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Identification of small molecule inhibitors of the Lin28-mediated blockage of pre-let-7g processing.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Lightfoot, Helen L 
Miska, Eric A 
Balasubramanian, Shankar  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0281-5815

Abstract

The protein Lin28 and microRNA let-7 play critical roles in mammalian development and human disease. Lin28 inhibits let-7 biogenesis through direct interaction with let-7 precursors (pre-let-7). Accumulating evidence in vitro and in vivo suggests this interaction plays a dominant role in embryonic stem cell self-renewal and tumorigenesis. Thus the Lin28-let-7 interaction might be an attractive drug target, if not for the well-known difficulties in targeting protein-RNA interactions with drugs. The identification and development of suitable probe molecules to further elucidate therapeutic potential, as well as mechanistic details of this pathway will be valuable. We report the development and application of a biophysical high-throughput screening assay for the identification of small molecule inhibitors of the Lin28-pre-let-7 interaction. A library of pharmacologically active small molecules was screened and several small molecule inhibitors were identified and biochemically validated. Of these four validated inhibitors, two compounds successfully restored processing of pre-let-7g in the presence of Lin28, validating the concept. Thus, we have identified examples of small molecule inhibitors of the interaction between Lin28 and pre-let-7. This study provides a proof of concept for small molecule inhibitors that antagonise the effects of Lin28 and enhance processing of let-7 miRNA.

Description

Keywords

Base Sequence, Drug Evaluation, Preclinical, Fluorescence Polarization, MicroRNAs, RNA Precursors, RNA-Binding Proteins, Small Molecule Libraries

Journal Title

Org Biomol Chem

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1477-0520
1477-0539

Volume Title

14

Publisher

Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Sponsorship
The authors would like to thank Cancer Research UK for the PhD studentship to HLL and for programme funding to SB and EAM.