Discovery of WD Repeat-Containing Protein 5 (WDR5)-MYC Inhibitors Using Fragment-Based Methods and Structure-Based Design

J Med Chem. 2020 Apr 23;63(8):4315-4333. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00224. Epub 2020 Apr 9.

Abstract

The frequent deregulation of MYC and its elevated expression via multiple mechanisms drives cells to a tumorigenic state. Indeed, MYC is overexpressed in up to ∼50% of human cancers and is considered a highly validated anticancer target. Recently, we discovered that WD repeat-containing protein 5 (WDR5) binds to MYC and is a critical cofactor required for the recruitment of MYC to its target genes and reported the first small molecule inhibitors of the WDR5-MYC interaction using structure-based design. These compounds display high binding affinity, but have poor physicochemical properties and are hence not suitable for in vivo studies. Herein, we conducted an NMR-based fragment screening to identify additional chemical matter and, using a structure-based approach, we merged a fragment hit with the previously reported sulfonamide series. Compounds in this series can disrupt the WDR5-MYC interaction in cells, and as a consequence, we observed a reduction of MYC localization to chromatin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Design*
  • Drug Discovery / methods*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Sulfonamides / chemical synthesis*
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • MYC protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Sulfonamides
  • WDR5 protein, human