Allele-specific inhibition of divergent protein tyrosine phosphatases with a single small molecule.

A central challenge of chemical biology is the development of small-molecule tools for controlling protein activity in a target-specific manner. Such tools are particularly useful if they can be systematically applied to the members of large protein families. Here we report that protein tyrosine phosphatases can be systematically 'sensitized' to target-specific inhibition by a cell-permeable small molecule, Fluorescein Arsenical Hairpin Binder (FlAsH), which does not inhibit any wild-type PTP investigated to date.

A gatekeeper residue for inhibitor sensitization of protein tyrosine phosphatases.

Allele-specific enzyme inhibitors are powerful tools in chemical biology. However, few general approaches for the discovery of such inhibitors have been described. Herein is reported a method for the sensitization of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) to small-molecule inhibition.

Engineering non-natural inhibitor sensitivity in protein tyrosine phosphatase H1.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase H1, a member of the ubiquitous protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) superfamily of enzymes, is an important signaling molecule, mutant forms of which have been found in human colorectal cancers. Selective PTPH1 inhibitors would be valuable tools for investigating PTPH1's roles in cellular regulation. However, no PTPH1-specific inhibitors are known.

Allele-specific inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatases.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are critical cell-signaling molecules. Inhibitors that are selective for individual PTPs would be valuable tools for dissecting complicated phosphorylation networks. However, the common architecture of PTP active sites impedes the discovery of such compounds.