Identification of small-molecule enhancers of arginine methylation catalyzed by coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1

J Med Chem. 2012 Nov 26;55(22):9875-90. doi: 10.1021/jm301097p. Epub 2012 Nov 2.

Abstract

Arginine methylation is a common post-translational modification that is crucial in modulating gene expression at multiple critical levels. The arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) are envisaged as promising druggable targets, but their role in physiological and pathological pathways is far from being clear due to the limited number of modulators reported to date. In this effort, enzyme activators can be invaluable tools useful as gain-of-function reagents to interrogate the biological roles in cells and in vivo of PRMTs. Yet the identification of such molecules is rarely pursued. Herein we describe a series of aryl ureido acetamido indole carboxylates (dubbed "uracandolates"), able to increase the methylation of histone (H3) or nonhistone (polyadenylate-binding protein 1, PABP1) substrates induced by coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1), both in in vitro and cellular settings. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of compounds acting as CARM1 activators.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arginine / chemistry
  • Arginine / genetics*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Catalysis
  • Enzyme Activators / chemical synthesis
  • Enzyme Activators / pharmacology*
  • Histones / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Methylation / drug effects*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Poly(A)-Binding Protein I / genetics*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance
  • Trans-Activators

Substances

  • Enzyme Activators
  • Histones
  • Indoles
  • Poly(A)-Binding Protein I
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Trans-Activators
  • Arginine
  • Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases
  • coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1