The transcription factors FOXO4 and p53 regulate aging, and their deregulation has been linked to several diseases, including cancer. Under stress conditions, cellular senescence is promoted by p53 sequestration and senescence-associated protein p21 transcriptional upregulation induced by interactions between the FOXO4 Forkhead DNA-binding domain and the p53 transactivation domain. However, the molecular details of these interactions remain unclear. Here, we report that these interactions between p53 and FOXO4 domains are highly heterogeneous. The p53 transactivation domain primarily interacts with the region formed by the N-terminal helical bundle of the FOXO4 Forkhead domain but retains a substantial degree of flexibility in the complex. In addition, NMR data-driven molecular simulations suggest that p53 interacts with FOXO4 through multiple binding modes. Overall, our findings not only provide the structural insights into interactions between FOXO4 and p53 but also highlight their potential as targets for developing senolytic compounds.

• MeSH
• forkhead transkripční faktory * metabolismus   chemie   genetika   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorový supresorový protein p53 * metabolismus   chemie   genetika   MeSH
• proteinové domény MeSH
• proteiny buněčného cyklu * metabolismus   chemie   MeSH
• simulace molekulární dynamiky MeSH
• transkripční faktory * metabolismus   chemie   genetika   MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• forkhead transkripční faktory * MeSH
• FOXO4 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• nádorový supresorový protein p53 * MeSH
• proteiny buněčného cyklu * MeSH
• TP53 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• transkripční faktory * MeSH

Increased FOXO3 nuclear localization is involved in neuroblastoma chemoresistance and tumor angiogenesis. Accordingly, FOXO3 inhibition is a promising strategy for boosting antitumor immune responses and suppressing FOXO3-mediated therapy resistance in cancer cells. However, no FOXO3 inhibitors are currently available for clinical use. Nevertheless, we have recently identified (4-propoxy)phenylpyrimidinylguanidine as a FOXO3 inhibitor in cancer cells in the low micromolar range. Here, we report the synthesis and structure-activity relationship study of a small library of its derivatives, some of which inhibit FOXO3-induced gene transcription in cancer cells in a submicromolar range and are thus 1 order of magnitude more potent than their parent compound. By NMR and molecular docking, we showed that these compounds differ in their interactions with the DNA-binding domain of FOXO3. These results may provide a foundation for further optimizing (4-propoxy)phenylpyrimidinylguanidine and developing therapeutics for inhibiting the activity of forkhead box (FOX) transcription factors and their interactions with other binding partners.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

FOXO transcription factors are critical regulators of cell homeostasis and steer cell death, differentiation and longevity in mammalian cells. By combined pharmacophore-modeling-based in silico and fluorescence polarization-based screening we identified small molecules that physically interact with the DNA-binding domain (DBD) of FOXO3 and modulate the FOXO3 transcriptional program in human cells. The mode of interaction between compounds and the FOXO3-DBD was assessed via NMR spectroscopy and docking studies. We demonstrate that compounds S9 and its oxalate salt S9OX interfere with FOXO3 target promoter binding, gene transcription and modulate the physiologic program activated by FOXO3 in cancer cells. These small molecules prove the druggability of the FOXO-DBD and provide a structural basis for modulating these important homeostasis regulators in normal and malignant cells.

• Klíčová slova
• FOXO transcription factors, biochemistry, cancer biology, chemical biology, docking, drug targeting, human, molecular biophysics, pharmacophore modelling, small compounds, structural biology,
• MeSH
• DNA chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• genetická transkripce účinky léků   MeSH
• genový knockdown MeSH
• HEK293 buňky MeSH
• knihovny malých molekul chemie   metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• konformace nukleové kyseliny MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční spektroskopie MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• promotorové oblasti (genetika) genetika   MeSH
• protein FOXO3 chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• proteinové domény MeSH
• simulace molekulového dockingu MeSH
• stanovení celkové genové exprese metody   MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• vazebná místa genetika   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DNA MeSH
• FOXO3 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• knihovny malých molekul MeSH
• protein FOXO3 MeSH