Jim Zhen Wu

The Molecular Basis of ABA-Independent Inhibition of PP2Cs by a Subclass of PYL Proteins

PYR1/PYL/RCAR proteins (PYLs) are confirmed abscisic acid (ABA) receptors, which inhibit protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) upon binding to ABA. Arabidopsis thaliana has 14 PYLs, yet their functional distinction remains unclear. Here, we report systematic biochemical characterization of PYLs. A subclass of PYLs, represented by PYL10, inhibited PP2C in the absence of any ligand. Crystal structures of PYL10, both in the free form and in the HAB1 (PP2C)-bound state, revealed the structural basis for its constitutive activity. Structural-guided biochemical analyses revealed that ABA-independent inhibition of PP2C requires the PYLs to exist in a monomeric state. In addition, the residues guarding the entrance to the ligand-binding pocket of these PYLs should be bulky and hydrophobic. Based on these principles, we were able to generate monomeric PYL2 variants that gained constitutive inhibitory effect on PP2Cs. These findings provide an important framework for understanding the complex regulation of ABA signaling by PYL proteins.

Kupffer cells are associated with apoptosis, inflammation and fibrotic effects in hepatic fibrosis in rats.

Hepatocellular apoptosis, hepatic inflammation, and fibrosis are prominent features in chronic liver diseases. However, the linkage among these processes remains mechanistically unclear. In this study, we examined the apoptosis and activation of Kupffer cells (KCs) as well as their pathophysiological involvement in liver fibrosis process. Hepatic fibrosis was induced in rats by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) or carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) treatment. KCs were isolated from normal rats and incubated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or from fibrotic rats. The KCs were stained immunohistochemically with anti-CD68 antibody, a biomarker for KC. The level of expression of CD68 was analyzed by western blot and real-time PCR methods. The apoptosis and pathophysiological involvement of KCs in the formation of liver fibrosis were studied using confocal microscopy. The mRNA and protein expression of CD68 were significantly increased in DMN- and CCL4-treated rats. Confocal microscopy analysis showed that CD68-positive KCs, but not α-smooth muscle actin (SMA)-positive cells, underwent apoptosis in the liver of DMN- and CCL4-treated rats. It was also revealed that the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling and CD68-double-positive apoptotic KCs located in the portal or fibrotic septa area were situated next to hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and KC co-localized in the liver in the neighbor of HSCs. The double α-SMA- and collagen type I-positive cells predominantly existed in fibrotic septa, and those cells were co-localized clearly with CD68-positive cells. Interestingly, some CD68 and Col (1) double positive, but completely negative for α-SMA, were found in the portal areas and hepatic sinusoids; this phenomenon was also validated in primary isolated KCs after 6 h LPS exposure or fibrotic rats in vitro. These results show that KCs are associated with hepatocellular apoptosis, inflammation, and fibrosis process in a liver fibrosis models.

Inhibition of Influenza A Virus (H1N1) Fusion by Benzenesulfonamide Derivatives Targeting Viral Hemagglutinin

Hemagglutinin (HA) of the influenza virus plays a crucial role in the early stage of the viral life cycle by binding to sialic acid on the surface of host epithelial cells and mediating fusion between virus envelope and endosome membrane for the release of viral genomes into the cytoplasm. To initiate virus fusion, endosome pH is lowered by acidification causing an irreversible conformational change of HA, which in turn results in a fusogenic HA. In this study, we describe characterization of an HA inhibitor of influenza H1N1 viruses, RO5464466. One-cycle time course study in MDCK cells showed that this compound acted at an early step of influenza virus replication. Results from HA-mediated hemolysis of chicken red blood cells and trypsin sensitivity assay of isolated HA clearly showed that RO5464466 targeted HA. In cell-based assays involving multiple rounds of virus infection and replication, RO5464466 inhibited an established influenza infection. The overall production of progeny viruses, as a result of the compounds inhibitory effect on fusion, was dramatically reduced by 8 log units when compared with a negative control. Furthermore, RO5487624, a close analogue of RO5464466, with pharmacokinetic properties suitable for in vivo efficacy studies displayed a protective effect on mice that were lethally challenged with influenza H1N1 virus. These results might benefit further characterization and development of novel anti-influenza agents by targeting viral hemagglutinin.

Design and Synthesis of Orally Bioavailable 4-Methyl Heteroaryldihydropyrimidine Based Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Capsid Inhibitors

Targeting the capsid protein of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and thus interrupting normal capsid formation have been an attractive approach to block the replication of HBV viruses. We carried out multidimensional structural optimizations based on the heteroaryldihydropyrimidine (HAP) analogue Bay41-4109 (1) and identified a novel series of HBV capsid inhibitors that demonstrated promising cellular selectivity indexes, metabolic stabilities, and in vitro safety profiles. Herein we disclose the design, synthesis, structure-activity relationship (SAR), cocrystal structure in complex with HBV capsid proteins and in vivo pharmacological study of the 4-methyl HAP analogues. In particular, the (2S,4S)-4,4-difluoroproline substituted analogue 34a demonstrated high oral bioavailability and liver exposure and achieved over 2 log viral load reduction in a hydrodynamic injected (HDI) HBV mouse model.

Identification and Characterization of Multiple TRIM Proteins That Inhibit Hepatitis B Virus Transcription

Tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins constitute a family of over 100 members that share conserved tripartite motifs and exhibit diverse biological functions. Several TRIM proteins have been shown to restrict viral infections and regulate host cellular innate immune responses. In order to identify TRIM proteins that modulate the infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV), we tested 38 human TRIMs for their effects on HBV gene expression, capsid assembly and DNA synthesis in human hepatoma cells (HepG2). The study revealed that ectopic expression of 8 TRIM proteins in HepG2 cells potently reduced the amounts of secreted HBV surface and e antigens as well as intracellular capsid and capsid DNA. Mechanistic analyses further demonstrated that the 8 TRIMs not only reduced the expression of HBV mRNAs, but also inhibited HBV enhancer I and enhancer II activities. Studies focused on TRIM41 revealed that a HBV DNA segment spanning nucleotide 1638 to nucleotide 1763 was essential for TRIM41-mediated inhibition of HBV enhancer II activity and the inhibitory effect depended on the E3 ubiquitin ligase activity of TRIM41 as well as the integrity of TRIM41 C-terminal domain. Moreover, knockdown of endogenous TRIM41 in a HepG2-derived stable cell line significantly increased the level of HBV preC/C RNA, leading to an increase in viral core protein, capsid and capsid DNA. Our studies have thus identified eight TRIM proteins that are able to inhibit HBV transcription and provided strong evidences suggesting the endogenous role of TRIM41 in regulating HBV transcription in human hepatoma cells.

Design and Synthesis of Benzenesulfonamide Derivatives as Potent Anti-Influenza Hemagglutinin Inhibitors

Structural optimization of salicylamide-based hemagglutinin (HA) inhibitor 1 resulted in the identification of cis-3-(5-hydroxy-1,3,3-trimethylcyclohexylmethylamino)benzenesulfonamide 28 and its derivatives as potent anti-influenza agents. The lead compound 28 and its 2-chloro analogue 40 can effectively prevent cytopathic effects (CPE) caused by infection of influenza A/Weiss/43 strain (H1N1) with EC50 values of 210 and 86 nM, respectively. Mechanism of action studies indicate that 40 and its analogues inhibit the virus fusion with host endosome membrane by binding to HA and stabilizing the prefusion HA structure. With significantly improved metabolic stability, the reported series represents the first generation of orally bioavailable HA inhibitors that have a good selectivity window and potential for further development as novel anti-influenza agents.

Discovery of novel 1-phenyl-cycloalkane carbamides as potent and selective influenza fusion inhibitors

A novel class of HA inhibitors (4a) was identified based on ligand similarity search of known HA inhibitors. Parallel synthesis and further structural modifications resulted in 1-phenyl-cyclopentanecarboxylic acid (4-cyano-phenyl)-methyl-amide 4t as a potent and selective inhibitor to phylogenetic H1 influenza viruses with an EC(50) of 98 nM against H1N1 A/Weiss/43 strain and over 1000-fold selectivity against host MDCK cells.

Polo-like Kinase Inhibitor Ro5203280 Has Potent Antitumor Activity in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a cancer with its highest prevalence among the southern Chinese and is rare elsewhere in the world. The main treatment modalities include chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, tumor chemoresistance often limits the efficacy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma treatment and reduces survival rates. Thus, identifying new selective chemotherapeutic drugs for nasopharyngeal carcinoma treatment is needed. In this current study, the antitumor efficacy of a polo-like kinase inhibitor, Ro5203280, was investigated. Ro5203280 induces tumor suppression both in vitro and in vivo. An inhibitory effect was observed with the highly proliferating cancer cell lines tested, but not with the nontumorigenic cell line. Real-time cell proliferation and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, together with immunohistochemical (IHC), immunofluorescence, and Annexin V staining assays, were used to evaluate the impact of drug treatment on cell cycle and apoptosis. Ro5203280 induces G2–M cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Western blotting shows it inhibits PLK1 phosphorylation and downregulates the downstream signaling molecule, Cdc25c, and upregulates two important mitosis regulators, Wee1 and Securin, as well as the DNA damage-related factor Chk2 in vitro and in vivo. In vivo tumorigenicity assays with Ro5203280 intravenous injection showed its potent ability to inhibit tumor growth in mice, with no observable signs of toxicity. These findings suggest the potential usefulness of Ro5203280 as a chemotherapeutic targeting drug for nasopharyngeal carcinoma treatment. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(8); 1393–401. ©2013 AACR.

Discovery and Pre-Clinical Characterization of Third-Generation 4-H Heteroaryldihydropyrimidine (HAP) Analogues as Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Capsid Inhibitors

Described herein are the discovery and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of the third-generation 4-H heteroaryldihydropyrimidines (4-H HAPs) featuring the introduction of a C6 carboxyl group as novel HBV capsid inhibitors. This new series of 4-H HAPs showed improved anti-HBV activity and better drug-like properties compared to the first- and second-generation 4-H HAPs. X-ray crystallographic study of analogue 12 (HAP_R01) with Cp149 Y132A mutant hexamer clearly elucidated the role of C6 carboxyl group played for the increased binding affinity, which formed strong hydrogen bonding interactions with capsid protein and coordinated waters. The representative analogue 10 (HAP_R10) was extensively characterized in vitro (ADMET) and in vivo (mouse PK and PD) and subsequently selected for further development as oral anti-HBV infection agent.

Potential drug interventions for diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is of great interest to the drug discovery community owing to the rising worldwide prevalence of diabetes and its associated complications. The complex molecular mechanism associated with DR development and the poor translatability of available animal models to late-stage DR are considered to be major hurdles for drug discovery. Here we will provide an overview of the mechanistic rationale as well as clinical efficacy of drug candidates, and highlight emerging and potential targets for therapeutic intervention at different stages of DR.