Advancing drug discovery through assay development

Author(s)
Daniela Digles, Alvaro Ingles-Prieto, Vojtech Dvorak, Tamara A.M. Mocking, Ulrich Goldmann, Andrea Garofoli, Evert J. Homan, Alberto Di Silvio, Lucia Azzollini, Francesca Sassone, Mario Fogazza, Felix Bärenz, Antje Pommereau, Yasmin Zuschlag, Jasper F. Ooms, Jeppe Tranberg-Jensen, Jesper S. Hansen, Josefina Stanka, Hubert J. Sijben, Helena Batoulis, Eckhard Bender, Riccardo Martini, Adriaan P. IJzerman, David B. Sauer, Laura H. Heitman, Vania Manolova, Juergen Reinhardt, Alexander Ehrmann, Philipp Leippe, Gerhard F. Ecker, Kilian V.M. Huber, Thomas Licher, Lia Scarabottolo, Tabea Wiedmer, Giulio Superti-Furga
Abstract

With over 450 genes, solute carriers (SLCs) constitute the largest transporter superfamily responsible for the uptake and efflux of nutrients, metabolites, and xenobiotics in human cells. SLCs are associated with a wide variety of human diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and metabolic and neurological disorders. They represent an important therapeutic target class that remains only partly exploited as therapeutics that target SLCs are scarce. Additionally, many small molecules reported in the literature to target SLCs are poorly characterized. Both features may be due to the difficulty of developing SLC transport assays that fulfill the quality criteria for high-throughput screening. Here, we report one of the main limitations hampering assay development within the RESOLUTE consortium: the lack of a resource providing high-quality information on SLC tool compounds. To address this, we provide a systematic annotation of tool compounds targeting SLCs. We first provide an overview on RESOLUTE assays. Next, we present a list of SLC-targeting compounds collected from the literature and public databases; we found that most data sources lacked specificity data. Finally, we report on experimental tests of 19 selected compounds against a panel of 13 SLCs from seven different families. Except for a few inhibitors, which were active on unrelated SLCs, the tested inhibitors demonstrated high selectivity for their reported targets. To make this knowledge easily accessible to the scientific community, we created an interactive dashboard displaying the collected data in the RESOLUTE web portal (https://re-solute.eu). We anticipate that our open-access resources on assays and compounds will support the development of future drug discovery campaigns for SLCs.

Organisation(s)
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
External organisation(s)
Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (ÖAW), Leiden University, Karolinska Institute, Axxam SpA, Bayer AG, CSL Vifor, Novartis Pharma AG, Medizinische Universität Wien, Sanofi, University of Oxford
Journal
Frontiers in Pharmacology
Volume
15
ISSN
1663-9812
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2024.1401599
Publication date
07-2024
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
301207 Pharmaceutical chemistry
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Pharmacology, Pharmacology (medical)
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/advancing-drug-discovery-through-assay-development(0f243319-7685-4a0d-b115-19c79c8e59ca).html