Novel colchicine-site binders with a cyclohexanedione scaffold identified through a ligand-based virtual screening approach.
Vascular disrupting agents (VDAs) constitute an innovative anticancer therapy that targets the tumor endothelium, leading to tumor necrosis. Our approach for the identification of new VDAs has relied on a ligand 3-D shape similarity virtual screening (VS) approach using the ROCS program as the VS tool and as query colchicine and TN-16, which both bind the α,β-tubulin dimer. One of the hits identified, using TN-16 as query, has been explored by the synthesis of its structural analogues, leading to 2-(1-((2-methoxyphenyl)amino)ethylidene)-5-phenylcyclohexane-1,3-dione (compound 16c) with an IC50 = 0.09 ± 0.01 μM in HMEC-1 and BAEC, being 100-fold more potent than the initial hit. Compound 16c caused cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and interacted with the colchicine-binding site in tubulin, as confirmed by a competition assay with N,N'-ethylenebis(iodoacetamide) and by fluorescence spectroscopy. Moreover, 16c destroyed an established endothelial tubular network at 1 μM and inhibited the migration and invasion of human breast carcinoma cells at 0.4 μM. In conclusion, our approach has led to a new chemotype of promising antiproliferative compounds with antimitotic and potential VDA properties.
Instituto de Química Médica (IQM-CSIC) , Juan de la Cierva 3, E-28006 Madrid, Spain.
María-Dolores
MD
Canela
María-Jesús
MJ
Pérez-Pérez
Sam
S
Noppen
Gonzalo
G
Sáez-Calvo
J Fernando
JF
Díaz
María-José
MJ
Camarasa
Sandra
S
Liekens
Eva-María
EM
Priego
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001665:Binding Sites; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003078:Colchicine / Q000378:metabolism*; D003512:Cyclohexanones / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D004355:Drug Stability; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003512:Cyclohexanones; D014404:Tubulin; D050257:Tubulin Modulators; D003078:Colchicine