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John M Koomen

Publications and source records attributed to John M Koomen.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Integrative proteomics reveals MSH6 to modulate PARP inhibitor sensitivity in BRCA1/2-proficient ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer remains a leading cause of gynecologic cancer-related deaths worldwide. Deficiencies in BRCA1/2 are well-established biomarkers that predict sensitivity to poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis). However, emerging evidence indicates that a subset of BRCA-proficient tumors also responds to PARPi therapy, suggesting the presence of additional molecular mechanisms. We hypothesized that the composition of the PARP1 protein complex and PARylation-mediated signaling contribute to PARPi response in BRCA-proficient HGSOC. We assessed PARPi response across a panel of BRCA-proficient ovarian cancer cell lines and identified distinct sensitive and resistant groups. Chemical proteomics with rucaparib revealed different PARP1 complexes including higher enrichment of MSH6 in sensitive cells. Co-immunoprecipitation analyses further confirmed differential assembly of PARP1-MSH6-PARP2 complexes between sensitive and resistant models. To explore PARylation signaling, we performed ADP-ribosylation proteomics using clickable NAD⁺ analogs, revealing distinct PARylation profiles between sensitive and resistant cell lines. CHAF1A, a known MSH6 interactor and PARP1 substrate, showed more pronounced reduction in ADP-ribosylation in PARPi-sensitive cells. Targeting MSH6 using CRISPR or siRNA decreased PARPi sensitivity. In addition, mTOR signaling was reduced in sensitive, but increased in resistant cells, following rucaparib treatment. Notably, MSH6 knockdown led to increased CHAF1A expression regardless of rucaparib treatment. Importantly, knockdown of CHAF1A significantly impaired cell viability, especially in A2780 cells, and suppressed mTOR signaling, suggesting that CHAF1A acts downstream of MSH6 to regulate the mTOR axis. Furthermore, co-treatment with mTORC1 inhibitors enhanced the cellular effects of rucaparib in resistant cells, suggesting a therapeutic potential of targeting downstream mTOR effectors to overcome intrinsic resistance. In conclusion, this study identifies the PARP1-MSH6 interaction to modulate PARPi sensitivity via CHAF1A-mTOR signaling in BRCA-proficient ovarian cancer. By integrating chemical proteomics and ADP-ribosylation proteomics, we delineate the interplay between PARP1 complex composition and signaling dynamics, highlighting MSH6 as a critical modulator of PARPi response and potential biomarker to enhance therapeutic efficacy in BRCA-proficient HGSOC.

Humans↗

RAS-GTP Inhibition Overcomes Acquired Resistance to KRASG12C Inhibitors Mediated by Oncogenic and Wild-Type RAS Activation in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

UNLABELLED: Small-molecule KRASG12C(OFF) inhibitors that bind to the inactive GDP-bound state of KRAS have demonstrated efficacy in patients with KRASG12C-mutant tumors, yet responses tend to be transient because of emergence of on-treatment resistance. Recently, RAS(ON) G12C-selective inhibitors, which bind to the active GTP-bound state of RAS, were described, and elironrasib is undergoing evaluation in multiple clinical trials. In this study, we generated resistant cell lines and patient-derived xenograft models to KRASG12C(OFF) and RAS(ON) G12C-selective inhibitors and interrogated resistance mechanisms using a multiomics strategy consisting of phosphoproteomics, whole-exome sequencing, and RNA sequencing combined with functional testing using small-molecule and CRISPR screens and RAS(ON) inhibitors being evaluated in clinical trials. Two models reactivated RAS signaling, either via KRASG12C gene amplification or NRASG13R mutation, and were vulnerable to dual inhibition by RAS(ON) G12C-selective and RAS(ON) multiselective inhibitors, RMC-4998 and RMC-7977. Two models, which lacked any discernable genomic alteration, acquired resistance associated with increased receptor tyrosine kinase activity and downstream persistent RAS activity and were sensitive to RAS-GTP inhibition by RMC-7977. Finally, one model displayed epithelial-mesenchymal transition, loss of RAS dependence, and acquired reliance on cell-cycle kinases and proteins associated with DNA damage response. This work highlights KRASG12C-selective inhibitor resistant states that parallel and complement clinical findings and demonstrate that a large subset could be overcome with a RAS(ON) multi-selective inhibitor as a stand-alone agent or in combination with other therapies. SIGNIFICANCE: Multi-omic characterization of resistance mechanisms to KRASG12C-selective inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer provides insights that could inform precision medicine-based therapeutic approaches for improving the treatment of KRASG12C mutant tumors. See related article by Stern et al., p. 485.

Humans↗

Proteome analysis of isolated perfused organ effluent as a novel model for protein biomarker discovery.

The discovery of novel serological biomarkers is critical for improving disease diagnosis and monitoring treatment response. Proteomic analysis of model systems, such as isolated cells in culture and patient plasma and serum, represents the current state-of-the-art. Here, we coupled proteomics with isolated organ perfusion, which allows a disease state to be studied in a physiologic, yet controlled, environment. Potential markers specific to the disease or to changes in the surrounding tissue may be discovered. The effectiveness of this model was evaluated using proteomic analysis of effluent fractions collected from isolated beating rat hearts during reperfusion after brief episodes of ischemia. The detection of clinical markers for myocardial ischemia in this effluent was robust and analytically straightforward, validating the potential of isolated organ perfusion in diagnostic protein discovery.

Animals↗

Identification of an inactivating cysteine switch in protein kinase Cepsilon, a rational target for the design of protein kinase Cepsilon-inhibitory cancer therapeutics.

Critical roles played by some protein kinases in neoplastic transformation and progression provide a rationale for developing selective, small-molecule kinase inhibitors as antineoplastic drugs. Protein kinase Cepsilon (PKCepsilon) is a rational target for cancer therapy, because it is oncogenic and prometastatic in transgenic mouse models. PKCepsilon is activated by sn-1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG). Attempts to develop selective PKCepsilon inhibitors that block activation by DAG or compete with ATP have not yet met with success, suggesting a need for new strategies. We previously reported that cystamine and a metabolic cystine precursor inactivate PKCepsilon in cells in a thiol-reversible manner. In this report, we first determined that PKCepsilon became resistant to inactivation by disulfides when Cys452 was replaced with alanine by site-specific mutagenesis of human PKCepsilon or a constitutively active PKCepsilon mutant. These results showed that the disulfides inactivated PKCepsilon by thiol-disulfide exchange, either upon Cys452 S-thiolation or by rearrangement to an intra-protein disulfide. Mass spectrometric analysis of peptide digests of cystamine-inactivated, carbamidomethylated PKCepsilon detected a peptide S-cysteaminylated at Cys452, indicating that Cys452 S-cysteaminylation is a stable modification. Furthermore, PKCepsilon inactivation by N-ethylmaleimide was Cys452 dependent, providing corroborative evidence that PKCepsilon inhibitors can be designed by targeting Cys452 with small molecules that stably modify the residue. Cys452 is an active site residue that is conserved in only 11 human protein kinase genes. Therefore, the PKCepsilon-inactivating Cys452 switch is a rational target for the design of antineoplastic drugs that selectively inhibit PKCepsilon.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Anion template effect on the self-assembly and interconversion of metallacyclophanes.

Reactions of 3,6-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (bptz) with solvated first-row transition metals M(II) (M(II) = Ni, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu) have been explored with emphasis on the factors that influence the identity of the resulting cyclic products for Ni(II) and Zn(II). The relatively small anions, namely [ClO4]- and [BF4]-, lead to the formation of molecular squares [{M4(bptz)4(CH3CN)8} subsetX][X]7, (M = Zn(II), Ni(II); X = [BF4]-, [ClO4]-), whereas the larger anion [SbF6]- favors the molecular pentagon [{Ni5(bptz)5-(CH3CN)10} subsetSbF6][SbF6]9. The molecular pentagon easily converts to the square in the presence of excess [BF4]-, [ClO4]-, and [I]- anions, whereas the Ni(II) square can be partially converted to the less stable pentagon under more forcing conditions in the presence of excess [SbF6]- ions. No evidence for the molecular square being in equilibrium with the pentagon was observed in the ESI-MS spectra of the individual square and pentagon samples. Anion-exchange reactions of the encapsulated ion in [{Ni4(bptz)4(CH3CN)8} subsetClO4][ClO4]7 reveal that a larger anion such as [IO4]- cannot replace [ClO4]- inside the cavity, but that the linear [Br3]- anion is capable of doing so. ESI-MS studies of the reaction between [Ni(CH3CN)6][NO3]2 and bptz indicate that the product is trinuclear. Mass spectral studies of the bptz reactions with Mn(II), Fe(II), and Cu(II), in the presence of [ClO4]- anions, support the presence of molecular squares. The formation of the various metallacyclophanes is discussed in light of the factors that influence these self-assembly reactions, such as choice of metal ion, anion, and solvent.

