Adamantyl Isothiocyanates as Mutant p53 Rescuing Agents and Their Structure-Activity Relationships

J Med Chem. 2021 May 27;64(10):6621-6633. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01971. Epub 2021 May 7.

Abstract

Mutant p53 rescue by small molecules is a promising therapeutic strategy. In this structure-activity relationship study, we examined a series of adamantyl isothiocyanates (Ad-ITCs) to discover novel agents as therapeutics by targeting mutant p53. We demonstrated that the alkyl chain connecting adamantane and ITC is a crucial determinant for Ad-ITC inhibitory potency. Ad-ITC 6 with the longest chain between ITC and adamantane displayed the maximum growth inhibition in p53R280K, p53R273H, or p53R306Stop mutant cells. Ad-ITC 6 acted in a mutant p53-dependent manner. It rescued p53R280K and p53R273H mutants, thereby resulting in upregulating canonical wild-type (WT) p53 targets and phosphorylating ATM. Ad-ISeC 14 with selenium showed a significantly enhanced inhibitory potency, without affecting its ability to rescue mutant p53. Ad-ITCs selectively depleted mutant p53, but not the WT, and this activity correlates with their inhibitory potencies. These data suggest that Ad-ITCs may serve as novel promising leads for the p53-targeted drug development.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adamantane / analogs & derivatives*
  • Adamantane / chemistry
  • Adamantane / metabolism
  • Adamantane / pharmacology
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / chemistry*
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / metabolism
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Isothiocyanates / chemistry*
  • Isothiocyanates / metabolism
  • Isothiocyanates / pharmacology
  • Mutation
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Anticarcinogenic Agents
  • Isothiocyanates
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • adamantyl isothiocyanate
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • Adamantane