Readthrough Approach Using NV Translational Readthrough-Inducing Drugs (TRIDs): A Study of the Possible Off-Target Effects on Natural Termination Codons (NTCs) on TP53 and Housekeeping Gene Expression.

Nonsense mutations cause several genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, ß-thalassemia, and Shwachman-Diamond syndrome. These mutations induce the formation of a premature termination codon (PTC) inside the mRNA sequence, resulting in the synthesis of truncated polypeptides. Nonsense suppression therapy mediated by translational readthrough-inducing drugs (TRIDs) is a promising approach to correct these genetic defects. TRIDs generate a ribosome miscoding of the PTC named "translational readthrough" and restore the synthesis of full-length and potentially functional proteins. The new oxadiazole-core TRIDs NV848, NV914, and NV930 (NV) showed translational readthrough activity in nonsense-related in vitro systems. In this work, the possible off-target effect of NV molecules on natural termination codons (NTCs) was investigated. Two different in vitro approaches were used to assess if the NV molecule treatment induces NTC readthrough: (1) a study of the translational-induced p53 molecular weight and functionality; (2) the evaluation of two housekeeping proteins' (Cys-C and ß2M) molecular weights. Our results showed that the treatment with NV848, NV914, or NV930 did not induce any translation alterations in both experimental systems. The data suggested that NV molecules have a specific action for the PTCs and an undetectable effect on the NTCs.

Nonsense codons suppression. An acute toxicity study of three optimized TRIDs in murine model, safety and tolerability evaluation.

Stop mutations cause 11% of the genetic diseases, due to the introduction of a premature termination codon (PTC) in the mRNA, followed by the production of a truncated protein. A promising therapeutic approach is the suppression therapy by Translational Readthrough Inducing Drugs (TRIDs), restoring the expression of the protein. Recently, three new TRIDs (NV848, NV914, NV930) have been proposed, and validated by several in vitro assays, for the rescue of the CFTR protein, involved in Cystic Fibrosis disease. In this work, an acute toxicological study for the three TRIDs was conducted in vivo on mice, according to the OECD No.420 guidelines. Animals were divided into groups and treated with a single dose of TRIDs molecules or Ataluren, an FDA-approved TRID molecule, as control. Mice were observed continuously for the first day post-drugs administration and the behavioral changes were recorded. On the 15th day, animals were sacrificed for histological examinations. The results showed that acute administration of 2000 mg/kg of NV914 and Ataluren and 300 mg/kg of NV848 or NV930, did not induce any mortality within 14 days. Moreover, histopathological analysis of treated mice showed no differences when compared to the experimental controls. In summary, our results suggest a good tolerability for the three molecules, and include NV848 and NV930 in a category 4 and NV914 in a category 5 of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, classifying these compounds in a low-risk scale for health.

Pharmacophore-Based Design of New Chemical Scaffolds as Translational Readthrough-Inducing Drugs (TRIDs).

Translational readthrough-inducing drugs (TRIDs) rescue the functional full-length protein expression in genetic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, caused by premature termination codons (PTCs). Small molecules have been developed as TRIDs to trick the ribosomal machinery during recognition of the PTC. Herein we report a computational study to identify new TRID scaffolds. A pharmacophore approach was carried out on compounds that showed readthrough activity. The pharmacophore model applied to screen different libraries containing more than 87000 compounds identified four hit-compounds presenting scaffolds with diversity from the oxadiazole lead. These compounds have been synthesized and tested using the Fluc reporter harboring the UGA PTC. Moreover, the cytotoxic effect and the expression of the CFTR protein were evaluated. These compounds, a benzimidazole derivative (NV2899), a benzoxazole derivative (NV2913), a thiazole derivative (NV2909), and a benzene-1,3-disulfonate derivative (NV2907), were shown to be potential new lead compounds as TRIDs, boosting further efforts to address the optimization of the chemical scaffolds.