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Kurpiejewski K, Piecyk K, Lukaszewicz M, Kamel K, Chmurski K, Kmiecik S, Jankowska-Anyszka M. The Synergistic Effect of N2 and N7 Modifications on the Inhibitory Efficacy of mRNA Cap Analogues. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:632. [PMID: 38794202 PMCID: PMC11123931 DOI: 10.3390/ph17050632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
In the fight against cancer, researchers have turned their attention to the eukaryotic initiation factor eIF4E, a protein whose increased level is strongly correlated with the development and progression of various types of cancer. Among the numerous strategies devised to tackle eIF4E overexpression, the use of 5' end mRNA cap analogues has emerged as a promising approach. Here, we present new candidates as potent m7GMP analogues for inhibiting translation and interfacing with eIF4E. By employing an appropriate strategy, we synthesized doubly modified mono- and dinucleotide cap analogues, introducing simultaneous substituents at both the N7 and N2 positions of the guanine ring. This approach was identified as an effective and promising combination. Our findings reveal that these dual modifications increase the potency of the dinucleotide analogue, marking a significant advancement in the development of cancer therapeutics targeting the eIF4E pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karol Kurpiejewski
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (K.K.); (K.P.); (K.C.)
| | - Karolina Piecyk
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (K.K.); (K.P.); (K.C.)
| | - Maciej Lukaszewicz
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, University of Warsaw, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Karol Kamel
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Kazimierz Chmurski
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (K.K.); (K.P.); (K.C.)
| | - Sebastian Kmiecik
- Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland;
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Cárdenas EL, O'Rourke RL, Menon A, Meagher J, Stuckey J, Garner AL. Design of Cell-Permeable Inhibitors of Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4E (eIF4E) for Inhibiting Aberrant Cap-Dependent Translation in Cancer. J Med Chem 2023; 66:10734-10745. [PMID: 37471629 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) is an RNA-binding protein that binds to the m7GpppX-cap at the 5' terminus of coding mRNAs to initiate cap-dependent translation. While all cells require cap-dependent translation, cancer cells become addicted to enhanced translational capacity, driving the production of oncogenic proteins involved in proliferation, evasion of apoptosis, metastasis, and angiogenesis, among other cancerous phenotypes. eIF4E is the rate-limiting translation factor, and its activation has been shown to drive cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance. These findings have established eIF4E as a translational oncogene and promising, albeit challenging, anti-cancer therapeutic target. Although significant effort has been put forth toward inhibiting eIF4E, the design of cell-permeable, cap-competitive inhibitors remains a challenge. Herein, we describe our work toward solving this long-standing challenge. By employing an acyclic nucleoside phosphonate prodrug strategy, we report the synthesis of cell-permeable inhibitors of eIF4E binding to capped mRNA to inhibit cap-dependent translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio L Cárdenas
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Rachel L O'Rourke
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Arya Menon
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Jennifer Meagher
- Life Science Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Jeanne Stuckey
- Life Science Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Amanda L Garner
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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Cárdenas EL, O’Rourke RL, Menon A, Meagher J, Stuckey J, Garner AL. Design of Cell-Permeable Inhibitors of Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4E (eIF4E) for Inhibiting Aberrant Cap-Dependent Translation in Cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.23.541912. [PMID: 37292917 PMCID: PMC10245873 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.23.541912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) is an RNA-binding protein that binds to the m 7 GpppX-cap at the 5' terminus of coding mRNAs to initiate cap-dependent translation. While all cells require cap-dependent translation, cancer cells become addicted to enhanced translational capacity, driving the production of oncogenic proteins involved in proliferation, evasion of apoptosis, metastasis, and angiogenesis among other cancerous phenotypes. eIF4E is the rate-limiting translation factor and its activation has been shown to drive cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance. These findings have established eIF4E as a translational oncogene and promising, albeit challenging, anti-cancer therapeutic target. Although significant effort has been put forth towards inhibiting eIF4E, the design of cell-permeable, cap-competitive inhibitors remains a challenge. Herein, we describe our work towards solving this long-standing challenge. By employing an acyclic nucleoside phosphonate prodrug strategy, we report the synthesis of cell-permeable inhibitors of eIF4E binding to capped mRNA to inhibit cap-dependent translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio L. Cárdenas
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Rachel L. O’Rourke
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Arya Menon
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Jennifer Meagher
- Life Science Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Jeanne Stuckey
- Life Science Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Amanda L. Garner
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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Siekierska I, Lukaszewicz M, Worch R, Jankowska-Anyszka M, Piecyk K. Application of Phosphoramidate ProTide Technology for the Synthesis of 5'-mRNA Cap Analogs Modified on the Exocyclic Amine Group. ChemMedChem 2023; 18:e202200490. [PMID: 36658701 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202200490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Aryloxy triester phosphoramidate methodology, commonly known as ProTide technology, is one of the most widely used prodrug approaches applied to therapeutic nucleosides. This approach has been used extensively by the pharmaceutical industry and researchers in medicinal chemistry. Herein we report our adaptation of this effective method for the synthesis of bioactive 5'-mRNA cap analogues as inhibitors for targeting cap-dependent translation. The synthesis was performed in two main stages: preparation of N2-modified guanosine analogues and their subsequent transformation into prodrugs using phenylethoxy-l-alaninyl phosphorochloridate. The prepared pro-nucleotide cap analogues were tested for their capacity in enzymatic activation, inhibitory properties in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system, and passive membrane translocation properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izabela Siekierska
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteur St., 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Lukaszewicz
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Remigiusz Worch
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Karolina Piecyk
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteur St., 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
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Evaluation of carboxyfluorescein-labeled 7-methylguanine nucleotides as probes for studying cap-binding proteins by fluorescence anisotropy. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7687. [PMID: 33833335 PMCID: PMC8032668 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87306-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence anisotropy (FA) is a powerful technique for the discovery of protein inhibitors in a high-throughput manner. In this study, we sought to develop new universal FA-based assays for the evaluation of compounds targeting mRNA 5′ cap-binding proteins of therapeutic interest, including eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E and scavenger decapping enzyme. For this purpose, a library of 19 carboxyfluorescein probes based on 7-methylguanine nucleotides was evaluated as FA probes for these proteins. Optimal probe:protein systems were further investigated in competitive binding experiments and adapted for high-throughput screening. Using a small in-house library of compounds, we verified and confirmed the accuracy of the developed FA assay to study cap-binding protein binders. The applications of the most promising probes were then extended to include evaluation of allosteric inhibitors as well as RNA ligands. From this analysis, we confirmed the utility of the method to study small molecule ligands and evaluate differently 5′ capped RNAs.
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