RESUMEN
Novel drugs are designed against specific molecular targets, but almost unavoidably they bind non-targets, which can cause additional biological effects that may result in increased activity or, more frequently, undesired toxicity. Chemical proteomics is an ideal approach for the systematic identification of drug targets and off-targets, allowing unbiased screening of candidate interactors in their natural context (tissue or cell extracts). E-3810 is a novel multi-kinase inhibitor currently in clinical trials for its anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor activity. In biochemical assays, E-3810 targets primarily vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor receptors. Interestingly, E-3810 appears to inhibit the growth of tumor cells with low to undetectable levels of these proteins in vitro, suggesting that additional relevant targets exist. We applied chemical proteomics to screen for E-3810 targets by immobilizing the drug on a resin and exploiting stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture to design experiments that allowed the detection of novel interactors and the quantification of their dissociation constant (Kd imm) for the immobilized drug. In addition to the known target FGFR2 and PDGFRα, which has been described as a secondary E-3810 target based on in vitro assays, we identified six novel candidate kinase targets (DDR2, YES, LYN, CARDIAK, EPHA2, and CSBP). These kinases were validated in a biochemical assay and-in the case of the cell-surface receptor DDR2, for which activating mutations have been recently discovered in lung cancer-cellular assays. Taken together, the success of our strategy-which integrates large-scale target identification and quality-controlled target affinity measurements using quantitative mass spectrometry-in identifying novel E-3810 targets further supports the use of chemical proteomics to dissect the mechanism of action of novel drugs.
Asunto(s)
Naftalenos/administración & dosificación , Proteínas de Neoplasias/biosíntesis , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/administración & dosificación , Proteómica , Quinolinas/administración & dosificación , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/antagonistas & inhibidores , Humanos , Marcaje Isotópico , Espectrometría de Masas , Terapia Molecular Dirigida , Proteínas de Neoplasias/antagonistas & inhibidores , Proteína Serina-Treonina Quinasa 2 de Interacción con Receptor/antagonistas & inhibidores , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/metabolismoRESUMEN
Macropinocytosis is a cellular process that enables cells to engulf extracellular material, such as nutrients, growth factors, and even whole cells. It is involved in several physiological functions as well as pathological conditions. In cancer cells, macropinocytosis plays a crucial role in promoting tumor growth and survival under nutrient-limited conditions. In particular KRAS mutations have been identified as main drivers of macropinocytosis in pancreatic, breast, and non-small cell lung cancers. We performed a high-content screening to identify inhibitors of macropinocytosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)-derived cells, aiming to prevent nutrient scavenging of PDAC tumors. The screening campaign was conducted in a well-known pancreatic KRAS-mutated cell line (MIAPaCa-2) cultured under nutrient deprivation and using FITC-dextran to precisely quantify macropinocytosis. We assembled a collection of 3584 small molecules, including drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), drug-like molecules against molecular targets, kinase-targeted compounds, and molecules designed to hamper protein-protein interactions. We identified 28 molecules that inhibited macropinocytosis, with potency ranging from 0.4 to 29.9 µM (EC50). A few of them interfered with other endocytic pathways, while 11 compounds did not and were therefore considered specific "bona fide" macropinocytosis inhibitors and further characterized. Four compounds (Ivermectin, Tyrphostin A9, LY2090314, and Pyrvinium Pamoate) selectively hampered nutrient scavenging in KRAS-mutated cancer cells. Their ability to impair albumin-dependent proliferation was replicated both in different 2D cell culture systems and 3D organotypic models. These findings provide a new set of compounds specifically targeting macropinocytosis, which could have therapeutic applications in cancer and infectious diseases.
