MELK-T1, a small-molecule inhibitor of protein kinase MELK,decreases DNA-damage tolerance in proliferating cancer cells

Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK), a serine/threonine protein kinase, has oncogenic properties and is overexpressed in many cancer cells. The oncogenic function of MELK is attributed to its capacity to disable critical cell-cycle checkpoints and reduce replication stress. Most functional studies have relied on the use of siRNA/shRNA-mediated gene silencing. In the present study, we have explored the biological function of MELK using MELK-T1, a novel and selective small-molecule inhibitor. Strikingly, MELK-T1 triggered a rapid and proteasome-dependent degradation of the MELK protein. Treatment of MCF-7 (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7) breast adenocarcinoma cells with MELK-T1 induced the accumulation of stalled replication forks and double-strand breaks that culminated in a replicative senescence phenotype. This phenotype correlated with a rapid and long-lasting ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) activation and phosphorylation of checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2). Furthermore, MELK-T1 induced a strong phosphorylation of p53 (cellular tumour antigen p53), a prolonged up-regulation of p21 (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1) and a down-regulation of FOXM1 (Forkhead Box M1) target genes. Our data indicate that MELK is a key stimulator of proliferation by its ability to increase the threshold for DNA-damage tolerance (DDT). Thus, targeting MELK by the inhibition of both its catalytic activity and its protein stability might sensitize tumours to DNA-damaging agents or radiation therapy by lowering the DNA-damage threshold.     

Overexpression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor induces genes regulating migration and differentiation of neuronal progenitor cells

The glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is involved in the development and maintenance of neural tissues. Mutations in components of its signaling pathway lead to severe migration deficits of neuronal crest stem cells, tumor formation, or ablation of the urinary system. In animal models of Parkinson's disease, GDNF has been recognized to be neuroprotective and to improve motor function when delivered into the cerebral ventricles or into the substantia nigra. Here, we characterize the network of 43 genes induced by GDNF overproduction of neuronal progenitor cells (ST14A), which mainly regulate migration and differentiation of neuronal progenitor cells. GDNF down-regulates doublecortin, Paf-ah1b (Lis1), dynamin, and alpha-tubulin, which are involved in neocortical lamination and cytoskeletal reorganization. Axonal guidance depends on cell-surface molecules and extracellular matrix proteins. Laminin, Mpl3, Alcam, Bin1, Id1, Id2, Id3, neuregulin1, the ephrinB2-receptor, neuritin, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), Tc10, Pdpk1, clusterin, GTP-cyclooxygenase1, and follistatin are genes up-regulated by GDNF overexpression. Moreover, we found four key enzymes of the cholesterol-synthesis pathway to be down-regulated leading to decreased farnesyl-pyrophospate production. Many proteins are anchored by farnesyl-derivates at the cell membrane. The identification of these GDNF-regulated genes may open new opportunities for directly influencing differentiation and developmental processes of neurons.     

Quinolinyl- and phenantridinyl-acetamides as bradykinin B1 receptor antagonists

A new series of quinolinyl- and phenantridinyl-acetamides were synthesizer and evaluated against bradykinin B1 receptor. In vitro metabolic stability data were reported for the key compounds.The analgesic effect of compound 20 from the phenantridine series was proved in-vivo.     

Hemin and bile pigments are the secondary structure regulators of intrinsically disordered antimicrobial peptides

The interaction of protoporphyrin compounds of human origin with the major bee venom component melittin (26 a.a., Z +6) and its hybrid derivative (CM15, 15 a.a., Z +6) were studied by a combination of various spectroscopic methods. Throughout a two‐state, concentration‐dependent process, hemin and its metabolites (biliverdin, bilirubin, bilirubin ditaurate) increase the parallel β‐sheet content of the natively unfolded melittin, suggesting the oligomerization of the peptide chains. In contrast, α‐helix promoting effect was observed with the also disordered but more cationic CM15. According to fluorescence quenching experiments, the sole Trp residue of melittin is the key player during the binding, in the vicinity of which the first pigment molecule is accommodated presumably making indole‐porphyrin π‐π stacking interaction. As circular dichroism titration data suggest, cooperative association of additional ligands subsequently occurs, resulting in multimeric complexes with an apparent dissociation constant ranged from 20 to 65 μM. Spectroscopic measurements conducted with the bilirubin catabolite urobilin and stercobilin refer to the requirement of intact dipyrrinone moieties for inducing secondary structure transformations. The binding topography of porphyrin rings on a model parallel β‐sheet motif was evaluated by absorption spectroscopy and computational modeling showing a slipped‐cofacial binding mode responsible for the red shift and hypochromism of the Soret band. Our results may aid to recognize porphyrin‐responsive binding motifs of biologically relevant, intrinsically disordered peptides and proteins, where transient conformations play a vital role in their functions.     

