Selective and reversible modification of kinase cysteines with chlorofluoroacetamides

Nat Chem Biol. 2019 Mar;15(3):250-258. doi: 10.1038/s41589-018-0204-3. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Abstract

Irreversible inhibition of disease-associated proteins with small molecules is a powerful approach for achieving increased and sustained pharmacological potency. Here, we introduce α-chlorofluoroacetamide (CFA) as a novel warhead of targeted covalent inhibitor (TCI). Despite weak intrinsic reactivity, CFA-appended quinazoline showed high reactivity toward Cys797 of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In cells, CFA-quinazoline showed higher target specificity for EGFR than the corresponding Michael acceptors in a wide concentration range (0.1-10 μM). The cysteine adduct of the CFA derivative was susceptible to hydrolysis and reversibly yielded intact thiol but was stable in solvent-sequestered ATP-binding pocket of EGFR. This environment-dependent hydrolysis can potentially reduce off-target protein modification by CFA-based drugs. Oral administration of CFA quinazoline NS-062 significantly suppressed tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. Further, CFA-appended pyrazolopyrimidine irreversibly inhibited Bruton's tyrosine kinase with higher target specificity. These results demonstrate the utility of CFA as a new class warheads for TCI.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetamides / chemical synthesis*
  • Acetamides / chemistry
  • Acetamides / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cell Line
  • Cysteine / metabolism*
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasms
  • Phosphotransferases / physiology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Pyrimidines / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Quinazolines / chemical synthesis*
  • Quinazolines / chemistry
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Acetamides
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines
  • Quinazolines
  • Phosphotransferases
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Cysteine
  • pyrimidine