Inhibitor of MYC identified in a Kröhnke pyridine library
- Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Aug 26;111(34):12556-61. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1319488111.
- 1. Departments of Molecular and Experimental Medicine and.
- 2. Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037; and.
- 3. Institute of Biochemistry, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
- 4. Departments of Molecular and Experimental Medicine and [email protected] [email protected].
- 5. Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037; and [email protected] [email protected].
In a fluorescence polarization screen for the MYC-MAX interaction, we have identified a novel small-molecule inhibitor of MYC, KJ-Pyr-9, from a Kröhnke pyridine library. The Kd of KJ-Pyr-9 for MYC in vitro is 6.5 ± 1.0 nM, as determined by backscattering interferometry; KJ-Pyr-9 also interferes with MYC-MAX complex formation in the cell, as shown in a protein fragment complementation assay. KJ-Pyr-9 specifically inhibits MYC-induced oncogenic transformation in cell culture; it has no or only weak effects on the oncogenic activity of several unrelated oncoproteins. KJ-Pyr-9 preferentially interferes with the proliferation of MYC-overexpressing human and avian cells and specifically reduces the MYC-driven transcriptional signature. In vivo, KJ-Pyr-9 effectively blocks the growth of a xenotransplant of MYC-amplified human Cancer cells.