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To facilitate our understanding of proteome dynamics during signaling events, robust workflows affording fast time resolution without confounding factors are essential. We present Surface-exposed protein Labeling using PeroxidaSe, H2O2, and Tyramide-derivative (SLAPSHOT) to label extracellularly exposed proteins in a rapid, specific, and sensitive manner. Simple and flexible SLAPSHOT utilizes recombinant soluble APEX2 protein applied to cells, thus circumventing the engineering of tools and cells, biological perturbations, and labeling biases. We applied SLAPSHOT and quantitative proteomics to examine the TMEM16F-dependent plasma membrane remodeling in WT and TMEM16F KO cells. Time-course data ranging from 1 to 30 min of calcium stimulation revealed co-regulation of known protein families, including the integrin and ICAM families, and identified proteins known to reside in intracellular organelles as occupants of the freshly deposited extracellularly exposed membrane. Our data provide the first accounts of the immediate consequences of calcium signaling on the extracellularly exposed proteome.

OBJECTIVES: Mosaic gain of chromosome 1q (chr1q) has been associated with malformation of cortical development (MCD) and epilepsy. Hyaline protoplasmic astrocytopathy (HPA) is a rare neuropathologic finding seen in cases of epilepsy with MCD. The cell-type specificity of mosaic chr1q gain in the brain and the molecular signatures of HPA are unknown. METHODS: We present the case of a child with pharmacoresistant epilepsy who underwent epileptic focus resections at age 3 and 5 years and was found to have mosaic chr1q gain and HPA. We performed single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) of brain tissue from the second resection. RESULTS: snRNA-seq showed increased expression of chr1q genes specifically in subsets of neurons and astrocytes. Differentially expressed genes associated with inferred chr1q gain included AKT3 and genes associated with cell adhesion or migration. A subpopulation of astrocytes demonstrated marked enrichment for synapse-associated transcripts, possibly linked to the astrocytic inclusions observed in HPA. DISCUSSION: snRNA-seq may be used to infer the cell-type specificity of mosaic chromosomal copy number changes and identify associated gene expression alterations, which in the case of chr1q gain may involve aberrations in cell migration. Future studies using spatial profiling could yield further insights on the molecular signatures of HPA.

PurposeMultiple myeloma is a plasma cell malignancy with an unmet clinical need for improved imaging methods and therapeutics. Recently, we identified CD46 as an overexpressed therapeutic target in multiple myeloma and developed the antibody YS5, which targets a cancer-specific epitope on this protein. We further developed the CD46-targeting PET probe [89Zr]Zr-DFO-YS5 for imaging and [225Ac]Ac-DOTA-YS5 for radiopharmaceutical therapy of prostate cancer. These prior studies suggested the feasibility of the CD46 antigen as a theranostic target in multiple myeloma. Herein, we validate [89Zr]Zr-DFO-YS5 for immunoPET imaging and [225Ac]Ac-DOTA-YS5 for radiopharmaceutical therapy of multiple myeloma in murine models.Experimental designIn vitro saturation binding was performed using the CD46 expressing MM.1S multiple myeloma cell line. ImmunoPET imaging using [89Zr]Zr-DFO-YS5 was performed in immunodeficient (NSG) mice bearing subcutaneous and systemic multiple myeloma xenografts. For radioligand therapy, [225Ac]Ac-DOTA-YS5 was prepared, and both dose escalation and fractionated dose treatment studies were performed in mice bearing MM1.S-Luc systemic xenografts. Tumor burden was analyzed using BLI, and body weight and overall survival were recorded to assess antitumor effect and toxicity.Results[89Zr]Zr-DFO-YS5 demonstrated high affinity for CD46 expressing MM.1S multiple myeloma cells (Kd = 16.3 nmol/L). In vitro assays in multiple myeloma cell lines demonstrated high binding, and bioinformatics analysis of human multiple myeloma samples revealed high CD46 expression. [89Zr]Zr-DFO-YS5 PET/CT specifically detected multiple myeloma lesions in a variety of models, with low uptake in controls, including CD46 knockout (KO) mice or multiple myeloma mice using a nontargeted antibody. In the MM.1S systemic model, localization of uptake on PET imaging correlated well with the luciferase expression from tumor cells. A treatment study using [225Ac]Ac-DOTA-YS5 in the MM.1S systemic model demonstrated a clear tumor volume and survival benefit in the treated groups.ConclusionsOur study showed that the CD46-targeted probe [89Zr]Zr-DFO-YS5 can successfully image CD46-expressing multiple myeloma xenografts in murine models, and [225Ac]Ac-DOTA-YS5 can effectively inhibit the growth of multiple myeloma. These results demonstrate that CD46 is a promising theranostic target for multiple myeloma, with the potential for clinical translation.

