title: Multiple determinants for selective inhibition of apicomplexan calcium-dependent protein kinase CDPK1.
abstract: Diseases caused by the apicomplexan protozoans  Toxoplasma gondii  and  Cryptosporidium parvum  are a major health concern. The life cycle of these parasites is regulated by a family of calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) that have no direct homologues in the human host. Fortuitously, CDPK1 from both parasites contains a rare glycine gatekeeper residue adjacent to the ATP-binding pocket. This has allowed creation of a series of C3-substituted pyrazolopyrimidine compounds that are potent inhibitors selective for CDPK1 over a panel of human kinases. Here we demonstrate that selectivity is further enhanced by modification of the scaffold at the C1 position. The explanation for this unexpected result is provided by crystal structures of the inhibitors bound to CDPK1 and the human kinase c-SRC. Furthermore, the insight gained from these studies was applied to transform an alternative ATP-competitive scaffold lacking potency and selectivity for CDPK1 into a low nanomolar inhibitor of this enzyme with no activity against SRC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States.
authors.forename: Eric T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Kayode K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Ojo
authors.forename: Ryan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Zhongsheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jessica E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Leibly
authors.forename: Anna M W
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Molly C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.forename: B Gayani K
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Perera
authors.forename: Jae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Stephen N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Hewitt
authors.forename: Wim G J
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Hol
authors.forename: Christophe L M J
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Verlinde
authors.forename: Erkang
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Wesley C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Van Voorhis
authors.forename: Dustin J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Maly
authors.forename: Ethan A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Merritt
mesh_terms: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000737:chemistry*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases; D002118:Calcium