1
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Al-Qadhi MA, Yahya TAA, El-Nassan HB. Recent Advances in the Discovery of CK2 Inhibitors. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:20702-20719. [PMID: 38764653 PMCID: PMC11097362 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c10478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
CK2 is a vital enzyme that phosphorylates a large number of substrates and thereby controls many processes in the body. Its upregulation was reported in many cancer types. Inhibitors of CK2 might have anticancer activity, and two compounds are currently under clinical trials. However, both compounds are ATP-competitive inhibitors that may have off-target side effects. The development of allosteric and dual inhibitors can overcome this drawback. These inhibitors showed higher selectivity and specificity for the CK2 enzyme compared to the ATP-competitive inhibitors. The present review summarizes the efforts exerted in the last five years in the design of CK2 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa A. Al-Qadhi
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sana’a University, 18084 Sana’a, Yemen
| | - Tawfeek A. A. Yahya
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sana’a University, 18084 Sana’a,Yemen
| | - Hala B. El-Nassan
- Pharmaceutical
Organic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt
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2
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Nishiwaki K, Nakatani S, Nakamura S, Yoshioka K, Nakagawa E, Tsuyuguchi M, Kinoshita T, Nakanishi I. Enhanced inhibitory activity of compounds containing purine scaffolds compared to protein kinase CK2α considering crystalline water. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:1274-1282. [PMID: 38665825 PMCID: PMC11042117 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00755c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
We recently reported novel purine-based CK2α inhibitors using the solvent ordering-based method as virtual screening. Among these, the X-ray crystal structure of a complex with CK2α was determined. The results showed that the crystalline water molecules observed in many previously reported complex structures of CK2α and its inhibitors had been eliminated. We then proposed a structure-based drug design. Since the removal of water molecules would be detrimental to inhibitor binding, new groups of compounds were designed by changing the position of the carboxy group located at the point where a water molecule would be present so as not to eliminate it. Compounds with (E)-2-carboxyethenyl and 3-carboxyphenyl substituted at the 2-position on the purine scaffold showed much higher inhibitory potency than 4-carboxyphenyl derivatives. Furthermore, in the presence of a 4-fluorophenyl group at the 9-position on the purine scaffold, the inhibitory activity of the 3-carboxyphenyl derivative against CK2α was 0.18 μM, a 167-fold improvement compared to the 4-carboxyphenyl derivative. The strategy of leaving crystalline water can significantly increase inhibitory activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiji Nishiwaki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kindai University 3-4-1 Kowakae Higashiosaka Osaka 577-8502 Japan
| | - Shiori Nakatani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kindai University 3-4-1 Kowakae Higashiosaka Osaka 577-8502 Japan
| | - Shinya Nakamura
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kindai University 3-4-1 Kowakae Higashiosaka Osaka 577-8502 Japan
| | - Kenji Yoshioka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kindai University 3-4-1 Kowakae Higashiosaka Osaka 577-8502 Japan
| | - Eri Nakagawa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kindai University 3-4-1 Kowakae Higashiosaka Osaka 577-8502 Japan
| | - Masato Tsuyuguchi
- Graduate School of Science, Osaka Metropolitan University 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Naka-ku Sakai Osaka 599-8531 Japan
| | - Takayoshi Kinoshita
- Graduate School of Science, Osaka Metropolitan University 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Naka-ku Sakai Osaka 599-8531 Japan
| | - Isao Nakanishi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kindai University 3-4-1 Kowakae Higashiosaka Osaka 577-8502 Japan
- Antiaging Center, Kindai University 3-4-1 Kowakae Higashiosaka Osaka 577-8502 Japan
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3
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Patel S, Vyas VK, Sharma M, Ghate M. Structure-guided discovery of adenosine triphosphate-competitive casein kinase 2 inhibitors. Future Med Chem 2023; 15:987-1014. [PMID: 37307219 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a ubiquitous, highly pleiotropic serine-threonine kinase. CK2 has been identified as a potential drug target for the treatment of cancer and related disorders. Several adenosine triphosphate-competitive CK2 inhibitors have been identified and have progressed at different levels of clinical trials. This review presents details of CK2 protein, structural insights into adenosine triphosphate binding pocket, current clinical trial candidates and their analogues. Further, it includes the emerging structure-based drug design approaches, chemistry, structure-activity relationship and biological screening of potent and selective CK2 inhibitors. The authors tabulated the details of CK2 co-crystal structures because these co-crystal structures facilitated the structure-guided discovery of CK2 inhibitors. The narrow hinge pocket compared with related kinases provides useful insights into the discovery of CK2 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 382481, India
| | - Vivek K Vyas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 382481, India
| | - Manmohan Sharma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 382481, India
| | - Manjunath Ghate
- School of Pharmacy, National Forensic Science University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 382007, India
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4
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Chen Y, Wang Y, Wang J, Zhou Z, Cao S, Zhang J. Strategies of Targeting CK2 in Drug Discovery: Challenges, Opportunities, and Emerging Prospects. J Med Chem 2023; 66:2257-2281. [PMID: 36745746 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
CK2 (casein kinase 2) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that is ubiquitous in eukaryotic cells and plays important roles in a variety of cellular functions, including cell growth, apoptosis, circadian rhythms, DNA damage repair, transcription, and translation. CK2 is involved in cancer pathogenesis and the occurrence of many diseases. Therefore, targeting CK2 is a promising therapeutic strategy. Although many CK2-specific small-molecule inhibitors have been developed, only CX-4945 has progressed to clinical trials. In recent years, novel CK2 inhibitors have gradually become a research hotspot, which is expected to overcome the limitations of traditional inhibitors. Herein, we summarize the structure, biological functions, and disease relevance of CK2 and emphatically analyze the structure-activity relationship (SAR) and binding modes of small-molecule CK2 inhibitors. We also discuss the latest progress of novel strategies, providing insights into new drugs targeting CK2 for clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijia Chen
- Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.,College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, China
| | - Yuxi Wang
- Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.,Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.,Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jiaxing Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
| | - Zhilan Zhou
- Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Shu Cao
- West China School of Stomatology Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, China
| | - Jifa Zhang
- Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.,Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.,Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
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5
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Ikeda A, Tsuyuguchi M, Kitagawa D, Sawa M, Nakamura S, Nakanishi I, Kinoshita T. Bivalent binding mode of an amino-pyrazole inhibitor indicates the potentials for CK2α1-selective inhibitors. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 630:30-35. [PMID: 36130444 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.09.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a vital protein kinase that consists of two catalytic subunits (CK2α1 and/or CK2α2) and two regulatory subunits (CK2β). CK2α1 is a drug target for nephritis and cancers, while CK2α2 is a serious off-target because its inhibition causes testicular toxicity. High similarity between the isozymes CK2α1 and CK2α2 make it difficult to design CK2α1-specific inhibitors. Herein, the crystal structures of CK2α1 and CK2α2 complexed with a 3-amino-pyrazole inhibitor revealed the remarkable differences in the protein-inhibitor interaction modes. This inhibitor bound to the ATP binding sites of both isozymes in apparently distinct orientations. In addition, another molecule of this inhibitor bound to CK2α1, but not to CK2α2, at the CK2β protein-protein interface. Binding energy calculations and biochemical experiments suggested that this inhibitor possesses the conventional ATP-competitive characteristics with moderate allosteric function in a molecular glue mechanism. These results will assist the potential design of potent and selective CK2α1 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asaka Ikeda
- Graduate School of Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Sakai, 599-8531, Japan
| | - Masato Tsuyuguchi
- Graduate School of Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Sakai, 599-8531, Japan
| | | | | | - Shinya Nakamura
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kindai University, Higashi-Osaka, 577-8502, Japan
| | - Isao Nakanishi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kindai University, Higashi-Osaka, 577-8502, Japan
| | - Takayoshi Kinoshita
- Graduate School of Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Sakai, 599-8531, Japan.
