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New targets for an old drug

II. Hypoxanthine-guanine amidophosphoribosyltransferase as a new pharmacodynamic target of methotrexate

Clinical Proteomics volume 1, pages 227–234 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Methotrexate has been a clinical agent used in cancer, immunosuppression, rheumatoid arthritis, and other highly proliferative diseases for many years, yet its underlying molecular mechanism of action in these therapeutic areas is still unclear. We have previously reported using a chemical proteomics technique on several other potential pharmacodynamic targets of methotrexate. Here, using a frontal affinity chromatography with mass spectrometry detection, we confirm one of these targets, hypoxanthine-guanine amidophosphoribosyltransferase, as a true binder of methotrexate with a Kd of 4.2 μM. These results complement and confirm our recent study, but more importantly, shed light into the mechanism of action of methotrexate in oncology and other highly proliferative diseases and may help explain some unaccounted for effects of this drug. For example, despite the fact that DNA salvage pathway enzymes are highly active, methotrexate can be effective if it only targets enzymes of the de novo pathway.

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Author notes

  1. Leticia M. Toledo-Sherman

    Present address: Lymphosign Inc., Markham, ON, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. OptiMol Drug Discovery Division, Protana Inc., 251 Attwell Drive, M9W 7H4, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Jacek J. Slon-Usakiewicz, Andrew Pasternak, Neil Reid & Leticia M. Toledo-Sherman

Authors
  1. Jacek J. Slon-Usakiewicz
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  2. Andrew Pasternak
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  3. Neil Reid
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  4. Leticia M. Toledo-Sherman
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Correspondence to Jacek J. Slon-Usakiewicz.

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Slon-Usakiewicz, J.J., Pasternak, A., Reid, N. et al. New targets for an old drug. Clin Proteom 1, 227–234 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1385/CP:1:3-4:227

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Clinical Proteomics

ISSN: 1559-0275