Yan Xue-Long, Pan Yue-Hua, Fan Run-Zhu, Song Qin-Qin, Li Shen, Huang Jia-Luo, Li Wei, Huang Dong, Yuan Fang-Yu, Tang Gui-Hua, Rao Yong, Huang Zhi-Shu, Yin Sheng
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China.
School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guian New District, Guizhou 550025, China.
J Med Chem. 2023 Apr 27;66(8):5839-5858. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00067. Epub 2023 Apr 4.
Raptor, a regulatory-associated protein of mTOR, has been genetically proved to be an important regulator in lipogenesis. However, its druggable potential is rarely investigated, largely due to the lack of an inhibitor. In this study, the antiadipogenic screening of a daphnane diterpenoid library followed by target fishing led to the identification of a Raptor inhibitor, (5/7/6 carbon ring with orthoester and chlorine functionalities). Pharmacodynamic studies verified that is a potent and tolerable antiadipogenic agent in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic studies revealed that the targeting of Raptor by could block the formation of mTORC1 and then downregulate the downstream S6K1- and 4E-BP1-mediated C/EBPs/PPARγ signaling, eventually retarding adipocyte cell differentiation at the early stage. These findings suggest that Raptor can be explored as a novel therapeutic target for obesity and its related complications, and as the first Raptor inhibitor may provide a new therapeutic option for these conditions.