RESUMO
Investigating ligand-protein complexes is essential in the areas of chemical biology and drug discovery. However, detailed information on key reagents such as fluorescent tracers and associated data for the development of widely used bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) assays including NanoBRET, time-resolved Förster resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET) and fluorescence polarization (FP) assays are not easily accessible to the research community. We created tracerDB, a curated database of validated tracers. This resource provides an open access knowledge base and a unified system for tracer and assay validation. The database is freely available at https://www.tracerdb.org/ .
Assuntos
Transferência Ressonante de Energia de Fluorescência , Transferência Ressonante de Energia de Fluorescência/métodos , Crowdsourcing , Humanos , Corantes Fluorescentes/química , Descoberta de Drogas/métodos , Ligantes , Bases de Dados Factuais , Técnicas de Transferência de Energia por Ressonância de Bioluminescência/métodos , Polarização de Fluorescência/métodosRESUMO
Activin receptor-like kinases 1-7 (ALK1-7) regulate a complex network of SMAD-independent as well as SMAD-dependent signaling pathways. One of the widely used inhibitors for functional investigations of these processes, in particular for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling, is LDN-193189. However, LDN-193189 has insufficient kinome-wide selectivity complicating its use in cellular target validation assays. Herein, we report the identification and comprehensive characterization of two chemically distinct highly selective inhibitors of ALK1 and ALK2, M4K2234 and MU1700, along with their negative controls. We show that both MU1700 and M4K2234 efficiently block the BMP pathway via selective in cellulo inhibition of ALK1/2 kinases and exhibit favorable in vivo profiles in mice. MU1700 is highly brain penetrant and shows remarkably high accumulation in the brain. These high-quality orthogonal chemical probes offer the selectivity required to become widely used tools for in vitro and in vivo investigation of BMP signaling.
Assuntos
Receptores de Activinas Tipo II , Animais , Humanos , Camundongos , Receptores de Activinas Tipo II/metabolismo , Receptores de Activinas Tipo II/antagonistas & inibidores , Receptores de Ativinas Tipo I/antagonistas & inibidores , Receptores de Ativinas Tipo I/metabolismo , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/farmacologia , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/química , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , Descoberta de Drogas , Sondas Moleculares/química , Proteínas Morfogenéticas Ósseas/metabolismo , Pirazóis/química , Pirazóis/farmacologia , Pirazóis/síntese químicaRESUMO
Spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that is activated by phosphorylation events downstream of FcR, B-cell and T-cell receptors, integrins, and C-type lectin receptors. When the tandem Src homology 2 (SH2) domains of SYK bind to phosphorylated immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (pITAMs) contained within these immunoreceptors, or when SYK is phosphorylated in interdomain regions A and B, SYK is activated. SYK gain-of-function (GoF) variants were previously identified in six patients that had higher levels of phosphorylated SYK and phosphorylated downstream proteins JNK and ERK. Furthermore, the increased SYK activation resulted in the clinical manifestation of immune dysregulation, organ inflammation, and a predisposition for lymphoma. The knowledge that the SYK GoF variants have enhanced activity was leveraged to develop a SYK NanoBRET cellular target engagement assay in intact live cells with constructs for the SYK GoF variants. Herein, we developed a potent SYK-targeted NanoBRET tracer using a SYK donated chemical probe, MRL-SYKi, that enabled a NanoBRET cellular target engagement assay for SYK GoF variants, SYK(S550Y), SYK(S550F), and SYK(P342T). We determined that ATP-competitive SYK inhibitors bind potently to these SYK variants in intact live cells. Additionally, we demonstrated that MRL-SYKi can effectively reduce the catalytic activity of SYK variants, and the phosphorylation levels of SYK(S550Y) in an epithelial cell line (SW480) stably expressing SYK(S550Y).
RESUMO
Dysfunction of the RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is a common driver of human cancers. As such, both the master regulator of the pathway, RAS, and its proximal kinase effectors, RAFs, have been of interest as drug targets for decades. Importantly, signaling within the RAS/MAPK pathway is highly coordinated due to the formation of a higher-order complex called the RAS/RAF signalosome, which may minimally contain dimers of both RAS and RAF protomers. In the disease state, RAS and RAF assemble in homo- and/or heterodimeric forms. Traditionally, drug development campaigns for both RAS and RAF have utilized biochemical assays of purified recombinant protein. As these assays do not query the RAS or RAF proteins in their full-length and complexed forms in cells, potency results collected using these assays have often failed to correlate with inhibition of the MAPK pathway. To more accurately quantify engagement at this signaling components, we present a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-based method to conditionally measure target engagement at individual protomers within the RAS/RAF signalosome in live cells.
