Parthenolide disrupts mitosis by inhibiting ZNF207/BUGZ-promoted kinetochore-microtubule attachment

Parthenolide is a natural compound that has shown highly promising anticancer activity. Even though its mode of action has been studied for decades, its antimitotic activity has been largely overlooked, limiting the understanding of its full anticancer potential. In this study, we combined click-chemistry with quantitative mass spectrometry and cell biology to elucidate the mechanism of action of parthenolide in mitosis. We show that parthenolide does not act as a microtubule-targeting agent in cells. Instead, it binds to the kinetochore protein ZNF207/BUGZ, preventing the establishment of proper kinetochore-microtubule attachment. Our results show that parthenolide covalently binds to Cys54 of BUGZ via Michael addition to its α-methylene-γ-lactone moiety. Since Cys54 is located within the second zinc-finger domain of the BUGZ microtubule-targeting region, we propose that parthenolide interferes with the microtubule-binding ability of BUGZ, consequently preventing kinetochore-microtubule attachments required for accurate chromosome congression to the spindle equator.