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6
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Atkinson EL, Iegre J, D'Amore C, Brear P, Salvi M, Hyvönen M, Spring DR. Development of small cyclic peptides targeting the CK2α/β interface. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:4791-4794. [PMID: 35343996 PMCID: PMC9004346 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc00707j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In this work, an iterative cycle of enzymatic assays, X-ray crystallography, molecular modelling and cellular assays were used to develop a functionalisable chemical probe for the CK2α/β PPI. The lead peptide, P8C9, successfully binds to CK2α at the PPI site, is easily synthesisable and functionalisable, highly stable in serum and small enough to accommodate further optimisation. Development of a small CK2α/β protein–protein interaction-inhibiting peptide, which is easily synthesisable and functionalisable, with good enzymatic and cellular activity.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor L Atkinson
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Jessica Iegre
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Claudio D'Amore
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
| | - Paul Brear
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, CB2 1GA, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Mauro Salvi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
| | - Marko Hyvönen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, CB2 1GA, Cambridge, UK.
| | - David R Spring
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, UK.
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7
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Basak S, Paul T, Punniyamurthy T. Palladium-Catalyzed 2-fold C-H Activation/C-C Coupling for C4-Arylation of Indoles Using Weak Chelation. Org Lett 2021; 24:554-558. [PMID: 34968057 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c03970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Palladium-catalyzed weak chelation-assisted regioselective C4-arylation of indoles has been accomplished using a readily available arene at moderate temperature. The C4-arylation, weak chelating benzoyl (Bz) directing group, cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC), broad substrate scope, and late-stage diversifications are the important practical features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubhajit Basak
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, India
| | - Tripti Paul
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, India
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8
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Kwak H, Kang E, Song JY, Kang G, Joo JM. Pd‐Catalyzed Cyclization of Alkynyl Norbornene Derivatives for the Synthesis of Benzofused Heteroarenes. Adv Synth Catal 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/adsc.202100763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hayeon Kwak
- Department of Chemistry and Chemistry Institute for Functional Materials Pusan National University Busan 46241 Republic of Korea
| | - Eunsu Kang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemistry Institute for Functional Materials Pusan National University Busan 46241 Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Yeong Song
- Department of Chemistry and Chemistry Institute for Functional Materials Pusan National University Busan 46241 Republic of Korea
| | - Geunhee Kang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemistry Institute for Functional Materials Pusan National University Busan 46241 Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Min Joo
- Department of Chemistry and Chemistry Institute for Functional Materials Pusan National University Busan 46241 Republic of Korea
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9
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Lindenblatt D, Applegate V, Nickelsen A, Klußmann M, Neundorf I, Götz C, Jose J, Niefind K. Molecular Plasticity of Crystalline CK2α' Leads to KN2, a Bivalent Inhibitor of Protein Kinase CK2 with Extraordinary Selectivity. J Med Chem 2021; 65:1302-1312. [PMID: 34323071 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
CK2α and CK2α' are paralogous catalytic subunits of CK2, which belongs to the eukaryotic protein kinases. CK2 promotes tumorigenesis and the spread of pathogenic viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and is thus an attractive drug target. Efforts to develop selective CK2 inhibitors binding offside the ATP site had disclosed the αD pocket in CK2α; its occupation requires large conformational adaptations of the helix αD. As shown here, the αD pocket is accessible also in CK2α', where the necessary structural plasticity can be triggered with suitable ligands even in the crystalline state. A CK2α' structure with an ATP site and an αD pocket ligand guided the design of the bivalent CK2 inhibitor KN2. It binds to CK2 with low nanomolar affinity, is cell-permeable, and suppresses the intracellular phosphorylation of typical CK2 substrates. Kinase profiling revealed a high selectivity of KN2 for CK2 and emphasizes the selectivity-promoting potential of the αD pocket.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Lindenblatt
- Department für Chemie, Institut für Biochemie, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 47, D-50674 Köln, Germany
| | - Violetta Applegate
- Department für Chemie, Institut für Biochemie, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 47, D-50674 Köln, Germany
| | - Anna Nickelsen
- Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, PharmaCampus, Corrensstr. 48, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Merlin Klußmann
- Department für Chemie, Institut für Biochemie, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 47, D-50674 Köln, Germany
| | - Ines Neundorf
- Department für Chemie, Institut für Biochemie, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 47, D-50674 Köln, Germany
| | - Claudia Götz
- Medizinische Biochemie und Molekularbiologie, Universität des Saarlandes, Kirrberger Str., Geb. 44, D-66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Joachim Jose
- Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, PharmaCampus, Corrensstr. 48, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Karsten Niefind
- Department für Chemie, Institut für Biochemie, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 47, D-50674 Köln, Germany
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10
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Iegre J, Atkinson EL, Brear PD, Cooper BM, Hyvönen M, Spring DR. Chemical probes targeting the kinase CK2: a journey outside the catalytic box. Org Biomol Chem 2021; 19:4380-4396. [PMID: 34037044 DOI: 10.1039/d1ob00257k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
CK2 is a protein kinase that plays important roles in many physio-pathological cellular processes. As such, the development of chemical probes for CK2 has received increasing attention in the past decade with more than 40 lead compounds developed. In this review, we aim to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of the chemical probes acting outside the highly-conserved ATP-site developed to date. Such probes belong to different classes of molecules spanning from small molecules to peptides, act with a range of mechanisms of action and some of them present themselves as promising tools to investigate the biology of CK2 and therefore develop therapeutics for many disease areas including cancer and COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Iegre
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Eleanor L Atkinson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Paul D Brear
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Bethany M Cooper
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Marko Hyvönen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - David R Spring
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
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11
