The highly conserved p97 ATPase functions in endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) by hydrolyzing ATP needed to export ubiquitinated substrates to the cytosol for degradation by the proteasome. Inhibition of p97 leads to unfolded protein accumulation, and ultimately, cell death. The discovery of p97 missense mutations in a genetic form of human dementia, in addition to the localization of p97 in ubiquitylated inclusions in affected neurons of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, and the overproduction of p97 in multiple cancers suggests that p97 has diverse and essential cellular roles. Thus, the identification of probes that selectively target p97 activity would be useful for providing insights into the biological roles of P97. The probe ML080 (CID-25110544) is the first cell active, reversible inhibitor of P97. This compound in the ATP-depletion-based assay, is cell penetrable as demonstrated by activity in the cell-based ubiquitin-GFP turnover assay.
Assigned Assay Grant #: 1 R03 MH085687-01
Screening Center Name & PI: Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, H. Rosen, P. Hodder
Chemistry Center Name & PI: Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, H. Rosen, W. Roush
Assay Submitter & Institution: Raymond Deshaies, California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
PubChem Summary Bioassay Identifier (AID): AID-1794
Probe Structure & Characteristics
This compound CID-25110544 has a 2-amino thiazole core and met the probe definition criteria for this P97 Inhibitor project. This compound in the ATP-depletion-based assay, is cell penetrant as demonstrated by activity in the cell-based Ub-GFP turnover assay. The structure of the compound, CID-25110544 (CYM-5654), which met probe selection criteria, is indicated in the box below.

Recommendations for the scientific use of this probe
This compound is useful for biochemical and cell-based assays in which it is desirable to specifically block p97 activity. Inhibition of p97 leads to unfolded protein accumulation, and ultimately cell death. This probe is the first cell active, reversible inhibitor of P97.
1. Scientific Rationale for Project
Misfolded proteins accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in response to environmental stress(1). To reduce the burden these proteins place on the secretory pathway, eukaryotic cells have evolved a process, known as ER-associated degradation (ERAD), to recognize and eliminate these proteins (1, 2). The highly conserved p97 ATPase functions in ERAD by hydrolyzing ATP needed to export ubiquitinated substrates to the cytosol for degradation by the proteasome (2, 3). The discovery of p97 missense mutations in a genetic form of human dementia (4–6), the localization of p97 in ubiquitylated inclusions in affected neurons of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease (8–9), and the overproduction of p97 in multiple cancers (10–14), suggests that p97 has diverse and essential cellular roles. Thus, the identification of probes that selectively target p97 activity may provide insights into the biological roles of P97.
2. Project Description
a. Information for each assay implemented and screening run
i. PubChem Bioassay Name, AID, Assay-Type (Primary, DR CS, Secondary)
Table 2
PubChem BioAssay.
ii. Assay Rationale and Description
Table 3
Assay Rationale and Description.
Table 4
Reagents and Source.
iii. Summary of Results
This compound represents the first non-covalent, cell active P97 inhibitor and will be useful as a lead candidate for the development of P97 specific inhibitors
b. Probe Optimization
i. SAR and Chemistry Strategy
The Scripps Chemistry Coordination Committee selected CID-14723044 as one of the chemically tractable lead compounds. In an initial round of synthesis, 16 compounds were made and tested in the in vitro assay. The two active compounds were selected for further testing in the Assay Provider’s (Deshaies) Lab in the Ub-GFP assay. One of these two compounds were active in the biochemical ATPase inhibition. One of these two, CID-25110544, was active in an a assay designed to measure p97 cellular-base Ub-GFP turnover activity.
3. Probe
a. Chemical name
4-(4-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)thiazol-2-ylamino)-2-trifluoromethyl) benzo-nitrile [ML080]
b. Chemical structure

c. Structural Verification Information of probe SID
LCMS.
d. PubChem CID (corresponding to the SID)
CID-25110544
e. Availability from a vendor
Not available
f. Mode of action for biological activity of probe
The probe compound reduces turnover of ubiquitin-GFP (7.5 µM IC50), and thus meets probe criteria.
g. Detailed synthetic pathway for making probe

