Hsp90抑制剂对未折叠蛋白反应作用的研究进展

肿瘤细胞因癌基因突变、缺氧及营养受限而高度依赖未折叠蛋白反应(unfolded protein response,UPR)。细胞通过内质网(endoplasmic reticulum,ER)膜上3个跨膜蛋白感知未折叠蛋白信号,引起未折叠蛋白反应,动态调控内质网折叠能力,一方面通过暂时减缓翻译和加快蛋白质流出减少ER蛋白质折叠负担,另一方面通过转录因子提高伴侣分子合成,增加ER折叠能力。未折叠的蛋白质长时间积聚在ER会对细胞产生毒性,引起不能缓解的ER应激状态,启动细胞凋亡程序。热休克蛋白90(heat shock protein 90,Hsp90)是一种进化保守的伴侣分子,参与了300多种新生蛋白质的折叠与成熟,其中包括UPR重要信号IRE1α(inositol-requiring enzyme 1α)。Hsp90抑制剂导致细胞产生大量未折叠蛋白质,同时直接诱导IRE1α的降解,从而破坏UPR恢复蛋白质平衡的能力,诱导UPR相关凋亡。目前,Hsp90抑制剂可有效诱导分泌型肿瘤细胞如骨髓瘤以及RAS突变肿瘤UPR途径的凋亡。     

植物表达分泌蛋白的运输及定位

分泌途径主要由内膜系统构成,内质网和高尔基体对于分泌蛋白的运输及定位具有重要作用。分泌蛋白的运输包括顺行途径和逆行途径。蛋白质通过质流和受体介导的途径运输到小泡中。在植物中,分泌蛋白的运输主要通过小泡和相连的小管来完成。分子伴侣和质量控制不仅能优化新合成蛋白的折叠和组装,而且去除了有折叠缺陷的蛋白。分泌蛋白的定位需要特定的信号肽,而高尔基体固有蛋白以依赖跨膜长度的方式,沿着分泌途径的细胞器分布。本文对植物表达分泌蛋白的分泌途径及定位、相关的分子伴侣和质量控制进行了综述。     

线粒体蛋白质组及蛋白质量控制

线粒体是哺乳动物细胞内重要细胞器,不仅通过氧化磷酸化产生ATP为细胞提供能量,也参与调节钙离子稳态、活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)的产生、细胞应激反应和细胞死亡等过程,其功能障碍不仅导致多种人类疾病的发生,而且也能降低动物卵母细胞质量和早期胚胎发育能力。大量证据表明,线粒体的功能依赖于线粒体蛋白质组完整性和稳态。基于此,该文综述了线粒体蛋白组、线粒体蛋白转运,聚焦蛋白酶、分子伴侣、线粒体囊泡、线粒体自噬和线粒体未折叠蛋白反应在帮助正确的蛋白质折叠,去除错误折叠或聚集的蛋白质和清除功能失调的线粒体方面的作用,为调控线粒体蛋白质量,从而维持线粒体健康、降低疾病发生提供理论依据。     

分子伴侣 SecB 基因和人淋巴毒素基因在大肠杆菌中的共表达

分于伴侣(Chaperohe)是细胞内催化及维持其他蛋白质正确梅象的一类蛋白质分子^[1,2]。研究表明,分子伴侣参与细胞内许多蛋白质的折叠、聚合以及跨膜运输^[3,4],通过瞬时稳定其他蛋白质折叠中间体,阻止了蛋白中间体的聚集,帮助其形成正确构象^[5,6]。SecB是一个胞质酸性蛋白．单体分子量为17kDa,在体内以4～6个相同亚基组成的寡聚体形式存在。它在大肠杆菌中参与蛋白质分泌系统,纯化后进行离体试验表明,它可以阻止抗蛋白酶的pre-MBP的出现,能稳定地结合前体蛋白．使其处于适合运输的构型^[7],它的作用是使蛋白质可以在正确折叠前跨过细胞膜,运输到细胞周质中。SecB通过与前体蛋白结合．从而阻止前体蛋自由于不正确折叠发生的聚集,属于分子伴侣家族的成员。分子伴侣的这些特性使得它们在基因工程中具有广阔的应用前景。外源蛋白在大肠杆菌中高表达时往往形成无活性的包涵体,包涵体大多是蛋白质在过量表达过程中不正确折叠形成的^[8],正确构象的形成需要在体外进行变性和复性。蛋白质的复性过程十分复杂,在方法上缺少一定的规律可循,特别是分子量较大以及二硫键较多的分子,复性更加困难,有的甚至根本难以复性。分子伴侣可以促进其它蛋白质的正确折叠,设想在基因工程中如果将分子伴侣基因与外源蛋白基因共存表达,可能会有效地促进外源蛋白形成正确的构象．提高其活性,减少包涵体的形成,对基因工程下游的处理带来很大方便。根 据这个思路,我们将克隆的SecB基因与重组人淋巴毒索(Lymphotoxin,简称LT)基因在同一个大肠杆菌细胞中共存表达,来研究分子伴侣SecB对外源基因表达的影响。     

保守GTP酶ObgE的分子伴侣活性研究

分子伴侣(molecular chaperone)能够帮助新生多肽链或错误折叠的蛋白质形成天然构象,但本身又不是成熟蛋白质的组成成分。蛋白质需要分子伴侣的帮助,才能够从核糖体合成的新生肽链折叠成有生物活性的大分子。E.coli的ObgE蛋白是保守的GTP酶,ObgE蛋白参与信号转导、蛋白运输和细胞周期调控,并与E.coli在氨基酸饥饿下的应激反应有关。本实验通过分子克隆,将E.coli ObgE蛋白的基因克隆到表达载体pET-28a中,转化到E.coli BL21进行蛋白表达纯化。纯化后的ObgE蛋白通过柠檬酸合成酶变复性实验、α-葡萄糖苷酶变复性实验、牛碳酸酐酶变复性实验,检测ObgE蛋白的分子伴侣活性,发现ObgE具有一定的分子伴侣活性,为该蛋白的研究应用奠定了基础。     

分子伴侣参与调控动、植物的发育和进化进程

近年来, 人们对分子伴侣的功能研究取得了很大进展, 阐明了它参与细胞新合成蛋白多肽的折叠、组装、运输和蛋白质的降解过程。在这些过程中, 伴随着分子伴侣表达量的高低变化, 细胞线粒体数量也会发生相应的变化。文章综述了分子伴侣参与调控动、植物的发育和进化进程, 如: 动、植物育性调控, 抗逆境能力提高及热休克蛋白-多肽复合物的肿瘤免疫治疗探索等。     

J蛋白研究进展

J蛋白（J-domain protein）是一类分子中含有J结构域的蛋白质大家族,大部分J蛋白具有分子伴侣的功能。J蛋白作为热休克蛋白70（HSP70）的同伴蛋白与HSP70组成分子伴侣机器,参与蛋白质分子折叠、组装、转运以及信号转导等多种细胞过程。此外,J蛋白在植物对环境胁迫的反应及其他生理过程中起重要作用。     

生命,死亡,未折叠蛋白反应与细胞凋亡

发生在细胞内的未折叠蛋白反应(unfolded protein response,UPR)是对内质网中未折叠蛋白聚积的应答。轻度内质网应激引起未折叠蛋白反应,出现新蛋白合成的暂停,使内质网有时间合成更多的分子伴侣来折叠蛋白质,从而使其功能恢复正常;严重或持续的内质网应激反应将导致细胞凋亡。     

分子伴侣研究概况

分子伴侣主要是在进化上高度保守的热休克蛋白的几个家族。从细菌到哺乳动物,分子伴侣对体内蛋白质的折叠、运输和组装都起到非常重要的作用。本文简要地概述了分子伴侣的组成、它们在蛋白质折叠中的作用以及它们在生物工程下游处理过程中的应用情况。     

伴侣素的发现者——霍维茨

伴侣素（chaperonin）是辅助蛋白质正确折叠过程中的重要元件,可有效防止蛋白质错误折叠和聚集,对细胞正常功能发挥和发育具有十分重要的意义。伴侣素功能缺陷或异常可导致许多神经退行性疾病如帕金森综合症等的发生,因此伴侣素介导的蛋白质折叠的研究对该类疾病的治疗具有重要帮助。伴侣素于1989年由霍维茨发现,经过近20年研究,人们对其作用机理和生理功能有了较为全面的理解,从而为应用奠定了基础。     

Structure–activity relationship studies of Niemann-Pick type C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) ligands identified by screening assay monitoring pharmacological chaperone effect

