Small molecule activator of Nm23/NDPK as an inhibitor of metastasis

Sci Rep. 2018 Jul 19;8(1):10909. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-29101-6.

Abstract

Nm23-H1/NDPK-A is a tumor metastasis suppressor having NDP kinase (NDPK) activity. Nm23-H1 is positively associated with prolonged disease-free survival and good prognosis of cancer patients. Approaches to increasing the cellular levels of Nm23-H1 therefore have significance in the therapy of metastatic cancers. We found a small molecule, (±)-trans-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-[(E)-3,4-dimethoxystyryl]cyclohex-1-ene, that activates Nm23, hereafter called NMac1. NMac1 directly binds to Nm23-H1 and increases its NDPK activity. Employing various NMac1 derivatives and hydrogen/deuterium mass spectrometry (HDX-MS), we identified the pharmacophore and mode of action of NMac1. We found that NMac1 binds to the C-terminal of Nm23-H1 and induces the NDPK activation through its allosteric conformational changes. NMac1-treated MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells showed dramatic changes in morphology and actin-cytoskeletal organization following inhibition of Rac1 activation. NMac1 also suppressed invasion and migration in vitro, and metastasis in vivo, in a breast cancer mouse model. NMac1 as an activator of NDPK has potential as an anti-metastatic agent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allosteric Regulation / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / drug therapy*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / administration & dosage*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Up-Regulation*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases
  • RAC1 protein, human
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • NME1 protein, human
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein