CHEMBL5738622

MCL-1/Noxa BH3 Peptide (MCL-1 Assay): The dose-dependent inhibition by the compounds described in this invention of the interaction between MCL-1 and the BH3 domain of Noxa (both human) was determined using a steady state binding competition assay with time-resolved fluorescence energy transfer (TR-FRET) readout. For that purpose MCL-1 (amino acids 173-321, N-terminal fused to Maltose Binding Protein (MBP) SEQ ID 1) and a synthetic Noxa BH3-derived peptide of sequence Biotin-PEG2-PEG2-PAELEVE-Nva-ATQLRRFGDKLNFRQKLL-amide (SEQ ID 2) served as protein receptor and tracer ligand respectively. The MBP-MCL-1 was purchased from Beryllium (Bedford, Mass., USA). The expression and purification of this protein construct has been described elsewhere (DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0125010). The Noxa BH3-derived peptide can be obtained from e.g. Biosyntan (Berlin, Germany), 50812.1.In the assay 11 different concentrations of each compound (0.1 nM, 0.33 nM, 1.1 nM, 3.8 nM, 13 nM, 44 nM, 0.15 μM, 0.51 μM, 1.7 μM, 5.9 μM and 20 μM) were typically measured as duplicates in the same microtiter plate. For that, 100-fold concentrated DMSO solutions were prepared by serial dilutions (1:3.4) of a 2 mM stock solution in a clear, 384-well microtiter plate (Greiner Bio-One, Frickenhausen, Germany). From there, 50 nl were transferred in a dark test plate (Greiner Bio-One, Frickenhausen, Germany). The assay was initiated by addition of 2 μL of a 2.5-fold concentrated MBP-MCL-1 solution (usually for a 1 nM end concentration in 5 μL reaction volume) in aqueous assay buffer [50 mM Tris/HCl pH 7, 100 mM sodium chloride (NaCl), 50 mM potassium fluoride (KF), 0.005% Tween-20, 2 mM DTT, 0.1% bovine gamma globulin (BGG)] to the compounds in the assay plate. This was followed by a 10-minute incubation step at 22° C. for pre-equilibration of the putative complex between MBP-MCL-1 and the compounds. After that, 3 μL of a 1.67-fold concentrated solution (in assay buffer) consisting of Noxa BH3-derived peptide (1 nM end concentration) and TR-FRET detection reagents [1.67 nM anti-MBP-Eu cryptate and 1.67 nM streptavidin-XL665 (both from Cisbio Bioassays, Codolet, France)], were added.The mixture was incubated in the dark for one hour at 22° C. and then overnight at 4° C. The formation of MCL-1/Noxa complexes was determined by measuring the resonance energy transfer of the anti-MBP-Eu-cryptate antibody to the streptavidin-XL665 present in the reaction. For that purpose, the fluorescence emission at 620 nm and 665 nm after excitation at 330-350 nm was measured in a TR-FRET measuring instrument, for instance a Rubystar or a Pherastar (both from BMG Lab Technologies, Offenburg, Germany) or a Viewlux (Perkin-Elmer). The ratio of the emission at 665 nm and at 622 nm was used as indicator of the amount of MCL-1/NOXA complexes present.