Hsp90 Structure and Function in Cancer

In the early 1960s, heat-shock proteins (HSPs) were discovered by Ritossa. Cellular and molecular biology of HSPs has generated a very active area of research (1), and the first general concept of molecular HSPs was presented by Ellis and van der Vies in 1987 (2). The highly conserved family of stress proteins, called heat-shock proteins (HSPs), are induced by cellular and environmental stress, including high temperature, hypoxic damage, and oxidative stress (3). Despite their name “heat shock or stress proteins”, they are expressed ubiquitously under normal conditions. HSP90 content of cells in non-stressful conditions is 1% - 2% of whole cellular protein, and in response to stressful conditions, it rises by about twofold (4% - 6%) (1).

HSPs have important cellular activity in both stress protection and housekeeping tasks, such as protein biosynthesis and de novo folding, proteins translocation across membranes, normal protein turnover, quality control of proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), proteins translocation across membranes, post-translational regulation of signaling molecules, the assembly/disassembly of transcriptional complexes, and the processing of immunogenic peptides by the immune system (1, 4-6).

HSPs, also called chaperones that help proteins to achieve their correct folding, are different in their cellular localization, function, and molecular weight (7, 8). According to molecular size, HSPs, are classified into various families such as HSP100, HSP90, HSP70, HSP60, and small HSPs (15 - 30 kDa) (9). Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependents are high molecular-weight HSPs (10).

Although functional conformation of a protein is determined by its amino acid residues, most polypeptides are unable to fold properly when highly concentrated without the assistance of molecular chaperones. Normal levels of HSPs facilitate folding of proteins to the native folded state and protect them from misfolding and aggregation (1). An overview of chaperones mediating post-translational protein homeostasis is presented schematically in Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Chaperones participate in regulating various cellular process (11). A, Newly synthesized proteins associated with chaperones and co-chaperones (different color shapes); B, that also help with translocation and trafficking of protein across membranes such as endoplasmic reticulum (ER); C, chaperones maintain proteins in meta-state (active or stable state) by stimuli in multi-subunit signaling complexes; D, chaperone target protein to degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in the absence of appropriate stimuli.

The majority of HSP90s, known as cellular substrates, are signal transducers of proteins and play a crucial role in growth control and cell survival (12). These HSPs include serine/threonine kinas (Cdk-4 and Raf-1), steroid hormone receptors, receptor tyrosine kinas (13-16), AKT (17), HIF1α (18), MMp2 (19), transcription factors such as MyoD, tyrosine kinases such as Her-2/neu, and mutant transcription factors such as p53 in cancerous and noncancerous cells (20, 21).

Several detailed studies are available that address the structural and molecular biology and function of HSPs in general (22-26) and HSP90 in particular (27).

It is known that in many solid tumors and hematological malignancies, HSPs are increased. In malignant cells, HSPs are expressed to protect and retain protein homoeostasis from the hostile hypoxic and acidotic microenvironment of the tumor. Furthermore, tumor cells can use HSPs to tolerate fatal genetic mutations (28). Therefore, inhibitors that target HSPs may disrupt multiple oncogenic processes and influence HSPs to change their function and cause degradation of their oncogenic ‘client’ proteins by proteasome (29).

The main objective of this review was to describe the structure and function of HSP90 and then discuss the importance of HSP90 for the regulation of various processes associated with malignancy. We also reviewed how HSP90 inhibitors can target its structure and may be as useful as drugs.

HSP90, one of the most common cellular chaperones, is a multi-component machine of chaperone proteins that requires some proteins like p60/Hop, p50Cdc37, HSP40/HDJ2, p23, and HSP70 and a variety of immunophilins to function (30, 31). HSP90 mainly exists as a homodimer consisting of monomers comprising of three main functional domains that display important functional interactions (32). HSP90 is a cell surface HSP secreted from cells that perform specific immunological functions (33-36). HSP90 has five organelle-specific isoforms, including cytoplasmic HSP90α- and β-isoforms, endoplasmic reticulum localized glucose-regulated protein 94 (GRP94), mitochondrial tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1), and membrane-associated HSP90N (9). Two distinct genes encode HSP90α and HSP90β (37).

