Hypusine modification of the eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A) is emerging as a crucial regulator in cancer, infections, and inflammation. Although its contribution in translational regulation of proline repeat-rich proteins has been sufficiently demonstrated, its biological role in higher eukaryotes remains poorly understood. To establish the hypusine modification system as a novel platform for therapeutic strategies, we aimed to investigate its functional relevance in mammals by generating and using a range of new knock-out mouse models for the hypusine-modifying enzymes deoxyhypusine synthase and deoxyhypusine hydroxylase as well as for the cancer-related isoform eIF-5A2. We discovered that homozygous depletion of deoxyhypusine synthase and/or deoxyhypusine hydroxylase causes lethality in adult mice with different penetrance compared with haploinsufficiency. Network-based bioinformatic analysis of proline repeat-rich proteins, which are putative eIF-5A targets, revealed that these proteins are organized in highly connected protein-protein interaction networks. Hypusine-dependent translational control of essential proteins (hubs) and protein complexes inside these networks might explain the lethal phenotype observed after deletion of hypusine-modifying enzymes. Remarkably, our results also demonstrate that the cancer-associated isoform eIF-5A2 is dispensable for normal development and viability. Together, our results provide the first genetic evidence that the hypusine modification in eIF-5A is crucial for homeostasis in mammals. Moreover, these findings highlight functional diversity of the hypusine system compared with lower eukaryotes and indicate eIF-5A2 as a valuable and safe target for therapeutic intervention in cancer.

The central importance of translational control by post-translational modification has spurred major interest in regulatory pathways that control translation. One such pathway uniquely adds hypusine to eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A), and thereby affects protein synthesis and, subsequently, cellular proliferation through an unknown mechanism. Using a novel conditional knockout mouse model and a Caenorhabditis elegans knockout model, we found an evolutionarily conserved role for the DOHH-mediated second step of hypusine synthesis in early embryonic development. At the cellular level, we observed reduced proliferation and induction of senescence in 3T3 Dohh-/- cells as well as reduced capability for malignant transformation. Furthermore, mass spectrometry showed that deletion of DOHH results in an unexpected complete loss of hypusine modification. Our results provide new biological insight into the physiological roles of the second step of the hypusination of eIF5A. Moreover, the conditional mouse model presented here provides a powerful tool for manipulating hypusine modification in a temporal and spatial manner, to analyse both how this unique modification normally functions in vivo as well as how it contributes to different pathological conditions.

Podocytes are terminally differentiated cells of the glomerular filtration barrier that react with hypertrophy in the course of injury such as in membranous nephropathy (MGN). The neuronal deubiquitinase ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) is expressed and activated in podocytes of human and rodent MGN. UCH-L1 regulates the mono-ubiquitin pool and induces accumulation of poly-ubiquitinated proteins in affected podocytes. Here, we investigated the role of UCH-L1 in podocyte hypertrophy and in the homeostasis of the hypertrophy associated “model protein” p27Kip1. A better understanding of the basic mechanisms leading to podocyte hypertrophy is crucial for the development of specific therapies in MGN. In human and rat MGN, hypertrophic podocytes exhibited a simultaneous up-regulation of UCH-L1 and of cytoplasmic p27Kip1 content. Functionally, inhibition of UCH-L1 activity and knockdown or inhibition of UCH-L1 attenuated podocyte hypertrophy by decreasing the total protein content in isolated glomeruli and in cultured podocytes. In contrast, UCH-L1 levels and activity increased podocyte hypertrophy and total protein content in culture, specifically of cytoplasmic p27Kip1. UCH-L1 enhanced cytoplasmic p27Kip1 levels by nuclear export and decreased poly-ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of p27Kip1. In parallel, UCH-L1 increased podocyte turnover, migration and cytoskeletal rearrangement, which are associated with known oncogenic functions of cytoplasmic p27Kip1 in cancer. We propose that UCH-L1 induces podocyte hypertrophy in MGN by increasing the total protein content through altered degradation and accumulation of proteins such as p27Kip1 in the cytoplasm of podocytes. Modification of both UCH-L1 activity and levels could be a new therapeutic avenue to podocyte hypertrophy in MGN.

Aaptamine is a marine compound isolated from the sponge Aaptos aaptos showing antiproliferative properties via an undefined mode of action. We analyzed the effects of aaptamine treatment on the proliferation and protein expression of the pluripotent human embryonal carcinoma cell line NT2. Effects on proliferation, cell cycle distribution, and induction of apoptosis were analyzed. At lower concentrations, including the IC50 of 50 μM, aaptamine treatment resulted in a G2/M phase cell cycle arrest, whereas at higher concentrations, induction of apoptosis was seen. Differentially expressed proteins were assessed by 2D-PAGE and mass spectrometry, followed by verification and analysis of protein modifications of the most significantly up- and down-regulated proteins. Aaptamine treatment at the IC50 for 48 h resulted in alteration of 10 proteins, of which five each showed up- and down-regulation. Changes in the 2D map were frequently noticed as a result of post-transcriptional modifications, e.g., of the hypusine modification of the eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A). Observed alterations such as increased expression of CRABP2 and hypusination of eIF5A have previously been identified during differentiation of pluripotent cells. For the first time, we describe changes in protein expression caused by aaptamine, providing valuable information regarding the mode of action of this compound.

Glioblastomas are highly aggressive brain tumors of adults with poor clinical outcome. Despite a broad range of new and more specific treatment strategies, therapy of glioblastomas remains challenging and tumors relapse in all cases. Recent work demonstrated that the posttranslational hypusine modification of the eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A) is a crucial regulator of cell proliferation, differentiation and an important factor in tumor formation, progression and maintenance. Here we report that eIF-5A as well as the hypusine-forming enzymes deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) and deoxyhypusine hydroxylase (DOHH) are highly overexpressed in glioblastoma patient samples. Importantly, targeting eIF-5A and its hypusine modification with GC7, a specific DHS-inhibitor, showed a strong antiproliferative effect in glioblastoma cell lines in vitro, while normal human astrocytes were not affected. Furthermore, we identified p53 dependent premature senescence, a permanent cell cycle arrest, as the primary outcome in U87-MG cells after treatment with GC7. Strikingly, combined treatment with clinically relevant alkylating agents and GC7 had an additive antiproliferative effect in glioblastoma cell lines. In addition, stable knockdown of eIF-5A and DHS by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) could mimic the antiproliferative effects of GC7. These findings suggest that pharmacological inhibition of eIF-5A may represent a novel concept to treat glioblastomas and may help to substantially improve the clinical course of this tumor entity.

Hypusine modification of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A) represents a unique and highly specific post-translational modification with regulatory functions in cancer, diabetes, and infectious diseases. However, the specific cellular pathways that are influenced by the hypusine modification remain largely unknown. To globally characterize eIF-5A and hypusine-dependent pathways, we used an approach that combines large-scale bioreactor cell culture with tandem affinity purification and mass spectrometry: "bioreactor-TAP-MS/MS." By applying this approach systematically to all four components of the hypusine modification system (eIF-5A1, eIF-5A2, DHS, and DOHH), we identified 248 interacting proteins as components of the cellular hypusine network, with diverse functions including regulation of translation, mRNA processing, DNA replication, and cell cycle regulation. Network analysis of this data set enabled us to provide a comprehensive overview of the protein-protein interaction landscape of the hypusine modification system. In addition, we validated the interaction of eIF-5A with some of the newly identified associated proteins in more detail. Our analysis has revealed numerous novel interactions, and thus provides a valuable resource for understanding how this crucial homeostatic signaling pathway affects different cellular functions.

Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), a key protease of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), is associated with neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Recently, de novo expression of UCH-L1 was described in podocytes in patients with membranous nephropathy (MN), in which UCH-L1 expression correlated with increased ubiquitin content. The objective of the present study was to investigate the role of UCH-L1 in ubiquitin homeostasis and proteasomal degradation in a rat model of MN. After disease induction, UCH-L1 expression increased in podocytes and coincided with decreased glomerular monoubiquitin content. After an initial increase in proteasomal activity, the UPS was impaired. In addition to an increase of ubiquitin in podocytes, aggregates were observed 1 year after disease induction, as in MN in human beings. Inhibition of UCH-L1 hydrolase function in MN reduced UPS impairment and ameliorated proteinuria. In contrast, inhibition of proteasomal activity enhanced UPS impairment, resulting in increased proteinuria. Stable UCH-L1 overexpression in cultured podocytes resulted in accumulation of monoubiquitin and polyubiquitin proteins. In contrast, stable knock-down of UCH-L1 reduced monoubiquitin and polyubiquitin proteins and significantly increased proteasomal activity, indicating that the observed effects in rat MN also occurred in cultured podocytes. These data demonstrate that UCH-L1 activity results in polyubiquitin accumulation, proteasome inhibition, and disease aggravation in experimental models of MN.

Prostaglandin D 2 and its derivatives PGJ 2 and Δ 12 -PGJ 2 strongly stimulate the synthesis and secretion by white adipocytes of the neurotrophin NGF. Here we have explored whether PGD 2 and the J 2 -series prostaglandins have pervasive effects on adipokine production. The influence of these prostaglandins on the production of the adipocyte hormones leptin and adiponectin, and the inflammatory factors IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), were examined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. PGD 2 induced a reduction in adiponectin and leptin mRNA, and the secretion of these adipokines was also inhibited, the effect being greater with leptin (up to 10-fold) than with adiponectin (twofold). In contrast, PGD 2 induced a marked stimulation of IL-6 and MCP-1 expression; with IL-6, this was rapid, the mRNA level increasing by >50-fold by 1 h. The rise in mRNA was accompanied by an increase in IL-6 and MCP-1 release (up to 100- and 6.5-fold, respectively). The effects of PGD 2 were generally mirrored by PGJ 2 and Δ 12 -PGJ 2 ; Δ 12 -PGJ 2 was a particularly strong stimulator of IL-6 production. These results indicate that PGD 2 and the J 2 -series prostaglandins PGJ 2 and Δ 12 -PGJ 2 can have major effects on the synthesis and release of key adipokines. Such effects could be important in the inflammatory response in adipose tissue.

Prostaglandin D(2) and its derivatives PGJ(2) and Delta(12)-PGJ(2) strongly stimulate the synthesis and secretion by white adipocytes of the neurotrophin NGF. Here we have explored whether PGD(2) and the J(2)-series prostaglandins have pervasive effects on adipokine production. The influence of these prostaglandins on the production of the adipocyte hormones leptin and adiponectin, and the inflammatory factors IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), were examined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. PGD(2) induced a reduction in adiponectin and leptin mRNA, and the secretion of these adipokines was also inhibited, the effect being greater with leptin (up to 10-fold) than with adiponectin (twofold). In contrast, PGD(2) induced a marked stimulation of IL-6 and MCP-1 expression; with IL-6, this was rapid, the mRNA level increasing by >50-fold by 1 h. The rise in mRNA was accompanied by an increase in IL-6 and MCP-1 release (up to 100- and 6.5-fold, respectively). The effects of PGD(2) were generally mirrored by PGJ(2) and Delta(12)-PGJ(2); Delta(12)-PGJ(2) was a particularly strong stimulator of IL-6 production. These results indicate that PGD(2) and the J(2)-series prostaglandins PGJ(2) and Delta(12)-PGJ(2) can have major effects on the synthesis and release of key adipokines. Such effects could be important in the inflammatory response in adipose tissue.