A selective USP1-UAF1 inhibitor links deubiquitination to DNA damage responses

Nat Chem Biol. 2014 Apr;10(4):298-304. doi: 10.1038/nchembio.1455. Epub 2014 Feb 16.

Abstract

Protein ubiquitination and deubiquitination are central to the control of a large number of cellular pathways and signaling networks in eukaryotes. Although the essential roles of ubiquitination have been established in the eukaryotic DNA damage response, the deubiquitination process remains poorly defined. Chemical probes that perturb the activity of deubiquitinases (DUBs) are needed to characterize the cellular function of deubiquitination. Here we report ML323 (2), a highly potent inhibitor of the USP1-UAF1 deubiquitinase complex with excellent selectivity against human DUBs, deSUMOylase, deneddylase and unrelated proteases. Using ML323, we interrogated deubiquitination in the cellular response to UV- and cisplatin-induced DNA damage and revealed new insights into the requirement of deubiquitination in the DNA translesion synthesis and Fanconi anemia pathways. Moreover, ML323 potentiates cisplatin cytotoxicity in non-small cell lung cancer and osteosarcoma cells. Our findings point to USP1-UAF1 as a key regulator of the DNA damage response and a target for overcoming resistance to the platinum-based anticancer drugs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Butyrates / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • Colony-Forming Units Assay
  • DNA Damage / genetics
  • DNA Damage / physiology*
  • DNA, Neoplasm / antagonists & inhibitors
  • DNA, Neoplasm / biosynthesis
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Fanconi Anemia / genetics
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group D2 Protein / antagonists & inhibitors
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Humans
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Nuclear Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Phenylurea Compounds / pharmacology
  • Pimozide / pharmacology
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / drug effects
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombination, Genetic / drug effects
  • Sister Chromatid Exchange / drug effects
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Ubiquitination / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Butyrates
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • FANCD2 protein, human
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group D2 Protein
  • GW 7647
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • USP1 associated factor 1, human
  • Pimozide
  • USP1 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases
  • Cisplatin