BackgroundApproximately 50% of patients who receive anti-CD19 CAR-T cells relapse, and new immunotherapeutic targets are urgently needed. We recently described CD72 as a promising target in B-cell malignancies and developed nanobody-based CAR-T cells (nanoCARs) against it. This cellular therapy design is understudied compared with scFv-based CAR-T cells, but has recently become of significant interest given the first regulatory approval of a nanoCAR in multiple myeloma.MethodsWe humanized our previous nanobody framework regions, derived from llama, to generate a series of humanized anti-CD72 nanobodies. These nanobody binders were inserted into second-generation CD72 CAR-T cells and were evaluated against preclinical models of B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in vitro and in vivo. Humanized CD72 nanoCARs were compared with parental ("NbD4") CD72 nanoCARs and the clinically approved CD19-directed CAR-T construct tisangenlecleucel. RNA-sequencing, flow cytometry, and cytokine secretion profiling were used to determine differences between the different CAR constructs. We then used affinity maturation on the parental NbD4 construct to generate high affinity binders against CD72 to test if higher affinity to CD72 improved antitumor potency.ResultsToward clinical translation, here we humanize our previous nanobody framework regions, derived from llama, and surprisingly discover a clone ("H24") with enhanced potency against B-cell tumors, including patient-derived samples after CD19 CAR-T relapse. Potentially underpinning improved potency, H24 has moderately higher binding affinity to CD72 compared with a fully llama framework. However, further affinity maturation (KD

Safely expanding indications for cellular therapies has been challenging given a lack of highly cancer-specific surface markers. Here we explore the hypothesis that tumor cells express cancer-specific surface protein conformations that are invisible to standard target discovery pipelines evaluating gene or protein expression, and these conformations can be identified and immunotherapeutically targeted. We term this strategy integrating cross-linking mass spectrometry with glycoprotein surface capture 'structural surfaceomics'. As a proof of principle, we apply this technology to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a hematologic malignancy with dismal outcomes and no known optimal immunotherapy target. We identify the activated conformation of integrin β2 as a structurally defined, widely expressed AML-specific target. We develop and characterize recombinant antibodies to this protein conformation and show that chimeric antigen receptor T cells eliminate AML cells and patient-derived xenografts without notable toxicity toward normal hematopoietic cells. Our findings validate an AML conformation-specific target antigen and demonstrate a tool kit for applying these strategies more broadly.

Coincident transcription and DNA replication causes replication stress and genome instability. Rapidly dividing mouse pluripotent stem cells are highly transcriptionally active and experience elevated replication stress, yet paradoxically maintain genome integrity. Here, we study FOXD3, a transcriptional repressor enriched in pluripotent stem cells, and show that its repression of transcription upon S phase entry is critical to minimizing replication stress and preserving genome integrity. Acutely deleting Foxd3 leads to immediate replication stress, G2/M phase arrest, genome instability and p53-dependent apoptosis. FOXD3 binds near highly transcribed genes during S phase entry, and its loss increases the expression of these genes. Transient inhibition of RNA polymerase II in S phase reduces observed replication stress and cell cycle defects. Loss of FOXD3-interacting histone deacetylases induces replication stress, while transient inhibition of histone acetylation opposes it. These results show how a transcriptional repressor can play a central role in maintaining genome integrity through the transient inhibition of transcription during S phase, enabling faithful DNA replication.

22q11.2 deletion syndrome, associated with congenital and neuropsychiatric anomalies, is the most common copy number variant (CNV)-associated syndrome. Patient-derived, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) models have provided insight into this condition. However, patient-derived iPS cells may harbor underlying genetic heterogeneity that can confound analysis. Furthermore, almost all available models reflect the commonly-found ~ 3 Mb "A-D" deletion at this locus. The ~ 1.5 Mb "A-B" deletion, a variant of the 22q11.2 deletion which may lead to different syndromic features, and is much more frequently inherited than the A-D deletion, remains under-studied due to lack of relevant models. Here we leveraged a CRISPR-based strategy to engineer isogenic iPS models of the 22q11.2 "A-B" deletion. Differentiation to excitatory neurons with subsequent characterization by transcriptomics and cell surface proteomics identified deletion-associated alterations in proliferation and adhesion. To illustrate in vivo applications of this model, we further implanted neuronal progenitor cells into the cortex of neonatal mice and found potential alterations in neuronal maturation. The isogenic models generated here will provide a unique resource to study this less-common variant of the 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome.

