High-throughput glycolytic inhibitor discovery targeting glioblastoma by graphite dots–assisted LDI mass spectrometry

Abstract

Malignant tumors will become vulnerable if their uncontrolled biosynthesis and energy consumption engaged in metabolic reprogramming can be cut off. Here, we report finding a glycolytic inhibitor targeting glioblastoma with graphite dots–assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry as an integrated drug screening and pharmacokinetic platform (GLMSD). We have performed high-throughput virtual screening to narrow an initial library of 240,000 compounds down to the docking of 40 compounds and identified five previously unknown chemical scaffolds as promising hexokinase-2 inhibitors. The best inhibitor (Compd 27) can regulate the reprogrammed metabolic pathway in U87 glioma cells (median inhibitory concentration ~ 11.3 µM) for tumor suppression. Highly effective therapy against glioblastoma has been demonstrated in both subcutaneous and orthotopic brain tumors by synergizing Compd 27 and temozolomide. Our glycolytic inhibitor discovery can inspire personalized medicine targeting reprogrammed metabolisms of malignant tumors. GLMSD enables large, high-quality data for next-generation artificial intelligence–aided drug development.