Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
11
Published: Nov. 28, 2024
While
many
researchers
can
design
knockdown
and
knockout
methodologies
to
remove
a
gene
product,
this
is
mainly
untrue
for
new
chemical
inhibitor
designs
that
empower
multifunctional
DNA
Damage
Response
(DDR)
networks.
Here,
we
present
robust
Goldilocks
(GL)
computational
discovery
protocol
efficiently
innovate
tools
preclinical
drug
candidates
cellular
structural
biologists
without
requiring
extensive
virtual
screen
(VS)
synthesis
expertise.
By
computationally
targeting
DDR
replication
repair
proteins,
exemplify
the
identification
of
target
sites
compounds
probe
cancer
biology.
Our
GL
pipeline
integrates
experimental
predicted
structures
discover
leads,
allowing
early-structure
early-testing
(ESET)
experiments
by
laboratories.
employing
an
efficient
VS
examine
protein-protein
interfaces
(PPIs)
allosteric
interactions,
identify
ligand
binding
beyond
active
sites,
leveraging
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15(1)
Published: March 8, 2024
Abstract
Growth
factor
receptor-bound
protein
2
(GRB2)
is
a
cytoplasmic
adapter
for
tyrosine
kinase
signaling
and
nuclear
homology-directed-DNA
repair.
Here
we
find
GRB2
protects
DNA
at
stalled
replication
forks
from
MRE11-mediated
degradation
in
the
BRCA2
fork
protection
axis.
Mechanistically,
binds
inhibits
RAD51
ATPase
activity
to
stabilize
on
forks.
In
GRB2-depleted
cells,
PARP
inhibitor
(PARPi)
treatment
releases
fragments
into
cytoplasm
that
activate
cGAS–STING
pathway
trigger
pro-inflammatory
cytokine
production.
Moreover
syngeneic
mouse
metastatic
ovarian
cancer
model,
depletion
context
of
PARPi
reduced
tumor
burden
enabled
high
survival
consistent
with
immune
suppression
growth.
Collective
findings
unveil
function
mechanism
BRCA2-RAD51-MRE11
axis
suggest
as
potential
therapeutic
target
an
enabling
predictive
biomarker
patient
selection
immunotherapy
combination.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15(1)
Published: March 11, 2024
Abstract
We
present
a
hydrogen/deuterium
exchange
workflow
coupled
to
tandem
mass
spectrometry
(HX-MS
2
)
that
supports
the
acquisition
of
peptide
fragment
ions
alongside
their
precursors.
The
approach
enables
true
auto-curation
HX
data
by
mining
rich
set
deuterated
fragments,
generated
collisional-induced
dissociation
(CID),
simultaneously
confirm
ID
and
authenticate
MS
1
-based
deuteration
calculations.
high
redundancy
provided
fragments
confidence
assessment
deuterium
calculations
using
combinatorial
strategy.
requires
data-independent
(DIA)
methods
are
available
on
most
platforms,
making
switch
HX-MS
straightforward.
Importantly,
we
find
HX-DIA
proteomics-grade
wide-spread
applications.
Considerable
time
is
saved
through
complex
samples
can
now
be
characterized
at
higher
throughput.
illustrate
these
advantages
in
drug
binding
analysis
ultra-large
protein
kinase
DNA-PKcs,
isolated
directly
from
mammalian
cells.
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
67(5), P. 3606 - 3625
Published: Feb. 20, 2024
DNA
polymerase
theta
(Polθ)
has
recently
emerged
as
a
new
attractive
synthetic
lethal
target
involved
in
damage
repair.
Inactivating
Polθ
alone
or
combination
with
PARP
inhibitors
demonstrated
substantial
therapeutic
potential
against
tumors
homologous
recombination
(HR)
defects
such
alternation
of
BRCA
genes.
Herein,
we
report
the
design
and
proof
concept
highly
potent
dual
Polθ/PARP
inhibitor
25d,
which
exhibited
low
nanomolar
inhibitory
activities
both
PARP1.
Compared
to
treatment,
25d
superior
antitumor
efficacy
MDA-MB-436
cells
xenografts
by
inducing
more
apoptosis.
Importantly,
retained
sensitivity
inhibitor-resistant
53BP1
defect.
Altogether,
these
findings
illustrate
advantages
first-in-class
inhibitor,
over
monotherapy
treating
HR-deficient
tumors,
including
those
acquired
resistance.
