Analog Of FK506 Research Articles

InterAKTions with FKBPs - Mutational and Pharmacological Exploration

The FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP51) is an Hsp90-associated co-chaperone which regulates steroid receptors and kinases. In pancreatic cancer cell lines, FKBP51 was shown to recruit the phosphatase PHLPP to facilitate dephosphorylation of the kinase Akt, which was associated with reduced chemoresistance. Here we show that in addition to FKBP51 several other members of the FKBP family bind directly to Akt. FKBP51 can also form complexes with other AGC kinases and mapping studies revealed that FKBP51 interacts with Akt via multiple domains independent of their activation or phosphorylation status. The FKBP51-Akt1 interaction was not affected by FK506 analogs or Akt active site inhibitors, but was abolished by the allosteric Akt inhibitor VIII. None of the FKBP51 inhibitors affected AktS473 phosphorylation or downstream targets of Akt. In summary, we show that FKBP51 binds to Akt directly as well as via Hsp90. The FKBP51-Akt interaction is sensitive to the conformation of Akt1, but does not depend on the FK506-binding pocket of FKBP51. Therefore, FKBP inhibitors are unlikely to inhibit the Akt-FKBP-PHLPP network.

Novel FK506 and FK520 analogues via mutasynthesis: mutasynthon scope and product characteristics

Novel FK506 and FK520 analogues were generated via biosynthetic engineering in order to generate analogue compounds with equal potency but improved pharmacological profiles compared to FK506.

Mutational biosynthesis of a FK506 analogue containing a non-natural starter unit

A FK506 analogue containing a non-natural starter unit was obtained through mutasynthesis by feeding cultures of Streptomyces sp. KCTC 11604BP fkbO deletion mutant with 3-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid. The structure of the new compound, 32-dehydroxy-FK506, and its biological activities were determined.

Evaluation of Synthetic FK506 Analogues as Ligands for the FK506-Binding Proteins 51 and 52

The FK506-binding proteins (FKBP) 51 and 52 are cochaperones that modulate the signal transduction of steroid hormone receptors. Both proteins have been implicated in prostate cancer. Furthermore, single nucleotide polymorphisms in the gene encoding FKBP51 have been associated with a variety of psychiatric disorders. Rapamycin and FK506 are two macrocyclic natural products that bind to these proteins indiscriminately but with nanomolar affinity. We here report the cocrystal structure of FKBP51 with a simplified α-ketoamide analogue derived from FK506 and the first structure-activity relationship analysis for FKBP51 and FKBP52 based on this compound. In particular, the tert-pentyl group of this ligand was systematically replaced by a cyclohexyl ring system, which more closely resembles the pyranose ring in the high-affinity ligands rapamycin and FK506. The interaction with FKBPs was found to be surprisingly tolerant to the stereochemistry of the attached cyclohexyl substituents. The molecular basis for this tolerance was elucidated by X-ray cocrystallography.

Regulation of the Ste20-like Kinase, SLK: INVOLVEMENT OF ACTIVATION SEGMENT PHOSPHORYLATION

Expression and activation of the Ste20-like kinase, SLK, is increased during kidney development and recovery from ischemic acute kidney injury. SLK promotes apoptosis, and it may regulate cell survival during injury or repair. This study addresses the role of phosphorylation in the regulation of kinase activity. We mutated serine and threonine residues in the putative activation segment of the SLK catalytic domain and expressed wild type (WT) and mutant proteins in COS-1 or glomerular epithelial cells. Compared with SLK WT, the T183A, S189A, and T183A/S189A mutants showed reduced in vitro kinase activity. SLK WT, but not mutants, increased activation-specific phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 kinase. Similarly, SLK WT stimulated activator protein-1 reporter activity, but activation of activator protein-1 by the three SLK mutants was ineffective. To test if homodimerization of SLK affects phosphorylation, the cDNA encoding SLK amino acids 1-373 (which include the catalytic domain) was fused with a cDNA for a modified FK506-binding protein, Fv (Fv-SLK 1-373). After transfection, the addition of AP20187 (an FK506 analog) induced regulated dimerization of Fv-SLK 1-373. AP20187-stimulated dimerization enhanced the kinase activity of Fv-SLK 1-373 WT. In contrast, kinase activity of Fv-SLK 1-373 T183A/S189A was weak and was not enhanced after dimerization. Finally, apoptosis was increased after expression of Fv-SLK 1-373 WT but not T183A/S189A. Thus, phosphorylation of Thr-183 and Ser-189 plays a key role in the activation and signaling of SLK and could represent a target for novel therapeutic approaches to renal injury.

