459 Development of small molecules targeting an epigenetic modulator for pediatric neuroblastoma

Abstract

Objectives/Goals: The bromodomain PHD finger transcription factor (BPTF) is an oncogenic driver of neuroblastoma. Our objective is to pioneer the discovery of the first class of chemical compounds that engage the PHD finger of BPTF and inhibit its biological function in cellulo, thereby establishing first-in-class chemical probes for this epigenetic reader. Methods/Study Population: Our previous work has identified a collection of small molecules that engage BPTF PHD in vitro. Following structure–activity relationships analysis, candidates will be used in a neuroblastoma cell model to validate BPTF PHD interaction in cellulo and predict therapeutic potential. Nanoluciferase bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (NanoBRET) will be used to confirm BPTF PHD engagement by compounds. Selective toxicity in neuroblastoma cells upon inhibitor treatment will be gauged by comparing cell growth and viability in the IMR-32 cell line against the HEK293 cell line. Treated HEK293 cells will be subjected to the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin (ATAC) and RNA sequencing methods to monitor changes in chromatin structure and transcriptional signatures against untreated cells. Results/Anticipated Results: We hypothesize that compounds with low micromolar potency for BPTF PHD in vitro will engage the target in cellulo and displace NanoLuciferase tagged protein from its HaloTagged® peptide binding partner. Additionally, we anticipate that our inhibitors will show cytotoxicity for IMR-32 cells with limited effects on HEK293 cells. We envision that inhibitor treatment in HEK293 cells will correlate with reduced chromatin exposure, suggesting that blocking the BPTF–histone interaction via PHD finger inhibition hinders the remodeling of transcriptionally silent heterochromatin into a transcriptionally active state. Finally, we expect that inhibitor treatment will result in diminished gene expression of oncogenic transcription factors, including N-Myc, a biomarker of neuroblastoma. Discussion/Significance of Impact: These first-in-class chemical probes for BPTF PHD will enable further investigation of BPTF and high-risk neuroblastoma progression, as well as its role in other diseases. In addition, these compounds will serve as a platform for the development of new anticancer agents that may improve outcomes for children that suffer from high-risk neuroblastoma.