Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of New Sugar-Substituted Imidazole Derivatives as Selective c-MYC Transcription Repressors Targeting the Promoter G-Quadruplex

J Med Chem. 2022 Oct 13;65(19):12675-12700. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00467. Epub 2022 Sep 19.

Abstract

c-MYC is a key driver of tumorigenesis. Repressing the transcription of c-MYC by stabilizing the G-quadruplex (G4) structure with small molecules is a potential strategy for cancer therapy. Herein, we designed and synthesized 49 new derivatives by introducing carbohydrates to our previously developed c-MYC G4 ligand 1. Among these compounds, 19a coupled with a d-glucose 1,2-orthoester displayed better c-MYC G4 binding, stabilization, and protein binding disruption abilities than 1. Our further evaluation indicated that 19a blocked c-MYC transcription by targeting the promoter G4, leading to c-MYC-dependent cancer cell death in triple-negative breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231. Also, 19a significantly inhibited tumor growth in the MDA-MB-231 mouse xenograft model accompanied by c-MYC downregulation. Notably, the safety of 19a was dramatically improved compared to 1. Our findings indicated that 19a could become a promising anticancer candidate, which suggested that introducing carbohydrates to improve the G4-targeting and antitumor activity is a feasible option.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 14-alpha Demethylase Inhibitors
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Carbohydrates
  • G-Quadruplexes*
  • Glucose
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism
  • Sugars
  • Sweetening Agents

Substances

  • 14-alpha Demethylase Inhibitors
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Carbohydrates
  • Imidazoles
  • Ligands
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Sugars
  • Sweetening Agents
  • Glucose