Interaction of Berberine derivative with protein POT1 affect telomere function in cancer cells

► The protein POT1 plays an important role in telomere protection. ► Functional POT1 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli for the first time, and purified. ► Compound Sysu-00692 was found to be the first POT1-binding ligand. ► Sysu-00692 could interfere with the binding activity of POT1 in vivo. ► Sysu-00692 had inhibition on telomerase and cell proliferation.