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Updated: Dec 25, 2025
Resin-Assisted Capture Coupled with Isobaric Tandem Mass Tag Labeling for Multiplexed Quantification of Protein Thiol Oxidation
Published on: June 21, 2021
Comprehensive chemical proteomics for target deconvolution of the redox active drug auranofin
Amir Ata Saei1, Hjalmar Gullberg2, Pierre Sabatier3
1Division of Physiological Chemistry I, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65, Stockholm, Sweden; Science for Life Laboratory, Drug Discovery and Development Platform, Biochemical and Cellular Assay Facility, Stockholm, Sweden and Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract:
Chemical proteomics encompasses novel drug target deconvolution methods in which compound modification is not required. Herein we use Thermal Proteome Profiling, Functional Identification of Target by Expression Proteomics and multiplexed redox proteomics for deconvolution of auranofin targets to aid elucidation of its mechanisms of action. Auranofin (Ridaura®) was approved for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in 1985. Because several clinical trials are currently ongoing to repurpose auranofin for cancer therapy, comprehensive characterization of its targets and effects in cancer cells is important. Together, our chemical proteomics tools confirmed thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1, EC:1.8.1.9) as a main auranofin target, with perturbation of oxidoreductase pathways as the top mechanism of drug action. Additional indirect targets included NFKB2 and CHORDC1. Our comprehensive data can be used as a proteomic signature resource for further analyses of the effects of auranofin. Here we also assessed the orthogonality and complementarity of different chemical proteomics methods that can furnish invaluable mechanistic information and thus the approach can facilitate drug discovery efforts in general.
