Crystallographic fragment screening in academic cancer drug discovery.

Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) has brought several drugs to the clinic, notably to target proteins once considered to be challenging, or even undruggable. Screening in FBDD relies upon observing and/or measuring weak (millimolar-scale) binding events using biophysical techniques or crystallographic fragment screening. This latter structural approach provides no information about binding affinity but can reveal binding mode and atomic detail on protein-fragment interactions to accelerate hit-to-lead development. In recent years, high-throughput platforms have been developed at synchrotron facilities to screen thousands of fragment-soaked crystals. However, using accessible manual techniques it is possible to run informative, smaller-scale screens within an academic lab setting. This chapter describes general protocols for home laboratory-scale fragment screening, from fragment soaking through to structure solution and, where appropriate, signposts to background, protocols or alternatives elsewhere.

Targeting Cytotoxic Agents through EGFR-Mediated Covalent Binding and Release.

A major drawback of cytotoxic chemotherapy is the lack of selectivity toward noncancerous cells. The targeted delivery of cytotoxic drugs to tumor cells is a longstanding goal in cancer research. We proposed that covalent inhibitors could be adapted to deliver cytotoxic agents, conjugated to the ß-position of the Michael acceptor, via an addition-elimination mechanism promoted by covalent binding. Studies on model systems showed that conjugated 5-fluorouracil (5FU) could be released upon thiol addition in relevant time scales. A series of covalent epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors were synthesized as their 5FU derivatives. Achieving the desired release of 5FU was demonstrated to depend on the electronics and geometry of the compounds. Mass spectrometry and NMR studies demonstrated an anilinoquinazoline acrylate ester conjugate bound to EGFR with the release of 5FU. This work establishes that acrylates can be used to release conjugated molecules upon covalent binding to proteins and could be used to develop targeted therapeutics.

Comparison of Quantitative Mass Spectrometric Methods for Drug Target Identification by Thermal Proteome Profiling.

Thermal proteome profiling (TPP) provides a powerful approach to studying proteome-wide interactions of small therapeutic molecules and their target and off-target proteins, complementing phenotypic-based drug screens. Detecting differences in thermal stability due to target engagement requires high quantitative accuracy and consistent detection. Isobaric tandem mass tags (TMTs) are used to multiplex samples and increase quantification precision in TPP analysis by data-dependent acquisition (DDA). However, advances in data-independent acquisition (DIA) can provide higher sensitivity and protein coverage with reduced costs and sample preparation steps. Herein, we explored the performance of different DIA-based label-free quantification approaches compared to TMT-DDA for thermal shift quantitation. Acute myeloid leukemia cells were treated with losmapimod, a known inhibitor of MAPK14 (p38α). Label-free DIA approaches, and particularly the library-free mode in DIA-NN, were comparable of TMT-DDA in their ability to detect target engagement of losmapimod with MAPK14 and one of its downstream targets, MAPKAPK3. Using DIA for thermal shift quantitation is a cost-effective alternative to labeled quantitation in the TPP pipeline.

Modulation of ERK5 Activity as a Therapeutic Anti-Cancer Strategy.

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) signaling pathway is one of four conventional mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways. Genetic perturbation of ERK5 has suggested that modulation of ERK5 activity may have therapeutic potential in cancer chemotherapy. This Miniperspective examines the evidence for ERK5 as a drug target in cancer, the structure of ERK5, and the evolution of structurally distinct chemotypes of ERK5 kinase domain inhibitors. The emerging complexities of ERK5 pharmacology are discussed, including the confounding phenomenon of paradoxical ERK5 activation by small-molecule ERK5 inhibitors. The impact of the recent development and biological evaluation of potent and selective bifunctional degraders of ERK5 and future opportunities in ERK modulation are also explored.

Mapping Ligand Interactions of Bromodomains BRD4 and ATAD2 with FragLites and PepLites─Halogenated Probes of Druglike and Peptide-like Molecular Interactions.

