Small-Molecule Targeting of E3 Ligase Adaptor SPOP in Kidney Cancer

Publication date: 12 September 2016
Source:Cancer Cell, Volume 30, Issue 3
Author(s): Zhong-Qiang Guo, Tong Zheng, Baoen Chen, Cheng Luo, Sisheng Ouyang, Shouzhe Gong, Jiafei Li, Liu-Liang Mao, Fulin Lian, Yong Yang, Yue Huang, Li Li, Jing Lu, Bidong Zhang, Luming Zhou, Hong Ding, Zhiwei Gao, Liqun Zhou, Guoqiang Li, Ran Zhou, Ke Chen, Jingqiu Liu, Yi Wen, Likun Gong, Yuwen Ke, Shang-Dong Yang, Xiao-Bo Qiu, Naixia Zhang, Jin Ren, Dafang Zhong, Cai-Guang Yang, Jiang Liu, Hualiang Jiang
In the cytoplasm of virtually all clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), speckle-type POZ protein (SPOP) is overexpressed and misallocated, which may induce proliferation and promote kidney tumorigenesis. In normal cells, however, SPOP is located in the nucleus and induces apoptosis. Here we show that a structure-based design and subsequent hit optimization yield small molecules that can inhibit the SPOP-substrate protein interaction and can suppress oncogenic SPOP-signaling pathways. These inhibitors kill human ccRCC cells that are dependent on oncogenic cytoplasmic SPOP. Notably, these inhibitors minimally affect the viability of other cells in which SPOP is not accumulated in the cytoplasm. Our findings validate the SPOP-substrate protein interaction as an attractive target specific to ccRCC that may yield novel drug discovery efforts.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

Using a structure-based design followed by hit optimization, Guo et al. report small-molecule inhibitors that disrupt oncogenic SPOP-mediated pathways by blocking SPOP-substrate interactions and suppress human clear-cell renal cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo, suggesting the potential of SPOP-targeted therapy.


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