HSP90 modulates actin dynamics: Inhibition of HSP90 leads to decreased cell motility and impairs invasion

HSP90, a major molecular chaperone, plays an essential role in the maintenance of several signaling molecules. Inhibition of HSP90 by inhibitors such as 17-allylamino-demethoxy-geldanamycin (17AAG) is known to induce apoptosis in various cancer cells by decreasing the activation or expression of pro-survival molecules such as protein kinase B (Akt). While we did not observe either decrease in expression or activation of pro-survival signaling molecules in human breast cancer cells upon inhibiting HSP90 with 17AAG, we did observe a decrease in cell motility of transformed cells, and cell motility and invasion of cancer cells. We found a significant decrease in the number of filopodia and lamellipodia, and in the F-actin bundles upon HSP90 inhibition. Our results show no change in the active forms or total levels of FAK and Pax, or in the activation of Rac-1 and Cdc-42; however increased levels of HSP90, HSP90α and HSP70 were observed upon HSP90 inhibition. Co-immuno-precipitation of HSP90 reveals interaction of HSP90 with G-actin, which increases upon HSP90 inhibition. FRET results show a significant decrease in interaction between actin monomers, leading to decreased actin polymerization upon HSP90 inhibition. We observed a decrease in the invasion of human breast cancer cells in the matrigel assay upon HSP90 inhibition. Over-expression of αB-crystallin, known to be involved in actin dynamics, did not abrogate the effect of HSP90 inhibition. Our work provides the molecular mechanism by which HSP90 inhibition delays cell migration and should be useful in developing cancer treatment strategies with known anti-cancer drugs such as cisplatin in combination with HSP90 inhibitors.     

Geldanamycin selectively targets the nascent form of ERBB3 for degradation

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) targets a broad spectrum of client proteins with divergent modes of interaction and consequences. The homologous epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and ERBB2 receptors as well as kinase-deficient mutants thereof differ in their requirement for HSP90 in the nascent versus mature state of the receptor. Specific features of the kinase domain have been implicated for the selective association of HSP90 with mature ERBB2. We evaluated the role of HSP90 for the homologous ERBB3 receptor. ERBB3 is naturally kinase deficient, a central mediator in cell survival and stress response and the primary dimerization partner for ERBB2 in signaling. Cellular studies indicate that, similar to EGFR, the geldanamycin (GA) sensitivity of ERBB3 and HSP90 binding resides in the nascent state and is dependent on the presence of the kinase domain of ERBB3. Furthermore, despite its intrinsic lack of kinase activity and in contrast to the reported GA sensitivity of mature and kinase-deficient EGFR, the GA sensitivity of the nascent state of ERBB3 appears to be exclusive. Geldanamycin disrupts the interaction of ERBB3 and HSP90 and inhibits ERBB3 maturation at an early stage of synthesis, prior to export from the ER. Studies with a photo-convertible fusion protein of ERBB3 suggest geldanamycin sensitivity at a later stage in maturation, possibly through the putative role of HSP90 in structural proofreading.     

Combined HSP90 and kinase inhibitor therapy: Insights from The Cancer Genome Atlas

The merging of knowledge from genomics, cellular signal transduction and molecular evolution is producing new paradigms of cancer analysis. Protein kinases have long been understood to initiate and promote malignant cell growth and targeting kinases to fight cancer has been a major strategy within the pharmaceutical industry for over two decades. Despite the initial success of kinase inhibitors (KIs), the ability of cancer to evolve resistance and reprogram oncogenic signaling networks has reduced the efficacy of kinase targeting. The molecular chaperone HSP90 physically supports global kinase function while also acting as an evolutionary capacitor. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) has compiled a trove of data indicating that a large percentage of tumors overexpress or possess mutant kinases that depend on the HSP90 molecular chaperone complex. Moreover, the overexpression or mutation of parallel activators of kinase activity (PAKA) increases the number of components that promote malignancy and indirectly associate with HSP90. Therefore, targeting HSP90 is predicted to complement kinase inhibitors by inhibiting oncogenic reprogramming and cancer evolution. Based on this hypothesis, consideration should be given by both the research and clinical communities towards combining kinase inhibitors and HSP90 inhibitors (H90Ins) in combating cancer. The purpose of this perspective is to reflect on the current understanding of HSP90 and kinase biology as well as promote the exploration of potential synergistic molecular therapy combinations through the utilization of The Cancer Genome Atlas.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12192-015-0604-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Solution conformations and dynamics of ABL kinase-inhibitor complexes determined by NMR substantiate the different binding modes of imatinib/nilotinib and dasatinib

