RESUMO
Molecular glues are proximity-inducing small molecules that have emerged as an attractive therapeutic approach. However, developing molecular glues remains challenging, requiring innovative mechanistic strategies to stabilize neoprotein interfaces and expedite discovery. Here we unveil a trans-labeling covalent molecular glue mechanism, termed 'template-assisted covalent modification'. We identified a new series of BRD4 molecular glue degraders that recruit CUL4DCAF16 ligase to the second bromodomain of BRD4 (BRD4BD2). Through comprehensive biochemical, structural and mutagenesis analyses, we elucidated how pre-existing structural complementarity between DCAF16 and BRD4BD2 serves as a template to optimally orient the degrader for covalent modification of DCAF16Cys58. This process stabilizes the formation of BRD4-degrader-DCAF16 ternary complex and facilitates BRD4 degradation. Supporting generalizability, we found that a subset of degraders also induces GAK-BRD4BD2 interaction through trans-labeling of GAK. Together, our work establishes 'template-assisted covalent modification' as a mechanism for covalent molecular glues, which opens a new path to proximity-driven pharmacology.
RESUMO
Targeted protein degradation relies on small molecules that induce new protein-protein interactions between targets and the cellular protein degradation machinery. Most of these small molecules feature specific ligands for ubiquitin ligases. Recently, the attachment of cysteine-reactive chemical groups to pre-existing small molecule inhibitors has been shown to drive specific target degradation. We demonstrate here that different cysteine-reactive groups can specify target degradation via distinct ubiquitin ligases. By focusing on the bromodomain ligand JQ1, we identify cysteine-reactive functional groups that drive BRD4 degradation by either DCAF16 or DCAF11. Unlike proteolysis-targeting chimeric molecules (PROTACs), the new compounds use a single small molecule ligand with a well-positioned cysteine-reactive group to induce protein degradation. The finding that nearly identical compounds can engage multiple ubiquitination pathways suggests that targeting cellular pathways that search for and eliminate chemically reactive proteins is a feasible avenue for converting existing small molecule drugs into protein degrader molecules.
RESUMO
A targeted and logical discovery method was devised for natural products containing piperazic acid (Piz), which is biosynthesized from ornithine by l-ornithine N-hydroxylase (KtzI) and N-N bond formation enzyme (KtzT). Genomic signature-based screening of a bacterial DNA library (2020 strains) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers targeting ktzT identified 62 strains (3.1%). The PCR amplicons of KtzT-encoding genes were phylogenetically analyzed to classify the 23 clades into two monophyletic groups, I and II. Cultivating hit strains in media supplemented with 15NH4Cl and applying 1H-15N heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) along with 1H-15N heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) and 1H-15N HSQC-total correlation spectroscopy (HSQC-TOCSY) NMR experiments detected the spectroscopic signatures of Piz and modified Piz. Chemical investigation of the hit strains prioritized by genomic and spectroscopic signatures led to the identification of a new azinothricin congener, polyoxyperuin B seco acid (1), previously reported chloptosin (2) in group I, depsidomycin D (3) incorporating two dehydropiperazic acids (Dpz), and lenziamides A and B (4 and 5), structurally novel 31-membered cyclic decapeptides in group II. By consolidating the phylogenetic and chemical analyses, clade-structure relationships were elucidated for 19 of the 23 clades. Lenziamide A (4) inhibited STAT3 activation and induced G2/M cell cycle arrest, apoptotic cell death, and tumor growth suppression in human colorectal cancer cells. Moreover, lenziamide A (4) resensitized 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) activity in both in vitro cell cultures and the in vivo 5-FU-resistant tumor xenograft mouse model. This work demonstrates that the genomic and spectroscopic signature-based searches provide an efficient and general strategy for new bioactive natural products containing specific structural motifs.
Assuntos
Produtos Biológicos , Genômica , Humanos , Animais , Camundongos , Filogenia , Análise Espectral , Produtos Biológicos/farmacologiaRESUMO
Herein, atropisomeric 8-aryltetrahydroisoquinolines have been synthesized and biologically evaluated. Based on our structure-activity relationship study, a highly bioactive racemic compound has been produced, and it exhibited high antiproliferative activities against various cancer cell lines, including docetaxel-resistant breast cancer cell lines. Each enantiomer can be synthesized in an enantioselective manner by employing the chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed atroposelective Pictet-Spengler cyclization. An axially (R)-configured enantiomer showed a higher biological activity compared with the axially (S)-configured enantiomer. Further biological studies suggested that the (R)-enantiomer overcomes docetaxel resistance via the downregulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activation and consequently induces cellular apoptosis in docetaxel-resistant triple-negative breast cancer cell lines.
