Felisberto-Rodrigues, C.
Thomas, J.C.
McAndrew, C.
Le Bihan, Y.-.
Burke, R.
Workman, P.
van Montfort, R.L.
(2019). Structural and functional characterisation of human RNA helicase DHX8 provides insights into the mechanism of RNA-stimulated ADP release. Biochem j,
Vol.476
(18),
pp. 2521-2543.
show abstract
full text
DHX8 is a crucial DEAH-box RNA helicase involved in splicing and required for the release of mature mRNA from the spliceosome. Here, we report the biochemical characterisation of full-length human DHX8 and the catalytically active helicase core DHX8Δ547, alongside crystal structures of DHX8Δ547 bound to ADP and a structure of DHX8Δ547 bound to poly(A)6 single-strand RNA. Our results reveal that DHX8 has an in vitro binding preference for adenine-rich RNA and that RNA binding triggers the release of ADP through significant conformational flexibility in the conserved DEAH-, P-loop and hook-turn motifs. We demonstrate the importance of R620 and both the hook-turn and hook-loop regions for DHX8 helicase activity and propose that the hook-turn acts as a gatekeeper to regulate the directional movement of the 3' end of RNA through the RNA-binding channel. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the activity of DHX8 and contributes insights into the RNA-unwinding mechanisms of the DEAH-box helicase family..
Woodward, H.L.
Innocenti, P.
Cheung, K.-.
Hayes, A.
Roberts, J.
Henley, A.T.
Faisal, A.
Mak, G.W.
Box, G.
Westwood, I.M.
Cronin, N.
Carter, M.
Valenti, M.
De Haven Brandon, A.
O'Fee, L.
Saville, H.
Schmitt, J.
Burke, R.
Broccatelli, F.
van Montfort, R.L.
Raynaud, F.I.
Eccles, S.A.
Linardopoulos, S.
Blagg, J.
Hoelder, S.
(2018). Introduction of a Methyl Group Curbs Metabolism of Pyrido[3,4- d]pyrimidine Monopolar Spindle 1 (MPS1) Inhibitors and Enables the Discovery of the Phase 1 Clinical Candidate N2-(2-Ethoxy-4-(4-methyl-4 H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)phenyl)-6-methyl- N8-neopentylpyrido[3,4- d]pyrimidine-2,8-diamine (BOS172722). J med chem,
Vol.61
(18),
pp. 8226-8240.
show abstract
Monopolar spindle 1 (MPS1) occupies a central role in mitosis and is one of the main components of the spindle assembly checkpoint. The MPS1 kinase is an attractive cancer target, and herein, we report the discovery of the clinical candidate BOS172722. The starting point for our work was a series of pyrido[3,4- d]pyrimidine inhibitors that demonstrated excellent potency and kinase selectivity but suffered from rapid turnover in human liver microsomes (HLM). Optimizing HLM stability proved challenging since it was not possible to identify a consistent site of metabolism and lowering lipophilicity proved unsuccessful. Key to overcoming this problem was the finding that introduction of a methyl group at the 6-position of the pyrido[3,4- d]pyrimidine core significantly improved HLM stability. Met ID studies suggested that the methyl group suppressed metabolism at the distant aniline portion of the molecule, likely by blocking the preferred pharmacophore through which P450 recognized the compound. This work ultimately led to the discovery of BOS172722 as a Phase 1 clinical candidate..
van Montfort, R.L.
Workman, P.