Asunto(s)
Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático , Neoplasias Pancreáticas , Pinocitosis , Pinocitosis/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/patología , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/metabolismo , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/patología , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/metabolismo , Línea Celular Tumoral , Proliferación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas p21(ras)/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas p21(ras)/metabolismo , MutaciónRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental condition affecting almost 1% of children, and represents a major unmet medical need with no effective drug treatment available. Duplication at 7q11.23 (7Dup), encompassing 26-28 genes, is one of the best characterized ASD-causing copy number variations and offers unique translational opportunities, because the hemideletion of the same interval causes Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS), a condition defined by hypersociability and language strengths, thereby providing a unique reference to validate treatments for the ASD symptoms. In the above-indicated interval at 7q11.23, defined as WBS critical region, several genes, such as GTF2I, BAZ1B, CLIP2 and EIF4H, emerged as critical for their role in the pathogenesis of WBS and 7Dup both from mouse models and human studies. METHODS: We performed a high-throughput screening of 1478 compounds, including central nervous system agents, epigenetic modulators and experimental substances, on patient-derived cortical glutamatergic neurons differentiated from our cohort of induced pluripotent stem cell lines (iPSCs), monitoring the transcriptional modulation of WBS interval genes, with a special focus on GTF2I, in light of its overriding pathogenic role. The hits identified were validated by measuring gene expression by qRT-PCR and the results were confirmed by western blotting. RESULTS: We identified and selected three histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) that decreased the abnormal expression level of GTF2I in 7Dup cortical glutamatergic neurons differentiated from four genetically different iPSC lines. We confirmed this effect also at the protein level. LIMITATIONS: In this study, we did not address the molecular mechanisms whereby HDAC inhibitors act on GTF2I. The lead compounds identified will now need to be advanced to further testing in additional models, including patient-derived brain organoids and mouse models recapitulating the gene imbalances of the 7q11.23 microduplication, in order to validate their efficacy in rescuing phenotypes across multiple functional layers within a translational pipeline towards clinical use. CONCLUSIONS: These results represent a unique opportunity for the development of a specific class of compounds for treating 7Dup and other forms of intellectual disability and autism.
Asunto(s)
Trastorno del Espectro Autista/patología , Corteza Cerebral/patología , Duplicación Cromosómica/genética , Cromosomas Humanos Par 7/genética , Ensayos Analíticos de Alto Rendimiento , Inhibidores de Histona Desacetilasas/farmacología , Neuronas/patología , Factores de Transcripción TFII/genética , Trastorno del Espectro Autista/genética , Cromosomas Humanos Par 7/metabolismo , Variaciones en el Número de Copia de ADN/genética , Evaluación Preclínica de Medicamentos , Regulación de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/efectos de los fármacos , Células Madre Pluripotentes Inducidas/metabolismo , Neurogénesis/efectos de los fármacos , Neuronas/efectos de los fármacos , Neuronas/metabolismo , ARN Mensajero/genética , ARN Mensajero/metabolismo , Factores de Transcripción TFII/metabolismo , Transcripción Genética/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
Valosine-containing protein (VCP), also known as p97 or cdc48 in yeast, is a highly abundant protein belonging to the AAA ATPase family involved in a number of essential cellular functions, including ubiquitin-proteasome mediated protein degradation, Golgi reassembly, transcription activation, and cell cycle control. Altered expression of VCP has been detected in many cancer types sometimes associated with poor prognosis. Furthermore, VCP mutations are causative of some neurodegenerative disorders. In this paper we report the discovery, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of substituted 2-aminopyrimidines, representing a new class of reversible VCP inhibitors. This class of compounds, identified in a HTS campaign against recombinant VCP, has been progressively expanded and manipulated to increase biochemical potency and gain cellular activity.
Asunto(s)
Adenosina Trifosfatasas/antagonistas & inhibidores , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/antagonistas & inhibidores , Proliferación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Descubrimiento de Drogas , Inhibidores Enzimáticos/química , Inhibidores Enzimáticos/farmacología , Pirimidinas/química , Pirimidinas/farmacología , Adenosina Trifosfatasas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/metabolismo , Células HCT116 , Humanos , Modelos Moleculares , Estructura Molecular , Relación Estructura-Actividad , Proteína que Contiene ValosinaRESUMEN
In a process associated with ageing and neurodegeneration, radical peroxidation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in neurons affords a multitude of prostaglandin-like neuroprostanes in a non-regioselective and non-stereoselective manner. In this paper, the synthesis of racemic 17-A4-NeuroP and 14-A4-NeuroP validated a general approach to several regioisomeric cyclopentenone A4- and J4-NeuroPs needed for biological tests. In preliminary experiments 17-A4-NeuroP, in analogy with 14-A4-NeuroP, readily adducted GSH free thiol, suggesting a similar mechanism of action for biological activity.
Asunto(s)
Ciclopentanos/química , Neuroprostanos/química , Prostaglandinas/síntesis química , Ácidos Docosahexaenoicos/química , Glutatión/química , Neuroprostanos/síntesis química , Oxidación-Reducción , Estrés Oxidativo , Prostaglandinas/química , EstereoisomerismoRESUMEN
The first enantioselective synthesis of 9-deoxygelsemide, belonging to a rare group of iridoids isolated from Gelsemium plants, is described. The key synthetic steps are a variant of the Woodward-Prevost reaction to install the characteristic cis-alpha-1,2-dioxygenated system at C-6 and C-7 with complete diastereoselectivity. Construction of the dihydropyran ring was achieved via formylation of lactone I, followed by dehydration of the corresponding lactol. The synthesis allowed assignment of absolute configuration to 9-deoxygelsemide and related iridoids.