Current structural understanding of kinases is largely based on x-ray crystallographic studies, whereas very little data exist on the conformations and dynamics that kinases adopt in the solution state. ABL kinase is an important drug target in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Here, we present the first characterization of ABL kinase in complex with three clinical inhibitors (imatinib, nilotinib, and dasatinib) by modern solution NMR techniques. Structural and dynamical results were derived from complete backbone resonance assignments, experimental residual dipolar couplings, and (15)N relaxation data. Residual dipolar coupling data on the imatinib and nilotinib complexes show that the activation loop adopts the inactive conformation, whereas the dasatinib complex preserves the active conformation, which does not support contrary predictions based upon molecular modeling. Nanosecond as well as microsecond dynamics can be detected for certain residues in the activation loop in the inactive and active conformation complexes.     

Steered Molecular Dynamics Simulations Reveal the Likelier Dissociation Pathway of Imatinib from Its Targeting Kinases c-Kit and Abl

Development of small molecular kinase inhibitors has recently been the central focus in drug discovery. And type II kinase inhibitors that target inactive conformation of kinases have attracted particular attention since their potency and selectivity are thought to be easier to achieve compared with their counterpart type I inhibitors that target active conformation of kinases. Although mechanisms underlying the interactions between type II inhibitors and their targeting kinases have been widely studied, there are still some challenging problems, for example, how type II inhibitors associate with or dissociate from their targeting kinases. In this investigation, steered molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out to explore the possible dissociation pathways of typical type II inhibitor imatinib from its targeting protein kinases c-Kit and Abl. The simulation results indicate that the most favorable pathway for imatinib dissociation corresponds to the ATP-channel rather than the relatively wider allosteric-pocket-channel, which is mainly due to the different van der Waals interaction that the ligand suffers during dissociation. Nevertheless, the direct reason comes from the fact that the residues composing the ATP-channel are more flexible than that forming the allosteric-pocket-channel. The present investigation suggests that a bulky hydrophobic head is unfavorable, but a large polar tail is allowed for a potent type II inhibitor. The information obtained here can be used to direct the discovery of type II kinase inhibitors.     

C-terminal Src kinase-homologous kinase (CHK), a unique inhibitor inactivating multiple active conformations of Src family tyrosine kinases

The Src family of protein kinases (SFKs) mediates mitogenic signal transduction, and constitutive SFK activation is associated with tumorigenesis. To prevent constitutive SFK activation, the catalytic activity of SFKs in normal mammalian cells is suppressed mainly by two inhibitors called C-terminal Src kinase (CSK) and CSK-homologous kinase (CHK), which inactivate SFKs by phosphorylating a consensus tyrosine near the C terminus of SFKs (Y(T)). The phosphorylated Y(T) intramolecularly binds to the SH2 domain of SFKs. This interaction, known as pY(T)/SH2 interaction, together with binding between the SH2 kinase linker and the SH3 domain of SFKs (linker/SH3 interaction) stabilizes SFKs in a "closed" inactive conformation. We previously discovered an alternative mechanism CHK employs to inhibit SFKs. This mechanism, referred to as the non-catalytic inhibitory mechanism, involves tight binding of CHK to SFKs; the binding alone is sufficient to inhibit SFKs. Herein, we constructed multiple active conformations of an SFK member, Hck, by systematically disrupting the two inhibitory interactions. We found that CHK employs the non-catalytic mechanism to inactivate these active conformations of Hck. However, CHK does not bind Hck when it adopts the inactive conformation in which both inhibitory interactions are intact. These data indicate that binding of CHK to SFKs via the non-catalytic mechanism is governed by the conformations of SFKs. Although CSK is also an inhibitor of SFKs, it does not inhibit SFKs by a similar non-catalytic mechanism. Thus, the non-catalytic inhibitory mechanism is a unique property of CHK that allows it to down-regulate multiple active conformations of SFKs.     

