ATP-site inhibitors induce unique conformations of the Src-family kinase, Fgr

ABSTRACT: Src family kinases are often overexpressed and constitutively active in cancer cells, where they represent promising targets for therapeutic intervention. In myeloid hematopoietic cells, Hck, Lyn, and Fgr are associated with both chronic and acute forms of myeloid leukemia. All three of these kinases are expressed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), where high-level expression correlates with poor survival. The pyrrolopyrimidine Src-family kinase inhibitor A-419259 (also known as RK-20449) has been shown to significantly inhibit patient-derived AML bone marrow cell growth in immunocompromised mice. Recent work has identified an N-phenylbenzamide kinase inhibitor, known as TL02-59, which potently inhibited Fgr kinase activity in vitro and reversed orthotopic engraftment of AML cells in the bone marrow and spleen of immunocompromised mice following oral administration. The inhibitory mechanism of this compound with Fgr or other Src-family members has not been reported. Both wild-type Fgr and a tail mutant (i.e., replacement of Tyr527 with Phe) were shown to produce equal numbers of transformed colonies when expressed in rodent fibroblasts, whereas wild-type Hck transforming activity was completely repressed. In both Hck and Fgr, however, the tail tyrosine residue was shown to be phosphorylated, and hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX MS) of near-full-length Fgr was consistent with the closed conformation in solution, with the SH3 domain bound to the SH2-kinase linker and the tail bound to SH2. Here we present the first X-ray crystal structures of near-full-length Fgr bound to the ATP site inhibitors A-419259 and TL02-59. Structural changes induced by the inhibitors in the crystalline state were validated in solution using HDX MS, with A-419259 stabilizing the closed conformation and TL02-59 enhancing exposure of the SH3 domain to solvent. These new structures help to explain the constitutive activity of wild-type Fgr in cells as well as its unique sensitivity to TL02-59, which is currently in development for AML and other maladies.

INSTRUMENT(S): Synapt MS

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)

DISEASE(S): Acute Leukemia

SUBMITTER: John R. Engen  

LAB HEAD: John R. Engen

PROVIDER: PXD032014 | Pride | 2022-09-22

REPOSITORIES: Pride