Identification of ryuvidine as a KDM5A inhibitor.

KDM5 family members (A, B, C and D) that demethylate H3K4me3 have been shown to be involved in human cancers. Here we performed screening for KDM5A inhibitors from chemical libraries using the AlphaScreen method and identified a battery of screening hits that inhibited recombinant KDM5A. These compounds were further subjected to cell-based screening using a reporter gene that responded to KDM5A inhibition and 6 compounds were obtained as candidate inhibitors. When further confirmation of their inhibition activity on cellular KDM5A was made by immunostaining H3K4me3 in KDM5A-overexpressing cells, ryuvidine clearly repressed H3K4me3 demethylation. Ryuvidine prevented generation of gefitinib-tolerant human small-cell lung cancer PC9 cells and also inhibited the growth of the drug-tolerant cells at concentrations that did not affect the growth of parental PC9 cells. Ryuvidine inhibited not only KDM5A but also recombinant KDM5B and C; KDM5B was the most sensitive to the inhibitor. These results warrant that ryuvidine may serve as a lead compound for KDM5 targeted therapeutics.

Regulation of tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) expression by lysine-specific demethylase 1 and 2 (LSD1 and LSD2).

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) is a major inhibitor of extracellular matrix degradation. Decreases in TFPI-2 contribute to malignant tumor cell production, and TFPI-2 is a presumed tumor suppressor. TFPI-2 gene transcription is regulated by two epigenetic mechanisms: DNA methylation of the promoter and K4 methylation of histone 3 (H3). Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) and LSD2 demethylate H3K4me2/1. LSD1 has been implicated in TFPI-2 regulation through both epigenetic mechanisms, but the involvement of LSD2 remains unknown. We prepared a monoclonal anti-LSD2 antibody that clearly distinguishes LSD2 from LSD1. Knockdown of LSD1 or LSD2 by siRNAs increased TFPI-2 protein and mRNA. Simultaneous knockdown of both LSD1 and LSD2 showed additive effects. Bisulfite sequencing revealed that CpG sites in the TFPI-2 promoter region were unmethylated. These results indicate that LSD2 also contributes to TFPI-2 regulation through histone modification, and that further studies of the involvement of LSD2 in tumor malignancy are warranted.

Identification of the KDM2/7 histone lysine demethylase subfamily inhibitor and its antiproliferative activity.

Histone N(ε)-methyl lysine demethylases KDM2/7 have been identified as potential targets for cancer therapies. On the basis of the crystal structure of KDM7B, we designed and prepared a series of hydroxamate analogues bearing an alkyl chain. Enzyme assays revealed that compound 9 potently inhibits KDM2A, KDM7A, and KDM7B, with IC50s of 6.8, 0.2, and 1.2 µM, respectively. While inhibitors of KDM4s did not show any effect on cancer cells tested, the KDM2/7-subfamily inhibitor 9 exerted antiproliferative activity, indicating the potential for KDM2/7 inhibitors as anticancer agents.

Synthesis and biological activity of optically active NCL-1, a lysine-specific demethylase 1 selective inhibitor.

Optically active (1S,2R)-NCL-1 and (1R,2S)-NCL-1 were synthesized and evaluated for their lysine-specific demethylase 1 inhibitory activity and cell growth inhibitory activity. In enzyme assays, the (1S,2R)-isomer was approximately four times more potent than the (1R,2S)-isomer. In cell growth inhibition assays, the two isomers showed similar activity in HEK293 cells and SH-SY5Y cells, whereas the (1S,2R)-isomer showed approximately four times more potent activity than the (1R,2S)-isomer in HeLa cells.

Identification of SAP155 as the target of GEX1A (Herboxidiene), an antitumor natural product.

GEX1A is a microbial product with antitumor activity. HeLa cells cultured with GEX1A accumulated p27(Kip) and its C-terminally truncated form p27*. GEX1A inhibited the pre-mRNA splicing of p27, producing p27* from the unspliced mRNA containing the first intron. p27* lacked the site required for E3 ligase-mediated proteolysis of p27, leading to its accumulation in GEX1A-treated cells. The accumulated p27* was able to bind to and inhibit the cyclin E-Cdk2 complex that causes E3 ligase-mediated degradation of p27, which probably triggers the accumulation of p27. By using a series of photoaffinity-labeling derivatives of GEX1A, we found that GEX1A targeted SAP155 protein, a subunit of SF3b responsible for pre-mRNA splicing. The linker length between the GEX1A pharmacophore and the photoreactive group was critical for detection of the GEX1A-binding protein. GEX1A serves as a novel splicing inhibitor that specifically impairs the SF3b function by binding to SAP155.

