USP1/UAF1 activity was monitored in a fluorometric ubiquitin−rhodamine110 assay.
ML323 also showed IC50s of 174 nM and 820 nM in orthogonal gel-based assays using K63-linked diubiquitin (di-Ub) and monoubiquitinated PCNA (Ub-PCNA) as substrates, respectively.
Structure-activity relationship:
Yes, see J. Med. Chem publication for details.
Potency assay (off target):
ML323 showed no notable activity against the USPs (USP2, USP5, USP7, USP8, USP10, USP11, USP14 and USP21). ML323 displayed no notable against DUBs in the ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase (UCH), ovarian tumor protease (OTU) and Machado-Joseph domain (MJD) families and did not inhibit the deSUMOylase SENP1 or the deneddylase, NEDP1.
Probe Selectivity in Vitro:
ML323 off-target activity was assessed by determining the inhibitory effect of ML323 against 70 unrelated proteases and 451 kinases in in vitro assays; no notable activity was detected.
In cell validation
Potency assay (cells):
Activity-based profiling with hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged ubiquitin vinyl methyl ester (HA-Ub-VME) in HEK293T cells revealed that ML323 could selectively and dose-dependently inhibit the labeling of USP1. ML323 also increased mUb of PCNA and FANCD2 in H596 cells, recapitulating results obtained with shRNA targeting USP1.
Target engagement assay (cells):
Yes, activity based assay
Potency assay, off target (cells):
ML323 did not inhibit the labeling of the DUBs, USP8, USP7, CYLD, USP5, USP14, UCH-L3 and UCH-L1, tested by HA-Ub-VME.
Toxicity
Cytoxicity assay:
Yes
Notes on cytotoxicity:
ML323 was tested in H596 cells and showed minimal cytotoxicity as a single agent (colony formation assay). However, when used in combination with cisplatin apparent synergy was observed.
In H1299 cytotoxicity was observed with ML323 as a single agent (colony formation assay) in a dose dependent manner.