New tetrahydroisoquinoline-4-carbonitrile derivatives as potent agents against cyclin-dependent kinases, crystal structures, and computational studies.

The synthesis of two new hexahydroisoquinoline-4-carbonitrile derivatives (3a and 3b) is reported along with spectroscopic data and their crystal structures. In compound 3a, the intramolecular O-H···O hydrogen bond constraints the acetyl and hydroxyl groups to be syn. In the crystal, inversion dimers are generated by C-H···O hydrogen bonds and are connected into layers parallel to (10-1) by additional C-H···O hydrogen bonds. The layers are stacked with Cl···S contacts 0.17 Å less than the sum of the respective van der Waals radii. The conformation of the compound 3b is partially determined by the intramolecular O-H···O hydrogen bond. A puckering analysis of the tetrahydroisoquinoline unit was performed. In the crystal, O-H···O and C-H···O hydrogen bonds together with C-H···π(ring) interactions form layers parallel to (01-1) which pack with normal van der Waals interactions. To understand the binding efficiency and stability of the title molecules, molecular docking, and 100 ns dynamic simulation analyses were performed with CDK5A1. To rationalize their structure-activity relationship(s), a DFT study at the B3LYP/6-311++G** theoretical level was also done. The 3D Hirshfled surfaces were also taken to investigate the crystal packings of both compounds. In addition, their ADMET properties were explored.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

The reversible inhibitor SR-4835 binds Cdk12/cyclin K in a noncanonical G-loop conformation.

Inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) has evolved as an emerging anticancer strategy. In addition to the cell cycle-regulating CDKs, the transcriptional kinases Cdk12 and Cdk13 have become the focus of interest as they mediate a variety of functions, including the transition from transcription initiation to elongation and termination, precursor mRNA splicing, and intronic polyadenylation. Here, we determine the crystal structure of the small molecular inhibitor SR-4835 bound to the Cdk12/cyclin K complex at 2.68 Å resolution. The compound's benzimidazole moiety is embedded in a unique hydrogen bond network mediated by the kinase hinge region with flanking hydroxy groups of the Y815 and D819 side chains. Whereas the SR-4835 head group targets the adenine-binding pocket, the kinase's glycine-rich loop is shifted down toward the activation loop. Additionally, the αC-helix adopts an inward conformation, and the phosphorylated T-loop threonine interacts with all three canonical arginines, a hallmark of CDK activation that is altered in Cdk12 and Cdk13. Dose-response inhibition measurements with recombinant CMGC kinases show that SR-4835 is highly specific for Cdk12 and Cdk13 following a 10-fold lower potency for Cdk10. Whereas other CDK-targeting compounds exhibit tighter binding affinities and higher potencies for kinase inhibition, SR-4835 can be considered a selective transcription elongation antagonist. Our results provide the basis for a rational improvement of SR-4835 toward Cdk12 inhibition and a gain in selectivity over other transcription regulating CDKs.

Structural Mass Spectrometry Probes the Inhibitor-Induced Allosteric Activation of CDK12/CDK13-Cyclin K Dissociation.

The rational design and development of effective inhibitors for cyclin-dependent kinases 12 and 13 (CDK12 and CDK13) are largely dependent on the understanding of the dynamic inhibition conformations but are difficult to be achieved by conventional characterization tools. Herein, we integrate the structural mass spectrometry (MS) methods of lysine reactivity profiling (LRP) and native MS (nMS) to systematically interrogate both the dynamic molecular interactions and overall protein assembly of CDK12/CDK13-cyclin K (CycK) complexes under the modulation of small molecule inhibitors. The essential structure insights, including inhibitor binding pocket, binding strength, interfacial molecular details, and dynamic conformation changes, can be derived from the complementary results of LRP and nMS. We find the inhibitor SR-4835 binding can greatly destabilize the CDK12/CDK13-CycK interactions in an unusual allosteric activation way, thereby providing a novel alternative for the kinase activity inhibition. Our results underscore the great potential of LRP combination with nMS for the evaluation and rational design of effective kinase inhibitors at the molecular level.

Purification of Cdk-CyclinB-Kinase-Targeted Phosphopeptides from Nuclear Envelope.