Assuntos
Proteínas Quinases Ativadas por Mitógeno , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-raf , Humanos , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-raf/metabolismo , Subunidades Proteicas , Proteínas Quinases Ativadas por Mitógeno/metabolismo , Transdução de SinaisRESUMO
Prostate cancer is a frequent malignancy in older men and has a very high 5-year survival rate if diagnosed early. The prognosis is much less promising if the tumor has already spread outside the prostate gland. Targeted treatments mainly aim at blocking androgen receptor (AR) signaling and initially show good efficacy. However, tumor progression due to AR-dependent and AR-independent mechanisms is often observed after some time, and novel treatment strategies are urgently needed. Dysregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in advanced prostate cancer and its implication in treatment resistance has been reported. We compared the impact of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors with different selectivity profiles on in vitro cell proliferation and on caspase 3/7 activation as a marker for apoptosis induction, and observed the strongest effects in the androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cell lines VCaP and LNCaP. Combination treatment with the AR inhibitor darolutamide led to enhanced apoptosis in these cell lines, the effects being most pronounced upon cotreatment with the pan-PI3K inhibitor copanlisib. A subsequent transcriptomic analysis performed in VCaP cells revealed that combining darolutamide with copanlisib impacted gene expression much more than individual treatment. A comprehensive reversal of the androgen response and the mTORC1 transcriptional programs as well as a marked induction of DNA damage was observed. Next, an in vivo efficacy study was performed using the androgen-sensitive patient-derived prostate cancer (PDX) model LuCaP 35 and a superior efficacy was observed after the combined treatment with copanlisib and darolutamide. Importantly, immunohistochemistry analysis of these treated tumors showed increased apoptosis, as revealed by elevated levels of cleaved caspase 3 and Bcl-2-binding component 3 (BBC3). In conclusion, these data demonstrate that concurrent blockade of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and AR pathways has superior antitumor efficacy and induces apoptosis in androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cell lines and PDX models.
Assuntos
Neoplasias da Próstata , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt , Masculino , Humanos , Idoso , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt/metabolismo , Receptores Androgênicos/metabolismo , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinases/metabolismo , Caspase 3 , Androgênios , Serina-Treonina Quinases TOR/metabolismo , Neoplasias da Próstata/genética , Proliferação de Células , Apoptose , Linhagem Celular TumoralRESUMO
Kinases represent one of the most therapeutically tractable targets for drug discovery in the twenty-first century. However, confirming engagement and achieving intracellular kinase selectivity for small-molecule kinase inhibitors can represent noteworthy challenges. The NanoBRETTM platform enables broad-spectrum live-cell kinase selectivity profiling in most laboratory settings, without advanced instrumentation or expertise. However, the prototype workflow for this selectivity profiling is currently limited to manual liquid handling and 96-well plates. Herein, we describe a scalable workflow with automation and acoustic dispensing, thus dramatically improving the throughput. Such adaptations enable profiling of larger compound sets against 192 full-length protein kinases in live cells, with statistical robustness supporting quantitative analysis.
Assuntos
Ensaios de Triagem em Larga Escala , Proteínas Quinases , Proteínas Quinases/metabolismo , Descoberta de DrogasRESUMO
RAF dimer inhibitors offer therapeutic potential in RAF- and RAS-driven cancers. The utility of such drugs is predicated on their capacity to occupy both RAF protomers in the RAS-RAF signaling complex. Here we describe a method to conditionally quantify drug-target occupancy at selected RAF protomers within an active RAS-RAF complex in cells. RAF target engagement can be measured in the presence or absence of any mutant KRAS allele, enabling the high-affinity state of RAF dimer inhibitors to be quantified in the cellular milieu. The intracellular protomer selectivity of clinical-stage type II RAF inhibitors revealed that ARAF protomer engagement, but not engagement of BRAF or CRAF, is commensurate with inhibition of MAPK signaling in various mutant RAS cell lines. Our results support a fundamental role for ARAF in mutant RAS signaling and reveal poor ARAF protomer vulnerability for a cohort of RAF inhibitors undergoing clinical evaluation.