A number of hereditary diseases are caused by defective protein trafficking due to a folding defect resulting from point mutations in proteins. Ligands that bind to the folding intermediates of such mutant proteins and rescue their trafficking defects, known as pharmacological chaperones, have promise for the treatment of certain genetic diseases, including Fabry disease, cystic fibrosis, and Niemann-Pick disease type C. Here we show that this pharmacological chaperone effect can be used for ligand screening, that is, binding of candidate ligands can be detected by monitoring the ligand-mediated correction of a localization defect caused by artificially introduced point mutations of the protein of interest. Using this method, we discovered novel steroidal ligands of Niemann-Pick type C1-like 1 (NPC1L1), an intestinal cholesterol transporter that is the target of the cholesterol absorption inhibitor ezetimibe, and conducted structure–activity relationship studies. We also present data indicating that the binding site of the new ligands is distinct from both the N-terminal sterol-binding domain and the ezetimibe-binding site.     

Chemical and pharmacological chaperones as new therapeutic agents

Proteins that are exported from the cell, or targeted to the cell surface or other organelles, are synthesised and assembled in the endoplasmic reticulum and then delivered to their destinations. Point mutations - the most common cause of human genetic diseases - can inhibit folding and assembly of the protein in the endoplasmic reticulum. The unstable or partially folded mutant protein does not undergo trafficking and is usually rapidly degraded. A potential therapy for protein misfolding is to correct defective protein folding and trafficking using pharmacological chaperones. Pharmacological chaperones are substrates or modulators that appear to function by directly binding to the partially folded biosynthetic intermediate to stabilise the protein and allow it to complete the folding process to yield a functional protein. Initial clinical studies with pharmacological chaperones have successfully reduced clinical symptoms of disease. Therefore, pharmacological chaperones show great promise as a new class of therapeutic agents that can be specifically tailored for a particular genetic disease.     

Small molecule pharmacological chaperones: From thermodynamic stabilization to pharmaceutical drugs

A great deal of attention has been paid to so-called amyloid diseases, in which the proteins responsible for the cell death and resultant diseases undergo conformational changes and aggregate in vivo, although whether aggregate formation is the cause or the result of the cell death is controversial. Recently, an increasing attention is given to protein folding diseases tightly associated with mutations. These mutations result in temperature-dependent misfolding and hence inactivation of the proteins, leading to loss of function, at physiological temperature; at low so-called permissive temperatures, the mutant proteins correctly fold and acquire functional structure. Alternatively, activation can be induced by use of osmolytes, which restores the folding of the mutant proteins and hence are called chemical chaperones. The osmolytes are compatible with macromolecular function and do stabilize the native protein structure. However, chemical chaperones require high concentrations for effective folding of mutant proteins and hence are too toxic in in-vivo applications. This limitation can be overcome by pharmacological chaperones, whose functions are similar to the chemical chaperones, but occur at much lower concentrations, i.e., physiologically acceptable concentrations. Although the research and clinical importance of pharmacological chaperones has been emphasized, the initial and central concept of osmolytes is largely ignored. Here we attempt to bridge the concept of osmolytes to applications of pharmacological chaperones.     

The role of the cytosolic HSP70 chaperone system in diseases caused by misfolding and aberrant trafficking of ion channels

Protein-folding diseases are an ongoing medical challenge. Many diseases within this group are genetically determined, and have no known cure. Among the examples in which the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are well understood are diseases driven by misfolding of transmembrane proteins that normally function as cell-surface ion channels. Wild-type forms are synthesized and integrated into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane system and, upon correct folding, are trafficked by the secretory pathway to the cell surface. Misfolded mutant forms traffic poorly, if at all, and are instead degraded by the ER-associated proteasomal degradation (ERAD) system. Molecular chaperones can assist the folding of the cytosolic domains of these transmembrane proteins; however, these chaperones are also involved in selecting misfolded forms for ERAD. Given this dual role of chaperones, diseases caused by the misfolding and aberrant trafficking of ion channels (referred to here as ion-channel-misfolding diseases) can be regarded as a consequence of insufficiency of the pro-folding chaperone activity and/or overefficiency of the chaperone ERAD role. An attractive idea is that manipulation of the chaperones might allow increased folding and trafficking of the mutant proteins, and thereby partial restoration of function. This Review outlines the roles of the cytosolic HSP70 chaperone system in the best-studied paradigms of ion-channel-misfolding disease – the CFTR chloride channel in cystic fibrosis and the hERG potassium channel in cardiac long QT syndrome type 2. In addition, other ion channels implicated in ion-channel-misfolding diseases are discussed.KEY WORDS: Chaperone, Cystic fibrosis, Long QT syndrome, Degradation, Intracellular trafficking, Protein folding     

