1
|
Song C, Wang G, Liu M, Han S, Dong M, Peng M, Wang W, Wang Y, Xu Y, Liu L. Deciphering the SOX4/MAPK1 regulatory axis: a phosphoproteomic insight into IQGAP1 phosphorylation and pancreatic Cancer progression. J Transl Med 2024; 22:602. [PMID: 38943117 PMCID: PMC11212360 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05377-3] [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: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to elucidate the functional role of IQGAP1 phosphorylation modification mediated by the SOX4/MAPK1 regulatory axis in developing pancreatic cancer through phosphoproteomics analysis. METHODS Proteomics and phosphoproteomics data of pancreatic cancer were obtained from the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) database. Differential analysis, kinase-substrate enrichment analysis (KSEA), and independent prognosis analysis were performed on these datasets. Subtype analysis of pancreatic cancer patients was conducted based on the expression of prognostic-related proteins, and the prognosis of different subtypes was evaluated through prognosis analysis. Differential analysis of proteins in different subtypes was performed to identify differential proteins in the high-risk subtype. Clinical correlation analysis was conducted based on the expression of prognostic-related proteins, pancreatic cancer typing results, and clinical characteristics in the pancreatic cancer proteomics dataset. Functional pathway enrichment analysis was performed using GSEA/GO/KEGG, and most module proteins correlated with pancreatic cancer were selected using WGCNA analysis. In cell experiments, pancreatic cancer cells were grouped, and the expression levels of SOX4, MAPK1, and the phosphorylation level of IQGAP1 were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot experiments. The effect of SOX4 on MAPK1 promoter transcriptional activity was assessed using a dual-luciferase assay, and the enrichment of SOX4 on the MAPK1 promoter was examined using a ChIP assay. The proliferation, migration, and invasion functions of grouped pancreatic cancer cells were assessed using CCK-8, colony formation, and Transwell assays. In animal experiments, the impact of SOX4 on tumor growth and metastasis through the regulation of MAPK1-IQGAP1 phosphorylation modification was studied by constructing subcutaneous and orthotopic pancreatic cancer xenograft models, as well as a liver metastasis model in nude mice. RESULTS Phosphoproteomics and proteomics data analysis revealed that the kinase MAPK1 may play an important role in pancreatic cancer progression by promoting IQGAP1 phosphorylation modification. Proteomics analysis classified pancreatic cancer patients into two subtypes, C1 and C2, where the high-risk C2 subtype was associated with poor prognosis, malignant tumor typing, and enriched tumor-related pathways. SOX4 may promote the occurrence of the high-risk C2 subtype of pancreatic cancer by regulating MAPK1-IQGAP1 phosphorylation modification. In vitro cell experiments confirmed that SOX4 promoted IQGAP1 phosphorylation modification by activating MAPK1 transcription while silencing SOX4 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells by reducing the phosphorylation level of MAPK1-IQGAP1. In vivo, animal experiments further confirmed that silencing SOX4 suppressed the growth and metastasis of pancreatic cancer by reducing the phosphorylation level of MAPK1-IQGAP1. CONCLUSION The findings of this study suggest that SOX4 promotes the phosphorylation modification of IQGAP1 by activating MAPK1 transcription, thereby facilitating the growth and metastasis of pancreatic cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chao Song
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, PR China
- Department of General Surgery, Qingpu Branch, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Qingpu Branch, No. 1158 Park Road East, Qingpu District, Shanghai, PR China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Ganggang Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Pudong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengmeng Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Qingpu Branch, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Siyang Han
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Meiyuan Dong
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Maozhen Peng
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Wenquan Wang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Yicun Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Qingpu Branch, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Qingpu Branch, No. 1158 Park Road East, Qingpu District, Shanghai, PR China.
| | - Yaolin Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, PR China.
| | - Liang Liu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, PR China.
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yuhara H, Ohtani A, Matano M, Kashiwagi Y, Maehashi K. Molecular characterization of a novel aspartyl aminopeptidase that contributes to the increase in glutamic acid content in chicken meat during cooking. FOOD CHEMISTRY: MOLECULAR SCIENCES 2021; 2:100015. [PMID: 35415631 PMCID: PMC8991601 DOI: 10.1016/j.fochms.2021.100015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Chicken homogenate produced significantly more free glutamic acid than beef while heating. DNPEP protein was detected in chicken meat extract by immunoblotting. Chicken DNPEP gene expression was detected in the breast and thigh muscles by RT-PCR. Recombinant cDNPEP showed high preference for glutamyl residues over aspartyl residues. The contribution of DNPEP to a great increase in glutamate in chicken meat during cooking was expected.