We describe a method for rapid identification of protein kinase substrates within the nuclear envelope. Open mitosis in higher eukaryotes is characterized by nuclear envelope breakdown (NEBD) concerted with disassembly of the nuclear lamina and dissociation of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) into individual subcomplexes. Evidence indicates that reversible phosphorylation events largely drive this mitotic NEBD. These posttranslational modifications likely disrupt structurally significant interactions among nucleoporins (Nups), lamina and membrane proteins of the nuclear envelope (NE). It is therefore critical to determine when and where these substrates are phosphorylated. One likely regulator is the mitotic kinase: Cdk1-Cyclin B. We employed an "analog-sensitive" Cdk1 to bio-orthogonally and uniquely label its substrates in the NE with a phosphate analog tag. Subsequently, peptides covalently modified with the phosphate analogs are rapidly purified by a tag-specific covalent capture and release methodology. In this manner, we were able to confirm the identity of known Cdk1 targets in the NE and discover additional candidates for regulation by mitotic phosphorylation.

Exploring multi-target inhibitors using in silico approach targeting cell cycle dysregulator-CDK proteins.

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) belong to a family of multifunctional enzymes that control cell cycle modifications, transcription, and cell proliferation. Their dysfunctions result in different diseases like cancer making them an important drug target in oncology and beyond. The present study aims at identifying the selective inhibitors for ATP binding site in CDK proteins (CDK1, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK5) following a multi-target drug designing approach. Significant challenges lie in identifying the selective inhibitor for the ATP binding site as this region is highly conserved in all protein kinases. Molecular docking coupled with molecular dynamics simulation and free energy of binding calculations (MMPBSA/MMGBSA) were used to identify the potent competitive ATP binding site inhibitors. All the four proteins were docked against the library of drug-like compounds and the outcomes of the docking study were further analyzed by Molecular dynamics (total of 6µs) and MMPB/GBSA techniques. Five different inhibitors for structurally distant protein kinases, i.e. CDK1, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK5 are identified with the binding energy (ΔGbind-PB) in the range -18.24 to -28.43Kcal/mol. Mechanistic complexities associated with the binding of the inhibitor are unraveled by carefully analyzing the MD trajectories. It is observed that certain residues (Lys33, Asp127, Asp145, Tyr15, Gly16, Asn144) and regions are critical for the retention of inhibitors in active pocket, and significant conformational changes take place in the active site region as well as its neighbor following the entry of the ligand inside active pocket as inferred by RMSD and RMSF. It is observed that LIG3 and LIG4 are the best possible inhibitors as reflected from their high binding energy, interaction pattern, and their retention inside the active pocket. This study will facilitate the process of multi-target drug designing against CDK proteins and can be used in the development of potential therapeutics against different diseases.

Structural conservation of WEE1 and its role in cell cycle regulation in plants.

The WEE1 kinase is ubiquitous in plant development and negatively regulates the cell cycle through phosphorylations. However, analogies with the control of the human cell cycle by tyrosine- (Tyr-) phosphorylation of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are sometimes questioned. In this in silico study, we assessed the structural conservation of the WEE1 protein in the plant kingdom with a particular focus on agronomically valuable plants, the legume crops. We analyzed the phylogenetic distribution of amino-acid sequences among a large number of plants by Bayesian analysis that highlighted the general conservation of WEE1 proteins. A detailed sequence analysis confirmed the catalytic potential of WEE1 proteins in plants. However, some substitutions of an arginine and a glutamate at the entrance of the catalytic pocket, illustrated by 3D structure predictions, challenged the specificity of this protein toward the substrate and Tyr-phosphorylation compared to the human WEE1. The structural differences, which could be responsible for the loss of specificity between human and plants, are highlighted and suggest the involvement of plant WEE1 in more cell regulation processes.

The Mediator captures CDK7, an attractive transcriptional target in cancer.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) is implicated in regulating the expression of cancer-dependent genes, and multiple CDK7-targeted therapies are currently under clinical investigation. Three recent studies elucidate the structure of human transcription machinery, offering vital mechanistic insights into CDK7 function and a potential pharmacodynamic marker of CDK7 activity in tumors.

Functional characterization of CDK10 and cyclin M truncated variants causing severe developmental disorders.

BACKGROUND: CDK10 is a poorly known cyclin M (CycM)-dependent kinase. Loss-of-function mutations in the genes encoding CycM or CDK10 cause, respectively, STAR or Al Kaissi syndromes, which present a constellation of malformations and dysfunctions. Most reported mutations abolish gene expression, but two mutations found in 3' exons could allow the expression of CDK10 and CycM truncated variants. METHODS: We built a structural model that predicted a preserved ability of both variants to form a CDK10/CycM heterodimer. Hence, we functionally characterized these two truncated variants by determining their capacity to heterodimerize and form an active protein kinase when expressed in insect cells, by examining their two-hybrid interaction profiles when expressed in yeast, and by observing their expression level and stability when expressed in human cells. RESULTS: Both truncated variants retain their ability to form a CDK10/CycM heterodimer. While the CycM variant partially activates CDK10 activity in vitro, the CDK10 variant remains surprisingly inactive. Expression in human cells revealed that the CDK10 and CycM variants are strongly and partially degraded by the proteasome, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results point to a total loss of CDK10/CycM activity in the Al Kaissi patient and a partial loss in the STAR patients.

