Computer-based identification of a novel LIMK1/2 inhibitor that synergizes with salirasib to destabilize the actin cytoskeleton

Oncotarget. 2012 Jun;3(6):629-39. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.525.

Abstract

Neurofibromin regulates cell motility via three distinct GTPase pathways acting through two different domains, the Ras GTPase-activating protein-related domain (GRD) and the pre-GRD domain. First, the GRD domain inhibits Ras-dependent changes in cell motility through the mitogen activated protein cascade. Second, it also regulates Rho-dependent (Ras-independent) changes by activating LIM kinase 2 (LIMK2), an enzyme that phosphorylates and inactivates cofilin (an actin-depolymerizing factor). Third, the pre-GRD domain acts through the Rac1 GTPase, that activate the P21 activated kinase 1 (PAK1)-LIMK1-cofilin pathway. We employed molecular modeling to identify a novel inhibitor of LIMK1/2. The active sites of an ephrin-A receptor (EphA3) and LIMK2 showed marked similarity (60%). On testing a known inhibitor of EphA3, we found that it fits to the LIMK1/2-ATP binding site and to the latter's substrate-binding pockets. We identified a similar compound, T56-LIMKi, and found that it inhibits LIMK1/2 kinase activities. It blocked the phosphorylation of cofilin which led to actin severance and inhibition of tumor cell migration, tumor cell growth, and anchorage-independent colony formation in soft agar. Because modulation of LIMK by neurofibromin is not affected by the Ras inhibitor Salirasib, we examined the combined effect of Salirasib and T56-LIMKi each of which can affect cell motility by a distinct pathway. We found that their combined action on cell proliferation and stress-fiber formation in neurofibromin-deficient cells was synergistic. We suggest that this drug combination may be developed for treatment of neurofibromatosis and cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / drug effects
  • Actin Cytoskeleton / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology*
  • Benzamides / administration & dosage
  • Benzamides / pharmacology*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drug Synergism
  • Farnesol / administration & dosage
  • Farnesol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Farnesol / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Isoxazoles / administration & dosage
  • Isoxazoles / pharmacology*
  • Lim Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neurofibromin 1 / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Salicylates / administration & dosage
  • Salicylates / pharmacology*

Substances

  • 3-methyl-N-(3-((3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)carbamoyl)phenyl)isoxazole-5-carboxamide
  • Benzamides
  • Isoxazoles
  • Neurofibromin 1
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Salicylates
  • farnesylthiosalicylic acid
  • Farnesol
  • LIMK1 protein, human
  • LIMK2 protein, human
  • Lim Kinases
  • Limk2 protein, mouse