Targeted degradation of SNCA/α-synuclein aggregates in neurodegeneration using the AUTOTAC chemical platform.

Parkinson disease (PD) characterized by dopaminergic neuronal loss is caused by aggregation of misfolded SNCA/α-synuclein. We recently developed autophagy-targeting chimera (AUTOTAC), a targeted protein degradation (TPD) technology based on the macroautophagy/autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP). In this study, we employed AUTOTAC to synthesize ATC161, a chimeric compound that adopts Anle138b as target-binding ligand (TBL) for SNCA aggregates. The autophagy-targeting ligand (ATL) of ATC161 was designed to allosterically activate the autophagy receptor SQSTSM1/p62 (sequestosome 1), a key step for targeting SNCA aggregates to the phagophore. The lysosomal degradation of SNCA aggregates by ATC161 acutely occurs at DC50 of 100-500 nM with no significant off-target degradation of monomeric SNCA. ATC161 protects cells from DNA and mitochondrial damage by SNCA aggregates. In PD model mice, oral administration of ATC161 decreases the level of SNCA aggregates and their propagation across brain regions, which mitigates glial inflammatory responses and improves muscle strength and locomotive activity. An Investigational New Drug (IND) was approved by the Korean Food and Drug Administration for a phase 1 clinical trial to treat PD, Alzheimer disease (AD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We suggest that AUTOTAC provides a platform for drug discovery in proteinopathies and other diseases.

The N-degron pathway mediates lipophagy: The chemical modulation of lipophagy in obesity and NAFLD.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Central to the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the accumulation of lipids in the liver and various fat tissues. We aimed to elucidate the mechanisms by which lipid droplets (LDs) in the liver and adipocytes are degraded by the autophagy-lysosome system and develop therapeutic means to modulate lipophagy, i.e., autophagic degradation of LDs. METHODS: We monitored the process in which LDs are pinched off by autophagic membranes and degraded by lysosomal hydrolases in cultured cells and mice. The autophagic receptor p62/SQSTM-1/Sequestosome-1 was identified as a key regulator and used as a target to develop drugs to induce lipophagy. The efficacy of p62 agonists was validated in mice to treat hepatosteatosis and obesity. RESULTS: We found that the N-degron pathway modulates lipophagy. This autophagic degradation initiates when the molecular chaperones including BiP/GRP78, retro-translocated from the endoplasmic reticulum, is N-terminally (Nt-) arginylated by ATE1 R-transferase. The resulting Nt-arginine (Nt-Arg) binds the ZZ domain of p62 associated with LDs. Upon binding to Nt-Arg, p62 undergoes self-polymerization and recruits LC3+ phagophores to the site of lipophagy, leading to lysosomal degradation. Liver-specific Ate1 conditional knockout mice under high fat diet developed severe NAFLD. The Nt-Arg was modified into small molecule agonists to p62 that facilitate lipophagy in mice and exerted therapeutic efficacy in obesity and hepatosteatosis of wild-type but not p62 knockout mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the N-degron pathway modulates lipophagy and provide p62 as a drug target to treat NAFLD and other diseases related with metabolic syndrome.

Targeted degradation of ⍺-synuclein aggregates in Parkinson's disease using the AUTOTAC technology.

BACKGROUND: There are currently no disease-modifying therapeutics for Parkinson's disease (PD). Although extensive efforts were undertaken to develop therapeutic approaches to delay the symptoms of PD, untreated α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates cause cellular toxicity and stimulate further disease progression. PROTAC (Proteolysis-Targeting Chimera) has drawn attention as a therapeutic modality to target α-syn. However, no PROTACs have yet shown to selectively degrade α-syn aggregates mainly owing to the limited capacity of the proteasome to degrade aggregates, necessitating the development of novel approaches to fundamentally eliminate α-syn aggregates. METHODS: We employed AUTOTAC (Autophagy-Targeting Chimera), a macroautophagy-based targeted protein degradation (TPD) platform developed in our earlier studies. A series of AUTOTAC chemicals was synthesized as chimeras that bind both α-syn aggregates and p62/SQSTM1/Sequestosome-1, an autophagic receptor. The efficacy of Autotacs was evaluated to target α-syn aggregates to phagophores and subsequently lysosomes for hydrolysis via p62-dependent macroautophagy. The target engagement was monitored by oligomerization and localization of p62 and autophagic markers. The therapeutic efficacy to rescue PD symptoms was characterized in cultured cells and mice. The PK/PD (pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics) profiles were investigated to develop an oral drug for PD. RESULTS: ATC161 induced selective degradation of α-syn aggregates at DC50 of ~ 100 nM. No apparent degradation was observed with monomeric α-syn. ATC161 mediated the targeting of α-syn aggregates to p62 by binding the ZZ domain and accelerating p62 self-polymerization. These p62-cargo complexes were delivered to autophagic membranes for lysosomal degradation. In PD cellular models, ATC161 exhibited therapeutic efficacy to reduce cell-to-cell transmission of α-syn and to rescue cells from the damages in DNA and mitochondria. In PD mice established by injecting α-syn preformed fibrils (PFFs) into brain striata via stereotaxic surgery, oral administration of ATC161 at 10 mg/kg induced the degradation of α-syn aggregates and reduced their propagation. ATC161 also mitigated the associated glial inflammatory response and improved muscle strength and locomotive activity. CONCLUSION: AUTOTAC provides a platform to develop drugs for PD. ATC161, an oral drug with excellent PK/PD profiles, induces selective degradation of α-syn aggregates in vitro and in vivo. We suggest that ATC161 is a disease-modifying drug that degrades the pathogenic cause of PD.

