Name: Author Spotlight: Exploring Heat Shock Proteins in Malaria and Tuberculosis Infections
Uploaded: 2024-03-08T14:25:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Author Spotlight: Exploring Heat Shock Proteins in Malaria and Tuberculosis Infections at JoVE.com

The work was supported with grant funding obtained from the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) grant number, HDI/CRP/012, Research Directorate of the University of Venda, grant I595, Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa (grant numbers, 75464 &#38; 92598) awarded to AS.

1. Transformation
NOTE: Use sterile glassware for culture, pipette tips, and freshly prepared and autoclaved media. Prepare cultures of the E. coli cells in 2x yeast tryptone (YT) [1.6% tryptone (w/v), 1% yeast extract (w/v), 0.5% NaCl (w/v), 1.5% agar (w/v)] agar. General reagents used in the protocol and their sources are provided in the Table of Materials.
<ol>
	<li>Label 2.0 mL microcentrifuge tubes and aliquot 50 &#181;L of competent E. col...

Assessment of Hsp70 Chaperone Activity Using Escherichia coli dnaK756 Cells

<ol>
	<li>Bukau, B., Deuerling, E., Pfund, C., Craig, E. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Getting+newly+synthesized+proteins+into+shape.">Getting newly synthesized proteins into shape.</a> Cell. 101 (2), 119-122 (2000).</li><li>Shonhai, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Plasmodial+heat+shock+proteins:+targets+for+chemotherapy.">Plasmodial heat shock proteins: targets for chemotherapy.</a> FEMS Microbiol. Immunol. 58 (1), 61-74 (2010).</li><li>Mogk, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identification+of+thermolabile+Escherichia+coli+proteins:+prevention+and+reversion+of+aggregation+by+DnaK+and+ClpB.">Identification of thermolabile Escherichia coli proteins: prevention and reversion of aggregation by DnaK and ClpB.</a> EMBO J. 18 (24), 6934-6949 (1999).</li><li>Edkins, A. L., Boshoff, A., Shonhai, A., Picard, D., Blatch, G. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=General+structural+and+functional+features+of+molecular+chaperones.+Heat+shock+proteins+of+malaria.">General structural and functional features of molecular chaperones. Heat shock proteins of malaria.</a> Adv Exp Med Biol. , (2021).</li><li>Bertelsen, E. B., Chang, L., Gestwicki, J. E., Zuiderweg, E. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Solution+conformation+of+wild-type+E.+coli.+Hsp70+(DnaK)+chaperone+complexed+with+ADP+and+substrate.">Solution conformation of wild-type E. coli. Hsp70 (DnaK) chaperone complexed with ADP and substrate.</a> PNAS. 106 (21), 8471-8476 (2009).</li><li>Shonhai, A., Boshoff, A., Blatch, G. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Plasmodium+falciparum+heat+shock+protein+70+is+able+to+suppress+the+thermosensitivity+of+an+Escherichia+coli+DnaK+mutant+strain.">Plasmodium falciparum heat shock protein 70 is able to suppress the thermosensitivity of an Escherichia coli DnaK mutant strain.</a> Mol Genet Genomics. 274, 70-78 (2005).</li><li>Shonhai, A., Botha, M., de Beer, T. A., Boshoff, A., Blatch, G. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Structure-function+study+of+a+Plasmodium+falciparum+Hsp70+using+three-dimensional+modelling+and+in+vitro+analyses.">Structure-function study of a Plasmodium falciparum Hsp70 using three-dimensional modelling and in vitro analyses.</a> Protein Pept Lett. 15 (10), 1117-1125 (2008).</li><li>Cockburn, I. L., Boshoff, A., Pesce, E. -. R., Blatch, G. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Selective+modulation+of+plasmodial+Hsp70s+by+small+molecules+with+antimalarial+activity.">Selective modulation of plasmodial Hsp70s by small molecules with antimalarial activity.</a> Biol Chem. 395 (11), 1353-1362 (2014).</li><li>Makhoba, X. H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Use+of+a+chimeric+Hsp70+to+enhance+the+quality+of+recombinant+Plasmodium+falciparum+s-adenosylmethionine+decarboxylase+protein+produced+in+Escherichia+coli.">Use of a chimeric Hsp70 to enhance the quality of recombinant Plasmodium falciparum s-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase protein produced in Escherichia coli.</a> PLoS One. 11 (3), 0152626 (2016).</li><li>Bukau, B., Walker, G. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cellular+defects+caused+by+deletion+of+the+Escherichia+coli+dnaK+gene+indicate+roles+for+heat+shock+protein+in+normal+metabolism.">Cellular defects caused by deletion of the Escherichia coli dnaK gene indicate roles for heat shock protein in normal metabolism.</a> J Bact. 171 (5), 2337-2346 (1989).</li><li>Makumire, S., Revaprasadu, N., Shonhai, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=DnaK+protein+alleviates+toxicity+induced+by+citrate-coated+gold+nanoparticles+in+Escherichia+coli.">DnaK protein alleviates toxicity induced by citrate-coated gold nanoparticles in Escherichia coli.</a> PLoS One. 10 (4), 0121243 (2015).</li><li>Spence, J., Cegielska, A., Georgopoulos, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Role+of+Escherichia+coli+heat+shock+proteins+DnaK+and+HtpG+(C62.+5)+in+response+to+nutritional+deprivation.">Role of Escherichia coli heat shock proteins DnaK and HtpG (C62. 5) in response to nutritional deprivation.</a> J Bact. 172 (12), 7157-7166 (1990).</li><li>Mayer, M. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multistep+mechanism+of+substrate+binding+determines+chaperone+activity+of+Hsp70.">Multistep mechanism of substrate binding determines chaperone activity of Hsp70.</a> Nat Struct Biol. 7 (7), 586-593 (2000).</li><li>Georgopoulos, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+new+bacterial+gene+(groP+C)+which+affects+&#955;+DNA+replication.">A new bacterial gene (groP C) which affects &#955; DNA replication.</a> Mol Genet Genomics. 151 (1), 35-39 (1977).</li><li>Tilly, K., McKittrick, N., Zylicz, M., Georgopoulos, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+dnaK+protein+modulates+the+heat-shock+response+of+Escherichia+coli.">The dnaK protein modulates the heat-shock response of Escherichia coli.</a> Cell. 34 (2), 641-646 (1983).</li><li>Buchberger, A., Gassler, C. S., Buttner, M., McMacken, R., Bukau, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functional+defects+of+the+DnaK756+mutant+chaperone+of+Escherichia+coli+indicate+distinct+roles+for+amino-and+carboxyl-terminal+residues+in+substrate+and+co-chaperone+interaction+and+interdomain+communication.">Functional defects of the DnaK756 mutant chaperone of Escherichia coli indicate distinct roles for amino-and carboxyl-terminal residues in substrate and co-chaperone interaction and interdomain communication.</a> J Biol Chem. 274 (53), 38017-38026 (1999).</li><li>Taj, M. K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Escherichia+coli+as+a+model+organism.">Escherichia coli as a model organism.</a> Int J Eng Res. 3 (2), 1-8 (2014).</li><li>Sato, S., Wilson, R. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Organelle-specific+cochaperonins+in+apicomplexan+parasites.">Organelle-specific cochaperonins in apicomplexan parasites.</a> Mol Biochem Parasitol. 141 (2), 133-143 (2005).</li><li>Molecular characterisation of the chaperone properties of Plasmodium falciparum. heat shock protein 70. Rhodes University Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://commons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:3977?site_name=Rhodes+University">https://commons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:3977?site_name=Rhodes+University</a> (2007)</li><li>Makumire, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mutation+of+GGMP+repeat+segments+of+Plasmodium+falciparum+Hsp70-1+compromises+chaperone+function+and+Hop+co-chaperone+binding.">Mutation of GGMP repeat segments of Plasmodium falciparum Hsp70-1 compromises chaperone function and Hop co-chaperone binding.</a> Int J Mol Sci. 22 (4), 2226 (2021).</li><li>Nitika, P. C. M., Truman, A. W., Truttmann, M. 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The protocol demonstrates the utility of E. coli dnaK756cells in exploring the chaperone function of heterologously expressed Hsp70. This assay could be adopted to screen inhibitors targeting Hsp70 function in cellulo. However, one limitation of this method is that Hsp70s unable to substitute for DnaK in E. coli are not compatible with this assay. Lack of post-translational modification21&#160;of some non-native Hsp70s may account for their lack of function within the <e...

