Discovery of 5,6-Bis(4-methoxy-3-methylphenyl)pyridin-2-amine as a WSB1 Degrader to Inhibit Cancer Cell Metastasis

J Med Chem. 2021 Jun 24;64(12):8621-8643. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00586. Epub 2021 Jun 1.

Abstract

The gain of cell motility is an essential prerequisite for cancer metastasis. The ubiquitin ligase subunit WD repeat and SOCS box-containing 1 (WSB1) has been demonstrated to regulate hypoxia-driven tumor cell migration. However, there is still a lack of methods for discovering inhibitors targeting the WSB1 axis. Here, we employed phenotypic screening models and identified compound 4 that displayed migration inhibitory activity against WSB1-overexpressing cells. Further studies indicated that it may function as a WSB1 degrader, thus leading to the accumulation of the Rho guanosine diphosphate dissociation inhibitor 2 (RhoGDI2) protein, reversing the expression of downstream F-actin and formation of membrane ruffles, and disturbing the migration capacity of cancer cells. Moreover, compound 4 exhibited a promising in vivo anticancer metastatic effects. Our findings show the discovery of a new WSB1 degrader, providing a unique solution for the treatment of cancer metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aminopyridines / chemical synthesis
  • Aminopyridines / pharmacokinetics
  • Aminopyridines / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Aminopyridines
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Wsb1 protein, mouse