ABSTRACT
objective To establish a molecular platform for screening thalidomide derivatives with potential high anti-tumor activities. Methods Human cereblon(CRBN) and Ikaros family zinc finger protein 1(IKZF1) cDNA were amplified and cloned into pXJ40-myc and pcDNA3-FLAG vectors respectively. Then the two constructs were transfected into 293T cells and the anti-tumor activities of thalidomide and its derivatives were reflected by their effects on the binding between CRBN and IKZF1 proteins. Results Both CRBN and IKZF1 were successfully expressed in 293T cells. Thalidomide and two of its derivatives were found to enhance the interaction between CRBN and IKZF1 significantly. Conclusion A molecular platform was successfully established for screening thalidomide derivatives with potential high anti-tumor activities and two thalidomide derivatives could potentiate the binding between CRBN and IKZF1, suggesting that they possess potential anti-tumor activities.