Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.10.2 (focal adhesion kinase)
 44,029 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Autophagy is a conserved cellular degradative process important for cellular homoeostasis and survival. An early committal step during the initiation of autophagy requires the actions of a protein kinase called ATG1 (autophagy gene 1). In mammalian cells, ATG1 is represented by ULK1 (uncoordinated-51-like kinase 1), which relies on its essential regulatory cofactors mATG13, FIP200 (focal adhesion kinase family-interacting protein 200 kDa) and ATG101. Much evidence indicates that mTORC1 [mechanistic (also known as mammalian) target of rapamycin complex 1] signals downstream to the ULK1 complex to negatively regulate autophagy. In this chapter, we discuss our understanding on how the mTORC1-ULK1 signalling axis drives the initial steps of autophagy induction. We conclude with a summary of our growing appreciation of the additional cellular pathways that interconnect with the core mTORC1-ULK1 signalling module.
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PMID:Early signalling events of autophagy. 2407 Apr 67

ULK1 (unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1) is well known to be required to initiate the macroautophagy/autophagy process, and thus activation of ULK1-modulating autophagy/autophagy-associated cell death (ACD) may be a possible therapeutic strategy in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Here, our integrated The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data set, tissue microarray-based analyses and multiple biologic evaluations together demonstrate a new small-molecule activator of ULK1 for better understanding of how ULK1, the mammalian homolog of yeast Atg1, as a potential drug target can regulate ACD by the ULK complex (ULK1-ATG13-RB1CC1/FIP200-ATG101), as well as other possible ULK1 interactors, including ATF3, RAD21 and CASP3/caspase3 in TNBC. Moreover, such new inspiring findings may help us discover that this activator of ULK1 (LYN-1604) with its anti-tumor activity and ACD-modulating mechanisms can be further exploited as a small-molecule candidate drug for future TNBC therapy.
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PMID:A small-molecule activator induces ULK1-modulating autophagy-associated cell death in triple negative breast cancer. 2816 87

UNC-51-like kinase 1 (ULK1) is well-known to initiate autophagy, and the downregulation of ULK1 has been found in most breast cancer tissues. Thus, the activation of ULK1-modulated autophagy could be a promising strategy for breast cancer therapy. In this study, we found that ULK1 was remarkably downregulated in breast cancer tissue samples by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) analysis and tissue microarray (TMA) analysis, especially in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). To design a ULK1 agonist, we integrated in silico screening and chemical synthesis to acquire a series of small molecule candidates. After rounds of kinase and anti-proliferative activity screening, we discovered the small molecule, LYN-1604, to be the best candidate for a ULK1 agonist. Additionally, we identified that three amino acid residues (LYS50, LEU53, and TYR89) were key to the activation site of LYN-1604 and ULK1 by site-directed mutagenesis and biochemical assays. Subsequently, we demonstrated that LYN-1604 could induce cell death, associated with autophagy by the ULK complex (ULK1-mATG13-FIP200-ATG101) in MDA-MB-231 cells. To further explore LYN-1604-induced autophagic mechanisms, we found some potential ULK1 interactors, such as ATF3, RAD21, and caspase3, by performing comparative microarray analysis. Intriguingly, we found that LYN-1604 induced cell death involved in ATF3, RAD21, and caspase3, accompanied by autophagy and apoptosis. Moreover, we demonstrated that LYN-1604 has potential for good therapeutic effects on TNBC by targeting ULK1-modulated cell death in vivo; thus making this ULK1 agonist a novel potential small-molecule drug candidate for future TNBC therapy.
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PMID:Discovery of a small molecule targeting ULK1-modulated cell death of triple negative breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. 2855 5

Autophagy is a vital lysosomal degradation pathway that serves as a quality control mechanism. It rids the cell of damaged, toxic or excess cellular components, which if left to persist could be detrimental to the cell. It also serves as a recycling pathway to maintain protein synthesis under starvation conditions. A key initial event in autophagy is formation of the autophagosome, a unique double-membrane organelle that engulfs the cytosolic cargo destined for degradation. This step is mediated by the serine/threonine protein kinase ULK1 (unc-51-like kinase 1), which functions in a complex with at least three protein partners: FIP200 (focal adhesion kinase family interacting protein of 200 kDa), ATG (autophagy-related protein) 13 (ATG13), and ATG101. In this artcile, we focus on the regulation of the ULK1 complex during autophagy initiation. The complex pattern of upstream pathways that converge on ULK1 suggests that this complex acts as a node, converting multiple signals into autophagosome formation. Here, we review our current understanding of this regulation and in turn discuss what happens downstream, once the ULK1 complex becomes activated.
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PMID:The mammalian ULK1 complex and autophagy initiation. 2923 70