Mutational Analysis of Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β Protein Kinase Together with Kinome-Wide Binding and Stability Studies Suggests Context-Dependent Recognition of Kinases by the Chaperone Heat Shock Protein 90

The heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and cell division cycle 37 (CDC37) chaperones are key regulators of protein kinase folding and maturation. Recent evidence suggests that thermodynamic properties of kinases, rather than primary sequences, are recognized by the chaperones. In concordance, we observed a striking difference in HSP90 binding between wild-type (WT) and kinase-dead (KD) glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) forms. Using model cell lines stably expressing these two GSK3β forms, we observed no interaction between WT GSK3β and HSP90, in stark contrast to KD GSK3β forming a stable complex with HSP90 at a 1:1 ratio. In a survey of 91 ectopically expressed kinases in DLD-1 cells, we compared two parameters to measure HSP90 dependency: static binding and kinase stability following HSP90 inhibition. We observed no correlation between HSP90 binding and reduced stability of a kinase after pharmacological inhibition of HSP90. We expanded our stability study to >50 endogenous kinases across four cell lines and demonstrated that HSP90 dependency is context dependent. These observations suggest that HSP90 binds to its kinase client in a particular conformation that we hypothesize to be associated with the nucleotide-processing cycle. Lastly, we performed proteomics profiling of kinases and phosphopeptides in DLD-1 cells to globally define the impact of HSP90 inhibition on the kinome.     

Classifying protein kinase structures guides use of ligand-selectivity profiles to predict inactive conformations: structure of lck/imatinib complex

We report a clustering of public human protein kinase structures based on the conformations of two structural elements, the activation segment and the C-helix, revealing three discrete clusters. One cluster includes kinases in catalytically active conformations. Each of the other clusters contains a distinct inactive conformation. Typically, kinases adopt at most one of the inactive conformations in available X-ray structures, implying that one of the conformations is preferred for many kinases. The classification is consistent with selectivity profiles of several well-characterized kinase inhibitors. We show further that inhibitor selectivity profiles guide kinase classification. For example, selective inhibition of lck among src-family kinases by imatinib (Gleevec) suggests that the relative stabilities of inactive conformations of lck are different from other src-family kinases. We report the X-ray structure of the lck/imatinib complex, confirming that the conformation adopted by lck is distinct from other structurally-characterized src-family kinases and instead resembles kinases abl1 and kit in complex with imatinib. Our classification creates new paths for designing small-molecule inhibitors.     

Specific association of a set of molecular chaperones including HSP90 and Cdc37 with MOK, a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase superfamily

We have recently identified and cloned a novel member of mitogen-activated protein kinase superfamily protein, MOK (Miyata, Y., Akashi, M., and Nishida, E. (1999) Genes Cells 4, 299-309). To address its regulatory mechanisms, we searched for cellular proteins that specifically associate with MOK by co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Several cellular proteins including a major 90-kDa molecular chaperone HSP90 were found associated with MOK. Treatment of cells with geldanamycin, an HSP90-specific inhibitor, rapidly decreased the protein level of MOK, and the decrease was attributed to enhanced degradation of MOK through proteasome-dependent pathways. Our data suggest that the association with HSP90 may regulate intracellular protein stability and solubility of MOK. Experiments with a series of deletion mutants of MOK indicated that the region encompassing the protein kinase catalytic subdomains I-IV is required for HSP90 binding. Closely related protein kinases (male germ cell-associated kinase and male germ cell-associated kinase-related kinase) were also found to associate with HSP90, whereas conventional mitogen-activated protein kinases (extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase) were not associated with HSP90. In addition, we found that other molecular chaperones including Cdc37, HSC70, HSP70, and HSP60 but not GRP94, FKBP52, or Hop were detected specifically in the MOK-HSP90 immunocomplexes. These results taken together suggest a role of a specific set of molecular chaperones in the stability of signal-transducing protein kinases.     

Molecular Mechanism of 17-Allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG)-induced AXL Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Degradation

The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL is overexpressed in many cancer types including thyroid carcinomas and has well established roles in tumor formation and progression. Proper folding, maturation, and activity of several oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinases require HSP90 chaperoning. HSP90 inhibition by the antibiotic geldanamycin or its derivative 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) causes destabilization of its client proteins. Here we show that AXL is a novel client protein of HSP90. 17-AAG induced a time- and dose-dependent down-regulation of endogenous or ectopically expressed AXL protein, thereby inhibiting AXL-mediated signaling and biological activity. 17-AAG-induced AXL down-regulation specifically affected fully glycosylated mature receptor present on cell membrane. By using biotin and [³⁵S]methionine labeling, we showed that 17-AAG caused depletion of membrane-localized AXL by mediating its degradation in the intracellular compartment, thus restricting its exposure on the cell surface. 17-AAG induced AXL polyubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation; under basal conditions, AXL co-immunoprecipitated with HSP90. Upon 17-AAG treatment, AXL associated with the co-chaperone HSP70 and the ubiquitin E3 ligase carboxyl terminus of HSC70-interacting protein (CHIP). Overexpression of CHIP, but not of the inactive mutant CHIP K30A, induced accumulation of AXL polyubiquitinated species upon 17-AAG treatment. The sensitivity of AXL to 17-AAG required its intracellular domain because an AXL intracellular domain-deleted mutant was insensitive to the compound. Active AXL and kinase-dead AXL were similarly sensitive to 17-AAG, implying that 17-AAG sensitivity does not require receptor phosphorylation. Overall our data elucidate the molecular basis of AXL down-regulation by HSP90 inhibitors and suggest that HSP90 inhibition in anticancer therapy can exert its effect through inhibition of multiple kinases including AXL.     

A critical role for HSP90 in cancer cell invasion involves interaction with the extracellular domain of HER-2

HSP90 is a ubiquitously expressed molecular chaperone that controls the folding, assembly, intracellular disposition, and proteolytic turnover of many proteins, most of which are involved in signal transduction processes. Recently, a surface form of HSP90 has been identified and associated with cell migration events. In this paper, we explore the interaction of surface HSP90 with HER-2, a receptor-like glycoprotein and member of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases that play central roles in cellular proliferation, differentiation, and migration as well as in cancer progress. The involvement of HSP90 in the regulation of HER-2 has been attributed so far to receptor stabilization via interaction with its cytoplasmic kinase domain. Here we present evidence, using glutathione S-transferase pull-down and transfection assays, for a novel interaction between surface HSP90 and the extracellular domain of HER-2. Specific disruption of this interaction using mAb 4C5, a function-blocking monoclonal antibody against HSP90, inhibits cell invasion accompanied by altered actin dynamics in human breast cancer cells under ligand stimulation conditions with heregulin. Additionally, disruption of surface HSP90/HER-2 interaction leads to inhibition of heregulin-induced HER-2-HER-3 heterodimer formation, reduced HER-2 phosphorylation, and impaired downstream kinase signaling. Interestingly, this disruption does not affect HER-2 internalization. Our data suggest that surface HSP90 is involved in heregulin-induced HER-2 activation and signaling, leading to cytoskeletal rearrangement, essential for cell invasion.     

