title: Discovery of Inhibitors of MicroRNA-21 Processing Using Small Molecule Microarrays.
abstract: The identification of small molecules that bind to and perturb the function of microRNAs is an attractive approach for the treatment for microRNA-associated pathologies. However, there are only a few small molecules known to interact directly with microRNAs. Here, we report the use of a small molecule microarray (SMM) screening approach to identify low molecular weight compounds that directly bind to a pre-miR-21 hairpin. Compounds identified using this approach exhibit good affinity for the RNA (ranging from 0.8-2.0 μM) and are not composed of a polycationic scaffold. Several of the highest affinity compounds inhibit Dicer-mediated processing, while in-line probing experiments indicate that the compounds bind to the apical loop of the hairpin, proximal to the Dicer site. This work provides evidence that small molecules can be developed to bind directly to and inhibit miR-21.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute , Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States.
authors.forename: Colleen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Connelly
authors.affiliation: Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute , Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States.
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Boer
authors.affiliation: Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute , Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States.
authors.forename: Michelle H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Yale Center for Molecular Discovery , West Haven, Connecticut 06516, United States.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gareiss
authors.affiliation: Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute , Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States.
authors.forename: John S
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7459-783X
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Schneekloth
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries