Download MendeleySelective targeting of the alpha C and DFG-out pocket in p38 MAPK.
Rohm, S., Schroder, M., Dwyer, J.E., Widdowson, C.S., Chaikuad, A., Berger, B.T., Joerger, A.C., Kramer, A., Harbig, J., Dauch, D., Kudolo, M., Laufer, S., Bagley, M.C., Knapp, S.(2020) Eur J Med Chem 208: 112721-112721
- PubMed: 33035818
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112721
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
6Y4T, 6Y4U, 6Y4V, 6Y4W, 6Y4X, 6Y6V, 6YJC, 6YK7, 6ZWP, 6ZWR - PubMed Abstract:
The p38 MAPK cascade is a key signaling pathway linked to a multitude of physiological functions and of central importance in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Although studied extensively, little is known about how conformation-specific inhibitors alter signaling outcomes. Here, we have explored the highly dynamic back pocket of p38 MAPK with allosteric urea fragments. However, screening against known off-targets showed that these fragments maintained the selectivity issues of their parent compound BIRB-796, while combination with the hinge-binding motif of VPC-00628 greatly enhanced inhibitor selectivity. Further efforts focused therefore on the exploration of the αC-out pocket of p38 MAPK, yielding compound 137 as a highly selective type-II inhibitor. Even though 137 is structurally related to a recent p38 type-II chemical probe, SR-318, the data presented here provide valuable insights into back-pocket interactions that are not addressed in SR-318 and it provides an alternative chemical tool with good cellular activity targeting also the p38 back pocket.
Organizational Affiliation:
Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany; Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences and Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, 60438, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.
