Cell-based screen identifies a new potent and highly selective CK2 inhibitor for modulation of circadian rhythms and cancer cell growth

Sci Adv. 2019 Jan 23;5(1):eaau9060. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aau9060. eCollection 2019 Jan.

Abstract

Compounds targeting the circadian clock have been identified as potential treatments for clock-related diseases, including cancer. Our cell-based phenotypic screen revealed uncharacterized clock-modulating compounds. Through affinity-based target deconvolution, we identified GO289, which strongly lengthened circadian period, as a potent and selective inhibitor of CK2. Phosphoproteomics identified multiple phosphorylation sites inhibited by GO289 on clock proteins, including PER2 S693. Furthermore, GO289 exhibited cell type-dependent inhibition of cancer cell growth that correlated with cellular clock function. The x-ray crystal structure of the CK2α-GO289 complex revealed critical interactions between GO289 and CK2-specific residues and no direct interaction of GO289 with the hinge region that is highly conserved among kinases. The discovery of GO289 provides a direct link between the circadian clock and cancer regulation and reveals unique design principles underlying kinase selectivity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CLOCK Proteins / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Casein Kinase II / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Circadian Clocks / drug effects*
  • Circadian Rhythm / drug effects*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor / methods*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects

Substances

  • CLOCK Proteins
  • CSNK2A1 protein, human
  • Casein Kinase II