Assuntos
Tetra-Hidroisoquinolinas , Neoplasias de Mama Triplo Negativas , Humanos , Docetaxel/farmacologia , Neoplasias de Mama Triplo Negativas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias de Mama Triplo Negativas/metabolismo , Apoptose , Linhagem Celular TumoralRESUMO
Chemical probes are essential tools for understanding biological systems and for credentialing potential biomedical targets. Programmed cell death 2 (PDCD2) is a member of the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins, which are critical regulators of apoptosis. Here we report the discovery and characterization of 10 e, a first-in-class small molecule degrader of PDCD2. We discovered this PDCD2 degrader by serendipity using a chemical proteomics approach, in contrast to the conventional approach for making bivalent degraders starting from a known binding ligand targeting the protein of interest. Using 10 e as a pharmacological probe, we demonstrate that PDCD2 functions as a critical regulator of cell growth by modulating the progression of the cell cycle in T lymphoblasts. Our work provides a useful pharmacological probe for investigating PDCD2 function and highlights the use of chemical proteomics to discover selective small molecule degraders of unanticipated targets.
Assuntos
Proteínas Reguladoras de Apoptose , Linfoma de Células B , Humanos , Proteínas Reguladoras de Apoptose/metabolismo , Proteômica , Apoptose , Proliferação de CélulasRESUMO
Alkaloids derived from natural products have been traditionally used to treat various diseases, including cancers. Rutaecarpine (1), a ß-carboline-type alkaloid obtained from Evodia rutaecarpa, has been previously reported as an anti-inflammatory agent. Nonetheless, its anticancer activity and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be explored. In the procurement of Wnt/ß-catenin inhibitors from natural alkaloids, 1 was found to exhibit activity against the Wnt/ß-catenin-response reporter gene. Since the abnormal activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling is highly involved in colon carcinogenesis, the antitumor activity and molecular mechanisms of 1 were investigated in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. The antiproliferative activity of 1 was associated with the suppression of the Wnt/ß-catenin-mediated signaling pathway and its target gene expression in human CRC cells. 1 also induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death, and the antimigration and anti-invasion potential of 1 was confirmed through epithelial-mesenchymal transition biomarker inhibition by the regulation of Wnt signaling. The antitumor activity of 1 was supported in an Ls174T-implanted xenograft mouse model via Wnt target gene regulation. Overall, these findings suggest that targeting the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway by 1 is a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of human CRC harboring ß-catenin mutation.
Assuntos
Neoplasias Colorretais , Via de Sinalização Wnt , Animais , Apoptose , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Proliferação de Células , Neoplasias Colorretais/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Alcaloides Indólicos , Camundongos , Quinazolinas , beta CateninaRESUMO
Piceamycin (1), a macrocyclic lactam isolated from the silkworm's gut (Streptomyces sp. SD53 strain), reportedly possesses antibacterial activity. However, the potential anticancer activity and molecular processes underlying 1 have yet to be reported. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is high-risk cancer and accounts for 10% of all cancer cases worldwide. The high prevalence of resistance to radiation or chemotherapy means that patients with advanced CRC have a poor prognosis, with high recurrence and metastasis potential. Therefore, the present study investigated the antitumor effect and underlying mechanisms of 1 in CRC cells. The growth-inhibiting effect of 1 in CRC cells was correlated with the upregulation of a tumor suppressor, N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1). Additionally, 1 induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and inhibited the migration of CRC cells. Notably, 1 disrupted the interaction between NDRG1 and c-Myc in CRC cells. In a mouse model with HCT116-implanted xenografts, the antitumor activity of 1 was confirmed by NDRG1 modulation. Overall, these findings show that 1 is a potential candidate for CRC treatment through regulation of NDGR1-mediated functionality.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Ciclo Celular , Neoplasias Colorretais , Animais , Camundongos , Humanos , Lactamas Macrocíclicas , Regulação para Cima , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intracelular/genética , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intracelular/metabolismo , Neoplasias Colorretais/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Colorretais/metabolismo , Proliferação de Células , Linhagem Celular TumoralRESUMO
