Identification of a selective small-molecule inhibitor series targeting the eyes absent 2 (Eya2) phosphatase activity

J Biomol Screen. 2013 Jan;18(1):85-96. doi: 10.1177/1087057112453936. Epub 2012 Jul 20.

Abstract

Eya proteins are essential coactivators of the Six family of homeobox transcription factors and also contain a unique protein tyrosine phosphatase activity, belonging to the haloacid dehalogenase family of phosphatases. The phosphatase activity of Eya is important for a subset of Six1-mediated transcription, making this a unique type of transcriptional control. It is also responsible for directing cells to the repair instead of apoptosis pathway upon DNA damage. Furthermore, the phosphatase activity of Eya is critical for transformation, migration, invasion, and metastasis of breast cancer cells. Thus, inhibitors of the Eya phosphatase activity may be antitumorigenic and antimetastatic, as well as sensitize cancer cells to DNA damage-inducing therapies. In this article, we identified a previously unknown chemical series using high-throughput screening that inhibits the Eya2 phosphatase activity with IC(50)s ranging from 1.8 to 79 µM. Compound activity was confirmed using an alternative malachite green assay and H2AX, a known Eya substrate. Importantly, these Eya2 phosphatase inhibitors show specificity and do not significantly inhibit several other cellular phosphatases. Our studies identify the first selective Eya2 phosphatase inhibitors that can potentially be developed into chemical probes for functional studies of Eya phosphatase or into anticancer drugs in the future.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Enzyme Assays
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Fluoresceins / chemistry
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays / methods
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / chemistry
  • Kinetics
  • Miniaturization
  • Nuclear Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Nuclear Proteins / chemistry
  • Phenylhydrazines / chemistry
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / chemistry
  • Protein Phosphatase 2C
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1 / chemistry
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / chemistry
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Substances

  • 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphate
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Fluoresceins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Phenylhydrazines
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases
  • Protein Phosphatase 2C
  • EYA2 protein, human
  • PTPN1 protein, human
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases