A Negative Allosteric Modulator of WNT Receptor Frizzled 4 Switches into an Allosteric Agonist

Biochemistry. 2018 Feb 6;57(5):839-851. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b01087. Epub 2018 Jan 19.

Abstract

The WNT pathway interconnects a network of signaling events involved in a huge plethora of cellular processes, from organogenesis to tissue homeostasis. Despite its importance, the exiguity of organic drugs directly targeting the members of the Frizzled family of WNT receptors has hampered progress across the whole spectrum of biological fields in which the signaling is involved. We here present FzM1.8, a small molecule acting as an allosteric agonist of Frizzled receptor FZD4. FzM1.8 derives from FzM1, a negative allosteric modulator of the receptor. Replacement of FzM1 thiophene with a carboxylic moiety induces a molecular switch in the lead and transforms the molecule into an activator of WNT signaling. We here show that, in the absence of any WNT ligand, FzM1.8 binds to FZD4, promotes recruitment of heterotrimeric G proteins, and biases WNT signaling toward a noncanonical route that involves PI3K. Finally, in colon cancer cells, we prove that the FZD4/PI3K axis elicited by FzM1.8 preserves stemness and promotes proliferation of undifferentiated cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / pathology
  • Allosteric Regulation
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Computer Simulation
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / pharmacology
  • Endocytosis
  • Frizzled Receptors / agonists*
  • Frizzled Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Protein Conformation
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / drug effects
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / physiology*
  • Wnt-5a Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • FZD4 protein, human
  • Frizzled Receptors
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • WNT5A protein, human
  • Wnt-5a Protein
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins