A high-throughput screening identifies MCM chromatin loading inhibitors targeting cells with increased replication origins

Replication origin assembly is a pivotal step in chromosomal DNA replication. In this process, the ORC complex binds DNA and, together with the CDC6 and CDT1, promotes the loading of the MCM helicase. Chemicals targeting origin assembly might be useful to sensitize highly proliferative cancer cells. However, identifying such compounds is challenging due to the multistage nature of this process. Here, using Xenopus laevis egg extract we set up a high-throughput screening to isolate MCM chromatin loading inhibitors, which led to the identification of NSC-95397 as a powerful inhibitor of replication origin assembly that targets CDC6 protein and promotes its degradation. Using systems developed to test selective drug-induced lethality we show that NSC-95397 triggers cell death both in human cells and Xenopus embryos that have higher proliferative ability. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of molecules disrupting DNA replication processes in targeting hyperproliferating cells, highlighting their potential as anti-cancer molecules.