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Linghu KG, Zhang T, Zhang GT, Lv P, Zhang WJ, Zhao GD, Xiong SH, Ma QS, Zhao MM, Chen M, Hu YJ, Zhang CS, Yu H. Small molecule deoxynyboquinone triggers alkylation and ubiquitination of Keap1 at Cys489 on Kelch domain for Nrf2 activation and inflammatory therapy. J Pharm Anal 2024; 14:401-415. [PMID: 38618249 PMCID: PMC11010449 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.07.009] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) by Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) alkylation plays a central role in anti-inflammatory therapy. However, activators of Nrf2 through alkylation of Keap1-Kelch domain have not been identified. Deoxynyboquinone (DNQ) is a natural small molecule discovered from marine actinomycetes. The current study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and molecular mechanisms of DNQ via alkylation of Keap1. DNQ exhibited significant anti-inflammatory properties both in vitro and in vivo. The pharmacophore responsible for the anti-inflammatory properties of DNQ was determined to be the α, β-unsaturated amides moieties by a chemical reaction between DNQ and N-acetylcysteine. DNQ exerted anti-inflammatory effects through activation of Nrf2/ARE pathway. Keap1 was demonstrated to be the direct target of DNQ and bound with DNQ through conjugate addition reaction involving alkylation. The specific alkylation site of DNQ on Keap1 for Nrf2 activation was elucidated with a synthesized probe in conjunction with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. DNQ triggered the ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of Keap1 by alkylation of the cysteine residue 489 (Cys489) on Keap1-Kelch domain, ultimately enabling the activation of Nrf2. Our findings revealed that DNQ exhibited potent anti-inflammatory capacity through α, β-unsaturated amides moieties active group which specifically activated Nrf2 signal pathway via alkylation/ubiquitination of Keap1-Kelch domain, suggesting the potential values of targeting Cys489 on Keap1-Kelch domain by DNQ-like small molecules in inflammatory therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Gang Linghu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants & School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Tian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
| | - Guang-Tao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, RNAM Center for Marine Microbiology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
| | - Peng Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
| | - Wen-Jun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, RNAM Center for Marine Microbiology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
| | - Guan-Ding Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
| | - Shi-Hang Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
| | - Qiu-Shuo Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
| | - Ming-Ming Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
| | - Meiwan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
| | - Yuan-Jia Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
| | - Chang-Sheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, RNAM Center for Marine Microbiology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
| | - Hua Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
- Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
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Lundberg AP, Francis JM, Pajak M, Parkinson EI, Wycislo KL, Rosol TJ, Brown ME, London CA, Dirikolu L, Hergenrother PJ, Fan TM. Pharmacokinetics and derivation of an anticancer dosing regimen for the novel anti-cancer agent isobutyl- deoxynyboquinone (IB-DNQ), a NQO1 bioactivatable molecule, in the domestic felid species. Invest New Drugs 2016; 35:134-144. [PMID: 27975234 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-016-0414-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Isobutyl-deoxynyboquinone (IB-DNQ) is a selective substrate for NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1), an enzyme overexpressed in many solid tumors. Following activation by NQO1, IB-DNQ participates in a catalytic futile reduction/reoxidation cycle with consequent toxic reactive oxygen species generation within the tumor microenvironment. To elucidate the potential of IB-DNQ to serve as a novel anticancer agent, in vitro studies coupled with in vivo pharmacokinetic and toxicologic investigations in the domestic felid species were conducted to investigate the tractability of IB-DNQ as a translationally applicable anticancer agent. First, using feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) as a comparative cancer model, expressions of NQO1 were characterized in not only human, but also feline OSCC tissue microarrays. Second, IB-DNQ mediated cytotoxicity in three immortalized feline OSCC cell lines were studied under dose-dependent and sequential exposure conditions. Third, the feasibility of administering IB-DNQ at doses predicted to achieve cytotoxic plasma concentrations and biologically relevant durations of exposure were investigated through pharmacokinetic and tolerability studies in healthy research felines. Intravenous administration of IB-DNQ at 1.0-2.0 mg/kg achieved peak plasma concentrations and durations of exposure reaching or exceeding predicted in vitro cytotoxic concentrations. Clinical adverse side effects including ptyalism and tachypnea exhibited during and post-IV infusion of IB-DNQ were transient and tolerable. Additionally, IB-DNQ administration did not produce acute or delayed-onset unacceptable hematologic, non-hematologic, or off-target oxidative toxicities. Collectively, the findings reported here within provide important safety and pharmacokinetic data to support the continued development of IB-DNQ as a novel anticancer strategy for NQO1 expressing cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alycen P Lundberg
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA.,Carle R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Anticancer Discovery from Pets to People, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Joshua M Francis
- Carle R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Anticancer Discovery from Pets to People, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Malgorzata Pajak
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
| | - Elizabeth I Parkinson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Kathryn L Wycislo
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
| | - Thomas J Rosol
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Megan E Brown
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Cheryl A London
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Levent Dirikolu
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - Paul J Hergenrother
- Carle R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Anticancer Discovery from Pets to People, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Timothy M Fan
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA. .,Carle R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Anticancer Discovery from Pets to People, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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