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Simov V, Altman MD, Bianchi E, DelRizzo S, DiNunzio EN, Feng G, Goldenblatt P, Ingenito R, Johnson SA, Mansueto MS, Mayhood T, Mortison JD, Serebrov V, Sondey C, Sriraman V, Tucker TJ, Walji A, Wan H, Yue Y, Stoeck A, DiMauro EF. Discovery and characterization of novel peptide inhibitors of the NRF2/MAFG/DNA ternary complex for the treatment of cancer. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 224:113686. [PMID: 34303079 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pathway activating mutations of the transcription factor NRF2 and its negative regulator KEAP1 are strongly correlative with poor clinical outcome with pemetrexed/carbo(cis)platin/pembrolizumab (PCP) chemo-immunotherapy in lung cancer. Despite the strong genetic support and therapeutic potential for a NRF2 transcriptional inhibitor, currently there are no known direct inhibitors of the NRF2 protein or its complexes with MAF and/or DNA. Herein we describe the design of a novel and high-confidence homology model to guide a medicinal chemistry effort that resulted in the discovery of a series of peptides that demonstrate high affinity, selective binding to the Antioxidant Response Element (ARE) DNA and thereby displace NRF2-MAFG from its promoter, which is an inhibitory mechanism that to our knowledge has not been previously described. In addition to their activity in electrophoretic mobility shift (EMSA) and TR-FRET-based assays, we show significant dose-dependent ternary complex disruption of NRF2-MAFG binding to DNA by SPR, as well as cellular target engagement by thermal destabilization of HiBiT-tagged NRF2 in the NCI-H1944 NSCLC cell line upon digitonin permeabilization, and SAR studies leading to improved cellular stability. We report the characterization and unique profile of lead peptide 18, which we believe to be a useful in vitro tool to probe NRF2 biology in cancer cell lines and models, while also serving as an excellent starting point for additional in vivo optimization toward inhibition of NRF2-driven transcription to address a significant unmet medical need in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Simov
- Merck & Co., Inc., Chemistry, 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02127, USA.
| | - Michael D Altman
- Merck & Co., Inc., Chemistry, 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02127, USA
| | - Elisabetta Bianchi
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D, IRBM, Via Pontina, 30,600, 00071 Pomezia RM, Italy
| | - Sonia DelRizzo
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D, IRBM, Via Pontina, 30,600, 00071 Pomezia RM, Italy
| | - Edward N DiNunzio
- Merck & Co., Inc., Chemistry, 2000 Galloping Hill Road, K-15, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Guo Feng
- Merck & Co., Inc., Quantitative Biosciences, 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02127, USA
| | - Peter Goldenblatt
- Merck & Co., Inc., Quantitative Biosciences, 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02127, USA
| | - Raffaele Ingenito
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D, IRBM, Via Pontina, 30,600, 00071 Pomezia RM, Italy
| | - Scott A Johnson
- Merck & Co., Inc., Chemistry, 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02127, USA
| | - My Sam Mansueto
- Merck & Co., Inc., Quantitative Biosciences, 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02127, USA
| | - Todd Mayhood
- Merck & Co., Inc., Chemistry, 2000 Galloping Hill Road, K-15, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Jonathan D Mortison
- Merck & Co., Inc., Chemistry, 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02127, USA
| | - Victor Serebrov
- Merck & Co., Inc., Quantitative Biosciences, 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02127, USA
| | - Christopher Sondey
- Merck & Co., Inc., Quantitative Biosciences, 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02127, USA
| | - Venkat Sriraman
- Merck & Co., Inc., Quantitative Biosciences, 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02127, USA
| | - Thomas J Tucker
- Merck & Co., Inc., Chemistry, 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA 19486, USA
| | - Abbas Walji
- Merck & Co., Inc., Chemistry, 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA 19486, USA
| | - Hui Wan
- Merck & Co., Inc., PPDM, 126 East Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA
| | - Yingzi Yue
- Merck & Co., Inc., Biology, 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02127, USA
| | - Alexander Stoeck
- Merck & Co., Inc., Biology, 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02127, USA
| | - Erin F DiMauro
- Merck & Co., Inc., Chemistry, 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02127, USA
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Sriraman V, Rao VS, Rajesh N, Vasan SS, Rao AJ. A preliminary study on the possible role for luteinizing hormone in androgen independent growth of prostate. Reprod Biomed Online 2003; 3:6-13. [PMID: 12513884 DOI: 10.1016/s1472-6483(10)61956-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The recent observation that LH receptors are found in the prostate and that LH can execute a mitogenic role in addition to its well documented role in stimulation of steroidogenesis prompted the evaluation of the role of LH in regulation of prostate growth. The results obtained in the present study reveal the presence of LH receptor transcript as well as receptor protein in the rat prostate. The LH receptor appears to be localized in the non-secretory epithelial cells of the prostate as assessed by I(125) LH binding and immunofluorescence. Addition of HCG to purified prostate cells resulted in an increase in bromodeoxyuridine incorporation only in the non-secretory epithelial cells. Using a castrated adult rat model system, it has also been observed that LH receptor is regulated by LH itself, and that LH also regulates protein synthesis in the prostate. In addition, it has been possible to demonstrate the presence of LH receptor in the prostate from cases of human benign prostate hyperplasia. These results suggest a possible role for LH in the regulation of prostate growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. Sriraman
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, Karnataka, India
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Sriraman V, Sairam MR, Rao AJ. Evaluation of relative roles of LH and FSH in regulation of differentiation of Leydig cells using an ethane 1,2-dimethylsulfonate-treated adult rat model. J Endocrinol 2003; 176:151-61. [PMID: 12525259 DOI: 10.1677/joe.0.1760151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The relative role of LH and FSH in regulation of differentiation of Leydig cells was assessed using an ethane 1,2-dimethylsulfonate (EDS)-treated rat model in which endogenous LH or FSH was neutralized from day 3 to day 22 following EDS treatment. Serum testosterone and the in vitro response of the purified Leydig cells to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was monitored. In addition RNA was isolated from the Leydig cells to monitor the steady-state mRNA levels by RT-PCR for 17alpha-hydroxylase, side chain cleavage enzyme, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), LH receptor, estrogen receptor (ER-alpha) and cyclophilin (internal control). Serum testosterone was undetected and the isolated Leydig cells secreted negligible amount of testosterone on stimulation with hCG in the group of rats that were treated with LH antiserum following EDS treatment. RT-PCR analysis revealed the absence of message for cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme and 17alpha-hydroxylase although ER-alpha and LH receptor mRNA could be detected, indicating the presence of undifferentiated precursor Leydig cells. In contrast, the effects following deprival of endogenous FSH were not as drastic as seen following LH neutralization. Deprival of endogenous FSH in EDS-treated rats led to a significant decrease in serum testosterone and in vitro response to hCG by the Leydig cells. Also, there was a significant decrease in the steady-state mRNA levels of 17alpha-hydroxylase, cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme, LH receptor and StAR as assessed by a semiquantitative RT-PCR. These results establish that while LH is obligatory for the functional differentiation of Leydig cells, repopulation of precursor Leydig cells is independent of LH, and also unequivocally establish an important role for FSH in regulation of Leydig cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Sriraman
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
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Sriraman V, Niu E, Matias JR, Donahoe PK, MacLaughlin DT, Hardy MP, Lee MM. Müllerian inhibiting substance inhibits testosterone synthesis in adult rats. J Androl 2001; 22:750-8. [PMID: 11545286] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS) is a gonadal hormone that causes regression of the Müllerian ducts during male sexual differentiation. Postnatally, MIS inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of immature Leydig cells, and transgenic mice that overexpress MIS have decreased serum testosterone concentrations. To elucidate the effects of MIS on androgen regulation in the postnatal testis, we examined testosterone synthesis in adult Sprague-Dawley rats following intratesticular and intraperitoneal injections of MIS. Intratesticular MIS injection achieved high local concentrations of MIS (574.0 +/- 60.0 ng/mL) at 4 hours, with a corresponding decline in serum testosterone concentrations to 0.7 +/- 0.1 ng/mL, compared to 1.1 +/- 0.2 ng/mL with intraperitoneal MIS and 1.6 +/- 0.1 ng/mL with intratesticular vehicle (IT-Veh) (P < .001). Intratesticular administration of MIS (IT-MIS) resulted in much higher serum and testicular interstitial fluid MIS concentrations than the intraperitoneal route. To directly examine the testosterone production rate in MIS-treated animals, we isolated Leydig cells from MIS and vehicle-injected testes. Primary Leydig cells exposed to MIS had a lower testosterone production rate and decreased expression of p450c17 (hydroxylase/lyase) and luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor mRNAs than that of vehicle-injected controls or the noninjected contralateral testis. In conclusion, intratesticular administration of MIS caused a decline in serum testosterone concentrations by decreasing the rate of testosterone biosynthesis, confirming that MIS can regulate adult Leydig cell androgen production. The ability of MIS to down-regulate mRNA expression of the p450c17 and LH receptor genes suggests that this effect is mediated transcriptionally. These data indicate that, in addition to its role in embryonic differentiation of the male reproductive tract, MIS has a regulatory function in the postnatal testis. We conclude that one such function is for MIS to directly inhibit adult Leydig cell steroidogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Sriraman
- Population Council and Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
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Abstract
The levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cyclin D3 which are known markers of cellular proliferation were monitored by immunoblotting in progenitor Leydig cells (PLC), immature Leydig cells (ILC) and adult Leydig cells (ALC) isolated from 21, 35 and 90 day old rats, respectively which represent the Leydig cells at different stages of development. The levels of PCNA and cyclin D3 were highest in PLC, intermediate in ILC and lowest in ALC. Following administration of an antiserum to LH to deprive endogenous LH in 21 day old rats, a significant decrease in the levels of PCNA and Cyclin D3 were observed suggesting the involvement of Lutenizing hormone (LH) in PLC proliferation. In support of this observation, Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation was highest in PLC when compared with ILC and ALC, and administration of LH antiserum to 21 day old rats led to a total absence of BrdU incorporation by the isolated PLC. Also, there was a decrease in the level of IGF-1 and IGF-1 receptor mRNA levels by 55 and 35%, respectively as assessed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. In addition, the PLC isolated from rats deprived of endogenous LH incorporated much less BrdU following addition of IGF-1. These results, which are obtained using an in vivo model system establish that LH has a very important role in Leydig cell proliferation in immature rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Sriraman
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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Sumathi R, Sriraman V, Kurkalli BS, Rommerts FF, Rao AJ. Ethane dimethylsulphonate selectively destroys Leydig cells in the adult bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata). Asian J Androl 1999; 1:115-20. [PMID: 11250777] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To study the effect of intratesticular administration of ethane-1,2-dimethylsulphonate (EDS) which has been extensively used to selectively destroy Leydig cells in rats and study the role of gonadotropin in regulation of differentiation of Leydig cells (LC) in the adult male bonnet monkey. METHODS AND RESULTS In vitro studies with cultured interstitial cells isolated from monkey testis revealed an inhibitory effect of EDS on LC as assessed by decrease in testosterone production. Intratesticular administration of EDS (5, 10, 20, 50 mg/testis) resulted in a dose-dependent rapid decrease in serum testosterone levels, with a 65% decrease with 5 mg of EDS by the 3rd day, which returned to control levels by the 45th day. EDS treatment resulted in a significant decrease in testicular testosterone. In addition a significant decrease in [125I]hCG binding and phenylesterase activity in the interstitial cells was noticed. Histological analysis of the testes on the 5th day after administration of EDS revealed an interstitium devoid of LC indicating the destructive action of EDS. CONCLUSION The monkey LC are sensitive to destructive action of EDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Sumathi
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
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