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common and intractable malignancy with a high mortality risk. Conventional chemotherapeutics are effective for patients with early stage CRC, but the majority of deaths of CRC patients are linked to acquired drug resistance or metastasis occurrence. Asperphenin B (1), a lipopeptidyl benzophenone isolated from a marine-derived Aspergillus sp. fungus, reportedly possesses antiproliferative activity against cancer cells. However, its antitumor activity and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unexplored. In this study, 1 induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and subsequent apoptotic cell death and inhibited tumor growth in a xenograft model. The 1-induced G2/M phase arrest was associated with the regulation of checkpoint proteins, including Chk1/2 and Cdc25c. The 1-induced apoptosis was correlated with an upregulation of p53 and cleaved caspases and a downregulation of survivin. Further experiments revealed that 1-mediated suppression of migration and invasion of metastatic HCT116 cells was partially associated with the downregulation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) expression. The antimetastatic potential of 1 was also confirmed by E-cadherin upregulation and N-cadherin and Snail downregulation, which were in turn associated with the GAPDH regulation. These findings highlight the potential use of 1 as a novel candidate for treating metastatic CRC with the modulation of GAPDH function.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Aspergillus/química , Benzofenonas/farmacologia , Neoplasias Colorretais/tratamento farmacológico , Gliceraldeído-3-Fosfato Desidrogenases/antagonistas & inibidores , Animais , Antígenos CD , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Organismos Aquáticos/química , Caderinas , Pontos de Checagem da Fase G2 do Ciclo Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Células HCT116 , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Nus , Estrutura Molecular , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de XenoenxertoRESUMO
A series of O-substituted analogues of the B,C-ring truncated scaffold of deguelin were designed as C-terminal inhibitors of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and investigated as novel antiproliferative agents against HER2-positive breast cancer. Among the synthesized compounds, compound 80 exhibited significant inhibition in both trastuzumab-sensitive and trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer cells, whereas compound 80 did not show any cytotoxicity in normal cells. Compound 80 markedly downregulated the expression of the major client proteins of HSP90 in both cell types, indicating that the cytotoxicity of 80 in breast cancer cells is attributed to the destabilization and inactivation of HSP90 client proteins and that HSP90 inhibition represents a promising strategy to overcome trastuzumab resistance. A molecular docking study of 80 with the homology model of a HSP90 homodimer showed that 80 fit nicely in the C-terminal domain with a higher electrostatic complementary score than that of ATP.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/química , Proteínas de Choque Térmico HSP90/antagonistas & inibidores , Rotenona/análogos & derivados , Antineoplásicos/metabolismo , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Sítios de Ligação , Neoplasias da Mama/metabolismo , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Regulação para Baixo/efeitos dos fármacos , Avaliação Pré-Clínica de Medicamentos , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Proteínas de Choque Térmico HSP90/metabolismo , Humanos , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Rotenona/química , Rotenona/metabolismo , Rotenona/farmacologia , Relação Estrutura-AtividadeRESUMO
Ohmyungsamycin A (1), a novel cyclic peptide discovered from a marine Streptomyces sp., was previously reported with antibacterial and anticancer activities. However, the antitumor activities and the underlying molecular mechanisms of 1 remain to be elucidated. Compound 1 inhibited the proliferation and tumor growth of HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells based on both in vitro cell cultures and an in vivo animal model. A cDNA microarray analysis revealed that 1 downregulated genes involved in cell cycle checkpoint control. Compound 1 also induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest that was mediated by the regulation of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2)-p27 axis and minichromosome maintenance protein 4 (MCM4). Furthermore, a longer exposure of 1 exhibited an accumulation of a sub-G1 phase cell population, which is characteristic of apoptotic cells. The induction of apoptosis by 1 was also associated with the modulation of caspase family proteins. Compound 1 effectively suppressed tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model subcutaneously implanted with HCT116 cells. In addition, analysis of tumors revealed that 1 upregulated the expression of the CDK inhibitor p27 but downregulated the expression of Skp2 and MCM4. These findings demonstrate the involvement of 1 in cell cycle regulation and the induction of apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells.
