Fragment-Based Discovery of a Series of Allosteric-Binding Site Modulators of β-Glucocerebrosidase.

β-Glucocerebrosidase (GBA/GCase) mutations leading to misfolded protein cause Gaucher's disease and are a major genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. The identification of small molecule pharmacological chaperones that can stabilize the misfolded protein and increase delivery of degradation-prone mutant GCase to the lysosome is a strategy under active investigation. Here, we describe the first use of fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) to identify pharmacological chaperones of GCase.

Fragment-Based Discovery of Allosteric Inhibitors of SH2 Domain-Containing Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase-2 (SHP2).

The ubiquitously expressed protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 is required for signaling downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and plays a role in regulating many cellular processes. Genetic knockdown and pharmacological inhibition of SHP2 suppresses RAS/MAPK signaling and inhibit the proliferation of RTK-driven cancer cell lines. Here, we describe the first reported fragment-to-lead campaign against SHP2, where X-ray crystallography and biophysical techniques were used to identify fragments binding to multiple sites on SHP2.

Discovery of ASTX029, A Clinical Candidate Which Modulates the Phosphorylation and Catalytic Activity of ERK1/2.

Aberrant activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway frequently drives tumor growth, and the ERK1/2 kinases are positioned at a key node in this pathway, making them important targets for therapeutic intervention. Recently, a number of ERK1/2 inhibitors have been advanced to investigational clinical trials in patients with activating mutations in B-Raf proto-oncogene or Ras. Here, we describe the discovery of the clinical candidate ASTX029 () through structure-guided optimization of our previously published isoindolinone lead ().

ASTX029, a Novel Dual-mechanism ERK Inhibitor, Modulates Both the Phosphorylation and Catalytic Activity of ERK.

The MAPK signaling pathway is commonly upregulated in human cancers. As the primary downstream effector of the MAPK pathway, ERK is an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of MAPK-activated cancers and for overcoming resistance to upstream inhibition. ASTX029 is a highly potent and selective dual-mechanism ERK inhibitor, discovered using fragment-based drug design.

Fragment-Based Discovery of a Potent, Orally Bioavailable Inhibitor That Modulates the Phosphorylation and Catalytic Activity of ERK1/2.

Aberrant activation of the MAPK pathway drives cell proliferation in multiple cancers. Inhibitors of BRAF and MEK kinases are approved for the treatment of BRAF mutant melanoma, but resistance frequently emerges, often mediated by increased signaling through ERK1/2. Here, we describe the fragment-based generation of ERK1/2 inhibitors that block catalytic phosphorylation of downstream substrates such as RSK but also modulate phosphorylation of ERK1/2 by MEK without directly inhibiting MEK.

ASTX660, a Novel Non-peptidomimetic Antagonist of cIAP1/2 and XIAP, Potently Induces TNFα-Dependent Apoptosis in Cancer Cell Lines and Inhibits Tumor Growth.

Because of their roles in the evasion of apoptosis, inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP) are considered attractive targets for anticancer therapy. Antagonists of these proteins have the potential to switch prosurvival signaling pathways in cancer cells toward cell death. Various SMAC-peptidomimetics with inherent cIAP selectivity have been tested clinically and demonstrated minimal single-agent efficacy.

Emergence of resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small-cell lung cancer can be delayed by an upfront combination with the HSP90 inhibitor onalespib.

Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as crizotinib and erlotinib, are widely used to treat non-small-cell lung cancer, but after initial response, relapse is common because of the emergence of resistance through multiple mechanisms. Here, we investigated whether a frontline combination with an HSP90 inhibitor could delay the emergence of resistance to these inhibitors in preclinical lung cancer models.

Methods: The HSP90 inhibitor, onalespib, was combined with either crizotinib or erlotinib in ALK- or EGFR-activated xenograft models respectively (H2228, HCC827).

Inhibition of HSP90 by AT13387 delays the emergence of resistance to BRAF inhibitors and overcomes resistance to dual BRAF and MEK inhibition in melanoma models.

Emergence of clinical resistance to BRAF inhibitors, alone or in combination with MEK inhibitors, limits clinical responses in melanoma. Inhibiting HSP90 offers an approach to simultaneously interfere with multiple resistance mechanisms. Using the HSP90 inhibitor AT13387, which is currently in clinical trials, we investigated the potential of HSP90 inhibition to overcome or delay the emergence of resistance to these kinase inhibitors in melanoma models.

The HSP90 inhibitor, AT13387, is effective against imatinib-sensitive and -resistant gastrointestinal stromal tumor models.

The majority of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are characterized by activating mutations of KIT, an HSP90 client protein. Further secondary resistance mutations within KIT limit clinical responses to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as imatinib. The dependence of KIT and its mutated forms on HSP90 suggests that HSP90 inhibition might be a valuable treatment option for GIST, which would be equally effective on imatinib-sensitive and -resistant clones.

The heat shock protein 90 inhibitor, AT13387, displays a long duration of action in vitro and in vivo in non-small cell lung cancer.

A ubiquitously expressed chaperone, heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is of considerable interest as an oncology target because tumor cells and oncogenic proteins are acutely dependent on its activity. AT13387 (2,4-dihydroxy-5-isopropyl-phenyl)-[5-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-dihydro-isoindol-2-yl] methanone, l-lactic acid salt) a novel, high-affinity HSP90 inhibitor, which is currently being clinically tested, has shown activity against a wide array of tumor cell lines, including lung cancer cell lines. This inhibitor has induced the degradation of specific HSP90 client proteins for up to 7 days in tumor cell lines in vitro.

AT9283, a potent inhibitor of the Aurora kinases and Jak2, has therapeutic potential in myeloproliferative disorders.

Constitutive activation of Janus kinase (Jak) 2 is the most prevalent pathogenic event observed in the myeloproliferative disorders (MPD), suggesting that inhibitors of Jak2 may prove valuable in their management. Inhibition of the Aurora kinases has also proven to be an effective therapeutic strategy in a number of haematological malignancies. AT9283 is a multi-targeted kinase inhibitor with potent activity against Jak2 and Aurora kinases A and B, and is currently being evaluated in clinical trials.

Biological characterization of AT7519, a small-molecule inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases, in human tumor cell lines.

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK), and their regulatory cyclin partners, play a central role in eukaryotic cell growth, division, and death. This key role in cell cycle progression, as well as their deregulation in several human cancers, makes them attractive therapeutic targets in oncology. A series of CDK inhibitors was developed using Astex's fragment-based medicinal chemistry approach, linked to high-throughput X-ray crystallography.

Biochemical characterization of the first essential two-component signal transduction system from Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The YYCFG two-component signal transduction system (TCSTS) has been shown to be essential to the viability of several gram-positive bacteria. However, the function of the gene pair remains unknown. Interestingly, while both components are essential to Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, only the response regulator (YYCF) is essential to Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Indole naphthyridinones as inhibitors of bacterial enoyl-ACP reductases FabI and FabK.

Bacterial enoyl-ACP reductase (FabI) is responsible for catalyzing the final step of bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis and is an attractive target for the development of novel antibacterial agents. Previously we reported the development of FabI inhibitor 4 with narrow spectrum antimicrobial activity and in vivo efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus via intraperitoneal (ip) administration. Through iterative medicinal chemistry aided by X-ray crystal structure analysis, a new series of inhibitors has been developed with greatly increased potency against FabI-containing organisms.

Characterization of Streptococcus pneumoniae enoyl-(acyl-carrier protein) reductase (FabK).

The enoyl-(acyl-carrier protein) (ACP) reductase catalyses the last step in each cycle of fatty acid elongation in the type II fatty acid synthase systems. An extensively characterized NADH-dependent reductase, FabI, is widely distributed in bacteria and plants, whereas the enoyl-ACP reductase, FabK, is a distinctly different member of this enzyme group discovered in Streptococcus pneumoniae. We were unable to delete the fabK gene from Strep.

Defining and combating the mechanisms of triclosan resistance in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.

The MICs of triclosan for 31 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were 0.016 micro g/ml (24 strains), 1 to 2 micro g/ml (6 strains), and 0.25 micro g/ml (1 strain).

Discovery of a novel and potent class of FabI-directed antibacterial agents.

Bacterial enoyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) reductase (FabI) catalyzes the final step in each elongation cycle of bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis and is an attractive target for the development of new antibacterial agents. High-throughput screening of the Staphylococcus aureus FabI enzyme identified a novel, weak inhibitor with no detectable antibacterial activity against S. aureus.

The bacA gene, which determines bacitracin susceptibility in Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus, is also required for virulence.

Homologues of Escherichia coli bacA, encoding extremely hydrophobic proteins, were identified in the genomes of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Allelic replacement mutagenesis demonstrated that the gene is not essential for in vitro growth in either organism, and the mutants showed no significant changes in growth rate or morphology. The Staph.