ML-323 is a highly reversible and highly effective selective inhibitor of USP1-UAF1 with an IC50 value of 76nM. The Ki value of ML-323 for free enzymes is 68nM. USP1-UAF1 is closely related to the DNA damage response and can be used for the study of anti-tumor drug resistance [1]. ML-323 has anti-cancer activity against various cancers [2-3].
In vitro, in the Ub-Rho experiment, ML-323 (0.08-114μM; 1-2h) exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of USP1-UAF1 with an IC50 value of 76nM [1]. ML-323 (0-200μM; 48h) inhibited the growth of HCCLM3 and SMMC-7721 HCC cells and the formation of colonies in a dose-dependent manner [4]. ML-323 (0-400nM; 0, 4, 8 and 16h) could down-regulate the expression of USP1 in colorectal cancer cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner [5].
In vivo, the injection treatment of ML-323 (10mg/kg; 7 days) significantly increased the body weight of mice with colitis models and decreased the MPO activity in colonic tissues and ulcer areas, and had a significant inhibitory effect on the levels of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17 and IL-1β) in the colonic tissues of colitis mice [6]. ML-323 (25 and 50mg/kg/day; oral; twice a week for 8 weeks) treatment significantly reduced the body weight of mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD), improved insulin and glucose sensitivity, and significantly decreased the fat content and size of adipocytes in white adipose tissue, reduced lipid accumulation, triglycerides, free fatty acids and macrophage infiltration in the liver of the mice [7].
References:
[1] Liang Q, Dexheimer T S, Zhang P, et al. A selective USP1–UAF1 inhibitor links deubiquitination to DNA damage responses[J]. Nature chemical biology, 2014, 10(4): 298-304.
[2] Sun Y, Sha B, Huang W, et al. ML323, a USP1 inhibitor triggers cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and autophagy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells[J]. Apoptosis, 2022, 27(7): 545-560.
[3] Song B, Jiang Y, Jiang Y, et al. ML323 suppresses the progression of ovarian cancer via regulating USP1-mediated cell cycle[J]. Frontiers in Genetics, 2022, 13: 917481.
[4] Wang L, Hu T, Shen Z, et al. Inhibition of USP1 activates ER stress through Ubi-protein aggregation to induce autophagy and apoptosis in HCC[J]. Cell Death & Disease, 2022, 13(11): 951.
[5] Xu X, Mei X, Han K, et al. The deubiquitinating enzyme USP1 is auto-ubiquitinated and destabilized by ML323 in colorectal cancer cells[J]. Eurasian J Med Oncol, 2023, 7: 174-179.
[6] Lai Y, Liu J, Hu X, et al. N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-forming enzyme METTL3 controls UAF1 stability to promote inflammation in a model of colitis by stimulating NLRP3[J]. Scientific Reports, 2025, 15(1): 5876.
[7] Kim M S, Baek J H, Lee J A, et al. Deubiquitinase USP1 enhances CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBPβ) stability and accelerates adipogenesis and lipid accumulation[J]. Cell Death & Disease, 2023, 14(11): 776.
