Marine Drugs,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
22(4), P. 143 - 143
Published: March 23, 2024
The
inadequate
vascularization
seen
in
fast-growing
solid
tumors
gives
rise
to
hypoxic
areas,
fostering
specific
changes
gene
expression
that
bolster
tumor
cell
survival
and
metastasis,
ultimately
leading
unfavorable
clinical
prognoses
across
different
cancer
types.
Hypoxia-inducible
factors
(HIF-1
HIF-2)
emerge
as
druggable
pivotal
players
orchestrating
metastasis
angiogenesis,
thus
positioning
them
prime
targets
for
treatment.
A
range
of
HIF
inhibitors,
notably
natural
compounds
originating
from
marine
organisms,
exhibit
encouraging
anticancer
properties,
underscoring
their
significance
promising
therapeutic
options.
Bioprospection
the
environment
is
now
a
well-settled
approach
discovery
development
agents
might
have
medicinal
chemistry
developed
into
candidates.
However,
despite
massive
increase
number
products
classified
‘anticancer
leads,’
most
which
correspond
general
cytotoxic
agents,
only
few
been
characterized
regarding
molecular
mechanisms
action.
current
review
presents
critical
analysis
inhibitors
HIF-1
HIF-2
hypoxia-selective
sourced
organisms
act
new
chemotherapeutic
candidates
or
serve
templates
structurally
similar
derivatives
with
improved
efficacy.
npj Precision Oncology,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
9(1)
Published: Feb. 28, 2025
Abstract
Head
and
neck
squamous
cell
carcinoma
(HNSC)
is
a
prevalent
malignancy,
with
HPV-negative
tumors
exhibiting
aggressive
behavior
poor
prognosis.
Understanding
the
intricate
interactions
within
tumor
microenvironment
(TME)
crucial
for
improving
prognostic
models
identifying
therapeutic
targets.
Using
BulkSignalR,
we
identified
ligand-receptor
in
TCGA-HNSC
cohort
(
n
=
395).
A
model
incorporating
14
pairs
was
developed
using
random
forest
survival
analysis
LASSO-penalized
Cox
regression
based
on
overall
progression-free
interval
of
from
TCGA-HNSC.
Multi-omics
revealed
distinct
molecular
features
between
risk
groups,
including
differences
extracellular
matrix
remodeling,
angiogenesis,
immune
infiltration,
APOBEC
enzyme
activity.
Deep
learning-based
tissue
morphology
HE-stained
whole
slide
images
further
improved
stratification,
region
selection
via
Silicon
enhancing
accuracy.
The
integration
routine
histopathology
deep
learning
multi-omics
data
offers
clinically
accessible
tool
precise
facilitating
personalized
treatment
strategies
HNSC.
NAR Cancer,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
7(1)
Published: Jan. 15, 2025
Abstract
Alternative
end-joining
(alt-EJ)
is
an
error-prone
DNA
repair
pathway
that
cancer
cells
deficient
in
homologous
recombination
rely
on,
making
them
vulnerable
to
synthetic
lethality
via
inhibition
of
poly(ADP-ribose)
polymerase
(PARP).
Targeting
alt-EJ
effector
theta
(POLθ),
which
synergizes
with
PARP
inhibitors
and
can
overcome
resistance,
significant
preclinical
clinical
interest.
However,
the
transcriptional
regulation
its
interactions
processes
driving
progression
remain
poorly
understood.
Here,
we
show
suppressed
by
hypoxia
while
positively
associated
MYC
(myelocytomatosis
oncogene)
activity.
Hypoxia
reduces
PARP1
POLQ
expression,
decreases
binding
at
their
promoters,
lowers
PARylation
alt-EJ-mediated
cells.
Tumors
HIF1A
mutations
overexpress
gene
signature.
Inhibition
hypoxia-inducible
factor
1α
or
expression
depletion,
combined
POLθ
inhibition,
synergistically
colony-forming
capacity
Deep
learning
reveals
anticorrelation
between
across
regions
tumor
images,
predictions
for
these
activity
achieve
area
under
curve
values
0.70
0.86.
These
findings
further
highlight
critical
role
modulating
present
a
strategy
predicting
improving
outcomes
centered
on
targeting
alt-EJ.
Analytical Chemistry,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: March 31, 2025
Hydrogen/deuterium
exchange
mass
spectrometry
(HX-MS)
is
a
method
used
to
study
solution-phase
protein
structure
and
dynamics.
Despite
its
many
applications,
HX-MS
limited
in
throughput
because
manual
data
analysis
still
the
norm.
We
previously
developed
HX-MS2
technology
add
second
dimension
of
deuteration
promote
automated
processing.
