Substrate targeting and inhibition of editing deaminases

Identification of small molecules against APOBEC3B The APOBECs are deaminases that act on DNA and RNA to restrict exogenous nucleic acids. Yet, the signature of their mutagenic activity –especially that of APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B- has been observed in the cancer genomes and their ability to increase the genetic heterogeneity of tumours has been linked to the onset of drug resistance in cancer. As such inhibition of their enzymatic activity represents a potential target for anticancer therapies. During my PhD I worked at the identification of APOBEC3B small-molecule inhibitors. To this aim, I used a computational approach to perform a virtual screening on large library of molecules to block APOBEC3B enzymatic activity. I then tested selected molecules from the virtual screening using biochemical assays to quantify their effect on APOBEC3B activity and their capacity to interfere with APOBEC3B binding to DNA. Through this, I was able to identify two small molecules that reduce the activity of this protein, which could provide basis for the development of the first drug for anti-APOBEC activity. Engineering ADAR2 to act on DNA Genome editing technologies have revolutionized our ability to target and modify the genomes of living cells and organisms. The fusion of AID/APOBECs to genome editing tools such as Cas9 allowed the development the first base editor, molecules that can be targeted to mutate specific cytosines. The pool of available Base Editors is in constant expansion as new molecules are developed to target DNA with more specificity and efficiency. As the only adenine-targeting Base Editor is based on TadA- an RNA deaminase-, I focused on the development of a A•T base editor based on the catalytic domain of ADAR2. Adenosine Deaminases Acting on RNA (ADARs), are editing enzymes that catalyse the C6 deamination of adenosine (A) to produce inosine (I) in double-stranded RNA. As human ADAR2 is able to target DNA/RNA hybrids, I first tried -without success- to use chimeras of n/dCas9 and the deaminase domain of ADAR2 to induce mutations in a fluorescent reporter. I then used a bacterial screen to select for mutants of ADAR2 that act on DNA. I selected a mutant that induces a mutator phenotype in bacteria and DNA damage in mammalian cells. I am currently working to engineer this mutant into a Base Editor suitable for biotechnological applications such as gene therapy, antiviral treatment and cancer therapy.