Identification of β-III-spectrin actin-binding modulators for treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia

β-III-spectrin is a key cytoskeletal protein that localizes to the soma and dendrites of cerebellar Purkinje cells, and is required for dendritic arborization and signaling. A spinocerebellar ataxia type 5 (SCA5) L253P mutation in the cytoskeletal protein β-III-spectrin causes high-affinity actin binding. Previously we reported a cell-based fluorescence assay for identification of small molecule actin-binding modulators of the L253P mutant β-III-spectrin. Here we describe a complementary, in vitro , fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay that uses purified L253P β-III-spectrin actin-binding domain (ABD) and F-actin. To validate the assay, we screened a 2,684-compound library of FDA-approved drugs. Importantly, the screening identified numerous compounds that decreased FRET between fluorescently labeled L253P ABD and F-actin. The activity and target of multiple Hit compounds were confirmed in orthologous co-sedimentation actin-binding assays. Through future medicinal chemistry, the Hit compounds can potentially be developed into a SCA5-specific therapeutic. Furthermore, our validated FRET-based in vitro HTS platform is poised for screening large compound libraries for β-III-spectrin ABD modulators.