Identification of Potent, Selective, Cell-Active Inhibitors of the Histone Lysine Methyltransferase EZH2

Abstract

The histone H3-lysine 27 (H3K27) methyltransferase EZH2 plays a critical role in regulating gene expression, and its aberrant activity is linked to the onset and progression of cancer. As part of a drug discovery program targeting EZH2, we have identified highly potent, selective, SAM-competitive, and cell-active EZH2 inhibitors, including GSK926 (<b>3</b>) and GSK343 (<b>6</b>). These compounds are small molecule chemical tools that would be useful to further explore the biology of EZH2