TY - JOUR
T1 - Non-antibiotic Small-Molecule Regulation of DHFR-Based Destabilizing Domains In Vivo
AU - Peng, Hui
AU - Chau, Viet Q.
AU - Phetsang, Wanida
AU - Sebastian, Rebecca M.
AU - Stone, M. Rhia L.
AU - Datta, Shyamtanu
AU - Renwick, Marian
AU - Tamer, Yusuf T.
AU - Toprak, Erdal
AU - Koh, Andrew Y.
AU - Blaskovich, Mark A.T.
AU - Hulleman, John D.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Author(s)
PY - 2019/12/13
Y1 - 2019/12/13
N2 - The E. coli dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) destabilizing domain (DD), which shows promise as a biologic tool and potential gene therapy approach, can be utilized to achieve spatial and temporal control of protein abundance in vivo simply by administration of its stabilizing ligand, the routinely prescribed antibiotic trimethoprim (TMP). However, chronic TMP use drives development of antibiotic resistance (increasing likelihood of subsequent infections) and disrupts the gut microbiota (linked to autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases), tempering translational excitement of this approach in model systems and for treating human diseases. Herein, we identified a TMP-based, non-antibiotic small molecule, termed 14a (MCC8529), and tested its ability to control multiple DHFR-based reporters and signaling proteins. We found that 14a is non-toxic and can effectively stabilize DHFR DDs expressed in mammalian cells. Furthermore, 14a crosses the blood-retinal barrier and stabilizes DHFR DDs expressed in the mouse eye with kinetics comparable to that of TMP (≤6 h). Surprisingly, 14a stabilized a DHFR DD in the liver significantly better than TMP did, while having no effect on the mouse gut microbiota. Our results suggest that alternative small-molecule DHFR DD stabilizers (such as 14a) may be ideal substitutes for TMP in instances when conditional, non-antibiotic control of protein abundance is desired in the eye and beyond.
AB - The E. coli dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) destabilizing domain (DD), which shows promise as a biologic tool and potential gene therapy approach, can be utilized to achieve spatial and temporal control of protein abundance in vivo simply by administration of its stabilizing ligand, the routinely prescribed antibiotic trimethoprim (TMP). However, chronic TMP use drives development of antibiotic resistance (increasing likelihood of subsequent infections) and disrupts the gut microbiota (linked to autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases), tempering translational excitement of this approach in model systems and for treating human diseases. Herein, we identified a TMP-based, non-antibiotic small molecule, termed 14a (MCC8529), and tested its ability to control multiple DHFR-based reporters and signaling proteins. We found that 14a is non-toxic and can effectively stabilize DHFR DDs expressed in mammalian cells. Furthermore, 14a crosses the blood-retinal barrier and stabilizes DHFR DDs expressed in the mouse eye with kinetics comparable to that of TMP (≤6 h). Surprisingly, 14a stabilized a DHFR DD in the liver significantly better than TMP did, while having no effect on the mouse gut microbiota. Our results suggest that alternative small-molecule DHFR DD stabilizers (such as 14a) may be ideal substitutes for TMP in instances when conditional, non-antibiotic control of protein abundance is desired in the eye and beyond.
KW - chemical biology
KW - conditional regulation
KW - destabilizing domain
KW - gene therapy
KW - hepatic
KW - non-antibiotic
KW - ocular
KW - trimethoprim
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U2 - 10.1016/j.omtm.2019.08.002
DO - 10.1016/j.omtm.2019.08.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 31649953
AN - SCOPUS:85072222413
SN - 2329-0501
VL - 15
SP - 27
EP - 39
JO - Molecular Therapy Methods and Clinical Development
JF - Molecular Therapy Methods and Clinical Development
ER -