7,8-dichloro-1-oxo-β-carbolines as a versatile scaffold for the development of potent and selective kinase inhibitors with unusual binding modes

J Med Chem. 2012 Jan 12;55(1):403-13. doi: 10.1021/jm201286z. Epub 2012 Jan 3.

Abstract

Development of both potent and selective kinase inhibitors is a challenging task in modern drug discovery. The innate promiscuity of kinase inhibitors largely results from ATP-mimetic binding to the kinase hinge region. We present a novel class of substituted 7,8-dichloro-1-oxo-β-carbolines based on the distinct structural features of the alkaloid bauerine C whose kinase inhibitory activity does not rely on canonical ATP-mimetic hinge interactions. Intriguingly, cocrystal structures revealed an unexpected inverted binding mode and the presence of halogen bonds with kinase backbone residues. The compounds exhibit excellent selectivity over a comprehensive panel of human protein kinases while inhibiting selected kinases such as the oncogenic PIM1 at low nanomolar concentrations. Together, our biochemical and structural data suggest that this scaffold may serve as a valuable template for the design and development of specific inhibitors of various kinases including the PIM family of kinases, CLKs, DAPK3 (ZIPK), BMP2K (BIKE), and others.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Carbolines / chemical synthesis*
  • Carbolines / chemistry
  • Carbolines / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Carbolines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • bauerine C

Associated data

  • PDB/3BHY
  • PDB/3CXW
  • PDB/3CY2