Copper and
gold complexes have clinical activity in several diseases including
cancer. Recently, we have reported that the anti-
cancer activity of
copper (II)
pyrithione CuPT and
gold (I) complex
auranofin is associated with targeting the 19S
proteasome-associated
deubiquitinases (DUBs), UCHL5 and USP14. Here we discuss
metal DUB inhibitors in treating
cancer and other diseases. (from Editor). Several
copper and
gold complexes have clinical activity in treating some human diseases including
cancer. Recently, we have reported that the anti-
cancer activity of
copper (II)
pyrithione CuPT and
gold (I) complex
auranofin is tightly associated with their ability to target and inhibit the 19S
proteasome-associated
deubiquitinases (DUBs), UCHL5 and USP14. In this article we review small molecule inhibitors of DUBs and 19S
proteasome-associated DUBs. We then describe and discuss the ubique nature of CuPT and
auranofin, which is inhibition of 19S
proteasome-associated UCHL5 and USP14. We finally suggest the potential to develop novel, specific
metal-based DUB inhibitors for treating
cancer and other diseases.