Structural basis of Ets1 cooperative binding to palindromic sequences on stromelysin-1 promoter DNA.

Ets1 is a member of the Ets family of transcription factors. Ets1 is autoinhibited and its activation requires heterodimerization with a partner protein or DNA-mediated homodimerization for cooperative DNA binding. In the latter case, Ets1 molecules bind to palindromic sequences in which two Ets-binding sites (EBS) are separated by four base pairs, for example in the promoters of stromelysin-1 and p53. Interestingly, counteraction of autoinhibition requires the autoinhibitory region encoded by exon VII of the gene. The structural basis for the requirement of autoinhibitory sequences for Ets1 binding to palindromic EBS still remains unresolved. Here we report the crystal structure of two Ets1 molecules bound to an EBS palindrome of the stromelysin-1 promoter DNA, providing a plausible explanation for the requirement of exon VII-encoded sequences for Ets1 cooperative DNA binding. The proposed mechanism was verified both in vitro by surface plasmon resonance and in vivo by transcription-based assays.

Design, synthesis, enzyme-inhibitory activity, and effect on human cancer cells of a novel series of jumonji domain-containing protein 2 histone demethylase inhibitors.

Selective inhibitors of Jumonji domain-containing protein (JMJD) histone demethylases are candidate anticancer agents as well as potential tools for elucidating the biological functions of JMJDs. On the basis of the crystal structure of JMJD2A and a homology model of JMJD2C, we designed and prepared a series of hydroxamate analogues bearing a tertiary amine. Enzyme assays using JMJD2C, JMJD2A, and prolyl hydroxylases revealed that hydroxamate analogue 8 is a potent and selective JMJD2 inhibitor, showing 500-fold greater JMJD2C-inhibitory activity and more than 9100-fold greater JMJD2C-selectivity compared with the lead compound N-oxalylglycine 2. Compounds 17 and 18, prodrugs of compound 8, each showed synergistic growth inhibition of cancer cells in combination with an inhibitor of lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1). These findings suggest that combination treatment with JMJD2 inhibitors and LSD1 inhibitors may represent a novel strategy for anticancer chemotherapy.

Identification of cell-active lysine specific demethylase 1-selective inhibitors.

Lysine specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) plays a key role in the regulation of gene expression by removing the methyl groups from methylated Lys4 of histone H3 (H3K4). Here we report the identification of the first small-molecule LSD1-selective inhibitors. These inhibitors show in vivo H3K4-methylating activity and antiproliferative activity and should be useful as lead structures for anticancer drugs and as tools for studying the biological roles of LSD1.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of endoglucanase from Pyrococcus horikoshii.

Structural information on hyperthermostable cellulases is required for bioprocess applications in the transformation of biomass. Crystals were obtained of a C-terminally five-amino-acid truncated hyperthermostable endoglucanase (family 5) from the archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii. The truncated form of this enzyme showed similar enzymatic properties to the wild-type protein. The enzyme was crystallized by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method using ethanol as precipitant at 296 K. An X-ray diffraction data set was collected to 1.78 A resolution at 100 K. The crystals belonged to space group P4(1)2(1)2 or P4(3)2(1)2.

Three-dimensional structure of a new enzyme, O-phosphoserine sulfhydrylase, involved in l-cysteine biosynthesis by a hyperthermophilic archaeon, Aeropyrum pernix K1, at 2.0A resolution.

