Identification of novel topoisomerase II alpha inhibitors by virtual screening, molecular docking, and bioassay

Chem Biol Drug Des. 2022 Jan;99(1):92-102. doi: 10.1111/cbdd.13927. Epub 2021 Aug 15.

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the most common tumors, and its treatment still leaves room for improvement. Topoisomerase II alpha is a potential target for the treatment of human diseases such as breast cancer. In this article, we attempted to discover a novel anticancer drug. We have used the topoisomerase II alpha protein-Homo sapiens (Human) to hierarchically screen the Maybridge database. Based on their docking score, the top hit compounds have been assayed for inhibition in a topoisomerase II pBR322 DNA relaxation assay in vitro. Candidate compound 6 (CP6) was found to have the best inhibitory effect for topoisomerase II among the 20 tested compounds. In addition, CP6 had potent cytotoxicity against eight tested tumor cell lines. At the same time, CP6 was shown to have potential anti-multidrug resistance capabilities. This study identifies CP6, which can contribute to the development of new topoisomerase II inhibitors as anticancer agents.

Keywords: Maybridge database; anticancer drug; molecular docking; topoisomerase II alpha; virtual screening.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Binding Sites
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • DNA Cleavage / drug effects
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / chemistry*
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / metabolism
  • Databases, Chemical
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Molecular Docking Simulation*
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II