and multiple chemotherapeutic agents. We also observed that JY-1-106 was a very effective agent in inducing apoptosis in metabolically stressed tumors. Finally, JY-1-106 was evaluated in a tumor-bearing nude mouse model, and was found to effectively repress tumor growth. Strong TUNEL signals in the tumor cells demonstrated the effectiveness of JY-1-106 in this animal model. No significant side effects were observed in mouse organs after multiple injections. Conclusions Taken together, these observations demonstrate that JY-1-106 is an effective pan-Bcl-2 inhibitor with very promising clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobo Cao
- Department of Surgery, Scott & White Memorial Hospital and Clinic, The Texas A&M University System, Health Science Center, College of Medicine, 702 SW HK Dodgen Loop, Temple, Texas 76504, USA
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Raychaudhuri S, Das S. Low Probability Activation of Bax/Bak Can Induce Selective Killing of Cancer Cells by Generating Heterogeneity in Apoptosis. JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE ENGINEERING 2013; 4:47-66. [DOI: 10.1260/2040-2295.4.1.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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