1
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Park JE, Kirsch K, Lee H, Oliva P, Ahn JI, Ravishankar H, Zeng Y, Fox SD, Kirby SA, Badhwar P, Andresson T, Jacobson KA, Lee KS. Specific inhibition of an anticancer target, polo-like kinase 1, by allosterically dismantling its mechanism of substrate recognition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2305037120. [PMID: 37603740 PMCID: PMC10629583 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2305037120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is considered an attractive target for anticancer therapy. Over the years, studies on the noncatalytic polo-box domain (PBD) of Plk1 have raised the expectation of generating highly specific protein-protein interaction inhibitors. However, the molecular nature of the canonical PBD-dependent interaction, which requires extensive water network-mediated interactions with its phospholigands, has hampered efforts to identify small molecules suitable for Plk1 PBD drug discovery. Here, we report the identification of the first allosteric inhibitor of Plk1 PBD, called Allopole, a prodrug that can disrupt intracellular interactions between PBD and its cognate phospholigands, delocalize Plk1 from centrosomes and kinetochores, and induce mitotic block and cancer cell killing. At the structural level, its unmasked active form, Allopole-A, bound to a deep Trp-Phe-lined pocket occluded by a latch-like loop, whose adjoining region was required for securely retaining a ligand anchored to the phospho-binding cleft. Allopole-A binding completely dislodged the L2 loop, an event that appeared sufficient to trigger the dissociation of a phospholigand and inhibit PBD-dependent Plk1 function during mitosis. Given Allopole's high specificity and antiproliferative potency, this study is expected to open an unexplored avenue for developing Plk1 PBD-specific anticancer therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Eun Park
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Klara Kirsch
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Hobin Lee
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Paola Oliva
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Jong Il Ahn
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Harsha Ravishankar
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Yan Zeng
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Stephen D. Fox
- Protein Characterization Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, MD21702
| | - Samuel A. Kirby
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Pooja Badhwar
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Thorkell Andresson
- Protein Characterization Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, MD21702
| | - Kenneth A. Jacobson
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Kyung S. Lee
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
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2
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Park JE, Lee H, Oliva P, Kirsch K, Kim B, Ahn JI, Alverez CN, Gaikwad S, Krausz KW, O’Connor R, Rai G, Simeonov A, Mock BA, Gonzalez FJ, Lee KS, Jacobson KA. Structural Optimization and Anticancer Activity of Polo-like Kinase 1 (Plk1) Polo-Box Domain (PBD) Inhibitors and Their Prodrugs. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2023; 6:422-446. [PMID: 36926457 PMCID: PMC10012257 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.2c00250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), a mitotic kinase whose activity is widely upregulated in various human cancers, is considered an attractive target for anticancer drug discovery. Aside from the kinase domain, the C-terminal noncatalytic polo-box domain (PBD), which mediates the interaction with the enzyme's binding targets or substrates, has emerged as an alternative target for developing a new class of inhibitors. Various reported small molecule PBD inhibitors exhibit poor cellular efficacy and/or selectivity. Here, we report structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies on triazoloquinazolinone-derived inhibitors, such as 43 (a 1-thioxo-2,4-dihydrothieno[2,3-e][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidin-5(1H)-one) that effectively block Plk1, but not Plk2 and Plk3 PBDs, with improved affinity and drug-like properties. The range of prodrug moieties needed for thiol group masking of the active drugs has been expanded to increase cell permeability and mechanism-based cancer cell (L363 and HeLa) death. For example, a 5-thio-1-methyl-4-nitroimidazolyl prodrug 80, derived from 43, showed an improved cellular potency (GI50 4.1 μM). As expected, 80 effectively blocked Plk1 from localizing to centrosomes and kinetochores and consequently induced potent mitotic block and apoptotic cell death. Another prodrug 78 containing 9-fluorophenyl in place of the thiophene-containing heterocycle in 80 also induced a comparable degree of anti-Plk1 PBD effect. However, orally administered 78 was rapidly converted in the bloodstream to parent drug 15, which was shown be relatively stable toward in vivo oxidation due to its 9-fluorophenyl group in comparison to unsubstituted phenyl. Further derivatization of these inhibitors, particularly to improve the systemic prodrug stability, could lead to a new class of therapeutics against Plk1-addicted cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Eun Park
- Cancer
Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Hobin Lee
- Cancer
Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
- Laboratory
of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute
of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes
of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Paola Oliva
- Laboratory
of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute
of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes
of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Klara Kirsch
- Cancer
Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Bora Kim
- Cancer
Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Jong Il Ahn
- Cancer
Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Celeste N. Alverez
- Cancer
Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
- Division
of Preclinical Innovation, National Center
for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Snehal Gaikwad
- Laboratory
of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of
Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Kristopher W. Krausz
- Cancer
Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Robert O’Connor
- Laboratory
of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute
of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes
of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Ganesha Rai
- Division
of Preclinical Innovation, National Center
for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Anton Simeonov
- Division
of Preclinical Innovation, National Center
for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Beverly A. Mock
- Laboratory
of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of
Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Frank J. Gonzalez
- Cancer
Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Kyung S. Lee
- Cancer
Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Kenneth A. Jacobson
- Laboratory
