Targeting the Regulatory Site of ER Aminopeptidase 1 Leads to the Discovery of a Natural Product Modulator of Antigen Presentation

J Med Chem. 2020 Mar 26;63(6):3348-3358. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b02123. Epub 2020 Mar 9.

Abstract

ER aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1) is an intracellular enzyme that generates antigenic peptides and is an emerging target for cancer immunotherapy and the control of autoimmunity. ERAP1 inhibitors described previously target the active site and are limited in selectivity, minimizing their clinical potential. To address this, we targeted the regulatory site of ERAP1 using a high-throughput screen and discovered a small molecule hit that is highly selective for ERAP1. (4aR,5S,6R,8S,8aR)-5-(2-(Furan-3-yl)ethyl)-8-hydroxy-5,6,8a-trimethyl-3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene-1-carboxylic acid is a natural product found in Dodonaea viscosa that constitutes a submicromolar, highly selective, and cell-active modulator of ERAP1. Although the compound activates hydrolysis of small model substrates, it is a competitive inhibitor for physiologically relevant longer peptides. Crystallographic analysis confirmed that the compound targets the regulatory site of the enzyme that normally binds the C-terminus of the peptide substrate. Our findings constitute a novel starting point for the development of selective ERAP1 modulators that have potential for further clinical development.

MeSH terms

  • Allosteric Site
  • Aminopeptidases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Aminopeptidases / chemistry
  • Aminopeptidases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation / drug effects*
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Diterpenes, Clerodane / chemistry
  • Diterpenes, Clerodane / metabolism
  • Diterpenes, Clerodane / pharmacology*
  • Enzyme Activators / chemistry
  • Enzyme Activators / metabolism
  • Enzyme Activators / pharmacology
  • Epitopes / chemistry
  • Epitopes / metabolism*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / chemistry
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / metabolism
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Protease Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protease Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Protein Binding
  • Proteolysis / drug effects

Substances

  • Diterpenes, Clerodane
  • Enzyme Activators
  • Epitopes
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
  • Peptides
  • Protease Inhibitors
  • Aminopeptidases
  • ERAP1 protein, human