In humans, two HSP90 isoforms exist in the cytosol, an inducible (HSP90α) and a constitutive form (HSP90β), which are stress-inducible and closely related with no differences in their activities (38, 39). The cytosolic isoform of HSP90 is involved in cancer. HSP90 level is regulated by heat shock transcription factor-1 (HSF) that interacts with it (40). Four isoforms of HSP90, except HSP90N, are highly similar in structure (9). Several posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation, nitrosylation, and acetylation regulate HSP90 function (41).

HSP90, like other molecular chaperones, rarely functions alone and is a component of a larger machine. It has a highly flexible and dynamic molecule that works with other chaperones, co-chaperones, ATPase activity modulators, and different accessory proteins. As an energy source, it hydrolyzes ATP (42). In normal physiological conditions, HSP90 forms a 90 kDa MW homodimer. Each protomer consists of three structural and functional domains. As shown in Figure 2, the N-terminal domain (NTD) or ATP-binding domain, middle-domain (MD) or ATP-hydrolysis regulating domain, and C-terminal domain (CTD) or dimerization domain of HSP90 have been reported (43). Some members of HSP90 family such as cytosolic HSP90 have a disordered region, termed as the charged linker, which separates NTD and MD domains. The NTD possesses an adenine nucleotide-binding pocket. ATP binds in N-terminal pocket of the chaperone (32).

Figure 2.

Hsp90 and its domains in the complex. A, Ribbon representation and B, surface representation (44).

Eukaryotic cytosolic HSP90s have a C-terminal extension of MEEVD. This structural motif belongs to the GHKL superfamily. Hydrolysis of ATP to ADP plays an essential role in HSP90 dimer chaperoning activity (45). The CDC37A fragment of the co-chaperone p50 makes a complex with the N-terminus of HSP90. This co-chaperone recruits kinases to the HSP90 machinery (46).

In eukaryotes, a flexible and highly charged linker sequence connects N-terminal domain to the ‘middle region’ of HSP90. The middle region serves an important function in the binding of client proteins to HSP90, it also interacts with the γ-phosphate group of ATP molecules and modulates ATP hydrolysis (45, 47). Protein AHA1 (activator of HSP90 ATPase homologue 1) acts as a co-chaperone and causes an association between the N-terminal and middle domains. When it binds to HSP90, the ATP-hydrolysis rate of HSP90 markedly accelerates (48). A second flexible linker of HSP90 forms its inherent dimeric status and is responsible for connection between the middle region and the 12 kDa C-terminal domain of HSP90.

The COOH-terminal end of this region provides a second ATP-binding site on HSP90 and regulates ATPase activity (47). Finally, C-terminal recruits diverse tetratricopeptide-containing repeats (TPR)-domain and contains co-chaperones such as immunophilins, HSP70/HSP90-organizing protein (HOP), protein phosphatase 5 (PP5), PPIase, and non-TPR co-chaperones CD37, p23, and AHA1 through a conserved EEVD motif. These proteins modify and increase the specificity of HSP90-containing complexes, modulate ATPase activity, and are involved in client protein maturation. ATP hydrolysis occurs slowly by HSP90 (49).

The p50 (yeast homolog Cdc37) and p23 (yeast homolog Sba1), as co-chaperones, are also connected to NTD (50), which has partial ATPase activity. MD has a catalytic residue, Arg380, that orientates and polarizes ATP γ-phosphate (45) and provides a binding site for client proteins such as eNOS, Akt, linker polypeptides of phycobilisome, Cdk4, and staphylococcal nuclease (51, 52) and co-chaperones such as Aha1 (48). The CTD plays a critical role in HSP90 dimerization and binding client proteins such as the tumor suppressor p53 (53).

HSP90 adopts various conformational states. These states include apo (when HSP90 is nucleotide-free), open (when it connects to ATP), AMPPNP or closed (when connected to ADP), and Grp94-like (54). Binding and hydrolysis of ATP drive the conformational changes and manage the time period of ATPase cycle. In vivo function of HSP90 is ATP-dependent, indicating that ATPase cycle serves a critical role in cellular function of HSP90 (55, 56). ATP binds to HSP90 in an apo state, and then the N-terminal domain of each protomer binds together and forms a dimer or closed catalytically active state (the ATP state). When ATP is hydrolyzed (the ADP state), HSP90 releases ADP and returns to open state (Figure 1). Hydrolysis of ATP to ADP induces structural alterations and chaperoning activity of HSP90 (55, 56).

HSP90 functions and interactions with its clients can allow cells to link to its environment, and stress response is coupled with the integrated changes in signal-transduction pathways and transcriptional responses (5). Epigenetic changes in gene expression and heritable alterations in chromatin state can be induced by HSP90 (57). One of the several chromatin-remodeling complexes is DNA helicase, which interacts with HSP90 co-factors and support the link between HSP90 and epigenetic regulation of gene function (58). HSP90 activity can hide inherent polymorphisms within populations of organisms (59). As a result, polymorphic variants of HSP90 client proteins involved in crucial signaling pathways accumulate, while it functions to maintain wild-type phenotypes (60). The less-stable HSP90 client proteins might become more unstable under different stressful conditions. Afterward, HSP90 increases refolding demand of its usual client proteins, as well as new and stress-destabilized ones. Genetic variation cache increases buffering capacity of HSP90, and despite underlying genotypic variations, it produces diverse and genotype-specific phenotypes (61). In this way, populations with hidden genetic variations and distinct genotypes survive owing to natural selection (62). Similarly, at the protein level, HSP90 might act as cancer chaperone buffering of mutant protein and produce one of the characteristics of cancers known as genetic heterogeneity (28, 61).

Recently, X-ray diffraction studies showed when calcium and magnesium compete for free ATP concentration, calcium supports TRAP1 ATPase activity and compensates for magnesium (63). In malignant tissues, there are contrasting reports regarding the expression of TRAP1 patterns (64). The mutation of TRAP1 increases mitochondrial ATP production and respiration (65). In addition, GRP94 expression was clinically indicative of advanced stage in many cancers like gallbladder cancer (66) and colon cancer (67).

Additionally, HSP90β genetic mutation decreased differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells to hepatocyte (68). Consequently, phenotypic diversity and evolution of invasive, metastatic, and drug-resistant biologies would increase within the cancer cell population. As a result, HSP90 might provide a useful target for anticancer therapies (69).

The rapid induction of HSPs in response to various stressful conditions is a set of well-ordered and regulated responses known as HSR, which occur in coordinated series of genetic and biochemical events. Transcription regulators, which are called heat shock factors (HSFs), mediate HSR and regulate the expression of heat shock proteins and responsive genes. In humans, three HSFs, HSF1, 2 and 4, have been isolated. HSF1, most crucial to HSR, binds to HSP90, while in response to stress, it rapidly dissociates from its complex with HSP90 and HSP70 and becomes activated (9, 70). Transcription of HSP mRNA proceeds in stressful environments with ATP-independent post-translational modification since its mRNA lacks introns. Increased levels of HSPs are present in many types of cancer (11, 28).

Heat-shock proteins drive tumor growth, metastasis, and cell survival. In growth factor-deprived conditions, it allows cancer cells to translate protein and proliferate (11). Similarly, depletion of HSF1 reduces viability of cancer cells, while showing no effect on normal cells that suggests HSF1 provides critical relief for cancer cells in stressful conditions (71). HSF1 promotes tumorigenesis by mediating HSP induction and organizing a wide network of cellular functions such as energy metabolism, cell growth, survival, and protein synthesis (71, 72).

In cellular stress conditions, HSF, after separation from HSP90, is phosphorylated by protein kinases, and trimers molecules are formed that are able to enter the nucleus and bind to the promoter region of the HSP90 and other HSP genes. Additional phosphorylation of HSF proceeds transcription of HSP90 mRNA and causes its translocation to cytosol, where a new HSP90 chaperone complex is assembled (40).

In many tumors, elevated expression of chaperone proteins is observed, and cancer cells maintain homeostasis and tolerate alterations within their stressful microenvironments. Mutations in critical signaling molecules help to drive oncogenesis chaperones serve as biochemical buffers for genetic lesions found within most human cancers (73). The increased expression of HSPs is a common feature in a range of cancers (solid and hematological malignancies) and confers a proper cytoprotective stress response to some malignant tumor characteristics such as hostile hypoxic, acidosis, and nutrient-deprived microenvironment (73, 74). In breast cancer, HSP70 and HSP90 overexpression is correlated with poor prognosis (75), resistance, and low response to drug and regimens of combination chemotherapy (76).