Heat shock proteins play an important role as molecular chaperones by facilitating protein folding, preventing protein aggregation, and reversing protein misfolding1,2. Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is one of the most prominent molecular chaperones, playing a central role in protein homeostasis3,4. DnaK is the E. coli Hsp70 homologue5.
Various biophysical, biochemical, and cell-based assays have been developed to explore the chaperone activity of Hsp70 and to screen for inhibitors targeting this chaperone6,7,8. Hsp70 is a highly conserved protein. For this reason, several Hsp70s of eukaryotic organisms, such as Plasmodium falciparum (the main agent of malaria), have been reported to substitute for DnaK function in E. coli6,9. In this way, an E. coli-based complementation assay has been developed involving the heterologous expression of Hsp70s in E. coli to explore their cytoprotective function. Typically, this assay involves the utilization of E. coli cells that are either deficient for DnaK or that express a native DnaK that is functionally compromised. While DnaK is not essential for E. coli growth under normal conditions, it becomes essential when the cells are grown under stressful conditions such as elevated temperatures or other forms of stress10,11.
E. coli strains that have been developed to study Hsp70 function using a complementation assay include E. coli dnaK103&#160;(BB2393 [C600 dnaK103(Am) thr::Tn10]) and E. coli dnaK756. E. coli dnaK103&#160;cells produce a truncated DnaK that is non-functional, and as such, the cells grow adequately at 30 &#176;C, while the strain is sensitive to cold and heat stress12,13. Similarly, the E. coli dnaK756/BB2362 (dnaK756&#160;recA::TcR Pdm1,1) strain does not grow above 40 &#176;C14,15. The E. coli dnaK756&#160;strain expresses a mutant native DnaK (DnaK756) characterized by three glycine-to-aspartate substitutions at positions 32, 455, and 468, giving rise to compromised proteostatic outcomes. Consequently, this strain is resistant to bacteriophage &#955; DNA14. Additionally, E. coli&#160;dnaK756 exhibits elevated ATPase activity, while its affinity for the nucleotide exchange factor, GrpE, is reduced16. E. coli DnaK mutant strains serve as ideal models for investigating the chaperone activity of Hsp70 through a complementation approach. Since DnaK is only essential under stressful conditions, the complementation assay is typically conducted at elevated temperatures (Figure 1). Some advantages of using E. coli for this study include its well-characterized genome, rapid growth, and the low cost of culturing and maintenance17.
In this article, we describe in detail a protocol involving the use of E. coli dnaK756&#160;cells to study the function of Hsp70. The Hsp70s we employed in the assay are wild-type DnaK and its chimeric derivative, KPf (made up of the ATPase domain of DnaK fused to the C-terminal substrate-binding domain of Plasmodium falciparum Hsp70-16,18). KPf-V436F was heterologously expressed as a negative control since the mutation essentially blocks it from binding substrates, thus abrogating its chaperone activity9.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>2-&#946;-Mercaptoethanol</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>8,05,740</td>
			<td>Constituent for sample loading dye</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acetic acid</td>
			<td>Labchem</td>
			<td>101005125</td>
			<td>Constituent of destainer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acrylamide</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>8008300100</td>
			<td>Component of SDS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Agar</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>HG000BX1.500</td>
			<td>Constituent of medium and liquid growth assay</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Agarose</td>
			<td>Clever Scientific</td>
			<td>14131031</td>
			<td>Certified molecular biology agarose</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ammonium persulfate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>101875295</td>
			<td>Constituent for SDS-PAGE gel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ampicillin</td>
			<td>VWR International</td>
			<td>0339&#8212;EU&#8212;25G</td>
			<td>Selective antibiotic</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bis</td>
			<td>Sigma-aldrich</td>
			<td>1015460100</td>
			<td>Component of SDS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bromophenol</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>0449-25G</td>
			<td>Constituent for sample loading dye</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CaCl2</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>10043-52-4</td>
			<td>For competent cells preparation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Coomassie brilliant blue</td>
			<td>VWR International</td>
			<td>443293X</td>
			<td>SDS-PAGE dye</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dibasic sodium phosphate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>RB10368</td>
			<td>Constituent of PBS buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ECL</td>
			<td>Thermofischer Scientific</td>
			<td>32109</td>
			<td>Western blot detection reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethidium Bromide</td>
			<td>Thermofischer Scientific</td>
			<td>17898</td>
			<td>DNA intercalating dye</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glycerol</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>SAAR2676520L</td>
			<td>Constituent for sample loading dye</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glycine</td>
			<td>VWR International</td>
			<td>10119CU</td>
			<td>Component of SDS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IPTG</td>
			<td>Glentham life sciences</td>
			<td>162IL</td>
			<td>inducer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Kanamycin</td>
			<td>Melford</td>
			<td>K0126</td>
			<td>Selective antibiotic</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnesium Chloride</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>SAAR4123000EM</td>
			<td>Constituent of medium and liquid growth assay</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Methanol</td>
			<td>Labchem</td>
			<td>113140129</td>
			<td>Constituent of destainer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Monobasic potassium phosphate</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>1,04,87,30,250</td>
			<td>Constituent of PBS buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Peptone</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>HG000BX4.250</td>
			<td>Constituent of medium and liquid growth assay</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium chloride</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>SAAR5042020EM</td>
			<td>Constituent of PBS buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PVDF membrane</td>
			<td>Thermofischer scientific</td>
			<td>PB7320</td>
			<td>Western blot membrane</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Chloride</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>SAAR5822320EM</td>
			<td>Constituent of medium and liquid growth assay</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium dodecyl sulphate</td>
			<td>VWR International</td>
			<td>108073</td>
			<td>To resolve expressed proteins</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Spectramax iD3</td>
			<td>Separations</td>
			<td>373705019</td>
			<td>Automated plate reader</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TEMED</td>
			<td>VWR international</td>
			<td>ACRO420580500</td>
			<td>Component of SDS gel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tetracycline</td>
			<td>Duchefa Biochemies</td>
			<td>T0150.0025</td>
			<td>Selective antibiotic</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tris</td>
			<td>VWR International</td>
			<td>19A094101</td>
			<td>Component of SDS gel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tween20</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>SAAR3164500XF</td>
			<td>Constituent for Western wash buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Western transfer chamber</td>
			<td>Thermofisher Scientific</td>
			<td>PB0112</td>
			<td>Transfer of protein to nitrocellulose membrane</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Yeast extract</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>HG000BX6.500</td>
			<td>Constituent of medium and liquid growth assay</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#945;-DnaK antibody</td>
			<td>Inqaba</td>
			<td>BK CAC09317</td>
			<td>Primary antibody</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#945;-rabbit antibody</td>
			<td>Thermofischer scientific</td>
			<td>31460</td>
			<td>Secondary antibody</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

