Project description:We screened 270,000 compounds from an NCI library for the ability to dock with the non-ATP-binding site of p38γ using virtual screen. The resulting candidate compounds were for cytotoxicity assays to the Hut78 CTCL cell line and identified CSH71 as one of the most promising agents.
Project description:Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer related death among men. Current Androgen Receptor (AR) antagonists often target the ligand binding domain (LBD). However, occurrence of resistance to drugs targeting the LBD is common due to emergence of mutations in the LBD or constitutively active variants that lack the LBD itself. Two novel small molecules, VPC-17005 and VPC-14449 targeting the DNA-binding domain have been developed and published previously. In this study, LNCaP cells were treated with one of these drugs or the well-established AR antagonist Enzalutamide, and the transcriptomic changes have been determined using RNA-seq analysis.
Project description:Aggregated α-synuclein (α-SYN) proteins, encoded by the SNCA gene, are hallmarks of Lewy body disease (LBD), affecting multiple brain regions. However, the specific mechanisms underlying α-SYN pathology in cortical neurons, crucial for LBD-associated dementia, remain unclear. Here, we generated human cortical LBD models by differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from SNCA triplication LBD patients into cerebral organoids and observed increased levels of pathological α-SYN in these organoids. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed prominent expression of the SNCA gene in excitatory neurons, which exhibited synaptic and mitochondrial dysfunction, consistent with findings in the cortex of LBD human brains. Furthermore, screening 1280 FDA-approved drugs identified four candidates, which inhibited α-SYN seeding in RT-QuIC assay, reduced α-SYN aggregation and alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction in SNCA triplication iPSC models. Our findings provide valuable insights into the development of cortical LBD models and the discovery of potential drugs targeting α-SYN aggregation.
Project description:Recent studies indicate that the adaptive immune system plays a role in Lewy body dementia (LBD). However, the mechanism regulating T cell brain homing in LBD is unknown. Here, we observed T cells adjacent to Lewy bodies and dopaminergic neurons in post-mortem LBD brains. Single-cell RNA sequencing of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) identified upregulated expression of C-X-C Motif Chemokine Receptor 4 (CXCR4) in CD4+ T cells in LBD. CSF protein levels of the CXCR4 ligand, C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 12 (CXCL12) were associated with neuroaxonal damage in LBD. Furthermore, we observed clonal expansion and upregulated Interleukin 17A expression by CD4+ T cells stimulated with a phosphorylated α-synuclein epitope. Thus, CXCR4-CXCL12 signaling may represent a mechanistic target for inhibiting pathological interleukin-17-producing T cell trafficking in LBD.
Project description:Synaptotagmin-like protein 4 (Slp-4), also known as granuphilin, is a Rab effector responsible for docking insulin secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane prior to exocytosis. Slp-4 binds vesicular Rab proteins via an N-terminal Slp homology (SHD) domain, interacts with plasma membrane SNARE complex proteins via a central linker region, and contains tandem C-terminal C2 domains (C2A and C2B) with affinity for phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP2). Its C2A domain has previously been shown to bind PIP2 or its soluble analogues with low micromolar affinity; however, the domain docks with low nanomolar apparent affinity to PIP2 in lipid vesicles that also contain background anionic lipids such as phosphatidylserine (PS). Here we show using a combination of computational and experimental approaches that this high-affinity membrane interaction arises from concerted interaction at multiple sites on the C2A domain. In addition to the previously identified, PIP2-selective lysine cluster, a larger cationic surface surrounding the cluster contributes substantially to the affinity for physiologically relevant lipid compositions. While mutations at the PIP2-selective site decreases affinity for PIP2, multiple mutations are needed to decrease binding to physiologically relevant lipid compositions. Docking and molecular dynamics simulations indicate several conformationally flexible loops that contribute to the nonspecific cationic surface. In addition, we identify and characterize a covalently modified variant in the bacterially expressed protein, which arises through reactivity of the PIP2-binding lysine cluster with endogenous bacterial compounds and has a low membrane affinity. Overall, multivalent lipid binding by the Slp-4 C2A domain provides selective recognition and high affinity docking of large dense-core secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane.
Project description:Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) thrives in a nutrient-deprived microenvironment, making it particularly susceptible to treatments that interfere with cancer metabolism. For example, PDAC utilizes and is dependent on high levels of autophagy and other lysosomal processes. Although targeting these pathways has shown potential in pre-clinical studies, progress has been hampered by the challenge of identifying and characterizing favorable targets for drug development. Here, we characterize PIKfyve, a lipid kinase integral to lysosomal functioning as a novel and targetable vulnerability in PDAC. Through comprehensive metabolic analyses we find that PIKfyve inhibition obligates PDAC to upregulate de novo lipid synthesis, a relationship previously undescribed. PIKfyve inhibition triggers a distinct lipogenic gene expression and metabolic program, creating a dependency on de novo lipid metabolism pathways, including genes such as FASN and ACACA. These results suggest that targeting PIKfyve disrupts lysosome-dependent lipid metabolism in PDAC and may be a favorable metabolic target for therapeutic development. Further, this data suggests that one could take advantage of this synthetic dependency by co-targeting PIKfyve and FASN or ACACA as a therapeutic strategy.
Project description:Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) thrives in a nutrient-deprived microenvironment, making it particularly susceptible to treatments that interfere with cancer metabolism. For example, PDAC utilizes and is dependent on high levels of autophagy and other lysosomal processes. Although targeting these pathways has shown potential in pre-clinical studies, progress has been hampered by the challenge of identifying and characterizing favorable targets for drug development. Here, we characterize PIKfyve, a lipid kinase integral to lysosomal functioning as a novel and targetable vulnerability in PDAC. Through comprehensive metabolic analyses we find that PIKfyve inhibition obligates PDAC to upregulate de novo lipid synthesis, a relationship previously undescribed. PIKfyve inhibition triggers a distinct lipogenic gene expression and metabolic program, creating a dependency on de novo lipid metabolism pathways, including genes such as FASN and ACACA. These results suggest that targeting PIKfyve disrupts lysosome-dependent lipid metabolism in PDAC and may be a favorable metabolic target for therapeutic development. Further, this data suggests that one could take advantage of this synthetic dependency by co-targeting PIKfyve and FASN or ACACA as a therapeutic strategy.