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The tripeptide glutathione suppresses the iron-dependent, non-apoptotic cell death process of ferroptosis. How glutathione abundance is regulated in the cell and how this regulation alters ferroptosis sensitivity is poorly understood. Using genome-wide human haploid genetic screening technology coupled to fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), we directly identify genes that regulate intracellular glutathione abundance and characterize their role in ferroptosis regulation. Disruption of the ATP binding cassette (ABC)-family transporter multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) prevents glutathione efflux from the cell and strongly inhibits ferroptosis. High levels of MRP1 expression decrease sensitivity to certain pro-apoptotic chemotherapeutic drugs, while collaterally sensitizing to all tested pro-ferroptotic agents. By contrast, disruption of KEAP1 and NAA38, leading to the stabilization of the transcription factor NRF2, increases glutathione levels but only weakly protects from ferroptosis. This is due in part to concomitant NRF2-mediated upregulation of MRP1. These results pinpoint glutathione efflux as an unanticipated regulator of ferroptosis sensitivity., (Copyright © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Absence of α-crystallins (αA and αB) in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells renders them susceptible to oxidant-induced cell death. We tested the hypothesis that the protective effect of α-crystallin is mediated by changes in cellular glutathione (GSH) and elucidated the mechanism of GSH efflux. In α-crystallin overexpressing cells resistant to cell death, cellular GSH was >2 fold higher than vector control cells and this increase was seen particularly in mitochondria. The high GSH levels associated with α-crystallin overexpression were due to increased GSH biosynthesis. On the other hand, cellular GSH was decreased by 50% in murine retina lacking αA or αB crystallin. Multiple multidrug resistance protein (MRP) family isoforms were expressed in RPE, among which MRP1 was the most abundant. MRP1 was localized to the plasma membrane and inhibition of MRP1 markedly decreased GSH efflux. MRP1-suppressed cells were resistant to cell death and contained elevated intracellular GSH and GSSG. Increased GSH in MRP1-supressed cells resulted from a higher conversion of GSSG to GSH by glutathione reductase. In contrast, GSH efflux was significantly higher in MRP1 overexpressing RPE cells which also contained lower levels of cellular GSH and GSSG. Oxidative stress further increased GSH efflux with a decrease in cellular GSH and rendered cells apoptosis-prone. In conclusion, our data reveal for the first time that 1) MRP1 mediates GSH and GSSG efflux in RPE cells; 2) MRP1 inhibition renders RPE cells resistant to oxidative stress-induced cell death while MRP1 overexpression makes them susceptible and 3) the antiapoptotic function of α-crystallin in oxidatively stressed cells is mediated in part by GSH and MRP1. Our findings suggest that MRP1 and α crystallin are potential therapeutic targets in pathological retinal degenerative disorders linked to oxidative stress.

Multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1/ABCC1) is an ATP-dependent polytopic membrane protein that transports many anticancer drugs and organic anions. Its transport mechanism is multifaceted, especially with respect to the participation of GSH. For example, vincristine is cotransported with GSH, estrone sulfate transport is stimulated by GSH, or MRP1 can transport GSH alone, and this can be stimulated by compounds such as verapamil or apigenin. Thus, the interactions between GSH and MRP1 are mechanistically complex. To examine the similarities and differences among the various GSH-associated mechanisms of MRP1 transport, we have measured first the effect of GSH and several GSH-associated substrates/modulators on the binding and hydrolysis of ATP by MRP1 using 8-azidoadenosine-5'-[(32)P]-triphosphate ([(32)P]azidoATP) analogs, and second the initial binding of GSH and GSH-associated substrates/modulators to MRP1. We observed that GSH or its nonreducing derivative S-methylGSH (S-mGSH), but none of the GSH-associated substrate/modulators, caused a significant increase in [gamma-(32)P]azidoATP labeling of MRP1. Moreover, GSH and S-mGSH decreased levels of orthovanadate-induced trapping of [alpha-(32)P]azidoADP. [alpha-(32)P]azidoADP.Vi trapping was also decreased by estone sulfate, whereas vincristine, verapamil, and apigenin had no apparent effects on nucleotide interactions with MRP1. Furthermore, estrone sulfate and S-mGSH enhanced the effect of each other 15- and 10-fold, respectively. Second, although GSH binding increased the apparent affinity of MRP1 for all GSH-associated substrates/modulators tested, only estrone sulfate had a reciprocal effect on the apparent affinity of MRP1 for GSH. Overall, these results indicate significant mechanistic differences between MRP1-mediated transport of GSH and the ability of GSH to modulate MRP1 transport.

