Identification of non-charged 7.44 analogs interacting with the NHR2 domain of RUNX1-ETO with improved antiproliferative effect in RUNX-ETO positive cells
Abstract The RUNX1/ETO fusion protein is a chimeric transcription factor in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) created by chromosomal translocation t(8;21)(q22;q22). t(8;21) abnormality is associated with 12% of de novo AML cases and up to 40% in the AML subtype M2. Previously, we identified the small-mol...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02422-z |
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| author | Mohanraj Gopalswamy David Bickel Niklas Dienstbier Jia-Wey Tu Melina Vogt Stephan Schott-Verdugo Sanil Bhatia Manuel Etzkorn Holger Gohlke |
| author_facet | Mohanraj Gopalswamy David Bickel Niklas Dienstbier Jia-Wey Tu Melina Vogt Stephan Schott-Verdugo Sanil Bhatia Manuel Etzkorn Holger Gohlke |
| author_sort | Mohanraj Gopalswamy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The RUNX1/ETO fusion protein is a chimeric transcription factor in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) created by chromosomal translocation t(8;21)(q22;q22). t(8;21) abnormality is associated with 12% of de novo AML cases and up to 40% in the AML subtype M2. Previously, we identified the small-molecule inhibitor 7.44, which interferes with NHR2 domain tetramerization of RUNX1/ETO, restores gene expression down-regulated by RUNX1/ETO, inhibits proliferation, and reduces RUNX1/ETO-related tumor growth in a mouse model. However, despite favorable properties, 7.44 is negatively charged at physiological pH and was predicted to have low to medium membrane permeability. Here, we identified M23, M27, and M10 as non-charged analogs of 7.44 using ligand-based virtual screening, in vivo hit identification, biophysical and in vivo hit validation, and integrative modeling and ADMET predictions. All three compounds interact with the NHR2 domain, have K D, app values of 39–114 µM in Microscale Thermophoresis experiments, and IC 50 values of 33–77 µM as to cell viability in RUNX1/ETO-positive KASUMI cells, i.e., are ~ 5 to 10-fold more potent than 7.44. M23 is ~ 10-fold more potent than 7.44 in inhibiting cell proliferation of RUNX1/ETO-positive cells. Biological characterization of M23 in relevant RUNX1/ETO-positive -and negative cell lines indicates that M23 induces apoptosis and promotes differentiation in RUNX1/ETO-positive AML cells. M23 and M27 are negligibly protonated or in a ~ 1:1 ratio at physiological pH, while M10 has no (de-)protonatable group. The non-protonated species are predicted to be highly membrane-permeable, along with other favorable pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties. These compounds might serve as lead structures for compounds inhibiting RUNX1/ETO oncogenic function in t(8;21) AML. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bb1a7faba3784a718dc1d461bf10e8e2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-bb1a7faba3784a718dc1d461bf10e8e22025-08-20T03:08:25ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-02422-zIdentification of non-charged 7.44 analogs interacting with the NHR2 domain of RUNX1-ETO with improved antiproliferative effect in RUNX-ETO positive cellsMohanraj Gopalswamy0David Bickel1Niklas Dienstbier2Jia-Wey Tu3Melina Vogt4Stephan Schott-Verdugo5Sanil Bhatia6Manuel Etzkorn7Holger Gohlke8Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfInstitute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfDepartment of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfDepartment of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfDepartment of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfInstitute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfDepartment of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfInstitute for Physical Biology, Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfInstitute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfAbstract The RUNX1/ETO fusion protein is a chimeric transcription factor in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) created by chromosomal translocation t(8;21)(q22;q22). t(8;21) abnormality is associated with 12% of de novo AML cases and up to 40% in the AML subtype M2. Previously, we identified the small-molecule inhibitor 7.44, which interferes with NHR2 domain tetramerization of RUNX1/ETO, restores gene expression down-regulated by RUNX1/ETO, inhibits proliferation, and reduces RUNX1/ETO-related tumor growth in a mouse model. However, despite favorable properties, 7.44 is negatively charged at physiological pH and was predicted to have low to medium membrane permeability. Here, we identified M23, M27, and M10 as non-charged analogs of 7.44 using ligand-based virtual screening, in vivo hit identification, biophysical and in vivo hit validation, and integrative modeling and ADMET predictions. All three compounds interact with the NHR2 domain, have K D, app values of 39–114 µM in Microscale Thermophoresis experiments, and IC 50 values of 33–77 µM as to cell viability in RUNX1/ETO-positive KASUMI cells, i.e., are ~ 5 to 10-fold more potent than 7.44. M23 is ~ 10-fold more potent than 7.44 in inhibiting cell proliferation of RUNX1/ETO-positive cells. Biological characterization of M23 in relevant RUNX1/ETO-positive -and negative cell lines indicates that M23 induces apoptosis and promotes differentiation in RUNX1/ETO-positive AML cells. M23 and M27 are negligibly protonated or in a ~ 1:1 ratio at physiological pH, while M10 has no (de-)protonatable group. The non-protonated species are predicted to be highly membrane-permeable, along with other favorable pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties. These compounds might serve as lead structures for compounds inhibiting RUNX1/ETO oncogenic function in t(8;21) AML.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02422-zAcute myeloid leukemiaT(8;21)Protein-protein interaction inhibitorLigand-based virtual screeningCellular assayBiophysical experiment |
| spellingShingle | Mohanraj Gopalswamy David Bickel Niklas Dienstbier Jia-Wey Tu Melina Vogt Stephan Schott-Verdugo Sanil Bhatia Manuel Etzkorn Holger Gohlke Identification of non-charged 7.44 analogs interacting with the NHR2 domain of RUNX1-ETO with improved antiproliferative effect in RUNX-ETO positive cells Scientific Reports Acute myeloid leukemia T(8;21) Protein-protein interaction inhibitor Ligand-based virtual screening Cellular assay Biophysical experiment |
| title | Identification of non-charged 7.44 analogs interacting with the NHR2 domain of RUNX1-ETO with improved antiproliferative effect in RUNX-ETO positive cells |
| title_full | Identification of non-charged 7.44 analogs interacting with the NHR2 domain of RUNX1-ETO with improved antiproliferative effect in RUNX-ETO positive cells |
| title_fullStr | Identification of non-charged 7.44 analogs interacting with the NHR2 domain of RUNX1-ETO with improved antiproliferative effect in RUNX-ETO positive cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification of non-charged 7.44 analogs interacting with the NHR2 domain of RUNX1-ETO with improved antiproliferative effect in RUNX-ETO positive cells |
| title_short | Identification of non-charged 7.44 analogs interacting with the NHR2 domain of RUNX1-ETO with improved antiproliferative effect in RUNX-ETO positive cells |
| title_sort | identification of non charged 7 44 analogs interacting with the nhr2 domain of runx1 eto with improved antiproliferative effect in runx eto positive cells |
| topic | Acute myeloid leukemia T(8;21) Protein-protein interaction inhibitor Ligand-based virtual screening Cellular assay Biophysical experiment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02422-z |
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