Project description:The activation of the transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) maintains cellular homeostasis in response to oxidative stress by the regulation of multiple cytoprotective genes. Without stressors the activity of Nrf2 is inhibited by its interaction with the kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). Here, we describe RA839, a small molecule that binds non-covalently to the Nrf2-interacting kelch domain of Keap1 with a Kd of approximately 6 µM, as demonstrated by X-ray co-crystallization and isothermal titration calorimetry. Whole-genome DNA arrays showed that at 10 µM RA839 significantly regulated 105 genes in bone marrow-derived macrophages. Canonical pathway mapping of these genes revealed an activation of pathways linked with Nrf2 signalling. These pathways were also activated after the activation of Nrf2 by the silencing of Keap1 expression. RA839 regulated only two genes in Nrf2 knockout macrophages. Similar to the activation of Nrf2 by either silencing of Keap1 expression or by the reactive compound CDDO-Me, RA839 prevented the induction of both inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and nitric oxide release in response to lipopolysaccharides in macrophages. In mice RA839 acutely induced Nrf2-target gene expression in liver. RA839 is a selective inhibitor of the Keap1/Nrf2 interaction and a useful tool compound to study the biology of Nrf2. Gene expression profile of bone marrow derived murine macrophages (BMDM) from Nrf2+/+ or Nrf2-/- mice treated with RA838, siKeap1-1 or siKeap1-2 were compared to untreated DMSO control or siControl. Four biological replicates were used for each sample group.
Project description:The activation of the transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) maintains cellular homeostasis in response to oxidative stress by the regulation of multiple cytoprotective genes. Without stressors the activity of Nrf2 is inhibited by its interaction with the kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). Here, we describe RA839, a small molecule that binds non-covalently to the Nrf2-interacting kelch domain of Keap1 with a Kd of approximately 6 µM, as demonstrated by X-ray co-crystallization and isothermal titration calorimetry. Whole-genome DNA arrays showed that at 10 µM RA839 significantly regulated 105 genes in bone marrow-derived macrophages. Canonical pathway mapping of these genes revealed an activation of pathways linked with Nrf2 signalling. These pathways were also activated after the activation of Nrf2 by the silencing of Keap1 expression. RA839 regulated only two genes in Nrf2 knockout macrophages. Similar to the activation of Nrf2 by either silencing of Keap1 expression or by the reactive compound CDDO-Me, RA839 prevented the induction of both inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and nitric oxide release in response to lipopolysaccharides in macrophages. In mice RA839 acutely induced Nrf2-target gene expression in liver. RA839 is a selective inhibitor of the Keap1/Nrf2 interaction and a useful tool compound to study the biology of Nrf2.
Project description:Genetic versus chemoprotective activation of Nrf2 signaling: overlapping yet distinct hepatic gene expression profiles between Keap1 knockout and triterpenoid treated mice; Loss of Nrf2 signaling increases susceptibility to acute toxicity, inflammation, and carcinogenesis in mice due to the inability to mount adaptive responses. By contrast, disruption of Keap1 (a cytoplasmic modifier of Nrf2 turnover) protects against these stresses in mice; although dominant negative mutations in Keap1 have been identified recently in some human cancers. Global characterization of Nrf2 activation is important to exploit this pathway for chemoprevention in healthy, yet at-risk individuals and also to elucidate the consequences of hijacking the pathway in Keap1-mutant human cancers. This analysis also enables a global characterization of the pharmacodynamic action of CDDO-Im at a low dose that is relevant to chemoprevention. Experiment Overall Design: Liver-targeted conditional Keap1-null (CKO) mice provide a model of genetic activation of Nrf2 signaling. By coupling global gene expression analysis of CKO mice with analysis of pharmacologic activation using the synthetic oleanane triterpenoid CDDO-Im, we are able to gain insight into pathways affected by Nrf2 activation. CDDO-Im is an extremely potent activator of Nrf2 signaling. CKO mice were used to identify genes modulated by genetic activation of Nrf2 signaling. The CKO response was compared to hepatic global gene expression changes in wild-type mice treated with CDDO-Im at a maximal Nrf2 activating dose. n=3/group, male 9 week old mice were used. Mice were treated with a single dose of vehicle (10% Cremophor-EL, 10% DMSO, and PBS) or 30 umol CDDO-Im/kg body weight by gavage and sacrificed 6 h later.