The development of ligands for biological targets is critically dependent on the identification of sites on proteins that bind molecules with high affinity. A set of compounds, called FragLites, can identify such sites, along with the interactions required to gain affinity, by X-ray crystallography. We demonstrate the utility of FragLites in mapping the binding sites of bromodomain proteins BRD4 and ATAD2 and demonstrate that FragLite mapping is comparable to a full fragment screen in identifying ligand binding sites and key interactions. We extend the FragLite set with analogous compounds derived from amino acids (termed PepLites) that mimic the interactions of peptides. The output of the FragLite maps is shown to enable the development of ligands with leadlike potency. This work establishes the use of FragLite and PepLite screening at an early stage in ligand discovery allowing the rapid assessment of tractability of protein targets and informing downstream hit-finding.

A Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Assay Identifies Nilotinib as an Inhibitor of Inflammation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Inflammatory responses are important in cancer, particularly in the context of monocyte-rich aggressive myeloid neoplasm. We developed a label-free cellular phenotypic drug discovery assay to identify anti-inflammatory drugs in human monocytes derived from acute myeloid leukemia (AML), by tracking several features ionizing from only 2500 cells using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. A proof-of-concept screen showed that the BCR-ABL inhibitor nilotinib, but not the structurally similar imatinib, blocks inflammatory responses. In order to identify the cellular (off-)targets of nilotinib, we performed thermal proteome profiling (TPP). Unlike imatinib, nilotinib and other later-generation BCR-ABL inhibitors bind to p38α and inhibit the p38α-MK2/3 signaling axis, which suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, cell adhesion, and innate immunity markers in activated monocytes derived from AML. Thus, our study provides a tool for the discovery of new anti-inflammatory drugs, which could contribute to the treatment of inflammation in myeloid neoplasms and other diseases.

Parallel Optimization of Potency and Pharmacokinetics Leading to the Discovery of a Pyrrole Carboxamide ERK5 Kinase Domain Inhibitor.

The nonclassical extracellular signal-related kinase 5 (ERK5) mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway has been implicated in increased cellular proliferation, migration, survival, and angiogenesis; hence, ERK5 inhibition may be an attractive approach for cancer treatment. However, the development of selective ERK5 inhibitors has been challenging. Previously, we described the development of a pyrrole carboxamide high-throughput screening hit into a selective, submicromolar inhibitor of ERK5 kinase activity. Improvement in the ERK5 potency was necessary for the identification of a tool ERK5 inhibitor for target validation studies. Herein, we describe the optimization of this series to identify nanomolar pyrrole carboxamide inhibitors of ERK5 incorporating a basic center, which suffered from poor oral bioavailability. Parallel optimization of potency and in vitro pharmacokinetic parameters led to the identification of a nonbasic pyrazole analogue with an optimal balance of ERK5 inhibition and oral exposure.

An Alkynylpyrimidine-Based Covalent Inhibitor That Targets a Unique Cysteine in NF-κB-Inducing Kinase.

NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) is a key enzyme in the noncanonical NF-κB pathway, of interest in the treatment of a variety of diseases including cancer. Validation of NIK as a drug target requires potent and selective inhibitors. The protein contains a cysteine residue at position 444 in the back pocket of the active site, unique within the kinome. Analysis of existing inhibitor scaffolds and early structure-activity relationships (SARs) led to the design of C444-targeting covalent inhibitors based on alkynyl heterocycle warheads. Mass spectrometry provided proof of the covalent mechanism, and the SAR was rationalized by computational modeling. Profiling of more potent analogues in tumor cell lines with constitutively activated NIK signaling induced a weak antiproliferative effect, suggesting that kinase inhibition may have limited impact on cancer cell growth. This study shows that alkynyl heterocycles are potential cysteine traps, which may be employed where common Michael acceptors, such as acrylamides, are not tolerated.

Crystallographic and electrophilic fragment screening of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease.

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, lacks effective therapeutics. Additionally, no antiviral drugs or vaccines were developed against the closely related coronavirus, SARS-CoV-1 or MERS-CoV, despite previous zoonotic outbreaks. To identify starting points for such therapeutics, we performed a large-scale screen of electrophile and non-covalent fragments through a combined mass spectrometry and X-ray approach against the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, one of two cysteine viral proteases essential for viral replication. Our crystallographic screen identified 71 hits that span the entire active site, as well as 3 hits at the dimer interface. These structures reveal routes to rapidly develop more potent inhibitors through merging of covalent and non-covalent fragment hits; one series of low-reactivity, tractable covalent fragments were progressed to discover improved binders. These combined hits offer unprecedented structural and reactivity information for on-going structure-based drug design against SARS-CoV-2 main protease.

