Cited by 172DNA and Nucleic Acid ChemistryMetal complexes synthesis and propertiesAdvanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques

Chemical and structural studies provide a mechanistic basis for recognition of the MYC G-quadruplex

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Calabrese, David R., Chen, Xiang, Leon, Elena C., Gaikwad, Snehal M., Phyo, Zaw, Hewitt, William M., Alden, Stephanie, Hilimire, Thomas A. +9 more·2018·Nature Communications

Abstract

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are noncanonical DNA structures that frequently occur in the promoter regions of oncogenes, such as MYC , and regulate gene expression. Although G4s are attractive therapeutic targets, ligands capable of discriminating between different G4 structures are rare. Here, we describe DC-34, a small molecule that potently downregulates MYC transcription in cancer cells by a G4-dependent mechanism. Inhibition by DC-34 is significantly greater for MYC than other G4-driven genes. We use chemical, biophysical, biological, and structural studies to demonstrate a molecular rationale for the recognition of the MYC G4. We solve the structure of the MYC G4 in complex with DC-34 by NMR spectroscopy and illustrate specific contacts responsible for affinity and selectivity. Modification of DC-34 reveals features required for G4 affinity, biological activity, and validates the derived NMR structure. This work advances the design of quadruplex-interacting small molecules to control gene expression in therapeutic areas such as cancer.

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  • Walters, Mock and Schneekloth Jr's group reported DC-34, which showed inhibitory activity on Myc at the transcriptional level only when a G4 is present in the promoter.

    “In 2018, Walters, Mock and Schneekloth Jr’s group synthesized a library of drug-like compounds and reported a small molecule, named DC-34 (249), which showed impressive inhibitory activity on Myc at the transcriptional level only when a G4 is present in the promoter.584”

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Authors
Calabrese, D. R., Chen, X., Leon, E. C., Gaikwad, S. M., Phyo, Z., Hewitt, W. M., Alden, S., Hilimire, T. A., He, F., Michalowski, A. M., Simmons, J. K., Saunders, L. B., Zhang, S., Connors, D., Walters, K. J., Mock, B. A., & Schneekloth, J. S.
Affiliations
  • National Cancer Institute (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
  • Walters, Kylie J.
  • Mock, Beverly A.
  • Schneekloth, John S.
Venue
Nature Communications
Published
2018-10-12
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
4229-4229
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2896637864
Cited by
172
References
72
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 2
FWCI
7.11
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Cancer Institute (1 ZIA BC011065, 1 ZIA BC011490)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Metal complexes synthesis and properties
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
Keywords
c-Myc, G-quadruplex, small-molecule ligands, oncogene promoters, ligand selectivity, structure-activity relationship
MeSH terms
Binding Sites, Cell Line, Cell Survival, Humans, Hydrogen Bonding, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Protein Binding, Structure-Activity Relationship, Blotting, Western, Molecular Structure, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc, Protein Structure, Secondary, Surface Plasmon Resonance, Cell Line, Tumor, G-Quadruplexes

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