Novel insights in folate receptors and transporters: implications for disease and treatment of immune diseases and cancer

Pteridines ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerrit Jansen ◽  
Godefridus J. Peters

AbstractFolate receptors and transporters as well as folate enzymes play an essential role in human disease and form important targets for the treatment of immune diseases and cancer. To discuss new developments in this area, every 2 years a multidisciplinary meeting is held, which aims to be an informal forum for fundamental scientists and clinicians. During this meeting, the regulation of folate transporters and folate enzymes is discussed at the level of expression, transcription, translation, post-translational modification, and splicing and enzyme regulation. Importantly, this knowledge is applied and translated into exciting clinical applications by clinicians with various backgrounds, such as surgeons, nephrologists, rheumatologists and oncologists. Moreover, the meeting provides an excellent forum for a scientific interaction between academia and industry.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4728
Author(s):  
Tanuza Das ◽  
Eun Joo Song ◽  
Eunice EunKyeong Kim

Ubiquitination and deubiquitination are protein post-translational modification processes that have been recognized as crucial mediators of many complex cellular networks, including maintaining ubiquitin homeostasis, controlling protein stability, and regulating several signaling pathways. Therefore, some of the enzymes involved in ubiquitination and deubiquitination, particularly E3 ligases and deubiquitinases, have attracted attention for drug discovery. Here, we review recent findings on USP15, one of the deubiquitinases, which regulates diverse signaling pathways by deubiquitinating vital target proteins. Even though several basic previous studies have uncovered the versatile roles of USP15 in different signaling networks, those have not yet been systematically and specifically reviewed, which can provide important information about possible disease markers and clinical applications. This review will provide a comprehensive overview of our current understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of USP15 on different signaling pathways for which dynamic reverse ubiquitination is a key regulator.



Author(s):  
Deepa Agarwal ◽  
Alok Jha

Objective: In silico approach has particularly drawn attention in providing a realistic representation needed to understand the fundamental molecular structure of a transporter. The importance of folate metabolism and role in the internalization of antifolates in eukaryotes have been studied extensively, but the structural study of folate transporters in Homo sapiens (HFT), Plasmodium falciparum (PFT), and Streptococcus sp. (SFT) is still lacking. This study was conducted to study and compare the structures of prokaryotic and eukaryotic folate transporters. Methods: HFT, PFT, and SFT were queried using blast and sequences were retrieved using National Center for Biotechnology and Information (NCBI) databases. This was superseded by structural and functional prediction of transporters. The structure has been generated using Swiss model which was visualized using PyMol and validated by Procheck and ERRAT analysis along with the values of different secondary structures mapping to diverse sections of the Ramachandran plot. The structural and functional comparison was performed by PROSO, ProFunc, TM Score, Porewalker, TMHMM, and Protscale. Result: All the parameters for structural comparison suggest that H. sapiens folate transporter is 16.67% and 17.72% identical to Plasmodium and Streptococcus whereas Plasmodium is 21.59% identical to Streptococcus. The evaluation of transmembrane helices and hydrophobicity resulted in the presence of 1, 4, and 12 membrane-spanning segments with predicted US, UDUD, and UDS as pore shape in Plasmodium, Streptococcus, and humans. Conclusion: Such folate receptors are the main targets for the specific conveyance of antifolates. The differences found between these species may offer possibilities for the development of new drugs in future. 



2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengdie Cao ◽  
Xiangyuan Luo ◽  
Kongming Wu ◽  
Xingxing He

AbstractIn recent years, accumulating evidence has elucidated the role of lysosomes in dynamically regulating cellular and organismal homeostasis. Lysosomal changes and dysfunction have been correlated with the development of numerous diseases. In this review, we interpreted the key biological functions of lysosomes in four areas: cellular metabolism, cell proliferation and differentiation, immunity, and cell death. More importantly, we actively sought to determine the characteristic changes and dysfunction of lysosomes in cells affected by these diseases, the causes of these changes and dysfunction, and their significance to the development and treatment of human disease. Furthermore, we outlined currently available targeting strategies: (1) targeting lysosomal acidification; (2) targeting lysosomal cathepsins; (3) targeting lysosomal membrane permeability and integrity; (4) targeting lysosomal calcium signaling; (5) targeting mTOR signaling; and (6) emerging potential targeting strategies. Moreover, we systematically summarized the corresponding drugs and their application in clinical trials. By integrating basic research with clinical findings, we discussed the current opportunities and challenges of targeting lysosomes in human disease.





2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saara-Anne Azizi ◽  
Tong Lan ◽  
Clémence Delalande ◽  
Rahul Kathayat ◽  
Bryan Dickinson

<div><div><div><p>Protein S-acylation is a dynamic lipid post-translational modification that can modulate the localization and activity of target proteins. In humans, the installation of the lipid onto target proteins is catalyzed by a family of 23 Asp-His-His-Cys domain-containing protein acyltransferases (DHHC-PATs). DHHCs are increasingly recognized as critical players in cellular signaling events and in human disease. However, progress elucidating the functions and mechanisms of DHHC “writers” has been hampered by a lack of chemical tools to perturb their activity in live cells. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of PATi, a pan- DHHC inhibitor more potent than 2-bromopalmitate (2BP), the most commonly used DHHC inhibitor in the field. Possessing an acrylamide warhead, PATi pairs its gain in potency with decreases in both toxicity and inhibition of the S-acylation eraser enzymes – two of the major weaknesses of 2BP. Our studies show that PATi engages with DHHC family proteins in cells, inhibits protein S-acylation, and disrupts DHHC-regulated cellular events. PATi represents an improved chemical tool for untangling the complexities of DHHC-mediated cell signaling by protein S-acylation.</p></div></div></div>



2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Cifani ◽  
Alex Kentsis

AbbreviationsDDAData Dependent AcquisitionDIAData Independent AcquisitionPRMParallel Reaction MonitoringPTMpost-translational modificationSAXstrong anion exchange (chromatography)SCXStrong cation exchange (chromatography)AbstractDespite superior analytical features, mass spectrometry proteomics remains seldom used for the basic investigation and clinical treatment of human disease. This need is particularly pressing for childhood diseases that can be rare in incidence and variable in presentation. Modern mass spectrometry enables detailed functional characterization of the pathogenic biochemical processes, as achieved by accurate and comprehensive quantification of proteins and their regulatory chemical modifications. Here, we describe how high-accuracy mass spectrometry in combination with high-resolution chromatographic separations can be leveraged to meet these analytical requirements in a mechanism-focused manner. We review the quantification methods capable of producing accurate measurements of protein abundance and post-translational modification stoichiometries. We then discuss how experimental design and chromatographic resolution can be leveraged to achieve comprehensive functional characterization of biochemical processes in complex biological proteomes. Finally, we describe current approaches for quantitative analysis of a common functional protein modification: reversible phosphorylation. In all, current instrumentation and methods of high-resolution chromatography and mass spectrometry proteomics are poised for immediate translation into improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for pediatric and adult diseases.



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