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Spinello Z, Fregnani A, Quotti Tubi L, Trentin L, Piazza F, Manni S. Targeting Protein Kinases in Blood Cancer: Focusing on CK1α and CK2. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073716. [PMID: 33918307 PMCID: PMC8038136 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Disturbance of protein kinase activity may result in dramatic consequences that often lead to cancer development and progression. In tumors of blood origin, both tyrosine kinases and serine/threonine kinases are altered by different types of mutations, critically regulating cancer hallmarks. CK1α and CK2 are highly conserved, ubiquitously expressed and constitutively active pleiotropic kinases, which participate in multiple biological processes. The involvement of these kinases in solid and blood cancers is well documented. CK1α and CK2 are overactive in multiple myeloma, leukemias and lymphomas. Intriguingly, they are not required to the same degree for the viability of normal cells, corroborating the idea of “druggable” kinases. Different to other kinases, mutations on the gene encoding CK1α and CK2 are rare or not reported. Actually, these two kinases are outside the paradigm of oncogene addiction, since cancer cells’ dependency on these proteins resembles the phenomenon of “non-oncogene” addiction. In this review, we will summarize the general features of CK1α and CK2 and the most relevant oncogenic and stress-related signaling nodes, regulated by kinase phosphorylation, that may lead to tumor progression. Finally, we will report the current data, which support the positioning of these two kinases in the therapeutic scene of hematological cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaira Spinello
- Department of Medicine, Hematology Section, University of Padova, Via N. Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy; (Z.S.); (A.F.); (L.Q.T.); (L.T.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Via G. Orus 2, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Anna Fregnani
- Department of Medicine, Hematology Section, University of Padova, Via N. Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy; (Z.S.); (A.F.); (L.Q.T.); (L.T.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Via G. Orus 2, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Laura Quotti Tubi
- Department of Medicine, Hematology Section, University of Padova, Via N. Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy; (Z.S.); (A.F.); (L.Q.T.); (L.T.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Via G. Orus 2, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Livio Trentin
- Department of Medicine, Hematology Section, University of Padova, Via N. Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy; (Z.S.); (A.F.); (L.Q.T.); (L.T.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Via G. Orus 2, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Francesco Piazza
- Department of Medicine, Hematology Section, University of Padova, Via N. Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy; (Z.S.); (A.F.); (L.Q.T.); (L.T.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Via G. Orus 2, 35129 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.P.); (S.M.); Tel.: +39-049-792-3263 (F.P. & S.M.); Fax: +39-049-792-3250 (F.P. & S.M.)
| | - Sabrina Manni
- Department of Medicine, Hematology Section, University of Padova, Via N. Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy; (Z.S.); (A.F.); (L.Q.T.); (L.T.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Via G. Orus 2, 35129 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.P.); (S.M.); Tel.: +39-049-792-3263 (F.P. & S.M.); Fax: +39-049-792-3250 (F.P. & S.M.)
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12
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Atkinson EL, Iegre J, Brear PD, Zhabina EA, Hyvönen M, Spring DR. Downfalls of Chemical Probes Acting at the Kinase ATP-Site: CK2 as a Case Study. Molecules 2021; 26:1977. [PMID: 33807474 PMCID: PMC8037657 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26071977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein kinases are a large class of enzymes with numerous biological roles and many have been implicated in a vast array of diseases, including cancer and the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19. Thus, the development of chemical probes to selectively target each kinase is of great interest. Inhibition of protein kinases with ATP-competitive inhibitors has historically been the most widely used method. However, due to the highly conserved structures of ATP-sites, the identification of truly selective chemical probes is challenging. In this review, we use the Ser/Thr kinase CK2 as an example to highlight the historical challenges in effective and selective chemical probe development, alongside recent advances in the field and alternative strategies aiming to overcome these problems. The methods utilised for CK2 can be applied to an array of protein kinases to aid in the discovery of chemical probes to further understand each kinase's biology, with wide-reaching implications for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor L. Atkinson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; (E.L.A.); (J.I.)
| | - Jessica Iegre
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; (E.L.A.); (J.I.)
| | - Paul D. Brear
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK; (P.D.B.); (E.A.Z.); (M.H.)
| | - Elizabeth A. Zhabina
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK; (P.D.B.); (E.A.Z.); (M.H.)
| | - Marko Hyvönen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK; (P.D.B.); (E.A.Z.); (M.H.)
| | - David R. Spring
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; (E.L.A.); (J.I.)
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13
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Schnitzler A, Niefind K. Structural basis for the design of bisubstrate inhibitors of protein kinase CK2 provided by complex structures with the substrate-competitive inhibitor heparin. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 214:113223. [PMID: 33571828 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The Ser/Thr kinase CK2, a member of the superfamily of eukaryotic protein kinases, has an acidophilic substrate profile with the substrate recognition sequence S/T-D/E-X-D/E, and it is inhibited by polyanionic substances like heparin. The latter, a highly sulphated glucosamino glycan composed mainly of repeating 2-O-sulpho-α-l-idopyranuronic acid/N,O6-disulpho-α-d-glucosamine disaccharide units, is the longest known substrate-competitive CK2 inhibitor. The structural basis of CK2's preference for anionic substrates and substrate-competitive inhibitors is only vaguely known which limits the value of the substrate-binding region for the structure-based development of CK2 bisubstrate inhibitors. Here, a tetragonal and a monoclinic co-crystal structure of CK2α, the catalytic subunit of CK2, with a decameric heparin fragment are described. In the tetragonal structure, the heparin molecule binds to the polybasic stretch at the beginning of CK2α's helix αC, whereas in the monoclinic structure it occupies the central substrate-recognition region around the P+1 loop. Together, the structures rationalize the inhibitory efficacy of heparin fragments as a function of chain length. The monoclinic CK2α/heparin structure, in which the heparin fragment is particularly well defined, is the first CK2 structure with an anionic inhibitor of considerable size at the central part of the substrate-recognition site. The bound heparin fragment is so close to the binding site of ATP-competitive inhibitors that it can guide the design of linkers and pave the way to efficient CK2 bisubstrate inhibitors in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Schnitzler
- Universität zu Köln, Department für Chemie, Institut für Biochemie, Zülpicher Straße 47, D-50674 Köln, Germany
| | - Karsten Niefind
- Universität zu Köln, Department für Chemie, Institut für Biochemie, Zülpicher Straße 47, D-50674 Köln, Germany.
