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Bonazzi S, d'Hennezel E, Beckwith REJ, Xu L, Fazal A, Magracheva A, Ramesh R, Cernijenko A, Antonakos B, Bhang HEC, Caro RG, Cobb JS, Ornelas E, Ma X, Wartchow CA, Clifton MC, Forseth RR, Fortnam BH, Lu H, Csibi A, Tullai J, Carbonneau S, Thomsen NM, Larrow J, Chie-Leon B, Hainzl D, Gu Y, Lu D, Meyer MJ, Alexander D, Kinyamu-Akunda J, Sabatos-Peyton CA, Dales NA, Zécri FJ, Jain RK, Shulok J, Wang YK, Briner K, Porter JA, Tallarico JA, Engelman JA, Dranoff G, Bradner JE, Visser M, Solomon JM. Discovery and characterization of a selective IKZF2 glue degrader for cancer immunotherapy. Cell Chem Biol 2023; 30:235-247.e12. [PMID: 36863346 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Malignant tumors can evade destruction by the immune system by attracting immune-suppressive regulatory T cells (Treg) cells. The IKZF2 (Helios) transcription factor plays a crucial role in maintaining function and stability of Treg cells, and IKZF2 deficiency reduces tumor growth in mice. Here we report the discovery of NVP-DKY709, a selective molecular glue degrader of IKZF2 that spares IKZF1/3. We describe the recruitment-guided medicinal chemistry campaign leading to NVP-DKY709 that redirected the degradation selectivity of cereblon (CRBN) binders from IKZF1 toward IKZF2. Selectivity of NVP-DKY709 for IKZF2 was rationalized by analyzing the DDB1:CRBN:NVP-DKY709:IKZF2(ZF2 or ZF2-3) ternary complex X-ray structures. Exposure to NVP-DKY709 reduced the suppressive activity of human Treg cells and rescued cytokine production in exhausted T-effector cells. In vivo, treatment with NVP-DKY709 delayed tumor growth in mice with a humanized immune system and enhanced immunization responses in cynomolgus monkeys. NVP-DKY709 is being investigated in the clinic as an immune-enhancing agent for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Bonazzi
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Eva d'Hennezel
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | | | - Lei Xu
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Aleem Fazal
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Anna Magracheva
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Radha Ramesh
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Hyo-Eun C Bhang
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Jennifer S Cobb
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Xiaolei Ma
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Ry R Forseth
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, East Hanover, NJ, USA
| | | | - Hongbo Lu
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alfredo Csibi
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer Tullai
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Seth Carbonneau
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Noel M Thomsen
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jay Larrow
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Dominik Hainzl
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yi Gu
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Darlene Lu
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Matthew J Meyer
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dylan Alexander
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Natalie A Dales
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Rishi K Jain
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Janine Shulok
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Y Karen Wang
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Karin Briner
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Glenn Dranoff
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - James E Bradner
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michael Visser
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Rao P, Tullai J, Aspesi P, Mapa F, Cochran N, Sigoillot F, Roma G, Gleim S, Jacob J, Marchese J, Solomon J. Abstract 2025: Characterization of cancer cell lines made senescent by exposure to ribociclib, doxorubicin, or TGFβ1, and identification of genes required for entry into senescence and senescent cell survival. Cancer Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2021-2025] [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
Cellular senescence is a stress-induced state of stable growth arrest characterized by high expression of cell cycle inhibitors; a dramatic change in cell morphology, including an increase in lysosomal content; and secretion of large numbers of proteins involved in immune signaling and extracellular matrix remodeling. The physiological importance of cellular senescence has been attributed to prevention of carcinogenesis, aging, development, and tissue repair, and tumor cells can undergo senescence in response to therapeutic agents. In this work, we sought to validate the senescence-inducing activity of two known inducers (doxorubicin and TGFβ1) and a CDK4/6 inhibitor (ribociclib) and to identify proteins that can kill senescent tumor cells (senolytic targets) if knocked out and to identify downstream components of the tumor cell senescence pathway. Huh7 hepatocellular carcinoma cells and SK-MEL-28 melanoma cells were induced to senescence by treatment with three different agents: ribociclib, low doses of doxorubicin, or TGFβ1. The induction of senescence was confirmed by observing growth arrest, an increase in SA-β-gal staining, dramatic cell morphology changes, loss of c-Myc protein, increased expression of p15, and increased expression of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) proteins. Induction of SASP components was measured by RNAseq and SOMAscan. All three agents induced a senescent state, with blockage at different stages of the cell cycle observed. Induction of known immune factors, including IL-8 and IL-11, were identified in senescent cells (Huh7). A whole-genome CRISPR screen identified proteins required to enter senescence and those that were incompatible with the senescent state if knocked out. Expected hits were observed (eg, TGFBR1/TGFBR2 for TGFβ1, RB for ribociclib, and TOP2A for doxorubicin) for guide DNAs (gDNAs) that blocked entry into the senescent state. No gDNA candidates for common downstream senescence pathway components were observed, suggesting that these components are essential genes or that they do not exist. gDNA-induced knockouts that were incompatible with the senescent state dropped out of the screen and represent potential senolytic targets. The screen identified BCL2L1 as the only common senolytic hit across multiple senescence-inducing reagents, confirming published reports suggesting it is a senolytic target. These data show that ribociclib, doxorubicin, and TGFβ1 induced senescence in cancer cell lines. Whole-genome CRISPR screens identified senescence pathway components for each of these agents, as well as a common senolytic target.
Citation Format: Pasupuleti Rao, Jennifer Tullai, Peter Aspesi, Felipa Mapa, Nadire Cochran, Frederic Sigoillot, Guglielmo Roma, Scott Gleim, Jaison Jacob, Jason Marchese, Jonathan Solomon. Characterization of cancer cell lines made senescent by exposure to ribociclib, doxorubicin, or TGFβ1, and identification of genes required for entry into senescence and senescent cell survival [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 2025.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasupuleti Rao
- 1Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA
| | | | - Peter Aspesi
- 1Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA
| | - Felipa Mapa
- 1Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA
| | - Nadire Cochran
- 1Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA
| | | | - Guglielmo Roma
- 2Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Scott Gleim
- 1Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA
| | - Jaison Jacob
- 1Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA
| | - Jason Marchese
- 1Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA
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Carson C, Raman P, Tullai J, Xu L, Henault M, Thomas E, Yeola S, Lao J, McPate M, Verkuyl JM, Marsh G, Sarber J, Amaral A, Bailey S, Lubicka D, Pham H, Miranda N, Ding J, Tang HM, Ju H, Tranter P, Ji N, Krastel P, Jain RK, Schumacher AM, Loureiro JJ, George E, Berellini G, Ross NT, Bushell SM, Erdemli G, Solomon JM. Englerin A Agonizes the TRPC4/C5 Cation Channels to Inhibit Tumor Cell Line Proliferation. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0127498. [PMID: 26098886 PMCID: PMC4476799 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Englerin A is a structurally unique natural product reported to selectively inhibit growth of renal cell carcinoma cell lines. A large scale phenotypic cell profiling experiment (CLiP) of englerin A on ¬over 500 well characterized cancer cell lines showed that englerin A inhibits growth of a subset of tumor cell lines from many lineages, not just renal cell carcinomas. Expression of the TRPC4 cation channel was the cell line feature that best correlated with sensitivity to englerin A, suggesting the hypothesis that TRPC4 is the efficacy target for englerin A. Genetic experiments demonstrate that TRPC4 expression is both necessary and sufficient for englerin A induced growth inhibition. Englerin A induces calcium influx and membrane depolarization in cells expressing high levels of TRPC4 or its close ortholog TRPC5. Electrophysiology experiments confirmed that englerin A is a TRPC4 agonist. Both the englerin A induced current and the englerin A induced growth inhibition can be blocked by the TRPC4/C5 inhibitor ML204. These experiments confirm that activation of TRPC4/C5 channels inhibits tumor cell line proliferation and confirms the TRPC4 target hypothesis generated by the cell line profiling. In selectivity assays englerin A weakly inhibits TRPA1, TRPV3/V4, and TRPM8 which suggests that englerin A may bind a common feature of TRP ion channels. In vivo experiments show that englerin A is lethal in rodents near doses needed to activate the TRPC4 channel. This toxicity suggests that englerin A itself is probably unsuitable for further drug development. However, since englerin A can be synthesized in the laboratory, it may be a useful chemical starting point to identify novel modulators of other TRP family channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl Carson
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Pichai Raman
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Tullai
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Lei Xu
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Martin Henault
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Emily Thomas
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sarita Yeola
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jianmin Lao
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Mark McPate
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Horsham, United Kingdom
| | - J. Martin Verkuyl
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Horsham, United Kingdom
| | - George Marsh
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jason Sarber
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Adam Amaral
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Scott Bailey
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Danuta Lubicka
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Helen Pham
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Nicolette Miranda
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jian Ding
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Hai-Ming Tang
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, East Hanover, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Haisong Ju
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, East Hanover, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Pamela Tranter
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Horsham, United Kingdom
| | - Nan Ji
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Philipp Krastel
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rishi K. Jain
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Andrew M. Schumacher
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Joseph J. Loureiro
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth George
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Giuliano Berellini
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Nathan T. Ross
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Simon M. Bushell
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Gül Erdemli
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jonathan M. Solomon
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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LaMontagne KR, Butler J, Marshall DJ, Tullai J, Gechtman Z, Hall C, Meshaw A, Farrell FX. Recombinant epoetins do not stimulate tumor growth in erythropoietin receptor–positive breast carcinoma models. Mol Cancer Ther 2006; 5:347-55. [PMID: 16505108 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-05-0203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the significance of erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) expression following treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO; epoetin alpha) and the effect of recombinant epoetins (epoetin alpha, epoetin beta, and darbepoetin alpha) alone or in combination with anticancer therapy on tumor growth in two well-established preclinical models of breast carcinoma (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines). Expression and localization of EPOR under hypoxic and normoxic conditions in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were evaluated by immunoblotting, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry. EPOR binding was evaluated using [125I]rHuEPO. Proliferation, migration, and signaling in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells following treatment with rHuEPO were evaluated. Tumor growth was assessed following administration of recombinant epoetins alone and in combination with paclitaxel (anticancer therapy) in orthotopically implanted MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast carcinoma xenograft models in athymic mice. EPOR expression was detected in both tumor cell lines. EPOR localization was found to be exclusively cytosolic and no specific [125I]rHuEPO binding was observed. There was no stimulated migration, proliferation, or activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and AKT following rHuEPO treatment. In mice, treatment with recombinant epoetins alone and in combination with paclitaxel resulted in equivalent tumor burdens compared with vehicle-treated controls. Results from our study suggest that although EPOR expression was observed in two well-established breast carcinoma cell lines, it was localized to a cytosolic distribution and did not transduce a signaling cascade in tumors that leads to tumor growth. The addition of recombinant epoetins to paclitaxel did not affect the outcome of paclitaxel therapy in breast carcinoma xenograft models. These results show that recombinant epoetins do not evoke a physiologic response on EPOR-bearing tumor cells as assessed by numerous variables, including growth, migration, and cytotoxic challenge in preclinical in vivo tumor models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth R LaMontagne
- Drug Discovery, Growth Factors, Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Room B354, OMP Building, 1000 Route 202, PO Box 300, Raritan, NJ 08869, USA.
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Connolly PJ, Wetter SK, Murray WV, Johnson DL, McMahon FJ, Farrell FX, Tullai J, Jolliffe LK. Synthesis and erythropoietin receptor binding affinities of N,N-disubstituted amino acids. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2000; 10:1995-9. [PMID: 10987435 DOI: 10.1016/s0960-894x(00)00399-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
N,N-Dicinnamyl, N-benzyl-N-cinnamyl, and N,N-dibenzyl amino acids were prepared and evaluated in an EPO binding assay. Several derivatives of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and lysine exhibited moderate (10-50 microM) affinity for EBP; 'dimerization' of the most potent analogues by coupling with linear diamines led to EPO competitors having 1-2 microM binding affinities.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Connolly
- The R. W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Raritan, NJ 08869, USA.