Why molecular chaperones buffer mutational damage: a case study with a yeast Hsp40/70 system

The malfunctioning of molecular chaperones may result in uncovering genetic variation. The molecular basis of this phenomenon remains largely unknown. Chaperones rescue proteins unfolded by environmental stresses and therefore they might also help to stabilize mutated proteins and thus mask damages. To test this hypothesis, we carried out a genomewide mutagenesis followed by a screen for mutations that were synthetically harmful when the RAC-Ssb1/2 cytosolic chaperones were inactive. Mutants with such a phenotype were found and mapped to single nucleotide substitutions. However, neither the genes identified nor the nature of genetic lesions implied that folding of the mutated proteins was being supported by the chaperones. In a second screen, we identified temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants, a phenotype indicative of structural instability of proteins. We tested these for an association with sensitivity to loss of chaperone activity but found no such correlation as might have been expected if the chaperones assisted the folding of mutant proteins. Thus, molecular chaperones can mask the negative effects of mutations but the mechanism of such buffering need not be direct. A plausible role of chaperones is to stabilize genetic networks, thus making them more tolerant to malfunctioning of their constituents.     

Chemical Chaperones Improve Protein Secretion and Rescue Mutant Factor VIII in Mice with Hemophilia A

Inefficient intracellular protein trafficking is a critical issue in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases and in recombinant protein production. Here we investigated the trafficking of factor VIII (FVIII), which is affected in the coagulation disorder hemophilia A. We hypothesized that chemical chaperones may be useful to enhance folding and processing of FVIII in recombinant protein production, and as a therapeutic approach in patients with impaired FVIII secretion. A tagged B-domain-deleted version of human FVIII was expressed in cultured Chinese Hamster Ovary cells to mimic the industrial production of this important protein. Of several chemical chaperones tested, the addition of betaine resulted in increased secretion of FVIII, by increasing solubility of intracellular FVIII aggregates and improving transport from endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi. Similar results were obtained in experiments monitoring recombinant full-length FVIII. Oral betaine administration also increased FVIII and factor IX (FIX) plasma levels in FVIII or FIX knockout mice following gene transfer. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo applications of betaine were also able to rescue a trafficking-defective FVIII mutant (FVIIIQ305P). We conclude that chemical chaperones such as betaine might represent a useful treatment concept for hemophilia and other diseases caused by deficient intracellular protein trafficking.     

Rescue of Folding Defects in ABC Transporters Using Pharmacological Chaperones

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family of membrane transport proteins is the largest class of transporters in humans (48 members). The majority of ABC transporters function at the cell surface. Therefore, defective folding and trafficking of the protein to the cell surface can lead to serious health problems. The classic example is cystic fibrosis (CF). In most CF patients, there is a deletion of Phe508 in the CFTR protein (ΔF508 CFTR) that results in defective folding and intracellular retention of the protein (processing mutant). A potential treatment for most patients with CF would be to use a ligand(s) of CFTR that acts a pharmacological chaperone to correct the folding defect. The feasibility of such an approach was first demonstrated with the multidrug transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an ABC transporter, and a sister protein of CFTR. It was found that P-gps with mutations at sites equivalent to those found in CFTR processing mutants were rescued when they were expressed in the presence of drug substrates or modulators of P-gp. These compounds acted as pharmacological chaperones and functioned by promoting interactions among the various domains in the protein during the folding process. Several groups have attempted to identify compounds that could rescue the folding defect in ΔF508 CFTR. The best compound identified through high-throughout screening is a quinazoline derivative (CFcor-325). Expression of ΔF508 CFTR as well as other CFTR processing mutants in the presence of 1 μM CFcor-325 promoted folding and trafficking of the mutant proteins to the cell surface in an active conformation. Therefore, CFcor-325 and other quinazoline derivates could be important therapeutic compounds for the treatment of CF.     

The therapeutic potential of chemical chaperones in protein folding diseases

Several neurodegenerative diseases are caused by defects in protein folding, including Alzheimer, Parkinson, Huntington, and prion diseases. Once a disease-specific protein misfolds, it can then form toxic aggregates which accumulate in the brain, leading to neuronal dysfunction, cell death, and clinical symptoms. Although significant advances have been made toward understanding the mechanisms of protein aggregation, there are no curative treatments for any of these diseases. Since protein misfolding and the accumulation of aggregates are the most upstream events in the pathological cascade, rescuing or stabilizing the native conformations of proteins is an obvious therapeutic strategy. In recent years, small molecules known as chaperones have been shown to be effective in reducing levels of misfolded proteins, thus minimizing the accumulation of aggregates and their downstream pathological consequences. Chaperones are classified as molecular, pharmacological, or chemical. In this mini-review we summarize the modes of action of different chemical chaperones and discuss evidence for their efficacy in the treatment of protein folding diseases in vitro and in vivo.     

Protein homeostasis disorders of key enzymes of amino acids metabolism: mutation-induced protein kinetic destabilization and new therapeutic strategies

Many inborn errors of amino acids metabolism are caused by single point mutations affecting the ability of proteins to fold properly (i.e., protein homeostasis), thus leading to enzyme loss-of-function. Mutations may affect protein homeostasis by altering intrinsic physical properties of the polypeptide (folding thermodynamics, and rates of folding/unfolding/misfolding) as well as the interaction of partially folded states with elements of the protein homeostasis network (such as molecular chaperones and proteolytic machineries). Understanding these mutational effects on protein homeostasis is required to develop new therapeutic strategies aimed to target specific features of the mutant polypeptide. Here, I review recent work in three different diseases of protein homeostasis associated to inborn errors of amino acids metabolism: phenylketonuria, inherited homocystinuria and primary hyperoxaluria type I. These three different genetic disorders involve proteins operating in different cell organelles and displaying different structural complexities. Mutations often decrease protein kinetic stability of the native state (i.e., its half-life for irreversible denaturation), which can be studied using simple kinetic models amenable to biophysical and biochemical characterization. Natural ligands and pharmacological chaperones are shown to stabilize mutant enzymes, thus supporting their therapeutic application to overcome protein kinetic destabilization. The role of molecular chaperones in protein folding and misfolding is also discussed as well as their potential pharmacological modulation as promising new therapeutic approaches. Since current available treatments for these diseases are either burdening or only successful in a fraction of patients, alternative treatments must be considered covering studies from protein structure and biophysics to studies in animal models and patients.     

Lending a helping hand, screening chemical libraries for compounds that enhance beta-hexosaminidase A activity in GM2 gangliosidosis cells

Enzyme enhancement therapy is an emerging therapeutic approach that has the potential to treat many genetic diseases. Candidate diseases are those associated with a mutant protein that has difficulty folding and/or assembling into active oligomers in the endoplasmic reticulum. Many lysosomal storage diseases are candidates for enzyme enhancement therapy and have the additional advantage of requiring only 5-10% of normal enzyme levels to reduce and/or prevent substrate accumulation. Our long experience in working with the beta-hexosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.52) isozymes system and its associated deficiencies (Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff disease) lead us to search for possible enzyme enhancement therapy-agents that could treat the chronic forms of these diseases which express 2-5% residual activity. Pharmacological chaperones are enzyme enhancement therapy-agents that are competitive inhibitors of the target enzyme. Each of the known beta-hexosaminidase inhibitors (low microm IC50) increased mutant enzyme levels to >or= 10% in chronic Tay-Sachs fibroblasts and also attenuated the thermo-denaturation of beta-hexosaminidase. To expand the repertoire of pharmacological chaperones to more 'drug-like' compounds, we screened the Maybridge library of 50,000 compounds using a real-time assay for noncarbohydrate-based beta-hexosaminidase inhibitors and identified several that functioned as pharmacological chaperones in patient cells. Two of these inhibitors had derivatives that had been tested in humans for other purposes. These observations lead us to screen the NINDS library of 1040 Food and Drug Administration approved compounds for pharmacological chaperones. Pyrimethamine, an antimalarial drug with well documented pharmacokinetics, was confirmed as a beta-hexosaminidase pharmacological chaperone and compared favorably with our best carbohydrate-based pharmacological chaperone in patient cells with various mutant genotypes.