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14
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Brear P, Ball D, Stott K, D'Arcy S, Hyvönen M. Proposed Allosteric Inhibitors Bind to the ATP Site of CK2α. J Med Chem 2020; 63:12786-12798. [PMID: 33119282 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
CK2α is a ubiquitous, well-studied kinase that is a target for small-molecule inhibition, for treatment of cancers. While many different classes of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-competitive inhibitors have been described for CK2α, they tend to suffer from significant off-target activity and new approaches are needed. A series of inhibitors of CK2α has recently been described as allosteric, acting at a previously unidentified binding site. Given the similarity of these inhibitors to known ATP-competitive inhibitors, we have investigated them further. In our thorough structural and biophysical analyses, we have found no evidence that these inhibitors bind to the proposed allosteric site. Rather, we report crystal structures, competitive isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and NMR, hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) mass spectrometry, and chemoinformatic analyses that all point to these compounds binding in the ATP pocket. Comparisons of our results and experimental approach with the data presented in the original report suggest that the primary reason for the disparity is nonspecific inhibition by aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Brear
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Darby Ball
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Katherine Stott
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Sheena D'Arcy
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Marko Hyvönen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
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15
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Bento AP, Hersey A, Félix E, Landrum G, Gaulton A, Atkinson F, Bellis LJ, De Veij M, Leach AR. An open source chemical structure curation pipeline using RDKit. J Cheminform 2020; 12:51. [PMID: 33431044 PMCID: PMC7458899 DOI: 10.1186/s13321-020-00456-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ChEMBL database is one of a number of public databases that contain bioactivity data on small molecule compounds curated from diverse sources. Incoming compounds are typically not standardised according to consistent rules. In order to maintain the quality of the final database and to easily compare and integrate data on the same compound from different sources it is necessary for the chemical structures in the database to be appropriately standardised. RESULTS A chemical curation pipeline has been developed using the open source toolkit RDKit. It comprises three components: a Checker to test the validity of chemical structures and flag any serious errors; a Standardizer which formats compounds according to defined rules and conventions and a GetParent component that removes any salts and solvents from the compound to create its parent. This pipeline has been applied to the latest version of the ChEMBL database as well as uncurated datasets from other sources to test the robustness of the process and to identify common issues in database molecular structures. CONCLUSION All the components of the structure pipeline have been made freely available for other researchers to use and adapt for their own use. The code is available in a GitHub repository and it can also be accessed via the ChEMBL Beaker webservices. It has been used successfully to standardise the nearly 2 million compounds in the ChEMBL database and the compound validity checker has been used to identify compounds with the most serious issues so that they can be prioritised for manual curation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Patrícia Bento
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Anne Hersey
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Eloy Félix
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | | | - Anna Gaulton
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Francis Atkinson
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, Cambridgeshire, UK
- The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, 12 Union Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EZ, UK
| | - Louisa J Bellis
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, Cambridgeshire, UK
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Marleen De Veij
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Andrew R Leach
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, Cambridgeshire, UK.
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16
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Protopopov MV, Vdovin VS, Starosyla SA, Borysenko IP, Prykhod'ko AO, Lukashov SS, Bilokin YV, Bdzhola VG, Yarmoluk SM. Flavone inspired discovery of benzylidenebenzofuran-3(2H)-ones (aurones) as potent inhibitors of human protein kinase CK2. Bioorg Chem 2020; 102:104062. [PMID: 32683178 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.104062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In this work, we describe the design, synthesis and SAR studies of 2-benzylidenebenzofuran-3-ones (aurones), a new family of potent inhibitors of CK2. A series of aurones have been synthesized. These compounds are structurally related to the synthetic flavones and showed nanomolar activities towards CK2. Biochemical tests revealed that 20 newly synthesized compounds inhibited CK2 with IC50 values in the nanomolar range. Further property-based optimization of aurones was performed, yielding a series of CK2 inhibitors with enhanced lipophilic efficiency. The most potent compound 12m (BFO13) has CLipE = 4.94 (CLogP = 3.5; IC50 = 3.6 nM) commensurable with the best known inhibitors of CK2.
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Affiliation(s)
- M V Protopopov
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnogo St., 03143 Kyiv, Ukraine.
