OBJECTIVETo establish a method for screening nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPT) inhibitors based on endogenous fluorescence determination.

METHODSThe double mutants of NAMPT, G355C/D393C, was cross-linked by using 1, 4-Bismaleimidobutane (BMB) to block the entrance of enzymatic active site of NAMPT. The binding of compounds to NAMPT was evaluated according to the change of spontaneous fluorescence of NAMPT and BMB-NAMPT with 280 nm excitation and 333 nm emmision. The in vitro enzamatic activity of NAMPT was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance. The cell viability was determined by MTT assay.

RESULTSFK866 significantly decreased the spontaneous fluorescence of NAMPT but not of BMB-NAMPT. Rosmaric, cynarine and 1, 3-dicaffeoylquinic acid also decreased the spontaneous fluorescence of both NAMPT and BMB-NAMPT. However, the inhibition on two proteins was equivalent. FK866 significantly inhibit the catalysis of NAMPT. Rosmarinic acid, cynarine and 1, 3-dicaffeoylquinic acid failed to inhibit the catalysis of NAMPT. FK866 inhibited the viability of A549 cells, but rosmarinic acid, cynarine and 1, 3-dicaffeoylquinic acid did not.

CONCLUSIONEndogenous fluorescence spectrometry based on NAMPT and BMB-NAMPT protein can be used for screening compounds that bind with NAMPT, and distinguishing the binding site - either within the enzymatic active site or not. Rosmarinic acid, cynarine and 1, 3-dicoffeoylquinic acid can bind to NAMPT out its enzymatic active site.