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Infante P, Mori M, Alfonsi R, Ghirga F, Aiello F, Toscano S, Ingallina C, Siler M, Cucchi D, Po A, Miele E, D'Amico D, Canettieri G, De Smaele E, Ferretti E, Screpanti I, Uccello Barretta G, Botta M, Botta B, Gulino A, Di Marcotullio L. Gli1/DNA interaction is a druggable target for Hedgehog-dependent tumors. EMBO J 2014; 34:200-17. [PMID: 25476449 PMCID: PMC4298015 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201489213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Hedgehog signaling is essential for tissue development and stemness, and its deregulation has been observed in many tumors. Aberrant activation of Hedgehog signaling is the result of genetic mutations of pathway components or other Smo-dependent or independent mechanisms, all triggering the downstream effector Gli1. For this reason, understanding the poorly elucidated mechanism of Gli1-mediated transcription allows to identify novel molecules blocking the pathway at a downstream level, representing a critical goal in tumor biology. Here, we clarify the structural requirements of the pathway effector Gli1 for binding to DNA and identify Glabrescione B as the first small molecule binding to Gli1 zinc finger and impairing Gli1 activity by interfering with its interaction with DNA. Remarkably, as a consequence of its robust inhibitory effect on Gli1 activity, Glabrescione B inhibited the growth of Hedgehog-dependent tumor cells in vitro and in vivo as well as the self-renewal ability and clonogenicity of tumor-derived stem cells. The identification of the structural requirements of Gli1/DNA interaction highlights their relevance for pharmacologic interference of Gli signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Infante
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Mattia Mori
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Romina Alfonsi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Ghirga
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Aiello
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara Toscano
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Ingallina
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariangela Siler
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Danilo Cucchi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Agnese Po
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Evelina Miele
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Davide D'Amico
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Enrico De Smaele
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Maurizio Botta
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bruno Botta
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Gulino
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy Istituto Pasteur, Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti - University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
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