Cell Surface Cdc37 Participates in Extracellular HSP90 Mediated Cancer Cell Invasion

Cdc37 is a 50 kDa molecular chaperone which targets intrinsically unstable protein kinases to the molecular chaperone HSP90. It is also an over-expressed oncoprotein that mediates carcinogenesis and maintenance of the malignant phenotype by stabilizing the compromised structures of mutant and/or over-expressed oncogenic kinases. Here we report that Cdc37 is not restricted intracellularly but instead it is also present on the surface of MDA-MB-453 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells, where it is shown to participate in cancer cell motility processes. Furthermore, we demonstrate using an anti-Cdc37 cell impermeable antibody, that similarly to its intracellular counterpart, this surface pool of Cdc37 specifically interacts with HSP90 as well as the kinase receptors HER2 and EGFR on the cell surface, probably acting as a co-factor in HSP90's extracellular chaperoning activities. Finally, we show that functional inhibition of surface HSP90 using mAb 4C5, a cell impermeable monoclonal antibody against this protein, leads not only to disruption of the Cdc37/HSP90 complex but also to inhibition of the Cdc37/ErbB receptors complexes. These results support an essential role for surface Cdc37 in concert with HSP90 on the cell surface during cancer cell invasion processes and strengthen the therapeutic potential of mAb 4C5 for the treatment of cancer.     

The platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha is destabilized by geldanamycins in cancer cells

The heat shock protein HSP90 serves as a chaperone for receptor protein kinases, steroid receptors, and other intracellular signaling molecules. Targeting HSP90 with ansamycin antibiotics disrupts the normal processing of clients of the HSP90 complex. The platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRalpha) is a tyrosine kinase receptor up-regulated and activated in several malignancies. Here we show that the PDGFRalpha forms a complex with HSP90 and the co-chaperone cdc37 in ovarian, glioblastoma, and lung cancer cells. Treatment of cancer cell lines expressing the PDGFRalpha with the HSP90 inhibitor 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) promotes degradation of the receptor. Likewise, phospho-Akt, a downstream target, is degraded after treatment with 17-AAG. In contrast, PDGFRalpha expression is not affected by 17-AAG in normal human smooth muscle cells or 3T3 fibroblasts. PDGFRalpha degradation by 17-AAG is inhibited by the proteasome inhibitor MG132. High molecular weight, ubiquitinated forms of the receptor are detected in cells treated with 17-AAG and MG132. Degradation of the receptor is also inhibited by a specific neutralizing antibody to the PDGFRalpha but not by a neutralizing antibody to PDGF or by imatinib mesylate (Gleevec). Ultimately, PDGFRalpha-mediated cell proliferation is inhibited by 17-AAG. These results show that 17-AAG promotes PDGFRalpha degradation selectively in transformed cells. Thus, not only mutated tyrosine kinases but also overexpressed receptors in cancer cells can be targeted by 17-AAG.     

Death by chaperone: HSP90, HSP70 or both?

HSP70 family members are highly conserved proteins that function as molecular chaperones. Their principle role is to aid protein folding and promote the correct cellular localisations of their respective substrates. The function of HSP70 isoforms can be exhibited independently or with the HSP90 chaperone system in which HSP70 is important for substrate recruitment. In addition to their chaperone role, HSP70 isoforms promote cell survival by inhibiting apoptosis at multiple points within both the intrinsic and extrinsic cell death pathways. Consistent with this cytoprotective function, increased expression of HSP70 isoforms is commonly associated with the malignant phenotype. We recently reported that dual silencing of the major constitutive (HSC70) and inducible (HSP72) isoforms of HSP70 in cancer cells could phenocopy the effects of a pharmacologic HSP90 inhibitor to induce proteasome-dependent degradation of HSP90 client proteins CRAF, CDK4 and ERBB2. This was accompanied by a G1 cell cycle arrest and extensive apoptosis which was not seen in non-tumorigenic human cell lines. Here we discuss the possible implications of our research for the development of HSP70 family modulators which offer not only the possibility of inhibiting HSP70 activity but also the simultaneous inhibition of HSP90, resulting in extensive tumour-specific apoptosis.     

