Structural Determination of the Nanocomplex of Borate with Styrene–Maleic Acid Copolymer-Conjugated Glucosamine Used as a Multifunctional Anticancer Drug

The development of effective anticancer drugs is essential for chemotherapy that specifically targets cancer tissues. We recently synthesized a multifunctional water-soluble anticancer polymer drug consisting of styrene–maleic acid copolymer (SMA) conjugated with glucosamine and boric acid (BA) (SGB complex). It demonstrated about 10 times higher tumor-selective accumulation compared with accumulation in normal tissues because of the enhanced permeability and retention effect, and it inhibited tumor growth via glycolysis inhibition, mitochondrial damage, and thermal neutron irradiation. Gaining insight into the anticancer effects of this SGB complex requires a determination of its structure. We therefore investigated the chemical structure of the SGB complex by means of nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. To establish the chemical structure of the SGB complex, we synthesized a simple model compoundmaleic acid–glucosamine (MAG) conjugateby using a maleic anhydride (MA) monomer unit instead of the SMA polymer. We obtained two MAG–BA complexes (MAGB) with molecular weights of 325 and 343 after the MAG reaction with BA. We confirmed, by using IR spectroscopy, that MAGB formed a stable complex via an amide bond between MA and glucosamine and that BA bound to glucosamine via a diol bond. As a result of this chemical design, identified via analysis of MAGB, the SGB complex can release BA and demonstrate toxicity to cancer cells through inhibition of lactate secretion in mild hypoxia that mimics the tumor microenvironment. For clinical application of the SGB complex, we confirmed that this complex is stable in the presence of serum. These findings confirm that our design of the SGB complex has various advantages in targeting solid cancers and exerting therapeutic effects when combined with neutron irradiation

8‑Nitro-cGMP Enhances SNARE Complex Formation through S‑Guanylation of Cys90 in SNAP25

Nitrated guanine nucleotide 8-nitroguanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (8-nitro-cGMP) generated by reactive oxygen/nitrogen species causes protein S-guanylation. However, the mechanism of 8-nitro-cGMP formation and its protein targets in the normal brain have not been identified. Here, we investigated 8-nitro-cGMP generation and protein S-guanylation in the rodent brain. Immunohistochemistry indicated that 8-nitro-cGMP was produced by neurons, such as pyramidal cells and interneurons. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, we determined endogenous 8-nitro-cGMP levels in the brain as 2.92 ± 0.10 pmol/mg protein. Based on S-guanylation proteomics, we identified several S-guanylated neuronal proteins, including SNAP25 which is a core member of the soluble <i>N</i>-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex. SNAP25 post-translational modification including palmitoylation, phosphorylation, and oxidation, are known to regulate neurotransmission. Our results demonstrate that S-guanylation of SNAP25 enhanced the stability of the SNARE complex, which was further promoted by Ca²⁺-dependent activation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we identified SNAP25 cysteine 90 as the main target of S-guanylation which enhanced the stability of the SNARE complex. The present study revealed a novel target of redox signaling via protein S-guanylation in the nervous system and provided the first substantial evidence of 8-nitro-cGMP function in the nervous system

Persistent Activation of cGMP-Dependent Protein Kinase by a Nitrated Cyclic Nucleotide via Site Specific Protein <i>S</i>‑Guanylation

8-Nitroguanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (8-nitro-cGMP) is a nitrated derivative of guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) formed endogenously under conditions associated with production of both reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide. It acts as an electrophilic second messenger in the regulation of cellular signaling by inducing a post-translational modification of redox-sensitive protein thiols via covalent adduction of cGMP moieties to protein thiols (protein <i>S</i>-guanylation). Here, we demonstrate that 8-nitro-cGMP potentially <i>S</i>-guanylates thiol groups of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG), the enzyme that serves as one of the major receptor proteins for intracellular cGMP and controls a variety of cellular responses. <i>S</i>-Guanylation of PKG was found to occur in a site specific manner; Cys42 and Cys195 were the susceptible residues among 11 Cys residues. Importantly, <i>S</i>-guanylation at Cys195, which is located in the high-affinity cGMP binding domain of PKG, causes persistent enzyme activation as determined by <i>in vitro</i> kinase assay as well as by an organ bath assay. <i>In vivo</i>, <i>S</i>-guanylation of PKG was demonstrated to occur in mice without any specific treatment and was significantly enhanced by lipopolysaccharide administration. These findings warrant further investigation in terms of the physiological and pathophysiological roles of <i>S</i>-guanylation-dependent persistent PKG activation

Exposure to Electrophiles Impairs Reactive Persulfide-Dependent Redox Signaling in Neuronal Cells

Electrophiles such as methylmercury (MeHg) affect cellular functions by covalent modification with endogenous thiols. Reactive persulfide species were recently reported to mediate antioxidant responses and redox signaling because of their strong nucleophilicity. In this study, we used MeHg as an environmental electrophile and found that exposure of cells to the exogenous electrophile elevated intracellular concentrations of the endogenous electrophilic molecule 8-nitroguanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (8-nitro-cGMP), accompanied by depletion of reactive persulfide species and 8-SH-cGMP which is a metabolite of 8-nitro-cGMP. Exposure to MeHg also induced <i>S</i>-guanylation and activation of H-Ras followed by injury to cerebellar granule neurons. The electrophile-induced activation of redox signaling and the consequent cell damage were attenuated by pretreatment with a reactive persulfide species donor. In conclusion, exogenous electrophiles such as MeHg with strong electrophilicity impair the redox signaling regulatory mechanism, particularly of intracellular reactive persulfide species and therefore lead to cellular pathogenesis. Our results suggest that reactive persulfide species may be potential therapeutic targets for attenuating cell injury by electrophiles