Lysine-Specific Demethylase 1 (LSD1) Inhibitors: Peptides as an Emerging Class of Therapeutics

ACS Chem Biol. 2023 Oct 20;18(10):2144-2155. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00386. Epub 2023 Oct 9.

Abstract

Aberrant expression of the epigenetic regulator lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) has been associated with the incidence of many diseases, particularly cancer, and it has evolved as a promising epigenetic target over the years for treatment. The advent of LSD1 inhibitor-based clinical utility began with tranylcypromine, and it is now considered an inevitable scaffold in the search for other irreversible novel LSD1 inhibitors (IMG-7289 or bomedemstat, ORY1001 or iadademstat, ORY-2001 or vafidemstat, GSK2879552, and INCB059872). Moreover, numerous reversible inhibitors for LSD1 have been reported in the literature, including clinical candidates CC-90011 (pulrodemstat) and SP-2577 (seclidemstat). There is parallel mining for peptide-based LSD1 inhibitors, which exploits the opportunities in the LSD1 substrate binding pocket. This Review highlights the research progress on reversible and irreversible peptide/peptide-derived LSD1 inhibitors. For the first time, we comprehensively organized the peptide-based LSD1 inhibitors from the design strategy. Peptide inhibitors of LSD1 are classified as H3 peptide and SNAIL1 peptide derivatives, along with miscellaneous peptides that include naturally occurring LSD1 inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Enzyme Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Histone Demethylases / metabolism
  • Lysine* / metabolism
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Tranylcypromine / pharmacology

Substances

  • Lysine
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Tranylcypromine
  • Peptides
  • Histone Demethylases