Biology subjects

Orian, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Orian, A..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Eliminating Aggressive Cancers via PROTAC-like Inducers of Ferroptosis

Aggressive and therapy-resistant cancers present a significant challenge to treatment and are associated with poor patients survival. Identifying molecular pathways and compounds that target these pathways is critical for improving patient outcomes. RNF4, an E3-ubiquitin ligase, is pivotal in oncoprotein stabilization and DNA repair, enhancing cancer cell survival driving tumorigenesis. Elevated RNF4 levels are associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. Here, we describe the development of R4VPs, proteolysis-targeted chimeras-like (PROTACs-like). R4VPs promote RNF4 degradation and reduce the levels of its stabilized oncoproteins. Notably, R4VPs induce ferroptotic cell death selectively in cancer cells, sparing non-tumorigenic and primary cells. Surprisingly, R4VPs-induced ferroptosis is independent of RNF4 but preferentially targets tumor-driving mutations, particularly those in the EGFR pathway, while not affecting PI3K-transformed cells. R4VPs effectively induce cell death in therapy-resistant melanoma and sarcomas including patient-derived sarcoma tumor cells. Our findings highlight the potential of ferroptosis inducers such as R4VPs as a therapeutic strategy for therapy resistance, aggressive, and hard-to-treat cancers. TeaserR4VPs induce ferroptotic death of melanoma and sarcoma cells including patient-derived tumor cells sparing non-transomed cells.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Stabilisation of β-Catenin-WNT signalling by USP10 in APC-truncated colorectal cancer drives cancer stemness and enables super-competitor signalling

The contribution of deubiquitylating enzymes to {beta}-Catenin stabilisation in intestinal stem cells and colorectal cancer (CRC) is poorly understood. Here, we report the deubiquitylase USP10 as an APC-truncation- specific enhancer of {beta}-Catenin stability, potentiating WNT signalling in CRC and cancer stem cells. Mechanistically, interaction studies in various CRC cell lines and in vitro binding studies, together with computational modelling, revealed that USP10 binding to {beta}-Catenin is mediated via the unstructured N-terminus of USP10 and requires the absence of full-length APC. Notably, loss of USP10 in CRISPR engineered intestinal organoids reduces tumorigenic properties of CRC and blocks the super competitor-signalling of APC-mutated CRC. Furthermore, reduction of USP10 induces the expression of differentiation genes, and opposes the APC-truncated phenotype in an intestinal hyperplasia model of D.melanogaster. Taken together, our findings reveal USP10s role in intestinal tumourigenesis by stabilising {beta}-Catenin, leading to aberrant WNT signalling, enhancing cancer cell stemness and implicate the DUB USP10 as a cancer specific therapeutic vulnerability in Apc truncated CRC.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2019

The USP28-{triangleup}Np63 axis is a vulnerability of squamous tumours

The transcription factor {Delta}Np63 is a master regulator that establishes epithelial cell identity and is essential for the survival of SCC of lung, head and neck, oesophagus, cervix and skin. Here, we report that the deubiquitylase USP28 stabilizes {Delta}Np63 protein and maintains elevated {Delta}NP63 levels in SCC by counteracting its proteasome-mediated degradation. Interference with USP28 activity by genetic means abolishes the transcriptional identity of SCC cells and suppresses growth and survival of human SCC cells. CRISPR/Cas9-engineered mouse models establish that both induction and maintenance of lung SCC strictly depend on endogenous USP28. Targeting {Delta}Np63 protein abundance in SCC via inhibition of USP28 therefore is a feasible strategy for the treatment of SCC tumours.\n\nSignificanceSCC depend on {Delta}Np63, and its protein abundance is tightly controlled by the ubiquitin proteasome system. Here, we demonstrate the dependence of SCC on USP28 for various human SCC in vitro and in vivo using murine lung tumour models. As inhibitors for deubiquitylases become available, targeting USP28 is a promising therapeutic strategy.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Hyd ubiquitinates the NF-κB co-factor Akirin to activate an effective immune response in Drosophila

One Sentence SummaryUpon microbial infection in Drosophila, the E3-ubiquitin ligase Hyd ubiquitinylates the NF-{kappa}B co-factor Akirin for its efficient binding to the NF-{kappa}B factor Relish and subsequent activation of immune effectors genes.\n\nABSTRACTThe Drosophila IMD pathway is activated upon microbial challenge with Gramnegative bacteria to trigger the innate immune response. In order to decipher this NF-{kappa}B signaling pathway, we undertook an ex-vivo RNAi screen targeting specifically E3 ubiquitin ligases and identified the HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase Hyperplastic Discs \"Hyd\" as a new actor of the IMD pathway. We showed that Hyd targets the NF-{kappa}B cofactor of Akirin. The K63-polyubiquitination chains deposited by Hyd decorate Akirin for its efficient binding to the NF-{kappa}B transcription factor Relish. We showed that this Hyd-mediated interaction is critical to activate immune-induced genes that depend on both Relish and Akirin, but is dispensable for those that depend solely on Relish. Therefore Hyd is key in operating a NF-{kappa}B transcriptional selectivity downstream of the IMD pathway. Drosophila depleted for Hyd or Akirin failed to express the full set of immune-induced anti-microbial peptide coding genes and succumbed to immune challenges. We showed further that Ubr5, the mammalian homolog of Hyd, is also required downstream of the NF-{kappa}B pathway for the IL1{beta}-mediated IL6 activation. This study links the action of a E3-ubiquitin ligase to the activation of immune effector genes, deepening our understanding of the involvement of ubiquitination in inflammation and identifying a potential target for the control of inflammatory diseases.

immunology↗