Patient-derived organoids and cellular spheroids recapitulate tissue physiology with remarkable fidelity. We investigated how engagement with a reconstituted basement membrane in three dimensions (3D) supports the polarized, stress resilient tissue phenotype of mammary epithelial spheroids. Cells interacting with reconstituted basement membrane in 3D had reduced levels of total and actin-associated filamin and decreased cortical actin tension that increased plasma membrane protrusions to promote negative plasma membrane curvature and plasma membrane protein associations linked to protein secretion. By contrast, cells engaging a reconstituted basement membrane in 2D had high cortical actin tension that forced filamin unfolding and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) associations. Enhanced filamin-ER interactions increased levels of PKR-like ER kinase effectors and ER-plasma membrane contact sites that compromised calcium homeostasis and diminished cell viability. Consequently, cells with decreased cortical actin tension had reduced ER stress and survived better. Consistently, cortical actin tension in cellular spheroids regulated polarized basement membrane membrane deposition and sensitivity to exogenous stress. The findings implicate cortical actin tension-mediated filamin unfolding in ER function and underscore the importance of tissue mechanics in organoid homeostasis.

Proteasome inhibitor (PI) resistance remains a central challenge in multiple myeloma. To identify pathways mediating resistance, we first mapped proteasome-associated genetic co-dependencies. We identified heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) chaperones as potential targets, consistent with proposed mechanisms of myeloma cells overcoming PI-induced stress. We therefore explored allosteric HSP70 inhibitors (JG compounds) as myeloma therapeutics. JG compounds exhibited increased efficacy against acquired and intrinsic PI-resistant myeloma models, unlike HSP90 inhibition. Shotgun and pulsed SILAC mass spectrometry demonstrated that JGs unexpectedly impact myeloma proteostasis by destabilizing the 55S mitoribosome. Our data suggest JGs have the most pronounced anti-myeloma effect not through inhibiting cytosolic HSP70 proteins but instead through mitochondrial-localized HSP70, HSPA9/mortalin. Analysis of myeloma patient data further supports strong effects of global proteostasis capacity, and particularly HSPA9 expression, on PI response. Our results characterize myeloma proteostasis networks under therapeutic pressure while motivating further investigation of HSPA9 as a specific vulnerability in PI-resistant disease.

The myeloma surface proteome (surfaceome) determines tumor interaction with the microenvironment and serves as an emerging arena for therapeutic development. Here, we use glycoprotein capture proteomics to define the myeloma surfaceome at baseline, in drug resistance, and in response to acute drug treatment. We provide a scoring system for surface antigens and identify CCR10 as a promising target in this disease expressed widely on malignant plasma cells. We engineer proof-of-principle chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells targeting CCR10 using its natural ligand CCL27. In myeloma models we identify proteins that could serve as markers of resistance to bortezomib and lenalidomide, including CD53, CD10, EVI2B, and CD33. We find that acute lenalidomide treatment increases activity of MUC1-targeting CAR-T cells through antigen upregulation. Finally, we develop a miniaturized surface proteomic protocol for profiling primary plasma cell samples with low inputs. These approaches and datasets may contribute to the biological, therapeutic, and diagnostic understanding of myeloma.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a central component of therapy for hematologic malignancies. Widely used mAb agents in multiple myeloma (MM) include daratumumab and elotuzumab. However, not all patients respond to these agents, and resistance is a significant clinical issue. A recently discovered subset of human natural killer (NK) cells lacking expression of FcεRIγ (g-NK cells) was found to have a multifold increase in antibody-dependent effector functions after CD16 crosslinking. In this study, we tested the capacity of g-NK cells to enhance the efficacy of therapeutic mAbs against MM. In vitro, we found that g-NK cells have strikingly superior anti-myeloma cytotoxicity compared with conventional NK (cNK) cells when combined with daratumumab or elotuzumab (∼sixfold; P < .001). In addition, g-NK cells naturally expressed minimal surface CD38 and SLAMF7, which reduced the incidence of therapeutic fratricide. In tumor-naïve murine models, the persistence of g-NK cells in blood and spleen was >10 times higher than that of cNK cells over 31 days (P < .001). In vivo efficacy studies showed that the combination of daratumumab and g-NK cells led to a >99.9% tumor reduction (by flow cytometry analysis) compared with the combination of daratumumab and cNK cells (P < .001). Moreover, treatment with daratumumab and g-NK cells led to complete elimination of myeloma burden in 5 of 7 mice. Collectively, these results underscore the unique ability of g-NK cells to potentiate the activity of therapeutic mAbs and overcome limitations of current off-the-shelf NK cell therapies without the need for cellular irradiation or genetic engineering.

Alternative strategies are needed for patients with B-cell malignancy relapsing after CD19-targeted immunotherapy. Here, cell surface proteomics revealed CD72 as an optimal target for poor-prognosis KMT2A/MLL1-rearranged (MLLr) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), which we further found to be expressed in other B-cell malignancies. Using a recently described, fully in vitro system, we selected synthetic CD72-specific nanobodies, incorporated them into chimeric antigen receptors (CAR), and demonstrated robust activity against B-cell malignancy models, including CD19 loss. Taking advantage of the role of CD72 in inhibiting B-cell receptor signaling, we found that SHIP1 inhibition increased CD72 surface density. We establish that CD72-nanobody CAR-T cells are a promising therapy for MLLr B-ALL. SIGNIFICANCE: Patients with MLLr B-ALL have poor prognoses despite recent immunotherapy advances. Here, surface proteomics identifies CD72 as being enriched on MLLr B-ALL but also widely expressed across B-cell cancers. We show that a recently described, fully in vitro nanobody platform generates binders highly active in CAR-T cells and demonstrate its broad applicability for immunotherapy development.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1861.

Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) has previously been identified as an endosomal protein that blocks viral infection1-3. Here we studied clinical cohorts of patients with B cell leukaemia and lymphoma, and identified IFITM3 as a strong predictor of poor outcome. In normal resting B cells, IFITM3 was minimally expressed and mainly localized in endosomes. However, engagement of the B cell receptor (BCR) induced both expression of IFITM3 and phosphorylation of this protein at Tyr20, which resulted in the accumulation of IFITM3 at the cell surface. In B cell leukaemia, oncogenic kinases phosphorylate IFITM3 at Tyr20, which causes constitutive localization of this protein at the plasma membrane. In a mouse model, Ifitm3-/- naive B cells developed in normal numbers; however, the formation of germinal centres and the production of antigen-specific antibodies were compromised. Oncogenes that induce the development of leukaemia and lymphoma did not transform Ifitm3-/- B cells. Conversely, the phosphomimetic IFITM3(Y20E) mutant induced oncogenic PI3K signalling and initiated the transformation of premalignant B cells. Mechanistic experiments revealed that IFITM3 functions as a PIP3 scaffold and central amplifier of PI3K signalling. The amplification of PI3K signals depends on IFITM3 using two lysine residues (Lys83 and Lys104) in its conserved intracellular loop as a scaffold for the accumulation of PIP3. In Ifitm3-/- B cells, lipid rafts were depleted of PIP3, which resulted in the defective expression of over 60 lipid-raft-associated surface receptors, and impaired BCR signalling and cellular adhesion. We conclude that the phosphorylation of IFITM3 that occurs after B cells encounter antigen induces a dynamic switch from antiviral effector functions in endosomes to a PI3K amplification loop at the cell surface. IFITM3-dependent amplification of PI3K signalling, which in part acts downstream of the BCR, is critical for the rapid expansion of B cells with high affinity to antigen. In addition, multiple oncogenes depend on IFITM3 to assemble PIP3-dependent signalling complexes and amplify PI3K signalling for malignant transformation.

An essential mechanism for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 (SARS-CoV-1) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection begins with the viral spike protein binding to the human receptor protein angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2). Here, we describe a stepwise engineering approach to generate a set of affinity optimized, enzymatically inactivated ACE2 variants that potently block SARS-CoV-2 infection of cells. These optimized receptor traps tightly bind the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the viral spike protein and prevent entry into host cells. We first computationally designed the ACE2-RBD interface using a two-stage flexible protein backbone design process that improved affinity for the RBD by up to 12-fold. These designed receptor variants were affinity matured an additional 14-fold by random mutagenesis and selection using yeast surface display. The highest-affinity variant contained seven amino acid changes and bound to the RBD 170-fold more tightly than wild-type ACE2. With the addition of the natural ACE2 collectrin domain and fusion to a human immunoglobulin crystallizable fragment (Fc) domain for increased stabilization and avidity, the most optimal ACE2 receptor traps neutralized SARS-CoV-2-pseudotyped lentivirus and authentic SARS-CoV-2 virus with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) in the 10- to 100-ng/mL range. Engineered ACE2 receptor traps offer a promising route to fighting infections by SARS-CoV-2 and other ACE2-using coronaviruses, with the key advantage that viral resistance would also likely impair viral entry. Moreover, such traps can be predesigned for viruses with known entry receptors for faster therapeutic response without the need for neutralizing antibodies isolated from convalescent patients.

Multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines are routinely used to model the disease. However, a long-standing question is how well these cell lines truly represent tumor cells in patients. Here, we employ a recently described method of transcriptional correlation profiling to compare similarity of 66 MM cell lines to 779 newly diagnosed MM patient tumors. We found that individual MM lines differ significantly with respect to patient tumor representation, with median R ranging from 0.35 to 0.54. ANBL-6 was the "best" line, markedly exceeding all others (p

Malignant transformation of cells typically involves several genetic lesions, whose combined activity gives rise to cancer1. Here we analyse 1,148 patient-derived B-cell leukaemia (B-ALL) samples, and find that individual mutations do not promote leukaemogenesis unless they converge on one single oncogenic pathway that is characteristic of the differentiation stage of transformed B cells. Mutations that are not aligned with this central oncogenic driver activate divergent pathways and subvert transformation. Oncogenic lesions in B-ALL frequently mimic signalling through cytokine receptors at the pro-B-cell stage (via activation of the signal-transduction protein STAT5)2-4 or pre-B-cell receptors in more mature cells (via activation of the protein kinase ERK)5-8. STAT5- and ERK-activating lesions are found frequently, but occur together in only around 3% of cases (P = 2.2 × 10-16). Single-cell mutation and phospho-protein analyses reveal the segregation of oncogenic STAT5 and ERK activation to competing clones. STAT5 and ERK engage opposing biochemical and transcriptional programs that are orchestrated by the transcription factors MYC and BCL6, respectively. Genetic reactivation of the divergent (suppressed) pathway comes at the expense of the principal oncogenic driver and reverses transformation. Conversely, deletion of divergent pathway components accelerates leukaemogenesis. Thus, persistence of divergent signalling pathways represents a powerful barrier to transformation, while convergence on one principal driver defines a central event in leukaemia initiation. Pharmacological reactivation of suppressed divergent circuits synergizes strongly with inhibition of the principal oncogenic driver. Hence, reactivation of divergent pathways can be leveraged as a previously unrecognized strategy to enhance treatment responses.

Cancer cells commonly develop resistance to immunotherapy by loss of antigen expression. Combinatorial treatments that increase levels of the target antigen on the surface of cancer cells have the potential to restore efficacy to immunotherapy. Here, we use our CRISPR interference- and CRISPR activation-based functional genomics platform to systematically identify pathways controlling cell surface expression of the multiple myeloma immunotherapy antigen B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA). We discovered that pharmacologic inhibition of HDAC7 and the Sec61 complex increased cell surface BCMA, including in primary patient cells. Pharmacologic Sec61 inhibition enhanced the antimyeloma efficacy of a BCMA-targeted antibody-drug conjugate. A CRISPR interference chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) coculture screen enabled us to identify both antigen-dependent and antigen-independent mechanisms controlling response of myeloma cells to BCMA-targeted CAR-T cells. Thus, our study shows the potential of CRISPR screens to uncover mechanisms controlling response of cancer cells to immunotherapy and to suggest potential combination therapies.

Enhancing the efficacy of proteasome inhibitors (PI) is a central goal in myeloma therapy. We proposed that signaling-level responses after PI may reveal new mechanisms of action that can be therapeutically exploited. Unbiased phosphoproteomics after treatment with the PI carfilzomib surprisingly demonstrates the most prominent phosphorylation changes on splicing related proteins. Spliceosome modulation is invisible to RNA or protein abundance alone. Transcriptome analysis after PI demonstrates broad-scale intron retention, suggestive of spliceosome interference, as well as specific alternative splicing of protein homeostasis machinery components. These findings lead us to evaluate direct spliceosome inhibition in myeloma, which synergizes with carfilzomib and shows potent anti-tumor activity. Functional genomics and exome sequencing further support the spliceosome as a specific vulnerability in myeloma. Our results propose splicing interference as an unrecognized modality of PI mechanism, reveal additional modes of spliceosome modulation, and suggest spliceosome targeting as a promising therapeutic strategy in myeloma.

In mammalian cells, mitochondrial dysfunction triggers the integrated stress response, in which the phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) results in the induction of the transcription factor ATF41-3. However, how mitochondrial stress is relayed to ATF4 is unknown. Here we show that HRI is the eIF2α kinase that is necessary and sufficient for this relay. In a genome-wide CRISPR interference screen, we identified factors upstream of HRI: OMA1, a mitochondrial stress-activated protease; and DELE1, a little-characterized protein that we found was associated with the inner mitochondrial membrane. Mitochondrial stress stimulates OMA1-dependent cleavage of DELE1 and leads to the accumulation of DELE1 in the cytosol, where it interacts with HRI and activates the eIF2α kinase activity of HRI. In addition, DELE1 is required for ATF4 translation downstream of eIF2α phosphorylation. Blockade of the OMA1-DELE1-HRI pathway triggers an alternative response in which specific molecular chaperones are induced. The OMA1-DELE1-HRI pathway therefore represents a potential therapeutic target that could enable fine-tuning of the integrated stress response for beneficial outcomes in diseases that involve mitochondrial dysfunction.

Traditionally viewed as an autodigestive pathway, autophagy also facilitates cellular secretion; however, the mechanisms underlying these processes remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that components of the autophagy machinery specify secretion within extracellular vesicles (EVs). Using a proximity-dependent biotinylation proteomics strategy, we identify 200 putative targets of LC3-dependent secretion. This secretome consists of a highly interconnected network enriched in RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and EV cargoes. Proteomic and RNA profiling of EVs identifies diverse RBPs and small non-coding RNAs requiring the LC3-conjugation machinery for packaging and secretion. Focusing on two RBPs, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (HNRNPK) and scaffold-attachment factor B (SAFB), we demonstrate that these proteins interact with LC3 and are secreted within EVs enriched with lipidated LC3. Furthermore, their secretion requires the LC3-conjugation machinery, neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) and LC3-dependent recruitment of factor associated with nSMase2 activity (FAN). Hence, the LC3-conjugation pathway controls EV cargo loading and secretion.

Pancreatic cancer typically spreads rapidly and has poor survival rates. Here, we report that the calcium-activated chloride channel TMEM16A is a biomarker for pancreatic cancer with a poor prognosis. TMEM16A is up-regulated in 75% of cases of pancreatic cancer and high levels of TMEM16A expression are correlated with low patient survival probability. TMEM16A up-regulation is associated with the ligand-dependent EGFR signaling pathway. In vitro, TMEM16A is required for EGF-induced store-operated calcium entry essential for pancreatic cancer cell migration. TMEM16A also has a profound impact on phosphoproteome remodeling upon EGF stimulation. Moreover, molecular actors identified in this TMEM16A-dependent EGFR-induced calcium signaling pathway form a gene set that makes it possible not only to distinguish neuro-endocrine tumors from other forms of pancreatic cancer, but also to subdivide the latter into three clusters with distinct genetic profiles that could reflect their molecular underpinning.

STRO-001 is a site-specific, predominantly single-species, fully human, aglycosylated anti-CD74 antibody-drug conjugate incorporating a non-cleavable linker-maytansinoid warhead with a drug-antibody ratio of 2 which was produced by a novel cell-free antibody synthesis platform. We examined the potential pharmacodynamics and anti-tumor effects of STRO-001 in multiple myeloma (MM). CD74 expression was assessed in MM cell lines and primary bone marrow (BM) MM biopsies. CD74 mRNA was detectable in CD138+ enriched plasma cells from 100% (892/892) of patients with newly diagnosed MM. Immunohistochemistry confirmed CD74 expression in 35/36 BM biopsies from patients with newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory MM. Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated nanomolar STRO-001 potency in 4/6 MM cell lines. In ARP-1 and MM.1S tumor-bearing mice, repeat STRO-001 dosing provided significant antitumor activity with eradication of malignant hCD138+ BM plasma cells and prolonged survival. In a luciferase-expressing MM.1S xenograft model, dose-dependent STRO-001 efficacy was confirmed using bioluminescent imaging and BM tumor burden quantification. Consistent with the intended pharmacodynamic effect, STRO-001 induced dose-responsive, reversible B-cell and monocyte depletion in cynomolgus monkeys, up to a maximum tolerated 10 mg/kg, with no evidence of off-target toxicity. Collectively, these data suggest that STRO-001 is a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of MM.

For over a decade, the mainstay of multiple myeloma therapy has been small molecules that directly attack malignant plasma cell biology. However, potent immunotherapies have recently emerged, transforming the myeloma therapeutic landscape. Here we first review new promising strategies to target plasma cells through protein homeostasis and epigenetic modulators. We then discuss emerging immunotherapy strategies that are leading to dramatic results in patients. Finally, we focus on recent preclinical data suggesting that enforcing cell-surface antigen expression through small molecules may enhance immunotherapy efficacy and avoid resistance. We argue that these emerging observations point the way toward potential convergence between drug classes. With recent rapid progress we may finally be on the verge of the 'C' word: a cure for myeloma.

The myeloma bone marrow microenvironment promotes proliferation of malignant plasma cells and resistance to therapy. Activation of JAK/STAT signaling is thought to be a central component of these microenvironment-induced phenotypes. In a prior drug repurposing screen, we identified tofacitinib, a pan-JAK inhibitor Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for rheumatoid arthritis, as an agent that may reverse the tumor-stimulating effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells. Herein, we validated in vitro, in stromal-responsive human myeloma cell lines, and in vivo, in orthotopic disseminated xenograft models of myeloma, that tofacitinib showed efficacy in myeloma models. Furthermore, tofacitinib strongly synergized with venetoclax in coculture with bone marrow stromal cells but not in monoculture. Surprisingly, we found that ruxolitinib, an FDA approved agent targeting JAK1 and JAK2, did not lead to the same anti-myeloma effects. Combination with a novel irreversible JAK3-selective inhibitor also did not enhance ruxolitinib effects. Transcriptome analysis and unbiased phosphoproteomics revealed that bone marrow stromal cells stimulate a JAK/STAT-mediated proliferative program in myeloma cells, and tofacitinib reversed the large majority of these pro-growth signals. Taken together, our results suggest that tofacitinib reverses the growth-promoting effects of the tumor microenvironment. As tofacitinib is already FDA approved, these results can be rapidly translated into potential clinical benefits for myeloma patients.

Chordoid glioma is a rare brain tumor thought to arise from specialized glial cells of the lamina terminalis along the anterior wall of the third ventricle. Despite being histologically low-grade, chordoid gliomas are often associated with poor outcome, as their stereotypic location in the third ventricle makes resection challenging and efficacious adjuvant therapies have not been developed. Here we performed genomic profiling on 13 chordoid gliomas and identified a recurrent D463H missense mutation in PRKCA in all tumors, which localizes in the kinase domain of the encoded protein kinase C alpha (PKCα). Expression of mutant PRKCA in immortalized human astrocytes led to increased phospho-ERK and anchorage-independent growth that could be blocked by MEK inhibition. These studies define PRKCA as a recurrently mutated oncogene in human cancer and identify a potential therapeutic vulnerability in this uncommon brain tumor.

A deletion or duplication in the 16p11.2 region is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. In addition to clinical characteristics, carriers of the 16p11.2 copy-number variant (CNV) manifest opposing neuroanatomical phenotypes-e.g., macrocephaly in deletion carriers (16pdel) and microcephaly in duplication carriers (16pdup). Using fibroblasts obtained from 16pdel and 16pdup carriers, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and differentiated them into neurons to identify causal cellular mechanisms underlying neurobiological phenotypes. Our study revealed increased soma size and dendrite length in 16pdel neurons and reduced neuronal size and dendrite length in 16pdup neurons. The functional properties of iPSC-derived neurons corroborated aspects of these contrasting morphological differences that may underlie brain size. Interestingly, both 16pdel and 16pdup neurons displayed reduced synaptic density, suggesting that distinct mechanisms may underlie brain size and neuronal connectivity at this locus.

Ribosome profiling is a widespread tool for studying translational dynamics in human cells. Its central assumption is that ribosome footprint density on a transcript quantitatively reflects protein synthesis. Here, we test this assumption using pulsed-SILAC (pSILAC) high-accuracy targeted proteomics. We focus on multiple myeloma cells exposed to bortezomib, a first-line chemotherapy and proteasome inhibitor. In the absence of drug effects, we found that direct measurement of protein synthesis by pSILAC correlated well with indirect measurement of synthesis from ribosome footprint density. This correlation, however, broke down under bortezomib-induced stress. By developing a statistical model integrating longitudinal proteomic and mRNA-sequencing measurements, we found that proteomics could directly detect global alterations in translational rate caused by bortezomib; these changes are not detectable by ribosomal profiling alone. Further, by incorporating pSILAC data into a gene expression model, we predict cell-stress specific proteome remodeling events. These results demonstrate that pSILAC provides an important complement to ribosome profiling in measuring proteome dynamics.

Multiple myeloma is incurable by standard approaches because of inevitable relapse and development of treatment resistance in all patients. In our prior work, we identified a panel of macropinocytosing human monoclonal antibodies against CD46, a negative regulator of the innate immune system, and constructed antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). In this report, we show that an anti-CD46 ADC (CD46-ADC) potently inhibited proliferation in myeloma cell lines with little effect on normal cells. CD46-ADC also potently eliminated myeloma growth in orthometastatic xenograft models. In primary myeloma cells derived from bone marrow aspirates, CD46-ADC induced apoptosis and cell death, but did not affect the viability of nontumor mononuclear cells. It is of clinical interest that the CD46 gene resides on chromosome 1q, which undergoes genomic amplification in the majority of relapsed myeloma patients. We found that the cell surface expression level of CD46 was markedly higher in patient myeloma cells with 1q gain than in those with normal 1q copy number. Thus, genomic amplification of CD46 may serve as a surrogate for target amplification that could allow patient stratification for tailored CD46-targeted therapy. Overall, these findings indicate that CD46 is a promising target for antibody-based treatment of multiple myeloma, especially in patients with gain of chromosome 1q.