h. Summary of probe properties
Aqueous solubility, --5.60170850230174; ADMET BBB, Not determined; ADMET BBB level, 4; ADMET absorption level, 0; ADMET solubility, −6.273; ADMET solubility level, 1
Table 5
Probe Properties.
4. Appendices
Appendix 1. Endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) Assay (Ub-G76V-GFP/HeLa Titration Assay)
In order to determine whether the identified p97 inhibitors were cell permeable and could inhibit endogenous p97 in vivo, ERAD assays were performed for selected compounds. Ub-G76V-GFP/HeLa cells were treated with MG132 (2 μM) for 1h and washed with PBS three times. DMEM containing cycloheximide (50 μg/mL) and test compounds (0 ~ 10 μM) was added to wells. 8 of 96 well plates were prepared and one of the plates was imaged at 25, 50, 70, 100, 110,125, 145, or 170 minutes after washing with PBS 3 times.




5. Bibliography
- 1.
- Raasi S, Wolf DH. Ubiquitin receptors and ERAD: a network of pathways to the proteasome. Seminars in cell & developmental biology. 2007;18:780–791. [PubMed: 17942349]
- 2.
- Halawani D, Latterich M. p97: The cell’s molecular purgatory? Molecular cell. 2006;22:713–717. [PubMed: 16793541]
- 3.
- Wang Q, Li L, Ye Y. Inhibition of p97-dependent protein degradation by Eeyarestatin I. The Journal of biological chemistry. 2008;283:7445–7454. [PMC free article: PMC2276333] [PubMed: 18199748]
- 4.
- Mizuno Y, Hori S, Kakizuka A, Okamoto K. Vacuole-creating protein in neurodegenerative diseases in humans. Neuroscience letters. 2003;343:77–80. [PubMed: 12759168]
- 5.
- Watts GD, Wymer J, Kovach MJ, Mehta SG, Mumm S, Darvish D, Pestronk A, Whyte MP, Kimonis VE. Inclusion body myopathy associated with Paget disease of bone and frontotemporal dementia is caused by mutant valosin-containing protein. Nature genetics. 2004;36:377–381. [PubMed: 15034582]
- 6.
- Weihl CC, Dalal S, Pestronk A, Hanson PI. Inclusion body myopathy-associated mutations in p97/VCP impair endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation. Human molecular genetics. 2006;15:189–199. [PubMed: 16321991]
- 7.
- Tetko IV, Tanchuk VY, Kasheva TN, Villa AE. Estimation of aqueous solubility of chemical compounds using E-state indices. J Chem Inf Comput Sci. 2001;41:1488–1493. [PubMed: 11749573]
- 8.
- Ishigaki S, Hishikawa N, Niwa J, Iemura S, Natsume T, Hori S, Kakizuka A, Tanaka K, Sobue G. Physical and functional interaction between Dorfin and Valosin-containing protein that are colocalized in ubiquitylated inclusions in neurodegenerative disorders. J Biol Chem. 2004 2004 Dec 3;279(49:):51376–85. [PubMed: 15456787]
- 9.
- Hirabayashi M, Inoue K, Tanaka K, Nakadate K, Ohsawa Y, Kamei Y, Popiel AH, Sinohara A, Iwamatsu A, Kimura Y, Uchiyama Y, Hori S, Kakizuka A. VCP/p97 in abnormal protein aggregates, cytoplasmic vacuoles, and cell death, phenotypes relevant to neurodegeneration. Cell Death Differ. 2001;8:977–984. [PubMed: 11598795]
Publication Details
Author Information and Affiliations
Authors
SJ Brown, T-F Chou, R Deshaies, E Roberts, M Guerrero, D Minond, BA Mercer, P Hodder, and HR Rosen.Publication History
Received: March 6, 2009; Last Update: August 6, 2010.
Copyright
Publisher
National Center for Biotechnology Information (US), Bethesda (MD)
NLM Citation
Brown SJ, Chou TF, Deshaies R, et al. Probe Report for P97/cdc48 Inhibitors. 2009 Mar 6 [Updated 2010 Aug 6]. In: Probe Reports from the NIH Molecular Libraries Program [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Center for Biotechnology Information (US); 2010-.