Nur77 modulators have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, a structure-based rational drug design approach was used to design and synthesise a series of 4-((8-hydroxy-2-methylquinolin-4-yl)amino)benzoylhydrazone derivatives based on the binding characteristics of our previously reported
10g
and the native ligand
3NB
at the binding Site C of Nur77. Cell-based cytotoxicity assays revealed that compound
TMHA37
demonstrated the highest cytotoxicity against all tested cancer cells. The induced fit docking and binding pose metadynamics simulation suggested that
TMHA37
was the most promising Nur77 binder at Site C. Molecular dynamics simulation validated the stable binding of
TMHA37
to Nur77’s Site C but not to Sites A or B. Specifically,
TMHA37
bound strongly to Nur77-LBD (
K
D
= 445.3 nM) and could activate Nur77’s transcriptional activity. Furthermore,
TMHA37
exhibited antitumor effects by blocking the cell cycle at G2/M phase and inducing cell apoptosis in a Nur77-dependent manner.
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