Assuntos
Pontos de Checagem do Ciclo Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Inibidor de Quinase Dependente de Ciclina p27/farmacologia , Componente 4 do Complexo de Manutenção de Minicromossomo/metabolismo , Peptídeos Cíclicos/farmacologia , Proteínas Quinases Associadas a Fase S/metabolismo , Animais , Apoptose , Ciclo Celular , Neoplasias Colorretais , Inibidor de Quinase Dependente de Ciclina p27/genética , Humanos , Camundongos , Componente 4 do Complexo de Manutenção de Minicromossomo/genética , Estrutura Molecular , Peptídeos Cíclicos/química , Peptídeos Cíclicos/metabolismo , Proteínas Quinases Associadas a Fase S/química , Proteínas Quinases Associadas a Fase S/genética , Regulação para CimaRESUMO
The cultivation of a Streptomyces sp. SD53 strain isolated from the gut of the silkworm Bombyx mori produced two macrolactam natural products, piceamycin (1) and bombyxamycin C (2). The planar structures of 1 and 2 were identified by a combination of NMR, MS, and UV spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configurations were assigned based on chemical and chromatographic methods as well as ECD calculations. A new chromatography-based experimental method for determining the configurations of stereogenic centers ß to nitrogen atoms in macrolactams was established and successfully applied in this report. These compounds exhibited significant bioactivities against the silkworm entomopathogen Bacillus thuringiensis and various human pathogens as well as human cancer cell lines. In particular, piceamycin potently inhibited Salmonella enterica and Proteus hauseri with MIC values of 0.083 µg/mL and 0.025 µg/mL, respectively. The biosynthetic pathway involved in the formation of the cyclopentenone moiety in piceamycin is discussed.
Assuntos
Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Produtos Biológicos/química , Lactamas Macrocíclicas/química , Streptomyces/química , Antibacterianos/química , Produtos Biológicos/metabolismo , Vias Biossintéticas , Humanos , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Estrutura Molecular , Proteus/química , EstereoisomerismoRESUMO
Three new bianthraquinones, alterporriol Z1-Z3 (1-3), along with three known compounds of the same structural class, were isolated from the culture broth of a marine-derived Stemphylium sp. fungus. Based upon the results of spectroscopic analyses and ECD measurements, the structures of new compounds were determined to be the 6-6'- (1 and 2) and 1-5'- (3) C-C connected pseudo-dimeric anthraquinones, respectively. Three new meroterpenoids, tricycloalterfurenes E-G (7-9), isolated together with the bianthraquinones from the same fungal culture broth, were structurally elucidated by combined spectroscopic methods. The relative and absolute configurations of these meroterpenoids were determined by modified Mosher's, phenylglycine methyl ester (PGME), and computational methods. The bianthraquinones significantly inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production and suppressed inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.
Assuntos
Antraquinonas/farmacologia , Anti-Inflamatórios/farmacologia , Ascomicetos/química , Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Terpenos/farmacologia , Animais , Antraquinonas/química , Antraquinonas/isolamento & purificação , Anti-Inflamatórios/química , Anti-Inflamatórios/isolamento & purificação , Bactérias/efeitos dos fármacos , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Ciclo-Oxigenase 2/metabolismo , Humanos , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Camundongos , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismo , Óxido Nítrico Sintase Tipo II/metabolismo , Poríferos/microbiologia , Células RAW 264.7 , Terpenos/química , Terpenos/isolamento & purificaçãoRESUMO
Leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LRS) plays an important role in amino acid-dependent mTORC1 signaling, which is known to be associated with cellular metabolism and proliferation. Therefore, LRS-targeting small molecules that can suppress mTORC1 activation may provide an alternative strategy to current anticancer therapy. In this work, we developed a library of leucyladenylate sulfate analogues by extensively modifying three different pharmacophoric regions comprising adenine, ribose and leucine. Several effective compounds were identified by cell-based mTORC1 activation assays and further tested for anticancer activity. The selected compounds mostly exhibited selective cytotoxicity toward five different cancer cell lines, supporting the hypothesis that the LRS-mediated mTORC1 pathway is a promising alternative target to current therapeutic approaches.