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Barbone FP, Johnson DL, Farrell FX, Collins A, Middleton SA, McMahon FJ, Tullai J, Jolliffe LK. New epoetin molecules and novel therapeutic approaches. Nephrol Dial Transplant 1999; 14 Suppl 2:80-4. [PMID: 10334672 DOI: 10.1093/ndt/14.suppl_2.80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a 34 kDa protein that is the primary regulator of red blood cell production. EPO facilitates its effect by binding to the cell surface EPO receptor which initiates the JAK-STAT signal transduction cascade. The search for small mimetic molecules of EPO has led to the discovery of a family of peptides that demonstrate EPO mimetic activity. A member of this peptide family, EMP1 (EPO mimetic peptide 1), was used to solve the crystal structure of the soluble EPO receptor in complex with this peptide. The structure revealed a 2:2 stoichiometry of receptor to peptide, with each peptide contacting both receptor molecules in a symmetrical fashion. The potency of the EMPs could be improved through the covalent dimerization of two peptide molecules. Further investigations of EMP EPO receptor complex structures revealed the formation of a non-productive receptor dimer using an inactive peptide. An alternative approach towards the identification of an EPO-like mimetic is to target an intracellular signalling molecule such as haematopoietic cell phosphatase (HCP), also known as SHP1. Inhibiting HCP causes responsive cells to be hypersensitive to EPO. The cloned HCP protein has been utilized in screening assays to identify small molecule inhibitors of HCP.
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Affiliation(s)
- F P Barbone
- The R.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Drug Discovery Research, Raritan, NJ 08869, USA
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Middleton SA, Barbone FP, Johnson DL, Thurmond RL, You Y, McMahon FJ, Jin R, Livnah O, Tullai J, Farrell FX, Goldsmith MA, Wilson IA, Jolliffe LK. Shared and unique determinants of the erythropoietin (EPO) receptor are important for binding EPO and EPO mimetic peptide. J Biol Chem 1999; 274:14163-9. [PMID: 10318834 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.274.20.14163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
We have shown previously that Phe93 in the extracellular domain of the erythropoietin (EPO) receptor (EPOR) is crucial for binding EPO. Substitution of Phe93 with alanine resulted in a dramatic decrease in EPO binding to the Escherichia coli-expressed extracellular domain of the EPOR (EPO-binding protein or EBP) and no detectable binding to full-length mutant receptor expressed in COS cells. Remarkably, Phe93 forms extensive contacts with a peptide ligand in the crystal structure of the EBP bound to an EPO-mimetic peptide (EMP1), suggesting that Phe93 is also important for EMP1 binding. We used alanine substitution of EBP residues that contact EMP1 in the crystal structure to investigate the function of these residues in both EMP1 and EPO binding. The three largest hydrophobic contacts at Phe93, Met150, and Phe205 and a hydrogen bonding interaction at Thr151 were examined. Our results indicate that Phe93 and Phe205 are important for both EPO and EMP1 binding, Met150 is not important for EPO binding but is critical for EMP1 binding, and Thr151 is not important for binding either ligand. Thus, Phe93 and Phe205 are important binding determinants for both EPO and EMP1, even though these ligands share no sequence or structural homology, suggesting that these residues may represent a minimum epitope on the EPOR for productive ligand binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Middleton
- R. W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Raritan, New Jersey 08869, USA.
