title: Progress in the development and application of small molecule inhibitors of bromodomain-acetyl-lysine interactions.
abstract: Bromodomains, protein modules that recognize and bind to acetylated lysine, are emerging as important components of cellular machinery. These acetyl-lysine (KAc) "reader" domains are part of the write-read-erase concept that has been linked with the transfer of epigenetic information. By reading KAc marks on histones, bromodomains mediate protein-protein interactions between a diverse array of partners. There has been intense activity in developing potent and selective small molecule probes that disrupt the interaction between a given bromodomain and KAc. Rapid success has been achieved with the BET family of bromodomains, and a number of potent and selective probes have been reported. These compounds have enabled linking of the BET bromodomains with diseases, including cancer and inflammation, suggesting that bromodomains are druggable targets. Herein, we review the biology of the bromodomains and discuss the SAR for the existing small molecule probes. The biology that has been enabled by these compounds is summarized.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, U.K.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hewings
authors.forename: Timothy P C
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Rooney
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: Duncan A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hay
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knapp
authors.forename: Stuart J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Conway
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D008239:Lysine