At the molecular level, increased chaperone activities allow cells to escape apoptotic death and assist in coping with the imbalanced signaling in neoplastic transformation (73, 74). Apoptotic signaling is significantly impaired in cancer cells. Chaperones enable cancer cells to have independent normal regulatory factors and escape from host defense mechanisms and chemotherapeutic drugs, which result in bypass death mechanism and survival and expansion of cancer cell (77, 78). HSP90 and its co-chaperones are tumor cell apoptosis modulators. Most of their effects seem to be mediated through AKT (17), tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) receptors (79), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) function (80). However, neoplastic transformation and apoptosis inhibition are facilitated by HSP90. The dynamic and low binding affinity of HSP90 with its clients play a key role in maintenance of the latent, but readily activated, state (42).

The unstable conformational state of the clients’ oncogenic mutant leads to increased HSP90 function requirements. The most dramatic example of this phenomenon is SRC tyrosine kinase. The C-terminus truncation of the oncogenic SRC mutant results in the deletion of its essential regulatory domain and a constitutively active, but conformationally unstable, kinase. This domain is normally responsible for interaction with SH2 domain, kinase activity repression, and structural stabilization in the protein (81). Limited HSP90 machinery assistance is required for normal c-SRC maturation and function, whereas v-SRC mutants are aberrantly and physically associate with HSP90, which is essential to acquire and maintain increased and transforming kinase activity of v-SRC (82).

The most common molecular genetic defect is p53 mutations found in many human cancers. Most mutations in TP53 result in conformational changes of its protein and altered cell-cycle-checkpoint activity. The wild-type p53 undergoes transient interactions with HSP90 to maintain its activation-competent conformation and regulate its degradation by the ubiquitin–proteasome system (83, 84). Most p53 mutants adopt aberrant conformations, interact extendedly with the chaperone, and prevent their normal degradation and dysfunctional proteins accumulation (a pathological hallmark of mutation) within tumor cells (85). Mutant p53 proteins do not act as tumor suppressors and form heterodimers (dominant-negative effect) with normal p53 and interfere with its function or transactivate other genes that have tumor-promoting effects. Cancer cells overexpress matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and secret HSP90α into the extracellular matrix and assist in the activation of MMP-2 and invasion (86).

Natural products such as geldanamycin (GA), radicicol, and a growing number of semisynthetic and synthetic derivatives bound in ATP pocket with higher affinity than nucleotides can lock the domain in its ADP-bound conformation. Therefore, many of normal functions of the chaperone alter (87). In particular, inhibition of ADP conformation of Hsp90 recruit E3 ubiquitin ligases such as CHIP (carboxy-terminus of HSP70-interacting protein) that HSP90 normally chaperone (88). Many client proteins are degraded by proteasomes and protein depletion occurs in cells (45, 47).

Ablation of the function of chaperones has lethal effects on both normal and cancer cells. Therefore, drugs with extremely high affinity and specificity may not lead to improvements of the therapeutic index. Because chaperones participate in many critical functions, their mutation is the leading cause of drug resistance. Some chaperone inhibitors disrupt multiple oncogenic chaperone client proteins, which can be a unique and therapeutically attractive feature (28).

ATP-binding pocket with small molecules (novobiocin, GA, an ansamycin lead compound) destabilize HSP90 client proteins, and flexible linkers and co-chaperones such as p50 provide a target for the discovery and production of novel HSP90 inhibitors (4, 28, 46, 49).

Despite the anti-cancer activity of GA in many in vivo and in vitro studies, because of its structural instability and hepatotoxicity, its clinical usage has not yet been approved. In in vitro studies, GA is still commonly used to inhibit HSP90 (89).

Chaperone proteins play a role in initiating and maintaining transformed phenotypes or risk of transformation (90). During the past decade, the molecular chaperone, HSP90, has become a target for several small-molecule drugs identified as potential anticancer agents. These drugs disrupt numerous receptor functions, transcription factors, and kinases known to be involved in the development of oncogenesis (11).

In this study, the main focus was to study the structure and function of HSP90 as an important member of HSPs. HSP90 proteins are highly dynamic machines, in which multiple posttranslational modifications and binding to different co-chaperones regulate their structure and function. HSP90 appears to be overexpressed in cancer cells. A diverse set of client proteins of HSP90 are crucial in many cellular functions and participate in survival signals, pro-angiogenic signals, cell cycle checkpoints, proliferation, and metastasis that are heavily involved in creating and maintaining the malignant phenotype. Therefore, HSP90 inhibition might be particularly useful as a treatment of human cancer cells.