title: Rational design of shepherdin, a novel anticancer agent.
abstract: Anticancer agents that selectively kill tumor cells and spare normal tissues are urgently needed. Here, we engineered a cell-permeable peptidomimetic, shepherdin, modeled on the binding interface between the molecular chaperone Hsp90 and the antiapoptotic and mitotic regulator, survivin. Shepherdin makes extensive contacts with the ATP pocket of Hsp90, destabilizes its client proteins, and induces massive death of tumor cells by apoptotic and nonapoptotic mechanisms. Conversely, shepherdin does not reduce the viability of normal cells, and does not affect colony formation of purified hematopoietic progenitors. Systemic administration of shepherdin in vivo is well tolerated, and inhibits human tumor growth in mice without toxicity. Shepherdin could provide a potent and selective anticancer agent in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Biology and the Cancer Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plescia
authors.forename: Whitney
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Salz
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pennati
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zaffaroni
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Daidone
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meli
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dohi
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fortugno
authors.forename: Yulia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nefedova
authors.forename: Dmitry I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Gabrilovich
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Dario C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Altieri
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D051943:Antennapedia Homeodomain Protein; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D016227:Benzoquinones; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D015195:Drug Design; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D015696:Gene Products, tat / Q000235:genetics; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D047029:Lactams, Macrocyclic; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D011487:Protein Conformation; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D017828:Rifabutin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D000077022:Survivin; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D051943:Antennapedia Homeodomain Protein; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D016227:Benzoquinones; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D015696:Gene Products, tat; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D047029:Lactams, Macrocyclic; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D000077022:Survivin; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C503112:shepherdin; D017828:Rifabutin; C112765:tanespimycin; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D045304:Cytochromes c; D019098:Telomerase