High-throughput screening for small-molecule inhibitors of LARG-stimulated RhoA nucleotide binding via a novel fluorescence polarization assay

J Biomol Screen. 2009 Feb;14(2):161-72. doi: 10.1177/1087057108328761. Epub 2009 Feb 4.

Abstract

Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) stimulate guanine nucleotide exchange and the subsequent activation of Rho-family proteins in response to extracellular stimuli acting upon cytokine, tyrosine kinase, adhesion, integrin, and G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Upon Rho activation, several downstream events occur, such as morphological and cytoskeletal changes, motility, growth, survival, and gene transcription. The leukemia-associated RhoGEF (LARG) is a member of the regulators of G-protein signaling homology domain (RH) family of GEFs originally identified as a result of chromosomal translocation in acute myeloid leukemia. Using a novel fluorescence polarization guanine nucleotide-binding assay using BODIPY-Texas Red-GTPgammaS (BODIPY-TR-GTPgammaS), the authors performed a 10,000-compound high-throughput screen for inhibitors of LARG-stimulated RhoA nucleotide binding. Five compounds identified from the high-throughput screen were confirmed in a nonfluorescent radioactive guanine nucleotide-binding assay measuring LARG-stimulated [( 35)S] GTPgammaS binding to RhoA, thus ruling out nonspecific fluorescent effects. All 5 compounds selectively inhibited LARG-stimulated RhoA [( 35)S] GTPgammaS binding but had little to no effect on RhoA or Galpha( o) [(35)S] GTPgammaS binding. Therefore, these 5 compounds should serve as promising starting points for the development of small-molecule inhibitors of LARG-mediated nucleotide exchange as both pharmacological tools and therapeutics. In addition, the fluorescence polarization guanine nucleotide-binding assay described here should serve as a useful approach for both high-throughput screening and general biological applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods*
  • Fluorescence Polarization / methods
  • Growth Inhibitors / isolation & purification*
  • Growth Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / chemistry
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / isolation & purification
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / physiology*
  • Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / metabolism
  • Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / pharmacokinetics
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Small Molecule Libraries / analysis*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Substrate Specificity
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / antagonists & inhibitors
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • ARHGEF12 protein, human
  • Growth Inhibitors
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate)
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein