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Cheng YW, Anzell AR, Morosky SA, Schwartze TA, Hinck CS, Hinck AP, Roman BL, Davidson LA. Shear Stress and Sub-Femtomolar Levels of Ligand Synergize to Activate ALK1 Signaling in Endothelial Cells. Cells 2024; 13:285. [PMID: 38334677 PMCID: PMC10854672 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells (ECs) respond to concurrent stimulation by biochemical factors and wall shear stress (SS) exerted by blood flow. Disruptions in flow-induced responses can result in remodeling issues and cardiovascular diseases, but the detailed mechanisms linking flow-mechanical cues and biochemical signaling remain unclear. Activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1) integrates SS and ALK1-ligand cues in ECs; ALK1 mutations cause hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), marked by arteriovenous malformation (AVM) development. However, the mechanistic underpinnings of ALK1 signaling modulation by fluid flow and the link to AVMs remain uncertain. We recorded EC responses under varying SS magnitudes and ALK1 ligand concentrations by assaying pSMAD1/5/9 nuclear localization using a custom multi-SS microfluidic device and a custom image analysis pipeline. We extended the previously reported synergy between SS and BMP9 to include BMP10 and BMP9/10. Moreover, we demonstrated that this synergy is effective even at extremely low SS magnitudes (0.4 dyn/cm2) and ALK1 ligand range (femtogram/mL). The synergistic response to ALK1 ligands and SS requires the kinase activity of ALK1. Moreover, ALK1's basal activity and response to minimal ligand levels depend on endocytosis, distinct from cell-cell junctions, cytoskeleton-mediated mechanosensing, or cholesterol-enriched microdomains. However, an in-depth analysis of ALK1 receptor trafficking's molecular mechanisms requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Wen Cheng
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA;
| | - Anthony R. Anzell
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Stefanie A. Morosky
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Tristin A. Schwartze
- Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Cynthia S. Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Andrew P. Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Beth L. Roman
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Heart, Lung, Blood and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Lance A. Davidson
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA;
- Department of Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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2
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White SE, Schwartze TA, Mukundan A, Schoenherr C, Singh SP, van Dinther M, Cunningham KT, White MPJ, Campion T, Pritchard J, Hinck CS, Ten Dijke P, Inman G, Maizels RM, Hinck AP. TGM6, a helminth secretory product, mimics TGF-β binding to TβRII to antagonize TGF-β signaling in fibroblasts. bioRxiv 2023:2023.12.22.573140. [PMID: 38187573 PMCID: PMC10769414 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.22.573140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The murine helminth parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus expresses a family of proteins structurally related to TGF-β Mimic 1 (TGM1), a secreted five domain protein that activates the TGF-β pathway and converts naïve T lymphocytes to immunosuppressive Tregs. TGM1 signals through the TGF-β type I and type II receptors, TβRI and TβRII, with domains 1-2 and 3 binding TβRI and TβRII, respectively, and domains 4-5 binding CD44, a co-receptor abundant on T cells. TGM6 is a homologue of TGM1 that is co-expressed with TGM1, but lacks domains 1 and 2. Herein, we show that TGM6 binds TβRII through domain 3, but does not bind TβRI, or other type I or type II receptors of the TGF-β family. In TGF-β reporter assays in fibroblasts, TGM6, but not truncated TGM6 lacking domains 4 and 5, potently inhibits TGF-β- and TGM1-induced signaling, consistent with its ability to bind TβRII but not TβRI or other receptors of the TGF-β family. However, TGM6 does not bind CD44 and is unable to inhibit TGF-β and TGM1 signaling in T cells. To understand how TGM6 binds TβRII, the X-ray crystal structure of the TGM6 domain 3 bound to TβRII was determined at 1.4 Å. This showed that TGM6 domain 3 binds TβRII through an interface remarkably similar to the TGF-β:TβRII interface. These results suggest that TGM6 has adapted its domain structure and sequence to mimic TGF-β binding to TβRII and function as a potent TGF-β and TGM1 antagonist in fibroblasts. The coexpression of TGM6, along with the immunosuppressive TGMs that activate the TGF-β pathway, may prevent tissue damage caused by the parasite as it progresses through its life cycle from the intestinal lumen to submucosal tissues and back again.
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Borgini M, Wieteska Ł, Hinck CS, Krzysiak T, Hinck AP, Wipf P. Synthesis of 13C-methyl-labeled amino acids and their incorporation into proteins in mammalian cells. Org Biomol Chem 2023; 21:9216-9229. [PMID: 37964666 PMCID: PMC10825848 DOI: 10.1039/d3ob01320k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Isotopic labeling of methyl-substituted proteinogenic amino acids with 13C has transformed applications of solution-based NMR spectroscopy and allowed the study of much larger and more complex proteins than previously possible with 15N labeling. Procedures are well-established for producing methyl-labeled proteins expressed in bacteria, with efficient incorporation of 13C-methyl labeled metabolic precursors to enable the isotopic labeling of Ile, Val, and Leu methyl groups. Recently, similar methodology has been applied to enable 13C-methyl labeling of Ile, Val, and Leu in yeast, extending the approach to proteins that do not readily fold when produced in bacteria. Mammalian or insect cells are nonetheless preferable for production of many human proteins, yet 13C-methyl labeling using similar metabolic precursors is not feasible as these cells lack the requisite biosynthetic machinery. Herein, we report versatile and high-yielding synthetic routes to 13C methyl-labeled amino acids based on palladium-catalyzed C(sp3)-H functionalization. We demonstrate the efficient incorporation of two of the synthesized amino acids, 13C-γ2-Ile and 13C-γ1,γ2-Val, into human receptor extracellular domains with multiple disulfides using suspension-cultured HEK293 cells. Production costs are reasonable, even at moderate expression levels of 2-3 mg purified protein per liter of medium, and the method can be extended to label other methyl groups, such as 13C-δ1-Ile and 13C-δ1,δ2-Leu. In summary, we demonstrate the cost-effective production of methyl-labeled proteins in mammalian cells by incorporation of 13C methyl-labeled amino acids generated de novo by a versatile synthetic route.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Borgini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
| | - Łukasz Wieteska
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
| | - Cynthia S Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
| | - Troy Krzysiak
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
| | - Peter Wipf
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
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4
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Singh SP, Smyth DJ, Cunningham K, Mukundan A, Byeon CH, Hinck CS, White MPJ, Ciancia C, Wosowska N, Sanders A, Jin R, Lilla S, Zanivan S, Schoenherr C, Inman G, van Dinther M, ten Dijke P, Hinck AP, Maizels RM. The helminth TGF-β mimic TGM4 is a modular ligand that binds CD44, CD49d and TGF-β receptors to preferentially target myeloid cells. bioRxiv 2023:2023.11.13.566701. [PMID: 38014296 PMCID: PMC10680678 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.13.566701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The murine helminth parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus expresses a family of modular proteins which, replicating the functional activity of the immunomodulatory cytokine TGF-β, have been named TGM (TGF-β Μimic). Multiple domains bind to different receptors, including TGF-β receptors TβRI (ALK5) and TβRII through domains 1-3, and prototypic family member TGM1 binds the cell surface co-receptor CD44 through domains 4-5. This allows TGM1 to induce T lymphocyte Foxp3 expression, characteristic of regulatory (Treg) cells, and to activate a range of TGF-β-responsive cell types. In contrast, a related protein, TGM4, targets a much more restricted cell repertoire, primarily acting on myeloid cells, with less potent effects on T cells and lacking activity on other TGF-β-responsive cell types. TGM4 binds avidly to myeloid cells by flow cytometry, and can outcompete TGM1 for cell binding. Analysis of receptor binding in comparison to TGM1 reveals a 10-fold higher affinity than TGM1 for TGFβR-I (TβRI), but a 100-fold lower affinity for TβRII through Domain 3. Consequently, TGM4 is more dependent on co-receptor binding; in addition to CD44, TGM4 also engages CD49d (Itga4) through Domains 1-3, as well as CD206 and Neuropilin-1 through Domains 4 and 5. TGM4 was found to effectively modulate macrophage populations, inhibiting lipopolysaccharide-driven inflammatory cytokine production and boosting interleukin (IL)-4-stimulated responses such as Arginase-1 in vitro and in vivo. These results reveal that the modular nature of TGMs has allowed the fine tuning of the binding affinities of the TβR- and co-receptor binding domains to establish cell specificity for TGF-β signalling in a manner that cannot be attained by the mammalian cytokine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashi P. Singh
- Wellcome Centre of Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK
| | - Danielle J. Smyth
- Wellcome Centre of Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK
| | - Kyle Cunningham
- Wellcome Centre of Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK
| | - Ananya Mukundan
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh, USA
| | | | | | - Madeleine P. J. White
- Wellcome Centre of Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK
| | - Claire Ciancia
- Wellcome Centre of Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK
| | - Nątalia Wosowska
- Wellcome Centre of Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK
| | - Anna Sanders
- Wellcome Centre of Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK
| | - Regina Jin
- Wellcome Centre of Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK
| | - Sergio Lilla
- Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
| | - Sara Zanivan
- Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
| | | | - Gareth Inman
- Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
| | - Maarten van Dinther
- Oncode Institute and Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, University of Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Peter ten Dijke
- Oncode Institute and Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, University of Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew P. Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Rick M. Maizels
- Wellcome Centre of Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK
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5
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DePeaux K, Rivadeneira DB, Lontos K, Dean VG, Gunn WG, Watson MJ, Yao T, Wilfahrt D, Hinck C, Wieteska L, Thorne SH, Hinck AP, Delgoffe GM. An oncolytic virus-delivered TGFβ inhibitor overcomes the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. J Exp Med 2023; 220:e20230053. [PMID: 37552475 PMCID: PMC10407786 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20230053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
While checkpoint blockade immunotherapies have widespread success, they rely on a responsive immune infiltrate; as such, treatments enhancing immune infiltration and preventing immunosuppression are of critical need. We previously generated αPD-1 resistant variants of the murine HNSCC model MEER. While entirely αPD-1 resistant, these tumors regress after single dose of oncolytic vaccinia virus (VV). We then generated a VV-resistant MEER line to dissect the immunologic features of sensitive and resistant tumors. While treatment of both tumor types induced immune infiltration and IFNγ, we found a defining feature of resistance was elevation of immunosuppressive cytokines like TGFβ, which blunted IFNγ signaling, especially in regulatory T cells. We engineered VV to express a genetically encoded TGFβRII inhibitor. Inhibitor-expressing VV produced regressions in resistant tumor models and showed impressive synergy with checkpoint blockade. Importantly, tumor-specific, viral delivery of TGFβ inhibition had no toxicities associated with systemic TGFβ/TGFβR inhibition. Our data suggest that aside from stimulating immune infiltration, oncolytic viruses are attractive means to deliver agents to limit immunosuppression in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin DePeaux
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Dayana B. Rivadeneira
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Konstantinos Lontos
- Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Center, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Victoria G. Dean
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - William G. Gunn
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - McLane J. Watson
- Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Tianhong Yao
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Drew Wilfahrt
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Cynthia Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lukasz Wieteska
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Andrew P. Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Greg M. Delgoffe
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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6
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van Dinther M, Cunningham KT, Singh SP, White MPJ, Campion T, Ciancia C, van Veelen PA, de Ru AH, González-Prieto R, Mukundan A, Byeon CH, Staggers SR, Hinck CS, Hinck AP, Dijke PT, Maizels RM. CD44 acts as a coreceptor for cell-specific enhancement of signaling and regulatory T cell induction by TGM1, a parasite TGF-β mimic. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2302370120. [PMID: 37590410 PMCID: PMC10450677 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2302370120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Long-lived parasites evade host immunity through highly evolved molecular strategies. The murine intestinal helminth, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, down-modulates the host immune system through release of an immunosuppressive TGF-β mimic, TGM1, which is a divergent member of the CCP (Sushi) protein family. TGM1 comprises 5 domains, of which domains 1-3 (D1/2/3) bind mammalian TGF-β receptors, acting on T cells to induce Foxp3+ regulatory T cells; however, the roles of domains 4 and 5 (D4/5) remain unknown. We noted that truncated TGM1, lacking D4/5, showed reduced potency. Combination of D1/2/3 and D4/5 as separate proteins did not alter potency, suggesting that a physical linkage is required and that these domains do not deliver an independent signal. Coprecipitation from cells treated with biotinylated D4/5, followed by mass spectrometry, identified the cell surface protein CD44 as a coreceptor for TGM1. Both full-length and D4/5 bound strongly to a range of primary cells and cell lines, to a greater degree than D1/2/3 alone, although some cell lines did not respond to TGM1. Ectopic expression of CD44 in nonresponding cells conferred responsiveness, while genetic depletion of CD44 abolished enhancement by D4/5 and ablated the ability of full-length TGM1 to bind to cell surfaces. Moreover, CD44-deficient T cells showed attenuated induction of Foxp3 by full-length TGM1, to levels similar to those induced by D1/2/3. Hence, a parasite protein known to bind two host cytokine receptor subunits has evolved a third receptor specificity, which serves to raise the avidity and cell type-specific potency of TGF-β signaling in mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten van Dinther
