Broad-spectrum ubiquitin-specific protease inhibition as a mechanism for the cytotoxicity of YM155 in cancers

Abstract Protein ubiquitination is a dynamic and reversible process involved in gene transcription, protein metabolism, and cellular apoptosis. Ubiquitin specific proteases (USPs), as the largest family of deubiquitinating enzymes, are able to remove the ubiquitin from target proteins, rescuing them...

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Main Authors: Xiang Li, Na He, Yan Lv, Haiyue Wang, Ming Zhang, Heiyan Zhai, Zhen Yang, Yi Yang, Dagang Guo, Zhixiang Cao, Yiyou Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88761-3
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author Xiang Li
Na He
Yan Lv
Haiyue Wang
Ming Zhang
Heiyan Zhai
Zhen Yang
Yi Yang
Dagang Guo
Zhixiang Cao
Yiyou Chen
author_facet Xiang Li
Na He
Yan Lv
Haiyue Wang
Ming Zhang
Heiyan Zhai
Zhen Yang
Yi Yang
Dagang Guo
Zhixiang Cao
Yiyou Chen
author_sort Xiang Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Protein ubiquitination is a dynamic and reversible process involved in gene transcription, protein metabolism, and cellular apoptosis. Ubiquitin specific proteases (USPs), as the largest family of deubiquitinating enzymes, are able to remove the ubiquitin from target proteins, rescuing them from degradation. Here, we characterized the small molecule antitumor agent YM155 as a broad-spectrum USP inhibitor. By inhibiting the deubiquitinase activity of multiple USPs, YM155 causes the degradation of oncogenic substrate proteins, such as c-Myc and intracellular domain of Notch1. In cancers driven by these proteins, YM155 induces profound cell apoptosis and markedly inhibits tumor growth in xenograft models. Together, these findings demonstrate that YM155 is a broad-spectrum USP inhibitor, and a potential drug candidate for cancers which depend on hyper-active oncogenic proteins that are regulated by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.
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issn 2045-2322
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publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-a864ce0fe85d43fc8778ee6f1cdac7ca2025-08-20T02:25:35ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-011511810.1038/s41598-025-88761-3Broad-spectrum ubiquitin-specific protease inhibition as a mechanism for the cytotoxicity of YM155 in cancersXiang Li0Na He1Yan Lv2Haiyue Wang3Ming Zhang4Heiyan Zhai5Zhen Yang6Yi Yang7Dagang Guo8Zhixiang Cao9Yiyou Chen10China R&D Center, Cothera Bioscience, Inc.China R&D Center, Cothera Bioscience, Inc.China R&D Center, Cothera Bioscience, Inc.China R&D Center, Cothera Bioscience, Inc.China R&D Center, Cothera Bioscience, Inc.China R&D Center, Cothera Bioscience, Inc.China R&D Center, Cothera Bioscience, Inc.China R&D Center, Cothera Bioscience, Inc.China R&D Center, Cothera Bioscience, Inc.China R&D Center, Cothera Bioscience, Inc.Cothera Bioscience, Inc.Abstract Protein ubiquitination is a dynamic and reversible process involved in gene transcription, protein metabolism, and cellular apoptosis. Ubiquitin specific proteases (USPs), as the largest family of deubiquitinating enzymes, are able to remove the ubiquitin from target proteins, rescuing them from degradation. Here, we characterized the small molecule antitumor agent YM155 as a broad-spectrum USP inhibitor. By inhibiting the deubiquitinase activity of multiple USPs, YM155 causes the degradation of oncogenic substrate proteins, such as c-Myc and intracellular domain of Notch1. In cancers driven by these proteins, YM155 induces profound cell apoptosis and markedly inhibits tumor growth in xenograft models. Together, these findings demonstrate that YM155 is a broad-spectrum USP inhibitor, and a potential drug candidate for cancers which depend on hyper-active oncogenic proteins that are regulated by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88761-3YM155A broad-spectrum USP inhibitorc-MycNotch1Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway
spellingShingle Xiang Li
Na He
Yan Lv
Haiyue Wang
Ming Zhang
Heiyan Zhai
Zhen Yang
Yi Yang
Dagang Guo
Zhixiang Cao
Yiyou Chen
Broad-spectrum ubiquitin-specific protease inhibition as a mechanism for the cytotoxicity of YM155 in cancers
Scientific Reports
YM155
A broad-spectrum USP inhibitor
c-Myc
Notch1
Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway
title Broad-spectrum ubiquitin-specific protease inhibition as a mechanism for the cytotoxicity of YM155 in cancers
title_full Broad-spectrum ubiquitin-specific protease inhibition as a mechanism for the cytotoxicity of YM155 in cancers
title_fullStr Broad-spectrum ubiquitin-specific protease inhibition as a mechanism for the cytotoxicity of YM155 in cancers
title_full_unstemmed Broad-spectrum ubiquitin-specific protease inhibition as a mechanism for the cytotoxicity of YM155 in cancers
title_short Broad-spectrum ubiquitin-specific protease inhibition as a mechanism for the cytotoxicity of YM155 in cancers
title_sort broad spectrum ubiquitin specific protease inhibition as a mechanism for the cytotoxicity of ym155 in cancers
topic YM155
A broad-spectrum USP inhibitor
c-Myc
Notch1
Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88761-3
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