Conformational activation of a basic helix-loop-helix protein (MyoD1) by the C-terminal region of murine HSP90 (HSP84).

A murine cardiac lambda gt11 expression library was screened with an amphipathic helix antibody, and a recombinant representing the C-terminal 194 residues of murine HSP90 (HSP84) was cloned. Both recombinant and native HSP90s were then found to rapidly convert a basic helix-loop-helix protein (MyoD1) from an inactive to an active conformation, as assayed by sequence-specific DNA binding. The conversion process involves a transient interaction between HSP90 and MyoD1 and does not result in the formation of a stable tertiary complex. Conversion does not require ATP and occurs stoichiometrically in a dose-dependent fashion. HSP90 is an abundant, ubiquitous, and highly conserved protein present in most eukaryotic cells. These results provide direct evidence that HSP90 can affect the conformational structure of a DNA-binding protein.     

Identification of heat shock protein 90-associated 84-kDa phosphoprotein

In eukaryotic cells, HSP90 is associated with several protein kinases and regulates their activities. HSP90 was also reported to possess an autophosphorylase activity. In this study, we examined in vitro autophosphorylation of HSP90, which was purified from chick muscle. We show that HSP90 was not phosphorylated in vitro, but an 84-kDa protein (p84) was highly phosphorylated. P84 was neither HSP90 nor its degradative product, as it was not detected by an antibody (BF4) specific to HSP90 in denaturing immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis. Phosphorylation of a protein similar to p84 was also detected with purified human brain and HeLa HSP90, indicating that p84 is present in many different types of cells. P84 appeared to exist as large complexes, as determined by HPLC and native gel electrophoresis. Native immunoprecipitation using anti-HSP90 (BF4)-conjugated Affi-gel revealed that this phosphoprotein is specifically associated with HSP90. The interaction of p84 and HSP90 was not affected by p84 phosphorylation. In addition, p84 phosphorylation was prevented by the presence of divalent cations such as Mg(2+) and Mn(2+). In contrast, p84 phosphorylation was significantly activated by addition of exogenous Ca(2+) between 100 and 500 microM, although it was blocked by higher concentrations (>1 mM) of Ca(2+). HSP90, but not p84, could be phosphorylated by casein kinase II. Finally, p84 phosphorylation was specifically prevented by hemin, but not by other kinase inhibitors, indicating that p84 phosphorylation may be regulated by heme-regulated protein kinase.     

A Highly Selective Dual Insulin Receptor (IR)/Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 Receptor (IGF-1R) Inhibitor Derived from an Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase (ERK) Inhibitor

Dual inhibitors of the closely related receptor tyrosine kinases insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) and insulin receptor (IR) are promising therapeutic agents in cancer. Here, we report an unusually selective class of dual inhibitors of IGF-1R and IR identified in a parallel screen of known kinase inhibitors against a panel of 300 human protein kinases. Biochemical and structural studies indicate that this class achieves its high selectivity by binding to the ATP-binding pocket of inactive, unphosphorylated IGF-1R/IR and stabilizing the activation loop in a native-like inactive conformation. One member of this compound family was originally reported as an inhibitor of the serine/threonine kinase ERK, a kinase that is distinct in the structure of its unphosphorylated/inactive form from IR/IGF-1R. Remarkably, this compound binds to the ATP-binding pocket of ERK in an entirely different conformation to that of IGF-1R/IR, explaining the potency against these two structurally distinct kinase families. These findings suggest a novel approach to polypharmacology in which two or more unrelated kinases are inhibited by a single compound that targets different conformations of each target kinase.