Our favorite molecules discovered in lab
Finasteride
Bossé et al., J. Clin. Invest. (2021) 131: e143990
Finasteride is a steroidogenesis inhibitor approved by the FDA for treatment of prostatic hyperplasia and androgenetic alopecia. This compound reduced the self-administration of multiple opioids in a zebrafish opioid self-administration screen, and blunted opioid seeking and withdrawal symptoms in rats. These findings point to the potential of finasteride as a new treatment option for opioid use disorder.
Glyoxylate
Nielson et al., Sci. Rep. (2022) 12: 4982
Glyoxylate is an endogenous metabolite that was identified in a zebrafish screen for cyanide countermeasures. Glyoxylate treatment following cyanide exposure improves survival in zebrafish, mice, and rabbits. Glyoxylate reverses the redox imbalance induced by cyanide exposure, supporting a non-scavenger-based rescue mechanism.
TRPswitch-A
Lam et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. (2020) 142: 17457-17468
TRPswitch-A was discovered in a zebrafish behavioral screen of light-responsive compounds. The TRPswitches are photoswitchable optogenetic tools that allow optical control of behavior via reversible/repeatable activation and deactivation of the TRPA1 channel in response to different wavelengths of light. TRPswitch-A treatment of zebrafish larvae with cardiomyocyte-specific Trpa1b expression enables light-controlled pacing of the heart.
TRPswitch-B
Lam et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. (2020) 142: 17457-17468
TRPswitch-B was obtained through structure-activity relationship studies of TRPswitch-A. TRPswtich-B exhibits enhanced stability and near-quantitative photoswitching relative to TRPswitch-A. TRPswitch-B treatment of zebrafish larvae with cardiomyocyte-specific Trpa1b expression enables light-controlled pacing of the heart.
Flumequine
Geng et al., Sci. Adv. (2022) 8: eabm7069
Flumequine is fluoroquinolone antibiotic that was identified as an inhibitor of zebrafish social development using the Peterson lab’s Fishbook social interaction assay platform. Flumequine inhibits topoisomerase 2a (Top2a), which led to additional animal and bioinformatic studies that uncovered the Top2a-Prc2-H3K27m3 axis as a major regulatory node in the development of sociality.
YW-130
Asnani et al., JCI Insight. (2018) 3: e96753
Liu et al., Sci. Transl. Med. (2014) 6: 266ra170
YW-130 was obtained through structure-activity relationship studies of visnagin, which rescued doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy in zebrafish and mice. YW-130 exhibited significantly improved potency (140- and 250-fold in zebrafish and mice, respectively) relative to visnagin.
Visnagin
Asnani et al., JCI Insight (2018) 3:e96753
Liu et al., Sci. Transl. Med. (2014) 6:266ra170
Visnagin (VIS) was identified in a cardiac function screen in a zebrafish model of doxorubicin cardiomyopathy. VIS rescues heart damage caused by the chemotherapy agent doxorubicin in zebrafish and mice.
Finazine
Rennekamp et al., Nat. Chem. Biol. (2016) 12:552-8
Bruni et al., Nat. Chem. Biol. (2016) 12:559-66
The finazines were identified using the Peterson lab’s zebrafish behavioral screening and behavioral barcoding platform. These compounds bind to the sigma-1 receptor, and alter zebrafish and rodent fear response.
Optovin
Lam et al., Sci. Rep. (2017) 7: 11839
Kokel et al., Nat. Chem. Biol. (2013) 9:257-63
Optovin was identified in a zebrafish behavioral screen for neuroactive compounds. Optovin is a reversible photoactivated TRPA1 ligand that initiates neuronal excitation and motor movement in wildtype zebrafish in response to light stimulus. This small molecule-based optical control of endogenous channels and neuronal signaling paves the way for future optogenetic applications.
STR-2
Kokel et al., Nat. Chem. Biol., (2010) 6:231-7
STR (slow-to-relax)-2 was identified using the Peterson lab’s zebrafish behavioral screening and behavioral barcoding platform. STR-2 treatment leads to a distinctive behavioral sequence involving prolonged tail flexion and a slow return to the relaxed state. STR-2 inhibits acetylcholinesterase in vivo.
STR-1
Kokel et al., Nat. Chem. Biol., (2010) 6:231-7
STR-1 was identified using the Peterson lab’s zebrafish behavioral screening and behavioral barcoding platform. STR-1 treatment leads to a distinctive behavioral sequence involving prolonged tail flexion and a slow return to the relaxed state. STR-1 inhibits acetylcholinesterase in vitro.
MAG-1
Kokel et al., Nat. Chem. Biol., (2010) 6:231-7
A potent inhibitor of Monoamine oxidase (MAO) (IC50 = 1 nM). MAG-1 was identified in a behavioral screen as a compound that increased photomotor response excitation magnitude and duration.
MOTP
Peterson et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (2000) 97: 12965-9
A small molecule that inhibits pigmentation in zebrafish, likely by blocking the specification of neural crest cells into melanocytes.
Nimesulide
Yeh et al., Nat. Chem. Biol. (2009) 5: 236-43
A selective COX-2 inhibitor that suppresses the effect of a leukemic oncogene, AML1-ETO, on hematopoietic differentiation. The redirection of erythropoiesis to granulopoiesis observed in AML1-ETO expressing zebrafish also occur in human patients. Thus, nimesulide may prove to be a therapeutic agent to treat AML1-ETO-induced leukemia.
GS4898
Peterson et al., Nat. Biotechnol. (2004) 22: 595-9
GS4898 was identified as a small molecule that suppresses the vascular defect in gridlock mutant embryos by modulating the VEGF signaling pathway.
LDN-193189
Yu et al., Nat. Med. (2008) 14: 1363-9
Cuny et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. (2008) 18: 4388-92
A potent inhibitor of BMP signaling in vertebrates. LDN-193189 has an IC50 of 4.9 nM on phosphorylation of SMAD1/5/8 by BMP4 and better pharmacokinetics than dorsomorphin (IC50
GS4012
Hong et al., Curr. Biol. (2006) 13:1366-72
GS4012 was identified as a small molecule that suppresses the vascular defect in gridlock mutant embryos by modulating the VEGF signaling pathway.
DTAB
Sachidanandan et al., PLoS One (2008) 3:e1947
A small molecule with selective activity towards retinoic acid receptors (RAR) β and γ. Treatment of zebrafish embryos with DTAB results in disruption of RA signaling and consequent shortening of the anterior-posterior axis.
Dorsomorphin
Yu et al., Nat. Chem. Biol. (2008) 4: 33-41
Dorsomorphin is a selective inhibitor bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type I receptors. Treatment of zebrafish embryos with dorsomorphin perturbs dorsoventral axis formation.
Concentramide
Peterson et al., Curr. Biol. (2001) 11:1481-91
A biaryl compound containing an acrylamide moiety, concentramide disrupts heart patterning in zebrafish and causes the ventricle to form inside the atrium.