of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute
of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes
of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
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3
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Stafford JM, Wyatt MD, McInnes C. Inhibitors of the PLK1 polo-box domain: drug design strategies and therapeutic opportunities in cancer. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2023; 18:65-81. [PMID: 36524399 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2159942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Polo Like Kinase 1 (PLK1) is a key regulator of mitosis and its overexpression is frequently observed in a wide variety of human cancers, while often being associated with poor survival rates. Therefore, it is considered a potential and attractive target for cancer therapeutic development. The Polo like kinase family is characterized by the presence of a unique C terminal polobox domain (PBD) involved in regulating kinase activity and subcellular localization. Among the two functionally essential, druggable sites with distinct properties that PLK1 offers, targeting the PBD presents an alternative approach for therapeutic development. AREAS COVERED Significant progress has been made in progressing from the peptidic PBD inhibitors first identified, to peptidomimetic and recently drug-like small molecules. In this review, the rationale for targeting the PBD over the ATP binding site is discussed, along with recent progress, challenges, and outlook. EXPERT OPINION The PBD has emerged as a viable alternative target for the inhibition of PLK1, and progress has been made in using compounds to elucidate mechanistic aspects of activity regulation and in determining roles of the PBD. Studies have resulted in proof of concept of in vivo efficacy suggesting promise for PBD binders in clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessy M Stafford
- Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Michael D Wyatt
- Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Campbell McInnes
- Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
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4
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Ryu S, Park JE, Ham YJ, Lim DC, Kwiatkowski NP, Kim DH, Bhunia D, Kim ND, Yaffe MB, Son W, Kim N, Choi TI, Swain P, Kim CH, Lee JY, Gray NS, Lee KS, Sim T. Novel Macrocyclic Peptidomimetics Targeting the Polo-Box Domain of Polo-Like Kinase 1. J Med Chem 2022; 65:1915-1932. [PMID: 35029981 PMCID: PMC10411393 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The polo-box domain (PBD) of Plk1 is a promising target for cancer therapeutics. We designed and synthesized novel phosphorylated macrocyclic peptidomimetics targeting PBD based on acyclic phosphopeptide PMQSpTPL. The inhibitory activities of 16e on Plk1-PBD is >30-fold higher than those of PMQSpTPL. Both 16a and 16e possess excellent selectivity for Plk1-PBD over Plk2/3-PBD. Analysis of the cocrystal structure of Plk1-PBD in complex with 16a reveals that the 3-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl group in 16a interacts with Arg516 through a π-stacking interaction. This π-stacking interaction, which has not been reported previously, provides insight into the design of novel and potent Plk1-PBD inhibitors. Furthermore, 16h, a PEGlyated macrocyclic phosphopeptide derivative, induces Plk1 delocalization and mitotic failure in HeLa cells. Also, the number of phospho-H3-positive cells in a zebrafish embryo increases in proportion to the amount of 16a. Collectively, the novel macrocyclic peptidomimetics should serve as valuable templates for the design of potent and novel Plk1-PBD inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- SeongShick Ryu
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea; Chemical Kinomics Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Eun Park
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Young Jin Ham
- Chemical Kinomics Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Daniel C. Lim
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, and Center for Precision Cancer Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Nicholas P. Kwiatkowski
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States; Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Do-Hee Kim
- Chemical Kinomics Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Department of Chemistry, College of Convergence and Integrated Science, Kyonggi University, Suwon 16227, Republic of Korea
| | - Debabrata Bhunia
- Chemical Kinomics Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Nam Doo Kim
- Voronoibio Inc., Incheon 21984, Republic of Korea
| | - Michael B. Yaffe
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, and Center for Precision Cancer Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States; Divisions of Acute Care Surgery, Trauma, and Surgical Critical Care, and Surgical Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Woolim Son
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Namkyoung Kim
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea; Chemical Kinomics Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Ik Choi
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Puspanjali Swain
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheol-Hee Kim
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Young Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Keimyung University, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea
| | - Nathanael S. Gray
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, ChEM-H, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Kyung S. Lee
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of, Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Taebo Sim
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea; Chemical Kinomics Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
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5
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Hymel D, Tsuji K, Grant RA, Chingle RM, Kunciw DL, Yaffe MB, Burke TR. Design and synthesis of a new orthogonally protected glutamic acid analog and its use in the preparation of high affinity polo-like kinase 1 polo-box domain - binding peptide macrocycles. Org Biomol Chem 2021; 19:7843-7854. [PMID: 34346472 PMCID: PMC8456285 DOI: 10.1039/d1ob01120k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Targeting protein - protein interactions (PPIs) has emerged as an important area of discovery for anticancer therapeutic development. In the case of phospho-dependent PPIs, such as the polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) polo-box domain (PBD), a phosphorylated protein residue can provide high-affinity recognition and binding to target protein hot spots. Developing antagonists of the Plk1 PBD can be particularly challenging if one relies solely on interactions within and proximal to the phospho-binding pocket. Fortunately, the affinity of phospho-dependent PPI antagonists can be significantly enhanced by taking advantage of interactions in both the phospho-binding site and hidden "cryptic" pockets that may be revealed on ligand binding. In our current paper, we describe the design and synthesis of macrocyclic peptide mimetics directed against the Plk1 PBD, which are characterized by a new glutamic acid analog that simultaneously serves as a ring-closing junction that provides accesses to a cryptic binding pocket, while at the same time achieving proper orientation of a phosphothreonine (pT) residue for optimal interaction in the signature phospho-binding pocket. Macrocycles prepared with this new amino acid analog introduce additional hydrogen-bonding interactions not found in the open-chain linear parent peptide. It is noteworthy that this new glutamic acid-based amino acid analog represents the first example of extremely high affinity ligands where access to the cryptic pocket from the pT-2 position is made possible with a residue that is not based on histidine. The concepts employed in the design and synthesis of these new macrocyclic peptide mimetics should be useful for further studies directed against the Plk1 PBD and potentially for ligands directed against other PPI targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Hymel
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Kohei Tsuji
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Robert A Grant
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ramesh M Chingle
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Dominique L Kunciw
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Michael B Yaffe
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Terrence R Burke
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
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6
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Gunasekaran P, Yim MS, Ahn M, Soung NK, Park JE, Kim J, Bang G, Shin SC, Choi J, Kim M, Kim HN, Lee YH, Chung YH, Lee K, EunKyeong Kim E, Jeon YH, Kim MJ, Lee KR, Kim BY, Lee KS, Ryu EK, Bang JK. Development of a Polo-like Kinase-1 Polo-Box Domain Inhibitor as a Tumor Growth Suppressor in Mice Models. J Med Chem 2020; 63:14905-14920. [PMID: 33142063 PMCID: PMC8919061 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Polo-like kinase-1 (Plk1) plays a key role in mitosis and has been identified as an attractive anticancer drug target. Plk1 consists of two drug-targeting sites, namely, N-terminal kinase domain (KD) and C-terminal polo-box domain (PBD). As KD-targeting inhibitors are associated with severe side effects, here we report on the pyrazole-based Plk1 PBD inhibitor, KBJK557, which showed a remarkable in vitro anticancer effect by inducing Plk1 delocalization, mitotic arrest, and apoptosis in HeLa cells. Further, in vivo optical imaging analysis and antitumorigenic activities in mouse xenograft models demonstrate that KBJK557 preferentially accumulates in cancer cells and selectively inhibits cancer cell proliferation. Pharmacokinetic profiles and partition coefficients suggest that KBJK557 was exposed in the blood and circulated through the organs with an intermediate level of clearance (t1/2, 7.73 h). The present investigation offers a strategy for specifically targeting cancer using a newly identified small-molecule inhibitor that targets the Plk1 PBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pethaiah Gunasekaran
- Division of Magnetic Resonance, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Ochang, Chung Buk 28119, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Su Yim
- Division of Magnetic Resonance, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Ochang, Chung Buk 28119, Republic of Korea
- Department of Bio-analytical Science, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Mija Ahn
- Division of Magnetic Resonance, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Ochang, Chung Buk 28119, Republic of Korea
| | - Nak-Kyun Soung
- Anticancer Agent Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30 Yeongudanji-ro, Ochang, Cheongwon, Chungbuk 28116, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Eun Park
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Jaehi Kim
- Division of Magnetic Resonance, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Ochang, Chung Buk 28119, Republic of Korea
| | - Geul Bang
- Biomedical Omics Group, Korea Basic Science Institute, Ochang, Chung-Buk 363-883, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Chul Shin
- Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Joonhyeok Choi
- Division of Magnetic Resonance, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Ochang, Chung Buk 28119, Republic of Korea
| | - Minkyoung Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, 52 Dongguk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang 10320, Republic of Korea
| | - Hak Nam Kim
- Division of Magnetic Resonance, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Ochang, Chung Buk 28119, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Ho Lee
- Division of Magnetic Resonance, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Ochang, Chung Buk 28119, Republic of Korea
- Department of Bio-analytical Science, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Ho Chung
- Drug & Disease Target Research Team, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Ochang, Chung Buk 28119, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, 52 Dongguk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang 10320, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunice EunKyeong Kim
- Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Ho Jeon
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, College of Pharmacy, Korea University, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Ju Kim
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30 Yeongudanji-ro, Ochang, Cheongwon, Chungbuk 28116, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong-Ryoon Lee
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30 Yeongudanji-ro, Ochang, Cheongwon, Chungbuk 28116, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Yeon Kim
- Anticancer Agent Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30 Yeongudanji-ro, Ochang, Cheongwon, Chungbuk 28116, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung S Lee
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Eun Kyoung Ryu
- Division of Magnetic Resonance, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Ochang, Chung Buk 28119, Republic of Korea
- Department of Bio-analytical Science, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Kyu Bang
- Division of Magnetic Resonance, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Ochang, Chung Buk 28119, Republic of Korea
- Department of Bio-analytical Science, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
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7
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Alverez CN, Park JE, Toti KS, Xia Y, Krausz KW, Rai G, Bang JK, Gonzalez FJ, Jacobson KA, Lee KS. Identification of a New Heterocyclic Scaffold for Inhibitors of the Polo-Box Domain of Polo-like Kinase 1. J Med Chem 2020; 63:14087-14117. [PMID: 33175530 PMCID: PMC7769008 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
As a mitotic-specific target widely deregulated in various human cancers, polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) has been extensively explored for anticancer activity and drug discovery. Although multiple catalytic domain inhibitors were tested in preclinical and clinical studies, their efficacies are limited by dose-limiting cytotoxicity, mainly from off-target cross reactivity. The C-terminal noncatalytic polo-box domain (PBD) of Plk1 has emerged as an attractive target for generating new protein-protein interaction inhibitors. Here, we identified a 1-thioxo-2,4-dihydro-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinazolin-5(1H)-one scaffold that efficiently inhibits Plk1 PBD but not its related Plk2 and Plk3 PBDs. Structure-activity relationship studies led to multiple inhibitors having ≥10-fold higher inhibitory activity than the previously characterized Plk1 PBD-specific phosphopeptide, PLHSpT (Kd ∼ 450 nM). In addition, S-methyl prodrugs effectively inhibited mitotic progression and cell proliferation and their metabolic stability was determined. These data describe a novel class of small-molecule inhibitors that offer a promising avenue for future drug discovery against Plk1-addicted cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste N Alverez
- Chemistry Section, Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Jung-Eun Park
- Chemistry Section, Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Kiran S Toti
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Yangliu Xia
- Chemistry Section, Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Kristopher W Krausz
- Chemistry Section, Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Ganesha Rai
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Jeong K Bang
- Division of Magnetic Resonance, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju 28119, Republic of Korea
| | - Frank J Gonzalez
- Chemistry Section, Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Kenneth A Jacobson
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Kyung S Lee
- Chemistry Section, Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
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8
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Baxter M, Chapagai D, Craig S, Hurtado C, Varghese J, Nurmemmedov E, Wyatt MD, McInnes C. Peptidomimetic Polo-Box-Targeted Inhibitors that Engage PLK1 in Tumor Cells and Are Selective against the PLK3 Tumor Suppressor. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:1058-1066. [PMID: 32232973 PMCID: PMC7703809 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The polo-box domain (PBD) of PLK1 determines mitotic substrate recognition and subcellular localization. Compounds that target PLK1 selectively are required due to the tumor-suppressor roles of PLK3. A structure-activity analysis of the PBD phosphopeptide binding motif has identified potent peptides that delineate the determinants required for mimicry by nonpeptidic inhibitors and provide insights into the structural basis for the selectivity of inhibitors for the PLK1 PBD. Fragment-ligated inhibitory peptides (FLIPs) obtained through REPLACE have been optimized to enhance in vitro binding and a systematic analysis of selectivity for PLK1 vs PLK3 has been carried out for peptides and peptidomimetics. Furthermore, these more drug-like non-ATP-competitive inhibitors had on-target engagement in a cellular context, as evidenced by stabilization of PLK1 in a thermal-shift assay and by inhibition of the phosphorylation of TCTP, a target of PLK1. Investigation in cells expressing a mutant PLK1 showed that these cells are sensitive to PBD inhibitors but dramatically resistant to clinically investigated ATP-competitive compounds. These results further validate targeting the PBD binding site in the move towards PLK1 inhibitors that are active against tumors resistant to ATP inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merissa Baxter
- Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
- Present Address: NCI Shady Grove, Rockville, MD 20850-9702, USA
| | - Danda Chapagai
- Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Sandra Craig
- Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
- Present Address: Department of Chemistry, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
| | - Cecilia Hurtado
- Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
- Present Address: University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA
| | - Jessy Varghese
- Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Elmar Nurmemmedov
- John Wayne Cancer Institute and Pacific Neuroscience Institute Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Michael D Wyatt
- Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Campbell McInnes
- Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
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9
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Hymel D, Grant RA, Tsuji K, Yaffe MB, Burke TR. Histidine N(τ)-cyclized macrocycles as a new genre of polo-like kinase 1 polo-box domain-binding inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2018; 28:3202-3205. [PMID: 30174151 PMCID: PMC6287497 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2018.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Transition toward peptide mimetics of reduced size is an important objective of peptide macrocyclization. We have previously shown that PLH∗SpT (2a) (where H∗ indicates the presence of a -(CH2)8Ph group at the N(π) position and pT indicates phosphothreonine) is an extremely high affinity ligand of the polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) polo-box domain (PBD). Herein we report that C-terminal macrocyclization of 2a employing N(π),N(τ)-bis-alkylated His residues as ring junctions can be achieved in a very direct fashion. The resulting macrocycles are highly potent in biochemical assays and maintain good target selectivity for the Plk1 PBD versus the PBDs of Plk2 and Plk3. Importantly, as exemplified by 5d, our current approach permits deletion of the N-terminal "Pro-Leu" motif to yield tripeptide ligands with decreased molecular weight, which retain high affinity and show improved target selectivity. These findings could fundamentally impact the future development of peptide macrocycles in general and Plk1 PBD-binding peptide mimetics in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Hymel
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Robert A Grant
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Kohei Tsuji
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Michael B Yaffe
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Terrence R Burke
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
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10
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Zhao XZ, Hymel D, Burke TR. Enhancing polo-like kinase 1 selectivity of polo-box domain-binding peptides. Bioorg Med Chem 2017; 25:5041-5049. [PMID: 28285924 PMCID: PMC5573662 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2017.02.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2017] [Revised: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
An important goal in the development of polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) polo-box domain (PBD) binding inhibitors is selectivity for Plk1 relative to Plk2 and Plk3. In our current work we show that Plk1 PBD selectivity can be significantly enhanced by modulating interactions within a previously discovered "cryptic pocket" and a more recently identified proximal "auxiliary pocket."
