scholarly journals Efficacy of SHP2 phosphatase inhibition in cancers with nucleotide-cycling oncogenic RAS, RAS-GTP dependent oncogenic BRAF and NF1 loss

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Nichols ◽  
Franziska Haderk ◽  
Carlos Stahlhut ◽  
Christopher J. Schulze ◽  
Golzar Hemmati ◽  
...  

AbstractOncogenic alterations in the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway, including mutant forms of KRAS, BRAF, and loss of the tumor suppressor and RAS GTPase-activating protein (GAP) NF1, drive the growth of a wide spectrum of human cancers. While BRAF and MEK inhibitors are effective in many patients with oncogenic BRAF V600E, there are no effective targeted therapies for individuals with cancers driven by other pathway alterations, including oncogenic KRAS, non-V600E BRAF, and NF1 loss. Here, we show that targeting the PTPN11/SHP2 phosphatase with a novel small molecule allosteric inhibitor is effective against cancers bearing nucleotide-cycling oncogenic RAS (e.g. KRAS G12C), RAS-GTP dependent oncogenic BRAF (e.g. class 3 BRAF mutants), or NF1 loss in multiple preclinical models in vitro and in vivo. SHP2 inhibition suppressed the levels of RAS-GTP and phosphorylated ERK in these models and induced growth inhibition. Expression of a constitutively active mutant of the RAS guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) SOS1 rescued cells from the effects of SHP2 inhibition, suggesting that SHP2 blockade decreases oncogenic RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling by disrupting SOS1-mediated RAS-GTP loading. Our findings illuminate a critical function for SHP2 in promoting oncogenic RAS activation and downstream signaling in cancers with nucleotide-cycling oncogenic RAS, RAS-GTP dependent oncogenic BRAF, and NF1 loss. SHP2 inhibition thus represents a rational, biomarker-driven therapeutic strategy to be tested in patients with cancers of diverse origins bearing these oncogenic drivers and for which current treatments are largely ineffective.

2003 ◽  
Vol 160 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Metello Innocenti ◽  
Emanuela Frittoli ◽  
Isabella Ponzanelli ◽  
John R. Falck ◽  
Saskia M. Brachmann ◽  
...  

Class I phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are implicated in many cellular responses controlled by receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), including actin cytoskeletal remodeling. Within this pathway, Rac is a key downstream target/effector of PI3K. However, how the signal is routed from PI3K to Rac is unclear. One possible candidate for this function is the Rac-activating complex Eps8–Abi1–Sos-1, which possesses Rac-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity. Here, we show that Abi1 (also known as E3b1) recruits PI3K, via p85, into a multimolecular signaling complex that includes Eps8 and Sos-1. The recruitment of p85 to the Eps8–Abi1–Sos-1 complex and phosphatidylinositol 3, 4, 5 phosphate (PIP3), the catalytic product of PI3K, concur to unmask its Rac-GEF activity in vitro. Moreover, they are indispensable for the activation of Rac and Rac-dependent actin remodeling in vivo. On growth factor stimulation, endogenous p85 and Abi1 consistently colocalize into membrane ruffles, and cells lacking p85 fail to support Abi1-dependent Rac activation. Our results define a mechanism whereby propagation of signals, originating from RTKs or Ras and leading to actin reorganization, is controlled by direct physical interaction between PI3K and a Rac-specific GEF complex.


eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Langemeyer ◽  
Ann-Christin Borchers ◽  
Eric Herrmann ◽  
Nadia Füllbrunn ◽  
Yaping Han ◽  
...  

Endosomes and lysosomes harbor Rab5 and Rab7 on their surface as key proteins involved in their identity, biogenesis, and fusion. Rab activation requires a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), which is Mon1-Ccz1 for Rab7. During endosome maturation, Rab5 is replaced by Rab7, though the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we identify the molecular determinants for Rab conversion in vivo and in vitro, and reconstitute Rab7 activation with yeast and metazoan proteins. We show (i) that Mon1-Ccz1 is an effector of Rab5, (ii) that membrane-bound Rab5 is the key factor to directly promote Mon1-Ccz1 dependent Rab7 activation and Rab7-dependent membrane fusion, and (iii) that this process is regulated in yeast by the casein kinase Yck3, which phosphorylates Mon1 and blocks Rab5 binding. Our study thus uncovers the minimal feed-forward machinery of the endosomal Rab cascade and a novel regulatory mechanism controlling this pathway.


2013 ◽  
Vol 113 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salil Sharma ◽  
Soban Umar ◽  
Gabe Wong ◽  
Denise Mai ◽  
Mohamad Navab ◽  
...  

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a chronic lung disease associated with severe vascular disorders leading to right ventricular(RV) failure. An HDL mimetic peptide, 4F, has been shown to be effective for the treatment of atherosclerosis and a number of inflammatory disorders. Here, we explored whether 4F can rescue advanced PH by controlling the expression of specific microRNAs (miRs). PH was induced in rats by a single injection of monocrotaline (MCT, 60mg/kg, s.c .) or by placing mice in hypoxia chamber(O2≤10%) for 21 days. MCT-rats or hypoxic mice received 4F therapy (50mg/kg/day, s.c .,days 21-30 in MCT model and days 14-21 in hypoxia model). We performed microRNA microarray analysis (non-affymetrix) in lung tissues of CTRL, PH and 4F-rescued groups. OE of miR193 was achieved by intratracheal instillation of 20nM dose at days 16, 21 and 26 in MCT model or at days 14 and 18 in hypoxia model. 4F therapy starting after the establishment of PH in both MCT and hypoxia models improved significantly RV pressure (RVP) and RV hypertrophy index (RVP=46±3 vs RVP=74±1 mmHg in PH; RV/LV+IVS=0.38±0.02 vs RV/(LV+IVS)=0.68±0.05 in PH, p<0.05 vs PH and in hypoxia model RVP=22±3.8 vs. 36.91±5.74 in PH and 20.93±2.52mmHg in ctrl, p<0.05 vs PH ). Microarray and qPCR showed downregulation of miR-193 by ~3 fold in MCT model. 4F therapy normalized miR-193 to ctrl levels. MiR-193 OE in both MCT-rats and hypoxic-mice rescued PH (RVP=38±5.5mmHg, RV/LV+IVS=0.37±0.034 in MCT-rats and RVP=25.48±0.88mmHg in hypoxic-mice). Lung sections showed increased arteriolar muscularization and ox-LDL deposition in the PH group, prevented by miR-193 therapy. In vivo, OE of miR-193 suppressed transcription of in-silico targets ALOX5, a lipoxygenase; IGF1R, insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor and ARHGEF12, a Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor and decreased human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (HPASMC) proliferation in vitro in the presence of serum or 12-HETE by >2 folds whereas miR-193 KD increased proliferation. In conclusion, 4F rescues pre-existing severe PH by targeting genes associated with HETEs and HODEs production, inflammation and growth via inducing miR-193.


2008 ◽  
Vol 183 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophia Semerdjieva ◽  
Barry Shortt ◽  
Emma Maxwell ◽  
Sukhdeep Singh ◽  
Paul Fonarev ◽  
...  

Here we investigate the role of rab5 and its cognate exchange factors rabex-5 and hRME-6 in the regulation of AP2 uncoating from endocytic clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs). In vitro, we show that the rate of AP2 uncoating from CCVs is dependent on the level of functional rab5. In vivo, overexpression of dominant-negative rab5S34N, or small interfering RNA (siRNA)–mediated depletion of hRME-6, but not rabex-5, resulted in increased steady-state levels of AP2 associated with endocytic vesicles, which is consistent with reduced uncoating efficiency. hRME-6 guanine nucleotide exchange factor activity requires hRME-6 binding to α-adaptin ear, which displaces the ear-associated μ2 kinase AAK1. siRNA-mediated depletion of hRME-6 increases phospho-μ2 levels, and expression of a phosphomimetic μ2 mutant increases levels of endocytic vesicle-associated AP2. Depletion of hRME-6 or rab5S35N expression also increases the levels of phosphoinositide 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2) associated with endocytic vesicles. These data are consistent with a model in which hRME-6 and rab5 regulate AP2 uncoating in vivo by coordinately regulating μ2 dephosphorylation and PtdIns(4,5)P2 levels in CCVs.