Identification of a novel orally bioavailable ERK5 inhibitor with selectivity over p38α and BRD4.

Extracellular regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) signalling has been implicated in driving a number of cellular phenotypes including endothelial cell angiogenesis and tumour cell motility. Novel ERK5 inhibitors were identified using high throughput screening, with a series of pyrrole-2-carboxamides substituted at the 4-position with an aroyl group being found to exhibit IC50 values in the micromolar range, but having no selectivity against p38α MAP kinase. Truncation of the N-substituent marginally enhanced potency (∼3-fold) against ERK5, but importantly attenuated inhibition of p38α. Systematic variation of the substituents on the aroyl group led to the selective inhibitor 4-(2-bromo-6-fluorobenzoyl)-N-(pyridin-3-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamide (IC50 0.82 µM for ERK5; IC50 > 120 µM for p38α). The crystal structure (PDB 5O7I) of this compound in complex with ERK5 has been solved. This compound was orally bioavailable and inhibited bFGF-driven Matrigel plug angiogenesis and tumour xenograft growth. The selective ERK5 inhibitor described herein provides a lead for further development into a tool compound for more extensive studies seeking to examine the role of ERK5 signalling in cancer and other diseases.

Differences in the Conformational Energy Landscape of CDK1 and CDK2 Suggest a Mechanism for Achieving Selective CDK Inhibition.

Dysregulation of the cell cycle characterizes many cancer subtypes, providing a rationale for developing cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors. Potent CDK2 inhibitors might target certain cancers in which CCNE1 is amplified. However, current CDK2 inhibitors also inhibit CDK1, generating a toxicity liability. We have used biophysical measurements and X-ray crystallography to investigate the ATP-competitive inhibitor binding properties of cyclin-free and cyclin-bound CDK1 and CDK2. We show that these kinases can readily be distinguished by such inhibitors when cyclin-free, but not when cyclin-bound. The basis for this discrimination is unclear from either inspection or molecular dynamics simulation of ligand-bound CDKs, but is reflected in the contacts made between the kinase N- and C-lobes. We conclude that there is a subtle but profound difference between the conformational energy landscapes of cyclin-free CDK1 and CDK2. The unusual properties of CDK1 might be exploited to differentiate CDK1 from other CDKs in future cancer therapeutic design.

Identification of a novel ligand for the ATAD2 bromodomain with selectivity over BRD4 through a fragment growing approach.

ATAD2 is an ATPase that is overexpressed in a variety of cancers and associated with a poor patient prognosis. This protein has been suggested to function as a cofactor for a range of transcription factors, including the proto-oncogene MYC and the androgen receptor. ATAD2 comprises an ATPase domain, implicated in chromatin remodelling, and a bromodomain which allows it to interact with acetylated histone tails. Dissection of the functional roles of these two domains would benefit from the availability of selective, cell-permeable pharmacological probes. An in silico evaluation of the 3D structures of various bromodomains suggested that developing small molecule ligands for the bromodomain of ATAD2 is likely to be challenging, although recent reports have shown that ATAD2 bromodomain ligands can be identified. We report a structure-guided fragment-based approach to identify lead compounds for ATAD2 bromodomain inhibitor development. Our findings indicate that the ATAD2 bromodomain can accommodate fragment hits (Mr < 200) that yield productive structure-activity relationships, and structure-guided design enabled the introduction of selectivity over BRD4.

Molecular profiling and combinatorial activity of CCT068127: a potent CDK2 and CDK9 inhibitor.

