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Kumar V, Chunchagatta Lakshman PK, Prasad TK, Manjunath K, Bairy S, Vasu AS, Ganavi B, Jasti S, Kamariah N. Target-based drug discovery: Applications of fluorescence techniques in high throughput and fragment-based screening. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23864. [PMID: 38226204 PMCID: PMC10788520 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Target-based discovery of first-in-class therapeutics demands an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying human diseases. Precise measurements of cellular and biochemical activities are critical to gain mechanistic knowledge of biomolecules and their altered function in disease conditions. Such measurements enable the development of intervention strategies for preventing or treating diseases by modulation of desired molecular processes. Fluorescence-based techniques are routinely employed for accurate and robust measurements of in-vitro activity of molecular targets and for discovering novel chemical molecules that modulate the activity of molecular targets. In the current review, the authors focus on the applications of fluorescence-based high throughput screening (HTS) and fragment-based ligand discovery (FBLD) techniques such as fluorescence polarization (FP), Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), fluorescence thermal shift assay (FTSA) and microscale thermophoresis (MST) for the discovery of chemical probe to exploring target's role in disease biology and ultimately, serve as a foundation for drug discovery. Some recent advancements in these techniques for compound library screening against important classes of drug targets, such as G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and GTPases, as well as phosphorylation- and acetylation-mediated protein-protein interactions, are discussed. Overall, this review presents a landscape of how these techniques paved the way for the discovery of small-molecule modulators and biologics against these targets for therapeutic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thazhe Kootteri Prasad
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Kavyashree Manjunath
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Sneha Bairy
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Akshaya S. Vasu
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - B. Ganavi
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Subbarao Jasti
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Neelagandan Kamariah
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
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2
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Ahmed DM, Sanders DAR. Unraveling the unexpected aggregation behavior of Pyrazole-Based compounds Targeting Mycobacterium tuberculosis UDP-Galactopyranose mutase. Bioorg Med Chem 2023; 94:117466. [PMID: 37722298 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2023.117466] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
A pyrazole-based compound, MS208, was previously identified as an inhibitor of UDP-Galactopyranose Mutase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtUGM). Targeting this enzyme is a novel therapeutic strategy for the development of new antituberculosis agents because MtUGM is an essential enzyme for the bacterial cell wall synthesis and it is not present in human. It was proposed that MS208 targets an allosteric site in MtUGM as MS208 followed a mixed inhibition model. DA10, an MS208 analogue, showed competitive inhibition rather than mixed inhibition. In this paper, we have used an integrated biophysical approach, including thermal shift assays, dynamic light scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments, to show that MS208 and many analogues displayed unexpected aggregation behavior against MtUGM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalia M Ahmed
- Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, 110 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5C9, Canada; Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abassia 11566, Cairo, Egypt
| | - David A R Sanders
- Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, 110 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5C9, Canada.
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3
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Di X, Ortega-Alarcon D, Kakumanu R, Iglesias-Fernandez J, Diaz L, Baidoo EEK, Velazquez-Campoy A, Rodríguez-Concepción M, Perez-Gil J. MEP pathway products allosterically promote monomerization of deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase to feedback-regulate their supply. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 4:100512. [PMID: 36575800 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2022.100512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Isoprenoids are a very large and diverse family of metabolites required by all living organisms. All isoprenoids derive from the double-bond isomers isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP), which are produced by the methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway in bacteria and plant plastids. It has been reported that IPP and DMAPP feedback-regulate the activity of deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXS), a dimeric enzyme that catalyzes the main flux-controlling step of the MEP pathway. Here we provide experimental insights into the underlying mechanism. Isothermal titration calorimetry and dynamic light scattering approaches showed that IPP and DMAPP can allosterically bind to DXS in vitro, causing a size shift. In silico ligand binding site analysis and docking calculations identified a potential allosteric site in the contact region between the two monomers of the active DXS dimer. Modulation of IPP and DMAPP contents in vivo followed by immunoblot analyses confirmed that high IPP/DMAPP levels resulted in monomerization and eventual aggregation of the enzyme in bacterial and plant cells. Loss of the enzymatically active dimeric conformation allows a fast and reversible reduction of DXS activity in response to a sudden increase or decrease in IPP/DMAPP supply, whereas aggregation and subsequent removal of monomers that would otherwise be available for dimerization appears to be a more drastic response in the case of persistent IPP/DMAPP overabundance (e.g., by a blockage in their conversion to downstream isoprenoids). Our results represent an important step toward understanding the regulation of the MEP pathway and rational design of biotechnological endeavors aimed at increasing isoprenoid contents in microbial and plant systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueni Di
- Institute for Plant Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMCP), CSIC-Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain; Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus UAB Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Ortega-Alarcon
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Unit GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ramu Kakumanu
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | | | - Lucia Diaz
- Nostrum Biodiscovery SL, 08029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Edward E K Baidoo
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Adrian Velazquez-Campoy
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Unit GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón (IIS Aragon), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Rodríguez-Concepción
- Institute for Plant Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMCP), CSIC-Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain; Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus UAB Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Jordi Perez-Gil
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus UAB Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain.
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4
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Discovery of small molecules interacting at lactate dehydrogenases tetrameric interface using a biophysical screening cascade. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 230:114102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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5
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Chen Y, Yang WH, Chen HF, Huang LM, Gao JY, Lin CW, Wang YC, Yang CS, Liu YL, Hou MH, Tsai CL, Chou YZ, Huang BY, Hung CF, Hung YL, Wang WJ, Su WC, Kumar V, Wu YC, Chao SW, Chang CS, Chen JS, Chiang YP, Cho DY, Jeng LB, Tsai CH, Hung MC. Tafenoquine and its derivatives as inhibitors for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101658. [PMID: 35101449 PMCID: PMC8800562 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has severely affected human lives around the world as well as the global economy. Therefore, effective treatments against COVID-19 are urgently needed. Here, we screened a library containing Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved compounds to identify drugs that could target the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), which is indispensable for viral protein maturation and regard as an important therapeutic target. We identified antimalarial drug tafenoquine (TFQ), which is approved for radical cure of Plasmodium vivax and malaria prophylaxis, as a top candidate to inhibit Mpro protease activity. The crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro in complex with TFQ revealed that TFQ noncovalently bound to and reshaped the substrate-binding pocket of Mpro by altering the loop region (residues 139–144) near the catalytic Cys145, which could block the catalysis of its peptide substrates. We also found that TFQ inhibited human transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). Furthermore, one TFQ derivative, compound 7, showed a better therapeutic index than TFQ on TMPRSS2 and may therefore inhibit the infectibility of SARS-CoV-2, including that of several mutant variants. These results suggest new potential strategies to block infection of SARS-CoV-2 and rising variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeh Chen
- Institute of New Drug Development, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Drug Development Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
| | - Wen-Hao Yang
- Drug Development Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Fan Chen
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Li-Min Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Yan Gao
- Drug Development Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Wen Lin
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chuan Wang
- Institute of New Drug Development, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Shin Yang
- Institute of New Drug Development, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Liang Liu
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Hui Hou
- Institute of New Drug Development, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Ling Tsai
- Institute of New Drug Development, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Zhen Chou
- Institute of New Drug Development, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Bao-Yue Huang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chian-Fang Hung
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Lin Hung
- Program of Digital Health Innovation, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Jan Wang
- Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chi Su
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Vathan Kumar
- Drug Development Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chieh Wu
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Wei Chao
- Drug Development Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Shiang Chang
- Drug Development Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jin-Shing Chen
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ping Chiang
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Der-Yang Cho
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Neurosurgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Long-Bin Jeng
- School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Hai Tsai
- School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; China Medical University Children's Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Mien-Chie Hung
- Drug Development Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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6
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Ghassabian H, Falchi F, Timmoneri M, Mercorelli B, Loregian A, Palù G, Alvisi G. Divide et impera: An In Silico Screening Targeting HCMV ppUL44 Processivity Factor Homodimerization Identifies Small Molecules Inhibiting Viral Replication. Viruses 2021; 13:v13050941. [PMID: 34065234 PMCID: PMC8160850 DOI: 10.3390/v13050941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a leading cause of severe diseases in immunocompromised individuals, including AIDS patients and transplant recipients, and in congenitally infected newborns. The utility of available drugs is limited by poor bioavailability, toxicity, and emergence of resistant strains. Therefore, it is crucial to identify new targets for therapeutic intervention. Among the latter, viral protein–protein interactions are becoming increasingly attractive. Since dimerization of HCMV DNA polymerase processivity factor ppUL44 plays an essential role in the viral life cycle, being required for oriLyt-dependent DNA replication, it can be considered a potential therapeutic target. We therefore performed an in silico screening and selected 18 small molecules (SMs) potentially interfering with ppUL44 homodimerization. Antiviral assays using recombinant HCMV TB4-UL83-YFP in the presence of the selected SMs led to the identification of four active compounds. The most active one, B3, also efficiently inhibited HCMV AD169 strain in plaque reduction assays and impaired replication of an AD169-GFP reporter virus and its ganciclovir-resistant counterpart to a similar extent. As assessed by Western blotting experiments, B3 specifically reduced viral gene expression starting from 48 h post infection, consistent with the inhibition of viral DNA synthesis measured by qPCR starting from 72 h post infection. Therefore, our data suggest that inhibition of ppUL44 dimerization could represent a new class of HCMV inhibitors, complementary to those targeting the DNA polymerase catalytic subunit or the viral terminase complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanieh Ghassabian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (H.G.); (M.T.); (B.M.); (A.L.); (G.P.)