Members of the multidrug resistance protein (MRP/ABCC) subfamily of ATP-binding cassette proteins transport a wide array of anionic compounds, including sulfate, glucuronide, and glutathione (GSH) conjugates. The present study tested the ATP-dependent vesicular transport of leukotriene C(4) and 17beta-estradiol 17-(beta-d-glucuronide) (E(2)17betaG) mediated by the MRP1 and MRP2 transporters in the presence of six potential modulators from three different classes of GSH-conjugated catechol metabolites: the ecstasy metabolite 5-(glutathion-S-yl)-N-methyl-alpha-methyldopamine (5-GS-N-Me-alpha-MeDA), the caffeic acid metabolite 2-(glutathion-S-yl)-caffeic acid (2-GS-CA), and four GSH conjugates of 2-hydroxy (OH) and 4-OH estrogens (GS estrogens). MRP1-mediated E(2)17betaG transport was inhibited in a competitive manner with a relative order of potency of GS estrogens (IC(50) <1 microM) > 2-GS-CA (IC(50) 3 microM) > 5-GS-N-Me-alpha-MeDA (IC(50) 31 microM). MRP2-mediated transport was inhibited with a similar order of potency, except the 2-hydroxy-4-(glutathion-S-yl)-estradiol and 4-hydroxy-2-(glutathion-S-yl)-estradiol conjugates were approximately 50- and 300-fold less potent, respectively. Transport activity was unaffected by N-acetylcysteine conjugates of N-Me-alpha-MeDA and CA. The position of GSH conjugation appears important as all four GS estrogen conjugates tested were potent inhibitors of MRP1 transport, but only the 2-hydroxy-1-(glutathion-S-yl)-estradiol and 2-hydroxy-1-(glutathion-S-yl)-estrone conjugates were potent inhibitors of MRP2-mediated transport. In conclusion, we have identified three new classes of MRP1 and MRP2 modulators and demonstrated that one of these, the estrogen conjugates, shows unanticipated differences in their interactions with the two transporters.

Glutathione (GSH)-conjugated xenobiotics and GSH-conjugated metabolites (e.g. the cysteinyl leukotriene C4) must be exported from the cells in which they are formed before they can be eliminated from the body or act on their cellular targets. This efflux is often mediated by the multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) transporter, which also confers drug resistance to tumour cells and can protect normal cells from toxic insults. In addition to drugs and GSH conjugates, MRP1 exports GSH and GSH disulfide, and might thus have a role in cellular responses to oxidative stress. The transport of several drugs and conjugated organic anions by MRP1 requires the presence of GSH, but it is not well understood how GSH (and its analogues) enhances transport. Site-directed mutagenesis studies and biophysical analyses have provided important insights into the structural determinants of MRP1 that influence GSH and GSH conjugate binding and transport.

Multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1/ABCC1) is an ATP-dependent efflux pump that can confer resistance to multiple anticancer drugs and transport conjugated organic anions. Unusually, transport of several MRP1 substrates requires glutathione (GSH). For example, estrone sulfate transport by MRP1 is stimulated by GSH, vincristine is co-transported with GSH, or GSH can be transported alone. In the present study, radioligand binding assays were developed to investigate the mechanistic details of GSH-stimulated transport of estrone sulfate by MRP1. We have established that estrone sulfate binding to MRP1 requires GSH, or its non-reducing analogue S-methyl GSH (S-mGSH), and further that the affinity (Kd) of MRP1 for estrone sulfate is 2.5-fold higher in the presence of S-mGSH than GSH itself. Association kinetics show that GSH binds to MRP1 first, and we propose that GSH binding induces a conformational change, which makes the estrone sulfate binding site accessible. Binding of non-hydrolyzable ATP analogues to MRP1 decreases the affinity for estrone sulfate. However, GSH (or S-mGSH) is still required for estrone sulfate binding, and the affinity for GSH is unchanged. Estrone sulfate affinity remains low following hydrolysis of ATP. The affinity for GSH also appears to decrease in the post-hydrolytic state. Our results indicate ATP binding is sufficient for reconfiguration of the estrone sulfate binding site to lower affinity and argue for the presence of a modulatory GSH binding site not associated with transport of this tripeptide. A model for the mechanism of GSH-stimulated estrone sulfate transport is proposed.

Studies have shown that expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is associated with enhanced glutathione (GSH) efflux from airway epithelial cells, implicating a role for CFTR in the control of oxidative stress in the airways. To define the mechanism underlying CFTR-associated GSH flux, we studied wild-type and mutant CFTR proteins expressed in Sf9 membranes, as well as purified and reconstituted CFTR. We show that CFTR-expressing membrane vesicles mediate nucleotide-activated GSH flux, which is disrupted in the R347D pore mutant, and in the Walker A K464A and K1250A mutants. Further, we reveal that purified CFTR protein alone directly mediates nucleotide-dependent GSH flux. Interestingly, although ATP supports GSH flux through CFTR, this activity is enhanced in the presence of the non-hydrolyzable ATP analog AMP-PNP. These findings corroborate previous suggestions that CFTR pore properties can vary with the nature of the nucleotide interaction. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that GSH flux is an intrinsic function of CFTR and prompt future examination of the role of this function in airway biology in health and disease.

The human multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) is a primary active transporter of reduced (GSH) and oxidized glutathione, as well as GSH-, glucuronate-, and sulfate-conjugated organic anions. In addition, the transport of certain MRP1 substrates is stimulated by the presence of GSH. To evaluate the structural features of GSH required for interaction with the protein, we investigated the ability of a series of GSH analogs to enhance GSH stimulatable transport of [(3)H]estrone 3-sulfate (E(1)SO(4)). We found that substitution of the gamma-Glu residue with Gly, beta-Asp, and alpha-Glu resulted in complete loss of transport stimulation. In contrast, substitution of Gly with Glu or beta-Ala resulted in only a partial loss of stimulatory activity. E(1)SO(4) transport activity surpassed GSH-stimulated levels in the presence of tripeptides in which Cys was substituted with the hydrophobic amino acids Leu, Phe, and homo-Phe. Moreover, polar substitutions of Cys did not enhance transport to the same extent as nonpolar substitutions of comparable size. gamma-Glu-Leu-Gly was 1.6-fold more effective than GSH in stimulating E(1)SO(4) uptake, and kinetic analysis indicated this was due to an increased V(max). In addition, this tripeptide was shown to be a competitive inhibitor of apigenin-stimulated GSH transport (K(i) value of 14 microM), confirming that it either interacts with the same site on MRP1 as GSH or that the binding of the two tripeptides is mutually exclusive. These data provide insight into the architecture of the GSH binding domain of MRP1.

In tumor cells, the human multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1), confers resistance to a broad spectrum of anticancer agents. MRP1 is also expressed in many normal tissues where it acts as an ATP-dependent transporter of organic anions. Reduced glutathione (GSH) is transported by MRP1 with very low affinity, and certain MRP1 substrates are transported in association with this tripeptide. Previous studies have shown that various dietary flavonoids stimulate the ATPase activity of MRP1 and inhibit transport of its conjugated organic anion substrates but are poor reversers of MRP1-mediated drug resistance. In contrast, many of the same flavonoids markedly stimulate GSH transport by MRP1. In the present study, we found that stimulation of GSH transport in inside-out MRP1-enriched membrane vesicles by apigenin, naringenin, genistein, and quercetin was maximum at a concentration of 30 microM. Apigenin was the most efficacious of the four bioflavonoids, showing a maximal 6-fold increase over basal levels of GSH transport. The apparent K(m) and V(max) for GSH uptake in the presence of 30 microM apigenin were 116 microM and 666 pmol mg(-1) min(-1), respectively. Chemosensitivity assays with control-transfected and MRP1-transfected HeLa cell lines showed that the IC(50) values for apigenin, naringenin, genistein, and quercetin were similar, demonstrating that overexpression of MRP1 does not confer resistance to these bioflavonoids. Our results suggest that flavonoids stimulate MRP1-mediated GSH transport by increasing the apparent affinity of the transporter for GSH but provide no evidence that a cotransport mechanism is involved.

Multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1/ABCC1) is an ATP-dependent transporter of structurally diverse organic anion conjugates. The protein also actively transports a number of non-conjugated chemotherapeutic drugs and certain anionic conjugates by a presently poorly understood GSH-dependent mechanism. LY475776is a newly developed (125)I-labeled azido tricyclic isoxazole that binds toMRP1 with high affinity and specificity in a GSH-dependent manner. The compound has also been shown to photolabel a site in the COOH-proximal region of MRP1's third membrane spanning domain (MSD). It is presently not known where GSH interacts with the protein. Here, we demonstrate that the photactivateable GSH derivative azidophenacyl-GSH can substitute functionally for GSH in supporting the photolabeling of MRP1 by LY475776 and the transport of another GSH-dependent substrate, estrone 3-sulfate. In contrast to LY475776, azidophenacyl-[(35)S] photolabels both halves of the protein. Photolabeling of the COOH-proximal site can be markedly stimulated by low concentrations of estrone 3-sulfate, suggestive of cooperativity between the binding of these two compounds. We show that photolabeling of the COOH-proximal site by LY475776 and the labeling of both NH(2)- and COOH- proximal sites by azidophenacyl-GSH requires the cytoplasmic linker (CL3) region connecting the first and second MSDs of the protein, but not the first MSD itself. Although required for binding, CL3 is not photolabeled by azidophenacyl-GSH. Finally, we identify non-conserved amino acids in the third MSD that contribute to the high affinity with which LY475776 binds to MRP1.

Substrates transported by the 190-kDa multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) (ABCC1) include endogenous organic anions such as the cysteinyl leukotriene C(4). In addition, MRP1 confers resistance against various anticancer drugs by reducing intracellular accumulation by co-export of drug with reduced GSH. We have examined the properties of LY475776, an intrinsically photoactivable MRP1-specific tricyclic isoxazole modulator that inhibits leukotriene C(4) transport by this protein in a GSH-dependent manner. We show that [125I]LY475776 photolabeling of MRP1 requires GSH but is also supported by several non-reducing GSH derivatives and peptide analogs. Limited proteolysis revealed that [(125)I]LY475776 labeling was confined to the 75-kDa COOH-proximal half of MRP1. More extensive proteolysis generated two major 125I-labeled fragments of approximately 56 and approximately 41 kDa, and immunoblotting with regionally directed antibodies showed that these fragments correspond to amino acids approximately 1045-1531 and approximately 1150-1531, respectively. However, an approximately 33-kDa COOH-terminal immunoreactive fragment was not labeled, inferring that the major [125I]LY475776-labeling site resides approximately between amino acids 1150-1250. This region encompasses transmembrane (TM) segments 16 and 17 at the COOH-proximal end of the third membrane spanning domain of the protein. [125I]LY475776 labeling of mutant MRP1 molecules with substitutions of Trp(1246) in TM17 were reduced >80% compared with wild-type MRP1, confirming that TM17 is important for LY475776 binding. Finally, vanadate-induced trapping of ADP inhibited [125I]LY475776 labeling, suggesting that ATP hydrolysis causes a conformational change in MRP1 that reduces the affinity of the protein for this inhibitor.