(2017). Structure-based drug design: aiming for a perfect fit. Essays biochem,
Vol.61
(5),
pp. 431-437.
show abstract
full text
Knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of therapeutically relevant targets has informed drug discovery since the first protein structures were determined using X-ray crystallography in the 1950s and 1960s. In this editorial we provide a brief overview of the powerful impact of structure-based drug design (SBDD), which has its roots in computational and structural biology, with major contributions from both academia and industry. We describe advances in the application of SBDD for integral membrane protein targets that have traditionally proved very challenging. We emphasize the major progress made in fragment-based approaches for which success has been exemplified by over 30 clinical drug candidates and importantly three FDA-approved drugs in oncology. We summarize the articles in this issue that provide an excellent snapshot of the current state of the field of SBDD and fragment-based drug design and which offer key insights into exciting new developments, such as the X-ray free-electron laser technology, cryo-electron microscopy, open science approaches and targeted protein degradation. We stress the value of SBDD in the design of high-quality chemical tools that are used to interrogate biology and disease pathology, and to inform target validation. We emphasize the need to maintain the scientific rigour that has been traditionally associated with structural biology and extend this to other methods used in drug discovery. This is particularly important because the quality and robustness of any form of contributory data determines its usefulness in accelerating drug design, and therefore ultimately in providing patient benefit..
McGrath, S.
Tortorici, M.
Drouin, L.
Solanki, S.
Vidler, L.
Westwood, I.
Gimeson, P.
Van Montfort, R.
Hoelder, S.
(2017). Structure-Enabled Discovery of a Stapled Peptide Inhibitor to Target the Oncogenic Transcriptional Repressor TLE1. Chemistry,
Vol.23
(40),
pp. 9577-9584.
show abstract
full text
TLE1 is an oncogenic transcriptional co-repressor that exerts its repressive effects through binding of transcription factors. Inhibition of this protein-protein interaction represents a putative cancer target, but no small-molecule inhibitors have been published for this challenging interface. Herein, the structure-enabled design and synthesis of a constrained peptide inhibitor of TLE1 is reported. The design features the introduction of a four-carbon-atom linker into the peptide epitope found in many TLE1 binding partners. A concise synthetic route to a proof-of-concept peptide, cycFWRPW, has been developed. Biophysical testing by isothermal titration calorimetry and thermal shift assays showed that, although the constrained peptide bound potently, it had an approximately five-fold higher Kd than that of the unconstrained peptide. The co-crystal structure suggested that the reduced affinity was likely to be due to a small shift of one side chain, relative to the otherwise well-conserved conformation of the acyclic peptide. This work describes a constrained peptide inhibitor that may serve as the basis for improved inhibitors..
Faisal, A.
Mak, G.W.
Gurden, M.D.
Xavier, C.P.
Anderhub, S.J.
Innocenti, P.
Westwood, I.M.
Naud, S.
Hayes, A.
Box, G.
Valenti, M.R.
De Haven Brandon, A.K.
O'Fee, L.
Schmitt, J.
Woodward, H.L.
Burke, R.
vanMontfort, R.L.
Blagg, J.
Raynaud, F.I.
Eccles, S.A.
Hoelder, S.
Linardopoulos, S.
(2017). Characterisation of CCT271850, a selective, oral and potent MPS1 inhibitor, used to directly measure in vivo MPS1 inhibition vs therapeutic efficacy. Br j cancer,
Vol.116
(9),
pp. 1166-1176.
show abstract
full text
BACKGROUND: The main role of the cell cycle is to enable error-free DNA replication, chromosome segregation and cytokinesis. One of the best characterised checkpoint pathways is the spindle assembly checkpoint, which prevents anaphase onset until the appropriate attachment and tension across kinetochores is achieved. MPS1 kinase activity is essential for the activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint and has been shown to be deregulated in human tumours with chromosomal instability and aneuploidy. Therefore, MPS1 inhibition represents an attractive strategy to target cancers. METHODS: To evaluate CCT271850 cellular potency, two specific antibodies that recognise the activation sites of MPS1 were used and its antiproliferative activity was determined in 91 human cancer cell lines. DLD1 cells with induced GFP-MPS1 and HCT116 cells were used in in vivo studies to directly measure MPS1 inhibition and efficacy of CCT271850 treatment. RESULTS: CCT271850 selectively and potently inhibits MPS1 kinase activity in biochemical and cellular assays and in in vivo models. Mechanistically, tumour cells treated with CCT271850 acquire aberrant numbers of chromosomes and the majority of cells divide their chromosomes without proper alignment because of abrogation of the mitotic checkpoint, leading to cell death. We demonstrated a moderate level of efficacy of CCT271850 as a single agent in a human colorectal carcinoma xenograft model. CONCLUSIONS: CCT271850 is a potent, selective and orally bioavailable MPS1 kinase inhibitor. On the basis of in vivo pharmacodynamic vs efficacy relationships, we predict that more than 80% inhibition of MPS1 activity for at least 24 h is required to achieve tumour stasis or regression by CCT271850..