Project description:The transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) induces cytoprotective genes, but has also been linked to the regulation of hepatic energy metabolism. In order to assess the pharmacological potential of hepatic Nrf2 activation in metabolic disease, Nrf2 was activated over 8 weeks in mice on Western diet using two different siRNAs against kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), the inhibitory protein of Nrf2. Whole genome expression analysis followed by pathway analysis demonstrated that the suppression of Keap1 expression induced genes that are involved in anti-oxidative stress defense and biotransformation, pathways proving the activation of Nrf2 by the siRNAs against Keap1. The expression of neither fatty acid- nor carbohydrate-handling proteins was regulated by the suppression of Keap1. Metabolic profiling of the animals did also not show effects on plasma and hepatic lipids, energy expenditure or glucose tolerance by the activation of Nrf2. The data indicate that hepatic Nrf2 is not a major regulator of intermediary metabolism in mice. Gene expression profile of mouse liver samples from 8-week-old male C57BL6/J mice (N=24) treated with liver-selective Keap1-specific siRNA (group 1: siKeap1-1, N=8; group 2: siKeap1-2, N=8) or unspecific scrambled control siRNA (group 3: siControl, N=8)
Project description:Genetic versus chemoprotective activation of Nrf2 signaling: overlapping yet distinct hepatic gene expression profiles between Keap1 knockout and triterpenoid treated mice Loss of Nrf2 signaling increases susceptibility to acute toxicity, inflammation, and carcinogenesis in mice due to the inability to mount adaptive responses. By contrast, disruption of Keap1 (a cytoplasmic modifier of Nrf2 turnover) protects against these stresses in mice; although dominant negative mutations in Keap1 have been identified recently in some human cancers. Global characterization of Nrf2 activation is important to exploit this pathway for chemoprevention in healthy, yet at-risk individuals and also to elucidate the consequences of hijacking the pathway in Keap1-mutant human cancers. This analysis also enables a global characterization of the pharmacodynamic action of CDDO-Im at a low dose that is relevant to chemoprevention.
Project description:Keap1 overexpressed and Nrf2 depleted CL1-5 cells were used to identify genes regulated by Keap1/Nrf2 axis-dependent gene regulations We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression underlying metastasis and identified distinct classes of Keap1/Nrf2-regulated genes during this process. CL1-5 cells stably expressed Keap1 expressing construct and Nrf2-specific shRNA were analyzed compared to control cells
Project description:The E3 ubiquitin ligase substrate recognition subunit Keap1 mediates the ubiquitination and degradation of the oxidative stress transcription factor NRF2. Approximately 30% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) harbor inactivating mutations in Keap1 or activating mutations in NRF2, both of which lead to the stabilization of NRF2 and activation of the downstream antioxidant pathway. Recent studies have found that the oncogenic effects of Keap1 and NRF2 mutations are not entirely equivalent, suggesting that Keap1 may have other regulatory substrates. In previous work, we used affinity immunopurification and mass spectrometry to identify the epigenetic regulator CHD6 as a Keap1-interacting protein, with Keap1 mediating the ubiquitination and degradation of CHD6. NSCLC-derived Keap1 mutants lost the ability to bind and ubiquitinate CHD6. Additionally, CHD6 interacts with NRF2 and promotes the enrichment of NRF2 at the promoters of its target genes, enhancing their transcription.This project aims to elucidate the mechanism by which the abnormal accumulation of CHD6 protein, due to disruption of its Keap1-mediated degradation, drives epigenetic reprogramming in the context of Keap1-mutant NSCLC development and progression. The findings will provide a theoretical basis for the development of NRF2 pathway inhibitors targeting CHD6 as a drug target.
Project description:Multiple cancers regulate oxidative stress by activating the transcription factor NRF2 through mutation of its negative regulator KEAP1. NRF2 has been studied extensively in KEAP1-mutant cancers, however the role of this pathway in cancers with wildtype KEAP1 remains poorly understood. To answer this question, we induced NRF2 via pharmacological inactivation of KEAP1 in a panel of 50+ non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. Unexpectedly, marked decreases in viability were observed in >13% of the cell lines—an effect that was rescued by NRF2 ablation. Genome-wide and targeted CRISPR screens revealed that NRF2 induces NADH-reductive stress, through the upregulation of the NAD+-consuming enzyme ALDH3A1. Leveraging these findings, we show that cells treated with KEAP1 inhibitors or those with endogenous KEAP1 mutations are selectively vulnerable to Complex I inhibition, which impairs NADH oxidation capacity and potentiates reductive stress. Thus, we identify reductive stress as a metabolic vulnerability in NRF2-activated lung cancers.
Project description:KEAP1, a cytoplasmic repressor of the oxidative stress responsive transcription factor NRF2, senses the presence of electrophilic agents by modification of its sensor cysteine residues. In addition to xenobiotics, several reactive metabolites have been shown to covalently modify key cysteines on KEAP1, although the full repertoire of these molecules and their respective modifications remains undefined. Here, we report the discovery of sAKZ692, a small molecule identified by high throughput screening that stimulates NRF2 transcriptional activity in cells by inhibiting the glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase. sAKZ692 treatment promotes the buildup of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, a metabolite which leads to S-lactate modification of cysteine sensor residues of KEAP1, resulting in NRF2 dependent transcription. This work identifies a novel posttranslational modification of cysteine derived from a reactive central carbon metabolite and helps further define the complex relationship between metabolism and the oxidative stress sensing machinery of the cell.