Bailly C, Vergoten G. Interaction of obtusilactone B and related butanolide lactones with the barrier-to-autointegration factor 1 (BAF1). A computational study.
Curr Res Pharmacol Drug Discov 2021;
2:100059. [PMID:
34909681 PMCID:
PMC8663951 DOI:
10.1016/j.crphar.2021.100059]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The barrier-to-autointegration factor 1 (BAF1) protein is a DNA-binding protein implicated in nuclear envelop repair and reformation after mitosis. This nuclear protein is frequently overexpressed in cancer cells and plays a role in the occurrence and development of different tumors. It is a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer, breast cancer and other malignancies. For this reason, BAF1 inhibitors are searched. The butanolide lactone obtusilactone B (Ob-B) has been found to inhibit VRK1-dependent phosphorylation of BAF1, upon direct binding to the nuclear protein. Taking advantage of the known crystallographic structure of BAF1, we have elaborated molecular models of Ob-B bound to BAF1 to delimit the binding site and binding configuration. The long endoolefinic alkyl side chain of Ob-B extends into a small groove on the protein surface, and the adjacent exomethylene-γ-lactone moiety occupies a pocket comprising to the Ser-4 phosphorylation site of BAF1. Twenty butanolide lactones structurally close to ObB were screened for BAF1 binding. Several natural products with BAF1-binding capacity potentially superior to Ob-B were identified, including mahubanolide, kotomolide B, epilitsenolide D2, and a few other known anticancer plant natural products. Our study provides new ideas to guide the discovery and design of BAF1 inhibitors.
Obtusilactone B (Ob-B) is an anticancer inhibitor of VRK1-mediated BAF1 phosphorylation.
Molecular models of Ob-B bound to BAF1 have been constructed and the binding site determined.
Screening of 20 butanolide lactones led to the identification of new potential BAF1 binders.
Mahubanolide, kotomolide B and epilitsenolide D2 emerge as potential BAF1 inhibitors.
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