2. Academic Validation
  3. Improved correction of F508del-CFTR biogenesis with a folding facilitator and an inhibitor of protein ubiquitination

Improved correction of F508del-CFTR biogenesis with a folding facilitator and an inhibitor of protein ubiquitination

  • Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2021 Sep 15:48:128243. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.128243.
Jennifer L Goeckeler-Fried 1,  Rajiah Aldrin Denny 2,  Disha Joshi 3,  Clare Hill 4,  Mads B Larsen 5,  Annette N Chiang 1,  Raymond A Frizzell 5,  Peter Wipf 4,  Eric J Sorscher 3,  Jeffrey L Brodsky 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Biological Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
  • 2 Department of Inflammation & Immunology, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
  • 3 Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA.
  • 4 Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
  • 5 Department of Pediatrics, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.
  • 6 Department of Biological Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. Electronic address: jbrodsky@pitt.edu.
PMID: 34246753 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.128243
Abstract

A growing number of diseases are linked to the misfolding of integral membrane proteins, and many of these proteins are targeted for ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation. One such substrate is a mutant form of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (F508del-CFTR). Protein folding "correctors" that repair the F508del-CFTR folding defect have entered the clinic, but they are unlikely to protect the entire protein from degradation. To increase the pool of F508del-CFTR protein that is available for correction by existing treatments, we determined a structure-activity relationship to improve the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of an inhibitor of the E1 ubiquitin activating Enzyme that facilitates F508del-CFTR maturation. A resulting lead compound lacked measurable toxicity and improved the ability of an FDA-approved corrector to augment F508del-CFTR folding, transport the protein to the plasma membrane, and maintain its activity. These data support a proof-of-concept that modest inhibition of substrate ubiquitination improves the activity of small molecule correctors to treat CF and potentially Other protein conformational disorders.

Keywords

CFTR; Cystic fibrosis; E1 ubiquitin activating enzyme; ERAD; Proteasome; Protein degradation; Protein folding; Structure-activity relationship; Trikafta; Ubiquitin.

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