FKBP ligands

The FK-506 binding proteins 51 and 52 are co-chaperons that modulate in the signal transduction of the glucocorticoid receptor. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the gene encoding FKBP51 have been shown to be associated with a variety of psychiatric disorders. The aim of our project is to develop selective inhibitors for these two proteins, which share 75% sequence similarity, but affect steroid hormone signal transduction in an opposing manner. Rapamycin and FK506 are two macrocyclic natural products, which bind to FKBP members with nanomolar affinity with little or no selectivity. A three-dimensional alignment of FKBP51, 52 and 12 structures revealed a structural divergence at the 80s loop. Hence an optimization of interaction with this part of the protein has the highest likelihood of achieving selectivity within the FKBP family. To address the selectivity and affinity problem we envisaged a strategy to synthesize small molecule analogs of FK506 and rapamycin bearing a variety of substituents that are expected to interact with the 80s loop. A focused solid support library synthesis was developed yielding compounds with low nanomolar binding affinity for FKBP12, and sub micromolar binding to FKBP51 and low micromolar affinity for FKBP52. Co-crystal structures of representative FKBP ligands were solved by X-ray crystallography to confirm the hypothesized binding mode.

Creating Diverse Target-Binding Surfaces on FKBP12: Synthesis and Evaluation of a Rapamycin Analogue Library

FK506 and rapamycin are immunosuppressive drugs with a unique mode of action. Prior to binding to their protein targets, these drugs form a complex with an endogenous chaperone FK506-binding protein 12 (FKBP12). The resulting composite FK506-FKBP and rapamycin-FKBP binding surfaces recognize the relatively flat target surfaces of calcineurin and mTOR, respectively, with high affinity and specificity. To test whether this mode of action may be generalized to inhibit other protein targets, especially those that are challenging to inhibit by conventional small molecules, we have developed a parallel synthesis method to generate a 200-member library of bifunctional cyclic peptides as FK506 and rapamycin analogues, which were referred to as "rapalogs". Each rapalog consists of a common FKBP-binding moiety and a variable effector domain. The rapalogs were tested for binding to FKBP12 by a fluorescence polarization competition assay. Our results show that FKBP12 binds to most of the rapalogs with high affinity (K(I) values in the nanomolar to low micromolar range), creating a large repertoire of composite surfaces for potential recognition of macromolecular targets such as proteins.

Activity of the Ste20-like kinase, SLK, is enhanced by homodimerization

The expression and activation of the Ste20-like kinase, SLK, is increased during renal development and recovery from ischemic acute renal failure. SLK promotes apoptosis, and during renal injury and repair, transcriptional induction or posttranscriptional control of SLK may, therefore, regulate cell survival. SLK contains protein interaction (coiled-coil) domains, suggesting that posttranslational homodimerization may also modulate SLK activity. We therefore expressed coiled-coil regions in the C-terminal domain of SLK as fusion proteins and demonstrated their homodimerization. By gel-filtration chromatography, endogenous and heterologously expressed SLK were detected in a macromolecular protein complex. To test the role of homodimerization in kinase activation, we constructed a fusion protein consisting of the SLK catalytic domain (amino acids 1-373) and a modified FK506 binding protein, Fv (Fv-SLK 1-373). Addition of AP20187 (an analog of FK506) enhanced the homodimerization of Fv-SLK 1-373. In an in vitro kinase assay, the dimeric Fv-SLK 1-373 displayed greater kinase activity than the monomeric form. In cells expressing Fv-SLK 1-373, homodimerization increased activation-specific phosphorylation of the proapoptotic kinases, c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 kinase. Compared with the monomer, dimeric Fv-SLK 1-373 enhanced the activation of a Bax promoter-luciferase reporter. Finally, expression of Fv-SLK 1-373 induced apoptosis, and the effect was increased by homodimerization. Thus the activity, downstream signaling, and functional effects of SLK are enhanced by dimerization of the kinase domain.

