Small Molecule SOS1 Agonists Modulate MAPK and PI3K Signaling via Independent Cellular Responses

ACS Chem Biol. 2019 Mar 15;14(3):325-331. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.8b00869. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Abstract

Activating mutations in RAS can lead to oncogenesis by enhancing downstream signaling, such as through the MAPK and PI3K pathways. Therefore, therapeutically targeting RAS may perturb multiple signaling pathways simultaneously. One method for modulating RAS signaling is to target the activity of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor SOS1. Our laboratory has discovered compounds that bind to SOS1 and activate RAS. Interestingly, these SOS1 agonist compounds elicit biphasic modulation of ERK phosphorylation and simultaneous inhibition of AKT phosphorylation levels. Here, we utilized multiple chemically distinct compounds to elucidate whether these effects on MAPK and PI3K signaling by SOS1 agonists were mechanistically linked. In addition, we used CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing to generate clonally derived SOS1 knockout cells and identified a potent SOS1 agonist that rapidly elicited on-target molecular effects at substantially lower concentrations than those causing off-target effects. Our findings will allow us to further define the on-target utility of SOS1 agonists.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Benzimidazoles / chemistry*
  • Benzimidazoles / metabolism
  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9 / metabolism
  • Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats / genetics
  • Gene Editing
  • Humans
  • Indoles / chemistry*
  • Indoles / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / metabolism*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Quinazolines / chemistry*
  • Quinazolines / metabolism
  • SOS1 Protein / agonists*

Substances

  • Benzimidazoles
  • Indoles
  • Quinazolines
  • SOS1 Protein
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9