A small molecule screen to identify regulators of let-7 targets

Sci Rep. 2017 Nov 21;7(1):15973. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-16258-9.

Abstract

The let-7 family of miRNAs has been shown to be crucial in many aspects of biology, from the regulation of developmental timing to cancer. The available methods to regulate this family of miRNAs have so far been mostly genetic and therefore not easily performed experimentally. Here, we describe a small molecule screen designed to identify regulators of let-7 targets in human cells. In particular, we focused our efforts on the identification of small molecules that could suppress let-7 targets, as these could serve to potentially intercede in tumors driven by loss of let-7 activity. After screening through roughly 36,000 compounds, we identified a class of phosphodiesterase inhibitors that suppress let-7 targets. These compounds stimulate cAMP levels and raise mature let-7 levels to suppress let-7 target genes in multiple cancer cell lines such as HMGA2 and MYC. As a result, these compounds also show growth inhibitory activity on cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • Genes, Reporter
  • HMGA2 Protein / metabolism
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Small Molecule Libraries / analysis*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
  • HMGA2 Protein
  • MicroRNAs
  • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • mirnlet7 microRNA, human