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Zhi Zhao
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, United States
| | - David Hymel
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, United States
| | - Terrence R Burke
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, United States.
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11
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The Emerging Role of Polo-Like Kinase 1 in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Tumor Metastasis. Cancers (Basel) 2017; 9:cancers9100131. [PMID: 28953239 PMCID: PMC5664070 DOI: 10.3390/cancers9100131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Revised: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a key role in the regulation of the cell cycle. PLK1 is overexpressed in a variety of human tumors, and its expression level often correlates with increased cellular proliferation and poor prognosis in cancer patients. It has been suggested that PLK1 controls cancer development through multiple mechanisms that include canonical regulation of mitosis and cytokinesis, modulation of DNA replication, and cell survival. However, emerging evidence suggests novel and previously unanticipated roles for PLK1 during tumor development. In this review, we will summarize the recent advancements in our understanding of the oncogenic functions of PLK1, with a focus on its role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor invasion. We will further discuss the therapeutic potential of these functions.
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12
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Park JE, Hymel D, Burke TR, Lee KS. Current progress and future perspectives in the development of anti-polo-like kinase 1 therapeutic agents. F1000Res 2017; 6:1024. [PMID: 28721210 PMCID: PMC5497816 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.11398.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Although significant levels of side effects are often associated with their use, microtubule-directed agents that primarily target fast-growing mitotic cells have been considered to be some of the most effective anti-cancer therapeutics. With the hope of developing new-generation anti-mitotic agents with reduced side effects and enhanced tumor specificity, researchers have targeted various proteins whose functions are critically required for mitotic progression. As one of the highly attractive mitotic targets, polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) has been the subject of an extensive effort for anti-cancer drug discovery. To date, a variety of anti-Plk1 agents have been developed, and several of them are presently in clinical trials. Here, we will discuss the current status of generating anti-Plk1 agents as well as future strategies for designing and developing more efficacious anti-Plk1 therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Eun Park
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - David Hymel
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Terrence R Burke
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Kyung S Lee
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
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13
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Archambault V, Normandin K. Several inhibitors of the Plk1 Polo-Box Domain turn out to be non-specific protein alkylators. Cell Cycle 2017; 16:1220-1224. [PMID: 28521657 PMCID: PMC5499904 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2017.1325043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Revised: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
For almost a decade, there has been much interest in the development of chemical inhibitors of Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) protein interactions. Plk1 is a master regulator of the cell division cycle that controls numerous substrates. It is a promising target for cancer drug development. Inhibitors of the kinase domain of Plk1 had some success in clinical trials. However, they are not perfectly selective. In principle, Plk1 can also be inhibited by interfering with its protein interaction domain, the Polo-Box Domain (PBD). Selective chemical inhibitors of the PBD would constitute tools to probe for PBD-dependent functions of Plk1 and could be advantageous in cancer therapy. The discovery of Poloxin and thymoquinone as PBD inhibitors indicated that small, cell-permeable chemical inhibitors could be identified. Other efforts followed, including ours, reporting additional molecules capable of blocking the PBD. It is now clear that, unfortunately, most of these compounds are non-specific protein alkylators (defined here as groups covalently added via a carbon) that have little or no potential for the development of real Plk1 PBD-specific drugs. This situation should be minded by biologists potentially interested in using these compounds to study Plk1. Further efforts are needed to develop selective, cell-permeable PBD inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Archambault
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Département de biochimie et médecine moléculaire, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Karine Normandin
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
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14
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Hymel D, Burke TR. Phosphatase-Stable Phosphoamino Acid Mimetics That Enhance Binding Affinities with the Polo-Box Domain of Polo-like Kinase 1. ChemMedChem 2017; 12:202-206. [PMID: 27992122 PMCID: PMC5340193 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201600574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
(2S,3R)-2-Amino-3-methyl-4-phosphonobutanoic acid (Pmab) is a phosphatase-stable analogue of phosphothreonine (pThr), which has been used in a variety of biological contexts. Among these applications are peptidomimetic ligands that bind to the polo-box domain (PBD) of polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) with affinities approaching that of the corresponding pThr-containing peptides. However, Pmab is not widely used, because there are no direct, high-yield preparations of suitably protected reagent. We have now achieved an efficient synthesis of protected Pmab, as well as variants with different substituents at the 3R center. When incorporated into our peptidomimetic scaffold, these new Pmab analogues exhibit Plk1 PBD-binding affinities that are several-fold higher than Pmab, yet retain good selectivity for Plk1 relative to the PBDs of Plk2 and Plk3. These findings will significantly impact the future development of PBD-binding inhibitors, as well as ligands directed against a broad spectrum of pThr-dependent processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Hymel
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 1050 Boyles Street, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Terrence R Burke
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 1050 Boyles Street, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
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15
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Normandin K, Lavallée JF, Futter M, Beautrait A, Duchaine J, Guiral S, Marinier A, Archambault V. Identification of Polo-like kinase 1 interaction inhibitors using a novel cell-based assay. Sci Rep 2016; 5:37581. [PMID: 27874094 PMCID: PMC5118709 DOI: 10.1038/srep37581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) plays several roles in cell division and it is a recognized cancer drug target. Plk1 levels are elevated in cancer and several types of cancer cells are hypersensitive to Plk1 inhibition. Small molecule inhibitors of the kinase domain (KD) of Plk1 have been developed. Their selectivity is limited, which likely contributes to their toxicity. Polo-like kinases are characterized by a Polo-Box Domain (PBD), which mediates interactions with phosphorylation substrates or regulators. Inhibition of the PBD could allow better selectivity or result in different effects than inhibition of the KD. In vitro screens have been used to identify PBD inhibitors with mixed results. We developed the first cell-based assay to screen for PBD inhibitors, using Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET). We screened through 112 983 compounds and characterized hits in secondary biochemical and biological assays. Subsequent Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) analysis on our most promising hit revealed that it requires an alkylating function for its activity. In addition, we show that the previously reported PBD inhibitors thymoquinone and Poloxin are also alkylating agents. Our cell-based assay is a promising tool for the identification of new PBD inhibitors with more drug-like profiles using larger and more diverse chemical libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Normandin
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Jean-François Lavallée
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Marie Futter
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Alexandre Beautrait
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Jean Duchaine
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Sébastien Guiral
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Anne Marinier
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Département de chimie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Vincent Archambault
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Département de biochimie et médecine moléculaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
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16
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Qian WJ, Park JE, Grant R, Lai CC, Kelley JA, Yaffe MB, Lee KS, Burke TR. Neighbor-directed histidine N (τ)-alkylation: A route to imidazolium-containing phosphopeptide macrocycles. Biopolymers 2016; 104:663-73. [PMID: 26152807 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2015] [Revised: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 07/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Our recently discovered, selective, on-resin route to N(τ)-alkylated imidazolium-containing histidine residues affords new strategies for peptide mimetic design. In this, we demonstrate the use of this chemistry to prepare a series of macrocyclic phosphopeptides, in which imidazolium groups serve as ring-forming junctions. Interestingly, these cationic moieties subsequently serve to charge-mask the phosphoamino acid group that directed their formation. Neighbor-directed histidine N(τ)-alkylation opens the door to new families of phosphopeptidomimetics for use in a range of chemical biology contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jian Qian
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD, 21702
| | - Jung-Eun Park
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892
| | - Robert Grant
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139
| | - Christopher C Lai
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD, 21702
| | - James A Kelley
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD, 21702
| | - Michael B Yaffe
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139
| | - Kyung S Lee
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892
| | - Terrence R Burke
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD, 21702
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17
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Scharow A, Knappe D, Reindl W, Hoffmann R, Berg T. Development of Bifunctional Inhibitors of Polo-Like Kinase 1 with Low-Nanomolar Activities Against the Polo-Box Domain. Chembiochem 2016; 17:759-67. [PMID: 26634982 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201500535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), a validated cancer target, harbors a protein-protein interaction domain referred to as the polo-box domain (PBD), in addition to its enzymatic domain. Although functional inhibition either of the enzymatic domain or of the PBD has been shown to inhibit Plk1, so far there have been no reports of bifunctional agents with the potential to target both protein domains. Here we report the development of Plk1 inhibitors that incorporate both an ATP-competitive ligand of the enzymatic domain, derived from BI 2536, and a functional inhibitor of the PBD, based either on the small molecule poloxin-2 or on a PBD-binding peptide. Although these bifunctional agents do not seem to bind both protein domains simultaneously, the most potent compound displays low-nanomolar activity against the Plk1 PBD, with excellent selectivity over the PBDs of Plk2 and Plk3. Our data provide insights into challenges and opportunities relating to the optimization of Plk1 PBD ligands as potent Plk1 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrej Scharow
- Leipzig University, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Johannisallee 29, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniel Knappe
- Leipzig University, Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BBZ), Deutscher Platz 5, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Reindl
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Molecular Biology, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
- Evotec AG, Manfred Eigen Campus, Essener Bogen 7, 22419, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Hoffmann
- Leipzig University, Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BBZ), Deutscher Platz 5, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thorsten Berg
- Leipzig University, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Johannisallee 29, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
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18
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Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), a key player in mitosis, is overexpressed in a wide range of tumor types and has been validated as a target for tumor therapy. In addition to its N-terminal kinase domain, Plk1 harbors a C-terminal protein-protein interaction domain, referred to as the polo-box domain (PBD). Because the PBD is unique to the five-member family of polo-like kinases, and its inhibition is sufficient to inhibit the enzyme, the Plk1 PBD is an attractive target for the inhibition of Plk1 function. Although peptide-based inhibitors are invaluable tools for elucidating the nature of the binding interface, small molecules are better suited for the induction of mitotic arrest and apoptosis in tumor cells by Plk1 inhibition. This review describes the considerable progress that has been made in developing small-molecule and peptide-based inhibitors of the Plk1 PBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Berg
- Leipzig University, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Johannisallee 29, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thorsten Berg
- Leipzig University, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Johannisallee 29, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
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19
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Lee KS, Burke TR, Park JE, Bang JK, Lee E. Recent Advances and New Strategies in Targeting Plk1 for Anticancer Therapy. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2015; 36:858-877. [PMID: 26478211 PMCID: PMC4684765 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2015.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Revised: 08/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) plays key roles in regulating mitotic processes that are crucial for cellular proliferation. Overexpression of Plk1 is tightly associated with the development of particular cancers in humans, and a large body of evidence suggests that Plk1 is an attractive target for anticancer therapeutic development. Drugs targeting Plk1 can potentially be directed at two distinct sites: the N-terminal catalytic kinase domain (KD), which phosphorylates substrates, and the C-terminal polo-box domain (PBD) which is essential for protein-protein interactions. In this review we summarize recent advances and new challenges in the development of Plk1 inhibitors targeting these two domains. We also discuss novel strategies for designing and developing next-generation inhibitors to effectively treat Plk1-associated human disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung S Lee
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Terrence R Burke
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Jung-Eun Park
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jeong K Bang
- Division of Magnetic Resonance, Korea Basic Science Institute, 804-1, Yangcheong Ri, Ochang, Chungbuk, Cheongwon 363-883, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunhye Lee
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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20
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Scharow A, Raab M, Saxena K, Sreeramulu S, Kudlinzki D, Gande S, Dötsch C, Kurunci-Csacsko E, Klaeger S, Kuster B, Schwalbe H, Strebhardt K, Berg T. Optimized Plk1 PBD Inhibitors Based on Poloxin Induce Mitotic Arrest and Apoptosis in Tumor Cells. ACS Chem Biol 2015; 10:2570-9. [PMID: 26279064 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.5b00565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is a central regulator of mitosis and has been validated as a target for antitumor therapy. The polo-box domain (PBD) of Plk1 regulates its kinase activity and mediates the subcellular localization of Plk1 and its interactions with a subset of its substrates. Functional inhibition of the Plk1 PBD by low-molecular weight inhibitors has been shown to represent a viable strategy by which to inhibit the enzyme, while avoiding selectivity issues caused by the conserved nature of the ATP binding site. Here, we report structure-activity relationships and mechanistic analysis for the first reported Plk1 PBD inhibitor, Poloxin. We present the identification of the optimized analog Poloxin-2, displaying significantly improved potency and selectivity over Poloxin. Poloxin-2 induces mitotic arrest and apoptosis in cultured human tumor cells at low micromolar concentrations, highlighting it as a valuable tool compound for exploring the function of the Plk1 PBD in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrej Scharow
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Leipzig , Johannisallee 29, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Monika Raab
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University , Medical School, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7-9, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Krishna Saxena
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt , Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) , Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sridhar Sreeramulu
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt , Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Denis Kudlinzki
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt , Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) , Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Santosh Gande
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt , Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) , Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christina Dötsch
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University , Medical School, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7-9, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Kurunci-Csacsko
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University , Medical School, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7-9, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Susan Klaeger
- Technische Universität München , Emil Erlenmeyer Forum 5, 85354 Freising, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) , Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bernhard Kuster
- Technische Universität München , Emil Erlenmeyer Forum 5, 85354 Freising, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) , Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Harald Schwalbe
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt , Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) , Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Klaus Strebhardt
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University , Medical School, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7-9, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) , Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Berg
