Probing the interaction of HTI-286 with tubulin using a stilbene analogue

HTI-286 is a synthetic analogue of the natural product hemiasterlin. HTI-286 is a potent antitumor agent that induces tubulin oligomerization. To investigate the binding stoichiometry and the binding site during this ligand-induced tubulin association, we synthesized an analogue of HTI-286 containing the chromophore stilbene. Using the distinct absorbance of the stilbene analogue, we determined the amounts of inhibitors bound to different tubulin oligomers by analytical ultracentrifugation. Herein we describe our findings based on these experiments. At the ratio of inhibitor to protein equal to or greater than 1, the stilbene analogue induces oligomerization of tubulin to a ring structure. The binding stoichiometry in the ring is one inhibitor per tubulin monomer (defined as an alpha/beta-heterodimer). At the ratio of inhibitor to protein less than 1, tubulin forms multiple intermediates, with the binding stoichiometry less than one inhibitor per tubulin monomer for all intermediates. The stable complex between the inhibitor and tubulin monomer was not detected under our experimental conditions. The binding site of the stilbene analogue does not overlap with the classic tubulin-binding agent, colchicine.