- Oncode Institute and Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden2300 RC, The Netherlands
| | - Kyle T. Cunningham
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Shashi Prakash Singh
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Madeleine P. J. White
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Tiffany Campion
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Ciancia
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Peter A. van Veelen
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden2333 ZC, The Netherlands
| | - Arnoud H. de Ru
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden2333 ZC, The Netherlands
| | - Román González-Prieto
- Andalusian Center for Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Universidad de Sevilla - CSIC - Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41092Sevilla, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Sevilla, 41013Sevilla, Spain
| | - Ananya Mukundan
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA15260
| | - Chang-Hyeock Byeon
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA15260
| | - Sophia R. Staggers
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA15260
| | - Cynthia S. Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA15260
| | - Andrew P. Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA15260
| | - Peter ten Dijke
- Oncode Institute and Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden2300 RC, The Netherlands
| | - Rick M. Maizels
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8TA, United Kingdom
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Ludwig N, Yerneni SS, Harasymczuk M, Szczepański MJ, Głuszko A, Kukwa W, Jordan T, Spanier G, Taxis J, Spoerl S, Meier JK, Hinck CS, Campbell PG, Reichert TE, Hinck AP, Whiteside TL. TGFβ carrying exosomes in plasma: potential biomarkers of cancer progression in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Br J Cancer 2023; 128:1733-1741. [PMID: 36810911 PMCID: PMC10133391 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02184-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Contributions of TGFβ to cancer progression are well documented. However, plasma TGFβ levels often do not correlate with clinicopathological data. We examine the role of TGFβ carried in exosomes isolated from murine and human plasma as a contributor to disease progression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS The 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) mouse model was used to study changes in TGFβ expression levels during oral carcinogenesis. In human HNSCC, TGFβ and Smad3 protein expression levels and TGFB1 gene expression were determined. Soluble TGFβ levels were evaluated by ELISA and TGFβ bioassays. Exosomes were isolated from plasma using size exclusion chromatography, and TGFβ content was quantified using bioassays and bioprinted microarrays. RESULTS During 4-NQO carcinogenesis, TGFβ levels in tumour tissues and in serum increased as the tumour progressed. The TGFβ content of circulating exosomes also increased. In HNSCC patients, TGFβ, Smad3 and TGFB1 were overexpressed in tumour tissues and correlated with increased soluble TGFβ levels. Neither TGFβ expression in tumours nor levels of soluble TGFβ correlated with clinicopathological data or survival. Only exosome-associated TGFβ reflected tumour progression and correlated with tumour size. CONCLUSIONS Circulating TGFβ+ exosomes in the plasma of patients with HNSCC emerge as potential non-invasive biomarkers of disease progression in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Ludwig
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Mirosław J Szczepański
- Chair and Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alicja Głuszko
- Chair and Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Kukwa
- Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Theresa Jordan
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Gerrit Spanier
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Juergen Taxis
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Steffen Spoerl
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Johannes K Meier
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Cynthia S Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Phil G Campbell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Engineering Research Accelerator, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Torsten E Reichert
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Theresa L Whiteside
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Departments of Immunology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
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8
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Madamanchi A, Ingle M, Hinck AP, Umulis DM. Computational modeling of TGF-β2:TβRI:TβRII receptor complex assembly as mediated by the TGF-β coreceptor betaglycan. Biophys J 2023; 122:1342-1354. [PMID: 36869592 PMCID: PMC10111353 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β1, -β2, and -β3 (TGF-β1, -β2, and -β3) are secreted signaling ligands that play essential roles in tissue development, tissue maintenance, immune response, and wound healing. TGF-β ligands form homodimers and signal by assembling a heterotetrameric receptor complex comprised of two type I receptor (TβRI):type II receptor (TβRII) pairs. TGF-β1 and TGF-β3 ligands signal with high potency due to their high affinity for TβRII, which engenders high-affinity binding of TβRI through a composite TGF-β:TβRII binding interface. However, TGF-β2 binds TβRII 200-500 more weakly than TGF-β1 and TGF-β3 and signals with lower potency compared with these ligands. Remarkably, the presence of an additional membrane-bound coreceptor, known as betaglycan, increases TGF-β2 signaling potency to levels similar to TGF-β1 and -β3. The mediating effect of betaglycan occurs even though it is displaced from and not present in the heterotetrameric receptor complex through which TGF-β2 signals. Published biophysics studies have experimentally established the kinetic rates of the individual ligand-receptor and receptor-receptor interactions that initiate heterotetrameric receptor complex assembly and signaling in the TGF-β system; however, current experimental approaches are not able to directly measure kinetic rates for the intermediate and latter steps of assembly. To characterize these steps in the TGF-β system and determine the mechanism of betaglycan in the potentiation of TGF-β2 signaling, we developed deterministic computational models with different modes of betaglycan binding and varying cooperativity between receptor subtypes. The models identified conditions for selective enhancement of TGF-β2 signaling. The models provide support for additional receptor binding cooperativity that has been hypothesized but not evaluated in the literature. The models further showed that betaglycan binding to the TGF-β2 ligand through two domains provides an effective mechanism for transfer to the signaling receptors that has been tuned to efficiently promote assembly of the TGF-β2(TβRII)2(TβRI)2 signaling complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aasakiran Madamanchi
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - Michelle Ingle
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - David M Umulis
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana; Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
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9
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Ludwig N, Yerneni SS, Azambuja JH, Pietrowska M, Widłak P, Hinck CS, Głuszko A, Szczepański MJ, Kärmer T, Kallinger I, Schulz D, Bauer RJ, Spanier G, Spoerl S, Meier JK, Ettl T, Razzo BM, Reichert TE, Hinck AP, Whiteside TL. TGFβ + small extracellular vesicles from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells reprogram macrophages towards a pro-angiogenic phenotype. J Extracell Vesicles 2022; 11:e12294. [PMID: 36537293 PMCID: PMC9764108 DOI: 10.1002/jev2.12294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is a major component of tumor-derived small extracellular vesicles (TEX) in cancer patients. Mechanisms utilized by TGFβ+ TEX to promote tumor growth and pro-tumor activities in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are largely unknown. TEX produced by head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines carried TGFβ and angiogenesis-promoting proteins. TGFβ+ TEX stimulated macrophage chemotaxis without a notable M1/M2 phenotype shift and reprogrammed primary human macrophages to a pro-angiogenic phenotype characterized by the upregulation of pro-angiogenic factors and functions. In a murine basement membrane extract plug model, TGFβ+ TEX promoted macrophage infiltration and vascularization (p < 0.001), which was blocked by using the TGFβ ligand trap mRER (p < 0.001). TGFβ+ TEX injected into mice undergoing the 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO)-driven oral carcinogenesis promoted tumor angiogenesis (p < 0.05), infiltration of M2-like macrophages in the TME (p < 0.05) and ultimately tumor progression (p < 0.05). Inhibition of TGFβ signaling in TEX with mRER ameliorated these pro-tumor activities. Silencing of TGFβ emerges as a critical step in suppressing pro-angiogenic functions of TEX in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Ludwig
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryUniversity Hospital RegensburgRegensburgGermany
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer CenterPittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | - Juliana H. Azambuja
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer CenterPittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
- Postgraduate Program in BiosciencesFederal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA)Porto AlegreBrazil
| | - Monika Pietrowska
- Maria Sklodowska‐Curie National Research Institute of OncologyGliwice BranchGliwicePoland
| | | | - Cynthia S. Hinck
- Department of Structural BiologyUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Alicja Głuszko
- Chair and Department of BiochemistryMedical University of WarsawWarsawPoland
| | - Mirosław J. Szczepański
- Chair and Department of BiochemistryMedical University of WarsawWarsawPoland
- Department of OtolaryngologyCentre of Postgraduate Medical EducationWarsawPoland
| | - Teresa Kärmer
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryUniversity Hospital RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | - Isabella Kallinger
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryUniversity Hospital RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | - Daniela Schulz
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryUniversity Hospital RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | - Richard J. Bauer
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryUniversity Hospital RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | - Gerrit Spanier
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryUniversity Hospital RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | - Steffen Spoerl
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryUniversity Hospital RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | - Johannes K. Meier
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryUniversity Hospital RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | - Tobias Ettl
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryUniversity Hospital RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | | | - Torsten E. Reichert
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryUniversity Hospital RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | - Andrew P. Hinck
- Department of Structural BiologyUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Theresa L. Whiteside
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer CenterPittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
- Departments of Immunology and OtolaryngologyUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
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10
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Mukundan A, Byeon CH, Hinck CS, Cunningham K, Campion T, Smyth DJ, Maizels RM, Hinck AP. Convergent evolution of a parasite-encoded complement control protein-scaffold to mimic binding of mammalian TGF-β to its receptors, TβRI and TβRII. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101994. [PMID: 35500648 PMCID: PMC9163516 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The mouse intestinal helminth Heligmosomoides polygyrus modulates host immune responses by secreting a transforming growth factor (TGF)-β mimic (TGM), to expand the population of Foxp3+ Tregs. TGM comprises five complement control protein (CCP)-like domains, designated D1-D5. Though lacking homology to TGF-β, TGM binds directly to the TGF-β receptors TβRI and TβRII and stimulates the differentiation of naïve T-cells into Tregs. However, the molecular determinants of binding are unclear. Here, we used surface plasmon resonance, isothermal calorimetry, NMR spectroscopy, and mutagenesis to investigate how TGM binds the TGF-β receptors. We demonstrate that binding is modular, with D1-D2 binding to TβRI and D3 binding to TβRII. D1-D2 and D3 were further shown to compete with TGF-β(TβRII)2 and TGF-β for binding to TβRI and TβRII, respectively. The solution structure of TGM-D3 revealed that TGM adopts a CCP-like fold but is also modified to allow the C-terminal strand to diverge, leading to an expansion of the domain and opening potential interaction surfaces. TGM-D3 also incorporates a long structurally ordered hypervariable loop, adding further potential interaction sites. Through NMR shift perturbations and binding studies of TGM-D3 and TβRII variants, TGM-D3 was shown to occupy the same site of TβRII as bound by TGF-β using both a novel interaction surface and the hypervariable loop. These results, together with the identification of other secreted CCP-like proteins with immunomodulatory activity in H. polygyrus, suggest that TGM is part of a larger family of evolutionarily plastic parasite effector molecules that mediate novel interactions with their host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananya Mukundan
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA
| | - Chang-Hyeock Byeon
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA
| | - Cynthia S Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA
| | - Kyle Cunningham
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Tiffany Campion
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Danielle J Smyth
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Rick M Maizels
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA.
