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Structural Basis for the Selective Inhibition of Cdc2-Like Kinases by CX-4945.

ABSTRACT: Cdc2-like kinases (CLKs) play a crucial role in the alternative splicing of eukaryotic pre-mRNAs through the phosphorylation of serine/arginine-rich proteins (SR proteins). Dysregulation of this processes is linked with various diseases including cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and many genetic diseases. Thus, CLKs have been regarded to have a potential as a therapeutic target and significant efforts have been exerted to discover an effective inhibitor. In particular, the small molecule CX-4945, originally identified as an inhibitor of casein kinase 2 (CK2), was further revealed to have a strong CLK-inhibitory activity. Four isoforms of CLKs (CLK1, CLK2, CLK3, and CLK4) can be inhibited by CX-4945, with the highest inhibitory effect on CLK2. This study aimed to elucidate the structural basis of the selective inhibitory effect of CX-4945 on different isoforms of CLKs. We determined the crystal structures of CLK1, CLK2, and CLK3 in complex with CX-4945 at resolutions of 2.4 Å, 2.8 Å, and 2.6 Å, respectively. Comparative analysis revealed that CX-4945 was bound in the same active site pocket of the CLKs with similar interacting networks. Intriguingly, the active sites of CLK/CX-4945 complex structures had different sizes and electrostatic surface charge distributions. The active site of CLK1 was somewhat narrow and contained a negatively charged patch. CLK3 had a protruded Lys248 residue in the entrance of the active site pocket. In addition, Ala319, equivalent to Val324 (CLK1) and Val326 (CLK2), contributed to the weak hydrophobic interactions with the benzonaphthyridine ring of CX-4945. In contrast, the charge distribution pattern of CLK2 was the weakest, favoring its interactions with benzonaphthyridine ring. Thus, the relatively strong binding affinities of CX-4945 with CLK2 are consistent with its strong inhibitory effect defined in the previous study. These results may provide insights into structure-based drug discovery processes.

SUBMITTER: Lee JY

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6720368 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Structural Basis for the Selective Inhibition of Cdc2-Like Kinases by CX-4945.

Lee Joo Youn JY Yun Ji-Sook JS Kim Woo-Keun WK Chun Hang-Suk HS Jin Hyeonseok H Cho Sungchan S Chang Jeong Ho JH

BioMed research international 20190818

Cdc2-like kinases (CLKs) play a crucial role in the alternative splicing of eukaryotic pre-mRNAs through the phosphorylation of serine/arginine-rich proteins (SR proteins). Dysregulation of this processes is linked with various diseases including cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and many genetic diseases. Thus, CLKs have been regarded to have a potential as a therapeutic target and significant efforts have been exerted to discover an effective inhibitor. In particular, the small molecule CX- ...[more]

PMID: 31531359

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Project description:Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) converts l-arginine into l-citrulline and releases the important signaling molecule nitric oxide (NO). In the cardiovascular system, NO produced by endothelial NOS (eNOS) relaxes smooth muscle which controls vascular tone and blood pressure. Neuronal NOS (nNOS) produces NO in the brain, where it influences a variety of neural functions such as neural transmitter release. NO can also support the immune system, serving as a cytotoxic agent during infections. Even with all of these important functions, NO is a free radical and, when overproduced, it can cause tissue damage. This mechanism can operate in many neurodegenerative diseases, and as a result the development of drugs targeting nNOS is a desirable therapeutic goal. However, the active sites of all three human isoforms are very similar, and designing inhibitors specific for nNOS is a challenging problem. It is critically important, for example, not to inhibit eNOS owing to its central role in controlling blood pressure. In this Account, we summarize our efforts in collaboration with Rick Silverman at Northwestern University to develop drug candidates that specifically target NOS using crystallography, computational chemistry, and organic synthesis. As a result, we have developed aminopyridine compounds that are 3800-fold more selective for nNOS than eNOS, some of which show excellent neuroprotective effects in animal models. Our group has solved approximately 130 NOS-inhibitor crystal structures which have provided the structural basis for our design efforts. Initial crystal structures of nNOS and eNOS bound to selective dipeptide inhibitors showed that a single amino acid difference (Asp in nNOS and Asn in eNOS) results in much tighter binding to nNOS. The NOS active site is open and rigid, which produces few large structural changes when inhibitors bind. However, we have found that relatively small changes in the active site and inhibitor chirality can account for large differences in isoform-selectivity. For example, we expected that the aminopyridine group on our inhibitors would form a hydrogen bond with a conserved Glu inside the NOS active site. Instead, in one group of inhibitors, the aminopyridine group extends outside of the active site where it interacts with a heme propionate. For this orientation to occur, a conserved Tyr side chain must swing out of the way. This unanticipated observation taught us about the importance of inhibitor chirality and active site dynamics. We also successfully used computational methods to gain insights into the contribution of the state of protonation of the inhibitors to their selectivity. Employing the lessons learned from the aminopyridine inhibitors, the Silverman lab designed and synthesized symmetric double-headed inhibitors with an aminopyridine at each end, taking advantage of their ability to make contacts both inside and outside of the active site. Crystal structures provided yet another unexpected surprise. Two of the double-headed inhibitor molecules bound to each enzyme subunit, and one molecule participated in the generation of a novel Zn(2+) site that required some side chains to adopt alternate conformations. Therefore, in addition to achieving our specific goal, the development of nNOS selective compounds, we have learned how subtle differences in dynamics and structure can control protein-ligand interactions and often in unexpected ways.

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Structural Basis for the Selective Inhibition of Cdc2-Like Kinases by CX-4945.

Publications

Structural Basis for the Selective Inhibition of Cdc2-Like Kinases by CX-4945.

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