Assuntos
Leucina-tRNA Ligase/metabolismo , Leucina/análogos & derivados , Alvo Mecanístico do Complexo 1 de Rapamicina/antagonistas & inibidores , Antineoplásicos/química , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Inibidores Enzimáticos/química , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Leucina/química , Leucina/metabolismo , Leucina/farmacologia , Alvo Mecanístico do Complexo 1 de Rapamicina/metabolismo , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , Relação Estrutura-AtividadeRESUMO
Chemical studies of gut bacteria of the carpenter ant Camponotus kiusiuensis led to the discovery of two new alkaloids, camporidines A and B (1 and 2), from Streptomyces sp. STA1. The structures of 1 and 2 were established as new polyketide alkaloids bearing a piperidine-cyclopentene-epoxide 6/5/3 tricyclic system based on NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric analysis. The relative configurations of the camporidines were determined by their 1H-1H NOESY/ROESY and 1D NOE NMR correlations. The experimental ECD spectra of 1 and 2 were compared with their calculated ECD spectra to assign their absolute configurations. Camporidine A (1) displayed antimetastatic activity by suppression of cell invasion against the metastatic breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and showed an anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing nitric oxide production induced by lipopolysaccharide. In addition, the putative biosynthetic gene cluster of the camporidines was identified, and the biosynthetic pathway of the camporidines was proposed based on bioinformatic analysis of the full genome of Streptomyces sp. STA1. Camporidines A and B (1 and 2) could be biosynthesized by a modular type I PKS containing an acyl transferase domain that accepts an unusual extender unit, which becomes the (C1'-C6') hexyl side chain. The post-PKS modification enzymes were predicted to perform an amination and an oxidation along with spontaneous Schiff base formation and generate the unique piperidine-cyclopentene-epoxide 6/5/3 tricyclic framework.
Assuntos
Anti-Inflamatórios/farmacologia , Formigas/microbiologia , Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Metástase Neoplásica/prevenção & controle , Animais , Anti-Inflamatórios/isolamento & purificaçãoRESUMO
Three new cyclopeptides, phakellistatins 20-22 (1-3), as well as 10 known cyclopeptides of the same structural class were isolated from the tropical sponge Stylissa flabelliformis. By a combination of chemical and spectroscopic methods, the structures of the new compounds were determined to be an epimeric mixture of cycloheptapeptides (1) and two epimeric cyclodecapeptides (2 and 3) related to the phakellistatins. The cyclopeptides were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against a variety of cancer cell lines, and compounds 2 and 3 exhibited significant activity.
Assuntos
Peptídeos Cíclicos/química , Poríferos/química , Células A549 , Animais , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Células HCT116 , Humanos , Células K562 , Peptídeos Cíclicos/farmacologiaRESUMO
LC/MS-based chemical profiling of a ginseng farm soil-derived actinomycete strain, Streptomyces sp. BYK1371, enabled the discovery of two new cyclic heptapeptides, depsidomycins B and C (1 and 2), each containing two piperazic acid units and a formyl group at their N-terminus. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic and chemical analyses. These new compounds were determined to possess d-leucine, d-threonine, d-valine, and S-piperazic acid based on the advanced Marfey's method and a GITC (2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-ß-d-glucopyranosyl isothiocyanate) derivatization of their hydrolysates, followed by LC/MS analysis. Depsidomycins B and C displayed significant antimetastatic activities against metastatic breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231).
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/isolamento & purificação , Oligopeptídeos/isolamento & purificação , Microbiologia do Solo , Streptomyces/química , Antineoplásicos/química , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Epiteliais/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Epiteliais/patologia , Fazendas , Humanos , Isotiocianatos/química , Leucina/química , Leucina/isolamento & purificação , Oligopeptídeos/química , Oligopeptídeos/farmacologia , Panax/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Piridazinas/química , Piridazinas/isolamento & purificação , Estereoisomerismo , Streptomyces/metabolismo , Treonina/química , Treonina/isolamento & purificação , Valina/química , Valina/isolamento & purificaçãoRESUMO
As an obstinate cancer pancreatic cancer (PC) poses a major challenge due to limited treatment options which include resection surgery, radiation therapy, and gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. In cancer cells, protein kinase C ßI (PKCßI) participates in diverse cellular processes, including cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptotic pathways. In the present study, we created a scaffold to develop PKCßI inhibitors using evodiamine-based synthetic molecules. Among the candidate inhibitors, Evo312 exhibited the highest antiproliferative efficacy against PC cells, PANC-1, and acquired gemcitabine-resistant PC cells, PANC-GR. Additionally, Evo312 robustly inhibited PKCßI activity. Mechanistically, Evo312 effectively suppressed the upregulation of PKCßI protein expression, leading to the induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in PANC-GR cells. Furthermore, Evo312 exerted an antitumor activity in a PANC-GR cell-implanted xenograft mouse model. These findings position Evo312 as a promising lead compound for overcoming gemcitabine resistance in PC through novel mechanisms.
