10'-Desmethoxystreptonigrin is an antibiotic originally isolated from Streptomyces and a derivative of the antibiotic streptonigrin. It is active against a variety of bacteria, including S. aureus, S. faecalis, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and P. vulgaris (MICs = 0.4, 1.6, 3.1, 3.1 and 0.4 μg/ml, respectively). 10'-Desmethoxystreptonigrin is cytotoxic to HCT116 colon and A2780 ovarian cancer cells (IC50s = 0.004 and 0.001 μg/ml, respectively), as well as HCT116 cells resistant to etoposide and teniposide and cisplatin-resistant A2780 cells (IC50s = 0.003, 0.001, and 0.01 μg/ml, respectively). 10'-Desmethoxystreptonigrin is also an inhibitor of p21ras farnesylation (IC50 = 21 nM).
BMS-214662 is a Farnesyltransferase inhibitor , is also a nonsedating benzodiazepine derivative with potential antineoplastic activity. BMS-214662 inhibits the enzyme farnesyltransferase and the post-translational farnesylation of number of proteins involved in signal transduction, which may result in the inhibition of Ras function and apoptosis in susceptible tumor cells. This agent may reverse the malignant phenotype of H-Ras-transformed cells and has been shown to be active against tumor cells with and without Ras mutations.
AZD-3409 is a potent prenyl transferase inhibitor. AZD-3409 showed higher potency than lonafarnib. The mean IC(50) for cytotoxicity of AZD3409 was 510 in MEF cells, 10,600 in A549 cells and 6,170 in MCF7 cells, respectively. In these cells, the IC(50) for FTase activity of AZD3409 ranged from 3.0 to 14.2 nM and of lonafarnib from 0.26 to 31.3 nM. AZD3409 inhibits farnesylation to a higher extent than geranylgeranylation. Both inhibition of farnesylation and geranylgeranylation could not be correlated to the antiproliferative activity of the drug. AZD3409 might be active in gefitinib-resistant breast carcinoma.
XR3054 is a novel inhibitor of farnesyl protein transferase (FPTase). XR3054 inhibited the proliferation of the prostatic cancer cell lines LnCAP and PC3 and the colon carcinoma SW480 and HT1080 (IC50 values of 12.4, 12.2, 21.4 and 8.8 microM, respectively) but was relatively inactive when tested against a panel of breast carcinoma cell lines. The activity did not relate to the presence of mutant or wild-type ras in the cell lines tested. In conclusion XR3054 inhibits ras farnesylation, MAP kinase activation and anchorage-independent growth in NIH 3T3 transformed with v12 H-ras. Since the antiproliferative effect of the compound is not related to the ras phenotype, XR3054 may also have effects on other cell signaling mechanisms.
GGTI 2133, a peptidomimetic inhibitor of geranylgeranyl transferase type I (GGTase I; IC50= 38 nM), exhibits 140-fold selectivity towards GGTase I compared to farnesyltransferase (IC50= 5,400 nM). The compound effectively inhibits the geranylgeranylation of RAP1A (IC50= 10 µM) without affecting the farnesylation of H-Ras (IC50= >30 µM). Moreover, GGTI 2133 reduces the growth, migration, and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSSC) cells to 75, 45, and 27% of control levels, respectively. When administered intraperitoneally at 5 mg/kg per day, it prevents eosinophil infiltration into the airways in a mouse model of allergic bronchial asthma, although it does not reduce chemokine levels. Additionally, GGTI 2133 thwarts naloxone-induced contraction of ileum in rats experiencing morphine withdrawal syndrome and mitigates the severity of withdrawal symptoms in vivo (ED50= 0.076 mg/kg).