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Tong Y, Zhang P, Yang X, Liu X, Zhang J, Grudniewska M, Jung I, Abegg D, Liu J, Childs-Disney JL, Gibaut QMR, Haniff HS, Adibekian A, Mouradian MM, Disney MD. Decreasing the intrinsically disordered protein α-synuclein levels by targeting its structured mRNA with a ribonuclease-targeting chimera. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2306682120. [PMID: 38181056 PMCID: PMC10786272 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306682120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein is an important drug target for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD), but it is an intrinsically disordered protein lacking typical small-molecule binding pockets. In contrast, the encoding SNCA mRNA has regions of ordered structure in its 5' untranslated region (UTR). Here, we present an integrated approach to identify small molecules that bind this structured region and inhibit α-synuclein translation. A drug-like, RNA-focused compound collection was studied for binding to the 5' UTR of SNCA mRNA, affording Synucleozid-2.0, a drug-like small molecule that decreases α-synuclein levels by inhibiting ribosomes from assembling onto SNCA mRNA. This RNA-binding small molecule was converted into a ribonuclease-targeting chimera (RiboTAC) to degrade cellular SNCA mRNA. RNA-seq and proteomics studies demonstrated that the RiboTAC (Syn-RiboTAC) selectively degraded SNCA mRNA to reduce its protein levels, affording a fivefold enhancement of cytoprotective effects as compared to Synucleozid-2.0. As observed in many diseases, transcriptome-wide changes in RNA expression are observed in PD. Syn-RiboTAC also rescued the expression of ~50% of genes that were abnormally expressed in dopaminergic neurons differentiated from PD patient-derived iPSCs. These studies demonstrate that the druggability of the proteome can be expanded greatly by targeting the encoding mRNAs with both small molecule binders and RiboTAC degraders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuquan Tong
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL33458
- Department of Chemistry, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, Jupiter, FL33458
| | - Peiyuan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL33458
| | - Xueyi Yang
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL33458
- Department of Chemistry, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, Jupiter, FL33458
| | - Xiaohui Liu
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL33458
| | - Jie Zhang
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Institute for Neurological Therapeutics, Piscataway, NJ08854
- Department of Neurology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ08854
| | - Magda Grudniewska
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Institute for Neurological Therapeutics, Piscataway, NJ08854
- Department of Neurology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ08854
| | - Ikrak Jung
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Institute for Neurological Therapeutics, Piscataway, NJ08854
- Department of Neurology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ08854
| | - Daniel Abegg
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL33458
| | - Jun Liu
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Institute for Neurological Therapeutics, Piscataway, NJ08854
- Department of Neurology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ08854
| | - Jessica L. Childs-Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL33458
- Department of Chemistry, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, Jupiter, FL33458
| | - Quentin M. R. Gibaut
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL33458
- Department of Chemistry, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, Jupiter, FL33458
| | - Hafeez S. Haniff
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL33458
| | | | - M. Maral Mouradian
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Institute for Neurological Therapeutics, Piscataway, NJ08854
- Department of Neurology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ08854
| | - Matthew D. Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL33458
- Department of Chemistry, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, Jupiter, FL33458
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2
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Zeng Y, Mao Y, Chen Y, Wang Y, Xu S. DNA methylation induces subtle mechanical alteration but significant chiral selectivity. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:14855-14858. [PMID: 38015496 PMCID: PMC10794036 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc05211g] [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: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation is a major epigenetic modification that is closely related to human health. Many experimental techniques as well as theoretical methods have been used to detect the modified nucleotides and identify their effects on molecular binding. It remains challenging to resolve the effect of few methylations of nucleic acids. Using super-resolution force spectroscopy, we firstly revealed that single cytosine methylation increases the mechanical stability of the DNA duplex by 1.9 ± 0.3 pN. Methylation also induces significant chiral selectivity towards drug molecules such as d,l-tetrahydropalmatine. Our results precisely quantify the mechanical effect of methylation and suggest that drug design should take methylation into consideration for enhanced selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zeng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
| | - Yujia Mao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
| | - Yanjun Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
| | - Yuhong Wang
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, TX 77204, USA.
| | - Shoujun Xu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
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3
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Wicks SL, Morgan BS, Wilson AW, Hargrove AE. Probing Bioactive Chemical Space to Discover RNA-Targeted Small Molecules. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.31.551350. [PMID: 37577658 PMCID: PMC10418101 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.31.551350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Small molecules have become increasingly recognized as invaluable tools to study RNA structure and function and to develop RNA-targeted therapeutics. To rationally design RNA-targeting ligands, a comprehensive understanding and explicit testing of small molecule properties that govern molecular recognition is crucial. To date, most studies have primarily evaluated properties of small molecules that bind RNA in vitro, with little to no assessment of properties that are distinct to selective and bioactive RNA-targeted ligands. Therefore, we curated an RNA-focused library, termed the Duke RNA-Targeted Library (DRTL), that was biased towards the physicochemical and structural properties of biologically active and non-ribosomal RNA-targeted small molecules. The DRTL represents one of the largest academic RNA-focused small molecule libraries curated to date with more than 800 small molecules. These ligands were selected using computational approaches that measure similarity to known bioactive RNA ligands and that diversify the molecules within this space. We evaluated DRTL binding in vitro to a panel of four RNAs using two optimized fluorescent indicator displacement assays, and we successfully identified multiple small molecule hits, including several novel scaffolds for RNA. The DRTL has and will continue to provide insights into biologically relevant RNA chemical space, such as the identification of additional RNA-privileged scaffolds and validation of RNA-privileged molecular features. Future DRTL screening will focus on expanding both the targets and assays used, and we welcome collaboration from the scientific community. We envision that the DRTL will be a valuable resource for the discovery of RNA-targeted chemical probes and therapeutic leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L. Wicks
- Department of Chemistry; Duke University; 124 Science Drive; Durham, NC 27708
| | - Brittany S. Morgan
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry; University of Notre Dame; 123 McCourtney Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556
| | - Alexander W. Wilson
- Department of Chemistry; Duke University; 124 Science Drive; Durham, NC 27708
| | - Amanda E. Hargrove
- Department of Chemistry; Duke University; 124 Science Drive; Durham, NC 27708
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4
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Chan AP, Choi Y, Rangan A, Zhang G, Podder A, Berens M, Sharma S, Pirrotte P, Byron S, Duggan D, Schork NJ. Interrogating the Human Diplome: Computational Methods, Emerging Applications, and Challenges. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2590:1-30. [PMID: 36335489 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2819-5_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Human DNA sequencing protocols have revolutionized human biology, biomedical science, and clinical practice, but still have very important limitations. One limitation is that most protocols do not separate or assemble (i.e., "phase") the nucleotide content of each of the maternally and paternally derived chromosomal homologs making up the 22 autosomal pairs and the chromosomal pair making up the pseudo-autosomal region of the sex chromosomes. This has led to a dearth of studies and a consequent underappreciation of many phenomena of fundamental importance to basic and clinical genomic science. We discuss a few protocols for obtaining phase information as well as their limitations, including those that could be used in tumor phasing settings. We then describe a number of biological and clinical phenomena that require phase information. These include phenomena that require precise knowledge of the nucleotide sequence in a chromosomal segment from germline or somatic cells, such as DNA binding events, and insight into unique cis vs. trans-acting functionally impactful variant combinations-for example, variants implicated in a phenotype governed by compound heterozygosity. In addition, we also comment on the need for reliable and consensus-based diploid-context computational workflows for variant identification as well as the need for laboratory-based functional verification strategies for validating cis vs. trans effects of variant combinations. We also briefly describe available resources, example studies, as well as areas of further research, and ultimately argue that the science behind the study of human diploidy, referred to as "diplomics," which will be enabled by nucleotide-level resolution of phased genomes, is a logical next step in the analysis of human genome biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes P Chan
- The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of the City of Hope National Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Yongwook Choi
- The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of the City of Hope National Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Aditya Rangan
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Guangfa Zhang
- The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of the City of Hope National Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Avijit Podder
- The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of the City of Hope National Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Michael Berens
- The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of the City of Hope National Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- The City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Sunil Sharma
- The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of the City of Hope National Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- The City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Patrick Pirrotte
- The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of the City of Hope National Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- The City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Sara Byron
- The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of the City of Hope National Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- The City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Dave Duggan
- The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of the City of Hope National Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- The City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas J Schork
- The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of the City of Hope National Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
- The City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA.
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5
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Haniff HS, Liu X, Tong Y, Meyer SM, Knerr L, Lemurell M, Abegg D, Aikawa H, Adibekian A, Disney MD. A structure-specific small molecule inhibits a miRNA-200 family member precursor and reverses a type 2 diabetes phenotype. Cell Chem Biol 2022; 29:300-311.e10. [PMID: 34320373 PMCID: PMC8867599 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNA families are ubiquitous in the human transcriptome, yet targeting of individual members is challenging because of sequence homology. Many secondary structures of the precursors to these miRNAs (pri- and pre-miRNAs), however, are quite different. Here, we demonstrate both in vitro and in cellulis that design of structure-specific small molecules can inhibit a particular miRNA family member to modulate a disease pathway. The miR-200 family consists of five miRNAs, miR-200a, -200b, -200c, -141, and -429, and is associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). We designed a small molecule that potently and selectively targets pre-miR-200c's structure and reverses a pro-apoptotic effect in a pancreatic β cell model. In contrast, an oligonucleotide targeting the RNA's sequence inhibited all family members. Global proteomics and RNA sequencing analyses further demonstrate selectivity for miR-200c. Collectively, these studies establish that miR-200c plays an important role in T2D, and small molecules targeting RNA structure can be an important complement to oligonucleotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hafeez S. Haniff
- The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Chemistry, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Xiaohui Liu
- The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Chemistry, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Yuquan Tong
- The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Chemistry, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Samantha M. Meyer
- The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Chemistry, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Laurent Knerr
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden, 1, Gothenburg, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
| | - Malin Lemurell
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden, 1, Gothenburg, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
| | - Daniel Abegg
- The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Chemistry, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Haruo Aikawa
- The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Chemistry, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Alexander Adibekian
- The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Chemistry, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Matthew D. Disney
- The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Chemistry, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA,To whom correspondence is addressed;
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6
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Ursu A, Baisden JT, Bush JA, Taghavi A, Choudhary S, Zhang YJ, Gendron TF, Petrucelli L, Yildirim I, Disney MD. A Small Molecule Exploits Hidden Structural Features within the RNA Repeat Expansion That Causes c9ALS/FTD and Rescues Pathological Hallmarks. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:4076-4089. [PMID: 34677935 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The hexanucleotide repeat expansion GGGGCC [r(G4C2)exp] within intron 1 of C9orf72 causes genetically defined amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, collectively named c9ALS/FTD. , the repeat expansion causes neurodegeneration via deleterious phenotypes stemming from r(G4C2)exp RNA gain- and loss-of-function mechanisms. The r(G4C2)exp RNA folds into both a hairpin structure with repeating 1 × 1 nucleotide GG internal loops and a G-quadruplex structure. Here, we report the identification of a small molecule (CB253) that selectively binds the hairpin form of r(G4C2)exp. Interestingly, the small molecule binds to a previously unobserved conformation in which the RNA forms 2 × 2 nucleotide GG internal loops, as revealed by a series of binding and structural studies. NMR and molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the r(G4C2)exp hairpin interconverts between 1 × 1 and 2 × 2 internal loops through the process of strand slippage. We provide experimental evidence that CB253 binding indeed shifts the equilibrium toward the 2 × 2 GG internal loop conformation, inhibiting mechanisms that drive c9ALS/FTD pathobiology, such as repeat-associated non-ATG translation formation of stress granules and defective nucleocytoplasmic transport in various cellular models of c9ALS/FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Ursu
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Jared T. Baisden
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Jessica A. Bush
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Amirhossein Taghavi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Shruti Choudhary
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Yong-Jie Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd., Jacksonville, Florida 32224, United States
| | - Tania F. Gendron
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd., Jacksonville, Florida 32224, United States
| | - Leonard Petrucelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd., Jacksonville, Florida 32224, United States
| | - Ilyas Yildirim
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Matthew D. Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
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7
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Wagner-Griffin S, Abe M, Benhamou RI, Angelbello AJ, Vishnu K, Chen JL, Childs-Disney JL, Disney MD. A Druglike Small Molecule that Targets r(CCUG) Repeats in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2 Facilitates Degradation by RNA Quality Control Pathways. J Med Chem 2021; 64:8474-8485. [PMID: 34101465 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is one of >40 microsatellite disorders caused by RNA repeat expansions. The DM2 repeat expansion, r(CCUG)exp (where "exp" denotes expanded repeating nucleotides), is harbored in intron 1 of the CCHC-type zinc finger nucleic acid binding protein (CNBP). The expanded RNA repeat causes disease by a gain-of-function mechanism, sequestering various RNA-binding proteins including the pre-mRNA splicing regulator MBNL1. Sequestration of MBNL1 results in its loss-of-function and concomitant deregulation of the alternative splicing of its native substrates. Notably, this r(CCUG)exp causes retention of intron 1 in the mature CNBP mRNA. Herein, we report druglike small molecules that bind the structure adopted by r(CCUG)exp and improve DM2-associated defects. These small molecules were optimized from screening hits from an RNA-focused small-molecule library to afford a compound that binds r(CCUG)exp specifically and with nanomolar affinity, facilitates endogenous degradation of the aberrantly retained intron in which it is harbored, and rescues alternative splicing defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Wagner-Griffin
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Masahito Abe
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Raphael I Benhamou
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Alicia J Angelbello
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Kamalakannan Vishnu
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Jonathan L Chen
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Jessica L Childs-Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Matthew D Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
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8
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Miao S, Liang Y, Rundell S, Bhunia D, Devari S, Munyaradzi O, Bong D. Unnatural bases for recognition of noncoding nucleic acid interfaces. Biopolymers 2021; 112:e23399. [PMID: 32969496 PMCID: PMC7855516 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The notion of using synthetic heterocycles instead of the native bases to interface with DNA and RNA has been explored for nearly 60 years. Unnatural bases compatible with the DNA/RNA coding interface have the potential to expand the genetic code and co-opt the machinery of biology to access new macromolecular function; accordingly, this body of research is core to synthetic biology. While much of the literature on artificial bases focuses on code expansion, there is a significant and growing effort on docking synthetic heterocycles to noncoding nucleic acid interfaces; this approach seeks to illuminate major processes of nucleic acids, including regulation of transcription, translation, transport, and transcript lifetimes. These major avenues of research at the coding and noncoding interfaces have in common fundamental principles in molecular recognition. Herein, we provide an overview of foundational literature in biophysics of base recognition and unnatural bases in coding to provide context for the developing area of targeting noncoding nucleic acid interfaces with synthetic bases, with a focus on systems developed through iterative design and biophysical study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqin Miao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Yufeng Liang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Sarah Rundell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Debmalya Bhunia
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Shekar Devari
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Oliver Munyaradzi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Dennis Bong
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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9
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Ursu A, Wang KW, Bush JA, Choudhary S, Chen JL, Baisden JT, Zhang YJ, Gendron TF, Petrucelli L, Yildirim I, Disney MD. Structural Features of Small Molecules Targeting the RNA Repeat Expansion That Causes Genetically Defined ALS/FTD. ACS Chem Biol 2020; 15:3112-3123. [PMID: 33196168 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Genetically defined amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), collectively named c9ALS/FTD, are triggered by hexanucleotide GGGGCC repeat expansions [r(G4C2)exp] within the C9orf72 gene. In these diseases, neuronal loss occurs through an interplay of deleterious phenotypes, including r(G4C2)exp RNA gain-of-function mechanisms. Herein, we identified a benzimidazole derivative, CB096, that specifically binds to a repeating 1 × 1 GG internal loop structure, 5'CGG/3'GGC, that is formed when r(G4C2)exp folds. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to define the molecular interactions formed between CB096 and r(G4C2)exp that results in the rescue of disease-associated pathways. Overall, this study reveals a unique structural feature within r(G4C2)exp that can be exploited for the development of lead medicines and chemical probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Ursu
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Kye Won Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Jessica A. Bush
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Shruti Choudhary
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Jonathan L. Chen
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Jared T. Baisden
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Yong-Jie Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd., Jacksonville, Florida 32224, United States
| | - Tania F. Gendron
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd., Jacksonville, Florida 32224, United States
| | - Leonard Petrucelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd., Jacksonville, Florida 32224, United States
| | - Ilyas Yildirim
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Matthew D. Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
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10
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Chang AT, Chen L, Song L, Zhang S, Nikonowicz EP. 2-Amino-1,3-benzothiazole-6-carboxamide Preferentially Binds the Tandem Mismatch Motif r(UY:GA). Biochemistry 2020; 59:3225-3234. [PMID: 32786414 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
RNA helices are often punctuated with non-Watson-Crick features that may be targeted by chemical compounds, but progress toward identifying such compounds has been slow. We embedded a tandem UU:GA mismatch motif (5'-UG-3':5'-AU-3') within an RNA hairpin stem to identify compounds that bind the motif specifically. The three-dimensional structure of the RNA hairpin and its interaction with a small molecule identified through virtual screening are presented. The G-A mismatch forms a sheared pair upon which the U-U base pair stacks. The hydrogen bond configuration of the U-U pair involves O2 of the U adjacent to the G and O4 of the U adjacent to the A. The G-A and U-U pairs are flanked by A-U and G-C base pairs, respectively, and the stability of the mismatch is greater than when the motif is within the context of other flanking base pairs or when the 5'-3' orientation of the G-A and U-U pairs is swapped. Residual dipolar coupling constants were used to generate an ensemble of structures against which a virtual screen of 64480 small molecules was performed. The tandem mismatch was found to be specific for one compound, 2-amino-1,3-benzothiazole-6-carboxamide, which binds with moderate affinity but extends the motif to include the flanking A-U and G-C base pairs. The finding that the affinity for the UU:GA mismatch is dependent on flanking sequence emphasizes the importance of the motif context and potentially increases the number of small noncanonical features within RNA that can be specifically targeted by small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T Chang
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77251-1892, United States.,Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Gerontology, and Metabolism, Stanford Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5103, United States
| | - Lu Chen
- Intelligent Molecular Discovery Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1901 East Road, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Luo Song
- Intelligent Molecular Discovery Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1901 East Road, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Shuxing Zhang
- Intelligent Molecular Discovery Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1901 East Road, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Edward P Nikonowicz
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77251-1892, United States
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Haniff HS, Knerr L, Chen JL, Disney MD, Lightfoot HL. Target-Directed Approaches for Screening Small Molecules against RNA Targets. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2020; 25:869-894. [PMID: 32419578 PMCID: PMC7442623 DOI: 10.1177/2472555220922802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
RNA molecules have a variety of cellular functions that can drive disease pathologies. They are without a doubt one of the most intriguing yet controversial small-molecule drug targets. The ability to widely target RNA with small molecules could be revolutionary, once the right tools, assays, and targets are selected, thereby defining which biomolecules are targetable and what constitutes drug-like small molecules. Indeed, approaches developed over the past 5-10 years have changed the face of small molecule-RNA targeting by addressing historic concerns regarding affinity, selectivity, and structural dynamics. Presently, selective RNA-protein complex stabilizing drugs such as branaplam and risdiplam are in clinical trials for the modulation of SMN2 splicing, compounds identified from phenotypic screens with serendipitous outcomes. Fully developing RNA as a druggable target will require a target engagement-driven approach, and evolving chemical collections will be important for the industrial development of this class of target. In this review we discuss target-directed approaches that can be used to identify RNA-binding compounds and the chemical knowledge we have today of small-molecule RNA binders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hafeez S. Haniff
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Laurent Knerr
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jonathan L. Chen
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Matthew D. Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
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12
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Design of a small molecule that stimulates vascular endothelial growth factor A enabled by screening RNA fold-small molecule interactions. Nat Chem 2020; 12:952-961. [PMID: 32839603 PMCID: PMC7571259 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-020-0514-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) stimulates angiogenesis in human endothelial cells, and increasing its expression is a potential treatment for heart failure. Here, we report the design of a small molecule (TGP-377) that specifically and potently enhances VEGFA expression by the targeting of a non-coding microRNA that regulates its expression. A selection-based screen, named two-dimensional combinatorial screening, revealed preferences in small-molecule chemotypes that bind RNA and preferences in the RNA motifs that bind small molecules. The screening program increased the dataset of known RNA motif–small molecule binding partners by 20-fold. Analysis of this dataset against the RNA-mediated pathways that regulate VEGFA defined that the microRNA-377 precursor, which represses Vegfa messenger RNA translation, is druggable in a selective manner. We designed TGP-377 to potently and specifically upregulate VEGFA in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. These studies illustrate the power of two-dimensional combinatorial screening to define molecular recognition events between ‘undruggable’ biomolecules and small molecules, and the ability of sequence-based design to deliver efficacious structure-specific compounds.
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13
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Angelbello AJ, Chen JL, Disney MD. Small molecule targeting of RNA structures in neurological disorders. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2020; 1471:57-71. [PMID: 30964958 PMCID: PMC6785366 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant RNA structure and function operate in neurological disease progression and severity. As RNA contributes to disease pathology in a complex fashion, that is, via various mechanisms, it has become an attractive therapeutic target for small molecules and oligonucleotides. In this review, we discuss the identification of RNA structures that cause or contribute to neurological diseases as well as recent progress toward the development of small molecules that target them, including small molecule modulators of pre-mRNA splicing and RNA repeat expansions that cause microsatellite disorders such as Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The use of oligonucleotide-based modalities is also discussed. There are key differences between small molecule and oligonucleotide targeting of RNA. The former targets RNA structure, while the latter prefers unstructured regions. Thus, some targets will be preferentially targeted by oligonucleotides and others by small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonathan L Chen
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida
| | - Matthew D Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida
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14
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Liang Y, Miao S, Mao J, DeSantis C, Bong D. Context-Sensitive Cleavage of Folded DNAs by Loop-Targeting bPNAs. Biochemistry 2020; 59:2410-2418. [PMID: 32519542 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Herein, we demonstrate context-dependent molecular recognition of DNA by synthetic bPNA iron and copper complexes, using oxidative backbone cleavage as a chemical readout for binding. Oligoethylenimine bPNAs displaying iron·EDTA or copper·phenanthroline sites were found to be efficient chemical nucleases for designed and native structured DNAs with T-rich single-stranded domains. Cleavage reactivity depends strongly on structural context, as strikingly demonstrated with DNA substrates of the form (GGGTTA)n. This repeat sequence from the human telomere is known to switch between parallel and antiparallel G-quadruplex (G4) topologies with a change from potassium to sodium buffer: notably, bPNA-copper complexes efficiently cleave long repeat sequences into ∼22-nucleotide portions in sodium, but not potassium, buffer. We hypothesize preferential cleavage of the antiparallel topology (Na+) over the parallel topology (K+) due to the greater accessibility of the TTA loop to bPNA in the antiparallel (Na+) form. Similar ion-sensitive telomere shortening upon treatment with bPNA nucleases can be observed in both isolated and intracellular DNA from PC3 cells by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Live cell treatment was accompanied by accelerated cellular senescence, as expected for significant telomere shortening. Taken together, the loop-targeting approach of bPNA chemical nucleases complements prior intercalation strategies targeting duplex and quadruplex DNA. Structurally sensitive loop targeting enables discrimination between similar target sequences, thus expanding bPNA targeting beyond simple oligo-T sequences. In addition, bPNA nucleases are cell membrane permeable and therefore may be used to target native intracellular substrates. In addition, these data indicate that bPNA scaffolds can be a platform for new synthetic binders to particular nucleic acid structural motifs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Liang
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Shiqin Miao
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Jie Mao
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Chris DeSantis
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Dennis Bong
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
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15
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Padroni G, Patwardhan NN, Schapira M, Hargrove AE. Systematic analysis of the interactions driving small molecule-RNA recognition. RSC Med Chem 2020; 11:802-813. [PMID: 33479676 DOI: 10.1039/d0md00167h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA molecules are becoming an important target class in drug discovery. However, the principles for designing RNA-binding small molecules are yet to be fully uncovered. In this study, we examined the Protein Data Bank (PDB) to highlight privileged interactions underlying small molecule-RNA recognition. By comparing this analysis with previously determined small molecule-protein interactions, we find that RNA recognition is driven mostly by stacking and hydrogen bonding interactions, while protein recognition is instead driven by hydrophobic effects. Furthermore, we analyze patterns of interactions to highlight potential strategies to tune RNA recognition, such as stacking and cation-π interactions that favor purine and guanine recognition, and note an unexpected paucity of backbone interactions, even for cationic ligands. Collectively, this work provides further understanding of RNA-small molecule interactions that may inform the design of small molecules targeting RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Padroni
- Department of Chemistry , Duke University , Durham , North Carolina 27708 , USA .
| | - N N Patwardhan
- Department of Chemistry , Duke University , Durham , North Carolina 27708 , USA .
| | - M Schapira
- Structural Genomics Consortium , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON M5G 1L7 , Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON M5S 1A8 , Canada
| | - A E Hargrove
- Department of Chemistry , Duke University , Durham , North Carolina 27708 , USA .
