Small-Molecule Allosteric Modulators of the Protein Kinase PDK1 from Structure-Based Docking

J Med Chem. 2015 Oct 22;58(20):8285-8291. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01216. Epub 2015 Oct 12.

Abstract

Finding small molecules that target allosteric sites remains a grand challenge for ligand discovery. In the protein kinase field, only a handful of highly selective allosteric modulators have been found. Thus, more general methods are needed to discover allosteric modulators for additional kinases. Here, we use virtual screening against an ensemble of both crystal structures and comparative models to identify ligands for an allosteric peptide-binding site on the protein kinase PDK1 (the PIF pocket). We optimized these ligands through an analog-by-catalog search that yielded compound 4, which binds to PDK1 with 8 μM affinity. We confirmed the docking poses by determining a crystal structure of PDK1 in complex with 4. Because the PIF pocket appears to be a recurring structural feature of the kinase fold, known generally as the helix αC patch, this approach may enable the discovery of allosteric modulators for other kinases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinases / drug effects*
  • Allosteric Site
  • Computer Simulation
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • 3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • PDPK1 protein, human

Associated data

  • PDB/4XX9