Fluorescent Peptide Biosensors for Probing CDK Kinase Activity in Cell Extracts.

Fluorescent biosensors can report on the relative abundance, activity, or conformation of biomolecules and analytes through changes in fluorescence emission. A wide variety of genetically-encoded and synthetic biosensors have been developed to monitor protein kinase activity. We have focused on the design, engineering and characterization of fluorescent peptide biosensors of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) that constitute attractive cancer biomarkers and pharmacological targets. In this chapter, we describe the CDKACT fluorescent peptide biosensor technology and its application to assess the relative kinase activity of CDKs in vitro, either using recombinant proteins or cell extracts as a more complex source of kinase. This technology offers a straightforward means of comparing CDK activity in different cell lines and evaluating the specific impact of treatments intended to target kinase activity in a physiologically relevant environment.

Purification of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Fusion Complexes for In Vitro Analysis.

Protein kinases are common elements in multiple signaling networks, influencing numerous downstream processes by directly phosphorylating specific target proteins. During the cell cycle, multiple complexes, each comprising one cyclin and one cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk), function to regulate the orderly progression of cell cycle events. The mechanisms of cyclin-Cdk mediated control have, in part, been established through biochemical experiments involving the purification of cyclin and Cdk proteins to evaluate the activity of a given complex toward its target substrate proteins.Here I present a detailed procedure to simplify the preparation of cyclin-Cdk complexes by purifying them as a single fusion molecule with a 1:1 molar ratio and a detailed protocol for performing reconstituted kinases assays with the purified complexes.This methodology has allowed us to measure the activity and specificity of all budding yeast cyclin-Cdk1 complexes toward the model substrate histone H1. In addition, it has allowed us to perform kinase assays with a panel of purified human cyclin-Cdk complexes to analyze their specificity toward the retinoblastoma protein (Rb) and map the substrate cyclin-Cdk kinase docking interactions between Rb and human G1-Cdk complex.This chapter is focused on purification of cell cycle cyclin-Cdk complexes, but also affords a generalizable framework that can be adapted to other cyclin-dependent kinases like transcriptional cyclin-Cdks or any other multisubunit enzyme complexes. Taken together, the described workflow is a powerful and flexible biochemical platform for solving long-standing biological questions and has potential value in synthetic biology and in therapeutic discovery.

Structures of the human Mediator and Mediator-bound preinitiation complex.

The 1.3-megadalton transcription factor IID (TFIID) is required for preinitiation complex (PIC) assembly and RNA polymerase II (Pol II)-mediated transcription initiation on almost all genes. The 26-subunit Mediator stimulates transcription and cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7)-mediated phosphorylation of the Pol II C-terminal domain (CTD). We determined the structures of human Mediator in the Tail module-extended (at near-atomic resolution) and Tail-bent conformations and structures of TFIID-based PIC-Mediator (76 polypeptides, ~4.1 megadaltons) in four distinct conformations. PIC-Mediator assembly induces concerted reorganization (Head-tilting and Middle-down) of Mediator and creates a Head-Middle sandwich, which stabilizes two CTD segments and brings CTD to CDK7 for phosphorylation; this suggests a CTD-gating mechanism favorable for phosphorylation. The TFIID-based PIC architecture modulates Mediator organization and TFIIH stabilization, underscoring the importance of TFIID in orchestrating PIC-Mediator assembly.

Structural insights into preinitiation complex assembly on core promoters.

Transcription factor IID (TFIID) recognizes core promoters and supports preinitiation complex (PIC) assembly for RNA polymerase II (Pol II)-mediated eukaryotic transcription. We determined the structures of human TFIID-based PIC in three stepwise assembly states and revealed two-track PIC assembly: stepwise promoter deposition to Pol II and extensive modular reorganization on track I (on TATA-TFIID-binding element promoters) versus direct promoter deposition on track II (on TATA-only and TATA-less promoters). The two tracks converge at an ~50-subunit holo PIC in identical conformation, whereby TFIID stabilizes PIC organization and supports loading of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-activating kinase (CAK) onto Pol II and CAK-mediated phosphorylation of the Pol II carboxyl-terminal domain. Unexpectedly, TBP of TFIID similarly bends TATA box and TATA-less promoters in PIC. Our study provides structural visualization of stepwise PIC assembly on highly diversified promoters.

Inhibitors of Cyclin-Dependent Kinases: Types and Their Mechanism of Action.

Recent studies on cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors have revealed that small molecule drugs have become very attractive for the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Most CDK inhibitors have been developed to target the ATP binding pocket. However, CDK kinases possess a very similar catalytic domain and three-dimensional structure. These features make it difficult to achieve required selectivity. Therefore, inhibitors which bind outside the ATP binding site present a great interest in the biomedical field, both from the fundamental point of view and for the wide range of their potential applications. This review tries to explain whether the ATP competitive inhibitors are still an option for future research, and highlights alternative approaches to discover more selective and potent small molecule inhibitors.

CDC2-like (CLK) protein kinase inhibition as a novel targeted therapeutic strategy in prostate cancer.

Dysregulation of alternative splicing is a feature of cancer, both in aetiology and progression. It occurs because of mutations in splice sites or sites that regulate splicing, or because of the altered expression and activity of splice factors and of splice factor kinases that regulate splice factor activity. Recently the CDC2-like kinases (CLKs) have attracted attention due to their increasing involvement in cancer. We measured the effect of the CLK inhibitor, the benzothiazole TG003, on two prostate cancer cell lines. TG003 reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis in PC3 and DU145 cells. Conversely, the overexpression of CLK1 in PC3 cells prevented TG003 from reducing cell proliferation. TG003 slowed scratch closure and reduced cell migration and invasion in a transwell assay. TG003 decisively inhibited the growth of a PC3 cell line xenograft in nude mice. We performed a transcriptomic analysis of cells treated with TG003. We report widespread and consistent changes in alternative splicing of cancer-associated genes including CENPE, ESCO2, CKAP2, MELK, ASPH and CD164 in both HeLa and PC3 cells. Together these findings suggest that targeting CLKs will provide novel therapeutic opportunities in prostate cancer.

Structure of the human Mediator-RNA polymerase II pre-initiation complex.

Mediator is a conserved coactivator complex that enables the regulated initiation of transcription at eukaryotic genes1-3. Mediator is recruited by transcriptional activators and binds the pre-initiation complex (PIC) to stimulate the phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and promoter escape1-6. Here we prepare a recombinant version of human Mediator, reconstitute a 50-subunit Mediator-PIC complex and determine the structure of the complex by cryo-electron microscopy. The head module of Mediator contacts the stalk of Pol II and the general transcription factors TFIIB and TFIIE, resembling the Mediator-PIC interactions observed in the corresponding complex in yeast7-9. The metazoan subunits MED27-MED30 associate with exposed regions in MED14 and MED17 to form the proximal part of the Mediator tail module that binds activators. Mediator positions the flexibly linked cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-activating kinase of the general transcription factor TFIIH near the linker to the C-terminal repeat domain of Pol II. The Mediator shoulder domain holds the CDK-activating kinase subunit CDK7, whereas the hook domain contacts a CDK7 element that flanks the kinase active site. The shoulder and hook domains reside in the Mediator head and middle modules, respectively, which can move relative to each other and may induce an active conformation of the CDK7 kinase to allosterically stimulate phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain.

New Insights into CDK Regulators: Novel Opportunities for Cancer Therapy.

Cyclins and their catalytic partners, the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), control the transition between different phases of the cell cycle. CDK/cyclin activity is regulated by CDK inhibitors (CKIs), currently comprising the CDK-interacting protein/kinase inhibitory protein (CIP/KIP) family and the inhibitor of kinase (INK) family. Recent studies have identified a third group of CKIs, called ribosomal protein-inhibiting CDKs (RPICs). RPICs were discovered in the context of cellular senescence, a stable cell cycle arrest with tumor-suppressing abilities. RPICs accumulate in the nonribosomal fraction of senescent cells due to a decrease in rRNA biogenesis. Accordingly, RPICs are often downregulated in human cancers together with other ribosomal proteins, the tumor-suppressor functions of which are still under study. In this review, we discuss unique therapies that have been developed to target CDK activity in the context of cancer treatment or senescence-associated pathologies, providing novel tools for precision medicine.

Structure of the human Mediator-bound transcription preinitiation complex.

