DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) play a relevant role in epigenetic control of cancer cell survival and proliferation. Since only two DNMT inhibitors (azacitidine and decitabine) have been approved to date for the treatment of hematological malignancies, the development of novel potent and specific inhibitors is urgent. Here we describe the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a new series of compounds acting at the same time as DNMTs (mainly DNMT3A) inhibitors and degraders. Tested against leukemic and solid cancer cell lines, 2a–c and 4a–c (the last only for leukemias) displayed up to submicromolar antiproliferative activities. In HCT116 cells, such compounds induced EGFP gene expression in a promoter demethylation assay, confirming their demethylating activity in cells. In the same cell line, 2b and 4c chosen as representative samples induced DNMT1 and -3A protein degradation, suggesting for these compounds a double mechanism of DNMT3A inhibition and DNMT protein degradation.
DNA甲基转移酶(DNMTs)在癌细胞生存和增殖的表观遗传控制中发挥着重要作用。由于目前只有两种DNMT抑制剂(阿扎胞苷和地西他滨)已被批准用于治疗血液恶性肿瘤,因此开发新的有效和特异性抑制剂非常紧迫。本研究描述了一系列新化合物的设计、合成和生物评价,这些化合物同时作为DNMTs(主要是DNMT3A)的抑制剂和降解剂。在白血病和实体癌细胞系中进行测试,2a-c和4a-c(最后仅用于白血病)显示出亚微米级的抗增殖活性。在HCT116细胞中,这些化合物在启动子去甲基化试验中诱导EGFP基因表达,证实它们在细胞中的去甲基化活性。在同一细胞系中,选择2b和4c作为代表样品,诱导DNMT1和-3A蛋白降解,表明这些化合物具有DNMT3A抑制和DNMT蛋白降解的双重机制。