1. Academic Validation
  2. A small molecule inhibitor of the UBE2F-CRL5 axis induces apoptosis and radiosensitization in lung cancer

A small molecule inhibitor of the UBE2F-CRL5 axis induces apoptosis and radiosensitization in lung cancer

  • Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2022 Oct 17;7(1):354. doi: 10.1038/s41392-022-01182-w.
Tiantian Xu # 1 2 3 Qisheng Ma # 4 Yanan Li 1 2 Qing Yu 1 2 Peichen Pan 5 Yawen Zheng 6 Zhijian Li 1 2 3 Xiufang Xiong 1 2 3 Tingjun Hou 5 Bin Yu 4 Hongmin Liu 4 Yi Sun 7 8 9
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Cancer Institute, the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China.
  • 2 Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
  • 3 Research Center for Life Science and Human Health, Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
  • 4 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Military of Education, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
  • 5 College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
  • 6 Department of Oncology, Jinan Central Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, China.
  • 7 Cancer Institute, the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China. yisun@zju.edu.cn.
  • 8 Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China. yisun@zju.edu.cn.
  • 9 Research Center for Life Science and Human Health, Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053, China. yisun@zju.edu.cn.
  • # Contributed equally.
Abstract

Protein neddylation is catalyzed by a neddylation activating Enzyme (NAE, E1), an E2 conjugating Enzyme, and an E3 Ligase. In various types of human cancers, the neddylation pathway is abnormally activated. Our previous study validated that the neddylation E2 UBE2F is a promising therapeutic target in lung Cancer. Although the NAE inhibitor MLN4924/pevonedistat is currently under clinical investigation as an anti-cancer agent, there are no small molecules available that selectively target UBE2F. Here, we report, for the first time, the discovery, via structure-based virtual screen and chemical optimization, of such a small molecule, designated as HA-9104. HA-9104 binds to UBE2F, reduces its protein levels, and consequently inhibits cullin-5 neddylation. Blockage of cullin-5 neddylation inactivates cullin-RING ligase-5 (CRL5) activity, leading to accumulation of the CRL5 substrate, NOXA, to induce Apoptosis. Moreover, HA-9104 appears to form the DNA adduct via its 7-azaindole group to induce DNA damage and G2/M arrest. Biologically, HA-9104 effectively suppresses the growth and survival of lung Cancer cells and confers radiosensitization in both in vitro Cell Culture and in vivo xenograft tumor models. In summary, we discovered a small molecule, designated HA-9104, that targets the UBE2F-CRL5 axis with anti-cancer activity alone or in combination with radiation.

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