Abstract
The Bel-xLBak protein-protein interaction has emerged as an important target for cancer therapy due to its role in apopto-sis. Inhibition of this interaction by small-molecule antagonists induces apoptosis in unhealthy cells. Bak, a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein, projects four hydrophobic side chains (V74, L78, 181, and 185), corresponding to the i, i+4, i+7, and i+11 positions of an α-helix, into a hydrophobic cleft on Bcl-xL. Herein, we present a novel family of rationally designed α-helix mimetics with improved solubility and synthetic feasibility based on a benzoylurea scaffold. These benzoylurea derivatives favor a linear conformation stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond, and are able to mimic the spatial projection of the i, i+4, and i+7 residues of and α-helix. The binding of the benzoylurea derivatives to Bcl-xLwas assessed using fluorescence polarization competition assays, isothermal titration calorimetry, and "N-HSQC experiments. These experiments showed that these agents bind to and disrupt Bcl-xL with low micromolar inhibition and dissociation constants, with 15N-HSQC experiments confirming binding to the hydrophobic pocket of Bcl-xL normally occupied by the Bak helix.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 649-656 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | ChemMedChem |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 17 2009 |
Keywords
- Bcl-x
- Calorimetry
- Protiein-protiein interactionsn benzoylurea scaffold
- α-helix mimetics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Drug Discovery
- General Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
- Molecular Medicine
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Organic Chemistry