scholarly journals Identification and Biological Evaluation of CK2 Allosteric Fragments through Structure-Based Virtual Screening

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunqiong Li ◽  
Xuewen Zhang ◽  
Na Zhang ◽  
Yue Zhou ◽  
Guohui Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Screening ◽  
Interaction Mechanism ◽  
Pharmacophore Model ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Biological Evaluation ◽  
Atp Binding ◽  
Allosteric Site ◽  
Allosteric Inhibitors ◽  
Competitive Inhibitors ◽  
Reduced Toxicity

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.

scholarly journals Recent Advances in the Discovery of CK2 Allosteric Inhibitors: From Traditional Screening to Structure-Based Design

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolan Chen ◽  
Chunqiong Li ◽  
Dada Wang ◽  
Yu Chen ◽  
Na Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase Ck2 ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Atp Binding ◽  
Binding Modes ◽  
Allosteric Site ◽  
Allosteric Inhibitors ◽  
Atp Binding Site ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Allosteric Sites ◽  
Kinase Ck2

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.

scholarly journals Structural basis for subtype-specific inhibition of the P2X7 receptor

eLife ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Karasawa ◽  
Toshimitsu Kawate
Keyword(s):  
P2x7 Receptor ◽  
Hydrophobic Interactions ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Drug Binding ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Atp Binding ◽  
Allosteric Site ◽  
Channel Opening ◽  
A Site ◽  
Novel Drug

The P2X7 receptor is a non-selective cation channel activated by extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Chronic activation of P2X7 underlies many health problems such as pathologic pain, yet we lack effective antagonists due to poorly understood mechanisms of inhibition. Here we present crystal structures of a mammalian P2X7 receptor complexed with five structurally-unrelated antagonists. Unexpectedly, these drugs all bind to an allosteric site distinct from the ATP-binding pocket in a groove formed between two neighboring subunits. This novel drug-binding pocket accommodates a diversity of small molecules mainly through hydrophobic interactions. Functional assays propose that these compounds allosterically prevent narrowing of the drug-binding pocket and the turret-like architecture during channel opening, which is consistent with a site of action distal to the ATP-binding pocket. These novel mechanistic insights will facilitate the development of P2X7-specific drugs for treating human diseases.

scholarly journals Glycine Transporter 2: Mechanism and Allosteric Modulation

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary J. Frangos ◽  
Ryan P. Cantwell Chater ◽  
Robert J. Vandenberg
Keyword(s):  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Allosteric Site ◽  
Allosteric Inhibitors ◽  
Competitive Inhibitors ◽  
Transport Inhibitors ◽  
Modulatory Sites ◽  
Clearance Kinetics ◽  
Major Target ◽  
Glycine Transporter 2

Neurotransmitter sodium symporters (NSS) are a subfamily of SLC6 transporters responsible for regulating neurotransmitter signalling. They are a major target for psychoactive substances including antidepressants and drugs of abuse, prompting substantial research into their modulation and structure-function dynamics. Recently, a series of allosteric transport inhibitors have been identified, which may reduce side effect profiles, compared to orthosteric inhibitors. Allosteric inhibitors are also likely to provide different clearance kinetics compared to competitive inhibitors and potentially better clinical outcomes. Crystal structures and homology models have identified several allosteric modulatory sites on NSS including the vestibule allosteric site (VAS), lipid allosteric site (LAS) and cholesterol binding site (CHOL1). Whilst the architecture of eukaryotic NSS is generally well conserved there are differences in regions that form the VAS, LAS, and CHOL1. Here, we describe ligand-protein interactions that stabilize binding in each allosteric site and explore how differences between transporters could be exploited to generate NSS specific compounds with an emphasis on GlyT2 modulation.

DRUG TARGET PRIORITIZATION IN PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM THROUGH METABOLIC NETWORK ANALYSIS, AND INHIBITOR DESIGNING USING VIRTUAL SCREENING AND DOCKING APPROACH

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (04) ◽  
pp. 1350003 ◽  
Author(s):  
MANOJ KUMAR YADAV ◽  
SAURABH KUMAR PANDEY ◽  
D. SWATI
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Virtual Screening ◽  
Metabolic Network ◽  
Pharmacophore Model ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Binding Modes ◽  
Metabolic Network Analysis ◽  
Screening Experiments ◽  
Monophosphate Decarboxylase

The genome sequence of Plasmodium falciparum reveals that many metabolic pathways are unique as compared to its human host. Metabolic Network Analysis was carried out to find the essential enzymes critical for the survival of the pathogen. In the present study, choke point and load point analysis was used to locate putative targets. The identified targets were further checked to confirm that no alternate pathway or human homolog exists. Among the top 15 enzymes obtained from this analysis, we have selected P. falciparum orotidine-5'-monophosphate decarboxylase (PfODCase) enzyme as it is sequentially and structurally different from that of humans, for searching novel inhibitors. A five-point 3D pharmacophore was generated for the crystal structure of PfODCase complexes with uridine-5'-monophosphate (U5P). The binding site environment shows three H-bond acceptors, one H-bond donor and one negative ionizable feature. This pharmacophore model was used as a 3D query to perform virtual screening experiments against 2,664,779 standard lead compounds obtained from the freely available ZINC database. Top 10 hits obtained from virtual screening were selected for molecular docking experiments against PfODCase in order to verify their results and to have a better insight into their binding modes. Here, docking of U5P with PfODCase is used as a control. We have identified six compounds, among them, few are U5P analogs and others are novel ones with diverse scaffolds. The key residues: Lys42, Asp20, Lys72, Ser127, Ala184, Gln185 and Arg203 at the main binding pocket of PfODCase are responsible for better stability of diverse ligands. These compounds according to their free energy of binding could serve as potent leads for designing novel inhibitors against malarial ODCase enzyme.

