Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of New Quinazolinone Derivatives that Inhibit Bloom Syndrome Protein (BLM) Helicase, Trigger DNA Damage at the Telomere Region, and Synergize with PARP Inhibitors

J Med Chem. 2020 Sep 10;63(17):9752-9772. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00917. Epub 2020 Aug 7.

Abstract

DNA damage response (DDR) pathways are crucial for the survival of cancer cells and are attractive targets for cancer therapy. Bloom syndrome protein (BLM) is a DNA helicase that performs important roles in DDR pathways. Our previous study discovered an effective new BLM inhibitor with a quinazolinone scaffold by a screening assay. Herein, to better understand the structure-activity relationship (SAR) and biological roles of the BLM inhibitor, a series of new derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated based on this scaffold. Among them, compound 9h exhibited nanomolar inhibitory activity and binding affinity for BLM. 9h could effectively disrupt BLM recruitment to DNA in cells. Furthermore, 9h inhibited the proliferation of the colorectal cell line HCT116 by significantly triggering DNA damage in the telomere region and inducing apoptosis, especially in combination with a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor. This result suggested a synthetic lethal effect between the BLM and PARP inhibitors in DDR pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  • DNA Damage*
  • Drug Design*
  • Drug Synergism
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Quinazolinones / chemical synthesis*
  • Quinazolinones / chemistry
  • Quinazolinones / pharmacology*
  • RecQ Helicases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • RecQ Helicases / chemistry
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Telomere / genetics*

Substances

  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors
  • Quinazolinones
  • Bloom syndrome protein
  • RecQ Helicases