title: Discovery of methyl 4'-methyl-5-(7-nitrobenzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazol-4-yl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-carboxylate, an improved small-molecule inhibitor of c-Myc-max dimerization.
abstract: c-Myc is a basic helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper (bHLH-ZIP) transcription factor that is responsible for the transcription of a wide range of target genes involved in many cancer-related cellular processes. Over-expression of c-Myc has been observed in, and directly contributes to, a variety of human cancers including those of the hematopoietic system, lung, prostate and colon. To become transcriptionally active, c-Myc must first dimerize with Myc-associated factor X (Max) via its own bHLH-ZIP domain. A proven strategy towards the inhibition of c-Myc oncogenic activity is to interfere with the structural integrity of the c-Myc-Max heterodimer. The small molecule 10074-G5 is an inhibitor of c-Myc-Max dimerization (IC50 =146 μM) that operates by binding and stabilizing c-Myc in its monomeric form. We have identified a congener of 10074-G5, termed 3jc48-3 (methyl 4'-methyl-5-(7-nitrobenzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazol-4-yl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-carboxylate), that is about five times as potent (IC50 =34 μM) at inhibiting c-Myc-Max dimerization as the parent compound. 3jc48-3 exhibited an approximate twofold selectivity for c-Myc-Max heterodimers over Max-Max homodimers, suggesting that its mode of action is through binding c-Myc. 3jc48-3 inhibited the proliferation of c-Myc-over-expressing HL60 and Daudi cells with single-digit micromolar IC50 values by causing growth arrest at the G0 /G1 phase. Co-immunoprecipitation studies indicated that 3jc48-3 inhibits c-Myc-Max dimerization in cells, which was further substantiated by the specific silencing of a c-Myc-driven luciferase reporter gene. Finally, 3jc48-3's intracellular half-life was >17 h. Collectively, these data demonstrate 3jc48-3 to be one of the most potent, cellularly active and stable c-Myc inhibitors reported to date.
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, 20 N Pine St, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors: Jay
authors: J
authors: Chauhan
authors: Section of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 4401 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.
authors: Huabo
authors: H
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, 20 N Pine St, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors: Jeremy L
authors: JL
authors: Yap
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, 20 N Pine St, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors: Philip E
authors: PE
authors: Sabato
authors: Section of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 4401 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Hu
authors: Section of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 4401 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.
authors: Edward V
authors: EV
authors: Prochownik
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, 20 N Pine St, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Fletcher
mesh_terms: D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry*; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D019281:Dimerization; D055808:Drug Discovery; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D002264:Carboxylic Acids; C067850:Myc associated factor X; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
keywords: 10074-G5; JY-3-094; Max; c-Myc; protein-protein interactions