Aurone derivatives as Vps34 inhibitors that modulate autophagy

We report in this study the identification of a natural product-like antagonist () of Vps34 as a potent autophagy modulator structure-based virtual screening. Aurone derivative strongly inhibited Vps34 activity in cell-free and cell-based assays. Significantly, prevents autophagy in human cells induced either by starvation or by an mTOR inhibitor. modeling and kinetic data revealed that could function as an ATP-competitive inhibitor of Vps34. Moreover, it suppressed autophagy and without inducing heart or liver damage in mice. could be utilized as a new motif for more selective and efficacious antagonists of Vps34 for the potential treatment of autophagy-related human diseases.