Whole-Genome Rnai Screen Highlights Components of The
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Whole-genome RNAi screen highlights components of PNAS PLUS the endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi as a source of resistance to immunotoxin-mediated cytotoxicity Matteo Pasettoa,1,2, Antonella Antignania,1, Pinar Ormanoglub, Eugen Buehlerb, Rajarshi Guhab, Ira Pastana,3, Scott E. Martinb, and David J. FitzGeralda,3 aLaboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264; and bDivision of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850 Contributed by Ira Pastan, February 2, 2015 (sent for review October 6, 2014; reviewed by Arthur Frankel and Wayne I. Lencer) Immunotoxins (antibody–toxin fusion proteins) target surface EF2 no longer functions at the elongation step of protein trans- antigens on cancer cells and kill these cells via toxin-mediated in- lation. Death results from a combination of events: the loss of hibition of protein synthesis. To identify genes controlling this short-lived survival proteins (e.g., Mcl1), triggering apoptosis, process, an RNAi whole-genome screen (∼22,000 genes at three and stress responses that cannot be executed because protein siRNAs per gene) was conducted via monitoring the cytotoxicity of translation is shut down (21). Regarding the constituents of the the mesothelin-directed immunotoxin SS1P. SS1P, a Pseudomonas pathway responsible for transporting the immunotoxin from the exotoxin-based immunotoxin, was chosen because it is now in surface to the cytosol, there are only a handful of experimentally clinical trials and has produced objective tumor regressions in established components. These proteins include the surface patients. High and low concentrations of SS1P were chosen to target itself, the protease furin, and KDELR2 (discussed below). allow for the identification of both mitigators and sensitizers. As In addition, within the cytosol, the diphthamide pathway re- expected, silencing known essential genes in the immunotoxin sponsible for the multistep posttranslational modification of EF2, pathway, such as mesothelin, furin, KDEL receptor 2, or members converting histidine 715 to diphthamide, is necessary (22, 23). of the diphthamide pathway, protected cells. Of greater interest Beyond these components, the total number of constituents is was the observation that many RNAi targets increased immuno- unknown, although it is under study (24). Silencing of genes MEDICAL SCIENCES toxin sensitivity, indicating that these gene products normally con- associated with the immunotoxin pathway would likely change tribute to inefficiencies in the killing pathway. Of the top sen- cell sensitivity. Furthermore, should these gene products be ame- sitizers, many genes encode proteins that locate to either the nable to regulation via small molecular drugs, alterations of killing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or Golgi and are annotated as part of activity might be possible via chemical intervention (25, 26). the secretory system. Genes related to the ER-associated degrada- Mesothelin is expressed on mesotheliomas, as well as on other tion system were not among high-ranking mitigator or sensitizer epithelial cancers (27–32). The immunotoxin SS1P was designed candidates. However, the p97 inhibitor eeyarestatin 1 enhanced immunotoxin killing. Our results highlight potential targets for to kill cells displaying this surface protein and is currently under chemical intervention that could increase immunotoxin killing of clinical evaluation. Of note, recent results from a phase 1 trial cancer cells and enhance our understanding of toxin trafficking. combining SS1P with pemetrexed and cisplatin reported a 60% RNAi | toxin | immunotoxin | screen | genome Significance ntibody-based cancer therapeutics are designed to kill target To increase understanding of how antibody–toxin fusion pro- Acells, ideally causing little damage to normal cells. These teins (immunotoxins) kill cells, we used RNAi, striving to reduce molecules extend from intact IgG molecules through antibody– the expression level of all human genes. Some RNAi treatments drug conjugates to antibody–toxin fusions (1–4). When antibodies resulted in resistance to immunotoxins and some caused in- are tasked with delivering radionuclides or T cells, surface binding creased sensitivity. We focused on target genes that caused is usually sufficient. However, when delivering toxic payloads, cells to be more immunotoxin-sensitive. Results highlight antibody internalization to specific intracellular pathways plays genes that naturally protect cells from the action of immuno- a critical role in determining cellular susceptibility (5–8). toxins. Of interest, many of these genes encode proteins that Immunotoxin design includes an antibody