Eukaryotic transcription requires the assembly of a multisubunit preinitiation complex (PIC) composed of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and the general transcription factors. The coactivator Mediator is recruited by transcription factors, facilitates the assembly of the PIC, and stimulates phosphorylation of the Pol II C-terminal domain (CTD) by the TFIIH subunit CDK7. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the human Mediator-bound PIC at a resolution below 4 angstroms. Transcription factor binding sites within Mediator are primarily flexibly tethered to the tail module. CDK7 is stabilized by multiple contacts with Mediator. Two binding sites exist for the Pol II CTD, one between the head and middle modules of Mediator and the other in the active site of CDK7, providing structural evidence for Pol II CTD phosphorylation within the Mediator-bound PIC.

Overexpression of PtoCYCD3;3 Promotes Growth and Causes Leaf Wrinkle and Branch Appearance in Populus.

D-type cyclin (cyclin D, CYCD), combined with cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), participates in the regulation of cell cycle G1/S transition and plays an important role in cell division and proliferation. CYCD could affect the growth and development of herbaceous plants, such as Arabidopsis thaliana, by regulating the cell cycle process. However, its research in wood plants (e.g., poplar) is poor. Phylogenetic analysis showed that in Populus trichocarpa, CYCD3 genes expanded to six members, namely PtCYCD3;1-6. P. tomentosa CYCD3 genes were amplified based on the CDS region of P. trichocarpa CYCD3 genes. PtoCYCD3;3 showed the highest expression in the shoot tip, and the higher expression in young leaves among all members. Therefore, this gene was selected for further study. The overexpression of PtoCYCD3;3 in plants demonstrated obvious morphological changes during the observation period. The leaves became enlarged and wrinkled, the stems thickened and elongated, and multiple branches were formed by the plants. Anatomical study showed that in addition to promoting the differentiation of cambium tissues and the expansion of stem vessel cells, PtoCYCD3;3 facilitated the division of leaf adaxial epidermal cells and palisade tissue cells. Yeast two-hybrid experiment exhibited that 12 PtoCDK proteins could interact with PtoCYCD3;3, of which the strongest interaction strength was PtoCDKE;2, whereas the weakest was PtoCDKG;3. Molecular docking experiments further verified the force strength of PtoCDKE;2 and PtoCDKG;3 with PtoCYCD3;3. In summary, these results indicated that the overexpression of PtoCYCD3;3 significantly promoted the vegetative growth of Populus, and PtoCYCD3;3 may interact with different types of CDK proteins to regulate cell cycle processes.

A novel variant of CDK19 causes a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with infantile spasms.

Infantile spasms are a potentially catastrophic form of epilepsy syndrome that are usually associated with substantial developmental delay and commonly occur in children younger than 1 yr. Recent reports on four cases revealed that variants harbored in a novel gene CDK19 were causative for the syndrome. We report a fifth affected individual, a 10-mo-old male patient who presented with a neurodevelopmental syndrome characterized by infantile spasms. We identified a novel de novo missense variant c.92C > A (p.Thr31Asn) in CDK19 that was classified as a likely pathogenic disease-causing variant. The characterized clinical phenotypes of the proband were similar to the previously reported four patients, but he had few variable features including earlier seizure onset age and earlier occurring developmental abnormality. Protein structure modeling analysis revealed that CDK19 variants may disable its kinase activity, which would further impede the transcriptional regulation, thus leading to detrimental pathologies. Our report expanded CDK19 genotype spectrum and further demonstrated that a CDK19 missense variant was causative of neurodevelopmental disorder clinically marked by infantile spasms.

Cross-linking mass spectrometry reveals the structural topology of peripheral NuRD subunits relative to the core complex.

The multi-subunit nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex consists of seven subunits, each of which comprises two or three paralogs in vertebrates. These paralogs define mutually exclusive and functionally distinct complexes. In addition, several proteins in the complex are multimeric, which complicates structural studies. Attempts to purify sufficient amounts of endogenous complex or recombinantly reconstitute the complex for structural studies have proven quite challenging. Until now, only substructures of individual domains or proteins and low-resolution densities of (partial) complexes have been reported. In this study, we comprehensively investigated the relative orientation of different subunits within the NuRD complex using multiple cross-link IP mass spectrometry (xIP-MS) experiments. Our results confirm that the core of the complex is formed by MTA, RBBP, and HDAC proteins. Assembly of a copy of MBD and GATAD2 onto this core enables binding of the peripheral CHD and CDK2AP proteins. Furthermore, our experiments reveal that not only CDK2AP1 but also CDK2AP2 interacts with the NuRD complex. This interaction requires the C terminus of CHD proteins. Our data provide a more detailed understanding of the topology of the peripheral NuRD subunits relative to the core complex. DATABASE: Proteomics data are available in the PRIDE database under the accession numbers PXD017244 and PXD017378.