Jones, A.M.
Westwood, I.M.
Osborne, J.D.
Matthews, T.P.
Cheeseman, M.D.
Rowlands, M.G.
Jeganathan, F.
Burke, R.
Lee, D.
Kadi, N.
Liu, M.
Richards, M.
McAndrew, C.
Yahya, N.
Dobson, S.E.
Jones, K.
Workman, P.
Collins, I.
van Montfort, R.L.
(2016). A fragment-based approach applied to a highly flexible target: Insights and challenges towards the inhibition of HSP70 isoforms. Sci rep,
Vol.6,
p. 34701.
show abstract
full text
The heat shock protein 70s (HSP70s) are molecular chaperones implicated in many cancers and of significant interest as targets for novel cancer therapies. Several HSP70 inhibitors have been reported, but because the majority have poor physicochemical properties and for many the exact mode of action is poorly understood, more detailed mechanistic and structural insight into ligand-binding to HSP70s is urgently needed. Here we describe the first comprehensive fragment-based inhibitor exploration of an HSP70 enzyme, which yielded an amino-quinazoline fragment that was elaborated to a novel ATP binding site ligand with different physicochemical properties to known adenosine-based HSP70 inhibitors. Crystal structures of amino-quinazoline ligands bound to the different conformational states of the HSP70 nucleotide binding domain highlighted the challenges of a fragment-based approach when applied to this particular flexible enzyme class with an ATP-binding site that changes shape and size during its catalytic cycle. In these studies we showed that Ser275 is a key residue in the selective binding of ATP. Additionally, the structural data revealed a potential functional role for the ATP ribose moiety in priming the protein for the formation of the ATP-bound pre-hydrolysis complex by influencing the conformation of one of the phosphate binding loops..
Bavetsias, V.
Lanigan, R.M.
Ruda, G.F.
Atrash, B.
McLaughlin, M.G.
Tumber, A.
Mok, N.Y.
Le Bihan, Y.-.
Dempster, S.
Boxall, K.J.
Jeganathan, F.
Hatch, S.B.
Savitsky, P.
Velupillai, S.
Krojer, T.
England, K.S.
Sejberg, J.
Thai, C.
Donovan, A.
Pal, A.
Scozzafava, G.
Bennett, J.M.
Kawamura, A.
Johansson, C.
Szykowska, A.
Gileadi, C.
Burgess-Brown, N.A.
von Delft, F.
Oppermann, U.
Walters, Z.
Shipley, J.
Raynaud, F.I.
Westaway, S.M.
Prinjha, R.K.
Fedorov, O.
Burke, R.
Schofield, C.J.
Westwood, I.M.
Bountra, C.
Müller, S.
van Montfort, R.L.
Brennan, P.E.
Blagg, J.
(2016). 8-Substituted Pyrido[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one Derivatives As Potent, Cell Permeable, KDM4 (JMJD2) and KDM5 (JARID1) Histone Lysine Demethylase Inhibitors. J med chem,
Vol.59
(4),
pp. 1388-1409.
show abstract
full text
We report the discovery of N-substituted 4-(pyridin-2-yl)thiazole-2-amine derivatives and their subsequent optimization, guided by structure-based design, to give 8-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyrido[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones, a series of potent JmjC histone N-methyl lysine demethylase (KDM) inhibitors which bind to Fe(II) in the active site. Substitution from C4 of the pyrazole moiety allows access to the histone peptide substrate binding site; incorporation of a conformationally constrained 4-phenylpiperidine linker gives derivatives such as 54j and 54k which demonstrate equipotent activity versus the KDM4 (JMJD2) and KDM5 (JARID1) subfamily demethylases, selectivity over representative exemplars of the KDM2, KDM3, and KDM6 subfamilies, cellular permeability in the Caco-2 assay, and, for 54k, inhibition of H3K9Me3 and H3K4Me3 demethylation in a cell-based assay..
Cheeseman, M.D.
Westwood, I.M.
Barbeau, O.
Rowlands, M.
Dobson, S.
Jones, A.M.
Jeganathan, F.
Burke, R.
Kadi, N.
Workman, P.
Collins, I.
van Montfort, R.L.
Jones, K.
(2016). Exploiting Protein Conformational Change to Optimize Adenosine-Derived Inhibitors of HSP70. J med chem,
Vol.59
(10),
pp. 4625-4636.
show abstract
full text
HSP70 is a molecular chaperone and a key component of the heat-shock response. Because of its proposed importance in oncology, this protein has become a popular target for drug discovery, efforts which have as yet brought little success. This study demonstrates that adenosine-derived HSP70 inhibitors potentially bind to the protein with a novel mechanism of action, the stabilization by desolvation of an intramolecular salt-bridge which induces a conformational change in the protein, leading to high affinity ligands. We also demonstrate that through the application of this mechanism, adenosine-derived HSP70 inhibitors can be optimized in a rational manner..
Innocenti, P.
Woodward, H.L.
Solanki, S.
Naud, S.
Westwood, I.M.
Cronin, N.
Hayes, A.
Roberts, J.
Henley, A.T.
Baker, R.
Faisal, A.
Mak, G.W.
Box, G.
Valenti, M.
De Haven Brandon, A.
O'Fee, L.
Saville, H.
Schmitt, J.
Matijssen, B.
Burke, R.
van Montfort, R.L.
Raynaud, F.I.
Eccles, S.A.
Linardopoulos, S.
Blagg, J.
Hoelder, S.
(2016). Rapid Discovery of Pyrido[3,4-d]pyrimidine Inhibitors of Monopolar Spindle Kinase 1 (MPS1) Using a Structure-Based Hybridization Approach. J med chem,
Vol.59
(8),
pp. 3671-3688.
show abstract
full text
Monopolar spindle 1 (MPS1) plays a central role in the transition of cells from metaphase to anaphase and is one of the main components of the spindle assembly checkpoint. Chromosomally unstable cancer cells rely heavily on MPS1 to cope with the stress arising from abnormal numbers of chromosomes and centrosomes and are thus more sensitive to MPS1 inhibition than normal cells. We report the discovery and optimization of a series of new pyrido[3,4-d]pyrimidine based inhibitors via a structure-based hybridization approach from our previously reported inhibitor CCT251455 and a modestly potent screening hit. Compounds in this novel series display excellent potency and selectivity for MPS1, which translates into biomarker modulation in an in vivo human tumor xenograft model..
Gurden, M.D.
Westwood, I.M.
Faisal, A.
Naud, S.
Cheung, K.-.
McAndrew, C.
Wood, A.
Schmitt, J.
Boxall, K.
Mak, G.
Workman, P.
Burke, R.
Hoelder, S.
Blagg, J.
Van Montfort, R.L.
Linardopoulos, S.
(2015). Naturally Occurring Mutations in the MPS1 Gene Predispose Cells to Kinase Inhibitor Drug Resistance. Cancer res,
Vol.75
(16),
pp. 3340-3354.
show abstract
Acquired resistance to therapy is perhaps the greatest challenge to effective clinical management of cancer. With several inhibitors of the mitotic checkpoint kinase MPS1 in preclinical development, we sought to investigate how resistance against these inhibitors may arise so that mitigation or bypass strategies could be addressed as early as possible. Toward this end, we modeled acquired resistance to the MPS1 inhibitors AZ3146, NMS-P715, and CCT251455, identifying five point mutations in the kinase domain of MPS1 that confer resistance against multiple inhibitors. Structural studies showed how the MPS1 mutants conferred resistance by causing steric hindrance to inhibitor binding. Notably, we show that these mutations occur in nontreated cancer cell lines and primary tumor specimens, and that they also preexist in normal lymphoblast and breast tissues. In a parallel piece of work, we also show that the EGFR p.T790M mutation, the most common mutation conferring resistance to the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib, also preexists in cancer cells and normal tissue. Our results therefore suggest that mutations conferring resistance to targeted therapy occur naturally in normal and malignant cells and these mutations do not arise as a result of the increased mutagenic plasticity of cancer cells..
