Structure-Based Design of Highly Selective and Potent G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 Inhibitors Based on Paroxetine

J Med Chem. 2017 Apr 13;60(7):3052-3069. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00112. Epub 2017 Mar 29.

Abstract

In heart failure, the β-adrenergic receptors (βARs) become desensitized and uncoupled from heterotrimeric G proteins. This process is initiated by G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs), some of which are upregulated in the failing heart, making them desirable therapeutic targets. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, paroxetine, was previously identified as a GRK2 inhibitor. Utilizing a structure-based drug design approach, we modified paroxetine to generate a small compound library. Included in this series is a highly potent and selective GRK2 inhibitor, 14as, with an IC50 of 30 nM against GRK2 and greater than 230-fold selectivity over other GRKs and kinases. Furthermore, 14as showed a 100-fold improvement in cardiomyocyte contractility assays over paroxetine and a plasma concentration higher than its IC50 for over 7 h. Three of these inhibitors, including 14as, were additionally crystallized in complex with GRK2 to give insights into the structural determinants of potency and selectivity of these inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Drug Design*
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 / chemistry
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Microsomes, Liver / metabolism
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Paroxetine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Paroxetine / blood
  • Paroxetine / metabolism
  • Paroxetine / pharmacology*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / blood
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Paroxetine
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2