Mutations in cancer cause gain of cysteine, histidine, and tryptophan at the expense of a net loss of arginine on the proteome level

Accumulation of somatic mutations is critical for the transition of a normal cell to become cancerous. Mutations cause amino acid substitutions that change properties of proteins. However, it has not been studied as to what extent the composition and accordingly chemical properties of the cell proteome is altered as a result of the increased mutation load in cancer. Here, we analyzed data on amino acid substitutions caused by mutations in about 2000 protein coding genes from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia that contains information on nucleotide and amino acid alterations in 782 cancer cell lines, and validated the analysis with information on amino acid substitutions for the same set of proteins in the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC; v78) in circa 18,000 tumor samples. We found that nonsynonymous single nucleotide substitutions in the analyzed proteome subset ultimately result in a net gain of cysteine, histidine, and tryptophan at the expense of a net loss of arginine. The extraordinary loss of arginine may be attributed to some extent to composition of its codons as well as to the importance of arginine in the functioning of prominent tumor suppressor proteins like p53

In silico druggability assessment of the NUDIX hydrolase protein family as a workflow for target prioritization

Computational chemistry has now been widely accepted as a useful tool for shortening lead times in early drug discovery. When selecting new potential drug targets, it is important to assess the likelihood of finding suitable starting points for lead generation before pursuing costly high-throughput screening campaigns. By exploiting available high-resolution crystal structures, an in silico druggability assessment can facilitate the decision of whether, and in cases where several protein family members exist, which of these to pursue experimentally. Many of the algorithms and software suites commonly applied for in silico druggability assessment are complex, technically challenging and not always user-friendly. Here we applied the intuitive open access servers of DoGSite, FTMap and CryptoSite to comprehensively predict ligand binding pockets, druggability scores and conformationally active regions of the NUDIX protein family. In parallel we analyzed potential ligand binding sites, their druggability and pocket parameter using Schrödinger's SiteMap. Then an in silico docking cascade of a subset of the ZINC FragNow library using the Glide docking program was performed to assess identified pockets for large-scale small-molecule binding. Subsequently, this initial dual ranking of druggable sites within the NUDIX protein family was benchmarked against experimental hit rates obtained both in-house and by others from traditional biochemical and fragment screening campaigns. The observed correlation suggests that the presented user-friendly workflow of a dual parallel in silico druggability assessment is applicable as a standalone method for decision on target prioritization and exclusion in future screening campaigns

AXL and CAV-1 play a role for MTH1 inhibitor TH1579 sensitivity in cutaneous malignant melanoma

Cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) is the deadliest form of skin cancer and clinically challenging due to its propensity to develop therapy resistance. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can induce DNA damage and play a significant role in CMM. MTH1 protein protects from ROS damage and is often overexpressed in different cancer types including CMM. Herein, we report that MTH1 inhibitor TH1579 induced ROS levels, increased DNA damage responses, caused mitotic arrest and suppressed CMM proliferation leading to cell death both in vitro and in an in vivo xenograft CMM zebrafish disease model. TH1579 was more potent in abrogating cell proliferation and inducing cell death in a heterogeneous co-culture setting when compared with CMM standard treatments, vemurafenib or trametinib, showing its broad anticancer activity. Silencing MTH1 alone exhibited similar cytotoxic effects with concomitant induction of mitotic arrest and ROS induction culminating in cell death in most CMM cell lines tested, further emphasizing the importance of MTH1 in CMM cells. Furthermore, overexpression of receptor tyrosine kinase AXL, previously demonstrated to contribute to BRAF inhibitor resistance, sensitized BRAF mutant and BRAF/NRAS wildtype CMM cells to TH1579. AXL overexpression culminated in increased ROS levels in CMM cells. Moreover, silencing of a protein that has shown opposing effects on cell proliferation, CAV-1, decreased sensitivity to TH1579 in a BRAF inhibitor resistant cell line. AXL-MTH1 and CAV-1-MTH1 mRNA expressions were correlated as seen in CMM clinical samples. Finally, TH1579 in combination with BRAF inhibitor exhibited a more potent cell killing effect in BRAF mutant cells both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, we show that TH1579-mediated efficacy is independent of BRAF/NRAS mutational status but dependent on the expression of AXL and CAV-1

Computational and experimental druggability assessment of human DNA glycosylases

Due to a polar or even charged binding interface, DNA-binding proteins are considered extraordinarily difficult targets for development of small-molecule ligands and only a handful of proteins have been targeted successfully to date. Recently, however, it has been shown that development of selective and efficient inhibitors of 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase is possible. Here, we describe the initial druggability assessment of DNA glycosylases in a computational setting and experimentally investigate several methods to target endonuclease VIII-like 1 (NEIL1) with small-molecule inhibitors. We find that DNA glycosylases exhibit good predicted druggability in both DNA-bound and -unbound states. Furthermore, we find catalytic sites to be highly flexible, allowing for a range of interactions and binding partners. One flexible catalytic site was rationalized for NEIL1 and further investigated experimentally using both a biochemical assay in the presence of DNA and a thermal shift assay in the absence of DNA

MutT homologue 1 (MTH1) catalyzes the hydrolysis of mutagenic O6-methyl-dGTP.

