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Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism:... Jun 2022Proteolysis of protein hormones is primarily acknowledged in the context of breakdown and metabolic clearance by hepatorenal elimination. However, less explored is the... (Review)
Review
Proteolysis of protein hormones is primarily acknowledged in the context of breakdown and metabolic clearance by hepatorenal elimination. However, less explored is the specific proteolytic processing of large protein hormones, for which canonical signaling pathways were already established [e.g., prolactin (PRL)], to generate unique messengers that impact cellular functions via pathways unrelated to the receptors of their precursor molecules. Yet, the proteolysis of PRL to generate new messengers evolved under positive selection, and cleaved protein hormones regulate essential functions to maintain homeostasis at the organismal, tissue, or organ levels. The cleavage sites at which proteolysis occurs and the proteases with their determinants define a hormone-metabolism junction at which specific proteolytic cleavage, pathological alteration, and hepatorenal elimination occur.
Topics: Hormones; Humans; Kinetics; Prolactin; Proteolysis; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 35397984
DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2022.03.004 -
Drug Discovery Today Jun 2022Proteases have crucial roles in homeostasis and disease; and protease inhibitors and recombinant proteases in enzyme replacement therapy have become key therapeutic... (Review)
Review
Proteases have crucial roles in homeostasis and disease; and protease inhibitors and recombinant proteases in enzyme replacement therapy have become key therapeutic applications of protease biology across several indications. This review briefly summarises therapeutic approaches based on protease activation and focuses on how recent insights into the spatial and temporal control of the proteolytic activation of growth factors and interleukins are leading to unique strategies for the discovery of new medicines. In particular, two emerging areas are covered: the first is based on antibody therapies that target the process of proteolytic activation of the pro-form of proteins rather than their mature form; the second covers a potentially new class of biopharmaceuticals using engineered, proteolytically activable and initially inactive pro-forms of antibodies or effector proteins to increase specificity and improve the therapeutic window.
Topics: Peptide Hydrolases; Protease Inhibitors; Proteolysis
PubMed: 35314338
DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.03.011 -
Cell Chemical Biology Jul 2021Molecular glues and proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have emerged as small-molecule tools that selectively induce the degradation of a chosen protein and have... (Review)
Review
Molecular glues and proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have emerged as small-molecule tools that selectively induce the degradation of a chosen protein and have shown therapeutic promise. Recently, several approaches employing light as an additional stimulus to control induced protein degradation have been reported. Here, we analyze the principles guiding the design of such systems, provide a survey of the literature published to date, and discuss opportunities for further development. Light-responsive degraders enable the precise temporal and spatial control of protein levels, making them useful research tools but also potential candidates for human precision medicine.
Topics: Humans; Precision Medicine; Proteins; Proteolysis; Small Molecule Libraries
PubMed: 34115971
DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.05.010 -
Cell Communication and Signaling : CCS Sep 2023Metastatic cancer cells can develop anoikis resistance in the absence of substrate attachment and survive to fight tumors. Anoikis is mediated by endogenous... (Review)
Review
Metastatic cancer cells can develop anoikis resistance in the absence of substrate attachment and survive to fight tumors. Anoikis is mediated by endogenous mitochondria-dependent and exogenous death receptor pathways, and studies have shown that caspase-8-dependent external pathways appear to be more important than the activity of the intrinsic pathways. This paper reviews the regulation of anoikis by external pathways mediated by death receptors. Different death receptors bind to different ligands to activate downstream caspases. The possible mechanisms of Fas-associated death domain (FADD) recruitment by Fas and TNF receptor 1 associated-death domain (TRADD) recruitment by tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), and DR4- and DR5-associated FADD to induce downstream caspase activation and regulate anoikis were reviewed. This review highlights the possible mechanism of the death receptor pathway mediation of anoikis and provides new insights and research directions for studying tumor metastasis mechanisms. Video Abstract.
Topics: Anoikis; Proteolysis; Caspases; Mitochondria; Protein Processing, Post-Translational
PubMed: 37667281
DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01247-5 -
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta Sep 2015Progress in the field of regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP) in recent years has not surpassed plant biology. Nevertheless, reports on RIP in plants, and... (Review)
Review
Progress in the field of regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP) in recent years has not surpassed plant biology. Nevertheless, reports on RIP in plants, and especially in chloroplasts, are still scarce. Of the four different families of intramembrane proteases, only two have been linked to chloroplasts so far, rhomboids and site-2 proteases (S2Ps). The lack of chloroplast-located rhomboid proteases was associated with reduced fertility and aberrations in flower morphology, probably due to perturbations in jasmonic acid biosynthesis, which occurs in chloroplasts. Mutations in homologues of S2P resulted in chlorophyll deficiency and impaired chloroplast development, through a yet unknown mechanism. To date, the only known substrate of RIP in chloroplasts is a PHD transcription factor, located in the envelope. Upon proteolytic cleavage by an unknown protease, the soluble N-terminal domain of this protein is released from the membrane and relocates to the nucleus, where it activates the transcription of the ABA response gene ABI4. Continuing studies on these proteases and substrates, as well as identification of the genes responsible for different chloroplast mutant phenotypes, are expected to shed more light on the roles of intramembrane proteases in chloroplast biology.
Topics: Membrane Proteins; Peptide Hydrolases; Plastids; Proteolysis
PubMed: 25528366
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2014.12.006 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2022Unsatisfactory physicochemical properties of macromolecular drugs seriously hinder their application in tumor immunotherapy. However, these problems can be effectively... (Review)
Review
Unsatisfactory physicochemical properties of macromolecular drugs seriously hinder their application in tumor immunotherapy. However, these problems can be effectively solved by small-molecule compounds. In the promising field of small-molecule drug development, proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) offers a novel mode of action in the interactions between small molecules and therapeutic targets (mainly proteins). This revolutionary technology has shown considerable impact on several proteins related to tumor survival but is rarely exploited in proteins associated with immuno-oncology up until now. This review attempts to comprehensively summarize the well-studied and less-developed immunological targets available for PROTAC technology, as well as some targets to be explored, aiming to provide more options and opportunities for the development of small-molecule-based tumor immunotherapy. In addition, some novel directions that can magnify and broaden the protein degradation efficiency are mentioned to improve PROTAC design in the future.
Topics: Drug Development; Immunotherapy; Neoplasms; Proteolysis
PubMed: 36080223
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175439 -
Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery Dec 2019: Proteolysis - targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have emerged as a new modality with the potential to revolutionize drug discovery. PROTACs are heterobifunctional molecules... (Review)
Review
: Proteolysis - targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have emerged as a new modality with the potential to revolutionize drug discovery. PROTACs are heterobifunctional molecules comprising of a ligand targeting a protein of interest, a ligand targeting an E3 ligase and a connecting linker. The aim is instead of inhibiting the target to induce its proteasomal degradation. : PROTACs, due to their bifunctional design, possess properties that differentiate them from classical inhibitors. A structural analysis, based on published crystal aspects, kinetic features and aspects of selectivity are discussed. Specific types such as homoPROTACs, PROTACs targeting Tau protein and the first PROTACs recently entering clinical trials are examined. : PROTACs have shown remarkable biological responses in challenging targets, including an unprecedented selectivity over protein family members and even efficacy starting from weak or unspecific binders. Moreover, PROTACs are standing out from classical pharmacology by inducing the degradation of the target protein and not merely its inhibition. However, there are also challenges in the field, such as the rational structure optimization, the evolution of computational tools, limited structural data and the greatly anticipated clinical data. Despite the remaining hurdles, PROTACs are expected to soon become a new therapeutic category of drugs.
Topics: Animals; Drug Discovery; Humans; Ligands; Proteins; Proteolysis; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
PubMed: 31538491
DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2019.1659242 -
The New Phytologist Aug 2017Contents 958 I. 958 II. 959 III. 960 IV. 962 V. 962 962 References 963 SUMMARY: Proteases can either digest target proteins or perform the so-called 'limited... (Review)
Review
Contents 958 I. 958 II. 959 III. 960 IV. 962 V. 962 962 References 963 SUMMARY: Proteases can either digest target proteins or perform the so-called 'limited proteolysis' by cleaving polypeptide chains at specific site(s). Autophagy and the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) are two main mechanisms carrying out digestive proteolysis. While the net outcome of digestive proteolysis is the loss of function of protein substrates, limited proteolysis can additionally lead to gain or switch of function. Recent evidence of crosstalk between autophagy, UPS and limited proteolysis indicates that these pathways are parts of the same proteolytic nexus. Here, we focus on three emerging themes within this area: limited proteolysis as a mechanism modulating autophagy; interplay between autophagy and UPS, including autophagic degradation of proteasomes (proteophagy); and specificity of protein degradation during bulk autophagy.
Topics: Autophagy; Evolution, Molecular; Models, Biological; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteolysis; Ubiquitin
PubMed: 28574164
DOI: 10.1111/nph.14627 -
Molecular Plant Jan 2017Plastids are unique organelles that can alter their structure and function in response to environmental and developmental stimuli. Chloroplasts are one type of plastid... (Review)
Review
Plastids are unique organelles that can alter their structure and function in response to environmental and developmental stimuli. Chloroplasts are one type of plastid and are the sites for various metabolic processes, including photosynthesis. For optimal photosynthetic activity, the chloroplast proteome must be properly shaped and maintained through regulated proteolysis and protein quality control mechanisms. Enzymatic functions and activities are conferred by protein maturation processes involving consecutive proteolytic reactions. Protein abundances are optimized by the balanced protein synthesis and degradation, which is depending on the metabolic status. Malfunctioning proteins are promptly degraded. Twenty chloroplast proteolytic machineries have been characterized to date. Specifically, processing peptidases and energy-driven processive proteases are the major players in chloroplast proteome biogenesis, remodeling, and maintenance. Recently identified putative proteases are potential regulators of photosynthetic functions. Here we provide an updated, comprehensive overview of chloroplast protein degradation machineries and discuss their importance for photosynthesis. Wherever possible, we also provide structural insights into chloroplast proteases that implement regulated proteolysis of substrate proteins/peptides.
Topics: Chloroplasts; Plant Proteins; Proteolysis
PubMed: 27585878
DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2016.08.005 -
Cell Chemical Biology Jul 2021
Topics: Humans; Proteolysis; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
PubMed: 34270936
DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.06.011