VH298

VH298 is a cell-permeable small molecule that disrupts the interaction of VHL with Hypoxia-inducible factor HIF-α, stabilizing HIF-α and inducing a hypoxic response.

VH298 is a cell-permeable small molecule that disrupts the interaction of VHL with Hypoxia-inducible factor HIF-α, stabilizing HIF-α and inducing a hypoxic response. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are oxygen-sensitive transcription factors that regulate hypoxic signalling. They are regulated by oxygen-dependent prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD) enzymes and polyubiquitination by the von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) Cullin RING E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. Unlike many PHD inhibitors, which have off-target effects, VH298 acts downstream of the PHD enzymes, inhibiting the VHL:HIF-α interaction. VH298 had a Kd of 90 nM. VH298 was shown to induce HIF transcriptional activity, to increase accumulation of HIF-α in HeLa cells and to stimulate erythropoietin production in RCC4 cells.