Tatton-Brown, K.
Seal, S.
Ruark, E.
Harmer, J.
Ramsay, E.
Del Vecchio Duarte, S.
Zachariou, A.
Hanks, S.
O'Brien, E.
Aksglaede, L.
Baralle, D.
Dabir, T.
Gener, B.
Goudie, D.
Homfray, T.
Kumar, A.
Pilz, D.T.
Selicorni, A.
Temple, I.K.
Van Maldergem, L.
Yachelevich, N.
Childhood Overgrowth Consortium,
van Montfort, R.
Rahman, N.
(2014). Mutations in the DNA methyltransferase gene DNMT3A cause an overgrowth syndrome with intellectual disability. Nat genet,
Vol.46
(4),
pp. 385-388.
show abstract
full text
Overgrowth disorders are a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by increased growth parameters and other variable clinical features such as intellectual disability and facial dysmorphism. To identify new causes of human overgrowth, we performed exome sequencing in ten proband-parent trios and detected two de novo DNMT3A mutations. We identified 11 additional de novo mutations by sequencing DNMT3A in a further 142 individuals with overgrowth. The mutations alter residues in functional DNMT3A domains, and protein modeling suggests that they interfere with domain-domain interactions and histone binding. Similar mutations were not present in 1,000 UK population controls (13/152 cases versus 0/1,000 controls; P < 0.0001). Mutation carriers had a distinctive facial appearance, intellectual disability and greater height. DNMT3A encodes a DNA methyltransferase essential for establishing methylation during embryogenesis and is commonly somatically mutated in acute myeloid leukemia. Thus, DNMT3A joins an emerging group of epigenetic DNA- and histone-modifying genes associated with both developmental growth disorders and hematological malignancies..
Couty, S.
Westwood, I.M.
Kalusa, A.
Cano, C.
Travers, J.
Boxall, K.
Chow, C.L.
Burns, S.
Schmitt, J.
Pickard, L.
Barillari, C.
McAndrew, P.C.
Clarke, P.A.
Linardopoulos, S.
Griffin, R.J.
Aherne, G.W.
Raynaud, F.I.
Workman, P.
Jones, K.
Van Montfort, R.L.
(2013). The discovery of potent ribosomal S6 kinase inhibitors by high-throughput screening and structure-guided drug design. Oncotarget,
Vol.4,
pp. 1-15.
show abstract
full text
The ribosomal P70 S6 kinases play a crucial role in PI3K/mTOR regulated signalling pathways and are therefore potential targets for the treatment of a variety of diseases including diabetes and cancer. In this study we describe the identification of three series of chemically distinct S6K1 inhibitors. In addition, we report a novel PKA-S6K1 chimeric protein with five mutations in or near its ATP-binding site, which was used to determine the binding mode of two of the three inhibitor series, and provided a robust system to aid the optimisation of the oxadiazole-substituted benzimidazole inhibitor series. We show that the resulting oxadiazole-substituted aza-benzimidazole is a potent and ligand efficient S6 kinase inhibitor, which blocks the phosphorylation of RPS6 at Ser235/236 in TSC negative HCV29 human bladder cancer cells by inhibiting S6 kinase activity and thus provides a useful tool compound to investigate the function of S6 kinases..
Silva-Santisteban, M.C.
Westwood, I.M.
Boxall, K.
Brown, N.
Peacock, S.
McAndrew, C.
Barrie, E.
Richards, M.
Mirza, A.
