RNA targets

Macrocycles are promising scaffolds for the design of novel RNA targeting molecules. This collection of macrocycles for RNA consists of very diverse, drug-like molecules which incorporate certain known RNA-recognition elements (e.g. nucleobase ring systems and analogs) distributed within macrocyclic rings or peripheral fragments. As macrocyclic molecules tend to be larger than traditional screening molecules, it is vital to carefully assess and control their physicochemical properties. All macrocycles have been tested for aqueous and DMSO solubility with cutoffs applied at 10 mM in DMSO and 50 µM in PBS (pH 7.4); PAMPA permeability has also been tested for representative set of macrocycles.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a hepatotropic enveloped positive- strand RNA virus (family Flaviviridae) that infects the parenchymal cells of the liver. HCV infection is a significant public health burden. Globally, an estimated 71 million people have chronic hepatitis C virus infection. A significant number of those who are chronically infected will develop cirrhosis or liver cancer. To date, there is no vaccine against HCV, and combination pegylated alpha interferon (pIFN-) and ribavirin, the main standard-of-care treatment for HCV, is effective in only a subset of patients and is associated with a wide spectrum of toxic side effects and complications. More recently, new therapeutic approaches that target essential components of the HCV life cycle have been developed, including direct-acting antiviral (DAA) that specifically block a viral enzyme or functional protein and host-targeted agents (HTA) that block interactions between host proteins and viral components that are essential to the viral life cycle. However, the genetic diversity of HCV viruses and the stage of liver disease (i.e., cirrhosis) are revealing themselves as obstacles for effective, pan-genotypic treatments. There still exists a need for the discovery and development of new HCV inhibitors. In particular, since the future of HCV therapy will likely consist of a cocktail approach using multiple inhibitors that target different steps of infection, new antivirals targeting all steps of the viral infection cycle.

MCE offers a unique collection of 391 compounds with identified and potential anti-HCV activity. MCE Anti- Hepatitis C Virus Compound Library is a useful tool for discovery new anti-HCV drugs and other anti-infection research.

The RNA-targeted bioactive compound library is a high-quality collection of small molecules specifically designed and curated to target RNA structures and functions. It is widely applied in cutting-edge drug discovery and life science research. Unlike traditional strategies that focus on protein targets, RNA-targeted compounds can directly modulate various functional RNA molecules by influencing their splicing, translation, stability, or structural conformation, thereby enabling precise intervention in key biological processes. In the field of drug development, these compounds provide a novel approach to addressing previously “undruggable” targets and have demonstrated significant potential in areas such as oncology, antiviral therapies, and neurodegenerative diseases. For example, by targeting disease-associated RNA structural domains or regulating the aberrant expression of non-coding RNAs, these compounds can effectively inhibit disease progression or restore normal cellular function. In mechanistic studies, RNA-targeted compounds serve as valuable chemical biology tools to elucidate the roles of RNA in gene expression regulation, cellular signaling pathways, and disease development.

The MCE RNA-targeted bioactive compound library contains 857 compounds, sourced from databases such as TargetRX Atlas and R-BIND. The library features excellent structural diversity and biological activity, making it suitable for high-throughput screening (HTS), target validation, phenotypic screening, and lead compound discovery. It represents a valuable resource for RNA-related research and innovative drug development.

RNA is crucial for the regulation of numerous cellular processes and functions. With the in-depth study of disease mechanisms, processes such as RNA expression, splicing, translation, and stability regulation have become new targets for disease intervention. RNA has provided new therapeutic modalities for metabolic diseases, genetic disorders, and cancer patients, resulting in several innovative drugs.

MCE R&D team collected small molecules targeting RNA from the PDB, R-BIND, ROBIN, and internal database as the positive dataset, and non-targeting RNA small molecules from ROBIN as the negative dataset. Based on the GeminiMol pre-trained model, we encoded the molecules and calculated over 1700 molecular descriptors using Mordred as inputs for the model. Subsequently, we employed 13 deep learning models to learn from the data. All of which yielded good training results, with AUROCs greater than 0.75. Ultimately, we selected the Finetune model to screen HY-L901P, which exhibited the best classification performance, achieving an AUROC of 0.82 and a prediction accuracy of 0.76. We then applied filtering based on StaR rules (with at least two of the following properties: cLogP ≥ 1.5, Molar Refractivity ≥ 4, Relative Polar Surface Area ≤ 0.3) to obtain a library containing approximately 5,000 small molecule compounds targeting RNA. This library serves as a valuable tool for screening small molecules that interact with RNA.

Epigenetics involves heritable phenotypic changes that occur without alterations to the underlying DNA sequence. Key mechanisms include DNA methylation, histone modifications, and regulation by small non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs. By modifying DNA, histones, or RNA—while leaving their primary sequences intact—these processes influence molecular function and regulation, thereby playing critical roles in cellular differentiation, embryonic development, gene expression control, aging, and diseases such as cancer.

MCE provide a unique collection of 297 epigenetics-related compounds. For each regulatory target and its subtype, 3 to 5 highly specific representative compounds have been retained, which can be used in epigenetic and related disease research.

According to reports, most known kinase inhibitors exert their effects through competitive binding in highly conserved ATP pockets. Although genetic techniques such as RNA interference can inactivate specific genes, most kinases are multi domain proteins, each of which has an independent function. Highly selective inhibitors have higher efficiency than non-selective inhibitors, and the selectivity to the target is at least 100 times higher. Therefore, ensuring the validation of targets with the most selective inhibitors is crucial for a more thorough understanding of the pharmacology of the kinase field. The Highly Selective Inhibitors Library contains 6,135 compounds, covering multiple targets and subtypes, such as GPCR protein family, Ion channel, multiple kinases, etc. The Highly Selective Inhibitors Library is an effective tool for screening different phenotypes

Transcription is the essential first step in the conversion of the genetic information in the DNA into protein and the major point at which gene expression is controlled. Transcription of protein-coding genes is accomplished by the multi-subunit enzyme RNA polymerase II and an ensemble of ancillary proteins, called transcription factors (TFs). Transcription factors play an important role in the long-term regulation of cell growth, differentiation and responses to environmental cues. Deregulated transcription factors contribute to the pathogenesis of a plethora of human diseases, ranging from diabetes, inflammatory disorders and cardiovascular disease to many cancers, and thus these proteins hold great therapeutic potential.

MCE offers a unique collection of 2,383 compounds with validated transcription factor targets modulating properties. MCE transcription factor-targeted compound library is an effective tool for researching transcription factors as drug targets as well as modulation of TFs for different therapeutic applications.

The high rates of morbidity and mortality caused by fungal infections are associated with the current limited antifungal arsenal and the high toxicity of the compounds. Additionally, identifying novel drug targets is challenging because there are many similarities between fungal and human cells. The most common antifungal targets include fungal RNA synthesis and cell wall and membrane components, though new antifungal targets are being investigated. Nonetheless, fungi have developed resistance mechanisms, such as overexpression of efflux pump proteins, overexpression and changes in drug targets and biofilm formation, emphasizing the importance of discovering new antifungal drugs and therapies. Due to the limited antifungal arsenal, researchers have sought to improve treatment via different approaches, such as the combination of antifungal drugs, development of new formulations for antifungal agents and modifications to the chemical structures of traditional antifungals, etc.

MCE offers a unique collection of 551 compounds with validated antifungal activities. MCE antifungal compound library is an effective tool for drug repurposing screening, combination screening and biological investigation.

DNA is prone to numerous forms of damage that can injure cells and impair fitness. Cells have developed an array of mechanisms to repair these injuries. Proliferating cells are especially vulnerable to DNA damage due to the added demands of cellular growth and division. Cell cycle checkpoints represent integral components of DNA repair that coordinate cooperation between the machinery of the cell cycle and several biochemical pathways that respond to damage and restore DNA structure. By delaying progression through the cell cycle, checkpoints provide more time for repair before the critical phases of DNA replication, when the genome is replicated, and of mitosis, when the genome is segregated. Loss or attenuation of checkpoint function may increase spontaneous and induced gene mutations and chromosomal aberrations by reducing the efficiency of DNA repair.

MCE owns a unique collection of 3,313 cell cycle/DNA damage-related compounds which can be used in the research of the same.

MCE In vivo OptiLNP RNA Transfection Reagent (Lung-targeted) is a ready-to-use transfection reagent based on LNP technology. It is designed for the efficient transfection of mRNA and short-chain RNA via intravenous injection in experimental animals.

MCE In vivo OptiLNP RNA Transfection Reagent (Liver-targeted) is a ready-to-use transfection reagent based on LNP technology. It is designed for the efficient transfection of mRNA and short-chain RNA via intravenous injection in experimental animals.

MCE Bacterial Protein Extraction Reagent integrates both lysozyme and nuclease activities and is specifically formulated for E. coli lysis. It efficiently disrupts the peptidoglycan layer under mild conditions to rapidly release intracellular proteins. Simultaneously, the incorporated nucleases degrade genomic DNA/RNA, significantly reducing lysate viscosity and minimizing nucleic-acid interference, thereby preserving the native conformation and functional integrity of target proteins to the greatest extent.