| | - V S Vdovin
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnogo St., 03143 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - S A Starosyla
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnogo St., 03143 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - I P Borysenko
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnogo St., 03143 Kyiv, Ukraine; LLC Scientific and Service Firm "Otava", 117/125 Borschagivska St., Suite 79, 03056 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - A O Prykhod'ko
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnogo St., 03143 Kyiv, Ukraine; LLC Scientific and Service Firm "Otava", 117/125 Borschagivska St., Suite 79, 03056 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - S S Lukashov
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnogo St., 03143 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Y V Bilokin
- OTAVA Ltd., 400 Applewood Crescent, Unit 100, Vaughan, Ontario L4K 0C3, Canada
| | - V G Bdzhola
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnogo St., 03143 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - S M Yarmoluk
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnogo St., 03143 Kyiv, Ukraine
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17
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Lindenblatt D, Nickelsen A, Applegate VM, Jose J, Niefind K. Structural and Mechanistic Basis of the Inhibitory Potency of Selected 2-Aminothiazole Compounds on Protein Kinase CK2. J Med Chem 2020; 63:7766-7772. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Lindenblatt
- Department für Chemie, Institut für Biochemie, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 47, D-50674 Köln, Germany
| | - Anna Nickelsen
- Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, PharmaCampus, Corrensstr. 48, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Violetta M. Applegate
- Department für Chemie, Institut für Biochemie, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 47, D-50674 Köln, Germany
| | - Joachim Jose
- Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, PharmaCampus, Corrensstr. 48, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Karsten Niefind
- Department für Chemie, Institut für Biochemie, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 47, D-50674 Köln, Germany
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18
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Kröger L, Daniliuc CG, Ensan D, Borgert S, Nienberg C, Lauwers M, Steinkrüger M, Jose J, Pietsch M, Wünsch B. Synthesis and SAR of Tetracyclic Inhibitors of Protein Kinase CK2 Derived from Furocarbazole W16. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:871-881. [PMID: 32168422 PMCID: PMC7418559 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The serine/threonine kinase CK2 modulates the activity of more than 300 proteins and thus plays a crucial role in various physiological and pathophysiological processes including neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system and cancer. The enzymatic activity of CK2 is controlled by the equilibrium between the heterotetrameric holoenzyme CK2α2β2 and its monomeric subunits CK2α and CK2β. A series of analogues of W16 ((3aR,4S,10S,10aS)‐4‐{[(S)‐4‐benzyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidin‐3‐yl]carbonyl}‐10‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)‐4,5,10,10a‐tetrahydrofuro[3,4‐b]carbazole‐1,3(3aH)‐dione ((+)‐3
a)) was prepared in an one‐pot, three‐component Levy reaction. The stereochemistry of the tetracyclic compounds was analyzed. Additionally, the chemically labile anhydride structure of the furocarbazoles 3 was replaced by a more stable imide (9) and N‐methylimide (10) substructure. The enantiomer (−)‐3
a (Ki=4.9 μM) of the lead compound (+)‐3
a (Ki=31 μM) showed a more than sixfold increased inhibition of the CK2α/CK2β interaction (protein‐protein interaction inhibition, PPII) in a microscale thermophoresis (MST) assay. However, (−)‐3
a did not show an increased enzyme inhibition of the CK2α2β2 holoenzyme, the CK2α subunit or the mutated CK2α′ C336S subunit in the capillary electrophoresis assay. In the pyrrolocarbazole series, the imide (−)‐9
a (Ki=3.6 μM) and the N‐methylimide (+)‐10
a (Ki=2.8 μM) represent the most promising inhibitors of the CK2α/CK2β interaction. However, neither compound could inhibit enzymatic activity. Unexpectedly, the racemic tetracyclic pyrrolocarbazole (±)‐12, with a carboxy moiety in the 4‐position, displays the highest CK2α/CK2β interaction inhibition (Ki=1.8 μM) of this series of compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Kröger
- Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 48, 8149, Münster, Germany
| | - Constantin G Daniliuc
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 40, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Deeba Ensan
- Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 48, 8149, Münster, Germany
| | - Sebastian Borgert
- Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 48, 8149, Münster, Germany
| | - Christian Nienberg
- Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 48, 8149, Münster, Germany
| | - Miriam Lauwers
- Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Köln, Gleueler Straße 24, 50931, Köln, Germany
| | - Michaela Steinkrüger
- Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Köln, Gleueler Straße 24, 50931, Köln, Germany
| | - Joachim Jose
- Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 48, 8149, Münster, Germany
| | - Markus Pietsch
- Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Köln, Gleueler Straße 24, 50931, Köln, Germany
| | - Bernhard Wünsch
- Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 48, 8149, Münster, Germany.,Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003-CiM), Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Waldeyerstraße 15, 48149, Münster, Germany
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19
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Alternaria toxins as casein kinase 2 inhibitors and possible consequences for estrogenicity: a hybrid in silico/in vitro study. Arch Toxicol 2020; 94:2225-2237. [PMID: 32328700 PMCID: PMC7303061 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02746-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Emerging mycotoxins produced by Alternaria spp. were previously reported to exert cytotoxic, genotoxic, but also estrogenic effects in human cells. The involved mechanisms are very complex and not fully elucidated yet. Thus, we followed an in silico target fishing approach to extend knowledge on the possible biological targets underlying the activity of alternariol, taken as the signature compound of Alternaria toxins. Combining ligand-based screening and structure-based modeling, the ubiquitous casein kinase 2 (CK2) was identified as a potential target for the compound. This result was validated in a cell-free in vitro CK2 activity assay, where alternariol inhibited CK2 with an IC50 of 707 nM. As CK2 was recently discussed to influence estrogen receptor (ER) transcription and DNA-binding affinity, we assessed a potential impact on the mRNA levels of ERα or ERβ by qRT-PCR and on nuclear localization of the receptors by confocal microscopy, using estrogen-sensitive Ishikawa cells as a model. While AOH did not affect the transcription of ERα or ERβ, an increase in nuclear localization of ERα after incubation with 10 µM AOH was observed. However, this effect might be due to ER binding affinity and therefore estrogenicity of AOH. Furthermore, in silico docking simulation revealed not only AOH, but also a number of other Alternaria toxins as potential inhibitors of CK2, including alternariol monomethyl ether and the perylene quinone derivative altertoxin II (ATX-II). These findings were representatively confirmed in vitro for the perylene quinone derivative altertoxin II, which was found to inhibit the kinase with an IC50 of 5.1 µM. Taken together, we propose CK2 inhibition as an additional mechanism to consider in future studies for alternariol and several other Alternaria toxins.
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20
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Chen X, Li C, Wang D, Chen Y, Zhang N. Recent Advances in the Discovery of CK2 Allosteric Inhibitors: From Traditional Screening to Structure-Based Design. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25040870. [PMID: 32079098 PMCID: PMC7070378 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25040870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein kinase (CK2) has emerged as an attractive cancer therapeutic target and recent efforts have been made to develop its inhibitors. However, the development of selective inhibitors remains challenging because of the highly conserved ATP-binding pocket (orthosteric site) of kinase family. As an alternative strategy, allosteric inhibitors, by targeting the much more diversified allosteric site relative to the conserved ATP-binding site, achieve better pharmacological advantages than orthosteric inhibitors. Traditional serendipitous screening and structure-based design are robust tools for the discovery of CK2 allosteric inhibitors. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the identification of CK2 allosteric inhibitors. Firstly, we briefly present the CK2 allosteric sites. Then, the allosteric inhibitors targeting the well-elucidated allosteric sites (α/β interface, αD pocket and interface between the Glycine-rich loop and αC-helix) are highlighted in the discovery process and possible binding modes with the allosteric sites are described. This study is expected to provide valuable clues for the design of CK2 allosteric inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolan Chen
- Jiangsu Agri-animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou 225300, China; (D.W.); (Y.C.)
- Correspondence: (X.C.); (N.Z.); Tel.: +86-0523-86158081 (X.C.)
| | - Chunqiong Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China;
| | - Dada Wang
- Jiangsu Agri-animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou 225300, China; (D.W.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yu Chen
- Jiangsu Agri-animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou 225300, China; (D.W.); (Y.C.)
| | - Na Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China;
- Correspondence: (X.C.); (N.Z.); Tel.: +86-0523-86158081 (X.C.)
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21
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Pietsch M, Viht K, Schnitzler A, Ekambaram R, Steinkrüger M, Enkvist E, Nienberg C, Nickelsen A, Lauwers M, Jose J, Uri A, Niefind K. Unexpected CK2β-antagonistic functionality of bisubstrate inhibitors targeting protein kinase CK2. Bioorg Chem 2020; 96:103608. [PMID: 32058103 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.103608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Protein kinase CK2, a heterotetrameric holoenzyme composed of two catalytic chains (CK2α) attached to a homodimer of regulatory subunits (CK2β), is a target for drug development for cancer therapy. Here, we describe the tetraiodobenzimidazole derivative ARC-3140, a bisubstrate inhibitor addressing the ATP site and the substrate-binding site of CK2 with extraordinary affinity (Ki = 84 pM). In a crystal structure of ARC-3140 in complex with CK2α, three copies of the inhibitor are visible, one of them at the CK2β interface of CK2α. Subsequent interaction studies based on microscale thermophoresis and fluorescence anisotropy changes revealed a significant impact of ARC-3140 and of its tetrabromo equivalent ARC-1502 on the CK2α/CK2β interaction. A structural inspection revealed that ARC-3140, unlike CK2β antagonists described so far, interferes with both sub-interfaces of the bipartite CK2α/CK2β interaction. Thus, ARC-3140 is a lead for the further development of highly effective compounds perturbating the quaternary structure of the CK2α2β2 holoenzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Pietsch
- Institut II für Pharmakologie, Zentrum für Pharmakologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität zu Köln, Gleueler Str. 24, D-50931 Köln, Germany
| | - Kaido Viht
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 14A Ravila St., 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Alexander Schnitzler
- Institut für Biochemie, Department für Chemie, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 47, D-50674 Köln, Germany
| | - Ramesh Ekambaram
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 14A Ravila St., 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Michaela Steinkrüger
- Institut II für Pharmakologie, Zentrum für Pharmakologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität zu Köln, Gleueler Str. 24, D-50931 Köln, Germany
| | - Erki Enkvist
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 14A Ravila St., 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Christian Nienberg
- Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, PharmaCampus, Corrensstr. 48, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Anna Nickelsen
- Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, PharmaCampus, Corrensstr. 48, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Miriam Lauwers
- Institut II für Pharmakologie, Zentrum für Pharmakologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität zu Köln, Gleueler Str. 24, D-50931 Köln, Germany
| | - Joachim Jose
- Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, PharmaCampus, Corrensstr. 48, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Asko Uri
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 14A Ravila St., 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Karsten Niefind
- Institut für Biochemie, Department für Chemie, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 47, D-50674 Köln, Germany.
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22
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Li C, Zhang X, Zhang N, Zhou Y, Sun G, Zhao L, Zhong R. Identification and Biological Evaluation of CK2 Allosteric Fragments through Structure-Based Virtual Screening. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25010237. [PMID: 31935979 PMCID: PMC6983002 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25010237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Casein kinase II (CK2) is considered as an attractive cancer therapeutic target, and recent efforts have been made to develop its ATP-competitive inhibitors. However, achieving selectivity with respect to related kinases remains challenging due to the highly conserved ATP-binding pocket of kinases. Allosteric inhibitors, by targeting the much more diversified allosteric site relative to the highly conserved ATP-binding pocket, might be a promising strategy with the enhanced selectivity and reduced toxicity than ATP-competitive inhibitors. The previous studies have highlighted the traditional serendipitousity of discovering allosteric inhibitors owing to the complicate allosteric modulation. In this current study, we identified the novel allosteric inhibitors of CK2α by combing structure-based virtual screening and biological evaluation methods. The structure-based pharmacophore model was built based on the crystal structure of CK2α-compound 15 complex. The ChemBridge fragment library was searched by evaluating the fit values of these molecules with the optimized pharmacophore model, as well as the binding affinity of the CK2α-ligand complexes predicted by Alloscore web server. Six hits forming the holistic interaction mechanism with the αD pocket were retained after pharmacophore- and Alloscore-based screening for biological test. Compound 3 was found to be the most potent non-ATP competitive CK2α inhibitor (IC50 = 13.0 μM) with the anti-proliferative activity on A549 cancer cells (IC50 = 23.1 μM). Our results provide new clues for further development of CK2 allosteric inhibitors as anti-cancer hits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunqiong Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (C.L.); (X.Z.); (G.S.); (L.Z.); (R.Z.)
| | - Xuewen Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (C.L.); (X.Z.); (G.S.); (L.Z.); (R.Z.)
| | - Na Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (C.L.); (X.Z.); (G.S.); (L.Z.); (R.Z.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-10-67392001
| | - Yue Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China;
| | - Guohui Sun
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (C.L.); (X.Z.); (G.S.); (L.Z.); (R.Z.)
| | - Lijiao Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (C.L.); (X.Z.); (G.S.); (L.Z.); (R.Z.)
| | - Rugang Zhong
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (C.L.); (X.Z.); (G.S.); (L.Z.); (R.Z.)
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Kinoshita T. Protein Allostery in Rational Drug Design. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1163:45-64. [PMID: 31707699 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-8719-7_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This chapter focuses on protein kinases that transfer the phosphate group of ATP to the hydroxyl group of a substrate protein. Five hundred eighteen human protein kinases are classified into serine/threonine kinases and tyrosine kinases and individually or synergistically transduce physiologic stimuli into cell to promote cell proliferation or apoptosis, etc. Protein kinases are identified as drug targets because dysfunction of kinases leads to severe diseases such as cancers and autoimmune diseases. A large number of the crystal structures of the protein kinase inhibitor complex are available in Protein Data Bank and facilitated the drug discovery targeting protein kinases. The protein kinase inhibitors are classified into categories, Type-I, Type-II, Type-III, Type-IV, and Type-V, and as a separate class, covalent-type inhibitors. In any type, a protein kinase inhibitor bound to the allosteric region is advantageous in terms of selectivity compared to the traditional ATP-competitive one. In the following sections, the successful and promising examples of the partially or fully allosteric protein kinase inhibitors are illustrated in the following pages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayoshi Kinoshita
- Graduate School of Science, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan.
