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de Pellegars-Malhortie A, Picque Lasorsa L, Mazard T, Granier F, Prévostel C. Why Is Wnt/β-Catenin Not Yet Targeted in Routine Cancer Care? Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:949. [PMID: 39065798 PMCID: PMC11279613 DOI: 10.3390/ph17070949] [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: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite significant progress in cancer prevention, screening, and treatment, the still limited number of therapeutic options is an obstacle towards increasing the cancer cure rate. In recent years, many efforts were put forth to develop therapeutics that selectively target different components of the oncogenic Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. These include small molecule inhibitors, antibodies, and more recently, gene-based approaches. Although some of them showed promising outcomes in clinical trials, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is still not targeted in routine clinical practice for cancer management. As for most anticancer treatments, a critical limitation to the use of Wnt/β-catenin inhibitors is their therapeutic index, i.e., the difficulty of combining effective anticancer activity with acceptable toxicity. Protecting healthy tissues from the effects of Wnt/β-catenin inhibitors is a major issue due to the vital role of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in adult tissue homeostasis and regeneration. In this review, we provide an up-to-date summary of clinical trials on Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitors, examine their anti-tumor activity and associated adverse events, and explore strategies under development to improve the benefit/risk profile of this therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Auriane de Pellegars-Malhortie
- IRCM (Montpellier Cancer Research Institute), University of Montpellier, Inserm, ICM (Montpellier Regional Cancer Institute), 34298 Montpellier, CEDEX 5, France; (A.d.P.-M.); (L.P.L.); (T.M.)
| | - Laurence Picque Lasorsa
- IRCM (Montpellier Cancer Research Institute), University of Montpellier, Inserm, ICM (Montpellier Regional Cancer Institute), 34298 Montpellier, CEDEX 5, France; (A.d.P.-M.); (L.P.L.); (T.M.)
| | - Thibault Mazard
- IRCM (Montpellier Cancer Research Institute), University of Montpellier, Inserm, ICM (Montpellier Regional Cancer Institute), 34298 Montpellier, CEDEX 5, France; (A.d.P.-M.); (L.P.L.); (T.M.)
- Medical Oncology Department, ICM, University of Montpellier, CEDEX 5, 34298 Montpellier, France
| | | | - Corinne Prévostel
- IRCM (Montpellier Cancer Research Institute), University of Montpellier, Inserm, ICM (Montpellier Regional Cancer Institute), 34298 Montpellier, CEDEX 5, France; (A.d.P.-M.); (L.P.L.); (T.M.)
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Zhu W, Liu C, Xi K, Li A, Shen LA, Li Y, Jia M, He Y, Chen G, Liu C, Chen Y, Chen K, Sun F, Zhang D, Duan C, Wang H, Wang D, Zhao Y, Meng X, Zhu D. Discovery of Novel 1-Phenylpiperidine Urea-Containing Derivatives Inhibiting β-Catenin/BCL9 Interaction and Exerting Antitumor Efficacy through the Activation of Antigen Presentation of cDC1 Cells. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 38912577 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Aberrant activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling is associated with tumor development, and blocking β-catenin/BCL9 is a novel strategy for oncogenic Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Herein, we presented two novel β-catenin variations and exposed conformational dynamics in several β-catenin crystal structures at the BCL9 binding site. Furthermore, we identified a class of novel urea-containing compounds targeting β-catenin/BCL9 interaction. Notably, the binding modalities of inhibitors were greatly affected by the conformational dynamics of β-catenin. Among them, 28 had a strong affinity for β-catenin (Kd = 82 nM), the most potent inhibitor reported. In addition, 13 and 35 not only activate T cells but also promote the antigen presentation of cDC1, showing robust antitumor efficacy in the CT26 model. Collectively, our study demonstrated a series of potent small-molecule inhibitors targeting β-catenin/BCL9, which can enhance antigen presentation and activate cDC1 cells, delivering a potential strategy for boosting innate and adaptive immunity to overcome immunotherapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhua Zhu
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
- Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Cuiting Liu
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
- Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Kang Xi
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
- Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Anqi Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Li-An Shen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yana Li
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
- Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Miaomiao Jia
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
- Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Yangbo He
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
- Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
- Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Chenglong Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yangqiang Chen
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
- Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Kai Chen
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Fan Sun
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Daizhou Zhang
- Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Science, Jinan 250101, China
| | - Chonggang Duan
- Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Science, Jinan 250101, China
| | - Heng Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | | | - Yujun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and Small-Molecule Drug Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Rd., Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiangjing Meng
- Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Science, Jinan 250101, China
| | - Di Zhu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 201210, China
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3
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Peng X, Shen LA, Bao Y, Liu C, Chen Q, Zhang H, Li J, Zhang Q. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel 8-substituted quercetin derivatives targeting the β‑catenin/B-cell lymphoma 9 interaction. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2024; 98:129591. [PMID: 38097141 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2023.129591] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The β-catenin/B-cell lymphoma 9 (BCL9) protein-protein interaction (PPI) is a potential target for aberrantly active Wnt/β-catenin signaling which actively participates in initiating and progressing of many cancers. Herein, we discovered novel 8-substituted quercetin derivatives with potential inhibitory activities targeting β-catenin/BCL9 PPI. Among all the derivatives, compound B4 displayed the most promising PPI inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 2.25 μM in a competitive fluorescence polarization assay and a KD value of 1.44 μM for the β-catenin protein. Furthermore, B4 selectively inhibited the growth of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, suppressed the transactivation of Wnt signaling, and downregulated the expression of oncogenic Wnt target gene. Especially, B4 showed potent anti-CRC activity in vivo with the tumor growth inhibition (TGI) of 75.99 % and regulated the tumor immune microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyan Peng
- Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200123, China; Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Li-An Shen
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ya Bao
- Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Chenglong Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qiushi Chen
- Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China; School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jiayi Li
- Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Qingwei Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China; National Key Laboratory of Lead Druggability Research, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co. Ltd. Shanghai 201203, China.
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4
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Shen LA, Peng X, Bao Y, Liu C, Zhang H, Li J, Zhu D, Zhang Q. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of quercetin derivatives as novel β-catenin/B-cell lymphoma 9 protein-protein interaction inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 247:115075. [PMID: 36599228 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.115075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The β-catenin/B-cell lymphoma 9 (BCL9) protein-protein interaction (PPI) is a potential target for the suppression of hyperactive Wnt/β-catenin signaling that is vigorously involved in cancer initiation and development. Herein, we first described quercetin and its derivatives had potential inhibitory effects on β-catenin/BCL9 PPI. The most potent compound, quercetin-3'-O-(4-methylpiperazine-1-yl) propyl (C1), directly binded with β-catenin and disrupted the β-catenin/BCL9 interaction in both the protein level and the cellular context. C1 also effectively inhibited colorectal cancer in vitro and showed better selectivity in inhibiting hyperactive Wnt/β-catenin signaling cells like CT26 and HCT116. And we further confirmed that C1 could inhibit CT26 tumor growth in vivo and regulate the tumor immune microenvironment. This study provides a good chemical probe to explore β-catenin-related biology and a drug-like quercetin derivative as novel β-catenin/BCL9 PPI inhibitors for further drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-An Shen
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xinyan Peng
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Ya Bao
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Chenglong Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China; Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jianqi Li
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Di Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China; Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201100, China.
| | - Qingwei Zhang
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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5
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Zhang H, Liu C, Chen Q, Shen LA, Xiao W, Li J, Wang Y, Zhu D, Zhang Q, Li J. Discovery of Novel 3-Phenylpiperidine Derivatives Targeting the β-Catenin/B-Cell Lymphoma 9 Interaction as a Single Agent and in Combination with the Anti-PD-1 Antibody for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer. J Med Chem 2023; 66:1349-1379. [PMID: 36630177 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Direct disruption of the β-catenin/B-cell lymphoma 9 (BCL9) protein-protein interaction (PPI) is a potential strategy for colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment through inhibiting oncogenic Wnt activity. Herein, a series of 3-phenylpiperidine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as β-catenin/BCL9 PPI inhibitors. Among them, compound 41 showed the best IC50 (0.72 μM) in a competitive fluorescence polarization assay and a KD value of 0.26 μM for the β-catenin protein. This compound selectively inhibited the growth of CRC cells, suppressed Wnt signaling transactivation, and downregulated oncogenic Wnt target gene expression. In vivo, 41 showed potent anti-CRC activity and promoted the infiltration and function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes while decreasing the infiltration of regulatory T-cells (Tregs). Furthermore, the combination of 41 and the anti-PD-1 antibody (Ab) efficiently enhanced anti-CRC efficacy, first verifying the in vivo efficacy of the small-molecule β-catenin/BCL9 PPI inhibitor and anti-PD-1 Ab in combination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China.,Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebai Ni Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Chenglong Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qiushi Chen
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebai Ni Road, Shanghai 201203, China.,School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, 333 Longteng Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Li-An Shen
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wenting Xiao
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China.,Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebai Ni Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jiayi Li
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebai Ni Road, Shanghai 201203, China.,School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, 333 Longteng Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Yonghui Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Di Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Science, Fudan University, 138 Yixue Yuan Road, Shanghai 201100, China
| | - Qingwei Zhang
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebai Ni Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jianqi Li
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebai Ni Road, Shanghai 201203, China
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Zhang H, Liu C, Zhu D, Zhang Q, Li J. Medicinal Chemistry Strategies for the Development of Inhibitors Disrupting β-Catenin's Interactions with Its Nuclear Partners. J Med Chem 2023; 66:1-31. [PMID: 36583662 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is strongly associated with various aspects of cancer, including tumor initiation, proliferation, and metastasis as well as antitumor immunity, and presents a promising opportunity for cancer therapy. Wnt/β-catenin signaling activation increases nuclear dephosphorylated β-catenin levels, resulting in β-catenin binding to TCF and additional cotranscription factors, such as BCL9, CBP, and p300. Therefore, directly disrupting β-catenin's interactions with these nuclear partners holds promise for the effective and selective suppression of the aberrant activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Herein, we summarize recent advances in biochemical techniques and medicinal chemistry strategies used to identify potent peptide-based and small-molecule inhibitors that directly disrupt β-catenin's interactions with its nuclear binding partners. We discuss the challenges involved in developing drug-like inhibitors that target the interactions of β-catenin and its nuclear binding partner into therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China.,Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Chenglong Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Di Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 201100, China
| | - Qingwei Zhang
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jianqi Li
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai 201203, China
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7
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Lou J, Lu Y, Cheng J, Zhou F, Yan Z, Zhang D, Meng X, Zhao Y. A chemical perspective on the modulation of TEAD transcriptional activities: Recent progress, challenges, and opportunities. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 243:114684. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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8
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Yang P, Zhu Y, Zheng Q, Meng S, Wu Y, Shuai W, Sun Q, Wang G. Recent advances of β-catenin small molecule inhibitors for cancer therapy: Current development and future perspectives. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 243:114789. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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9
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Dong Y, Liu M, Mao Y, Wu S, Wen J, Lu J, Yang Y, Ruan S, Li L, Liu X, Zhang J, Liao S, Dong L. Discovery of 2-(isoxazol-5-yl)phenyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate as a potential inhibitor for the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Bioorg Chem 2022; 128:106116. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.106116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Sang P, Shi Y, Wei L, Cai J. Helical sulfono-γ-AApeptides with predictable functions in protein recognition. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:805-814. [PMID: 35866163 PMCID: PMC9257604 DOI: 10.1039/d2cb00049k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Sulfono-γ-AApeptides are a subset of possible sequence-specific foldamers that might be considered for the design of biomimetic drug molecular structures. Although they have been studied for a relatively short period of time, a number of structures and functions have been designed or discovered within this class of unnatural peptides. Examples of utilizing these sulfono-γ-AApeptides have demonstrated the potential that sulfono-γ-AApeptides can offer, however, to date, their application in biomedical sciences yet remains unexplored. This review mainly summarizes the helical folding conformations of sulfono-γ-AApeptides and their biological application as helical mimetics in medicinally relevant protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and assesses their potential for the mimicry of other α-helices for protein recognition in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Sang
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Ave. Tampa FL 33620 USA
| | - Yan Shi
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Ave. Tampa FL 33620 USA
| | - Lulu Wei
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Ave. Tampa FL 33620 USA
| | - Jianfeng Cai
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Ave. Tampa FL 33620 USA
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Wang Z, Zhang M, Thompson HM, Ji H. New ZW4864 Derivatives as Small-Molecule Inhibitors for the β-Catenin/BCL9 Protein-Protein Interaction. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:865-870. [PMID: 35586435 PMCID: PMC9109161 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.2c00068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A series of 1-(3-(2-amino-2-oxoethoxy)phenyl)piperidine-3-carboxamide derivatives was reported as new small-molecule β-catenin/B-cell lymphoma 9 (BCL9) protein-protein interaction (PPI) inhibitors. Compounds 17-21 were discovered to inhibit the β-catenin/BCL9 PPI with K i = 0.85-2.7 μM. The effects of 21 on the β-catenin/BCL9 PPI in cellular context were demonstrated by β-catenin/BCL9 pull-down inhibition and dose-dependent suppression of Wnt/β-catenin signal transactivation. Notably, compound 21 is more potent than ZW4864, a previously reported analogue, in modulating transcription and expression of β-catenin target genes and suppressing survival of β-catenin-dependent cancer cells. The cellular on-target efficacy of 21 was demonstrated by β-catenin rescue experiments. Compound 21 represents a promising starting point for further optimization of β-catenin/BCL9 PPI inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wang
- Drug Discovery Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612-9497, United States
| | - Min Zhang
- Drug Discovery Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612-9497, United States
| | - Harriet M. Thompson
- Drug Discovery Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612-9497, United States
| | - Haitao Ji
- Drug Discovery Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612-9497, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620-9497, United States
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620-9497, United States
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12
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Wu X, Zhang Q, Guo Y, Zhang H, Guo X, You Q, Wang L. Methods for the Discovery and Identification of Small Molecules Targeting Oxidative Stress-Related Protein–Protein Interactions: An Update. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11040619. [PMID: 35453304 PMCID: PMC9025695 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11040619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The oxidative stress response pathway is one of the hotspots of current pharmaceutical research. Many proteins involved in these pathways work through protein–protein interactions (PPIs). Hence, targeting PPI to develop drugs for an oxidative stress response is a promising strategy. In recent years, small molecules targeting protein–protein interactions (PPIs), which provide efficient methods for drug discovery, are being investigated by an increasing number of studies. However, unlike the enzyme–ligand binding mode, PPIs usually exhibit large and dynamic binding interfaces, which raise additional challenges for the discovery and optimization of small molecules and for the biochemical techniques used to screen compounds and study structure–activity relationships (SARs). Currently, multiple types of PPIs have been clustered into different classes, which make it difficult to design stationary methods for small molecules. Deficient experimental methods are plaguing medicinal chemists and are becoming a major challenge in the discovery of PPI inhibitors. In this review, we present current methods that are specifically used in the discovery and identification of small molecules that target oxidative stress-related PPIs, including proximity-based, affinity-based, competition-based, structure-guided, and function-based methods. Our aim is to introduce feasible methods and their characteristics that are implemented in the discovery of small molecules for different types of PPIs. For each of these methods, we highlight successful examples of PPI inhibitors associated with oxidative stress to illustrate the strategies and provide insights for further design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuexuan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; (X.W.); (Q.Z.); (Y.G.); (H.Z.)
- 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; (X.W.); (Q.Z.); (Y.G.); (H.Z.)
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuqi Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; (X.W.); (Q.Z.); (Y.G.); (H.Z.)
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Hengheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; (X.W.); (Q.Z.); (Y.G.); (H.Z.)
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiaoke Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; (X.W.); (Q.Z.); (Y.G.); (H.Z.)
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Correspondence: (X.G.); (Q.Y.); (L.W.); Tel.: +86-025-83271351 (Q.Y.); +86-15261483858 (L.W.)
| | - Qidong You
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; (X.W.); (Q.Z.); (Y.G.); (H.Z.)
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Correspondence: (X.G.); (Q.Y.); (L.W.); Tel.: +86-025-83271351 (Q.Y.); +86-15261483858 (L.W.)
| | - Lei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; (X.W.); (Q.Z.); (Y.G.); (H.Z.)
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Correspondence: (X.G.); (Q.Y.); (L.W.); Tel.: +86-025-83271351 (Q.Y.); +86-15261483858 (L.W.)
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Wang X, Dong L, Cheng J, Verdine GL, Lin A, Chu Q. Targeted β-catenin ubiquitination and degradation by multifunctional stapled peptides. J Pept Sci 2021; 28:e3389. [PMID: 34937123 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant activation of the Wnt signaling pathway has been identified in numerous types of cancer. One common feature of oncogenic Wnt regulation involves an increase in the cellular levels of β-catenin due to interference with its constitutive ubiquitin-dependent degradation. Targeting β-catenin has therefore emerged as an appealing approach for the treatment of Wnt-dependent cancers. Here, we report a strategy that employs multifunctional stapled peptides to recruit an E3 ubiquitin ligase to β-catenin, thereby rescuing β-catenin degradation by hijacking the endogenous ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Specifically, we designed, synthesized, and evaluated a panel of multifunctional stapled peptides that have a β-catenin binding moiety (StAx-35) covalently linked to a second stapled peptide moiety (SAH-p53-8), which is capable to interact with the E3 ubiquitin ligase MDM2. We found that in vitro these multifunctional peptides can recruit the MDM2 protein to β-catenin and induce poly-ubiquitination on β-catenin. In cellulo, treatment of the human colorectal cancer cell line SW480 with the multifunctional stapled peptides showed dose-dependent degradation of endogenous β-catenin levels. In addition, a luciferase reporter assay showed that the multifunctional stapled peptides can suppress β-catenin-mediated gene expression via the Wnt signaling pathway. Therefore, these multifunctional stapled peptides provide a unique research tool for examining the Wnt signaling pathway by targeted knockdown of β-catenin at the protein level, and may serve as leads for potential drug candidates in the treatment of Wnt-dependent cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Nanjing, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing, China
| | - Liuli Dong
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiongjia Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Nanjing, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing, China
| | - Gregory L Verdine
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Aijun Lin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qian Chu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
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Wang Z, Zhang M, Quereda V, Frydman SM, Ming Q, Luca VC, Duckett DR, Ji H. Discovery of an Orally Bioavailable Small-Molecule Inhibitor for the β-Catenin/B-Cell Lymphoma 9 Protein-Protein Interaction. J Med Chem 2021; 64:12109-12131. [PMID: 34382808 PMCID: PMC8817233 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is strongly associated with many diseases including cancer invasion and metastasis. Small-molecule targeting of the central signaling node of this pathway, β-catenin, is a biologically rational approach to abolish hyperactivation of β-catenin signaling but has been demonstrated to be a difficult task. Herein, we report a drug-like small molecule, ZW4864, that binds with β-catenin and selectively disrupts the protein-protein interaction (PPI) between B-cell lymphoma 9 (BCL9) and β-catenin while sparing the β-catenin/E-cadherin PPI. ZW4864 dose-dependently suppresses β-catenin signaling activation, downregulates oncogenic β-catenin target genes, and abrogates invasiveness of β-catenin-dependent cancer cells. More importantly, ZW4864 shows good pharmacokinetic properties and effectively suppresses β-catenin target gene expression in the patient-derived xenograft mouse model. This study offers a selective chemical probe to explore β-catenin-related biology and a drug-like small-molecule β-catenin/BCL9 disruptor for future drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wang
- Drug Discovery Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612-9497, United States
| | - Min Zhang
- Drug Discovery Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612-9497, United States
| | - Victor Quereda
- Drug Discovery Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612-9497, United States
| | - Sylvia M Frydman
- Drug Discovery Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612-9497, United States
| | - Qianqian Ming
- Drug Discovery Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612-9497, United States
| | - Vincent C Luca
- Drug Discovery Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612-9497, United States
| | - Derek R Duckett
- Drug Discovery Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612-9497, United States
| | - Haitao Ji
- Drug Discovery Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612-9497, United States
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