Nucleotides in the free pool are more susceptible to nonenzymatic methylation than those protected in the DNA double helix. Methylated nucleotides like O6-methyl-dGTP can be mutagenic and toxic if incorporated into DNA. Removal of methylated nucleotides from the nucleotide pool may therefore be important to maintain genome integrity. We show that MutT homologue 1 (MTH1) efficiently catalyzes the hydrolysis of O6-methyl-dGTP with a catalytic efficiency similar to that for 8-oxo-dGTP. O6-methyl-dGTP activity is exclusive to MTH1 among human NUDIX proteins and conserved through evolution but not found in bacterial MutT. We present a high resolution crystal structure of human and zebrafish MTH1 in complex with O6-methyl-dGMP. By microinjecting fertilized zebrafish eggs with O6-methyl-dGTP and inhibiting MTH1 we demonstrate that survival is dependent on active MTH1 in vivo. O6-methyl-dG levels are higher in DNA extracted from zebrafish embryos microinjected with O6-methyl-dGTP and inhibition of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyl transferase (MGMT) increases the toxicity of O6-methyl-dGTP demonstrating that O6-methyl-dGTP is incorporated into DNA. MTH1 deficiency sensitizes human cells to the alkylating agent Temozolomide, a sensitization that is more pronounced upon MGMT inhibition. These results expand the cellular MTH1 function and suggests MTH1 also is important for removal of methylated nucleotides from the nucleotide pool

The one‐carbon metabolic enzyme MTHFD2 promotes resection and homologous recombination after ionizing radiation

The one-carbon metabolism enzyme bifunctional methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase/cyclohydrolase 2 (MTHFD2) is among the most overexpressed proteins across tumors and is widely recognized as a promising anticancer target. While MTHFD2 is mainly described as a mitochondrial protein, a new nuclear function is emerging. Here, we observe that nuclear MTHFD2 protein levels and association with chromatin increase following ionizing radiation (IR) in an ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)- and DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK)-dependent manner. Furthermore, repair of IR-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) is delayed upon MTHFD2 knockdown, suggesting a role for MTHFD2 in DSB repair. In support of this, we observe impaired recruitment of replication protein A (RPA), reduced resection, decreased IR-induced DNA repair protein RAD51 homolog 1 (RAD51) levels and impaired homologous recombination (HR) activity in MTHFD2-depleted cells following IR. In conclusion, we identify a key role for MTHFD2 in HR repair and describe an interdependency between MTHFD2 and HR proficiency that could potentially be exploited for cancer therapy

Ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors suppress SAMHD1 ara‐CTPase activity enhancing cytarabine efficacy

The deoxycytidine analogue cytarabine (ara‐C) remains the backbone treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) as well as other haematological and lymphoid malignancies, but must be combined with other chemotherapeutics to achieve cure. Yet, the underlying mechanism dictating synergistic efficacy of combination chemotherapy remains largely unknown. The dNTPase SAMHD1, which regulates dNTP homoeostasis antagonistically to ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), limits ara‐C efficacy by hydrolysing the active triphosphate metabolite ara‐CTP. Here, we report that clinically used inhibitors of RNR, such as gemcitabine and hydroxyurea, overcome the SAMHD1‐mediated barrier to ara‐C efficacy in primary blasts and mouse models of AML, displaying SAMHD1‐dependent synergy with ara‐C. We present evidence that this is mediated by dNTP pool imbalances leading to allosteric reduction of SAMHD1 ara‐CTPase activity. Thus, SAMHD1 constitutes a novel biomarker for combination therapies of ara‐C and RNR inhibitors with immediate consequences for clinical practice to improve treatment of AML

MTH1 deficiency selectively increases non-cytotoxic oxidative DNA damage in lung cancer cells: more bad news than good?

Representative images of “Comets” and the corresponding intensity profiles, showing (i) ~ 5% Tail DNA damage, typical of the NSCLC cells treated with no siRNA or scramble siRNA, and analysed by regular Fpg-modified alkaline comet assay (0.8 U Fpg/gel); and (ii) comets showing ~ 10% tail DNA, typical of the NSCLC cells treated with MTH1 siRNA. Superimposed on the Comet images are the image analysis software (Komet 5.5, Andor Technology) determined boundaries demarcating the ‘Comet head’ (pink circle) and ‘tail extent’ (vertical orange line) (Barber RC, Hickenbotham P, Hatch T, Kelly D, Topchiy N, Almeida GM, et al. Radiation-induced transgenerational alterations in genome stability and DNA damage. Oncogene. 2006;25(56):7336–7342). % tail DNA = 100 - % head DNA; % head DNA = (integrated optical head intensity / (integrated optical head intensity + integrated optical tail intensity)) × 100. (PDF 1431 kb

Crystal Structures and Inhibitor Interactions of Mouse and Dog MTH1 Reveal Species Specific Differences in Affinity

MTH1 hydrolyzes oxidized nucleoside triphosphates, thereby sanitizing the nucleotide pool from oxidative damage. This prevents incorporation of damaged nucleotides into DNA, which otherwise would lead to mutations and cell death. The high level of reactive oxygen species in cancer cells leads to a higher level of oxidized nucleotides in cancer cells compared to that in nonmalignant cells, making cancer cells more dependent on MTH1 for survival. The possibility of specifically targeting cancer cells by inhibiting MTH1 has highlighted MTH1 as a promising cancer target. The progression of MTH1 inhibitors into the clinic requires animal studies, and knowledge of species differences in the potency of inhibitors is vitally important. We here show that the human MTH1 inhibitor TH588 is approximately 20-fold less potent with respect to inhibition of mouse MTH1 than the human, rat, pig, and dog MTH1 proteins are. We present the crystal structures of mouse MTH1 in complex with TH588 and dog MTH1 and elucidate the structural and sequence basis for the observed difference in affinity for TH588. We identify amino acid residue 116 in MTH1 as an important determinant of TH588 affinity. Furthermore, we present the structure of mouse MTH1 in complex with the substrate 8-oxo-dGTP. The crystal structures provide insight into the high degree of structural conservation between MTH1 proteins from different organisms and provide a detailed view of interactions between MTH1 and the inhibitor, revealing that minute structural differences can have a large impact on affinity and specificity