The Cys-N-degron pathway modulates pexophagy through the N-terminal oxidation and arginylation of ACAD10.

In the N-degron pathway, N-recognins recognize cognate substrates for degradation via the ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome system (UPS) or the autophagy-lysosome system (hereafter autophagy). We have recently shown that the autophagy receptor SQSTM1/p62 (sequestosome 1) is an N-recognin that binds the N-terminal arginine (Nt-Arg) as an N-degron to modulate autophagic proteolysis. Here, we show that the N-degron pathway mediates pexophagy, in which damaged peroxisomal fragments are degraded by autophagy under normal and oxidative stress conditions. This degradative process initiates when the Nt-Cys of ACAD10 (acyl-CoA dehydrogenase family, member 10), a receptor in pexophagy, is oxidized into Cys sulfinic (CysO2) or sulfonic acid (CysO3) by ADO (2-aminoethanethiol (cysteamine) dioxygenase). Under oxidative stress, the Nt-Cys of ACAD10 is chemically oxidized by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The oxidized Nt-Cys2 is arginylated by ATE1-encoded R-transferases, generating the RCOX N-degron. RCOX-ACAD10 marks the site of pexophagy via the interaction with PEX5 and binds the ZZ domain of SQSTM1/p62, recruiting LC3+-autophagic membranes. In mice, knockout of either Ate1 responsible for Nt-arginylation or Sqstm1/p62 leads to increased levels of peroxisomes. In the cells from patients with peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBDs), characterized by peroxisomal loss due to uncontrolled pexophagy, inhibition of either ATE1 or SQSTM1/p62 was sufficient to recover the level of peroxisomes. Our results demonstrate that the Cys-N-degron pathway generates an N-degron that regulates the removal of damaged peroxisomal membranes along with their contents. We suggest that tannic acid, a commercially available drug on the market, has a potential to treat PBDs through its activity to inhibit ATE1 R-transferases.Abbreviations: ACAA1, acetyl-Coenzyme A acyltransferase 1; ACAD, acyl-Coenzyme A dehydrogenase; ADO, 2-aminoethanethiol (cysteamine) dioxygenase; ATE1, arginyltransferase 1; CDO1, cysteine dioxygenase type 1; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; LIR, LC3-interacting region; MOXD1, monooxygenase, DBH-like 1; NAC, N-acetyl-cysteine; Nt-Arg, N-terminal arginine; Nt-Cys, N-terminal cysteine; PB1, Phox and Bem1p; PBD, peroxisome biogenesis disorder; PCO, plant cysteine oxidase; PDI, protein disulfide isomerase; PTS, peroxisomal targeting signal; R-COX, Nt-Arg-CysOX; RNS, reactive nitrogen species; ROS, reactive oxygen species; SNP, sodium nitroprusside; UBA, ubiquitin-associated; UPS, ubiquitinproteasome system.

p62-Induced Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Activation via the Nrf2-ATF6 Pathway Promotes Lung Tumorigenesis.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are important in tumor progression. The autophagy adaptor protein, p62/SQSTM1/Sequestosome-1, is up-regulated in tumors, but down-regulated in CAFs in the early stages of lung adenocarcinoma. We investigated whether p62-induced autophagy might control CAF activation. Under CAF-inducing conditions, like hypoxia or cancer cell co-cultures, p62 ablation or autophagy inhibition with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) impaired CAF activation and reduced transforming growth factor beta (TGFß) production, which impeded tumor growth. During CAF activation, p62-induced autophagy up-regulated the expression of the anti-oxidant signaling protein, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and the ER-stress response regulator, activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6). Genetically or pharmacologically inhibiting the Nrf2-ATF6 pathway totally blocked CAF activation and tumor progression. These results demonstrate that p62 is a key modulator of primary lung adenocarcinoma progression. Thus, targeting the p62-Nrf2 autophagy signaling pathway might be a novel, stroma-focused, cancer prevention and/or treatment strategy.

N-terminal arginylation generates a bimodal degron that modulates autophagic proteolysis.

The conjugation of amino acids to the protein N termini is universally observed in eukaryotes and prokaryotes, yet its functions remain poorly understood. In eukaryotes, the amino acid l-arginine (l-Arg) is conjugated to N-terminal Asp (Nt-Asp), Glu, Gln, Asn, and Cys, directly or associated with posttranslational modifications. Following Nt-arginylation, the Nt-Arg is recognized by UBR boxes of N-recognins such as UBR1, UBR2, UBR4/p600, and UBR5/EDD, leading to substrate ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation via the N-end rule pathway. It has been a mystery, however, why studies for the past five decades identified only a handful of Nt-arginylated substrates in mammals, although five of 20 principal amino acids are eligible for arginylation. Here, we show that the Nt-Arg functions as a bimodal degron that directs substrates to either the ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome system (UPS) or macroautophagy depending on physiological states. In normal conditions, the arginylated forms of proteolytic cleavage products, D101-CDC6 and D1156-BRCA1, are targeted to UBR box-containing N-recognins and degraded by the proteasome. However, when proteostasis by the UPS is perturbed, their Nt-Arg redirects these otherwise cellular wastes to macroautophagy through its binding to the ZZ domain of the autophagic adaptor p62/STQSM/Sequestosome-1. Upon binding to the Nt-Arg, p62 acts as an autophagic N-recognin that undergoes self-polymerization, facilitating cargo collection and lysosomal degradation of p62-cargo complexes. A chemical mimic of Nt-Arg redirects Ub-conjugated substrates from the UPS to macroautophagy and promotes their lysosomal degradation. Our results suggest that the Nt-Arg proteome of arginylated proteins contributes to reprogramming global proteolytic flux under stresses.

The endoplasmic reticulum-residing chaperone BiP is short-lived and metabolized through N-terminal arginylation.

BiP and other endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident proteins are thought to be metabolically stable and to function primarily in the ER lumen. We sought to assess how the abundance of these proteins dynamically fluctuates in response to various stresses and how their subpopulations are relocated to non-ER compartments such as the cytosol. We showed that the molecular chaperone BiP (also known as GRP78) was short-lived under basal conditions and ER stress. The turnover of BiP was in part driven by its amino-terminal arginylation (Nt-arginylation) by the arginyltransferase ATE1, which generated an autophagic N-degron of the N-end rule pathway. ER stress elicited the formation of R-BiP, an effect that was increased when the proteasome was also inhibited. Nt-arginylation correlated with the cytosolic relocalization of BiP under the types of stress tested. The cytosolic relocalization of BiP did not require the functionality of the unfolded protein response or the Sec61- or Derlin1-containing translocon. A key inhibitor of the turnover and Nt-arginylation of BiP was HERP (homocysteine-responsive ER protein), a 43-kDa ER membrane-integrated protein that is an essential component of ER-associated protein degradation. Pharmacological inhibition of the ER-Golgi secretory pathway also suppressed R-BiP formation. Finally, we showed that cytosolic R-BiP induced by ER stress and proteasomal inhibition was routed to autophagic vacuoles and possibly additional metabolic fates. These results suggest that Nt-arginylation is a posttranslational modification that modulates the function, localization, and metabolic fate of ER-resident proteins.

Regulation of autophagic proteolysis by the N-recognin SQSTM1/p62 of the N-end rule pathway.

In macroautophagy/autophagy, cargoes are collected by specific receptors, such as SQSTM1/p62 (sequestosome 1), and delivered to phagophores for lysosomal degradation. To date, little is known about how cells modulate SQSTM1 activity and autophagosome biogenesis in response to accumulating cargoes. In this study, we show that SQSTM1 is an N-recognin whose ZZ domain binds N-terminal arginine (Nt-Arg) and other N-degrons (Nt-Lys, Nt-His, Nt-Trp, Nt-Phe, and Nt-Tyr) of the N-end rule pathway. The substrates of SQSTM1 include the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-residing chaperone HSPA5/GRP78/BiP. Upon N-end rule interaction with the Nt-Arg of arginylated HSPA5 (R-HSPA5), SQSTM1 undergoes self-polymerization via disulfide bonds of Cys residues including Cys113, facilitating cargo collection. In parallel, Nt-Arg-bound SQSTM1 acts as an inducer of autophagosome biogenesis and autophagic flux. Through this dual regulatory mechanism, SQSTM1 plays a key role in the crosstalk between the ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy. Based on these results, we employed 3D-modeling of SQSTM1 and a virtual chemical library to develop small molecule ligands to the ZZ domain of SQSTM1. These autophagy inducers accelerated the autophagic removal of mutant HTT (huntingtin) aggregates. We suggest that SQSTM1 can be exploited as a novel drug target to modulate autophagic processes in pathophysiological conditions.

p62/SQSTM1/Sequestosome-1 is an N-recognin of the N-end rule pathway which modulates autophagosome biogenesis.

