Ashraf S. Al-Madhoun

The Tale of Two Domains Proteomics and Genomics Analysis of SMYD2, A New Histone Methyltransferase

Very little is known about SET- and MYND-containing protein 2 (SMYD2), a member of the SMYD protein family. However, the interest in better understanding the roles of SMYD2 has grown because of recent reports indicating that SMYD2 methylates p53 and histone H3. In this study, we present a combined proteomics and genomics study of SMYD2 designed to elucidate its molecular roles. We report the cytosolic and nuclear interactome of SMYD2 using a combination of immunoprecipitation coupled with high throughput MS, chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high throughput MS, and co-immunoprecipitation methods. In particular, we report that SMYD2 interacted with HSP90α independently of the SET and MYND domains, with EBP41L3 through the MYND domain, and with p53 through the SET domain. We demonstrated that the interaction of SMYD2 with HSP90α enhances SMYD2 histone methyltransferase activity and specificity for histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4) in vitro. Interestingly histone H3K36 methyltransferase activity was independent of its interaction with HSP90α similar to LSD1 dependence on the androgen receptor. We also showed that the SET domain is required for the methylation at H3K4. We demonstrated using a modified chromatin immunoprecipitation protocol that the SMYD2 gain of function leads to an increase in H3K4 methylation in vivo, whereas no observable levels of H3K36 were detected. We also report that the SMYD2 gain of function was correlated with the up-regulation of 37 and down-regulation of four genes, the majority of which are involved in the cell cycle, chromatin remodeling, and transcriptional regulation. TACC2 is one of the genes up-regulated as a result of SMYD2 gain of function. Up-regulation of TACC2 by SMYD2 occurred as a result of SMYD2 binding to the TACC2 promoter where it methylates H3K4. Furthermore the combination of the SMYD2 interactome with the gene expression data suggests that some of the genes regulated by SMYD2 are closely associated with SMYD2-interacting proteins.

HDAC activity regulates entry of mesoderm cells into the cardiac muscle lineage

Class II histone deacetylases (HDAC4, HDAC5, HDAC7 and HDAC9) have been shown to interact with myocyte enhancer factors 2 (MEF2s) and play an important role in the repression of cardiac hypertrophy. We examined the role of HDACs during the differentiation of P19 embryonic carcinoma stem cells into cardiomyoctyes. Treatment of aggregated P19 cells with the HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A induced the entry of mesodermal cells into the cardiac muscle lineage, shown by the upregulation of transcripts Nkx2-5, MEF2C, GATA4 and cardiac α-actin. Furthermore, the overexpression of HDAC4 inhibited cardiomyogenesis, shown by the downregulation of cardiac muscle gene expression. Class II HDAC activity is inhibited through phosphorylation by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase (CaMK). Expression of an activated CaMKIV in P19 cells upregulated the expression of Nkx2-5, GATA4 and MEF2C, enhanced cardiac muscle development, and activated a MEF2-responsive promoter. Moreover, inhibition of CaMK signaling downregulated GATA4 expression. Finally, P19 cells constitutively expressing a dominant-negative form of MEF2C, capable of binding class II HDACs, underwent cardiomyogenesis more efficiently than control cells, implying the relief of an inhibitor. Our results suggest that HDAC activity regulates the specification of mesoderm cells into cardiomyoblasts by inhibiting the expression of GATA4 and Nkx2-5 in a stem cell model system.

Functional Dissection of the NuA4 Histone Acetyltransferase Reveals Its Role as a Genetic Hub and that Eaf1 Is Essential for Complex Integrity

ABSTRACT The Saccharomyces cerevisiae NuA4 histone acetyltransferase complex catalyzes the acetylation of histone H4 and the histone variant Htz1 to regulate key cellular events, including transcription, DNA repair, and faithful chromosome segregation. To further investigate the cellular processes impacted by NuA4, we exploited the nonessential subunits of the complex to build an extensive NuA4 genetic-interaction network map. The map reveals that NuA4 is a genetic hub whose function buffers a diverse range of cellular processes, many not previously linked to the complex, including Golgi complex-to-vacuole vesicle-mediated transport. Further, we probe the role that nonessential subunits play in NuA4 complex integrity. We find that most nonessential subunits have little impact on NuA4 complex integrity and display between 12 and 42 genetic interactions. In contrast, the deletion of EAF1 causes the collapse of the NuA4 complex and displays 148 genetic interactions. Our study indicates that Eaf1 plays a crucial function in NuA4 complex integrity. Further, we determine that Eaf5 and Eaf7 form a subcomplex, which reflects their similar genetic interaction profiles and phenotypes. Our integrative study demonstrates that genetic interaction maps are valuable in dissecting complex structure and provides insight into why the human NuA4 complex, Tip60, has been associated with a diverse range of pathologies.

Boron-Containing Nucleosides as Potential Delivery Agents for Neutron Capture Therapy of Brain Tumors

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate both in vitro and in vivo a series of boron-containing nucleosides that potentially could be used as delivery agents for neutron capture therapy. The rationale for their synthesis was based on the fact that proliferating neoplastic cells have increased requirements for nucleic acid precursors, and, therefore, they should preferentially localize in the tumor. A series of 3-carboranlyalkyl thymidine analogs has been synthesized and a subset, designated N4, N5, and N7, and the corresponding 3-dihydroxypropyl derivatives, designated N4–2OH, N5–2OH, and N7–2OH, have been selected for evaluation. Using these compounds as substrates for recombinant human thymidine kinase-1 and the mitochondrial isoenzyme thymidine kinase-2, the highest phosphorylation levels relative to thymidine were seen with N5 and the corresponding dihydroxypropyl analog N5–2OH. In contrast, N4, N4-OH, N7, and N7-OH had substantially lower phosphorylation levels. To compare compounds with high and low thymidine kinase-1 substrate activity, N5 and N7 and the corresponding dihydroxypropyl derivatives were selected for evaluation of their cellular toxicity, uptake and retention by the F98 rat glioma, human MRA melanoma, and murine L929 cell lines, all of which are thymidine kinase-1(+), and a mutant L929 cell line that is thymidine kinase-1(−). N5–2OH was the least toxic (IC50, 43–70 μm), and N7 and N7–2OH were the most toxic (IC50, 18–49 μm). The highest boron uptake was seen with N7–2OH by the MRA 27 melanoma and L929 wild-type (wt) cell lines. The highest retention was seen with L929 (wt) cells, and this ranged from 29% for N5–2OH to 46% for N7. Based on the in vitro toxicity and uptake data, N5–2OH was selected for in vivo biodistribution studies either in rats bearing intracerebral implants of the F98 glioma or in mice bearing either s.c. or intracerebral implants of L929 (wt) tumors. At 2.5 hours after convection-enhanced delivery, the boron values for the F98 glioma and normal brain were 16.2 ± 2.3 and 2.2 μg/g, respectively, and the tumor to brain ratio was 8.5. Boron values at 4 hours after convection-enhanced delivery of N5–2OH to mice bearing intracerebral implants of L929 (wt) or L929 thymidine kinase-1(−) tumors were 39.8 ± 10.8 and 12.4 ± 1.6 μg/g, respectively, and the corresponding normal brain values were 4.4 and 1.6 μg/g, thereby indicating that there was selective retention by the thymidine kinase-1(+) tumors. Based on these favorable in vitro and in vivo data, neutron capture therapy studies will be initiated using N5–2OH in combination with two non-cell cycle dependent boron delivery agents, boronophenylalanine and sodium borocaptate.

Evaluation of Human Thymidine Kinase 1 Substrates as New Candidates for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

Thymidine analogs containing o-carboranylalkyl groups at the 3-position were screened as potential substrates for human thymidine kinase 1 (TK1), an enzyme that is selectively expressed in a variety of rapidly proliferating cells, including tumor cells. On the basis of previous studies, 12 of these were identified as potential delivery agents for boron neutron capture therapy, a therapeutic method used for the treatment of high-grade brain tumors. Compound 4 with a pentylene spacer between the o-carborane cage and the thymidine scaffold and compound 10, which has an additional dihydroxypropyl substituent at the o-carborane cage, were the best substrates for TK1 with kcat/Km values of 27% and 36% relative to that of thymidine, respectively. These compounds showed partial competitive inhibition for thymidine phosphorylation by TK1. Neither compound was a substrate of recombinant human thymidine phosphorylase nor were their respective 5′-monophosphates substrates of 5′-deoxynucleotidase 1, thereby indicating potential in vivo stability. The octanol/water partition coefficient for compound 10 was 2.09, suggesting that it has excellent physiochemical properties for crossing the blood brain barrier and penetrating brain tissue. The in vitro cytotoxic effect of the 12 analogs was moderate to low in mammalian cell cultures with IC50 values between 10 and 160 μmol/L. Compounds 4 and 10 were taken up selectively and retained by the murine fibroblast L929 cell line, in contrast to its TK1-deficient variant. These findings suggest that compound 10 is a promising candidate for selective delivery of boron-10 to malignant cells, and additional in vivo studies are planned to evaluate it for boron neutron capture therapy of brain tumors.

The Role of Thymidine Kinases in the Activation of Pyrimidine Nucleoside Analogues

Deoxynucleoside analogues need activation by deoxynucleoside kinases to serve as antiviral or anticancer agents. Here we review the properties of cellular cytoplasmic thymidine kinase 1, mitochondrial thymidine kinase 2, the multisubstrate deoxynucleoside kinase from Drosophila melanogaster and Herpes virus 1 thymidine kinase. Important substrate activity relationships will be discussed.