Anions↗

Plasma protein profiling for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer reveals the presence of host response proteins.

Plasma protein profiling using separations coupled to matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) has great potential in translational research; it can be used for biomarker discovery and contribute to disease diagnosis and therapy. Previously reported biomarker searches have been done solely by MS protein profiling followed by bioinformatics analysis of the data. To add to current methods, we tested an alternative strategy for plasma protein profiling using pancreatic cancer as the model. First, offline solid-phase extraction is done with 96-well plates to fractionate and partially purify the proteins. Then, multiple profiling and identification experiments can be conducted on the same protein fractions because only 5% of the fractions are used for MALDI MS profiling. After MALDI MS analysis, the mass spectra are normalized and subjected to a peak detection algorithm. Over three sets of mass spectra acquired using different instrument variables, approximately 400 unique ion signals were detected. Classification schemes employing as many as eight individual peaks were developed using a training set with 123 members (82 cancer patients) and a blinded validation set with 125 members (57 cancer patients). The sensitivity of the study was 88%, but the specificity was significantly lower, 75%. The reason for the low specificity becomes apparent upon protein identification of the ion signals used for the classification. The identifications reveal only common serum proteins and components of the acute phase response, including serum amyloid A, alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Diagnostic protein discovery using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for proteolytic peptide targeting.

A peptide targeting method has been developed for diagnostic protein discovery, which combines proteolytic digestion of fractionated plasma proteins and liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-TOFMS) profiling. Proteolysis prior to profiling overcomes molecular weight limitations and compensates for the poor sensitivity of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) protein profiling. LC/MS increases the peak capacity compared to crude fractionation techniques or single sample MALDI analysis. Differentially expressed peptides are targeted in the mass chromatograms using bioinformatic techniques and subsequently sequenced with MALDI tandem MS. In a model study comparing pancreatic cancer patients to controls, 74% of the peptide targets were successfully sequenced. This profiling method was superior to previous experiments using single sample MALDI analysis for protein profiling or proteolytic peptide profiling, because more potential protein markers were identified.

Adult↗

Binding of DNA purine sites to dirhodium compounds probed by mass spectrometry.

The adducts formed between the antitumor active compounds [Rh(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(2)(CH(3)CN)(6)](BF(4))(2), Rh(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(4), and Rh(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(4) with DNA oligonucleotides have been assessed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) and nanoelectrospray (nanoESI) coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF MS). A series of MALDI studies performed on dipurine (AA, AG, GA, and GG)-containing single-stranded oligonucleotides of different lengths (tetra- to dodecamers) led to the establishment of the relative reactivity cis-[Pt(NH(3))(2)(OH(2))(2)](2+) (activated cisplatin) approximately Rh(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(4) > cis-[Pt(NH(3))(2)Cl(2)] (cisplatin) >> [Rh(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(2)(CH(3)CN)(6)](BF(4))(2) > Rh(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(4) approximately Pt(C(6)H(6)O(4))(NH(3))(2) (carboplatin). The relative reactivity of the complexes is associated with the lability of the leaving groups. The general trend is that an increase in the length of the oligonucleotide leads to enhanced reactivity for Rh(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(2)(CH(3)CN)(6)](BF(4))(2) and Rh(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(4) (except for the case of [Rh(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(2)(CH(3)CN)(6)](2+), which reacts faster with the GG octamers than with the dodecamers), whereas the reactivity of Rh(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(4) is independent of the oligonucleotide length. When monitored by ESI, the dodecamers containing GG react faster than the respectiveAA oligonucleotides in reactions with Rh(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(4) and Rh(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(2)(CH(3)CN)(6)](BF(4))(2), whereas AA oligonucleotides react faster with Rh(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(4). The mixed (AG, GA) purine sequences exhibit comparable rates of reactivity with the homopurine (AA, GG) dodecamers in reactions with Rh(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(4). The observation of initial dirhodium-DNA adducts with weak axial (ax) interactions, followed by rearrangement to more stable equatorial (eq) adducts, was achieved by electrospray ionization; the Rh-Rh bond as well as coordinated acetate or acetonitrile ligands remain intact in these dirhodium-DNA adducts. MALDI in-source decay (ISD), collision-induced dissociation (CID) MS-MS, and enzymatic digestion studies followed by MALDI and ESI MS reveal that, in the dirhodium compounds studied, the purine sites of the DNA oligonucleotides interact with the dirhodium core. Ultimately, both MALDI and ESI MS proved to be complementary, valuable tools for probing the identity and stability of dinuclear metal-DNA adducts.

