Using in silico modeling, Li et al. identify a selective inhibitor for aldehyde dehydrogenase isoform ALDH1A3, which is highly expressed in mesenchymal glioma stem cells and therefore a potential drug target. They solve the structure of the ALDH1A3/MCI-INI-3 inhibitor complex and find that the inhibitor is as efficient as ALDH1A3 depletion in preventing retinoic acid biosynthesis.
- Jianfeng Li
- Silvia Garavaglia
- Robert W. Sobol