Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States.
ACS Chem Biol. 2020 Dec 18;15(12):3112-3123. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00049. Epub 2020 Nov 16.
Genetically defined amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), collectively named c9ALS/FTD, are triggered by hexanucleotide GGGGCC repeat expansions [r(GC)] within the gene. In these diseases, neuronal loss occurs through an interplay of deleterious phenotypes, including r(GC) RNA gain-of-function mechanisms. Herein, we identified a benzimidazole derivative, CB096, that specifically binds to a repeating 1 × 1 GG internal loop structure, 5'CG/3'GC, that is formed when r(GC) folds. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to define the molecular interactions formed between CB096 and r(GC) that results in the rescue of disease-associated pathways. Overall, this study reveals a unique structural feature within r(GC) that can be exploited for the development of lead medicines and chemical probes.
基因定义的肌萎缩侧索硬化症(ALS)和额颞叶痴呆(FTD),统称为 c9ALS/FTD,是由 基因内六核苷酸 GGGGCC 重复扩展 [r(GC)]触发的。在这些疾病中,神经元的丧失是通过有害表型的相互作用发生的,包括 r(GC) RNA 获得功能机制。在此,我们鉴定了一种苯并咪唑衍生物 CB096,它特异性地结合到 r(GC) 折叠时形成的重复 1×1 GG 内部环结构 5'CG/3'GC。通过构效关系(SAR)研究和分子动力学(MD)模拟来定义 CB096 和 r(GC) 之间形成的分子相互作用,这些相互作用导致与疾病相关的途径得到挽救。总的来说,这项研究揭示了 r(GC) 内的一个独特结构特征,可用于开发先导药物和化学探针。