Inhibitors of KATs: potential therapeutic molecules

KAT inhibitors are another class of small molecule modulators that Prof. Kundu’s group has been pursuing. These small molecules are derivitized from natural compounds through a rational design approach, tested in vitro and in vivo for their efficacy and specificity, the promising candidates have yielded molecules such as LTK14, a p300 specific inhibitor, which could repress HIV replication. CTK7A is another KAT inhibitor that could specifically suppress p300 autoacetylation and hence its activity, showing promising results in inhibiting histone acetylation in oral cancer. Many other molecules such as Luteolin, Garcinol have also shown promising therapeutic results in cancer cell lines and xenograft models.