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The LIM homeodomain (LIM-HD) proteins, which contain two tandem LIM domains followed by a homeodomain, are critical transcriptional regulators of embryonic development. The LIM domain is a conserved cysteine-rich zinc-binding motif found in LIM-HD and LMO (rhombotin or Ttg) proteins, cytoskeletal components, LIM kinases and other proteins. LIM domains are protein-protein interaction motifs, can inhibit binding of LIM-HD proteins to DNA and can negatively regulate LIM-HD protein function. How LIM domains exert these regulatory effects is not known. We have now isolated a new LIM-domain-binding factor, Ldb1, on the basis of its ability to interact with the LIM-HD protein Lhx1 (Lim1). High-affinity binding by Ldb1 requires paired LIM domains and is restricted to the related subgroup of LIM domains found in LIM-HD and LMO proteins. The highly conserved Xenopus Ldb protein XLdb1, interacts with Xlim-1, the Xenopus orthologue of Lhx1. When injected into Xenopus embryos, XLdb1 (or Ldb1) can synergize with Xlim-1 in the formation of partial secondary axes and in activation of the genes encoding goosecoid (gsc), chordin, NCAM and XCG7, demonstrating a functional as well as a physical interaction between the two proteins.

Crosstalk between inflammatory signalling pathways and receptor tyrosine kinases has been revealed as an indicator of cancer malignant progression. In the present study, we focus on EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase, which is overexpressed in many human cancers. It has been reported that ligand-independent phosphorylation of EphA2 at Ser-897 is induced by Akt. We show that inflammatory cytokines promote RSK-, not Akt-, dependent phosphorylation of EphA2 at Ser-897. In addition, the RSK–EphA2 signalling pathway controls cell migration and invasion of metastatic breast cancer cells. Moreover, Ser-897-phosphorylated EphA2 co-localizes with phosphorylated active form of RSK in various human tumour specimens, and this double positivity is related to poor survival in lung cancer patients, especially those with a smoking history. Taken together, these results indicate that the phosphorylation of EphA2 at Ser-897 is controlled by RSK and the RSK–EphA2 axis might contribute to cell motility and promote tumour malignant progression.

Antiviral treatments targeting the coronavirus disease 2019 are urgently required. We screened a panel of already-approved drugs in a cell culture model of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and identified two new agents having higher antiviral potentials than the drug candidates such as Remdesivir and Chroloquine in VeroE6/TMPRSS2 cells: the anti-inflammatory drug Cepharanthine and HIV protease inhibitor Nelfinavir. Cepharanthine inhibited SARS-CoV-2 entry through the blocking of viral binding to target cells, whilst Nelfinavir suppressed viral replication partly by protease inhibition. Consistent with their different modes of action, synergistic effect of this combined treatment to limit SARS-CoV-2 proliferation was highlighted. Mathematical modeling in vitro antiviral activity coupled with the calculated total drug concentrations in the lung predicts that Nelfinavir will shorten the period until viral clearance by 4.9-days and the combining Cepharanthine/Nelfinavir enhanced their predicted efficacy. These results warrant further evaluation of the potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of Cepharanthine and Nelfinavir.

SummaryAntiviral treatments targeting the emerging coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are urgently required. We screened a panel of already-approved drugs in a cell culture model of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and identified two new antiviral agents: the HIV protease inhibitor Nelfinavir and the anti-inflammatory drug Cepharanthine. In silico modeling shows Nelfinavir binds the SARS-CoV-2 main protease consistent with its inhibition of viral replication, whilst Cepharanthine inhibits viral attachment and entry into cells. Consistent with their different modes of action, in vitro assays highlight a synergistic effect of this combined treatment to limit SARS-CoV-2 proliferation. Mathematical modeling in vitro antiviral activity coupled with the known pharmacokinetics for these drugs predicts that Nelfinavir will facilitate viral clearance. Combining Nelfinavir/Cepharanthine enhanced their predicted efficacy to control viral proliferation, to ameliorate both the progression of disease and risk of transmission. In summary, this study identifies a new multidrug combination treatment for COVID-19.

To date, challenges in the design of bivalent ligands for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have revealed difficulties stemming from lack of knowledge of the state of oligomerization of the GPCR. The synthetic bivalent ligands with rigid linkers that are presented here can predict the dimer form of CXCR4 and be applied to molecular probes in cancerous cells. This "molecular ruler" approach would be useful in elucidating the details of CXCR4 oligomer formation.