Dorsomorphin (BML-275) is an AMPK inhibitor (Ki=109 nM) that is selective and ATP-competitive. Dorsomorphin inhibits the BMP type I receptors ALK2, ALK3, and ALK6. Dorsomorphin induces autophagy, and possesses antitumor activity.

AMPK:109 nM(Ki)

METHODS: Human tumor cells HeLa and HCT116 were treated with Dorsomorphin (1.25-80 μM) for 24 h, and cell viability was measured by CCK-8.
RESULTS: Dorsomorphin inhibited the viability of HeLa and HCT116 cells with IC50 values of 10.71 μM and 11.34 μM, respectively. [1]
METHODS: ATL patient-derived PBMCs cells were treated with Dorsomorphin (5-25 μM) for 24 h. Apoptosis was detected by Flow Cytometry.
RESULTS: Dorsomorphin increased the frequency of early apoptotic cells in PBMCs from patients with acute and chronic forms of ATL in a dose-dependent manner. [2]

METHODS: To test the antitumor activity in vivo, Dorsomorphin (10 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to NOD/SCID mice bearing human tumor S1T once daily for 28 days.
RESULTS: Dorsomorphin inhibited the growth of human ATL tumor xenografts in NOD/SCID mice. [2]
METHODS: To examine the effect on SMAD activity in vivo, Dorsomorphin (10 mg/kg) was administered as a single intraperitoneal injection to iron-dextran-treated C57BL/6 mice.
RESULTS: Dorsomorphin eliminated iron-dextran-induced iron-mediated increase in hepatic SMAD1/5/8 phosphorylation. [3]

HT1080 cells are seeded in 24-well plates (2×104 cells per well) and treated with Dorsomorphin in the presence or absence of glucose or 10 mM 2DG for 2 h. HT1080 cells that overexpressed the wild-type and dominant negative AMPKα1 are prepared by transfecting plasmid DNA (pAMPKα1-wt, pAMPKα1-D168A and pcFlag as a control) in 6-well plates, seeding in 24-well plate and treating with UPR inhibitors. Cells are lysed with cell lysis buffer (20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 250 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol, 0.5% NP-40, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM EGTA, 0.2 mM PMSF, 1 μg/mL pepstatin, 0.5 μg/mL leupeptin, 5 mM NaF, 2 mM Na3Vo4, 2 mM β-glycerophosphate, 1 mM DTT). Relative AMPK kinase activity (mean±SD of duplicate determinations) to control sample (vehicle or pcFlag under normal growth conditions) is determined using the CycLex AMPK kinase assay kit[2].

Dorsomorphin is dissolved in DMSO (10 mM) and stored,and then diluted with appropriate media (DMSO 0.5%) before use[2].HeLa and 786-O cells are treated with various concentrations of Dorsomorphin (0,0.3,1,3,10 μM ),Versipelostatin and Phenformin in the presence or absence of 10 mM 2DG or 1 μg/mL of Tunicamycin as a stressor for 30 h in 96-well plates.For the combination study,786-O cells are treated with various concentrations of UPR inhibitors in the presence or absence of 10 mM 2DG for 24 h.The medium is then replaced with fresh growth medium,and cells are cultured for a further 15 h.Subsequently,MTT is added to the culture medium,and the absorbance of each well is determined.For the viability assay under glucose-withdrawal conditions,HT1080 cells are treated with various concentrations of Dorsomorphin and phenformin in 12-well plates in the presence or absence of glucose for 18 h,seeded in 96-well plates with growth medium,and then cultured for a further 48 h before MTT is added.Relative cell survival (mean±SD of quadruplicate determinations) is calculated by setting each control absorbance from untreated cells as 100%.The effects of drug combinations at concentrations producing 80% cell growth inhibition (IC80) are analyzed using the isobologram method[2].