The dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase DYRK2 has emerged as a critical regulator of cellular processes. We took a chemical biology approach to gain further insights into its function. We developed C17, a potent small-molecule DYRK2 inhibitor, through multiple rounds of structure-based optimization guided by several co-crystallized structures. C17 displayed an effect on DYRK2 at a single-digit nanomolar IC50 and showed outstanding selectivity for the human kinome containing 467 other human kinases. Using C17 as a chemical probe, we further performed quantitative phosphoproteomic assays and identified several novel DYRK2 targets, including eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) and stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1). DYRK2 phosphorylated 4E-BP1 at multiple sites, and the combined treatment of C17 with AKT and MEK inhibitors showed synergistic 4E-BP1 phosphorylation suppression. The phosphorylation of STIM1 by DYRK2 substantially increased the interaction of STIM1 with the ORAI1 channel, and C17 impeded the store-operated calcium entry process. These studies collectively further expand our understanding of DYRK2 and provide a valuable tool to pinpoint its biological function.
双特异性酪氨酸磷酸化调控激酶 DYRK2 已成为细胞过程的关键调控因子。我们采用化学生物学方法来进一步了解它的功能。在多个共晶体结构的指导下,我们通过多轮基于结构的优化,开发出了一种强效的小分子 DYRK2 抑制剂 C17。C17 对 DYRK2 的作用 IC50 为个位数纳摩尔,并且对包含 467 种其他人类激酶的人类激酶组显示出卓越的选择性。利用 C17 作为化学探针,我们进一步进行了定量磷酸化蛋白组测定,并确定了几个新的 DYRK2 靶点,包括真核翻译起始因子 4E 结合蛋白 1(4E-BP1)和基质相互作用分子 1(STIM1)。DYRK2 在多个位点使 4E-BP1 磷酸化,用 AKT 和 MEK 抑制剂联合处理 C17 会协同抑制 4E-BP1 磷酸化。DYRK2 对 STIM1 的磷酸化大大增加了 STIM1 与 ORAI1 通道的相互作用,而 C17 则阻碍了贮存操作的钙离子进入过程。这些研究共同进一步拓展了我们对 DYRK2 的认识,并为明确其生物学功能提供了宝贵的工具。