Small molecule inhibitors of phospholipase C from a novel high-throughput screen

J Biol Chem. 2013 Feb 22;288(8):5840-8. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.422501. Epub 2013 Jan 7.

Abstract

Phospholipase C (PLC) isozymes are important signaling molecules, but few small molecule modulators are available to pharmacologically regulate their function. With the goal of developing a general approach for identification of novel PLC inhibitors, we developed a high-throughput assay based on the fluorogenic substrate reporter WH-15. The assay is highly sensitive and reproducible: screening a chemical library of 6280 compounds identified three novel PLC inhibitors that exhibited potent activities in two separate assay formats with purified PLC isozymes in vitro. Two of the three inhibitors also inhibited G protein-coupled receptor-stimulated PLC activity in intact cell systems. These results demonstrate the power of the high-throughput assay for screening large collections of small molecules to identify novel PLC modulators. Potent and selective modulators of PLCs will ultimately be useful for dissecting the roles of PLCs in cellular processes, as well as provide lead compounds for the development of drugs to treat diseases arising from aberrant phospholipase activity.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Biological Assay / methods
  • Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / methods
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Isoenzymes
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Chemical
  • Phospholipases / chemistry
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Type C Phospholipases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Type C Phospholipases / metabolism

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Isoenzymes
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Phospholipases
  • Type C Phospholipases