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24
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Kufareva I, Bestgen B, Brear P, Prudent R, Laudet B, Moucadel V, Ettaoussi M, Sautel CF, Krimm I, Engel M, Filhol O, Borgne ML, Lomberget T, Cochet C, Abagyan R. Discovery of holoenzyme-disrupting chemicals as substrate-selective CK2 inhibitors. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15893. [PMID: 31685885 PMCID: PMC6828666 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52141-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
CK2 is a constitutively active protein kinase overexpressed in numerous malignancies. Interaction between CK2α and CK2β subunits is essential for substrate selectivity. The CK2α/CK2β interface has been previously targeted by peptides to achieve functional effects; however, no small molecules modulators were identified due to pocket flexibility and open shape. Here we generated numerous plausible conformations of the interface using the fumigation modeling protocol, and virtually screened a compound library to discover compound 1 that suppressed CK2α/CK2β interaction in vitro and inhibited CK2 in a substrate-selective manner. Orthogonal SPR, crystallography, and NMR experiments demonstrated that 4 and 6, improved analogs of 1, bind to CK2α as predicted. Both inhibitors alter CK2 activity in cells through inhibition of CK2 holoenzyme formation. Treatment with 6 suppressed MDA-MB231 triple negative breast cancer cell growth and induced apoptosis. Altogether, our findings exemplify an innovative computational-experimental approach and identify novel non-peptidic inhibitors of CK2 subunit interface disclosing substrate-selective functional effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Kufareva
- University of California, San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Benoit Bestgen
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Faculté de Pharmacie - ISPB, EA 4446 Bioactive Molecules and Medicinal Chemistry, 8 avenue Rockefeller, F-69373, Lyon, cedex 8, France.,Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Saarland University, Campus C2.3, D-66123, Saarbrücken, Germany.,Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U1036, CEA, BCI Laboratory, IRIG, F-38000, Grenoble, France.,Ecrins Therapeutics, 5 Avenue du Grand Sablon, 38700, La Tronche, France
| | - Paul Brear
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Renaud Prudent
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U1036, CEA, BCI Laboratory, IRIG, F-38000, Grenoble, France.,Cellipse MINATEC, 7 Parvis Louis Néel, 38000, Grenoble, cedex 9, France
| | - Béatrice Laudet
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U1036, CEA, BCI Laboratory, IRIG, F-38000, Grenoble, France.,CHU Toulouse, Emergency Department, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Virginie Moucadel
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U1036, CEA, BCI Laboratory, IRIG, F-38000, Grenoble, France.,BioMérieux SA, Centre Christophe Mérieux, 5 rue des Berges, 38024, Grenoble, cedex 1, France
| | - Mohamed Ettaoussi
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Faculté de Pharmacie - ISPB, EA 4446 Bioactive Molecules and Medicinal Chemistry, 8 avenue Rockefeller, F-69373, Lyon, cedex 8, France
| | - Celine F Sautel
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U1036, CEA, BCI Laboratory, IRIG, F-38000, Grenoble, France.,DERMADIS, 218 avenue Marie Curie, 74160, Archamps, France
| | - Isabelle Krimm
- Centre de RMN à Très Hauts Champs, Université de Lyon, CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, ENS, 5 rue de la Doua, F-69100, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Matthias Engel
- Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Saarland University, Campus C2.3, D-66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Odile Filhol
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U1036, CEA, BCI Laboratory, IRIG, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Marc Le Borgne
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Faculté de Pharmacie - ISPB, EA 4446 Bioactive Molecules and Medicinal Chemistry, 8 avenue Rockefeller, F-69373, Lyon, cedex 8, France
| | - Thierry Lomberget
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Faculté de Pharmacie - ISPB, EA 4446 Bioactive Molecules and Medicinal Chemistry, 8 avenue Rockefeller, F-69373, Lyon, cedex 8, France
| | - Claude Cochet
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U1036, CEA, BCI Laboratory, IRIG, F-38000, Grenoble, France.
| | - Ruben Abagyan
- University of California, San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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25
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Ong BX, Yoo Y, Han MG, Park JB, Choi MK, Choi Y, Shin JS, Bahn YS, Cho HS. Structural analysis of fungal pathogenicity-related casein kinase α subunit, Cka1, in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14398. [PMID: 31591414 PMCID: PMC6779870 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50678-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
CK2α is a constitutively active and highly conserved serine/threonine protein kinase that is involved in the regulation of key cellular metabolic pathways and associated with a variety of tumours and cancers. The most well-known CK2α inhibitor is the human clinical trial candidate CX-4945, which has recently shown to exhibit not only anti-cancer, but also anti-fungal properties. This prompted us to work on the CK2α orthologue, Cka1, from the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, which causes life-threatening systemic cryptococcosis and meningoencephalitis mainly in immunocompromised individuals. At present, treatment of cryptococcosis remains a challenge due to limited anti-cryptococcal therapeutic strategies. Hence, expanding therapeutic options for the treatment of the disease is highly clinically relevant. Herein, we report the structures of Cka1-AMPPNP-Mg2+ (2.40 Å) and Cka1-CX-4945 (2.09 Å). Structural comparisons of Cka1-AMPPNP-Mg2+ with other orthologues revealed the dynamic architecture of the N-lobe across species. This may explain for the difference in binding affinities and deviations in protein-inhibitor interactions between Cka1-CX-4945 and human CK2α-CX-4945. Supporting it, in vitro kinase assay demonstrated that CX-4945 inhibited human CK2α much more efficiently than Cka1. Our results provide structural insights into the design of more selective inhibitors against Cka1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda X Ong
- Department of Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngki Yoo
- Department of Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Myeong Gil Han
- Department of Microbiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.,Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Bae Park
- Department of Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung Kyung Choi
- Department of Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeseul Choi
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeon-Soo Shin
- Department of Microbiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.,Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.,Severance Biomedical Science Institute and Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Sun Bahn
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Soo Cho
- Department of Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
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26
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Iegre J, Brear P, Baker DJ, Tan YS, Atkinson EL, Sore HF, O' Donovan DH, Verma CS, Hyvönen M, Spring DR. Efficient development of stable and highly functionalised peptides targeting the CK2α/CK2β protein-protein interaction. Chem Sci 2019; 10:5056-5063. [PMID: 31183056 PMCID: PMC6530537 DOI: 10.1039/c9sc00798a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of new Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) modulators is currently limited by the difficulties associated with the design and synthesis of selective small molecule inhibitors. Peptides are a potential solution for disrupting PPIs; however, they typically suffer from poor stability in vivo and limited tissue penetration hampering their wide spread use as new chemical biology tools and potential therapeutics. In this work, a combination of CuAAC chemistry, molecular modelling, X-ray crystallography, and biological validation allowed us to develop highly functionalised peptide PPI inhibitors of the protein CK2. The lead peptide, CAM7117, prevents the formation of the holoenzyme assembly in vitro, slows down proliferation, induces apoptosis in cancer cells and is stable in human serum. CAM7117 could aid the development of novel CK2 inhibitors acting at the interface and help to fully understand the intracellular pathways involving CK2. Importantly, the approach adopted herein could be applied to many PPI targets and has the potential to ease the study of PPIs by efficiently providing access to functionalised peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Iegre
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , CB2 1EW , Cambridge , UK .
| | - Paul Brear
- Department of Biochemistry , University of Cambridge , Tennis Court Road , CB2 1GA , Cambridge , UK .
| | - David J Baker
- Discovery Sciences , IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Cambridge , UK
| | - Yaw Sing Tan
- Bioinformatics Institute , Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR) , 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix , Singapore 138671
| | - Eleanor L Atkinson
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , CB2 1EW , Cambridge , UK .
| | - Hannah F Sore
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , CB2 1EW , Cambridge , UK .
| | | | - Chandra S Verma
- Bioinformatics Institute , Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR) , 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix , Singapore 138671
- Department of Biological Sciences , National University of Singapore , 14 Science Drive 4 , Singapore 117543
- School of Biological Sciences , Nanyang Technological University , 60 Nanyang Drive , Singapore 637551
| | - Marko Hyvönen
- Department of Biochemistry , University of Cambridge , Tennis Court Road , CB2 1GA , Cambridge , UK .
| | - David R Spring
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , CB2 1EW , Cambridge , UK .
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27
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Lindenblatt D, Horn M, Götz C, Niefind K, Neundorf I, Pietsch M. Design of CK2β-Mimicking Peptides as Tools To Study the CK2α/CK2β Interaction in Cancer Cells. ChemMedChem 2019; 14:833-841. [PMID: 30786177 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201800786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The ubiquitously expressed Ser/Thr kinase CK2 is a key regulator in a variety of key processes in normal and malignant cells. Due to its distinctive anti-apoptotic and tumor-driving properties, elevated levels of CK2 have frequently been found in tumors of different origin. In recent years, development of CK2 inhibitors has largely been focused on ATP-competitive compounds; however, targeting the CK2α/CK2β interface has emerged as a further concept that might avoid selectivity issues. To address the CK2 subunit interaction site, we have synthesized halogenated CK2β-mimicking cyclic peptides modified with the cell-penetrating peptide sC18 to mediate cellular uptake. We investigated the binding of the resulting chimeric peptides to recombinant human CK2α using a recently developed fluorescence anisotropy assay. The iodinated peptide sC18-I-Pc was identified as a potent CK2α ligand (Ki =0.622 μm). It was internalized in cells to a high extent and exhibited significant cytotoxicity toward cancerous HeLa cells (IC50 =37 μm) in contrast to non-cancerous HEK-293 cells. The attractive features and functionalities of sC18-I-Pc offer the opportunity for further improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Lindenblatt
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Straße 47, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | - Mareike Horn
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Straße 47, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | - Claudia Götz
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University, Kirrberger Str., Building 44, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Karsten Niefind
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Straße 47, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ines Neundorf
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Straße 47, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | - Markus Pietsch
- Institute II of Pharmacology, Center of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Gleueler Str. 24, 50931, Cologne, Germany
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28
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Panicker RC, Chattopadhaya S, Coyne AG, Srinivasan R. Allosteric Small-Molecule Serine/Threonine Kinase Inhibitors. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1163:253-278. [PMID: 31707707 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-8719-7_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Deregulation of protein kinase activity has been linked to many diseases ranging from cancer to AIDS and neurodegenerative diseases. Not surprisingly, drugging the human kinome - the complete set of kinases encoded by the human genome - has been one of the major drug discovery pipelines. Majority of the approved clinical kinase inhibitors target the ATP binding site of kinases. However, the remarkable sequence and structural similarity of ATP binding pockets of kinases make selective inhibition of kinases a daunting task. To circumvent these issues, allosteric inhibitors that target sites other than the orthosteric ATP binding pocket have been developed. The structural diversity of the allosteric sites allows these inhibitors to have higher selectivity, lower toxicity and improved physiochemical properties and overcome drug resistance associated with the use of conventional kinase inhibitors. In this chapter, we will focus on the allosteric inhibitors of selected serine/threonine kinases, outline the benefits of using these inhibitors and discuss the challenges and future opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Resmi C Panicker
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | | | - Anthony G Coyne
- University Chemical Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rajavel Srinivasan
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
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29
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Tang S, Zhang N, Zhou Y, Cortopassi WA, Jacobson MP, Zhao LJ, Zhong RG. Structure-based Discovery of Novel CK2α-Binding Cyclic Peptides with Anti-cancer Activity. Mol Inform 2018; 38:e1800089. [PMID: 30307134 DOI: 10.1002/minf.201800089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Protein kinase CK2 is considered as an emerging target in cancer therapy, and recent efforts have been made to develop its ATP-competitive inhibitors, but achieving selectivity with respect to related kinases remains challenging because of the highly conserved ATP-binding pocket of kinases. Non-ATP competitive inhibitors might solve this challenge; one such strategy is to identify compounds that target the CK2α/CK2β interface as CK2 holoenzyme antagonists. Here we improved the binding affinity to CK2α and cell-based anti-cancer activity of a CK2β-derived cyclic peptide (Pc) by combining structure-based computational design with experimental evaluation. By analyzing molecular dynamics simulations of Pc bound to CK2α, a series of Pc-derived peptides was rationally designed and synthesized to evaluate their binding affinity to CK2α, as well as anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects against HepG2 cancer cell line. One amino acid substitutions on Pc, I192F, exhibited over 10-fold improvement in the predicted binding affinity to CK2α when compared to Pc, and a cell-permeable version, I192F-Tat, also demonstrated more potent anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects against HepG2 compared to Pc. A second modification of Pc, H193W, also led to more potent cell-based activity, despite having weaker binding affinity (∼5×) to CK2α. The discovery of the I192F and H193W peptides provides new insights for further optimization of CK2 antagonist candidates as anti-cancer leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Tang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China
| | - Na Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China
| | - Yue Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China
| | - Wilian A Cortopassi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, California, 94143, United States
| | - Matthew P Jacobson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, California, 94143, United States
| | - Li-Jiao Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China
| | - Ru-Gang Zhong
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China
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