Deregulation of the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple cancer types. Consequently, CDKs have garnered intense interest as therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer. We describe herein the molecular and cellular effects of CCT068127, a novel inhibitor of CDK2 and CDK9. Optimized from the purine template of seliciclib, CCT068127 exhibits greater potency and selectivity against purified CDK2 and CDK9 and superior antiproliferative activity against human colon cancer and melanoma cell lines. X-ray crystallography studies reveal that hydrogen bonding with the DFG motif of CDK2 is the likely mechanism of greater enzymatic potency. Commensurate with inhibition of CDK activity, CCT068127 treatment results in decreased retinoblastoma protein (RB) phosphorylation, reduced phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II, and induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The transcriptional signature of CCT068127 shows greatest similarity to other small-molecule CDK and also HDAC inhibitors. CCT068127 caused a dramatic loss in expression of DUSP6 phosphatase, alongside elevated ERK phosphorylation and activation of MAPK pathway target genes. MCL1 protein levels are rapidly decreased by CCT068127 treatment and this associates with synergistic antiproliferative activity after combined treatment with CCT068127 and ABT263, a BCL2 family inhibitor. These findings support the rational combination of this series of CDK2/9 inhibitors and BCL2 family inhibitors for the treatment of human cancer.

Structure-based discovery of cyclin-dependent protein kinase inhibitors.

The cell fate-determining roles played by members of the cyclin-dependent protein kinase (CDK) family explain why their dysregulation can promote proliferative diseases, and identify them as potential targets for drug discovery in oncology and beyond. After many years of research, the first efficacious CDK inhibitors have now been registered for clinical use in a defined segment of breast cancer. Research is underway to identify inhibitors with appropriate CDK-inhibitory profiles to recapitulate this success in other disease settings. Here, we review the structural data that illustrate the interactions and properties that confer upon inhibitors affinity and/or selectivity toward different CDK family members. We conclude that where CDK inhibitors display selectivity, that selectivity derives from exploiting active site sequence peculiarities and/or from the capacity of the target CDK(s) to access conformations compatible with optimizing inhibitor-target interactions.

Discovery of Diverse Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Mammalian Sterile20-like Kinase†3 (MST3).

Increasing evidence suggests key roles for members of the mammalian Sterile20-like (MST) family of kinases in many aspects of biology. MST3 is a member of the STRIPAK complex, the deregulation of which has recently been associated with cancer cell migration and metastasis. Targeting MST3 with small-molecule inhibitors may be beneficial for the treatment of certain cancers, but little information exists on the potential of kinase inhibitor scaffolds to engage with MST3. In this study we screened MST3 against a library of 277 kinase inhibitors using differential scanning fluorimetry and confirmed 14 previously unknown MST3 inhibitors by X-ray crystallography. These compounds, of which eight are in clinical trials or FDA approved, comprise nine distinct chemical scaffolds that inhibit MST3 enzymatic activity with IC50 values between 0.003 and 23 µm. The structure-activity relationships explain the differential inhibitory activity of these compounds against MST3 and the structural basis for high binding potential, the information of which may serve as a framework for the rational design of MST3-selective inhibitors as potential therapeutics and to interrogate the function of this enzyme in diseased cells.

Identification and Characterization of an Irreversible Inhibitor of CDK2.

Irreversible inhibitors that modify cysteine or lysine residues within a protein kinase ATP binding site offer, through their distinctive mode of action, an alternative to ATP-competitive agents. 4-((6-(Cyclohexylmethoxy)-9H-purin-2-yl)amino)benzenesulfonamide (NU6102) is a potent and selective ATP-competitive inhibitor of CDK2 in which the sulfonamide moiety is positioned close to a pair of lysine residues. Guided by the CDK2/NU6102 structure, we designed 6-(cyclohexylmethoxy)-N-(4-(vinylsulfonyl)phenyl)-9H-purin-2-amine (NU6300), which binds covalently to CDK2 as shown by a co-complex crystal structure. Acute incubation with NU6300 produced a durable inhibition of Rb phosphorylation in SKUT-1B cells, consistent with it acting as an irreversible CDK2 inhibitor. NU6300 is the first covalent CDK2 inhibitor to be described, and illustrates the potential of vinyl sulfones for the design of more potent and selective compounds.

CDK1 structures reveal conserved and unique features of the essential cell cycle CDK.

CDK1 is the only essential cell cycle CDK in human cells and is required for successful completion of M-phase. It is the founding member of the CDK family and is conserved across all eukaryotes. Here we report the crystal structures of complexes of CDK1-Cks1 and CDK1-cyclin B-Cks2. These structures confirm the conserved nature of the inactive monomeric CDK fold and its ability to be remodelled by cyclin binding. Relative to CDK2-cyclin A, CDK1-cyclin B is less thermally stable, has a smaller interfacial surface, is more susceptible to activation segment dephosphorylation and shows differences in the substrate sequence features that determine activity. Both CDK1 and CDK2 are potential cancer targets for which selective compounds are required. We also describe the first structure of CDK1 bound to a potent ATP-competitive inhibitor and identify aspects of CDK1 structure and plasticity that might be exploited to develop CDK1-selective inhibitors.

Stability of the human Hsp90-p50Cdc37 chaperone complex against nucleotides and Hsp90 inhibitors, and the influence of phosphorylation by casein kinase 2.

The molecular chaperone Hsp90 is regulated by co-chaperones such as p50Cdc37, which recruits a wide selection of client protein kinases. Targeted disruption of the Hsp90-p50Cdc37 complex by protein-protein interaction (PPI) inhibitors has emerged as an alternative strategy to treat diseases characterized by aberrant Hsp90 activity. Using isothermal microcalorimetry, ELISA and GST-pull down assays we evaluated reported Hsp90 inhibitors and nucleotides for their ability to inhibit formation of the human Hsp90ß-p50Cdc37 complex, reconstituted in vitro from full-length proteins. Hsp90 inhibitors, including the proposed PPI inhibitors gedunin and H2-gamendazole, did not affect the interaction of Hsp90 with p50Cdc37 in vitro. Phosphorylation of Hsp90 and p50Cdc37 by casein kinase 2 (CK2) did not alter the thermodynamic signature of complex formation. However, the phosphorylated complex was vulnerable to disruption by ADP (IC50 = 32 µM), while ATP, AMPPNP and Hsp90 inhibitors remained largely ineffective. The differential inhibitory activity of ADP suggests that phosphorylation by CK2 primes the complex for dissociation in response to a drop in ATP/ADP levels. The approach applied herein provides robust assays for a comprehensive biochemical evaluation of potential effectors of the Hsp90-p50Cdc37 complex, such as phosphorylation by a kinase or the interaction with small molecule ligands.

Acetyl-lysine binding site of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) interacts with diverse kinase inhibitors.

Members of the bromodomain and extra terminal (BET) family of proteins are essential for the recognition of acetylated lysine (KAc) residues in histones and have emerged as promising drug targets in cancer, inflammation, and contraception research. In co-crystallization screening campaigns using the first bromodomain of BRD4 (BRD4-1) against kinase inhibitor libraries, we identified and characterized 14 kinase inhibitors (10 distinct chemical scaffolds) as ligands of the KAc binding site. Among these, the PLK1 inhibitor BI2536 and the JAK2 inhibitor TG101209 displayed strongest inhibitory potential against BRD4 (IC50=25 nM and 130 nM, respectively) and high selectivity for BET bromodomains. Comparative structural analysis revealed markedly different binding modes of kinase hinge-binding scaffolds in the KAc binding site, suggesting that BET proteins are potential off-targets of diverse kinase inhibitors. Combined, these findings provide a new structural framework for the rational design of next-generation BET-selective and dual-activity BET-kinase inhibitors.

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor dinaciclib interacts with the acetyl-lysine recognition site of bromodomains.

Bromodomain-containing proteins are considered atypical kinases, but their potential to interact with kinase inhibitors is unknown. Dinaciclib is a potent inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), which recently advanced to Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of leukemia. We determined the crystal structure of dinaciclib in complex with CDK2 at 1.7 Å resolution, revealing an elaborate network of binding interactions in the ATP site, which explains the extraordinary potency and selectivity of this inhibitor. Remarkably, dinaciclib also interacted with the acetyl-lysine recognition site of the bromodomain testis-specific protein BRDT, a member of the BET family of bromodomains. The binding mode of dinaciclib to BRDT at 2.0 Å resolution suggests that general kinase inhibitors ("hinge binders") possess a previously unrecognized potential to act as protein-protein inhibitors of bromodomains. The findings may provide a new structural framework for the design of next-generation bromodomain inhibitors using the vast chemical space of kinase inhibitors.