Data-independent
acquisition
(DIA)
techniques
enable
this
approach,
but
we
require
optimized
methods
for
best
performance.
Using
an
Orbitrap
Eclipse
illustration,
show
that
ion
optics
collision
energy
settings
typical
proteomics
DIA
experiment
generate
maximal
peptide
retrieval
from
library.
As
few
as
three
MS2
sequence
ions
are
sufficient
measurement
with
precision
exceeds
what
possible
traditional
HX-MS.
window
sizes
based
on
chromatographic
resolution
method.
An
inter-scan
offset
recommended
default
configuration
most
HX-DIA
applications
butan
intra-scan
overlap
can
be
tuned
highest
performance
when
maximum
desired.
demonstrate
robustness
one
(consisting
Trajan
HDX
automation
technology,
spectrometer
AutoHX
software)
extensive
time-course
phosphorylase
B
epitope
single-domain
antibodies
(VHHs,
nanobodies)
specific
receptor
binding
domain
SARS-CoV-2
spike
protein.
Journal of Biological Chemistry,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
300(6), P. 107368 - 107368
Published: May 14, 2024
Activating
signal
co-integrator
complex
1
(ASCC1)
acts
with
ASCC-ALKBH3
in
alkylation
damage
responses.
ASCC1
uniquely
combines
two
evolutionarily
ancient
domains:
nucleotide-binding
K-Homology
(KH)
(associated
regulating
splicing,
transcriptional,
and
translation)
two-histidine
phosphodiesterase
(PDE)
hydrolysis
of
cyclic
nucleotide
phosphate
bonds).
Germline
mutations
link
loss
function
to
spinal
muscular
atrophy
congenital
bone
fractures
2
(SMABF2).
Herein
analysis
The
Cancer
Genome
Atlas
(TCGA)
suggests
RNA
overexpression
certain
tumors
correlates
poor
survival,
Signatures
29
3
mutations,
genetic
instability
markers.
We
determined
crystal
structures
Alvinella
pompejana
(Ap)
Human
(Hs)
PDE
domain
revealing
high
resolution
details
features
conserved
over
500
million
years
evolution.
Extending
understanding
the
KH
Gly-X-X-Gly
sequence
motif,
we
define
a
novel
structural
Helix-Clasp-Helix
(HCH)
binding
motif
show
sequence–specific
CGCG-containing
RNA.
V-shaped
channel
has
His-Φ-Ser/Thr-Φ
(HXT)
motifs
(Φ
being
hydrophobic)
positioned
initiate
bond
hydrolysis.
A
atypical
active-site
histidine
torsion
angle
implies
substrate.
Flexible
active
site
loop
arginine-rich
linker
appear
regulatory.
Small
X-ray
scattering
(SAXS)
revealed
aligned
KH-PDE
sites
limited
flexibility
solution.
Quantitative
evolutionary
bioinformatic
analyses
disease
cancer-associated
support
implied
functional
roles
for
binding,
activity,
regulation.
Collective
results
inform
transactivation
responses,
its
targeting
by
structure-based
inhibitors,
how
may
impact
inherited
cancer.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15(1)
Published: Aug. 14, 2024
DNA
polymerase
theta
(Polθ)
is
a
helicase-polymerase
protein
that
facilitates
repair
and
synthetic
lethal
with
homology-directed
(HDR)
factors.
Thus,
Polθ
promising
precision
oncology
drug-target
in
HDR-deficient
cancers.
Here,
we
characterize
the
binding
mechanism
of
action
helicase
(Polθ-hel)
small-molecule
inhibitor
(AB25583)
using
cryo-EM.
AB25583
exhibits
6
nM
IC50
against
Polθ-hel,
selectively
kills
BRCA1/2-deficient
cells,
acts
synergistically
olaparib
cancer
cells
harboring
pathogenic
BRCA1/2
mutations.
Cryo-EM
uncovers
predominantly
dimeric
Polθ-hel:AB25583
complex
structures
at
3.0-3.2
Å.
The
reveal
binding-pocket
deep
inside
central-channel,
which
underscores
high
specificity
potency
AB25583.
cryo-EM
conjunction
biochemical
data
indicate
inhibits
ATPase
activity
Polθ-hel
via
an
allosteric
mechanism.
These
detailed
structural
insights
about
inhibition
pave
way
for
accelerating
drug
development
targeting
crucial
target
medicine
therapy.
authors
AB25583,
show
its
selective
killing
BRCA1/2–
synergy
olaparib.