Discovery and characterization of non-ATP site inhibitors of the mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinases.

Inhibition of protein kinases has validated therapeutic utility for cancer, with at least seven kinase inhibitor drugs on the market. Protein kinase inhibition also has significant potential for a variety of other diseases, including diabetes, pain, cognition, and chronic inflammatory and immunologic diseases. However, as the vast majority of current approaches to kinase inhibition target the highly conserved ATP-binding site, the use of kinase inhibitors in treating nononcology diseases may require great selectivity for the target kinase.

Biochemical and biophysical characterization of unique switch pocket inhibitors of p38α.

Herein we describe the identification and characterization of a class of molecules that are believed to extend into a region of p38 known as the 'switch pocket'. Although these molecules lack a canonical hinge binding motif, they show K(i) values as low as 100 nM against p38. We show that molecules that interact with this region of the protein demonstrate different binding kinetics than a canonical ATP mimetic, as well as a wide range of kinome profiles.

In search of negative allosteric modulators of biological targets.

The value of using negative allosteric modulators of protein function in therapeutic treatment of human diseases is becoming more apparent. Many current screening paradigms, however, are not consciously designed to discover negative allosteric modulators, and those that are serendipitously discovered can be easily overlooked during the hit-picking process. The conditions necessary for the discovery of negative allosteric modulators in a high-throughput screen are quite reasonable and simple to implement, generally requiring a consideration of the ligand concentration in a screen.

Screening for positive allosteric modulators of biological targets.

The benefit of using positive allosteric modulators of protein function in the therapy of human diseases is becoming more apparent. The advantage of positive allosteric modulators is that they can possess specificity and selectivity profiles as well as concentration-independent limits on activity that can significantly reduce off-target effects in vivo. However, many current screening paradigms are not designed to discover positive allosteric modulators, and modulators that are discovered serendipitously can be overlooked during the hit-picking process.

Functional analysis of large conductance Ca2(+)-activated K(+) channels: ion flux studies by atomic absorption spectrometry.

Although techniques such as (86)Rb(+) flux provide a sensitive measure of K(+) channel activity, the relatively short half-life and high-energy emission, together with the quantities of radioactive material generated, hinder the usefulness of flux-based formats in high throughput screening efforts. This study elaborates on the utilization of flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) techniques for a nonradioactive rubidium efflux assay for large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (BK(Ca)) channels. Utilizing human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells expressing the BK(Ca) alpha subunit, a 96-well cell-based nonradioactive rubidium efflux screen for channel openers and inhibitors was established.

Putting thought to paper: a microARCS protease screen.

In micro-arrayed compound screening (microARCS), an agarose gel is used as a reaction vessel that maintains humidity and compound location as well as being a handling system for reagent addition. Two or more agarose gels may be used to bring test compounds, targets, and reagents together, relying on the pore size of the gel matrix to regulate diffusion of reactants. It is in the microenvironment of the agarose matrix that all the components of an enzymatic reaction interact and result in inhibitable catalytic activity.

Functional characterization of adenosine receptors and coupling to ATP-sensitive K+ channels in Guinea pig urinary bladder smooth muscle.

Although multiple adenosine receptors have been identified, the subtype and underlying mechanisms involved in the relaxation response to adenosine in the urinary bladder remain unclear. The present study investigates changes in the membrane potential, as assessed by fluorescence-based techniques, of bladder smooth muscle cells by adenosine receptor agonists acting via ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels. Membrane hyperpolarization evoked by adenosine and various adenosine receptor subtype-selective agonists was attenuated or reversed by the K(ATP) channel blocker glyburide.