Oliver, A.W.
Burke, R.
Hoelder, S.
Jones, K.
Aherne, G.W.
Blagg, J.
Collins, I.
Garrett, M.D.
van Montfort, R.L.
(2013). Fragment-based screening maps inhibitor interactions in the ATP-binding site of checkpoint kinase 2. Plos one,
Vol.8
(6),
p. e65689.
show abstract
Checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2) is an important serine/threonine kinase in the cellular response to DNA damage. A fragment-based screening campaign using a combination of a high-concentration AlphaScreen™ kinase assay and a biophysical thermal shift assay, followed by X-ray crystallography, identified a number of chemically different ligand-efficient CHK2 hinge-binding scaffolds that have not been exploited in known CHK2 inhibitors. In addition, it showed that the use of these orthogonal techniques allowed efficient discrimination between genuine hit matter and false positives from each individual assay technology. Furthermore, the CHK2 crystal structures with a quinoxaline-based fragment and its follow-up compound highlight a hydrophobic area above the hinge region not previously explored in rational CHK2 inhibitor design, but which might be exploited to enhance both potency and selectivity of CHK2 inhibitors..
Naud, S.
Westwood, I.M.
Faisal, A.
Sheldrake, P.
Bavetsias, V.
Atrash, B.
Cheung, K.M.
Liu, M.
Hayes, A.
Schmitt, J.
Wood, A.
Choi, V.
Boxall, K.
Mak, G.
Gurden, M.
Valenti, M.
de Haven Brandon, A.
Henley, A.
Baker, R.
McAndrew, C.
Matijssen, B.
Burke, R.
Hoelder, S.
Eccles, S.A.
Raynaud, F.I.
Linardopoulos, S.
Van Montfort, R.L.
Blagg, J.
(2013). Structure-based design of orally bioavailable 1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine inhibitors of the mitotic kinase monopolar spindle 1 (MPS1). J med chem,
Vol.56,
pp. 10045-10065.
Matijssen, C.
Silva-Santisteban, M.C.
Westwood, I.M.
Siddique, S.
Choi, V.
Sheldrake, P.
van Montfort, R.L.
Blagg, J.
(2012). Benzimidazole inhibitors of the protein kinase CHK2: clarification of the binding mode by flexible side chain docking and protein-ligand crystallography. Bioorg med chem,
Vol.20
(22),
pp. 6630-6639.
show abstract
Two closely related binding modes have previously been proposed for the ATP-competitive benzimidazole class of checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2) inhibitors; however, neither binding mode is entirely consistent with the reported SAR. Unconstrained rigid docking of benzimidazole ligands into representative CHK2 protein crystal structures reveals an alternative binding mode involving a water-mediated interaction with the hinge region; docking which incorporates protein side chain flexibility for selected residues in the ATP binding site resulted in a refinement of the water-mediated hinge binding mode that is consistent with observed SAR. The flexible docking results are in good agreement with the crystal structures of four exemplar benzimidazole ligands bound to CHK2 which unambiguously confirmed the binding mode of these inhibitors, including the water-mediated interaction with the hinge region, and which is significantly different from binding modes previously postulated in the literature..
Powers, M.V.
Jones, K.
Barillari, C.
Westwood, I.
van Montfort, R.L.
Workman, P.
(2010). Targeting HSP70: The second potentially druggable heat shock protein and molecular chaperone?. Cell cycle,
Vol.9
(8).
show abstract
The HSF1-mediated stress response pathway is steadily gaining momentum as a critical source of targets for cancer therapy. Key mediators of this pathway include molecular chaperones such as heat shock protein (HSP) 90. There has been considerable progress in targeting HSP90 and the preclinical efficacy and signs of early clinical activity of HSP90 inhibitors have provided proof-of-concept for targeting this group of proteins. The HSP70 family of molecular chaperones are also key mediators of the HSF-1-stress response pathway and have multiple additional roles in protein folding, trafficking and degradation, as well as regulating apoptosis. Genetic and biochemical studies have supported the discovery of HSP70 inhibitors which have the potential for use as single agents or in combination to enhance the effects of classical chemotherapeutic or molecularly targeted drugs including HSP90 inhibitors. Here we provide a perspective on the progress made so far in discovering small molecules which target the HSP70 family, in the context of the available structural data and potential issues in drugging this key chaperone..
van Montfort, R.L.