RESUMO
Cyclin-dependent kinase 7, along with cyclin H and MAT1, forms the CDK-activating complex (CAK), which directs cell cycle progression via T-loop phosphorylation of cell cycle CDKs. Pharmacological inhibition of CDK7 leads to selective anti-cancer effects in cellular and in vivo models, motivating several ongoing clinical investigations of this target. Current CDK7 inhibitors are either reversible or covalent inhibitors of its catalytic activity. We hypothesized that small molecule targeted protein degradation (TPD) might result in differentiated pharmacology due to the loss of scaffolding functions. Here, we report the design and characterization of a potent CDK7 degrader that is comprised of an ATP-competitive CDK7 binder linked to a CRL2VHL recruiter. JWZ-5-13 effectively degrades CDK7 in multiple cancer cells and leads to a potent inhibition of cell proliferation. Additionally, compound JWZ-5-13 displayed bioavailability in a pharmacokinetic study conducted in mice. Therefore, JWZ-5-13 is a useful chemical probe to investigate the pharmacological consequences of CDK7 degradation.
Assuntos
Proliferação de Células , Quinases Ciclina-Dependentes , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases , Humanos , Animais , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/farmacologia , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/química , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/síntese química , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Camundongos , Quinases Ciclina-Dependentes/antagonistas & inibidores , Quinases Ciclina-Dependentes/metabolismo , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Estrutura Molecular , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequenas/química , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequenas/farmacologia , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequenas/síntese química , Descoberta de Drogas , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Antineoplásicos/química , Antineoplásicos/síntese química , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Quinase Ativadora de Quinase Dependente de Ciclina , Proteólise/efeitos dos fármacos , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Ensaios de Seleção de Medicamentos AntitumoraisRESUMO
Small molecules promoting protein-protein interactions produce a range of therapeutic outcomes. Molecular glue degraders exemplify this concept due to their compact drug-like structures and ability to engage targets without reliance on existing cognate ligands. While Cereblon molecular glue degraders containing glutarimide scaffolds have been approved for treatment of multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia, the design of new therapeutically relevant monovalent degraders remains challenging. We report here an approach to glutarimide-containing molecular glue synthesis using multicomponent reactions as a central modular core-forming step. Screening the resulting library identified HRZ-01 derivatives that target casein kinase 1 alpha (CK1α) and Wee-like protein kinase (WEE1). Further medicinal chemistry efforts led to identification of selective monovalent WEE1 degraders that provide a potential starting point for the eventual development of a selective chemical degrader probe. The structure of the hit WEE1 degrader complex with CRBN-DDB1 and WEE1 provides a model of the protein-protein interface and a rationale for the observed kinase selectivity. Our findings suggest that modular synthetic routes combined with in-depth structural characterization give access to selective molecular glue degraders and expansion of the CRBN-degradable proteome.
RESUMO
Although gemcitabine-based chemotherapy is common and effective for pancreatic cancer (PC), acquired drug resistance is one of the major reasons for treatment failure. Therefore, a novel therapeutic approach for gemcitabine-resistant PC is required. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an oxidative stress-responsive transcription factor regulating antioxidant responses and plays a crucial role in chemoresistance. In the present study, the antitumor activity of periplocin, a natural cardiac glycoside, was evaluated in an established gemcitabine-resistant PC cell line (PANC-GR). Nrf2 was overexpressed in gemcitabine-resistant cells, and Nrf2 knockdown recovered gemcitabine sensitivity in PANC-GR cells. The antiproliferative activity of periplocin was highly associated with Nrf2 downregulation and Nrf2-mediated signaling pathways in PANC-GR cells. Periplocin also increased reactive oxygen species production inducing G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in PANC-GR cells. Periplocin and gemcitabine combined significantly inhibited tumor growth in a PANC-GR cells-implanted xenograft mouse model via Nrf2 downregulation. Overall, these findings suggest that periplocin might be a novel therapeutic agent against gemcitabine resistance, as it could recover sensitivity to gemcitabine by regulating Nrf2-mediated signaling pathways in gemcitabine-resistant PC cells.