Macroautophagy mediates the selective degradation of proteins and non-proteinaceous cellular constituents. Here, we show that the N-end rule pathway modulates macroautophagy. In this mechanism, the autophagic adapter p62/SQSTM1/Sequestosome-1 is an N-recognin that binds type-1 and type-2 N-terminal degrons (N-degrons), including arginine (Nt-Arg). Both types of N-degrons bind its ZZ domain. By employing three-dimensional modeling, we developed synthetic ligands to p62 ZZ domain. The binding of Nt-Arg and synthetic ligands to ZZ domain facilitates disulfide bond-linked aggregation of p62 and p62 interaction with LC3, leading to the delivery of p62 and its cargoes to the autophagosome. Upon binding to its ligand, p62 acts as a modulator of macroautophagy, inducing autophagosome biogenesis. Through these dual functions, cells can activate p62 and induce selective autophagy upon the accumulation of autophagic cargoes. We also propose that p62 mediates the crosstalk between the ubiquitin-proteasome system and autophagy through its binding Nt-Arg and other N-degrons.Soluble misfolded proteins that fail to be degraded by the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) are redirected to autophagy via specific adaptors, such as p62. Here the authors show that p62 recognises N-degrons in these proteins, acting as a N-recognin from the proteolytic N-end rule pathway, and targets these cargos to autophagosomal degradation.

The effects of 5-HT4 receptor agonist, mosapride citrate, on visceral hypersensitivity in a rat model.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Mosapride citrate is known to affect gastric motility. However, whether mosapride citrate has any effect on visceral pain in the colon or rectum is not certain. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of mosapride citrate on visceral pain in a rat visceral hypersensitivity model. METHODS: The perception of visceral pain was evaluated by the visceromotor response to colorectal distension observed on electromyographs of the abdominal musculature in urethane-anesthetized rats. Visceral hypersensitivity was induced by the intrarectal instillation of 4% acetic acid or 1.5% zymosan. Mosapride citrate was administered intraperitoneally 3 h later. VMRs to CRD were recorded prior to the instillation of acetic acid or zymosan and before and after mosapride citrate treatment. RESULTS: The intracolonic instillation of acetic acid resulted in a significant increase in VMRs of the abdominal muscles to CRD, compared with the pretreatment state (174 ± 24%, P < 0.05). The intracolonic instillation of zymosan resulted in a significant increase in VMRs of the abdominal muscles to CRD, compared with the pretreatment state (144 ± 9%, P < 0.05). Intraperitoneal injection of mosapride citrate resulted in a significant reduction in the VMRs to CRD in an acetic acid-induced visceral hypersensitivity rat model (61 ± 9%, P < 0.05). The intraperitoneal injection of mosapride citrate also resulted in a significant reduction in the VMRs to CRD in a zymosan-induced visceral hypersensitivity rat model (67 ± 9%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Mosapride citrate diminished visceral pain in rats.

Capsaicin prevents the hyperalgesia induced by peripheral group I mGluRs activation.

Group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are expressed in peripheral and central neural tissues and involved in peripheral and central sensitization in various pain models. However, there are limited reports that activation of peripheral group I mGluRs could evoke pain. Furthermore, any behavioral evidences could not be found out, showing what kind of afferent fibers are involved in peripheral mGluRs-mediated hyperalgesia. This study was undertaken to clarify whether peripherally injected group I mGluRs agonists could induce pain-related behaviors and capsaicin-sensitive afferent fibers might be involved in the hyperalgesia. To assess pain sensitivity, mechanical threshold for paw withdrawal response (PWT) was measured and number of spontaneous flinching behavior was counted. Intraplantar injection of group I mGluR agonist, (RS)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) and mGluR5 agonist, (RS)-2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenyglycine (CHPG) immediately induced pain-like behaviors, such as decrease of PWT and increased number of flinchings. These agonists-induced pain-like behaviors were blocked by group I mGluRs antagonist, (RS)-1-aminoindan-1,5-dicarboxylic acid (AIDA) and mGluR5 antagonist, 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl) pyridine hydrochloride (MPEP). Perineural pretreatment of 1% capsaicin solution significantly reduced pain-related behaviors induced by DHPG and CHPG, proposing that capsaicin-sensitive primary afferent fibers could be responsible for the hyperalgesia induced by activation of peripheral group I mGluRs. This study presents the first behavioral evidence that peripheral group I mGluRs activation could induce spontaneous as well as mechanical hyperalgesia and capsaicin-sensitive afferent fiber could be implicated the group I mGluR mediated hyperalgesia.