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Leipzig , Johannisallee 29, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Park JE, Kim TS, Meng L, Bang JK, Kim BY, Lee KS. Putting a bit into the polo-box domain of polo-like kinase 1. J Anal Sci Technol 2015; 6:27. [PMID: 26500787 PMCID: PMC4610673 DOI: 10.1186/s40543-015-0069-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 09/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) plays key roles in regulating various mitotic processes that are critical for cellular proliferation. A growing body of evidence suggests that Plk1 overexpression is tightly associated with the development of human cancers. Interestingly, various types of cancer cells are shown to be addicted to a high level of Plk1, and the reversal of Plk1 addiction appears to be an effective strategy for selectively killing cancer cells, but not normal cells. Therefore, Plk1 is considered an attractive anticancer drug target. Over the years, a large number of inhibitors that target the catalytic activity of Plk1 have been developed. However, these inhibitors exhibit significant levels of cross-reactivity with related kinases, including Plk2 and Plk3. Consequently, as an alternative approach for developing anti-Plk1 therapeutics, substantial effort is under way to develop inhibitors that target the C-terminal protein–protein interaction domain of Plk1, called the polo-box domain (PBD). In this communication, I will discuss the pros and cons of targeting the PBD in comparison to those of targeting the ATP-binding site within the kinase domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Eun Park
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 37, Room 3118, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Tae-Sung Kim
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 37, Room 3118, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Lingjun Meng
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 37, Room 3118, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Jeong K Bang
- Division of Magnetic Resonance, Korea Basic Science Institute, 804-1, Yangcheong Ri, Ochang, 363-883 Chungbuk Republic of Korea
| | - Bo Y Kim
- World Class Institute, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, 363-883 Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung S Lee
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 37, Room 3118, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
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Qian WJ, Burke TR. Mitsunobu mischief: neighbor-directed histidine N(τ)-alkylation provides access to peptides containing selectively functionalized imidazolium heterocycles. Org Biomol Chem 2015; 13:4221-5. [PMID: 25739367 DOI: 10.1039/c5ob00171d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
There are few methodologies that yield peptides containing His residues with selective N(τ), N(π)-bis-alkylated imidazole rings. We have found that, under certain conditions, on-resin Mitsunobu coupling of alcohols with peptides having a N(π)-alkylated His residue results in selective and high-yield alkylation of the imidazole N(τ) nitrogen. The reaction requires the presence of a proximal phosphoric, carboxylic or sulfonic acid, and proceeds through an apparent intramolecular mechanism involving Mitsunobu intermediates. These transformations have particular application to phosphopeptides, where "charge masking" of one phosphoryl anionic charge by the cationic histidine imidazolium ion is now possible. This chemistry opens selective access to peptides containing differentially functionalized imidazolium heterocycles, which provide access to new classes of peptides and peptide mimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jian Qian
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, P.O. Box B, Boyles St., Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
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Park JE, Kim TS, Kim BY, Lee KS. Selective blockade of cancer cell proliferation and anchorage-independent growth by Plk1 activity-dependent suicidal inhibition of its polo-box domain. Cell Cycle 2015; 14:3624-34. [PMID: 26513691 PMCID: PMC4825759 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2015.1104435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2015] [Revised: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) plays a critical role in proper M-phase progression and cell proliferation. Plk1 is overexpressed in a broad spectrum of human cancers and is considered an attractive anticancer drug target. Although a large number of inhibitors targeting the catalytic domain of Plk1 have been developed, these inhibitors commonly exhibit a substantial level of cross-reactivity with other structurally related kinases, thus narrowing their applicable dose for patient treatment. Plk1 contains a C-terminal polo-box domain (PBD) that is essentially required for interacting with its binding targets. However, largely due to the lack of both specific and membrane-permeable inhibitors, whether PBD serves as an alternative target for the development of anticancer therapeutics has not been rigorously examined. Here, we used an intracellularly expressed 29-mer-long PBIP1-derived peptide (i.e., PBIPtide), which can be converted into a "suicidal" PBD inhibitor via Plk1-dependent self-priming and binding. Using this highly specific and potent system, we showed that Plk1 PBD inhibition alone is sufficient for inducing mitotic arrest and apoptotic cell death in cancer cells but not in normal cells, and that cancer cell-selective killing can occur regardless of the presence or absence of oncogenic RAS mutation. Intriguingly, PBD inhibition also effectively prevented anchorage-independent growth of malignant cancer cells. Thus, targeting PBD represents an appealing strategy for anti-Plk1 inhibitor development. Additionally, PBD inhibition-induced cancer cell-selective killing may not simply stem from activated RAS alone but, rather, from multiple altered biochemical and physiological mechanisms, which may have collectively contributed to Plk1 addiction in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Eun Park
- Laboratory of Metabolism; National Cancer Institute; National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Tae-Sung Kim
- Laboratory of Metabolism; National Cancer Institute; National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Bo Yeon Kim
- Incurable Diseases Therapeutics Research Center; Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology; Ochang, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung S Lee
- Laboratory of Metabolism; National Cancer Institute; National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, MD USA
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