Teemu Haikarainen

Tankyrases: structure, function and therapeutic implications in cancer.

Several cellular signaling pathways are regulated by ADP-ribosylation, a posttranslational modification catalyzed by members of the ARTD superfamily. Tankyrases are distinguishable from the rest of this family by their unique domain organization, notably the sterile alpha motif responsible for oligomerization and ankyrin repeats mediating protein-protein interactions. Tankyrases are involved in various cellular functions, such as telomere homeostasis, Wnt/β-catenin signaling, glucose metabolism, and cell cycle progression. In these processes, Tankyrases regulate the interactions and stability of target proteins by poly (ADP-ribosyl)ation. Modified proteins are subsequently recognized by the E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF146, poly-ubiquitinated and predominantly guided to 26S proteasomal degradation. Several small molecule inhibitors have been described for Tankyrases; they compete with the co-substrate NAD+ for binding to the ARTD catalytic domain. The recent, highly potent and selective inhibitors possess several properties of lead compounds and can be used for proof-of-concept studies in cancer and other Tankyrase linked diseases.

Screening and structural analysis of flavones inhibiting tankyrases.

Flavonoids are known for their beneficial effects on human health, and therefore the therapeutic potential of these compounds have been extensively studied. Flavone has been previously identified as a tankyrase inhibitor, and to further elucidate whether tankyrases would be inhibited by other flavonoids, we performed a systematic screening of tankyrase 2 inhibitory activity using 500 natural and naturally derived flavonoids covering nine different flavonoid classes. All identified tankyrase inhibitors were flavones. We report crystal structures of all the hit compounds in complex with the catalytic domain of human tankyrase 2. Flavone derivatives in all 10 crystal structures bind to the nicotinamide binding site of tankyrase 2. Potencies of the active flavones toward tankyrases vary between 50 nM and 1.1 μM, and flavones show up to 200-fold selectivity for tankyrases over ARTD1. The molecular details of the interactions revealed by cocrystal structures efficiently describe the properties of potent flavone derivatives inhibiting tankyrases.

Discovery of tankyrase inhibiting flavones with increased potency and isoenzyme selectivity.

Tankyrases are ADP-ribosyltransferases that play key roles in various cellular pathways, including the regulation of cell proliferation, and thus, they are promising drug targets for the treatment of cancer. Flavones have been shown to inhibit tankyrases and we report here the discovery of more potent and selective flavone derivatives. Commercially available flavones with single substitutions were used for structure-activity relationship studies, and cocrystal structures of the 18 hit compounds were analyzed to explain their potency and selectivity. The most potent inhibitors were also tested in a cell-based assay, which demonstrated that they effectively antagonize Wnt signaling. To assess selectivity, they were further tested against a panel of homologous human ADP-ribosyltransferases. The most effective compound, 22 (MN-64), showed 6 nM potency against tankyrase 1, isoenzyme selectivity, and Wnt signaling inhibition. This work forms a basis for rational development of flavones as tankyrase inhibitors and guides the development of other structurally related inhibitors.

Evaluation and Structural Basis for the Inhibition of Tankyrases by Parp Inhibitors

Tankyrases, an enzyme subfamily of human poly(ADP-ribosyl)polymerases, are potential drug targets especially against cancer. We have evaluated inhibition of tankyrases by known PARP inhibitors and report five cocrystal structures of the most potent compounds in complex with human tankyrase 2. The inhibitors include the small general PARP inhibitors Phenanthridinone, PJ-34, and TIQ-A as well as the more advanced inhibitors EB-47 and rucaparib. The compounds anchor to the nicotinamide subsite of tankyrase 2. Crystal structures reveal flexibility of the ligand binding site with implications for drug development against tankyrases and other ADP-ribosyltransferases. EB-47 mimics the substrate NAD(+) and extends from the nicotinamide to the adenosine subsite. The clinical ARTD1 inhibitor candidate rucaparib was the most potent tankyrase inhibitor identified (24 and 14 nM for tankyrases), which indicates that inhibition of tankyrases would affect the cellular responses of this compound.

Structural Basis and Selectivity of Tankyrase Inhibition by a Wnt Signaling Inhibitor WIKI4

Recently a novel inhibitor of Wnt signaling was discovered. The compound, WIKI4, was found to act through tankyrase inhibition and regulate β-catenin levels in many cancer cell lines and human embryonic stem cells. Here we confirm that WIKI4 is a high potency tankyrase inhibitor and that it selectively inhibits tankyrases over other ARTD enzymes tested. The binding mode of the compound to tankyrase 2 was determined by protein X-ray crystallography to 2.4 Å resolution. The structure revealed a novel binding mode to the adenosine subsite of the donor NAD+ binding groove of the catalytic domain. Our results form a structural basis for further development of potent and selective tankyrase inhibitors based on the WIKI4 scaffold.

Para-Substituted 2-Phenyl-3,4-Dihydroquinazolin-4-Ones as Potent and Selective Tankyrase Inhibitors.

Human tankyrases are attractive drug targets, especially for the treatment of cancer. We identified a set of highly potent tankyrase inhibitors based on a 2‐phenyl‐3,4‐dihydroquinazolin‐4‐one scaffold. Substitutions at the para position of the scaffold′s phenyl group were evaluated as a strategy to increase potency and improve selectivity. The best compounds displayed single‐digit nanomolar potencies, and profiling against several human diphtheria‐toxin‐like ADP‐ribosyltransferases revealed that a subset of these compounds are highly selective tankyrase inhibitors. The compounds also effectively inhibit Wnt signaling in HEK293 cells. The binding mode of all inhibitors was studied by protein X‐ray crystallography. This allowed us to establish a structural basis for the development of highly potent and selective tankyrase inhibitors based on the 2‐phenyl‐3,4‐dihydroquinazolin‐4‐one scaffold and outline a rational approach to the modification of other inhibitor scaffolds that bind to the nicotinamide site of the catalytic domain.

Structure-Based Design, Synthesis and Evaluation in Vitro of Arylnaphthyridinones, Arylpyridopyrimidinones and Their Tetrahydro Derivatives as Inhibitors of the Tankyrases.

The tankyrases are members of the PARP superfamily; they poly(ADP-ribosyl)ate their target proteins using NAD(+) as a source of electrophilic ADP-ribosyl units. The three principal protein substrates of the tankyrases (TRF1, NuMA and axin) are involved in replication of cancer cells; thus inhibitors of the tankyrases may have anticancer activity. Using structure-based drug design and by analogy with known 3-arylisoquinolin-1-one and 2-arylquinazolin-4-one inhibitors, series of arylnaphthyridinones, arylpyridinopyrimidinones and their tetrahydro-derivatives were synthesised and evaluated in vitro. 7-Aryl-1,6-naphthyridin-5-ones, 3-aryl-2,6-naphthyridin-1-ones and 3-aryl-2,7-naphthyridin-1-ones were prepared by acid-catalysed cyclisation of the corresponding arylethynylpyridinenitriles or reaction of bromopyridinecarboxylic acids with β-diketones, followed by treatment with NH3. The 7-aryl-1,6-naphthyridin-5-ones were methylated at 1-N and reduced to 7-aryl-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,6-naphthyridin-5-ones. Cu-catalysed reaction of benzamidines with bromopyridinecarboxylic acids furnished 2-arylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-ones. Condensation of benzamidines with methyl 1-benzyl-4-oxopiperidine-3-carboxylate and deprotection gave 2-aryl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropyrido[4,3-d]pyrimidin-4-ones, aza analogues of the known inhibitor XAV939. Introduction of the ring-N in the arylnaphthyridinones and the arylpyridopyrimidinones caused >1000-fold loss in activity, compared with their carbocyclic isoquinolinone and quinazolinone analogues. However, the 7-aryl-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,6-naphthyridin-5-ones showed excellent inhibition of the tankyrases, with some examples having IC50=2nM. One compound (7-(4-bromophenyl)-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,6-naphthyridin-5-one) showed 70-fold selectivity for inhibition of tankyrase-2 versus tankyrase-1. The mode of binding was explored through crystal structures of inhibitors in complex with tankyrase-2.

Inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Interferes with Trypanosoma cruzi Infection and Proliferation of the Parasite

Poly(ADP-ribosylation) is a post-translational covalent modification of proteins catalyzed by a family of enzymes termed poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs). In the human genome, 17 different genes have been identified that encode members of the PARP superfamily. Poly (ADP-ribose) metabolism plays a role in a wide range of biological processes. In Trypanosoma cruzi, PARP enzyme appears to play a role in DNA repair mechanisms and may also be involved in controlling the different phases of cell growth. Here we describe the identification of potent inhibitors for T. cruzi PARP with a fluorescence-based activity assay. The inhibitors were also tested on T. cruzi epimastigotes, showing that they reduced ADP-ribose polymer formation in vivo. Notably, the identified inhibitors are able to reduce the growth rate of T. cruzi epimastigotes. The best inhibitor, Olaparib, is effective at nanomolar concentrations, making it an efficient chemical tool for chacterization of ADP-ribose metabolism in T. cruzi. PARP inhibition also decreases drastically the amount of amastigotes but interestingly has no effect on the amount of trypomastigotes in the cell culture. Knocking down human PARP-1 decreases both the amount of amastigotes and trypomastigotes in cell culture, indicating that the effect would be mainly due to inhibition of human PARP-1. The result suggests that the inhibition of PARP could be a potential way to interfere with T. cruzi infection.

Exploration of the Nicotinamide-Binding Site of the Tankyrases, Identifying 3-Arylisoquinolin-1-Ones as Potent and Selective Inhibitors in Vitro.

Tankyrases-1 and -2 (TNKS-1 and TNKS-2) have three cellular roles which make them important targets in cancer. Using NAD(+) as a substrate, they poly(ADP-ribosyl)ate TRF1 (regulating lengths of telomeres), NuMA (facilitating mitosis) and axin (in wnt/β-catenin signalling). Using molecular modelling and the structure of the weak inhibitor 5-aminoiso quinolin-1-one, 3-aryl-5-substituted-isoquinolin-1-ones were designed as inhibitors to explore the structure-activity relationships (SARs) for binding and to define the shape of a hydrophobic cavity in the active site. 5-Amino-3-arylisoquinolinones were synthesised by Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of arylboronic acids to 3-bromo-1-methoxy-5-nitro-isoquinoline, reduction and O-demethylation. 3-Aryl-5-methylisoquinolin-1-ones, 3-aryl-5-fluoroisoquinolin-1-ones and 3-aryl-5-methoxyisoquinolin-1-ones were accessed by deprotonation of 3-substituted-N,N,2-trimethylbenzamides and quench with an appropriate benzonitrile. SAR around the isoquinolinone core showed that aryl was required at the 3-position, optimally with a para-substituent. Small meta-substituents were tolerated but groups in the ortho-positions reduced or abolished activity. This was not due to lack of coplanarity of the rings, as shown by the potency of 4,5-dimethyl-3-phenylisoquinolin-1-one. Methyl and methoxy were optimal at the 5-position. SAR was rationalised by modelling and by crystal structures of examples with TNKS-2. The 3-aryl unit was located in a large hydrophobic cavity and the para-substituents projected into a tunnel leading to the exterior. Potency against TNKS-1 paralleled potency against TNKS-2. Most inhibitors were highly selective for TNKSs over PARP-1 and PARP-2. A range of highly potent and selective inhibitors is now available for cellular studies.

Small-Molecule Chemical Probe Rescues Cells from Mono-ADP-Ribosyltransferase ARTD10/PARP10-Induced Apoptosis and Sensitizes Cancer Cells to DNA Damage.

Members of the human diphtheria toxin-like ADP-ribosyltransferase (ARTD or PARP) family play important roles in regulating biological activities by mediating either a mono-ADP-ribosylation (MARylation) of a substrate or a poly-ADP-ribosylation (PARylation). ARTD10/PARP10 belongs to the MARylating ARTDs (mARTDs) subfamily, and plays important roles in biological processes that range from cellular signaling, DNA repair, and cell proliferation to immune response. Despite their biological and disease relevance, no selective inhibitors for mARTDs are available. Here we describe a small-molecule ARTD10 inhibitor, OUL35, a selective and potent inhibitor for this enzyme. We characterize its selectivity profile, model its binding, and demonstrate activity in HeLa cells where OUL35 rescued cells from ARTD10 induced cell death. Using OUL35 as a cell biology tool we show that ARTD10 inhibition sensitizes the cells to the hydroxyurea-induced genotoxic stress. Our study supports the proposed role of ARTD10 in DNA-damage repair and provides a tool compound for selective inhibition of ARTD10-mediated MARylation.