title: Proteasome inhibition by fellutamide B induces nerve growth factor synthesis.
abstract: Neurotrophic small molecules have the potential to aid in the treatment of neuronal injury and neurodegenerative diseases. The natural product fellutamide B, originally isolated from Penicillium fellutanum, potently induces nerve growth factor (NGF) release from fibroblasts and glial-derived cells, although the mechanism for this neurotrophic activity has not been elucidated. Here, we report that fellutamide B potently inhibits proteasome catalytic activity. High-resolution structural information obtained from cocrystallization of the 20S proteasome reveals novel aspects regarding beta-subunit binding and adduct formation by fellutamide B to inhibit their hydrolytic activity. We demonstrate that fellutamide B and other proteasome inhibitors increased NGF gene transcription via a cis-acting element (or elements) in the promoter. These results demonstrate an unrecognized connection between proteasome inhibition and NGF production, suggesting a possible new strategy in the development of neurotrophic agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hines
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Groll
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fahnestock
authors.forename: Craig M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Crews
mesh_terms: D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008958:Models, Molecular; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000737:chemistry; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D004151:Dipeptides; D055666:Lipopeptides; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors; C513652:fellutamide B; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor