Molecule of the Month: Anaphase-Promoting Complex / Cyclosome
APC/C guards the checkpoints that regulate key steps in the cell cycle
Marked for Destruction
APC/C in Action
Cancer Connections
Exploring the Structure
Cdc20 Complexes
The small molecule inhibitor Apcin, named for “APC inhibitor,” is currently being evaluated as a potential treatment for cancer. It binds to Cdc20 in the site that recognizes degrons, thus blocking recognition of the target protein by APC/C. The structure of apcin bound to Cdc20 is shown in PDB entry 4n14, and compared to the degron complex in PDB entry PDB entry 5g04. Click on the image for an interactive JSmol to see how this small drug blocks the function of the large APC/C.
Topics for Further Discussion
- APC/C binds to many regulatory proteins over the course of the cell cycle. For example, you can explore the complex of APC/C with the mitotic checkpoint complex in PDB ID 5lcw.
- As you’re exploring the structure, notice that Cdc20 has a distinctive 7-bladed beta propeller fold. You can explore other proteins with this fold using the “Browse by Annotation” function for “CATH” classifications.
Related PDB-101 Resources
- Browse Cancer
- Browse Cellular Signaling
- Browse Drug Action
References
- Bhuniya, R., Yuan, X., Bai, L., Howie, K. L., Wang, R., Li, W., Park, F., Yang, C.-Y. (2022) Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of Apcin-based CDC20 inhibitors. ACS Med Chem Lett 13: 188–195
- Bruno, S., Ghelli Luserna di Rorà, A., Napolitano, R., Soverini, S., Martinelli, G., Simonetti, G. (2022) CDC20 in and out of mitosis: a prognostic factor and therapeutic target in hematological malignancies. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 41: 159
- Schrock, M. S., Stromberg, B. R., Scarberry, L., Summers, M. K. (2020) APC/C ubiquitin ligase: Functions and mechanisms in tumorigenesis. Seminars in Cancer Biology 67: 80–91
- 5g04: Zhang, S., Chang, L., Alfieri, C., Zhang, Z., Yang, J., Maslen, S., Skehel, M., Barford, D. (2016) Molecular Mechanism of Apc/C Activation by Mitotic Phosphorylation. Nature 533: 260-264
- 5a31: Chang, L., Zhang, Z., Yang, J., Mclaughlin, S.H., Barford, D. (2015) Atomic Structure of the Apc/C and its Mechanism of Protein Ubiquitination. Nature 522: 450-454
- 4n14: Luo, X., Tian, W., Yu, H. (2014) Synergistic blockade of mitotic exit by two chemical inhibitors of the APC/C. Nature 514: 646-649
- Sackton, K., Dimova, N., Zeng, X., Tian, W., Zhang, M., Sackton, T. B., Meaders, J., Pfaff, K. L., Sigoillot, F., Yu, H., Luo, X., King, R. W. (2014) Synergistic blockade of mitotic exit by two chemical inhibitors of the APC/C. Nature 514: 646–649
- Pesin, J. A., Orr-Weaver, T. L. (2008) Regulation of APC/C Activators in Mitosis and Meiosis. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 24: 475–499.
March 2023, Zara Bukhari, Eduardo Chaparro-Barriera, Casey H. Greenberg, Verna Van, David S. Goodsell, Shuchismita Dutta
http://doi.org/10.2210/rcsb_pdb/mom_2023_3