Truncated Actin-Targeting Macrolide Derivative Blocks Cancer Cell Motility and Invasion of Extracellular Matrix

J Am Chem Soc. 2021 May 12;143(18):6847-6854. doi: 10.1021/jacs.0c12404. Epub 2021 May 3.

Abstract

Cancer metastasis is a complex process involving highly motile tumor cells that breach tissue barriers, enter the bloodstream and lymphatic system, and disseminate throughout the body as circulating tumor cells. The primary cellular mechanism contributing to these critical events is the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Mycalolide B (MycB) is an actin-targeting marine macrolide that can suppress proliferation, migration, and invasion of breast and ovarian cancer cells at low nanomolar doses. Through structure-activity relationship studies focused on the actin-binding tail region (C24-C35) of MycB, we identified a potent truncated derivative that inhibits polymerization of G-actin and severs F-actin by binding to actin's barbed end cleft. Biological analyses of this miniature MycB derivative demonstrate that it causes a rapid collapse of the actin cytoskeleton in ovarian cancer cells and impairs cancer cell motility and invasion of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by inhibiting invadopodia-mediated ECM degradation. These studies provide essential proof-of-principle for developing actin-targeting therapeutic agents to block cancer metastasis and establish a synthetically tractable barbed end-binding pharmacophore that can be further improved by adding targeting groups for precision drug design.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Extracellular Matrix / drug effects*
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Marine Toxins / chemical synthesis
  • Marine Toxins / chemistry
  • Marine Toxins / pharmacology*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oxazoles / chemical synthesis
  • Oxazoles / chemistry
  • Oxazoles / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Actins
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Marine Toxins
  • Oxazoles
  • mycalolide B