ML346: A Novel Modulator of Proteostasis for Protein Conformational Diseases

Excerpt

Protein homeostasis, also called proteostasis, is critical for cellular health and its dysregulation is implicated in aging, cancer, metabolic disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. Proteostasis involves compartmentalized cellular responses (e.g. Heat Shock Response in the cytoplasm, Unfolded Protein Response in the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum) that limit protein misfolding and aggregation. Diseases of protein conformation are characterized by inefficient induction of these responses. As a result, identification of molecules that activate cellular stress responses and increase proteostasis may be useful for maintaining cell health. Here, we report on high throughput screening efforts that resulted in identification of a novel activator of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70): ML346. Probe ML346 belongs to the barbituric acid scaffold. ML346 induces HSF-1-dependent chaperone expression and restores protein folding in conformational disease models. These effects are mediated by novel mechanisms involving FOXO, HSF-1, and Nfr-2.