Development of Novel Irreversible Pyruvate Kinase M2 Inhibitors

J Med Chem. 2019 Sep 26;62(18):8497-8510. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00763. Epub 2019 Sep 16.

Abstract

As cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming in the course of tumorigenesis, targeting energy metabolism represents a promising strategy in cancer therapy. Among various metabolic enzymes examined, pyruvate kinase M2 type (PKM2) has received much attention in light of its multifaceted function in promoting tumor growth and progression. In this study, we reported the development of a novel irreversible inhibitor of PKM2, compound 1, that exhibits a differential tumor-suppressive effect among an array of cancer cell lines. We further used a clickable activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) probe and SILAC coupled with LC-MS/MS to identify the Cys-317 and Cys-326 residues of PKM2 as the covalent binding sites. Equally important, compound 1 at 10 mg/kg was effective in suppressing xenograft tumor growth in nude mice without causing acute toxicity by targeting both metabolic and oncogenic functions. Together, these data suggest its translational potential to foster new strategies for cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinogenesis
  • Carrier Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Cysteine / chemistry
  • Drug Design*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Glycolysis
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Membrane Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • PC-3 Cells
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Proteomics
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / chemistry
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Thyroid Hormone-Binding Proteins
  • Thyroid Hormones / chemistry

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Thyroid Hormones
  • Cysteine