O-Phosphoserine sulfhydrylase is a new enzyme found in a hyperthermophilic archaeon, Aeropyrum pernix K1. This enzyme catalyzes a novel cysteine synthetic reaction from O-phospho-l-serine and sulfide. The crystal structure of the enzyme was determined at 2.0A resolution using the method of multi-wavelength anomalous dispersion. A monomer consists of three domains, including an N-terminal domain with a new alpha/beta fold. The topology folds of the middle and C-terminal domains were similar to those of the O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase-A from Salmonella typhimurium and the cystathionine beta-synthase from human. The cofactor, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, is bound in a cleft between the middle and C-terminal domains through a covalent linkage to Lys127. Based on the structure determined, O-phospho-l-serine could be rationally modeled into the active site of the enzyme. An enzyme-substrate complex model and a mutation experiment revealed that Arg297, unique to hyperthermophilic archaea, is one of the most crucial residues for O-phosphoserine sulfhydrylation activity. There are more hydrophobic areas and less electric charges at the dimer interface, compared to the S.typhimurium O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase.

A novel O-phospho-L-serine sulfhydrylation reaction catalyzed by O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase from Aeropyrum pernix K1.

O-Acetylserine sulfhydrylase (OASS), a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme, catalyzes the synthesis of L-cysteine from O-acetyl-L-serine and sulfide. O-Acetyl-L-serine is labile at high temperatures at which hyperthermophilic archaea live. Herein, a study of the substrate specificity of OASS from Aeropyrum pernix K1 with respect to O-acetyl-L-serine in L-cysteine synthesis is described. L-Azaserine, 3-chloro-L-alanine, and O-phospho-L-serine reacted with A. pernix OASS in a PLP-dependent manner. Sulfhydrylation reactions using these substrates reached a maximum in the pH range between 7.3 and 8.1. L-Azaserine and O-phospho-L-serine were found to be heat-stable substrates. The presence of FeCl3 or NiCl2 strongly inhibited the O-acetyl-L-serine sulfhydrylation reaction, whereas the O-phospho-L-serine sulfhydrylation reaction was only slightly inhibited. Kinetic analyses revealed that the O-phospho-L-serine sulfhydrylation reaction as well as the O-acetyl-L-serine sulfhydrylation reaction for A. pernix OASS followed a ping-pong bi-bi mechanism. In the case of the O-phospho-L-serine sulfhydrylation reaction at 85 degrees C, the K(m) values for O-phospho-L-serine and sulfide, and the rate constant were 250 mM, 12.5 mM, and 14000 s(-1), respectively. The reactivity of O-phospho-L-serine in the L-cysteine synthetic reaction provides a key for understanding the biosynthesis of L-cysteine by hyperthermophilic archaea. This is the first report of an enzyme that catalyzes the O-phospho-L-serine sulfhydrylation reaction.

Characterization of a novel thermostable O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase from Aeropyrum pernix K1.

An O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase (OASS) from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Aeropyrum pernix K1, which shares the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate binding motif with both OASS and cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS), was cloned and expressed by using Escherichia coli Rosetta(DE3). The purified protein was a dimer and contained pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. It was shown to be an enzyme with CBS activity as well as OASS activity in vitro. The enzyme retained 90% of its activity after a 6-h incubation at 100 degrees C. In the O-acetyl-L-serine sulfhydrylation reaction, it had a pH optimum of 6.7, apparent K(m) values for O-acetyl-L-serine and sulfide of 28 and below 0.2 mM, respectively, and a rate constant of 202 s(-1). In the L-cystathionine synthetic reaction, it showed a broad pH optimum in the range of 8.1 to 8.8, apparent K(m) values for L-serine and L-homocysteine of 8 and 0.51 mM, respectively, and a rate constant of 0.7 s(-1). A. pernix OASS has a high activity in the L-cysteine desulfurization reaction, which produces sulfide and S-(2,3-hydroxy-4-thiobutyl)-L-cysteine from L-cysteine and dithiothreitol.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase from Aeropyrum pernix K1.

Crystals of O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase from Aeropyrum pernix K1 were obtained by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method at 298 K. An X-ray diffraction data set was collected to 2.25 A resolution at 100 K. The crystal belonged to space group P42(1)2, P4(1)2(1)2, P4(2)2(1)2 or P4(3)2(1)2. The unit-cell parameters were a = b = 74.5, c = 276.0 A. The presence of two subunits of the enzyme per asymmetric unit gives a crystal Volume per protein mass (V(M)) of 2.28 A(3) Da(-1) and a solvent content of 46%(v/v).