FDA-approved drugs selected using virtual screening bind specifically to G-quadruplex DNA

Curr Pharm Des. 2013;19(12):2164-73. doi: 10.2174/1381612811319120004.

Abstract

Guanine-rich sequences found in telomeres and oncogene promoters have the ability to form G-quadruplex structures. In this paper we describe the use of a virtual screening assay to search a database of FDA-approved compounds for compounds with the potential to bind G-quadruplex DNA. More than 750 telomerase inhibitors were identified in a literature search as acting through G-quadruplex stabilization, and from evaluation of these compounds, theoretical models capable of discriminating new compounds that bind G-quadruplex DNA were developed. Six compounds predicted to bind to the G-quadruplex structure were tested for their ability to bind to the human telomeric DNA sequence. Prochloroperazine, promazine, and chlorpromazine stabilized the G-quadruplex structure as determined by fluorescence resonance energy transfer techniques. These compounds also bound to promoter sequences of oncogenes such as c-myc and K-ras. Amitriptyline, imipramine, and loxapine were less stabilizing but did bind to the G-quadruplex. The ability of prochloroperazine, promazine, and chlorpromazine to recognize G-quadruplex structures was confirmed using a fluorescent intercalator displacement assay, in which displacement of thiazole orange from G-quadruplex structures was demonstrated. Interestingly, these compounds exhibited selectivity for the G-quadruplex structure as all had poor affinity for the duplex sequence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Computational Biology
  • Databases, Pharmaceutical
  • Drug Approval
  • Drug Repositioning*
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • G-Quadruplexes / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Intercalating Agents / chemistry
  • Intercalating Agents / metabolism
  • Intercalating Agents / pharmacology
  • Ligands
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Oncogenes / drug effects
  • Prescription Drugs / chemistry
  • Prescription Drugs / metabolism
  • Prescription Drugs / pharmacology
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / drug effects
  • Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Telomerase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Telomerase / chemistry
  • Telomerase / metabolism
  • United States
  • United States Food and Drug Administration

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Intercalating Agents
  • Ligands
  • Prescription Drugs
  • TERT protein, human
  • Telomerase