Identification of NAE Inhibitors Exhibiting Potent Activity in Leukemia Cells: Exploring the Structural Determinants of NAE Specificity
作者:Julie L. Lukkarila、Sara R. da Silva、Mohsin Ali、Vijay M. Shahani、G. Wei Xu、Judd Berman、Andrew Roughton、Sirano Dhe-Paganon、Aaron D. Schimmer、Patrick T. Gunning
DOI:10.1021/ml2000615
日期:2011.8.11
MLN4924 is a selective inhibitor of the NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE) and has advanced into clinical trials for the treatment of both solid and hematological malignancies. In contrast, the structurally similar compound 1 (developed by Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company) is a pan inhibitor of the El enzymes NAE, ubiquitin activating enzyme (UAE), and SUMO-activating enzyme (SAE) and is currently viewed as unsuitable for clinical use given its broad spectrum of El inhibition. Here, we sought to understand the determinants of NAE selectivity. A series of compound 1 analogues were synthesized through iterative functionalization of the purine C6 position and evaluated for NAE specificity. Optimal NAE specificity was achieved through substitution with primary N-alkyl groups, while bulky or secondary N-alkyl substituents were poorly tolerated. When assessed in vitro, inhibitors reduced the growth and viability of malignant K562 leukemia cells. Through this study, we have successfully identified a series of sub-10 nM NAE-specific inhibitors and thereby highlighted the functionalities that promote NAE selectivity.