fragment, either Fv reside in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi, and are part of or Fab, fused with a protein toxin (4, 9–11). The antibody frag- the cell’s secretion system. Should these gene products be ment binds a surface antigen leading to internalization followed amenable to regulation via small molecular drugs, enhance- by cleavage via the cellular protease, furin, which begins sepa- ment of killing might be possible via chemical intervention. rating the toxin from the antibody Fv (12, 13). Separation is completed by a reduction step that generates a C-terminal toxin Author contributions: A.A., I.P., S.E.M., and D.J.F. designed research; M.P., A.A., and P.O. performed research; P.O., E.B., R.G., S.E.M., and D.J.F. analyzed data; and A.A., I.P., S.E.M., fragment of 35 kDa (14). This fragment contains a KDEL-like and D.J.F. wrote the paper. sequence at the C terminus, which is necessary for cell killing Reviewers: A.F., UT Southwestern; and W.I.L., Harvard Medical School. (15). The need for a KDEL-like sequence implicates the endo- The authors declare no conflict of interest. plasmic reticulum (ER) as an essential organelle in the toxin Data deposition: The sequence reported in this paper has been deposited in the PubChem pathway and suggests that the toxin travels to the ER via a ret- database (assay ID 1117281). rograde pathway. KDEL-receptor 2 (KDELR2) has been shown 1M.P. and A.A. contributed equally to this work. to interact with Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE)-derived immuno- 2Present address: Department of Pathology and Diagnosis, Ospedale GB Rossi, 37134 toxins (16). From the ER, the C-terminal toxin fragment trans- Verona, Italy. locates to the cell cytosol, where it ADP-ribosylates elongation 3To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: [email protected] or fitzgerd@ factor 2 (EF2). Only EF2 that is modified posttranslationally by helix.nih.gov. a multistep diphthamide pathway is susceptible to toxin-mediated This article contains supporting information online at www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10. ADP ribosylation (17–20). Cells succumb because ADP-ribosylated 1073/pnas.1501958112/-/DCSupplemental. www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1501958112 PNAS Early Edition | 1of8 Downloaded by guest on October 1, 2021 response rate in patients with pleural mesothelioma and a 77% Table 2. Top 24 ranked genes from the genome-wide screen for response rate at the maximum tolerated dose (33). Mesothelin is sensitizers expressed on KB cells at about 10,000 copies per cell, rendering RSA rank Symbol Gene_ID RSA rank Symbol Gene_ID these cells moderately sensitive to the SS1P immunotoxin with an IC50 of 10–20 ng/mL. 1 RPL10A 4736 13 CD48 962 RNAi results in the loss of mRNA from target genes (34). To 2 SLC33A1 9197 14 PKDREJ 10343 identify genes involved in immunotoxin-mediated killing, we 3 HDDC3 374659 15 hCG_31916 653702 undertook a whole-genome screen where three siRNAs per gene 4 RPL38 6169 16 RPL24 6152 were added before the addition of a high or low concentration of 5 BICC1 80114 17 EIF3I 8668 immunotoxin. Genes were scored as “mitigators” or “sensitizers” 6 COPB1 1315 18 RBM13 84549 based on their protection from or enhancement of immunotoxin 7 ZNF37A 7587 19 CPEB4 80315 action. To validate selected targets, additional siRNAs were 8 FUCA1 2517 20 STX19 415117 tested via dose–response analysis of immunotoxin action. Here, 9 RPLP1 6176 21 CHIT1 1118 we confirm the roles of essential genes in the immunotoxin 10 DYNLT1 6993 22 HTR4 3360 pathway and identify previously unknown members of the toxin 11 ARL1 400 23 LOC388532 388532 pathway, notably those members that usually protect cells from 12 COPE 11316 24 ARF4 378 immunotoxin action but, when reduced in expression, lead to the sensitization of cells. most significant mitigator genes determined by Haystack (Dataset Results S3). Also among the top candidates were genes that could rea- Validation of Initial RNAi Screen. To identify genes involved in sonably be expected to participate in the immunotoxin pathway. immunotoxin intoxication, a whole-genome RNAi screen was These genes were components of the endocytic pathway, in- performed on KB cells that express surface mesothelin and are cluding the clathrin coat protein AP2M1 and dynamin 2. Addi- moderately susceptible to the immunotoxin SS1P. Cells were tional members of the clathrin coat were also ranked highly transfected with three siRNAs corresponding to each of ∼22,000 (RSA: P < 0.001), including AP2A1 and AP2S1 (Dataset S1). human genes and then treated with either a “high” concentration Proapoptotic genes were also among the top candidates, in- of immunotoxin, where the silencing of essential genes would cluding a top RSA-ranked candidate, BAK1, and Haystack “