Discovery of potent and selective covalent inhibitors of JNK

Tinghu Zhang, Francisco Inesta-Vaquera, Mario Niepel, Jianming Zhang, Scott B. Ficarro, Thomas MacHleidt, Ting Xie, Jarrod A. Marto, Namdoo Kim, Taebo Sim, John D. Laughlin, Hajeung Park, Philip V. Lograsso, Matt Patricelli, Tyzoon K. Nomanbhoy, Peter K. Sorger, Dario R. Alessi, Nathanael S. Gray

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

252 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The mitogen-activated kinases JNK1/2/3 are key enzymes in signaling modules that transduce and integrate extracellular stimuli into coordinated cellular response. Here, we report the discovery of irreversible inhibitors of JNK1/2/3. We describe two JNK3 cocrystal structures at 2.60 and 2.97 resolution that show the compounds form covalent bonds with a conserved cysteine residue. JNK-IN-8 is a selective JNK inhibitor that inhibits phosphorylation of c-Jun, a direct substrate of JNK, in cells exposed to submicromolar drug in a manner that depends on covalent modification of the conserved cysteine residue. Extensive biochemical, cellular, and pathway-based profiling establish the selectivity of JNK-IN-8 for JNK and suggests that the compound will be broadly useful as a pharmacological probe of JNK-dependent signal transduction. Potential lead compounds have also been identified for kinases, including IRAK1, PIK3C3, PIP4K2C, and PIP5K3.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)140-154
Number of pages15
JournalChemistry and Biology
Volume19
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012 Jan 27

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology
  • Drug Discovery
  • Clinical Biochemistry

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