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Johnson DL, Farrell FX, Barbone FP, McMahon FJ, Tullai J, Hoey K, Livnah O, Wrighton NC, Middleton SA, Loughney DA, Stura EA, Dower WJ, Mulcahy LS, Wilson IA, Jolliffe LK. Identification of a 13 amino acid peptide mimetic of erythropoietin and description of amino acids critical for the mimetic activity of EMP1. Biochemistry 1998; 37:3699-710. [PMID: 9521688 DOI: 10.1021/bi971956y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [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] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
To obtain information about the functional importance of amino acids required for effective erythropoietin (EPO) mimetic action, the conserved residues of a peptide mimetic of EPO, recently discovered by phage display, were subjected to an alanine replacement strategy. Further, to identify a minimal mimetic peptide sequence, a series of truncation peptides has been generated. One EPO mimetic peptide sequence, EMP1, was targeted and more than 25 derivatives of this sequence were evaluated for their ability to compete with [125I]EPO for receptor binding and for their ability to support the proliferation of two EPO-responsive cell lines. Two hydrophobic amino acids, Tyr4 and Trp13, appear essential for mimetic action, and aromatic residues appear to be important at these sites. These findings are consistent with the previously reported X-ray crystal structure of EMP1 complexed with the extracellular domain of the EPO receptor (EPO binding protein; EBP). In our efforts to define the structural elements required for EPO mimetic action, a 13 amino acid peptide was identified which possesses mimetic properties and contains a minimal agonist epitope. The ability of this peptide to effectively serve as a mimetic capable of the induction of EPO-responsive cell proliferation appears to reside within a single residue, equivalent to position Tyr4 of EMP1, when present in a sequence that includes the cyclic core peptide structure. Although these peptides are less potent than EPO, they should serve as an excellent starting point for the design of compounds with EPO mimetic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- D L Johnson
- R. W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Drug Discovery Research, Raritan, New Jersey 08869, USA.
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Johnson DL, Farrell FX, Barbone FP, McMahon FJ, Tullai J, Kroon D, Freedy J, Zivin RA, Mulcahy LS, Jolliffe LK. Amino-terminal dimerization of an erythropoietin mimetic peptide results in increased erythropoietic activity. Chem Biol 1997; 4:939-50. [PMID: 9427659 DOI: 10.1016/s1074-5521(97)90302-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Erythropoietin (EPO), the hormone involved in red blood cell production, activates its receptor by binding to the receptor's extracellular domain and presumably dimerizing two receptor monomers to initiate signal transduction. EPO-mimetic peptides, such as EMP1, also bind and activate the receptor by dimerization. These mimetic peptides are not as potent as EPO, however. The crystal structure of the EPO receptor (EBP) bound to EMP1 reveals the formation of a complex consisting of two peptides bound to two receptors, so we sought to improve the biological activity of EPO-mimetic peptides by constructing covalent dimers of EMP1 and other peptide mimetics linked by polyethylene glycol (PEG). RESULTS The potency of the PEG-dimerized EPO peptide mimetics both in vitro and in vivo was improved up to 1,000-fold compared to the corresponding peptide monomers. The dimers were constructed using peptide monomers which have only one reactive amine per molecule, allowing us to conclude that the increase in potency can be attributed to a structure in which two peptides are linked through their respective amino termini to the difunctional PEG molecule. In addition, an inactive peptide was converted into a weak agonist by PEG-induced dimerization. CONCLUSIONS The potency of previously isolated peptides that are modest agonists of the EPO receptor was dramatically increased by PEG-induced dimerization. The EPO receptor is thought to be dimerized during activation, so our results are consistent with the proposed 2:2 receptor : peptide stoichiometry. The conversion of an inactive peptide into an agonist further supports the idea that dimerization can mediate receptor activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- D L Johnson
- Drug Discovery Research, R.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Route 202, Box 300, Raritan, NJ 08869, USA. . com
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Barbone FP, Middleton SA, Johnson DL, McMahon FJ, Tullai J, Gruninger RH, Schilling AE, Jolliffe LK, Mulcahy LS. Mutagenesis studies of the human erythropoietin receptor. Establishment of structure-function relationships. J Biol Chem 1997; 272:4985-92. [PMID: 9030560 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.272.8.4985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutagenesis of the erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) permits analysis of the contribution that individual amino acid residues make to erythropoietin (EPO) binding. We employed both random and site-specific mutagenesis to determine the function of amino acid residues in the extracellular domain (referred to as EPO binding protein, EBP) of the EPOR. Residues were chosen for site-specific alanine substitution based on the results of the random mutagenesis or on their homology to residues that are conserved or have been reported to be involved in ligand binding in other receptors of the cytokine receptor family. Site-specific mutants were expressed in Escherichia coli as soluble EBP and analyzed for EPO binding in several different assay formats. In addition, selected mutant proteins were expressed as full-length EPOR on the surface of COS cells and analyzed for 125I-EPO binding in receptor binding assays. Using these methods, we have identified residues that appear to be involved in EPO binding as well as other residues, most of which are conserved in receptors of the cytokine receptor family, that appear to be necessary for the proper folding and/or stability of the EPOR. We present correlations between these mutagenesis data and the recently solved crystal structure of the EBP with a peptide ligand.