Biosynthesis of the allylmalonyl-CoA extender unit for the FK506 polyketide synthase proceeds through a dedicated polyketide synthase and facilitates the mutasynthesis of analogues.

The allyl moiety of the immunosuppressive agent FK506 is structurally unique among polyketides and critical for its potent biological activity. Here, we detail the biosynthetic pathway to allylmalonyl-coenzyme A (CoA), from which the FK506 allyl group is derived, based on a comprehensive chemical, biochemical, and genetic interrogation of three FK506 gene clusters. A discrete polyketide synthase (PKS) with noncanonical domain architecture presumably in coordination with the fatty acid synthase pathway of the host catalyzes a multistep enzymatic reaction to allylmalonyl-CoA via trans-2-pentenyl-acyl carrier protein. Characterization of this discrete pathway facilitated the engineered biosynthesis of novel allyl group-modified FK506 analogues, 36-fluoro-FK520 and 36-methyl-FK506, the latter of which exhibits improved neurite outgrowth activity. This unique feature of FK506 biosynthesis, in which a dedicated PKS provides an atypical extender unit for the main modular PKS, illuminates a new strategy for the combinatorial biosynthesis of designer macrolide scaffolds as well as FK506 analogues.

Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry characterization of FK506 biosynthetic intermediates in Streptomyces clavuligerus KCTC 10561BP

The development of an efficient analytical method for the reliable detection and identification of the biosynthetic intermediates found in microbial cultures, which usually produce complex intermediates of the metabolites of interest, is essential for further biosynthetic investigations. This study developed a simple and highly selective method for detecting the biosynthetic intermediates involved in the FK506 pathway of Streptomyces clavuligerus KCTC 10561BP involving a cleanup procedure using a solid-phase extraction technique to provide reliable extraction of FK506-related compounds from a cell culture broth and liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS/MS) to separate and detect the FK506-related intermediates at concentrations as low as 0.2 μg/L in the broth. This method enabled the analytical profiling of the intermediates formed during the biosynthesis of FK506 in this S. clavuligerus strain, which produced FK506 as a main product. Eight FK506 intermediates—FK520, 37,38-dihydroFK506, prolylFK506, 9-decarbonyl-9-hydroxylFK506, 9-deoxoFK506, desmethylFK520, prolylFK520, and 9-deoxoFK520—were identified. This is the first report of the LC–ESI–MS/MS characterization of a wide range of FK506 analogs from a bacterial fermentation broth. The protocol employed in this study may be useful for estimating the structure of the metabolites without the need for a time-consuming isolation process and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

Role of the CCAAT/Enhancer-binding Protein NFATc2 Transcription Factor Cascade in the Induction of Secretory Phospholipase A2

Inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha modulate a transcription factor cascade in the liver to induce and sustain an acute and systemic defense against foreign entities. The transcription factors involved include NF-kappaB, STAT, and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP). Whether the NFAT group of transcription factors (which was first characterized as playing an important role in cytokine gene expression in the adaptive response in immune cells) participates in the acute-phase response in hepatocytes is not known. Here, we have investigated whether NFAT is part of the transcription factor cascade in hepatocytes during inflammatory stress. We report that interleukin-1 or tumor necrosis factor-alpha increases expression of and activates NFATc2. C/EBP-mediated NFATc2 induction is temporally required for expression of type IIA secretory phospholipase A2. NFATc2 is also required for expression of phospholipase D1 and the calcium-binding protein S100A3. Thus, a C/EBP-NFATc2 transcription factor cascade provides an additional means to modulate the acute-phase response upon stimulation with inflammatory cytokines.

Establishment of a Cell Model Based on FKBP12 Dimerization for Screening of FK506-like Neurotrophic Small Molecular Compounds

FK506 is an efficient immunosuppressive agent with an increasing number of clinical applications. It has been approved to prevent rejection in transplant patients and be efficacious in several autoimmune diseases. Its immunosuppressive activity results from binding to receptor proteins designated as immunophilins (i.e., FKBP12, FK506 binding protein). Recent studies have suggested that FK506 can promote neurite outgrowth as a 2nd activity. Furthermore, it has been shown that the neurotrophic property of FK506 is independent of its immunosuppressive action. Although the mechanism of its neurotrophic activity has not yet been well elucidated, FKBP12 is identified as a drug target, and much effort has been directed toward the design of FKBP12-binding molecules, which are neurotrophic but non-immunosuppressive, for clinical use. In this present study, the authors constructed a stable cell line, which underwent apoptosis upon treatment by AP20187, a wholly synthesized, cell-permeable dimeric FK506 derivative, based on FKBP12-mBax dimerization. This AP20187-mediated apoptosis was rapidly reversed by the addition of an FKBP12-binding competitor molecule (FK506 or rapamycin), indicating that this cell line might be used to screen FK506 derivatives. Using the screening model, hundreds of synthetic FK506 analogs were analyzed. A promising compound, named N308, was obtained. The results showed that N308 could inhibit AP20187-induced gene-modified target cell apoptosis and elicit augmentation of neurite extension from both cultured PC-12 cells and chicken dorsal root ganglia cultures.

Identification and Characterization of Novel Small-Molecule Inhibitors of the Replication Checkpoint.

Background The replication (G2/M) checkpoint is principally mediated by the serine/threonine protein kinase ATR (ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related). ATR is a large (350 kD) member of the phosphatidylinositol kinase related kinase family. After exposure to genotoxic or replication stress, ATR halts cell cycle progression, allowing DNA repair complexes time enough to restore the fidelity of the genome prior to cell division. Previous experiments have demonstrated that cancer cells with p53 mutation are critically dependent on ATR-mediated arrest of the cell cycle. Industrial approaches to identify ATR inhibitors have failed likely as a result of protein insolubility.Methods We have undertaken a novel chemical genetic approach employing small molecule microarrays (SMMs) to identify molecules with high binding specificity for ATR. Three diversity-oriented combinatorial chemical libraries of more than 15,000 entities were generated by split-pool synthesis in solid phase on polystyrene macrobead supports. Compounds were robotically printed in microarray format on glass slides. Four analogs of FK506 were printed as positive controls. Extracts were prepared from mammalian cells transfected with over-expression constructs of FLAG-tagged ATR, FKBP12 and GFP. A protocol was developed and optimized for screening employing a primary anti-FLAG mouse monoclonal antibody and Cy5-fluorophore labeled anti-mouse antibody. Data analysis for small molecule binders was performed with GenePix software on an Axon Scanner. Biological activity of these molecules was analyzed in the context of mitotic spread and chromosomal fragility assays.Results Protein expression and antibody fidelity was verified by Western blot. The lysate-based SMM screening approach was optimized and validated by recognition of an interaction between over-expressed, epitope-tagged FKBP12 and analogs of FK506. Six small molecule hits suggesting ATR binding were identified and verified by triplicate microarray assays. Positive compounds were structurally similar members of a dihydropyrancarboxamide library suggesting recognition of a common target. Mitotic spread analysis of cells treated with two of these molecules and hydroxyurea demonstrated the premature chromatin condensation phenotype characteristic of replication checkpoint inhibition. Chromosomal fragility was notably augmented by these molecules as well. Chemosensitivity following replication stress was witnessed in p53-negative cells relative to an otherwise identical wild-type cell line.Conclusions Classical approaches to drug discovery are often limited by challenges in protein biochemistry such as protein size, solubility, activity and yield. We present compelling data that the small molecule microarray format can effectively be tailored for use with cellular lysates over-expressing a protein target of biological interest. Furthermore, we have used an optimized protocol to identify two novel, active small molecule inhibitors of the replication checkpoint (SMIRC-1 and SMIRC-2). The enhanced chemosensitivity in p53-negative cell lines supports a plausible role for ATR inhibitors as potentially useful chemotherapeutic agents.

