title: Targeting the PAS-A domain of HIF-1alpha for development of small molecule inhibitors of HIF-1.
abstract: Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a master regulator of cellular adaptation to oxygen deprivation and activates transcription of genes involved in tumor metabolism, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, all of which are implicated in cancer progression. Several domains of HIF-1alpha mediate protein-protein interaction, which is essential for the formation of the active heterodimer with HIF-1beta. Targeting specific domains of HIF-1alpha might lead to the identification of more selective inhibitors. HIF-1alpha and HIF-1beta contain two Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) domains, A and B, both of which appear to be important for heterodimer formation. In an attempt to identify small molecule inhibitors of the PAS-A domain of HIF-1 we expressed proteins containing amino acids 86-165 of HIF-1alpha and amino acids 159-240 of HIF-1beta fused to a His or FLAG tag, respectively. Expressed proteins retained functional activity as indicated by in vitro immunoprecipitation experiments and activation of luciferase expression in a mammalian two-hybrid system. Interestingly, over-expression of HIF-1alpha-PAS-A domain was sufficient to abrogate hypoxic induction of HIF-1-dependent luciferase expression, supporting its potential role as drug target. An ELISA based on the interaction between FLAG-HIF-1beta-PAS-A and HIF-1alpha-PAS-A-His was developed and used to screen libraries of synthetic compounds. NSC 50352 specifically inhibited PAS-A-dependent interaction between HIF-1alpha and HIF-1beta, but not the interaction mediated by unrelated domains. However, NSC 50352 was devoid of activity in cell-based assays. Our results provide proof-of-principle that the PAS-A domain of HIF-1alpha is a valid target for development of small molecule inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Science Applications International Corporation, Frederick, Inc., National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, Maryland 21702-1201, USA.
authors.forename: Eun Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dehe
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cardellina
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Shoemaker
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Melillo
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051784:Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D018257:Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs; D006801:Humans; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008156:Luciferases; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D020218:Response Elements / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D051784:Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator; D008156:Luciferases