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11
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Brûlé E, Wang Y, Li Y, Lin YF, Zhou X, Ongaro L, Alonso CAI, Buddle ERS, Schneyer AL, Byeon CH, Hinck CS, Mendelev N, Russell JP, Cowan M, Boehm U, Ruf-Zamojski F, Zamojski M, Andoniadou CL, Sealfon SC, Harrison CA, Walton KL, Hinck AP, Bernard DJ. TGFBR3L is an inhibin B co-receptor that regulates female fertility. Sci Adv 2021; 7:eabl4391. [PMID: 34910520 PMCID: PMC8673766 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl4391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), a key regulator of ovarian function, is often used in infertility treatment. Gonadal inhibins suppress FSH synthesis by pituitary gonadotrope cells. The TGFβ type III receptor, betaglycan, is required for inhibin A suppression of FSH. The inhibin B co-receptor was previously unknown. Here, we report that the gonadotrope-restricted transmembrane protein, TGFBR3L, is the elusive inhibin B co-receptor. TGFBR3L binds inhibin B but not other TGFβ family ligands. TGFBR3L knockdown or overexpression abrogates or confers inhibin B activity in cells. Female Tgfbr3l knockout mice exhibit increased FSH levels, ovarian follicle development, and litter sizes. In contrast, female mice lacking both TGFBR3L and betaglycan are infertile. TGFBR3L’s function and cell-specific expression make it an attractive new target for the regulation of FSH and fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Brûlé
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Yining Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Yeu-Farn Lin
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Luisina Ongaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Carlos A. I. Alonso
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Evan R. S. Buddle
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Chang-Hyeock Byeon
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Cynthia S. Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Natalia Mendelev
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - John P. Russell
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Mitra Cowan
- McGill Integrated Core for Animal Modeling (MICAM), McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling, Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Frederique Ruf-Zamojski
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michel Zamojski
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cynthia L. Andoniadou
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stuart C. Sealfon
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Craig A. Harrison
- Department of Physiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kelly L. Walton
- Department of Physiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew P. Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Daniel J. Bernard
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
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12
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Ludwig N, Wieteska Ł, Hinck CS, Yerneni SS, Azambuja JH, Bauer RJ, Reichert TE, Hinck AP, Whiteside TL. Novel TGFβ Inhibitors Ameliorate Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression and Improve the Antitumor Immune Response of Anti-PD-L1 Immunotherapy. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:1102-1111. [PMID: 33850003 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
TGFβ is a key regulator of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) progression, and its potential role as a therapeutic target has been investigated with a limited success. This study evaluates two novel TGFβ inhibitors as mono or combinatorial therapy with anti-PD-L1 antibodies (α-PD-L1 Ab) in a murine OSCC model. Immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice bearing malignant oral lesions induced by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) were treated for 4 weeks with TGFβ inhibitors mRER (i.p., 50 μg/d) or mmTGFβ2-7m (10 μg/d delivered by osmotic pumps) alone or in combination with α-PD-L1 Abs (7× i.p. of 100 μg/72 h). Tumor progression and body weight were monitored. Levels of bioactive TGFβ in serum were quantified using a TGFβ bioassay. Tissues were analyzed by immunohistology and flow cytometry. Therapy with mRER or mmTGFβ2-7m reduced tumor burden (P < 0.05) and decreased body weight loss compared with controls. In inhibitor-treated mice, levels of TGFβ in tumor tissue and serum were reduced (P < 0.05), whereas they increased with tumor progression in controls. Both inhibitors enhanced CD8+ T-cell infiltration into tumors and mRER reduced levels of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (P < 0.001). In combination with α-PD-L1 Abs, tumor burden was not further reduced; however, mmTGFβ2-7m further reduced weight loss (P < 0.05). The collagen-rich stroma was reduced by using combinatorial TGFβ/PD-L1 therapies (P < 0.05), enabling an accelerated lymphocyte infiltration into tumor tissues. The blockade of TGFβ signaling by mRER or mmTGFβ2-7m ameliorated in vivo progression of established murine OSCC. The inhibitors promoted antitumor immune responses, alone and in combination with α-PD-L1 Abs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Ludwig
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. .,UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Łukasz Wieteska
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Cynthia S Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Juliana H Azambuja
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Richard J Bauer
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.,Center for Medical Biotechnology, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Torsten E Reichert
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Theresa L Whiteside
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. .,UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Departments of Immunology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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13
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Heier JA, Pokutta S, Dale IW, Kim SK, Hinck AP, Weis WI, Kwiatkowski AV. Distinct intramolecular interactions regulate autoinhibition of vinculin binding in αT-catenin and αE-catenin. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100582. [PMID: 33771561 PMCID: PMC8091058 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Catenin binds directly to β-catenin and connects the cadherin–catenin complex to the actin cytoskeleton. Tension regulates α-catenin conformation. Actomyosin-generated force stretches the middle (M)-region to relieve autoinhibition and reveal a binding site for the actin-binding protein vinculin. It is not known whether the intramolecular interactions that regulate epithelial (αE)-catenin binding are conserved across the α-catenin family. Here, we describe the biochemical properties of testes (αT)-catenin, an α-catenin isoform critical for cardiac function and how intramolecular interactions regulate vinculin-binding autoinhibition. Isothermal titration calorimetry showed that αT-catenin binds the β-catenin–N-cadherin complex with a similar low nanomolar affinity to that of αE-catenin. Limited proteolysis revealed that the αT-catenin M-region adopts a more open conformation than αE-catenin. The αT-catenin M-region binds the vinculin N-terminus with low nanomolar affinity, indicating that the isolated αT-catenin M-region is not autoinhibited and thereby distinct from αE-catenin. However, the αT-catenin head (N- and M-regions) binds vinculin 1000-fold more weakly (low micromolar affinity), indicating that the N-terminus regulates the M-region binding to vinculin. In cells, αT-catenin recruitment of vinculin to cell–cell contacts requires the actin-binding domain and actomyosin-generated tension, indicating that force regulates vinculin binding. Together, our results show that the αT-catenin N-terminus is required to maintain M-region autoinhibition and modulate vinculin binding. We postulate that the unique molecular properties of αT-catenin allow it to function as a scaffold for building specific adhesion complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathon A Heier
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sabine Pokutta
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Ian W Dale
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sun Kyung Kim
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, USA
| | - William I Weis
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Adam V Kwiatkowski
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
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14
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Capasso TL, Trucco SM, Hindes M, Schwartze T, Bloch JL, Kreutzer J, Cook SC, Hinck CS, Treggiari D, Feingold B, Hinck AP, Roman BL. In Search of "Hepatic Factor": Lack of Evidence for ALK1 Ligands BMP9 and BMP10. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2021; 203:249-251. [PMID: 32871084 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202005-1937le] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Stephen C Cook
- University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Grand Rapids, Michigan and
| | | | - Davide Treggiari
- University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, Italy
| | | | | | - Beth L Roman
- University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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15
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Wong SJ, Senkovich O, Artigas JA, Gearhart MD, Ilangovan U, Graham DW, Abel KN, Yu T, Hinck AP, Bardwell VJ, Kim CA. Structure and Role of BCOR PUFD in Noncanonical PRC1 Assembly and Disease. Biochemistry 2020; 59:2718-2728. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J. Wong
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, MSC 7760, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3990, United States
| | - Olga Senkovich
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Midwestern University, 19555 North 59th Avenue, Glendale, Arizona 85308, United States
| | - Jason A. Artigas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Midwestern University, 19555 North 59th Avenue, Glendale, Arizona 85308, United States
| | - Micah D. Gearhart
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, Masonic Cancer Center and Developmental Biology Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Udayar Ilangovan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, MSC 7760, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3990, United States
| | - David W. Graham
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Midwestern University, 19555 North 59th Avenue, Glendale, Arizona 85308, United States
| | - Kelsey N. Abel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Midwestern University, 19555 North 59th Avenue, Glendale, Arizona 85308, United States
| | - Tianrong Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Midwestern University, 19555 North 59th Avenue, Glendale, Arizona 85308, United States
| | - Andrew P. Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Vivian J. Bardwell
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, Masonic Cancer Center and Developmental Biology Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Chongwoo A. Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Midwestern University, 19555 North 59th Avenue, Glendale, Arizona 85308, United States
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16
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Abstract
Betaglycan and endoglin, membrane-bound co-receptors of the TGF-β family, are required to mediate the signaling of a select subset of TGF-β family ligands, TGF-β2 and InhA, and BMP-9 and BMP-10, respectively. Previous biochemical and biophysical methods suggested alternative modes of ligand binding might be responsible for these co-receptors to selectively recognize and potentiate the functions of their ligands, yet the molecular details were lacking. Recent progress determining structures of betaglycan and endoglin, both alone and as bound to their cognate ligands, is presented herein. The structures reveal relatively minor, but very significant structural differences that lead to entirely different modes of ligand binding. The different modes of binding nonetheless share certain commonalities, such as multivalency, which imparts the co-receptors with very high affinity for their cognate ligands, but at the same time provides a mechanism for release by stepwise binding of the signaling receptors, both of which are essential for their functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun Kyung Kim
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh,
Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University California
San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Morkos A Henen
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh,
Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516,
Egypt
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh,
Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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17
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Kim SK, Whitley MJ, Krzysiak TC, Hinck CS, Taylor AB, Zwieb C, Byeon CH, Zhou X, Mendoza V, López-Casillas F, Furey W, Hinck AP. Structural Adaptation in Its Orphan Domain Engenders Betaglycan with an Alternate Mode of Growth Factor Binding Relative to Endoglin. Structure 2019; 27:1427-1442.e4. [PMID: 31327662 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2019.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Betaglycan (BG) and endoglin (ENG), homologous co-receptors of the TGF-β family, potentiate the signaling activity of TGF-β2 and inhibin A, and BMP-9 and BMP-10, respectively. BG exists as monomer and forms 1:1 growth factor (GF) complexes, while ENG exists as a dimer and forms 2:1 GF complexes. Herein, the structure of the BG orphan domain (BGO) reveals an insertion that blocks the region that the endoglin orphan domain (ENGO) uses to bind BMP-9, preventing it from binding in the same manner. Using binding studies with domain-deleted forms of TGF-β and BGO, as well as small-angle X-ray scattering data, BGO is shown to bind its cognate GF in an entirely different manner compared with ENGO. The alternative interfaces likely engender BG and ENG with the ability to selectively bind and target their cognate GFs in a unique temporal-spatial manner, without interfering with one another or other TGF-β family GFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun Kyung Kim
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Tower 3, Room 2051, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA
| | - Matthew J Whitley
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Tower 3, Room 2051, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Troy C Krzysiak
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Tower 3, Room 2051, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Cynthia S Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Tower 3, Room 2051, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Alexander B Taylor
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA; X-ray Crystallography Core Laboratory, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA
| | - Christian Zwieb
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA
| | - Chang-Hyeock Byeon
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Tower 3, Room 2051, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Xiaohong Zhou
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Tower 3, Room 2051, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Valentín Mendoza
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, México
| | - Fernando López-Casillas
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, México
| | - William Furey
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Biomedical Science Tower 3, Room 2051, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
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18
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Ludwig N, Yerneni SS, Hinck CS, Pietrowska M, Hinck AP, Whiteside TL. Abstract 199: TGF-β in exosomes facilitates HNSCC progression by accelerating tumor angiogenesis. Cancer Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2019-199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
TGF-β is a key regulator for tumor initiation and progression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Tumor-derived exosomes (TEX) contain TGF-β and accumulate in the tumor microenvironment (TME). This study characterizes the TGF-β content of HNSCC-derived exosomes and evaluates in vitro and in vivo TGF-β signaling by exosomes that results in promotion of angiogenesis. TEX were isolated from supernantants of 5 different HNSCC cell lines by mini size exclusion chromatography (mini-SEC) and characterized by electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis and mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). TGF-β content in exosomes was evaluated by immunoblotting. Proliferation and migration of SVEC4-10 lymphendothelial cells in response to TEX were investigated in vitro and results were confirmed in vivo, using a matrigel plug model in mice. In these experiments a novel trivalent TGF-β receptor trap (mRER) was used to inhibit TGF-β signaling. TGF-β levels and activity were similarly measured in exosomes isolated from plasma of 20 HNSCC patients. TEX carried high levels of TGF-β and were found to be potent inducers of angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo through functional reprogramming and phenotypic modulation of endothelial cells. Proliferation (p<0.01) and migration (p<0.01) by SVEC4-10 were stimulated by TEX and effects were inhibited by mRER treatment of SVEC4-10 (p<0.05). TEX promoted formation of defined vascular structures in vivo, and increased (p<0.001) vascularization in matrigel plugs relative to control. Those effects were inhibited by mRER treatment (p<0.05). Exosomes in plasma of HNSCC patients carried varying levels of TGF-β, and patients with nodal metastases had elevated TGF-β levels (p<0.01) relative to patients with no meastasis.The data show that TGF-β signaling by TEX in HNSCC promotes angiogenesis and drives tumor progression. Future efforts should focus on silencing TEX, thereby adding new options to existing anti-angiogenic therapies.