Potentiation of mitogenesis in adult rat chromaffin cell cultures by immunosuppressive agent FK506

The immunosuppressive drugs FK506 and cyclosporin inhibit T- and B-lymphocyte proliferation and exert neuritogenic and/or cytoprotective effects on several types of neurons. While the immunosuppressive actions of both drugs are mediated in large part by inhibition of the Ca 2+-dependent phosphatase, calcineurin, FK506 is known to exert additional effects. In the present study, FK506 is shown to potentiate mitogenic effects of the neurotrophic factor, neurturin, on normal adult rat adrenal chromaffin cells in culture. The effect is not seen with cyclosporin or with a non-immunosuppressive analog of FK506, GPI-1046. The finding of increased mitogenesis in response to FK506 may have applications to the study of normal and neoplastic neuroendocrine cells and to understanding the development of some types of tumors in transplant patients.

Effects of Neurotoxic and Neuroprotective Agents on Peripheral Nerve Regeneration Assayed by Time-Lapse ImagingIn Vivo

A direct histological assay of axonal regeneration would have many advantages over currently available behavioral, electrophysiological, and radiometric assays. We show that peripheral sensory axons marked with the yellow fluorescent protein in transgenic mice can be viewed transcutaneously in superficial nerves. Degenerating and regenerating axons can be followed in live animals with a dissecting microscope and then, after fixation, studied at high resolution by confocal microscopy. Using this approach, we document differences in regenerative ability after nerve transection, crush injury, and crush injury after a previous "conditioning" lesion. We also show that the chemotherapeutic drug vincristine rapidly but transiently blocks regeneration and that the immunosuppressive drug FK506 modestly enhances regeneration. Moreover, FK506 nearly restores normal regenerative ability in animals treated with submaximal doses of vincristine. Because neuropathy is the major dose-limiting side effect of vincristine, we propose that its efficacy could be enhanced by coadministration of FK506 analogs that are neuroactive but not immunosuppressive.

Calcineurin Directs the Reciprocal Regulation of Calcium Entry Pathways in Nonexcitable Cells

The reciprocal regulation of noncapacitative and capacitative (or store-operated) Ca2+ entry in nonexcitable cells (Mignen, O., Thompson, J. L., and Shuttleworth, T. J. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 35676-35683) represents a switching between two distinct Ca2+-selective channels: the noncapacitative arachidonate-regulated Ca2+ channels (ARC channels) and the store-operated Ca2+ channels (SOC channels). This switch is directly associated with the change from oscillatory to sustained Ca2+ signals as agonist concentrations increase and involves a Ca2+-dependent inhibition of the ARC channels. Here we show that this process is mediated via a calcineurin-dependent inhibition of the noncapacitative ARC channels. Pharmacological and molecular inhibition of calcineurin activity (using cyclosporin or the FK506 analogue ascomycin, and a transfected C-terminal domain of the calcineurin inhibitory protein CAIN, respectively) results in a complete reversal of the Ca2+-dependent inhibition of the ARC channels. Agonist concentrations that result in oscillatory Ca2+ signals and specifically activate Ca2+ entry through the ARC channels fail to increase calcineurin activity. However, agonist concentrations that activate the store-operated Ca2+ channels and produce prolonged increases in cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations increase calcineurin activity. Thus, calcineurin is the key mediator of the reciprocal regulation of these co-existing channels, allowing each to play a unique and non-overlapping role in Ca2+ signaling.

Ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors become fungicidal when combined with calcineurin inhibitors against Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida krusei.