2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (17) ◽  
pp. 3905-3917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana L. Ford-Speelman ◽  
Joseph A. Roche ◽  
Amber L. Bowman ◽  
Robert J. Bloch

Obscurin is a large (∼800-kDa), modular protein of striated muscle that concentrates around the M-bands and Z-disks of each sarcomere, where it is well positioned to sense contractile activity. Obscurin contains several signaling domains, including a rho-guanine nucleotide exchange factor (rhoGEF) domain and tandem pleckstrin homology domain, consistent with a role in rho signaling in muscle. We investigated the ability of obscurin's rhoGEF domain to interact with and activate small GTPases. Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches, we found that the rhoGEF domain of obscurin binds selectively to rhoA, and that rhoA colocalizes with obscurin at the M-band in skeletal muscle. Other small GTPases, including rac1 and cdc42, neither associate with the rhoGEF domain of obscurin nor concentrate at the level of the M-bands. Furthermore, overexpression of the rhoGEF domain of obscurin in adult skeletal muscle selectively increases rhoA expression and activity in this tissue. Overexpression of obscurin's rhoGEF domain and its effects on rhoA alter the expression of rho kinase and citron kinase, both of which can be activated by rhoA in other tissues. Injuries to rodent hindlimb muscles caused by large-strain lengthening contractions increases rhoA activity and displaces it from the M-bands to Z-disks, similar to the effects of overexpression of obscurin's rhoGEF domain. Our results suggest that obscurin's rhoGEF domain signals at least in part by inducing rhoA expression and activation, and altering the expression of downstream kinases in vitro and in vivo.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. eaay2174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seung-Min Shin ◽  
Ji-Sun Kim ◽  
Seong-Wook Park ◽  
Sei-Yong Jun ◽  
Hye-Jin Kweon ◽  
...  

Oncogenic RAS mutant (RASMUT) proteins have been considered undruggable via conventional antibody regimens owing to the intracellular location restricting conventional-antibody accessibility. Here, we report a pan-RAS–targeting IgG antibody, inRas37, which directly targets the intracellularly activated form of various RASMUT subtypes after tumor cell–specific internalization into the cytosol to block the interactions with effector proteins, thereby suppressing the downstream signaling. Systemic administration of inRas37 exerted a potent antitumor activity in a subset of RASMUT tumor xenografts in mice, but little efficacy in RASMUT tumors with concurrent downstream PI3K mutations, which were overcome by combination with a PI3K inhibitor. The YAP1 protein was up-regulated as an adaptive resistance-inducing response to inRas37 in RASMUT-dependent colorectal tumors; accordingly, a combination of inRas37 with a YAP1 inhibitor manifested synergistic antitumor effects in vitro and in vivo. Our study offers a promising pan-RAS–targeting antibody and the corresponding therapeutic strategy against RASMUT tumors.


Science ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 325 (5940) ◽  
pp. 607-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang-Liang Zhang ◽  
Megumi Katoh ◽  
Tadao Shibasaki ◽  
Kohtaro Minami ◽  
Yasuhiro Sunaga ◽  
...  

Epac2, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the small guanosine triphosphatase Rap1, is activated by adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer and binding experiments revealed that sulfonylureas, widely used antidiabetic drugs, interact directly with Epac2. Sulfonylureas activated Rap1 specifically through Epac2. Sulfonylurea-stimulated insulin secretion was reduced both in vitro and in vivo in mice lacking Epac2, and the glucose-lowering effect of the sulfonylurea tolbutamide was decreased in these mice. Epac2 thus contributes to the effect of sulfonylureas to promote insulin secretion. Because Epac2 is also required for the action of incretins, gut hormones crucial for potentiating insulin secretion, it may be a promising target for antidiabetic drug development.


2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1428-1440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Asiedu ◽  
Di Wu ◽  
Fumio Matsumura ◽  
Qize Wei

Cooperative communications between the central spindle and the contractile ring are critical for the spatial and temporal regulation of cytokinesis. Here we report that MyoGEF, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that localizes to the central spindle and cleavage furrow, interacts with centrosome/spindle pole-associated protein (CSPP), which is concentrated at the spindle pole and central spindle during mitosis and cytokinesis. Both in vitro and in vivo pulldown assays show that MyoGEF interacts with CSPP. The C-terminus of MyoGEF and N-terminus of CSPP are required for their interaction. Immunofluorescence analysis indicates that MyoGEF and CSPP colocalize at the central spindle. Depletion of CSPP or MyoGEF by RNA-interference (RNAi) not only causes defects in mitosis and cytokinesis, such as metaphase arrest and furrow regression, but also mislocalization of nonmuscle myosin II with a phosphorylated myosin regulatory light chain (p-MRLC). Importantly, CSPP depletion by RNAi interferes with MyoGEF localization at the central spindle. Finally, MyoGEF interacts with ECT2, and RNAi-mediated depletion of MyoGEF leads to mislocalization of ECT2 and RhoA during cytokinesis. Therefore, we propose that CSPP interacts with and recruits MyoGEF to the central spindle, where MyoGEF contributes to the spatiotemporal regulation of cytokinesis.


2003 ◽  
Vol 161 (5) ◽  
pp. 889-897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoshi Yoshida ◽  
Ryuji Ichihashi ◽  
Akio Toh-e

ACdc25 family protein Lte1 (low temperature essential) is essential for mitotic exit at a lowered temperature and has been presumed to be a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for a small GTPase Tem1, which is a key regulator of mitotic exit. We found that Lte1 physically associates with Ras2-GTP both in vivo and in vitro and that the Cdc25 homology domain (CHD) of Lte1 is essential for the interaction with Ras2. Furthermore, we found that the proper localization of Lte1 to the bud cortex is dependent on active Ras and that the overexpression of a derivative of Lte1 without the CHD suppresses defects in mitotic exit of a Δlte1 mutant and a Δras1 Δras2 mutant. These results suggest that Lte1 is a downstream effector protein of Ras in mitotic exit and that the Ras GEF domain of Lte1 is not essential for mitotic exit but required for its localization.


2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (15) ◽  
pp. 2328-2339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia-Wei Hsu ◽  
Fang-Jen S. Lee

The regulation and signaling pathways involved in the invasive growth of yeast have been studied extensively because of their general applicability to fungal pathogenesis. Bud2p, which functions as a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for Bud1p/Rsr1p, is required for appropriate budding patterns and filamentous growth. The regulatory mechanisms leading to Bud2p activation, however, are poorly understood. In this study, we report that ADP-ribosylation factor 3p (Arf3p) acts as a regulator of Bud2p activation during invasive growth. Arf3p binds directly to the N-terminal region of Bud2p and promotes its GAP activity both in vitro and in vivo. Genetic analysis shows that deletion of BUD1 suppresses the defect of invasive growth in arf3Δ or bud2Δ cells. Lack of Arf3p, like that of Bud2p, causes the intracellular accumulation of Bud1p-GTP. The Arf3p–Bud2p interaction is important for invasive growth and facilitates the Bud2p–Bud1p association in vivo. Finally, we show that under glucose depletion–induced invasion conditions in yeast, more Arf3p is activated to the GTP-bound state, and the activation is independent of Arf3p guanine nucleotide-exchange factor Yel1p. Thus we demonstrate that a novel spatial activation of Arf3p plays a role in regulating Bud2p activation during glucose depletion–induced invasive growth.


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