One-Step Synthesis of Photoaffinity Probes for Live-Cell MS-Based Proteomics.

We present a one-step Ugi reaction protocol for the expedient synthesis of photoaffinity probes for live-cell MS-based proteomics. The reaction couples an amine affinity function with commonly used photoreactive groups, and a variety of handle functionalities. Using this technology, a series of pan-BET (BET: bromodomain and extra-terminal domain) selective bromodomain photoaffinity probes were obtained by parallel synthesis. Studies on the effects of photoreactive group, linker length and irradiation wavelength on photocrosslinking efficiency provide valuable insights into photoaffinity probe design. Optimal probes were progressed to MS-based proteomics to capture the BET family of proteins from live cells and reveal their potential on- and off-target profiles.

A Photoaffinity-Based Fragment-Screening Platform for Efficient Identification of Protein Ligands.

Advances in genomic analyses enable the identification of new proteins that are associated with disease. To validate these targets, tool molecules are required to demonstrate that a ligand can have a disease-modifying effect. Currently, as tools are reported for only a fraction of the proteome, platforms for ligand discovery are essential to leverage insights from genomic analyses. Fragment screening offers an efficient approach to explore chemical space. Presented here is a fragment-screening platform, termed PhABits (PhotoAffinity Bits), which utilizes a library of photoreactive fragments to covalently capture fragment-protein interactions. Hits can be profiled to determine potency and the site of crosslinking, and subsequently developed as reporters in a competitive displacement assay to identify novel hit matter. The PhABit platform is envisioned to be widely applicable to novel protein targets, identifying starting points in the development of therapeutics.

Fragment-Based Covalent Ligand Screening Enables Rapid Discovery of Inhibitors for the RBR E3 Ubiquitin Ligase HOIP.

Modification of proteins with polyubiquitin chains is a key regulatory mechanism to control cellular behavior and alterations in the ubiquitin system are linked to many diseases. Linear (M1-linked) polyubiquitin chains play pivotal roles in several cellular signaling pathways mediating immune and inflammatory responses and apoptotic cell death. These chains are formed by the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC), a multiprotein E3 ligase that consists of 3 subunits, HOIP, HOIL-1L, and SHARPIN. Herein, we describe the discovery of inhibitors targeting the active site cysteine of the catalytic subunit HOIP using fragment-based covalent ligand screening. We report the synthesis of a diverse library of electrophilic fragments and demonstrate an integrated use of protein LC-MS, biochemical ubiquitination assays, chemical synthesis, and protein crystallography to enable the first structure-based development of covalent inhibitors for an RBR E3 ligase. Furthermore, using cell-based assays and chemoproteomics, we demonstrate that these compounds effectively penetrate mammalian cells to label and inhibit HOIP and NF-κB activation, making them suitable hits for the development of selective probes to study LUBAC biology. Our results illustrate the power of fragment-based covalent ligand screening to discover lead compounds for challenging targets, which holds promise to be a general approach for the development of cell-permeable inhibitors of thioester-forming E3 ubiquitin ligases.

A Photoaffinity Displacement Assay and Probes to Study the Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Family.

The CDK family plays a crucial role in the control of the cell cycle. Dysregulation and mutation of the CDKs has been implicated in cancer and the CDKs have been investigated extensively as potential therapeutic targets. Selective inhibition of specific isoforms of the CDKs is crucial to achieve therapeutic effect while minimising toxicity. We present a group of photoaffinity probes designed to bind to the family of CDKs. The site of crosslinking of the optimised probe, as well as its ability to enrich members of the CDK family from cell lysates, was investigated. In a proof of concept study, we subsequently developed a photoaffinity probe-based competition assay to profile CDK inhibitors. We anticipate that this approach will be widely applicable to the study of small molecule binding to protein families of interest.