Discovery of novel sphingosine kinase 1 inhibitorsvia structure-based hierarchical virtual screening

MedChemComm ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 413-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojian Wang ◽  
Chenbin Sun ◽  
Liang Fang ◽  
Dali Yin
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Screening ◽  
Sphingosine Kinase ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Binding Mode ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Biological Evaluation ◽  
U937 Cells ◽  
Sphingosine Kinase 1 ◽  
Inhibitory Activities

Hierarchical structure-based virtual screening against the sphingosine kinase 1(SphK1) binding pocket was performed. 25 compounds were selected for biological evaluation. Compound 25 exhibited comparable SphK1 and SphK2 inhibitory activities and anti-proliferative effects on U937 cells to the positive control N,N-dimethylsphingosine (DMS) 1. Further molecule dynamic (MD) simulations revealed the binding mode between SphK1 and 25.

scholarly journals Discovery of an IKK2 Site that Allosterically Controls Its Activation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonjiala Jackson Hotchkiss ◽  
Maria Carmen Mulero ◽  
Garrett J. Chan ◽  
Tapan Biswas ◽  
Smarajit Polley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecule ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Allosteric Site ◽  
Allosteric Inhibitors ◽  
Allosteric Sites ◽  
Hydrogen Deuterium ◽  
Hdx Ms ◽  
Target Effects

ABSTRACTIκB kinase 2/β (IKK2) is a critical regulator of inflammation which is inducibly activated by a host of stimuli. Aberrant activation of IKK2 is the leading cause of most inflammatory diseases and many associated cancers. Efforts to prevent these diseases by small-molecule inhibitors of IKK2 activity have not been successful. Most inhibitors developed for IKK2 are ATP-competitive, and they are toxic in vivo due to their off-target effects. Here we focused on identifying inhibitors to block IKK2 activity from an allosteric site, not the ATP-binding pocket. Using virtual screening, we first identified several candidate allosteric sites and screened for potential small-molecule binders, and then selected candidates inhibitory to IKK2 activity using cell-based functional assays. Hydrogen deuterium exchange coupled to mass-spectrometry (HDX-MS) and MS-MS assays revealed that a class of benzoyl conjugates of pyrrolidinedione covalently bound to a site located at the interface of the kinase domain (KD) and the helical domain (SDD), and inhibited IKK2 activation allosterically by preventing phosphorylation of its activation loop serines. Additionally, this class of inhibitor partially blocks IKK2’s catalytic activity by enhancing dynamics within the ATP binding pocket and likely the general active site. Hydrogen deuterium exchange (HDX) experiments further revealed that while binding of substrate ATP perturbs only the local structure surrounding its binding site, binding to ATP-competitive or allosteric inhibitors induces structural perturbations in an expansive area including the helical domain. We propose that these allosteric sites can act as specific targets for the development of novel potent IKK inhibitors.SIGNIFICANCEAberrant activation of IKK2 is the leading cause of most inflammatory diseases and many associated cancers. Most inhibitors developed for IKK2 are ATP-competitive, and they are toxic in vivo due to their off-target effects. By combination of virtual screening and cell-based functional assays, we identified small-molecule binders of the class of benzoyl conjugates of pyrrolidinedione that block IKK2 activity from an allosteric site through covalent attachment and could be specific only for IKK2. HDX-MS and MS-MS assays identified a binding pocket with a ‘Cys-Cys motif’ for these inhibitors, and revealed specific differences in IKK2 dynamics upon binding to substrate ATP vs ATP-competitive and allosteric inhibitors. Present work provides a framework for the development of allosteric inhibitors to combat IKK2-induced diseases inhibitors.

scholarly journals Structure-Based Virtual Screening of Pseudomonas aeruginosa LpxA Inhibitors using Pharmacophore-Based Approach

Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 266
Author(s):  
Baki Vijaya Bhaskar ◽  
Tirumalasetty Muni Chandra Babu ◽  
Aluru Rammohan ◽  
Gui Yu Zheng ◽  
Grigory V. Zyryanov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Virtual Screening ◽  
Lipid A ◽  
Catalytic Mechanism ◽  
Pharmacophore Model ◽  
Selective Inhibition ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Uridine Diphosphate ◽  
Lead Compounds ◽  
Essential Enzyme

Multidrug resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a noticeable and ongoing major obstacle for inhibitor design. In P. aeruginosa, uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) acetyltransferase (PaLpxA) is an essential enzyme of lipid A biosynthesis and an attractive drug target. PaLpxA is a homotrimer, and the binding pocket for its substrate, UDP-GlcNAc, is positioned between the monomer A–monomer B interface. The uracil moiety binds at one monomer A, the GlcNAc moiety binds at another monomer B, and a diphosphate form bonds with both monomers. The catalytic residues are conserved and display a similar catalytic mechanism across orthologs, but some distinctions exist between pocket sizes, residue differences, substrate positioning and specificity. The analysis of diversified pockets, volumes, and ligand positions was determined between orthologues that could aid in selective inhibitor development. Thenceforth, a complex-based pharmacophore model was generated and subjected to virtual screening to identify compounds with similar pharmacophoric properties. Docking and general Born-volume integral (GBVI) studies demonstrated 10 best lead compounds with selective inhibition properties with essential residues in the pocket. For biological access, these scaffolds complied with the Lipinski rule, no toxicity and drug likeness properties, and were considered as lead compounds. Hence, these scaffolds could be helpful for the development of potential selective PaLpxA inhibitors.

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