The enzyme involved in the increase in glutamic acid content in chicken meat during cooking was identified and characterized. Chicken homogenate produced significantly more free glutamic acid and exhibited higher glutamyl p-nitroanilide (Glu-pNA) hydrolyzing activity than beef when heat cooked. Amino acid sequencing revealed the presence of aspartyl aminopeptidase (DNPEP) in chicken meat. Using RT-PCR, DNPEP gene expression was detected in chicken breast and thigh muscles, liver, and small intestine, together with various other peptidase genes. Full-length DNPEP cDNA was cloned, and recombinant chicken DNPEP (cDNPEP) was expressed in Escherichia coli. cDNPEP showed five-fold higher activity against Glu-pNA than against aspartyl-pNA, which represents a different substrate specificity than observed for recombinant bovine DNPEP (bDNPEP). The Km values of both DNPEPs with Glu p-NA substrates indicated a higher affinity of cDNPEP for glutamyl residues. This unique substrate specificity of cDNPEP contributes to efficient glutamic acid production in chickens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hitomi Yuhara
- Department of Fermentation Science and Technology, Graduate School of Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
| | - Akira Ohtani
- Department of Fermentation Science and Technology, Graduate School of Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
| | - Mami Matano
- Department of Fermentation Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
| | - Yutaka Kashiwagi
- Department of Fermentation Science and Technology, Graduate School of Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
- Department of Fermentation Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
| | - Kenji Maehashi
- Department of Fermentation Science and Technology, Graduate School of Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
- Department of Fermentation Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
- Corresponding author at: Department of Fermentation Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Aminopeptidase Expression in Multiple Myeloma Associates with Disease Progression and Sensitivity to Melflufen. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13071527. [PMID: 33810334 PMCID: PMC8036322 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The aims of this study were to investigate aminopeptidase expression in multiple myeloma and to identify the aminopeptidases responsible for the activation of the peptide–drug conjugate melflufen in multiple myeloma. We observed a differential expression of aminopeptidases between relapsed/refractory and newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients. A higher expression of the aminopeptidase genes XPNPEP1, RNPEP, DPP3, and BLMH in multiple myeloma plasma cells was associated with shorter patient overall survival. The peptide–drug conjugate melflufen was particularly active towards plasma cells from relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients. Melflufen could be hydrolyzed to its active form by the aminopeptidases LAP3, LTA4H, RNPEP, and ANPEP, all of which are expressed in multiple myeloma. These results indicate critical roles for aminopeptidases in disease progression and the activity of melflufen in multiple myeloma. Abstract Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by extensive immunoglobulin production leading to an excessive load on protein homeostasis in tumor cells. Aminopeptidases contribute to proteolysis by catalyzing the hydrolysis of amino acids from proteins or peptides and function downstream of the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. Notably, aminopeptidases can be utilized in the delivery of antibody and peptide-conjugated drugs, such as melflufen, currently in clinical trials. We analyzed the expression of 39 aminopeptidase genes in MM samples from 122 patients treated at Finnish cancer centers and 892 patients from the CoMMpass database. Based on ranked abundance, LAP3, ERAP2, METAP2, TTP2, and DPP7 were highly expressed in MM. ERAP2, XPNPEP1, DPP3, RNPEP, and CTSV were differentially expressed between relapsed/refractory and newly diagnosed MM samples (p < 0.05). Sensitivity to melflufen was detected ex vivo in 11/15 MM patient samples, and high sensitivity was observed, especially in relapsed/refractory samples. Survival analysis revealed that high expression of XPNPEP1, RNPEP, DPP3, and BLMH (p < 0.05) was associated with shorter overall survival. Hydrolysis analysis demonstrated that melflufen is a substrate for aminopeptidases LAP3, LTA4H, RNPEP, and ANPEP. The sensitivity of MM cell lines to melflufen was reduced by aminopeptidase inhibitors. These results indicate critical roles of aminopeptidases in disease progression and the activity of melflufen in MM.
Collapse
|