A cell-based screen for inhibitors of protein folding and degradation

Cell Stress Chaperones. 2010 Nov;15(6):913-27. doi: 10.1007/s12192-010-0200-3. Epub 2010 Aug 19.

Abstract

Cancer cells are exposed to external and internal stresses by virtue of their unrestrained growth, hostile microenvironment, and increased mutation rate. These stresses impose a burden on protein folding and degradation pathways and suggest a route for therapeutic intervention in cancer. Proteasome and Hsp90 inhibitors are in clinical trials and a 20S proteasome inhibitor, Velcade, is an approved drug. Other points of intervention in the folding and degradation pathway may therefore be of interest. We describe a simple screen for inhibitors of protein synthesis, folding, and proteasomal degradation pathways in this paper. The molecular chaperone-dependent client v-Src was fused to firefly luciferase and expressed in HCT-116 colorectal tumor cells. Both luciferase and protein tyrosine kinase activity were preserved in cells expressing this fusion construct. Exposing these cells to the Hsp90 inhibitor geldanamycin caused a rapid reduction of luciferase and kinase activities and depletion of detergent-soluble v-Src::luciferase fusion protein. Hsp70 knockdown reduced v-Src::luciferase activity and, when combined with geldanamycin, caused a buildup of v-Src::luciferase and ubiquitinated proteins in a detergent-insoluble fraction. Proteasome inhibitors also decreased luciferase activity and caused a buildup of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins in a detergent-insoluble fraction. Protein synthesis inhibitors also reduced luciferase activity, but had less of an effect on phosphotyrosine levels. In contrast, certain histone deacetylase inhibitors increased luciferase and phosphotyrosine activity. A mass screen led to the identification of Hsp90 inhibitors, ubiquitin pathway inhibitors, inhibitors of Hsp70/Hsp40-mediated refolding, and protein synthesis inhibitors. The largest group of compounds identified in the screen increased luciferase activity, and some of these increase v-Src levels and activity. When used in conjunction with appropriate secondary assays, this screen is a powerful cell-based tool for studying compounds that affect protein synthesis, folding, and degradation.

MeSH terms

  • Benzoquinones / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Histone Deacetylases / chemistry
  • Histone Deacetylases / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Lactams, Macrocyclic / pharmacology
  • Luciferases, Firefly / genetics
  • Luciferases, Firefly / metabolism
  • Molecular Chaperones / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Oncogene Protein pp60(v-src) / chemistry
  • Oncogene Protein pp60(v-src) / genetics
  • Oncogene Protein pp60(v-src) / metabolism
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Proteasome Inhibitors*
  • Protein Folding / drug effects*
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism

Substances

  • Benzoquinones
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
  • Lactams, Macrocyclic
  • Molecular Chaperones
  • Proteasome Inhibitors
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Ubiquitin
  • Luciferases, Firefly
  • Oncogene Protein pp60(v-src)
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • Histone Deacetylases
  • geldanamycin