RNA-Targeting Splicing Modifiers: Drug Development and Screening Assays
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molecules Review RNA-Targeting Splicing Modifiers: Drug Development and Screening Assays Zhichao Tang, Junxing Zhao , Zach J. Pearson, Zarko V. Boskovic and Jingxin Wang * Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA; [email protected] (Z.T.); [email protected] (J.Z.); [email protected] (Z.J.P.); [email protected] (Z.V.B.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: RNA splicing is an essential step in producing mature messenger RNA (mRNA) and other RNA species. Harnessing RNA splicing modifiers as a new pharmacological modality is promising for the treatment of diseases caused by aberrant splicing. This drug modality can be used for infectious diseases by disrupting the splicing of essential pathogenic genes. Several antisense oligonucleotide splicing modifiers were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Recently, a small-molecule splicing modifier, risdiplam, was also approved for the treatment of SMA, highlighting small molecules as important warheads in the arsenal for regulating RNA splicing. The cellular targets of these approved drugs are all mRNA precursors (pre-mRNAs) in human cells. The development of novel RNA-targeting splicing modifiers can not only expand the scope of drug targets to include many previously considered “undruggable” genes but also enrich the chemical-genetic toolbox for basic biomedical research. In this review, we summarized known Citation: Tang, Z.; Zhao, J.; Pearson, splicing modifiers, screening methods for novel splicing modifiers, and the chemical space occupied Z.J.; Boskovic, Z.V.; Wang, J. by the small-molecule splicing modifiers. RNA-Targeting Splicing Modifiers: Drug Development and Screening Keywords: alternative splicing; high-throughput screening; antisense oligonucleotide; small molecule; Assays. Molecules 2021, 26, 2263. splicing modifier; RNA-targeting https://doi.org/10.3390/ molecules26082263 Academic Editors: 1. Introduction Maria Chatzopoulou, Angela Russell and Simona Rapposelli The splicing of messenger RNA precursors (pre-mRNAs) by the spliceosome is an essential processing step occurring before the translation of most nuclear encoded eu- Received: 26 February 2021 karyote genes. Some genes encoded in eukaryotic organelles (e.g., mitochondria [1]) Accepted: 9 April 2021 and in prokaryotic cells [2] must undergo spliceosome-independent RNA splicing before Published: 14 April 2021 translation. In the past two decades, gene- or exon-specific splicing modifiers have been developed for the treatment of several human disease states, including spinal muscular Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral atrophy (SMA) [3,4], Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) [5–7], and influenza virus with regard to jurisdictional claims in infection [8], as well as pre-clinical drug development for diseases such as frontotemporal published maps and institutional affil- dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17) [9], yeast infection [10], iations. and familial dysautonomia [11]. Instead of a traditional protein-targeting drug modality, these compounds act through direct binding to the pre-mRNAs. 1.1. Chemistry in RNA Splicing Reactions Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. There are two general types of splicing reactions to process messenger RNAs (mRNAs) Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. —the distinction being made based on the mechanisms of breaking the phosphate group in This article is an open access article the 50 splice sites (i.e., the exon/intron junction at the 50 of the intron to be spliced). Both distributed under the terms and mechanisms start with a nucleophilic attack, but what distinguishes them is the identity conditions of the Creative Commons of the nucleophiles. These can either be (a) an adenosine in the intron, namely the branch Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// point, or (b) an exogenous guanosine cofactor that non-covalently binds to the intron creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ aptamer [12] (Figure1). The first type of splicing reaction occurs in the maturation of all the 4.0/). Molecules 2021, 26, 2263. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26082263 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules Molecules 2021, 26, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 28 binds to the intron aptamer [12] (Figure 1). The first type of splicing reaction occurs in the maturation of all the nuclear encoded mRNAs by spliceosomes (see ref [13,14] for recent reviews) and a family of intron sequences, namely group II introns, in bacteria, plants, and yeast [2]. This type of splicing reaction removes the intron as a cyclized fragment, intron lariat, in two steps (Figure 1a). First, the 2′-OH of the branching adenosine initiates nucleophilic attacks on the 5′ splice site and frees the 5′ exon (exon 1). Second, the 3′-OH Molecules 2021, 26, 2263 of the 5′ exon attacks the 3′ phosphate group of the intron (3′ splice site) to rejoin the2 two of 27 exons with a simultaneous release of the intron lariat (Figure 1a). In animal cells, the intron lariats usually do not encode proteins and are commonly linearized and destroyed within minutesnuclear encoded[15]. However, mRNAs some by spliceosomesof the intron lari (seeats ref can [13 remain,14] for cyclic recent and reviews) be exported and a familyto the cytoplasmof intron sequences, to regulate namely cellular group functions II introns, [15]. in These bacteria, cytosolic plants, stable andyeast intron [2 ].lariats This typeare, therefore,of splicing a reactionsource of removes circular theRNAs intron (circRNA as a cyclizeds), whose fragment, regulatory intron role lariat,is not infully two under- steps stood(Figure [16].1a). First, the 2 0-OH of the branching adenosine initiates nucleophilic attacks on the 5The0 splice second site andtype frees of splicing the 50 exon involves (exon a 1). family Second, of theintron 30-OH sequences: of the 50 exongroup attacks I introns the [12].30 phosphate In this type group of splicing of the intron reaction, (30 splice a segment site) to of rejoin the theintron two folds exons and with forms a simultaneous a binding- pocketrelease for of theexogenous intron lariatguanosine (Figure (Figure1a). In 1b) animal [12]. The cells, 3′-OH the intron of the lariatsG thenusually serves as do a notnu- cleophileencode proteins and attacks and are the commonly 5′ splice site. linearized After the and 5′ destroyedsplice site withinbreaks minutesand is guanylated, [15]. However, the nucleophilicsome of the intronG is displaced lariats can by remain a G at cyclicthe 3′ andsplice be site exported in the tobinding the cytoplasm pocket. The to regulate free 3′- OHcellular of the functions 5′ exon [ 15subsequently]. These cytosolic attacks stable the intron3′ splice lariats site are,similarly therefore, to finalize a source the of splicing circular reaction.RNAs (circRNAs), In group I whoseintron regulatorysplicing, the role intron is not product fully understood remains linear [16]. (Figure 1b). Figure 1. Splicing reaction with (a) adenosine as the branchbranch point,point, whichwhich occursoccurs in spliceosome-dependentspliceosome-dependent splicing and group II introns, and (b) exogenous guanosine bindingbinding in the group II introns.introns. InThe eukaryotes, second type most of splicing of the pre-mRNAs involves a family are spliced of intron by sequences:spliceosomes. group For I this introns reason, [12]. weIn thiscan type also ofgroup splicing the reaction,splicing areactions segment into of the two intron major folds categories, and forms namely a binding-pocket spliceosome- for 0 dependentexogenous and guanosine -independent (Figure1 splicing.b) [ 12]. TheThese 3 -OH two oftypes the Gof thensplicing serves distribute as a nucleophile distinctively and 0 0 inattacks different the 5kingdomssplice site. of Afterlife. Spliceosome, the 5 splice site as alluded breaks and to already, is guanylated, only exists the nucleophilic in eukaryotic G 0 0 0 cellsis displaced and is enclosed by a G at in the the 3 cellsplice nucleus. site in On the the binding other pocket.hand, the The spliceosome-independent free 3 -OH of the 5 exon 0 groupsubsequently I and II attacks introns the are 3 neversplice observed site similarly in animal to finalize cells thebut splicing they are reaction. broadly In found group in I intron splicing, the intron product remains linear (Figure1b). In eukaryotes, most of the pre-mRNAs are spliced by spliceosomes. For this reason, we can also group the splicing reactions into two major categories, namely spliceosome- dependent and -independent splicing. These two types of splicing distribute distinctively in different kingdoms of life. Spliceosome, as alluded to already, only exists in eukaryotic cells and is enclosed in the cell nucleus. On the other hand, the spliceosome-independent group I and II introns are never observed in animal cells but they are broadly found in prokaryotic cells. Group I and II introns also exist in eukaryotic organelles, such as plant chloroplasts Molecules 2021, 26, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 28 Molecules 2021, 26, 2263 3 of 27 prokaryotic cells. Group I and II introns also exist in eukaryotic organelles, such as plant chloroplasts and yeast mitochondria. Other than messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA) [17] and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) [12] can also be spliced in a spliceosome-inde- and yeast mitochondria. Other than messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA) [17] pendent manner. and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) [12] can also be spliced in a spliceosome-independent manner. 1.2. Spliceosome-Depende