Citation Format: Nils Ludwig, Saigopalakrishna S. Yerneni, Cynthia S. Hinck, Monika Pietrowska, Andrew P. Hinck, Theresa L. Whiteside. TGF-β in exosomes facilitates HNSCC progression by accelerating tumor angiogenesis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 199.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Ludwig
- 1University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
| | | | | | | | - Andrew P. Hinck
- 3University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
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Henen MA, Mahlawat P, Zwieb C, Kodali RB, Hinck CS, Hanna RD, Krzysiak TC, Ilangovan U, Cano KE, Hinck G, Vonberg M, McCabe M, Hinck AP. TGF-β2 uses the concave surface of its extended finger region to bind betaglycan's ZP domain via three residues specific to TGF-β and inhibin-α. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:3065-3080. [PMID: 30598510 PMCID: PMC6398128 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.005210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Betaglycan (BG) is a membrane-bound co-receptor of the TGF-β family that selectively binds transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) isoforms and inhibin A (InhA) to enable temporal-spatial patterns of signaling essential for their functions in vivo Here, using NMR titrations of methyl-labeled TGF-β2 with BG's C-terminal binding domain, BGZP-C, and surface plasmon resonance binding measurements with TGF-β2 variants, we found that the BGZP-C-binding site on TGF-β2 is located on the inner surface of its extended finger region. Included in this binding site are Ile-92, Lys-97, and Glu-99, which are entirely or mostly specific to the TGF-β isoforms and the InhA α-subunit, but they are unconserved in other TGF-β family growth factors (GFs). In accord with the proposed specificity-determining role of these residues, BG bound bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) weakly or not at all, and TGF-β2 variants with the corresponding residues from BMP-2 bound BGZP-C more weakly than corresponding alanine variants. The BGZP-C-binding site on InhA previously was reported to be located on the outside of the extended finger region, yet at the same time to include Ser-112 and Lys-119, homologous to TGF-β2 Ile-92 and Lys-97, on the inside of the fingers. Therefore, it is likely that both TGF-β2 and InhA bind BGZP-C through a site on the inside of their extended finger regions. Overall, these results identify the BGZP-C-binding site on TGF-β2 and shed light on the specificity of BG for select TGF-β-type GFs and the mechanisms by which BG influences their signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morkos A Henen
- From the Departments of Structural Biology and
- the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
| | - Pardeep Mahlawat
- From the Departments of Structural Biology and
- the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
| | - Christian Zwieb
- the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
| | | | - Cynthia S Hinck
- From the Departments of Structural Biology and
- the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
| | - Ramsey D Hanna
- Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260 and
| | | | - Udayar Ilangovan
- the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
| | - Kristin E Cano
- the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
| | - Garrett Hinck
- From the Departments of Structural Biology and
- the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
| | - Machell Vonberg
- the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
| | - Megan McCabe
- the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- From the Departments of Structural Biology and
- the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
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20
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Hinck AP. Structure-guided engineering of TGF-βs for the development of novel inhibitors and probing mechanism. Bioorg Med Chem 2018; 26:5239-5246. [PMID: 30026042 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2018.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The increasing availability of detailed structural information on many biological systems provides an avenue for manipulation of these structures, either for probing mechanism or for developing novel therapeutic agents for treating disease. This has been accompanied by the advent of several powerful new methods, such as the ability to incorporate non-natural amino acids or perform fragment screening, increasing the capacity to leverage this new structural information to aid in these pursuits. The abundance of structural information also provides new opportunities for protein engineering, which may become more and more relevant as treatment of diseases using gene therapy approaches become increasingly common. This is illustrated by example with the TGF-β family of proteins, for which there is ample structural information, yet no approved inhibitors for treating diseases, such as cancer and fibrosis that are promoted by excessive TGF-β signaling. The results presented demonstrate that through several relatively simple modifications, primarily involving the removal of an α-helix and replacement of it with a flexible loop, it is possible to alter TGF-βs from being potent signaling proteins into inhibitors of TGF-β signaling. The engineered TGF-βs have improved specificity relative to kinase inhibitors and a much smaller size compared to monoclonal antibodies, and thus may prove successful as either as an injected therapeutic or as a gene therapy-based therapeutic, where other classes of inhibitors have failed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
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21
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Zhu H, Gu X, Xia L, Zhou Y, Bouamar H, Yang J, Ding X, Zwieb C, Zhang J, Hinck AP, Sun LZ, Zhu X. A Novel TGFβ Trap Blocks Chemotherapeutics-Induced TGFβ1 Signaling and Enhances Their Anticancer Activity in Gynecologic Cancers. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:2780-2793. [PMID: 29549162 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-3112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Revised: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: We investigated the mechanisms of how TGFβ pathway is activated by chemotherapeutics and whether a novel TGFβ trap called RER can block chemotherapeutics-induced TGFβ pathway activation and enhance their antitumor activity in gynecologic cancer.Patients and Methods: An unbiased bioinformatic analysis of differentially expressed genes in 31 ovarian cases due to chemotherapy was used to identify altered master regulators. Phosphorylated Smad2 was determined in 30 paired cervical cancer using IHC. Furthermore, the effects of chemotherapeutics on TGFβ signaling and function, and the effects of RER on chemotherapy-induced TGFβ signaling were determined in gynecologic cancer cells.Results: Chemotherapy-induced transcriptome alteration in ovarian cancer was significantly associated with TGFβ signaling activation. Chemotherapy was found to activate TGFβ signaling as indicated by phosphorylated Smad2 in paired cervical tumor samples (pre- and post-chemotherapy). Similar to TGFβ1, chemotherapeutics were found to stimulate Smad2/3 phosphorylation, cell migration, and markers related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cells (CSC). These TGFβ-like effects were due to the stimulation of TGFβ1 expression and secretion, and could all be abrogated by TGFβ inhibitors including a novel TGFβ trap protein called RER both in vitro and in vivo Importantly, combination treatment with RER and cisplatin showed a higher tumor inhibitory activity than either agent alone in a xenograft model of ovarian cancer.Conclusions: Chemotherapeutics can stimulate TGFβ1 production and consequently enhance TGFβ signaling, EMT, and CSC features resulting in reduced chemo-sensitivity. Combination therapy with a TGFβ inhibitor should alleviate this unintended side effect of chemotherapeutics and enhance their therapeutic efficacy. Clin Cancer Res; 24(12); 2780-93. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas
| | - Xiang Gu
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas
| | - Lu Xia
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital and Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan, China
| | - You Zhou
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas
| | - Hakim Bouamar
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas
| | - Junhua Yang
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas
| | - Xiaofei Ding
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas
| | - Christian Zwieb
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas
| | - Jianan Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas
| | - Lu-Zhe Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China. .,Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas
| | - Xueqiong Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
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22
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Qin T, Barron L, Xia L, Huang H, Villarreal MM, Zwaagstra J, Collins C, Yang J, Zwieb C, Kodali R, Hinck CS, Kim SK, Reddick RL, Shu C, O'Connor-McCourt MD, Hinck AP, Sun LZ. A novel highly potent trivalent TGF-β receptor trap inhibits early-stage tumorigenesis and tumor cell invasion in murine Pten-deficient prostate glands. Oncotarget 2018; 7:86087-86102. [PMID: 27863384 PMCID: PMC5349899 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling on prostate tumorigenesis has been shown to be strongly dependent on the stage of development, with TGF-β functioning as a tumor suppressor in early stages of disease and as a promoter in later stages. To study in further detail the paradoxical tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting roles of the TGF-β pathway, we investigated the effect of systemic treatment with a TGF-β inhibitor on early stages of prostate tumorigenesis. To ensure effective inhibition, we developed and employed a novel trivalent TGF-β receptor trap, RER, comprised of domains derived from the TGF-β type II and type III receptors. This trap was shown to completely block TβRII binding, to antagonize TGF-β1 and TGF-β3 signaling in cultured epithelial cells at low picomolar concentrations, and it showed equal or better anti-TGF-β activities than a pan TGF-β neutralizing antibody and a TGF-β receptor I kinase inhibitor in various prostate cancer cell lines. Systemic administration of RER inhibited prostate tumor cell proliferation as indicated by reduced Ki67 positive cells and invasion potential of tumor cells in high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) lesions in the prostate glands of Pten conditional null mice. These results provide evidence that TGF-β acts as a promoter rather than a suppressor in the relatively early stages of this spontaneous prostate tumorigenesis model. Thus, inhibition of TGF-β signaling in early stages of prostate cancer may be a novel therapeutic strategy to inhibit the progression as well as the metastatic potential in patients with prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tai Qin
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.,Department of Vascular Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital and Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan, China
| | - Lindsey Barron
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Lu Xia
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital and Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan, China
| | - Haojie Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Maria M Villarreal
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - John Zwaagstra
- National Research Council Human Health Therapeutics Portfolio, Montréal, Quebec, Canada, Maureen O'Connor-McCourt is currently affiliated with Formation Biologics, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Cathy Collins
- National Research Council Human Health Therapeutics Portfolio, Montréal, Quebec, Canada, Maureen O'Connor-McCourt is currently affiliated with Formation Biologics, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Junhua Yang
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Christian Zwieb
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ravindra Kodali
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Cynthia S Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Sun Kyung Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Robert L Reddick
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Chang Shu
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital and Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan, China
| | - Maureen D O'Connor-McCourt
- National Research Council Human Health Therapeutics Portfolio, Montréal, Quebec, Canada, Maureen O'Connor-McCourt is currently affiliated with Formation Biologics, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Lu-Zhe Sun
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.,Cancer Therapy and Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas, USA
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23
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Ramachandran A, Vizán P, Das D, Chakravarty P, Vogt J, Rogers KW, Müller P, Hinck AP, Sapkota GP, Hill CS. TGF-β uses a novel mode of receptor activation to phosphorylate SMAD1/5 and induce epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. eLife 2018; 7:e31756. [PMID: 29376829 PMCID: PMC5832415 DOI: 10.7554/elife.31756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The best characterized signaling pathway downstream of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is through SMAD2 and SMAD3. However, TGF-β also induces phosphorylation of SMAD1 and SMAD5, but the mechanism of this phosphorylation and its functional relevance is not known. Here, we show that TGF-β-induced SMAD1/5 phosphorylation requires members of two classes of type I receptor, TGFBR1 and ACVR1, and establish a new paradigm for receptor activation where TGFBR1 phosphorylates and activates ACVR1, which phosphorylates SMAD1/5. We demonstrate the biological significance of this pathway by showing that approximately a quarter of the TGF-β-induced transcriptome depends on SMAD1/5 signaling, with major early transcriptional targets being the ID genes. Finally, we show that TGF-β-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition requires signaling via both the SMAD3 and SMAD1/5 pathways, with SMAD1/5 signaling being essential to induce ID1. Therefore, combinatorial signaling via both SMAD pathways is essential for the full TGF-β-induced transcriptional program and physiological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pedro Vizán
- Developmental Signalling LaboratoryThe Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Debipriya Das
- Developmental Signalling LaboratoryThe Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Probir Chakravarty
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics FacilityThe Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Janis Vogt
- Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation UnitUniversity of DundeeDundeeUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Patrick Müller
- Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the Max Planck SocietyTübingenGermany
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural BiologyUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghUnited States
| | - Gopal P Sapkota
- Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation UnitUniversity of DundeeDundeeUnited Kingdom
| | - Caroline S Hill
- Developmental Signalling LaboratoryThe Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
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Abstract
Activin A receptor like type 1 (ALK1) is a transmembrane serine/threonine receptor kinase in the transforming growth factor-beta receptor family that is expressed on endothelial cells. Defects in ALK1 signaling cause the autosomal dominant vascular disorder, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), which is characterized by development of direct connections between arteries and veins, or arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Although previous studies have implicated ALK1 in various aspects of sprouting angiogenesis, including tip/stalk cell selection, migration, and proliferation, recent work suggests an intriguing role for ALK1 in transducing a flow-based signal that governs directed endothelial cell migration within patent, perfused vessels. In this review, we present an updated view of the mechanism of ALK1 signaling, put forth a unified hypothesis to explain the cellular missteps that lead to AVMs associated with ALK1 deficiency, and discuss emerging roles for ALK1 signaling in diseases beyond HHT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth L Roman
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, 130 DeSoto St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA.
