A High-Throughput Screening-Compatible Strategy for the Identification of Inositol Pyrophosphate Kinase Inhibitors

PLoS One. 2016 Oct 13;11(10):e0164378. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164378. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Pharmacological tools-'chemical probes'-that intervene in cell signaling cascades are important for complementing genetically-based experimental approaches. Probe development frequently begins with a high-throughput screen (HTS) of a chemical library. Herein, we describe the design, validation, and implementation of the first HTS-compatible strategy against any inositol phosphate kinase. Our target enzyme, PPIP5K, synthesizes 'high-energy' inositol pyrophosphates (PP-InsPs), which regulate cell function at the interface between cellular energy metabolism and signal transduction. We optimized a time-resolved, fluorescence resonance energy transfer ADP-assay to record PPIP5K-catalyzed, ATP-driven phosphorylation of 5-InsP7 to 1,5-InsP8 in 384-well format (Z' = 0.82 ± 0.06). We screened a library of 4745 compounds, all anticipated to be membrane-permeant, which are known-or conjectured based on their structures-to target the nucleotide binding site of protein kinases. At a screening concentration of 13 μM, fifteen compounds inhibited PPIP5K >50%. The potency of nine of these hits was confirmed by dose-response analyses. Three of these molecules were selected from different structural clusters for analysis of binding to PPIP5K, using isothermal calorimetry. Acceptable thermograms were obtained for two compounds, UNC10112646 (Kd = 7.30 ± 0.03 μM) and UNC10225498 (Kd = 1.37 ± 0.03 μM). These Kd values lie within the 1-10 μM range generally recognized as suitable for further probe development. In silico docking data rationalizes the difference in affinities. HPLC analysis confirmed that UNC10225498 and UNC10112646 directly inhibit PPIP5K-catalyzed phosphorylation of 5-InsP7 to 1,5-InsP8; kinetic experiments showed inhibition to be competitive with ATP. No other biological activity has previously been ascribed to either UNC10225498 or UNC10112646; moreover, at 10 μM, neither compound inhibits IP6K2, a structurally-unrelated PP-InsP kinase. Our screening strategy may be generally applicable to inhibitor discovery campaigns for other inositol phosphate kinases.

Publication types

  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Binding Sites
  • Biocatalysis
  • Calorimetry
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Humans
  • Inositol Phosphates / metabolism
  • Kinetics
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Phosphorylation
  • Phosphotransferases (Phosphate Group Acceptor) / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Phosphotransferases (Phosphate Group Acceptor) / genetics
  • Phosphotransferases (Phosphate Group Acceptor) / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Inositol Phosphates
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • inositol heptakisphosphate
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Phosphotransferases (Phosphate Group Acceptor)
  • PPIP5K1 protein, human