Methylsulfonylnitrobenzoates, a new class of irreversible inhibitors of the interaction of the thyroid hormone receptor and its obligate coactivators that functionally antagonizes thyroid hormone

Jong Yeon Hwang, Wenwei Huang, Leggy A. Arnold, Ruili Huang, Ramy R. Attia, Michele Connelly, Jennifer Wichterman, Fangyi Zhu, Indre Augustinaite, Christopher P. Austin, James Inglese, Ronald L. Johnson, R. Kiplin Guy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) are members of the nuclear hormone receptor (NR) superfamily and regulate development, growth, and metabolism. Upon binding thyroid hormone, TR undergoes a conformational change that allows the release of corepressors and the recruitment of coactivators, which in turn regulate target gene transcription. Although a number of TR antagonists have been developed, most are analogs of the endogenous hormone that inhibit ligand binding. In a screen for inhibitors that block the association of TRβ with steroid receptor coactivator 2 (SRC2), we identified a novel methylsulfonylnitrobenzoate (MSNB)-containing series that blocks this interaction at micromolar concentrations. Here we have studied a series of MSNB analogs and characterized their structure activity relationships. MSNB members do not displace thyroid hormone T3 but instead act by direct displacement of SRC2. MSNB series members are selective for the TR over the androgen, vitamin D, and PPARγ NR members, and they antagonize thyroid hormone-activated transcription action in cells. The methylsulfonylnitro group is essential for TRβ antagonism. Side-chain alkylamine substituents showed better inhibitory activity than arylamine substituents. Mass spectrum analysis suggested that MSNB inhibitors bind irreversibly to Cys-298 within the AF-2 cleft of TRβ to disrupt SRC2 association.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)11895-11908
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume286
Issue number14
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 8 2011

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesR55DK058080

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Biochemistry
    • Molecular Biology
    • Cell Biology

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