Fluorescent retinoid X receptor ligands for fluorescence polarization assay

Shoya Yamada1, Fuminori Ohsawa, Shuji Fujii

  • 1Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsushima-Naka, Okayama, Japan.

Insights

Researchers developed a novel fluorescent Retinoid X receptor (RXR) ligand for high-throughput screening. This compound enables a new fluorescence polarization assay to identify potential treatments for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Endocrinology
  • Drug Discovery
  • Assay Development

Background:

  • Retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonists are investigated for treating metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes by modulating lipid and glucose metabolism through PPAR/RXR and LXR/RXR heterodimers.
  • Current RXR ligand screening methods, such as reporter gene and binding assays, are not suitable for high-throughput screening (HTS).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a fluorescence polarization (FP) assay system for high-throughput screening of Retinoid X receptor (RXR) ligands.
  • To synthesize novel fluorescent RXR ligands as tools for assay development.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of fluorescent RXR ligands by conjugating a carbostyril fluorophore to the lipophilic domain of known RXR ligands.
  • Selection and characterization of a lead fluorescent compound (8d).
  • Validation of the fluorescent ligand in a fluorescence polarization assay using RXR and a known RXR agonist (LGD1069).

Main Results:

  • A fluorescent RXR agonist, 6-[ethyl(1-isobutyl-2-oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydroquinolin-7-yl)amino]nicotinic acid (8d), was synthesized and selected.
  • Compound 8d demonstrated measurable fluorescence polarization (FP) in the presence of RXR.
  • The FP signal of compound 8d was diminished by the addition of a known RXR agonist, LGD1069, confirming its utility in an RXR binding assay.

Conclusions:

  • Compound 8d serves as a promising lead compound for developing a high-throughput fluorescence polarization assay for RXR ligand screening.
  • This novel fluorescent probe facilitates the discovery of new therapeutic agents for metabolic disorders targeting RXR pathways.