Assuntos
Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas B-raf , Transdução de Sinais , Humanos , Subunidades Proteicas/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas B-raf/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas B-raf/metabolismo , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/farmacologia , Mutação , Sistema de Sinalização das MAP QuinasesRESUMO
DNA-encoded libraries (DELs) provide unmatched chemical diversity and starting points for novel drug modalities. Here, we describe a workflow that exploits the bifunctional attributes of DEL ligands as a platform to generate BRET probes for live cell target engagement studies. To establish proof of concept, we performed a DEL screen using aurora kinase A and successfully converted aurora DEL ligands as cell-active BRET probes. Aurora BRET probes enabled the validation and stratification of the chemical series identified from primary selection data. Furthermore, we have evaluated the effective repurposing of pre-existing DEL screen data to find suitable leads for BRET probe development. Our findings support the use of DEL workflows as an engine to create cell-active BRET probes independent of structure or compound SAR. The combination of DEL and BRET technology accelerates hit-to-lead studies in a live cell setting.
Assuntos
Pesquisa , LigantesRESUMO
PLK1 is a protein kinase that regulates mitosis and is both an important oncology drug target and a potential antitarget of drugs for the DNA damage response pathway or anti-infective host kinases. To expand the range of live cell NanoBRET target engagement assays to include PLK1, we developed an energy transfer probe based on the anilino-tetrahydropteridine chemotype found in several selective PLK inhibitors. Probe 11 was used to configure NanoBRET target engagement assays for PLK1, PLK2, and PLK3 and measure the potency of several known PLK inhibitors. In-cell target engagement for PLK1 was in good agreement with the reported cellular potency for the inhibition of cell proliferation. Probe 11 enabled the investigation of the promiscuity of adavosertib, which had been described as a dual PLK1/WEE1 inhibitor in biochemical assays. Live cell target engagement analysis of adavosertib via NanoBRET demonstrated PLK activity at micromolar concentrations but only selective engagement of WEE1 at clinically relevant doses.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Ciclo Celular , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/metabolismo , Proteínas Quinases , Proliferação de Células , Mitose , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/farmacologiaRESUMO
PLK1 is a protein kinase that regulates mitosis and is both an important oncology drug target and a potential anti target of drugs for the DNA damage response pathway or anti-infective host kinases. To expand the range of live cell NanoBRET target engagement assays to include PLK1 we developed an energy transfer probe based on the anilino-tetrahydropteridine chemotype found in several selective PLK inhibitors. Probe 11 was used to configure NanoBRET target engagement assays for PLK1, PLK2, and PLK3 and measure the potency of several known PLK inhibitors. In cell target engagement for PLK1 was in good agreement with the reported cellular potency for inhibition of cell proliferation. Probe 11 enabled investigation of the promiscuity of adavosertib, which had been described as a dual PLK1/WEE1 inhibitor in biochemical assays. Live cell target engagement analysis of adavosertib by NanoBRET demonstrated PLK activity at micromolar concentrations but only selective engagement of WEE1 at clinically relevant doses.
RESUMO
Small-molecule tools have enabled mechanistic investigations and therapeutic targeting of the protein kinase-like (PKL) superfamily. However, such tools are still lacking for many PKL members, including the highly conserved and disease-related UbiB family. Here, we sought to develop and characterize an inhibitor for the archetypal UbiB member COQ8, whose function is essential for coenzyme Q (CoQ) biosynthesis. Guided by crystallography, activity assays and cellular CoQ measurements, we repurposed the 4-anilinoquinoline scaffold to selectively inhibit human COQ8A in cells. Our chemical tool promises to lend mechanistic insights into the activities of these widespread and understudied proteins and to offer potential therapeutic strategies for human diseases connected to their dysfunction.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Humanos , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolismo , Ubiquinona/farmacologia , Ubiquinona/química , Proteínas de Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolismoRESUMO
E3 ligases constitute a large and diverse family of proteins that play a central role in regulating protein homeostasis by recruiting substrate proteins via recruitment domains to the proteasomal degradation machinery. Small molecules can either inhibit, modulate or hijack E3 function. The latter class of small molecules led to the development of selective protein degraders, such as PROTACs (PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras), that recruit protein targets to the ubiquitin system leading to a new class of pharmacologically active drugs and to new therapeutic options. Recent efforts have focused on the E3 family of Baculovirus IAP Repeat (BIR) domains that comprise a structurally conserved but diverse 70 amino acid long protein interaction domain. In the human proteome, 16 BIR domains have been identified, among them promising drug targets such as the Inhibitors of Apoptosis (IAP) family, that typically contain three BIR domains (BIR1, BIR2, and BIR3). To date, this target area lacks assay tools that would allow comprehensive evaluation of inhibitor selectivity. As a consequence, the selectivity of current BIR domain targeting inhibitors is unknown. To this end, we developed assays that allow determination of inhibitor selectivity in vitro as well as in cellulo. Using this toolbox, we have characterized available BIR domain inhibitors. The characterized chemical starting points and selectivity data will be the basis for the generation of new chemical probes for IAP proteins with well-characterized mode of action and provide the basis for future drug discovery efforts and the development of PROTACs and molecular glues.
RESUMO
Current small-molecule inhibitors of KRAS(G12C) bind irreversibly in the switch-II pocket (SII-P), exploiting the strong nucleophilicity of the acquired cysteine as well as the preponderance of the GDP-bound form of this mutant. Nevertheless, many oncogenic KRAS mutants lack these two features, and it remains unknown whether targeting the SII-P is a practical therapeutic approach for KRAS mutants beyond G12C. Here we use NMR spectroscopy and a cellular KRAS engagement assay to address this question by examining a collection of SII-P ligands from the literature and from our own laboratory. We show that the SII-Ps of many KRAS hotspot (G12, G13, Q61) mutants are accessible using noncovalent ligands, and that this accessibility is not necessarily coupled to the GDP state of KRAS. The results we describe here emphasize the SII-P as a privileged drug-binding site on KRAS and unveil new therapeutic opportunities in RAS-driven cancer.
Assuntos
Mieloma Múltiplo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas p21(ras) , Humanos , Ligantes , Mutação , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas p21(ras)/genéticaRESUMO
Inhibitors targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are an effective therapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer harboring drug-sensitive activating mutations in the EGFR kinase domain. Drug resistance due to treatment-acquired mutations has motivated the development of successive generations of inhibitors that bind in the ATP site. The third-generation agent osimertinib is now a first-line treatment for this disease. Recently, allosteric inhibitors have been developed to overcome drug-resistant mutations that confer a resistance to osimertinib. Here, we present the structure-guided design and synthesis of a mutant-selective lead compound, which consists of a pyridinyl imidazole-fused benzylisoindolinedione scaffold that simultaneously occupies the orthosteric and allosteric sites. The compound potently inhibits enzymatic activity in L858R/T790M/C797S mutant EGFR (4.9 nM), with a significantly lower activity for wild-type EGFR (47 nM). Additionally, this compound achieves modest cetuximab-independent and mutant-selective cellular efficacies on the L858R (1.2 µM) and L858R/T790M (4.4 µM) variants.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/tratamento farmacológico , Desenho de Fármacos , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos/efeitos dos fármacos , Imidazóis/química , Mutação , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/farmacologia , Acrilamidas/farmacologia , Sítio Alostérico , Compostos de Anilina/farmacologia , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/genética , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/patologia , Receptores ErbB/antagonistas & inibidores , Receptores ErbB/genética , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patologiaRESUMO
This protocol is used to profile the engagement of kinase inhibitors across nearly 200 kinases in a live-cell context. This protocol utilizes one single kinase tracer (NanoBRET(TM) Tracer K10) that operates quantitatively at four different concentrations. Minimizing the number of tracers offers a significant workflow improvement over the previous protocol that utilized a combination of 6 tracers. Each NanoBRET(TM) kinase assay is built using commercially available plasmids and has been optimized for NanoLuc tagging orientation, diluent DNA, and tracer concentration. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Vasta et al. (2018).
Assuntos
Bioensaio , Fosfotransferases , LuciferasesRESUMO
Target engagement and cell permeation are important parameters that may limit the efficacy of proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs). Here, we present an approach that facilitates both the quantitation of PROTAC binding affinity for an E3 ligase of interest, as well as the assessment of relative intracellular availability. We present a panel of E3 ligase target engagement assays based upon the NanoBRET Target Engagement platform. Querying E3 ligase engagement under live-cell and permeabilized-cell conditions allow calculation of an availability index that can be used to rank order the intracellular availability of PROTACs. Here we present examples where the cellular availability of PROTACs and their monovalent precursors are prioritized using NanoBRET assays for CRBN or VHL E3 ligases.