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The phosphatase interactor NIPP1 regulates the occupancy of the histone methyltransferase EZH2 at Polycomb targets

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are key regulators of stem-cell and cancer biology. They mainly act as repressors of differentiation and tumor-suppressor genes. One key silencing step involves the trimethylation of histone H3 on Lys27 (H3K27) by EZH2, a core component of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2). The mechanism underlying the initial recruitment of mammalian PRC2 complexes is not well understood. Here, we show that NIPP1, a regulator of protein Ser/Thr phosphatase-1 (PP1), forms a complex with PP1 and PRC2 components on chromatin. The knockdown of NIPP1 or PP1 reduced the association of EZH2 with a subset of its target genes, whereas the overexpression of NIPP1 resulted in a retargeting of EZH2 from fully repressed to partially active PcG targets. However, the expression of a PP1-binding mutant of NIPP1 (NIPP1m) did not cause a redistribution of EZH2. Moreover, mapping of the chromatin binding sites with the DamID technique revealed that NIPP1 was associated with multiple PcG target genes, including the Homeobox A cluster, whereas NIPP1m showed a deficient binding at these loci. We propose that NIPP1 associates with a subset of PcG targets in a PP1-dependent manner and thereby contributes to the recruitment of the PRC2 complex.     

Postischemic cardiac recovery in heme oxygenase‐1 transgenic ischemic/reperfused mouse myocardium

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) transgenic mice (Tg) were created using a rat HO-1 genomic transgene. Transgene expression was detected by RT-PCR and Western blots in the left ventricle (LV), right ventricle (RV) and septum (S) in mouse hearts, and its function was demonstrated by the elevated HO enzyme activity. Tg and non-transgenic (NTg) mouse hearts were isolated and subjected to ischemia/reperfusion. Significant post-ischemic recovery in coronary flow (CF), aortic flow (AF), aortic pressure (AOP) and first derivative of AOP (AOPdp/dt) were detected in the HO-1 Tg group compared to the NTg values. In HO-1 Tg hearts treated with 50 μmol/kg of tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPPIX), an HO enzyme inhibitor, abolished the post-ischemic cardiac recovery. HO-1 related carbon monoxide (CO) production was detected in NTg, HO-1 Tg and HO-1 Tg + SnPPIX treated groups, and a substantial increase in CO production was observed in the HO-1 Tg hearts subjected to ischemia/reperfusion. Moreover, in ischemia/reperfusion-induced tissue Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ gains were reduced in HO-1 Tg group in comparison with the NTg and HO-1 Tg + SnPPIX treated groups; furthermore K⁺ loss was reduced in the HO-1 Tg group. The infarct size was markedly reduced from its NTg control value of 37 ± 4% to 20 ± 6% (P < 0.05) in the HO-1 Tg group, and was increased to 47 ± 5% (P < 0.05) in the HO-1 knockout (KO) hearts. Parallel to the infarct size reduction, the incidence of total and sustained ventricular fibrillation were also reduced from their NTg control values of 92% and 83% to 25% (P < 0.05) and 8% (P < 0.05) in the HO-1 Tg group, and were increased to 100% and 100% in HO-1 KO^−/− hearts. Immunohistochemical staining of HO-1 was intensified in HO-1 Tg compared to the NTg myocardium. Thus, the HO-1 Tg mouse model suggests a valuable therapeutic approach in the treatment of ischemic myocardium.     

Identification of three novel mutations in the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene associated with altered pre-mRNA splicing or protein function

Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the catabolism of the pyrimidine bases uracil and thymine, as well as of the widely used chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil (5FU). Analysis of the DPD gene ( DPYD ) in two patients presenting with complete DPD deficiency and the parents of an affected child showed the presence of three novel mutations, including one splice site mutation IVS11 + 1G-->T and the missense mutations 731A-->C (E244V) and 1651G-->A (A551T). The G-->T mutation in the invariant GT splice donor site flanking exon 11 (IVS11 + 1G-->T) created a cryptic splice site within exon 11. As a consequence, a 141-bp fragment encoding the aminoacid residues 400-446 of the primary sequence of the DPD protein was missing in the mature DPD mRNA. Analysis of the crystal structure of pig DPD suggested that the E244V mutation might interfere with the electron flow between NADPH and the pyrimidine binding site of DPD. The A551T point mutation might prevent binding of the prosthetic group FMN and affect folding of the DPD protein. The identification of these novel mutations in DPYD will allow the identification of patients with an increased risk of developing severe 5FU-associated toxicity.