Perturbation of the c-Myc-Max Protein-Protein Interaction via Synthetic α-Helix Mimetics
Jung, Kwan-Young; Wang, Huabo; Teriete, Peter; Yap, Jeremy L; Chen, Lijia; Lanning, Maryanna E; Hu, Angela; Lambert, Lester J; Holien, Toril; Sundan, Anders; Cosford, Nicholas D P; Prochownik, Edward V; Fletcher, Steven
Journal article, Peer reviewed
Accepted version
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Date
2015Metadata
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Abstract
The rational design of inhibitors of the bHLH-ZIP oncoprotein c-Myc is hampered by a lack of structure in its monomeric state. We describe herein the design of novel, low-molecular-weight, synthetic α-helix mimetics that recognize helical c-Myc in its transcriptionally active coiled-coil structure in association with its obligate bHLH-ZIP partner Max. These compounds perturb the heterodimer’s binding to its canonical E-box DNA sequence without causing protein–protein dissociation, heralding a new mechanistic class of “direct” c-Myc inhibitors. In addition to electrophoretic mobility shift assays, this model was corroborated by further biophysical methods, including NMR spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance. Several compounds demonstrated a 2-fold or greater selectivity for c-Myc–Max heterodimers over Max–Max homodimers with IC50 values as low as 5.6 μM. Finally, these compounds inhibited the proliferation of c-Myc-expressing cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner that correlated with the loss of expression of a c-Myc-dependent reporter plasmid despite the fact that c-Myc–Max heterodimers remained intact.