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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25
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Qin T, Barron L, Xia L, Huang H, Villarreal MM, Zwaagstra J, Collins C, Yang J, Zwieb C, Kodali R, Hinck CS, Kim SK, Reddick RL, Shu C, O'Connor-McCourt MD, Hinck AP, Sun LZ. Correction: A novel highly potent trivalent TGF-β receptor trap inhibits early-stage tumorigenesis and tumor cell invasion in murine Pten-deficient prostate glands. Oncotarget 2017; 8:57905. [PMID: 28915722 PMCID: PMC5593694 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
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26
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Villarreal MM, Kim SK, Barron L, Kodali R, Baardsnes J, Hinck CS, Krzysiak TC, Henen MA, Pakhomova O, Mendoza V, O'Connor-McCourt MD, Lafer EM, López-Casillas F, Hinck AP. Correction to Binding Properties of the Transforming Growth Factor-β Coreceptor Betaglycan: Proposed Mechanism for Potentiation of Receptor Complex Assembly and Signaling. Biochemistry 2017; 56:3689. [PMID: 28677957 PMCID: PMC8504794 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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27
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Hinck AP, Neira JL. An introduction to the special issue on biomolecular NMR. Arch Biochem Biophys 2017; 628:1-2. [PMID: 28666741 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2017.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
| | - Jose L Neira
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Elche, Alicante 03202, Spain.
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28
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Kim SK, Barron L, Hinck CS, Petrunak EM, Cano KE, Thangirala A, Iskra B, Brothers M, Vonberg M, Leal B, Richter B, Kodali R, Taylor AB, Du S, Barnes CO, Sulea T, Calero G, Hart PJ, Hart MJ, Demeler B, Hinck AP. An engineered transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) monomer that functions as a dominant negative to block TGF-β signaling. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:7173-7188. [PMID: 28228478 PMCID: PMC5409485 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.768754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Revised: 02/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The transforming growth factor β isoforms, TGF-β1, -β2, and -β3, are small secreted homodimeric signaling proteins with essential roles in regulating the adaptive immune system and maintaining the extracellular matrix. However, dysregulation of the TGF-β pathway is responsible for promoting the progression of several human diseases, including cancer and fibrosis. Despite the known importance of TGF-βs in promoting disease progression, no inhibitors have been approved for use in humans. Herein, we describe an engineered TGF-β monomer, lacking the heel helix, a structural motif essential for binding the TGF-β type I receptor (TβRI) but dispensable for binding the other receptor required for TGF-β signaling, the TGF-β type II receptor (TβRII), as an alternative therapeutic modality for blocking TGF-β signaling in humans. As shown through binding studies and crystallography, the engineered monomer retained the same overall structure of native TGF-β monomers and bound TβRII in an identical manner. Cell-based luciferase assays showed that the engineered monomer functioned as a dominant negative to inhibit TGF-β signaling with a Ki of 20-70 nm Investigation of the mechanism showed that the high affinity of the engineered monomer for TβRII, coupled with its reduced ability to non-covalently dimerize and its inability to bind and recruit TβRI, enabled it to bind endogenous TβRII but prevented it from binding and recruiting TβRI to form a signaling complex. Such engineered monomers provide a new avenue to probe and manipulate TGF-β signaling and may inform similar modifications of other TGF-β family members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun Kyung Kim
- the Departments of Biochemistry and Structural Biology and
| | | | - Cynthia S Hinck
- From the Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260
| | - Elyse M Petrunak
- From the Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260
| | - Kristin E Cano
- the Departments of Biochemistry and Structural Biology and
| | | | - Brian Iskra
- the Departments of Biochemistry and Structural Biology and
| | - Molly Brothers
- the Departments of Biochemistry and Structural Biology and
| | | | - Belinda Leal
- the Departments of Biochemistry and Structural Biology and
| | - Blair Richter
- the Departments of Biochemistry and Structural Biology and
| | - Ravindra Kodali
- From the Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260
| | | | - Shoucheng Du
- From the Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260
| | - Christopher O Barnes
- From the Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260
| | - Traian Sulea
- the National Research Council, Human Health Therapeutics Portfolio, Montréal, Quebec H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Guillermo Calero
- From the Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260
| | - P John Hart
- the Departments of Biochemistry and Structural Biology and
| | - Matthew J Hart
- Center for Innovative Drug Discovery, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, and
| | | | - Andrew P Hinck
- From the Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260,
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29
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Walker RG, Czepnik M, Goebel EJ, McCoy JC, Vujic A, Cho M, Oh J, Aykul S, Walton KL, Schang G, Bernard DJ, Hinck AP, Harrison CA, Martinez-Hackert E, Wagers AJ, Lee RT, Thompson TB. Structural basis for potency differences between GDF8 and GDF11. BMC Biol 2017; 15:19. [PMID: 28257634 PMCID: PMC5336696 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-017-0350-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Growth/differentiation factor 8 (GDF8) and GDF11 are two highly similar members of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) family. While GDF8 has been recognized as a negative regulator of muscle growth and differentiation, there are conflicting studies on the function of GDF11 and whether GDF11 has beneficial effects on age-related dysfunction. To address whether GDF8 and GDF11 are functionally identical, we compared their signaling and structural properties. Results Here we show that, despite their high similarity, GDF11 is a more potent activator of SMAD2/3 and signals more effectively through the type I activin-like receptor kinase receptors ALK4/5/7 than GDF8. Resolution of the GDF11:FS288 complex, apo-GDF8, and apo-GDF11 crystal structures reveals unique properties of both ligands, specifically in the type I receptor binding site. Lastly, substitution of GDF11 residues into GDF8 confers enhanced activity to GDF8. Conclusions These studies identify distinctive structural features of GDF11 that enhance its potency, relative to GDF8; however, the biological consequences of these differences remain to be determined. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12915-017-0350-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan G Walker
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Magdalena Czepnik
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Erich J Goebel
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Jason C McCoy
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Ana Vujic
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute and Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Miook Cho
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute and Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.,Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Juhyun Oh
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute and Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.,Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Senem Aykul
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Kelly L Walton
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Australia.,Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Gauthier Schang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Craig A Harrison
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Australia.,Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Erik Martinez-Hackert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Amy J Wagers
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute and Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.,Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Richard T Lee
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute and Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Thomas B Thompson
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA. .,University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way ML 0524, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA.
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30
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Villarreal MM, Kim SK, Barron L, Kodali R, Baardsnes J, Hinck CS, Krzysiak TC, Henen MA, Pakhomova O, Mendoza V, O'Connor-McCourt MD, Lafer EM, López-Casillas F, Hinck AP. Binding Properties of the Transforming Growth Factor-β Coreceptor Betaglycan: Proposed Mechanism for Potentiation of Receptor Complex Assembly and Signaling. Biochemistry 2016; 55:6880-6896. [PMID: 27951653 PMCID: PMC5551644 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.6b00566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Transforming
growth factor (TGF) β1, β2, and β3
(TGF-β1–TGF-β3, respectively) are small secreted
signaling proteins that each signal through the TGF-β type I
and type II receptors (TβRI and TβRII, respectively).
However, TGF-β2, which is well-known to bind TβRII several
hundred-fold more weakly than TGF-β1 and TGF-β3, has an
additional requirement for betaglycan, a membrane-anchored nonsignaling
receptor. Betaglycan has two domains that bind TGF-β2 at independent
sites, but how it binds TGF-β2 to potentiate TβRII binding
and how the complex with TGF-β, TβRII, and betaglycan
undergoes the transition to the signaling complex with TGF-β,
TβRII, and TβRI are not understood. To investigate the
mechanism, the binding of the TGF-βs to the betaglycan extracellular
domain, as well as its two independent binding domains, either directly
or in combination with the TβRI and TβRII ectodomains,
was studied using surface plasmon resonance, isothermal titration
calorimetry, and size-exclusion chromatography. These studies show
that betaglycan binds TGF-β homodimers with a 1:1 stoichiometry
in a manner that allows one molecule of TβRII to bind. These
studies further show that betaglycan modestly potentiates the binding
of TβRII and must be displaced to allow TβRI to bind.
These findings suggest that betaglycan functions to bind and concentrate
TGF-β2 on the cell surface and thus promote the binding of TβRII
by both membrane-localization effects and allostery. These studies
further suggest that the transition to the signaling complex is mediated
by the recruitment of TβRI, which simultaneously displaces betaglycan
and stabilizes the bound TβRII by direct receptor–receptor
contact.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ravi Kodali
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Jason Baardsnes
- National Research Council, Human Health Therapeutics Portfolio , Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Cynthia S Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Troy C Krzysiak
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Morkos A Henen
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | | | - Valentín Mendoza
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | | | | | - Fernando López-Casillas
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
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31
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Abstract
We review the evolution and structure of members of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family, antagonistic or agonistic modulators, and receptors that regulate TGF-β signaling in extracellular environments. The growth factor (GF) domain common to all family members and many of their antagonists evolved from a common cystine knot growth factor (CKGF) domain. The CKGF superfamily comprises six distinct families in primitive metazoans, including the TGF-β and Dan families. Compared with Wnt/Frizzled and Notch/Delta families that also specify body axes, cell fate, tissues, and other families that contain CKGF domains that evolved in parallel, the TGF-β family was the most fruitful in evolution. Complexes between the prodomains and GFs of the TGF-β family suggest a new paradigm for regulating GF release by conversion from closed- to open-arm procomplex conformations. Ternary complexes of the final step in extracellular signaling show how TGF-β GF dimers bind type I and type II receptors on the cell surface, and enable understanding of much of the specificity and promiscuity in extracellular signaling. However, structures suggest that when GFs bind repulsive guidance molecule (RGM) family coreceptors, type I receptors do not bind until reaching an intracellular, membrane-enveloped compartment, blurring the line between extra- and intracellular signaling. Modulator protein structures show how structurally diverse antagonists including follistatins, noggin, and members of the chordin family bind GFs to regulate signaling; complexes with the Dan family remain elusive. Much work is needed to understand how these molecular components assemble to form signaling hubs in extracellular environments in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260
| | - Thomas D Mueller
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs Institute of the University Wuerzburg, D-97082 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Timothy A Springer
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
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32
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Abstract
The ability to understand the molecular mechanisms by which secreted signaling proteins of the TGF-β superfamily assemble their cell surface receptors into complexes to initiate downstream signaling is dependent upon the ability to determine atomic-resolution structures of the signaling proteins, the ectodomains of the receptors, and the complexes that they form. The structures determined to date have revealed major differences in the overall architecture of the signaling complexes formed by the TGF-βs and BMPs, which has provided insights as to how they have evolved to fulfill their distinct functions. Such studies, have however, only been applied to a few members of the TGF-β superfamily, which is largely due to the difficulty of obtaining milligram-scale quantities of highly homogenous preparations of the disulfide-rich signaling proteins and receptor ectodomains of the superfamily. Here we describe methods used to produce signaling proteins and receptor ectodomains of the TGF-β superfamily using bacterial and mammalian expression systems and procedures to purify them to homogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Huang
- Protein Chemistry, Novo Nordisk Research Center China, 20 Life Science Park Rd, Bldg 2, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Protein Chemistry, Novo Nordisk Research Center China, 20 Life Science Park Rd, Bldg 2, Beijing, 102206, China.
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33
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Zhang S, Hinck AP, Fitzpatrick PF. The Amino Acid Specificity for Activation of Phenylalanine Hydroxylase Matches the Specificity for Stabilization of Regulatory Domain Dimers. Biochemistry 2015; 54:5167-74. [PMID: 26252467 PMCID: PMC4551101 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b00616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Liver
phenylalanine hydroxylase is allosterically activated by
phenylalanine. The structural changes that accompany activation have
not been identified, but recent studies of the effects of phenylalanine
on the isolated regulatory domain of the enzyme support a model in
which phenylalanine binding promotes regulatory domain dimerization.
Such a model predicts that compounds that stabilize the regulatory
domain dimer will also activate the enzyme. Nuclear magnetic resonance
spectroscopy and analytical ultracentrifugation were used to determine
the ability of different amino acids and phenylalanine analogues to
stabilize the regulatory domain dimer. The abilities of these compounds
to activate the enzyme were analyzed by measuring their effects on
the fluorescence change that accompanies activation and on the activity
directly. At concentrations of 10–50 mM, d-phenylalanine, l-methionine, l-norleucine, and (S)-2-amino-3-phenyl-1-propanol were able to activate the enzyme to
the same extent as 1 mM l-phenylalanine. Lower levels of
activation were seen with l-4-aminophenylalanine, l-leucine, l-isoleucine, and 3-phenylpropionate. The ability
of these compounds to stabilize the regulatory domain dimer agreed
with their ability to activate the enzyme. These results support a
model in which allosteric activation of phenylalanine hydroxylase
is linked to dimerization of regulatory domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengnan Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center , San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center , San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
| | - Paul F Fitzpatrick
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center , San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
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34
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Zhuo Y, Cano KE, Wang L, Ilangovan U, Hinck AP, Sousa R, Lafer EM. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Structural Mapping Reveals Promiscuous Interactions between Clathrin-Box Motif Sequences and the N-Terminal Domain of the Clathrin Heavy Chain. Biochemistry 2015; 54:2571-80. [PMID: 25844500 PMCID: PMC4429812 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The recruitment and organization
of clathrin at endocytic sites
first to form coated pits and then clathrin-coated vesicles depend
on interactions between the clathrin N-terminal domain (TD) and multiple
clathrin binding sequences on the cargo adaptor and accessory proteins
that are concentrated at such sites. Up to four distinct protein binding
sites have been proposed to be present on the clathrin TD, with each
site proposed to interact with a distinct clathrin binding motif.
However, an understanding of how such interactions contribute to clathrin
coat assembly must take into account observations that any three of
these four sites on clathrin TD can be mutationally ablated without
causing loss of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. To take an unbiased
approach to mapping binding sites for clathrin-box motifs on clathrin
TD, we used isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and nuclear magnetic
resonance spectroscopy. Our ITC experiments revealed that a canonical
clathrin-box motif peptide from the AP-2 adaptor binds to clathrin
TD with a stoichiometry of 3:1. Assignment of 90% of the total visible
amide resonances in the TROSY-HSQC spectrum of 13C-, 2H-, and 15N-labeled TD40 allowed us to map these
three binding sites by analyzing the chemical shift changes as clathrin-box
motif peptides were titrated into clathrin TD. We found that three
different clathrin-box motif peptides can each simultaneously bind
not only to the previously characterized clathrin-box site but also
to the W-box site and the β-arrestin splice loop site on a single
TD. The promiscuity of these binding sites can help explain why their
mutation does not lead to larger effects on clathrin function and
suggests a mechanism by which clathrin may be transferred between
different proteins during the course of an endocytic event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhuo
- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
| | - Kristin E Cano
- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
| | - Liping Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
| | - Udayar Ilangovan
- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
| | - Rui Sousa
- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
| | - Eileen M Lafer
- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
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35
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Khalkhali-Ellis Z, Kirschmann DA, Seftor EA, Gilgur A, Bodenstine TM, Hinck AP, Hendrix MJC. Divergence(s) in nodal signaling between aggressive melanoma and embryonic stem cells. Int J Cancer 2014; 136:E242-51. [PMID: 25204799 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.29198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2014] [Revised: 08/04/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The significant role of the embryonic morphogen Nodal in maintaining the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells is well documented. Interestingly, the recent discovery of Nodal's re-expression in several aggressive and metastatic cancers has highlighted its critical role in self renewal and maintenance of the stem cell-like characteristics of tumor cells, such as melanoma. However, the key TGFβ/Nodal signaling component(s) governing Nodal's effects in metastatic melanoma remain mostly unknown. By employing receptor profiling at the mRNA and protein level(s), we made the novel discovery that embryonic stem cells and metastatic melanoma cells share a similar repertoire of Type I serine/threonine kinase receptors, but diverge in their Type II receptor expression. Ligand:receptor crosslinking and native gel binding assays indicate that metastatic melanoma cells employ the heterodimeric TGFβ receptor I/TGFβ receptor II (TGFβRI/TGFβRII) for signal transduction, whereas embryonic stem cells use the Activin receptors I and II (ACTRI/ACTRII). This unexpected receptor usage by tumor cells was tested by: neutralizing antibody to block its function; and transfecting the dominant negative receptor to compete with the endogenous receptor for ligand binding. Furthermore, a direct biological role for TGFβRII was found to underlie vasculogenic mimicry (VM), an endothelial phenotype contributing to vascular perfusion and associated with the functional plasticity of aggressive melanoma. Collectively, these findings reveal the divergence in Nodal signaling between embryonic stem cells and metastatic melanoma that can impact new therapeutic strategies targeting the re-emergence of embryonic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhila Khalkhali-Ellis
- Cancer Biology and Epigenomics Program, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
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36
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Huang T, Schor SL, Hinck AP. Biological activity differences between TGF-β1 and TGF-β3 correlate with differences in the rigidity and arrangement of their component monomers. Biochemistry 2014; 53:5737-49. [PMID: 25153513 PMCID: PMC4165442 DOI: 10.1021/bi500647d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
TGF-β1, -β2, and -β3 are small, secreted signaling proteins. They share 71-80% sequence identity and signal through the same receptors, yet the isoform-specific null mice have distinctive phenotypes and are inviable. The replacement of the coding sequence of TGF-β1 with TGF-β3 and TGF-β3 with TGF-β1 led to only partial rescue of the mutant phenotypes, suggesting that intrinsic differences between them contribute to the requirement of each in vivo. Here, we investigated whether the previously reported differences in the flexibility of the interfacial helix and arrangement of monomers was responsible for the differences in activity by generating two chimeric proteins in which residues 54-75 in the homodimer interface were swapped. Structural analysis of these using NMR and functional analysis using a dermal fibroblast migration assay showed that swapping the interfacial region swapped both the conformational preferences and activity. Conformational and activity differences were also observed between TGF-β3 and a variant with four helix-stabilizing residues from TGF-β1, suggesting that the observed changes were due to increased helical stability and the altered conformation, as proposed. Surface plasmon resonance analysis showed that TGF-β1, TGF-β3, and variants bound the type II signaling receptor, TβRII, nearly identically, but had small differences in the dissociation rate constant for recruitment of the type I signaling receptor, TβRI. However, the latter did not correlate with conformational preference or activity. Hence, the difference in activity arises from differences in their conformations, not their manner of receptor binding, suggesting that a matrix protein that differentially binds them might determine their distinct activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio , San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, United States
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37
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Abstract
In this issue of Structure, Nolan and colleagues present the structure of BMP antagonist, PRDC, which adopts a head-to-tail dimer with distinct structure and inhibitory mechanism compared to other dimeric antagonists of the TGF-β superfamily, such as noggin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA.
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38
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Zhang S, Huang T, Ilangovan U, Hinck AP, Fitzpatrick PF. The solution structure of the regulatory domain of tyrosine hydroxylase. J Mol Biol 2013; 426:1483-97. [PMID: 24361276 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2013.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2013] [Revised: 11/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Tyrosine hydroxylase (TyrH) catalyzes the hydroxylation of tyrosine to form 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine in the biosynthesis of the catecholamine neurotransmitters. The activity of the enzyme is regulated by phosphorylation of serine residues in a regulatory domain and by binding of catecholamines to the active site. Available structures of TyrH lack the regulatory domain, limiting the understanding of the effect of regulation on structure. We report the use of NMR spectroscopy to analyze the solution structure of the isolated regulatory domain of rat TyrH. The protein is composed of a largely unstructured N-terminal region (residues 1-71) and a well-folded C-terminal portion (residues 72-159). The structure of a truncated version of the regulatory domain containing residues 65-159 has been determined and establishes that it is an ACT domain. The isolated domain is a homodimer in solution, with the structure of each monomer very similar to that of the core of the regulatory domain of phenylalanine hydroxylase. Two TyrH regulatory domain monomers form an ACT domain dimer composed of a sheet of eight strands with four α-helices on one side of the sheet. Backbone dynamic analyses were carried out to characterize the conformational flexibility of TyrH65-159. The results provide molecular details critical for understanding the regulatory mechanism of TyrH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengnan Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Tao Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Udayar Ilangovan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Paul F Fitzpatrick
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
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39
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De Mukhopadhyay K, Elkahloun AG, Hinck AP, Yoon K, Cornell JE, Shu L, Yang J, Sun L. Abstract P1-05-18: Determining the molecular mechanism of the breast cancer-induced brain metastasis and a role of a novel pan-TGF-β inhibitor as a potential therapy for brain metastasis in a mouse xenograft model. Cancer Res 2012. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.sabcs12-p1-05-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Breast cancer (BCa) is the most common malignant disease in women in the U.S. Nearly 20% of patients with advanced BCa are eventually diagnosed with brain lesions, which is a devastating complication in patients with BCa over-expressing EGF receptor family members including Her2 positive and triple negative breast cancer. It is the most feared complication of BCa in part because are not capable of significantly treating the BCa-induced brain metastases due to the inability of the available treatment regimens to effectively penetrate the blood brain barrier (BBB) and also due to our limited knowledge on cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive the homing to and growth in the brain of BCa cells. Therefore, there is a need of efficient model system that can significantly contribute towards our understanding of different factors from both host and tumor leading to brain metastasis. We have recently isolated a novel BCa cell line B6TC that was generated through fusion between human BCa, MDA-MB-231 and ZR-75-1 cells in mouse bone marrow. This B6TC cell line showed higher propensity to metastasize to brain than its parental cells when inoculated through intracardiac injection in female athymic nude mice. In order to generate a highly brain metastatic breast cancer model for mechanistic research, we subjected the B6TC cells through four rounds of selection for cells that were capable of trans-endothelial cell invasion to obtain cells that could invade through BBB. This in vitro selected cell line was further subjected through three rounds of in vivo selection for cells that were capable of metastasizing to the brain and the cells after third round selection was named N3LR, which has the highest potential to cause brain metastasis. In searching for genes and pathways that may contribute to the increased brain metastasis of N3-LR cell with microarray analysis, we found that the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) signaling pathway is upregulated in N3-LR cell in comparison with B6TC cell, in addition to the EGF and prostaglandin signaling pathways that have been reported to be associated with brain metastatic breast cancer cells. Functional comparison also showed that N3-LR cell was more migratory than B6TC cell and more responsive to TGFβ-induced phosphorylation of Smad3 as well as migration, suggesting that TGFβ signaling may contribute to the increased brain metastatic potential. We next investigated whether metastatic tumor growth in the brain microenvironment can be inhibited by systemic administration of a potent pan-TGFβ inhibitor, BGERII- a recombinant fusion protein containing the endoglin domain of betaglycan (BGE) and the extracellular domain of RII. The animals were inoculated intracardically with N3LR, the most potent subline of highly metastatic B6TC cells, and were then treated with vehicle or BGERII systemically via i.p. injection right after the inoculation. After three weeks, the BGERII treated group showed lower brain metastasis incidence and tumor burden as detected by whole mouse bioluminescence and GFP imaging. Further analyses to understand the underlying molecular and regulatory mechanism of brain metastasis and its intervention in our mouse model is underway for the discovery of novel molecularly targeted drugs to prevent and eradicate BCa metastasis initiation, progression and recurrence.
Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-05-18.
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Affiliation(s)
- K De Mukhopadhyay
- University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX; National Human Genome Research Institute-NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | - AG Elkahloun
- University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX; National Human Genome Research Institute-NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | - AP Hinck
- University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX; National Human Genome Research Institute-NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | - K Yoon
- University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX; National Human Genome Research Institute-NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | - JE Cornell
- University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX; National Human Genome Research Institute-NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | - L Shu
- University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX; National Human Genome Research Institute-NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | - J Yang
- University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX; National Human Genome Research Institute-NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | - L Sun
- University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX; National Human Genome Research Institute-NIH, Bethesda, MD
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40
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Mahlawat P, Ilangovan U, Biswas T, Sun LZ, Hinck AP. Structure of the Alk1 extracellular domain and characterization of its bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) binding properties. Biochemistry 2012; 51:6328-41. [PMID: 22799562 DOI: 10.1021/bi300942x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are secreted signaling proteins - they transduce their signals by assembling complexes comprised of one of three known type II receptors and one of four known type I receptors. BMP-9 binds and signals through the type I receptor Alk1, but not other Alks, while BMP-2, -4, and -7 bind and signal through Alk3, and the close homologue Alk6, but not Alk1. The present results, which include the determination of the Alk1 structure using NMR and identification of residues important for binding using SPR, show that the β-strand framework of Alk1 is highly similar to Alk3, yet there are significant differences in loops shown previously to be important for binding. The most pronounced difference is in the N-terminal portion of the β4-β5 loop, which is structurally ordered and includes a similarly placed but shorter helix in Alk1 compared to Alk3. The altered conformation of the β4-β5 loop, and to lesser extent β1-β2 loop, cause clashes when Alk1 is positioned onto BMP-9 in the manner that Alk3 is positioned onto BMP-2. This necessitates an alternative manner of binding, which is supported by a model of the BMP-9/Alk1 complex constructed using the program RosettaDock. The model shows that Alk1 is positioned similar to Alk3 but is rotated by 40 deg. The alternate positioning allows Alk1 to bind BMP-9 through a large hydrophobic interface, consistent with mutational analysis that identified several residues in the central portion of the β4-β5 loop that contribute significantly to binding and are nonconservatively substituted relative to the corresponding residues in Alk3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pardeep Mahlawat
- Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Therapy and Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA
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41
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Robinson AK, Leal BZ, Nanyes DR, Kaur Y, Ilangovan U, Schirf V, Hinck AP, Demeler B, Kim CA. Human polyhomeotic homolog 3 (PHC3) sterile alpha motif (SAM) linker allows open-ended polymerization of PHC3 SAM. Biochemistry 2012; 51:5379-86. [PMID: 22724443 DOI: 10.1021/bi3004318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Sterile alpha motifs (SAMs) are frequently found in eukaryotic genomes. An intriguing property of many SAMs is their ability to self-associate, forming an open-ended polymer structure whose formation has been shown to be essential for the function of the protein. What remains largely unresolved is how polymerization is controlled. Previously, we had determined that the stretch of unstructured residues N-terminal to the SAM of a Drosophila protein called polyhomeotic (Ph), a member of the polycomb group (PcG) of gene silencers, plays a key role in controlling Ph SAM polymerization. Ph SAM with its native linker created shorter polymers compared to Ph SAM attached to either a random linker or no linker. Here, we show that the SAM linker for the human Ph ortholog, polyhomeotic homolog 3 (PHC3), also controls PHC3 SAM polymerization but does so in the opposite fashion. PHC3 SAM with its native linker allows longer polymers to form compared to when attached to a random linker. Attaching the PHC3 SAM linker to Ph SAM also resulted in extending Ph SAM polymerization. Moreover, in the context of full-length Ph protein, replacing the SAM linker with PHC3 SAM linker, intended to create longer polymers, resulted in greater repressive ability for the chimera compared to wild-type Ph. These findings show that polymeric SAM linkers evolved to modulate a wide dynamic range of SAM polymerization abilities and suggest that rationally manipulating the function of SAM containing proteins through controlling their SAM polymerization may be possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela K Robinson
- Department of Biochemistry and CTRC, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 78229-3990, United States
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Hinck AP. Structural studies of the TGF-βs and their receptors - insights into evolution of the TGF-β superfamily. FEBS Lett 2012; 586:1860-70. [PMID: 22651914 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2012.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2012] [Revised: 05/18/2012] [Accepted: 05/18/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
TGF-βs are small secreted signaling proteins that function as vital regulators of cellular growth and differentiation. They signal through a single pair of receptors, known as TβR-I and TβR-II, and are among the most recently evolved members of the signaling superfamily to which they belong. This review provides an overview of the TGF-β, BMP, and activin receptor complexes that have been determined over the past several years. These structures underscore the shared ancestry of the TGF-βs with the BMPs and activins, but also provide insight as to how the TGF-βs diverged from the BMPs and activins to bind and assemble their receptors in a distinct manner. These distinctive modes of receptor binding engender the TGF-βs with high specificity for their receptors and allow them to fulfill their essential functions in vivo without interference from the many other proteins of the superfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
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Mukhopadhyay KD, Elkhaloun AG, Hinck AP, Yoon K, Cornell JE, Yu L, Liu Z, Yang J, Sun L. Abstract 3390: Delineating the molecular signature of the breast cancer-induced brain metastasis and the role of a novel pan-TGF-β inhibitor to block brain metastasis in a mouse xenograft model. Cancer Res 2012. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2012-3390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Breast cancer (BCa) is the most common malignant disease in women in U.S. Nearly 20% of patients with advanced BCa is eventually diagnosed with brain lesions. The available treatment regimens are not capable of significantly treating the BCa-induced brain metastases due to their inability to penetrate the blood brain barrier. The exact molecular mechanism for metastases of BCa into brain is unknown. The current rodent model systems for BCa brain metastasis have limitations. Therefore, there is a need of efficient model system that can significantly contribute towards our understanding of different factors from both host and tumor leading to brain metastasis. Previously we reported estrogen-independent B6TC cell, derived from the stable spontaneous fusion of MDA-MB-231 and ZR-75-1 cells in mouse bone-marrow microenvironment, which has propensity to metastasize to brain when inoculated through intracardiac route, and express stem cell-like features. In this study using B6TC, we have developed an efficient and novel mouse model for studying BCa-induced brain metastasis and investigated the role of a potent pan-TGF-β inhibitor, BGERII, for blocking brain metastasis. We have generated three cell lines from B6TC through three successive rounds of inoculation in mouse and isolation of brain metastatic cells. Each round of selection enhanced the brain metastatic propensity. An initial microarray analysis identified genes implicated in metastasis regulation- MMP1, HB-EGF, ST3GAL1, PTGS2, ITGA3, and CXCR4, showing significant up-regulation in B6TC compared to its parental MDA-MB-231 and ZR-75-1 cells. Analyses of second round of RNA microarray, performed with three sub-lines of B6TC with successively enhanced brain metastatic propensity over generations, identified some molecular pathways, including TGF beta signaling pathway that are associated with enhanced brain metastasis. We next investigated whether metastatic tumor growth in the brain microenvironment can be inhibited by systemic administration of a potent pan-TGF-β inhibitor, BGERII- a recombinant fusion protein containing the endoglin domain of betaglycan (BGE) and the extracellular domain of RII. The animals were inoculated intracardically with N3LR, the most potent sub-line of highly metastatic B6TC cells and were then treated with vehicle or BGERII systemically via i.p. injection right after the inoculation. After three weeks, the BGERII treated group showed lower brain metastasis incidence and tumor burden as detected by whole mouse bioluminescence and GFP imaging. Further analyses to understand the underlying molecular and regulatory mechanism of brain metastasis and its intervention in our mouse model is underway for the discovery of novel molecularly targeted drugs to prevent and eradicate BCa metastasis initiation, progression and recurrence.
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3390. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3390
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Lan Yu
- 1UT Health Science Ctr., San Antonio, TX
| | - Zhao Liu
- 1UT Health Science Ctr., San Antonio, TX
| | | | - LuZhe Sun
- 1UT Health Science Ctr., San Antonio, TX
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Robinson AK, Leal BZ, Chadwell LV, Wang R, Ilangovan U, Kaur Y, Junco SE, Schirf V, Osmulski PA, Gaczynska M, Hinck AP, Demeler B, McEwen DG, Kim CA. The growth-suppressive function of the polycomb group protein polyhomeotic is mediated by polymerization of its sterile alpha motif (SAM) domain. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:8702-13. [PMID: 22275371 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.336115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyhomeotic (Ph), a member of the Polycomb Group (PcG), is a gene silencer critical for proper development. We present a previously unrecognized way of controlling Ph function through modulation of its sterile alpha motif (SAM) polymerization leading to the identification of a novel target for tuning the activities of proteins. SAM domain containing proteins have been shown to require SAM polymerization for proper function. However, the role of the Ph SAM polymer in PcG-mediated gene silencing was uncertain. Here, we first show that Ph SAM polymerization is indeed required for its gene silencing function. Interestingly, the unstructured linker sequence N-terminal to Ph SAM can shorten the length of polymers compared with when Ph SAM is individually isolated. Substituting the native linker with a random, unstructured sequence (RLink) can still limit polymerization, but not as well as the native linker. Consequently, the increased polymeric Ph RLink exhibits better gene silencing ability. In the Drosophila wing disc, Ph RLink expression suppresses growth compared with no effect for wild-type Ph, and opposite to the overgrowth phenotype observed for polymer-deficient Ph mutants. These data provide the first demonstration that the inherent activity of a protein containing a polymeric SAM can be enhanced by increasing SAM polymerization. Because the SAM linker had not been previously considered important for the function of SAM-containing proteins, our finding opens numerous opportunities to manipulate linker sequences of hundreds of polymeric SAM proteins to regulate a diverse array of intracellular functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela K Robinson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3990, USA
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Liu Z, Bandyopadhyay A, Nichols RW, Wang L, Hinck AP, Wang S, Sun LZ. Blockade of Autocrine TGF-β Signaling Inhibits Stem Cell Phenotype, Survival, and Metastasis of Murine Breast Cancer Cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 2:1-8. [PMID: 23482850 DOI: 10.4172/2157-7633.1000116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling has been implicated in driving tumor progression and metastasis by inducing stem cell-like features in some human cancer cell lines. In this study, we have utilized a novel murine cell line NMuMG-ST, which acquired cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotypes during spontaneous transformation of the untransformed murine mammary cell line NMuMG, to investigate the role of autocrine TGF-β signaling in regulating their survival, metastatic ability, and the maintenance of cancer stem cell characteristics. We have retrovirally transduced a dominant-negative TGF-β type II receptor (DNRII) into the NMuMG-ST cell to abrogate autocrine TGF-β signaling. The expression of DNRII reduced TGF-β sensitivity of the NMuMG-ST cells in various cell-based assays. The blockade of autocrine TGF-β signaling reduced the ability of the cell to grow anchorage-independently and to resist serum deprivation-induced apoptosis. These phenotypes were associated with reduced levels of active and phosphorylated AKT and ERK, and Gli1 expression suggesting that these pathways contribute to the growth and survival of this model system. More interestingly, the abrogation of autocrine TGF-β signaling also led to the attenuation of several features associated with mammary stem cells including epithelial-mesenchymal transition, mammosphere formation, and expression of stem cell markers. When xenografted in athymic nude mice, the DNRII cells were also found to undergo apoptosis and induced significantly lower lung metastasis burden than the control cells even though they formed similar size of xenograft tumors. Thus, our results indicate that autocrine TGF-β signaling is involved in the maintenance and survival of stem-like cell population resulting in the enhanced metastatic ability of the murine breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Liu
- Department of Cellular & Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA ; Department of Breast Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, 210029 Nanjing, China
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P. Hinck A, D. O'Connor-McCourt M. Structures of TGF-β Receptor Complexes: Implications for Function and Therapeutic Intervention Using Ligand Traps. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2011; 12:2081-98. [DOI: 10.2174/138920111798808383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2010] [Revised: 02/11/2011] [Accepted: 02/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Zuniga JE, Ilangovan U, Mahlawat P, Hinck CS, Huang T, Groppe JC, McEwen DG, Hinck AP. The TβR-I pre-helix extension is structurally ordered in the unbound form and its flanking prolines are essential for binding. J Mol Biol 2011; 412:601-18. [PMID: 21821041 PMCID: PMC3576881 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2011.07.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2011] [Revised: 07/21/2011] [Accepted: 07/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor β isoforms (TGF-β) are among the most recently evolved members of a signaling superfamily with more than 30 members. TGF-β play vital roles in regulating cellular growth and differentiation, and they signal through a highly restricted subset of receptors known as TGF-β type I receptor (TβR-I) and TGF-β type II receptor (TβR-II). TGF-β's specificity for TβR-I has been proposed to arise from its pre-helix extension, a five-residue loop that binds in the cleft between TGF-β and TβR-II. The structure and backbone dynamics of the unbound form of the TβR-I extracellular domain were determined using NMR to investigate the extension's role in binding. This showed that the unbound form is highly similar to the bound form in terms of both the β-strand framework that defines the three-finger toxin fold and the extension and its characteristic cis-Ile54-Pro55 peptide bond. The NMR data further showed that the extension and two flanking 3(10) helices are rigid on the nanosecond-to-picosecond timescale. The functional significance of several residues within the extension was investigated by binding studies and reporter gene assays in cultured epithelial cells. These demonstrated that the pre-helix extension is essential for binding, with Pro55 and Pro59 each playing a major role. These findings suggest that the pre-helix extension and its flanking prolines evolved to endow the TGF-β signaling complex with its unique specificity, departing from the ancestral promiscuity of the bone morphogenetic protein subfamily, where the binding interface of the type I receptor is highly flexible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge E. Zuniga
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Neurology and Neurological Science, Structural Biology, and Photon Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Udayar Ilangovan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Pardeep Mahlawat
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Cynthia S. Hinck
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Tao Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Jay C. Groppe
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Dallas, TX 75246, USA
| | - Donald G. McEwen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Andrew P. Hinck
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
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Junco SE, Bardwell VJ, Kim CA, Wang R, Robinson A, Ilangovan U, Taylor A, Gearhart MD, Hart PJ, Hinck AP, Borries D. Abstract C28: Binding to BCOR defines a subfamily of Psc ortholog mediated polycomb group complexes. Cancer Res 2011. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.fbcr11-c28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
NSPC1 is a Polycomb group (PcG) protein that functions within a multiprotein complex containing BCOR (BCL6 Co-Repressor), a protein which has been shown to drive formation of diffuse large B cell leukemia. NSPC1 is one of six human homologs (BMI1, MEL18, NSPC1, MBLR, PCGF3 and PCGF5) of the Drosophila Polycomb group (PcG) protein Psc. While BMI1 and MEL18 can bind directly to another PcG protein called Polyhomeotic (PH), multi-protein complexes involving MBLR and NSPC1 are absent of PH and no function has yet to be assigned to PCGF3 or PCGF5. We show that the ubiquitin (Ub) fold of NSPC1 and PCGF3 does not bind PH, but instead directly interacts with a previously unrecognized 115 residue region within BCOR while the Ub folds of BMI1 and MEL18 bind only PH. Preliminary structural studies using nuclear magnetic resonance and analytical ultracentrifugation indicate that this region of BCOR can independently fold and possesses a novel structure thereby identifying this domain as a unique PcG recruiting module. Thus, we propose the presence of at least two distinct functional classes of Psc orthologs: Class I, (BMI1 and MEL18) that binds PH and Class II (PCGF3, NSPC1 and likely PCGF5) which bind BCOR. The existence of different classes of Psc homologs demonstrates the evolution of the PcG in order to diversify its silencing function.
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; 2011 Sep 14-18; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(18 Suppl):Abstract nr C28.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Junco
- 1University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX
| | | | | | - Renjing Wang
- 1University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX
| | | | | | - Alex Taylor
- 1University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX
| | | | - P. John Hart
- 1University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX
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Wang R, Ilangovan U, Leal BZ, Robinson AK, Amann BT, Tong CV, Berg JM, Hinck AP, Kim CA. Identification of nucleic acid binding residues in the FCS domain of the polycomb group protein polyhomeotic. Biochemistry 2011; 50:4998-5007. [PMID: 21351738 DOI: 10.1021/bi101487s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Polycomb group (PcG) proteins maintain the silent state of developmentally important genes. Recent evidence indicates that noncoding RNAs also play an important role in targeting PcG proteins to chromatin and PcG-mediated chromatin organization, although the molecular basis for how PcG and RNA function in concert remains unclear. The Phe-Cys-Ser (FCS) domain, named for three consecutive residues conserved in this domain, is a 30-40-residue Zn(2+) binding motif found in a number of PcG proteins. The FCS domain has been shown to bind RNA in a non-sequence specific manner, but how it does so is not known. Here, we present the three-dimensional structure of the FCS domain from human Polyhomeotic homologue 1 (HPH1, also known as PHC1) determined using multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance methods. Chemical shift perturbations upon addition of RNA and DNA resulted in the identification of Lys 816 as a potentially important residue required for nucleic acid binding. The role played by this residue in Polyhomeotic function was demonstrated in a transcription assay conducted in Drosophila S2 cells. Mutation of the Arg residue to Ala in the Drosophila Polyhomeotic (Ph) protein, which is equivalent to Lys 816 in HPH1, was unable to repress transcription of a reporter gene to the level of wild-type Ph. These results suggest that direct interaction between the Ph FCS domain and nucleic acids is required for Ph-mediated repression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renjing Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, MSC 7760, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3990, United States
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Abstract
The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway plays myriad roles in development and disease. TGF-β isoforms initiate signaling by organizing their cell surface receptors TβRI and TβRII. Exploration and exploitation of the versatility of TGF-β signaling requires an enhanced understanding of structure-function relationships in this pathway. To this end, small molecule, peptide, and antibody effectors that bind key signaling components would serve as valuable probes. We focused on the extracellular domain of TβR1 (TβRI-ED) as a target for effector screening. The observation that TβRI-ED can bind to a TGF-β coreceptor (endoglin) suggests that the TβRI-ED may have multiple interaction sites. Using phage display, we identified two peptides LTGKNFPMFHRN (Pep1) and MHRMPSFLPTTL (Pep2) that bind the TβRI-ED (K(d)≈ 10(-5) M). Although our screen focused on TβRI-ED, the hit peptides interact with the TβRII-ED with similar affinities. The peptide ligands occupy the same binding sites on TβRI and TβRII, as demonstrated by their ability to compete with each other for receptor binding. Moreover, neither interferes with TGF-β binding. These results indicate that both TβRI and TβRII possess hot spots for protein-protein interactions that are distinct from those used by their known ligand TGF-β. To convert these compounds into high affinity probes, we exploited the observation that TβRI and TβRII exist as dimers on the cell surface; therefore, we assembled a multivalent ligand. Specifically, we displayed one of our receptor-binding peptides on a dendrimer scaffold. We anticipate that the potent multivalent ligand that resulted can be used to probe the role of receptor assembly in TGF-β function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyin Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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