Type II Binders Targeting the "GLR-Out" Conformation of the Pseudokinase STRADα.

Pseudokinases play important roles in signal transduction and cellular processes similar to those of catalytically competent kinases. However, pseudokinase pharmacological tractability and conformational space accessibility are poorly understood. Pseudokinases have only recently been suggested to adopt "inactive" conformations or interact with conformation-specific kinase inhibitors (e.g., type II compounds). In this work, the heavily substituted pseudokinase STRADα, which possesses a DFG → GLR substitution in the catalytic site that permits nucleotide binding while impairing divalent cation coordination, is used as a test case to demonstrate the potential applicability of conformation-specific, type II compounds to pseudokinase pharmacology. Integrated structural modeling is employed to generate a "GLR-out" conformational ensemble. Likely interacting type II compounds are identified through virtual screening against this ensemble model. Biophysical validation of compound binding is demonstrated through protein thermal stabilization and ATP competition. Localization of a top-performing compound through surface methylation strongly suggests that STRADα can adopt the "GLR-out" conformation and interact with compounds that comply with the standard type II pharmacophore. These results suggest that, despite a loss of catalytic function, some pseudokinases, including STRADα, may retain the conformational switching properties of conventional protein kinases.

Phenotype-Based Screens with Conformation-Specific Inhibitors Reveal p38 Gamma and Delta as Targets for HCC Polypharmacology.

The approved kinase inhibitors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not matched to specific mutations within tumors. This has presented a daunting challenge; without a clear target or mechanism, no straightforward path has existed to guide the development of improved therapies for HCC. Here, we combine phenotypic screens with a class of conformation-specific kinase inhibitors termed type II to identify a multikinase inhibitor, AD80, with antitumoral activity across a variety of HCC preclinical models, including mouse xenografts. Mass spectrometry profiling found a number of kinases as putative targets for AD80, including several receptor and cytoplasmic protein kinases. Among these, we found p38 gamma and delta as direct targets of AD80. Notably, a closely related analog of AD80 lacking p38δ/γ activity, but retaining several other off-target kinases, lost significant activity in several HCC models. Moreover, forced and sustained MKK6 → p38→ATF2 signaling led to a significant reduction of AD80 activity within HCC cell lines. Together with HCC survival data in The Cancer Genome Atlas and RNA-seq analysis, we suggest p38 delta and gamma as therapeutic targets in HCC and an "AD80 inhibition signature" as identifying those patients with best clinical outcomes.

A whole-animal platform to advance a clinical kinase inhibitor into new disease space.

Synthetic tailoring of approved drugs for new indications is often difficult, as the most appropriate targets may not be readily apparent, and therefore few roadmaps exist to guide chemistry. Here, we report a multidisciplinary approach for accessing novel target and chemical space starting from an FDA-approved kinase inhibitor. By combining chemical and genetic modifier screening with computational modeling, we identify distinct kinases that strongly enhance ('pro-targets') or limit ('anti-targets') whole-animal activity of the clinical kinase inhibitor sorafenib in a Drosophila medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) model. We demonstrate that RAF-the original intended sorafenib target-and MKNK kinases function as pharmacological liabilities because of inhibitor-induced transactivation and negative feedback, respectively. Through progressive synthetic refinement, we report a new class of 'tumor calibrated inhibitors' with unique polypharmacology and strongly improved therapeutic index in fly and human MTC xenograft models. This platform provides a rational approach to creating new high-efficacy and low-toxicity drugs.

Synthesis and characterization of water-soluble, heteronuclear ruthenium(III)/ferrocene complexes and their interactions with biomolecules.

The reaction of Na[RuCl4(SO(CH3)2)2], 1, with one equivalent of FcCONHCH2C6H4N (Fc=FeC10H9), L1, FcCOOCH2CH2C3H3N2, L2, FcCOOC6H4N, L3, afforded the dinuclear species, Na[FcCONHCH2C6H4N[RuCl4(SO(CH3)2)]], RuL1, Na[FcCOOCH2CH2C3H3N2[RuCl4(SO(CH3)2)]], RuL2, Na[FcCOOC6H4N(RuCl4(SO(CH3)2))], RuL3, respectively, yielding, in each case, a ferrocene moiety bridged to a ruthenium center. The complexes were characterized by NMR, IR, and XRD (X-ray diffraction). The sulfoxide ligands are bonded to the metal through the sulfur atom. The complexes were evaluated for their biological activity with pBluescript DNA plasmid, and the protein BSA (bovine serum albumin). These reactions were monitored by XAS (X-ray absorption spectroscopy), EXAFS (extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure), NMR, UV/visible, emission spectroscopy, and gel electrophoresis. Donor atoms from the biomolecules substitute for the chloride ligands in the parent complexes.