MRP1 (ABCC1) is a membrane transporter that confers multidrug resistance in cancer cells by exporting chemotherapeutic agents, often in a reduced glutathione (GSH)‐dependent manner. This transport activity can be altered by compounds (modulators) that block drug transport while simultaneously stimulating GSH efflux by MRP1. In MRP1‐expressing cells, modulator‐stimulated GSH efflux can be sufficient to deplete GSH and increase sensitivity to chemotherapy, enhancing cancer cell death. Further development of clinically useful MRP1 modulators requires a better mechanistic understanding of modulator binding and its relationship to GSH binding and transport. Here, we explore the mechanism of two MRP1 small molecule modulators, 5681014 and 7914321, in relation to a bipartite substrate‐binding cavity of MRP1. Binding of these modulators to MRP1 was dependent on the presence of GSH but not its reducing capacity. Accordingly, the modulators poorly inhibited organic anion transport by K332L‐mutant MRP1, where GSH binding and transport is limited. However, the inhibitory activity of the modulators was also diminished by mutations that limit E217βG but spare GSH‐conjugate binding and transport (W553A, M1093A, W1246A), suggesting overlap between the E217βG and modulator binding sites. Immunoblots of limited trypsin digests of MRP1 suggest that binding of GSH, but not the modulators, induces a conformation change in MRP1. Together, these findings support the model, in which GSH binding induces a conformation change that facilitates binding of MRP1 modulators, possibly in a proposed hydrophobic binding pocket of MRP1. This study may facilitate the structure‐guided design of more potent and selective MRP1 modulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) encoded by ABCC1 was originally discovered as a cause of multidrug resistance in tumor cells. However, it is now clear that MRP1 serves a broader role than simply mediating the ATP-dependent efflux of drugs from cells. The antioxidant GSH and the pro-inflammatory cysteinyl leukotriene C4 have been identified as key physiological organic anions effluxed by MRP1, and an ever growing body of evidence indicates that additional lipid-derived mediators are also substrates of this transporter. As such, MRP1 is a multitasking transporter that likely influences the etiology and progression of a host of human diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Absence of α-crystallins (αA and αB) in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells renders them susceptible to oxidant-induced cell death. We tested the hypothesis that the protective effect of α-crystallin is mediated by changes in cellular glutathione (GSH) and elucidated the mechanism of GSH efflux. In α-crystallin overexpressing cells resistant to cell death, cellular GSH was >2 fold higher than vector control cells and this increase was seen particularly in mitochondria. The high GSH levels associated with α-crystallin overexpression were due to increased GSH biosynthesis. On the other hand, cellular GSH was decreased by 50% in murine retina lacking αA or αB crystallin. Multiple multidrug resistance protein (MRP) family isoforms were expressed in RPE, among which MRP1 was the most abundant. MRP1 was localized to the plasma membrane and inhibition of MRP1 markedly decreased GSH efflux. MRP1-suppressed cells were resistant to cell death and contained elevated intracellular GSH and GSSG. Increased GSH in MRP1-supressed cells resulted from a higher conversion of GSSG to GSH by glutathione reductase. In contrast, GSH efflux was significantly higher in MRP1 overexpressing RPE cells which also contained lower levels of cellular GSH and GSSG. Oxidative stress further increased GSH efflux with a decrease in cellular GSH and rendered cells apoptosis-prone. In conclusion, our data reveal for the first time that 1) MRP1 mediates GSH and GSSG efflux in RPE cells; 2) MRP1 inhibition renders RPE cells resistant to oxidative stress-induced cell death while MRP1 overexpression makes them susceptible and 3) the antiapoptotic function of α-crystallin in oxidatively stressed cells is mediated in part by GSH and MRP1. Our findings suggest that MRP1 and α crystallin are potential therapeutic targets in pathological retinal degenerative disorders linked to oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidrug resistance protein (MRP) 1 is a member of the ABCC branch of the ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily that can confer resistance to natural product chemotherapeutic drugs and transport a variety of conjugated organic anions, as well as some unconjugated compounds in a glutathione- (GSH-) dependent manner. In addition to the two tandemly repeated polytopic membrane- spanning domains (MSDs) typical of ABC transporters, MRP1 and its homologues MRP2, -3, -6, and -7 contain a third NH[sub2]-terminal MSD. The cytoplasmic loop (CL3) connecting this MSD, but apparently not the MSD itself, is required for MRP 1 leukotriene C[sub4] (LTC[sub4]) transport activity, substrate binding and appropriate trafficking of the protein to the basolateral membrane. We have used a baculovirus dual- expression system to produce various functionally complementing fragments of MRP 1 in insect Sf21 cells to precisely define the region in CL3 that is required for activity and substrate binding. Using a parallel approach in polarized MDCK-I cells, we have also defined the region of CL3 that is required for basolateral trafficking. The CL3 NH[sub2]- and COOH-proximal functional boundaries have been identified as Cys[sup208] and Asn[sup260], respectively. Cys[sup208] also corresponds to the NH2-proximal boundary of the region required for basolateral trafficking in MDCK-I cells. However, additional residues downstream of the CL3 COOH-proximal functional boundary extending to Lys27° were found to be important for basolateral localization. Finally, we show that regions in CL3 necessary for LTC4 binding and transport are also required for binding of the photoactivatable GSH derivative airdrop-GSH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]