Discovering the Biological Target of 5-epi-Sinuleptolide Using a Combination of Proteomic Approaches.

Sinuleptolide and its congeners are diterpenes with a norcembranoid skeleton isolated from the soft coral genus Sinularia . These marine metabolites are endowed with relevant biological activities, mainly associated with cancer development. 5- epi -sinuleptolide has been selected as a candidate for target discovery studies through the application of complementary proteomic approaches. Specifically, a combination of conventional chemical proteomics based on affinity chromatography, coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry and bioinformatics, as well as drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS), led to a clear identification of actins as main targets for 5- epi -sinuleptolide. Subsequent in-cell assays, performed with cytochalasin D as reference compound, gave information on the ability of 5- epi -sinuleptolide to disrupt the actin cytoskeleton by loss of actin fibers and formation of F-actin amorphous aggregates. These results suggest the potential application of 5- epi -sinuleptolide as a useful tool in the study of the molecular processes impaired in several disorders in which actin is thought to play an essential role.