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Kerr AG, Tam LCS, Hale AB, Cioroch M, Douglas G, Agkatsev S, Hibbitt O, Mason J, Holt-Martyn J, Bataille CJR, Wynne GM, Channon KM, Russell AJ, Wade-Martins R. A Genomic DNA Reporter Screen Identifies Squalene Synthase Inhibitors That Act Cooperatively with Statins to Upregulate the Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2017; 361:417-428. [PMID: 28360334 PMCID: PMC5443320 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.116.239574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypercholesterolemia remains one of the leading risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Many large double-blind studies have demonstrated that lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol using a statin can reduce the risk of having a cardiovascular event by approximately 30%. However, despite the success of statins, some patient populations are unable to lower their LDL cholesterol to meet the targeted lipid levels, due to compliance or potency issues. This is especially true for patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia who may require additional upregulation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) to reduce LDL cholesterol levels below those achievable with maximal dosing of statins. Here we identify a series of small molecules from a genomic DNA reporter screen that upregulate the LDLR in mouse and human liver cell lines at nanomolar potencies (EC50 = 39 nM). Structure-activity relationship studies carried out on the lead compound, OX03771 [(E)-N,N-dimethyl-3-(4-styrylphenoxy)propan-1-amine], led to the identification of compound OX03050 [(E)-3-(4-styrylphenoxy)propan-1-ol], which had similar potency (EC50 = 26 nM) but a much-improved pharmacokinetic profile and showed in vivo efficacy. Compounds OX03050 and OX03771 were found to inhibit squalene synthase, the first committed step in cholesterol biosynthesis. These squalene synthase inhibitors were shown to act cooperatively with statins to increase LDLR expression in vitro. Overall, we demonstrated here a novel series of small molecules with the potential to be further developed to treat patients either alone or in combination with statins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alastair G Kerr
- Departments of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics (A.G.K., L.C.S.T., M.C., S.A., O.H., J.H.-M., R.W.-M.) and Pharmacology (A.J.R.), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom (A.B.H., G.D., K.M.C.); and Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (J.M., C.J.R.B., G.M.W., A.J.R.)
| | - Lawrence C S Tam
- Departments of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics (A.G.K., L.C.S.T., M.C., S.A., O.H., J.H.-M., R.W.-M.) and Pharmacology (A.J.R.), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom (A.B.H., G.D., K.M.C.); and Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (J.M., C.J.R.B., G.M.W., A.J.R.)
| | - Ashley B Hale
- Departments of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics (A.G.K., L.C.S.T., M.C., S.A., O.H., J.H.-M., R.W.-M.) and Pharmacology (A.J.R.), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom (A.B.H., G.D., K.M.C.); and Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (J.M., C.J.R.B., G.M.W., A.J.R.)
| | - Milena Cioroch
- Departments of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics (A.G.K., L.C.S.T., M.C., S.A., O.H., J.H.-M., R.W.-M.) and Pharmacology (A.J.R.), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom (A.B.H., G.D., K.M.C.); and Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (J.M., C.J.R.B., G.M.W., A.J.R.)
| | - Gillian Douglas
- Departments of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics (A.G.K., L.C.S.T., M.C., S.A., O.H., J.H.-M., R.W.-M.) and Pharmacology (A.J.R.), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom (A.B.H., G.D., K.M.C.); and Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (J.M., C.J.R.B., G.M.W., A.J.R.)
| | - Sarina Agkatsev
- Departments of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics (A.G.K., L.C.S.T., M.C., S.A., O.H., J.H.-M., R.W.-M.) and Pharmacology (A.J.R.), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom (A.B.H., G.D., K.M.C.); and Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (J.M., C.J.R.B., G.M.W., A.J.R.)
| | - Olivia Hibbitt
- Departments of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics (A.G.K., L.C.S.T., M.C., S.A., O.H., J.H.-M., R.W.-M.) and Pharmacology (A.J.R.), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom (A.B.H., G.D., K.M.C.); and Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (J.M., C.J.R.B., G.M.W., A.J.R.)
