Identification of small-molecule inhibitors of the JIP-JNK interaction.
JNK1 (c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1) plays a crucial role in the regulation of obesity-induced insulin resistance and is implicated in the pathology of Type 2 diabetes. Its partner, JIP1 (JNK-interacting protein 1), serves a scaffolding function that facilitates JNK1 activation by MKK4 [MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) kinase 4] and MKK7 (MAPK kinase 7). For example, reduced insulin resistance and JNK activation are observed in JIP1-deficient mice. On the basis of the in vivo efficacy of a cell-permeable JIP peptide, the JIP-JNK interaction appears to be a potential target for JNK inhibition. The goal of the present study was to identify small-molecule inhibitors that disrupt the JIP-JNK interaction to provide an alternative approach for JNK inhibition to ATP-competitive inhibitors. High-throughput screening was performed by utilizing a fluorescence polarization assay that measured the binding of JNK1 to the JIP peptide. Multiple chemical series were identified, revealing two categories of JIP/JNK inhibitors: 'dual inhibitors' that are ATP competitive and probably inhibit JIP-JNK binding allosterically, and 'JIP-site binders' that block binding through interaction with the JIP site. A series of polychloropyrimidines from the second category was characterized by biochemical methods and explored through medicinal-chemistry efforts. As predicted, these inhibitors also inhibited full-length JIP-JNK binding and were selective against a panel of 34 representative kinases, including ones in the MAPK family. Overall, this work demonstrates that small molecules can inhibit protein-protein interactions in vitro in the MAPK family effectively and provides strategies for similar approaches within other target families.
Chen
Tracy
T
Department of Target Biology, Pfizer Research Technology Center, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. tracy.chen@pfizer.com
Kablaoui
Natasha
N
Little
Jeremy
J
Timofeevski
Sergei
S
Tschantz
William R
WR
Chen
Ping
P
Feng
Junli
J
Charlton
Maura
M
Stanton
Robert
R
Bauer
Paul
P
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases