title: An inverse docking approach for identifying new potential anti-cancer targets.
abstract: Inverse docking is a relatively new technique that has been used to identify potential receptor targets of small molecules. Our docking software package MDock is well suited for such an application as it is both computationally efficient, yet simultaneously shows adequate results in binding affinity predictions and enrichment tests. As a validation study, we present the first stage results of an inverse-docking study which seeks to identify potential direct targets of PRIMA-1. PRIMA-1 is well known for its ability to restore mutant p53's tumor suppressor function, leading to apoptosis in several types of cancer cells. For this reason, we believe that potential direct targets of PRIMA-1 identified in silico should be experimentally screened for their ability to inhibit cancer cell growth. The highest-ranked human protein of our PRIMA-1 docking results is oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC), which is part of the cholesterol synthetic pathway. The results of two followup experiments which treat OSC as a possible anti-cancer target are promising. We show that both PRIMA-1 and Ro 48-8071, a known potent OSC inhibitor, significantly reduce the viability of BT-474 and T47-D breast cancer cells relative to normal mammary cells. In addition, like PRIMA-1, we find that Ro 48-8071 results in increased binding of p53 to DNA in BT-474 cells (which express mutant p53). For the first time, Ro 48-8071 is shown as a potent agent in killing human breast cancer cells. The potential of OSC as a new target for developing anticancer therapies is worth further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, United States.
authors.forename: Sam Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Grinter
authors.forename: Yayun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Sheng-You
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Salman M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hyder
authors.forename: Xiaoqin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zou
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001372:Aza Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001577:Benzophenones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D019295:Computational Biology; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D055808:Drug Discovery; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019751:Intramolecular Transferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011485:Protein Binding; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001372:Aza Compounds; D001577:Benzophenones; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C105726:Ro 48-8071; D004247:DNA; D019751:Intramolecular Transferases; C021924:lanosterol synthase; C451219:2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1-azabicyclo(2,2,2,)octan-3-one