A peptoid-based inhibitor of protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) induces apoptosis and autophagy in cancer cells
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-1-2022
Subject Area
Apoptosis; Arginine (metabolism); Autophagy; Humans; Neoplasms (drug therapy, genetics); Peptoids; Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases (metabolism); Repressor Proteins (metabolism)
Abstract
Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) are S-adenosylmethionine-dependent enzymes that transfer a methyl group to arginine residues within proteins, most notably histones. The nine characterized PRMT family members are divided into three types depending on the resulting methylated product: asymmetric dimethylarginine (Type I PRMT), symmetric dimethylarginine (Type II PRMT), or monomethylated arginine (Type III PRMT). In some cancers, the resulting product can lead to either increased or decreased transcription of cancer-related genes, suggesting PRMT family members may be valid therapeutic targets. Traditionally, peptide-based compounds have been employed to target this family of enzymes, which has resulted in multiple tool and lead compounds being developed. However, peptide-based therapeutics suffer from poor stability and short half-lives, as proteases can render them useless by hydrolytic degradation. Conversely, peptoids, which are peptide-mimetics composed of N-substituted glycine monomers, are less susceptible to hydrolysis, resulting in improved stability and longer half-lives. Herein, we report the development of a bioavailable, peptoid-based PRMT1 inhibitor that induces cell death in MDA468 and HCT116 cancer cell lines while not exhibiting any significant impact on nontumorigenic HepaRG or normal human mammary epithelial cells. Furthermore, the inhibitor described herein appears to induce both apoptosis and autophagy, suggesting it may be a less toxic cytostatic agent. In conclusion, we propose this peptoid-based inhibitor has significant anticancer and therapeutic potential by reducing cell viability, growth, and size in breast and colon cancer. Further experimentation will help determine the mechanism of action and downstream effects of this compound.
Publication Title
The Journal of biological chemistry
Volume
298
Issue
8
First Page
102205
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102205
PubMed ID
35764172
E-ISSN
1083-351X
Language
eng
Citation Information
DuBose, Mollie B.; Sartawi, Tala; Sawatzky, Tina M.; Causey, Corey P.; Rehman, Fatima Khwaja; and Knuckley, Bryan, "A peptoid-based inhibitor of protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) induces apoptosis and autophagy in cancer cells" (2022). UNF Faculty Research and Scholarship. 3196.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/unf_faculty_publications/3196