1. Academic Validation
  2. Development of High-Affinity CHD1 Chromodomain Inhibitors

Development of High-Affinity CHD1 Chromodomain Inhibitors

  • J Med Chem. 2026 May 28;69(10):12020-12047. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5c03690.
Holger Greschik 1 Florian Friedrich 2 Ludwig Seifert 2 Farnoush Mousavizadeh 3 Francesco Fiorentino 4 Johannes Walz 3 Lin Zhang 5 Jianyu Li 6 Emanuele Fabbrizi 7 Stefano Tomassi 8 Farhad Panahi 3 Niklas Papenkordt 2 Silas L Wurnig 2 Johannes Osterroth 2 Anna M Strasser 2 Jan Ruprecht 2 Aurélien F A Moumbock 6 Martin Hügle 6 Manuela Sum 1 Ling Peng 1 Sheng Wang 1 Adina A Baniahmad 2 Laura Pulido-Cortés 9 H Th Marc Timmers 9 Ralf Flaig 10 11 Eric Metzger 1 9 Bernhard Breit 3 Oliver Einsle 5 Stefan Günther 6 Dante Rotili 12 Antonello Mai 7 Roland Schüle 1 9 Manfred Jung 2 9
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Urology and Center for Clinical Research, University Freiburg Medical Center, Breisacher Str. 66, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
  • 2 Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Albertstr. 25, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
  • 3 Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Freiburg, Albertstr. 21, 70104 Freiburg, Germany.
  • 4 Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
  • 5 Institute of Biochemistry, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
  • 6 Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 9, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
  • 7 Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
  • 8 Department of Life Science, Health and Health Professions, LINK Campus University, Via del Casale di San Pio V, 44, CAP 00165 Rome, Italy.
  • 9 German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Freiburg, University Medical Center Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 66, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
  • 10 Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom.
  • 11 Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0FA, United Kingdom.
  • 12 Department of Science, Roma Tre University of Rome, Viale Guglielmo Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
Abstract

The chromatin remodeler CHD1, a regulator of gene activity and potential drug target in prostate Cancer (PCa), contains a tandem chromodomain (tCD) binding histone H3 trimethylated at lysine 4 (H3K4me3). We developed the first submicromolar inhibitors (2n and 2s) that target the H3K4me3 binding site of the CHD1 tCD with Kd values of 0.15 μM and 0.14 μM, respectively. Co-crystal structures of these quinoline-based compounds revealed aromatic cage interactions and extended ligand contacts in Other parts of the H3K4me3 peptide pocket as the main determinants of high-affinity ligand binding. 2n and 2s engage endogenous CHD1 in cell lysates or the exogenous CHD1 tCD in cells. Furthermore, we provide evidence for selectivity against a panel of methyl-lysine readers and epigenetic Enzymes as well as impairment of PCa cell viability. Due to their high potency and defined binding mode, our ligands offer new directions for further optimization.

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