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Affiliation(s)
- F P Barbone
- The R. W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Drug Discovery Research, Raritan, New Jersey 08869, USA.
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Middleton SA, Johnson DL, Jin R, McMahon FJ, Collins A, Tullai J, Gruninger RH, Jolliffe LK, Mulcahy LS. Identification of a critical ligand binding determinant of the human erythropoietin receptor. Evidence for common ligand binding motifs in the cytokine receptor family. J Biol Chem 1996; 271:14045-54. [PMID: 8662939 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.271.24.14045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) is a member of a family of cytokine and growth factor receptors that share conserved features in their extracellular and cytoplasmic domains. We have used site-specific mutagenesis within the extracellular domain of the EPOR to search for amino acid residues involved in erythropoietin (EPO) binding. Mutant proteins were expressed in bacteria as soluble EPO binding proteins (EBP) and characterized for EPO binding activity in a number of different assays. Substitution of phenylalanine at position 93 (Phe93) with alanine (F93A mutation) resulted in a drastic reduction in EPO binding in the EBP. More conservative tyrosine or tryptophan substitutions at Phe93 resulted in much less dramatic effects on EPO binding. Biophysical studies indicated that the F93A mutation does not result in gross structural alterations in the EBP. Furthermore, the F93A mutation in full-length EPOR expressed in COS cells abolished detectable EPO binding. This was not a result of processing or transport defects, since mutant receptor was present on the surface of the cells. Mutations in the region immediately around Phe93 and in residues homologous to other reported ligand binding determinants of the cytokine receptor family had small to moderate effects on EPO binding. These data indicate that Phe93 is a critical EPO binding determinant of the EPOR. Furthermore, since Phe93 aligns with critical ligand binding determinants in other receptors of the cytokine receptor family, these data suggest that receptors of this family may use common structural motifs to bind their cognate ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Middleton
- R. W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Raritan, New Jersey 08869, USA
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Weich NS, Tullai J, Guido E, McMahon M, Jolliffe LK, Lopez AF, Vadas MA, Lowry PA, Quesenberry PJ, Rosen J. Interleukin-3/erythropoietin fusion proteins: in vitro effects on hematopoietic cells. Exp Hematol 1993; 21:647-55. [PMID: 8513865] [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: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Erythropoietin (Epo) acts synergistically with interleukin-3 (IL-3) to induce proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitors. This synergy occurs at IL-3 concentrations that have little or no effect alone. To determine whether optimal expansion of erythroid cells results when they are targeted by a molecule with both IL-3 and Epo activities, fusion proteins were generated and analyzed. Expression vectors were constructed in which the coding regions of human IL-3 and Epo cDNAs were joined by either a short (2 to 3 amino acids) or long (23 amino acids) linker sequence and expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Analysis of equilibrium binding properties of the IL-3 and Epo moieties revealed that in all fusion proteins each retained the ability to bind receptor. When IL-3 was connected to Epo by a short linker, the binding affinity of the IL-3 moiety was lower. In vitro proliferative activity of each moiety was observed on cell lines responsive to IL-3, Epo or a combination of the two cytokines. Fusion of IL-3 to Epo through its amino terminus was found to result in partial loss of its function. All the fusion proteins were biologically active on human bone marrow. When IL-3 was located at the amino domain of the protein, induction of erythroid colonies was similar to that of a mixture of IL-3 and Epo. These results indicate that biological integrity of both IL-3 and Epo can be maintained when these cytokines are fused, but that enhancement of erythropoiesis over that observed with a mixture of the two cytokines cannot be achieved by their fusion alone. Other requirements such as the coexpression of the IL-3 and Epo receptors and the sharing of a receptor subunit are likely to be needed for an optimal cell response to the fusion growth factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- N S Weich
- R.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Johnson & Johnson, Raritan, NJ 08869-0602
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