Dendritic arborization patterns are consistent anatomical correlates of genetic disorders such as Down syndrome (DS) and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). In a screen for abnormal dendrite development, we identified Minibrain (MNB)/DYRK1a, a kinase implicated in DS and ASDs, as a regulator of the microtubule cytoskeleton. We show that MNB is necessary to establish the length and cytoskeletal composition of terminal dendrites by controlling microtubule growth. Altering MNB levels disrupts dendrite morphology and perturbs neuronal electrophysiological activity, resulting in larval mechanosensation defects. Using in vivo and in vitro approaches, we uncover a molecular pathway whereby direct phosphorylation of β-tubulin by MNB inhibits tubulin polymerization, a function that is conserved for mammalian DYRK1a. Our results demonstrate that phosphoregulation of microtubule dynamics by MNB/DYRK1a is critical for dendritic patterning and neuronal function, revealing a previously unidentified mode of posttranslational microtubule regulation in neurons and uncovering a conserved pathway for a DS- and ASD-associated kinase.

Proteases constitute the largest enzyme family, yet their biological roles are obscured by our rudimentary understanding of their cellular substrates. There are 12 human caspases that play crucial roles in inflammation and cell differentiation and drive the terminal stages of cell death. Recent N-terminomics technologies have begun to enumerate the diverse substrates individual caspases can cleave in complex cell lysates. It is clear that many caspases have shared substrates; however, few data exist about the catalytic efficiencies (kcat/KM) of these substrates, which is critical to understanding their true substrate preferences. In this study, we use quantitative MS to determine the catalytic efficiencies for hundreds of natural protease substrates in cellular lysate for two understudied members: caspase-2 and caspase-6. Most substrates are new, and the cleavage rates vary up to 500-fold. We compare the cleavage rates for common substrates with those found for caspase-3, caspase-7, and caspase-8, involved in apoptosis. There is little correlation in catalytic efficiencies among the five caspases, suggesting each has a unique set of preferred substrates, and thus more specialized roles than previously understood. We synthesized peptide substrates on the basis of protein cleavage sites and found similar catalytic efficiencies between the protein and peptide substrates. These data suggest the rates of proteolysis are dominated more by local primary sequence, and less by the tertiary protein fold. Our studies highlight that global quantitative rate analysis for posttranslational modification enzymes in complex milieus for native substrates is critical to better define their functions and relative sequence of events.

It is known that many chemotherapeutics induce cellular apoptosis over hours to days. During apoptosis, numerous cellular proteases are activated, most canonically the caspases. We speculated that detection of proteolytic fragments released from apoptotic cells into the peripheral blood may serve as a unique indicator of chemotherapy-induced cell death. Here we used an enzymatic labeling process to positively enrich free peptide α-amines in the plasma of hematologic malignancy patients soon after beginning treatment. This N-terminomic approach largely avoids interference by high-abundance proteins that complicate traditional plasma proteomic analyses. Significantly, by mass spectrometry methods, we found strong biological signatures of apoptosis directly in the postchemotherapy plasma, including numerous caspase-cleaved peptides as well as relevant peptides from apoptotic and cell-stress proteins second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases, HtrA serine peptidase 2, and activating transcription factor 6. We also treated hematologic cancer cell lines with clinically relevant chemotherapeutics and monitored proteolytic fragments released into the media. Remarkably, many of these peptides coincided with those found in patient samples. Overall, we identified 153 proteolytic peptides in postchemotherapy patient plasma as potential indicators of cellular apoptosis. Through targeted quantitative proteomics, we verified that many of these peptides were indeed increased post- vs. prechemotherapy in additional patients. Our findings reveal that numerous proteolytic fragments are released from dying tumor cells. Monitoring posttreatment proteolysis may lead to a novel class of inexpensive, rapid biomarkers of cell death.

Adoption of targeted mass spectrometry (MS) approaches such as multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) to study biological and biomedical questions is well underway in the proteomics community. Successful application depends on the ability to generate reliable assays that uniquely and confidently identify target peptides in a sample. Unfortunately, there is a wide range of criteria being applied to say that an assay has been successfully developed. There is no consensus on what criteria are acceptable and little understanding of the impact of variable criteria on the quality of the results generated. Publications describing targeted MS assays for peptides frequently do not contain sufficient information for readers to establish confidence that the tests work as intended or to be able to apply the tests described in their own labs. Guidance must be developed so that targeted MS assays with established performance can be made widely distributed and applied by many labs worldwide. To begin to address the problems and their solutions, a workshop was held at the National Institutes of Health with representatives from the multiple communities developing and employing targeted MS assays. Participants discussed the analytical goals of their experiments and the experimental evidence needed to establish that the assays they develop work as intended and are achieving the required levels of performance. Using this "fit-for-purpose" approach, the group defined three tiers of assays distinguished by their performance and extent of analytical characterization. Computational and statistical tools useful for the analysis of targeted MS results were described. Participants also detailed the information that authors need to provide in their manuscripts to enable reviewers and readers to clearly understand what procedures were performed and to evaluate the reliability of the peptide or protein quantification measurements reported. This paper presents a summary of the meeting and recommendations.