Workman, P.
(2009). Structure-based design of molecular cancer therapeutics. Trends biotechnol,
Vol.27
(5),
pp. 315-328.
show abstract
Structure-based approaches now impact across the whole continuum of drug discovery, from new target selection through the identification of hits to the optimization of lead compounds. Optimal application of structure-based design involves close integration with other discovery technologies, including fragment-based and virtual screening. Here, we illustrate the use of structural information and of structure-based drug design approaches in the discovery of small-molecule inhibitors for cancer drug targets and provide an outlook on the exploitation of structural information in future cancer drug discovery. Examples include high profile protein kinase targets and structurally related PI3 kinases, histone deacetylases, poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase and the molecular chaperone HSP90. Structure-based design approaches have also been successfully applied to the protein-protein interaction targets p53-MDM2 and the Bcl-2 family..
Howard, N.
Abell, C.
Blakemore, W.
Chessari, G.
Congreve, M.
Howard, S.
Jhoti, H.
Murray, C.W.
Seavers, L.C.
van Montfort, R.L.
(2006). Application of fragment screening and fragment linking to the discovery of novel thrombin inhibitors. J med chem,
Vol.49
(4),
pp. 1346-1355.
show abstract
The screening of fragments is an alternative approach to high-throughput screening for the identification of leads for therapeutic targets. Fragment hits have been discovered using X-ray crystallographic screening of protein crystals of the serine protease enzyme thrombin. The fragment library was designed to avoid any well-precedented, strongly basic functionality. Screening hits included a novel ligand (3), which binds exclusively to the S2-S4 pocket, in addition to smaller fragments which bind to the S1 pocket. The structure of these protein-ligand complexes are presented. A chemistry strategy to link two such fragments together and to synthesize larger drug-sized compounds resulted in the efficient identification of hybrid inhibitors with nanomolar potency (e.g., 7, IC50 = 3.7 nM). These potent ligands occupy the same area of the active site as previously described peptidic inhibitors, while having very different chemical architecture..
van Montfort, R.L.
Congreve, M.
Tisi, D.
Carr, R.
Jhoti, H.
(2003). Oxidation state of the active-site cysteine in protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B. Nature,
Vol.423
(6941),
pp. 773-777.
show abstract
Protein tyrosine phosphatases regulate signal transduction pathways involving tyrosine phosphorylation(1) and have been implicated in the development of cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and hypertension(2). Increasing evidence suggests that the cellular redox state is involved in regulating tyrosine phosphatase activity through the reversible oxidization of the catalytic cysteine to sulphenic acid (Cys-SOH)(3-6). But how further oxidation to the irreversible sulphinic (Cys-SO2H) and sulphonic (Cys-SO3H) forms is prevented remains unclear. Here we report the crystal structures of the regulatory sulphenic and irreversible sulphinic and sulphonic acids of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), an important enzyme in the negative regulation of the insulin receptor(7,8) and a therapeutic target in type II diabetes and obesity(9). We also identify a sulphenyl-amide species that is formed through oxidation of its catalytic cysteine. Formation of the sulphenyl-amide causes large changes in the PTP1B active site, which are reversible by reduction with the cellular reducing agent glutathione. The sulphenyl-amide is a protective intermediate in the oxidative inhibition of PTP1B. In addition, it may facilitate reactivation of PTP1B by biological thiols and signal a unique state of the protein..
van Montfort, R.L.
Basha, E.
Friedrich, K.L.
Slingsby, C.
Vierling, E.
(2001). Crystal structure and assembly of a eukaryotic small heat shock protein. Nat struct biol,
Vol.8
(12),
pp. 1025-1030.