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Aizezi Y, Zhao H, Zhang Z, Bi Y, Yang Q, Guo G, Zhang H, Guo H, Jiang K, Wang ZY. Structure-based virtual screening identifies small-molecule inhibitors of O-fucosyltransferase SPINDLY in Arabidopsis. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:497-509. [PMID: 38124350 PMCID: PMC10896289 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Protein O-glycosylation is a nutrient signaling mechanism that plays an essential role in maintaining cellular homeostasis across different species. In plants, SPINDLY (SPY) and SECRET AGENT (SEC) posttranslationally modify hundreds of intracellular proteins with O-fucose and O-linked N-acetylglucosamine, respectively. SPY and SEC play overlapping roles in cellular regulation, and loss of both SPY and SEC causes embryo lethality in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Using structure-based virtual screening of chemical libraries followed by in vitro and in planta assays, we identified a SPY O-fucosyltransferase inhibitor (SOFTI). Computational analyses predicted that SOFTI binds to the GDP-fucose-binding pocket of SPY and competitively inhibits GDP-fucose binding. In vitro assays confirmed that SOFTI interacts with SPY and inhibits its O-fucosyltransferase activity. Docking analysis identified additional SOFTI analogs that showed stronger inhibitory activities. SOFTI treatment of Arabidopsis seedlings decreased protein O-fucosylation and elicited phenotypes similar to the spy mutants, including early seed germination, increased root hair density, and defective sugar-dependent growth. In contrast, SOFTI did not visibly affect the spy mutant. Similarly, SOFTI inhibited the sugar-dependent growth of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seedlings. These results demonstrate that SOFTI is a specific SPY O-fucosyltransferase inhibitor that can be used as a chemical tool for functional studies of O-fucosylation and potentially for agricultural management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalikunjiang Aizezi
- Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Institute of Plant and Food Science, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Hongming Zhao
- Institute of Plant and Food Science, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Zhenzhen Zhang
- Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Yang Bi
- Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Qiuhua Yang
- Institute of Plant and Food Science, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Guangshuo Guo
- Institute of Plant and Food Science, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Hongliang Zhang
- Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Hongwei Guo
- Institute of Plant and Food Science, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Kai Jiang
- Institute of Plant and Food Science, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Zhi-Yong Wang
- Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Kim S, Cho M, Kim TH. Novel Compounds Derived from DFPM Induce Root Growth Arrest through the Specific VICTR Alleles of Arabidopsis Accessions. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1797. [PMID: 37763201 PMCID: PMC10532556 DOI: 10.3390/life13091797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The small compound [5-(3,4-dichlorophenyl) furan-2-yl]-piperidine-1-ylmethanethione (DFPM) inhibits ABA responses by activating effector-triggered immune signal transduction in Arabidopsis. In addition to the known function of DFPM as an antagonist of ABA signaling, DFPM causes accession-specific root growth arrest in Arabidopsis Columbia-0 via the TIR-NLR protein VICTR (VARIATION IN COMPOUND TRIGGERED ROOT growth response) in an EDS1/PAD4/RAR1/SGT1B-dependent manner. Although DFPM could control the specific steps of various cellular responses, the functional residues for the activity of DFPM or the existence of a stronger version of DFPM modification have not been characterized thoroughly. This study analyzed twenty-two DFPM derivatives during root growth arrest, inhibition of ABA signaling, and induction of biotic signal transduction to determine critical residues that confer the specific activity of DFPM. Furthermore, this study identified two more Arabidopsis accessions that generate significant root growth arrest in response to DFPM derivatives dependent on multiple amino acid polymorphisms in the coding region of VICTR. The isolation of novel compounds, such as DFPM-5, and specific amino acid polymorphisms critical for the compound-induced responses will help determine the detailed regulatory mechanism for how DFPM regulates abiotic and biotic stress signaling interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seojung Kim
- Department of Bio-Health Convergence, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul 01369, Republic of Korea
| | - Miri Cho
- Department of Bio-Health Convergence, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul 01369, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Houn Kim
- Department of Bio-Health Convergence, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul 01369, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul 01369, Republic of Korea
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Aizezi Y, Zhao H, Zhang Z, Bi Y, Yang Q, Guo G, Zhang H, Guo H, Jiang K, Wang ZY. Structure-based virtual screening identifies small molecule inhibitors of O-fucosyltransferase SPINDLY. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.13.544843. [PMID: 37398095 PMCID: PMC10312698 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.13.544843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Protein O-glycosylation is a nutrient-signaling mechanism that plays essential roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis across different species. In plants, SPINDLY (SPY) and SECRET AGENT (SEC) catalyze posttranslational modifications of hundreds of intracellular proteins by O-fucose and O-linked N-acetylglucosamine, respectively. SPY and SEC play overlapping roles in cellular regulation and loss of both SPY and SEC causes embryo lethality in Arabidopsis. Using structure-based virtual screening of chemical libraries followed by in vitro and in planta assays, we identified a S PY O - f ucosyltransferase i nhibitor (SOFTI). Computational analyses predicted that SOFTI binds to the GDP-fucose-binding pocket of SPY and competitively inhibits GDP-fucose binding. In vitro assays confirmed that SOFTI interacts with SPY and inhibits its O-fucosyltransferase activity. Docking analysis identified additional SOFTI analogs that showed stronger inhibitory activities. SOFTI treatment of Arabidopsis seedlings decreased protein O-fucosylation and caused phenotypes similar to the spy mutants, including early seed germination, increased root hair density, and defect in sugar-dependent growth. By contrast, SOFTI had no visible effect on the spy mutant. Similarly, SOFTI inhibited sugar-dependent growth of tomato seedlings. These results demonstrate that SOFTI is a specific SPY O-fucosyltransferase inhibitor and a useful chemical tool for functional studies of O-fucosylation and potentially for agricultural management.
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