Activity against EZH2 is assessed using 5 member PRC2 complex (Flag-EZH2, EED, SUZ12, AEBP2, RbAp48). The assay protocol may be summarized as follows: 10 mM stocks of GSK343 are prepared from solid in 100% DMSO. An 11 point serial dilution master plate is prepared in 384 well format (1:3 dilution, columns 6 and 18 are equal volume DMSO controls) and dispensed to assay ready plates using acoustic dispensing technology to create a 100 nL stamp of GSK343 and DMSO controls. The assay additions consisted of equal volume additions of 10 nM EZH2 and the substrate solution (5 μg/mL HeLa nucleosomes and 0.25 μM [³H]-SAM) dispensed into assay plates using a multi-drop combi dispense. Reaction plates are incubated for 1 hr and quenched with an equal volume addition of 0.5 mg/mL PS-PEI Imaging Beads (RPNQ0098) containing 0.1 mM unlabeled SAM. The plates are sealed, dark adapted for 30 minutes, and a 5 minute endpoint luminescence image is acquired using a Viewlux imager. Plate statistics such as Z’ and signal to background as well as dose response curves are analyzed using ActivityBaseXE. The in vitro biochemical activity of EZH1 is assessed as part of a 5 member PRC2 complex using a 384 well SPA assay identical to EZH2. Buffer components, reagent dispensing, GSK343 plate preparation, quench conditions and data analysis are identical for EZH1 and EZH2 with final assay concentrations of 20 nM EZH1, 5 μg/mL HeLa nucleosomes and 0.25 μM [³H]-SAM. Further data analysis, pIC₅₀ pivots and visualizations are enabled by TIBCO Spotfire^[1].

MCE has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

To account for varying doubling rates among cancer cell lines, the optimal cell seeding is determined empirically for all cell lines by examining their growth in a 384-well plate over 6 days with a wide range of seeding densities. Cells are then plated at the optimal seeding density and allowed to adhere overnight. Cells are treated in duplicate with a 20-point 2-fold dilution series of GSK343 or 0.147% DMSO (vehicle control) and incubated for 6 days at 37°C in 5% CO₂. Cells are then lysed with 25 μL CellTiter-Glo per well and chemiluminescence is quantified with a TECAN Safire2 microplate reader. In addition, an untreated plate of cells is harvested at the time of GSK343 addition (T₀) to quantify the starting number of cells. CTG values after 6 days of treatment are expressed as a percent of the T₀ value and plotted against GSK343 concentration. Data are fit with a 4-parameter equation to generate a concentration response curve and the concentration of GSK343 required to inhibit 50% of growth (gIC₅₀) is determined^[1].

MCE has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

Mice^[2]
Six-week-old female nude BALB/c mice are used. To study the effect of the EZH2 inhibitor GSK343, 5 mg/kg in 100-μL phosphate-buffered saline is injected intraperitoneally every other day into BALB/c nude mice (n=6) after the tumor volume reaches 100 mm³. In this analysis, the negative control group (n=6) received saline. After 40 days, the mice are killed, and the subcutaneous tumors are surgically excised, weighed, photographed, sectioned, and fixed in 10% formalin. The expression levels of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin in the tumours are measured by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

MCE has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

• [1]. Sharad K, et al. Identification of Potent, Selective, Cell-Active Inhibitors of the Histone Lysine Methyltransferase EZH2. ACS Med Chem Lett. 2012 Oct 19;3(12):1091-6.  [Content Brief]

  [2]. Ding M, et al. The polycomb group protein enhancer of zeste 2 is a novel therapeutic target for cervical cancer. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2015 May;42(5):458-64.  [Content Brief]