1. Academic Validation
  2. Fine structural design of 3βHSD1 inhibitors for prostate cancer therapy

Fine structural design of 3βHSD1 inhibitors for prostate cancer therapy

  • Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Jul;122(26):e2422267122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2422267122.
Dongyin He # 1 Luyao Zhang # 2 3 Leiye Yu # 4 5 Yuhang Zhang # 1 Jingjing Chen # 2 Leibo Wang 2 Haoran Hu 6 Hongyu Liu 7 Hong Zheng 2 3 Jixin Xia 1 Jiahui Chen 1 Chenhui Li 8 Xin Li 7 Huiru Tang 6 Jia Liu 2 9 Ruobing Ren 4 8 Youhong Hu 2 3 9 10 Zhenfei Li 1 11
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Key Laboratory of Multi-Cell Systems, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
  • 2 School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China.
  • 3 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 110039, China.
  • 4 Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Zhongshan-Xuhui Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200437, China.
  • 5 Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China.
  • 6 State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Human Phenome Institute, Metabonomics and Systems Biology Laboratory at Shanghai International Centre for Molecular Phenomics, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China.
  • 7 Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
  • 8 School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, Guangdong, China.
  • 9 State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
  • 10 Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai 264117, Shandong, China.
  • 11 Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China.
  • # Contributed equally.
Abstract

Prostate Cancer is a global health challenge, particularly for patients resistant to the second-generation anti-androgen receptor pathway inhibitors. The steroidogenic enzyme 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (3βHSD1) has emerged as a promising therapeutic target and the corresponding inhibitors, biochanin-A (BCA) and its derivatives, suppress tumor growth in preclinical models and patients. However, the poor oral bioavailability of BCA hinders its clinical application. Here, we employed a sophisticated computational approach to refine the structural design of 3βHSD1 inhibitors. AlphaFold2 was utilized to construct detailed models of 3βHSD1 binding to various substrates. These models, in conjunction with the elucidated enzymatic mechanism of 3βHSD1, guided the optimization of a series of BCA-related compounds. Our structure-activity relationship studies identified HEAL-116 as a potent 3βHSD1 inhibitor. HEAL-116 exhibited enhanced binding specificity to the substrate-binding pocket of 3βHSD1 and effectively neutralized the local charge environment. The incorporation of hydrophilic groups in its structure also markedly enhanced its oral bioavailability. HEAL-116 robustly inhibited 3βHSD1 activity and exerted pronounced antitumor effect in biochemical, cellular, and mouse models. Our findings lay the foundation for the clinical translation of 3βHSD1 inhibitors, offering a promising therapeutic strategy for the management of prostate Cancer and potentially Other Diseases.

Keywords

3βHSD1; AlphaFold; drug development; molecular simulations; prostate cancer.

Figures
Products
  • Cat. No.
    Product Name
    Description
    Target
    Research Area
  • HY-175592
    3βHSD1抑制剂