Background: Multiple myeloma SET domain (MMSET)/nuclear receptor binding SET domain 2 (NSD2) is a lysine histone methyltransferase (HMTase) and bona fide oncoprotein found aberrantly expressed in several cancers, suggesting potential role for novel therapeutic strategies. In particular, MMSET/NSD2 is emerging as a target for therapeutic interventions against multiple myeloma, especially t(4;14) myeloma that is associated with a significantly worse prognosis than other biological subgroups. Multiple myeloma is the second most common hematological malignancy in the United States, after non-Hodgkin lymphoma and remains an incurable malignancy. Thus, effective therapeutic strategies are greatly needed. HMTases inhibitors are scarce and no NSDs inhibitors have been isolated.
Methods: We used homology modeling, molecular modeling simulations, virtual ligand screening, computational chemistry software for structure-activity relationship and performed in vitro H3K36 histone lysine methylation inhibitory assay using recombinant human NSD2-SET and human H3.1 histone.
Results: Here, we report the discovery of LEM-06, a hit small molecule inhibitor of NSD2, with an IC50 of 0.8 mM against H3K36 methylation in vitro.
Conclusions: We propose LEM-06 as a hit inhibitor that is useful to further optimize for exploring the biology of NSD2. LEM-06 derivatives may pave the way to specific NSD2 inhibitors suitable for therapeutic efforts against malignancies.
Keywords: Antagonists & inhibitors; Drug design; Epigenomics; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; NSD2 protein.