Genome-wide screening reveals a role for subcellular localization of CRBN in the anti-myeloma activity of pomalidomide
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Authors: Tateno, Shumpei; Iida, Midori; Fujii, Satoshi; Suwa, Tetsufumi; Katayama, Miki; Tokuyama, Haruka; Yamamoto, Junichi; Ito, Takumi; Sakamoto, Satoshi; Handa, Hiroshi; Yamaguchi, Yuki
Abstract
Pomalidomide, a derivative of thalidomide, is an effective treatment for multiple myeloma. The drug exerts its effects through CRBN, a component of the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex CRL4(CRBN). To search for novel factors involved in the anti-cancer activity of pomalidomide, we performed a genome-wide shRNA library screen and identified 445 genes as those affecting pomalidomide sensitivity. Genes encoding components of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, such as subunits of the CRL4(CRBN) complex, the COP9 signalosome, and the 26S proteasome, were among the pomalidomide-affecting genes. Karyopherin beta 1 (KPNB1) was identified as a novel pomalidomide-affecting gene. KPNB1 was required for the nuclear import of CRBN and for the CRBN-directed, pomalidomide-dependent degradation of a clinically relevant substrate, the transcription factor Aiolos. By contrast, the cytoplasmic translation factor GSPT1 was degraded following treatment with the thalidomide derivative CC-885 only when CRBN was present in the cytoplasm, indicating that subcellular distribution of CRBN is critical for the efficacy of thalidomide-based medications.
Dynamic Imaging of Small Molecule Induced Protein-Protein Interactions in Living Cells with a Fluorophore Phase Transition Based Approach
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Authors: Chung, Chan-I; Zhang, Qiang; Shu, Xiaokun
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) mediate signal transduction in cells. Small molecules that regulate PPIs are important tools for biology and biomedicine. Dynamic imaging of small molecule induced PPIs characterizes and verifies these molecules in living cells. It is thus important to develop cellular assays for dynamic visualization of small molecule induced protein protein association and dissociation in living cells. Here we have applied a fluorophore phase transition based principle and designed a PPI assay named SPPIER (separation of phases-based protein interaction reporter). SPPIER utilizes the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and is thus genetically encoded. Upon small molecule induced PPI, SPPIER rapidly forms highly fluorescent GFP droplets in living cells. SPPIER detects immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) induced PPI between cereblon and the transcription factor Ikaros. It also detects IMiD analogue (e.g., CC-885) induced PPI between cereblon and GSPT1. Furthermore, SPPIER can visualize bifunctional molecules (e.g. PROTAC)-induced PPI between an E3 ubiquitin ligase and a target protein. Lastly, SPPIER can be modified to image small molecule induced protein protein dissociation, such as nutlin-induced dissociation between HDM2 and p53. The intense brightness and rapid kinetics of SPPIER enable robust and dynamic visualization of PPIs in living cells.