Binding Sites↗

Comparative analyses of the three-dimensional structures and enzymatic properties of alpha, beta, gamma and delta isoforms of Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II.

Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM-kinase II) is a ubiquitous Ser/Thr-directed protein kinase that is expressed from a family of four genes (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta) in mammalian cells. We have documented the three-dimensional structures and the biophysical and enzymatic properties of the four gene products. Biophysical analyses showed that each isoform assembles into oligomeric forms and their three-dimensional structures at 21-25 A revealed that all four isoforms were dodecamers with similar but highly unusual architecture. A gear-shaped core comprising the association domain has the catalytic domains tethered on appendages, six of which extend from both ends of the core. At this level of resolution, we can discern no isoform-dependent differences in ultrastructure of the holoenzymes. Enzymatic analyses showed that the isoforms were similar in their K(m) for ATP and the peptide substrate syntide, but showed significant differences in their interactions with Ca(2+)-calmodulin as assessed by binding, substrate phosphorylation, and autophosphorylation. Interestingly, the rank order of CaM binding affinity (gamma > beta > delta > alpha) does not directly correlate with the rank order of their CaM dependence for autophosphorylation (beta > gamma > delta > alpha). Simulations utilizing this data revealed that the measured differences in CaM binding affinities play a minor role in the autophosphorylation of the enzyme, which is largely dictated by the rate of autophosphorylation for each isoform.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Diagnostic protein discovery using proteolytic peptide targeting and identification.

Plasma protein profiling with mass spectrometry is currently being evaluated as a diagnostic tool for cancer and other diseases. These experiments consist of three steps: plasma protein fractionation, analysis with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS), and comparisons of the MALDI profiles to develop diagnostic fingerprints using bioinformatic techniques. While preliminary results appear promising in small sample groups, the method is limited by the sensitivity of MALDI-MS for intact proteins, the limited mass range of MALDI-MS, and difficulties associated with isolating individual proteins for identification to validate the diagnostic fingerprint. Here we present an alternative and improved method directed toward diagnostic protein discovery, which incorporates proteolytic peptide profiling, bioinformatic targeting of ion signals, and MALDI tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) peptide sequencing, rather than fingerprinting. Pancreatic cancer patients, pancreatitis patients, and controls are used as the model system. Profiling peptides after enzymatic digestion improves sensitivity and extends the accessible protein molecular weight range when compared to intact protein profiling. The first step is to extract and fractionate the proteins from plasma. Each fraction is digested with trypsin and subsequently analyzed by MALDI-MS. Rather than using bioinformatic analysis as a pattern-matching technique, peptides are targeted based on the disease to control peak intensity ratios measured in the averages of all mass spectra in each group and t-tests of the intensity of each individual peak. The targeted peptide ion signals are subsequently identified using MALDI-MS/MS in quadrupole-TOF and tandem-TOF instruments. This study found not only the proteins targeted and identified by a previous protein profiling experiment, but also detected additional proteins. These initial results are consistent with the known biology of pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis, but are not specific to those diseases.

Adult↗

Oligonucleotide analysis with MALDI-ion-mobility-TOFMS.

Matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization followed by ion-mobility separation and time-of-flight mass analysis (MALDI-IM-TOFMS) has been used to characterize native and chemically modified DNA oligonucleotides up to eight bases in length. Mobility resolution between 20 and 30 can be used to separate oligonucleotides of different length, but not to differentiate between isomers or even different compositions of the same length. MALDI-IM-TOFMS does, however, have additional utility in the analysis of mixtures of DNA oligonucleotides and peptides, because these classes of molecules can be distinguished on the basis of differences in their mobility. Oligonucleotide sequencing is also possible by MALDI-IM-TOFMS. Ion signals corresponding to nucleobase losses, w-type, and y-type fragments were identified by use of differences in ion mobility. MALDI-IM-TOFMS was also used to resolve DNA-platinum adducts from the corresponding unmodified oligonucleotides.

Ions↗

Studies on the biosynthesis of phomoidride B (CP-263,114): evidence for a decarboxylative homodimerization pathway.

[reaction: see text]. Feeding experiments using a deuterium labeled C16 maleic anhydride and whole cell culture of ATCC 74256 led to the isolation of phomoidride B with deuterium incorporation at C(7) and C(19) as determined by 2H NMR and electrospray mass spectrometry. This result is in accord with a decarboxylative homodimerization of the C16 maleic anhydride as a key biosynthetic step leading to phomoidride B.

Decarboxylation↗

Accurate mass measurement of DNA oligonucleotide ions using high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) play an essential role in the analysis of biological molecules, not only peptides and proteins, but also DNA and RNA. Tandem mass spectrometry used for sequence analysis has been a major focus of technological developments in mass spectrometry, but accurate mass measurements by high-resolution TOFMS are equally important. This paper describes the role that high mass measurement accuracy can play in DNA composition assignment and discusses the influence of several parameters on mass measurement accuracy in both MALDI and ESI mass spectra. Five oligonucleotides (5-13mers) were used to test the resolving power and mass measurement accuracy obtained with MALDI and ESI instruments with reflectron TOF mass analyzers. The results from the experimental studies and additional theoretical calculations provide a basis to predict the practical utility of high-resolution TOFMS for the analysis of larger oligonucleotides.

DNA↗

A study of peptide-peptide interactions using MALDI ion mobility o-TOF and ESI mass spectrometry.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization ion mobility coupled to orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-IM-oTOF MS) is evaluated as a tool for studying non-covalent complex (NCX) formation between peptides. The NCX formed between dynorphin 1-7 and Mini Gastrin I is used as a model system for comparison to previous MALDI experiments (Woods, A. S.; Huestis, M. A. J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 2001, 12, 88-96). The dynorphin 1-7/Mini Gastrin I complex is stable after more than a ms drift time through the He filled mobility cell. Furthermore, the effects of solution pH on NCX ion signal intensity is measured both by MALDI-IM-MS analysis and by nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry. When compared to the previous MALDI study this work shows that all three techniques give similar results. In addition, fragmentation can be observed from of the non-covalent complex parent ion that occurs prior to TOF mass analysis but after mobility separation, thus providing NCX composition information.

Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases↗

Direct tandem mass spectrometry reveals limitations in protein profiling experiments for plasma biomarker discovery.

The low molecular weight plasma proteome and its biological relevance are not well defined; therefore, experiments were conducted to directly sequence and identify peptides observed in plasma and serum protein profiles. Protein fractionation, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) profiling, and liquid-chromatography coupled to MALDI tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) sequencing were used to analyze the low molecular weight proteome of heparinized plasma. Four fractionation techniques using functionally derivatized 96-well plates were used to extract peptides from plasma. Tandem TOF was successful for identifying peptides up to m/z 5500 with no prior knowledge of the sequence and was also used to verify the sequence assignments for larger ion signals. The peptides (n>250) sequenced in these profiles came from a surprisingly small number of proteins (n approximately 20), which were all common to plasma, including fibrinogen, complement components, antiproteases, and carrier proteins. The cleavage patterns were consistent with those of known plasma proteases, including initial cleavages by thrombin, plasmin and complement proteins, followed by aminopeptidase and carboxypeptidase activity. On the basis of these data, we discuss limitations in biomarker discovery in the low molecular weight plasma or serum proteome using crude fractionation coupled to MALDI-MS profiling.

Biomarkers↗