escherichia coli -based complementation assay to study the chaperone function of heat shock protein 70

Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is a conserved protein that facilitates the folding of other proteins within the cell, making it a molecular chaperone. While Hsp70 is not essential for E. coli cells growing under normal conditions, this chaperone becomes indispensable for growth at elevated temperatures. Since Hsp70 is highly conserved, one way to study the chaperone function of Hsp70&#160;genes from various species is to heterologously express them in E. coli strains that are either deficient in Hsp70 or express a native Hsp70 that is functionally compromised. E. coli dnaK756&#160;cells are unable to support &#955; bacteriophage DNA. Furthermore, their native Hsp70 (DnaK) exhibits elevated ATPase activity while demonstrating reduced affinity for GrpE (Hsp70 nucleotide exchange factor). As a result, E. coli dnaK756&#160;cells grow adequately at temperatures ranging from 30 &#176;C to 37 &#176;C, but they die at elevated temperatures (&#62;40 &#176;C). For this reason, these cells serve as a model for studying the chaperone activity of Hsp70. Here, we describe a detailed protocol for the application of these cells to conduct a complementation assay, enabling the study of the in cellulo chaperone function of Hsp70.

Author Spotlight: Exploring Heat Shock Proteins in Malaria and Tuberculosis Infections

Escherichia coli -Based Complementation Assay to Study the Chaperone Function of Heat Shock Protein 70

Figure 2&#160;presents an image of the scanned agar containing cells that were spotted and cultured at the permissive growth temperature of 37 &#176;C and 43.5 &#176;C, respectively. On the right-hand side of Figure 2, excised western blot components represent the expression of DnaK, KPf, and KPf-V436F in E. coli dnaK756&#160;cells. As expected, all the E. coli dnaK756&#160;cells cultured at the permissive growth temperature of 37 &#176;C manag...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Author Spotlight: Exploring Heat Shock Proteins in Malaria and Tuberculosis Infections at JoVE.com

This protocol demonstrates the chaperone activity of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70). E. coli dnaK756 cells serve as a model for the assay as they harbor a native, functionally impaired Hsp70, making them susceptible to heat stress. The heterologous introduction of functional Hsp70 rescues the growth deficiency of the cells.

Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is a conserved protein that facilitates the folding of other proteins within the cell, making it a molecular chaperone. ...

I study the role of heat shock proteins in conferring future static protection to antigens that cause human infections such as malaria and tuberculosis. My research essentially focuses on the structure and function features of the heat shock protein machinery of these pathogens that cause human infections. Heatstroke proteins are generally highly concept, however, they display some level of functional specialization.In addition, they are implicated in drug resistant. As such, there are ongoing efforts to target them towards reversing drug resistance in various disease models. They include biochemical, biophysical, bioinformatics, and cell biologic techniques.In other words, various areas of techniques are used to study the roles of these proteins. In our case, the study of proteins of Plasmodium was the main agent of malaria and that they are difficult to produce and this limits the capability to study these proteins. For example, it is difficult to generate sufficient levels to crystallize and image the proteins.We have established some of the functional networks of these proteins in the malaria parasite. We have also established assays to study the compounds targeting these proteins in agents causing malaria and TB.The current protocol is used to explore the chaperone protein folding role and then cytoprotective function of HSP 70 using equal as a model. The protocol could also be adopted for screening small molecule inhibitors targeting protein 70.