The interaction and cellular localization of HSP27 and ERβ are modulated by 17β-estradiol and HSP27 phosphorylation

Recently, we identified heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) as an estrogen receptor-β (ERβ) associated protein that acts as a co-repressor of estrogen signaling and serves as a biomarker of atherosclerosis. In this study, we sought to further characterize the subcellular interaction of HSP27 and ERβ, as well as explore the factors that may modulate this interaction. In vitro we determined that phosphorylated HSP27 is retained in the cytoplasm after treatment with 17β-estradiol and to a lesser extent with heat shock. Under all experimental conditions ERβ was found to be slightly more abundant in the cytoplasm compared to the nucleus. HSP27 and ERβ associate in both the cytoplasm and nucleus, however, co-localization studies reveal that in the presence of 17β-estradiol, a significant portion of this interaction occurs outside of the nucleus. These data highlight an extranuclear interaction between ERβ and HSP27 that may be of potential importance in modulating estrogen signaling.

Collagen scaffolds with or without the addition of RGD peptides support cardiomyogenesis after aggregation of mouse embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic stem (ES) cell-based cardiac muscle repair using tissue-engineered scaffolds is an attractive prospective treatment option for patients suffering from heart disease. In this study, our aim was to characterize mouse ES cell-derived cardiomyocytes growing on collagen I/III scaffolds, modified with the adhesion peptides arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD). Mouse ES-derived embryoid bodies (EBs) differentiated efficiently into beating cardiomyocytes on the collagen scaffolds. QPCR analysis and immunofluorescent staining showed that cardiomyocytes expressed cardiac muscle-related transcripts and proteins. Analysis of cardiomyocytes by electron microscopy identified muscle fiber bundles and Z bands, typical of ES-derived cardiomyocytes. No differences were detected between the collagen + RGD and collagen control scaffolds. ES cells that were not differentiated as EBs prior to seeding on the scaffold, did not differentiate into cardiomyocytes. These results indicate that a collagen I/III scaffold supports cardiac muscle development and function after EB formation, and that this scaffold appears suitable for future in vivo testing. The addition of the RGD domain to the collagen scaffold did not improve cardiomyocyte development or viability, indicating that RGD signaling to integrins was not a rate-limiting event for cardiomyogenesis from EBs seeded on a collagen scaffold.

Boronated Thymidine Analogues for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

Concise synthetic methods for synthesizing 3-carboranyl thymidine analogues (3CTAs) modified with cyclic and acyclic alcohols have been developed. The synthesis of these potential boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) agents and their preliminary biological evaluation is described.

Phosphorylation of Isocarbostyril- and Difluorophenyl-Nucleoside Thymidine Mimics by the Human Deoxynucleoside Kinases

The thymidine mimics isocarbostyril nucleosides and difluorophenyl nucleosides were tested as deoxynucleoside kinase substrates using recombinant human cytosolic thymidine kinase (TK1) and deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), and mitochondrial thymidine kinase (TK2) and deoxyguanosine kinase (dGK). The isocarbostyril nucleoside compound 1‐(2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐ribofuranosyl)‐isocarbostyril (EN1) was a poor substrate with all the enzymes. The phosphorylation rates of EN1 with TK1 and TK2 were < 1% relative to Thd, where as the phosphorylation rates for EN1 were 1.4% and 1.1% with dCK and dGK relative to dCyd and dGuo, respectively. The analogue 1‐(2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐ribofuranosyl)‐7‐iodoisocarbostyril (EN2) showed poor relative‐phosphorylation efficiencies (k cat /K m ) with both TK1 and dGK, but not with TK2. The k cat /K m value for EN2 with TK2 was 12.6% relative to that for Thd. Of the difluorophenyl nucleosides, 5‐(1′‐(2′‐deoxy‐β‐D‐ribofuranosyl))‐2,4‐difluorotoluene (JW1) and 1‐(1′‐(2′‐deoxy‐β‐D‐ribofuranosyl))‐2,4‐difluoro‐5‐iodobenzene (JW2) were substrates for TK1 with phosphorylation efficiencies of about 5% relative to that for Thd. Both analogues were considerably more efficient substrates for TK2, with k cat /K m values of 45% relative to that for Thd. 2,5‐Difluoro‐4‐[1‐(2‐deoxy‐β‐L‐ribofuranosyl)]‐aniline (JW5), a L‐nucleoside mimic, was phosphorylated up to 15% as efficiently as deoxycytidine by dCK. These data provide a possible explanation for the previously reported lack of cytotoxicity of the isocarbostyril‐ and difluorophenyl nucleosides, but potential mitochondrial effects of EN2, JW1 and JW2 should be further investigated.