| | - Joseph Mason
- Departments of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics (A.G.K., L.C.S.T., M.C., S.A., O.H., J.H.-M., R.W.-M.) and Pharmacology (A.J.R.), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom (A.B.H., G.D., K.M.C.); and Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (J.M., C.J.R.B., G.M.W., A.J.R.)
| | - James Holt-Martyn
- Departments of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics (A.G.K., L.C.S.T., M.C., S.A., O.H., J.H.-M., R.W.-M.) and Pharmacology (A.J.R.), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom (A.B.H., G.D., K.M.C.); and Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (J.M., C.J.R.B., G.M.W., A.J.R.)
| | - Carole J R Bataille
- Departments of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics (A.G.K., L.C.S.T., M.C., S.A., O.H., J.H.-M., R.W.-M.) and Pharmacology (A.J.R.), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom (A.B.H., G.D., K.M.C.); and Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (J.M., C.J.R.B., G.M.W., A.J.R.)
| | - Graham M Wynne
- Departments of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics (A.G.K., L.C.S.T., M.C., S.A., O.H., J.H.-M., R.W.-M.) and Pharmacology (A.J.R.), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom (A.B.H., G.D., K.M.C.); and Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (J.M., C.J.R.B., G.M.W., A.J.R.)
| | - Keith M Channon
- Departments of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics (A.G.K., L.C.S.T., M.C., S.A., O.H., J.H.-M., R.W.-M.) and Pharmacology (A.J.R.), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom (A.B.H., G.D., K.M.C.); and Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (J.M., C.J.R.B., G.M.W., A.J.R.)
| | - Angela J Russell
- Departments of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics (A.G.K., L.C.S.T., M.C., S.A., O.H., J.H.-M., R.W.-M.) and Pharmacology (A.J.R.), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom (A.B.H., G.D., K.M.C.); and Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (J.M., C.J.R.B., G.M.W., A.J.R.)
| | - Richard Wade-Martins
- Departments of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics (A.G.K., L.C.S.T., M.C., S.A., O.H., J.H.-M., R.W.-M.) and Pharmacology (A.J.R.), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom (A.B.H., G.D., K.M.C.); and Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (J.M., C.J.R.B., G.M.W., A.J.R.)
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Warchol I, Gora M, Wysocka-Kapcinska M, Komaszylo J, Swiezewska E, Sojka M, Danikiewicz W, Plochocka D, Maciejak A, Tulacz D, Leszczynska A, Kapur S, Burzynska B. Genetic engineering and molecular characterization of yeast strain expressing hybrid human-yeast squalene synthase as a tool for anti-cholesterol drug assessment. J Appl Microbiol 2016; 120:877-88. [PMID: 26757023 DOI: 10.1111/jam.13053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Revised: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The main objective of the study is molecular and biological characterization of the human-yeast hybrid squalene synthase (SQS), as a promising target for treatment of hypercholesterolaemia. METHODS AND RESULTS The human-yeast hybrid SQS, with 67% amino acids, including the catalytic site derived from human enzyme, was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain deleted of its own SQS gene. The constructed strain has a decreased level of sterols compared to the control strain. The mevalonate pathway and sterol biosynthesis genes are induced and the level of triacylglycerols is increased. Treatment of the strain with rosuvastatin or zaragozic acid, two mevalonate pathway inhibitors, decreased the amounts of squalene, lanosterol and ergosterol, and up-regulated expression of several genes encoding enzymes responsible for biosynthesis of ergosterol precursors. Conversely, expression of the majority genes implicated in the biosynthesis of other mevalonate pathway end products, ubiquinone and dolichol, was down-regulated. CONCLUSIONS The S. cerevisiae strain constructed in this study enables to investigate the physiological and molecular effects of inhibitors on cell functioning. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The yeast strain expressing hybrid SQS with the catalytic core of human enzyme is a convenient tool for efficient screening for novel inhibitors of cholesterol-lowering properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Warchol
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - M Gora
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - M Wysocka-Kapcinska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - J Komaszylo
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - E Swiezewska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - M Sojka
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - W Danikiewicz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - D Plochocka
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - A Maciejak
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - D Tulacz
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - A Leszczynska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - S Kapur
- Department of Biological Science, Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Hyderabad, India
| | - B Burzynska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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