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16
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Pramanik S, Nandy A, Chakraborty S, Pramanik U, Nandi S, Mukherjee S. Preferential Binding of Thioflavin T to AT-Rich DNA: White Light Emission through Intramolecular Förster Resonance Energy Transfer. J Phys Chem Lett 2020; 11:2436-2442. [PMID: 32141760 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c00237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Herein we report the effect of different nucleobase pair compositions on the association-induced fluorescence enhancement property of Thioflavin T (ThT), upon binding with 20 base pair long double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Analysis of binding and decay constants along with the association (Kass) and dissociation (Kdiss) rate constants obtained from the fluctuation in the fluorescence intensity of ThT after binding with different DNA revealed selective affinity of ThT toward AT-rich dsDNA. Molecular docking also substantiates the experimental results. We also observed that addition of orange-emitting ethidium bromide (EtBr) to cyan-emitting ThT-DNA complexes leads to bright white light emission (WLE) through Förster resonance energy transfer. Additionally, the emission of white light is far greater in the case of intra-DNA strands. Besides endorsing the binding insights of ThT to AT-rich dsDNA, the present investigations open a new perspective for realizing promising WLE from two biomarkers without labeling the DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srikrishna Pramanik
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhopal 462066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Atanu Nandy
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhopal 462066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Subhajit Chakraborty
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhopal 462066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Ushasi Pramanik
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhopal 462066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Somen Nandi
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhopal 462066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Saptarshi Mukherjee
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhopal 462066, Madhya Pradesh, India
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17
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Topkaya SN, Cetin AE. Determination of Electrochemical Interaction between 2‐(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl) Phenol and DNA Sequences. ELECTROANAL 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/elan.201900199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Seda Nur Topkaya
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of PharmacyIzmir Katip Celebi University 35620, Cigli Izmir TURKEY
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18
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Wicks SL, Hargrove AE. Fluorescent indicator displacement assays to identify and characterize small molecule interactions with RNA. Methods 2019; 167:3-14. [PMID: 31051253 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2019.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluorescent indicator displacement (FID) assays are an advantageous approach to convert receptors into optical sensors that can detect binding of various ligands. In particular, the identification of ligands that bind to RNA receptors has become of increasing interest as the roles of RNA in cellular processes and disease pathogenesis continue to be discovered. Small molecules have been validated as tools to elucidate unknown RNA functions, underscoring the critical need to rapidly identify and quantitatively characterize RNA:small molecule interactions for the development of chemical probes. The successful application of FID assays to evaluate interactions between diverse RNA receptors and small molecules has been facilitated by the characterization of distinct fluorescent indicators that reversibly bind RNA and modulate the fluorescence signal. The utility of RNA-based FID assays to both academia and industry has been demonstrated through numerous uses in high-throughput screening efforts, structure-activity relationship studies, and in vitro target engagement studies. Furthermore, the development, optimization, and validation of a variety of RNA-based FID assays has led to general guidelines that can be utilized for facile implementation of the method with new or underexplored RNA receptors. Altogether, the use of RNA-based FID assays as a general analysis tool has provided valuable insights into small molecule affinity and selectivity, furthering the fundamental understanding of RNA:small molecule recognition. In this review, we will summarize efforts to employ FID assays using RNA receptors and describe the significant contributions of the method towards the development of chemical probes to reveal unknown RNA functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Wicks
- Duke University, Department of Chemistry, Durham, NC 27705, United States
| | - Amanda E Hargrove
- Duke University, Department of Chemistry, Durham, NC 27705, United States.
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19
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Disney MD. Targeting RNA with Small Molecules To Capture Opportunities at the Intersection of Chemistry, Biology, and Medicine. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:6776-6790. [PMID: 30896935 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b13419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The biology of healthy and disease-affected cells is often mediated by RNA structures, desirable targets for small molecule chemical probes and lead medicines. Although structured regions are found throughout the transcriptome, some even with demonstrated functionality, human RNAs are considered recalcitrant to small molecule targeting. However, targeting structured regions with small molecules provides an important alternative to oligonucleotides that target sequence. In this Perspective, we describe challenges and progress in developing small molecules interacting with RNA (SMIRNAs) to capture their significant opportunities at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and medicine. Key to establishing a new paradigm in chemical biology and medicine is the development of methods to obtain, preferably by design, bioactive compounds that modulate RNA targets and companion methods that validate their direct effects in cells and pre-clinical models. While difficult, demonstration of direct target engagement in the complex cellular milieu, along with methods to establish modes of action, is required to push this field forward. We also describe frameworks for accelerated advancements in this burgeoning area, their implications, key new technologies for development of SMIRNAs, and milestones that have led to broader acceptance of RNA as a small molecule druggable target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Disney
- Department of Chemistry , The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter , Florida 33458 , United States
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