Assuntos
Permeabilidade da Membrana Celular , Ubiquitina-Proteína Ligases , Permeabilidade , Proteólise , Ubiquitina-Proteína Ligases/metabolismoRESUMO
Targeted protein degradation using heterobifunctional proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds, which recruit E3 ligase machinery to a target protein, is increasingly becoming an attractive pharmacologic strategy. PROTAC compounds are often developed from existing inhibitors, and assessing selectivity is critical for understanding on-target and off-target degradation. We present here an in-depth kinetic degradation study of the pan-kinase PROTAC, TL12-186, applied to 16 members of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) family. Each CDK family member was endogenously tagged with the 11-amino-acid HiBiT peptide, allowing for live cell luminescent monitoring of degradation. Using this approach, we found striking differences and patterns in kinetic degradation rates, potencies, and Dmax values across the CDK family members. Analysis of the responses revealed that most of the CDKs showed rapid and near complete degradation, yet all cell cycle-associated CDKs (1, 2, 4, and 6) showed multimodal and partial degradation. Further mechanistic investigation of the key cell cycle protein CDK2 was performed and revealed CDK2 PROTAC-dependent degradation in unsynchronized or G1-arrested cells but minimal loss in S or G2/M arrest. The ability of CDK2 to form the PROTAC-mediated ternary complex with CRBN in only G1-arrested cells matched these trends, despite binding of CDK2 to TL12-186 in all phases. These data indicate that target subpopulation degradation can occur, dictated by the formation of the ternary complex. These studies additionally underscore the importance of profiling degradation compounds in cellular systems where complete pathways are intact and target proteins can be characterized in their relevant complexes.
Assuntos
Bioensaio , Ciclo Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Quinase 2 Dependente de Ciclina/metabolismo , Quinase 4 Dependente de Ciclina/metabolismo , Oxindóis/farmacologia , Piperidinas/farmacologia , Processamento de Proteína Pós-Traducional , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal/genética , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal/metabolismo , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Ciclo Celular/genética , Quinase 2 Dependente de Ciclina/genética , Quinase 4 Dependente de Ciclina/genética , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Cinética , Complexo de Endopeptidases do Proteassoma/efeitos dos fármacos , Ligação Proteica , Proteólise/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/metabolismo , Coloração e Rotulagem , Ubiquitina-Proteína Ligases/genética , Ubiquitina-Proteína Ligases/metabolismo , Ubiquitinação/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Concerted multidisciplinary efforts have led to the development of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase inhibitors (CDKi's) as small molecule drugs and chemical probes of intracellular CDK function. However, conflicting data has been reported on the inhibitory potency of CDKi's and a systematic characterization of affinity and selectivity against intracellular CDKs is lacking. We have developed a panel of cell-permeable energy transfer probes to quantify target occupancy for all 21 human CDKs in live cells, and present a comprehensive evaluation of intracellular isozyme potency and selectivity for a collection of 46 clinically-advanced CDKi's and tool molecules. We observed unexpected intracellular activity profiles for a number of CDKi's, offering avenues for repurposing of highly potent molecules as probes for previously unreported targets. Overall, we provide a broadly applicable method for evaluating the selectivity of CDK inhibitors in living cells, and present a refined set of tool molecules to study CDK function.
Assuntos
Pontos de Checagem do Ciclo Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas Inibidoras de Quinase Dependente de Ciclina/farmacologia , Quinases Ciclina-Dependentes/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteína Quinase CDC2 , Quinase 2 Dependente de Ciclina , Quinase 4 Dependente de Ciclina , Quinase 6 Dependente de Ciclina , Quinase 9 Dependente de Ciclina , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Fosforilação , Relação Estrutura-AtividadeRESUMO
Doublecortin like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is an understudied kinase that is upregulated in a wide range of cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, little is known about its potential as a therapeutic target. We used chemoproteomic profiling and structure-based design to develop a selective, in vivo-compatible chemical probe of the DCLK1 kinase domain, DCLK1-IN-1. We demonstrate activity of DCLK1-IN-1 against clinically relevant patient-derived PDAC organoid models and use a combination of RNA-sequencing, proteomics and phosphoproteomics analysis to reveal that DCLK1 inhibition modulates proteins and pathways associated with cell motility in this context. DCLK1-IN-1 will serve as a versatile tool to investigate DCLK1 biology and establish its role in cancer.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/tratamento farmacológico , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intracelular/antagonistas & inibidores , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/tratamento farmacológico , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/química , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases/antagonistas & inibidores , Animais , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Movimento Celular , Proteína Duplacortina , Quinases Semelhantes a Duplacortina , Ensaios de Seleção de Medicamentos Antitumorais , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Humanos , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intracelular/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Estrutura Molecular , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/farmacocinética , Proteômica , Ratos , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Peixe-Zebra , Neoplasias PancreáticasRESUMO
Intracellular target affinity and residence time are fundamental aspects of pharmacological mechanism (Lu and Tonge, Curr Opin Chem Biol 14:467-474, 2010). Although various robust biochemical approaches exist to measure these binding characteristics, analysis of compound binding with isolated targets may not accurately reflect engagement in the milieu of living cells. To realize the influence of cellular context, methods are needed that are capable of quantifying affinity and residence time in the presence of the intracellular factors that may impact target engagement. Bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) offers a solution for intracellular target engagement when quantitative metrics or kinetic analyses are required.