Background:

SBI-0206965 is a novel inhibitor of the autophagy-initiating kinase ULK1.

ULK1 (Unc-51 like Autophagy Activating Kinase 1) is a serine/threonine-protein kinase involved in autophagy in starvation. It is an AMPK regulator, a downstream effector and negative regulator of mTORC1. It also plays a role in neuronal differentiation. [1]

In A549 cells, 5 mM SBI-0206965 strongly suppresses the AZD8055 induced autophagy effect. In SBI-0206965 treated MEFs, after 18 hours of amino acid deprivation, 42% of 6965-treated cells shows 7-AAD and AnnexinV (end stage apoptosis). SBI-02066965 also promotes apoptosis

in the nutrient-starved state in human U87MG glioblastoma cells and in murine lung carcinoma cells. Moreover, 5 mM SBI-0206965 triggers apoptosis in 23% of cells when combined with AZD8055 versus 10% of cells in the absence of AZD8055 and 7% of cells treated with AZD8055

alone. Similar to AZD8055, both rapamycin and INK128 exhibits a mild apoptotic response on their own in A549 cells but significantly enhances this apoptotic response when combined with SBI-0206965. [1]

Reference:
1.  Egan DF, Chun MG, Vamos M et al. Small Molecule Inhibition of the Autophagy Kinase ULK1 and Identification of ULK1 Substrates. Mol Cell. 2015 Jul 16;59(2):285-97.