Abstract
Transcription factors are attractive therapeutic targets that are considered non-druggable because they do not have binding sites for small drug-like ligands. We established a cell-free high-throughput screening assay to search for small molecule inhibitors of DNA binding by transcription factors. A screen was performed using p53 as a target, resulting in the identification of NSC194598 that inhibits p53 sequence-specific DNA binding in vitro (IC50 = 180 nm) and in vivo. NSC194598 selectively inhibited DNA binding by p53 and homologs p63/p73, but did not affect E2F1, TCF1, and c-Myc. Treatment of cells with NSC194598 alone paradoxically led to p53 accumulation and modest increase of transcriptional output owing to disruption of the MDM2-negative feedback loop. When p53 was stabilized and activated by irradiation or chemotherapy drug treatment, NSC194598 inhibited p53 DNA binding and induction of target genes. A single dose of NSC194598 increased the survival of mice after irradiation. The results suggest DNA binding by p53 can be targeted using small molecules to reduce acute toxicity to normal tissues by radiation and chemotherapy.
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the National Cancer Institute Developmental Therapeutics Program for providing key compounds. This work is supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health (CA141244, CA186917, CA208363 to J.C. GM115556 to D.G. R50CA211447 to H. R. L.). H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute is an NCI designated Comprehensive Cancer Center (P30-CA076292).
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Study conception: J.C. experiment design and execution: Q.L., R.M.K., M.C., M.D., L.C., C.Z., H.L. Data analysis and intellectual contribution: D.G., E.S., H.J. Manuscript writing: J.C., E.S., H.L.
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Li, Q., Karim, R.M., Cheng, M. et al. Inhibition of p53 DNA binding by a small molecule protects mice from radiation toxicity. Oncogene 39, 5187–5200 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-020-1344-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-020-1344-y