scholarly journals Biophysical Techniques for Target Validation and Drug Discovery in Transcription-Targeted Therapy

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 2301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Moustaqil ◽  
Yann Gambin ◽  
Emma Sierecki

In the post-genome era, pathologies become associated with specific gene expression profiles and defined molecular lesions can be identified. The traditional therapeutic strategy is to block the identified aberrant biochemical activity. However, an attractive alternative could aim at antagonizing key transcriptional events underlying the pathogenesis, thereby blocking the consequences of a disorder, irrespective of the original biochemical nature. This approach, called transcription therapy, is now rendered possible by major advances in biophysical technologies. In the last two decades, techniques have evolved to become key components of drug discovery platforms, within pharmaceutical companies as well as academic laboratories. This review outlines the current biophysical strategies for transcription manipulation and provides examples of successful applications. It also provides insights into the future development of biophysical methods in drug discovery and personalized medicine.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Zancolli ◽  
Maarten Reijnders ◽  
Robert Waterhouse ◽  
Marc Robinson-Rechavi

Animals have repeatedly evolved specialized organs and anatomical structures to produce and deliver a cocktail of potent bioactive molecules to subdue prey or predators: venom. This makes it one of the most widespread convergent functions in the animal kingdom. Whether animals have adopted the same genetic toolkit to evolved venom systems is a fascinating question that still eludes us. Here, we performed the first comparative analysis of venom gland transcriptomes from 20 venomous species spanning the main Metazoan lineages, to test whether different animals have independently adopted similar molecular mechanisms to perform the same function. We found a strong convergence in gene expression profiles, with venom glands being more similar to each other than to any other tissue from the same species, and their differences closely mirroring the species phylogeny. Although venom glands secrete some of the fastest evolving molecules (toxins), their gene expression does not evolve faster than evolutionarily older tissues. We found 15 venom gland specific gene modules enriched in endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response pathways, indicating that animals have independently adopted stress response mechanisms to cope with mass production of toxins. This, in turns, activates regulatory networks for epithelial development, cell turnover and maintenance which seem composed of both convergent and lineage-specific factors, possibly reflecting the different developmental origins of venom glands. This study represents the first step towards an understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the repeated evolution of one of the most successful adaptive traits in the animal kingdom.


Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Schmitt ◽  
Wendan Xu ◽  
Philip Bucher ◽  
Melanie Grimm ◽  
Martina Konantz ◽  
...  

Despite the development of novel targeted drugs, the molecular heterogeneity of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) still poses a major therapeutic challenge. DLBCL can be classified into at least two major subtypes, i.e. germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) and the aggressive activated B-cell-like (ABC) DLBCL, each characterized by specific gene expression profiles and mutation patterns. Here we demonstrate a broad anti-tumor effect of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) on both DLBCL subtypes, which is mediated by the induction of ferroptosis, a form of cell death driven by the peroxidation of phospholipids. Due to high expression of arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase in concert with low glutathione and glutathione peroxidase 4 levels, DMF induces lipid peroxidation and thus ferroptosis particularly in GCB DLBCL. In ABC DLBCL cells, which are addicted to NF-κB and STAT3 survival signaling, DMF treatment efficiently inhibits the activity of the IKK complex and JAK kinases. Interestingly, the BCL-2 specific BH3 mimetic ABT-199 and an inhibitor of ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 synergize with DMF in inducing cell death in DLBCL. Collectively, our findings identify the clinically approved drug DMF as a promising novel therapeutic option in the treatment of both GCB and ABC DLBCL.


mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Bielecki ◽  
Uthayakumar Muthukumarasamy ◽  
Denitsa Eckweiler ◽  
Agata Bielecka ◽  
Sarah Pohl ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTmRNA profiling of pathogens during the course of human infections gives detailed information on the expression levels of relevant genes that drive pathogenicity and adaptation and at the same time allows for the delineation of phylogenetic relatedness of pathogens that cause specific diseases. In this study, we used mRNA sequencing to acquire information on the expression ofEscherichia colipathogenicity genes during urinary tract infections (UTI) in humans and to assign the UTI-associatedE. coliisolates to different phylogenetic groups. Whereas thein vivogene expression profiles of the majority of genes were conserved among 21E. colistrains in the urine of elderly patients suffering from an acute UTI, the specific gene expression profiles of the flexible genomes was diverse and reflected phylogenetic relationships. Furthermore, genes transcribedin vivorelative to laboratory media included well-described virulence factors, small regulatory RNAs, as well as genes not previously linked to bacterial virulence. Knowledge on relevant transcriptional responses that drive pathogenicity and adaptation of isolates to the human host might lead to the introduction of a virulence typing strategy into clinical microbiology, potentially facilitating management and prevention of the disease.IMPORTANCEUrinary tract infections (UTI) are very common; at least half of all women experience UTI, most of which are caused by pathogenicEscherichia colistrains. In this study, we applied massive parallel cDNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to provide unbiased, deep, and accurate insight into the nature and the dimension of the uropathogenicE. coligene expression profile during an acute UTI within the human host. This work was undertaken to identify key players in physiological adaptation processes and, hence, potential targets for new infection prevention and therapy interventions specifically aimed at sabotaging bacterial adaptation to the human host.


Heart Rhythm ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yung-Hsin Yeh ◽  
Chi-Tai Kuo ◽  
Yun-Shien Lee ◽  
Yuan-Min Lin ◽  
Stanley Nattel ◽  
...  

2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 3747-3756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine L. West ◽  
Meryl A. Castellini ◽  
Melinda K. Duncan ◽  
Michael Bustin

ABSTRACT HMGN proteins promote chromatin unfolding, enhance access to nucleosomes, and modulate transcription from chromatin templates. It is not known whether they act indiscriminately as general modulators of transcription or whether they regulate specific gene expression. Here, we investigated the role of HMGN3, a recently discovered HMGN family member, in transcription in vivo. We created cell lines overexpressing HMGN3a or its splice variant, HMGN3b, and analyzed their gene expression profiles using microarrays and reverse transcriptase PCR. We found that ectopic expression of HMGN3a alters the expression of approximately 0.8% of genes. Both HMGN3a and HMGN3b upregulate the expression of the glycine transporter 1 gene (Glyt1). Glyt1 encodes a membrane transporter that regulates the glycine concentration in synaptic junctions. Both GLYT1 and HMGN3 are highly expressed in glia cells and the eye, and we show that both proteins are coexpressed in the retina. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that HMGN3 protein is recruited to a region of the Glyt1 gene encompassing the Glyt1a transcriptional start site. These results suggest that HMGN3 regulates Glyt1 expression and demonstrate that members of the HMGN family can regulate the transcription of specific genes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 51-51
Author(s):  
Patrick James McLaren ◽  
Anthony P Barnes ◽  
Willy Z Terrell ◽  
Gina M. Vaccaro ◽  
Jack Wiedrick ◽  
...  

51 Background: Predicting prognosis in esophageal cancer remains an unrealized goal despite studies linking constellations of genes to therapeutic response. In this study, we analyzed specific predictor genes expressed in tumor specimens from our institutional repository. Our aim was to determine if specific gene expression profiles are associated with pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (CRT). Methods: We investigated eleven genes identified from prior studies (CCL28, SPARC, S100A2, SPRR3, SIRT2, NOV, PERP, PAPSS2, DCK, DKK3, ALDH1) that have significant association with esophageal cancer progression. Patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant CRT followed by esophagectomy at our institution between January 2011 and July 2015 were included. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was conducted on pre-treatment biopsy specimens to determine gene expression. Patients were classified into two groups: 1) pCR and, 2) no or poor response (NR) after CRT based on final pathology report. An omnibus test using Mahalanobis distance was applied to evaluate overall genetic expression differences between groups. Log-rank tests compared the differential expression of individual genes. Results: 29 patients (11 pCR and 18 NR) were analyzed. Overall, gene expression profiles were significantly different between pCR and NR patients (p < 0.01). In particular, CCL28 was over-expressed in pCR (Log-HR: 1.53, 95%CI: 0.46-2.59, p = 0.005), and DKK3-was under-expressed in pCR patients (Log-HR: -1.03 95%CI: -1.97, -0.10, p = 0.031). Conclusions: Esophageal adenocarcinoma patients with a pCR after neoadjuvant therapy have genetic profiles that are significantly different from typical NR profiles. In our population, the genes CCL28 and DKK3 are potential predictors of treatment response.


BMC Cancer ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cinzia Lavarino ◽  
Nai-Kong V Cheung ◽  
Idoia Garcia ◽  
Gema Domenech ◽  
Carmen de Torres ◽  
...  

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