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Allosteric interference in oncogenic FLI1 and ERG transactions by mithramycins
Caixia Hou1, Abhisek Mandal1, Jürgen Rohr1
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
Mithramycin (MTM) disrupts cancer-driving ERG and FLI1 proteins by binding DNA. Crystal structures reveal how MTM and its analogues interact with these factors, offering new therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer and Ewing sarcoma.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Structural Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- ERG and FLI1 are ETS family transcription factors crucial for prostate cancer and Ewing sarcoma development.
- Mithramycin (MTM) is an anti-cancer drug that inhibits ERG and FLI1 activity through an uncharacterized mechanism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanism by which Mithramycin (MTM) antagonizes ERG and FLI1.
- To provide structural insights into the interaction of MTM with ERG/FLI1, Runx2, and Cbfβ on DNA.
Main Methods:
- X-ray crystallography to determine high-order complex structures.
- DNA binding studies using MTM and its analogues.
Main Results:
- Crystal structures of the ERG/FLI1 DNA binding domain (DBD) alone and in complex with Runx2, Cbfβ, and MTM were obtained.
- Structural data revealed the allosteric mechanisms of ERG/FLI1 regulation and MTM's disruption.
- DNA binding studies supported the structural findings and explored MTM analogues.
Conclusions:
- MTM acts as a potent antagonist of ERG and FLI1 by binding to DNA and altering their function.
- The structural and biochemical data provide a foundation for designing novel MTM analogues with improved therapeutic potential against ERG/FLI1-driven cancers.
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