Reversible Linkage of Two Distinct Small Molecule Inhibitors of Myc Generates a Dimeric Inhibitor with Improved Potency That Is Active in Myc Over-Expressing Cancer Cell Lines

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121793
• Publication Date: 2015-04-15T19:38:42Z
• Authors: Jutta Wanner; Darlene Romashko; Douglas S. Werner; Earl W. May; Yue Peng; Ryan Schulz; Kenneth W. Foreman; Suzanne Russo; Lee D. Arnold; Maneesh Pingle; Donald E. Bergstrom; Francis Barany; Stuart Thomson
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 570; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; Science; Q; R; 540; Ligands; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; Small Molecule Libraries; Glycols; 03 medical and health sciences; Cell Line, Tumor; Drug Design; Neoplasms; Medicine and Health Sciences; Medicine; Humans; Protein Interaction Maps; RNA, Messenger; Research Article; Cell Proliferation

We describe the successful application of a novel approach for generating dimeric Myc inhibitors by modifying and reversibly linking two previously described small molecules. We synthesized two directed libraries of monomers, each comprised of a ligand, a connector, and a bioorthogonal linker element, to identify the optimal dimer configuration required to inhibit Myc. We identified combinations of monomers, termed self-assembling dimeric inhibitors, which displayed synergistic inhibition of Myc-dependent cell growth. We confirmed that these dimeric inhibitors directly bind to Myc blocking its interaction with Max and affect transcription of MYC dependent genes. Control combinations that are unable to form a dimer do not show any synergistic effects in these assays. Collectively, these data validate our new approach to generate more potent and selective inhibitors of Myc by self-assembly from smaller, lower affinity components. This approach provides an opportunity for developing novel therapeutics against Myc and other challenging protein:protein interaction (PPI) target classes.