| | | | - Martina Timmoneri
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (H.G.); (M.T.); (B.M.); (A.L.); (G.P.)
| | - Beatrice Mercorelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (H.G.); (M.T.); (B.M.); (A.L.); (G.P.)
| | - Arianna Loregian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (H.G.); (M.T.); (B.M.); (A.L.); (G.P.)
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (H.G.); (M.T.); (B.M.); (A.L.); (G.P.)
| | - Gualtiero Alvisi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (H.G.); (M.T.); (B.M.); (A.L.); (G.P.)
- Correspondence:
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7
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Lambert LJ, Grotegut S, Celeridad M, Gosalia P, Backer LJSD, Bobkov AA, Salaniwal S, Chung TDY, Zeng FY, Pass I, Lombroso PJ, Cosford NDP, Tautz L. Development of a Robust High-Throughput Screening Platform for Inhibitors of the Striatal-Enriched Tyrosine Phosphatase (STEP). Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094417. [PMID: 33922601 PMCID: PMC8122956 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Many human diseases are the result of abnormal expression or activation of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). Not surprisingly, more than 30 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are currently in clinical use and provide unique treatment options for many patients. PTPs on the other hand have long been regarded as “undruggable” and only recently have gained increased attention in drug discovery. Striatal-enriched tyrosine phosphatase (STEP) is a neuron-specific PTP that is overactive in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, and fragile X syndrome. An emergent model suggests that the increase in STEP activity interferes with synaptic function and contributes to the characteristic cognitive and behavioral deficits present in these diseases. Prior efforts to generate STEP inhibitors with properties that warrant clinical development have largely failed. To identify novel STEP inhibitor scaffolds, we developed a biophysical, label-free high-throughput screening (HTS) platform based on the protein thermal shift (PTS) technology. In contrast to conventional HTS using STEP enzymatic assays, we found the PTS platform highly robust and capable of identifying true hits with confirmed STEP inhibitory activity and selectivity. This new platform promises to greatly advance STEP drug discovery and should be applicable to other PTP targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lester J Lambert
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, 10901 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (L.J.L.); (M.C.); (L.J.D.B.); (N.D.C.)
| | - Stefan Grotegut
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, 10901 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (S.G.); (P.G.); (A.A.B.); (S.S.); (T.D.C.); (F.-Y.Z.); (I.P.)
| | - Maria Celeridad
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, 10901 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (L.J.L.); (M.C.); (L.J.D.B.); (N.D.C.)
| | - Palak Gosalia
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, 10901 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (S.G.); (P.G.); (A.A.B.); (S.S.); (T.D.C.); (F.-Y.Z.); (I.P.)
| | - Laurent JS De Backer
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, 10901 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (L.J.L.); (M.C.); (L.J.D.B.); (N.D.C.)
| | - Andrey A Bobkov
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, 10901 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (S.G.); (P.G.); (A.A.B.); (S.S.); (T.D.C.); (F.-Y.Z.); (I.P.)
| | - Sumeet Salaniwal
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, 10901 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (S.G.); (P.G.); (A.A.B.); (S.S.); (T.D.C.); (F.-Y.Z.); (I.P.)
| | - Thomas DY Chung
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, 10901 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (S.G.); (P.G.); (A.A.B.); (S.S.); (T.D.C.); (F.-Y.Z.); (I.P.)
