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Qiu YD, Yan Q, Wang Y, Ye YF, Wang Y, Wang MY, Wang PP, Zhang SY, Wang DL, Yan H, Ruan J, Zhao YJ, Huang LH, Cho N, Wang K, Zheng XH, Liu ZG. Discovery of a selective TRF2 inhibitor FKB04 induced telomere shortening and senescence in liver cancer cells. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024; 45:1276-1286. [PMID: 38438580 PMCID: PMC11130216 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-024-01243-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomere repeat binding factor 2 (TRF2), a critical element of the shelterin complex, plays a vital role in the maintenance of genome integrity. TRF2 overexpression is found in a wide range of malignant cancers, whereas its down-regulation could cause cell death. Despite its potential role, the selectively small-molecule inhibitors of TRF2 and its therapeutic effects on liver cancer remain largely unknown. Our clinical data combined with bioinformatic analysis demonstrated that TRF2 is overexpressed in liver cancer and that high expression is associated with poor prognosis. Flavokavain B derivative FKB04 potently inhibited TRF2 expression in liver cancer cells while having limited effects on the other five shelterin subunits. Moreover, FKB04 treatment induced telomere shortening and increased the amounts of telomere-free ends, leading to the destruction of T-loop structure. Consequently, FKB04 promoted liver cancer cell senescence without modulating apoptosis levels. In corroboration with these findings, FKB04 inhibited tumor cell growth by promoting telomeric TRF2 deficiency-induced telomere shortening in a mouse xenograft tumor model, with no obvious side effects. These results demonstrate that TRF2 is a potential therapeutic target for liver cancer and suggest that FKB04 may be a selective small-molecule inhibitor of TRF2, showing promise in the treatment of liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin-da Qiu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
- College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Qi Yan
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Yi Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Yan-Fei Ye
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Yan Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Meng-Ying Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Pei-Pei Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Shu-Yuan Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Da-Long Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Hao Yan
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Jing Ruan
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
| | - Yun-Jie Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Le-Hao Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Namki Cho
- College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Kun Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Zheng
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
| | - Zhi-Guo Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
- Oujiang Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
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Hua L, Wang D, Wang K, Wang Y, Gu J, Zhang Q, You Q, Wang L. Design of Tracers in Fluorescence Polarization Assay for Extensive Application in Small Molecule Drug Discovery. J Med Chem 2023; 66:10934-10958. [PMID: 37561645 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Development of fluorescence polarization (FP) assays, especially in a competitive manner, is a potent and mature tool for measuring the binding affinities of small molecules. This approach is suitable for high-throughput screening (HTS) for initial ligands and is also applicable for further study of the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of candidate compounds for drug discovery. Buffer and tracer, especially rational design of the tracer, play a vital role in an FP assay system. In this perspective, we provided different kinds of approaches for tracer design based on successful cases in recent years. We classified these tracers by different types of ligands in tracers, including peptide, nucleic acid, natural product, and small molecule. To make this technology accessible for more targets, we briefly described the basic theory and workflow, followed by highlighting the design and application of typical FP tracers from a perspective of medicinal chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwen Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Danni Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Keran Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuxuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jinying Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Qiuyue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Qidong You
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Lei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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N-terminal modified cyclopeptidic mimetics of Apollo TBM as inhibitors of TRF2. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2020; 30:127401. [PMID: 32871539 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.127401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Telomeric repeat binding factor 2 (TRF2) plays an important role in protecting telomeres from being recognized as DNA breaks. TRF2 performs its telomere protecting functions partially by recruiting a number of accessory proteins to telomeres through its TRF homology (TFRH) domain. Identification of small molecular compounds which can bind to the TRFH domain of TRF2 and block the interactions between TRF2 and its associated proteins is crucial for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of these protein-protein interactions. Using a previously identified peptidic mimetic of ApolloTBM as a lead compound, we designed and synthesized a series of novel TRF2 inhibitors by non-peptidic modifications of the N-terminal residues. These compounds can maintain the binding affinities to TRF2 but have much reduced peptidic characteristics compared to the lead compound.
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