Identification of BRAF inhibitors through in silico screening

J Med Chem. 2008 Oct 9;51(19):6121-6127. doi: 10.1021/jm800539g. Epub 2008 Sep 11.

Abstract

The BRAF protein kinase, a molecule in the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway, is mutated to harbor elevated kinase activity in approximately 7% of human cancers, which makes it an important therapeutic target for inhibition. Several BRAF protein-kinase inhibitors have been developed through high-throughout screening in vitro; however, many of these compounds suffer from a lack of suitable kinase specificity and other chemotherapeutic properties. In silico screening has evolved as a powerful complimentary approach to protein-kinase inhibitor identification. Here we describe an in silico screen for BRAF inhibitors that leads to the identification of a series of purine-2,6-dione analogues with IC50 values in the single-digit micromolar range and with significant selectivity for BRAF over other representative protein kinases. The binding modes of these inhibitors to BRAF are analyzed through molecular docking to derive structure-activity relationships and to assist in the future development of more potent and more specific BRAF inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Binding Sites
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Computer Simulation
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Design*
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Models, Chemical
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / isolation & purification
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • BRAF protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf