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Inhibitors of ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1), a new class of potential cancer therapeutics

  1. Author:
    Yang, Y. L.
    Kitagaki, J.
    Dai, R. M.
    Tsai, Y. C.
    Lorick, K. L.
    Ludwig, R. L.
    Pierre, S. A.
    Jensen, J. P.
    Davydov, I. V.
    Oberoi, P.
    Li, C. C. H.
    Kenten, J. H.
    Beutler, J. A.
    Vousden, K. H.
    Weissman, A. M.
  2. Author Address

    NCI, Lab Prot Dynam & Signalling, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702 USA. NCI, Lab Canc Prevent, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702 USA. NCI, Lab Canc Prevent, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702 USA. NCI, Mol Targets Dev Program, Canc Res Ctr, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702 USA. Beatson Inst Canc Res, Glasgow G61 1BD, Lanark, Scotland. Meso Scale Discovery, Gaithersburg, MD USA.;Weissman, AM, NCI, Lab Prot Dynam & Signalling, NIH, Bldg 560,Room 22-103,560 Boyles St, Frederick, MD 21702 USA.;yangyili@ncifcrf.gov amw@nih.gov
    1. Year: 2007
    2. Date: Oct
  1. Journal: Cancer Research
    1. 67
    2. 19
    3. Pages: 9472-9481
  2. Type of Article: Article
  3. ISSN: 0008-5472
  1. Abstract:

    The conjugation of proteins with ubiquitin plays numerous regulatory roles through both proteasomal-dependent and nonproteasomal-dependent functions. Alterations in ubiquitylation are observed in a wide range of pathologic conditions, including numerous malignancies. For this reason, there is great interest in targeting the ubiquitin-proteasome system in cancer. Several classes of proteasome inhibitors, which block degradation of ubiquitylated proteins, are widely used in research, and one, Bortezomib, is now in clinical use. Despite the well-defined and central role of the ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1), no cell permeable inhibitors of El have been identified. Such inhibitors should, in principle, block all functions of ubiquitylation. We now report 4[4-(5-nitro-furan-2-ylmethylene)-3,5-dioxo-pyrazolidin-1-yl]-benzoic acid ethyl ester (PYR-41) as the first such inhibitor. Unexpectedly, in addition to blocking ubiquitylation, PYR-41 increased total sumoylation in cells. The molecular basis for this is unknown; however, increased sumoylation was also observed in cells harboring temperature-sensitive El. Functionally, PYR-41 attenuates cytokine-mediated nuclear factor-kappa B activation. This correlates with inhibition of nonproteasomal (Lys-63) ubiquitylation of TRAF6, which is essential to I kappa B kinase activation. PYR-41 also prevents the downstream ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation of I kappa B alpha. Furthermore, PYR-41 inhibits degradation of p53 and activates the transcriptional activity of this tumor suppressor. Consistent with this, it differentially kills transformed p53-expressing cells. Thus, PYR-41 and related pyrazones provide proof of principle for the capacity to differentially kill transformed cells, suggesting the potential for E I inhibitors as therapeutics in cancer. These inhibitors can also be valuable tools for studying ubiquitylation.

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External Sources

  1. DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-07-0568
  2. WOS: 000249955500063

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