Heterotaxin: A TGF-β Signaling Inhibitor Identified in a Multi-Phenotype Profiling Screen in Xenopus Embryos
作者:Michael K. Dush、Andrew L. McIver、Meredith A. Parr、Douglas D. Young、Julie Fisher、Donna R. Newman、Philip L. Sannes、Marlene L. Hauck、Alexander Deiters、Nanette Nascone-Yoder
DOI:10.1016/j.chembiol.2010.12.008
日期:2011.2
Disruptions of anatomical left-right asymmetry result in life-threatening heterotaxic birth defects in vital organs. We performed a small molecule screen for left-right asymmetry phenotypes in Xenopus embryos and discovered a pyridine analog, heterotaxin, which disrupts both cardiovascular and digestive organ laterality and inhibits TGF-beta-dependent left-right asymmetric gene expression. Heterotaxin analogs also perturb vascular development, melanogenesis, cell migration, and adhesion, and indirectly inhibit the phosphorylation of an intracellular mediator of TGF-beta signaling. This combined phenotypic profile identifies these compounds as a class of TGF-beta signaling inhibitors. Notably, heterotaxin analogs also possess highly desirable antitumor properties, inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and tumor cell proliferation in mammalian systems. Our results suggest that assessing multiple organ, tissue, cellular, and molecular parameters in a whole organism context is a valuable strategy for identifying the mechanism of action of bioactive compounds.