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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Structural characterization of human Vaccinia-Related Kinases (VRK) bound to small-molecule inhibitors identifies different P-loop conformations

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Counago, Rafael M. ; Allerston, Charles K. ; Savitsky, Pavel ; Azevedo, Hatylas ; Godoi, Paulo H. ; Wells, Carrow I. ; Mascarello, Alessandra ; de Souza Gama, Fernando H. ; Massirer, Katlin B. ; Zuercher, William J. ; Guimaraes, Cristiano R. W. ; Gileadi, Opher
Total Authors: 12
Document type: Journal article
Source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS; v. 7, AUG 8 2017.
Web of Science Citations: 4
Abstract

The human genome encodes two active Vaccinia-related protein kinases (VRK), VRK1 and VRK2. These proteins have been implicated in a number of cellular processes and linked to a variety of tumors. However, understanding the cellular role of VRKs and establishing their potential use as targets for therapeutic intervention has been limited by the lack of tool compounds that can specifically modulate the activity of these kinases in cells. Here we identified BI-D1870, a dihydropteridine inhibitor of RSK kinases, as a promising starting point for the development of chemical probes targeting the active VRKs. We solved co-crystal structures of both VRK1 and VRK2 bound to BI-D1870 and of VRK1 bound to two broad-spectrum inhibitors. These structures revealed that both VRKs can adopt a P-loop folded conformation, which is stabilized by different mechanisms on each protein. Based on these structures, we suggest modifications to the dihydropteridine scaffold that can be explored to produce potent and specific inhibitors towards VRK1 and VRK2. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 13/50724-5 - Protein Kinase Chemical Biology Center: supporting drug development through open-access research
Grantee:Paulo Arruda
Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Partnership for Technological Innovation - PITE