| | - Fu-Yue Zeng
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, 10901 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (S.G.); (P.G.); (A.A.B.); (S.S.); (T.D.C.); (F.-Y.Z.); (I.P.)
| | - Ian Pass
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, 10901 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (S.G.); (P.G.); (A.A.B.); (S.S.); (T.D.C.); (F.-Y.Z.); (I.P.)
| | - Paul J Lombroso
- Child Study Center, Departments of Psychiatry and Departments of Neurobiology, Yale University, 230 South Frontage Rd, New Haven, CT 06520, USA;
| | - Nicholas DP Cosford
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, 10901 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (L.J.L.); (M.C.); (L.J.D.B.); (N.D.C.)
| | - Lutz Tautz
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, 10901 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (L.J.L.); (M.C.); (L.J.D.B.); (N.D.C.)
- Correspondence:
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8
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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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9
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Thabault L, Liberelle M, Koruza K, Yildiz E, Joudiou N, Messens J, Brisson L, Wouters J, Sonveaux P, Frédérick R. Discovery of a novel lactate dehydrogenase tetramerization domain using epitope mapping and peptides. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100422. [PMID: 33607109 PMCID: PMC8010463 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite being initially regarded as a metabolic waste product, lactate is now considered to serve as a primary fuel for the tricarboxylic acid cycle in cancer cells. At the core of lactate metabolism, lactate dehydrogenases (LDHs) catalyze the interconversion of lactate to pyruvate and as such represent promising targets in cancer therapy. However, direct inhibition of the LDH active site is challenging from physicochemical and selectivity standpoints. However, LDHs are obligate tetramers. Thus, targeting the LDH tetrameric interface has emerged as an appealing strategy. In this work, we examine a dimeric construct of truncated human LDH to search for new druggable sites. We report the identification and characterization of a new cluster of interactions in the LDH tetrameric interface. Using nanoscale differential scanning fluorimetry, chemical denaturation, and mass photometry, we identified several residues (E62, D65, L71, and F72) essential for LDH tetrameric stability. Moreover, we report a family of peptide ligands based on this cluster of interactions. We next demonstrated these ligands to destabilize tetrameric LDHs through binding to this new tetrameric interface using nanoscale differential scanning fluorimetry, NMR water–ligand observed via gradient spectroscopy, and microscale thermophoresis. Altogether, this work provides new insights on the LDH tetrameric interface as well as valuable pharmacological tools for the development of LDH tetramer disruptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léopold Thabault
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Brussels, Belgium; Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Maxime Liberelle
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Katarina Koruza
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Brussels, Belgium; Redox Signaling Lab, Brussels Center for Redox Biology, Brussels, Belgium; Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Esra Yildiz
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Joudiou
- Nuclear and Electron Spin Technologies, Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joris Messens
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Brussels, Belgium; Redox Signaling Lab, Brussels Center for Redox Biology, Brussels, Belgium; Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lucie Brisson
- Inserm UMR1069, Nutrition, Growth and Cancer, University of Tours, Tours, France
| | - Johan Wouters
- NARILIS, Department of Chemistry, UNamur, University of Namur, Namur, Belgium
| | - Pierre Sonveaux
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Raphaël Frédérick
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Brussels, Belgium.
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10
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Targeting protein self-association in drug design. Drug Discov Today 2021; 26:1148-1163. [PMID: 33548462 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Protein self-association is a universal phenomenon essential for stability and molecular recognition. Disrupting constitutive homomers constitutes an original and emerging strategy in drug design. Inhibition of homomeric proteins can be achieved through direct complex disruption, subunit intercalation, or by promoting inactive oligomeric states. Targeting self-interaction grants several advantages over active site inhibition because of the stimulation of protein degradation, the enhancement of selectivity, substoichiometric inhibition, and by-pass of compensatory mechanisms. This new landscape in protein inhibition is driven by the development of biophysical and biochemical tools suited for the study of homomeric proteins, such as differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF), native mass spectrometry (MS), Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) spectroscopy, 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and X-ray crystallography. In this review, we discuss the different aspects of this new paradigm in drug design.
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11
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Zhao W, Xiong M, Yuan X, Li M, Sun H, Xu Y. In Silico Screening-Based Discovery of Novel Inhibitors of Human Cyclic GMP-AMP Synthase: A Cross-Validation Study of Molecular Docking and Experimental Testing. J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:3265-3276. [PMID: 32459092 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.0c00171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) has been recently uncovered to be a promising therapeutic target for immune-associated diseases. Until now, only a few inhibitors have been identified through high-throughput screening campaigns. Here, we reported the discovery of novel inhibitors for the catalytic domain of human cGAS (h-cGASCD) by virtual screening for the first time. To generate a reliable docking mode, we first obtained a high-resolution crystal structure of h-cGASCD in complex with PF-06928215, a known inhibitor of h-cGAS, followed by molecular dynamics simulations on this complex structure. Four fragment hits were identified by the virtual screening together with a thermal shift assay. The crystal structures of these four compounds in complex with h-cGASCD were subsequently determined, and the binding modes of the compounds were similar to those predicted by molecular docking, supporting the reliability of the docking model. In addition, an enzyme activity assay identified compound 18 (IC50 = 29.88 ± 3.20 μM) from the compounds predicted by the virtual screening. A similarity search of compound 18 followed by a second virtual screening led to the discovery of compounds S2 (IC50 = 13.1 ± 0.09 μM) and S3 (IC50 = 4.9 ± 0.26 μM) as h-cGAS inhibitors with improved potency. Therefore, the present study not only provides the validated hit compounds for further development of h-cGAS inhibitors but also demonstrates a cross-validation study of virtual screening, in vitro experimental assays, and crystal structure determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfeng Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P.R. China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Drug Discovery and Design Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Muya Xiong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Drug Discovery and Design Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaojing Yuan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Drug Discovery and Design Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Minjun Li
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Hongbin Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P.R. China
| | - Yechun Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Drug Discovery and Design Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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12
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Thabault L, Brisson L, Brustenga C, Martinez Gache SA, Prévost JRC, Kozlova A, Spillier Q, Liberelle M, Benyahia Z, Messens J, Copetti T, Sonveaux P, Frédérick R. Interrogating the Lactate Dehydrogenase Tetramerization Site Using (Stapled) Peptides. J Med Chem 2020; 63:4628-4643. [PMID: 32250117 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Lactate dehydrogenases (LDHs) are tetrameric enzymes of major significance in cancer metabolism as well as promising targets for cancer therapy. However, their wide and polar catalytic sites make them a challenging target for orthosteric inhibition. In this work, we conceived to target LDH tetramerization sites with the ambition of disrupting their oligomeric state. To do so, we designed a protein model of a dimeric LDH-H. We exploited this model through WaterLOGSY nuclear magnetic resonance and microscale thermophoresis for the identification and characterization of a set of α-helical peptides and stapled derivatives that specifically targeted the LDH tetramerization sites. This strategy resulted in the design of a macrocyclic peptide that competes with the LDH tetramerization domain, thus disrupting and destabilizing LDH tetramers. These peptides and macrocycles, along with the dimeric model of LDH-H, constitute promising pharmacological tools for the de novo design and identification of LDH tetramerization disruptors. Overall, our study demonstrates that disrupting LDH oligomerization state by targeting their tetramerization sites is achievable and paves the way toward LDH inhibition through this novel molecular mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léopold Thabault
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), B-1200 Brussels, Belgium.,Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lucie Brisson
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), B-1200 Brussels, Belgium.,INSERM UMR1069, Nutrition, Croissance et Cancer, Université François-Rabelais, F-37041 Tours, France
| | - Chiara Brustenga
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Santiago A Martinez Gache
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.,Brussels Center for Redox Biology, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.,Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Julien R C Prévost
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Arina Kozlova
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Quentin Spillier
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), B-1200 Brussels, Belgium.,Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Maxime Liberelle
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Zohra Benyahia
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joris Messens
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.,Brussels Center for Redox Biology, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.,Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tamara Copetti
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre Sonveaux
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Raphaël Frédérick
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
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13
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Gervais V, Muller I, Mari PO, Mourcet A, Movellan KT, Ramos P, Marcoux J, Guillet V, Javaid S, Burlet-Schiltz O, Czaplicki G, Milon A, Giglia-Mari G. Small molecule-based targeting of TTD-A dimerization to control TFIIH transcriptional activity represents a potential strategy for anticancer therapy. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:14974-14988. [PMID: 30068551 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.003444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The human transcription factor TFIIH is a large complex composed of 10 subunits that form an intricate network of protein-protein interactions critical for regulating its transcriptional and DNA repair activities. The trichothiodystrophy group A protein (TTD-A or p8) is the smallest TFIIH subunit, shuttling between a free and a TFIIH-bound state. Its dimerization properties allow it to shift from a homodimeric state, in the absence of a functional partner, to a heterodimeric structure, enabling dynamic binding to TFIIH. Recruitment of p8 at TFIIH stabilizes the overall architecture of the complex, whereas p8's absence reduces its cellular steady-state concentration and consequently decreases basal transcription, highlighting that p8 dimerization may be an attractive target for down-regulating transcription in cancer cells. Here, using a combination of molecular dynamics simulations to study p8 conformational stability and a >3000-member library of chemical fragments, we identified small-molecule compounds that bind to the dimerization interface of p8 and provoke its destabilization, as assessed by biophysical studies. Using quantitative imaging of TFIIH in living mouse cells, we found that these molecules reduce the intracellular concentration of TFIIH and its transcriptional activity to levels similar to that observed in individuals with trichothiodystrophy owing to mutated TTD-A Our results provide a proof of concept of fragment-based drug discovery, demonstrating the utility of small molecules for targeting p8 dimerization to modulate the transcriptional machinery, an approach that may help inform further development in anticancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Gervais
- From the Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, BP-64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France,
| | - Isabelle Muller
- From the Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, BP-64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Pierre-Olivier Mari
- the Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM U1217, Institut NeuroMyoGène, CNRS UMR 5310, F-69008 Lyon, France, and
| | - Amandine Mourcet
- From the Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, BP-64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Kumar Tekwani Movellan
- From the Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, BP-64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Pascal Ramos
- From the Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, BP-64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Julien Marcoux
- From the Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, BP-64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Valérie Guillet
- From the Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, BP-64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Sumaira Javaid
- From the Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, BP-64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France.,the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center of Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan
| | - Odile Burlet-Schiltz
- From the Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, BP-64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Georges Czaplicki
- From the Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, BP-64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Alain Milon
- From the Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, BP-64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Giuseppina Giglia-Mari
- the Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM U1217, Institut NeuroMyoGène, CNRS UMR 5310, F-69008 Lyon, France, and
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14
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Borysko P, Moroz YS, Vasylchenko OV, Hurmach VV, Starodubtseva A, Stefanishena N, Nesteruk K, Zozulya S, Kondratov IS, Grygorenko OO. Straightforward hit identification approach in fragment-based discovery of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem 2018; 26:3399-3405. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2018.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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15
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Mass spectrometry for fragment screening. Essays Biochem 2017; 61:465-473. [PMID: 28986384 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20170071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Fragment-based approaches in chemical biology and drug discovery have been widely adopted worldwide in both academia and industry. Fragment hits tend to interact weakly with their targets, necessitating the use of sensitive biophysical techniques to detect their binding. Common fragment screening techniques include differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) and ligand-observed NMR. Validation and characterization of hits is usually performed using a combination of protein-observed NMR, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and X-ray crystallography. In this context, MS is a relatively underutilized technique in fragment screening for drug discovery. MS-based techniques have the advantage of high sensitivity, low sample consumption and being label-free. This review highlights recent examples of the emerging use of MS-based techniques in fragment screening.
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16
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Fragment-based drug discovery and its application to challenging drug targets. Essays Biochem 2017; 61:475-484. [PMID: 29118094 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20170029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) is a technique for identifying low molecular weight chemical starting points for drug discovery. Since its inception 20 years ago, FBDD has grown in popularity to the point where it is now an established technique in industry and academia. The approach involves the biophysical screening of proteins against collections of low molecular weight compounds (fragments). Although fragments bind to proteins with relatively low affinity, they form efficient, high quality binding interactions with the protein architecture as they have to overcome a significant entropy barrier to bind. Of the biophysical methods available for fragment screening, X-ray protein crystallography is one of the most sensitive and least prone to false positives. It also provides detailed structural information of the protein-fragment complex at the atomic level. Fragment-based screening using X-ray crystallography is therefore an efficient method for identifying binding hotspots on proteins, which can then be exploited by chemists and biologists for the discovery of new drugs. The use of FBDD is illustrated here with a recently published case study of a drug discovery programme targeting the challenging protein-protein interaction Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1:nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2.
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