Azoles target the ergosterol biosynthetic enzyme lanosterol 14alpha-demethylase and are a widely applied class of antifungal agents because of their broad therapeutic window, wide spectrum of activity, and low toxicity. Unfortunately, azoles are generally fungistatic and resistance to fluconazole is emerging in several fungal pathogens. We recently established that the protein phosphatase calcineurin allows survival of Candida albicans during the membrane stress exerted by azoles. The calcineurin inhibitors cyclosporine A (CsA) and tacrolimus (FK506) are dramatically synergistic with azoles, resulting in potent fungicidal activity, and mutant strains lacking calcineurin are markedly hypersensitive to azoles. Here we establish that drugs targeting other enzymes in the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway (terbinafine and fenpropimorph) also exhibit dramatic synergistic antifungal activity against wild-type C. albicans when used in conjunction with CsA and FK506. Similarly, C. albicans mutant strains lacking calcineurin B are markedly hypersensitive to terbinafine and fenpropimorph. The FK506 binding protein FKBP12 is required for FK506 synergism with ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors, and a calcineurin mutation that confers FK506 resistance abolishes drug synergism. Additionally, we provide evidence of drug synergy between the nonimmunosuppressive FK506 analog L-685,818 and fenpropimorph or terbinafine against wild-type C. albicans. These drug combinations also exert synergistic effects against two other Candida species, C. glabrata and C. krusei, which are known for intrinsic or rapidly acquired resistance to azoles. These studies demonstrate that the activity of non-azole antifungal agents that target ergosterol biosynthesis can be enhanced by inhibition of the calcineurin signaling pathway, extending their spectrum of action and providing an alternative approach by which to overcome antifungal drug resistance.

FK506 is neuroprotective in a model of antiretroviral toxic neuropathy

Antiretroviral toxic neuropathy is the most common neurological complication of human immunodeficiency virus infection. This painful neuropathy not only affects the quality of life of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients but also severely limits viral suppression strategies. We have developed an in vitro model of this toxic neuropathy to better understand the mechanism of neurotoxicity and to test potential neuroprotective compounds. We show that among the dideoxynucleosides, ddC appears to be the most neurotoxic, followed by ddI and then d4T. This reflects their potency in causing neuropathy. AZT, which does not cause a peripheral neuropathy in patients, does not cause significant neurotoxicity in our model. Furthermore, in this model, we show that the immunophilin ligand FK506 but not cyclosporin A prevents the development of neurotoxicity by ddC, as judged by amelioration of ddC-induced "neuritic pruning," neuronal mitochondrial depolarization, and neuronal necrotic death. This finding suggests a calcineurin-independent mechanism of neuroprotection. As calcineurin inhibition underlies the immunosuppressive properties of these clinically used immunophilin ligands, this holds promise for the neuroprotective efficacy of nonimmunosuppressive analogs of FK506 in the prevention or treatment of antiretroviral toxic neuropathy.

Neuroprotective and antioxidant properties of FKBP-binding immunophilin ligands are independent on the FKBP12 pathway in human cells

We focused on immunophilin isoforms in order to clarify the neuroimmunophilins which were identified as targets for the immunophilin ligands to elicit a neuroprotective effect. Although the expressions of five FK506-binding protein (FKBP) mRNAs were detected in both SH-SY5Y (human neuroblastoma) and U251 (human glioma) cell lysates, the FKBP12 mRNA expression was detected in only the SH-SY5Y cells, and not the U251 cells. However, we found that the SH-SY5Y and the U251 cells were equipotent in the intensity of cellular protection of FK506 (an immunosuppressive immunophilin ligand) and GPI1046 (a non-immunosuppressive FK506 analog), indicating that the protective effect and glutathione activation of FK506 and GPI1046 had little need to bind FKBP12. Therefore, we conclude that the neuroprotective and antioxidant properties of immunophilin ligands are independent on the FKBP12 pathway.

Analysis of Type 1 Ryanodine Receptor-12 kDa FK506-Binding Protein Interaction

Although dissociation of the 12 kDa FK506 binding protein (FKBP12)-type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1) complex by macrolide immunosuppressants is well documented, effects of many solutes and drugs have not been quantitated. In the current study, the influence of these on binding between solubilised RyR1 and an FKBP12-glutathione-S-transferase fusion protein was analysed using a novel assay. Association between these two proteins is stable, and is not greatly altered by changes in temperature, pH, cations, and endogenous solutes over physiological ranges. Ascomycin, an FK506 analogue, was identified for the first time as a drug which can disrupt the FKBP12–RyR1 complex.